Anyone interested in forming a "shop more wisely and less compulsively", "no more expensive mistakes" and "make the most of what you already own" thread?

[LetThemEatCake]

There seems to have been a digression from the original intention of Penth's very worthy thread so, rather than cause anyone any offence or detract from what Penth and others were setting out to achieve, would anyone like to do a thread in a similar vein? Discussing potential purchases (advising each other for/ against in sensible fashion!!) and talking about how we're wearing existing pieces etc

Am off to Sunday lunch with friends but will check back in later.

Wearing purple Tam Tam dress, grey opaques, grey slouch suede boots, charcoal travelwrap for discreet bfing. Pretty exited about the sunshine so nearly cracked out the new OP sunnies but am saving for summer proper

have a good day all

As for question of having a look.

Am tall too and dark blonde hair (no highlights at moment - big question whether to or not).

Transition from early 20s which was out there, waif-like etc - through bad patch late 20s and wore officey boring stuff from fcuk, reiss, whistles- not good.

Now it's easy I just imagine a French girl living on left bank (St Germain to be exact), or ile st louis and buy loads of APC, Chloe, VBruno, Sonia Rykiel. So it doesn't matter if it's slightly 'undone' as too aloof to be matching.

Or imagine French girl going to visit rich inlaws and put on heels and a insouciant swagger (and a touch of upper east side).

In my head!

A friend of mine recently described my look as 'quirky' - not sure if thats good or bad?

Today I am definitely un-quirky
Chocolate brown long sleeved M&S Tee
Taupe merino cardigan
Brown plaited leather belt
Straight leg GAP jeans
Fluffy mock sheep skin slippers!

In my defence I am at home ironing today.

Am loving the insoucient French girl look but worry that it would look more Helen Bonham Carter on me!

Despite trying to by more classics and less fashion have bought five things from Urban Outfitters this morning .

Inspired by another thread am trying jeggings to hold in mummy tummy which is still not shifting after 3 miles a day on the treadmill. Hmm 2 medicinal kitcats after run are probably not helping . Worried about jeggings but probably OK if top covers bum and boots cover lower leg?

Quick update from here is that I did pick up the phone as promised and I am booked in with a scarily efficient sounding lady from House of Colour on Monday! Am starting to get nervous, which is silly...isn't it?!

don't feel nervous - you'll have fun. What is your colouring...let me see if I can guess before you get it done officially

Relax and prepare to have your eyes opened!

OK then hellsbelles, here goes! I have mid-brown hair...so far so good...eyes are a strange mix of green, grey and light brown...I tan fairly easily in summer but tend to go gingery rather than dark brown with a few small freckles. However...this sounds daft but...I have no idea whether my skin has pinky or yellow undertones.

Also I read somewhere that in order to tell whether you are "cool" or "warm" you should look at the veins on the inside of your wrists to see whether they are green or blue, and they seem a perfect greeny-blue mix to me

Are you a consultant?! Or just talented in all things stylish/colour-related?

no I'm neither talented nor a consultant - just a bit bored of 'in the night garden'

Well...you sound like....a a a...oh I'm rubbish at this (your eyes sound gorgeous by the way) either a spring, summer or autumn ...I suspect a spring but without seeing your exact skintone I can't be sure.

I bet they say you are a winter now as that is the only one I'm sure you are not!

oh have the changed it since the 1980's - they used to do it in seasons in the old days. Yes soft and warm sounds right (which in olden language I think is summer!)

hells - do you know what you are? and if so, am I the same?

LTEC - judging by your pic then probably you are the same. I am a winter (not sure what they call it now). We can wear blacks, greys, pure whites. Cool strong colours - fushia, deep purple, bright orange proper red (as long as it has bluish rather than orange undertones). (all my favourite colours luckily!)

Here's a very cheesy link here - with a brief description of the colours...]]

I think we need to make it a rule on this thread that all posters have profile pics. For reasons of pure nosiness ease of advising one another.

I can't - I'm far too famous in my own mind

Actually may cause RL issues for my business (not meant to sound intriguing...boring reason really) so better not.

no, no - just joking. Honestly nosey but can understand why people would choose not to do profiles. I should ditch mine really, prolly too late now though!

fecking my-wardrobe....just had a call that they can't fufil my order as one of the items (AV tee) is now out of stock. Really pisses me off that their stock control is so shite.

This is the third time in a row this has happened with them and the last bloody time I"m ordering from them (well until next week)

I am nosey too - and get highly annoyed when others don't have profiles. Not that I have double standards or anything like that.

Hana - wow - that is far more complex

hello porridge - not sure about jeggings as I don't own them but I feel your pain on the mummy tummy front = but the way you describe wearing them sounds good!

dressage - exciting!! make sure you report back.

hells - annoying!! have never had that happen. I ordered that t-shirt and a bag from them today, was having problems with the site so phoned up and they gave me free delivery as apology - you should ask for same next time you order, at the very least! Thanks for info re colours; they're all my faves too.

have been thinking all day about this 'dress to suit your age etc" thing and have realised that I go wrong in 2 areas (well, 2 main errors)

1. I buy lots of gorgeous dresses and shoes simply because I love them, not bc I have much opp to wear them. This dress is still hanging in my closet with tags on, this has not ben worn for about a year and neither has this

Granted, if I hadn't fallen unexpectedly pg with dc3, these may have had more wear

1. I think that I should be dressing a certain way bc of my age - swathed in cashmere - but I don't have the polish in my grooming to pull this off. A cashmere dress with scruffy hair just doesn't work. I bought the Boden Henley dress in an effort to have a 'smart' day dress but just looked and felt wrong and frumpy (plus it was awkward to bf in) Plus, the reality is that I am a SAHM who works from home, not in an office. So I need to find looks that are compatible with my low-maintenance side, even though I like glamour. I guess Jennifer Aniston would be my style icon, I like LA luxe (loved the whole Zobot/ Richie/Lohan/ Barton et al look)

So that's my bit of sartorial soul-searching for the day. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them - also what conclusions you're drawing about the direction your wardrobe needs to take!

Hello all.

Feeling really meh today. Not quite sure, had a bit of a rubbishy weekend, and a bit of a domestic with dh about hols tonight so maybe thats it.

Tried on a lovley fine knit jumper dress yesterday, marl/light grey, but it was really sheer as in you could see through it, which was nice on the top, but not round the middle , and wouldnt have looked as nice with vest underneath.

Picked up a pair of grey leggings to wear with a couple of knitted dresses that I have, as a change to black but thats it.

Off down to mums in NE tomorrow... am hoping for a child-free day at Metro centre or in N ewcastle, dont really need anything, but it would be nice to have a mooch round without toddler.

LTEC - love the Anna Sui print dress - what size?

I'm not selling it!!!!

sorry you're feeling blah

wish I could come child-free window shopping with you tomorrow!! and then go and get good and hammered!!

geordie, I was just planning to post the exact same thing

I love that Anna Sui dress

I have a similar frock...it gets dragged out the 'drobe time and time again...for loads of different occasions

my friends must be sick of the sight of it !

ohhhh, I am feeling a Trafford Centre visit coming on tomorrow.....

Right all of you - get your arses to geordieland - shopping then a night on the toon.... brutal!!

Am currently itunes shopping, which has quite a high feel good factor, esp at 99p a shot