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

< hours later > Dressage, I think you said you're going to House of Colour which still has the seasonal categories.

I'm a 'sweet pea summer' (if you're interested), meaning my overall look is cool-toned but within that there are some quite strongly coloured pinks and blues, as well as pale baby shades of those. Then there's a gorgeous dark red, dark brown and grey, plus navy and various shades of mauve.
I think a summer is basically a 'milked down' version of winter (apart from them being the only ones who can wear black.)

One of the ways the decide whether your colouring is cool or warm is to see which metal suits you - silver or gold.

Difficult to decide for yourself, though.

Some of it is a bit cheesy but you do save a huge amount of time when shopping.

LTEC - covet the Marc Jacobs dress - it is totally wearable and age appropriate. Have a touch of your problem No.1 myself in relation to Jimmy Choos .

But I don't think it's wrong just to buy stuff because you love it - what would be the point in shopping?

As for your issue No.2 I can understand where you are coming from (although from your postings you seem to have great taste). I can do glam office no problem for work but finding it more difficult to dress well now I'm at home and just revert to jeans. Am experimenting mixing classics and vintage and fashion pieces because that is what has worked for me in the past at uni etc - but have to get more grown up feel about it all.

Am very jealous of Geordie and AF off shopping tommorrow - will you let us know if you see anything gorgeous?

LTEC I would wear the first dress with long sleeved tee under and shawl/open cardigan in fine cashmere over,plus tights and boots.Perhaps purple tights,or purple cardigan??
You won't be able to bf in it though!
Am seriously trying to mix up my look a bit ,silk dresses plus wool tights,boots,cardigan now it isn't snowy.
Has been a relief to get out of leggings and skinnies with boots!

Porridge - same re used to dress well for the office, but SAHM is a bit challenging. Don't want to slide into Frumpville, but some of my fave things are restricted/ not suitable anymore: jewellery (baby DD pulls it); heels (no need to say anything); hair (DD pulls it out) and nice fabrics (DD invariably throws up on dry clean only items). None of this is too much of a problem, but makes it a challenge at the moment.

LETC - would love to be swathed in cashmere but don't know what brands to buy (recommendations, ladies?) and don't have budget for expensivo clothes. Although your purchases do look divine. I am another offender w lovely clothes in wardrobe w tags still on. My hair is always tied back (DD pulls out chunks, no joke) but would love it to be piled up in sexy up do instead. If your hair is bothering you, could you pile it up? That always looks fabulous. Think it's prob just a misconception that cashmere requires super styled hair.

Wish I was shopping then cocktailing w you tomorrow! Am having an Amaretto now just to help me imagine...

Cashmere - umm I love it but hate the upkeep (hate hate handwashing and detest spending money and time at the dry cleaners). Plus I am also not quite groomed enough to always pull it off (though I think slouchy cashmere jumper dresses are an exception to needing a fully groomed look).

Seems like we are all admirers of the LA luxe look!

LTEC & Bunny - I am glad there are others out there who have the same thing going on in their wardrobe. I went through a stage of buying beautiful things but have yet to get a chance to wear them ( fatness, lack of occasions...all these hurdles ) love the dresses you have LTEC - when are you going to finish BF?

Bunny - I got some cashmere dresses from pringle in the sale. I don't know how it will wear but it's gorgeous. Also Brora stuff.

LTEC thanks for the tip off on my-wardrobe....DD was shouting and crying for supper when they called so I didn't get any sort of freebie (as I was frazzled) but will send a strongly worded email and get them to sort it.

Geordie - have fun today.

Today in the spirit of this thread I have shopped from my wardrobe and as I'm at work I can avoid baby spoilage so have on:

lovely charcoal Fendi jersey dress (sale bargain). Usually saved for best but paired with a black gap long sleeved tee shirt underneath it looks fine (good even) for the day. With knee length black boots that have silver press studs at the side - sound vile but are actually gorgeous.

Having made the effort I feel sort of smart and have had 3 compliments already

Hellsbelles, your outfit sounds gorgeous.

I am very nosy and love looking at other people's photos so I have created a profile and uploaded a photo of me and DD.

I wonder what colours I should wear? I am almost afraid to find out as if it is not black, then half my wardrobe will have to be thrown away.

I have the same problem as several of you in that I had lovely clothes for work and none of them are very suitable for mucky playgrounds. I now mostly wear jeans (which I do like but am getting a bit bored). I also veer between a preppy look but then want to look like Sienna and even bought those ridiculous biker boots, which I now regret.

I am trying to be more sensible and have sold a few bags I can no longer use, and am about to list three dresses with the labels still attached. EEEK!

hellsbells..your outfit today sounds divine..i think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned saving stuff for best.i think that's why a lot of my stuff gets underutilized.

i think i'm like a lot of people on this thread with an ecclectic wardrobe that ranges from funky t-shirts and jeans to slinky designer dresses and it's easy to feel like you are getting v dressed up just because you are Not wearing jeans.

I find it fascinating that the groomed brigade at preschool always present themselves,like a restaurant dish,each a.m..always high,predictable standards whilst some days i am casual and others slightly yummy.

With regard to dressing your age i am 40 and this and the originator thread encouraged me to stop playing safe and trying put myself into a 40something box when it comes to outfits..my friends who dress smart/groomed have mostly been that way since they were 20 and is it really so bad to play around and be a bit more creative with looks..isn't fashion supposed to be fun!(altho easier to pull off in london than the sticks..have lived in both)

I am getting more and more limited with what still fits as time goes on with my pregnancy and i really don't want to wear the same outfit everyday so i have started to dress 'bolder'..somehow having a big bump makes me think people will notice that before my outfit so i can take a few risks.

Here are 2 completely opposite(stylewise) outfits i wore at the weekend but making a bit of an effort always seems to go down well..both got huge no.s of compliments which made a change from..your bump is soo big/soo small/are you really 7 months pregnant..i thought you were just about to give birth/just slightly puffy..

saturday..cocktail party..grey silk aquascutum dress and grey waterfall cardigan

sunday..publunch...black leatherlook leggings,long black skulls t-shirt,black shawl pinned at shoulder with pretty black feathery flower

the latter outfit was much approved by fashionista friend(owns fashion label)and beautiful gay male friend which gave me a boost as felt a bit nervous trying it out!

i'm going to try to go through my wardrobe properly now so i can actually take out the stuff i can't get over bump/wont be able to use bfing so i can really see what i've got and try putting together some looks..maybe tomorrow i'll attempt russian oligarch's mistress!

Bunnymother i think i must be unconsciously enjoying my jewelry while i can..i have channelled 'frank butcher' on the goldfront today to jazz up plain brown wrap dress and brown opaques.

Could any bfing mums or mums with small babies remind me what is useful to wear postbirth..will post a new thread to ask..i am going to pack away the stuff i just don't think i will get to use in the next couple of days(instead of sorting babystufffrom attic)so can carry on trying to look presentable but still practical.

Also,think will carry on trying to min. spend but blow it all next jan. on a yummy cashmere dress in the sale

Sorry my post a bit of an essay!

Hells - that Fendi dress sounds fab.

Cashmere sounds lovely and I love wearing it (favourite is a brown slouchy number from Joseph) but unfortunately dcs rub their faces on it, invariably leaving snail trails of snot, milk, whatever... on there. Hanaflower - As you can see it's not just usually porridge in my hair.

Have made more of an effort today too - have found legs again so am wearing grey sheer poloneck from shop in NY, button through denim mini dress from Gap, grey opagues, brown slouchy knee boots, and brown corduroy jacket from Gap. What's everybody else wearing?

On the subject of profiles, I too am very nosey and have created profile - will upload pic when I can find one that doesn't make me cringe.

Morning Ladies.

Do you ever get ready in the morning - think you look ok and then catch a glimpse of yourself later and think - lordy.

Today I did just that - I look tired and hair in desperate need of cut and colour. I've gone really grey in the last year.

My hair is currently dark blonde and long but am going to go a bit lighter and have a choppy bob in a few weeks time.

I popped into jigsaw and bought a scoop neck breton top which looks very nice on.

I love cashmere and got a cropped cardi from boden in the sale which is actually very nice on and fits me well.

Carciofi - you are gorgeous!

I am wearing
Purple and cream Fat Face jersey dress,bought 2 yrs ago and a favourite of mine as it fits so well
Boden grey jersey camisole
Autograph asymmetrical grey open cardigan
Autograph grey merino tights
Clarks purpley/pink patent flat mary Jane's
Long purple Principles necklace
Purple/silver sainsbury's scarf.
I am determined to wear the clothes that I love,yesterday I felt a bit 'wrong' but I don't know why!

Was ruminating on LA luxe this morning and found Rachel Zoe's website www.rachelzoe.com/apparel.

Love some of this although leather hotpants for the school run might raise eyebrows in rural Norfolk. What do you all think?

Casual day for me here.

Black long-sleeve top
Green tunic from Next (it's not hideous, I promise, even given its origin )
My failsafe Topshop jeans
Black boots
Chunky green scarf from India (the country, not some eclectic brand )

Feeling very comfy

Traceybath, thank you. I like the sound of a choppy bob.

isthatporridgeinyourhair, I think leather hotpants would go down a storm!

You all sound very well put together. I am in my usual jeans, black wrap top and Ash trainers. However, inspired by this thread, I have added a gold necklace.

Right, I had a really good look at all my clothes last night, and decided that what I really needed was some black heeled boots to wear with my skinny jeans, I have a flat pair that I got in desperation when I was pregnant and needed boots to fit my huuuuge pregy legs, but I don't love them. I had almost decided on a £70 pair from Clarks which were OK, but then I went to a little clothing agency we have in town and found the perfect pair of black leather boots for a mere tenner I am soooo pleased with them, I can't find a picture, but they are from Next, and pretty much identical to these, but without the laces.
They're absolutely brand new, and I know I will wear them to death
I got a fabulous chunky navy blue necklace for a pound as well, which will go with lots of things as I love navy (and suit it I think)

Hanaflower - lovely pic - gorgeous shiny bob.

I love hearing what everyone is wearing - gives me ideas about what I'd like to wear and how you can change things around a bit.

Can I join? I am just about back to my normal size (10ish) after having dd2 9mo ago and desperate for some new clothes. Still bfing but only once during the day so feeling as though I can start not thinking about it as the major consideration re how I dress.

However I totally relate to the dilemma of style and have made quite a few mistakes trying to be 'yummy' and not having the grooming or indeed the lifestyle to match!! And yep I am also a sucker for a beautiful dress (LTEC I love your Marc Jacobs one) but sadly lacking in occasions to wear one)

So I want to stop making mistakes and buy a few wonderful, versatile things to add pizazz to what I have already got.

Oh and DH just been made redundant so haven't got much at all to spend at the mo (maybe I should be on the other thread but for the reasons above I haven't bought anything for ages and ages and I'm just about ready to get myself back!)

Welcome to the thread whelk

Talking of grooming, what do all you ladies do to your hair every day? Only asking because sometimes I see some very glam mums and wish I could be like them....then I realise that they're dressed very simply, and I have very similar outfits too. What makes the difference is their hair! Shiny and gorgeous.

I wash and blow dry my hair every other day, but can never get it looking sleek. I put a volumising mousse before blow-drying, but nothing else. My hair is poker straight so I've never used a straightener, but do you think a small whiz with a straightener would give me groomed hair?

Definately a straightener. My hair is straight anyway, but looks very untidy very quickly if I don't straighten it. Sometimes I'll quickly curl the ends under as I'm doing it to give a bit of bounce. And I find I need to use some kind of product too - I use Tresemme heat protector, and without it my hair can go quite frizzy at the ends, especially if the air is a bit damp

My hair goes untidy within a half hour too. And it tends to bunch up so it looks even thinner than it really is. I think I ought to start dropping hints to dh - he might actually understand the hints by Valentine's Day and gift me a straightener

Have thick blonde hair with a bit of a wave -looks better when I straighten it but also use a Babylis curling wand to to give waves more definition if I don't want it straight. Use Bodyshop glossing serum too. If I don't do one or the other I either pile it up or wear a hat. Nothing like a good hat!.

Hanaflower, you look great.

My hair is blah, it only ever looks good if I straighten it so it is up most of the time. Porridge, you sound like you have gorgeous hair.

Porridge - whereabouts in Norfolk are you (if you don't mind me asking)?

I'm in Norfolk too. No school run for me as yet but DD was three in Sept so has started nursery several mornings a week. The mums seem to wear jeans, fleeces and flats which I find a bit dull - I wore heels, purple tights and a patterned wrap dress last time. Not quite leather hot pants though is it?!

I work from home most of the time so I used to wear slobby stuff but have discovered I enjoy dressing up for work. Nothing major but I do wear nice dresses with coloured tights or nice tops with ankle boots and skinny jeans, nicely accessorised.

blast - had to work today so no chance to comment on all the gorgeous outfits and beautiful profile pics individually.

DD is now moaning continuously as she has a cold so better get back on duty.

Thanks Carciofi - if I grow it long it can cover my tummy!

Fleecy - am in village near Aylsham so not too far from you. Love the sound of your outfit especially the purple tights.