February's "shop more wisely {but no less avidly)" thread

[LetThemEatCake]

Ladies, welcome to Spring

Geordieminx - oooh, so how close to Glasgow are you? I'm about 18 miles South.....

Ladies, I am supposed to be catching up on work, but instead I am wasting time looking at dresses. Have found this, which is a lot more than I like to spend, but I was thinking it may be perfect for a wedding:

www.brownsfashion.com/product/designers/index/women/erdem/013P09490002.htm

I have another dress I can wear, but this is really tempting me. I don't think I will buy it, because I am trying to be good, and this would wipe out my summer clothes budget, but tell me - is it nice or am I mad?

boots but mine are suede

Red - off to peek at multimap... but I'm guessing you are in the sticks

Since I have an entire family album on my profile I'm not exactly anonymous - I'm in Uddingston.

GeordieMinx - Yes, I'm sort of in the sticks, well nearly but not too far from you! I'm in village of Blackwood.

Yup, I know it, have a friend in Lesmahagow.

How old are your dc's?

hello all

Just popping in briefly - was out to dinner last night and been nursing hangover today - made worse by fact that have also come down with a stinking cold and simuses
Feeling quite rough, almost too grim for shopping.....

.....but not quite . Took the dd's out for lunch today to save cooking and popped into the H&M next door and bought 3 nude items - a putty coloured silk top, a peach fitted cardigan and a taupe waterfall fronted cardy thing (very thin). All cheap as chips. Haven't tried on yet so don't know if any good.

I also popped into Aveda and bought the blue malva conditioner that I think tulpe recommended on another thread. Apparently it sorts out brassy hi-lights so will give it a go.

Choo - really hope your dd is on the mend and out soon. I don't even know how old your dd is/if you are on your own or have a dp/dh to help you out so really hoping you and dd are ok.

Hana - if you found that oasis dress a bit too body con there was another breton stripe one in there that had exposed zip on back that looked like it was more sweater, less cling. Did you see/try that one?

LTEC - I finally got my rats in the right size on Fri - not worn as yet but I like 'em. Maybe won't be debut-ing at church tomorrow though .

Ironing - yes to ironing here. I send out all dh's shirts and all the bedlinen but I iron all the dd's and mine. Am very particular about the dd's clothes being ironed

I have also recently been very diligent about polishing shoes/boots as part of my looking more groomed aim.

Lots of lovely things llinked to (as ever!). I liked the flat glads someone linked to on my wardrobe but I am a big fan of carvela/kurt geiger so want to go and check out their new season's lines before I buy.

Am currently obsessing about the new season carrot boyfriend jeans like these or these. Had thought I could substitute an old great plains pair with legs rolled up but wore them yest and can see they are not going to cut it. But £230 on jeans???

Geordieminx - gosh it's a small world, no?

DD age 10, DS1 age 6 & DS2 age 4. What about yours?

Ds is 3 in May.

Hello all, this thread moves so fast I can't keep up with all the links!

Deep sympathies to all with unpleasant ILs, mine are unbelievable. I started an AIBU thread about mine last year, and practically made MN history when everyone in the 600+ long thread agreed that my ILs were BVUindeed! It did make me feel better

I actually managed to get out of the house alone today, which is a rare occurrance indeed. Spent hours trying on jeans and bras, the 2 items I enjoy purchasing least. I feel dizzy when I walk into a lingere department - too much choice! Feeling much more comfortable now sitting in my 32DD Bodas bra, I now have a drawer full of very pretty but obsolete 30B/32B/32Cs. I can't blame BFing as my youngest is 5, dh not complaining though

Got some great bargains, a cashmere scarf- not another one - I couldn't leave it behind, beautiful pinky biege and only 20 Euro in cool kids boutique (long enough for me though), and gold strapy flat sandals in a vintage shop, my size only 24E!

I examined the Alexa in great detail, and decided I didn't like it - phew - and resisted buying more sunglasses. We don't get enough sun to use the ones I have already.

Hope all your LOs are on the mend not after all the illnesses, esp Choogirls dd, ds2 was in hospital a lot when he was little, they are grim places to spend time.

Now, back to helping dh to demolish Haagen Dazs strawberry cheesecake, mmm.

I have been meaning to link to this dress for all those going to weddings etc. I have it in deep red and am planning on buying the oyster for summer. The fabric is silky soft and drapes beautifully, it is gorgeous on, VERY Lanvin-esque! Looks great without the belt too.

uuuuggggggh another night, another puke-fest

DS1 this time -

am running out of room to hang all the washed sheets/ PJs/ doonas etc

Let alone having the inclination to iron them!!

night all - hope everyone else ok.

geordieminx I got the short length,am only 5ft 3 and they are perfect with flats,ot tucked into boots.
I don't often wear 'casual' type jeans with heels,but may sucumb to a medium length as well at the price of these!
I have ordered 2 Warehouse dresses,using the 25% Elle discount,
www.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/kimono-swirl-wrap-dress/299310and
www.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/painted-rose-wrap-dress/299121.
Will report back,ladies,when they arrive

hope you feel better esher

and VB - glad you had some solo shopping time today!

GeorginaWorsley - is there a code for the warehouse discount for online orders?

dexter,yes,code is Elle0210.

for those of you with poorly little ones. Hope all is well soon.

My big order arrived today and I'm keeping the navy blazer. It's smaller than I had thought but very neat and quite smart. I'm going to wear it with carrot jeans and heels/ballet flats, white vest, nice necklace.

Fat Face have some carrot jeans at £55 esher - Next also have some but they are more 'distressed'. Have to put ' in there otherwise I think it sounds like they're upset!

Also esher I'd wear black rats to church if I had some. I have been caught out in the past though wearing a skirt that was more of a belt and forgetting I would end up sitting on the floor in the children's bit!

Am also keeping this which looks much more expensive irl.

Am sending the nude bags back and the nude tops - one top was a bit baggy and the other made me look boxy. But have discovered that I can wear a creamy nude, just not a peachy one. So if anyone sees some nice creamy nude tops, max around £50...

Hana - I keep looking at that oasis dress - I like the white colourway for spring and am very tempted to order.

Verity - remind me of your il thread - am sure I do remember it. Sounds like you had some good bargains.

Esher - I love the j brand jeans and think on a cost per wear basis you can justify them .

Georgina - both those dresses are gorgeous - warehouse is good for silk dresses and 'screw that turned' stuff. Think one of those dresses would really suit my sister.

LTEC - oh god - more sick - poor you. Hope it didn't go on all night.

Right I'm off to a wedding - just evening party as can't leave dd yet and am planning on wearing a black dress - its sort of halter neck/wrap dress and is lovely. But its end of March so am going to brave bare legs but need some type of wrap I think. Do not want a pashmina was thinking more of a piano shawl type thing - anyone seen any on their travels?

Nude patent heels will also be called for I suspect so hope some more hit the shops soon.

Just looked on lk bennett and they've got some gorgeous silk tops and dresses - not for my lifestyle though.

Right - am on second coffee - better feed the monkeys.

Thanks GW!!

What do you all think of the nw3 twill blazer as a possible spring jacket?

Keep toying with the idea of a shrunken leather jacket but all the nice ones are sooo expensive and I just don't think I'd get the wear out of it.

Will let you know tracey how the Warehouse dresses look.
Am also liking
www.oasis-stores.com/40's-Print-Dress/All-Dresses/oasis/fcp-product/3170069300and am tempted to order,but can only justify 2 of the three so one will have to go back!

LTEC, thanks for the info and hope your DS gets well soon.

Verity, sounds like a nice break.

Fleecy, LOL at 'distressed'!

I am about to head to Westfield to check out the Alexa bag, leaving DD to spend some quality time with her dad.

Hana and LTEC, here are some photos of the dress (and a couple of DD). It is crumpled as has been rolled up in my wardrobe. It is knee length on me, I'm 5'9. It is a little too big in the bust for me (32C). 58% cotton, 42% silk, size 40/12.

Feelingoptimistic, it's beautiful.

Traceybath, I like it, I think it would suit you. I would look ridiculous in it.

Hope the puking was a one off LTEC.

Interested to see what you think of the Alexa Carciofi, they only had the oak in the small version where I was, the larger was in the most icky brown leopard print, eww. I thought I'd love it but there was just too much going on with it. Love the cross body strap though. I love having a hands-free bag

Esher I'm a KG fan also, was quite taken with these for wearing with jeans.

Tracey love that NW3 jacket The whole ILS story was quite a saga, feel free to stop reading now! My SiL, for whom I did lots of childcare and school runs (her dd and ds1 are in the same class - I got her into the school with much string pulling because she was unhappy where she was) was getting married. Lots of excitement about what we were going to wear, etc. Dd is 5, lovely and well behaved. I got her a beautiful dress from I live Gorgeous, and new shoes, all lovely.

Then the invitation arrived, addressed to me, dh (brides brother), ds1 who is 11, and ds2 who is 9. DDs name was not on the invitation . We assumed the frazzled bride had made a mistake, but no she didn't want any under 6s at the wedding. I explained that dd would be distraught when we all got dressed up to go to the wedding(the closest thing to a fairy tale in DDs eyes)knowing that she was being excluded. SIL said 'tough'

I don't mind the no kids at weddings rule, but this was yes to some and no to others.

Anyway, we dicided none of our dc would go. I got dressed up, put on a smile, and arrived at the wedding to find that the grooms niece and nephew, aged 6 and 4 were there. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I left after the ceremony, collected my dc from my friend and took them to the park. I was as angry as I have ever been in my life. Dh stayed and rolled home at 4am. Needless to say he didn't get much sympathy from me for his hangover.

The clincher is this - the grooms sister is a VERY feisty woman, a barrister, you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her. But, I on the other hand am so nice and obliging that no-one would be bothered about offending me Nobody stood up for my children except me. None of my ILs has ever mentioned the fact that my dc were not there, while all the other grandchildren were. My dh totally wimped out and went along with his sisters wishes as if it was perfectly normal

But, there is an upside to everything It was definately one of those 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' situations! I now couldn't give a damn about my ILs, what they do or what they say, and I'm not afraid to say it, whereas before I would always have kept quite, and fumed inwardly. The whole episode was quite empowering really.

I'm very envious of women who have a good relationshilp with their ILs, it must be great, especially for the dc, but you can't have everything. Luckily, my family are lovely

I admire your stamina if you got to the end of this post!

georgi - I'm looking forward to hearing how those dresses look on - very pretty

Tracey - agree on the jacket...I seem to recall you are petite and delicate...so it has the potential to look fab.

Carcofi - being nosey I peaked at the pics...your DD is gorgeous

Verity - a good bra makes a massive difference doesn't it! I bet you look slimmer now as well? I did once I got my bra size sorted (and didn't have a sort of extra tummy?!)

and at your SIL and IL. Disgusting behaviour

LTEC - you will deserve some serious retail therapy after all this puke fest. I can't decide whether it's better to have them all puking in one go (and have one night of hell but at least have it over with) or the prolonged torture you have had

Today I'm in loungewear doing my best waynetta slob impression. Gap blue/grey top and james pearse (sale) grey jersey bottoms....very very comfortable and although I only put them on for Pilates this morning...they are not coming off even though I look a bit?!

O.k..I know this looks a bit sack like and is a lot for a teeshirt...but I think it works with my jeggings. I'm trying to buy fewer things but better (rather than my usual ton of gap tops that look washed out after a few wears). I'm a being deluded? Is it too sacky?