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

[LetThemEatCake]

Ladies, welcome to Spring

LTEC - if it makes you feel any better, it was a vomit fest at my house last night (DD, not me) and I got about 3 hours sleep - rest of the time was mopping up vomit, changing sheets and cuddling DD. Feeling completely shattered and I hope things will be ok tonight.

Thanks LTEC! Will make up for creeping nearer to the big 40!
Vomit wise I am not good. When my dd was little and was sick I had to chuck out her bedclothes as I couldn't bear to scrape the sick off! Luckily this didn't happen very often.

I know what you mean dexter - I am pretty good with cleaning up bodily fluids/solids, but I kept imagining today that I could still smell vomit !!! Sorry, this is not exactly a style and beauty topic, is it?
I feel like I need to cheer myself up, but it's probably best not to make expensive online purchases when suffering from sleep deprivation...

LTEC, I had a similar moment today, took the dcs to spend Hamleys vouchers from Christmas, it's in a big Westfield type centre, has a Harvey Nicks so a hotbed of yummy mummies .

I noticed that at least every secong woman, especially mums, was wearing skinnies/jeggings tucked into boots, tunic top, boyfriend cardigan, longish scarf. The awful thing is that I was wearing that too, but at least I had a great coat to cover it up. It was a bit of an epiphany. I used to be a really stylish dresser - what happened? Def need to try harder!

Need to take a long hard look at my wardrobe when the dc are at school tomorrow!

Thanks everyone for the sympathy re the ILs. They are the pits. But now I can happily think f* you every time I see them, which is not very often I can tell you. My MIL hates the idea of spending money on clothes so I make a point of wearing my most expensive outfits and talking about them when I see her

Oh god Verity, that's what I was wearing too! Skinnies tucked into brian boots with brown tam tam dress and turquoise long scarf, no boyf cardi though..

Right that's it, tomorrow I am wearing a Chloe dress and my Louboutins! To soft play!

Hope your dd better feeling~ get some rest

Brian boots????

Brown boots!!!

Maybe I should get some rest!!!

I went to lunch with friends today - wearing skinnies tucked into boots, tunic, scarf, boyfriend cardi. Oops!

However, have already laid out Celia Birtwell print minidress for tomorrow with black l/s tee underneath, black tights and black OTK flat boots so more of a 60s thing going on instead!

So, have a long awaited trip back to the UK coming up next week - with DH and DSs in tow which obviously limits shopping time! DH and I are having a night away in a lovely hotel which is fairly close to an out of town shopping development which has an M&S, Gap, Monsoon & Next. Think I will be able to squeeze a couple of hours there if I can plonk DH somewhere with a coffee and newspaper! Does anyone have any 'must buy' suggestions for the above shops to help me use my limited shopping time wisely??? Am ok for bras, pants, PJ's. Could do with some jeans, already have the M&S pewter pumps, tops or casual dresses would be good (am SAHM). Oh yes, am a standard size 12, blonde hair & v pale so nudes etc are a no no (sob). I know the choice of shops isnt wide or high end (is that the right word?) etc but a gals gotta shop when and where she can right?! So please point me in the direction of your recent successful purchases!!!

oh Ollie - lucky you - all that shopping time. I'm sure there will be lots of ideas from here. Though I went into M&S yesterday to try and get the ballet shoes (alas they didn't have my size so will get online) and I have to say the selection of stuff that they had in our admittedly tiny store was shocking. Really horrid stuff. I know there are gems in the bigger shops...but whoever is selecting for the smaller ones should be seriously ashamed.

Cake on the E&J tee shirt - I have historically been such a rubbish dresser that it pleases me (a lot) that you and others on the S&B are liking some of the stuff I"m getting now. There is hope for me yet.

So today I'm wearing black asos long sleeved top, with blue tara jamon batwing thing on top, new gap denim mini and cosy black woolly tights - will finish off with thomas wylde biker boots if I venture out. I"m at home with DD today so have masses of washing, tidying and boring stuff to do. I am lucky enough to have a cleaner but we are so messy I still spend half my life clearing up....oh to have a house keeper. That would be my dream

Morning all! Non-working day today so pottering around the house contemplating S/S10 outfits. What sunglasses are you going for this year?

Verity - I know exactly what you mean about the standard "mum" uniform. Most days I end up dressed like that too! Must try harder!! (Although most of the mums at the school gate are in fleeces so I shouldn't be too hard on myself ).

Ollie, I haven't been in those shops for a while, but I remember a really nice Gap peacoat someone (Eshermummy I think?) linked on here a while back, old thread possibly. Looked lovely.

Hells I love that origami tshirt. I can't justify spending on that either at the mo but it's lovely.

I am obsessing over the black boots I sent back to Liberty, I am going to ring them at 10 and see if they still have them. I get frazzled, I know the solution is to get a job have loads more £.

Red I bought some Miu Miu huge round purple graduated sunglasses with plain acetate frame. They make a nice change from my black Cutler and Gross ones.

I had noticed the jeggings/boots uniform too,and was guilty myself yesterday
Today I am wearing
grey/brown tweedy wide leg trousers from Monsoon
Green Boden cami
Purple Boden v neck sweater
Purple patent belt
Brown boots under trousers
Purple/green/metallic chunky bangle from Marks
Green/purple/gold scarf from Noa Noa yrs ago.
Green velvet(Boden again )jacket.
Purple mock croc/suede handbag,birthday present from my mum!
Actually feel a bit different today!
Ollie try the Indigo collection slim jeans in Marks,also Autograph and Limited Collection have a few good things in atm.
I ordered this dress
www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/65206676&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,dresses,smartdresses
from Monsson,lovely but didn't suit me.
Lots of other dresses in there though.

georgina - you sound gorgeous today.

I'm justifying tee-shirt spend by not spending on masses of ones that will end up unworn or, washed out! I am such a lazy bones once I like something I end up wearing it over and over...so I figured I'd follow the age old mantra of 'buy fewer but better things'. We'll see how long this lasts!

REd- I'm rubbish on sunglasses. I have a longish face that is quite thin (despite my body NOT being thin) and all glasses look weird...I really do look like the fly. I long to find the perfect pair but it's yet to happen

Marsha- you are right it was Esher I think...and it was a lovely peacoat! Good luck getting those boots back

Thankyou hells
Am trying to vary my outfits,I have so many clothes ,I need to wear them!(in the original spirit of this thread!)
Re summer,it is very nuch on my mind as we are off to the Canaries next week so I need to cast a critical eye over my summer wardrobe!

oh you lucky thing. I need sunshine so desperately! I think as I have olive skin I have a clinical requirement for it

GW you sound loveliness itself.

red - I have bought these in black for this year

marsha I loved those boos, hope you get them!!

OWW - very excited for your shopping trip!

In spirit of stepping away from the mumsy look, have gone for the outfit that dh said made me look like the au pair - 7 jeans, black ash high tops, l/s AV black tee with red S.Miller tee over the top. And went for a run this morning so have a bit of a young rosy glow

hells be sure to report back on the tee, glad your ds's party was a success!

Thanks ladies!
Have ordered the Oasis tea dress
www.oasis-stores.com/40's-Print-Dress/New-In/oasis/fcp-product/3170069300
and will hopefully keep 2 out of the 3 dresses I have ordered,this and the Warehouse ones.
Will take away with me!
Have decided to leave the metallic sandal hunt for later in the season.
Will take last years silver flip flops,Marks metallic flats and my trusty Sketchers away with me next week!

They still have them! I have spent loads recently and can't afford them really. Does anyone think these in black leather are a bit meh? Or can talk me out of wanting them?

I don't think I can get them, buggeration.

Marsha - I'm a sucker for that type of boot...but putting on my practical head we are nearing the end of the really cold bit and now it's just going to be wet and horrible - so they may well get ruined and you will only get a few months wear out of them anyway. Is that what you wanted to hear

Close Hells close

I rang back, they are holding until Thursday. I'm getting some £ on Thursday. hmmmm

Dh will not be impressed (fickle bugger that he is).

So at least I have time to think about it (probably caring way too much).

Ltec are you able to go running because your dh is home (when not away at work) or do you get someone round? (envious).

Hello!

Quick post from me - baby DD is requiring MUCH more attention - does she have ADD?? So my time on the internet is being seriously curbed! Although am pleased that she likes watching SATC w me [smlie]. Have to order the ASOS top today, after finding precisely zero at the Pearl and Jumbles sound.

Marsha - suede can die a v sad death when it comes in contact w the London rain - hope this helps!

Verity - was shocked and appalled at your in laws - unforgivable, and frankly I would have ripped my DH a new one for that, too. Glad that its changed your outlook, though.

Cakey - LOVED iPhone in the loo - hummed it all day. Your in-laws sound v trying. Moving to Sydney must have many many upsides for you...

All sounding lovely today, ladies!!

Had much fun at Sat night at French themed party, but yesterday was a v bad day - hangovers are the pits. Feeling better today, although quite blue about mummy tummy. Maybe I better add running to list of activities... Have to run - DD getting v fed up, but will read until can post again...

Just checking in.

DD has been throwing up in night and this morning so I did the sensible, adult thing and phoned doctor in floods of tears . Think it's just a little bug but she's gone through 3 changes of clothes, 2 lots of bedding and had 3 baths so far this morning. It's awful - particularly as she keeps choosing to do her most exorcist style projectiles when I'm holding her. Aghhh.

Needless to say I'm not thinking much about clothes today but have ordered my boots.

Tracey - good idea about contacting Mulberry or the factory shop direct. I've had a look on ebay etc. but you can never be sure can you? Plus I'd like it to be new.

Verity I remember your IL thread. Still can't believe they thought it was acceptable to treat your family like that.

Marsha I would leave the boots for now - get something summery instead and maybe come back to them next year.

Right - washing machine is calling. Have a good day everyone (nearly put a kiss then! Would I be banned from MN for life? )

mrsjuan....try not to worry too much. This bug is going around and it's over relatively quickly (if it is the same which it sounds like it is). DD did about 6 vomits over 8 hours and then just one more later and then was back to relative normality (though she did have loose poo for a while after). DS was the same.

NOt fun but over soon.