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

997 replies

LetThemEatCake · 01/02/2010 12:04

Ladies, welcome to Spring

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DolceeBanana · 12/02/2010 20:46

Where's Choo tonight...out having some delish dinner, in an exclusive London restaurant no doubt whilst I await my takeaway!!!

dexter73 · 12/02/2010 20:51

It's my birthday on Wednesday - I will be 37. I have known my dh since I was 14. We started going out with each other when I was 17 and got married when I was 22. Dd turned up a couple of years later when I was 24. Dh is 6 years older than me. A little potted history there!

LetThemEatCake · 12/02/2010 20:51

yes, she probably is

better buy ourselves something to male up for it.

can't wait to discuss birthday outfits with you!

GW - the sun will shine, fear not! have you got your holiday wardrobe sorted?

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eshermummy · 12/02/2010 20:56

Evening all

Still feeling ropey myself so sympathies to LTEC and anyone else also laid low by bugs.

DH/House style - DH not really into clothes as fashion although he likes to have nice things ifyswim. He is very tall (but also very overweight - at saying that but is true) so is very difficult to buy things for him as he is too big for e.g. Zara menswear. He is a v unadventurous dresser anyway - not a hint of the metrosexual about him - so is mainly a uniform of plaid/check shirts and jeans/fine cords, 99% Polo Ralph Lauren and Gant. Luckily he loathes that public school/Hackett look so no coloured jeans or cords . For work he has to wear a suit - used to be Gieves and Hawkes but has recently invested in bespoke Savile Row tailoring - is amazing actually how much slimmer the bespoke stuff makes him look - I was as guess it is bloke's version of couture.

House - PCPlum - your old house is lovely. We are lucky enough to live in a big old period house with lots of character. It was all farrow and balled when we bought it but is looking a bit shabbier now (been here 3 years). House needs a lot of expensive external stuff (like a new roof and windows) so that seems to take all available funds. I would say I was more houseproud( in terms of tidiness etc) than into styling it. I also HATE all the getting quotes and co-ordinating tradesmen stuff.

Right, now I can't remember what everyone was linking to

Clogs - not keen on any I have seen thus far - however, like Fleecy I am extremely persuadable and am sure will be in them before the summer is out.

Where is the link to the Malene Birger cardigan - think I missed that one.

Right now what do we all think about dressed-up trackie bottoms as seen in all the Sunday supplements? Someone somewhere linked to these - what do we think. Cheap enough to take a punt no?
Some other good sweatshirt material items on that site - am thinking with black rats instead of winter wool sweater dresses as a kind of halfway house to spring.

this, thisand this

I also like these shoes - I can't really do high and vertiginous a la Louboutin/Choo - has to be chunky. I also love the shoes that the model wears in the whistles website shots (can't link, crap site) - black gladiator sandal things with gold embellishment on the cuff part?

I am still obsessing musing over leather leggings, found these in the matches sale and these in the US. My sis lives in the US. Any US knowledgeable types want to tell me about Victoria's Secret sizing - I am a topshop 8 so do you think I should go for a US 4 or 2? I sometimes am a US2 depending on brand.

LetThemEatCake · 12/02/2010 21:04

g'day esher - like the zip detail on one of those uniqlo ones, but dressed up trackie bottoms get the thumbs down from me.

Like those toast shoes a lot, and think that maybe MM might be interested in them too!

what are you going to wear tomorrow night??

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GeorginaWorsley · 12/02/2010 21:06

ltec
Have spent today sorting out stuff to take for DCs,very strange packing summery stuff when so cold outside!
Have been warned by DH not to overpack,(as usual!)
so have provisionally got ready
Navy and gold French Connection butterfly dress,soft cotton jersey and really flattering on
Same French Connection dress in white and navy
White linen trousers
cropped denim jeans
Teal drapey sleeveless Noa Noa dress
Grey beaded shrug from Phase Eight
Navy cropped cashmere cardigan
3 bikinis
2 kaftans
selection of vests/tees,in navy,grey,purple,white.
Pewter Marks ballet pumps
Metallic toe thongs
White sketchers...so comfy!
Am travelling in Marks Indigo Collection jeans,white tee,navy waterfall cardigan,scarf in blues/greys.
And he said don't overpack!

CHOOGIRL · 12/02/2010 21:13

I'm here. Fish and chips chez CHOO tonight whilst I decide what to give up for Lent. (Will probably be wheat, sugar and processed food)

Could have kicked myself - been procrastinating over this scarf for a while. Couldn't decide whether it suited my colouring. Then saw Naomi in it earlier went on NAP to buy and guess what gone.

these arrived today. Tried on but they are too narrow for my feet so back they go.

Will be eating out on Monday - probably wearing the new Chanel 505 polish which should be winging its way to me as we speak.

CHOOGIRL · 12/02/2010 21:15

LTEC Hope you are feeling better.

Fleecy · 12/02/2010 21:18

Despite my new-found love of the Ugg clogs (but no others!) I cannot bring myself to do sportwear, 'luxe' or otherwise, apart from for the gym.

Shoes are cute though and look like they might actually be comfy!

eshermummy · 12/02/2010 21:20

Still not sure whether am going to make it out tomorrow as still feeling exhausted and downright crap

I was thinking of debutting the rats but not sure what I would put on top half - I have an old jigsaw long line cashmere vest (grey with black sequinned stripes) that might work but not sure if it has enough arse coverage. I also have this in black but again not sure it will work although I know it looks good with wetlook/faux leather leggings as have worn it like that before.
I thought this would be a fab top for pairing with rats but no chance of getting out to get it by tomorrow night

LetThemEatCake · 12/02/2010 21:35

GW that sounds like just the right amount! Perfect, no matter what dh says!! As one of the Olsen girls once said "what if?" As in "what if I feel like wearing the blue ones? what if I'm not in the mood for the grey?"

Happy birthday for Wed dexter - anything nice planned?

Oh Choo, should've known that you'd have the 505. I really want some now. How'd you get it?

I might give up mumsnetting for Lent.

HA!!

esher am so sorry you;re feeling crap. Have been thinking about your leather leggings and I wonder whether you need them? Given that you have the rats and multiple pairs of wet look, plus it's end of season ... why don't you hold off, buy something fab and summery and then see how you feel next AW?

had a revelation today - not quite in the vein of Choo remembering forgotten Mulberry, but during the course of this thread, I've had an "I need orange, I need print" moment. And how did the last thread end? "Should I keep this orange print top or not?" Had momentarily forgotten I had it. Naughty LTEC.

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LetThemEatCake · 12/02/2010 21:36

esher that whistles top is really lovely.

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hanaflower · 12/02/2010 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CHOOGIRL · 12/02/2010 21:39

LTEC arranged with colleague who is flying back from Geneva.

I hear that Selfridges will get some back in early March - the delivery they had on Tuesday went within hours. I have tried it on and the colour is amazing. If I see one in passing will pick one up for you.

hellsbelles · 12/02/2010 21:41

esher - agree that top looks like it was designed for rats. Where are you based now? There is a whistles in Islington.

hanaflower · 12/02/2010 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eshermummy · 12/02/2010 21:49

hells - I am in.....um..... Esher

MarshaBrady · 12/02/2010 21:52

I just went on mw to finally sort out my order and there is a big photo KM as a tribute to AMcQ it actually made me feel quite sad. What a loss.

I have never worn polish (or had my ears pierced) but liking the sound of this hard-to-get Chanel. Am a sucker for anything that's hard to get!

LetThemEatCake · 12/02/2010 21:59

thanks Choo

So Marsha - what does that tell us about your dh??

agree, that pic stopped me in my tracks. Amazing photo.

Also the news that AMQ hung himself. A similarly aged male in our family hung himself a few years back and it had, as you can imagine, a massive impact. So I am always a bit ... I can't find the word- affected? shocked? - by news of that ilk.

Marsha - a friend of mine and I tried a new running arrangement y'day. Worked really well. She came over with her LOs, I looked after all of them while she ran, and then we swapped. Then all had lunch together. We got to run, the kids had a playdate.. perfect. Of course, baby had to be tanked up on milk before I left but that was no prob. Only ran 30 mins, not enough time for massive drama.

Thought I;d let you know in case you know someone with whom you could do something similar?

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bunnymother · 12/02/2010 22:02

Cakey - yes, 'twas on a hens night that I saw AMcQ. Are you moving to Sydney or Perth? Am all .

Leisure wear won't be worn by me outside of the house. Speaking of houses - we rent. Tis lovely flat but I dream of a terrace in Paddington, Sydney. Not a wise time for us to buy, so continuing saving our pennies.

Re DH he is dreamy of body but allergic to shopping. Makes him break out in bad mood. So I buy his casual clothes, which are mostly Zara w Diesel jeans and awful trainers - he insists on buying them himself. Latest ones have are black nylon high tops w neon laces. I was when I saw them. Hideous. Work clothes are suits he has made w shirts and cufflinks (man jewellery - I love buying them for him. The day we got engaged I bought him beautiful pair of cuffies so we both had "jewellery". He wore them to our wedding. )

speaking of jewellery, if you like antique jewellery, Bentley & Skinner store (online or in Burlington Arcade, London) had me swooning. My heart was def beating faster and DH had to wrestle me away. Divine.

Am irregular poster, but keen reader and 2nd my thanks to Cakey.

MarshaBrady · 12/02/2010 22:09

Yy that sounds great. I'm going to try and do that. Trouble is most of my friends are lazy buggers or exercise adverse! So will have to tempt with the play part and 1/2 break or something. (oh except for the cleaner supervised runner, she is an avid runner but other side of London).

As for dh, hah that is funny. He was hard to get but not for a particularly good reason. He was terrible at eye contact. I was fairly upfront and said you're really bad at at looking at me and later he admitted that he couldn't look at attractive girls! Of course I can spot a mile off now when he finds a girl attractive (in a soft non-marriage threatening way), he looks at his shoes!

Sorry to hear about your friend, so sad and shocking.

Redliquorice · 12/02/2010 22:39

Have to confess that I fall into the same category as Bunny, irregular poster but avid reader....I just struggle with the time and the thread moves so quickly!

Chanel 505 is selling for daft money on Ebay...I really NEED to track some down!

LTEC - I've searched for a link to the dress and cannot find it anywhere! It was a grey silk shift with capped sleeves and the hemline was covered in blingy jewels (sounds awful but was rather lovely). I should have done the sensible thing and ordered it in 2 sizes but hey ho you live and learn!

Fleecy · 12/02/2010 22:52

red I just looked at eBay - anything up to £40 at the moment

hellsbelles · 12/02/2010 22:58

esher oops! I'll blame tiredness for my stupidity. I'll ask Tracey where she's from next!

Redliquorice · 12/02/2010 23:04

Fleecy I know!!! No way I'm giving into the curse of ebay on that one. Will just need to be patient and develop willpower of steel!!

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