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

[LetThemEatCake]

Ladies, welcome to Spring

How do you get MN discount at my-wardrobe? And what's the pick up option?

Info I need before ordering my jeans!

If any of you are size 26 jeans, they have some MiH ones at £54 on there today.

Yes it twas me. It is a sod to send stuff back. The post office is always packed. I really didn't click that mn code would do that (as was full price stuff).

However I have been and am back. Feel SO much better.

Fleecy gad to hear good news on your Dad (sorry he is ill).

I had all remaining highlights cut off yesterday and it has effected my mood, I do need some blonde. Interesting to go back to ground zero as it were, kind of excited to start from afresh.

Fleecy - type MUMSNET in the codes box but only available on non-discounted stuff.
The pick up is for returns - they will send a DHL courier free of charge to collect if you want to refund/exchange - however again only for full price stuff. Otherwise you have to send back yourself via pos toffice and you pay.

I mean glad.
Ok you need to put in MUMSNET at check out page, before you pay. They will still deliver by dhl but won't pick up if you want to return.

So Marsha - does using the MN discount mean no collections
That's rubbish - am not going to se them in that case. I deliberately ordered black rats off them to get the MN 10% - but would have used NAP if had known would have to pay for returns

Georgina - have decided that my feet always need boots at this time of year, but I'm wearing the m&s ballet flats round the house with the jeans and they look better than my fluffy slippers ! Have expensive jeans, shoes, bags, dresses, but dh only sees me in sweaty betty yoga trouser and layered tops. Am making more of an effort in honour of this thread .

I know me too, hugely annoying as would have used NaP too as really dislike post office runs. Plus of course at £8 postage you lose out (am tight re postage!).

I sent an email to check and got this back...

'Good Morning
Yes, unfortunately returns are only free on full priced items. This means that if a promotional code is used we cannot offer our DHL details. I am very sorry.'

So I learnt today to only use MW if a) I'm sure I'll keep it or if b) MN discount warrants a pita trip (high price etc).

Although the sorry made me feel slightly less irritated.

Hello all, that last thread filled up incredibly quickly. It was so sad to hear about the lost babies - I'm so sorry for your losses.

I'm managing not to buy too much atm, mainly because I'm still losing baby weight from DS _ I reckon I have a stone to go. Having said that though, he will be christened at the end of March and I was thinking about this but not sure if it would also work for work when I go back in October. Will also need help with accessories because am rubbish at that.

I have managed to get hold of a Hush henley dress which is ace for bf and very comfy. I'm looking out for other bf-friendly dresses as well.

well, I have been wearing my Ash high-tops all winter!! is that odd?

all this talk of black rats saw me digging them out of the cupboard today and trying them on. My legs are in no way ready to wear them yet but they do look good with high-tops. Sheer-ish on the bum though so don't go thinking you can wear them with anything less than a below-hip-length tee...well, certainly not on the school run anyway!!!

Fleecy, that is fantastic about your dad. Am so sorry you've all had that worry.

rabbit that dress is great for both - esp in blue. DVF really good for those carrying a little more weight than they want - very flattering. You don't need much in the way of accessories - just a heeled pump (note the singular, god I crack myself up) and a clutch...

tracey and esher and anyone else doing ladylike/ governess / nude this SS - have you seen this? One left, size small ....

Are we accepting late joiners? I have been avidly reading but am feeling very depressed about state of wardrobe and generally, am 32 weeks pregnant with no 2, 2 years apart. I breastfeed DD for 18 months (until shortly after I found out I was pregnant again). My wardrobe was very out of date and boring in the spring, so I had a few months of doing exactly this, carefully adding pieces, etc...and then got pregnant.

So I will have been wearing maternity/breastfeeding clothes for about 4 years by the time I can start playing again! With my daughter my boobs went from smallish (34C/36B) to a D, so buying tops was out of the question if I wanted to wear them again.

While on mat leave/breastfeeding I was not my usual stylish self, which I am hoping to rectify this time.

So, my query for the collective geniuses here: is there any little treat I could get myself for now that would work post-birth? I have been having a yucky time with a very busy work schedule and feeling extremely unwell and would love to add something to my wardrobe so I can feel Cool! I can't do any more maternity purchases (note 32 weeks and also some may remember my love affair with the world's most expensive Citizens maternity jeans).

Ooooh boots arrived and they are lovely.

Fleecy - good news about your dad

LTEC - you do make me laugh with your pump

Roary - having had 3 dc's in the last 5 years I know where you're coming from. I really wouldn't spend much on clothes for that immediate post-partum period as you'll quickly find them too big.

So I'd be tempted to go for either or all of the following: sunglasses, handbag, scarf or shoes.

Hiya!
Fleecy so pleased about your Dad!

Choo lovin' the dress toooo!!!

LTEC love the tees thanks (but not a 'red' person- like the black redherring! Saw some nice Belstaff tees too!

LTEC and tracey Ladies, I can totally feel your 'anguish'at confirmation of 3rd pg!!!! My official date of confirmation was 8 Feb ! I staggered around Tescos wondering why I felt totally sh*t and bought a tescos own brand pg test!Thinking I really wasn't I went home, put the shopping away then found test in the afternoon and thought I'd try it - just to put my mind at rest. I peed on the stick and left it on the side as my Toddler was running in and out annoyingly!!! I checked it and I could have passed out - I think I moaned 'oh no'!!! Then I burst into hysterical tears and rang DH who thought, God forbid, that someone had died!!!!He was of course in a meeting (why do men answer a call in a meeting, only to awkardly try to have a monsyllabic conversation with you!!!?).All I could think of was my looming 40th birthday in August (oh, so no Babington or Barnsley House then!!)as baby prob due in Sept!! Well. I didn't know when actually because I didn't have a clue !No 3 is certainly much loved and cherished but by God was it a shock!
Anyway went to Cribbs today and stocked up on some essentials - nice white l's tees from Gap (excellent); navy low top converse (!); black/white stripy top (Gap); navy tank (jigsaw); am waiting on jeans for a month or two as legs/butt v slim but tum (mmm....)...I think I am going to invest in 7FAM but have them shortened!
Wearing today; l/s stripy tee; grey fat face waistcoat; ancient gap jeans, black skechers...

Hooray - thats so funny - I was in tescos when realised I may be pregnant and it was one of their cheapy tests that confirmed it. DD is a delight but I also phoned DH in absolute hysterics.

Sounds like a productive trip - do you go to cabots much?

esher you are such a yummy mummy!

Traceybath and Hanaflower, hmmmm....I thought that this would end up basically with accessories but hoped that someone might have a Genius Garment that would work post-partum. But of course Traceybath is right, in that size changes so drastically in the first weeks that there's not much point in getting clothes.

Shoes would be lovely, except for the fact that I have really, really, really narrow feet and find it almost impossible to buy shoes. I have decided (fully in spirit of thread!) that I am NO LONGER going to spend money on shoes that are cute but don't fit as they are uncomfy and bad for my feet. But this has reduced the options drastically. Here's another question for the jury, though: Brogues? I have found a pair that fit me (!!) but don't want to pick them up if they are a one-season wonder.

Also: alternatives on the cool trainer front to Converse (they are disastrous in the heel for me, although I had a beautiful sequinned pair that was the envy of everyone!)

I really, really dislike being pregnant and this is part of the reason why! Don't get me wrong, I am delighted to BE pregnant, just would rather not FEEL pregnant ;)

Hi tracy I've only been once! Went to Cribbs today as easier in the rain !!! Prefer Bath ...but difficult with two DCs in tow - although they were good (especially since DD was given tiny trashy mermaid dolly as incentive for being good)! She was giving her judgement on everything....

roary take heart - most of us feel the same...I ended up buying some stretchy non-maternity things which I could wear again - worn with something covering and drapey... Gap have some waterfall waistcoat thingys in which would be great for being pg and after when you still have some tum and some twerp asks when the baby is due (aargghh!). I wouldn't personally buy brogues at this stage ... your feet get bigger when you are pg so they may end up too big! I would def buy some comfy trainers - LTEC'S Ash's are great, or skechers/merrells ...I love Converse too but know what you mean...I like the french studenty look they impart (so great when you are 40)

roary - my late pregnancy and beyond saviour is this

cosy, luxurious, glamorous, indifferent to shape changes. good for bfing, thrown over jeans to feel more glam ... okay, it kind of falls into the accessory category but i think of it more as an item of clothing, personally - like a cardicoat substitute...

roary welcome.
I second LTEC's suggestion od some sort of waterfall cardigan/wrap thing.I wore something similar towards the end of my last pregnancy 4 yrs ago,accessorised with various scarves depending on weather/mood etc,which also covered the gap nicely!
You could get a cashmere/cashmere mix one now,and maybe a softer lighter linen knit one for after the birth,if you are due in spring?

Roary - I lived in stretchy yoga trousers in the immediate aftermath.

Within a few weeks I was back in my 'fat' jeans and just bought a few cheapy tops from h&m to tide me over.

Do you know ladies - I have a strange yearning for a red dress for summer. God what with the white jeans, animal print and big sunglasses - I think I'm having a liz hurley moment

well tracey, according to that website I write for, red dresses are ever so now...