Here we are in our 505 and Hasbeens still waiting for spring, and still shopping wisely!

[VerityBrulee]

Following on from here

Surely the sun will be out by the end of this thread?

Yes traceyb and I cannnot wait.

I get to Euston at 10.00 am, and leave at 5pm. Euston is 2 stops to Oxford circus, so I can get there by about 10.15 if I'm lucky.
I cut my hair down conduit st at 11.30, so I've got 75 mins to be organised around that area before then.
I've noticed a big gap in my wardrobe for a breton top and like this gap one in navy. I think one of us has it. Is it you Libra?
I might also run into JL to have a quick scout round.
I also want to go to the dvf shop on bruton st which is the one that continues accross from conduit over bond st to try on this blue dress. (This is my treat purchase after ebaying all my clothes).
Then after hair it's to harvey nicks for lunch and blink, and scout round the jeans dept.
Then back up to Oxford st to M&S. (Did someone else read in last months Glamour that they're doing an undwear range with Collette Dinnigan?
I want to buy this and this.
Phew!
I'll be the one in the lovely new scarf.

oooh Plum lovely and well-deserved. Mine are teetotal too. I drink even more around them and have even lamented loudly in their presence that I wish I could give up smoking. (I don't smoke, am just perverse)

Saw many crimes against S&B at soft play today. DH came home early in the arvo so I could go for a run but I shamefully went and had my nails properly painted with 505 instead. Part of my armour for tomorrow. Can't you see it? LTEC raises hand, nail-side out, in response to an MiL or SiL annoyance and humphs "talk to the 505 girlfriend, cos the Tiffany-studded ear ain't listenin'!!"

Tracey is it this one

Might be worth phoning?

Blossoming - can't get the DVF link to work. Every time I go into that shop I go to Claridges for a glass of bubbly after!

fleecy great new about your dad
hells hope dd is much better
blossoming have a fab day
hf - my 5 SS10 purchases are pretty much done I think but am yet to get vibrant maxi, 1 bright and 1 metallic ballet flats, lightweight slouchy blazer and bright canvas tote which I can use, trash and throw away at end of season.

HF, I think it's the same dress you said before you had held up. It was you wasn't it? Ages ago now.

LTEC, great idea re nails. Have you got a treat planned for when they've gone?

(whispers) Has anyone fantasised about divorcing dh to not have to see ILs again?

Bloss - I remember now! Thanks.

HF the one on the alice by temperley website is sleevless but think I'll email NAP as they're usually pretty good. Actually thats just reminded me that I'm on the waiting list for the sjp Halston Heritage white dress.

HF - are you in the south west too? Or am I going mad.

Blossoming - sounds like you've got a lovely day planned - enjoy it!

LTEC - my mil thinks i'm terribly shallow as I buy my dc's designer clothes - yeap - gap kids that well known designer . But actually they're fine and very helpful although planning on moving closer to us. And I know I'm being mean and selfish but am just worried I will end up being their default run-arounder.

Oh dear have had 2 glasses of sauvignon and feel quite drunk.

Is anyone else just not loving this season of 24 - its definitely gone off a bit I think. Too many ridiculous storylines.

Evening all

I love reading this thread! Really look forward to sitting down with laptop after DCs are in bed. You all sound like such stylish ladies. I'm miles away from the bright lights and shiny shop windows of any big cities - this thread is fantastic for inspiration, thank you all!

Great question hf re 5 essential spring purchases, it's been interesting hearing the responses and narrowing down my own which are -
Soft jersey blazer (navy, or perhaps this - opinions please, or alternative suggestions for a nice navy one?
Coloured casual wedges, like these
Dark denim not-too-mini. Bit of a holy grail this one. Tried one on in Gap yesterday but not v flattering so the search continues...
Dress to wear to 3 spring/summer weddings (all different groups of people so hoping to wear same dress to each!)
Yet another Bretonesque top to add to my collection. Perhaps red/white or green/white to make a change.

I've always loved white jeans tracey even though many say they're a bit Liz Hurley. Not the most practical with a 3yo and 8 month old though.

I'm not loving "Dana Walsh" ugh, so annoying!!

quite like Renee as crazed twisted killer

There'll never be another Nina

That's not mean and selfish at all re your in laws. And Bloss - shhhh - yes I have

messed up big time with these 7 jeans bought at Bicester last week - been so long since I bought jeans that I didn't factor in the stretch. They are now hanging halfway down my backside.

However, am having Topshop jeans drama, about which there is another thread

Think tomorrow I will wear jeans, silver Ash and a vintage (read 2nd hand from a Notting Hill store - £25) Cacharel top/ blouse thing with an over pattern of blue and deep pink records - I mean, they're not records but kind of look like they are.

LTEC - I know it's unmentionable on this thread but.. ...Boden has some lovely bright ballet pumps. The yellow and green are gorgeous for spring.

Completely on another subject, I am intrigued by the Black Rats . I clicked on one of your links to have a look.... being a complete country bumpkin can I ask what makes them so special and when you all wear yours.

5 things??
Right,here goes
Navy patent ballet flats.Have only seen in Boden so far!
Metallic wedges.
Pretty tea dress/everyday dress.
Navy or grey linen waterfall cardigan.
Lots of Top shop or similar vests/tees.Yes,I know that is more than 5
tracey re fake tan,have been using St Tropez airbrush spray and is brilliant.

Sorry to hear about the 7 jeans LTEC. Am I allowed to ask what size they are?...am wondering if too big for you I might be able to buy them if you stick them on ebay....

I am afraid I am not going to even try and keep up with all the links - there are soooo many!

Who was it who asked about gold ASH hi-tops - want to report that they are fabola . I already have grey croc ones from last year but this year's version is even better as have ankle zip so the 4 buckles are just for show unlike last year's ones which you had to undo and do-up everytime. The gold colour is quite muted, not too bling. Quite peachy - will look good with nudes I think.

LTEC - you asked about the Zoe's oversized t - I also ordered this one. They are basically the same top but short and long versions. I don't think I am going to keep as wanted something to cover my bum and the long one is just too oversized on my frame. Is a lovely shade of purple and good quality jersey - quite heavy and 2 layers (double faced?). I think it would be great on someone taller with some shoulders but I am just too short and scrawny . The short one is quite short, shorter than it looks in the pic and more boxy - well above my hip bone on me and I am short (5'3'')

Plum - thanks for link to Next glads for DD2 - my only reservation was they are not leather - someone else (Tracey?) said they had seen some in monsoon so will check there first, also someone posted a white co code which reminded me that white co had some last year iirc.

Hells - lovely AMcQ dress, sorry your evening was curtailed. There are loads of sickness things around at min aren't there? Both my dd's have been off-colour with intermittent dodgy tums and now am feeling distinctly queasy myself and DH flys to NYC in the morning........aaagh

HF - funny that you linked to that Alice dress at O'Keefe as is my local boo-teek. I am in and out a coupe of times a week as is 5 mins from dd2's nursery . Not near me are you?

Hello to everyone else, will try and get up to speed with all the links now

Sorry to butt in!!! but have seen the gold ash hightops mentioned a couple of times... i love these and am tempted to get them BUT i have big feet and converse for example look like boats on the end of my legs as they are quite narrow - any ideas of how the ash ones compare in width/looking like boats??
Thanks!

Hi esher, I'm new on here. Have been enjoying lurking for some time. I've just looked at the Ash hi-tops and am in love... they are just gorgeous. Am very tempted. How do they come up size-wise? I'm at least a 6, sometimes 6 and a half UK.

Matildamum - I think they have plain jersey blazers in uniqlo and on asos. That topshop one looks like it would only really work with either a plain white or a plain navy tee.
Not at all keen on the fly wedges I'm afraid.
Re white jeans - am deffo considering the purchase of white jeggings this summer as a kind of updated Liz-thing

Black rats - immensely flattering on, kind of suck you in amd make legs look longer and as so rightly pointed out by LTEC - are ever so slightly slutty but in like a good way. Youthful but not muttony.

BTW - I very much enjoyed the mutton debate you were all having. Is a subject very close to my heart, the mutton thing. My own personal deluded view is that any mutton effect can be neutralised by the addition of a very expensive grown up handbag or shoes .
Seriously though sometimes I think it is the small things that can tip you over the edge when it comes to mutton - e.g. although I liked the drawstring topshop handbag that someone linked to and have actually tried it on I thought the overall effect on me was muttonous in that it was too youthful - anyone else know what I mean?

Allaboutme/Matildasmum - I have smallish feet (37) so don't find they look big - LTEC is our resident bigfoot though and she has and likes ASH hi-tops
I find they are exactly true to size, am a 37 everywhere inlcluding ASH.

also am looking for tan wedges for spring summer and am weighing up these 2...
really like the style of these but am worried they might be too low to be flattering..

and also like these not sure how comfy the wood sole will be, although i know clog type shoes are to be v trendy...

any opinions?

Thanks for the input esher re the Ash hi-tops and potential purchases. I know what you mean about the Fly wedges. They do look pretty ugly online. I saw and tried them on in John Lewis the other day...they are a lot nicer in RL, colours more subtle.
I really like the Topshop blazer but you're probably right it's not going to be particularly versatile. Will check out Uniqlo and Asos.

Allabout - Personally I think the next ones look like they would be an absolute b**rd to walk in. I like the clarks ones actually apart from the heel material which looks a bit strange - can't really see properly - is it rubber?

Right, am going to get early night tonight. Will be around tomorrow night though if anyone else around as DH swanning off and leaving me home-alone with the dd's till next Wednesday.

Hi ladies.
Sorry to hear of the ill DCs and annoying ILs.

We were in Richmond today, which has lots of fab shops but DH was with me so could not do any damage.

Matildamum, I saw that blazer in the window of Topshop today and thought it looked really nice, though agree with Esher that it would really only go with white or navy.

Blossoming, hope you have a lovely day tomorrow.

I bought a Whistles stripey red top and it arrived today, may have to buy LTEC's espadrilles to go with it. My friend is bringing me a pink Splendid top over from NY and have also ordered a red Splendid blazer and the Current Elliott jeans. DD and I are going to Dublin next week for 10 days and I am not buying anything!

Have a good weekend.

Matilda - not sure about the blazer or fly wedges. But I'm not generally convinced by jersey blazers. Jigsaw and Zara have got lovely stripey navy ones but in normal cotton.

Georgina - gap have got navy patent ballet flats and I thought of you when I bought dress in Zara yesterday - I think it would fit your brief. Day dress, pretty, v neck, belt in same material that ties around front, knee length with pockets and lovely olivey green/cream pattern.

LTEC - Dana driving me mad too. Good luck today.

And yes aren't I up early!

MM maxi dress?

Blossoming - have a lovely day

PCPlus - loving the FC Juicy dress, the only thing I might say is that if you are hippy it might make that area look even larger! I am of your utility room.

hf128219 - love the Marc Jacobs dress in cut and colour but am I the only one who doesn't get the skulls on clothes, unless you are a teenage emo, thing.

blossoming - probably too late you are trainward bound already, I don't have that top, but I did see that top and it is nice. I have a cotton jumper that was in the sale. If you DO read this I have 30% voucher for GAP I could send you? Have a FANTASTIC day in London.

LTEc - my thoughts and prayers are with you this weekend.

matilda Zara has some dark denim minis in, varying length, it has a sparkly Z on the bum pockets which put me off but might be worth a gander.

Going back to boys clothes, I went into Zara boy yesteday for a wander and then had some gorgeous boys t-shirts which were quite cool. They also had some nice blazers for spring/summer but I just don't know when I would wear them.

Whilst in town yesterday I decided to treat myself to a manicure at Nails Inc (was going for Jermyn Street) and got talked into a 3 week manicure (I am easily-led) which is not suppose to chip ever (they say 3 weeks cos your nails grow and it looks silly with a gap). Seeing as I must do at least 2 lots of washing up a day, plus housework, swimming, gym all without gloves on I am interested to see if it does last. i love having my nails done it makes me feel much more finished.

My ASOS order came yesterday, the coat is just weird, its sleeves come just below my elbow. Odd. The Twenty8Twelve top is a drab colour, I like the Princess Tam jumper but DH says I look like a pillow in it. The preg top got a resounding thumbs up however and got told I should buy it in the other colour as well. Back to be drawing board with coats, might try grey.

Am on train already after dreaming that I missed it!
Thanks for your good wishes.
Fantastic fast train from Chester makes this day out feasible - I just live an hour from Chester!
Early starts are normal in my house so it's ok.
Will read the times on the way out and jackie Collins on the way back. Uninterrupted.