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

998 replies

VerityBrulee · 27/02/2010 21:55

Following on from here

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

OP posts:
carciofi · 06/03/2010 08:24

Sounds like bliss, Blossoming.

Tracey, I have also been up since 6.30, woken by DD shouting Upsy Daaaaisy. Are the green trousers you got in Zara quite long? I'm looking for olive green skinny trousers and yours sound just the ticket but I am 5'9".

VerityBrulee · 06/03/2010 08:31

Morning Tracey At least the early mornings are brighter these days, so a bit easier to get out of bed!

LOL at Carciofi, I live in Dublin and can see why you won't be buying anything while you are here - lack of choice/ terrible exchange rate Let me know if you want any local info

I was mortified the other day at buying a jersey blazer in Per Una, but I saw an almost identical one on Topshop yesterday, and tbh the cut of the M&S one is better.

LTEC I find the sizing of topshop jeans very hit miss. My deepest sympathies on the ILs situation, hope it's not as bad as you think it will be.

Blossoming I'm so of your day off, hope you have a perfect day

I saw some lovely maxi dresses in Zara yesterday for those who are looking.

Since I've been up early I've been having a look at some blogs, look at this lady I would never have imagined wearing leopardskin tights and shoes could look so amazing. The shape of her sunglasses is fantastic, the cut of her coat, and she is carring the mini version of the Fendi Peekaboo that I covet so much

I'm having a major bag moment right now

OP posts:
VerityBrulee · 06/03/2010 08:34

I took so long to type in between making pancakes that lots of you are up early, so morning all

OP posts:
monkeysmama · 06/03/2010 08:40

Have fun Blossoming!

Love the maxi dress Tracey. I never thought to look at The WC. I've got a few basics from them which are brilliant quality. Thank you.

A question about white trousers / jeans. When do you where them & how do you keep them clean? I know it sounds foolish but dd's feet are constantly on me. Do you only wear them sans LOs or is there a secret I don't know?

My first eBay purchase arrived & I made a blunder as my ddad would say. It is an animal print maxi dress and I thought it had proper cups but though it gas the shape of cups they're not padded and have a tie to keep them together so far more beach than everyday. Still, I'll keep it for holiday. Won a really pretty purple & yellow aftershock silk shift dress last night. Never worn so a bargain at £15.

Off to the forest again today with dd, dsis & mum then for lunch.

Have a nice day everyone and will be thinking of you Ltec

notyummy · 06/03/2010 08:46

Like the black maxi.

Top shop jean sizing can be variable, but I find their skinny flare jeans (in their tall range) so flattering that I can get over the sizing dilemma!

Romanarama · 06/03/2010 09:21

Gosh I love this thread. I feel so much more at home with people who want to try on DVF and then go for champagne at Claridges than all those other 'is 19.50 too much for a pair of jeans?' threads

Will you people help me get a job? I should have 3 more interviews in the next 3 weeks. The best one is a serious contact-making-with-important-people job, so I need to present an image that is: striking, attractive, confident, professional, a bit sexy but in a pencil skirt rather than a mini-skirt kind of way would probably by helpful. I'm thinking heels, knee length pencil skirt, fitted jacket, good accessories. Head turning by being ultra chic and super composed is the kind of look that would suit. I'm 37, 5'10", size 8, no norks that you'd notice. Off to scout my wardrobe.

suggy · 06/03/2010 09:43

Another shy lurker... Living a vicarious life, where I have an unlimited budget and stylish wardrobe to match... Though amongst the 'shop, shop, shop' there have been great tips. Like love your clothes and accessorise, accessorise, accessorise...

Anyhow sorry about your job strife Romanarama. I have this dress and matching jacket I know its cheap as chips but it looks much better in RL. I was at a big event yesterday in London & usually when I'm in London I feel like a hick - accessorised it with loads of silver jewelley and heels and felt the bees knees. Had a lovely liberty scarf for the travel aspects. Had hair done the night before and loads of subtle slap. 2 colleagues didn't recognise me! Dress is knee length on me (I'm 5 7, with minimal norks too) and fits nicely. I sewed the lining in as recommended on another thread. It looks much more expensive and is machine washable which with children snotting on shoulders is helpful. I had a day at The Trafford Centre and tried on tonnes of clothes, and this dress just felt right.

blossoming · 06/03/2010 09:47

Romanarama, a shot in the dark here but have you see phase 8's evelyn ponteroma (sp?) dress. It has a highish neck, is knee length and mad menesque.
You could wear killer heels and an amazing watch as it has 3/4 sleeves.
I have it in grey. It's v elegant and demure. Dh went mad for it! Obvs wear fab lingerie underneath.

MarshaBrady · 06/03/2010 10:00

Romanarama this Roland Mouret is hot but a tad too sexy with split? I'd love to walk into an interview with this and high heels. Knock 'em dead.

Pencil skirt and top, will have a look...

notyummy · 06/03/2010 10:05

Depends on your budget Romanarama. Of late, I have found Jigsaw a bit overall, however the more formal work stuff I have got from there hangs well and is nicely cut. How about:

dress

or this

i have these for work

another pencil skirt

As you can see, they all come with matching jackets.

notyummy · 06/03/2010 10:09

Also:

moschino

philosphy

theory

As you can see, I am going for fairly formal 'safe' stuff as in my line of work that is what I would probably do for an interview. Let me know if I am way off the mark!

bunjies · 06/03/2010 10:12

Morning all.

Tracey - would love to have the vanilla/courgette cupcake recipe if you get the chance.

Blossoming - have a fantastic day. Where do you go to have your hair done? I am seriously in need of some professional hair help and when I'm over at the end of the month I want to treat myself. Last time I was over I went to Toni & Guy in Brighton and I was really disappointed in the result. I'm cursed with super fine, thin hair and they just didn't have a clue how to deal with it even though I'd splashed out on the top stylist . Never again.

I'm quite relieved my ILs are relatively normal. They drink, don't interfere, don't criticise. However, FIL does have a problem being around small children (ie seen and not heard brigade) so we made the decision very early after one particularly fraught visit to their very un-child friendly house (gin bottles at floor level!) that we would only see them at our house where it didn't matter if dcs ran around and knocked things over. This worked much better and now dcs are older he's more relaxed with them.

notyummy · 06/03/2010 10:14

Lastly:

DVF

MarshaBrady · 06/03/2010 10:15

Those nap ones are good notyummy, was going to link a couple of those too but having wriggly chubby baby on my lap!

notyummy · 06/03/2010 10:17

Def last!

McQ

bunjies · 06/03/2010 10:23

Romanarama - keeping an eye on this as I will hopefully be in a similar situation as you soon.

mcq skirt although a bit risque with the zip

I like this one

notyummy · 06/03/2010 10:26

Liking the sportmax pencil skirt bunjies.

hanaflower · 06/03/2010 11:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bunnymother · 06/03/2010 11:21

Roman - God, your dimensions make me want to top myself. Tall and thin, oh dear.

Cakey - ooh, am thinking of you with those in-laws. They sound appalling. Your outfit sounds great - casual, yet stylish (its the vintage that really makes the outfit, isn't it?!). Shame if you instinctively slap one of them when they touch your DC while you are BF-ing, solely because it was affecting his latch. Or something. Although, you have won the war (DH moving o/s) so prob feel like you can hand them the odd battle. Smug in the knowledge that Australia is oh so far away. AND an incompatible time zone.

On the BLW, Delie just decided that she wouldn't be spoon fed and would feed herself finger food. Classic PFB (ie prob wouldn't happen if I had more children and therefore less time). So had to do mezze plates which mademoiselle would peruse and eat what she liked from (no consistency). While I tried to hide my grinding teeth. Seemed it was a phase, though, so now I can spoon feed her again, but also have some finger food avail as she does like to feed herself too. Sorry if that isn't much help, but this is the approach I have taken (over-indulgent) so she gets enough to eat while still feeling independent. Don't want meal time to = battle time.

MM - your in-laws also sound terrible. Although your vitriol was also v amusing - good to be witty while angry.

Tracey - strict tee-total or the like makes me a bit about a person. No wonder you don't mix the in-laws w the festive season. Not a good match from the sound of things.

And who is in the utility bunker room - Plum? Your poor ladies with these awful in-laws!! My MIL is lovely, really sweet. Prone to over-emotion and paranoia from time to time, but a v lovely lady.

Helles - how terrible that your evening out was ruined!! Mr Bunny's first reaction (I read to him choice morsels from this thread, as he hears me laughing or gasping (w delight at links or horror at in-law antics) and wants to know what the Sam Hill is going on) was that "cleaning up was grandma's job, that's part of babysitting". So she got off v lightly according to Mr Bunny.

Can't keep up w the links, but wanted to also send thanks for this threat - am sporting Uniqlo zebra scarf (love it) and generally making more of an effort w my appearance. Have also thought "what would S&B ladies think" and put clothes back on rails/emptied online shopping cart. Pious me.

GeorginaWorsley · 06/03/2010 11:37

tracey thanks for thinking of me!
Never get chance to go into a Gap really but will make special effort now!
Am due a trip to Manchester so will hunt out.
Have seen Gap ballet pumps in numerous magazines and always look good.

Romanarama · 06/03/2010 11:46

Marsha I love the Mouret but think it's a bit sexy for an interview - I'd wear it to the office if I got the job though. Or elsewhere, so I might think about it. notyummy they're all lovely - I think the Moschino might be the best, that looks like a genuine 'day to evening' dress which would be particularly useful as my line of work involves interminable cocktail parties. I always try not to go because they always clash with bath/story/bed (don't other people have children? I find this kind of thing very odd, considering reproducing is hardly unusual. Maybe their children are nocturnal so it's not an issue).

I had also just found my way to that fantastic sportmax pencil skirt, and it's just gone in my bag but 8's sold out so I'll have to try a 10. I've also put the rats and the hi-tops in, I'm such an LTEC groupie it's ridiculous

That Jigsaw wool shift looks so handy I'm going to get that too.

I was thinking around 500-1000 for the dress/jacket/shoes depending on wearability and timelessness!

OllieWollieWoo · 06/03/2010 11:48

Morning! Just about recovered from my night out last night - went to a v chic wine bar with some other expats Mums from school! Drank prosecco all night so felt v woolly headed this morning! (And it did feel a bit weird sitting there drinking without having a meal iykwim!) Wore my new indigo skinny jeans, black round toed shoes with a high wooden heel, cream blouse with a few frills and a black boxy style jacket. Without sounded vain I felt pretty good in it all - and being on this thread def helped me put the outfit together and made me want to make more effort! Had a quick look at the posts last night when I got home and almost posted one of those squiffy 'I luv you guys' messages but decided to go to bed!

Am def going to invest in a clutch or two - v insipired by your comments. Will prob go for a black one and then maybe one with a bit more wow factor! Right - time for some fresh air to sort me out!

OllieWollieWoo · 06/03/2010 11:54

Romanarama - no idea re quality given the low price compared to some of the other links but I've always liked this style of dress and the range of colours they do. Used to do it in a navy pinstripe which was nice but can't see that on here;
here

Romanarama · 06/03/2010 11:55

Oh yes, I do like the Evelyn Ponteroma, and it's cheap. That's another purchase. Hope I actually get one of these jobs as none of this is really dog walking attire is it?

carciofi · 06/03/2010 12:01

Verity, sorry, I wasn't dissing Dublin, I am from there! Just not spending as I have bought a lot in the past few days and my dad doesn't have internet access (reduces the tempation). I usually head over to Malahide as there is a fab shoe shop there and some lovely children's shops.

Ollie, your outfit sounds lovely.

Romanarama, I used to like Theory for suits.