Halston and Hasbeens and Harems, oh my! Wise and avid gals this way, please!

[PlumSykes]

Wonder how quickly we'll fill this one?

don't be daft, you don't need to send me anything. You can buy me a drink when we meet up if you want. In the meantime send me a msg with your address etc via my blog if you're on it?

Of the maxis, I love the one that you already have best . And yes, I prefer the understated metallic. Think it's got more longevity too and let's face it, even with the 20%, they;re still tres expensivo. I think Hoxtonchick bought that PS bag in fuschia and commented on how small it was too?

Lol Ltec, I haven't been in a primark I don't even know why, your shopping sounds excellent.

A few more days til Aveda and Regent st, thank goodness my hair is not good atm and really annoying me. I love hats, especially summer ones but not sure am brave enough to rock up at the school in one.

Cakey - will send you a msg via the blog - but I will paypal you to cover the costs otherwise no deal .

I actually think I prefer the Donna now myself , although am starting to get a bad feeling about my order (ggggrrrrr) as have not yet had a confirmatory email which suggests to me that something somewhere has F**ed up and as the Pauric is still in stock on the site I expect the mistake is with the Donna

Righto, am off to bed now, last day of term tomorrow (yay and gulp - 2 weeks of solidly entertaining the dd's ahead).

night night xxx

It's best done no more than 4x a year, Marsha. and always when fortified by booze/ coffee/ something harder Liberty it ain't. In fact, Tesco it ain't. It's pretty horrific, as Choo has so succinctly demonstrated. I do have a flea market mentality though, so can just about cope with it.

esher cool, will wait to hear from you.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to see my outfit from last night and get the lowdown, it's all here

Goodnight, sweet dreams!

Hana LOL! Modest muslim = covering flesh in my books not necessarily anything more!..and in my defense I don't actually own any rats only cos I think I'm too short for them

Re: Landsend sizing- give them a bell they're really helpful

Esher - not sure the landsend coat will do it for me either, I'm venturing into new territory and trying to be practical!

LTEC - like your Zara top and you were very frugal indeed with your trip to Primark, I've been in once and had to get out fast, couldn't cope, was overwhelmed by the cheapness!

LTEC - I really must brave primark but it also means braving central bristol which is not my favourite shopping destination. But I am a new look devotee which is pretty cheap too.

Esher - I have to fight my inner Wag all the time:

• designer skinny jeans - check
• heels - check
• designer sunglasses - check
• designer bag - check
• hi-lighted hair - check
• and as much animal print/metallic as I can get away with

Lordy - I sound a picture don't I?

Regarding warm coats - I bought a duvet coat from Timberland in the january sales. Its lovely - very light but warm - just put it on to take the bins out. Oh what a glamorous life I lead.

hana - I'm a 14 on top in anything that needs to do up, especially coats (broad shoulders) and I have a M - it's plenty big enough. They're pretty generous.

I wish the black were more matte, though - the shininess combined with paddedness makes me feel frumpy when I look down at it, although if I see myself in a shop window it looks a lot better, which is heartening!

Now, all this talk of Primarni put me in mind of Matalan. Similarly itchy, but at least they're online!

They seem to have some great basics in. Will do a quality test with

this

and this because it involves butterflies but is 100% cotton..

Haven't had a proper trawl through yet!

Morning all -

vin- I am so, so sorry about your daughter. I honestly don't know where all of you who have ad such sad losses on here get your strength from .

I braved Primark yesterday (only to get DD some leggings - didn't have the right mindset to look for anything for myself) and heard the checkout girls talking about someone who had spent over a thousand pounds the day before! Surely you would have to buy virtually every item in the shop to spend that much in Primark

Moneyspider - for some reason matalan gives me the heebie jeebies. I can't go in there!

LTEC - I nearly requested you on facebook last night but chickened out at the last minute because of the shame of some of the photos! Deeply unflattering & some very unwise outfits .

It is snowing here. Not even nice snow - grrrr. I've been very happy not having to wear a coat for the last week or so - not going to get away with it today.

hello ladies, long time lurker and I hardly ever post in S&B but think you lot might be the place to start!

I need advice on buying a maxi, as I'm a bit of a Hobbit

I'm 5ft 1 and would love one for the summer, but dont want to look ridiculous and have no idea where to start.

Anyone got any good suggestions? It would be for daywear, so something I can layer with a cardi or jacket. Shoes are not an issue (have dozens) but would mostly likely to be worn with glads or flats.

Oh and I'm a 10 in most shops but have F bangers, so something not too revealing

Budget is about £100, happy to shop online too.

But if the advice is no to maxis for someone of my mighty height, I'd appreciate the advice.

Also Choo - I have that MJ Atomic dress from a couple of seasons back and I love it. Its been worn many times and it gets loads of compliments.

Ooooh could this be my white dress for the summer?

What do you think Ladies?

We've made bread, cupcakes and shortbread today - virtuous mummy has eaten just one tiny cake.

tracey that's astonishingly perfect for the price - buy it!!!

mrsj you daft sausage, request me immediately!!!

welcome pink - scroll back to eshermummy's post last night, she is also petite (about 5'3" from memory) and linked to several contenders

and - for the zillionth time - think Nicole Richie and say YES to maxis

Snap traceybath - except I have been mass baking for our Mothers Group High Tea tomorrow - I am such a sucker not not saying no and agreed to make 48 scones and 24 shortbread biscuits! DS1 is home and very keen to help hence some shortbread in the shape of rockets!!!

Must make sure I can squeeze into my LBD for the whole Breakfast at Tiffanys theme tomorrow - pants of steel at the ready!!!! I have to do the school run tomorrow too - imagine what the others Mums are gonna think me turning up channeling Audrey!!!

Nice dress by the way.

Welcome littlepinkbear - yey for de-lurking! I think petites can get away with maxis - but non to suggest (sorry). Next had some nice ones which were v good value. What sort of colours suit you???

Like the dress tracey...great for holidays...
Cakey - I've noticed you seem to go to bed very late, young lady!!! How do you manage it? Don't you get a fuzzy head?

Couple of playdates today (oh, I hate that word!); so little DD having fun...whilst I get to chat to likeminded friends...

Ooh I am having a style confusion; I want to look preppy/young; I want to look polished/glam; I want to be current....Bloody hell...

D'you know I would love to be able to venture into Primark, but alas, I just can't do it....and in any event, I know I would buy things I then wouldn't want to wear...how silly!!!! But its psychological I suppose! I've done it before....

I have a very stylish friend, tall and slim, in fact model proportions , who buys cheapie garb - that's all she buys, and looks fantastic...you would think, 'designer'...she is 45 and looks a dream, very current and glam...but I obviously have an inner Hyacinth...

Choo - I love that MJ dress. Am tempted myself but cant think when I would wear it so wouldnt be very wise!
Also love the mint velvet nude top linked to further down (sorry forget who linked!). Gorgeous.

My asos parcel arrived this morning. So far have tried on the hasbeens but none of the clothes. Have surprised myself by really really liking the hasbeens. I honestly thought they would be one of those things that I would lust after in theory but would look terrible in reality. they actually look nice and feel pretty comfy. I tried them on with my skinny jeans which I am wearing today (with biker boots - rainy!!) and they looked pretty good together. Is that a style faux pas - skinnys and heels?

LOL dolce - am incapable of going to bed before midnight. Long-time night owl. Besides, I can hardly work in the day with the dcs around, can I?

We need one of those quizzes "what's your look" to sort out our various style confusions.

Have to admit that I nearly bought lots of things in Primark yesterday for all the festivals I'm not going to this year . Got momentarily caught up in my parallel life (the one from 10 years ago) and in visions of dappled sunlight and trippy loved-up-edness But then came back down to earth with a bump

OWW - your Tiffany's do sounds so fun.

Mind you, Cakey, if your DH is away, I can understand. I end up till all hours 'doing' bits and bobs when mines away...he's the one who drags me up to bed !

Anyway, am itching to order some 'spring' clothes...but the weather is making me dither again.... plus I am a bit tight!!! Never thought I'd say that!!! I love splurging on the bambinos, but feel reticent about me. Someone talk some sense to me!!!

Anyway, which feeds have you dropped Cakey, out of interest...just that baba isn't haven't her mid morning feed, has lunch, then cries for milk, so I give in!!!

Ooooh may order the dress but going to think about it a bit and look at bank account [dull emoticon]

Fel1x - am very excited about my hasbeens arriving - I really hope they fit ok. Definitely ok to wear them with skinnies - well I will be anyway.

No, fair enough!

Yes, a quiz would be v v interesting! Cakey, its v much your domain to come up with the suitable q's though I feel!!! Not that you haven't got enough on your plate already dear but you do have the skill to do it succinctly....

Anyway, my DH keeps mentioning festivals with the kids. He is an inner hippy...Do you not consider festivals avec la famille Cakey? Then at least you could indulge...okay it wouldn't be quite the same, but you can do it?

You know we've booked a weekend in a yurt in June..., methinks Maxis? I want to look effortless, but then I love the whole clean cut not too preppy shirts/breton tops, shorts ensemble....oh FGS, it'll probably bloody rain and we'll end up in cagoules...

Dolcee do both! Well not on the same day, but certainly in the same week.

D'you think Marsha...? It's just that I feel by my age (40...deep breaths, phhhhhh),I should have worked out my 'look'...not still having style conundrums....

What do you think?

I agree with Marsha - its fun to have different looks.

Okay, okay....I'm thinking maxi because of the whole 'yurt' thing, but maybe I would be more comfortable in more 'preppy', less 'hippychick' wear...

Yes tracey - it is fun to have different looks...

See, even my hair has its moments...one minute straight, (naturally has a bit of a wave), then wavy and just come from beach effect !

I just feel that sometimes styles are so in direct contrast that I feel, maybe, fraudulent...does that make sense?