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

[PlumSykes]

Wonder how quickly we'll fill this one?

evening all - grumpy - thanks for idea of All Saints. We have one here so I'll have a look - they do look fab.

RG - I like the dune and the first camper...but you may know my rep on shoes - I'm not to be trusted.

Welcome newbies...we love it when people de-lurk

I got an hour on my own to go to the shops. And in the interest of research I tried on lots of stuff. I'll link to later (for some reason the links aren't working now)...but had to face the fact I looked like an ageing hippy in most of them

blast Zara for not being online but oh how lovely to be able to visit in RL today. Saw lots that I could've happily bought but reined myself in and stopped at blue & white stripe 3/4 sleeve tee and a nude ruffled shirt/ dress

Thanks for the welcome LTEC and OWW.

Speaking of soft buttery pale leather jackets, I was lusting after this the other day...

Oops, x post, thanks to hana and hells too!!

LOL Hanaflower at the thought of your DH thinking you were upstairs and you out and about shopping! Was thinking about your dress today and whether you liked it (think we may be similar size/shape) so can't wait to hear what you think!

I sympathise Helles - I hated me in almost eveything I tried on - looked deathly pale and think I have actually put weight on around the tops of my arms over the winter - must be where all those Mars Planets I've been scoffing have gone to!

I didn't even bother trying anything on today.. I looked foul. In trying to get the dcs ready, plus do the daily house-y stuff there was absolutely no time left to pull together any semblance of a "look" other than frazzled SAHM. Part of me is full of mockery and derision for the part of myself that cared what I looked like for a trip to Canary Wharf but with in the absence of Saturday night soirees to bars and clubs, Saturday day shopping trips are a chance to strut around looking fabulous!! Or would be, if I had a maid or slightly older, more independent children. Or a dh who was as capable of multitasking as me!! (he is very good at playing with the dcs, just not so good at unstacking the dishwasher while he does it)

I like your blog - will you write another bit now please???

You've no idea how nice it is to lurk and look at your witty, wise, GIRLY posts on fashion, accessories and the universe in general. Currently house is invaded by no less than 10! teenage boys doing an xbox marathon & sleepover and I am waiting for chilli to be ready so I can feed the testosterone hordes. Retreated to kitchen table and laptop and DH retreated to bedroom.
You are part of the community service for mothers with no girls. (love my boys but whatever possessed me to have all the male lower sixth at home I do not know! )
Keep the girly posts coming!

Very quick post - as teenager demanding some 'quality time' - she obviously wants something. The 15 month old is so much easier - she hasn't yet learnt to speak . Tried on Layla for DH and he told me it reminded him of a toga . Am keeping it though as have decided he has no taste - well apart from wife material obviously. He has very conservative classic tastes in women's clothes, which is very strange for a guitar playing laid back kiwi.

Will read through links properly tomorrow but for now am loving this maxi dress, this smock and this shift dress for summer. I did see a fab nude top styled with black short shorts that I was going to link to - the sort of look I would love to rock but would be more suited to my DD1. Will try and find the link and post tomorrow as am sure would suit some of the long limbed followers of this thread.

LTEC - liked the blog , will add self as follower too.
Glad you liked the NAP maxi, the print is fab isn't it?

Tracey - like the idea of the kids denim jacket - what size did you get? Does it have full length or 3/4 sleeves?

Hells - lol at stairgate injury - we have funny sticky up wooden bedpost bits at end of our bed (on the corners) and without fail I walk into them every single time I have imbibed . I like the silk waterfall front jacket. I went into Oasis today to see if I could see this but didn't seem to have any in my branch. I thought it had a similar vibe but more suited to a shortarse comme moi. Would order online but won't be here before I go away now.

I too have been flirting with idea of leather jacket. Tried on barbour international today - I only like the one with the gold rivets/poppers, not the plain ones and could only try 2 sizes too big as would appear is sold out in my size and I was a bit as to whether it was really me. (Am thinking not really, no)
Went to all saints and tried on very fitted leather shirt - very nice, would wear as a jacket. Doesn't seem to be on their website so can't link. Only thing was it was black and as is a v skinny fit it is poss a bit tough and industrial looking - was thinking brown would be a little more forgiving, maybe less mutton. Has anyone seen the mythical GAP brown leather shirt yet ??

Took back almost everything else I have bought in last 2 weeks Suddenly decided that I loved everything in All Saints and wanted to go all grungy/dirty , came to my senses when I realised everone else browsing around me was in their teens. Although they were all rather podgy teens was the wicked and evil thought I comforted myself with as a dragged my skinny arse out of there

LTEC love the blog. Will add myself as follower.

Esher that Vix dress has been on my wishlist since January. I am going to have to buy it now as LTEC is the Delia of Style and Beauty and it will no doubt sell out.

Right off to top up my wine glass and catch up on the links.

Cakey - am soo with you on the dressing up for shopping yet failing front.
Actually had a pretty grim afternoon dragging both DD's and DH round the shops in attempt to buy the DD's a few things for our hols next week. Failed miserably - did not find a single thing for them that I liked anywhere and I got to be shouty mum in a variety of shops to boot as they played up horribly all day
Like you, I can count the times I've been out in the last year on one hand so decided, like you, to treat Saturday shopping excursions as an excuse to dress, if not "up", at least "well".
So today I was wearing new GAP straight leg jeans, turned up to show a bit more of my ASH grey croc hi-tops, with this toast top in acid yellow/green, grey cashmere boyf cardy, this scarf and this coat in navy.
But did I feel good? No i did not as it was all heavily accessorised with the haggard face of someone who has been woken up at 6.20am every day this week (and is crap at going to bed at a decent hour , hair that I didn't have time to wash (since last Tuesday ) so scraped back mingingly and no slap (ditto re time). Felt I looked like poo all day

Don't worry Soy, we mums of boys never have to worry that we might be dressing like our dds! Nor will we ever have to buy a statement bag for anyone else.

hana - love that paint spattered silk tee. I have the scarlet jeans in black, I like them with hi-tops or converse.

esher I haven't washed my hair since Tues either. Dry shampoo is the way to go when pushed for time! Did fake tan my face today though as it only takes a minute but stops me looking quite so washed out!

Hello, de-lurking people!

Am tempted by that Breton dress in the navy now it's reduced. Might see if I can pop to shops and try it on next week...

I am still following this , but am ducking out for a while. Buying a hoouse and have to save mega bugs in the next 9 months. Try about 30 designer handbags worth....

Hi there all

Am de-lurking again after a week from hell with both DCs poorly and no DH here to help out Haven't managed to post anything lately, but am always lurking as reading this cheers me up no end in between mopping up sick and administering Calpol and the occasional drop of Medised when I get really desperate!

Have actually been on a spa day today for a friend's 40th. Actually not normally into facials, massages etc. I secretly think they're a waste of time and money but I go along with it in an effort to appear just a little bit sophisticated. Therefore tripping head first into the jacuzzi and sending a tidal wave into the spa wasn't quite the glamorous image I was aiming to project but did have a good day all in all.

LTEC - I chuckled massively reading your post about dressing up for shopping trips...that is sooo true of me and I'm sure loads of us reading this thread.

Barbarelle - have you got your Alexas yet? Am very tempted but find a lot of sandals uncomfortable so am interested to know how they fit.

Have made a few purchases recently to add to the nautical and nude themes (copying inspired by Esher ) for spring. Since lurking/joining this thread I'm definitely shopping more wisely but a lot more avidly too ... OK, so recent purchases have been:

THE gold Ash high-tops
Breton dress
Navy cable boyfriend cardi (annoyingly tumble-dried my Zara one so needed replacement)
Navy stripe scarf
This skirt in dark denim and navy ticking
Nude sandals - haven't arrived yet, maybe a bit maths teachery but a bargain at £15
Fly wedges - met with a pretty meh response from you W&A girls but I bought them anyway. In my defence they are a lot nicer in RL

Also bought a nude boyfriend cardi in H&M, those M&S leggings someone linked to a while back in navy and black and 4 long sleeve tops from Jack Wills (can't link to anymore as their online sale stuff is now by invitation only

Hmm, thought I'd been quite good but it sounds a lot written down. I'm also hankering after the Layla dress, Alexa sandals and a seahorse necklace...

Wow very long post sorry. Hope you all get spoilt rotten tomorrow ladies.

Hi I've been lurking since a few mingey postings on the first thread, been appreciating all the links so thanks.

Has anyone looked at www.plumo.com lately? They have some beaded souk sandals which would look crap on me but I'm throwing them in for consideration as they're quite bargainous.

They also have some lovely housey things for home junkies - I especially love the Chinese cupboards.

I've been pretty much out of the loop clothes-wise for about 2 years as I banned myself from buying much until I lost at least a stone, which I have, so this thread is a fab starting point.

LTEC - I know you sent the red KG wedges back, but thought these might be worth a go?
They're almost identical to the KGs but in tan and a total bargain at £15.

Bgger off Choo*, don't you dare take the last M in that Vix dress!!

hana you make e laugh with your subversive shopping antics. Think the tee is perfect & bargainous to boot

another non-hair-washer here. It's down to nearly my waist; it just takes too darn long to sort out.

thanks for the shoes link spider - what do all you Bretons think to this? I quite like it in orange but can't do backless shoes!

esher was LOL at your All Saints moment - those poor podgy teens

you're all being very sweet about the blog and I've done another one while dh has been out at Sainsburys buying stuff for tomorrow (people over for lunch)

Happy Mothers Day to you all for the morrow, hope you're all treated to coffee, croissants and the Sunday Times Style Supplement in bed!! x

oops, too slow!!

matilda sorry about your trying week - hope the dcs much better! Love your purchases although probably didn't need to see that the M&S cardi is avail in pink ( my weakness) and LOVE the Breton dress - by the way has anyone seen the See by Chloe one

Are you a fellow bigfoot?? Those Office shoes are indeed bargainous, hmm, am tempted, for that price they could be useful - maybe will buy them and the Ash ones (TB wasn't keen but I keep going back to look at them) and see?

Hello perpetual oddly enough was just looking at the Plumo catalogue this arvo - have a credit note from there that I need to use up. Have had some lovely stuff from there in the past, great for gifts too. Free P&P at the mo too if you order online

sorry -

See by Chloe breton

and VW - very sim to the Temperley but a bit more modest for the taller ladies, no?

ltec I think they'd slip right off. And I do backless shoes but think wood might be slippy?

Has anyone linked to these yet? I think they're rather lovely.

No lie in for me tomorrow. Our church starts at 10am and we're on creche rota for tomorrow. Happy days! Will get the style supplement though so that's something!