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

[PlumSykes]

Wonder how quickly we'll fill this one?

Have just returned from visiting a preschool this morning, that hopefully ds will start at in September; now settled with cbeebies whilst lunch is cooking, so I have a brief window to get online!

Plum, I just sent back the Sam Edelman glads in pewter - just because I don't like toe thongs - and they are lovely. The only caveat is that they were quite snug width wise, so the fit may not be right for wide feet (not that I know anything about your feet!).

Love the leather jacket, hana, agree that grey is a softer look than black, and so better for spring / summer. I'd want to see how it looked open, though.

MWW, I do like the cardigan, and the colour. Whilst I was there, I did come across this - might it be a good over layer for me for summer breastfeeding? Not 100% sure of the colour though.

Thanks Blossoming - will have a look through S and B threads for that one! I am sure there must be other options than jeans/trainers/t-shirt/fleece/cagoul!

missww - love the sandals...not sure on the cardi.

Plum - what a shame about the coat...but probably would ahve been rather frustrating to have a perfect (winter) coat now anyway - spring is sprung!

Not 100% on any of the sandals. My faves are the Sam E ones.

I hope so too notyummy.
I'm staying in Paris so want to take some smart city stuff.
I have some flat riding type boots which I wear when I go to London over skinny jeans. Then layer upon layer under my autograph mac which I linked to yesterday for Esher. Top it with a massIve scarf a d cashmere lined leather gloves. I hope to avoid taking my fly mols and stadium squall. (please let it be spring soon!!)

I've discovered DH has lurked. He is very cross that I mentioned that I have a horrid chest and has insisted I type a correction that it is not horrid.

We both managed a small spree on Saturday and he actually wanted me to post his purchases too...so he could bask in some A&W compliments - I have refused and told him to find his own thread

In the interests of A&W I tried on a lot of stuff that I wouldn't normally and had a lot of disappointments:

this dress looked fab on the hanger but my body transformed it into a blousy frump dress.

this made me look like an ageing hippy. Particularly as I have only just realised (from this pic) that you can do the top bit up. I thought you had to be terribly daring with it as it was open practically to the navel.

this (i think it's the same one) didn't look anything like it does here...on me. Tons of material in the skirt made it billow to an alarming degree.

However....I got some very nice Isabel Marant ankle boots. I have searched everywhere and can't find a picture. They are taupe suede with black straps and funny triangle heels. Not the fringy ones (I'm too old for those).

I also got some very comfy jbrand grey skinnies - they have a zip at the ankle (can't find a pic). I think they look good.

After falling in love with a lot of the stuff on the All Saints website - I ventured in and then ran out. I felt very old in there and couldn't find all the treasure that seem to be on the website....the shop is really weirdly laid out.

So currently I'm on the lookout for stuff as I have a family thing in a couple of weeks and need a gorgeous but suitable dress & footwear for that...also need to find something for DM's summer (daytime) wedding. I can never get this spring time thing right as I always default to footwear of boots and tights (winter) or sandals (summer)...and haven't worked out teh in between. I will need your A&W help!

Hana - I worry what that jacket will look like open...you need to see it in RL for sure.

LTEC - did you see my concern about the VIX maxi? I just noticed that it has a bikini top underneath so may be more plunging than it first appears? Just worth checking in case you were going to order.

Hello All - Hells your purchases sound lovely - I'm after some grey skinnies too - may have a look on revolve.

What do you all think of these??

tracey - I'm not allowed to comment on shoes - I always get it wrong

But for what it's worth - they look comfy and nice - nothing super amazing...but good.

Thanks hells - I just want some casual'ish shoes for daytime use with the dc's that will work with cropped jeans/dresses etc.

God - I am so tired - up 5x last night with Bea. Both boys were sleeping through by this stage (she's nearly 8 months) - when will it end . . .

May wait and see what bicester yields on wednesday although never really get myself anything there and the dc's don't need anything.

oh Tracey - not good. Would it be wicked to suggest a dummy? I was very anti but in the end they saved my sanity with DD

well the beautiful maxi arrived ... and it is beautiful. I ordered it in a 16 because that is the size I am I am a 34G and wanted to make sure there was enough material to cover my ample bossom - and there is, expect there's also too much material everywhere else. It's way too loose round the back so even when I tighten the halter my boobs just "hang" . There's no way I could wear a bra with it.

Should I just send it back and accept that maxis are not for me or should I go for a smaller size and see how that comes up size wise? Am thinking that a 12 would be be nice and snug round the back but not sure there would be enough material to contain the boobs.

What shall I do oh wise ladies? I love the dress but at the moment it does not love me

(am even contemplating wearing a t shirt underneath! please tell me this is wrong!)

OMG HAVE ONLY BEEN LURKING ALL DAY PLANNING TO POST LATER BUT HAD TO FLY IN TO SAY YES THAT WOULD BE WRONG!! NO T-SHIRTS!! STEP AWAY FROM THE T-SHIRT!!

at least TRY a 12/14!! And it's for hols right?? so a bit of boobage ain't no big deal It's not like you're down at at the PTA meeting in it.

Gah! Miss WW, I just wrote you a long reply, but it has disappeared. However, the gist of it was, you could have the 16 altered for about £15-20 I think, which if you really love it would not be too bad. As a fellow big-boob, I sympathise. Why do designers imagine that I am the same width at the front as the back? In fact, I'm probably double!

yes I know! ridiculous notion LTEC ... back it goes

Re. the boobage: I'm also excess in that area (32ff - have been a G), and find dresses a nightmare as they seem to be made for B-C cup max.

However, the most important thing IMO is that the dress fits around the ribcage, so try the smaller size them take it to John Lewis as they're sure to find you a bra that won't show. You'll be amazed at what's available nowadays.

good call from Plum - I bought a size up in a non-mat maxi when pg to accommodate tummy and had bust (sadly not growing at rate of tummy) altered back down - was v.inexpensive

Wow - I am only a C cup and size 8 on top and I often find dresses won't decently cover me so I can imagine it's very annoying for those of you with boobs!

MissWooWoo I think that would be quite a simple alteration for a dressmaker? My SIL had an ASOS cage dress altered and that was more complicated as had umbrella overskirt over fitted dress but even so, only cost her £30 so sure yours would indeed cost less.

Which brings me onto my New Look order. It arrived today and it's all going back! The maxis are a lovely length but clingy across the hips and show every line of underwear. I'm not sure even a seam-free pair would do. May try a 12 on when I return them but don't hold out much hope - think it's just fine, clingy jersey.

The sandals were okay but not all that. Think I can do better! And the bangles weren't as chunky as I'd hoped and were very shiny, where I thought they'd be more of an old gold.

Never mind!

sounds like a plan ... see how I get on with a 14 and a good seamstress

I've just come out in a cold sweat after reading that Hells' dh has lurked.

traceyb I really like those shoes. And I also have a nearly 8 month old, ds2, who wakes constantly through the night. He's been teething for months which has proved very disruptive and now he has loads of teeth and a messed-up sleep pattern. I breastfeed too so I sympathise -it is relentless.

LTEC that Blondie T-shirt sounds great. Is it like this? I've had my eye on this for ages but think it could quite possibly make me look pregnant.

I think I have a teeny tiny crush on hells' dh

hope you don't mind hells!!

Hells - what did your DH buy?

won't be able to catch up in everything in this small window of opportunity but ...

hana I thought you looked very va va voom in that pic; you obviously weren't having the best day so is it possible that your mental state was distorting your reflection? Worth trying again in brighter mood? Also - ignore dh what does he know?? My dh is very about some of my clothes but acknowledges that there are "chick dresses" and "guy dresses" - ie the ones that girls like and the ones that speak to men. He also acknowledges that the ones that gus like are not necess the fashionable ones. Hells, your dh is clearly an evolved being and an exception.

oh bugger that's as far as I'm going to get .. laters.

marsha - these clogs are the ones

guys not gus

Talking of teeny tiny (girl) crushes i love her - and her wardrobe! My, she can wear a coat well can't she?

I promise, promise, promise to stop with the DM links for the time being!