We're Avid & Wise, We're discussing our Buys, we're not so keen on Flys, We prefer Peep-toe Sky-Highs!!

[LetThemEatCake]

sorry couldn't help myself

Notyummy that farhi dress is very pretty.

MM - well done on losing half a stone without even trying!

cakey is a world famous coffee ponce mm

yes, on the subject of summer 'do' dresses I spotted this on hols and was going to link as it is really rather striking (hear me tapping into my inner Per Una woman ) but utterly ruined by the blasted bubble hem here

MM congrats on your driving!! that's brilliant, so liberating

'tis true roman ... but only 2 in the morning, 1 in the arvo. No more. Esp when dealing with the likes of Costabucks Life's too short for bad coffee.

Cakey I thought you were another coffee fan. I drink lots of it (proper coffee of course) and noticed that if I didn't drink it after 3ish dd would sleep better.

I like the print on that dress. But yes, the hem and the material are foul. I have to say that my M&S red & blue leopard print A&W advised scarf has had tens of compliments - they did well there.

AAaagh. I really do not know what happens to things after I've bought them and brought them home.....it's as if they transmogrify into completely different items to the ones I tried on in the shop

So, there I was, coming home on the bus all happy thinking I'd got a nice little haul. Got home, tried it all on again and it's all rubbish and is (mostly) going back
Blardy nightmare. Maybe I just can't shop on the high street anymore? I think I am just too bloody old for Oasis, TopShop, Warehouse, River Island et al

Here's the list of what I got and what's staying and going:

Zara beige trench - liked it in the shop, got it home and suddenly the puff shoulder detail looks frankly silly really. Anyone seen the trench I mean? think it was £60. Is the puff sleeve bit too much?

Zara high necked sleeveless floral blouse - keeping

one word for you , said DH "mutton"

nice scarf - keeping

nice tshirt - but I got the 8 and the neckline is almost too big and the bottom bit is tight around the hips

white skinny jeans - GAP. Shamelessly channelling our very own Traceyb I got these but am finding them rather low rise. Tracey how low rise are the topshop baxters? anyone else know of non-£££ white skinnies with a medium/high rise? The low rise makes me feel soooooo fat and muffin-toppy plus I can't be doing with hoiking them up all day long

also bought a bright pale orange tshirt in a slubby cotton from River Island which looks very summery and will prob keep.

Can I have your opinions on this bag too please. Is leather. Oasis had similar but didn't like the colour so much.

MM - this is the dress I thought might look nice with those shoes, in pale pink. IRL the material is a lovely gauzy stuff but structured. But feel free to ignore me/take notice at your peril as I seem to have lost my shopping mojo.

It also comes in a beautiful coral colour which I thought might work for Fleecy's summer wedding??

Esher i love that bag.What sort of things have zara got atm off there tomorrow for a nose its my fave shop usually for cheap stuff

Esher I love that dress actually. That style usually really suits me. Will try it on when I try on the Reiss one too. Thanks for thinking of me. I like it that we've all never met but think of each other when we're shopping.

Can we have a roll call of Hasbeens - style and colour and what you think?

I have my eye on these in cerise but am wondering if they're too high and impractical for looking after a lively toddler. These in silver or navy are my second choice. I am thinking of them instead of the Carvelas as my city summer heel. I'd wear them with rolled up jeans / chinos etc. Not sure.

Zara was quite busy (as per) and I spent far too long faffing with trench coats to look at much else but lots of nice tailored jackays (as usual).
A LOT of khaki/olive/beige stuff.
Lots of oversized belted shirts - looked v nice in a wear with bronzed lithe limbs and gladiators sort of way but don't think my pins are up to it and would feel like I'd forgotten my trousers
Quite a lot of pretty florals too.
HTH. IMO Zara doesn't really change much year on year does it?

MM - also meant to say that there were some nice mid-heel sandals in Kew t'other day although suede I think?

Also, today in topshop I saw a pair of hasbeen-alikies and I thought they were nice. The leather bit was tan coloured and I didn't think they looked too cheap. £45.
I was tempted

i love those carvela ones never say anything is too high or impractical or before you know it its bootlegs sensible shoes and a fleece!I love zara and khaki so should be good thanks xx

Evening ladies. What a lovely sunny day today. I wore my new jigsaw top today over to Bluewater where the plan was to have a bit of a spend. Took DD with me, who is a little bit diva and decided that we needed to get stuff for her instead.

I did manage to nip into Zara and think that it my shopping experience depends on the branch. Canary Wharf and BW not bad. Tried on a blazer which was OK, but really wanted the blue which wasn't in my size. Ended up with a couple of bits from Sweaty Betty and the aforesaid top in red.

Hasbeens - I have the peeptoe super high in 40. Am 39.5 in Choo/Louboutin.

LTEC I saw your daily diet on another thread and was hungry just looking at it . I guess that is why I am always trying to lose that extra stone.

MM Well done on the 10K.

Roman sorry about NYC. I'm contemplating a Milan trip, but unsure whether to book or wait until the dust settles (see what I did there)

Ho, ho Choo. Wait. The volcano's going to erupt for months, so at some point there'll presumably be a decision to fly anyway, but who knows when, and whether they'll keep stopping and starting.

DH just phoned me from Ralph Lauren in Manhattan to ask whether I'd like some jeans, bless . I sent him to Bloomies for some of these instead, and some cigarette cut 7/8 jeans in nude or grey. I gave him my shoe size just in case - occasionally he gets inspired. He was buying Ralph L shirts for the boys too - means I'll have to think of ways to convince them to wear them. They love their tees.

Ooh thanks esher I like it - would be fab with golden skin and hair and I could wear it out to dinner in the evenings too. Like the price!

I am still holding off from white jeans, even though I love them. I spilled gravy down my nude top the first time I wore it. And that's just me, let alone the children!

notyummy I saw those dresses in the style supplement today. Love the lime one particularly but not sure I could wear the colour as I'd have to be proper tanned to carry it off. Beautiful though.

mm check you out - all that running! I am very impressed! I held on to the last bit of baby weight until I stopped bf too. Have been trying to tone up ever since

cake I have started snacking on nuts too. Started to see if it would benefit my skin but have carried on as they're surprisingly filling. What oil do you use for the cleansing? I read somewhere that you have to find the right oil for you and as I have unfortunately spot-prone skin, I've always thought I'd probably get quite unlucky and spotty before finding the right oil!

esher - how frustrating! But I do like that bag. And the scarf looks good. Also agree taht dress could be lovely for a wedding.

MM I have these in red. And still have to do more of the wearing with sock thing LTEC does to stretch them so I can wear them comfortably

I'm in a bit of a panic. I feel like a stupid prat. Why why why didn't I ask my Mum what she wanted me to wear at her wedding (she sort of said anything was fine and I took her on her word...but that's all changed now?!)? I assumed that as she was wearing long I would steer clear of that as there is no way on earth I would want to upstage her. So I thought I was safe getting my Vionnet above the knee silk dress...which is understated but lovely (and doesn't seem to be pictured anywhere so I can't link). But oh blimey no. She said that as I would now be walking behind her as a sort of pensioner flower girl that she was hoping I would wear something long.

Tell me oh wise and avid ones...is it wrong to wear knee length as part of the bridal procession? I really thought that as this is a 2nd marriage and she won't be in the full white puff ball thing - that if I wore long it would look a bit like I was trying to take centre stage. Urghh. And now I think I might be out of the refund period for my dress.

everything

Are you indulging in good food and online retail therapy as a reward?

everything I do sympathise re the whole dh/dcs situation. I have had dh on the phone from who knows where in NYC asking me to try to find him a ticket home, while I'm mediating disputes and dealing with ds3's fever/cough/whatever.

how annoying hells. What exactly is your mum wearing? And are there others in the bridal procession? If it's just you, then you're probably OK. But if she wants you in long then you don't have much choice if it's her wedding. You could try for a refund - where's the dress from? Maybe the same place has something else that would be better?

btw I tried oil cleansing and persevered for a while, but my skin was the pits. I'm quite spot prone, and the ocm gave me hundreds of little bumps under the skin all over. Really awful, and took ages to go away. It's obviously great for some people, but not the holy grail by any means.

it is just me (and my brothers will be giving her away). I'm going to go with whatever she wants and have told her that (bites nails and hopes that my mother will realise that it would look a bit daft if I'm in a long floaty dress as well).

Morning All.

Hells - has your mum suggested a dress at all that she's got in mind for you? And has she seen the vionnet? Perhaps you could emphasise how you do want to take the attention away from her - is she wearing long too?

Everything - fingers crossed your DH is home soon.

Roman - did you all enjoy the dragon film? DS1 loved it.

The MIH grey skinnies arrived today and they're lovely. My outnet bargain dress should also arrive today.

Right - sainsburys due soon and then parents dropping in for lunch on their way to cornwall.

Esher - I seem to buy stuff and then up taking it back as am sure the mirrors are so distorting in the changing rooms of shops.

Very frustrating though.

Its funny because one of my friends was saying she couldn't understand how NAP does so well as she'd rather try stuff on in a shop. But I end up feeling pressured in shops (especially expensive ones) and would rather ruminate on potential purchases in my own home.

Totally agree about trying things at home Tracey I feel really pressuried by SAs in expensive shops, my impulse buys are often mistakes. No parcels here these days though, even shopping is disrupted by the volcano.

Everything I hope your dh manages to get home soon you must be really fed up. You're going to have to treat yourself

Cakey that is such a shame about Chelsea, I remember you going last year in your AM dress and feeling so as it's somewhere I'd love to visit. Could you get L used to taking a bottle or cup? Hope you got more sleep last night with the carb loading!

MM well done on the run! I couldn't even run to the end of our road

I returned the H&M garden dress, the one that made me look v pregnant. Nice girl in the shop said lots of people had returned the same dress for that reason. Went straight to Laura Ashley and spent the refund on pretty bedlinen for dd. Great sale on there, their kids stuff is lovely.

So on the lookout now for an Erdem style print dress on a budget, I thinks that's a challange that will keep me occupied for a while

Hells I hope you get to wear your Vionnet dress