We shop therefore we are.. Wise & Avid

[blossoming]

Thanks to ltec for the new title.

Thanks Verity and Traceybath!

I'm based in Dublin and they have the Layla dress in Brown Thomas so I will go in and try it on. Hopefully they also have the Anglomania dress there and I can have a proper look. The party is on in only 2 weeks so I wouldn't have time to order online and send back etc.

Would you say either of these dresses would date quickly? I'd prefer to get something that would not look dated in five years time. Something that I could wear for a few years would be ideal.

Lol at hairdressing ollie.

Reminds me of when I went for a wedding 'rehearsal' hair dressing session. Ran home to my parents through the back streets holding back tears. Felt about 12 again. Ended up having it straight and glossy and am very happy with the photos of how it looked.

I am so annoyed that I never looked at the white company clothes before this week. Where have I been? I've now missed out on these 7/8's in my beloved slate. Would these do instead? Be gentle..

a&o, I think I may be in a minority re the VW dress. It's the sleeves I don't like. Also the expanse of flat fabric over tummy area. I don't think a spanx slip would work it for me. But hey, I just linked some trousers from Land's End so ignore..

Blossomng When I was a bridesmaid for my sister, we had a trial too and my hairdresser decided my hair should go up - I have a really short bob so he used 100 pins/grips etc and it was agony! Looked terrible - all bits coming out and then he put a load of gypsophila in it - but we had a good laugh in the car on the way home - and decided to use a different hairdresser! I was the same when I got married - wanted to look like me albeit with a wedding dress on! Hairdresser did a good blowdry and it lasted all day!

Sympathise re the 7/8's - I missed out of the double layer t shirt as discovered it too late! At least we will be on the ball for the A/W collection eh?

Question re the New Look chinos - they are back in stock on the website - but the colour looks different from the ones I saw in the shop today - ones in the shop were slightly darker/sand coloured whilst these look paler.hereThose of you that have them, would you say the pic is true to life or have I tried on something completely different!

blossoming - They may be from Lands End but they look ok to me! Just don't stray into the fleeces section....

Oh - re trousers - hard to tell but don't think they would live up to the WC ones??? Quite a close match tho - OWW sits firmly on the undecided fence!

Result!!
Phoned the Manchester shop and they had them in and they took payment over the phone, and I'll get them in 48 hours.
How avid!

Ok, next random style challenge ladies....

Tomorrow morning I am presenting to a what is titled as a 'Very Senior Chinese Government Delegation'. (Not my capitals btw!)

What should one wear for this?

Any cultural issues?

Am thinking of going very conservative/professional in this suit with fairly plain top and shoe boots.

I bet Hilary Clinton has professional advice for this sort of thing!

OWW my NL trousers are just a tiny bit darker than the pic, but it's quite accurate

AandO you are the same size as me I think. I have the VW dress in medium and don't need spanx under it as it's not extremely clingy so skims instead, and does end at knee, or just above, you could probably get away with size small it's very stretchy. I have to say now that the Layla dress is reduced, how could I not order it!

if you want it to end above the knee, have you looked at the dresses on here? there is a 30% off code floating about somewhere

OWW lol at SATC hairstyle. I once told my hairdresser that I would go to a party later that night. She took 45minutes to blow dry and style and it looked awful. I was almost in tears when I left and had to put up my hair in a bun. Was a good party though.

blossoming I think the Land's End trousers look ok. It depends on the quality of the fabric which is always difficult to judge on a website. They are also reduced so might be worth a try. Agree with ny: Stay away from the fleece and shoes!

also like this AandO

notyummy how exciting! No advice though, I'd go for suit with a nice silk top, conservative but stylish

Hello Ladies - have not posted here before, I wonder if anyone could help me over here....

Any other suggestions are welcomed - I have a healthy budget and just want something new that will be stylish and nice. Am a size 14 slowly edging towards 12. Thanks!

HI all
Still having visits here so hard to get online!
Shred ladies: I bought the Shred 2 years ago and haven't dusted it off - it arrived while we had builders in the house and I didn't feel like bouncing around the living room in front of them! You're inspiring me to dust it off. Fritzi read your post as Shrek dvd and couldn't figure out why it was so scary....

Romana huge congrats about the job. Motherhood/work is all about balance and if it's not the right thing you can change your mind! I work full-time normally but in a flexible job and it always makes me feel better when I think that my daughter sees me balancing career and home, so she can choose what suits her when she grows up. And my son will see the same thing which will help him too. I totally agree with Fleecy on the nanny, ours is totally amazing. They're an expensive but fabulous option. We are in a very successful share (one week our house, one theirs) and it's such a great arrangement we are tightening our belts to keep it while i am on mat leave.

I got these shoes from Ecco today and they are soooo comfy and lightweight. Some others I like better but they are all too wide. There are also some v comfy flat glads but they were too wide as well.

A&O I have the anglomania dress. I am one that needs to wear spanx with it as I'm a size 12 and I do find it unforgiving on the tummy without the help! But with them it's fab. Carcifio gave us a code for my-wardrobe which still seems to be working - amex25. You get 25% discount plus free returns.

With my-wardrobe and net a porter you should easily get it in time for your party in 2 weeks if you order now.

IMO the VW dress is one that will get you attention - I describe it as va va vroom...and DH loves it. The Layla is probably more subtle (and lovely)...so it depends what sort of look you are going for.

Haha at Shrek DVD
Oh yes Romana congratulations on the job!!! What great news! It seems I may be back at work sooner than expected as DP has offered to do some of the childcare which concerns me but part of me is quite happy about going back, hoping to eek out my annual leave so I don't go back full time to start with- have a meeting next week to discuss it. Panic! My days of sitting on my arse breastfeeding and online shopping are well and truly numbered

I agree with hells, the VW dress is v vava voom. It does something really amazing to your figure, all Jessica Rabbit esque and it can be dressed down too so you could get a lot of wear out of it

Little - have responded on your thread.

OWW - yeap agree trousers a little darker/sandier in RL.

Oooh, love the trousers blossoming linked to - isn't there a white company code lurking about?

I really like the Closed light jeans SJP is wearing in Grazia (p 74), (great for TraceyB I think)

Oh and I think Lara Stone should be secretly annoyed at Tess D for wearing such a pretty white dress. p36

And Meg Ryan looks bad different p63. That's it! better go pick up the boy.

Notyummy, I have that suit circa 1998 vintage but I like to kid myself that it looks just as fine today. I think the Chinese delegation would be fine with that! (Another civil servant waves from the sidelines).

I have been lurking and buying loads of shoes for some reason:

these gave me blisters this am

these in grey hopefully might be a good summer work alternative to ballet pumps with suits that won't give me blisters

Plus these sandals which were just for fun but lovely soft leather.

Boring I know, but at least these all come in a size 35.

But at the moment I am really really lusting after a Burberry trench like this maybe - has anybody ever bought one?

Thanks traceybath.

florence - I like the ones that gave you blisters! Typical!