We shop therefore we are.. Wise & Avid

[blossoming]

Thanks to ltec for the new title.

Oh sorry Cakey, can see how you may have felt the need to defend. Not at all intentional that you should feel that way - you don't come across as weak or any sort of victim. He did just come across badly. As have I at some points / in some situations in my life.

Gosh. Didn't intend to offend. Really sorry. Am probably projecting a shared experience with an ex who kept re-entering my life at intervals. When I reflect back I had a lucky escape methinks. But that's my story not yours, so apologies for any offence caused.

Same as rufus, sorry.

no drama . Just a bit like, uh yeah, I know he was a bastard. That's why we broke up, like, 14 years ago....

hope everyone is enjoying this sunshine- y Friday evening. I complimented a woman at the library this arvo who was wearing this dress and looked lovely in it. Turns out she had just bought it today and was thrilled to be admired. Then our kids all started playing together, we kept chatting, ended up exchanging phone numbers and arranging to meet up in the park next week. How nice!! Fashion really is a unifying force

Mmm, that is a nice dress ltec. Think I've looked at it before, but there is no justification for 5 bretons, now is there?

My love affair with White Company was short lived. I was disappointed with the 7/8s yesterday and today the beach dress arrived and it is little more than an expensive nightie. I do like the smocking and the square neckline, but also need a dress that can go from beach to the carpark, and this one was rather too see-through.

Boden just refunded the 2 pairs of shorts. Fantastic customer services. I'm sure I've had them since Jan/Feb, but still in packaging. Great stuff.

Hope you're all planning to open the wine later..

yes, this version is nice too - bit more skin on show

meant to say - thanks MissWooWoo! esher linked to that one the other day and it looks perfect - but for the bambi. Not sure I could pull it off, too cutesy?

and no tip-toeing, please!! Stomp your way in on your highest heels or 'fiercest' glads and join us! I read what you wrote on the "I'll shop when I'm thin" thread and was . You must join the A&W crew immediately

thank you, I read your lovely comments with tears in my eyes. I'm such a saddo haha, thank you

No exciting retail therapy for me of late (agh) DP may have lost his job (!) but, hey, why would that stop me ... no no, I am avid, not wise and I intend to return to work soon after all and clearly need a whole new work wardrobe!

How about this LTEC, it's KB and grey vest all in one
Have seen lots of long light grey vests but not hanky hem, I'm afraid

Sorry for all of those who have idiot fathers, I never knew mine but I have an idiot mother and our relationship is extremely bad, so I do understand. Sometimes it's best to just cut loose from negative influences (she says, having just reluctantly agreed to see the mother next week- aaaagh)

I am a total pedant but sometimes my keys stick (honest) I find it very hard to restrain myself sometimes when people start threads littered with typos and misplaced apostrophes.. I just ignore their question and want to correct them...how sad is that!?

LTEC - I like the stripey dresses you linked to but not sure I could wear horizontal stripes on my pear bottom

Have just realised that we are already going on holiday next Saturday. As we are spending a week on a farm (real cows, pigs and tractors. DD will love it...) I have no idea what clothes to pack. A friend suggested jeans, T-shirts, Converse and a fleece, but that is too sad really. It is a holiday after all.

Can you be stylish on a farm without looking ridiculous? I probably won't take one of the jumpsuits I ordered from Asos this morning

LTEC - the second sleeveless dress isn't actually as nice in the flesh. It just looks wrong on and not as flattering as you would expect it to be. The first one is lovely and have thought about getting it myself. Code for 20% off is ELV22.

fritzi, I would suggest normal holiday wardrobe, but with hunter wellies.

I thought this rather dangerous, memorial20 for 20% off at dvf.com. But then it says off sale items, and there are 3 pairs of shoes on the sale section. Confusing. Anyhow, those dresses I love are not in my size anymore.

I have just skimmed today's posts and it's really sad that so many seem to have dysfunctional relationships with their fathers. Growing up and having your own family is surely challenging enough. My father has his faults (as everybody does) but compared to your stories I count myself lucky.

Vin - how terrible for you and your DH! Hope you will soon find out what the situation is.

This morning we had torrential rain. I had to wear wellies (at least Aigle ones) to get DD to kindergarten. Then back home and quick change of clothes to go to the office. We had a leaving do for our PA at lunchtime. As I mostly work from home, I really thought a lot about what I wanted to wear. I chose my new Vero Moda slimfit trousers in grey, cream coloured silk blouse with small apricot spots (Zara), heels and trench. I felt really good and noticed how most of my colleagues make no effort at all with regards to their appearance. Dress code is mostly jeans, comfy shoes, T-shirts and mismatched cardies (that sounds condescending but is true).

I have always loved fashion but since discovering all you lovely ladies on this thread I really feel inspired and it makes me happy when I put together an outfit I feel good in.

evening all,

I guess Larkin was pretty much spot on for some of us (though I got off lightly I feel compared to some of the very very sad things that many of you have gone through]. What shines through is how postively we are all moving forward and using experience to improve our DC's future.

Bunjies how horrific for your sister it made me so sad to read. Please try not to worry too much about DS and school. Can you try and strengthen the friendships with footie club pals? Invite them over and that sort of thing so that he feels he knows them better?

Blossoming the Oasis jacket looks good.

Marsha - I too love the sound of the family meals...my family were good at that too pre breakup and I have visions of doing the same with my DC (meals not break-ups )....now if only I could actually cook...

LTEC - at your fashion friendship.

You have defended your ex eloquently - I think we are all now a rather tight knit thread and feel very protective of each other...hence the A&W ladies being perhaps slightly harsh about him

I am in a fashion conundrum. I have a big get together coming up with some lovely ladies. It's in Manchester (I have no idea of the style code in Manchester). DH is usually very encouraging about the clothes I am now wearing...particularly as I'm slowly getting out of frump mode. But he has been weirdly dictatorial (not like him) about things I 'must not wear'. For instance both my anglomania dresses are banned.

I agree the va va vroom one is a tad 'on the prowl' but this is also deemed 'too short'. I find this quite galling as I am the opposite of a flirt (though I admire those that can)...so any dressing in finery will purely be for the fun rather than flaunting (if that makes sense).

What would you wear? We are going for a meal then possibly drinks after. Is Manchester very dressy? I fear my slightly scruffy London look will not pass muster (I feel that way in Birmingham when I visit the in-laws). PLEASE HELP (and sorry for the absurdly long post)

LTEC sorry for delay but yes, I do have a pair of harems and they're fine. Don't wear them much due to bloody great thick waistband, but that's a different story!

bunjies no wonder you're upset about DS. I'm sure he will indeed be fine but it's so hard not to worry about these things when you just want your DC to sail through change

whelk don't want to confuse you further but DH's Dad left when DH was 8 and got in touch out of the blue when DH was in his 20s. They met up a few times and started building a relationship. Then, a little while before we got married, he stopped calling, stopped coming round, didn't return calls etc. DH gave up on him then because he didn't want to have to be chasing his father all the time for any sort of relationship. That was about 8 yrs ago and we've still not heard from him since. He knows where we are, his parents have shown him pictures of our DCs but he's never even met them. I don't understand why you'd want photos of your grandchildren if you weren't even going to see them?! Anyway, DH is glad he tried to give the relationship another go and, to use a nasty word, now has closure at least. No more what-ifs.

Phew! Sorry for the length there.

Anyhoo, I think everythingiseverything posted a status update about packing on FB so is on hols.

bunjies I was going to say the same about your ds - if you have a couple of the footie boys around, one by one, then he'll feel more confident that he'll know who to talk to in break on the first day. So stressful, I was cringing for my ds1 as I left him at his new school in September. He was 7. Now he's fine.

Hells ask your dh to pick you out an outfit (without promising you'll wear it, obviously)

hells is this the Shiney girls? What's everyone else wearing? I haven't had time to read all the thread (it moves so fast, I just check in occasionally!) but I think I saw on another S&B thread that DIB and Lizzy are wearing skinnies, top, glam heels?

Someone mentioned Manchester very WAG-ish so doesn't matter what you wear, as long as you're orange. I've never been so couldn't comment!

Hi all. Sad to hear the family difficulties. I got off very lightly (parents usually lovely). DH has family issues straight out of soap though-very sad. He did not gave a happy childhood-various forms of abuse;just awful TBH. Because of this he only ever wants one child as he blames the size of his family for part of the issues.His elder sister who suffered through the same issue has said she will never have children in part because of her childhood. he is now reconciled with his mum and we see a lot of her.

Clothes-wearing UO combats and Gap bandeau top at the mo.Had a nice day on the whole-managed an 8 mile run,which always make me feel better. Currently watching Gok on sky plus. Just been shuddering at some awful pics of SJP in the press-the hands of skeletor! That,ladies,is a reason not to lose toouch weight.

Ooh yes,Manchester. Dressy on the whole. Chance to wear a frock I would say. Could you ignore Dh or will he sulk?!

Dexter - many thanks for that code!

I have just purchased www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Platinum-Dress/201021083?colour=metalics though i fear it will look horrid and www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Jodie-Tunic-Dress/200999050?colour=black which I am very hopeful about.

That's the worst of bank holidays - no couriers

Like the second one of those mumsnut. Good for work if not too short.

notyummy you are needed on a running thread, scroll down the page

bunjies so sorry Really sympathise re your sis as well .. my dh was conceived during a trial reconciliation, at the end of which his dad decided the marriage was over. When my MiL said she was pg, he suggested she terminate. This has been shoved down my dh's throat, both by his mother and stepfather (who was my dh;s dad's love rival from teens... MiL had him on standby, I think!!), from a young age. "Your father didn't even want you". Now, I think there is a big difference between "not wanting you" and "not wanting another child with a woman to whom you no longer wish to be committed."

They only started to forge a relationship when my dh reached his 20s, left home & started his career

Yet another reason why I can't stand my in laws.

Fleecy thank you for sharing your dh's experiences. Sadly i have tried to rebuild our relationship in my early twenties and he had no interest.

Hells - yes Manchester is dressy!And not waggy although more towny than London. Mancs don't miss an opportunity to dress up! I would say your anglomania would be perfect. Do you have anything similar that you and your dh would be happy in. From the little I know of your dh (and hoping not to be intrusive) it does sound out of character.

LTEC I love your fashion friendship. The first time I took dd2 to play group another of the mums admired my dress (yeah yeah I know far too dressy for play group but pretty much the only thing I could fit my oversized post-baby body into) started a conversation and we're pretty good friends now!

Notyummy- how sad for your dh. It sounds horrific.

I should say that while my dad was/is a disaster my Mum is fab and now has a lovely partner of 15 years plus who really looks after her. Mum and I have a great relationship, so not all doom and gloom!

Talking of doom and gloom (sorry I've been such a misery of late) my late friends dss came round today. They are doing pretty well although obviously finding life difficult and missing their Mum. The oldest is quite angry about it all. Lovely lovely boys!

For the grammar pedants, I am sorry my writing must be quite a source of irritation! Must try harder!
But I've worked out how to do 'bold' Ta-da (never been one for actually reading instructions!)

Have lovely Friday nights all

Got a few corporate 'do's' coming up, so have purchased this natty little number

I give up!

just reading back over the thread properly - was only peeking in from time to time on iphone today while friend on work calls - and have just noticed Roma's lovely post re Liya K. Thanks very much - I wish it were true but I'll take it anyway!

love the sound of your bag, was just looking at brightly coloured bags in the window of a local boutique as I passed this morning.