What would you wear ...wise & avid girls?

[blossoming]

In reference to a question by ltec the other day.

Cain Apologies for the use of the word Jock - tis a habit! My mum is from Orkney originally.

Oh, It doesn't offend so don't apologise! Is just the images it conjures that turn me green about the gills!

I must log off, I have loads to do before bed but have foolishly spent the evening chatting on the phone and fondling my disappointing Hasbeens, trying them on over and over to see if I was mistaken last time.
Nevermind, it shall be resolved soon. These were only despatched yesterday and I got a very speedy and helpful response to my email this afternoon so I'm impressed by the service.

Like the look of that playsuit LTEC. This arrived today in black and white but will be going back. It doesn't hang well and the top part is really wide and billowy. Might work with a really wide stretchy belt but not for me.

Hi there Esher. Yes, will leave dd at SLodge all the way through unless we move her to Milbourne Lodge. She is not a girly girl. I have known the school for many years and the girls there are in a minority but much-loved. They aren't given less of an education than the boys, it is just that there is no provision for purely girly things like ballet or netball. If I thought that there was any chance she wouldn't be prepared as well for LEH / Guildford / Tormead etc exams as the boys are for prep school tests, she would be out like a shot.

Morning ladies!

MM - oh bloody bugger about your sunglasses - that is so annoying!! I am very particular about my things, so would have noticed immediately and been in a big funk about it. DH thinks I am nuts, but its a big deal to me when things aren't quite right (former lawyer, moi?). So I completely sympathise.

Esher - ooh, hope little DD is OK and recovering well. My heart skips a beat when little DD even falls and hurts herself. Our little ones are so precious, aren't they?!

Verity? - oh your poor little DD w her self consciousness. I completely empathise, the school years can be so hard. I have v big teeth, and they looked v rabbity/horsey on a 6 year old, esp coupled w my nice patch and thick glasses. Not to mention the boy haircut Mum made me get as punishment for cutting my sisters hair. 'Twas not the best for my self esteem, but at least I didn't grow up vain. Think confidence is key, though - the most popular girl in primary school was v confident (as were her parents - think it flows down...) and she had dark hairs on her legs. Oh how I wanted some!

Tracey and Cakey - am loving your jumpsuits!! They are so elegant but fun.

everything - welcome back! Would love to go to Crete, its on the list!

We are off to Venice next week for belated 10 year anniversary, and its also DD's 1st birthday next week so am v excited!! Have lots of tips on where to go in Venice, but if anyone has any tips on how/when to best visit Palladio's villas in the Veneto region, please do let me know! In the meantime, will be googling...

Went shopping yesterday, although saddo me just bought lots of things for DD - shoes (Zara), black leggings (H&M), baby flip flops (Gap), nappy knickers (Boots) etc. And the postman has just delivered 2 parcels for her today, following from 2 yesterday. Oh dear.

super quick before nursery run ... three cheers for Dressing Room customer service - ordered these yesterday, arrived forst thing this morning, gloriously packages in layer upon layer of pink

but ... boo hiss for my big feet. The left one is just hanging off the back.

The shoes are beautiful. But for £160 they need to fit, I think.

Welcome back everything, glad you had fun in the end.

bunnymother we stayed here a few years ago for 2 nights and really enjoyed it. We spent the day in between on the 'strada del prosecco'. Twas very nice, except the moment when we had bought a couple of crates of prosecco, and the man from the winery offered to put it in the boot of the car for us. I popped the boot open, forgetting that ds's pooey nappy had been sitting in there in hot sun for about 4 hours while we'd been wine tasting. He didn't flinch though

Bad luck cake. I'll give you a fiver for them - I think my feet are a size smaller

(21 hours of mil down, 483 to go).

If anyone fancies frockwatching without sitting through SITC2 there was a documentary on Valentino on BBC4 on sunday,now on catch up,pretty interesting..note to traceyb..and you don't even need sewing machines to make these gowns

tracey I didn't learn to sew at all, and indeed am not that good at it. The reason I first bought a sewing machine was that I wanted to make a giant curtain to screen the dss' room from the rest of the reception rooms in our flat at the time, which had 3 giant reception rooms separated by massive glass doors, and I wanted to make one of them into a big bedroom for the boys. So I made a 4x3m black 'tapestry' with appliquéd offcuts made into a solar system. I made a rocket from felt and sewed on lots of stars. It was my first project and really successful! It didn't matter that the finish was not very perfect. Then I made lots of things like personalised duvet covers with their names appliquéd on in felt letters and that sort of thing that's not very hard and doesn't have to be perfect. I found that with practice doing straight lines gets easier! I haven't tried making clothes yet or using a pattern, but I think I may give it a go. The problem with clothes making is that the kind of quality I could produce would almost certainly not be superior to H&M, but would cost a lot more. With eg curtains you can save hundreds of pounds if you don't have standard sized windows that you can buy ready-made curtains for. I've started making Star Wars curtains for ds2 and 3 now. I'm going to make a Republic Attack Cruiser and some clones from felt and put them on a background. I haven't decided exactly on the colours and design but usually I just copy a picture from the internet or a poster. It's also nice to make original cushions. You can get fake fur v.cheaply from fabric shops and sew 'monsters' on and suchlike to make decorations for the kids' beds.

My top tip is to buy the best quality cotton as it's really annoying if it keeps snapping.

because they're handstitched,obviously..

Thanks Romana - think am going to order sewing machine today and then pop to JL to get cotton/material and try some very basic curtains for dc's room.

Had talk with DH last night about houses and his plan is that we buy in 2012 so its a question of either staying put here until then or moving into another rental for 18 months to 2 years. So am going to keep eyes out for somewhere else to rent but I am picky and want a newer well insulated house with more bathrooms as pretty fed up of freezing here despite astronomical heating bills. My problems is that I am rubbish with change.

LTEC - most annoying re your shoes but do agree they need to fit or you just won't wear them.

Reine - oooh going to watch the valentino programme tonight.

LTEC - the warehouse jumpsuit is indeed jersey and there's 20% off until tomorrow - so at just over £30 I decided it was worth a go.

oh dear - lots of shoe commiseration to doll out to LTEC & Cain.

Cain - I understand your hasbeen pain only too well. I have Hasbeens still (I thought somehow they might suddenly start fitting )...but my feet get even bigger in the heat so they are worse than ever. I may have to try Tracey's suggestion of getting a cobbler to stretch them.

Morning all

Feeling a bit sluggish this morning. Misty and drizzly here, and what's all this talk of autumn/winter? Please no!!

The curry was a great success. It was yoghurt and almond chicken curry from Good Food magazine this year sometime. Quite delicious with a bottle of Brouilly, and very easy. But I don't normally eat after 5pm, so that makes a difference.

Add that to the fact I can barely move after 2 days of the Shred..

Am thinking of starting another dress this afternoon. I bought loads of fabric recently from ditto fabrics online, and this pattern says 'make it in 2 hours'. Ha ha.

I have to find a dress for the wedding at Claridges then evening reception at a club the day we return from Spain. I don't know the couple that well but they're both very "trendy" and it will be a glam affair.

I want something that maximises my tan. Big night out without dd so want something I feel great in but can't spend mega bucks. I love this but just can't justify it atm.

Any thoughts on this lot?

I like the colour but am worried the ruching looks cheap? I like the idea of it though.

Same kind of style but a paler colour.

Maybe a bit too much for a wedding?

Really like this but wonder if it is going to be a big summer wedding dress and I will see another guest wearing it?

Very different but keep being drawn to this Would it work with nude heels?

This I love but want a more summery colour.

Cakey, Hells & Cain sorry about your shoes.

Tracey am following your leather jacket search with interest. It's my birthday in August and am thinking about getting one for my present. I have a few including the CdC grey one I'm giving to my sister but want a black one I can put on over everything and feel good in.

Blossoming meal sounds lovely. Can't wait to be able to cook again.

MM - I like the reiss leopard one - quelle surprise

Also like this one

Vin - so sorry to hear of your loss. Please don't feel guilty, hindsight is always 20/20 and I'm sure there was nothing mire you could have said/done to prevent it.

Everything - so glad to hear of your holiday.

OWW - are you good at organising people/events? Otherwise I wouldn't do it.

MM - I like the blue Reiss, especially if you're going to be heading off to a club straight after.

Why, oh why is it so hard to find a cap sleeved fitted tee in blue or green?

Oh and Plum - did you get my fb message about the Blochs?

Roma - thanks for the hotel link, but we will be staying in Venice, so just need tips on how/when to visit the Palladio villas. Need to put in some time on the internet to work this out, me thinks. Very impressed with your sewing - you have made some fantastic things for your DCs!

MM - I like the dress that Tracey linked to best of all, and I would recommend staying away from the cheaper dresses you first linked to. They don't look to be the same sort of quality as the Reiss ones, and think you would feel self conscious.

Crikey - just popped into the city for a few things for holiday and have had a bit of a unintentional splurge! Just kept seeing things I liked - and now feeling bad cos I was supposed to be looking for swimshorts for DS2 and completely forgot to look - bad Mummy! In my defence all the purchases were of the less expensive kind: these peeped toed flats from NL, a lovely sheer cream linen/silk blend casual shirt & vest top from Zara, a sheer long sleeved T shirt from Mexx for layering whcih I have been after for a while - reduced in the sale, white top v similar to Fleecy's Tescos one from H&M, and some tan glads from a dept store (also reduced). Had botton lip out big time this morning when I saw the weather forecast for holiday destination next week so thought if its going to rain, I may as well look good under parka and brolly! Have got Book Club tonight so will give NL chinos/shoes and new Zara top an outing - presuming it all works together!
The sales have started here and even saw some A/W stuff out in a few corners already!

MM - I like the blue and printed Reiss dresses - not so keen on the last one - like you say wrong colour for summer wedding.
LTEC - sorry about your shoes, how annoying.

Has anyone seen a (sad) reality TV programme called Say Yes To The Dress? Its filmed in a big American bridalwear shop and its liked wedding porn! Its basically just all these brides choosing dresses - along with Mums/Aunts/friends etc etc and what the shop assistants really think of their clients! Hysterical!
Right - really must go and do more packing!

OWW - I'm sure you know this already but in France they don't allow swim shorts in public pools, only the snug fitting ones.

So sorry about the shoes LTEC, they looked perfect.

I think you should get the maxstudio dress anyway mm; not for the wedding but great price and lovely for everyday. I may also buy it if I learn on Friday it's the right colour for me! And I haven't had chance to catch up on all the posts, but mm did you say to vin whether you would like the jeans we were both eyeing up? I'm guessing so, but couldn't see any response to my post on here. Ta.

hey ho on the shoes, am going to save my pennies for the Chloe boots.

MM I think the leopard is un po' troppo for a wedding. Like the max mara best (typical!!) and the Blue reiss .. don't see why it wouldn't work with nude shoes at all, is it the House of Harlow ones? Also like the one you are worried about being ubiquitous.

After 2 disappointing retail forays this week (Antipodium dress damaged, Ash shoes too small) I got a small but satisfying hit this morning from good old reliable primark. A 'statement necklace' of flowers, crystals etc for £3.