I don't dress for the school run, I dress for my (wise & avid) life!!

[LetThemEatCake]

continuing from here and quoting esher!!

I think my mum has some like that too - she has a weakness for lovely shoes and buys them but then never wears them because she can't walk in them and sticks to the frumptastic ones instead. What a waste!

My mum isn't the most stylish of ladies (I think she dresses older than she is) but she is aging well. She'll be 60 this year but her skin is fairly unlined. She never exercises or uses any products. A real soap and water girl but she does watch what she eats, drinks plenty of water and does a lot of gardening and singing - the first is good exercise, the second trims the waist very well.

Hello fel1x lovely to see you back.

linwin that is an amazing dress. I like the Vanessa Bruno bag best if it's not too late.

Right ladies, I'm off to St Helier tomorrow for a couple of days so I'll speak to you again Saturday. Enjoy your weekends

OWW perfect round-up

linwin that is the most gorgeous dress I have seen in ages I love the Vanessa Bruno bag.

My mum is uber-glamorous and my major fashion influence. She has a worse shoe and bag shopping habit than me and loves pouring over magazines and is a genius at copyingreproducing designer stuff for me. One of my strongest childhood memories is the day we went to the Clarins counter in Brown Thomas and I got my foaming cleanser, lotus oil for night and lotus cream for daytime moisturising and I felt officially grown up

Bloss I find having guests to stay v stressful, I like my space!

Cakey great news about the interview, you will sail through it

Plum what a fantastic job, will be looking to you for the truth about skin-care! I read the vogue beauty blog and they are constantly going on the most amazing junkets all over the world courtesy of the big beauty brands, and then what do you know, a couple of months later there's a glowing review of the particular product in the magazine. It has made me rather sceptical I'm afraid. Not that I would object if someone invited me to the Maldives to learn all about their new longer lasting mascara you understand

Creeps back in..... Handy update there OWW! Congratualtions bunny! My identical twin nieces were around for dinner at the weekend - it's so amazing to be a twin, especially if you're almost indistinguishable as they are. They are delighted with their twinness and always have been. I would love twins, except for the pregnancy - it's a lot of belly

'fraid still no shopping in roma's life. I want the poncho though - may get that, except I have had the same terrible experience with wc delivery. Hmm.

I also want a nice bag, that will fit a not-tiny laptop and cable, book, purse, bottle of water, snack, tiny umbrella, small make up bag and comb, bits and bobs like oyster card, phone, spare tights etc, and still do up and look elegant and stylish. Any suggestions?

Great news about job things cake and plum! I think I like work more than not work - it's deffo more stimulating, but I'm knackered. Also felt awful today as ds2 hit his head at the playground and I wasn't there of course. My mum dealt with everything and he's ok, though his lovely lion's mane is all matted with blood.

Those orthopaedic shoes are horrid! Vanessa bruno bag is lovely.

My mum is a bit unkempt really, but she's never been interested enough in investing time and energy in her appearance. More frequent hairdressers appts and less per una would make a big difference.

Hello Roman! How's the job going? Stylish and capacious bag - will have a think. I am coveting tiny bags at the moment like Hermes Constance or the small Celine. I am waiting for Zara to do a version though!

Fritzi I meant to say I had rubbish customer service from White Co recently, I still love that poncho but have a few similar things so will sit on my hands!

Ladies, I am so frazzled trying to organise this Paris trip. Could you look here and tell me what to do? I don't want to hand over half the cost of a Celine bag to a con-man (even though he seems very nice and is probably nothing of the sort!)

Thanks

Well...have wrapped presents, written cards, although DH bought - (as in physically went out to-he is a fab card and pressie sourcer!), iced and decorated cake 1, decorated house with birthday stuff (love the wow factor! bunting - unisex, which we'll ooh, keep up for a few months I guess), and am off to bed...but just a quickie:

OWW and bloss and VB thanks.,..will take a look properly tomorrow!

Bloss - love the idea of having guests to stay, but reality doesn't always meet expectations, does it?

Roma - hello - sorry to hear about DS...glad things good otherwise...

My mother isn't too bad actually style wise; although she is a bit of an Mrs M & S really...she does have fab grey/white hair in a short bob and relatively line free skin at 62, so here's hoping...Its more her attitude that's at issue...she's got the old age loose tongue a bit too early methinks...highly critical/judgemental She is the classic stereotypical Jewish Mother, except she's not Jewish - !

Love that WC poncho too....will prob get...

Oh VB I remember using the Clarins Lotus Oil!

Sweet Jesus! Are they joking?!
Lovely night. Dreading getting up already!

Rufus Good luck!

Roman I just shove all my work kit in a 'laptop rucksack' - I know, I know. It's just a plain black one though.

I also carry a handbag that fits A4 but would love to find a perfect 'carry all'.

Anya Hindmarch?

Have lovely days ladies.

M&S sale has started but absolutley nothing in my basket was on sale! Bah!

Dolcee - we have v similar Mothers! My Mum is the most judgey person I know. As DH says, she has opinions on opinions! V draining esp when I am on the receiving line - which happens a lot!

Got a playground meet up with some friends this morning and DSs have a session at Little Gym this afternoon so I can finish packing. Have a nice day.

plum - Hope you are recovering from your dentist appointment yesterday. Your new job sounds perfect. Congratulations!

OWW - Love your thread summary! Wow, the dresses from DivaCatwalk look very vavavoom . Hope DS's sunburn is better today.

fleecy - Have a great time in Jersey!

rufus - Your outfit sounds very glam. Hope you had a great night out with your friends.

roma - Hope DS2 is ok. Glad your job is going well. Maybe this Chloe bag would be big enough?

verity - Your mum sounds lovely! Hope you'll find a solution for your Paris trip.

dolcee- Enjoy your DS's birthday! We still have the bunting up from DDs birthday two months ago . Will replace it with Christmas decorations in a few weeks months time.

Morning All.

Welcome back Fel1x and nice to see you too Romana.

The white company poncho is very nice and I do think I'll get a lot of wear out of it. I had a similar one from LA a few years back in black which I wore to death.

Gosh - its so nice to be back home and in my own bed - the older I get the more I appreciate my home comforts.

However have in-laws arriving tomorrow and more on sunday.

Thank you for the bbq suggestions - will make list today and am whizzing to shops tomorrow after dentists and leaving all the dc's with the grandparents.

Romana - dh uses a bag for laptop with a special protective cover inside.

I had a quick look and all the female specific ones look a bit twee.

Romanarama - Goyard do a an elegant bag that is just perfect for über-stylish professional women - I have one I bought years ago in black but they do them in their toile in lots of colours these days too.

It takes A4, a lap top and lots of bits and pieces too and is slightly deeper than it is wide. But you need to go the shop in Paris to choose/order, I think.

Verity - your mum is my role model. That's exactly how I want to end up! I always wanted a mum I could go shopping and do girly things with, and it sounds like that's what you have. I want to have that w DD, and also the twins (depending on gender - if boys will do different bonding things if shopping isn't "their bag" - ha ha). DH completely supportive of me always looking glamorous. Think the young childhood years are a style blip and I will be buying non-sensible hand bags again soon (once playgroup/playground not daily occurrences).

OWW - what to say about nudie MIL?! There's no comfort my words can bring, you just need time.

Roma - my sister has a leather Samsonite laptop bag that's quite sleek.

What a day! Dh has moved out of the en suite back into the family bathroom, and he's buying me the Bec dress. Tonight!!

Blossoming - wow - sooooo pleased for you - re the dress - not DH moving bathrooms that is! Why was he in the ensuite?????

Fritzi - another keep the bunter up'er here too! Your reference to Christmas made me think how easy Christmas shopping will be this year with if we pool our collective wisdom re present suggestions!

Blossoming, very exciting (re dresss not bathroom!). Sorry, don't know of Matches codes.

I think I'd prefer to go for drinks with JA rather than Gwyneth.

That Chloe bag is lovely. Whenever I go back to work I am going to get a Mulberry Bayswater.

Hope the children's parties go well.

We are off to the gym (well, me, DD a little young for spin and goes to the creche!)

blossoming - Enjoy peace and quiet of ensuite. Same here whenever we have visitors. Yay to Bec dress! Mr Bloss is definitely A&W husband of today!

Another downside of having guests ollie, having to share my beautiful en suite with Dh!!

I must tell my mum all the nice things you've been saying about her! She can be quite blunt and is a very negative thinker which drives me nuts, but overall I can't complain.

Bunny you are the kind of mum I strive to be too

Bloss yay about the dress! How did you persuade him?

Carciofi I agree about the Bayswater, fits lots in and looks good, there is a larger version, the Picadilly I think that would fit a laptop.

Roman there are 2 large bags I covet - Fendi Peekaboo and YSL muse two, both are fairly unstructured and lacking in 'hardware' and very elegant I think. The peekaboo is divided into compartments which would be useful. I saw a muse 2 in taupe recently and it was beautiful and would go with everything. Hope ds2 is better this morning

Good news all round, Blossoming. Did wonder why your DH was sleeping in the en-suite, glad he's not banished to the bath with his sleeping bag.

OWW, don't mention Christmas yet, please! I've already started thinking about it-I do love Christmas shopping and prepping!-and realised yesterday that another 8 babies have been born since last year. Am going to have to be very wise with my shopping this year, or it may be me spending the night in a stable.

There are two ways to my Dh's heart verity, and there have been plenty of both this week!!

OWW..great re-cap for fel1x and rufus and a welcome back for you both. OWW ..I am not over you seeing your mil naked yet..still makes me giggle..my only words of comfort are..it could have been worse,could have been fil

tracey..I ordered a grey diesel lamb leather jacket on brandalley this morning,dont seem to be able to link,but think sizes too big for you..how did I spend so much by 7 o clock

Dolce..I am intrigued by your painting skills..are you a professional artist?big countdown now for party..great creativity from fritzi with that invite

bunny..you are a very clever lady!I have indeed been juggling desperately for a few weeks as dh around very little through working,right through the weekends too, so think just feeling a bit exhausted..I am in awe of what cake and many others on here manage week in,week out.

Mum died when we were kids but do remember that she loved shoes(always full on colours and snapping heels off as not necessarily practical styles)which I do too and was a fiend for a diet,filling up on lipstick instead..I wear lipstick rarely and don't do dieting(try to up the exercise) My dad looks pretty good though so I'm hopeful.My mil was amazing..lovely amazing woman who was quite dressed down but was a great shopping enabler..although she spent little on clothes for herself she enjoyed my frou frou purchases and not judgy at all..I miss her for so many reasons(unfortunately also passed away)No sisters or sils(though gorgeous gay bil..gok eat your heart out) so feel 2dds a gift to up increase the shopping women in the family,though will be $$$ if similar tastes to mine!!

let's see how good my memory is

Great news on job Plum and yes, LA - how did you know?? do you know any others going for same role?

also great to hear from Roma - glad you are enjoying the pace but very sorry about ds2 - hope he is okay today.

OWW you are hilarious. You poor thing - what an eyeful!!

Bloss you and your dh are lovely - like teenagers!

tracey is it Bea's b'day tomorrow? she shares a b'day with my sis if so - also the youngest of 3! Hope she (and you) has a very happy day.

Linwin am so glad that I could play some part in enabling you to buy such a fab dress

those shoes - odd, bc in the celeb pics they don't look so hideous - not a million miles away from the "Scholls as fashion" look circa 2002 ... but in the stand-alones. oh my eyes!!!

verity your mother does indeed sound wonderful. Your dd is a lucky girl to have such a glam granny and mum to look up to and emulate.

rufus hope you had a fab night out and fleecy have a marvellous time with your friend in Jersey!!

DH and I were meant to be out to dinner last night but decided we'd rather go to Sainsbury's . It actually was very fun, especially as we decided at checkout to pretend to be weird OCD people arranging everything in specific ways on the conveyor belt. Then I took it too far and totally embarrassed him - got a haunted look in my eyes, arranged and rearranged the cheeses about 5 times and then loudly freaked out at him, hyperventilating and hand-flapping, because the berries were not all together . Was very fun - for me, esp as reactions of nearby customers were so obvious As he said, you just don't really know where to stop, do you? Then he decided to amuse me by doing an odd run across the car park with the shopping trolley and was mortified to return the car to find me reading this thread on my iphone and totally missing his performance which had, however, been enjoyed by many other shoppers

I always think that I'd have a real laugh with JA - would much rather go for a drink with her than AJ, but maybe I am getting caught up in Rachel rather than Jen, iyswim

as for Gwyneth, ugh just no. Drippy on so many levels.

Hope party goes well Dolce!!

oh and lovely to see you back Fel1x!!! have missed you.