M&S ups and downs

Don't laugh but somehow today, I manage to lose some beige tummy and waist clincher magic knickers which I so need to wear under my Max Mara dress for my style talk on Saturday. The reason I've miss place them, is the lovely lady who served me in M&S informed me that people are allowed to return knickers! This conversation stunner cropped up because I remarked on the fact there was no hygiene sticker on said (now lost) £28 worth of knicker upholstery.

I'm horrified that M&S do accept returned underwear and think this should stop immediately. Equally, I'm quite upset about my loss due to the cost. I'm hoping they find them in the store ......rather than they've dropped out of my bag somewhere!

On the up side I found a gem of a dress in there today. A gorgeous little black capped sleeve shift number for a mere £35.00

Focus

After a little flurry of giddyness, it is back to the reality of hard work and being focused.

Today I popped in to the wonderful bra fitting area of Selfridges to have my 6 monthly bra fitting. Now I can measure and fit, but I always like to have a second opinion. The team at Selfridges are very good and very helpful. It is often the best stocked, with nice and airy changing rooms to be fitted in. Since my little boy (who is now 2 and a half) my rib cage has slowly but surely gone back in to place and today was the day to acknowledge that return! Finally I can buy some nice numbers instead of my make do ones from John Lewis.

Nothing wrong with John Lewis lingerie department- it's just I wasn't prepared to buy above a certain price whilst my body was still changing. John Lewis is the best place for maternity, non wire, reasonable priced bras and generally useful for all manner of bust things.

Undergarments are very important to make your clothes look nice and fit well. They can also make you feel a million dollars in a t-shirt and jeans. Which is why I'm obsessed with being properly fitted. After road testing everywhere (including Rigby & Peller) I place Selfridges first, John Lewis and R&P joint second. It does depend on the person fitting so consistency is my benchmark. The team at Selfridges are the most consistent.

So it was with complete joy I discovered the Fantasie Helena Balconette bra - it truly is a divine number. A best seller to boot for those in the know. In fact Selfridges only had one in my size as someone had stocked up on this style*. The Fantasie range also gets my top vote even over the fav USA Victoria Secrets store.

Two bras later I was hooked - literally. I can not tell you what a fantastic feeling my new adornments have given me. With some top tips from the girls in Selfridges I bought the required missing bras from Figleaves and indulged in one other purple number, see photo above (plus matching briefs as not many purple ones around!) by Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers. I don't make these names up! My staples are black, white and nude but I always like to have one bright colourful number.

Having a decent under carriage is an investment and well worth it. I'd forgo all other manner of items just to be enveloped in the most perfect bra. Sadly, I did stand at the counter practically fondling my own 'bangers' ( a la Gok Wan) because it felt so damn good!

*Not too pricey either at £24.00

Yesterday's nearly ran

Bad timing for this! But hey they were just round the corner from the SATC movie premier.

Here's the results http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=29428

Boo hoo Noth enough

I can't tell you enough what a fab evening it was. London town, blue skies, nice breeze and a late start oh must be a premier. Kim Cattrall looked the most gorgeous, partly because she excudes womenhood. They all looked amazing but the evening was not an A list frenzy apart from the girls themselves, the only other mentionable is Patricia Fields who to my complete joy did turn up. But no Mr Big! I really wanted to see Chris Noth.

I failed miserably in sneaky photo taking - in fairness I would have looked a) a dork and b) had it confiscated!

Gok Wan was outside trying to get interviews (amongst others) and there was a general flash frenzy for anyone vaguely 'known'. I escaped with a forlorn walk, with my plus one friend, we did take a funny pic of me with a board before we entered but I can't get it from my phone to my computer currently!

Most of the other celebs were of no interest but Kelly Rowlands (ex-Destiny's Child)looked great and was lovely, she also had plus one friend who had to step aside for the photo calls.

Just compare Kelly with a couple of Brits on right Michelle Ryan, Jenny Faulkner.

Kelly's dress was stunning. A deeper bolder purple than reflected in the photo.

Oh and the film - well Sarah Jessica Parker and the cast pleaded for secrecy, mouths buttoned etc. It is so hard for me not to be a BIG mouth!!

I wore cream cotton Primark dress, Gap's Pierre Hardy black patent platforms, silver clutch from Blommingdales, Soho ( I bought it last September when they were filiming SATC) and a pale blue pashmina with silver studs from http://www.doushala.co.uk/ (worn as scarf thing not shawl!). I knew it would be cold inside the cinema with the air con and it was.......Hardly top drawer stuff but I did tube it! I wasn't gonna waste my Blahnik's on the Bakerloo

Excitiement!

Ok I can't contain myself any longer for tomorrow I go to the Sex and the City premier!!
As much as I can say. But I will be drinking a cosmo or two afterwards.

Really, normally my life is nappies and work but sometimes it all comes good.

Briefly

....Princess Beatrice is working in the personal shopping service at Selfridges, just so ya know.
We bumped into each other at work today.....

A little tipple at lunch

Today I discoverd Primark. Obviously I'd known about the P and I had on a few occasions stumbled in but today I found it!

I'd never thought it was for me and hadn't factored it in as a place to shop. The only reason I went was because my bank didn't have anyone to see me at lunchtime! I did accuse them of being last century. When I huffed out, I thought what am I going to do for an hour...oh look there's a Primark.

An hour later and a great rummage I had two lovely new dresses and a top for under £30. Now I know why people like Primark. I like their brown paper bags too. I was going to put dresses on and appear out of the bag in an ironic Marc Jacobs way, but it is progress in deed that I've photographed and loaded up piccies anyway!

Blue top with bow detail round collar

B&W print dress , Ivory shiny dress

It did feel very nice being indulgent.....

Style makeover comp winner

In case you thought I'd forgotten there was a winner!
Winner C. stranger on the shore is in real life Rachel Tod, a New Zealander stuck out in the wild West of Wales.

We will be meeting in Birmingham at end of August to give her a fashion overhaul with the new A/W 2008 clothes.

I would have put a photo up but so far Rachel hasn't sent me a jpeg! But I'll be taking some on the day.

Planning ahead

It is debatable how much shoes are going to change next season - from the catwalks it seemend ankle boots or shoboots were still making a mark - aside from the flights of fancy ones. With that in mind I've sourced two bargin offerings from Cara London that might stand you in good stead for the rest of the year.

Here are the links -choose from biker boot or shoboot.
http://www.carashoes.co.uk/detail.asp?id=109
http://www.carashoes.co.uk/detail.asp?id=208

Motivational tips

A number of bloggers have recently drawn attention to either ethichal clothes purchases, see post by Stylist Stuff or like Observationmode to a no spend rule for six months or more.

I'm in the midst of working on a new edition of my book as the so called credit crunch gets a grip on everyday living.

What do you do to stop yourself blowing the budget or resisting temptation for that must have item?

How important is ethical clothing to your lifestyle?