Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

indiepanda

Thanks MaddieMay and LL. Am quite looking forward to the black-tie do now, makes all the difference having an outfit I feel comfortable in.

My boyfriend isn't one for going overboard with the compliments but I reckon this should elicit his favourite one which is "elegant". And it's a really good shape up top - too high neckline and I just look matronly, too low and I want to spend the whole night hitching my dress up - this is nicely in in the middle.

I did try on one with a very daring plunging neckline and though it fit well, when I looked down at myself it felt rather "hello girls, you're looking a bit exposed"... Would have needed a very low plunging bra to not show and I think the other guests (most of who are 20 years my senior) wouldn't have known where to look!

Sounds like you had a very successful shopping trip LL. I think Sainsbury's clothing is really good, had some tops from there I've worn over and over. Got bedlinen and towels from there too.

It's a perfect place to get fun pieces from too as it's not too pricey whilst not being so cheap it will fall apart in the wash either. I got a light coral sequinned t-shirt in there when they came into fashion a few years ago (2012 I think?) and it's been worn a number of times and still looks good despite being under £20.

MaddieMay, your outfit sounds very chic, sounds like you had a lovely lunch out too.

Am nearly packed - everything is down in the dining room by the suitcase to save me lugging the full thing down the stairs (makes me sound old but that makes my knees hurt!). Almost everything I am taking is a shade of blue - I do own other colours but way more blues and it makes taking accessories easier to stick to one palette, especially when I need a hiking outfit for the day and a smart casual one for dinner in the evening.

Have a good weekend all x

maddiemay

LL- Sounds as if you have found some lovely things on your shopping trip, you must be very pleased now that you have finished the decoration and can enjoy adding the finishing touches.

My jacket was a new without tags CS find, it has a lovely floral lining too, a truly joyous thing.

indiepanda - I have chosen a blue palette several times this summer for our caravaning trips, if asked I would have said that I do not wear much navy blue, but found that I had a lot of pieces from cami-tops, t shirts/tops, linen trousers/jeggings/jeans, hoodie, linen maxi dress etc, together with a couple of really lovely scarves I bought in the spring I felt really "pulled together". OH and I have booked a 5 night visit to Edinburgh at the end of the month, we will be traveling by train and it will involve train changes so will need to really pack light (anyone who knows me will be :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: at this). Everything will need to be worn several times, but being able to bath/shower twice a day, I think that this will be fine, can one still buy paper knickers?, I don't think that my social conscience would let me wear these even if they were available:eek::eek: Need to start decanting skin care and see what travel size toiletries I have. First visit for both of us and really excited now it is all aranged:D

maman

Hope you get to read this before you go indie. Have a great holiday!! Your break seems to be really doing you good. So glad the Personal Shopper session went well. I'm with your BF in that elegant is exactly the word I'd use for the black tie dress and I think the split skirt gives it that extra bit of wow! I love the colour of the jacket and the dress seems ideal for the sort of wedding you're going to and it'll go well with the jacket afterwards. makes a good change from block colours.


Maddie, I'm envying you your trip to Edinburgh. We went a couple of years ago for a 5 day trip, planned to go to Glasgow but so much do see and do in Edinburgh it didn't happen. What plans do you have?


Sofas are now complete. Having spent nearly an hour in Ikea sorting it out we now have the missing covers. I'm delighted with them. Was checking measurements of my old curtains again today and decided I like them far more than what I've seen in the 4 or 5 shops I've looked in so far. So I'm going to wash them (first time:eek:) tomorrow and enjoy them. They're really good quality, made to measure from John Lewis and everything else I've seen comes up cheap and nasty in comparison. The room is lovely and clean and restful especially as lots of 'stuff' has been removed. I now need to buy new lampshades (7), recover footstool and sort out some cushions.

Floss

Thanks for all the good wishes on Thursday - we had a lovely day with lots of champagne, and a tram ride to our reception hotel just as on our wedding day (sadly it was not the vintage tram we had hired, but one of the new ones).

Maman did you buy the Ektorp sofas? I've been looking at these, is the 2-seater big enough to seat 3?

getting-there-slowly

De lurking, dusting my self off and getting back on the wagon where I had hugely fallen from. Fabbing and healthy eating also hit the dust! Charity collection bag arrived yesterday so going to start with de cluttering my wardrobe, hopefully in there somewhere is some inspiration if not will power

lessonlearned

Good morning

Maman - I also wanted to ask about your new sofas.

You were talking about building them, do they come in some kind of kit form.

The reason I ask is because our hall and entrance to the living room is rather problematic because the previous owners removed a door when opening up the lounge into the Dinjng room. We really struggled with our current sofa. Some kind of build it yourself furniture is necessary - perhaps a modular arrangement but the ones ive seen seem huge.

chanie

Morning everyone. I typed a long update yesterday and it didn't save.

Indie have a great holiday
Getting there welcome
Lessons I like Sainsburys clothes too - I bought stripey top in the last 25% off (I only buy stuff when when they run these, which are normally around school half terms!!!)

Its my birthday in a couple of days (36). I normally have a 'me' day which involves shopping and a nice lunch. I'd seen a coat and some shoes I wanted to buy for my birthday, but these have been recently reduced, so I snapped them up, saving £50. It now means there is no point in shopping on my birthday, so I will have to find something else to do!!! I'm thinking of either a day wondering in Central London or a visit to an English Heritage site.

I always ask for money for my birthday for my shopping trip. I have bought a lovely top - it was over £100 (which is more than I normally spend), but its silk mix and looks lovely. I've now decided that going forward, instead of using my birthday money in my normal shops, I'm going to buy 1-2 quality items instead of the 3-5 cheaper items I normally get.

Ellsbel

Hi all:)
Love the outfits, indie and hope you have a lovely time:)
maddie I'd love a short break in Edinburgh, and I reckon travelling light will be very liberating!
sezzagirl I'm trying something similar with the tattoo and asking him to wait till he finishes Uni (I've thrown in a bribe if he does though!)
maman glad your sofas are all done:) are they nice and comfy?
Hi gettingthere I think decluttering is a good place to start when looking for lost mojo
Another grey, damp day so far today - not sure what I'll do today yet.
A bit random, but has anyone tried false eyelashes? I feel like my lashes could do with some volume and tried some smallish, quite natural looking ones that I found, but try as I might, I can not get them to stick in the right place
I've considered eyelash extensions, but have heard they're not good for your real lashes - I'm being a bit vain I suppose!!

lessonlearned

Back again....

The bad news - ive put 2 lbs on.

The good news - the kitchen is fully functional again although it needs a good clean and I stocked up with masses of fruit/veg so it's back to the programme - also need to get my cross trainer set up.

Just nine weeks till my holiday .......and counting.:rotfl:

Not sure what today will bring, the weather can go either way at the moment. DS2 is having a lie in this morning - he's worked himself to a standstill thus week. He's not back at work until Wednesday so a but if rest now and a couple of shopping trips.

Hoping to get a dry spell so I can have a sort out in the garden too.

Ellsbel - I hopeless with false eyelashes. I tried extensions but they started falling out the next day so never bothered again. I Would love thick lustrous eyelashes, mine aren't great.

Chanie - heres wishing you a lovely birthday.

Getting there - welcome back. Enjoy your decluttering. Ellsbel is right - it's a great place to start. Clearing your space seems to clear the head too.

maman

Floss wrote: »

Maman did you buy the Ektorp sofas? I've been looking at these, is the 2-seater big enough to seat 3?

lessonlearned wrote: »

Maman - I also wanted to ask about your new sofas.

You were talking about building them, do they come in some kind of kit form.

We went for Stocksund sofas floss because Ektorp were almost identical to our old ones and I really fancied a change.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S29033750/#/S29033745


I would imagine that Ektorp would be wide enough for three people though (depending on size of course;)) as the width is more than the Stocksund although arms (of the sofas!) need to be taken into account.


They arrived in big boxes LL about the dimensions of the seating so generously 6 feet by 3 feet and 1 foot deep then legs and covers came in separate small boxes. Delivery man also had a mate so had I been here on my own I wouldn't have had to help.


ellsbel, I haven't worn false eyelashes since I was a teenager and that was a long time ago! I'd suggest you go to a Benefit make up counter and ask them to try the They're Real mascara on you. I only wear it for special occasions as it needs removing properly (rather than just wearing off like some mascaras) but it is very good.


chanie, I love the sound of your treat day for your birthday. Obviously if you've been given money then you could browse if you went to London and see what's coming in for autumn even if you didn't buy. I enjoy looking at new fashions and noting what I have in my wardrobe that's still 'in' or could be adapted IYSWIM. I've got some bits and pieces from Sainsbury's but since I've been doing MK I'm trying to go for more quality (even if it comes from TKM or the CS!). When you wander in London what do you like to do? You could combine heritage type experience with shopping easily there.


I'm busy (well the WM is;)) washing curtains today. I'm putting them individually through a low spin, cool wash. 2 are on the line already and they're giving me joy. I realise mine are 192 cm wide whereas the ready made ones are 120 or narrower so mine are much more luxurious. Hopefully I can iron them later.


All house fabbing today. I'm going to browse lampshades on here and then maybe go out and look for some if I see any I like. Not exactly looking fab but I am wearing clean jeans and flattering Tommy Hilfiger top so could be worse.


:mad: to the weight gain LL, probably the lunch and entertaining rellies to blame for that. I always find eating out is difficult so take advantage and meal plan for all the meals you can control.