Being indulgent

It's an indulgent post from me.  

It's Sunday evening as I'm typing this although I won't finish it till Monday (that'll be today now) but an evening of research and relaxation is exactly what I need.  Being completely indulgent and looking for a dress. 

It's party time here.  Not right now, but in a month's time, it's my Birthday party.  And I'm being organised.  If, by being organised, that means perusing lots of lovely websites looking for a dress with no budget (that last phrase isn't a statement of fact at all by the way - that's the  "indulgent" bit.  There is most definitely a budget and it's not very big), then "being organised" is what I'm being. 

Thinking ahead.  Planning...  Ideally not leaving it till the last minute (knowing full well I'll be dashing to London, ordering like a crazy loon on t'internet the week of the party and then end up wearing something I already own). 

It's my birthday, I'm having a large party - 40 plus some.  And I think I can justify a new dress.  If you can't buy a dress for your own party, when can you buy one?  Interestingly I haven't bought one for either of the First Holy Communions I've had over the past three years - I've reworn things I already have.  In fact, I think I only bought one expensive dress last year.  The Self Portrait one which ended up being the perfect dress for three big occasions and will definitely be getting worn again this year too.  Although not for my party. 

But surely that's as good a place to start as any.  The ideal time to buy Self Portrait, this early in the season as they have become big news now and sell out almost instantly.  

This one I'm sure I've tried on.  And loved it.  But was looking for First Holy Communion and hmm wearing white?  However... I wonder for a party?  Although I am probably whiter than the dress at the moment.  Don't know if I LOVE it love it... 

Self Portrait Oblique Embroidered Lace Dress £305  On the upside, it is handwash (and I kid you not, they wash beautifully).  I think I need a fuller skirt though and not a column one.  This would have me shuffling along like a Geisha.  With infinitely less grace.  I fear I would look slightly more mummified Minion.



Actually no this is the one I tried on last year.  I just think it's slightly too Summery for a party in Jan.  And I prefer the capped sleeves on the one above.  Maybe not the extra money but...  

Monochrome Pleated Dress £230 from Self Portrait





I have to say I am rather taken with this one.. 

Self Portrait Scallop Edge Midi Dress £260 



And I'm now just wondering if I've looked at too many of them now as I am loving the look of this one too.   I think they do look so so much better with a bit of movement to them as opposed to the standing still like a trendy mug shot.

Self Portrait Lace Up Peplum Midi Dress £285  The lacing up the front is a tad Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves though.  Anything that vaguely brings Cher to mind, possibly isn't great.



Alternatively this one is gorgeous but it's very similar to the Aurelia Midi which I already have.. as does the one above if i'm honest... 

Self Portrait Felicia Short Sleeved Lace Dress £265  Loving the nude shoes with this one... Hmmmm is it too similar?



This the Aurelia I have which I cannot rave enough about £260. 




ADORE this one but alas, I am not shoulder worthy at the moment... I would have excess boobage under my arms as well.  

Sculptured Strapless Lace Dress from Self Portrait £285




But back in the room and surely there must be loads on the High Street now that new season beauties are upon us.  Well, you'd think so, wouldn't you?

At French Connection I was left to trawl the sales.  And a good haul it is. 

Sundown Jersey Paisley Wrap Dress was £80 now £24




And this from & Other Stories which I was hanging out for in the sale.  Clearly it's not been reduced so I ordered it along with the Nike Air Force thingies so that I could get free postage.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.  I don't hold out a huge amount of hope as I only ordered one size and I can fluctuate between three different sizes in & Other Stories, dependent on the garment.  In my head this will look amazing... 

Spirit Animal Print Dress £79 from & Other Stories




This one from Warehouse which I think would be ideal if you weren't a giant but if you're really tall, I fear this will be a frumpalicious knee length.  Bleurgh.  But were it mid calf (and I think you really need ankle boots that cling the ankle and aren't like mini wellies flapping round your ankle) this would be a gorgeous, sophisticated buy. 

Pretty Floral Dress from Warehouse £58



I've even branched into sleeveless, on the premise that having to fake tan just arms and not legs as well would be about doable.  This is again, gorgeous, but I think the dimensions would be too skimpy for those, long of leg (and torso and all other parts of body).  Which is a shame as this is rather stunning. 




And after researching into the wee small hours.   That's it.  IT.  Absolutely chuffing woeful. 

I was forced to go higher.  Which was a mistake.  When you don't put a filter in to various sites such as Matches and My Theresa, dresses regularly pop up with four figure price tags.  Which initially take your breath away (that'll be the price, not because they're so breathtakingly gorgeous, although of course some are).  So when you see one that is a "mere" £400 something, you do end up thinking ooh bargain (sleep deprivation at that point doesn't help either.  We have a 9yr old who isn't sleeping at all, waking up three times every night and refusing to go back to sleep.  I am approaching zombie status). 

It's therefore handy that this has sold out in my size as I would probably have pressed BUY in desperation. 

Eight bi-colour Sleeveless Dress from Vivienne Westwood Anglomania £410.  I know that I have to size up in these (I seem to be sizing up a lot these days.  I may have to shortly accept that it could just be that I have sized up...) 



This one isn't as expensive but it's the same price as the Self Portrait ones.  Which makes you think... I think I prefer the SP ones. 

But this is gorgeous.  Just not sure it's me.  What a stunning dress though. 

Bonded Lace Dress from Whistles £250



And after that - I'm out.  I have dress fatigue, that is sure and I don't actually have any that I think - yes.  MUST try.  That's the party dress with my name on it.. Which is a bit rubbish actually. 

Maybe I should rethink and see if there are any jumpsuits that would work for the party... At the moment, I'm going to have to in something I already own.  Shock.  Horror...  I may actually wear the Self Portrait one I have but I have worn it to three big parties already not too long ago.  Which isn't an issue of course.  But to your own party, it would be nice to have something new no?  (of course it would, she says polishing her Princess tiara...) 

And speaking of things that are new - we have a semi new blog!  Now it's not quite finished yet, we are tweaking it but it appears to have gone live as is, whilst we still make changes.  Should be finished tomorrow... fingers crossed.  The content will be exactly the same, there are no new whistles and bells, it just hopefully looks a tad cleaner.  And less red.

Instead of the red bags down the side, fear not, there is still a red bag on the blog.  In love with my Christmas present.  It really is the perfect every day size. 


Untitled

White layering shirt - Me+Em
Navy merino jumper - Uniqlo
Navy straight leg cropped trousers - Me+Em
Camel coat - Zara
Red Superstars - Golden Goose
Red Soho Disco - Gucci

Tomorrow I am now on a party mission.  Obviously.  Nothing like getting the bit between my teeth... And I also have the annual birthday lunch in London to dress for.  Decisions decisions. (and no I haven't made a decision on the boots yet.  What are the chances of me sending them all back?!)  Also may take this opportunity to look at some warm accessories that we are apparently going to be needing this week.  Not to mention new season jeans.  And wide cropped trousers.  And a real random one.  So much coming up....

PS - do please let me know if you have any teething issues with the blog, thank you!  But do bear in mind that it's not the finished article.  Some dates are missing for a start.  And the background will be changing.  We are more or less there though.

Share this:

CONVERSATION

59 comentarios:

  1. Replies
    1. Oh thank you! Even not finished I think it's a great improvement on the old one! xxx

      Delete
  2. I don't want to rain on your parade but I am not keen on the new look. It seems to be less simple to scroll through and is not as intuitive as before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I'm so sorry about that. It should be exactly the same as it's the identical platform with just a different template. Because there are no adverts or side bar, it shouldn't be any slower that it was before... Maybe we were working on it at the same time.. Fingers crossed!

      Delete
  3. Love the red lace dress. Dramatic and amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I think! Although red lace.. is it a tad Game of Thrones??

      Delete
    2. Actually did you mean the strapless one? I LOVE that one but I'm too old, bony with saggy boobs. DARN

      Delete
  4. Gosh that red strapless SP is stunning but the VW is breathtaking - could so see you in it. The blog looks fab - thought I'd hit a wrong link at first! X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't the VW one THE bomb? Sold out in my size of course but it is so so amazing, isn't it? And thank you xxx

      Delete
  5. I love the SP Felicia dress but I think the Vivienne Westwood dress is amazing, just gorgeous! probably wouldn't get enough wear to justify the price!
    love the new style blog x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is very true. The Felicia dress is amazing isn't it? And you could wear it for dinner as well whereas I think you'd be hard pushed to find too many occasions to wear the VW dress, like you say.... and thank you xx

      Delete
  6. Loving the new look blog Kat, and I must say that I prefer your Self portrait dress, but totally understand wanting a new dress for your party x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard isn't it as the original dress is so fab....

      Delete
  7. Love the first red SP dress. The scallop edge one. You'd look fab in red. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's different isn't it? Just wondering though how much wear I'd get out of a red dress.... hmmmmmmm!

      Delete
  8. Love the new look. But thought you'd want to know that it crashed 3 times before it finally let me in? Using the iPad & that's never happened with your old format. Probably just teething problems xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's really strange as it's exactly the same blogger platform just a new template! I was doing some changes earlier though so maybe it was at the same time? Fingers crossed...!

      Delete
    2. Hello! Tried again this morning on the laptop and it worked perfectly. We were probably on it at the same time yesterday x

      Delete
    3. PHEW!!!! I hoped that's what it was xxx

      Delete
  9. I love the SP dresses but would definitely consider a jumpsuit! In fact I was really tempted by one I saw in Grazia from Atterley but when I tried to find it I discovered they have folded. Which means I can't return the leather pinafore dress I bought in the sale which my OH hates. He says I look like blacksmith!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no that is SUCH a bummer. Do you like the pinafore? Just wear it when he's not around! And such a shame about them going under.. to be fair, the few things I'd had from them, the quality wasn't great. I preferred it when they had lots of different brands and were like the new My Wardrobe. But then they bought their own label in.. I think it was their parent company that went bust which meant they folded too. It's so sad when something new and different folds though. They will leave a gap in the market, for sure.

      Delete
  10. What is the sizing of the self portrait like? I'm usually a 10 but the waists look tiny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would say definitely size up. I can't get a 10 anywhere near done up and the 12 is just right, if on the snug side of just right... (like I say - I do seem to be sizing up more and more these days...!)

      Delete
  11. I think I need to go on a proper jumpsuit hunt. I did order the grey Isabel MArant one and holy hell - a more awful garment you couldn't find. Actually I haven't sent it back yet so I'll take a pick first as it is off the chart minging.

    You definitely need to check out the LK Bennett cross body bag. Or Radley (trust me) do an amazing box one as well... xxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Have you had a look at the Needle and Thread dresses? Some very interesting ones at about the same price point as the Self Portrait ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aha, now I haven't recently but I will check them out. In the past I seem to remember they've always been very beaded and embellished which hasn't been what I'm after, but seeing as I am fickle as a super fickle thing, I'm off to have a look now. Thank you xx

      Delete
    2. Definitely very embellished but some of the tulle skirt based outfits looked like they might be good for important parties. The husbands 40 th is coming up so I'm hoping to find something amazing, but that I can wear again, and separates might be the solution. Fingers crossed anyway.

      Delete
    3. Well, great minds. I've had a complete revelation today, coming up on the blog!

      Delete
  13. The red SP scallop edge is absolutely stunning and so dramatic! But maybe not the most versatile though... Does the Felicia come in any other colour? That would avoid the similarities with the one you already have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My thoughts exactly. All too similar to what I already have and alas, only in the one colour! But I have a cunning plan xx

      Delete
  14. Love SP! I ordered a top, last Summer but the 12 would not do up over my chest! hopefully with my new fitness regime I could fit into the felicia!(fingers crossed) thats my fav!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think they definitely come up small xxxxx Good luck! A Great incentive x

      Delete
  15. I have the Whistkes Lace bonded dress ... I bought it to wear to a wedding in December and got so many lovely comments about how fab it was! I'm only 5 7" though so it may be too short on you? (I also agree that for that price you are better to go for SP but I bagged mine with the Whistkes 20% off so slightly cheaper!!!) Love your blog .... It's the one I always click on first! Sam xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is such a gorgeous dress but alas, I fear it would be too short for me! And thank you xxx

      Delete
  16. Whistles!!!! Not sure what Whisttkes is?!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. In my experience, the answer is always Vivienne. Love the blog too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you one of my best friends? She's a huge Viv fan too but they don't quite work on me. I think you need shape. They work SO amazingly if you have some shape. But I do think the one above might help to give you shape if you don't have any...

      Delete
    2. Ha! No I am not but it can be arranged. I am of the boobs and bum with a waist school of figures so Vivi is my magic.

      Delete
    3. This is where she works her magic for sure. I went to try on wedding dresses years ago. Omg. Just so bad. To say you need a waist is an understatement.... Which is a shame as they were possibly the most beautiful dresses out of all I tried

      Delete
  18. Love the Self Portrait scallop edge (red and black) and also The Felicia. The Warehouse one looks good but is it special enough? Not sure. I considered the Warehouse one myself and I've read good reviews about it too. It is much plainer than the others but sometimes that can be a good thing, as the less 'stand out' pieces in my wardrobe, always get the most wear, as I feel people don't immediately notice that I'm wearing the same dress to different events. Have fun choosing!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nail on the head! And exactly why I can't wear the SP one too often as it's Obvious, if that makes sense?! Not, of course, that it matters if someone's already seen a dress but yes - hell. It is lovely to wear something different. And yes, it's much easier to make a plain dress look "different" every time. I do though have a cunning plan after a successful shopping trip today. x

      Delete
  19. Loving the new look, Kat, very grown-up and professional x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kat
    Like the new look, and the tags. One little thing is that the three piccies at the bottom are squashed heightwise when I look on my laptop. Looks like the width hasn't been reduce proportionally, so they look very comic mirror at the fair-ish. I'm on Firefox if that helps.

    I really enjoy your blog, it's the first one I look at x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kat, Can I echo the above comment re the pic's at the bottom of the post - it's the same on my computer. Love the new blog.

      Am very focussed on losing weight at the moment as I have a wedding at the end of March and I so want to wear a Self Portrait dress (still like the one you have best) - that will be my reward!

      x

      Delete
    2. Yes, these are new today so I've emailed to see if they can be changed at all. Thank you for also pointing it out as although I can see things, I don't know if it's just on mine or if that's how everyone sees it! So thank you so much - super helpful.

      Good luck for the weight loss Charlotte - and yes, I do think the one I have is probably the most classic and therefore has the most longevity.

      Delete
  21. I just received the Formed Linear Midi Dress from Warehouse. It's a lovely, substantial (thick) dress that is actually a bit heavy. The detailing/piecing on the top is gorgeous; husband thinks it looks like armor :) The skirt is a full A-line; on 5'-7" pear-shaped me it appeared too dirndl-like, maybe because of the thick inverted pleats at the waist and the fact that I have pale bird arms. I'm in the US, so I ordered it from ASOS; I think the pictures show the details better than on Warehouse's site: http://www.asos.com/Warehouse/Warehouse-Formed-Linear-Midi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5974095

    Side note: I've seen simpler, shorter (skater/junior length) versions of this dress (same fabric) at H&M and Target. The Warehouse ones stands out for price/quality.

    Katherine C

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's SUPER helpful than you so much. I actually tried a lot of dresses on in Warehouse today (including the floral one above) and they were in fact, a pretty good length. ASOS is miles easier for me to order from though, thank you xxx

      Delete
  22. I love the SP dress you already have otherwise my top three would be:
    1. VW -gorgeous!
    2. Red scallop SP (totally wrong for my shape but I love it so much!)
    3. Stories Spirit Animal midi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so undecided.. but I have another cunning plan.....

      Delete
  23. I love The VW one I bought it for my sisters wedding and got so many comments. By the way love your blog a friend told me about it and have been very naughty and bought gg trainers and Togga boots!!! Ummm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA HA HA!! That VW dress is the perfect dress for a wedding. Absolutely lovely. And thank you for being so lovely!! xxx

      Delete
  24. I love the the blog format, so sleek!

    You've done it again, I just ordered two SP dresses after reading this post. Both were 50% off on Shopbop, so a major score. I got the black Aurelia dress (though it appears knee-length, not the midi dress) and a white sleeveless pleated minidress (has a crisis-cross gingham check effect). Praying these fit me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh fingers crossed they fit!! (and thank you xXX)

      Delete