Designer labels - who cares?

Tilly T arrived at the restaurant wearing dark shades but there was no mistaking her with her distinctive pink hair.
Diners stopped to watch as she swished past, to be shown to a table in the corner.
If you want to be noticed like Tilly, here is her look summed up:
Ditsy floral midi dress £22 - Matalan,
ecru cotton edge-to-edge cardi also Matalan £23 ,
PVC navy blue and white tote bag M&S (about 4 years old, no idea of price) ,
Rieker wedge sandals - bought in Ireland in 2018 (cheaper there, but still 45 Euro’s),
and pink hair out of a box (Superdrug £4.99).

Lady T was seen emerging from the famous, high end grocery store Lidl wearing very smart black jeans from Bon Marche, fitting her short pear shape exceedingly well, so much so that she may possibly be up for 'The rear of the year’ occolade, she was also wearing a purple t shirt from Lands End, an exclusive buy about 5 years ago and a floaty scarf from the south american rain forest boutique.

Casually flung over the top was a rain jacket purchased on sale (when popping in for milk) from another giant of the retail trade, Asda, her navy blue leather, 15 year old, not bought in Paris handbag looked highly desirable but as it was pouring with rain impossible to read the label.

Pushing her loaded trolley filled with luxurious goods, items such as the very well known make of beans (means) and the premium brand, single origin, exclusive tea PG Tips could be seen getting rather soggy on the top of the bags. She elegantly entered into her sleek, silver, highly sort after, vintage, circa 2011 Honda.

Arriving home, after staggering in through the rain with all the shopping and putting most of it away (staff day off) she was greeted by slightly deaf Lord T, with the words “I did not hear you come in”, this of course is a frequent and highly suspect occurrence. He, was attired in shorts, t shirt, and socks from which he cannot be parted even when the sun is shining as he suffers from heat rash on his feet at the slightest ray of sunshine therefore necessitating the wearing of socks with or with out sandals, this of course is a top fashion look to be envied.

Ms C is decidedly unfashionable in cotton trousers and t shirt from Cotton Traders 😁 and was spied by the paparazzi trying to de-cobweb the conservatory. She was heard letting out a startled scream as a large spider slowly descended from her hair and dangled in front of her nose.

Mrs jax doesn’t know much about schools as Nanny sorted out out that tedious nonsense for Tristram and Veronica.
Today she is reclining in very faded denims, label disintegrated, with a pale yellow Joe Brown’s shirt, her feet are clad in pink toe post sandals, (flip flops), she’s hoping the sun may appear.

Mrs Cardigans is wearing mostly M&S - soft spice coloured jeggings underwear. Her pink shoes are from the supermarket and the t-shirt is of indeterminate vintage and origin.

She is feeling a bit damp and sweaty as she had to tackle the lawn single-handedly as her handsome toy-boy doesn't do gardening.

Ronib today is wearing an orange linen maxi skirt in the SuzyD sale maybe with a white top and bright green summer jumper arranged casually around the neck . Sloane Ranger dunno! And the obligatory pair of solid leather boots with privately funded orthotics to stop ankle wobble. Joya boots with Senso soles. Hum.
My poorly sighted sister will definitely be able to keep track of me from a distance as we scour the local table top jumble sale in the village with 40 tables available outside individual houses. £1 for the map going to charity.

That's an idea - it's one fir Pedants' Corner to resolve!

Today, Josegirl is wearing M&S khaki trousers and an ancient pair of Cath Kidston flowery plimsolls. The flowery top is from Joules.
I'm trying to mingle in at a folk festival!

Everybody knows what a public school is in England, also that until recently the girls’ equivalent of the HMC (Headmasters’ Conference) was the GPDST -Girls’ Public Day School Trust.

Everybody knows? Blimey! Call me an ignorant pleb, if you like, but I didn't!

Can’t believe this is causing controversy!
Everybody knows what a public school is in England, also that until recently the girls’ equivalent of the HMC (Headmasters’ Conference) was the GPDST -Girls’ Public Day School Trust.
But if anybody is wondering why were these top schools called “public” it is because in the medieval era there were church schools and guild schools, which had religious or trade restrictions on admissions, and “public” schools to which any members of the public could sent their sons provided they could afford the fees.

I have come late to this thread as most of the week has been spent dodging the paparazzi. I have now taken refuge in my black armchair (£50 from the Heart Foundation shop) I am currently wearing an elderly Seasalt top (eBay) and a pair of 2 year old M&S trousers. I have casually kicked off my 4 year old Hotter sandals while I type this on my bottom of the range lap top, bought 2nd hand 4 years ago.

Joseann is spot on. To be frank, using the term ‘public school’ is generally applied to the more elite private schools- usually with regard to a distinguished history and famous high achieving alumni.

M0nica may I refer you to the Independent Schools Council ISC website which clearly states, Sometimes the term ‘public school’ is also used to refer to a private school.
They are the overarching body for independent schools so know their stuff.

Joseann Not where I live. Since I was given this information by someone in the independent sector, I am not wrong.

That the term 'public school' is still in common parlance does not mean that the term is still in formal use.

I was delighted when a waitress recognised my outfit as a 'Lucy & Yak' outfit. We had a lovely chat about this wonderful company which provides affordable, beautiful, ethical and colourful clothes...many in corduroy, my favourite fabric. I was invited to join their community page which is very inclusive and supportive of its membership with no trolling or backbiting. They are opening stores up and down the country where people are rediscovering the joys of "not-shopping-on- line-but-with- friends-instead. Here's the link in case you are interested: lucyandyak.com/pages/about-us

Sorry OP, back to M & S and Primark. 👗 👖

PS technically "private " isn't really a helpful term because a lot of schools have charitable status.
Traditionally back in the day a public school's head had to be a member of the Headmaster's Conference, HMC. Nowadays, this includes Headmistresses. There's a lot of snobbery around this.

Well they were wrong M0nica. It's an old fashioned term but still used in the independent sector.

I stopped using the phrase 'Public schools' some years ago because whenever I did so, someone in that sector told me that the phrase was no longer used and all fee paying schools, no matter what previous description they had used, were now described only as either 'private' or 'independent'.

What joseann said.

Well sort of M0nica.
Technically, there is still a small group of public schools - like Eton, Harrow Charterhouse, Shrewsbury, Winchester etc. What sets them apart is that they are more selective and tend to have a longer history strongly associated with the upper classes.
All public schools are private schools, but not all private schools are public schools. They are all fee paying.
The term " independent" school is used more often as an umbrella term these days.

We do not have any public schools any more . Only state and private.

I would add how often we will be told the value of someone's house. The Chairman of Blogs Blatter is paid £5 million and lives in a £300,000 house, beside the A1 in Hertfordshire

I don't get why, whenever a public school (major or minor) is mentioned, the fees have to be quoted either!

Crochet was sitting on a 30 year old discount sofa, in clothes from the flea market, sipping Euro Shoppe latte (£1.25)

Later today she will water her plants and watch some Benidorm

Today i was sporting the latest in beachwear, as DH and DD disported themselves in the Channel off the fashionable northern f\rench coast.

I was wearing jeans(Lands End), Shirt(Tui, cardigan (M&S) and anorak from a fashionable beachwear, bucket and spade and souvenir shop in our local French seaside resort.

We lunched at the internationally well-known beach shack, La Cale, (well, that is true) , his menu, is as they say honest and simple: moule, sausages, pork chops and pancakes all served with chips, no starters, no desserts and no cards taken. We reserved using the loo until we got to the supermarket.

But, oh, we were so achingly on trend, where were the paparazzi?

Today, the Dowager, Anno, has been spotted in public, clad in designer wear by Marks and his sidekick Spencer. Midi length navy linen culottes are topped by a bright pink v-necked top. Pearl stud earrings are reflected in a double rope of mixed pearls. also by M&S. Her feet are encased in practical but smart navy trainer-style zipped shoes from Hotter's 2022 collection. The ensemble is completed by a white(ish) zip-up hoodie, from her favourite designer emporium.