***UPDATED LIST OF ATTENDEES @ 6 July***
Fruitful
Deborah
Sharon
Yublocka
Puffenstuff and friend
ImogenL
Katiepea

POSSIBLE ATTENDEES (aka please come!!!)
An
MumtoJess&Luke
Afterism
<Your name here! :-)>

Wow - it is looking like it will be a great turn out - I can't wait!

Wow, thakyou Katiepea for that list! I've realised I haven't been to YLF for 5 weeks! I tend to disappear into a black hole during the school holidays... and take a while to struggle out back into the light lol! I'm still here and looking forward to it! ^_^

Hi Fruitful, can't wait! We have another new YLFer, ClareF joining us. I am wondering about a plan for the day ( I'm a former Events Co-ordinator and can't help myself :)). I think everyone has expressed an interest in visiting Zara and I wonder if the direct factory outlets at Spencer Steet would be of interest. There is huge array of stores there and I think we might all enjoy a bargain?! Maybe someone has a suggestion of where nice for lunch? We could also put together a list of names and mobile numbers so we can contact one another should someone be running late, get lost,etc. I am happy to do this if no one else would like too and we could put together a simple one page schedule for the day so we all feel confident about what we are doing. What do you think?

Yes I definately think Zara is a must visit, I dont think I could fly from Brissy and not see it! DFO at Spencer Street also sounds good Deborah, what shops do they have there? I'm happy for the Melbourne ladies to choose a meeting and or lunch spot, I think someone suggest somewhere on Bourke St near Zara?

We shared contact numbers before the last meet up in Brissy and your schedule idea sounds great!

Deborah, your skills as events coordinator would be indispensible! Thankyou so much for offering. <3

Yes, we need to have a brainstorm about where to go and what is manageable.

Strangely I've never been to DFO so I'd LOVE to go (how many times have I complimented someone's boots/bag/whatever to find that's where they got it?).

Re Zara: We have to go on a few reconnaissance missions in the planning stage I feel! My brother's girlfriend told me she walks past there in her lunch hour and the queue is out the door, so there's no point trying to get in. We need to figure out when is the quietest time and hit it then.

Now the question is, is DFO and Zara enough, or should we put some other shops (tentatively) on the list? My suggestions would be Soul Devotion (off Flinders St) to try on lots of unaffordable Fluevogs, Campers and Trippens. Quick Brown Fox is on the way, so is Body, and a few other good little shops.

Another question: do we stick to the CBD? I'm thinking yes, there'll be enough to do there (Sooo many good places in the rest of Melbourne I'd love to share though! Sigh...).

As far as lunch goes - I don't know what there is at DFO. I do know a restaurant/bar called Bertha Brown

http://www.berthabrown.com.au/

I've only been there once, for a perfume meet. It was great for our purposes, roomy couches up the back, great pizzas. Laid-back yet a bit noir-ish somehow; or you could say it's grimy-glam (not literally grimy, hope you get what I mean). It's on Flinders St but not far from Spencer St ergo not that far from DFO.

There's also a nice but casual Japanese place in one of the lanes between Collins and Flinders, so not far from Quick Brown Fox etc.

There's vegetarian at Gopal's, the upstairs Hare Krishna restaurant in Swanston St.

Of course there's stacks of cafes in the lanes, but I think we might feel crowded there. And I get nervous not knowing how expensive they'll be until I've sat down...

Great that Clare can come too! And I'll message you with my details, hopefully we can all do the same.

I just love everything and all your ideas! You tell me where, you tell me when, you tell me what.

My only proviso is that I'd love to catch up with my hubby by about 4.30pm at the end of the day, because it's possible he'll be feeling lonesome all by himself. I haven't booked our accommodation yet, but I'm expecting it will more than likely be somewhere in the city. So if we go out and about, outside the central type area, if we could return some time after 4pm, that would be great. I hope that's ok?

On a more personal note - any suggestions for where we should stay ie. good value but still nice would be gratefully received. I'd also love ideas for where he could take me out for dinner that night - either Southbank, City type areas, because it is incredibly rare for us with three kidlets to generally look after!

I really am SO excited about the entire weekend and can't wait to meet/or see you all again! x

I am drooling reading this thread! An event organizer on the job? And Imogen is joining you? A professional image consultant! I love her website, I would treat her lunch and dessert and coffee and ask her a million questions :).

Lots of pics, please!

This is going to be such a fun day. Fruitful, thank you I got your contact details. So if all who are coming would like to message me your mobile phone number and email address, and your first name (particularly if you don't use it on the forum:) ) I will put together a contact list and schedule for the day. Based on Fruitful's suggestions for the day, what if i draft a schedule? I haven't been to the Quick Brown Fox for some years but wow it brings back memories. I do think the outlets would probably keep us busy all day however it we select some choice stores on the way to the outlets that could work.
I might phone Zara and have a chat and see what we can organize?!

KP will get back to you re restaurants. A good friend of mine lives and works in the city and she always has great recommendations.

Anyway let me know what you think and we will start to pull this together.

xxx

Deborah you have mail

It's such a shame i didn't come across this post sooner. I would love to join you for this YLF meet, but I'm not able to make it. Next time! I look forward to hearing all about it.

Deborah I am guided by your knowledge and good sense re logistics of the day - I was only throwing in those shops as ideas, obviously I can go to them whenever I don't want to feel rushed on the day and could certainly lose myself in DFO! So whatever seems like a realistic plan to you is what we should do.

What a sweet idea to call Zara! Yes, this is sounding even more fun...

Katiepea I'm sure we could be done in time for you to meet DH. I guess it will be a long day for him, huh?

Lynne, would have liked to meet you! Pics promised

Manda, I'm sure there will be a next time! Who knows, maybe the next one could be in your gorgeous city?

Not long now! Im "trying" to put away some spending money but am not doing a great job!!

Thanks all, I have contact details from Sharon, Katiepea, Puffenstuff and Fruitful.
Am still waiting on Imogen and Yublocka

DFO at Spencer Street has over 120 brands available. There are 49 womens stores and 19 Shoe stores!! There are also Handbags, and Jewellery and accessories. There are also some nice cafes.

Have a look at http://www.spencerst.com.au and you can see clearly what stores are there.

I have not shopped here yet, just at the DFO in Moorabbin which I find fantastic and this one is much bigger and has more stores.

I have just spoken to one of the managers at Zara, on Bourke Street. Yes they are busy, but the queues are getting smaller. He feels it would only be a matter of 5 to 10 minutes wait if at all. Saturday is a busy day in the store! They have 18 fitting rooms and he has suggested that the greatest wait will be for a change room. The store opens at 9.30 a.m. and the manager suggested that might infact be the best time to get there.?!?!?

If the change room wait is too long, we have the option to purchase items without trying and should they not be suitable, we are able to return them within 30 days, unworn, with tags and the receipt.

For the interstate ladies this might not work, however if you are staying overnight there would be the option to return items the following day or even later in the day if you decided to try them on say at DFO.

Apparently you can also shop Zara online via oz.sale.com.au Australia doesn't seem to show up yet on the international Zara site.

So what do you think?

I am going to start drafting a schedule for the day taking into account Fruitful's wonderful store suggestions and DFO.

If you have any other suggestions, please let me know:)

I am conscious of the fact that the day will go very quickly!

By the time we meet at 10.30 a.m. and have a coffee and get to know each other irl, and then commence 'the shopping' part of the day, its going to be 5.00 p.m. before we know it. So, with out being a total organisational freak I am thinking we streamline the day as much as possible. The less time we take getting from place to place, the more time spent getting to know each other and of course, shopping!

AND, I feel very confident we will do this again, and again So what we can't do this time we can plan for next time:)

Katiepea, I think we will stay in the city so no trouble meeting up with hubby @ 4.30 p.m.

Imogen, if you want to weigh in with some thoughts, shopping suggestions, etc please feel free.

And there's more...

I thought it might be fun if we all mentioned one thing we would specifically like to purchase on our shopping day and something we don't? Then we can help one another to stay on track?:) or not

I would like to find either a pair or patent red shoes with a stacked heel, or a pair of nude shoes with a wedge heel.

I don't want to buy anything black (which is what I always do!!)

Can't wait to meet everyone xxx

Typing on the run -

all sounds awesome Deborah! I'm all for streamlining as much as possible.

And starting as early as is feasible. I'm happy to go straight to Zara if need be...

AND I'm not proud - I'll wear a singlet and boyshorts under a dress, and try stuff on on the floor unless somebody stops me!!! Never waste time in line that could be spent finding pretties, I say!

Why hello there!

The itinerary sounds like it is really starting to take shape, which is wonderful!

If you think 10.30am is too late and want to meet up earlier, you just tell me and I'll be there. Deborah, you may not hear from Yublocka for a while yet as I believe she is currently travelling overseas and won't be much of a presence around here until closer to the date.

In terms of shopping, one thing that really need expert help regarding fit and flattering is buying a couple of decent pairs of shorts. I struggle to find a pair that fit well and that look flattering. The ones I end up with always seem to either encourage muffin top or make my legs look like tree stumps!

The other thing I would like to purchase if possible, would be a couple of comfy, casual summer dresses. I love wearing these in Brisbane's hot summer, however, I do find I sometimes am attracted to styles which are not always the most flattering for my shape. I'd also love a couple of pretty, roughly knee length A-line skirts, but find these are generally like chicken's teeth. Still, you never know! I'm always up for accessory ideas as well and am happy to be guided by you all. That's about it I'm afraid.

I'm looking forward to seeing what else other people are interested in purchasing!

Not long now - yippee!

Wow, Deborah, I really need to take inventory of my wardrobe. Good idea to have something specific to keep an eye out for!

It's made me realise I need to go shopping before the big day! Argh! None of my bras fit properly anymore. I think I'll have to get that sorted before the meet.

So many holes have recently popped up in my wardrobe it's not funny. Buttons broke on my fave (and only) workhorse denim skirt; my other workhorse, an a-line shirtdress with a small amount of stretch is faded and stained; my wideleg pants have totally stretched out and fall down!

I have quite a lot of shoes though; trying on shoes with a small child around is easier than trying on other things :S

I'll have to have a think. Not sure if I should look for a denim skirt as I'm picky about denim and could take aaaages trying on and comparing. (Actually I'm like that about everything lol)

I'm more into going along for the whole experience. If I'm lucky enough to find something killer I'll go for it but happy to leave empty handed. I might write a list of all my missing elements and just keep an eye out for some of them (rather than hunting).

Sounds like you could really do some serious shopping Fruitful I thought if we had an idea of what one another was looking for (if anything) we could be on the look for one another on the day, and also help one another stay focussed lol.... i am so easily distracted when shopping for a particular item and often come home with something else completely.

I don't have much of an agenda for the day apart from getting to know everyone. Tho as I mentioned I would love to find a pair of nude wedges, and maybe a teal bag.

Life has been a bit crazy so our draft schedule is still in my head but I will put it on the thread soon so everyone can check it out and provide feedback on it.

Not long now xxx

Thanks Deborah! I'm with you about mainly being concerned with getting to know everyone! But I get it now, we can help look for each other as well. I am normally completely antisocial with shopping (I go on a mission - take no prisoners, or friends lol) so my brain didn't process your idea properly at first! ^_^

I'm so looking forward to this even though I will have (hopefully) moved house just a day or two before. It's in my calendar regardless of moving

I've been back for about a week now, sorry I haven't replied earlier but I haven't done more than lurk here once every few days. I am caught up in househunting, job applications, catching up on life admin, work, heartbreak from a holiday romance oh and being diagnosed with a few extensive below-knee DVTs today. Lucky I started myself on clexane injections on Sunday!

With all that going on I don't have much brainspace to think about suggestions for the Saturday, other than I'm looking forward to it alot!!!! If we have limited time, would meeting for brunch work better than just coffee so that keeps us going till later in the afternoon? One we've done Zara, Myer and DFO there are always plenty of options in Melbourne Central, which I believe is open till 6pm on Saturdays.

As for personal shopping goals that day apart from meeting you lovely ladies, I'd be thrilled to find a handbag (there's a Tilkah shop in melbourne central that had some gorgeous ones last time I was there months ago that I would love to look at again). I agree with KP shorts are always hard to find - just not sure if Melbourne stores will be moving into summer merch by then? I haven't been to any stores for ages though, so who knows!!

Yublocka sounds like you've got a LOT on your plate! Hope the DVT gets sorted out, sounds scary.

Sounds like you need to come and play and put real life on hold for just a few hours ^_^

Hopefully your trip, besides the heartbreak, was good! (that sounds so flippant, which I don't mean to be)

Good to have you back Yublocka and hope the dvt thing is sorted quickly for you. Sounds like a day of shopping and socialising is just what you need

Now all, I need some specific feedback from you re the day. The following have now been mentioned specifically: DFO, Myer, Zara, Quick Brown Fox, Melbourne Central. We will not have time to do all of them. What are you priorities?? I will be guided by you in the planning.

My suggestion would be :

10.30 a.m. Meet @ Zara on Bourke Street
Next Stop Myer on Bourke Street

Lunch/Brunch (not sure where)

DFO Spencer Street.

Trust me the day is going to go quickly and sorry to be a killjoy but as much Id love to go everywhere we will run out of time.

Please let me know what's important to you to get to and please do feel free to say so.

xxx

What do you think?

I'm easy - my only concern is seriously, DFO will offer enough to contend with in a day. I do love Myer but you can find the same stuff (more or less) interstate too, so is it special enough? Whereas DFO should have a lot of surprises.

On the other hand, renovated Myer is a curiosity worth seeing.

I'd love to know, please don't be shy, what people's heart's desires are re shopping destinations.

My personal vote is now for Zara then DFO as I think that's all we'll fit in.

But please speak up with alternate viewpoints!

Ooh lots of posts since I last checked in! I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself supposed to be out skiing on my holidays but had a bad fall start of the week and paying for it now with an awfully sore neck and ribs, second day of not skiing and it is snowing and hence driving me crazy sitting in a room! Anyhoo enough of my sob story, just to give you an idea of what happened at the last meet up. We arranged a meeting place, all agreed that we definately wanted to go to Myer and then just wandered through the Mall from there. It seemed to work quite well and I think if we structure stores to visit someone may get dissapointed if we dont get there. I think Zara is a great starting point, and although I would love to visit DFO that may not be the best chance to buy things for the new season. But I'm happy to go with the flow either way! I would also agree with some brunch somewhere, fuel for shopping!

I have no particular wants on my list, I am happy to get inspired by whatever I see that might work with the rest of my wardrobe.

Hi Guys!

Just checking in to say that I'm getting excited and am going to book my accommodation over the next day or so!

Karen - OUCH! Or as my four year old would say - BUM(p)-STERS! (I think he says that as his word of choice because of the first syllable and he thinks he's been clever that I won't notice. ;-)) You poor thing - I absolutely do not blame you for feeling that way. I'm sure the snow is rubbish for skiing on anyway. (There, did that make it any better?)

As stated before, I'm very flexible in terms of how much or how little we get through - I am just looking forward to catching up with everyone! I would like to be back in the city to meet up with my hubby around 4.30pm - however, I can always text him on the day and closer to the time regarding an actual meet-up spot.

Anyway, just let me know the time and the place and I will be there!
x

Hi All,

Thanks for the feedback. I agre with Fruitful and my personal feeling is to do Zara and DFO. If you haven't already, check out the DFO website for the shops that are there there are heaps. Good point P, but what I find at the DFO's in Melbourne is that many of the stores have a good selection of both current and less current stock - and stock moves so quickly these days. I have bought garments at the DFO and then walked into the 'real' store and seen the same thing there.

DFO should be good for variety, potential bargains, all shops in one place, undercover should the weather not be good and plenty of food and coffee available.

I think this way we will definitely maximise and shopping and 'freindship' time.

So pumped, can't wait to meet everyone.

P... so sorry to hear you had a fall on your holiday. Hoping you recover quickly so you can get out there and ski with the best of them.

Ouch Puffenstuff that sounds painful - and worse, not being able to ski!

I feel strongly that Deborah is right about DFO - and truly if Zara wasn't such a one off opportunity for so many, I'd prefer to just go to DFO. But I understand people's keenness to experience Zara.

I hope people have a look at the link. DFO isn't like what its name sounds - "factory outlet" sounds awful - in the brief moments I've walked past it's seemed very mall-like.

Myer is so big you could lose the whole day in there. So in a way it is mall-like too.

I like the idea of wandering off as we please and we could do that at Myer or DFO but I don't think it will work to do both.

That sounds fine. I am very keen to see Zara as we don't have that in Brissie, but apart from that I have no preferences.
Summer wants: White trousers, denim skirt, swim suit(cringe)
Do not let me buy: More shoes. Even if I beg. And I will. Except, maybe, a pair of nude heels...

Lol Sharon! We can hunt for nude shoes together:). Novo have some lovely ones but not with the heel I want.

I'm happy to go with the flow re Zara/DFO as I can always go to other stores anytime. I actually popped into Zara for the first time yesterday afternoonon my way home from a training course I was doing near the CBD. At 4:30pm Sat there was no queue to get into the store, but still lots of people inside. There was a massive queue for both changing rooms and the cash registers. There were some $30 coloured cardigans I wouldn't have minded buying, but just couldn't be bothered lining up to do so!

In terms of meeting places, can I suggest the bottom end of Bourke St (near corner Elizabeth) outside the GPO centre? There's an easily recognisable purse sculpture that seems appropriate for the days theme: its right on the tramline, has a cafe with tables or a coffee cart/seating on the building steps (if anyone is there early or wants to grab a takeaway) and its not far from Zara.

The big purse would be perfect Yublocka!

Sounds perfect will add to our itinerary Getting a bit excited about Zara. Visited their store in Thailand last month and saw some great pieces however couldnt find anything that was a 10!!! I mean 10 out of 10 not size 10:)