Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Day and Just Saying No to the Crewlade!

Happy Election Day my beloved American Friends!!!



I grew up in a border town and we were very close with our Maine cousins.  In fact, one of the first boys I ever kissed was a Maine boy!

I take your elections very seriously and always cross my fingers it goes well..

I have a confession.  Canadians are pretty much all democrats.  Even our politicians who are right of center are basically just more conservative Democrats.  There is a good reason why the pundits call us socialists!  But we are polite socialists!

So while i know it is not politically correct and I hope I offend no one, I am hoping Mr. Obama gots another shot to gets things back on track.  I will be watching with the same enthusiasm as you all tonight.  And while I do not have anything against Mr. Romney and find that he appears to be a basically decent man and I am sure he will make a fine president if he is elected, my heart is with Mr. Obama. 


And of course, the sartorial delight that is Mrs. Obama:


But regardless of your political stripe, I congratulate you on what will be a safe and legal election, something which does not exist in many places on our planet!  And no worries, I do not plan to make this blog a bully pulpit!  That would go against club rules!!!!
Now, on to more shallow endeavours!

I sent a huge box back to J Crew today.  As you know from my constant whining, it is hard not to live near a J Crew store and i must order off the internet after reading your reviews and seeing what I love!

What went back:

No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool

The antique white was nice, but was more like french vanilla with a dollop of buttery cream than the winter white that I was hoping for.

No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool
The mauve blush pencil skirt also went back.  I was hoping for a soft pinky-mauve.  Instead I got more of a grey kind of pink.  I couldn't find anything besides black and white and grey that went with it (I know that sounds like a lot) but it struck me as a dirty hue of a colour for some reason.

The stretch perfect shirt in mini windowpane:

Stretch perfect shirt in mini-windowpane

Very dark pink in real life.  Also very stiff.  Back it went. And finally, the capris in the tiny dots which I blogged about last week:

Café capri in tiny dots


Liked, but didn't love these.

What I did keep which may surprise you:

The No. 2 in Heather Carbon.  It filled a void in my closet and will be versatile with my pinks, blacks, greys, whites and blues.  And it looks awesome with my burgundy boots!
Petite No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool
Even better it was on sale for a mere $70 CDN.  Glad I brought it all here and tried it all on, and the $20 to ship it back is worth it for the cashmere T and grey skirt which I kept.

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

In the Maritimes, we would say "Vote early and vote often!"


54 comments:

  1. I always hate to send things back,but it also feels good to just keep what you truly love.
    Good to read about the windowpane shirt,because i was considering it too.
    I am ready to place a order for the neon gingham shirt and another tippi,as they are my workhorses:).

    Cant wait to see who will be president!

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    1. Hey Ina! I just found the windowpane too stiff for my liking - I love their soft shirts. Does anyone know if the nice black plaid perfect shirt is soft or stiff?

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    2. The pink and violet "neon" gingham perfect shirts which I saw in store were the usual thin, not stiff, boy shirt material. Will see if I can spot the black one for you tonight WMM.

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    3. Thanks Gf! Would love the heads up on that!

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  2. I'm going try to stay up tonight to watch the election, I always wonder if I'd be Republican or Democrat in America, in so many ways I'm a Republican but then in healthcare and women's rights I'm a Democrat.

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    1. I hear you Tabs! I am certainly not one to think that there is only one way and the older I get the more I am sure that there are few absolutes!

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  3. We are related! I too sent back a big box.

    I will be wearing a red, white and blue outfit to go voting. ;)

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    1. Good for you Tiffany Rose - I assume there will be a sparkly pin on you at least! I LOVE all americana and would love to have a sequined old glory for my collection!!! Actually, would love a sequined union jack as well! Wait.. I see a collection coming! It was all I could do NOT to order the dictionary clutch last night! I decided to wait for another friends and family or till after Christmas!

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    2. Villeroy and Boch does city "tea & toast" sets that are very popular, I think a line of KS flag clutches could be a hit - and fit right in with their "idiom" line.

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    3. Did you see the new KS rollout? Didn't sleep again last night - so got to look at it all. They even have a satin clutch painted with shiny baubles for Tiffany Rose and I - but still want dictionary!

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    4. Taking a break from the breaking reporting on the election ... Would you believe I have a collection of vintage rhinestone old glory pins?

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  4. It is a big pain and expensive to mail back a box of returns, but the upside of that is that you don't do the walk of shame into the store with an embarrassingly big return... my crewlade addiction feels so conspicuous when I do that. Even with the store nearby, I make terrible decisions in store and end up buying more than I know I will keep, trying it on at home (where I make much better decisions), and returning most of it. I have issues :-) but I'd rather make the return of shame than keep things that aren't right.

    I will be voting, I never miss it! Have a great day!

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    1. Cate - you make me laugh - I know exactly what you mean about the walk of shame to return everything that hasn't worked out! I am like you - I can get caught up in the moment in the store and then realize at home it really doesn't work. At a couple of our local shops they knw me and let me take things home on "approval" and then come in and pay or return them the next day!

      Good luck with the election!

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  5. I only have to send things back if I order factory. What a pain, I hate it (that's why I rarely order unless I am absolutely sure that I will keep that stugf).

    I can't vote today (really, I am not an american citizen) but will follow the results. For some reasons my husband is always travelling on election day, it would be more fun with someone around.

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    1. Hi Ema - you are a very interested bystander I think!!! I love politics so will be toasting democracy at its best!

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  6. HOPE & GLORY Good on you WMM for keeping a "conservative" and wearable piece, plus the loverly pagoda blue. Have a brown box arriving today with a replacement camel herringbone and the steal Evie dress. After that I will decide what to keep and maybe pull the trigger on my current shopping bag? Decisions, decisions. I am sure I will also get a not-so-subtle eye-roll at another B&M today as I plan to return an entire 3-piece suit ordered online. Yes, could mail it back, and it's even free returns. But I have to go uptown anyway and mall does have more eye candy than post office.

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    1. Will be watching with bated breath. Proud of all in NY and NJ that have to make a real effort to vote. Do hope it is decided tonight/ Wednesday morning. And will be glad to have all the attack ads off TV (we get some of our time-shifting stations from battleground Ohio.)

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    2. Re. KS, if you hold off until after hols/ better deal (I only have $15% and the $49 ship kills me) I'm at library with you. Tiffany Rose has convinced.

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    3. I hate those returns! I actually have a 25 percent coupon, but agree on $49 dollars being prohibtive!!!! We should share shipping! I have thought of shipping mine to calais maine and driving across to get it - but that is gas money too!

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    4. When I make returns at the store, which is extremely rare since I dread the experience much like Tabs, would you believe the SAs kind of fight over who gets to help me, as in they all want to? For some reason they love the stuff I return and want first shot at it I guess.

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  7. I was listening to CBC radio last night and the reporters and pundits were saying the same thing: nearly all Canadians would vote Democrat as we are much more liberal in perspective. I also hope Obama wins. I am trying to limit my spending these days - the buy/return cycle is exhausting. Although I live relatively near a store, many things are still only available online.

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    1. Hi Louise!!!

      I heard the same thing this am. I am pretty good, but would like two or three christmasy kind of items as that is one area of my wardrobe with a big gap.

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  8. So funny we were just having a talk on Sunday about our politics as compared to our American friends and family. There was an article in the NYT about all of the Americans who talk about moving north in a Republican government; a Canadian journalist pointed out that in fact we have a conservative government and our middle east policies make Mitt Romney "look like Jimmy Carter". In some ways I think Canadians are just straight up Individualists which is actually very American of us, we refuse to tow any particular party line (I have voted across the spectrum in my time, yup for every party at different times) and though we seem very left the policies that we embrace (reproductive rights, same-sex marriage) are in fact about respecting our rights as individuals, I think that is very important to us, also taking care of our own (health-care etc).
    I will be watching election coverage half the night tonight, I can't wait to see the outcome.

    And good on you for returning! Keep what you love! I'm planning a big post on Uniforms this week and I'd love your thoughts. Might be delayed as my poor little daughter is sick with the flu today.
    Oh my goodness what a long comment, natter on much do I!

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    1. DBP, much conversation around here re. NYT piece as well. The one thing I do think Brits and Canadians do better is relatively cheaper, quicker elections. I can't imagine spending $3 BILLION and 18 months on elections. Imagine the pressing probs those contributions could actually fix.

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    2. I am gobsmacked about the $. I am thinking about Lincoln these days, in anticipation of the upcoming movie with the incomparable Daniel Day Lewis and i don't imagine that Lincoln could get on the ticket - he wouldn't have the funds. I always think of some great rpublicans and democrats who haven"t risen to next level - Olympia Snowe is a good example.

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    3. Great comment Dani, count me in as an individualist and supporter of both subjects mentioned.

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    4. Tabs you'd fit right in here, Scots helped build this country and we've got your grumpy fierce backbone! Speaking of which I know Canadians who contribute to your Scottish National Party, can you believe it.
      GetFresh I have to say I feel for our Americans, what a long election and so much money spent, it's really exhausting. Even I feel like that little youtube girl (brack-bama-mitt romney waaaah! poor thing). We are good at keeping ours fairly quick and low cost.

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  9. Hey Dani - give Miss Biz a squeeze from us all - poor thing. I continue to clean out. I am obsessed these days with the uniform concept; you have long blogged about this. This for awhile and i think it is always a chllenge to me. I work with some omen who basically wear 5 suits and. And then changes underpinnings but i struggle with that as i see those lovely JC outfits or kate spade and get at all excited! I think i need to have a job where i can be less conservative! I may be the old lady with bright magenta hair! Or not! Thee are a lot of challnges to creating a unifomr so all advice welcomed!

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    1. WMM the uniform is difficult for us fantasy-outfit-seekers. I think the key is to give yourself the room to own the fabulous and to create situations to wear it! I finally realized that separates don't work for me during the week, too fussy with my housework and apron. But I'm a collector and I love my "extra" closet, where I keep my party frocks, out of season clothes and a new thing: a section for black and white.
      I can also wear a skirt suit on the weekends and be comfortable because I do less housework, of course I'm an odd duck, most women like to wear jeans at the weekend.
      I hope to write the post this week, my daughter isn't terribly ill, low-level flu thank goodness knock on wood.

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    2. I hear you Dani! I think you are right. I am working on it!!!

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    3. p.s. - glad your little bunny is no too sick!

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  10. Sorry about typos - typing too fast on BB!!!

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  11. Yep, did see KS Kaleidoball/ Kings Jewels - how could I not visit after your post yesterday. Weirdly drawn to the Hand-in-Hand warmers for my navy coats (see, your blue/ pink posts rubbing off on me) but not for $88, something that can be made by loving hands (not mine) at home. Mostly drawn to Tequila Not Friend and Seat Taken pieces in idea re. Cocktail Club. Think all the blog boyfriends qualify as #handsomestranger.

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    1. I laughed at Tequila not friend - i am not drinking tequila any more after an "incident"

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  12. I always vote absentee but somehow never get my ballot mailed so I walk it into the precinct. I am a native Californian - a San Francisco native to be exact, so you can probably guess my party affiliation and devotion. I care passionately about this election due in large part to the importance of women's issues, education, the environment and equal rights for all Americans. This election cycle has gone on for ages and I'm happy to have the day finally be here. Though I have work and errands today I'll be tuned into news radio and the network coverage this afternoon. Holding my breath for it to be over.

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  13. Hi Julie!

    I hear you - i am on pins and needles!

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  14. Yes let's give him another shot to get back on track. I missed it the first time, let's see it again!

    Repeat

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    1. Anon - as we like to say at our house "that's a good one!"

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  15. I hope it will be clear who the winner is by bedtime. That would be a gift!

    We will have, I think, a great independent senator named Angus King. Keep your eyes on him.

    WMM-- Any time you say, come down to ME and I will take you to the B&M and out to lunch! The store is not great , but the food here is awesome.

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    1. Thanks Lane! I will watch for angus! Wasn't there another King in Maine politics way back or am I confused?

      Am seeing long lines-is that common?

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  16. LANE Fingers crossed for your candidate then (my NS & NB family are watching ME stations). WMM, if the rest of her local food is anything like Lane's lobster "shack", I have to second her shop & lunch date motion.

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    1. I believe Lane must indeed have good taste, if only because she pops in here!!! :-)

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  17. PINK LADY Sorry, also meant to note I have a family friend in Montreal who has (owns) that true magenta hair (something of a Quebec fab 40s+ thing I think). Suits her, but she claims it is very hard to maintain (vibrancy, bath towels etc.) Then again, lots of time for styling when you are finally an OAP ;-)

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    1. I hear you! I am not sure what colour I will be in my 60s, although I do love a lovely silver!

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  19. Oh the horror! I would hate not being close to a b&m! I haven't bought much lately...I'm trying to revisit some old favorites. and like you, my pocketbook thanks me. :o)

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    1. Hi Andrea - well you have been looking particularly swell these days, so it must be working!

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  20. I'm glad that you are only keeping pieces that you love, WMM. The heather carbon pencil is sure to become a workhorse in your wardrobe, too.

    My husband and I went together last Thursday to early vote, so we didn't head out to the polls today. Now we are just anxiously awaiting for the voting to be over and the results to start coming in.

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    1. FFM - I think your state is one that will tell the tale! Will be an interesting night!

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    2. Florida is must for Obama and I agree it will probably decide the election. Shepard's pie in the oven and we'll be glued to the T.v. tonight.
      Great skirt and that will become a favourite with all the jewel tone items you own.

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  21. You're a woman after my own heart!!!!! I work the elections in my precinct. This one is going to be a nail biter!

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  22. Hey Rynetta! I hear you! I am watching returns now and it is going to be hard!

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