Well I missed Style Wednesday, but I have finally gotten organized and taken some pictures of my spring-into-summer purchases.
As you know, I took bags and bags of things to charity and to consignment and to my friend M. I was very clear that not much would arrive back in and of that, it had to be things that were less trendy.
Oddly enough, I bought my summer dresses first - the white and seersucker dresses you have already seen:
And the cream oxfords:
My spring dress was a no-brainer when I saw it. This is a silk Theory dress and I adore it. Simple, and can be worn with blazer or a simple cardigan or on its own.
As I was buying this dress I picked up these Stuart Weitzman shoes:
These are built for comfort, but look very elegant with all of the dresses and things I already own. I admit to having a thing for woven leather shoes...
In the same colour story, a little cotton pencil skirt by Nougat London:
I also got this Circle of Gentleman blazer on sale for 50% off. It is cotton, with a gorgeous silk lining, and right now I am wearing it outdoors as a jacket with my jeans, but it looks excellent with my red and navy dresses from last year. As you know, I do not typically like blazers, but this is such a wonderful company who excel at perfectly cut coats, and I can see the difference in quality between a J Crew blazer and this ;-).
I also got a simple dove grey tunic blouse from Nougat London with the cute little peekaboo back:
Another investment piece that I have long wanted is the Eileen Fisher silk wide legged trousers. They are absolutely comfy on and can be dresses up or down. I have already worn these twice, and can't wait till it isn't so filthy outside so I can take them out into the world.
The surprise was the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti black silk skirt that I bought on ebay for $40, new with tags. It needs a steaming and then is going with me on my road trip to St. Andrews next weekend!
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| love the gathers! |
And finally, this jersey/silk tee from Brooks Brothers:
Most of these items work together and all of them support what was left in my closet.
I am basically done now till Fall and am very pleased with my purchases. I did exceed my clothing budget slightly and have had to add more money in from my day to day spending, but they are all worth it!
Except for the last two items, the things I bought were bought all at once in a local shoppe, Robert Simmonds, where I tried on scads of things and then tried to piece together a style story. I have kept very true to the the aesthetic I had started out with and am convinced these will be in my closet for years to come.
How about you? Have you done your spring/summer shopping yet?
Have a fabulous weekend and stay safe out there!
xoxo wendy
I like these and seersucker is a GSL summer wardrobe staple; Wendy I've been meaning to say this for some time but I think you are even more lovely without the glasses and I am a big fan of glasses on gals.
ReplyDeletethanks GSL! I have actually only had glasses for one year - since turning 50, my eyes have gotten worse, :-( , and I need bifocals. WHen I went in bought glasses, prescription sunglasses and this summer am hoping to get contacts, though the optometrists don't seem big fans of it for bifocals. Maybe someone reading has experience with them in contacts?
DeleteI am extremely nearsightedo and in the last few years have required a reading Rx as well so I am in bifocals (progressives). I didn't succeed with bifocal contacts due to my astigmatism, but instead the doc has me in what is called monovision, where one eye is corrected for distance and one for reading. It's less annoying than it sounds.
Deletethanks Hex - I will definitely ask my optometrist about that!
DeleteHello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteWell, it seems to us as if you have acquired some timeless classics with these pieces. Simply elegant never goes out of date and it is always wonderful to have the feel of gorgeous fabrics against one's skin. Yes, these will all surely become best friends!
Jane and Lance - many thanks - I think they are good choices as well and they are definitely less trendy which (I hope) should mean they stay in my closet a long time...
DeleteHi Wendy, your purchases are all lovely - the lining of the blazer is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done any clothes shopping at all lately - our house goes on the market on Monday, so that's taking up a lot of my head space right now. I thought we had done quite well clearing away extra ornaments, books etc., but the realtor wants even more gone. Hopefully we won't have to live like this for very long!
Oh wow - crossing fingers and toes for you! I am sure a realtor would weep walking into our house (as would I!) Good luck!
DeleteWell done, the colour tones are lovely and so many new things, I haven't had that many newbies at once since I set my bedroom on fire when I was in my teens!
ReplyDeleteBy mistake...by all of my clothes had to be renewed, it was great!
I've got my eye on a t shirt and a pair of shorts, just for scumming about the house in and for holidays but nowt more, wish I could source some reasonably priced every day dresses that I actualy like.
You set your bedroom on fire???!!! There is always a good Tabs story! This is more than I had planned to purchase to be honest, but I am pleased as they are all things that I quite love and build on what I have. None are orphans!
DeleteYou have some real gems in your new summer wardrobe. I particularly like / love that new skirt that you bought on eBay. The shoes are great too and look very feminine... SW makes wonderful shoes. I have owned a pair for a decade and they still look new. Good luck with your consignments too....I have recently done a seasonal garment swap and am needing some new clothes....it is rather daunting when one needs so much but you seem to have risen to the challenge and have wasted no time dithering about. Well done
ReplyDeleteHostess, except for those J Crew purchases and the ebay, I decided in the end to try and purchase locally, where i could try things on and do it in pretty much one fell swoop and be confident in quality, fit and things working together. Then I can stay out of the stores and be done with it till Fall. And I actually need less in the fall and winter - maybe just boots for winter though I likely will be other things - but my spring/summer wardrobe was a mess given how brutal I was about things looking good and looking good on me. I did try and purchase some things from J Crew and Banana Republic, but they just didn't work. The big gap was a black silk skirt, which was on my list and I couldn't find one here in the city! Have a wonderful day!
DeleteYour new things look very nice! It seems like you are into neutrals these days. I've been in a neutral phase too, so much so that I am beginning to suspect it is not a phase but my Thing. I bought a pair of metallic silver Birkenstocks (Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor). I bought the J. Crew side-slit tunic in all the colors, I love it so much. I'm trying some things from their May rollout, not sure what's going to work out yet. And a gorgeous maxi skirt from Anthropologie in the orange motif, it is amazing. None of these things go together, story of my life :)
ReplyDelete(I contradicted my neutral trend with that maxi skirt!)
DeleteCate, you made me laugh! I still have SO much colour in my wardrobe from previous years, but the good thing is that the more neutral things can go with them without overwhelming me. And a LOT of colour in my shoes!
DeleteIt's frustrating when we're missing the base pieces to put with the color, and you've done a good job filling that gap with these new pieces! Colorful shoes are always fun, so easy to punch up a neutral outfit.
DeleteWell done. I love that grey top. I'll bet it's very flattering in you. I haven't swapped out my spring clothes and I haven't bought anything new...because I vow to buy color...and just can't seem to make myself try any on. It's a sickness I'm sure. I also love woven shoes. So much more comfortable than solid leather.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, we are suffering from the opposite issues - my closet had a lot of orphans and a lot of colour but a lot of it didn't go together! I was torn between the Theory Dress and a blue dress with flowers from Luisa Cerrano. I went with the former because frankly, I thought I would not get tired of it as quickly. At least I hope it is the case!
DeleteBeautiful. I love that Philosophy skirt! Fabulous picks.
ReplyDeleteJen - I knew you would love that skirt!
DeleteI love that you tried a lot on at once to put together all of your looks-a very smart way to build your wardrobe if you do it that way. I have added very little - more buying and returning to see what will actually stick. I couple of splurges have been ordered with various Friends and Family discounts but none have arrived yet...stay tuned :-)
ReplyDeleteJulie - I have decided that this is the way to try and do it on a go-forward basis. I had been saving since the new year and doing it all at once and then avoiding the stores so there is no temptation is the way to go I think! I almost ordered a pair of Dolce and Gabanna sandals from Yoox, but there is no free shipping and returns to Canada, the woman I chatted with could explain nothing to me about sizing and they were too expensive to take a chance on. And they were beautiful! sigh....But the Weitzmans will likely stand the test of time...I am waiting to see if the weitzman black sandals I love ever go on sale - they might be the last thing I add if they ever go down in price!
DeleteNice! I am fascinated by the Circle of Gentlemen blazer - is it tailored for women or is it actually a men's blazer? I looked at their website but it only showed menswear.
ReplyDeleteHi Louise - they have a women's line as well, but because they tailor for men, the quality is exceptional! They just changed the name of their women's line to Le Salon des Femmes:
Deletehttp://www.lesalondesfemmes.com/collection/140
I should have mentioned that - their circle of gentlemen line for women ended with the fall/winter.
My friend M has that yellow jacket Colby that they have online and it is truly exquisite!
Fabulous purchases, Wendy! Well done for sticking to your ideals and not falling prey to the online sales! I loves the look of that blazer - what a beautiful lining! I wore my J Crew purple blazer the other night, and while I don't mind it, I really don't love it. The cheap lining and not very good quality wool makes me cross. Big lesson learned there: some items really need to be felt before buying.
ReplyDeleteAlso love the black skirt. Will you post some pics of you wearing your new items?
I've just about bought all my autumn/winter stuff: jeans, skirt and 4 new sweaters. My budget has been exceeded, so I need to stop now.
Interestingly, only one of my winter wardrobe is from J Crew.
Oh ruth, I probably will fall prey, but I try not to and when I have, I actually have sent them back! I will definitely take pictures as I wear them! I do believe that the J Crew blazers had turned me off. I don't need many blazers in my closet now anyway and this one will hold me in good stead for many years. I will be interested to see JC's fall offerings this year - I did find their spring offering this year better than last year's. and I look forward to what Marissa Web will do for Banana Republic!
DeleteLove all your picks-they are ver Wendy for sure:)
ReplyDeleteI have been all over the place,as. i like prints for spring/summer.
Got a lot of navy and an ikat print maxi from Anthro and i adore the surf floral drawstring pant from the crew. But i am very happy with all of it!
I saw you in those pants and they looked great on you! My struggle around here is that we just don't have much in the way of options. I have wasted so much money on buying and then returning things and I am quite tired of it as every return costs me $12 from Canada. I probably have spent a $100 alone in returns in the last year, which is silly, so my vow is to hold off on JC until I am actually in a store!
DeleteOoh, definitely very Wendy. I love all of your pieces. They're classic, but have special details. Nicely done!
ReplyDeletethanks Gigi!
DeleteSo many beautiful neutrals, of course I love everything you have chosen. Well thought out Wenders and well done. The fabrics are all exquisite and I bet everything feels like a dream to wear.
ReplyDeleteI'm switching out my closet today, I am banishing all of the black and grey from my wardrobe, after wearing my black skirt suit to another funeral yesterday I'm ready to put black away for a long time. That ivory silk blouse I bought for spring has proved useful for funeral wear, it is perfect with my skirt suit so it is landing in reserve for that. I'll wreck it if I wear it in my daily life.
I bought some rubber boots, peacoat trench coats, skinny utility pants (LOVE) and perfect-fit tee shirts. Also a couple of special JCrew pieces from 2007 on ebay to wear with denim. I've gone casual! I blame the dog and my new lifestyle that revolves around her completely. ;)
Is the snow melting yet, any sign of green?
it is so funny Dani - but that's what life is all about isn't it? Our styles must suit our real lives, not an imaginary one! Most of the time I live in my jeans, a tee and a cardigan. I am so sorry about your recent bout with funerals. They remind us of how precious life is, but they are so, so sad.
DeleteLove your new wardrobe Wendy! Doesn't it make life easy to be so organized.Dani saw the pants on website ,how do they run? Looks perfect for the spring as it is still chilly.
DeleteAnon I took my regular size 27 in the "skinny washed utility chino"
Deletehttps://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/pants/Skinny/PRDOVR~A6527/A6527.jsp
They fit perfect, typically this style of pant would be too tight on my butt with a big waist gap but they are form fitting and comfortable, even though they have no stretch. I have the khaki green which is a nice neutral green, I like the skinny leg because I can wear them with boots.
thanks Anon!
DeleteWhat extremely clever shopping, Wendy, it was obviously a good idea to shop locally so that you could try on. So often I think that something looks fabulous on the hanger only to find that it looks terrible on me. You've put together a very elegant wardrobe, I especially like the Theory dress and the black silk skirt. Hope we are going to see plenty of postings of you out and about in your lovely outfits once the snow disappears!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to buy NOTHING in the clothes line this year as I've run out of storage space and am hopeless at clearing out. Only if something VERY special comes along shall I succumb!
I hear you! I actually found it nice to basically do it in one fell swoop. I may end up buying the odd tee or pair of shorts along the way, but I really do not need anything now!
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI haven't commented in awhile but have to say that I am so impressed with your wardrobe planning this season. It is modern, elegant but also a bit fun and suits you perfectly. Beautiful pieces and quality that will endure for many years. Nice going!!!
Thanks! It really helped to think about what I had and what I would really wear. The really wear part is so important as I used to shop for things I could wear to things I was never invited to!
DeleteLOVE the SW shoes! Also love the Nougat line, although I can't find a lot of the pieces here....too bad.
ReplyDeletethanks Rose! I love the SW shoes as well! I still really like the black offset sandals, but in the end I chose a shoe that would be more versatile!
DeleteI think all this is wonderful! There is no place you can't go in these things; you will feel comfortable and pretty all summer. That Theory dress is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lane! I needed some new things, not just for spring, but because I am currently suffering from the dreaded menopause spread. I am working on it, but it's not as easy as it once was!
DeleteLove all the new acquisitions, especially the silk skirt. Have been super restrained lately, but for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with will power or style strategy.
ReplyDelete