I don't know about you, but I am not enjoying:
a) the wonderful pictures of bloggers and friends who are frolicking down south; and
b) the wonderful pictures of blogger friends who live in warm climates (yes, I am talking to you, the lovely Jennifer and the lovely Kim!)
The exclusion to this are the "Down Unders" - they'll get theirs soon enough... :-)
Those of us trudging through -28 temperatures and record snowfalls are dreaming of wearing anything but wool right now, but frankly that's all we can wear.
In the last two weeks I have worn my Joe Fresh winter white cords 6 times... they keep me so warm...
My happy uniform of jeans and cords and JCrew long sleeve cashmere tees layered over tshirts is even wearing me down these days, so I have decided to do some dreaming. Many things I like in my wardrobe are being by-passed these days; what was warm enough to wear in early December is not making the cut in Forevuary.
I have also noted with interest my mistakes of last fall, although happily, they were limited (likely due to the fact I bought so little). The minimalist/yoga styling of the Brynn Walker dress I purchased last fall has been worn but twice; I never get excited about wearing it, despite the fact that it is comfortable and flattering on
And while my November clothing purge was epic and made me happy, I see that I am still finding my style sea legs here in my 50s.
What I am especially seeing now is that I am no longer interested in trends.
Truthfully, I am not jumping on anything right now as I have no interest in shopping, but I know when I dig out my spring things, whenever that actually happens, I will want to add a couple of things to the list. And there is my upcoming trip to New York where something will spring out at me!
The conundrum is always this for me: the things I like the looks of versus the things I will actually where, visually demonstrated below:
The reality is that most embellishments simply overwhelm me, except if they are on my feet or on my ears.
And I cannot justifying buying or dressing for a life I no longer have - I think I have only two pairs of fancy pants left. I only have one suit left and that's it - no interest in getting another.
When I look now at my Styles I love Pinterest Board, I see lots I adore, but in reality would mostly just wear these kinds of things:
Mostly, what I want is comfortable chic. I am discovering that this is a hard category (at least for me) to shop within - it is so easy to get swallowed or to get too sloppy.
I did check out the most recent J Crew rollout, but what caught my eye was not any of the fun stuff, but these featherweight cashmere cardigans:
And this Theory dress is very appealing:
I can't tell if this is age, lifestyle or simply fashion-fatigue related, but my clothing purchase wishlist seems to veering towards Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail.
But here's my question - what brands carry this kind of very simple style, besides Theory and Emerson Fry (whose aesthetic I somewhat adore but who seems to cut their clothing for someone who is not me).
I have been checking various labels and am not being very inspired, but I know you all have lots better mojo than me when it comes to this kind of thing.
All I know is that 7 years ago, you could have pegged me for a J Crew girl the whole way, with Theory suits at work. And while I will never give up the crew, I am no longer that person, due to so many reasons.
I am also not the corporate woman I was.
And it turns out I am not as funky as I thought either.
My friend Louise wrote recently about how going to Parsons has broken her of J Crew but also made her realize she's no longer sure what her style is. I can relate, although check out the exquisite dress in that blog post of hers - Louise - that is REALLY my style!
Maybe, I need to start having some things made!
Maybe I need to just wait for Louise to graduate and start her own line!
I will tell you one thing I NEVER get tired of:
this skirt by Ralph Lauren! Whenever I pass it on my Pinterest Board I swoon.
Surely, between Louise and Ralph I would be all set?
How about you? Anyone else in the same boat these days?
xoxo wendy
It's annoying that 'simple' clothes tend to be cut a certain way. I love celine and jil sander but I'm not a fashion editor nor an art gallerist... I have yet to truly find comfortable chic unless you find lulu lemon chic! I only have two items of j crew so I never knew of its golden age to be honest...
ReplyDeleteNaomi - you hit the nail on the head! And I am short and busty and can be easily swallowed alive or look six months pregnant!
DeleteHave you checked Vince? They are spendy but lovely-though they might overwhelm your frame. I love Eileen Fisher for chic-again expensive, but they have a lot of selection and I know Dani has found some eBay deals.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to try Everlane but all of the buzz seems to be good.
Yes-the RL skirt is amazing!!!! I absolutely adore it.
I haven't checked Vince - will do so for sure! I do have a few Eileen Fisher pieces and I like them as well - spendy, but good quality. I really need a dress, but I do like Everlane's tees and I am seriously eying some loafers as they kindly gave me a credit after I returned one of their cashmere sweaters!
DeleteJulie - I checked and really like the Vince line! I will try them in NYC - unfortunately, there is no Canadian retailer, so will likely only buy if I see something I love -the hassle of return is awful I am finding and my god, the US dollar is thumping us canucks these days (though good for you!)
DeleteWendy-lots of department stores carry Vince too. Nordstrom, Neimans, Bloomingdales and Saks-all with fairly large selections. Hope you find what you're looking for soon :-)
DeleteI've seen Vince at TJMaxx (only a certain one) and Saks Fifth outlet store. Vince is a great suggestion.
DeleteI'll definitely check Bloomies in NYC!
DeleteMassimo Dutti is my new fave although I have yet to try their pants. Simple, clean, and good price. In US shipping is free and quick quick quick. Returns tho need to be made in two weeks. I am also very excited about the featherweight cashmere cardigans at J Crew...now if there was just a promo for them. I'll wait them out.
ReplyDeleteWow - I love this line! And they do deliver to Canada (not for free, but still...) But I see the tops only go to 10 and I don't think from the size chart that I can get Laverne and Shirley comfortably ensconced in a 10.... sigh...
DeleteThey do go to size 12 or XL in most items. I purchased a coat this winter in size 12 and it fits perfectly around my monster utters...I am 40 1/2". Try a sweater and see.
DeleteGosh - I must be reading the sizes wrong - I am only seeing 10s. Have to recheck as I love the things! How did you hear about them?
DeleteThey have a store in NYC so give it a go if you have time while on vacay. I heard about them through Girls of a Certain Age blog.
DeleteWendy, they have a store on Fifth Avenue so you can check them out when you come to NYC. They are the upper end line of the Zara group, a bit too classic for me but you could love them. Very good quality for the price (I think, I don't own anything from MD).
DeleteVince is crazy expensive IMO...
DeleteMy reply just disappeared into blog air but I too was commenting that Massimo Dutti has recently opened a store on Fifth Ave in the mid to lower 50's. I would be very happy to meet and take you there if you have time during your Big Apple whirlwind. I can absolutely relate to your problems with finding all of these chic comfortable clothes which look so effortless on smaller chested women but end up looking like maternity wear on us busty ladies. I recently was on a hunt for some easy casual traveling clothes for a trip and had so much difficulty finding anything which was vaguely flattering. I picked up a couple of things at a store called J Jill. They only carry casual pieces at a much lower price point than Eileen Fisher. Anyway keep me in mind if you have need of a shopping guide while in the city!
DeleteThanks for the offer teacups! Barry and I are planning to meet up with Louise while we're in town - maybe we could plan drinks en masse? Email me offside@ wendymcleodmacknight@gmail.com if you're interested!
DeleteHave never tried j Jill - what I find also that this category of clothing easily slips into matronly if not done perfectly!
Thanks Ema! My god, am I heading from whimsical to classic(ish) in my 50s? Who knew! I do know that finding simply cut, un embellished clothing in lovely fabrics is harder to find than one would think! I will definitely stop there during my trip. I am also going to hit the nig uniqo and joe fresh. I have to say, I bought Barry a joe fresh cashmere sweater for $60 online and it was as nice as his jcrew..
DeleteHi Wendy, I love those looks you highlighted, especially the green jumper, black trousers and loafers. I don't know what to tell you, I don't buy that many clothes. I was ordering a bit from Lands End (their return process is really simple) but, as you say, now with the dollar .... I know that Susan from High Heels in the Wilderness wears a lot of Vince and used to get it at Holt Renfrew in Ottawa (sadly gone now, but we'll be getting a Nordstroms soon!).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Massimo Dutti is an offshoot of Zara. Oh, and I love Meg's wardrobe in You've Got Mail too!
I keep forgetting you're getting a nordstroms! I actually ordered kate spade from the bay for Christmas, so much cheaper and returnable! The massimadutti prices don't look too bad, especially when compared to Vince and eileen fisher.
DeleteHi Wendy, thanks for the shout-out!!! I still have no idea what my style is, it really is a work in progress. I can't think of any brand that I can strongly recommend - may be due to the fact that I don't have much interest in shopping at the moment, and also, the idea of what I want is not to be found in stores. I do have a few items from Vince that are pretty good. I checked out Massimo Dutti while in Toronto but it is not quite my style.
ReplyDeleteLouise - I think mine is changing, but where it all ends I don't have a clue! At least I can cross off the real drapey stuff....I liked some of what I saw on the website, but not all. I think I will be a "picker" from multiple lines, but having some choices would be good. Having extra weight on right now doesn't help, but frankly it's bigger than that. I am not buying much (well nothing right now), but I want to be very thoughtful on a go-forward basis!
DeleteThis is such an interesting post Wendy. I think that it's hard to find the "one" brand that suits us in both design, style and price point. I had someone comment on my wardrobe post asking me to write a post about the brands I liked, but when I thought about it I realised I tend to buy from one range for a few years and then suddenly it doesn't work. Whether the designer has left and the fit has changed, or it veers down a path that doesn't work for me… I end up feeling reluctant to recommend one brand in particular. I know what I do like in clothes though - certain cuts that suit my shape, lack of frill (I'm too short and not fun enough to carry it off), generally not a lot of pattern… in fact most of your Pinterest board is how I aspire to dress! The problem with clothes like that is that due to lack of ornamentation to distract they rely on good fabrics and cut and little details to single them out, and this tends to only occur in the more designer end of the clothes spectrum. Cheap basics tend to just look cheap (of course you can find good things sometimes, but mostly… no). So I guess, I have no easy answer to where to look for your things, as I'm going through a similar process myself. I love APC clothes (although only have a few bits and pieces), Joseph (UK brand) is consistently great, and Maxmara and the various diffusion lines are also good on the simple shapes and good fabrics. And some things are better for Summer than Winter clothes for me (like Tory Burch for Summer) Cheaper brands are more hit and miss and will just rely on luck! Hope the snow melts soon!
ReplyDeleteHeidi - I think you are right - I could never wear head to toe of one brand - it would seem kind of creepy actually. I really would love some options - low-middle-high - for retailers in my style preference these days. I think only the super skinny or super young can really do many of the brands now that are affordable - I walk by F21 and walk right out. Part of my issue - and I think of bit of yours - is that the US and English options are more robust than what we have here in Canada and online shopping is so prohibitive or such a pain to return things that I am really not doing it all. I am aware of APC of course, but never seen it in my travels - will have to check out Bloomies and Bergdorf if I have time and see!
DeleteThey have opened a COS store in SoHo - a higher end brand of H&M. You can see their clothes online but the models and poses make most of it look awful. Many of my favorite clothes come from there now (from their locations in London and Paris) - you have to try a ton on but the things that I've found look chic, I think, and wear wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby - I had never heard of COS before! I went to look and you are right - they look practically funereal in their poses - I always wonder why fashion brands do that - it doesn't make the clothes as appealing to me. I will definitely check this out in person!
DeleteWendy, you should definitely check out COS. I should have mentioned that the few times I did buy stuff in the past few months, it was from either COS or Club Monaco. Unfortunately the styling on the COS website does not do the brand any favours (I wonder if they have purposely styled it to make it look unattractive), but in person, the clothes are very streamlined, classic with a bit of a modernist twist. They are also very affordable and well made.
DeleteBe very careful of MD: the quality is not there and it is not cheap enough to be throwaway!
ReplyDeleteUh - oh - will take careful look!
DeleteI agree, the quality of Massimo Dutti doesn't match the price point.
DeleteI'm in similar territory. I'm drawn to prints and pizzazz, but reality is it does overwhelm me when I wear it. I reach for the quiet neutrals a lot, but I'm not sure if that's just the time of year or if it's my actual style, kwim? And I'm also drawn to things that won't look good on my body type. That last RL skirt? Gorgeous, but would look terrible on me.
ReplyDeleteCate I hear you! Today I am in camel and grey, but I do love my pinks and blues. I could never dress in a total absence of colour all the time!
DeleteAs for the RL skirt - I am with you, though I was trusting that Louise would advise on all alterations!
LOL, I don't think I am there yet, give me a few more months!
DeleteFashion is only a spectator activity for me and love to be in a room as it's enhanced by well turned out women. Loving that funky outfit next to the white dress and your champagne long skirt!
ReplyDeleteWendy, I can relate, in fact I just posted something along those lines (yes, I am back). I love Vince and I bought a few things at Nordstrom Rack and NM Last Call but I think it may be better suited to a taller frame. I am all about well fitting jeans (TR and JBrand are my faves) and swingy t-shirts from various brands mostly found at NM, Bloommies and Nordstrom outlet stores. Comfortable and easy but not frumpy, in winter with boots and swingy cardi. I like longer and swingy to cover the floppy bits. A scarf can work too and it brings in the print and color that you crave. You have skinny legs and bigger chest which actually works great for this type of outfit imo.
ReplyDeleteLove that skirt. Glorious, redolent of a life I'll never lead...
ReplyDeleteAm just the same. Am always looking online at floral dresses and the like and seldom wear dresses. I actually had some white cords and never wore those either and gave them to my sister. These days its stretchy AG jeans with Uniglo (sp?) striped shirt, kevin's shrunken v-neck sweater and uniglo pufffa coat - which I wear at the computer too.
You always look "stylin' " to me, Wendy! Love that grey ensemble!
ReplyDeleteI love so many of the clothes that you've featured here, Wendy, but seven decades into my life I now have a fair idea what items I can carry off and the ones that I can't. It's not especially an age thing, just an acceptance that my legs are short, my upper arms flabby and that if I don't draw attention to those facts I shall feel more comfortable and confident and therefore look a whole lot better! I would love to wear the fabulous Ralph Lauren skirt but know that it's a complete non-starter with my legs! The dress with the black bow I absolutely adore - I would buy it tomorrow! I buy my clothes from anywhere and generally find little difference in quality whether the item is inexpensive or otherwise. (Not that it should be so.) If I like something I wear it for YEARS until it just about disintegrates, so I can't really claim to be a follower of the latest trends. But with two daughters one of them in the fashion industry, I try not to look a total frump!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking RL and there it is right at the bottom of your post! He makes varying lines all at different price points. Buy another pair of the JF cords if you still can. I'm a fan of Two by Vince Camuto. Nice quality, cheaper than regular Vince. Ann Taylor worked for me for years then the fit model changed and nothing fits me from there anymore. I hate when that happens. EF is a favorite because its really comfy. I hold on to her stuff for years. I've been pondering very similar things myself Wendy. If it helps...it's cold, rainy and nasty here today:)
ReplyDeleteI like the Classiques line at Nordstrom and also the INC at Macy's. Affordable, casual and OK price points.