Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Spots, Stripes, Style


When last we spoke I was eating buttercream frosting.  It was good.  Too good.  But never mind...

I have been meaning to share how much I love the J Crew Indigo Stripe t-shirt - it really is divine - so soft and just the loveliest shade of blue...



From the website:



Since it is on sale today for 25% off in  few sizes, thought I would spread the love!  I'm wearing it above with my Joe Fresh wide-legged trousers and my old J Crew navy featherweight cashmere cardigan.

As promised, I finally remember to take a picture of myself in the leopard print coat I bought at the end of February before I headed to NYC:

I like the coat because it is a very muted leopard print, and being darker, looks better with my colouring.  I think.  There is lots of camel, brown, black and grey, and it kept me plenty warm during my trip and looked good with a dress and with the grey and black Ponte pants I wore.  Since I wore my burgundy Aquatalia boots, I chosen a raspberry coloured scarf to wear with it.



For you Jennifer!



The coat was from a store called Le Chateau and was actually made in Canada,
as are a lot of their clothing, apparently


I have been thinking a lot about style, thanks to the Spring weather and Jennifer's lovely new blog series Women with Confident Style.   Now that the doldrums of winter have passed, I have turning my attention to my wardrobe and thinking about what did/didn't work last spring and summer and the kind of clothes I want to wear now.

I have a serious crush on navy these days, blue of any kind really, as evidenced by this season's shoe purchases and my new theory dress.

But I do feel that I am still transitioning from my workdrobe, and still kind of missing the dressing up. 

I think I went completely casual for awhile, likely in response to the suits and pencil skirts, but I am missing dressing up, so have been taking pains lately to start putting on the dog again. 

I want to be comfortable, since I spend so much time sitting at a desk writing, but I want to feel like me again, and I think the pieces I have purchased this Spring, which I would describe as being in the dressy-casual vein, are slowly but surely getting me there. 

What I also realized was that I tended to not wear some of my nicer things because I was "just home".  But then they sat there, unloved, and what good is that?  So I am trying hard to try to wear them and trying hard to try to add the extras again - the necklaces, earrings, bracelets - that I always loved.

While I wait to find my style guru in Jennifer's series, I am starting to see how this new homedrobe is going to work and what I do and don't feel comfortable in, which, as Jennifer would say, is a good thing, since being comfortable in your clothing, physically and spiritually, gives you confidence. 

I also want to give a shout out to the Chic at Any Age blog, which today has the most fabulous post on what women 50+ want from their retailers.  This has been something I have been thinking a lot about lately when shopping.  I walked into a local shop here lately, one that is targeting itself to the older woman demographic, and was horrified to see that everything was billowy and boxy.  I have tried both and they look wretched on me.  I do not want to dress dully, but I also do not want to dress in a way that is inconsistent with who I am.  And frankly, I'm not loving a lot right now.  So bravo to both of these wonderful blogs for raising issues that are definitely on my radar these days!

So - how is your spring shopping coming along?  Do tell?  I am still on the lookout for another dress and maybe a skirt.

xoxo wendy


 

23 comments:

  1. Nothing for me. I need to do an edit and also I found some clothes unopened so it's getting out of control. I am enjoying Jennifer's series as well!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joe needs that J-Crew Indigo to Freshen him up which works perfectly. The Leopard and Indigo appear to be fighting to a stand-off over who should carry the outfit. I think Leopard is such that any nearby distractions tend to de-claw him....but a can-do attitude can override any shortcoming...except distressed jeans.
    Indigo Blue Stripes are a big winner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so funny! Was not wearing this outfit and coat combo out - just to show the coat, I agree - that would be distracting!

      Delete
  3. Love that coat. I have not been in a Le Chateau in years but will check them out again if they make things locally. I like to support the local economy when I can!

    I've bought a couple of tees from Everlane for spring but that's about it. I'm still waiting to break out a couple of nice shoes I got for my birthday in January. Darned weather!

    I tend to wear jeans and tees and sweaters in the house but then throw on a nice jacket and scarf when I go out to dress things up. Now that it's getting nicer, I'll got out more for lunch and such and can dress a little better.

    Love the neckline of that striped tee btw. Very flattering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you love your everlane tees? I am thinking of ordering some!

      Delete
    2. I do. They are us made and wash beautifully. I order up a size for a drapey fit. I love all their products.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the mention Wendy! I'm glad you're enjoying the series. Nailing down our personal style can feel like a moving target, when our lifestyles change. Just as a pint of reference,mthe three styles I've highlighted so far are all in my style recipe. Probably yours to some extent as well. It the mix and what feels best. Care to skype? xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer - would love to! Let's talk offline! I agree about the mixture - we all have many style personalities, don't we?

      Delete
    2. Do you Skype or should I call you?

      Delete
  5. Hey Wendy, I have always loved navy, from my school uniform on, so I heartily support your latest crush! I just bought a linen sleeveless top from Joe Fresh, navy and ivory stripes - won't be wearing it for a while though. I've been following Susan at High Heels in the Wilderness - she just did a post on trousers that she bought at Aritzia, so I'm going to check them out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd never seen this blog - she's wonderful! I like those trousers. I haven't seen the short sleeve version that tee, only the long, but I really feel that the Joe Fresh line has been really strong this year. Navy is softer I think, though I still love blacl!

      Delete
  6. You are nailing the looks lately lovely lady. How many times can I say you look modern, fresh and confident? How can I miss that striped shirt? Went shopping today but left empty handed,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Marie! I really recommend trying to nab the tee - the blue is so pretty!

      Delete
  7. The coat is smashing. So chic. I love navy, too. And, as I work from home, and outside of my home, I have the same dilemma. I always feel like removing my nice work clothes for something more comfortable as soon as I walk in the door. The days I don't have to leave my house I am not fit to be seen outside, but it is not uplifting at all. I watched the videos you spoke of in your last posts. They were very enjoyable. Now, I just need to find time to try the techniques.
    I used to work with a very slim older women who told me that the minute her friends stopped wearing things with buttons, and opted for elastic waists, they all let themselves go. I try to keep to the buttons and zips to keep myself in check, although it is getting harder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know what - I believe that woman! Sigh - am back walking and calorie counting after a happy winter of debauchery! I am trying these days to get dressed and put on makeup before I start to write!

      Delete
  8. I have that tee too, isn't it great? It's better in person than on the web site. I love your leopard coat, looks great on you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the cost a lot. I also do like the Breton style striped tee with the leopard coat. I would have worn the entire outfit outside together. Is that jacket style no 312723 on Le Chateau's webpage? I like it on you, but the online image looks different, so I wonder if it's a different coat altogether. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi CMG - mine was a wool coat originally $199 that I picked up on sale for $99. I just checked and it seems to be gone now!

      Delete
  10. I love that tee shirt, too. Looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have bought several pairs of jeans, a few striped short-sleeve tees, a few lightweight sweaters in different colora, a denim jacket and a green utility jacket -- all from H&M, which is within walking distance from me and cheap. I am still in the body-changing post-partum period and need things for right now that I feel good about myself in and comfortable in. I return to work imminently but initially mostly from home, so that is a bit of a change in shopping mindset as well. I really like your stripes + wide legs + cardigan combo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My mother pointed out that my sister Sharon does not keep things "for good" and she always looks great. We resolved to do the same

    ReplyDelete

Kindness is a virtue...