Style Wednesday: When Your Taste Changes

The most interesting thing about life is how just when you think you are getting a handle on it all, well, you just up and change your mind.

For the last few months I would describe myself as having a VERY casual workaday wardrobe. 

It was almost a uniform actually: skinny cords or skinny paige premium pants, a tshirt and flowy White + Warren cardigan.

think this...

and

Very comfortable.  Sometimes I would add in a comfy dress or skirt, but all in all, a good workaday uniform.

But so much still went unworn in my closet, so I tried to shake it up a bit, you know, trot out the other things to justify keeping them.

As you know, I have been saving my money and have only a limited budget for clothing in 2014.

I have also decided to shop seasonally - once in May and once again in October.  That doesn't mean nothing else will ever be purchased in between those times (funds permitting) but that my plan in general is to make clothing shopping a special event.

Knowing we were going to Florida and that I might get to try on some things in advance of my spring purchases (a must if you are nowhere near any of the stores), I thought I should see what interested me for Spring 2014 and make a Pinterest board for inspiration.

But then it happened.  I appeared to like almost nothing.  I was aghast to discover that I cared for so little on almost all of the retail sites.  I went from site to site, saying "ho-hum, not me any more.."  and not only that - because I have limited funds, I am now PICKY.  PICKY, PICKY, PICKY!

I assume this is related to entering this new phase of mostly working from home and being 50+.  It is also related to the fact that though I dressed quite casually this winter, I did miss some of my fancier work duds now and then.

Whereas my old taste tended to fancy pants, more embellished tops, etc, with some basics thrown in, along with corporate suits for the office, my tastes are changing dramatically.

I seem to only be attracted to evening clothes or Sofia Coppola's esthetic.

I saw myself wearing this....

and this....

Or else I want to dress like this:

In fact, the only clothes I find myself attracted to recently are simple, chic clothes from Emerson Fry, Theory, Judith and Charles and Luisa Cerano.  Everything else has left me quite cold.

 

 

 

 

This shouldn't have been a surprise, since my favourite purchase of fall 2014 was a top almost identical to the one below by Theory:

 

 

 

And I love this boho top from some birthday funds:

 

 

 

How interesting.

 

I am more and more convinced that half of my clothing could still go and I would be none the worse for it and I suspect that much of it will go in the coming couple of months.

 

I am unsure what I will actually buy for spring/summer this year, but it is interesting to see how one's taste can change so significantly....

 

And I will be curious to see how that all turns out....

 

Anyone else find their taste really changing these days?  I envy those like Dani, who has it all locked down!

 

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Saturday Fashion: Colour Palate Cleanser

Happy Saturday - or as I like to call it, the Day when I will have as big a head of hair as I last had in the 80s.... In looking at pictures from the era, I have come to realize that they didn't care if there was colour everywhere on the face - dark eyes, darl lips and dark cheeks!  Should be fun!

Today is indeed party day, but it is early morning, so no decorations or costumes yet!  Playlist is ready, and just hope my legs hold out.  And since I hope to post a lot of photos tomorrow (don't look for them early!), I thought we could use something calmer, something more neutral today.

This morning I did an online visit to one of my favourite Canadian Design Houses, Judith and Charles. I have several of their pieces and they are of impeccable quality and impeccably cut.  I thought I would see whether they had their spring 2013 lookbook up yet, they did, and it did not disappoint!  And for my non-Canadian Friends, or Canadian folks like me that live in the middle of nowhere, you are able to call them to place an order online.  You can get all of the information you need, as well as see the full Lookbook, by visiting their website here.

But here is why it caught my eye: very simple silhouettes and a simple colour palette for Spring:  My personal favourites:

The Celeste Dress in navy.  I am not sure of the length, but based on other Judith and Charles dresses they would hit me mid-knee.  And while i am short, I have long legs, so if you are interested you would have to ask.  I just find this simple, but with a bit of pattern to liven it up.

A red suit.  Now, I don't need a red suit, but I might be interested in a red jacket.  The quality of their suiting material rivals Theory.  I find this so sleek looking.  There is a matching sheath dress that would look divine as well - very Nancy Reagan, for those of you who want to redo the 80s!

 The Dizzy Dress.  I think this would look exquisite with a white or black jacket and a coloured shoe!

How about pairing it with the Viera jacket below?  I can't wear that style, but I know others who do so very well!

I am not personally so keen on these trousers, but the blouse is gorgeous!

When I saw this outfit below, I immediately thought of you Ema:

And finally I really love this top and skirt.  If I bought it I might look like I have hips!

And I don't know where these shoes are from, but I am starting to look for them immediatelty!  How cool are they?

What struck me about these looks is that they look very current but also timeless all at the same time.  I don't think you would get sick of these items anytime soon,. 

As you know, I love colour as much or more than the next girl (okay I bow down to Rynetta for sure on the colour love - she could whoop my butt on that one!) but I would like to be somewhat more judicicous in its use for myself this year.  Or at least have a few more neutral fashion days. 

Now the website does not list fabric or prices, you have to call the 1-800# for that, but based on my previous experience, you can assume wools, cotton, silk, and maybe the odd rayon, but I don't think so.  I really do attest to the quality.  There are shops in  the major cities in Canada as well as NYC.  I am going to call this week and see if my local shop is getting any of these pieces in this Spring and save my pennies for a dress!

So what do you think?  Do you like these clothes?  Are you, like me, happy to see some simpler palettes?

Have a great day - I will be busy, since as you know, I love the Nightlife, I've got to Boogie...

And still, no one will lend me a white horse....

Stay Safe Out There!!

Review: The Perfect Fall Day to Night Dress

As you know, last week I overhauled my fall/winter wardrobe and made a list of what I needed on a go-forward basis so I would not get caught up in simply buying any bright/shiny/new object that caught my eye.

One of the items that was most definitely needed was a day dress.  In fact, my day dress category was one of the few areas of my wardrobe that was in dire need of a couple of items!  I have been watching J Crew's site to try and catch something and perhaps there will be something lovely in the major rollout this coming Thursday, but for me, J Crew dresses have mostly been misses.  Dresses with defined waists that I have purchased have waists that are slighly too high; since I am busty, they fit oddly, as if they are a dress aspiring to be an empire waist dress but not quite making it...I do have one of their sequin shift tank dresses from last year and I love it - it fits divinely.  So I will likely pick up another dress as the fall goes along from J Crew if one pops up in my fall colour story (black, navy, with pops of green, royal blue and rosy pinks).

En route to the dry cleaners, one of our local shops was placing mannequins in the window, replete with some of their new fall dresses.  One dress in particular caught my eye and so I hied me in immediately to give it a try.

The dress is by the Canadian Company, Judith and Charles, whose website you can visit here.  While it is a Canadian company, they do have a shop in NYC and until recently you could order their clothing online and since their website appears to be undergoing some kind of renaissance, I suspect you may be able to do so again soon.

I love their clothes - I have a few pieces and all are elegant and cut amazingly well and look equally appropriate in the boardroom and for a formal event. 

How chic are these outfits?

This one is pure Audrey:

And as I blogged before, I really like this blouse (and those trousers are divine!):

Of course, evil salesperson brought me MANY items to look at (they had met me before!)  However, thanks to "The List" I was able to stand firm - "No Thank You, I do not need a $2000 leather blazer or a $800 trouser.  Thank you VERY much, I simply want a day to night dress!"

I tried it on and could have wept with delight.  The fit was perfect, IMO, as evidenced below.

What I like about this dress is not only the flattering cut, but the little details at the hem that allow the dress to set itself apart from its LBD compadres.  It is 100% wool, with an acetate lining.

So I decided to style this dress three ways to show its versatility:

1) For a very formal event/meeting with black blazer and simple black pumps, single strand of pearls

2) A day in the office, paired with my Byzantine blue jackie sweater, slightly different accessories and those Aldo blue suede shoes, all to bring out the blue in the hem

3) Cocktail party with sexier shoe, simple bracelet. 

I truly love this dress and this is just so simple and elegant and is exactly the kind of look I am now going for.  What do you think?