Merry (and Warm) Christmas

From my most recent business trip ... the hotel's charming greeting.

Pretty and festive by the elevators.

Not during the most recent but from the February visit with my dad.

I thought it a lovely image for Christmas time.

A snow surprise made pretty of his leafless tree.

That was then and I dreamt of this ...

Or this ...

Or this ...

Or even this for today.

But it was hot.

It felt much warmer than what the temperatures said.

So this is what I wore.

Nope I did not take a pic of me in jammies.

No chance for that visual to go viral.

 

I hope you all had a cozy and wonderful day with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas.

Sequin Saunter

This might be a meander. There are 3 things to talk about with this post but I have no clever ways to sew them together.

1. The anniversary of my blog

2. A little giveaway to say thank you

3. A few things to show if you're considering them at 50% off.

First thing, first. I wore full-on sequins to work.

Sorry if I'm offending your good senses, it's a tradition for my blog anniversary I suppose. Factory draped sequin tee. Factory skinny jean in black. Madewell heartdot boyshirt. Clifton booties also worn here.

Next, let's get to the fun stuff.

To celebrate 2 years with you and 100+1 followers (from what I can tell), I'm giving away a $25 J.Crew gift card.

Second prize is a bottle of lavender hydrosol, one of my most favorite things. Described as sweet and happy, a light spritz (OK even if wearing makeup) makes me calmed and refreshed.

Botanical Insights is the sister-in-law of a colleague and she lives by a field of lavender. Sigh. Sounds lovely.

Third prize is a Factory umbrella that I hope you don't mind me limiting to the U.S. and maybe Canada due to possible shipping challenges. I'll find a good substitute if you're an international winner. 

Here's how to enter ... please leave a comment for each of the following by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Nov. 10:

1. If you're a follower

2. If you add me to your blog roll

3. If you tell me why you should have another entry (1 per person).

Be sure to leave your email if I can't contact you through your profile.

I will generate a couple random numbers for the winners and announce with a post on Nov. 12. (I hope I haven't forgotten anything important that makes a mess of this.)

 Third stop: J.Crew's 50% off end-of-season styles.

Toothpick jean in garment-printed floral - thicker denim,

pattern is more subtle IRL. I like them.

Liberty toothpick jean in Matilda tulip floral- fits like the other Liberty printed jeans, the pattern has a tendency to add some width,

which could be why they are still around?

 Ruffled rhinestone top - I'm wearing petite 00 and with the Collection café capri in Ratti regatta print. I like the top with a jacket,

the Classic schoolboy blazer in navy in this case.

A close-up of the bedazzling. IRL the blue "jewels" are more like sapphires, they don't photograph true.

 

I've come to a dead end so I'll say bye for now. :)



October Onomatopoeia

Wearing black and orange as a nod to Oct. 31.

The fuzziness (unintentionally captured by my blog photographer) is a tip of the hat to phantoms, spectres and wraiths.

Collection jacket. Factory jeans.

Crewcuts boys' kaboom T-shirt from 2 years ago (I'm wearing size 14).

 

This is how I do high-low fashion, ha.

 

Boo, almost forgot the word of the day.

Factory Commendatory

Before I could say highly recommend, the Factory classic button-down shirt in jeweled oxford sold out oh well and the Factory skinny cord in polka dot is just about gone. The polka dot cords are part of the Fall Essentials Sale of 40% off selected items good through Sunday, Sept. 29. If you use the SEPTSAVE code (10% off $75+, 20% off $125+, 30% off $200+) at checkout, there are some gems of a good deal.

Close-up of the "jewels" on the button-down.

The thin wale corduroy jeans are skinny. No need to size down.

In fact, I'm afraid of what might happen when I wash and dry them. Wearing size 25 here and thinking I should grab the size 26.

The material is 99% cotton, 1% spandex.

They don't get baggy saggy during the day ... yay!

But you cannot get undressed in a hurry, I had a tough time getting the leg opening over each foot pulling them off. 

Did I say they are skinny?

The Factory skinny ankle jean in classic rinse are not as skinny.

They're what I'd consider a comfortable, favorite fit and could very well become my go-to jeans. I don't have to worry whether it's one of my skinny days. I know they won't ride up or droop down.

They won't cut and bind (you're supposed to hear Brett and Dale Jr. say this).

And they're not distressed to look too casual.

I even feel tall (ha) when I wear them.

They're rough and tumble, earthy, sturdy and substantial.

I won't even care if I spill on them or sit on a dusty park bench.

Heck yeah, I love, love, love them. Especially for $33.25.

The Factory skinny jean in black can also be had for the same price. They have the same fit, and just like the classic rinse, they're

98% cotton, 2% spandex, but feel just a tad thinner.

With black stitching instead of the usual contrasting thread used for

blue denim jeans, they don't read as obvious jeans.

I think they're quite versatile and make great traveling pants.

The above were on the travel days for my recent business trip.

(The giant sequined heart is to cheer up the grumpiness that can be the airport crowd.)

(Better pics of the black skinny jeans since they're not off a hotel mirror.)
The shirt is the Factory two-pocket chambray shirt that has been around for at least a couple years, now better for me because it comes in XXS. Though it's not the fine, silky chambray of the selvedge chambray shirt, the rough and tumble, earthy, sturdy and substantial shirt has earned some love in blogland. What some said.

I've reviewed a few more Factory shirts that are part of this double whammy SEPTSAVE on top of Fall Essentials Sale. Just click on the Chambray-Denim Shirts tab at the top to see.

Happy shopping and happy weekend!

Good Day Sunshine

Remember when I reviewed the keeper chambray shirt?

This shirt looks just like it but it is not.

It's the factory classic chambray shirt and one of the very best buys

when on sale with an extra percentage off (like it is nowfrom time to time).

Though the factory shirt does not come in petite, I was surprised to find the XXS exactly the same size as the keeper chambray in petite 00 except the sleeves are 0.375 inches longer.

In almost every way, I much prefer the factory version:

1. The fabric is not as obviously distressed and well worn as if you've had it forever.
2. The fabric is substantial and feels more like a denim shirt.
3. Due to the above two reasons, the shirt has a neater, crisper look.

The two shirts have the exact same design and details, but you can see the keeper on the right "spent countless summers in the sun."

Pocket details: factory on the left and the keeper on the right.

Collar and placket: factory on the left and the keeper on the right.

The closer-to-the-edge topstitching on the keeper's collar

(and cuffs) is the only sewing detail I found different.

Grey blue factory shirt on the left and slightly brighter blue, more worn out keeper on the right.

So on the summer solstice, I wore the factory shirt with

my favorite happy crazy jeans (on the left) to lunch with friends.

The sunny colors of the pants remind me of ...

See the Jacaranda trees with the almost bare branches?

I should have taken a pic a few weeks ago when they were completely covered in flowers, you can still see some of the lovely blooms.

Husby and I also played some golf.

He got an Eagle while I tried to not chop up the course

or land in the water.

I did some weeding and found this guy.

Does it photograph tall? It's the exact same height as me.

(How did the gardeners miss it?)

 

We then split a beer on the patio.

It was a really good day.

This is for you, J.CrewJD.

And how goes the sunshine where you are, everybody?