Wash and Wear

I won't say why or how, except I didn't cause it, but this icon trench was filthy. At first, I thought I'd relegate it for dire circumstances ... like if I knew I had to be packed onto a bus with a football team

that for some reason could not shower after a sweaty game.

But the coat was grungy enough I doubt I'd wear it even then.

Oh, I thought about taking it to the cleaners.

But I don't love the idea of spending a zillion dollars on something that may not come clean and I don't love the idea of dry cleaning chemicals. And since the football team scenario was unlikely, made one of those "what do I have to lose" decisions and threw it in the wash. Delicate cycle, cold water. Tumble dry low.
Surprise, suprise. It came out just fine.

And while it's not as crisp as before and should be lightly pressed,

I now happily wear it for the best situations.

I wore the washed trench over the above outfit when I went to:

With some good friends and we had pre-theater dinner here:

I ate every bit of:

British Columbia King Salmon

eggplant purée, soy bean, tamago, Thai curry and jasmine rice

Carried this:

Kate Spade book clutch.

And was not disappointed in any way. 

The evening far exceeded every expectation.

 

Many have wondered, some have asked and I said I'd try it so

I washed the minnie pant in bi-stretch wool.

Same way: delicate cycle, cold water, tumble dry low.

I measured before and after, the width shrunk by about 3/16".

Like jeans after they're washed and dried, they felt tightened up. 

Still quite wearable but more legging-like.

The bigger difference was the length, they're shorter by about 1/2".

 

 If you study the above carefully, you'll notice the more snug and bunched up washed minnie pant on the right. Slightly shorter.

For reference, I'm 5'2"-ish and wearing the regular length size 00.

Not sure if I prefer them before or after the wash and dry but I sure wish there was a way to shrink the waistband by about 2".

Then they'd be perfect. Like my recent evening out.

 

So have you had wash and wear dastardly disasters or surprise successes?

Red and White and Red, White and Blue

Brilliant minds. Gigi and I had the same idea about 

the linen beaded sweater being awsome for July 4th.

I love the beading, of course.

I love the tweedy looking stripes.

And there's something about the texture of linen knits I find addicting.

It's boxy and oversized (I'm wearing XXS), but I'd be concerned about sizing down because you might damage the beading when pulling it on or off (not nearly as bad as some but I say go slow while doing so).

I wore the schoolboy blazer in indigo dot over it at work because

it's almost always cold there in my office.

Oh just give me a reason to dress in theme, this was yesterday.

Yep it was my friend Gigi who pointed to a batch of Old Navy sweaters a few months ago, would you believe at the time I said July 4th when I saw this one? More dots. More café capris. It's these.

I'm showing off my shoes.

Aren't they awsome for July 4th?

And this is how the week started, in honor of my Canadian friends.

The factory elbow-sleeve sweater is not elbow-sleeved

but the color is beautiful and the price is right.

The trous are the bennett chino.

They are skinny, skinny (for chinos) and extra long (these are petite length,

which tends to be a little short for me but they're rolled three or four times here).



This is not the beaded rose necklace. At least not the real thing.

It's not a statement I'll be making forever so I got the look.

Hint: the five-flower version looks less like a lei (I'll show you on another post).

Not to be outdone, here's how husby tied everything nicely together

on Canada Day, the start of July 4th week.

He always wanted that day to be his birthday because his day

four months earlier tends to be lousy weather.

Isn't he weird?

Update: This is my July 4th outfit.

We had Canadian beer with our all-American burgers,

it happens to be our favorite. What did you cook up?

Enjoy your family and friends ... happy Independence Day!

And as another of my friends WMM says, stay safe out there!

Pepper Patch

I had a personal pact to post this pack of pepper tweed things

way before now. Of course, I failed miserably.

I bought them at the end of the Fall 2012 season sale priced and with an extra percentage off so I thought it odd they came back in the suiting section full priced then went on sale again and now the dress has sold out a second time and only the jacket and skirt remain in limited sizes

in the final sale section.

 

Maybe they're the same things maybe not.

Though the item numbers are identical, I know mine are black and ivory while what's currently on sale has navy ivory for the color choice.

Whatever. I'm thinking they have the same fit and fabrication so reviews could help somebody if the pepper tweed things pop back.

The fabric is 52% cotton/48% polyester (at least there's more real stuff than not).

It's loose enough a weave I could carefully work an Art Deco hat pin into the material, being careful to not go through the lining.

(Hat pins often have dull, threaded ends that don't pierce cleanly through fabric.)

I really like the dress, for once I didn't feel as if I'd want to

shorten or nip in a garment for a better fit.

Here, I decided to wear some fun, vintage plastic jewelry.

And of course a reprise of the tweed dweeb below, worn with the short-sleeve chambray shirt (the short sleeves avoid the fussiness at the cuffs and I like the rounded collars with the collarless jacket). The skirt fits surprisingly slim, I'm not used to skirts fitting around the waist. This one is sitting slightly high waisted instead of riding on my hips like most.

In case you're wondering, yes, I am wearing tights.
They're beige with tiny polka dots but it just looks like I have pasty legs, which I do.

Pepper tweed cons: the loosely woven fabric will easily snag (my vintage crystal bracelet caused a few before I became keenly aware to keep it away), the loosely woven fabric can also get out of shape (you can see above the uneven skirt hem) and though more than 50% cotton, I still wish for a 100% natural material, silk for the poly content would be lovely.

Pepper tweed pros: easy-to-wear, basic colors (whether black ivory or navy ivory); classic cut and a nice, close fit (at least for me); a lightweight tweed good for most seasons (for where I live and this tweed will also travel well); the loosely woven fabric can be worked to easily make snags disappear.

I've layered two necklaces collected over the years, these are from the 1920s, I believe.

The pepper tweed inspired me to pack a little more punch
with pieces from my vintage/antique jewelry collection.
I go in and out of these phases, should I stay put in this one a bit?

Did you pick up or pass on the pepper tweed?

Oh and does anybody remember I promised the ultimate chambray/denim shirt smackdown? Trying to be comprehensive stopped me from getting started. So silly wabbit, I will post one each week until I'm through them all. First one in a couple days and I'll take requests.



Speaking of Sequins

Could this be my go-to look?

Sequins, skinny pants and pumps. I'm all over it.

WMM spoke of sparkles. And I'm on the same train, 

having this post already planned -- with some excitement --

since I rarely have on "hot off the press" things.

I'm the sale-section-only shopper.

 

Though the polka-dot sequin top is completely sequined,

would you believe I thought it subtle?

It may be the "thousands of small sequins in a light yet dense layout"

or the dark color, the top didn't hit me as too bling-bling.

Something the CFS missed, it's of 100% cotton, not viscose,

and that was a pleasant surprise.

I really like the top but one thing kinda bugs me.

See those split or adjacent polka dots?

That's how it is along the side seams.

I guess it might be too difficult to make the pattern work

across the seams in all sizes. But still, it bothers.

What do you think, am I fretting too much?



Sequin Secrets

If you had to go straight from the airport to an event where

the dress code is described as business casual afternoon cocktail attire,

what would you do/how would you dress?

 

A quick change of shoes from traveling flats to Valentinas

and pulling something sparkly over my plain traveling tee while in the taxi 

has been what I've done on three occasions now.

 

I didn't take a picture but this was the first time.

Some type of skinny minnies were my traveling pants each time.

The above was in May and below was three weeks ago.

I don't know what business casual afternoon cocktail really means.

But when in doubt, I go with my skinny pants and sequins.



Peplum Pablum

Dunno if I'm really loving the peplum top.

I wasn't going after the look on the catwalk.

And I don't expect to join the ladies on this street style page.

But I loved the fabric and print of the café capri in fresco floral sateen so much, I snagged the peplum top when it got to a reasonable price

and a good % off promo came along and my size popped back.

Shopping with M did a fantastic review. Though I didn't find it easy to slip on or off probably because I didn't size up. I also found it quite high waisted (remember, I'm only 5'2" so how is it on taller ladies?).

I'm so happy the sleeves are not puffy per their pics.

Oh a random tip to pass on ... button first before zipping up the side and

unzip before unbuttoning. Put up your hair before zipping up.

I might next try it with jeans or a pencil skirt.

But in my secret garden, I'm wearing it with the matching pants.

I'm a fashion geek, what about you?

Happy Independence Day

Wearing red, white and blue.

And still loving these shoes.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fourth of July!

Thow Me a Lifeline

I'm standing very straight. It must be because I'm in uniform.

Loving the minnie pant with heels and a tunic lately.

Kicked up a notch here with subtle pattern mixing.

This is the popover tunic in lifesaver print. The fabric was also used for a dress but I didn't think the below-knee length was good for my shrimpy height so I decided on the tunic. Which can often be a dress on me. As you can see, it's appropriate tunic length so I don't know how it would be for someone taller, even though the description says "a generous length."

I do agree with "sumptuous" and "deliciously drapey" as descriptors

for the 100% silk material. It feels rich and luxurious.

The "signature print" is wonderful and interesting like an abstract painting.

It's intricate enough to not easily see where and how the pattern repeats.

And if you're stranded someplace, you can use it like a puzzle to pass the time. Or use it as a conversation starter by testing people's perception whether they see the lifesavers. Or four-petal flowers.

As much as I like the look of popovers, I hate the struggle to change out of it.

I came this close to getting stuck and calling out, "help!"

P.S. You'd think lifesavers would be a nautical theme but

the dark color is black, not navy blue.

Dot Ditty

This will be short and sweet.

Though I'd prefer the polka-dot popover to be more opaque

(I have a thin black wool thermal top under) and a full button up

(popovers are a nuisance to put on and take off), I still love the shirt.

Note the dots are a light tan/beige/khaki color that

I think more sophisticated than white.

The fabric is a cool and comfortable 57% cotton 43% silk blend,

machine washable in cold water.

The dots are also a light tan/beige/khaki color, though with a slight pink cast.

Just like Musings on the Mountain, my first venture into Madewell was

the polka-dot film noir pump. These are the kind of shoes for which I break my no-higher-than-three-inch-heel rule. Thank goodness they're leather and leather lined, thus became more and more comfortable as the day went on. They are danged cute and well worth the bit of suffering to break them in.

The minnie pant in bi-stretch wool is a classic in my wardrobe.

I am once again wearing the regular length even if I'm petite height.

Though the waist of the smallest size is about two inches too big,

I'm willing to put up with that. They can be depended upon for a stylish and not-too-casual look, while rarely needing wrinkle removal.

That (no wrinkle smoothing needed) makes me sing a happy little tune.

All American Apples

For some reason, this outfit struck a few people's fancy and I received several compliments on it. I felt down home with a chambray shirt, denim minnies and the Tippi sweater in orchard print. Love the sweet print of tiny apples that look like polka dots. And everything rorange calls for the Mona patent pumps in poppy. Here's another pic:

You might recognize it as an IRL from this PV set. Per the set, worn with the Gondola stripe coat.

And all buttoned up:

Not that I'd likely wear it that way.

I think not; it makes me want to salute.

And now I know what it is about this coat!

I look like a giant flag in it.

Appropriate for Memorial Day coming up.

But still ... I will leave the coat open.

Who'd think it would be chilly and grey in SoCal right now?!

As in chilly enough for this coat?

I hope it's nice where you are,

and y'all have a good Memorial Day weekend!

Oversized

Sometimes there's not much difference between XS and XXS.

And sometimes if the sweater is made long and slouchy,

going up a size makes it a ... tunic!

I didn't mean to. It's what was left since I waited until

they had dropped to the lowest price and my size was gone.

I got the next size up, liking the idea of stripes made giant and

done in an unusual, rather sophisticated color combination.

I'm petite height but wearing the regular length Minnie pant in bi-stretch wool.

I was able to get my preferred size though I waited until multiple cuts

brought them down to the price of lunch.

The Corso Como 'Del Quilted' Pump were once a featured item

at the top of the page of the wonderful Gigi's Gone Shopping.

 With spotty sizes left, I ordered the single pair that's 1/2 up from my normal size while crossing fingers they'd work as that size

had at times. And two days later, got the 

sorry-we're-out-of-stock email.

Good thing.

Because my size came up a few weeks later

from which I learned the 1/2 size bigger would not have worked.

Sometimes, it's just meant to be. Don't you think?

Quick Change Artist

Quick Change Artist by tiffanyrose featuring a scoop neck tee

My flight lands at 4:01 and the event is at 5:00. I will not have time to check into my hotel and change. Must hope my flight is reasonably on time and take a taxi straight there from the airport. This is what I'm planning: calf hair valentinas for the two-tone ballet flats, dark star popover for the travel trench, minaudière for the luggage. I may need to keep the scarf on if the place is cool. I'll have the shoes, clutch and popover in my carry-on bag. I think this will work. It has to.

Unexpected business trip. I'll be back mid-week ...