Marching Forth

I've always thought March Fourth a commanding day: Go forth ... and step to it! So it seemed a good day to make a return to blogland after an unintentional break (let's just say the trail took a bad turn and let's just say it didn't make for a good look lol).


Though not the Shrimp Creole/Pork Chop Tchoupitoulas/Bread Pudding Soufflé with Whiskey Sauce
I had at Commander's Palace more than two decades ago, it's today's colorful lunch. Yummy.

It's also Mardi Gras, a day for celebration a day for a people party a day for purple so why not a post? (And I'm not masquerading to keep you in the dark about why I've been MIA, I'm only protecting the worry stones of someone very dear. It'd serve no positive purpose for him to know. Even if things turned out OK.)

Getting back to purple, and posts.



These are full brogues aka wingtips. They are pretty perfect.
One could easily post on what makes perfect shoes or why brogues are brogues
and what makes them full, semi, quarter or longwing ...

It was cool enough today to wear a sweater, so a purple one was in order (the colors are more intense IRL). I love the pattern and it's of good cashmere. {sigh I know I am so very very ovdue on that cashmere exposé I've promised, yet another post to come} It's way oversized as this is XXS, think it's an intended look. {another post idea: what is TTS?} I liked it and the look is better IRL even if I couldn't get a good OOTD selfie.

If the reverse side of a sweater looks anything like the above, be very gentle when pulling it on or off. Especially if over a shirt and for heaven's sake don't be wearing rings or bracelets while doing so. The yarn can easily catch on a button or a piece of jewelry and break if you continue the process. Speaking from experience.

Speaking of experience, 100% attention 100% of the time when driving (dad was is right, don't take anything for granted).

 

Give me another P ... some patience. It will take a little time to catch up with all of you. I've missed you, my friends.

December Dither

 With more couth I would've worn this outfit for Thanksgiving: 

the Collection café capri in antiqued floral, a cambridge crewneck from 2008 and the antique gold mary jane heels so wonderful I no longer pine for the spencer patent trimmed crackle metallic mary janes 

aka Emma Pillsbury's favorite shoes.

I think the antique floral print is rich and splendid. The fabric, 76% silk and 33% cotton, is quite substantial. It feels like two layers woven together. Could very well be since the reverse side barely shows any print show-through and has a different texture.

Highly recommended if you like crazy fancy pants.

Showing the shoes snapped up from Yoox but they are no more there.

Is it wrong to be in love with a pair of shoes?

 As threatened promised, here's what I wore for Thanksgiving:

This year's was a wonderful confluence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah that I was completely unaware of since I'd been buried in work.

But look what we saw as we're fixin' the candied yams.

Is this one of those signs Jody talked about?

What the weatherman tells us for today.

And what it looks like.

But I'll be planning and packing for a week-long trip to places where the weather is difficult for me to imagine.

This (washable? faux fur) is likely the foundation for my trip.

With apologies in advance to ruth, Naomi, Heidi and anyone else I will likely offend, I will likely wear this on travel days:

With any luck, I may see some ...

That's a surprise snow storm the last time I visited my dad. 
Spending time with him will be the very best part of my trip. :)

 

Stay safe and warm and don't let the stresses take over.

Let me know what you're up to and I'll try to keep up.

See y'all in about a week.

The Short List

You know the lists. The ones that give you the top X things you should or should never do.

Somewhere I read a no-no was for shorties like me to wear cropped pants as regular length.

Hmmm ... well ... I did here and have for months committed this glamour don't. Intentionally.

And I'm old enough to say I don't care like a six year old.

Speaking of a child, the sweater is the Crewcuts snowdrop popover. Can you see that the polka dots are fuzzy? Details like that make me happy.

Worn with the perfect shirt in indigo floral, the café capri in wool (on sale now for a fabulous price) and the always fantastic Penelope mary janes.



What fashion faux pas do you make on purpose?

Come Fly with Me

5'2" wearing regular 00

Don't ask. I don't know what I was doing but do you think I should fire my stylist?

And would you believe I was bold enough to go out and about wearing this colorful getup?

You can't see it all that well and it's bunched up from pulling on the jacket too quickly (gotta fire that stylist) but that is one of my very favorite old-school cashmere critter sweaters (I'm pleading with this one too to not wear out). See here for a better view of the intarsia crest design.

Speaking of old school ... yes, that is the Lexington jacket. I was either going through my rebellion with corporate wear or it was during my time with technology incompatible for online shopping (topic for upcoming post, maybe) but I missed the Lexington the first time around. With the help of the aftermarket community, this cheerful, new old stock beauty made its way to me. Yay!

I'm now going to publicly declare my weakness for multiples (hangs head in shame, hides). Let's just say I have several pairs of the Café capri in wool. I "qualify" for wearing petites but I am wearing the regular. Love the length. It's not capri as intended, but I think it's perfect as I don't find myself thinking if only it could be [insert desired measurement] longer or shorter. Though they're unlined, the wool is very soft so maybe it's better to skip the cold clammy feel of a lot of the lining material used these days. I love the fit I love the colors. Thus. Multiples.

I declared my love for the Clifton booties on this post. Had not expect to like them so much when I ordered the black ones (uh oh, multiples again). Ended up throwing out my rule of anything above a 3.25" heel better be breathtakingly gorgeous femme fatale shoes because I'll be suffering for vanity. The heels are 3.5" and the online description of "all beautifully balanced on a slender stacked wood heel" is true! I have worn them for 12 hours straight, I've run in them (short distance) and I don't recall thinking about them except how good they let me strut. I think the beautiful balance is part of the reason, the other is the leather lining. (I don't understand leather uppers with man-made lining.) Had to get the dark nutmeg too, with justification of need for neutral shoes in a lighter color.

Because these bad boy 3.5" heels make me feel like I can fly in and kick butt. In a good way. :)

What I Really Wore

Matching the scarf to the umbrella was only a little matchy-matchy! This was fun and warm and pretty cute IRL.

Also see Here's What I Was Planning to Wear by tiffanyrose featuring the Mackintosh Kilmany