Double Double

Of all chambray shirts, I wear the perfect shirt in chambray polka dot the most. It's a chambray shirt and that's the current style gel top

(as opposed to the grey T-shirt of recent past, for example).

With subtle dots and no distressing, the shirt is dressy enough

for the office and makes a good play at pattern mixing

(worn here with the not-so-subtle cropped matchstick jean in indigo floral).

Thought I was smart and frugal picking up a back-up when the factory classic button-down shirt in dotted chambray went to sale

and an excellent extra percentage off came along.

The above pics show the side-by-side comparison fit-wise for

size 00 retail on the left and XXS factory on the right.

A close-up of the fabrics used.

Retail (lower left portion) is a brighter blue leaning toward royal

and has slightly larger dots. The factory (upper right)

is a grey blue material that's not as silky or drapey.

The fabric underbelly tells a good tale.

Retail dots are woven in while the factory prints its dots
(the print is on the surface and thus doesn't go through to the back of the material).

Here's what happens when they're washed and dried on hot.

With one sleeve down to show shrinkage and nope I don't iron

(worn here with the Liberty toothpick jean in June's Meadow floral).

Bottomline: while I like the factory version well enough for

its own merits, for me, it's not serving as a replacement/back-up

of the retail chambray polka dot shirt.

Darn. Because it would be a danged good deal.



Sucker for Selvedge

Maybe it's because I'm in marketing I fall for the marketing hype.

Anybody remember how just about every fabric J.Crew uses comes from some remote village in the foothills somewhere making whatever specialty lace, jacquard or tweed for hundreds of years?

So while doing due diligence for the ultimate chambray-

denim shirt smackdown, I had to try this one.

Posting to get the correct Polyvore image
because what you save is not always what you get.

A selvedge (Merriam-Webster prefers selvage, which bothers my logic since the word is from self+edge) is the bound edge of woven or flat-knitted fabric finished to prevent raveling. As a former seamstress,

I appreciate its beauty and strength and if a garment makes good use

of it, I'm usually a goner. Here's what got me:

This heirloom-worthy shirt has authentic details inspired by vintage workwear from the 1930s,

and the Japanese selvedge cotton chambray is the best there is (we stonewash ours for

that perfect worn-in look and feel). Casually chic with a longer shirttail hem and

a slightly oversize fit, it's cool and classic at the same time.

Not only is it selvedge chambray, but authentic details ...
vintage workwear from the 1930s and heirloom-worthy?

I was sorely disappointed to find the selvedge used in three places.

A tiny piece stitched in between the front and back shirt tails.
Mine is from HO 11 and I can't spot this detail in the closeups of the current shirt.

To form the hidden button down under the collar.
Hint: don't try to button the collar while wearing the shirt, it will be a struggle.


Along one placket, used improperly IMO since it's a separate piece stitched on
and not even along the entire length of the placket.

Miffed, I fully intended to return the shirt but never got around to it.

So it's with me to this day and guess it's staying.

Wearing it this way to show you the fuller sleeves.
Wearing it with the Liberty toothpick jean in June's Meadow floral,
go to the larger of your pant sizes if you're debating. 



Trying for the casually chic.
Wearing with the cropped matchstick jean in indigo floral,
also recommend the larger of your pant sizes.

Warning: if you're petite and wearing flats,
don't wear it as a tunic untucked, it's not a good look.
Not sure it's a good look even if tucked, it's a little Vera B.

Still trying for the cool, classic, casual chic.
Wearing with the Liberty toothpick jean in Tresco floral, sized as June's Meadow.
I made fun of them when first released but seriously love them now.

One thing about the selvedge chambray shirt,

the fabric is fine and silky, finer and silkier than

any of the other chambray shirts I've tried.

And no distressing, which is a good thing in my book.

 

That's all folks for now. I'm going to publish before Blogger crashes again and makes me redo an hour's worth of stuff. :(



Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a warm, safe and

happy holiday season.

Peace and love to you and yours.

Merry Christmas and may

God bless us, every one!



Na Nana Na Na

Resisted the french hen sweater.

And passed on the factory puffin sweater.

Because I have the original puffin sweater from 2008.

It's not merino wool/nylon/cashmere.

It's not viscose/nylon/wool.

It's 100% cashmere. The good stuff.

From the good old days, baby.

 

I don't mean to gloat.

I just want to do a happy dance that I have it.



Driving Me Dotty

When WMM asked if the polka-dot sequin top was TTS,

you'd think that's an easy yes or no. But no ... it is not.

If I had them side by side, you'd see the top in

vintage champagne is bigger than the black one I have on here.

And yes, they are supposed to be the same size -- XXS.

At least that's what I ordered and that's how they're labeled.

 

Maybe this one got into the wrong pile for the size label.

Maybe the vintage champagne runs bigger than the black.

Not only is it looser fitting all over, the champagne top is

approximately one inch longer in body length than the same size in black.

But I could have received one that was mislabeled. 

 

Gigi thought the polka dots sparse and small on the champagne

while the ones on the black perfectly sized and placed.

I agree. But think it's a visual illusion.

As you can see, the dots are the same size.

I tried the champagne with another combination:

(The dots do look a little sparse and small, don't they?)

A reminder of what the black one in the "same size" looked like on me:

And I wore it without a shirt under

because some wanted to know if the top is itchy.

Again, it's not a simple yes or no.

AJC tried it early on, and she included a pic of the extra facing

around the neckline meant to give some protection.

Ignore the CFS, the top is cotton, not viscose.

It's more comfortable than the zigzag sequin tee or dress.

But it will always be more scratchy than a plain sweater or tee.

 You'd know if you're sensitive to stuff like that.

 

I do know the champagne is slightly scratchier than the black.

I did a blind test to validate that, it's not my imagination.

The First Day of Summer

Not really. But seasons happen a little later in SoCal (and why I'm always behind,

that's my excuse). Summer came roaring in on Thursday and this is what I wore.

The stripe popover is of a 100% cotton gauzy fabric. It looked cool and easy
and I thought of it as soon as I realized the day was going to be a scorcher.

I'd found a stash of my summer pants so the shirt became a topper for the white denim cropped matchsticks from last year or the year before.

 Now why is it I become incredibly messy when I wear white?

Not only did I discover some faint stains on one leg (I could have sworn they were clean ... unless I spilled my morning tea), I spilled coffee on the other leg. And at the end

of the day, found some bright yellow blobs on the back (did I sit on some mustard?

but I was only in my office chair and my car that day ...).

I once wore a white tee with a white jacket and carried a cream colored bag.

It must have been too much white karma because I splattered

marina sauce all over my tee and jacket and bag.
 

Outside and inside.
 

Luckily, I didn't get the sauce on the lining of the bag.

So I was able to wipe the leather clean, though I was still finding

sauce months later in little nooks and crannies.

Do you think we are actually clumsier when we wear white?

Or is it because every mistake shows up?

Know any tips or tricks for getting out stains you can pass on?