Casual Day Corduroys

I know that Winter will end and that Spring will come, but on days like today, when the temperature was slowly dropping throughout the day in preparation for the frigid day that will be tomorrow, it was hard to believe that it will ever warm up enough for Spring to arrive.  At least there was some sunshine today!

I am wearing a vintage Gap wool turtleneck, vintage Old Navy corduroys with a vintage Gap belt, vintage socks by LLBean and vintage LLBean boots.

Grey Skies Skirt

About two weeks ago (now that I think about it, it might actually be exactly two weeks to today), I wore the jacket that I wore today with a skirt very similar to the one that I wore today.  I so loved that jacket and skirt combo that I wanted to wear it again, but I didn't want to wear the exact same outfit that I wore that day.  So I put together today's outfit.  And, I liked it.

I took a bit of a risk with the boots, in terms of exposing them to snow and slush.  When I walked home yesterday evening, I noted that most sidewalks were clear of snow and were more dry than wet, so I thought that, so long as snow wasn't forecast, it might be okay to start wearing non-rubber soled shoes.  When I woke up this morning, there was no snow forecast, so I brought out the non-rubber soled riding boots.  All I can say was that I was lucky that it didn't start unexpectedly snowing during the day.

I suspect that the Winter sales may soon be over.  There are still a few around, but there doesn't seem to be much left for me to buy, in terms of styles that I like or sizes in styles that I like.  I made a sales purchase yesterday, and it may very well have been my last one for this Winter.  In many ways, this saddens me.  There are still a couple of months of Winter dressing ahead, but with no Winter sales, there won't be the opportunity to inject something new into my wardrobe to make the Winter more bearable.  I don't particularly like the period that we are heading into, the period of Spring clothing being sold when, realistically, I won't be able to wear any of it for months.  I guess what I am trying to say is, with my last purchase of Winter clothing yesterday, there may now be a very prolonged period of no retail therapy for me.

Oddly, I am completely not troubled by the prospect of no retail therapy for a while!

I am wearing a vintage H&M shirt with a vintage Gap tie, a vintage Zara sweater with a vintage silver leaf pin, a vintage H&M skirt and a vintage H&M jacket.  My leggings are vintage Lululemon, my socks are vintage H&M and my boots are by JCrew.

I Think I Am Tiring Of The Long Skirt Trend

When I woke up this morning, I did think about wearing what I pulled out from the LLBean package yesterday.  It is hanging up, where I can see it, just waiting to go.  But I think that, still not feeling 100 percent, I opted for the long skirt again because wearing it is like wrapping myself in a big blanket, which comfort I still need.  (And, yes, I know that I probably look like I am wearing a big blanket, but, hey, I really don't care at the moment.)  So the LLBean item is just going to have to wait a bit longer.

But not wanting to be unkind, I will say what the LLBean item is:  It is a flannel cotton dress.  Before I bought the dress -- on sale, incidentally -- I did something that I don't usually do when I shop online:  I read the customer reviews.  The bulk of the reviews were positive, singing the dress praises as far as comfort and warmth went.  Many even said that the dress was their "go to" dress this Winter.  Well I have to say that I knew exactly what those reviewers were talking about the moment I tried the dress on.  It envelopes you with comfort and warmth.

However comfortable and warm the dress may be, though, it is still a dress, not a blanket like long skirt.  But I know that it won't be too long now before I wear the dress.  So hang in there dress (like it could do anything else)!

I am wearing a vintage Gap wool turtleneck, a vintage RW & Co skirt and vintage army boots.

It's Seems So Long Since I Felt Normal

It has probably been at least one year since I was so sick that I stopped thinking about clothes or deriving pleasure from clothes.  However long it has been, I am currently in the midst of recovering from a bad bout of the flu.  While I was in the depths of the illness, clothes (and I am talking about looking at or thinking about clothes, wearing real clothes being outside the realm of the possible) brought me no comfort at all.  I am far from fully recovered from the flu ... and I am far from finding comfort in looking at clothes or putting together outfits.  I suspect that it will be some time before things are normal, healthwise or clothes-wise.  Today's outfit is one of the last outfits that I wore before the flu hit me.

I am wearing a vintage Gap handknit turtleneck, vintage Old Navy corduroys and a vintage Gap belt.  My socks are old by LLBean and my boots are Bogs.

The What A Deal Pendleton Shirt

I have to say that the jacket and skirt that I wore today are two favourite pieces of clothing in my wardrobe.    I am very pleased that I was able to bring them together.  It is a little hard to believe that it took me as long as it did (a couple of years) to do so.  Maybe I needed the two new pieces that I wore today -- the shirt and vest -- as the catalyst for bringing them together.

The two new pieces that I wore today -- the shirt and vest -- were pieces that I recently purchased on sale at Urban Outfitters.  Not to belittle the vest, but I was particularly excited to have scored the shirt -- a Pendleton shirt.  That said, both pieces were exceptional deals.  I know that I will enjoy them for years to come!

I am wearing a vintage H&M skirt and jacket, a Pendleton shirt from Urban Outfitters with a vintage Gap tie, a BDG corduroy vest from Urban Outfitters, vintage Lululemon leggings, old wool work socks from an off-price store and boots by LLBean.  My coat is a vintage Canada Goose parka, my wool handknit button scarf is a gift, my hat is old by Roots and my mitts are vintage H&M.

Seriously Studious Glasses

I have had the glasses that I wore today for some time now, but today marked their debut on me.

I told everyone who asked about the glasses that they are my Harry Potter glasses.  I didn't buy the glasses because they look like Harry Potter glasses, I bought the glasses because I used to have large round plastic frames once upon a time, gave them away at a certain point, started missing them and wished that I had some large round plastic frames.  I started longing for large round plastic frames long before the Harry Potter phenomenon caused some to appear for sale, but I had to wait for the Harry Potter phenomenon to occur (lucky for me that it did) before I could satisfy my longing (which is why I call them my Harry Potter glasses).

One of my wardrobe resolutions for this year is to not be hasty about and to not allow emotions to dictate decisions about giving away items of my wardrobe.  Had I not been hasty about giving away my old large round plastic frames ... well ... there would have been no need for Harry Potter glasses.

Another of my wardrobe resolutions for this year is to improve my clothes care habits -- you know, things like maybe pulling out the iron once in a while.  I pulled out the iron this morning, to iron out some of the wrinkles in the skirt.  Not perfect, I will admit, but certainly an improvement.

I am wearing a vintage H&M shirt with a vintage Gap tie, a vintage RW&Co skirt with vintage Jacob suspenders, a vintage Old Navy wool vest and a vintage Lux wool cardigan (originally from Urban Outfitters).  My boots are vintage army boots.  (I wore the coat that I wore yesterday with the button scarf, beret and mitts that I wore yesterday.)

Across The River On A Log Sweater

One of my favourite labels -- Preloved -- that creates new clothing using discarded sweaters, shirts, wool trousers and denim, among other things, is having a sample and warehouse sale at the end of the month.  This could be dangerous!

I had planned on visiting the Goodwill store this weekend, as well as some vintage shops around the city.  I didn't get to either the Goodwill store or any vintage shop.  The snow was my excuse on Saturday.  The cold was my excuse on Sunday.  In reality, I think that I was too tired from the work week to get excited about clothing shopping and I didn't want to go to any thrift and/or vintage shops in that state.  It probably would have been a waste of time -- I wouldn't have been able to see any jewels in the rough.  On the other hand, it might have "revived" me.  Oh well.  There is always next weekend.

I may be heading into a period of wearing long skirts.  (Obviously) I didn't wear a long skirt today, but I have a couple of outfits involving long skirts planned for the work week.  In part, I think that I want to wear long skirts because I know them to be warmer (and it will continue to be cold this week).  I think that I also want to wear long skirts because ... well ... because I just want to.

I am wearing a flannel shirt by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a vintage brooch, a woollen tunic by Zara (sale), vintage leggings and woollen shorts by Lululemon, vintage socks by CK and vintage LLBean boots.

Right Boots, Right Day: Serendipity

Sometimes, after I wear a "pants outfit", I try to create a "skirt version" of the outfit.  That's what I did today: I wore a skirt version of a pants outfit that I wore last week.  I am not always satisfied with the skirt version of a pants outfit, but, today, I was.  It is pure serendipity that I have cord pants and a cord skirt in the exact same colour.

Today, there was a significant snowfall in my home city, for the first time this season.  I know that the amount of snow that there will be in my home city, when the snowfall ends, will pale in comparison to the amount of snow that many other places have had, but it is still a significant amount for my home city.  I was very pleased that I wore the right (from a being practical, not being fashionable, point of view) boots today.  I don't kid myself that this was anything but largely serendipitous.

I scored some really great bargains at Urban Outfitters today.  I think that I like sales at this time of year more than I like end of Summer sales.  Maybe it has something to do with there being (apparently) more stock, more variety and, consequently, more selection at this time of year than at the end of the Summer.  Or, maybe, I like sales at this time of year because I like Fall/Winter clothing more than I like Summer clothing.

I am thinking about paring down my shoe collection.  I am thinking that, as much as I love all my pairs of shoes, there are some that I will probably never wear again.  I am still in the early, early stages of thinking about it.  I don't like saying never.

I am wearing a vintage Gap shirt with vintage Banana Republic beads, a merino wool sweater jacket by JCrew, a cord skirt from Anthropologie, knit leggings by H&M, old wool work socks from an off-price store and old boots from Land's End.

Fuzzy Grey Sweater

Some days (today being one of them), when I pass through the mall on my way home from an overly long day at work, with the intent of indulging in a beloved activity, namely, looking at clothes, nothing happens.  By this I mean everything looks like everything else and nothing looks particularly creative or inspiring.  Everything looks, well, blah.  When this occurs, I just call it quits and head directly home.  I figure that there is no point looking at clothing when it is no longer fun and exciting.

I am starting to think about new clothing themes ... for me ... for Spring/Summer.  One of these I have provisionally titled, "Artist Girl in 1920s Paris".  I am thinking: lots of black and white and/or cream clothing; loose and flowy structured clothing (I know that that is probably an oxymoron); men's shirts, trousers and blazers; oxfords.  Hmmmm.  All of a sudden, I am reminded of the recent film, "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky", which I saw during the holidays.  It is probably way too early for any of my "thoughts" about Spring/Summer clothing to stick, but it's fun thinking about Spring/Summer dressing just the same.

I am wearing a cardigan by LLBean (Signature) layered on top of a long sleeve tshirt from Old Navy, a vintage H&M jumper dress, a handknit button scarf (gift), vintage Lululemon leggings and vintage CK socks.  My boots are vintage Fluevogs.

The Seasoned (With Salt And Pepper) Daily Grind Suit

Some years ago, I used to wear button down shirts by crossing the collar points and them buttoning them down.  In order to wear button down shirts in this manner, the collar band has to be sufficiently large to avoid a feeling of being choked.  I used to buy medium or large sized men's button down shirts.  Today, for reasons I cannot even fathom, I decided that I wanted to bring back this way of wearing button down shirts.  Of course, I don't presently possess any medium or large sized men's button down shirts.  Lucky for me, it's post holiday sale time.  After work today, I went down to the Old Navy store and bought two men's large sized button down shirts ... on sale, of course.  Now, I just need to find the right time (and place) to wear them.

Of course, an after work trip to the mall couldn't possibly start and stop with a trip to just one clothing store.    After I made my purchases at Old Navy, I went to the H&M.  All I can say is that I really like some of the new collection (early Spring?) that is in the store now.  Of course, the hardest thing about these new collections that are in the stores now (and I am not talking just about the one in the H&M) is that it will be some months (at least two or three) before I will be able to wear any of the clothing (assuming I succumb to temptation and purchase some of it).

There was one item in the new H&M collection that I might be able to wear sooner rather than later.  Of course, I am not sure how I feel about a knee-length dirndl skirt in black pleather.

I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a vintage scarf worn as bow, a vintage H&M suit, a shawl collar cardigan by JCrew, vintage Lululemon leggings, old Hue socks and boots by Bogs.

Tobogganing Down Hills Sweater

I imagine that today was a "travel day" for a lot of people, people returning home after the holidays to go back to school or work tomorrow or Tuesday.  I imagine this because what else could account for the city being so unusually quiet today.

Last week, when I visited my favourite bargain store to purchase an oil filled space heater, I happened to notice that the store carried good, old fashioned, wood toboggans.  I was very tempted to purchase one.  I haven't been tobogganing since I was a kid.  I could, however, create a lovely Winter vignette with the toboggan outside my living room.  That might be nice.  Something to think about.

There is one thing that I like about post holiday clothing sales:  Some retailers bring out items of clothing that didn't make "the cut", for whatever reasons, to be included in their regular pre-holiday collections.  Sometimes, these are the items of clothing that most interest me.  I ran across this situation at Zara today and came away with some very nice sweaters, sweater dresses and a jumper dress.

I am wearing a vintage Gap jersey turtleneck underneath a vintage JCrew wool pullover, vintage fleece MEC leggings, a vintage Old Navy ski jacket, a vintage Wildhagen hat and vintage H&M mitts.  My socks are old by Hue and my suede booties are vintage.

Goldenrod Cords And An Electric Blue Buffalo Check Shirt

2011 is starting out dark and wet ... and mild.  I couldn't be happier (even knowing that the temperature is set to plummet this evening and Winter to return in full force tomorrow)!  There are some new things greeting the new year.  First things first:  Say hello to my new merino wool sweater jacket from JCrew.  It is one of my recent sale purchases from JCrew.  I coveted this sweater jacket from the moment that I saw it.  I feel fortunate to have been able to have gotten it on sale, after I had thought that it had completely disappeared.

Now on to other new things:  New hair style for the new year (although I think I probably started last year with the same look -- cycles, what can I say).  Once I gave up long hair, some years ago, it wasn't too long before I started wearing my hair very short (and, by very short, I mean no longer than 1/2 of an inch).  However, having gone through a period this past Summer and Fall of wearing a long fringe and of having some length "on top" (2 inches at least), I must say that it feels rather odd having very short hair again.  It will, however, make it very easy to wear hats until at least early Spring, which I plan on doing.

I am wearing a vintage Gap shirt with vintage Banana Republic beads, vintage Lands End cords with a vintage Gap belt, a merino wool sweater jacket by JCrew, old wool work socks from an off-price store and boots by LLBean.