Emotional Baggage is back!

New items up over at Emotional Baggage, une femme's very own marché des puces!

Please e-mail me for more information or to purchase.
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Une femme recommends...

(Cheap Thrills Edition)

Pert Plus "Revive & Rejuvenate" shampoo. Wendy B was right (is she ever wrong??). This is some of the best shampoo I've tried in years! It leaves my hair clean and soft, not dried out at all, but here's the thing...I can go 2-3 days without having to shampoo again, with none of that lanky look or dirty-feeling scalp. With my fine, tending-toward-oily hair that's nothing short of a miracle! And less frequent washing means my color lasts longer. Deux pouces up!

Remember this Polyvore?



Well, the tee shirt I used is now on sale for $5 at Old Navy!

Normally I don't advocate buying throwaway items that will only last a season. But the color on this tee is so fabulous (they call it "Lead Pipe," I call it "Parisian steel grey"), that for $5 a pop, you can buy a spare. The fabric is very light, and the fit good (buy one size up if you prefer a less snug fit). Cheap and chic!

Speaking of fabulous steel greys,

this lightweight cardigan is currently on sale at Banana Republic for $29.99. (Note: online the grey is only available in "tall" however my neighborhood store still had a lot of stock as of earlier this week.)


Estancia Pinot Noir, $14.99. A very smooth, drinkable red, stands up to meat but also lovely with grilled veggies or a salmon fillet. Your taste buds will think you've splurged on a much more expensive bottle.
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Foulard de la semaine

Classic with a twist...literally.

If the bulk of a full-sized carré bothers you, try folding diagonally into a long strip, then twisting a few turns before tying.

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Color Me Contrary

In my other life, I am Audrey Hepburn in a black sweater and black cigarette pants. I am cool, graceful, rabidly chic. I stroll along the Seine, peruse dusty bookstores in St. Germain, dance in the dark with a man I haven't yet realized I'm in love with.

In this life, the black sweater makes my face look grey and lined, and the cigarette pants....well, the less said the better. Mon mari (an otherwise wonderful man) doesn't dance, the closest body of water is a concrete-lined drainage ditch, and my strolls are limited to twice daily dog walks around the neighborhood.

In this life, wearing the colors that are my best definitely gives me an emotional lift. My skin glows. I feel prettier, energized. Even so, I can't imagine myself in head-to-toe color; it overwhelms, it's too much. I'm still most comfortable in neutrals with a pop or two of color. The Francophile part of me gravitates toward the understated and chic, and my next wardrobe update will be to overhaul my neutral basics to the charcoal greys, taupes and chocolate browns in my palette.

Style at times seems to be a balancing act between what objectively looks best (most flatters our figure and coloring) and what speaks to us on an emotional level. Giving up wearing black altogether feels like giving up that part of me that dreams of Paris and dances in the dark. Donc, I'll probably never banish noir completely from my closet.

When if comes to your own style, do you sometimes sacrifice flattery for self-expression or visa versa? Or does your inner self align with what looks best on your outer self?
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Save the Planet Tip #2569, Read Style Spy

Rather than subscribing to yet another fashion magazine, subscribe to Style Spy though RSS feed or Blogspot, and catch all of her witty, informed and intelligent fashion commentary!

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On Holiday

I wish.

Non, mes amis, we are off again to the family maison in Palm Springs. I've packed the sunscreen, a big hat and several weeks' worth of The New Yorker.

Have a lovely Memorial Day weekend, and I'll see you next week.
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Foulard de la semaine

More fun with my new color palette. The scarf is one I've had for a bit, a "Love Quotes" in linen/vicose, color "Artichoke". The sweater I picked up last week from Madewell, and matches exactly one of the colors on my swatches labeled "soft turquoise." I really like this combo!

I showed it to mon mari, and his response: "who are you and what have you done with my wife??" (He's always encouraged me to wear more color.)

(Picture taken pre-haircut.)

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Excellent Shoes

If I had Laurie Anderson's musical talent and a funky electronic fiddle, I'd write a song about these shoes.

New shoes, Excellent Shoes.

(See me walk.)

Three inch heels, excellent heels...

(I can wear 'em!)

Rising up...

I don't fall down!

(Walk around all day!)

This is the picture...

Sofft "Franchesca" $108.

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Sale Alert

Gorgeous bag at a great price: Cole Haan, $332.90 (marked down from $498) at Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale. I've seen this bag up close and it's a stunner. The handles are super soft and very comfy on the shoulder.

Updated: Black seems to have sold out. This light gold is also A.Mazing.

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Le Bob

Then...

...and now.

No, I actually wasn't trying to re-create my childhood "do," and yes, I think it needs to be just a bit longer. But I'm happy to have the sides grown out enough to even up the length all around.

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Test Driving the Tees: Results

For the sake of apples-to-apples comparison, I limited the entries to versions of white, v-neck, short-sleeved cotton (and cotton + lycra) tees. I also limited my selections to what I was able to find currently available online. I ordered the Petites version when available, assuming that the regular sizing would have similar length and fit on someone of average height. I didn't include the Talbots, Banana Republic or Gap tees, as I'd already described those here.

Ratings are in "femmes" from ♀ (yuk!) to ♀♀♀♀♀ (buy up as many of these as you can get your hands on!).

So without further ado, the results!

Caslon Cap Sleeve V-Neck from Nordstoms, $22.
Rating: ♀♀♀
Fabric: 100% Organic Cotton, light-to-medium bodied, very stretchy
Fit: Fitted, snug but not shrink-wrapped, good length - not too long
Construction: Hemmed sleeves and bottom, inset band at neck, tagless except for care tag.
Summary: If the fabric had been a little more substantial and opaque, I probably would have bought a couple of these, despite the cap sleeves (which are a bit longer than BR tees). The cut and fit are quite good, just a smidge too sheer and clingy pour moi. Younger and smaller-busted women might be fine with these.

Chico's "Lakota" tee, $19.
Rating: ♀♀♀♀
Fabric: 98% cotton, 2% lycra. Very soft, good body, excellent opacity.
Fit: Very good. Skims the body, not baggy or too clingy, elbow sleeves, v-neck is slightly curved, hits above the bra line.
Construction: Hemmed sleeves and bottom, inset band at neck, tagless except for care tag.
Summary: If this had been just couple of inches shorter, I would have given it five ♀'s. For someone of average height it would probably be perfect, hitting right at the hipbone. Very nice tee!

Target Merona Ultimate Tee, $8.99.
Rating: ♀♀♀
Fabric: 100% cotton, very light, sheer
Fit: Fitted, not too snug. A little long, but not bad, sleeves are short, but longer than most cap sleeves.
Construction: Hemmed sleeves and bottom, inset band at neck, tagless except for care tag.
Summary: I guess for $8.99 one can't expect substantial fabric. Encore, too sheer pour moi, but if you're OK with a less opaque fabric, this tee would be a great value for the price, very comfortable and cool, well-made.

j.jill elbow sleeve v-neck, $26. (In the interest of full disclosure, the white tees were on backorder until sometime in July, so I ordered the next lightest available color, "crocus" which is a pale lavender.)
Rating: ♀♀
Fabric: 100% pima cotton, medium weight, soft body. If the white fabric is the same weight it would have medium opacity.
Fit: Relaxed, a bit long
Construction: Inset band at neck, wide inset band on sleeves, hemmed at bottom, tagless except for care tag. The shoulder/sleeve and neck/inset seams have visible stitching on the outside, giving this tee a very casual look.
Summary: I was disappointed with this tee, especially for the price (highest of all reviewed). It has the look of something much cheaper, and I'd be surprised if this tee holds its shape after a few wearings and washings. The color was pretty, though.

Ann Taylor, $19.50.
Rating: ♀♀♀
Fabric: 100% cotton, very slightly ribbed texture, medium opacity
Fit: Fitted, a bit clingy due fabric. On the longish side.
Construction: Hemmed sleeves and bottom, inset band at neck, tagless except for care tag.
Summary: A decent tee, well-constructed, fabric has a nice feel. Too clingy for my taste, but someone with less (ahem) padding might like this one.

Norma Kamali for Walmart Organic Cotton, $8. (Note: I posted a picture of the grey, as the white version on their website was indistinguishable from the background.)
Rating: ♀
Fabric: 100% cotton, flimsy, low opacity.
Fit: Baggy, long.
Construction: Inset band at neck, hemmed sleeves and bottom, tagless except for LARGE BLACK care tag.
Summary: For the quality and fit, you could probably buy three men's undershirts for about the same price.

In general, it seems that almost everyone is cutting their tees longer and narrower than in prior seasons, and relying on clingy fabric for shape. The tees with higher opacity also have thicker and denser fabric, which may not be as cool in very warm and/or humid conditions.

For anyone looking for white summer tees, hope this helps!

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This California Life

5.0 party in the neighborhood!

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Applied Science

As we learned from Imogen, Style is a Science, so after Saturday's workshop I thought I'd apply some of the formulas she shared to some items already in my closet.

Experiment #1:

This is the "deep discount" Lafayette 148 jacket I purchased at the end of last year for close to 80% off retail. The fabric and construction are great, and I love the simplicity of it. But somehow something was just "off" about it, and I found that I just wasn't wearing it. After Imogen's workshop, I can look at this picture and know exactly what the problem is: the pockets! I usually try to avoid boob pockets, but I'd figured since these were flat and unobtrusive that they wouldn't add bulk. The problem is though, that they create a visual horizontal line right across the bustline!

So with a little careful snipping, a big improvement:The color of this jacket is right in my palette, and is a great neutral for warmer months. The fabric has just the right amount of texture and sheen for me. It's still a bit boxy, but next I'll see if I can find a tailor for a little nip/tuck to add some shape.

Experiment #2

This is my "Chanel-esque" experiment, an Ann Taylor jacket. While the fit, cut and shape are excellent, the texture of the fabric is just too much for me, and the color is wrong. Unfortunately the fabric can't be altered, so this one will soon be listed for sale over at Emotional Baggage, along with some other wardrobe experiments that have yielded less than optimal results.

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Eleven points...

...and worth every damn one.

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Temptation

If you are a lover of Hermès scarves, you really should know about Luxury-Scarves.com. They deal in consignment Hermès scarves of all types, and if you sign up for their newsletter, every few weeks they'll send you a link to their new offerings, like this one above. Prices are usually slightly below retail (depending on the condition of the scarf) and shipping is free.

Someone please go buy this one!
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Foulard de la semaine

I couldn't wait to show you this one!

This gorgeous papillon scarf was a gift from Imogen. It's a lovely sheer silk, with a dusty pink background and butterflies in shades of gold, brown and pink. The sweater was my New Color Palette Purchase during the shopping portion of our Saturday workshop. It's a lovely lightweight cotton cardigan ("Jackie" cardigan from J.Crew). Not only is the color fabulous, but it has 3/4 sleeves, perfect for the air-conditioned office during summer months.
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Schooled in Style

On Saturday, I had the pleasure and privilege to participate in a group style workshop led by Imogen Lamport of Bespoke Image (whose blog, Inside Out Style is a treasure trove of great style information), with Karen (Of A Certain Age) assisting. Karen is starting an image consulting business here in LA.

I learned so much from this one-day workshop, and would recommend it even for (especially for?) women who are well established in their own style, as it provides a professionally trained eye and fresh perspective.

Some things I've learned/realized:

1. Our color changes as we age (we lose pigment), and getting a professional color analysis every decade or so can be a great way to keep us looking our freshest and best. The last time I'd had my colors analyzed was in my late twenties, when I learned that clear, bright, warm colors ("Spring") were best for me. In recent years I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed by really bright colors, and gravitating toward more muted warm tones. Turns out my instincts were correct, as the color analysis revealed that my best colors are now "dusky" warm, light colors. A couple of the women in the group were surprised to learn that their best colors were in the warm family, when they'd always assumed they were "cool."

2. While I'd always assumed that I was an "hourglass" shape, it turns out that I'm really more of an "H" which changes what styles will work best for me. And we also learned that proportion (relative lengths of different areas) is as important as shape when finding what will create a balanced and harmonious effect. It can make a huge difference to an overall look where sleeves and necklines and hems hit. Even just a couple of inches difference can totally change the entire look of an outfit.

3. Pattern, texture, scale, and structure (or lack of), and horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines (not necessarily patterns, but rather where pockets hit, in which direction seams or gathers go) all factor into the mix. (It can get complicated!)

4. Women's bodies really do have a lot of natural variety. It's one thing to know that on a philosophical level, and another to really see it. Two women of the same height and size may be built totally differently, and look good in vastly different styles. Too often we beat ourselves up when something doesn't look good on us and blame our bodies for not being "right," when really it's about figuring out the brands and shapes that are cut right for our unique physique.

5. I really do need to reduce the percentage of black in my wardrobe, especially near my face. Thanks to Imogen's "black aversion therapy," it became very apparent that black actually does drain a lot of color from the face, and emphasizes lines and shadows.

6. Personality matters. Some styles may look great on us but will feel uncomfortable if they aren't in sync with our personality (or in my case, personalities). Sometimes a garment that breaks all of the rules is something that will make you feel great, and if that's the case, wear it anyway even if it isn't the most flattering thing in your closet.

7. What we admire isn't always what we should emulate. In a conversation with Karen on the ride back from the shopping portion of the day, I was reminded once again that the styles that I tend to admire most on others really don't fit with my body, my personality or my life. (I will never be an "Elegant Chic.") My personality is more playful, my life more casual and complicated, and my style needs to reflect those factors. I think I gravitate to those more refined looks as that was what my parents idealized. Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy...cool, slim icons of WASP-y perfection were the feminine ideals I was taught to aspire to. Despite my various and sundry style rebellions since childhood, something in me has never fully pushed aside that particular archetype as an attainable ideal.

But everyone has their style icons. The trick is to separate fantasy from reality, to take what inspires, what works, a pinch from here and there and create a personal mix, rather than trying to follow literally another's style script. I've been inadvertently doing this the last few years: starting with clean lines and neutral color, and adding some whimsical or artistic or casual touches of my own when the purely classic elements start to feel stultifying.

With what I learned from Imogen on Saturday, I now have even better tools to add, edit, tweak and continue to develop a style that's workable, flattering, cohesive and most importantly, my own.

Thanks, Imogen and Karen!
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Question pour les "Parfum Mavens"

How long will a good quality parfum or eau de parum last once opened, if stored in a cool, dark place?

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Make Mine A Double!

Good and good for you!
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Test Driving the Tees

Judging from comments in yesterday's post, it seems that many of you are also experiencing frustration trying to find tee shirts that fit and flatter.

Une femme, feeling the call to perform a public service, has decided to do some tee shirt legwork for you! I'm going to gather some of the tees suggested in the comments and do a side-by-side comparison for fit, fabric, and overall look. I'll post my findings here in a week or two.
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Le Must - The Perfect White Tee

One of those items that makes almost every Style Maven's "Must-Have List" for women is a "crisp white button-down shirt." Une femme says, "Must-have? Not necessarily." Bien sur, the white shirt is timeless and chic, but for many of us the button-down shirt gapes at the bust, develops wrinkles around the waist when we sit, and can look anything but crisp and soignée.

Une femme's answer to the classic white shirt during warmer months is a simple, well-fitting white tee. A few seasons ago, I discovered the Banana Republic Timeless Tee, a crewneck cotton tee that looks equally chic under a suit jacket adorned with layered necklaces or with jeans and a scarf. I've picked up one or two of these each year (which is about as long as I can keep them looking good).

While this is a perfect classic tee, there are times and ensembles that call for a v-neck, which is also for many of us a more flattering choice. But true v-necks seem to have been more elusive than Bigfoot these last few seasons, so I was thrilled to see one show up on the Banana Republic website recently. But unfortunately this tee is cut very differently than the crewneck: much longer, more fitted (read: very snug in all the wrong places, even after going up a size). In short, pas bon for short-waisted, curvy me. The Gap version was cut much the same, and the fabric flimsier.

Yesterday, on a whim I decided to stop by Talbot's to see what they might have to offer. Other than their fabulous bateau neck tee, I haven't really been impressed with their iterations of cotton tees. They tend to be cut on the shapeless side, and stretch out even more with repeated wearing and washing. However one of the two v-neck cotton tees they're currently offering has a whopping 11% lycra content, enough to keep the shape and fabric looking fresh. The fabric is light but has a substantial feel (critical for a white tee), and the fit, while not perfect, is much better than anything else I've found so far this year.

The vee is nice and deep, but still lands right above the top of the bra, and the curve adds a feminine touch. (They didn't have the 100% pima cotton version in the store, but I may order one just to compare the cut and fabric.) The sizing runs toward small (if you're unsure, go with the larger size, especially if you're full in the bust). And right now Talbot's is offering a special on all tops: buy one, get the 2nd at 50% off (through Sunday, 5/10)! Free shipping too.

Top photo from here.
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Foulard de la semaine

This is Vintage scarf #2 from my friend D. I thought it would be perfect for Cinco de Mayo.

One of the Fashion Commandments that I was raised with was "Thou shalt never wear red and pink on thy personage at the same time." But I think the pink bag and red scarf look fabulous together and the mix reminds me of a colorful serape.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

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Bijoux in the News

Pieces that feel special but without over-the-top glitz make sense right now, says L.A.-based jewelry designer Devon Leigh. "People are reaching back to the earth and to things that happen naturally," she explains. "There are a lot of negative things happening in the world, and ideas found in nature are balancing and comforting." Leigh uses geodes -- plain on the outside, glittery crystal on the inside -- in her work, slicing them for one-of-a-kind earrings and necklace pendants.

I've always had an appreciation for naturalistic jewelry, and Devon Leigh has some wonderful designs in utilizing natural materials and motifs.

Her website also offers a selection of lovely pieces for under $200. Just in time for Mothers' Day!

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Foulard de la semaine

Wednesday evening I opened my front door to find a mysterious package had been delivered while I was at work. I recognized the return address so I opened it carefully and found two incredible vintage scarves, a gift from my friend D. who had done a recent closet purge and wanted them to have a good home.

This is vintage foulard #1. C'est absolument fabuleux, n'est-ce pas? I call it "Madame LeBling" and my according to D. it was already a vintage item when she bought it in the 80's. I've left it undone so you can see the design. The background is navy, and the colors are red, green, beige and lavender. This is so cool I'm beside myself!

Scarf #2 is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, so I'll show you that one next week.

Thanks again, D.!!

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