Life Altering Experience

Tried on this coat just for the heck of it last weekend at the MaxMara store. Mon Dieu...The cut! The fabric! The contruction! Those sleeves! I feel as though I've had a glimpse into another world entirely, and I may never be the same again.

(Even mon mari, who is usually mostly indifferent to clothing and fashion in general thought it looked great on. It looks amazing without the belt, too. No, I didn't buy it, nor am I seriously considering. If I lived in a cooler climate it would be an amazing investment piece, but here in LA opportunities to wear would be minimal.)
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I Need Professional Help

At least when it comes to sorting through my closet and figuring out what works, what to keep, and what to let go. I'm having a tough time being objective. So I've engaged the stylistic services of Karen, who will be coming over this weekend to help me edit further and make the most what's left. If I'm lucky and time allows, maybe she'll help me put together my travel wardrobe for Paris.

I'll report on the results next week!

Une remise pour vous...

If you've added some items to your Talbot's shopping cart, and your finger is hovering over the Checkout button but you just need some added incentive, I have a code for 20% off all purchases plus $5 shipping, good until October 12. If you are certain you will use it, leave a comment. First thing tomorrow morning I'll draw from the entries and send the winner the discount code.
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Eighties Revival

As long as we're bringing back the shoulder pads and leggings, let's revisit some of une femme's favorite 80's tunes.

"Save It For Later" is probably one of the best pop songs ever.

And though this one sounds best on a premium sound system cranked to eleven while you dance around the living room, it's still fun on the small screen.

Blast from the past

Don't know what made me think of this song, but it still sounds great.
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Paris State of Mind

We leave two weeks from tomorrow, and planning proceeds apace. We'll arrive on Sunday morning, and leave the following Sunday morning. Seven whole days in Paris!!!

Tuesday we're taking an early TVG train to Reims, where we have appointments to tour les caves and do some tasting (bien sur!) at Ruinart and Veuve Cliquot cellars. We also hope to see the Cathedral and the Marc Chagall stained glass windows. It will be a full day, with a late train back to town.

The rest of the days of our visit (Lundi, Mercredi, Jeudi,Vendredi, Samedi) are uncommitted at this juncture, except that we've purchased a "choice" one-day ticket for the Salon du Chocolat (we can visit any one of three days). We still have many Paris sights and activities on our list, including Saint Chapelle, a boat ride along Canal St. Martin, catching an Anne Paceo performance, a visit to the Dutch Masters exhibit at the Jacquemart-André, a shopping visit to Monica, and many others I'm forgetting at the moment.

If you will be in Paris on any of these days and would like to meet up for lunch, coffee, drinks, shopping (or any combination of the above) please e-mail me soon so we can arrange.

I'll post my packing list once we're closer to our departure date and I've a better idea of the weather.
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Foulard de la semaine

The conundrum at this time of year is whether to dress for the indoors or outdoors. Outside the mercury may be topping 90F, but temperatures inside our office are closer to meat locker levels. Even with this lightweight wool sweater, I was freezing yesterday, and was grateful for the scarf keeping the cold air from blowing directly onto the back of my neck. (Still, I'm happy for any excuse to wear a scarf!)
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Spot On!

Leopard/ocelot/cheetah print never really goes out of style, but this fall it's HOT once again.

Une femme's recommendations for leopard print for les femmes d'un certain age.

Leopard a Go Go:
J.Crew ocelot cardigan, $88

Brian Bradley Leopard Print Dress, $398

Manolo Blahnik leopard d'orsay, $715.

Diane Von Furstenberg velvet asymmetric dress, $300. (Though at our age, would wear this as a top over slim pants.)


Tory Burch "reva" flats, $225.

Leopard a No No:

Stella McCartney sweater "dress," $1,145!! You've got to be kidding me. This looks like something from K-mart.

Two of my favorite bloggers who really rock the spots:

Karen!
Wendy!
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Commence Stage II

I've begun the second stage of clearing my closet, some new items up over at Emotional Baggage. More to be added by the weekend, so please keep checking.

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Bien dans sa peau, encore

(Because I needed to give myself a pep talk, this is a repost from last year.)

"Bien dans sa peau." It's that mythical state that French women supposedly embody from birth (though the vast number of minceur creams and pills in French pharmacies may be a chink in that armor), and, we're told, the foundation to achieving effortless chic.
Being comfortable in one's own skin is not a state that comes easily to some of us. We struggle with our failure to meet cultural standards or even just our own. We starve, crunch, pluck, dye, wax, inject ourselves toward an arbitrary and unattainable ideal. We practice denial: the comfort of going sleeveless on a hot day, ice cream from Berthillon, sex with the lights on, a day at the beach, clothes that actually fit our bodies as they are now.
Not to be morbid, but recent deaths of family, friends and people we knew only from their work bring home the point that Life Is Short. Life is too short to worry that your thighs are too dimply or your ears are too pointy or your boobs are too small or your upper arms sag. Life is to short to get upset at finding another wrinkle or grey hair. Life is too short to spend apologizing for the genetic hand we were dealt.

But "bien dans sa peau" also goes deeper, I think. It's a type of comfort and acceptance of our likes and dislikes, our choices and values, and how we live our lives. It's the knowledge that we're not perfect, and mistakes do not make us worthless. It's a form of grace, of living (and yes, dressing) in alignment with who we are, and not trying to fit ourselves into a mold.
In his usual eloquent way, the Manolo sums it up perfectly: Dress well, live well, treat others well, and do all you can with joyful confidence and others will invariably come to love your flaws as you yourself cannot.
Photo of Simone Signoret from here.

With God as my witness....

I will never purchase a Hewlett-Packard product AGAIN!!!

(Long story, but let's just say that our PC continues to exhibit some irregular and extremely aggravating behaviors. And HP's outsourced tech support stinks like five-day-old fish.)
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L'Shana Tovah!

May you be inscribed for a good and sweet year!

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Foulard de la semaine

Scarf inherited from grand-mere again, this time with an Hermès chain d'ancre horn scarf ring.

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Talbot's Pick of the Week

Pintucked Cardigan, $89.

Yes, another cardigan! The picture doesn't fully do this one justice. The "pintucks" (which I'd describe more as "tuxedo pleats") add interest, vertical detail and a dressy touch. The fabric, a very lightweight Merino wool, is quite soft and drapes nicely. The fit is more forgiving through the bust than the Ann Taylor sweaters I tried on recently, and it's a very flattering piece worn either buttoned or unbuttoned. It will layer nicely. Once you try this on, you'll want in several colors! (When does my shopping ban start again?)

(Edited to add: I was able to capture the image in green, so have re-posted. I bought one in this color and one in black.)
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Icons, Inspiration and Distillation

(Le sigh.) Une femme can't help it. Every time talk turns to fashion icons, this is the image that jumps immediately to my mind. "Realistic" has nothing to do with it; of course my style icon has a body type almost exactly opposite to mine. Nor am I going to prance around work in toreador pants, at least not until I begin living my fantasy life and spend my days flitting from art gallery to art gallery, stopping in between for a drink at a sidewalk cafe. And I'd certainly need to add a scarf to that minimalist ensemble.

But inspiration need not be literal. Imogen's suggestion of making a list of clothing likes and dislikes really helped to crystallize why this image resonates so strongly, and how I can utilize these stylistic elements in my own ensembles.

Starting with Dislikes:
Visual clutter
Stiff
Uncomfortable
Stuffy
Frou-frou
Cutesy
Staid
Loud
Bulky
Overdone
Clashing
Clingy, too tight
Synthetic
Frilly

Likes:
Simple
Clean lines
Comfortable
Neutrals
Pop of color
Drape
Skimming
Movement
Earth tones
Asian-inspired design/prints
Serenity
Humor
Whimsical
Subtly feminine
Chic
Classic
Mix of masculine and feminine elements

No surprises here, but these lists help clarify why some styles that I admire on others just feel wrong when I try to recreate them, regardless of how they look objectively. It explains why I've been gravitating toward a softer and less structured style of dressing, and reassures me that I'm on the right track toward refining my wardrobe and style to reflect my truest self.

Have you made a list of your clothing likes and dislikes? Did you find any surprises?
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Just. So. Wrong.

Jelly--oui, jelly!!--oxford, $100.

These are the footwear equivalent of Tofurky. My feet start to sweat just contemplating these.
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Stage 1

Results of first pass at closet purge. Next stop: charity thrift store. *

This was the easy part. All of the never-wore-it/doesn't-fit/worn-out/wrong-color/someone-else's-style/meh/will-never-miss-it pieces. The next phase will be much more difficult; I'll be getting into the wear-it-sometimes/might-wear-it-if-I-lost-more-weight/need-have-an-x-to-go-with-y/not-sure-if-it's-my-style/will-I-regret-not-having-it-at-some-point layer.

I can tell the shopping ban is going to be tough. I shop, therefore I am.

*No, I'm not getting rid of any Fluevogs, just using the bag. There wasn't anything in this pass that really was eligible to be accepted at Dress for Success, mostly separates and more casual.

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Clutter

Ever since my Goldilocks post, I've been looking at my closet with a critical eye, and feel another major wardrobe purge may be imminent.

Truthfully, I've just been feeling a bit overwhelmed in general, what with the losses of both of my parents earlier this year, our son starting Middle School, worries about the economy, etc., etc. When I get like this, my urge is to simplify, to pare everything down to the bones, to get rid of clutter both physical and mental. But let's start with the physical: I'm going to cut some wide swaths through my closet (again), beginning tonight.

After that, I'm putting myself on a shopping ban (excluding anything amazing stumbled across in Paris) for the next four to six months. I will keep my Goldilocks items, and so should never have one of those "nothing to wear" moments. I talk the talk about upgrading my wardrobe, but as long as I keep spending on the same old "usual suspects," I don't have the motivation or budget to really walk that walk. I'm going to seek out some new places to shop, do lots and lots of trying on, and attempt to hone in on what is really worth buying and wearing. And reporting on my efforts and experiences ici, bien sur!

This will be an interesting experiment.
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Une femme recommends...

Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder.

Yes, I know a few months ago I was crazy about Giorgio. But once warmer weather hits, liquid foundations seem to slide right off my skin in a matter of minutes, even with primer. Mineral powder foundations generally give the kind of light coverage I'm looking for, just enough to tone down redness and shine and give a smoother look overall. But I do need to touch up the oilier bits during the day, and loose mineral powders were just too messy to carry around, while regular pressed powders were just too matte and cakey looking. This Laura Mercier Mineral Powder is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way if you're looking for sheer coverage. Apply with a Kabuki brush instead of the foam puff included. I use with Laura's primer specifically formulated for mineral foundations.

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Foulard de la semaine

In honor of my recurring "packing for Paris" obsession, here's my "H en Voyage" scarf, which depicts an Hermès "H" from stacked suitcases.

Happy 09/09/09!
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Goldilocks' Closet

Early on in the life of this blog, I posted about trying to develop a more "Goldilocks" style philosophy, and my desire to pass up indiscriminate acquisition for those items that are "Just Right." Fine in concept, but more difficult in practice, as it takes some considerable trial and error to suss out what elements work and continue to express who we are and fit our bodies over time. It's far too easy to be influenced by someone else's Must Have list, or to succumb to the thrill of the new or an otherwise so-so item marked down 70%.

Our lives change and our attitudes and aesthetics shift, and we often want our outward appearances to reflect that. While the style gurus often caution against getting stuck in a style rut, I think for most of us there are some core items that we return to season after season, in whatever form; these are the foundations of our style, and will feel Just Right for most situations. I've done quite a bit of experimentation in the last couple of years, but keep returning to my tried-and-true numbers. For me, those items are:

1. Black trousers. Right now my favorites are Banana Republic lightweight stretch wool in Jackson fit. They dress up, they dress down. When I'm unsure about what to wear, I can always feel good and appropriately dressed if I start with these.>

2. The Jacket. Wear it with above trousers for work or add more bijoux for dressier occasions. Wear it with jeans and a tee shirt to look casual yet pulled together. This Ann Taylor jacket is my addition for this season.

3. Knit tops/tees. As much as I love the classic look of a crisp white blouse, that look doesn't love me. A white cotton tee, neutral 3/4 sleeve tee or a silk jersey long-sleeved top will get me through almost any situation, layered under a jacket, or on its own with a scarf.

4. Jeans. Classic styling, sans embellishment. I'm loving these NYDJ straight leg jeans this season.

5. An interesting pearl necklace.

6. A pointy-toed flat or low-heeled skimmer. My current fave is leopard haircalf, but black leather would work just as well.

7. Black leather ankle boots. My Stuart Weitzman pair is heading into winter #5, and I've added these Fluevogs as a more casual choice.

8. Cardigan. My favorites right now are those with some interesting detail, either from color/pattern or a little bit of ruffle.

9. Gold hoop earrings.

10. Scarves, bien sur!

(At some point in the future, my new pencil skirt may be added to the list.)

Many of you looking at this list might find it a little boring, but that's OK. If I've learned anything from all of the accumulating and culling I've done in the last couple of years, it's that I need to listen to my own style voice, and that I can admire another's stylish choices without needing to emulate them. Each of us has to find our own Just Right.

What are your J.R. items? Have they changed much over the years?

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Added Incentive

Just in case anyone needed a good rationalization to go check out the new Ann Taylor styles this weekend...

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Foulard de la semaine

All this talk of ruffled scarves and Tish's post last week about the ruffled collar trend reminded me that I'd purchased this wack-a-doodle number last year because I loved the autumn colors so much. I've never worn it because part of me thinks it's just a bit much (and it's still too hot anyway, except to model in air-conditioned comfort) but now that there's a trend working, I may have to find a way for this to see daylight.

Peut-être.
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Another retailer gets a makeover

So yesterday while at the mall to pick up some birthday cards, I passed by a window that made me do a double-take. In a good way. "Isn't this where Ann Taylor used to be?" mused une femme. To my surprise, the window still belonged to Ann Taylor, but a very updated Ann Taylor. This retailer lost me a few years back when they decided to throw their lot in with a younger, thinner customer looking for (as the parlance goes) more "body conscious" styles (e.g. tight and skimpy). Any item with more fabric than a spaghetti strap was either a snorefest or just too "debutante-wannabe" for my taste.

But (can you hear une femme's Hallelujah Chorus?), they are under the influence of a new designer, and look at some of what they're offering for fall!

This tweed jacket looks GREAT on! The collar can be worn open or buttoned up, works either way.

A flattering pencil skirt cut at a perfect length!


I was sorely tempted by this cardigan in grey (color available in stores, doesn't seem to be online).

If I were more of a blouse person, I would have been all over this ruffled number, c'est tres chic!

I need this scarf for Paris. (In the "Woodberry" color, s'il vous plait.) Content is 99% wool, 1% spandex.

A positively Chanel-esque necklace.

These heels are a bit too high pour moi, but love the shape and the tweed.

And that topper pictured at the top of the post...stunning!! I came home with the pencil skirt, and may go back for the tweed jacket and the scarf....
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Back to School Week

Between getting mon fils ready to go back to school today and troubleshooting our main PC which has decided to go on strike, une femme is a bit behind with posting this week. Regularly scheduled programming shall resume shortly.
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Qui a gagné le foulard???

Thank you all for your lovely entries describing your favorite (real or imagined) day in Paris!

I've been trying to narrow down my own favorite day in Paris to share, but am having a difficult time. Was it the day we wandered through the Tuilleries then wound up at Angeline for the most incredible chocolat chaud? The day we spent at the Musée d'Orsay, including a lovely lunch at the beautiful restaurant there? The first morning of our last trip, when we wandered slightly jet-lagged through the Jardins Luxembourg early on a Sunday morning after a breakfast of chocolate croissants at a sidewalk cafe? Even the days when we were tired and cranky and kept getting lost were always redeemed when we turned a corner to discover something wonderful.

But with no further ado, allow me to announce the winner....

Shar!!!

Shar, please e-mail me your address, and I'll get the scarf sent right out.
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