The Look for Less: Buckled Motorcycle Boots

It all started innocently enough, as I was killing time before an appointment at the hair salon.  I thought it would be fun to pop into Saks and try on some shoes.  Nude pumps, specifically.  How the Sales Associate made the leap from there to buckled motorcycle boots I'll never know, but along with the red-soled Loubie patent pumps, she brought out these Jimmy Choo fur lined, buckled beauties.

Talk about hitting a nerve, not only were they incredibly comfortable, but when I saw my booted reflection, I suddenly found my Inner Cool Girl.  But the $1050 price tag, not so cool.

Still, I couldn't let go of how they felt, and how I felt in them. Wearing something with just a pinch of toughness or edginess has always felt organic to me, like connecting with a powerful part of myself. So when Frugal Scholar suggested a less pricey option in the comments here, I was off like a greyhound after a mechanical hare.

The pair (Gentle Souls) that FS suggested has definite possibilities.

$295, from Garnet Hill.  A bit slouchier than the Jimmy's, but at 30% of the price, an acceptable compromise.

J.Jill has a shorter version at $189...

But the taller version ($219) really grabbed my interest. 

Here's Cole Haan's entry into the field:

If there were an actual buckle instead of the hook thingie, this would be a contender.  Air Tantivy, $298.

Some people swear by the original motorcycle boot (Frye harness boot, $218) but this particular model brings up too many bad associations with an obnoxious neighbor from high school days.

There's also this Frye Engineer Boot,

$207.95 at Nordstrom. (Thanks to Sheri in comments!)

Or this one,

Frye "Veronica" boot, $327.95.  Nice, but I think for a taller boot, I'd prefer one that zips.

And finally, if you want to go beyond Inner Cool Girl and channel your Inner Badass, Fluevog has just the thing. 

Earl of Warwicks/Wessex, $295.  I think these are a bit much for me though, and I'm leaning toward either the Gentle Souls or the J.Jill options.   

What about you?  Would you wear a version of the motorcycle boot?

Picture at top from here.

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Talbots Test Drive

The new fall merchandise has begun arriving in Talbots stores, and une femme had the opportunity over the weekend to try a couple of things, and see some others up close.

First, the jacket above. It's gorgeous. The fabric is more like a velvet than faux fur, and the buttons are stubstantial and seem to be well attached.   The lining is black satin, and the pockets are well placed.  It's not yet available online, but when it is, be warned:  it runs VERY large.  Two sizes large.  I normally wear a 10 Petite, which the Sales Associate had set aside for me, and when I slipped it on was absolutely swimming in it.  The 6 petite was still roomy, but a much better fit.  Still, I'm probably going to take a pass on this one, as I think the print is just a bit too large for me.  But if you're looking for something that exemplifies mid-century glamour, do give it a try, and don't wait to long.  Apparently it's flying out the door.

I haven't yet given up on finding some boyfriend jeans that work for my proportions, so had high hopes for these.  The Fabric?  Fabulous!  The Fit?  Phenomenal!  But then I caught a rear view, and ruh roh!  The dreaded Postage Stamp Pockets!  Size 0 rear pockets on a size 10 fanny spoiled an otherwise perfect jean.

As I had le petit monsieur in tow, my window of opportunity to try things on closed quickly, so I made a quick pass through the store, and took some mental notes.

The leather on this bomber jacket is very soft, and the details look good.  The color is a gorgeous light caramel, perfect for fall but classic.

 

This smaller bag is really quite lovely and has a luxe look.

Another woman was trying on this tweed jacket, and the cut, fabric and details looked to be of very good quality.  Best of the Chanel-esque jackets at a lower price point that I've seen yet.

Some of their jewelry pieces are quite attractive.  Costume, yes, but good costume, substantial and nicely made. 

The link and clear bead necklace above doesn't look like much in the picture, but in person has much more charm.

There was another black satchel with tassels on the front that I liked quite a bit, but it doesn't seem to be available online yet. I'll post it once it shows up.  They have several styles of bags and shoes in a faux croc finish, which frankly I thought looked cheap.

Bottom line, the leopard coat is definitely the winner so far, and if you're interested, call a store near you or keep a close eye on the website. My guess is this one won't be available for long. 
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Whatever you do...

...if you don't want your dreams to be haunted, don't let the Sales Associate talk you into trying these on, unless you have a spare thou' lying around somewhere. 

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Casual vendredi

L'automne by deja pseu featuring circle jewelry

Here's another styling idea for those brogues.   I'd like to try pairing them with a skirt too, but haven't found the right one yet.

Monday it's Back to School for le petit monsieur!  Along with a welcome return to routine, this signals that even though we're currently experiencing a blast of late summer heat, it really will be autumn soon.  I'm ready!
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Minimalism Made Easy

Or, How to Make Minimalist Style Work With a Non-Minimalist Body

First, mes amis, we all are wise enough now in the Ways of Fashion to realize that most of us will not be wearing these architectural wonders from the runways, much as we ooh and aah over them.  Or at least, une femme will not.  But that doesn't mean that we can't borrow the best of what these minimalist looks have to offer and make them our own, provided of course that this is a style that appeals.  A caveat here: while some may define "minimalist" more narrowly, my definition would encompass clean lines, a monochromatic or mostly monochromatic palette, usually neutrals, no prints, simple but interesting structural details, an absence of fussiness.  While many of the runway looks are tailored to within an inch of their lives, I don't think this is a realistic expectation for most of us for quotidien wear, and don't expect to duplicate that level of design or fit in my own wardrobe.  I have to be comfortable, and I like a bit of ease and movement in my clothing.

The good news about the new minimalist style is that it's not married to one particular silhouette, nor does it require strictly matching coordinates or stiff and unforgiving fabrics or cuts.  If you aren't sure which silhouette works best for you, check out Imogen's posts on body shapes at Inside Out Style (right sidebar, see "Body Shapes Explained" to find yours).  Regardless of your shape and best silhouette, if you have more curves than angles, I have one word for you: knits.  In Monday's post, I intentionally included a few images from Eileen Fisher, as her line of primarily knit pieces has some excellent options especially in tops and jackets that fit in perfectly with a minimalist aesthetic.

Long Belted Jacket, $298  Though I generally run screaming from anything with a belt, the placement of this one is optimal: right at the narrowest part of the torso. 

Ponte knit biker jacket, $258. Moto style jackets are everywhere this fall, but I like the dimensions of this one; the collar doesn't dwarf the rest of the jacket, taking the trendy factor down a few notches and making this more likely to be wearable for multiple seasons.  I find the asymmetric zip to be very flattering for those of us with some ballast up top as well.  The EF longer moto style cardigan that I posted a few weeks ago is still available at Nordstrom, and still fabulous in either charcoal grey or blue.

Asymmetrical Merino Wool Cardigan, $228.

This long open front cardigan (also available in auburn and black, as well as in Petite sizes) is one of those items that looks better on than in the picture here.  The design is simple, but the diagonal weave of the fabric gives it some subtle interest. 

Long diagonal weave cardigan, $228.  I'm all about the long-over-lean silhouette these days, and have been pleased with the EF pieces I've found recently.  No longer dominated by the shapeless and baggy, many of the current styles skim and flatter.  I've personally learned to stay away from the more voluminous styles (the word "cascading" is a good tip-off), but they could work well on taller women.  I've been singing the praises of the silk jersey tops for a couple of years now, and for this summer-to-fall transitional season, am living in these underneath cardigans or lightweight jackets:

Silk jersey tunic, $138.  Best part, you can wash and hang to dry overnight, so they're great for travel too.

For those of you who might be hyperventilating at the thought of stepping into an EF store, how about some Helmut Lang?

Wool Jacket, $380.

One word of caution about knits:  you want to stick to fabrics that have some heft and hold a bit of shape.  Those dishrag limp "featherweight" sweaters which look so cute in more Boho ensembles won't work for this look.

Another designer that does some nice pieces in a more minimalist vein is Vince.  (Yo, Vinnie!)

Cowl neck lambskin jacket, $995. Again with the moto styling, but not-quite-black.

Here's a sweater that's simple in style but with diagonal detailing interest:

Also available in camel, Vince cashmere cocoon sweater, $265.

I've shown mostly tops here, as that's where I focus the interest in my own ensembles, and these days mostly stick to dark wash jeans, black trousers and pencil skirts for the bottom half.  When it comes to jeans, I'm still in giddy, head-over-heels love with these:

NYDJ Skinny Leg Jeans, $98.

My favorite black Jackson lightweight wool trousers from Banana Republic have been discontinued (insert extended raspberry noise aimed in BR's general direction here) so I'm hanging on to the two pair I still have for dear life.  For the pencil skirt, it's back to my new BFF Eileen for this ponte knit number.

$168.

The good news about a more minimalist wardrobe in a limited palette is that you don't need a lot of clothes to make it work.  And no, you don't have to do black.  Navy, charcoal grey, beige, camel or chocolate brown are all workable palettes for a capsule wardrobe. A few well selected pieces that can be mixed and matched, paired with a handful of the right accessories to change up the look can work for just about any occasion.  I certainly understand that the minimalist look doesn't resonate for everyone, and some may find it drab or boring.  But if this aesthetic speaks to you, there are ways to find those elements that work for your body and lifestyle, and make them your own.

Do you have any favorite minimalist pieces?  Any items you're on the hunt for right now?  Any strategies to make this look work for your particular shape and lifestyle?

We'll talk about accessorizing this look to maximim advantage in the next installment.

Photo at top from Style.com.

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Forecast: Brainstorm!

Une femme is honored and delighted to have been invited to be a regular contributor to...

Their mission: To provide a place where compelling ideas mingle, where the best and the brightest gather, and where readers are inspired in a multitude of ways to live bigger, bolder and happier lives.

Look for posts from Une femme d'un certain age there as well as here, and be sure to check out all of the other fabulous reads at The Daily Brainstorm.
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I, For One, Welcome Our New Minimalist Overlords

Now we're talking une femme's language.  Simple, clean, mostly monochromatic.  Aahhhhh.  This is such a welcome respite from the everything-including-the-kitchen-sink, more-is-more looks of recent years.

Pictures lifted from Net-a-Porter, Style.com (Chloé and Calvin Klein Fall 2010 RTW) and Eileenfisher.com .

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Sunday Music Corner

This one never gets old. 
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Casual vendredi...

Dejeunner détendu by deja pseu featuring Citizens of Humanity jeans

Kalee asked in yesterday's comments what I'd wear with these shoes.  Here's one idea.
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Une femme recommends...

For a few months now, une femme has been on the hunt for a pair of laceless brogues that are Just Right, and finally found them yesterday. These from Cole Haan in distressed saddle leather are great for casual ensembles, and with the Nike air cushioning they are so-o-o comfortable. The price is Just Right too!  Cole Haan FLX Brookings Captoe, $118.  Yes, $118. Also available in black and metallic pewter. 
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Just Whose Style Is It Anyway?

While we're bobbing along adrift in the late August fashion doldrums (any summer clothes worth updating have been purchased at the ubiquitous sales, and fall clothes are still mostly still confined to pages of look  books) it seems as good a time as any to engage in some more sartorial navel-gazing.

In pondering why I'm still at times emotionally drawn to clothes or styles that a) aren't a good mix with my proportions, b) don't fit my current lifestyle, c) feel like wearing Someone Else's Clothes, or d) all of the above, I'm realizing just how large a part attitudes and tastes learned from childhood still play in my own style melodrama. Aside from the obvious attraction to the kind of fitted, sophisticated styles that represented grown-up elegance and glamour in the eyes a young girl in the late 1950's and early 1960's, attitudes about appropriateness and social class and proper deference to sartorial rules have formed a deeply buried foundation that I continue to excavate. 

I was an eager-to-please child with a mother who was firmly planted toward the Critical end of the parenting spectrum.  She herself was insecure and anxious, especially when it came to appearances and how she would be perceived.  Her own background, which was rural and poor, was light years away from the WASP-y, upper middle class family with Aspirations that she married into.  Wanting more than anything to fit in, she cared very much What People Will Think, and her fear of disapproval was so strong that sometimes she'd act out or alienate people, rejecting them first rather than risk the possibility that she might have failed to meet their standards.  Our list of sartorial "do's" and "don'ts" (as well as rules for behavior) was long and complex, and from her I learned to cling to those pronouncements from some unknowable yet infalible authority like a life preserver.   Even as styles changed and edicts loosened over the years, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a Right Way and a Wrong Way to dress and look, and I struggled to decipher the runes of fashion.  I have an amazing capacity to second-guess myself, especially in the area of style where I've never felt on firm footing. I'm too easily swayed by others' judgements and pronouncements, ever fearful of failing some sort of test. Ah, family legacies.  Or baggage.  You say "erster."

I can see now that the allure of those tailored, classic styles that no longer feel right for me is in part still wanting to be a Good Girl who dresses to please the mother of my childhood, and by extension my father's family, including grand-mere Lucille.  It's about feeling connected to my family (for better or worse) and things I once thought to be true.  Now that I've pulled this artifact out into the light, it's easier to let it go.  I can file these styles in the "admire on others" mental drawer, and move on. 

Were you raised with a lot of fashion and style rules?  Did they play into larger social rules?   Does dressing a certain way help you to feel connected to family or other people who were significant in your life? 
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Yard Makeover - Finis! (Almost)

I'd promised to post pictures of the last bit once it was finished and all the furniture in place.  The table took longer to receive than anticipated, but finally it's come together.  Here's the before picture, just to remind where we started:

Additional starting point pics can be found here.

And this is what we have today.  From the kitchen door:

Ground level:

Yes, those chairs look quite similar to the ones you see in Parisian sidewalk cafes. 

I couldn't resist. ;-) But they're comfortable, and allow us to easily fit six around the table.  There's an electric fan over the table to cool the patio on warm days, and we hung random lanterns for fun and a bit of ambience in the evenings.

The baker's rack in the corner is great for setting out food buffet-style (our default setting when entertaining). 

Here's the seating area. 

We'd purchased a firepit for the center, but le monsieur decided he'd rather have a place to put up his feet, so we replaced it with that ottoman/coffee table.  (Doesn't quite match the chairs, but close enough.)

Fountain/hammock area.  You can see how much the plants have filled in since early June.

All Yard Makeover posts can be found here.  It's good to be (almost) finished*, and we've really been enjoying our revamped outdoor spaces. 

*The last thing, replacing the gate between the driveway and back yard, is finally in progress. We're working with a wrought iron artisan on a custom design.

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