L'obsession courante - Italy/Paris trip!

In many areas of life, une femme has a tendency to procrastinate.  But when it comes to obsessing about what to pack for an upcoming trip to Europe, there's no time like the present!

In less than three months, le monsieur and I depart on a long-anticipated vacation in Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) and three days in Paris. It's the first time in Italy for both of us, and we're having so much fun researching and planning our itinerary!

The challenge this time is the length of the trip (two weeks! my longest vacation ever!) and weather conditions that are likely to range from very warm to cool and occasionally rainy. We'll be utilizing trains and other public transportation to get around between destination cities, so keeping our bags light and maneuverable is essential.

The good news is that having done three Paris trips in the last five years, I've hashed out a great deal about what works and what doesn't. (Thin soled ballet flats? A day spent walking on cobblestones and gravel will leave you whimpering and cursing those street style blogs.) I've learned how to pack more efficiently with each subsequent trip, and upon returning home mentally edit my choices, looking to cull those items next time that turned out to be extraneous. And many of the softer knit pieces I've been moving toward in my day-to-day wardrobe should also adapt well to travel: they're light and compact, don't wrinkle and often can be washed in the bathroom sink, hung to dry and ready to wear the next morning.

On past trips, I've struggled to parse the issue of packability/ease vs. personal style. The travel clothing continuum looks something like this in my head:

Travels Well <------------------------------> Stylish  

Everyone seems to have their own comfort zone somewhere along this line*. I generally don't want to dress totally differently when traveling than I do at home, but yes, concessions have to be made. Jeans, for example are a wardrobe staple at home, but also heavy/bulky in luggage and slow to dry if washing is needed. I've always brought along dark wash and black jeans as my primary pants selections, but am considering leaving those at home this time and packing only knit pants and skirts instead.

Shallow perhaps, but une femme wants to be appropriately attired and avoid The Frump, especially when visiting cities known for being particularly stylish, and vraiment one often receives a warmer reception and better service when well dressed. (Not to mention being less of a target for pickpocketing and other crime when the outfit doesn't scream "Tourist!!" from 50 meters away.) On the other hand, we will never look quite as sharp and tailored when dressing out of a suitcase, so fretting about it too much is pointless. Factor in the necessity of comfort for days spent almost entirely on foot, a variety of venues and temperatures, and the calculus becomes yet more complex.

I'm still mentally slide-ruling my possible choices, and will post a "first draft" packing list in a few weeks as I winnow down the options. And yes, look for a Polyvore on the Floor™ of the entire travel wardrobe probably around early May. (I highly recommend this process to see the travel wardrobe as a whole, and verify that selected pieces will coordinate well.) In the meantime, if you're planning to travel to a warm destination soon, please do check out Tish's picks over at A Femme, here, here, here and here.

When deciding what to pack for a trip, where do you fall in that territory between Travels Well and Personal Style? Do you have any tricks that help you reconcile the two? Do you have any wardrobe tips particular to Italy? (I've been warned about covered shoulders in churches, and am prepared.)

*If you ever read the Tripadvisor forums (which are incredibly helpful for all kinds of general and specific travel advice and recommendations) people tend to have strong views on this subject, usually skewed heavily toward the Travels Well side of the spectrum, e.g. pants that convert to shorts via zippers at the knee. "No one's going to have you arrested by the Fashion Police!" is their battle cry.
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Sunday Music Corner

Fashion is having a 70's Moment, so here's some musical accompaniment.  Turn this up, and if it doesn't make you want to get up and dance, better check your pulse!
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Bardot!

She personified the sexy free spirit, so quintessentially French.  No surprise that the folks at Talbots would want to hitch their wagon to some of that allure, and named this their Bardot Dress.

Une femme was intrigued more by the styling than the name, though.  A full skirted dress with a dropped waist and princess seaming on the bodice had the potential to be a flattering, versatile piece for summer. The cap sleeves were worrisome, but I thought if the rest of the dress was great, I might be able to work around those.

Mes amis, I never even tried it on.  The package arrived, I opened the box and even from within the plastic wrapping the fabric looked stiff, like coarsely woven denim and with *yellow* top stitching. Yellow, people. The image that sprang immediately to mind was...

NOT...

When I returned the dress, I heard one of the Sales Associates remark that the dress runs *really* small in the bust, so wouldn't have worked for me anyway.

Oh, and that full skirt in the same fabric?

Flying out the door apparently, and almost sold out, so if you've had your eye on the skirt, I wouldn't wait too long.
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Working It Out

Or not, as the case may be

Yes, I know.

Une femme may have many shortcomings, but the ability to continue to delude myself in the face of photographic evidence isn't one of them.  This is the Elizabeth and James "James" jacket I was raving about last week.  In trying to capture a suitable image to show it off to best advantage, I first tried with several ensembles, and selected the one I thought looked best.  I snapped a DIY photo (above).

Unsatisfied, I then corralled le monsieur to snap a few shots on the front porch.  But no matter how I posed, it didn't look right. Below, this is the best of them.

It's a beautiful jacket, but just wrong for me. It's too long, looks boxy, makes my legs look stumpy and swamps my 5'1" frame. Not the desired effect.  So I've returned it, and someone a few inches taller will probably rock it.

But hey, the shoes look great, don't they?
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Une femme recommends...

GNC Ultra Zinc Lozenges

This last weekend, petit monsieur had the Head Cold From Hell™.  Nose running like Niagra Falls, coughing and sneezing over every surface in the house. Despite my constant hand washing, I knew I'd probably been exposed, and exposed but good.

I don't remember who first recommended these to me, but I've been using for a few years and swear by them now.  Beginning Saturday night, I took one of these every few hours.  Monday night I could feel that tickle in my throat telling me the virus was trying to take hold, but as of this morning I seem to be working through the usual cold cycle more quickly, and the severity of symptoms is greatly reduced.  I'm often able to avoid a cold entirely if I begin a regime of these lozenges at the first hint of a viral respiratory incursion.

I never travel without them either.

Edited to add: A couple of people have asked about queasiness.  The Cold-Eze lozenges did make my stomach a bit queasy but these never have.  And I do sometimes take one first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  The flavor of these is much better too (orange) though the texture is a bit rough and chalky, not smooth like most lozenges.
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Slim Pants for the Curvy Gal

Chanel Couture, pic from here.

I've mentioned a few times recently that I've found a "long-over-lean" silhouette to work best for my shape and proportions. Moi meme, this means either a pencil skirt of slim pants on the bottom half.

I did say "slim" and not "skinny." When someone says "skinny" pants, I think of those that look as though they were spray-painted on.  I'm not going to say that women over the age of X shouldn't wear these, as it really depends on the woman and her style, but I do think they are hard for most of us to wear well. They make une femme look like a demented elf.

J Brand skinny jeans

My preference is for styles that are narrow, but not skin-tight.  Stretch is essential too.

Eileen Fisher Ponte Knit Pant

These Eileen Fisher ponte knit pants fit close to the leg, but not too snugly.  The fabric has some heft and holds its shape (no bagging at knees) and they're machine washable too. (Hang to dry.)  I picked up a pair of these in the fall, and reach for them frequently.  They're also slim cut enough to wear inside some boots.

Chico's 5-pocket ponte pants

Frugal Scholar recommended these Chico's 5-pocket ponte knit pants, and they're also a great choice.  Available in Brown, Black and Heather Grey, they're also on sale for $39.00 right now!

Not Your Daughter's Jeans Straight Leg Ponte Knit Pants

One of the Sales Associates at Nordstrom recommended these above from NYDJ.  I haven't had a chance to try them yet.  Based on my experience with NYDJ, my recommendation is to order or try three sizes: the size you think *should* fit, plus one size above and below.  I've found their sizing to be inconsistent between styles.

NYDJ "Skinny Leg" Jeans

Although these are listed as "skinny leg," they really are more of a straight leg.  A nice, versatile jean that hits at the ankle.

I also find that a very narrow bootcut jean can work as part of a long-over-lean silhouette, as long as there's not too much fullness on the "long-over" part of the ensemble.  I'm still in love with my 7's.

7 for All Mankind Mid-Rise Bootcut Jeans

I'd consider jeggings, but only for wearing inside tall boots.  I tried on a pair from NYDJ a few months ago, but they felt sort of rubbery and weren't at all comfortable.  I don't have any to recommend at this point, but if you do, please mention in comments.  

And I know you all know better, dear readers, but as a Public Service Announcement:  Leggings. Are. Not. Pants.   

Do you have a favorite slim pant?

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Weighting Around

6eme, dimanche le matin*

Since the last update a few weeks back, my weight's been bumping around in the same two pound range, still a few pounds from the goal I'd set back in November. And I'm OK with that. I'm eating in a way that's sustainable long-term for me, I'm feeling comfortable in my body, bien dans ma peau. If I eventually drop more weight, fine, but if not that's fine too. I'm not going to make myself crazy over an arbitrary number, as long as I'm healthy and can fit into my new jeans. ;-)

*No, I'm not in Paris now.  The picture above is one of my favorites, taken during our 2008 visit. 
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Sunday Music Corner

They're Ba-a-a-a-ack....

Asos hat

The Seventies, that is.

Reading reviews of the designer offerings during New York Fashion Week, references to seventies style were ubiquitous.

Philip Lim 3.1 

Back in my teens, we called these "elephant pants."  Maybe because they made us look like little elephants, but we wore them anyway. This time I'll give them a pass.

Prada espadrilles

The seventies weren't my favorite decade: high school, college, and much personal sturm und drang, but there was the music to pull me through. Sure, there was the disco and the glam rock, but there was also Genesis, Camel, Fripp & Eno, Santana, Joni Mitchell's "Hejira"(in my humble opinion, still her very best), Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Marshall-Tucker Band, The Isley Brothers, The Band, The Crusaders, Devo, The Cars, Roxy Music, The Sex Pistols, The Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Bob Marley and so on. Musically, it was a rich and varied time.

But as prologue, there was a moment in the cusp between the sixties and seventies, and in that moment there was Velvet Underground.



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Saturday Soapbox

You there! Yes, YOU. The moron who's too busy LOL'ing with your BFF to watch the road. You are a MENACE.  Now STOP IT!

Seriously, texting while driving is becoming rampant, at least here in LA. It's dangerous and it's against the law. Every single time I encounter someone driving like a total bonehead, they're either talking on their cell phone or texting. I had a near miss yesterday with a woman who swerved into my lane while her eyes were fixed on the screen of a cell phone and her thumbs were flying at lightning speed, as she was traveling at 35 mph on Santa Monica Boulevard in mid-day traffic. Even after I honked, she remained fixated and oblivious.

I'd love to see talking or texting while driving become as culturally abhorrent as drunk driving. If you want to get up here on the soapbox with me, feel free to copy the image above and paste on your blog, Facebook page, or wherever.  Just not while you're driving, please.
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Working It Out

Still paying homage to WendyB

Even with le monsieur snapping the photo, we still can't seem to get our camera's auto focus to work in conjunction with the flash...

Yesterday was the maiden voyage for the ensemble above.  It was definitely an experiment, but I'm pleased with the outcome and feel it hits the Style Sweet Spot.  It's serious enough for work, but playful enough for me.

Jacket and skirt: Eileen Fisher here and here.
Tee: Talbots.  (Doesn't seem to be available online any more.) Grey and peach still available and on sale here.
Tights: Spanx
Boots: "One Step" brand, purchased in Paris in 2008.
Earrings: Vintage from Beladora2 gold fleur-de-lis. (Lots more fabulous gold earrings here.)

The necklaces are Talbots and Ralph Lauren (both years old) but I ultimately removed them and wore this bracelet instead.  If it hadn't been raining, I might have added a small silk square scarf.

Yes, the hair is shorter.  Jean Seberg short.  Actually we went a little too short over the ears, but it will grow.  I love the rest of the cut, and my daily styling time is down to about 30 seconds.
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Head Over Heels for James

Elizabeth and James, "James" Cotton Tweed Blazer, that is.

Doing a quick lunchtime pass through Nordstrom a couple of days ago with my New (Work Wear) Attitude in mind, my Retail Antennae were tuned to jacket frequency. Not for the usual, ordinary blazers that look like half of a suit, but Hero Jackets™, the kind that elevate and pull together whatever else one wears. My Primal Tweed Brain went on high alert when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a navy and ivory fabric that turned out to belong to the jacket above.

At first glance, it looked too good to be true. Tweed!  Longer length!  Shorter sleeves!  A lighter-weight, three-season* fabric! I flipped through the rack.  Size 2.  Ha!  Size 6, and....  That's it??  But I thought, let me try on the 6 to see just how many sizes up I'd need to go in this thing, maybe they can order.  And...it fit.  I couldn't believe it.  I reality checked with three different Sales Associates. One said, "if you went up a size, it would look boxy," and that was all I needed to hear. Even le monsieur gave the thumbs up when I brought it home.

Here's one of the little details that keeps this from being Just Another Blazer:

The fabric looks black and white in this pic, but it's actually a very dark navy. It's soft, and drapes nicely. I love the subtlety of the twists on classic, and the hint of wit.  It's perfect for work, but I can see pairing it with a printed or embellished top for weekend evening wear too.

(Modeling pic to come, probably next week.)

*"three-season" in LA, that is.

Have you unearthed any great finds lately?
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And the last piece of the puzzle clanks into place...

Before

Last year, we embarked on a Yard Makeover, which you can read all about here.  There was one final bit of the project though, that we were having a devil of a time completing: finding someone to design and build a custom wrought iron gate to replace the battered wooden one between the driveway and backyard.  We wanted something open that would allow the breezes through to help cool the backyard on warm summer days. I was adamant that I didn't want something that looked institutional, though.

It's taken eight months, but as of Sunday we finally have our new gate, and we're thrilled with the results!

After

The designer copied a scroll motif from the metal work in our baker's table in the grill area to add some interest.  A definite improvement, n'est-ce pas?
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Shopping List Update

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!  

Earlier this year as part of an effort to stop wasteful and redundant spending on clothing items, une femme made a list of pieces intended to fill current wardrobe gaps.

They were:
1. V-neck cashmere sweater in a neutral color
2. Nude pumps
3. Casual dress or skirt for upcoming Italy/Paris trip in May.
4. V-neck top for evenings
5.  Jeans long enough to wear with heels.

Here's how things stand:

1.  I ordered a v-neck from Eric Bompard, but may send it back.  I'm on the fence about the fit, which while not technically too small, is snugger than I'd intended.

2.  Check!

3. I'm rethinking this one.  I'm really not a dress person, and think I'd probably be more comfortable with the types of items I normally wear (pants, capris on warmer days).  Consider this scratched for now.

4. Have two on order, though neither are v-neck (both low scoop neck), will report back. V-neck tops that are a notch above Casual seem to be an endangered species.

5.  Check!

Since last week's Work Wear Epiphany, I've added to the list:

6.  Jackets for the office that will support a more polished Business Casual look. Not the usual menswear blazers, but nothing too frou-frou either. I'm going to say three total, two for warmer weather and one more for the cooler months. I think these will be a smarter investment than Item #3 above, which probably would not see as much wear.

Are you on the lookout for any items in particular?  Are you having any luck finding them?
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Working It Out

Apologies for the less than stellar picture quality; this was a snap-and-dash on my way out the door yesterday morning.

So as part of the ongoing quest for "business-casual-yet-professional" looks, une femme attempts to answer the eternal question: jeans for the Business Casual office, Oui ou Non?  Here's my thinking: the jeans themselves are mostly dark wash, a simple cut with no distressing, and the jacket, shoes and jewelry dress the whole thing up a bit.  Answer: a qualified Oui.

Jacket: Talbots navy wool blazer from probably 5 years ago now.  This is one of the few menswear-style blazers I still wear, as the fabric is light and soft, and drapes nicely.
Jeans: my new 7's.  Did I mention they are very flattering on?
Top:  Eileen Fisher silk jersey long-sleeve tee.
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman ankle boots, in year 5.  (Probably my best shoe investment ever based upon cost-per-wear.)
Jewelry: Wendy Brandes Diana necklace, Talbots and Chanel necklaces.

And here's my Wendy Brandes Tribute Pose:

How do you feel about jeans at the office?

Would you like to see a weekly Working It Out ensemble post?
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Restructuring

Talbots' suiting

So I'll admit it: Monday was a wake-up call. I took one look at my picture over at Sal's, and my immediate reaction was, "whoa, WAY too casual for work!" Now allow me to stipulate, I think the ensemble itself looks fine, and subjectively is probably more formal than what a lot of people in my office wear on a daily basis, but by my own standards, it's not the business image I want to project.  My work style pendulum has swung too far toward the Casual Side! Tuesday, in an attempt to dial it up a notch, I dug out my Banana Republic black wool trousers and an Ann Taylor stand collar tweed jacket from last year, added some low heels and felt more aligned with my own concept of business attire.

While I still find a matched suit is just too fussy for my own workplace, some pants or a skirt with a tee shirt and jacket should bring just the right amount of "business."  Menswear type blazers aren't cutting it for me, but a softer jacket, asymmetrical or collarless should be just the ticket. A little more structure is what's needed, stopping short of full Corporate Drag.

Worn with slim pants, this longer, knit Eileen Fisher jacket is flattering and comfortable, and adds a bit more architecture than a cardigan.

Looks better on than in the picture, and It's Washable!

(Confession: I bought this jacket back in December, and love it.  Need to wear it more!)

This Talbots jacket has a softer, more fluid look, and oh la la, those 3/4 sleeves! 

This Classiques Entier sweater jacket from Nordstrom looks softly structured, and adds some subtle color and design details.

Ann Taylor has some nice looking, non-blazer jackets, but their website uses Flash player exclusively, so I can't show you any pictures.  :-(  (Google Is Our Friend.) But this jacket has possibilities too.

While a lack of hard-and-fast guidelines for workplace dressing still has me flummoxed from time to time, it's good to have options, and the space to find my own way.

Have you worked out a formula for workplace dressing?  Has it changed over time?
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Why I'll be staying up late tomorrow night...

Justified on FX, Season 2 premiere. Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard, this series has complex characters, great writing and compelling story lines. And Timothy Olyphant, who is not at all hard on the eyes.  ;-)
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Work Wear Roundup at Already Pretty

Sal at Already Pretty is featuring a post today about Work Wear Across the Working Spectrum, and une femme is one of the contributors!  If you've been trying to unravel the knotty guidelines of modern work wear, there are a lot of great ideas and sartorial inspiration featured there. 

Thanks again, Sal, for inviting me to participate!

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Une femme recommends...

Under the heading of "Not Particularly Glamourous, But Good To Know..."

For the last few years, I'd experienced occasional nightly foot and leg cramps, but in the last few months they had escalated in both frequency and intensity to the point that I was often having to get up and walk around in the middle of the night to relieve them.

I did some research online and found conflicting advice as to how to alleviate these painful muscle cramps, but most indicated that some sort of nutritional deficiency was the cause, so I contacted my friend Julie James, a master herbalist and repository of nutritional wisdom.  She suggested that lack of magnesium was the most likely culprit and recommended Ionic Fizz Magnesium Plus. She said that this form of magnesium is the most easily absorbed and easy to digest.

She was right.  The very first night I tried this I had no leg cramps and have not experienced any since.  The Ionic Fizz powder is dissolved in a small glass of water, and the flavor (raspberry lemonade, sugar free) is inoffensive.  I usually take a dose in the early evening.

If you've been experiencing nightly foot and/or leg cramps, you might want to give this a try.

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Carte postale

Hyatt lobby with antler chandelier

Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch lobby with antlers au naturel

Apologies for the dearth of posting and delay in responding to your comments.  To be honest, yesterday and today were all about the skiing.  And it was some of the best skiing ever, despite the cold (yesterday) and snowy conditions (today).

Wednesday night we managed to procure a sitter for petit monsieur, and le monsieur and I did our annual "lobby crawl," though this year we only made two stops.  We started off at the Hyatt for a glass of wine and some really excellent crab cakes, then rode the shuttle bus over to the Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch where we had another glass, and split a Caesar salad and a bison burger.  Le monsieur handled the brownie sundae mostly on his own.  Otherwise, we've mostly eaten dinners in, due to petit monsieur's unpredictable behavior.  He has not been covering himself in glory at dining establishments lately.

Between the altitude and the exertion required to ski, I've had to resort to adding a few carbs to the diet.  Beer, mostly. ;-)

Tonight we pack; tomorrow we journey home.  It's been a GREAT trip, and the only way it could have been better is if we'd had two weeks here instead of one.
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Équipement du ski

New skis, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

I mentioned in yesterday's post that my first day out on the mountain had gone really well, despite adverse weather. Above is the reason why.

I've been skiing almost annually for 18 years now, and year after year had rented skis upon arrival (I did purchase my own boots after my second ski trip). After years of rental rates steadily increasing, it was starting to seem like a better idea to buy a pair, as we plan to continue to ski.  I asked for a recommendation, and was told that for the type of skiing I do, I might like the newish "rocker" technology, and so tried a "demo" pair of the above skis.

Mon Dieu!!! The first few turns were a revelation. Turning itself was almost effortless, the skis felt much better balanced and provided greater control, and I was skiing better on my first day than I usually do toward the end of the week. I can't begin to describe what these have done for my confidence, even on the steeper runs. I was sold after the first hour, but le monsieur wanted me to give them a full two days' try. The more I skied, the better I liked them. So as of this morning, une femme has her very own pair of skis.

We didn't go out today, as the HIGH temperature was -2F/-18C. After skiing in 2F weather yesterday, we'd had enough of the extreme cold. It's not bad once you're moving, but sitting on the lift can be brutal. Tomorrow it's supposed to be warmer (high teens F) so I plan to get out there and tear up the mountain for our last two ski days.
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Room With A View

Monday afternoon: snow, and lots of it.

Yesterday, I had one of my best skiing days ever, despite the extreme conditions (more on why in an upcoming post).

We'd had a couple of incredible runs at the top of the mountain in the afternoon, but it suddenly it started snowing hard and it was getting hard to see. The wind was blowing and it felt like being continually hit in the face with a slushie. Thank goodness for goggles! We made our way down the mountain and by the time we got to the last bit, it was so socked in we really couldn't see more than a few feet in front us.

It looked like this:

Compared to the day before:

Still, I'd skied well and was feeling ecstatic and pretty darn proud of myself for handling the heavy snow  and lack of visibility.

Today, it's a bit iffy. They're talking -12F/-24C with wind chill, and even bundled up adequately, it could be pretty miserable out there, especially for petit monsieur. And if he doesn't ski, we don't ski. Tomorrow's supposed to be even colder. (Thursday and Friday are currently predicted to be sunny and warmer, though.)  If we don't ski today, I'll do some Retail Reconnaissance and report back.

Update: It's really not that bad out, so we've sent petit monsieur off with the instructor and we'll be heading out ourselves in a bit, and will stick to some of the lower elevation runs on the more wind-protected slopes.
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