Style on the Road: Perfectly Practical

Karen has kindly offered a guest post sharing her travel wardrobe strategies for her Paris trip. Karen was my mentor in putting together concise yet flexible travel wardrobes, and in using the "Polyvore On The Floor" method of viewing the capsule as a whole and nobody does it better than she does! I'm hoping that in between sightseeing, shopping and just having fun with the girls she'll be doing some style reconnaissance and let us know how Spring is shaping up on the streets of Paris! Take it away, Karen...
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I leave for Paris on Sunday, taking with me two 15-year-old girls and carryon luggage only. I needed to pull together a practical capsule that could stretch an 8-day period. Two of those days are travel days, six are touring days in Paris. I've checked the weather, started with my shoes and this is what followed:

Taupe is my "black", so I started with that and added in a bit of purple, plum and lilac for kick. It's always good to add one "wild-card" piece to a wardrobe capsule, so I've chosen these lime-ish yellow pants you see below. You'll see that even though those pants seem to stand alone and not relate to the capsule, that color goes with every piece you see. I tried to vary textures in the blazer and sweater pieces so that I wouldn't feel so "flat" in these neutrals. I ended up with a very tight little capsule-- everything goes with everything so I should be fine.

Taupe v-neck cardigan, Zara

Knit infinity scarf, Loft

Snake print blazer, Zara

Cashmere scarf in orchid

Knit pullover with silver metallic thread detail, Limited

Diverse jewelry that can span all outfits

Plum skinny jeans, Easy Money

Lilac skinny jeans, Gap

The wild-card: light citron yellow skinny jeans, AE Outfitters

Gold cargo belt, Target

Tan Echo walking shoes (I hate these)

Mushroom colored scrunch boot, Naot

Four tee shirts

Two blouses

A closer shot of the accessories capsule below. Easy to wear stuff, nothing too precious. But when the clothes are this nondescript, the add-ons will be critical to looking "finished."

It will be cold at night next week in Paris, so I pulled out my taupe lightweight coat by Uniqlo (New York) and realized it made a perfect liner for my Cynthia Steffe trench. The down coat rolls up into a tiny ball and does not take up much space in my wheeling bag.

Awesome versatility as the Paris temperatures drop into the 30s and 40s in the evenings...

Not pictured are undies and pajamas, and a cashmere beanie hat and gloves.

If you read my old blog, you know I normally like to wear a LOT more color. However, the neutrals will let me sort of blend into the backdrop of Paris. I plan to take special care with my makeup and hair instead of fussing over what to wear. I bought a couple of new Bobbi Brown lipsticks that make me feel VAVOOM. The neat thing about wearing neutrals if you are inherently a color bomb, is that they let YOU be your outfit's main feature instead of the garments garnering all the attention. These things all look so lifeless on the floor, but I will take some pictures with me in them so you can see that the woman makes the clothes!

Where's her purse you ask? I am planning on finding a new crossbody bag in Paris; The Lancel store is top of my list. To start myself off I've got an ugly little nothing I can hide under my coat.

One tip: If you want to include patterns in a layerable travel capsule, or perhaps your Spring wardrobe, pick EITHER your shirts and tops OR your outer layers to carry the prints. Doing this helps extend your wardrobe much farther.

Does this capsule look a lot or a little to you? Do you like the freedom of carryon baggage with a few key pieces or do you like to take a big suitcase full of options? --Karen

See?? Sensible Shoes

Clarks

Tish has some Paris street style pictures up today!  Note the footwear.

And via Lisa's post at Privilege, found this wonderful blog (les anti-modernes*) and more thoughts about sneakers in Paris.
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Packing for Paris and Provence: les chaussures

Work That Capsule #1 by unefemme featuring south sea pearl earrings

The topic of footwear in last week's posts about packing for Paris, here and here, generated a lot of great discussion and suggestions. I'll say again that shoes are probably the most important part of a travel wardrobe to get right, and sometimes the most difficult.

Before I wade further into this topic, allow me to stipulate to the following: whether at home or traveling, health always comes first. If you have foot or structural/medical conditions that require specific types of shoes or orthotics, follow your doctor's/therapist's orders and style be damned. Next across the finish line is comfort. No one looks chic if they're hobbling or if their face is contorted in pain from blisters or aching feet. That doesn't mean that one has to abandon all hope of style (ye who enter here), but in my own view, there's a sliding scale with absolute comfort at one end, and OMG CUTE! at the other, and each of us has to find out own balance point along that continuum. Perhaps this is easier if your style aesthetic skews less in the direction of Choo's with 5" heels, but I do think one can find shoes that are both very comfortable and reasonably stylish. I'll admit that my own taste in footwear can lean toward what I call "EuroFunky" which does make the "comfortable" part of the equation a bit more accessible. And when I say "comfortable," that means walking-or-standing-for-several-hours-a-day comfort, not walking-three-blocks-to-the-bus-stop comfort.

I've found the best shoes or sandals for travel generally have these attributes:

• fit snugly, not too loose or tight. Too loose and your feet slide around inside the shoe; not only is this more unstable on uneven surfaces, but your feet and legs have to work harder and will tire more quickly. Too tight, and you risk hot spots and blisters. If your feet swell during the day, straps, laces, buckles that allow easy adjustments are optimum. 
• a reasonably thick and cushioned sole with good traction, again for coping with a variety of surfaces
• some arch support.
• simple enough in style to dress up or down, and wear with most (if not all) ensembles you'll be packing.

Because I'm a committed Carry-On Only traveler (which le monsieur considers a sure sign that I should BE committed), I limit myself to two or three pairs of shoes, one of which is worn on the plane. On our upcoming trip to Paris and Provence which spans most of the second half of April, I'm anticipating that the weather could be quite changeable and so am planning on three pairs. Right now it's looking like...

Naot "Modesto"

1. Short Boots. I've been wearing these Naot's (above) regularly for the last few weeks, and have given them the "all day on my feet" road test which they passed with flying colors. They look great with skirts and tights, over leggings and slim pants, and fit nicely under my bootcut jeans. These would be my "on the plane" shoes. (If weather forecasts as we get close to departure look more solidly warm and sunny, I'll consider leaving these at home.)

2. My now-older-than-dirt ECCO Mary Janes. This is an old picture too, and they've actually been refurbished with new soles and a good conditioning and polish, so look better than the picture would indicate. I've worn these all over Paris on prior trips, so this choice was a no brainer. Plus, they work well with skirts and dresses, more so than loafers which would have been my other option.

A note on socks/hosiery: some people are perfectly comfortable slipping their bare feet into closed-toe shoes and running around all day. Une femme is not one of those people. Thus, if the weather turns too warm for tights or socks, I will be glad to have....

Dansko "Sandi"

3. Sandals. Dansko's tend to divide the masses, but I'm in the "Love 'Em" camp. These are wear-all-day supportive and comfortable, and work with both skirts and pants. (They look better on than in the picture too.)

You may have noticed that all of these have a slight heel. I find a 1-2" heel actually more comfortable and supportive than flats, possibly because of my high arch. If you need a lower heel, here are some other options:

Arche Sandals
ECCO "Flair" Mary Janes
Naot "Kumara" Sneakers
Arche "Lily" Ballerina
Gentle Souls "Soleful" Loafer

And a whole bunch from Zappos.

Brands Aerosoles, Arche, Beautifeel, Clarks, ECCO, Gentle Souls, Mephisto, Naot, Think! all offer shoes that combine style and comfort; it's just a matter of finding what works for you.

And under the heading of Great Minds Think Alike, Duchesse today offers up some unique and stylish suggestions!

What are your favorite shoes for travel? Do you tend to stick to a single color, or mix it up a bit?
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Zou Bisou Bisou

Those of you who who caught the Mad Men Season 5 premiere were "treated" to Don's new wife Megan (played by stunning Montréal native Jessica Paré) performing this song for Don as a "birthday present." The discomfort of Don, who hates birthdays, and hates even more the idea of his co-workers in his private space, as well as most of the guests in the room is palpable. ("You could almost see his soul leaving his body," a co-worker says the next Monday morning.) Nevertheless, Paré plays this with such a sweet and natural sexiness, it's just enchanting. (She later complains to Peggy that everyone at the agency is so cynical and jaded, looking to tear each other down.)

Edited to add: Tom and Lorenzo of course distill this down beautifully in their style recap here.

This was where the youthfulness on one side of the room crashed into the adulthood on the other side. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand Don. She understands him better than most of the women he’s been with; that sex scene proved it. What she couldn’t understand was how the older people in the room would view her. To her young friends, she’s fabulous and fun. To the SCDP crowd she was either inappropriate or begging for sex. They couldn’t – none of them – see it as just fun and playful.

Did a search and found the original version of the song sung by Gillian Hills. (Quite a bit more innocent than Megan's version...)

 

Sophia Loren also performed this song in the 1960 film "The Millionairess." Alas, no clips to be found.
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Shop Small, Love Big

Pickett Fences 

When you support a small, locally owned business, you're not only helping families and the economy in your community, but also helping your community itself retain a unique and distinctive local flavor. Bloggers like Pam at over50feeling40 have been showcasing local boutiques, and encouraging us to visit and support these businesses.  And now une femme is picking up the baton.

Having become a fan (and brand ambassador) of Karina Dresses, I decided to go check out one of the stores in the Los Angeles area that carries this brand. (See if there's a store in your area, here.)  Pickett Fences is located in the charming Larchmont neighborhood of Los Angeles, and the store suits its locale beautifully. It's been so long since I've actually set foot in a boutique (there is a dearth of clothing/accessory boutiques in my own neighborhood) and I was soon reminded of what I'd been missing. I'd forgotten how much FUN it can be to shop in a space where so much attention has been paid to displays and detail, where merchandise is so beautifully arranged and where one can find a little bit of everything. I tried to think of how I'd describe this store, and the word that comes to mind is "Emporium." 

They have a wonderful selection of Spring Karina Dresses (and skirts!!!).

Check out that zig-zag print, right on trend!

Pretty prints, all in a row.

But there was so much more to look at; I spent quite a bit of time exploring!

Cute pajamas

Cat and dog toys

A *gorgeous* section of children's books!!

More fun clothing and bags

Gifts for the home

A placemat for Fido

Coolest lunchbox ever.

Yes, those are leopard and snakeskin print rain boots!

Old-fashioned wringer washing machine full of flip-flops!

iPad cases and you KNOW that Vogue coin purse came home with me!

Eye-pleasing displays everywhere you look.

It was such a pleasant and relaxing experience to explore Pickett Fences, truly Retail Therapy at its best.

So here's where we segue to the Giveaway...in keeping with the theme of "Shop Small, Love Big" the lovely folks at Karina Dresses have offered to give away one of their dresses a lucky reader of une femme!  Do you have a favorite local boutique that might be a good fit for Karina Dresses?  Here's all you need to do to enter to win:

• Go to the Karina Dresses Facebook page, and "Like" if you haven't already done so.
• Post a comment to their FB wall with the name, city and website or telephone number a local boutique where you'd like to be able to shop for Karina dresses.
• If you don't have a Facebook account or are unable to leave a comment there, please do post here in comments on this post.

C'est tout! Entries close at 11:59p PT on Tuesday, April 10. Winner will be selected at random, and I'll announce on (lucky!) Friday, April 13.  Bonne chance!

We femmes d'un certain age are a growing demographic with considerable economic clout. Many companies and businesses are waking up to this fact, and beginning to target us. By encouraging local businesses to carry items and brands that we love and will buy, we help ourselves and we help them to continue to flourish and thrive. 
Win-Win!

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C'est lundi...

Happy Monday, and why shouldn't it be?

Today's Fashion Flash is being hosted by The Glam Gals at Fabulous After 40. If you're looking for great style advice for women over 40, or want to know how to work the latest trends, the Glam Gals are your go-to spot.

Speaking of trends, are you hopping on board the Bright Colors train? I've seen a few pieces that are tempting, but am trying to figure out which will have some staying power. Let me know what you've found and what seems to be working with your wardrobe.




Be sure and visit tomorrow, as I'm launching a special giveaway!  And coming up later this week, another installment in Packing For Paris and Provence, and yes, we'll talk some more about SHOES.

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Dans le jardin...et Mad Men!

We're expecting rain today, so yesterday afternoon I took a few moments to check on how things are going in the garden...

 That yellow rose is for my Texas peeps....

Brand new leaves and blooms on the liquidambar; when the light is just so they almost seem to glow. It's hard to capture in photos, but the picture below gets close.

We have a few small patches of this ground cover. It hasn't really thrived, but occasionally we get these little fairy-sized blooms (this one is about 1.5" high).

Is anyone else excited about the return of Mad Men tonight???  You can create your new Mad Men avatar here...

(wish they had some better clothing options for women, though...)
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On The Home Front

It's so nice to look down the length of hallway and see new hardwood instead of stained carpet! By Thursday night the flooring and painting in our room was completed enough that we could sleep in our own bed again...

and not a moment too soon! My back was starting to complain about the extended stay on the sofabed. As you can see above, we still need to put up window coverings (simple drapes from Pottery Barn this time), tuck away cords and re-hang pictures. There's paper over the windows for privacy, and it makes the room rather dark. But oh, it was lovely to be back in a real bed!!

Yesterday the project moved on to petit monsieur's room, and much progress was made. The flooring is almost all in and they've begun painting.

PM chose this bright and cheerful blue for his room. I think he made a good choice!

I'll have some more pictures from le jardin up tomorrow.

On other fronts, be sure and check back early next week, as I'll be launching a special giveaway, and will have another installment in the series on packing for Paris and Provence.

I must also apologize that I have not been able to keep up with responding to all of your lovely comments. I do read each one, and truly appreciate the conversation and feedback.

Bon weekend!
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