Planning Stages - Packing

It will probably not surprise any of you regular readers that I'm already thinking about my travel capsule wardrobe for our 2-week+2-day trip to Scotland and England in just a little over 8 weeks. The excitement and anticipation of the planning process is part of the fun of travel for me, and that includes figuring out what to pack.

I'm planning to keep my luggage to two carry-on bags (one rolling suitcase and one "personal item" large tote), which means a capsule of lightweight-but-warm layers and pieces that (mostly) can be hand washed and hung to dry overnight if necessary. Neutrals are key, but I'm challenging myself this time to include more pieces in lighter neutrals such as grey and fewer in black. This ensemble worn with a lower heeled shoe would be a great option for traveling and sight-seeing, and includes a few pieces I'll definitely be working into my capsule.

As a base layer here, I'm wearing a 3/4 sleeve tee provided by Adea clothing. Fabric technology has really come a long way; it's not your Aunt Goldie's polyester anymore. These new microfibers breathe, wick moisture, and help regulate body temperature. Adea clothing is manufactured in Italy, using an Italian-made microfiber fabric. They offer a wide range of items including tops, underpinnings, leggings, and casual clothing items.

While this top is a bit too "body conscious" for me to be comfortable wearing on its own, it really does function beautifully as a base layer under other pieces, due to the close fit and almost weightless and silky fabric that doesn't catch or bunch up even with another snug layer over top. Unlike many women my age, I tend to run cold and appreciate how this keeps me warm without feeling overheated. (Especially helpful when traveling and dealing with cold airplanes, sauna-like hotel lobbies, freezing conference rooms, that outdoor heater stuck on MAX just over your left shoulder...you get the picture.) There are also tanks, camisoles, and short-sleeved tops too for my warmer-blooded sisters. My shirt is available in a wide range of colors, as are many of the other items on the website. All pieces are machine washable, and this one dried within a few short hours on a hanger.

The cardigan is new, purchased during our vacation in Colorado from a new shop called Camelid Connection, and is 100% Alpaca. It's a lovely, lightweight sweater, perfect for travel and something I'll be able to wear most of the year here in coastal LA. Unfortunately the shop doesn't yet seem to have a functioning website, but their clothing and accessories are beautiful and unique, all Alpaca or Vicuna yarns, and handmade in Peru. If you're in Beaver Creek, Colorado, be sure to stop by. And did you know that llamas, camels, alpacas and vicunas are all descended from a common ancestor that originated in what is now the southwest region of North America?

Other pieces...

Tunic sweater: Eileen Fisher, here.
Jeans: NYDJ "Alina" Leggings, here.
Boots: Paul Green, similar.
Scarf: Eric Bompard, here.

How do you plan your travel wardrobe? Are there any items you never travel without?

Disclosure: Adea top provided in consideration for review. Actions taken from some links in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Would You, Could You...

Eileen Fisher

in the rain or in the dark or on a train?

I've been on the fence about these, but it seems there are a lot of Sam I Am's out there; I overheard a store Sales Associate saying that these sold out from the Southern California stores within days, and they seem to be almost sold out (limited sizes available) on line.

Would you, could you?  (With different shoes, bien sur.)
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Planning Stages - Itinerary

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So our upcoming trip to Scotland and England in late April/early May is beginning to feel like a reality. We've booked our hotels and transportation between destinations, and now are working on our itinerary of sightseeing and activities. We'll be in Edinburgh for 3.5 days, Oban for 2.5 days, Windemere (Lake District) for two and then London for a week. (A Chunnel day to Paris, which I'm still lobbying for, TBD.) It's a rather whirlwind tour, but we're limited in how much time we can be away.

Having never visited the British Isles, I'm a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices and options. Readers, I'm asking for your help. If you had only a short time to spend in each of these locations and had never been to any of them, what are the not-to-be-missed sights and activities? What's overrated? Any insider tips?

And a reminder that it's Visible Monday! Head over to Patti's Not Dead Yet Style to see what everyone's wearing this week.
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Random Bits

Clever t-shirt shop in the Marais, Paris, April 2012

1. GO-O-O-O-O-OAL!!!  I've finally hit my weight goal. It was mostly vanity that got me here, and mostly vanity that keeps me from trying to go any lower; I don't want my face to start looking haggard. But I also feel that I'm at a happy-and-healthy medium, light enough that I have more energy, but with enough "reserve" in case of illness. It took me a little over 3 months to drop about 12 pounds, and now comes the tricky bit of adjusting my intake for maintenance rather than reducing. The good news, and probably the best "side effect" of this endeavor is that I've cultivated and ingrained some seriously healthy eating habits without ever having felt deprived. I'll continue to track food and weigh weekly; maintaining this lower weight is important to me.

2. We've made progress with moving le jeune homme to a non-public school that's better geared toward his cognitive level, interests and abilities. We brought him in for an interview with the school Principal yesterday, and were encouraged that the next steps to get him transferred may be able to happen quickly. The new school is at the same facility as the summer camp he attended last year, so it was familiar and he seemed comfortable there. He even wanted to stop on the way out and play basketball with one of the teachers. We've also been making adjustments to his medication to help reduce the physical aggression, and as of the last few days we're seeing some improvement, though still not totally free of incidents.

3. This is so cool...

Karina Dresses is giving away $1000 worth of their fabulous dresses in the Spring 13 Pin to Win contest! Click here for all the deets! They have some really lovely prints in the Spring collection, so don't miss this opportunity!

Bon weekend!
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And the winners are....

Actioning an Old School lottery

The nine winners of the L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur are...

Wanda!

Cynthia!

Kaye!

Divya!

RBH!

Sayschnicklefritz!

Imc1971!

The Single Nester!

Northmoon!

Congratulations to you all!

Please email me at unefemmecertainage (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address by Tuesday, and please put Contest Winner in the subject field, and I'll get the products shipped out to you next week.  Thanks to everyone for entering the contest.

Bon weekend!

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Spring In My Step

For we femmes d'un certain âge, footwear that's supportive, comfortable AND stylish is the Holy Grail.

For some time now, I'd heard great things about Anyi Lu shoes (design, comfort, craftsmanship) and had eyed some of the styles at our local Nordstrom, but had never tried on a pair. The very nice folks at Anyi Lu contacted me recently and offered to send a pair from the current collection to try on and review. I jumped at the opportunity after just a few glances at the lookbook.

Inspired by Sausalito, the location of the Anyi Lu design studio (and one of my very favorite places, too...right after an apartment in Saint Germain in Paris, a houseboat in Sausalito is next on my list of fantasy homes), the Spring/Summer line captures the mood of this bayside community with a laid-back but upscale and vibrant feel. All of the shoes are handmade in Tuscany, Italy.

Some of the styles that especially caught my eye:

The cool thing about this style is that the belt is detachable and can be worn several ways.

Leopard lovers, check this one out!!

I adore a loafer mule!

There are many cute and colorful offerings of sandals in this collection...

When my pair of shoes arrived, I was thrilled to open the box and find these, the "tulipe" in tortoiseshell patent:

The color is so rich and saturated, and can look quite different depending upon the light. Especially in direct sunlight, they're a bit redder than they appear in pictures. The high levels of quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail were immediately apparent.

I'm usually a size 7 or 7.5, and the size 37 I was sent was a perfect fit.  Did I mention OMG comfortable?? The rumors are true! These are so very comfortable, and thanks to that strap across the instep, the most stable slingbacks I've ever had on my feet. There's also plenty of cushioning under the ball of the foot. When thinking about how I'd style these, the first image that popped into my mind was sitting on a seaside patio, enjoying brunch and being hypnotized by the sparkle of sunlight on the water while sailboats cruise by. An un-fussy outfit of light neutrals felt right, allowing the color of the shoes and bag to provide the focal points.

These slingbacks look and feel substantial enough to wear to the office during warmer months, and I'll be able to style them easily with jeans, skirts and dresses. This would be a great shoe to wear to a summer wedding or cocktail party, or any event where you want a bit of glamour but may need to be on your feet for an extended period of time. (And check out the lace version, called "tessa." Mothers Of Brides or Grooms, take note!)

Which shoes from the Anyi Lu Spring/Summer collection would you pick?

Shoes: Anyi Lu "tulipe", provided in consideration for review. You can purchase this style here.
Sweater: Eileen Fisher, here.
Tank (underneath): Eileen Fisher, here.
Jeans: NYDJ, here.
Bag: Chanel Wallet on a Chain, purchased a couple of years ago and carried as a clutch. Another one here. The look for less, here.
Earrings: Pearl Paradise, here.

One footnote, (no pun intended) if you go to the Anyi's Picks tab at the ANYILU website, you can see some cool ideas for styling the shoes.

Disclosure: actions taken from some hyperlinks in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net. Shoes were provided by Anyi Lu in consideration for review.

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Over There...

My monthly outfit post is up over at Already Pretty!  Don't faint, but I'm actually wearing a lot of color...well, for me.
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Thanks, I'll Sit This One Out

While no one will accuse une femme of being an early adopter of fashion trends, I do appreciate the fresh perspective and sense of fun inherent in trends. Selective incorporation of trends can breathe some new life into a basic wardrobe. For all but the most outrageous, I've learned to give trends a bit of time before I pass judgement. Sometimes familiarity breeds affinity. Given time, I've warmed up to pattern mixing, to skinny jeans, and to a little bit of platform.

But after some months and careful consideration, there are some current trends that just leave me cold.

Neon.

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Yes, it's fun, it's bright, but all you see is the coat. The woman gets lost. And I suspect that these colors will both a) fade and b) look dated in the time it takes for a puppy to get his Big Dog teeth.

Ripped jeans.

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A little organic fading or distressing I get. But like the "dirty" jeans trend of a few years back, this just seems so contrived. I don't do well with contrived.

The Gigantic Clutch.

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Especially the big slouchy ones. They just seem so impractical to me. This is the sartorial equivalent of having one hand tied behind your back. And where do you set them when you sit down to eat at a restaurant?

Shorts suits.

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No no no no NO. No matter how many women's magazines try to tell us this is OK, this will never read as appropriate business wear to me. "Chic enough for the office?" Horsefeathers.

Flatforms.

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I remember wearing a version of these (and constantly twisting my ankles by falling off them) back in high school. Not to mention that they made me clomp down the halls like an adolescent Clydesdale. Nuff said.

Oversized. (And its cousins, Pleated, Baggy and Boxy.)

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While I appreciate the amazing architecture of pieces like this, oversized anything makes 5'1" me look like a three-year-old playing dress up in mommy's closet.

What about you? Are there some trends you won't touch with a ten foot pole?  Or do you keep an open mind?
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Business Casual Navy Suit

My version of a navy suit.

As Lisa from ~Privilege says, "business casual is the devil," and I agree. Yes, there's more sartorial freedom than in a strictly corporate environment, but also so many more ways to get it wrong. Especially if one is in management, it's necessary but sometimes tough to achieve that balance between approachable and authoritative. My formula is to try to have at least one piece in an ensemble that nods to traditional business dress; in this case it's the blazer. And then I have fun with the rest.

Blazer: J.Crew, here. I was on the fence about this jacket when I bought it, but it's definitely earned its keep.
Tee (and tank underneath for warmth): both Eileen Fisher, here and here.
Jeans: NYDJ "Jade" Leggings, here.
Boots: Cole Haan, a few years old. Similar.
Scarf: J.Crew, a few years old. Similar.
Watch: MICHAEL Michael Kors, here.
Earrings: kate spade, here.
Bracelet: made for me by Jen of Litany Jewelry Designs.  She uses internationally sourced vintage and antique medals, coins, tassels, semi-precious stones and chains. My bracelet includes Czech glass beads, vintage chains and an antique French coin. I love the mix of edgy chains and sparkle of the beads!

Don't know why my hand looks so freakishly large there...

Do you have a go-to formula for dressing for your workplace?

Linking up to Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style.

SHOP THE LOOK

Disclosure: actions taken from some hyperlinks in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Prep, Prime, Protect

When the folks at O, The Oprah Magazine contacted me and asked if I'd like to test and review a beauty product, I was game but curious about what I'd be sent. I received a full-size sample of the product above a few weeks ago, and was immediately intrigued. As a multi-tasker myself, I'm always on the lookout for products that perform multiple functions to save steps in my skincare/beauty routines.

L'Oréal Revitalift Miracle Blur claims to smooth wrinkles, lines and pores, and provide SPF protection. I'd classify its functions as filler, primer and sunscreen. I've been using this product regularly since receiving it, and have the following impressions.

On its own: the silicone-based product is thick when it comes out of the tube, but glides on smoothly. I suspect that contact with warm skin softens it a bit. A small amount is all you need. It definitely smooths over pores and fine lines, and on it's own has a mattifying effect, which might be good for those with oily skin or areas. I don't find that it particularly evens out skin tone or blotchiness. It contains no tint.

Under foundation/makeup: Miracle Blur is brilliant here! I've mostly been unimpressed with expensive primers, but really do like how beautifully a tinted moisturizer or foundation goes on over this stuff. No settling in pores or lines, no streaks when applied with a brush. And makeup does tend to stay put and I notice less shine coming through on my nose after a few hours.

As a sunscreen: the SPF seems to be mostly chemical-based (avobenzone and other ingredients) rather than a barrier sunscreen such as titanium dioxide, so worn alone as a sunscreen it would need to be reapplied every couple of hours during extended sun exposure (as the package instructions indicate). But if you're planning an indoor day, and especially if you layer multiple products containing some SPF, this could probably take the place of your 30 SPF step.

Overall: I think this does a better job as a filler/primer than the more expensive products I've tried, and with the added bonus of 30 SPF.

Would you like to try L'Oréal Revitalift Miracle Blur? I have NINE (count 'em, NINE) full-sized product samples to give away, kindly provided by O, The Oprah Magazine. Because I like to keep things simple, here are the rules:

1. Be a follower of this blog.
2. Be a resident of the US or Canada. (Sorry, but shipping costs elsewhere are prohibitive.)
3. Enter a comment below before 23:59 on Tuesday, February 19, indicating why you'd like to try L'Oréal Revitalift Miracle Blur.
4. Winners will be selected by random drawing and announced on Friday, February 22.
5. If you are one of the nine winners, you'll need to email me with your shipping address.

Please note: I am keeping comment moderation turned on, so please don't re-submit if your comment/entry doesn't appear right away. Spam comments and duplicate entries will be deleted.

Bonne chance!

Disclosure: actions taken from some hyperlinks in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Les bijoux incroyables

Vintage Retro Charm Bracelet in 18k

If you love jewelry, especially unique vintage items, you must go visit the newly redesigned Beladora and B2 websites! They have so many amazing pieces and you can search by item type, designer, period, or by price.

Here are some of the items I've been drooling over...

Tahitian Pearl Ring in 18K. Look at the lustre of that pearl!

Lapis Bead Necklace in 18K

Who says "real" jewelry has to be serious or stuffy? Wear this to next year's Westminister Kennel Club Dog show! Does your bulldog drink champagne?

Diamond and Sapphire Bulldog Pendant

After a fabulous week of skiing, I'll admit I'm tempted by this mid-century brooch.

Mid-Century Skiing Duck Brooch in 18K

Or maybe your taste runs to an earlier, more elegant period. You could channel some Downton Abbey action in these Belle Epoque Amethyst earrings.

Belle Epoque Amethyst Drop Earrings

Someone really needs to wear those on the Oscars red carpet...

Lady Mary might have pinned something like this to her riding cravat...

Edwardian Sapphire and Diamond Brooch in Platinum

What's your favorite period for jewelry?

Housekeeping note: I've turned comment moderation back on. It seems to be the only way to prevent spam comments from getting through. I apologize if this causes any inconvenience.
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Encore: Scrimp, Splurge, Deprivation, Abundance

Still doing a bit of catch-up after returning from a week in Colorado. Aside from the aprés-ski boots, I had almost no interest in shopping on this trip, and have developed a healthy resistance to what I've dubbed "resort-itis" (the temptation to purchase clothes that seem perfect while on vacation, but that don't work for real life). Oh, and the skiing was magnificent!

The post below was originally published in February 2009.

In this economy, it's a rare bird who isn't cutting back on spending, or at least talking about cutting back on spending. Une femme has embarked on an aggresive savings plan, which has cut deeply into discretionary spending, and I've been doing some soul searching about what luxuries are expendable, and where I can cut back.

Having been on many diets in my younger days, I know the trap of the "deprivation effect." We deprive ourselves of what we really want, and end up eating an entire package of caramel rice cakes instead of the piece of chocolate that would have satisfied the craving. Likewise, sometimes we "spend around" that thing that we really want: instead of that $300 pair of boots that we LOVE, we buy the $100 substitute, and feeling vaguely unsatisfied, proceed to buy a bag and a sweater from the final clearance table, ultimately leaving the store still having spent the $300. We pass up the $100 eye cream and spend $100 on random makeup. When that deprivation effect gets triggered, all we can think of is more, or the next thing.

 

Another manifestation of the deprivation effect making it tough to curtail spending are all of the discounts out there right now. There's a part of me that worries that if I don't grab two pair of those lightweight wool trousers in my size at 30% off RIGHT NOW, that I'll never find anything as good (at as good a price) ever again. Yes, I am a fear-based shopper.

The antidote for this is to cultivate a feeling of abundance. Abundance, not in the sense of having a large quantity of stuff, but of having exactly what we need. In fact, having too much can get in the way. Doing my closet purge a few months ago actually increased my sense of abundance, because instead of looking at a whole lot of "not quite" I had a clearer view of the "just right."

Also contributing to our sense of abundance are the non-material things that make our lives more satisfying. Time is a big one for me: time to relax, read a book, visit with friends, sit on the front porch and watch the birds, work in the garden. When our lives feel overwhelming and out of balance, we sometimes rely too much on Retail Therapy to provide that satisfaction. The things we buy never quite scratch that itch; we get the immediate gratification, but not much more.

Cultivating an attitude of abundance makes it easer to be more discriminating. Do I love it or just like it? Yes, it's my color, but don't I already have something similar? Do I really notice that much difference between the $25 neck cream and the $125 neck cream? The trick seems to be to find areas where one can scrimp that don't trigger the feelings of deprivation, and save the splurges for where they will provide the most satisfaction. Right now, I'm fine to pass on salon manicures, spa facials, fancy meals out, designer handbags or Hermès scarves. I'm test driving some less expensive face creams (jury still out) and have scaled back to single-process hair color. I'm holding the line on purchasing any more clothing or shoes right now, as I have plenty for the current season, which will mostly last (within a 10-15F range) until June. But I need my good coffee, my Chanel lipgloss and my Anthelios sunscreen.

What about you? Where do you scrimp and where do you splurge? Where do you find non-shopping satisfaction?

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Block Those Kicks

Anyi Lu "Athena"

Color blocking seems to be a trend with some staying power, but for many of us it's a hard trend to wear. Perhaps it's worth trying in smaller doses, as with shoes and other accessories.

I'd pair the brighter options below with lighter neutrals, white jeans, or even with colored jeans of a complementary color. Or they'd be great to balance out a bright print dress or pick up colors in a floral top.  (I've focused mostly on flats here, as so many of you have commented that you can no longer wear heels.)

Attilio Giusti Leombruni

J.Crew

Enzo Angiolini

Lanvin

J.Crew (available in multiple color combos)

French Sole

Or perhaps you like the idea of color blocking, but are more comfortable sticking to neutrals.

Attilio Giusti Leombruni

Would you wear any of these or other color blocked shoes? If so, what would you wear them with?

Disclosure: actions taken from hyperlinks in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net
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