Freaks and Geeks

The stuff of nightmares.

In comments from yesterday's post about my Louis Vuitton dream (no, in my dream I did NOT purchase that horror above), Style Spy mentioned she'd purchased a great Cole Haan bag, and that reminded me that I'd been meaning to do a post about this oft overlooked brand.

It's une femme's humble opinion, that Cole Haan bags (and shoes, but that's another post) are some of the best quality available for the price. They're stylish but not trendy, well made and functional. Though some fahionistas may look down their noses at CH bags as being a bit staid and frumpy, if they looked more closely they might be surprised.

The Triple Zip Satchel bag was a hit last year in the gunmetal grey, but this camel color is perfect for summer. You can get an additional 20% off the sale price with promotion code JULYSALE. There are three compartments, interior pockets galore, and it fits over the shoulder with ease. If you like something flashier, check out this fuschia patent dome satchel, also on sale. Pretty! Shiny!! Don't forget code JULYSALE.
Love that luxe woven leather look, like on this Bottega Veneta bag? You can spend $2100 for the BV, or save over $1700 and get the Cole Haan Triangle Tote.

Cole Haan also makes some great basic (but not boring) work totes,and smaller bags for evening. If you live near one of their stores, be sure to go check out the sale in person. Last year I picked up this nifty snakeskin clutch for a song.

The selection on the website is a bit sparse right now, but once they start bringing in their fall bags, I'll be back with some of my favorite picks. I've had a few Cole Haan bags over the years; not only have they held up well, but I'm always asked, "that's a great bag, which designer is that?" by some fashionista with this season's "it" bag.

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Unfaithful

True confession: I cheated over the weekend, and with an ex to boot. I'm feeling terribly guilty and don't know how I'll keep it a secret. I suppose I could rationalize it: I mean my guy and I have had trouble connecting lately, and our busy schedules have made assignations almost impossible, the ex was there and availab--wait a minute, no, I haven't committed adultery...I'm talking about hairdressers!!!

I know some women who find a good person, and stick with them forever. I'm a bit more fickle. Even the best hair stylists sometimes hit a slump with me, or I with them, and I need to shake things up a bit. What about you? Are you True Blue or do you Style Around?
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Taxonomy 101

When it comes to personal style, there are two types of women: those who early on suss out their own unique style and hang onto it with minor tweaks throughout their lives, and the rest of us. Or at least sometimes it seems that way.

Since my late teens, I've had an image in my head of how I wanted to dress and present myself, an image with which neither my body nor my budget were ever in alignment. So I settled for what was available, what was appropriate. Sometimes I came closer to that vision within the physical and monetary constraints. Like art or obscenity, I couldn't define it, but knew it when I saw it.

Now, Simon Doonan has spelled it out for me: I'm an Existentialist. (mostly*)

First, let me say I've been a style book junkie for many years. Because my own vision felt so out of reach, I've floundered and flailed about trying to find something coherent that fit my body and my life. But "Eccentric Glamour, Creating An Insanely More Fabulous You" is a different (and a bit refreshing ) dip into the genre. Written with humor and tongue firmly inserted in cheek, the book combines anecdotes, interviews and style advice to yield an affirming and age-positive brew. Rather than focus on hiding flaws or looking younger or dressing appropriately for the venue du jour, Doonan encourages women to trust their own instincts, to embrace their wackier impulses, and to give freer rein to one's Fashion Id.

*Doonan groups Glamourous Eccentrics into three primary categories (each with subsets): The Gypsy, The Socialite and The Existentialist. While the framework is helpful, I can see how taking the categories too literally would feel just as confining as any other style rules. It did help me identify some of the common themes that run through the styles I gravitate to, mostly in the Existentialist and Gypsy categories. (While I admire women who can pull off the classy Socialite look, trying to emulate that style myself makes me feel as though I'm a little girl playing dress up.)

Duchesse at Passage des Perles says "Doonan breaks a heel stomping on Ho attire, a crime against the aesthetic environment. But any woman who can read his indictment without moving her lips will know exactly how dressing like a pole dancer is likely to be read, and choose accordingly." While this may be true, I suspect Doonan's perspective is that of someone who spends a lot of time between NY and LA, where the landscape is generously dotted with Club Girls who take their style cues from Paris Hilton and no matter what the time of day look as if they're headed to Les Deux, women a few years older trying to prove they can still keep up with the Club Girls, and the Trophy Wives who are hanging on by a thread. (Hey, I work with some women in their 30's who feel that belly shirts and thong-baring sweatpants are appropriate office attire.) The rest of Duchesse's post is spot-on, go read it now. I'll wait.

For those of us who check out The Sartorialist and other style blogs daily, "Eccentric Glamour" will be an amusing read confirming what we mostly already have grasped, rather than a revelation. The interviews are fun, but skip the dysfunctional "weight loss" chapter. Doonan's smackdown of our fascination with les Françaises (his take on that pouty French allure: they're grouchy because they're perpetually hungry) and snarky dissection of Coco Chanel -isms provide a bit of good-natured schadenfreude. I really wish there had been more photos of his subjects and examples.

Edited to add: materfamilias is giving away a copy of this book. Go here to enter!

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The Pause That Replenishes

Une femme is putting herself a clothing/accessories spending moratorium for the next few months. I've gone a bit overboard lately (Hermès scarves are addictive and should come with a warning label!!), and some needed repairs chez nous plus the desire to have a Paris Splurge Fund require that I divert more centimes into savings. Fear not, mes petites, I'll still be cyber-window-shopping, and will share favorite finds avec toutes!

But first, one last hurrah:
These NYDJ striped jeans will make your legs look eight miles long. I promise.
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Somebody talk me back in off the ledge...

I'm having a moment. It started innocently enough, with an intriguing silk ombré scarf in the window. But twice this week, I've found myself in Eileen Fisher, trying on flowing, body-skimming clothes. Maybe it's my recently expanding dimensions, maybe it's the warm weather, but...I'm liking some of this stuff, and finding it to be flattering and comfortable. There's always been an aspect of my style personality that gravitates toward the hippie-dippy-artsy-fartsy, at times taking over my sartorial consciousness like one of Sybil's more insistent selves, only to vanish as suddenly and leaving that "what was I thinking???" section of my closet as a reminder.

But some of these look really good on, like this tunic tank.

Or these linen jeans (which are light and soft and have lots of movement):

This cardigan is fabulous over the tank, and has an interesting sleeve detail. I've always loved duster-length jackets or tops in soft, flowing fabrics, but hesitated out of fear of the Dreaded Bea Arthur Effect. But look at this silk duster! It's simple, it's elegant, it would look great accessorized with an Hermès scarf!These are clothes for women who have Given Up, right? But is it so wrong to just want to wear something loose and Wealthy-Marin-County-Aging-Hippie-esque sometimes? And I must confess that the Garanimals aspect is appealing for those days when pulling together disparate elements of the closet is just too daunting. Yet some of the pieces could be mixed with more tailored items as well. One would think that the "would I wear it in Paris?" standard would eliminate just about everything I've shown you, but last year I did see many women in Paris (in some of the tonier locations, yet) dressed in this looser, more bohemian style. Have I been abducted by the Yoga Chic Body Snatchers?? Or is this fascination just a manifestation of a midlife crisis, like when my dad went to EST and grew his hair long and started talking about his past lives?
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Model Citizens

A couple of items from the fashion modeling world in the news this week.


First, from New York Post, something disturbing but hardly surprising, as the fashion industry continues to pay lip service to "healthy" models while requiring a skeletal appearance:

The Council of Fashion Designers of America held an event dubbed "The Beauty of Health: How the Fashion Industry Can Make a Difference" at Milk Studios the other night as part of its awareness program....

People in the industry have been no help, Rocha told WWD's Marc Karimzadeh - "They said, 'You need to lose more weight - the look this year is anorexia, and although we don't want you to be anorexic, we want you to look it.'

"My question is, how do you look anorexic unless you actually are?" - a riddle to which no one had an answer.

I don't know why designers seem so intent on showing their clothes on women who are required to be more emaciated with each passing year. If I were someone who regularly purchased designer clothes, I'd start a boycott of the worst offenders.


Another (slightly) more encouraging item spotted in the LA Times:

"The market for older models has exploded," says Ginni Conquest, co-director of the sophisticated women's division at Wilhelmina Models in New York. (Models who are 25 and older are often referred to as "classic" or "sophisticated.") "It's our fastest-growing area, and it's a first for the industry."...

After all, what middle-aged woman wants to buy moisturizer from a model who's too young to order a martini? Or a cashmere cardigan from a coed? In September, J.Crew will introduce an online section within its Web catalog that features 58-year-old Los Angeles model Pia Gronning...

I'm not dancing in the streets quite yet. On one hand, it's nice to think that companies are targeting our demographic, and understanding that we don't want to be invisible. On the other, it's not like these "older" models will look like many 50-something women we know.

Les Mystères de la Mode

Une femme readily admits she isn't the most fashion-forward hankie in the drawer, but some recent vagaries of La Mode have her flummoxed.

One is the resurgence of jumpsuits. Not only are they generally unflattering, but having to remove an entire layer of clothing (or two if jackets are involved) from top to bottom every time you have to pee is a royal pain.

The antithesis of glamour: even Gwyneth looks like the seating hostess at The Velvet Turtle, circa 1975.

Another is sandals with spats attached.I have no comment except, "why?" (photo from Go Fug Yourself)


But the one of the biggest mysteries to me is the runaway success of Tory Burch clothing. And according to the LA Times,

In just four years, she has become the most influential fashion designer in America. Unlike big names such as Lanvin and Balenciaga, who may score a lot of red carpet hits but are sustained mostly by accessory and fragrance sales, Burch designs clothes that real people really wear.Her brand, with prices mostly in the $195 to $495 range, is accessible to a good range of ages and sizes (up to a size 14). For high-end shoppers, it's a source for casual clothes; for budget shoppers, it's aspirational. And for Burch, it's raking in more than $200 million in annual sales.

The allure just totally escapes me. I see something like this,

and my brain goes here:Bad Sitcom jokes aside, who is buying/wearing this stuff? The signature prints and many of the styles are intended to evoke breezy socialites on holiday, but might also bring flashbacks of wealthy, WASP-y, suburban, 70's pre-feminist hausfraus, with their shag haircuts and shag carpeting and avocado green appliances and hanging asparagus ferns and messy divorces. (An image the decor in the boutiques does little to dispel.)

But I'm starting to think that's part of the appeal. Not so much the messy divorce part, but the breezy socialite "I don't have to work" part. These clothes are not designed for the boardroom, the classroom or the mailroom. These are clothes for Ladies Who Lunch At The Club and then drop the kids off for their tennis lessons. They evoke that most coveted of luxuries, leisure. (As do many designer brands, but they aren't claiming Everywoman as their customer base.)

And my apologies if you're a fan of Tory Burch clothing, but I think the vast majority of it is butt-ugly to boot.Photos from interior of Tory Burch boutique from NY Times, here.

Mères et filles

My mother would probably hate this gold brocade jacket. Is that why I was drawn to it?

La Belette Rouge yesterday contemplated the differences between her mother's style and her own as she pondered whether to buy a J. Crew gold linen jacket. Like La Belette, I sometimes wonder, "Are we destined to become our mothers?" Or conversely, are we doomed to perpetually choose our style in opposition to theirs?

My own mother, at least until her post-divorce-gypsy-skirt-and-humongous-squashblossom-necklace phase, eschewed anything flashy, loud, embellished, mismatched or ethnic. "Tasteful" was her watchword, and was personified by Jackie Kennedy throughout the 60's, my growing up years. As a child, I always had a fond eye for the glittery, the beaded, the exotic. "Oh, that's tacky," she'd sniff, and instead buy me the pink tweed dress with a matching jacket, designed to look like a miniature Chanel suit. Once I hit adolescence, we shopped for my clothes in the same stores she frequented and I mostly looked like a fifteen-year-old middle-aged hausfrau in pastels, plaids and navy.

In reaction, I spent my late teens and twenties combing thrift stores for every leopard-printed, gold-laméed, beaded and bedazzled thing I could find. I still dressed like an old lady, but intentionally, ironically. Beginning in my late 30's, my tastes began to transition again, and found myself gravitating back to simple, classic styles, and it was about then that my enduring romance with black began. But as Dorothy Parker said, "A little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika," so at times I indulge my inner Dame Edna and mix in a little brocade or beading. Keywords being "a little." The jacket pictured above is best worn with jeans and a white tee, and minimal jewelry. People always ask if it's vintage.

The funny thing is, the same kind of fabrics and styles that my mom would have considered off limits in earlier days, she now enjoys. She loved a shirt with metallic threads and an Asian print that I wore last time we visited, and liked my goofy plastic bead necklace so much I gave it to her. While I've come back around to some of her style maxims (keep it simple, monochromatic, classic), she's also come around to some of mine.

Chic is where you find it...

This fabulous crinkled patent clutch is from....Talbots! It only looks expensive.

Just a note about Talbots: although they have a reputation as being very staid and conservative, I've often found really cute and inexpensive accessories there that garner lots of compliments. I'd bet dollars to donuts that this bag would be one of those items.

Running With The Pack

Last year prior to my first trip to Paris, I obsessed for months about what to wear and pack. Between mon mari, who is a chronic over-packer, and my own desire to have whatever just-in-case items available for this most stylish of destinations, we ended up shlepping an oversized duffel and another wheeled bag both of which we checked, in addition to a wheeled carry-on bag. I wore probably half of what I'd packed, and getting all of that luggage through customs (especially on the way home where we were trying to make--and ultimately missed--a connecting flight), made me vow that a) I'd pack much lighter next time and b) we'd invest in some luggage that was better designed.

Style Spy last week linked to an item in Hadley Freeman's column on packing/overpacking. Hadley's packing philosophy? More is better!

For a start, being able to survive for two weeks with nothing but a pair of trousers, two tops, one dress, a pair of flip-flops, a receptacle to purify your urine and a spool of twine (or whatever) all squashed into a handbag is nothing to boast about.

...And moreover, would you wear the same shirt (or anything else) four times in a week at home? Of course you wouldn't. So why, in the name of all that is fragrant and sanitary, would you do so on holiday?

The development of my own packing modus operandi owes a great deal to the fear of having to wear dirty clothes. So I've erred in the past on the side of too much rather than too little. But the last two trips I've taken have helped me figure out which items are the essentials and which should be left at home. Strategies I've developed from my recent sojourns (and these apply mostly to visiting a single locale/climate per trip):

1. Pick one neutral for basics (pants, jackets, shoes, bag) and work around it. No surprise here, but black is my choice for all but tropical destinations.

2. Bring multiples of black and white t-shirts that are light enough to be used as layering pieces. (Banana Republic makes an excellent one.) A black t-shirt under a jacket can also look dressy enough for most venues with some jewelry or a scarf.

3. Bring scarves to accent and change the look of your neutral ensembles. (But you knew I was going to say that, didn't you?)

4. Bring 2-3 bags maximum - one for day, a small one for evening, and (optional) a bigger, lighter bag to be used for a personal carry-on item (for airlines that allow in addition to a carry-on bag).

5. Carry cell phone and laptop chargers with you. Lost luggage + dead cell phone = Extremely Grumpy Traveler.

6. If you've followed #1, you should be able to get by with two or three pair of shoes (wear one, pack 2).

7. Rolling some clothes, packing clothes individually in dry cleaning bags, and underpacking will all help prevent wrinkling. I do usually pack a small travel steamer, just in case.

8. Bring a Tide spot removal pen, and some powdered handwashing soap to wash items in the sink. Bring a small sprayer full of Febreeze to get smoke or other scents out of otherwise clean-enough-to-wear-again clothes.

9. Bring no more than 1-2 pairs of denim jeans. They are bulky, heavy and you can usually get 3 wearings out from a single pair before they need washing.

For any trip longer than 2-3 days, I use a bag big enough that it has to be checked. Some airlines are starting to charge for checked bags. I know for some travellers it's a matter of pride to be able to get two weeks' worth of stuff in a carry-on bag, but I reside somewhere between that extreme and Hadley Freeman, whom I'm guessing travels with a team of sherpas.

What are your packing philosophies and tips?

Embracing Your Inner Bourgeois*

Or, What's So Bad About Looking Respectable?

*Title inspired from this comment from materfamilias on her post here, (responding to comments from the Scarves discussion at The Thoughtful Dresser), "Personally, I rather think that fighting one's inner bourgeois is a foolish and losing battle, and I'd rather embrace my and give her a bit of funk while I'm at it..."

From Merriam-Webster.com:

Main Entry:
1bour·geois
Pronunciation:
\ˈbu̇rzh-ˌwä also ˈbu̇zh- or ˈbüzh- or bu̇rzh-ˈ\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle French, from Old French burgeis townsman, from burc, borg town, from Latin burgus
Date:
circa 1565
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the townsman or of the social middle class 2 : marked by a concern for material interests and respectability and a tendency toward mediocrity 3 : dominated by commercial and industrial interests : capitalistic

Back in my 20's and 30's, one of the worst insults that could be lobbed at one was "bourgeois." Bourgeois carried the implication of staid, smug, middle class complacency, intellectual laziness, and indiscriminate materialism. Coming of age when I did during the counter-culture years, I fought against that part of myself that craved comfort, stability, and yes, luxury. As an outer manifestation of those values, my friends and I chased a more bohemian aesthetic, while I still secretly admired more classic and quality pieces that I saw on stylish, upscale women. The primary sartorial values my parents had instilled were a) buy quality fabrics and workmanship and b) stick to simple styles as you won't tire of them quickly. Not surprisingly, I've come full circle back to that way of thinking when it comes to style.

In the comments on Linda's Scarves post, a few people described Hermès scarves as looking too "bourgeois." In some instances, I think the word was being used in place of "stodgy" or "matronly," but I think also it was being used to represent that stuffy complacency that we ascribed to it way back when. But thinking about style and how it reflects our values, doesn't it make sense from the standpoint of avoiding mindless over-consumption to have a few good things that will last for decades rather than chasing trends or purchasing cheap throw-away-after-a-few-wearings types of items? Which is more materialistic and "bourgeois": the quiet luxury that an Hermès scarf conveys or the overwrought look of someone decked out in a "J'adore DIOR" t-shirt, huge Chanel logo earrings and a $2K bag splashed with overdone designer logos? (And yes, I recognize that there is a vast universe of middle ground.)

Sure, some of the Hermès scarf designs can be a bit stodgy, and I say that as someone who is nuts for anything with an equestrian theme. But it's all in how you wear it, and even the stodgy can become ironic if done right. To me, the trick is to keep the rest of the ensemble simple and current, and wear with an air of insouciance. Materfamilias gets it Exactly Right.

Stodgy is as stodgy does. A lack of intellectual curiosity, a dour and judgemental demeanor, and a miserly spirit will always appear dowdy regardless of what au courrant garments one wears, whereas a generous spirit, an open heart and a sense of fun will always look fresh. There's nothing wrong with wanting to have some nice, classic things. If that's bourgeois, so be it. And, as my grandmother used to say, "there's no point in having nice things if you don't use them."

Updated to add: I'd missed this earlier, but Duchesse at Passage des perles has some great comments on this topic as well. Another one to file under Great Minds Think Alike! Love this bit especially, "I began to wonder, as opposed to what? Insouciantly bohemian? Stoutly working class? Private-jet megarich?"

Age-Appropriate Yet Ageless

That was my first reaction when I saw this at The Sartorialist today. Though I probably wouldn't wear this ensemble myself (being short, the clothes would swamp me), I love how she's mixed the classic and the funky.

Foulard de la semaine

Moreton Bay Fig Morris

Happy May Day! Back in my Morris Dancing days I would have been lacing up my bells about now to dance the sun up per Morris tradition. But today I'm celebrating this dawn more sedately, with a double espresso and a glance at my favorite blogs.


On to this week's foulard: yes, it's the truly gorgeous "Billets-Doux" scarf by Ashley Ashoff, which I first admired a couple weeks ago. Despite my protestations about being over budget for clothing purchases this month, I succumbed to the lure of its pure blue color and words of love. It arrived late last week, but we were having quite the heat wave, and yesterday was the first day it was cool enough to wear it.


I first tried it on tied loosely like a man's tie.
But the fabric is so fluid and drapes so nicely, and the pattern so pretty, I decided to show it off to better advantage: This is another variation on the "bib" with that the ends left hanging loose in front. You can also secure by running both ends through a scarf ring in the back if you don't want to have to continually readjust.

Updating the Mix

Despite my intentions and declarations of last autumn, I did not end up buying and wearing more suits for work. A lot of the suits I tried on just looked too stuffy, or if I liked the jacket, the pants didn't work, and the other way around. As much as I appreciate the concept of suiting, when if comes down to what's on the racks I'm just not feeling the suits these days. I'm still relying on a trousers/jacket combo for the most part, but opting for plain trousers and jackets with a bit more style and currency than standard suiting blazers.

When it comes to trousers, I'm a recent convert to Banana Republic's "jackson (contour)" fit. BR gets it really, really right with these, especially in the lighweight wool version. Jackson's are cut for women like me who are full in the derriere, and they fit without the gaping waistband in the back that plagues me with most other styles in the same price range. The front hits just below the waist, and the inseam length is perfect for wear with a low heel. In addition, they're fully lined, and don't bind anywhere, so I can skip the Spanx! These trousers in taupe and black have become my weekday wardrobe workhorses.

But as I begin to prep for a weeklong business trip to New York in May, I realize that my stock of spring/summer jackets is low, and the few that I do have are maybe just a leeetle bit too laid-back or theatrical for meetings at the Corporate Mothership. So it's time to sniff out some style online, and do a little pre-shopping before getting behind the wheel.

The Banana Republic blazer that coordinates with the trousers I have is nice and classic, but a bit boring. Still, I can add some interest with scarves or jewelry, so it's a possibility, and worth a try-on. I'm not seeing much else on their website that would work with those pants.
While most of JCrew's styles seem to be targeting a much younger demographic than une femme, a few of their jackets have appealed to me in recent months. I like the stying (and the bracelet sleeves!) on this one:
But the color is just too much. Wait, they have it in navy, which might work with the taupe trousers, and could be potentially Paris-worthy (worn with dark wash jeans, non?):

Here's another one in Navy (not my favorite color, but it seems to be unavoidable this season): I'm a little uncertain about mixing wools though. And this one is pricey for a color I'm not in love with. Everything else I'm seeing on their site is either too ruffly or too fussy. (Why must everything be wrapped/tied at the waist? Does no one consider the mechanics of putting on/taking off a jacket during a business meeting in a conference room with a bi-polar air conditioner?)

While in the past I'd purchased several Ann Taylor suiting pieces that worked very well (am still wearing and loving a wool tweed jacket picked up on sale there over five years ago), lately their jackets and suits collections have been missing the mark for me. But ohlala! this has potential!

Une femme Covets...

Thanks to Monsieur Fred the Mole, I am now seriously craving this scarf. And I'm not a "blue" person. On peut acheter ici.

While doing a search yesterday, I ran across the Lafayette 148 website. Now here's a brand that's speaking my language. I so want this jacket!Paris-worthy? Mais oui!

I'm holding off on both for now, but DAMN.

Heavy Lifting

Une femme's ongoing efforts to ruthlessly edit down the contents of la garde-robe have stalled. Not only am I struggling to cast off those "maybe-I'll-wear-it-someday" items, but I've taken a step (or four) backward as I've recently been accumulating rather than shedding. The goal of refining my wardrobe down to only those items that are classic, chic, flattering, and well made has at times seemed insurmountable.

Archimedes said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." Well, dear readers, I think I have found my lever and fulcrum.

La Belette Rouge posted today about applying the "wear it in Paris" standard to assess potential purchases. I love this idea, and it's a great way to keep myself focused on my goal when tempted by those cute-but-redundant items on the sale tables. While she was speaking of limiting purchases to those she'd use on her upcoming trip, I'm going to expand on this standard to apply to what I already own and imagine whether I would wear it, not for a specific trip or occasion, but if I were to suddenly find my entire life transplanted to Paris.

"Would I wear it in Paris?" It's clear, it's concise, and it shall become my wardrobe mantra. Managerial and motivational textbooks stress that success comes from goals that are clear and results that are measurable. And lo! the yardstick has appeared.

The good news is that there's nothing I need right now for any occasion short of a black tie gala (and I don't see any of those on the horizon). I can hold the line on any new purchases without much pain. Plus, with the money I'll save in the next few months by cutting back on spending, I can splurge on something really fabulous when we get to Paris!

Scarf du jour

Another Paris scarf. I bought this one from one of those touristy shops on the Rue Rivoli near the Louvre. I love the colors, and it's a very lightweight scarf, but not one meant for daily wear. The tassels on the end are coming unravelled, and the threads in the shirring snag on everything and get pulled loose. Like a chain-smoking debutante, this one will go downhill quickly. Still, it's one of my favorites.

Don't be shocked, but une femme is a bit of a late bloomer; it's only been in recent months that I've become comfortable accessorizing with scarves, and it's taken a good bit of practice and time for me to get there. I've never been one for adornment that requires much fussing; "slap it on and go" tends to be more my inclination. Combine that with living in a climate where scarves are rarely a necessity, and you have the makings of a scarf klutz. While achieving a chic effect is more of an art than a science, repeated experimentation is the key to making it look effortless. After much trial and error, I've found a few trusty ways to tie and wear my scarves that feel comfortable and don't make me look like the Queen Mum.

Long rectangular scarves tend to be the easiest to work with. For square silk scarves, I've relied heavily on the Hermès tutorial booklets, tips from the ladies at The Purse Forum, and doing Internet searches on scarf tying (which incidentally, is one of the most common searches that leads visitors to this blog). I've also collected a few scarf rings, which expand the options, and make it easy to create the illusion of a v-neck and a more vertical line. I still tend to stay away from the knots that would qualify one for a Girl Scout merit badge, however!

Fifty Ways to Wear a Sweater

#4 - Draped over the shoulders, when it's just a little to warm to wear a sweater, and just a little too cool to go without. (Brown jeans, red patent Ferragamo "Audrey" flats. I've loved pairing brown and grey ever since I started reading The Sartorialist.)

Fifty Ways to Wear a Sweater

#1 - 3

Style Spy recently asked, "Do you have anything in your closet that isn't a "wow" garment, but is still perfect in its own small way?" For me, that one thing is my Land's End cashmere cardigan. Mine is heather grey, and is one of the most worn pieces in my closet. It's soft, it layers well, and it dresses up or down. So I thought it might be fun over time to document all of the different times and ways I wear it.

#1: Casual with t-shirt, jeans, scarf and leather jacket. Wore this to work yesterday.

I can see that if this project is to continue, I'm going to need to invest in a tripod and learn to use the timer on my camera. It's tough to get a flattering picture this way.

I also wore this sweater almost daily when we were in Paris last year, so:

#2: With scarf and Tour Eiffel.


#3: With raincoat, t-shirt, and flowers.

Carrie-esque Coat

Wouldn't have expected to find it here. Also available in red. Best worn ironically.

Photos: left- HBO, middle- BodenUSA, right- can't remember, doh!