Cute. I want them.
I’m overhauling my possessions. This is no small task, and as I slog through a now ankle-deep layer of wardrobe possibilities, I’ve started thinking about the few things left on my wish list that I would like to bring in, as I move greater quantities out. I’ll have to pray that the good people at Crossroads like what I’m upcycling. it’s good stuff, but I realized this year that I have a small, elite number of cherished clothes that I cycle through with alternating accessories – no need for extra fluff in my closet that someone else might enjoy!
I believe that this year I’ve got the clean, classic look that gets me stopped on the street with compliments. The people at Nordstrom, Pacific Place, and Anthropologie all think I work in their buildings, and come this close to getting the staff discount. Phooey. The nice people at Il Fornaio always think I must work at Barneys or Twist. {Huge compliments to me; I can’t come close to affording anything from either store new. Baby & Co. was my one one-time extravagance, and that was it. I’ll own those two shirts and skirt until I’m ninety, and no one would question them.}
I have a few things added to the wish list, and a few things I’ve realized I count on having in my closet:
Dansko: I’ve inadvertently treated the Dansko brand the way I treat tattoos: don’t buy them until I’m totally sure that I know what I want, and that I’ll be comfortable wearing it for the rest of my life. Turns out this is it: the mary janes are for me. When I sell enough clothes…
Twist: Did you know that Cartier in Pacific Place is gone? They have left the building folks, and their windows are full of Twist’s jewelry. I have to say, it’s an improvement. Cartier might be classic, the way Tiffany is, but I like the attitude in Twist better. This isn’t news, of course. It’s a someday thing, sort of the way I say “someday, I will have a ring with a rose cut ruby in yellow gold”. Yes. Yes I will.
Orla Kiely: I have one. {Alright, I have one, and a wallet.} I love the style, I love the material, I think it completes me. This is less of an empty space in my existing wardrobe and more of a suggestion to everyone else. This could be the one and only bag you ever need. Seriously. If, by some chance I were to get another primary purse, I’d say it might be this one:
It's so pretty....
…funny, I think this is Orla Kiely too. Isn’t it funny how that works?
Shoes: This started with shoes, it’s really all about shoes. I’m cycling out two pairs of ballet flats, maybe three, a number of heels, and….no boots. I can’t bring myself to make those choices yet. There are a couple Anthro shoes that look like they’d work with my wardrobe as it is now:
Anthro I:
Fossil Flats
Anthro II:
Perusing Pumps
I’m losing at least one pair of heels, more than likely two or three. I have some really awesome four inch oxford heels that are an amazing purple. Problem is, I can’t wear them. No matter what they might say about beauty and pain, there isn’t enough money in the world to excuse what these do to my ankles and calves, even if they make me feel like an Amazon. {Note: True Amazon warrior women don’t cripple themselves in heels like these.} I’m comfortable in something closer to a 2.5″ or so heel, and the grey cuties above look like they fit the bill.
Accessories:
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want one of these:
Dungaree Petals
I have rules about wearing jewelry that I haven’t made in these delicate early stages, but I think everyone should have at least one nice basic dress, and a number of necklaces that add color without overwhelming them. I’m partial to shorter length necklaces, which means no last minute meltdowns about the neckline of your dress clashing with your accessories. Example:
Colonial Nesting Necklace
Scarves: {Don’t leave home without them.}
Anthro I:
Infinity Scarf
Things NOT to do:
This:
Nuna Necklace....Just say "no".
…with eco-friendly, socially responsible jewelry taking off like cupcakes, there have been a number of disturbing developments in what I’m seeing in local boutiques. Number one on my “oh. no.” list are these Franken-necklaces constructed from Goodwill or Value Village salvaged jewelry, with a number of base metal chains in different sizes and styles, {the one above only has one, but it’s a doozy} joined in two places with broaches in alarmingly different shapes, colors and styles. It’s the jewelry equivalent of macaroni-collages: great, but not past a certain age. They’re a big no-no, because not only will they be out in less than a year, & they appeal only to the subset of society that keeps track of these things, guaranteeing that there will be people who look at you thinking, “what on earth was she thinking??”. You also run the risk of seeing someone else who’s done it better, and being stuck with something trendy, but no longer the best ugly trendy thing you’ve seen. What then?
Classic styles will not do this to you. Believe me; you don’t want to be wondering whether people are staring in a good way, or judging you. {I got an odd validation today, having been afraid that I had egg on my face, someone actually stopped and told me that they loved what I was wearing. Notice that I was not wearing a Franken-necklace at that time.}
Last but not least, always keep something comfy to change into at home, but it has to be cute; my self esteem isn’t fragile, but it does slip a little when I’m at home doing dishes in baggy everything. I have found my comfy thing, and I may put it at a higher priority level than the Danskos:
Grey Comfort
Grey Comfort II
The overhaul starts tomorrow! {Not in that vague and procrastinating way, as implied by the expression: “the diet starts tomorrow”. This overhaul will actually happen tomorrow. Right after we go to Whole Foods to stock up on lemonade & strawberries….and cheese, and milk….and yogurt, apples, cantaloupe, blueberries, whole wheat flour, lemons, Oolong, laundry detergent…we have a lot to pick up tomorrow! Don’t tell S!}
♥ Momo