Found While Looking For Something Else

Sweater: Folded by Veera Välimäki; madelinetosh tosh merino light in stovepipe; my notes and modifications on Devil and Deep Blue
Skirt: Calvin Klein; similar styles from topshop, Versace, and Jones New York
Shoes: Tabitha Simmons; similar styles from Calvin Klein, L.A.M.B, and Manolo Blahnik
Lips: Dolce and Gabbana passion duo gloss fusion lipstick in Sensual

You know, I kind of like this sweater. I can't remember the last time I wore it, but it's kind of a shame since it's cute. Not the cutest I've made, but certainly cute enough. And in the tml, thin enough to tuck in. Something I've seen in the lady magazines I read. And I'm scowling not because I'm upset, but because the sun was really really bright. This was the least scowly squinty shot of the bunch. But more about the sweater: despite the fact that it's a raglan, the super wide neck ameliorates that somehow. I'd have to re-look at the pattern to determine if anything seriously special is going on, but I don't have that raglan-aversion thing when I see this pic.

The skirt is another closet find. It was my mom's and it is something I would never have bought for myself, but when I was looking at it determining whether to keep it or not, I told myself there was nothing either objectionable or awful about the skirt and that it might come in handy. Well this is the first time I've worn it, but I'd like to wear it again. It's a bit big in the waist which makes it hang funny, but this doesn't seem like something insoluble given a decent tailor. Note to self: find decent tailor.

As for the shoes, I cannot thank myself enough for this impulse buy. I love them. Despite a bit of pinky toe pinching. I cannot wait for warmer weather since they will go with nearly everything I own for summer. They are totally better than my other navy shoes which are sitting in the mailing box awaiting my getting in gear to send stuff off for consignment. Which segues nicely into a brief plug. I have been experiencing excellent success in buying gently used The Real Real, an online consignment shop. So when Emily asked me about it, I realized I had not plugged it at all, which I will start doing because I have been nothing but ecstatic with my purchases, including a needs-the-weather-to-be-a-little-warmer pair of brogue-inspired open-toed pumps that are adorable!

Take Your Breton To Work Day

Sweater: Better Breton by me; wollmeise dk in natur and admiral
Skirt: J. Crew; similar styles at ASOSs, H&M, and bcbg
Shoes: Tabitha Simmons Lou leather pumps and there are a couple sizes left in this amazing sale; similar styles by Kate Spade and Sam Edelman
Lips: Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gel in Showstopper

In light of my full-on sadface vis a vis the Grandpa Cardigan, I wanted to use a counter example to show why my sweaters need to perform double duty. Monday through Firday I work in an office. It's not overly formal, in fact I think I am dressed far more formally than many of my coworkers, but chalk it up to a conservative upbringing when it comes to comportment (on all other things, I am pretty sure my upbringing was pretty standard commie, pinko, UES, ACLU, NYT, ADL); Saturday and Sunday I am either not leaving my house except for groceries, or out seeing friends, maybe going out to dinner. And if I'm sitting in my house with no one but my husband to see me, I don't really need a wardrobe for that. Which is why my wardrobe is predominantly business casual. I have recently been adding to my jeans collection (thank you, sales), but when I think about knitting a sweater, I always think about how it will look at work and on line at the Whole Foods - because I am very vain and need to make sure the other insufferable yuppies aren't judging me on my clothing choices while I judge them on their carts full of frozen organic meals.

But where does a Breton-style sweater fit into that? It is a decidedly casual piece and is evocative of people not at work: people at cafes in France on vacation, drinking strong coffee and smoking strong cigarettes, and definitely unconcerned with formal dress. Yet it's also a navy and white sweater and navy and white are perfectly lovely, boring work colors. Ask me how I know.

I originally paired the sweater with a highly patriotic red skirt and while I wasn't turned off by the Happy 4th of July-ness of it all, the skirt is too big by a fair bit and looks sloppy when it hangs on my hips instead of on my waist, and it also made it a bit too long on my legs. So out comes the old faithful J Crew chartreuse mini, the navy tights, and the brand spanking new navy pumps. This last choice was probably a poor one as the amount of salt dumped in my office parking lot is dangerous to all but the most LL Bean-ish of footwear. I almost went with a navy blazer as well, but I thought that might be a) overkill and b) ill-fitting - this sweater is a bit too ease-y to happily live beneath a tailored blazer.

Red lips were an easy choice.