Finally Friday

Not exactly a hard week, but some challenging conversations. I try to be a good manager and often feel I miss the mark, but the thing I am getting better at is the "difficult conversation".

When you feel a little anxious, try to look good.

Almost exactly the outfit I wore on October 9! Different shoes and necklace.

I just returned a gorgeous pair of leopard pumps to Boden because they were just too long. Sad. They would be perfect with this outfit and many others. I will be trying a similar pair from Lord and Taylor and from Talbot's, though the Boden shoes were (obviously) my first choice.

Patsy, now on sale, but only in a 40.

Brown and Yellow, Custom Made!

Quite a few years ago I had a suit made for me. It was a fascinating and wonderful experience and I have talked about it to many friends, to the point where they cover their ears - "Not the custom suit again!" But I forge on, hoping to convince someone to tread the bespoke path.

An old friend brought me to meet Vijay the tailor in a Chicago hotel room (I think it was the Palmer House), filled with fabric samples. Sarai had a suit already that she wanted copied; I wanted a three button pantsuit with boot cut trousers. The fabrics were lovely menswear in navy, charcoal, black brown, with birdseye, herringbone, chalk stripe and other textures and patterns. I chose a chocolate brown wool in something between a crepe and a twill. It has a nice drape and a smooth, but not glossy finish. I was carefully measured, gave them my check for $400, and the suit arrived in the mail 8 weeks later. The clothing is actually made in Singapore.

I've lost some weight, so the pants are in the drycleaner pile to be taken in. The beauty of menswear styling is how easy it is to alter anything. The seam allowances are generous and the waistband is sewn in two pieces so a tailor can expand or contract it in a jiffy.

May I say that this is the ONLY JACKET I own where the sleeves are the correct length. That alone is worth the price, with my short little Tyrannosaurus Rex arms. See how flattering a perfectly fitted jacket can be? I'm also wearing my Sundance yellow cords, Boden leopard calf-hair boots and a Boden blue and yellow knit top.

I hope you can see the lovely hand-bound buttonholes and the full rayon (not acetate!) lining. It has princess seams (from the shoulder) and welt pockets. I bought my suit from Nickermann's, which no longer does fitting tours, but does allow you to order online. This is a very similar suit, without the princess seams.


Why have I never bought another suit from Vijay, who has moved onto another company (www.moonriverbyvj.com/)? Well, they're not cheap, and I have not had much disposable income for the last few years. But also, the suit I have is so useful and elegant that I don't feel like I need another one. I'm glad I chose brown, which is more versatile and less somber than black or gray. And despite not being a skirt suit, it is also perfectly fine for interviews because its quality is so apparent.

Enough about the suit already! Sorry. This is part of my rant about clothes that fit YOU and not the mannequin or the hanger or Heidi Klum. They should fit YOU.

Image courtesy of dailypicksandflicks.com/2012/03/09/daily-picdump-417/t-rex-with-glasses-knitting-drawing/

 

Red and yellow, snag a fellow?

It's a well known fact that men are attracted to bright colors. Like cardinals. I cannot confirm that based on the following ensemble, though one friend delightedly said, "You're so CUTE!" Another said that looking at me made her want a hot dog. You know, the ketchup and mustard? 

My coral snake combo includes a Talbots red cardigan, Sundance yellow cords, Eddie Bauer lace tunic nightgown thingy, Boden boots. Since I've started taking pics of myself, I've realized that I'm often inclined to snag a few items, or colors (uh, yellow), repeatedly. Thusly, and also hence, my approach for the coming week will be to wear things I haven't worn yet this month, or this year, or AT ALL. I read somewhere of a woman who turns the hangers around when she wears things so she doesn't repeat herself. I think I'll pick the low-hanging fruit to start. The bits and bobs:

Skagen watch, RL necklace, gold earrings of mysterious origin, and one of the few "real" pieces of jewelry I own, the (barely visible) gold ring I bought after losing forty pounds 22 years ago. And of course, my Rotary pin because it is Thursday.

Sally wrote an incredibly stimulating post this morning about the pressure to feel chic this morning. I'm not sure pressure is the right word in my case, as it implies weight, burden, oppression, tension, force (I love an online thesaurus, don't you?). I like clothes and fashion at the meta and the micro level, but I have no particular inner sense of style or creativity. I NEED the incentive and inspiration to keep me out of a comfy rut of Talbot's, Boden, Ecco, rinse and repeat. However, I keep a fashion abatement zone, also known as the weekend, in which I put on jeans and a top and call it a day. 

Kristen also wrote about the point where something fun begins to feel like work, and what she could do to Dress Like a Normal Person. I love being able to link to all the people who said it better than me! We'll see how I feel after I've been keeping this journal for more than a few weeks.