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Gentle plaids

10/29/2015

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Plaids are super popular this season, but, as always, the goal would be not to look like a lumberjack. Some of the new ombre plaids & deeper hues with feminine styling seem to be restful & graceful.

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Street style: Toronto Fashion Week

10/25/2015

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Midriffs & faux fur: a small selection of what they're wearing street-side in Toronto...

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The search for work-appropriate denim

10/16/2015

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I admire anyone wearing denim to work--from faded to dark rinses to colored jeans. Denim conveys a sense of youthfulness & fun. 

Some workplaces encourage a casual, hip style while others require more standard business attire. 

Truly I think almost anyone can wear denim at work as long as you wear appropriate shoes & feel at ease with it. 
​

For me to feel comfortable in denim at work, I have these requirements: 
1. The denim has to be a dark rinse, gray, black, or a color.
2. Ideally it's a skirt or dressy jean style.

Here's my search for denim options for the workplace...
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I started off by searching for the perfect denim skirt, not too short, not too frumpy. ​

​I splurged a little & tried this Garnet Hill skirt since I thought I'd wear it so much. Once it arrived, I tried it with several tops & different shoes, but in the end, it just felt ​awkward to me--I returned it. (In the skirt's defense, if I pay full-price for something, there's a good chance I'll be returning it. I just expect too much from it.)
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Garnet Hill Asymmetrical Denim Pencil Skirt, $78 minus 25%
I gave up on denim skirts after the failed GH attempt & went back to trouser or dark denim jeans. In the interest of a professional look for the office, I wanted a little flair but not too wide a leg & not a skinny jean.

​
I tried these on in store, but they were too long on me. They didn't look like they did on the model; they were much more curvy & not quite right for me. 
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The Limited 678 Fit & Flare Trouser Jeans, $79.95 minus $15 (also buy one, get one 50% off)
This pair arrived this week, &, for a change, they're the right length in regular. I'm not 100% in love with them, but I'm blaming my body rather than the jean :)

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Banana Republic Factory Slim-Fit Boot-Cut Jean, $41
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Me in the BR jeans to the left. I paid about $36 for them after discount.
These are a great buy (but how can jeans be final sale??), but they're 34" length--way too long for me! Hard to know if it'd be worth having them taken up. 
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J. Crew Classic Flare Jean in Jezebel Wash, $39.99 minus 50%
Here are a couple skinny & straight-leg pairs that seems work appropriate, partially because of the colors:
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Land's End Mid Rise Slim Jeans - Garment Dye, $69 minus 25%
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Land's End Women's High Rise Straight Leg Jeans, $59 minus 25%
I'm a little in love with these coated denim jeans from Banana Republic Factory store:
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Banana Republic Factory Coated Legging Jean, $53.99
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Garnet Hill Signature Five-Pocket Slim Jeans, $8-$88 minus 25%
Are we ready to go back to high-waisted jeans?
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Zara High-Waist Bootcut Jeans, $69.90
More denim choices...
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New York & Company Sohol Jeans--High-Waist Flair Rinse, $35.97
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Land's End Women's Mid Rise Trouser Jeans, $69 minus 25%
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Boden Cambridge Skirt, $78
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Zara Jeggings, $35.90
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Old Navy Women's Denim Trousers, $27.97 minus 30%
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Zara Mid-Rise Flared Jeans, $49.90
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Boden Zoe Pencil Skirt, $78
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Zara Jeggings, $35.90
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Express Mid Rise Trouser Slim Flair Jean, $88
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Eddie Bauer Women's Curvy Denim Trousers - Indigo, $70

Do you wear denim to work? What are your requirements for it?

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Puffy, not pudgy; packs down to nothing

10/11/2015

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So I've been praising ultralight puffy down vests & jackets, & the question that comes up is "Will they make me look fat?"

Ultralight down is super warm & lightweight & packs down to nothing. Here are my vest & jacket stuffed into small pouches (next to our kitty Moe :-):
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The answer is no: I don't think the down makes one look fatter than usual. Here I am in my Uniqlo ultralight down vest:
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                                          Lots more Uniqlo down vest & jackets here from $29.90 up (including some with hoods! :-)
My 10-year-old Spence does look a bit bigger than usual in my Zara puffy :-) ...
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But I don't think I look any bigger than I would in a normal coat. This coat is size Medium.
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Here are some ultralight, packable down vests & jackets at varying prices:
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Uniqlo Women's Ultra Light Down Compact Jacket, 13 colors, $39.90
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J. Crew Factory Channeled Puffer Vest, 2 colors, $49
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Athleta Downalicious Jacket, 4 colors, $178
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Zara Ultra-light Jacket, 3 colors, $99
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All things red

10/10/2015

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I used to think wearing red around the holidays & on Valentine's Day was cliché. Was I crazy? This year I'll be celebrating red. I wore red yesterday, & I felt brighter, more friendly, & more awake! It was a great boost to my mood!

Here are a few favorite red things I've been eyeing...


Red shoes
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6pm.com RSVP Mirabella, $27.99
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J. Crew Factory Medallion Kitten Heels, $69
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Zara Medium Heel Shoes with Bow, $59.90
 Red sweaters & tops
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Zara Draped Neck Cardigan, $22.90
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Zara Bell Sleeve Top, $25.90
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Boden Ursula Top, $52.80
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Abercrombie Cozy Wrap Front Tee, $28.80
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Asos Structured Tunic With Contrast Tipping, $69
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H&M Jacquard-knit Sweater, $39.99
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ModCloth Name of the Board Game Top, $39.99
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ModCloth One Prep Ahead Sweater, $49.99
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ModCloth Amplify the Adorable Top, $39.99
Red skirts
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J. Crew Factory Floral Eyelet Pencil Skirt, $29.99
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Boden Cambridge Skirt, $46.41 minus 15%
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Banana Republic Sloan-Fit Burgundy Pencil Skirt, $89.50 minus 50%
Red bags
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J. Crew Parker Crossbody Bag, $98 minus 30%
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Urban Outfitters Ecote Perforated Suede Messenger Bag, $69
Red pants
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J. Crew Matchstick Cord, $89.50 minus 30%
Red glasses
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Garnet Hill Eyebobs Readers, $79
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Tips on how to wear your red

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Trend alert: moto (biker chic) jeans & pants

10/5/2015

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Do you have a perfectly round scar on your inner calf?

I do. It's from touching my bare leg to the muffler when I hitchhiked on the back of a motorcycle when I was 18. I'm proud of my scar, & I feel an alliance with the many others who boast almost the exact same one.

I'll probably never hitchhike on a motorcycle again. But I can wear the moto trend :-)

Moto refers to biker chic. Moto pants have inserts or panels, typically around the knees. I think it must be so we could more easily bend our knees to sit on a motorcycle (had I been wearing moto jeans back when I was hitchhiking at 18, I wouldn't have my scar today).

​


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Kelly McGillis & Tom Cruise in Top Gun, 1986
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Free People Seamed Moto Skinny in anders blue, $128
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Free People Seamed Moto Skinny in imperial blue, $128
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GAP Moto Ponte Pant in charcoal heather & black, $59.95
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Nordstrom Dex Acide Wash Moto Leggings, $49
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Banana Republic White Skinny Ankle Moto Jean, $34.97 minus 40%
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Banana Republic Denim Moto Drapey Pant, $39.97 minus 40%
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Abercrombie & Fitch A&F Moto Leggings, $48
So here's to all my fellow biker chicks, either out riding on the open road or sitting at home on the couch drinking tea in their moto sweatpants :-)
Moto Jackets
Lots of super cute moto jackets 
​at Forever 21
here. A few examples...
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Forever 21 Faux Leather & Bouclé Moto Jacket, $47.90
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Forever 21 Scuba Knit Moto Jacket, $62.90
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Forever 21 Zippered Boucle Moto Jacket, $44.90
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Forever 21 Bouclé Moto Jacket, $39.99
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All my life's a circle

10/1/2015

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I like the look of simple circle necklaces: modern, uncluttered. 
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Image of Zara Printed Blouse with circle necklaces
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Forever 21 Cutout Circle Necklace, $4.90
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Urban Outfitters Swinging Circles Pendant Necklace, $28
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H&M Long Necklace, $5.99
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H&M Short Necklace, $3.99
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Etsy Best friends necklace, $36
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Zara Oversized Sweatshirt, 4 colors, $22.90 with Long Necklace with Circular Detail, $15.90
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Zara Long Necklace with Circular Detail, $15.90
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Image from Zara: Top with Detail, $12.90, shown with circle necklace
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Etsy Gold Circle Necklace, $13
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