Pix-Elated

A few weeks ago I took a short trip to Vancouver for some meetings and appointments and visits with friends. While there I popped into my favourite consignment shop. I walked away with two unexpected purchases -- unworn, still with their original tags, cheap as chips. 

The Club Monaco lace pencil skirt is a bit of a fashion throwback -- definitely not on trend! (Though I think I've seen more pencil skirts sneaking back in...). Anyway -- I've wanted a lace skirt for ages. It's not something I can wear much around the house because of my cat, but overall, I've been aiming to add more texture to my closet and this fits the bill. 

I'd like this better if it were midi-length, but this at-the-knee length is good with sneakers and flats, and maybe it counts as my version of a mini, ha! It has a slightly stretchy liner and a back vent so it is comfortable. The zipper is in the back and is in pewter, which juxtaposes nicely with the lace. The fit is great. And the lace is substantial. I figure it will work for me dressed down with denim. And maybe dressed up sometime, too -- who knows. 

The sweater is a Diane von Furstenburg animal print in my trusty blue and white -- a silk blend. Years ago I got a DVF blush sweater in a similar print and fabric at the wonderful NAS I travelled to with Svetlana. I almost never wear this style of classic cardigan,  but I can wear it buttoned up as a top. And it will work with jeans, of course. Or as a topper for my navy shirtdress. 

I'm sure I'll wear the sweater enough to justify the price. The skirt, I'm not as certain of—but I thought it was worth a try. 

Last of my NAS posts (for now, anyway!). 

Presenting the Open Edit oversized pea coat in navy! 

EDITED: Keeping the XS -- a few clearer pictures added. Sleeve turned up (maybe too much but it is hard to be accurate with that.) I will take it to Nordstrom's in Vancouver for alterations. 

First, let me say, this is a lovely quality for the price, which even in CAD is more than reasonable for coat of this kind. The fabric is soft and lightweight but does not seem prone to pills. In my opinion, it would not work for Ontario/ Quebec/ Prairie winters unless layered over sweaters and jackets -- or, at least it would not work for someone spending much time outdoors. As a car coat, it could do well, and it would also work well in the late fall (November), early winter/ very early spring temperatures there. 

For my climate (PNW) it could work throughout much of the cold season, layered in the colder temps.

As I mentioned before, I have never met a pea coat I did not like and I've worn different iterations of them for decades, from strictly tailored to vastly oversized. 

This one is in between -- a somewhat oversized cut. I got it in two sizes to try and I'm undecided. Alas, it's going to be really hard for you to see the differences in these photos (I did my best to lighten them) so I'll also try to describe the pluses and minuses as I see them. I'm wearing it with my light Zella sweater here, but both jackets would go over heavier sweaters if I wanted to wear them that way.  

ETA: The jackets are exactly the same measured length. The Xs is wider in the body and longer in the sleeve only. BOTH also layer over a blazerl. 

PICS 1-3.  In the XXS, it fits less oversized. I could almost get away without shortening the sleeves, I think (though I would probably shorten). My concern -- it just fits on the hip. At the moment, the vent is sewn shut which makes it snugger than it would be when properly opened, but I also worry it might not have quite enough room on the bum area (a common issue for me). Also, it may not be achieving its full architectural effect in this size. The flap pockets seem more noticeable (because it is snugger in that area). So, I don't know. 

PICS 4-7. In the XS it is much larger and I would definitely need to alter the sleeves. It is a lot looser in the front body (to the point where a lot of air might get in) and it's looser also in the hip area, but even there, you can see in the side view that with the vent sewn shut there is a wee bump out. I do think that would settle if I snipped the thread. In person, it definitely reads as oversized, but maybe even verges on "too big." 

PICS 8-9.  My existing navy pea coat -- a consignment find by Canadian firm Judith and Charles. This is a super high quality boiled wool coat that is going into its fifth year in my closet; who knows how long it lived in its previous owner's!  It's a more classic cut than the Open Edit, with a different style of collar. It's also size up from my usual coat size and you can see, a little, that the shoulder line is a bit extended on me as a result; in practice that hasn't bothered me because it is very forgiving for layering and also, because of the fabric, it tends to relax down when it is off the hanger and on the warm body. :) I love wearing this coat because the wool is so lightweight and warm and it repels light rain. NOTE: it looks black in my photo but it also an ink navy, almost identical to the Open Edit in colour. 

At the moment, I am torn! I really like the Open Edit but wonder if it is sufficiently different from the other coat and/or if it is fitting well enough in either size to justify the purchase when I already have a somewhat similar coat in the closet. The price of the Open Edit is very reasonable but I would likely have to add the cost of altering the sleeves, although perhaps I could take it to Nordstrom's in Vancouver to have that job done. 

Would love thoughts and opinions and ideas. Thank you! 

I typically use the sale to stock up on bras and undies because I'm a not-easily-available size in Canada and can get good prices during the sale. 

This year I wanted to branch out from my standard Natori Feathers. The Feathers is a great bra for someone like me with small-to-medium slightly wide spaced breasts, but it does fit small and you do have to size up in the cups, or at least I always have. Lately, though, I've been getting annoying spillage even with the larger cup. I'm trying a cup size up from that to see if that solves the problem but those have not arrived and in the meantime I wanted to test a few other styles.

I also ordered a few others. The Cherry Blossom was a no-go; it fit even smaller than the Feathers on me.  I'm also returning the bralette; it just felt too puffy overall and I didn't like the pink. 

The Bliss Perfection fits in my normal Natori size  (i.e. one cup size up from what I might order from a different brand) -- the cup size is adequate, but I do worry that back elastic might stretch out quicker than typical since it is very soft -- that's also what makes it very comfortable, of course. I also tried the sister size (a band size up and a cup size down). It is far too loose in the band, and the back rides up, so it is going back. Note: some reviewers complain the bra is "noisy." This has not been my experience. I think they used plastic hardware one year and that caused problems. The hardware on this version is metal. 

I'm also trying the Rose Dream. This one does fit in the sister size (a much easier size to find...). The elastic is more substantial on the back panel so I think it will hold up for a while, at least. But it gets some very mixed reviews. People say the cups "curl" after washing. It's very comfortable out of the bag, and I'm tempted to order another, but I think I will wait to see if it holds up before doing so. 

I have now received most of my NAS items, apart from a few bras and undies still in delivery. 

I'll do a separate post about those and about the Open Edit jacket I also ordered. For now, here is a keeper and a maybe! 

Trust Angie! She tipped me off about this Zella top that I would never otherwise  have considered, especially after reading the reviews which described it as unbearably itchy and like grandma's bathrobe or bedspread. I do not find the first to be true (it's not itchy at all on me), but I definitely see the justice of the second remark; it's made of an odd poly jacquard fabric that is a bit like your grandma's bathrobe or bedspread. But you know what? I kind of love it for that reason! I remember my mother used to nod approvingly at how "lightweight" that material felt, and guess what? Mum was right. Also, it's a  really fun, architectural cut. I love a batwing. I can see myself throwing this on all the time both at home for semi-lounge and out in the world as part of regular outfits.  Shown here quickly with my stovepipe jeans, bonus stovepipe coming out of the top of my head, ha! 

You've seen the earrings -- they were already keepers, but I wanted to try them with a high necked top to see if they work, and they do -- no interference. 

The Franco Sarto loafers in navy are the maybe. I kind of love them. Like the earrings they feel both refined and chunky, somehow. Navy footwear is a wardrobe essential and also a bit of a HEWI for me, and at the moment, I own precisely NO transitional footwear that is not a sneaker. (Boots or sandals only apart from one indoor flat). So a shoe like this could fill a genuine need. 

The problem is that I have a lot of trouble fitting loafers or really any flat that does not have a strap or laces. These fit me better than most. They have some nice padding inside. They are not too heavy. Without socks they do not flip off my feet (though they would eventually give me blisters, no question). With socks or stockings, they will, alas, be harder to keep on. Please don't tell me to use those heel grips -- I have never had luck with them. They also rub a bit on my left ankle bone but I imagine that would soften up in time; it's already better after a few minutes of indoor wear. 

I'm mulling on this one. They give me a lot of pleasure to look at, and the price is right on sale, but shoes that aren't comfortable or practical are never a bargain. 

My first orders have arrived -- a few bras that I need to send back due to sizing, and the Jenny Bird earrings, which I'm keeping. They are a nice, chunky but not overpowering drop earring for me and will be an "everyday" earring. I tend to wear one or two pairs (usually a chunky stud) to the exclusion of almost anything else for my regular days, especially in winter. (In summer I switch up the earrings more often.) These ones are not too long to wear if I am also wearing a scarf, so they are useful. 

I can't shop yet, but could look through the preview today. As usual, compared to the offerings in the US, the sale up here is dismal. A lot of black without the other colour options and a lot of items flat out not available. In women's clothing there are 711 items vs. 2164 items in the US sale. It's understandable -- economies of scale -- but also disappointing. Unfortunately, when they opened in Canada they made it so you can no longer shop with your US card at the US stores so I don't have one any more and can't order from there. 

I should be able to get some underwear (a definite NEED this year) but I won't expect anything else, except maybe a pair of La Canadienne boots, since the price is excellent and I know I will get good use from those.  I'll use the US sale to get an idea of what is trending or what I might like to try out later in the season if versions become available from other retailers up here.