Pix-Elated

I am not sure if this qualifies as a "cute colour combo" but it reminded me a bit of the last outfit in that series that uses the same pattern for suit and top, except in different colours. Although here, I'm not playing with colour, the idea is related. I'm picking up part of the (rather busy, colourful, and already very mixed) pattern and repeating. 

This is an unmatched, surprise set. I was putting away this just-laundered Sandwich top when I noticed that it essentially echoes the white-teardrops-on-navy portion of the pattern that appears in my Boden pleated skirt. Could it create a kind of "matched" set? Bingo! 

An irony -- I bought this very-much-on-sale top as a way of getting free delivery when I ordered a skirt and another top from Sandwich earlier this year. Unlike the skirt (which I haven't even worn yet!) it has already proved itself a workhorse, just as its similar, sister top did last year. (Same general style, except the other top has a straight, not bloused hem, and is a different fabric -- woven vs. knit.) 

As usual, my apologies for the lighting...I do my best. 

Ok, this is in the interests of leaving no retail stone unturned. Another Canadian fabber kindly pointed out that the Bay was selling a silver jean by a company unknown to me, called Own. They were on sale, so I ordered them to try, just in case I might prefer them to the Zara jeans I showed last week.

They arrived and here is my review  These are a nice quality jean. The silver finish is a mid cool tone and feels soft to the touch. These are raw hem and available in multiple lengths. I got the short ones, obviously. ;) They are TTS. They are billed as "mid rise" but much like the Zara jens, they are in fact high rise on me. They are a slim straight verging on skinny -- very similar to the Madewell Stovepipe jean, for those familiar with that cut and style.  Also like that jean, they are made of a very stretchy fabric. 

However, I tend to like more structure in my jeans and so I prefer the 100% cotton of the Zara version, For that reason, I'm sending these back. 

Forgive the lack of styling -- just threw them on to try. 

Hope this may be useful to someone. And now I am done with silver jeans for now! 

I wore a version of #4 in today's blog post yesterday; and I'm wearing another version today (no pic, but skirt with cropped BR top).

The top in yesterday's outfit (very old, J.Crew) does not have the same degree of volume as in the example but I have left it untucked and loose in back and blousoned in front. Wore this for a Zoom presentation. 

Earlier this week, I wore yet another version with high-volume cropped  jacket for a lunch date. 

And yep, you read that right -- I've already worn the navy asymmetrical skirt THREE TIMES.  In one week. Yes, this fully illustrates my love for my newer items. But also --  this is the workhorse I did not know I needed. It's like an updated tube skirt. Casual (or dressy, as needs be!), easy, can curl up in it, has that little extra because of its shape. 

Ok, so that sounds a bit more portentous than it should. 

It was only one mistake. 

You may recall I recently did a big footwear edit and summer shoe renewal. 

I bought: 

• EOS white sneakers
• Naturalizer silver sneakers
• Cole Haan knit oxfords
• Naturalizer heeled sandals
• Naturalizer slingbacks 

1. I managed to nab a sale pair of the Banks slingbacks in the size up from the size I showed in the earlier post. This size fits better in the length and (so far) does not fall off my heel! Score!  I predict a long future for these in the closet since they are such a fun, classic, retro style and easy to wear. 

2. The Vera heeled sandals also seem like a win. Admittedly, I have only worn them around the house, but they feel flexible, stable, and they do not rub. 

3. The Cole Haan oxfords get rave reviews all over, and I can understand why. Admittedly, I haven't worn them out of the house yet. But I am wearing today and I am impressed. Very lightweight. Unusually supportive for a flat shoe, which may have to do with the slight lift at the back and the fact that they are not too wide. (I do not have a narrow foot overall -- my forefoot is medium width. But my mid foot and heel are apparently narrow or lower volume -- more on that in a moment). In any case, I really like these and imagine they will be good travelling shoes. They look good with dresses or pants because they are quite refined. 

4. The Naturalizer sneakers are a huge win! I have worn them now on a 4.5 km walk, a 3 km. walk, shorter jaunts, and around the house (at first) and I got no blisters! Also, they are supportive enough for me so far without a special insole (which I usually need to add to sneakers to make them wearable.) Very cushy and comfy! 

5. The MISTAKE. The EOS sneaker, which was so comfy out of the box and in the house, gave me a massive heel blister on my first real outdoor outing. Even with socks on. I gave the shoes a rest for a day or two, loaded up on blister bandages, and substituted my Superfeet insole. No luck -- it was still too sloppy for my foot and I got blisters on my toes this time! UGH. 

I can't return, obviously, but I'm hopeful the situation can be remedied. I'm going to try next time with double insoles -- the manufacturer's, plus one of my slim Superfeet insoles -- and see how that goes. It feels more secure on try-on. 

It just goes to show that footwear purchases don't always go the way we think they will go -- even when we take special care. 

So, while ordering silver jeans to try, I also tried a larger size in that knit top outfit (skirt was the right size) and threw in more things to try as well.

I'm not decided on any of it and would value your thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance!

First, the knit top/ skirt outfit. I like the top much better in this size. Worn as a dress and then the skirt dressed down. This is inexpensive and might be quite versatile because I could wear the items as separates. I wouldn't wear the skirt in high summer (it is lined, so would be too warm then) but I can see wearing it the rest of the year.

Next, a silvery cardigan. I thought it might be the same material as the skirt set, but it's not exactly the same. Very similar, though. Subtle sparkle. I can see wearing this all year but especially as a topper in summer. I didn't really style it intentionally here -- just threw it on over what I was wearing (old blouse and GAP jeans I was trying on as well).  

Then, an asymmetrical navy skirt. It is a fairly substantial knit. I somehow wasn't expecting it to be knit (didn't read the description carefully, I guess) and at first I thought I'd send it straight back. But trying it on with a few items, I'm not so sure...it looks like it could be pretty useful. Very easy and casual. Incidentally, in a couple of photos I am wearing it with a boxy blouson T-shirt I got from Zara years ago. Some of their stuff has real staying power in my closet, say what you like about fast fashion. 

Finally, the cotton dress Christina got for Morocco. I love love love the Marimekko-like pattern on this and the beautiful fabric. It's lovely cotton that barely even wrinkles! Alas, it truly overwhelms me, as you can see. I might be able to size down (worth a thought?) And/or I could potentially alter. Changes I might make include fixing the neckline so it is not such a low V and hemming a few inches. Or, I could just forget about it, LOL. 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts! 

Up for review and discussion, two more silver jeans!

My initial silver jeans experiment was with GAP's faux leather ones. 

I ultimately decided to return, because I just wasn't sure I'd feel comfortable wearing them. 

These two are from Zara. The first pair (Pic 1) have to go straight back, but I wanted to show them to you all anyway. Maybe they will work for someone!

They are called the "boy boy" style and boy, I think you'd have to be a boy, with zero hips to get them on. These are in my recommended Zara size, two sizes up from my usual size. But, ahem, I can't even get them all the way up. 

For reference, these are a beige denim underneath a fairly thick silver coating that is a bit RATE in places. They are very baggy all the way down. There is a button fly. The overall appearance at the end of the day is a warm, bright, light silver. They are a bit "crunchy" in texture, however. But if you are a true IT and you size up, I think these could look really cool. 

Pair 2 is a slim straight with silver pigment impregnated on grey denim. So the overall effect is more like dark silver or pewter, much cooler toned. They are not at all crunchy. The hem is raw so it could either be trimmed to ankle length and left, or hemmed to that length. (I don't think they work well full length on me because they interfere with my footwear.) Unlike the first ones, they fit and they are very comfortable. 

I didn't "style" these so much as throw a few different things on to see how they might feel. 

I'd love to know your impressions and thoughts, and I hope these reviews might help someone else who is hunting for metallic items while they are trending! 

ETA: to give these jeans a fair shake I tried with different lighting, with the hems *almost* where I'd want them (hard to do by rolling up inside...), legs straight, and with some different light conditions. I don't think the crotch area's a problem. And I hope these pics (8 on) give a better sense of the colour. Will also post downthread.