Boden Linen Set Alert: (PICS)

One of my favourite things about '90s fashion was the SETS. C-ords. Matching tops and bottoms. In  patterns and solids. I've had my eye on some casual pants set the whole season - and finally landed on TWO. One solid citron, and the other patterned navy and white. 

Here is the citron LINEN set from Boden. It's ON SALE all the time, which is how I bought it last week. (30% off) It's personally, by far the best linen set I've tried on because the shirt is short, and the pants are structured up top. The quality is IMPECCABLE. Better than a lot of designer wear I've seen lately. The colour and fit are perfect.

Leave it to Boden - who also produce very sustainably and ethically - to make the pants a thicker weight than the top so that they aren't see-through and the pocket linings don't grin through. The rise is long, but for relaxed linen pants - I don't mind. 

Comes in colours, some patterns, and many are sets. Of course, you can wear them as separates too ;)

This is straight out of the package, quick try on to show you. Jus got it! Excuse dusty mirror. It's going to get very creased during the day - but am at peace with the crease. 

I prefer the set UNTUCKED in #, just a little more. Beachy, breezy, and very Summery. But the shirt will tuck too! Dressier that way. Nice waistband. xo

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WIWs: BIG White Jeans

I LOVE WHITE JEANS.

One of my all time favourite items to wear!

I like to keep my bottoms on trend, and tend to be an early adopter of new bottom silhouettes. I'm into trendy FULL LENGTH wide legs at the moment, which meant that these Frame white jeans were calling my name. I ADORE them. Big, yet not overwhelming. Very comfortable. They became instant workhorses as soon as the weather warmed, and dried. (Waving at Tanya who has them too!)

I have regular length legs. They look long because the pants are FULL LENGTH. And tucking my top lengthens the leg line from the hips upwards. I'm wearing flat loafers. If I wore heels, my legs would look longer.

I've worn these glorious jeans many ways, and am showing you the first two. More trends coming through in these outfits: 

Outfit 1: Pattern Mixed: Lemon jumper, Kate Spade belt, Tweed jacket, loafers, Furla, Pearls, Sam and Jo. 

*the Japanese fresh water baby pearls are newish, and a gift from hubs Greg at the start of the pandemic. I've been wearing them a lot lately because the vibe works well with my longer hair, (to my eye, anyway!)

Outfit 2: Greenly Puffed: Puffy sleeves and I have a good relationship. I enjoy them. These exaggerated ones in bright green were too fun to pass up! Feel like I can kick-arse in them. Same belt, white Mary Janes, and an old yellow Tory Burch bag. 

Shopping with a client all day tomorrow. I think I'll wear my BIG white jeans :)

Thanks for looking. xo

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WIW: Relaxed Spring Oldies

(For JenniNZ and others, who enjoy seeing older wardrobe items in action on the forum!)

It's a STUNNING and sunny 22C in Seattle! Clear, perfect, and not humid.

I am WFH all day, as well as running quick errands on foot and doggie walking. This is an example of a very casual outfit. And most of my favourite types of things, in one outfit!!!

  • white wide cropped jeans - 6 yrs 
  • linen shirt - 3 years
  • sneakers - 3 years (Jo has chewed the laces, which is why they look obnoxious)
  • denim jacket - 10 years (it has pretty embroidered flowers on it that make me smile!)
  • Furla - 3 years 
  • Baby White Pearls - knotted and cannot remember how old....

This is a very classic ME-look. I have been wearing a version of it since I was a teen in the early '80s: 

white jeans, tucked classic shirt, fashion sneakers, denim jacket, structured bag, pearls. I AM IN MY HAPPY PLACE :)

*waving at my shirt and white jeans style sisters!*

Unless I am at the beach with Yorkies Sam and Jo - this is as casual as I go.

Hair is straight, and creating quite the nostalgic affection from old friends and family who have seen me wear this hair decades ago. Their excitement has been unexpected! 

Thanks for looking. Have lots of work to do. Back much later. xo

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WIW: Earthy Citron and Golf

New palette for me that's working with the new honey blonde hair. Enjoying it and having fun :)

              Peached Toffee + Blush + Citron + White 

Went out shopping with a casual client for most of the day. I wore smart casual: 

  • New bush pants. GORGEOUS FABRIC and quality. 
  • Old Citron Sweater - hasn't pilled!
  • Peached Toffee Pleather Moto - NAS last year.
  • White WEATHERPROOF golf shoes (dressier than sneakers and super comfy. Bought on deep discount last year).
  • Old white Furla and citron strap.
  • Pearls.

Also, the perfect oatmeal trench coat found me at J.Crew! On my shopping list for a while. Beautifully made, detachable hood, (a must for Seattle when you're on foot like me), versatile longer length, tortoiseshell buttons, modern classic, great for layering, and dressy. It worked well over this outfit! Sorry - no pic of that. Next time....

REVELATION: my new hair colour allows me to wear beige well! (I've amassed quite a few solid beige items over the last six months). It's not soul-sucking with my complexion ;)  Especially with my sour brights, blues, and whites. First item on my Fall/Winter shopping list is a MAXI wool oatmeal coat. I have worn my shorter wool oatmeal coat to death. It's my new essential. 

https://www.jcrew.com/p/BF456?.....bb5020e317

I continue to wear white, ivory, and cream with joy. Now I can add beige!!! It's UNEXPECTED.

Thanks for looking! xo

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Some of Today's Finds, Playfully :)

#1 - Kate Spade Belt. Polished! Neat and tidy. (ETA: You might need to size up depending on wear on your body you like to wear a belt).

#2 - Fab with my Taupe Furla, Ivory Furla, and gold Ecco sneakers.

#3 - Gold Ecco sneakers - see how SUBTLE the gold is! It's described as WHITE gold for good reason.

Wearing them here with 10 year old white bootcut KUT jeans and a 17 year old gold belt. Rise feels very low after wearing high rises for years ! :) 

#4 - Naya citron pumps fit seamlessly into my wardrobe. I can JUST manage the heel height. HALF a SIZE down from my regular size, and still a little wide on me. YET! Miraculously stable and comfy. 

#5 - Quick try on with a new dress to make sure I love the pumps. I do! And Jo wants to play with her turtle.

Hope that was helpful in some way! xo

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WIW: Sharp Shouldered & Suited

With lots of softness and a '70s flavour :)

  • Colour inspiration is from a dear client who was inspired by Trinny Woodall!
  • I wear my burgundy suit A LOT. In different ways. LOVE THE FIT AND QUALITY! Flared pants and shorter blazer = WINNER for me. I wish I had the same suit in a plaid or sour bright. 
  • Wear the suit to work with clients. It's a VERY easy and comfy outfit! 
  • 10 year old citron turtleneck. Not a hint of pilling! Wish J.Crew made things the way they used to......
  • I also wear the suit pants as separates. Perfect colour match with a '70s sharp shouldered pleather jacket that cost me $40 a few years ago, and the quality is superb! 
  • Wore the '70s jacket with the pants and citron support act to a fancier birthday party last week.
  • Wear my old citron cocoon coat over suits and jackets quite a bit. My favourite coat of all time! It's cold on foot outside and I need to wrap up! 
  • Citron Pom Pom crossbody because I must be hands-free, and I like to match.
  • White boots....well....because it's my thing....
  • Wavy hair doing its own soft thing. 
  • Sam and Jo always curious and close-by! 

Hubs Greg does NOT like puffy sleeves. If I showed him this '70s jacket off my body - he would have discouraged me from trying it. But as soon as I put it on - he loved it! Now I only show Greg puffy sleeved items ON MY BODY :)

Thanks for looking! xo

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My Potentially Fab White Heels (Pics)

Heels are relative. This is the highest heel I can manage unless I'm seated :) 

Number one footwear need on my shopping list is a dressy white, off-white, or cream CLOSED-toe shoe to wear with dresses and skirts for Spring and Summer. It's a big hole. 

Must be pretty, refined, stable, secure, a good fit for my narrow feet, and above all VERY comfy. I live in the city and am on foot 99% of the time. I need to be able to walk Yorkies Sam and Jo, run errands, walk to appointments, walk to restaurants, and I walk fast. I also don't want to pay the earth for them. 

TALL ORDER!!!

Tried and returned quite a bit. Tried a few pairs of slingbacks. Unstable and can't walk fast in them - (as I know from past experience but I tried again anyway. I am always trying, and trying hard!). The straps slide down the back. The shoes fall off my feet, unfortunately.

Unlike many, I enjoy a good Mary Jane. They work for my feet and style! To my eye, they are visually right on my shape feet. I got a suede toffee pair last year that are winners. After trying all sorts of other shoes that did not work, I ordered the same shoe in white. They have a dear little gold buckle: 

https://www.anthropologie.com/.....038;color=

A VERY good fit. Sized up half a size because they are short, and I have long toes. 

I am walking around in them at home in my casual outfit with tiny in-house fashion stylist Jo. We are HOPING they pass the at home test. So far, so good. 

Fingers crossed! xo

UPDATE: KEEPING THEM! 

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WIW: Red Boyfriends + Oatmeal

One of the trendiest components of my style is what I wear on the BOTTOM. It's usually in the form of a pair of pants or jeans. Skirts less so, since I prefer dresses. 

I had a pair of red boyfriend jeans on my radar from a retailer whose colours launch me into orbit. Essential Antwerp. Waving to Inge, who lives in Antwerp! Sustainably and ethically produced, and 100% cotton. They went on flash sale and I pounced! 

They are super roomy - especially in the back - but not overly slouchy.  Dropped crotch point and lowered rise because of that. Just polished enough to my eye. The white stitching is unique, and the silhouette reminds me VERY fondly of the '80s.

LOVE them sooooo much! :)

My old red jumper is a perfect colour match so that's how I debuted them today! 1970 is the year I was born, so it's meaningful-to-me. Cream and oatmeal support act - my wardrobe essentials! - are an easy and signature way to finish off the look.

YES, I'm back to belting because that's how I wear slouchy boyfriends. They sit BELOW my waist, and where I prefer belts. 

Also bought an IKAT print blouse in stores today (#8). Large spaced florals are trending, and you'll hear about that next week. It has a camisole in the SAME pattern (#9). A beautiful attention to detail. Love that match! GORGEOUS and awfully pretty. And it matches my blush pants (#10). 

Sam and Jo are always supportive (#11)! Thanks for looking. xo

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Wearing Hair Clips Again (Pics)

Bought hair clips on a whim at Anthropologie a few months ago. Gold and white pearls. Fab sartorial match ;)

I used to wear my hair clipped back like this about 20 to 25 years ago. When I didn't wear my clip, people would ask me - where is your clip! I've come full circle, I guess.....

Now that my hair is finally longer, I've added the clips back in, now and then. Really embracing CHANGE - (my word for the year, and following through like gangbusters). 

A little '60s. A little Downton Abbey. Modern Retro. Just for fun! And keeps the fringe out of my face when I'm annoyed with it. 

Pics with varying hair clip styles. Thanks for looking. xo

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WIW: Greg's FAVE for 2022

Here are two very similar looks, yet they are a little different.

The dark neutrals are navy! I don't wear black.

I LOVE wearing these types of proportions. Shorter knitwear with higher rises in roomy silhouettes. 

Look #1:  

With a more fitted and slightly shorter striped zippered sweater with high neckline. Greg voted the outfit with the big barrel jeans and this sweater his favourite of the year! He loves rugby stripes too. I've worn it three times in his honour, including out for dinner for our 26th wedding anniversary :)

Look #2:

The same outfit but with a boxy short striped sweater with matching scarf and beanie. I got the three piece set for Christmas from the family. And yes, I wear them together. Why not! 

The cream jeans are warm and Winter weight. The maxi navy coat is an absolute wardrobe essential and workhorse.

Hair wavy. Hair hat head. Hair has a mind of its own. I'm rolling with it....

Jo has taken over Sam's modeling career. 

Thanks for looking! xo

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