The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #2

[Betinapple]

Just wanted to note that I am really loving my Marni cardigan ... so lightweight & comfortable & a real statement piece. It is raising the bar for all sweaters in my wardrobe

Do you have a picture of it? Sounds really great.

If pretty much found my essentials for spring:

- Perfect white dress
- Perfect maxi dress
- Heeled sandals in a bright colour.

I've already bought the first two and I know what shoes I want, so now I'm just waiting and hope they fit.

pics: mine.

I think I might wanna shorten the sleeves on the white dress but Im not sure yet. I like the very girly look.

pic from shop.lolaramona.com

 

[BonjourTristesse]

Ta-Ta I'd also looove to see a picture of the cardigan - sounds great. I am happy you like your purchase!

 

[fashionista-ta]

Pic of the cardigan is in #362

http://forums.thefashionspot.com/showpost.php?p=8714901&postcount=362

I like the prints in your maxi dress!

 

[Betinapple]

Pic of the cardigan is in #362

http://forums.thefashionspot.com/showpost.php?p=8714901&postcount=362

I like the prints in your maxi dress!

oh so cute with the details! very nice.

Thx a lot. I've been hunting it for a looong time.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

^ I also love it... Great cardigan.

 

[ShoestringTravel]

I wish it were 4-5 items four times a year, because I wear stuff out fast! Faster than I can replace them, it seems.

Of course, it doesn't help that I like to buy bags and Frye boots, rather than clothes. I've got to lay off of the bags and buy more clothes for awhile.

I'd like to buy:

-Thin sweaters (fine knit, wool or cashmere) in neutral colors
-A shorter, more casual jacket (I'm down to one black wool trenchcoat, which won't fly for nicer weather)

I'm in a real dilemma for shoes. I work on my feet all day long in a conservative casual business environment, and 9-10 months out of the year here it rains like crazy and is pretty cold, miserable weather. So while I would ordinarily wear things like ballet flats, even a jaunt from the parking lot into work fills them up with water and gives me wet feet for the rest of the day. Hence the Frye boot addiction. Does anybody have any better ideas for comfortable, on-your-feet-all-day shoes that are still slightly polished looking?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ How do you feel about oxfords? A proper pair has good arch support ... I also saw an ad the other day for a shoe with Nike technology that actually looked really good in some of the pix (a heeled sandal). If you're interested, I can try to retrace my steps across the magazine pages ... or Google might help.

Merrell sometimes makes some decent looking styles ... you could try a place that specializes in walking shoes. Normally there are one or two styles that look pretty good.

Then there's Born ... if their shoes work for your feet, they have some nice shoes.

What about a pair of rain boots?

Sounds like you may need to stock up a bit ... how do you feel about the quality of the pieces you've been buying?

 

[Betinapple]

I wish it were 4-5 items four times a year, because I wear stuff out fast! Faster than I can replace them, it seems.

Of course, it doesn't help that I like to buy bags and Frye boots, rather than clothes. I've got to lay off of the bags and buy more clothes for awhile.

I'd like to buy:

-Thin sweaters (fine knit, wool or cashmere) in neutral colors
-A shorter, more casual jacket (I'm down to one black wool trenchcoat, which won't fly for nicer weather)

I'm in a real dilemma for shoes. I work on my feet all day long in a conservative casual business environment, and 9-10 months out of the year here it rains like crazy and is pretty cold, miserable weather. So while I would ordinarily wear things like ballet flats, even a jaunt from the parking lot into work fills them up with water and gives me wet feet for the rest of the day. Hence the Frye boot addiction. Does anybody have any better ideas for comfortable, on-your-feet-all-day shoes that are still slightly polished looking?

How about changing the rules, maybe just for a bit? As I see it you need to find the solution that fits YOU best and if 4-5 items 4 times a year suits you I would do that.

About the shoes I agree with fashionista-ta that oxford shoes could be good.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

Plus I don't think cashmere sweaters count... at least they don't in my "4-5 things" rule book ;-) Basics don't count...and a black cashmere sweater definitley is a basic for me

 

[greengrassia]

for me, i generally live in basics. so basics def count as 4-5 pieces. the thing is, i tend to break the rule by buying for next season. like i've just bought two pair of boots within a month. one for spring, and another one, i justify it by thinking "it will be good investment for next fall".
but all in all, i'm way happier with my purchases now since i started to take really good control of my buy. i mean, i try to think hard if the piece is absolutely essential and if i will wear it on any given day. i somehow stopped buying low quality craps, and really invest in good quality, timeless pieces. i basically started this approach last year, and my goal is to complete my basic wardrobe. and i estimate it will take me probably another two years to reach that goal. and that's where my focus is at the moment. i basically only buy and live in basics now, and i'm way happier.
but after i've accomplished my goal by filling up all the gaps in my basic wardrobe, which is quite small, like i still need a good classic trench, some nice sweaters, etc, maybe i can take the next step to invest in statement pieces. but step by step, i'm on my way ^-^

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I don't consider it breaking the rules to buy for the next season When a new Nordstrom opened here one fall, what they stocked was resort & it was available earlier than I've ever seen it, like October. So I really was buying a piece to wear the following spring and summer (and it's still a favorite). Since this is a warmer climate, I can wear things transitionally into potentially Nov/Dec, so ... it all kinda makes sense

I've noticed recently a change in the way I structure my seasonal buys. I don't know if this is changing taste, getting older, or what. But I used to look for a print, often a skirt, as a key piece for the season. Then there was a time when I had a bunch of silk paisley wrap skirts. Now, except for animal print, I'm just not liking prints any more. Vera Wang has some bold floral prints that I think I would have really gone for years ago, but ... meh. These days I'm buying solid colors and looking for details, and then statement accessories. I would like to get a colored bag possibly, like not long ago Lanvin had a light rose pink one I really liked ... or red would be good. Nina Ricci has some pretty bags ... unfortunately the ones I really like are intended for evening and are a bit small (even for me) to carry for day--and too expensive to buy for evening (for my life anyway).

 

[lucy92]

ShoestringTravel, i think you should buy the short rubber hunter boots and wear them to work and change into more fashionable shoes at work. i keep extra pairs of shoes at my work for this purpose.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

I want to make this a little more precise...

Shoes

I already own black and beige ballet flats. Bought them last summer and they still look perfect... It was well worth the price ;-)
For shoes I really need:

• black high heels (not too high though as I'm already 174!)
• sandals ( Michael Kors and MJ make beautiful ones)
• wedges. (The high heels & sandals count as basics in my opinion...so it's ok I guess)

Top

• Black leather jacket (every leather jacket I find is far too big and thick...I'm looking for a shorter, well fitted, thin one like the Rick Owens one below - this one is too expensive for me though!If anyone has seen one... please let me know ;-) )
• White and black dresses for summer

Bottom

• black mini skirt
• pants in a bright colour (either orange or blue)

Other

• grey light weight scarf by American Apparel
• Marc Jacobs Bag
• Black bikini (I cannot wait to run around in a bikini nonstop soooon!)

I finally did it and bought the Marc Jacobs Bag It took me a while to decide... But I think I definitley made the right choice with the black Q Natasha. It's classic, timeless, the leather is beautiful.
Every girl should own a timeless, black leather bag I think :-)

I also picked up a pair of bright blue Zara pants and they look so chic. I will live in them this spring...

credits: marcjacobs, zara

 

[Betinapple]

I finally did it and bought the Marc Jacobs Bag It took me a while to decide... But I think I definitley made the right choice with the black Q Natasha. It's classic, timeless, the leather is beautiful.
Every girl should own a timeless, black leather bag I think :-)

I also picked up a pair of bright blue Zara pants and they look so chic. I will live in them this spring...

credits: marcjacobs, zara

Lovely items. I think you are definetly right about the bag I have found my perfect bag - now I just need to find the money for it.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

Thank you Batinapple! I think it will arrive on Tuesday... I cannot wait <3
Next purchase will be: The sandals and platforms!

 

[ShoestringTravel]

BonjourTristesse, Betinapple, Ta-ta,

Thanks for your ideas! You're right about the oxford styles with good support for standing/walking all day + decent weather coverage. I own two pairs (a no-name and a Frye version--do we sense a theme here ? ). At times I would like to wear something more feminine for shoes, as I'm often pairing the oxfords or the Frye boots with wide-leg jeans and a blazer--the blazer and the oxfords or boots together tend to verge on the masculine on me, what with the way I wear my hair and makeup, glasses vs. contacts, etc. I try to mix the blazers in with ballet flats instead and add a scarf to soften the entire look. I'm doing my student teaching right now in a high school, and you really have to watch what you wear! Nothing low-cut (for when you bend over), nothing sleeveless, nothing that rides up and shows skin in back or front when you bend over, nothing uncomfortable on your feet because you stand and walk all day, and nothing too casual, because you want to look different from the students and get a bit more respect from looking nice. Add to that the fact that it's student teaching, which means you pay a university $$$$ to work an unpaid 40+ hour a week job.......well, at least it's over in another term! Sorry to get off-topic, but there are some clear parameters I have to dress in, and they are somewhat limiting.....

I also agree about breaking "the rules" for awhile and picking up some more pieces--I think the wearing-out rate is exceeding the replacement rate at the moment!

 

[greengrassia]

hi shoestringtravel: just to weigh in my 2 cents: why don't you wear a dress? a dress will instantly make your look feminine without much frill. a nice shirt dress, or a shift dress, or even a smock dress that you can add a nice belt, and then a blazer or cardigan to look professional. that way you can be more free with your footwear, like you can wear oxfords without worrying it will look too masculine. to me a dress is the easiest piece of clothting and almost a no-brainer cause i don't even need to match the top and the bottom. and it's comfy yet so feminine ^-^

 

[fashionista-ta]

You could also try creating some contrast with perfume/makeup/jewelry/hair/nails ... Having to be so careful about what you wear sounds a bit of a drag ...

 

[Betinapple]

@Shoesstringtravel: I aggree with greengrassia that a dress would be a great way to adding some femininity! What about a short ancle boot instead of the oxfords for when you're wearing pants?

I've just recieved my 3rd piece for SS11. The perfect summer shoes. I got them as a gift as a thank for the press I've given the company on my blog (its my fave shoebrand, so I write about them a lot) so I have more to spend on my other items.

I have everything i "need" now, so everything else will just be extras or maybe I will use the extra two pieces to buy AW stuff since I need them more.

 

[ShoestringTravel]

Thanks again for more ideas re: dress and footwear. I've got, ahem, one dress to my name, but I'll break it out this week and see how it goes

One trick I've found with the tops I have that have low necklines, is to tuck a scarf in under my top, and tuck the ends into my bra/bra straps, so it looks like I'm wearing a nice silk blouse underneath, say, a sweater with a low neckline. Because I've tucked it in securely it doesn't come out, and now it looks like I've got a bunch of different blouses to wear under things, when in fact they're just cheap but pretty silk scarves. They're also nice under sweaters, as you don't get the added bulk of wearing an actual blouse under a thin sweater.

I'm sure the above is a trick others have figured out, but I've rediscovered it lately and been getting some mileage out of it.

Cool shoes, Betinapple. Do you have a link to your blog we could read?