The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #3

[Betinapple]

Awww, congratulations on ordering the glasses, Betinapple. In case they don't fit, don't send them back. We might make a deal

Ta-ta: Christina Hendricks sure doesn't sound bad... Bad maybe not for a wedding.

Down coats: Thanks for your recommendations! I'm actually not really feeling like looking for a down coat in summer, I think I'll postpone that decision till September/October. I mean it could be something else than a down coat but it should work with really cold weather and snow... I've seen a few down jackets that look fine to me but I can't bring myself to order one now. Didn't see anything on sale either.

You're so cute According to fedex' tracking system they will arrive monday. Can't wait!

I understand your thinking about coats. I don't really feel like looking for one ATM either - I want summer! I do, however, think I've found out the kind I want. I think I'll be going for a cape. I've always wanted one, and it should go well with both all of my feminine and retroinspired outfits, and my pistols, which is my favourite footwear for winter.

 

[fashionista-ta]

barneys, nordstrom

Well, I had an incredibly successful shopping trip today!

Got a skirt and shoes for the wedding, and also found the replacement shoes I need for fall. Also some lingerie. For everything but the skirt, I also got double points. Did I mention I got a fabulous parking place right in front of Barney's? Thank you shopping gods

The skirt is navy with black silk lace down the sides like a tuxedo (back view so you can see the darting).

 

[Belowen]

It's still too early for me to be thinking about looking at my Spring/Summer wardrobe for the year, but I have a friend's wedding coming up in November that I will need a new outfit for. I saw this Olga Berg bag on an Australian brand sale website this morning and HAD to snap it up at $19.95.
brandsexclusive

Now I need to start thinking about a dress to match. Something appropriate for a tropical climate (possibly very hot &/or humid) in a colour that suits me and a style that I'll be able to re-wear. I was thinking of wearing a maxi dress but this clutch seems like it would suit more of an empire waisted cap sleeve floaty skirt style dress. Hmm.

 

[Betinapple]

@Ta-ta: gorgeous stuff! Do you have a pic of the front of the skirt?

Love the shoes. Are the heeled ones Miu Miu? The heel is very 1920s. The flats are gorgeous as well. Where are they from?

@Belowen: I love that bag. So femine and elegant. I think you are right about dress choise. I think a matte silk dress would look gorgous with the clutch - maybe worn with silver shoes as well.

I bought my first AW item. It was not on my list, but I'm quite happy with it anyway. It is a grey full skirt (my favourite kinda skirt), in a viscose/wool mix. It literally costed next to nothing (4 dollars) at an outlet. I have two similar ones in black and red that I use all the time, and think this grey one is going to be great for fall.

 

[RedandNavy]

Ta-Ta: Absolutely love both shoes!!! I actually have the same Miu Miu peep toes on my wish list, but in beige. How do they feel? Miu Miu shoes are my favorite, they have great styles and are relatively comfortable to my foot.

The flat ones are also great. Cool style! I'd love to have something like that (but maybe not black and white for me). Great stuff, congratulations!

Belowen: that's a pretty bag! Great purchase, too!

 

[lucy92]

fashionista-ta, i love the wedding outfit. do they call those heels "banana" heels? i dont own any heels like that. i think the skirt and shoes would look amazing with a lacey top!

i'm afraid of purchasing shoes with any bits of white on them.

i'm thinking about purchasing some sort of oxford type shoes. might head down to the john fluevog store here and see what they have. that brand is still very expensive - the last time i purchased shoes from them was the 90's.

 

[fashionista-ta]

@Ta-ta: gorgeous stuff! Do you have a pic of the front of the skirt?

Love the shoes. Are the heeled ones Miu Miu? The heel is very 1920s. The flats are gorgeous as well. Where are they from?

@Belowen: I love that bag. So femine and elegant. I think you are right about dress choise. I think a matte silk dress would look gorgous with the clutch - maybe worn with silver shoes as well.

I bought my first AW item. It was not on my list, but I'm quite happy with it anyway. It is a grey full skirt (my favourite kinda skirt), in a viscose/wool mix. It literally costed next to nothing (4 dollars) at an outlet. I have two similar ones in black and red that I use all the time, and think this grey one is going to be great for fall.

Thanks, betinapple, and congratulations on your bargain!

Here's a picture of the front of the skirt. It's Nina Ricci, which seems to fit me pretty well. (That's two of us who've bought Nina Ricci in the last month or so!) The shoes are Miu Miu and AGL.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Ta-Ta: Absolutely love both shoes!!! I actually have the same Miu Miu peep toes on my wish list, but in beige. How do they feel? Miu Miu shoes are my favorite, they have great styles and are relatively comfortable to my foot.

The flat ones are also great. Cool style! I'd love to have something like that (but maybe not black and white for me). Great stuff, congratulations!

Belowen: that's a pretty bag! Great purchase, too!

Thanks, R&N They feel great, or they wouldn't have come home The heel seems to be a very comfortable height (and I appreciate that she's doing them a little lower, but so beautiful). I haven't seen the beige here--just pink, black, navy, and I think a magenta or something like that. From what I've seen so far, Miu Miu seems to have the best shoes of this season. This is my first pair of both the lines I bought.

Thanks, lucy--I don't know what the heel is called What is a Cuban heel? I'm not sure ...

I tried on several lace tops, but wasn't able to find one that was quite right. The sleeves and collar of one blouse were just perfect ... the rest of it less so ...

The white is really ivory, and really beautiful Italian leather. Because it's only on top, I'm not worried about it ...

I noticed right away that there is a great selection of flat oxfords this season (as well as tuxedo inspired shoes). If you want some, now is definitely the time. I really like these because even though they're inspired by men's footwear, they are definitely a woman's shoe. If you remember the Lanvin oxfords I returned last season--that was my complaint, that they really looked like a man's shoe on my foot. They probably look cute in a size 5 or 6 ... anything that gives me a cross-dressing vibe, I just cannot deal with

 

[fashionista-ta]

PS It came to me! It's a Louis heel.

 

[Betinapple]

My new skirt

Also, my sunnies arrived today. I absolutely adore them! Will show you pictures as soon as possible

 

[RedandNavy]

Hey Betinapple, glad to hear your sunnies are great!! I imagine they look great!!

I'm slowly getting a better feeling for the season. I have chosen a few items that I'd really love to have and it feels consistent and good. I will probably still allow myself my monthly item since the dress was, well, one of the extra two things I'm allowed to buy during sales

One thing I need a bit help with: I would like to buy a skirt this season. I mean I always love dresses and dark blue jeans to cover my legs but I thought I might try to give a skirt a chance. I do want to try something new! But what skirt would be good for me? Skirts can easily look unflattering on me. I have short and (compared with my thin upper body) thick legs and I basically don't want to emphasize them to much. I don't really like any skirt that is heavy or tight. Any suggestions????

 

[Betinapple]

@RedAndNavy: They are litterally HUGE, but I love them. My boyfriend thought they were silly though - men

How about a skirt with a slight a-line. Maybe not a full skirt, but something with less fabric. I'm used to be heavier around the bottom than on the upper body, and I think that kind of skirt is the most flattering because it looks like it is the skirt that is heavy - not the body. I think you should go for something cutting just above the knee.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Hey Betinapple, glad to hear your sunnies are great!! I imagine they look great!!

I'm slowly getting a better feeling for the season. I have chosen a few items that I'd really love to have and it feels consistent and good. I will probably still allow myself my monthly item since the dress was, well, one of the extra two things I'm allowed to buy during sales

One thing I need a bit help with: I would like to buy a skirt this season. I mean I always love dresses and dark blue jeans to cover my legs but I thought I might try to give a skirt a chance. I do want to try something new! But what skirt would be good for me? Skirts can easily look unflattering on me. I have short and (compared with my thin upper body) thick legs and I basically don't want to emphasize them to much. I don't really like any skirt that is heavy or tight. Any suggestions????

What about a godet or mermaid skirt? I find wool crepe to be really useful ... gabardine is good too, and wears like iron.

My new skirt will be hemmed just below the knee, or where you can see the last hint of knee I bought it before the shoes and said I would bring it back when I had them in case it made a slight difference. The alternations guy was quite funny ... he said that regardless of the shoes, my knees would be in the same place

 

[Betinapple]

My prada sunnies

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I'm really having a hard time with the 10 piece pr. season concept these days, where all the new items are arriving in stores AND the final sale is still going on. Spent 5 hours (window)shopping today, and bought nothing. I did however find a dress, I think I might buy. It is a LBD, which is on my list, but not excactly what I had in mind. It is short sleeved and in a 50's silhouette. Very nice and pretty, and a good substitute for the one I've almost worn out.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Very cute!

 

[RedandNavy]

Love love love the sunnies!!! I'm soooo jealous!!! Super cute on you though!

Skirt: Thanks for the recommendations! Right now I'm thinking I might stick with the dresses strategy though. But I might go and try on some skirts once when I get some time. But then again, when dresses look so much more flattering on me, why not stick with dresses?

Betinapple: I understand what you are saying. Right now I would want at least 50 things, no joke Try to keep yourself a bit in check though Usually, there are even better things coming into stores in September... (at least that's my experience). And the next sale will come, too. There will always be so many covetable items out there...... But I feel you!

 

[Melisande]

Ta-ta I love the black heels. And very nice Betinapple!

Recently got a great black skirt like that (with pockets, yay!), which is one item off my list, which took ages to find.
Yesterday I also FINALLY found a great pair of red leather wedge sandals, which were comfy, cute and with the perfect heel height.
How the simplest things are so hard to find!!

For winter I will be needing a pair of black thigh boots, short booties, pumps, and a down coat. Not fun purchases, but I guess they will have to be my 4 pieces because they are main items. Oh well.

 

[Betinapple]

Thx for all the nice comments about my sunnies. I want to wear them all the time.

@RedandNavy: If it aint broken - why fix it? Unless you really want something new, though.

Thx for your pep talk I felt a bit better today where I took home to items on trial. A dress and a cardigan. I'm much more calm when I have the items in my hands. I will try them on with the rest of my wardrobe and see what works. I think they are both going back, however. Making decissions is easier when I have plenty of time and do not have to worry if the item will be gone once I make a decission. Works for me. Regarding these specifific items they are nice, but I think I can find something better. The dress is really great (50s cut, longer waist, good lenght) but has some panels at the side which makes it look uneven to me, and it would bother me to much.

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@Melisande: I hear you! Took me months to find a simple tank top that I liked. Sometimes I think the image in my head is to strong.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Ta-ta I love the black heels. And very nice Betinapple!

Recently got a great black skirt like that (with pockets, yay!), which is one item off my list, which took ages to find.
Yesterday I also FINALLY found a great pair of red leather wedge sandals, which were comfy, cute and with the perfect heel height.
How the simplest things are so hard to find!!

For winter I will be needing a pair of black thigh boots, short booties, pumps, and a down coat. Not fun purchases, but I guess they will have to be my 4 pieces because they are main items. Oh well.

Thanks, Melisande

I don't know, I think all those purchases could be fun ... I had fun buying my shoes My SA said it was like Sex in the City, and I was Charlotte ... which I think I'm not, but possibly the best character to be compared to? I have only seen a couple episodes I think, but it's pretty hard to escape in the culture ...

betinapple, I have given up on having images in my head ... I think it only works if you can make the clothes yourself, or have them made. There are places in Asia where you can have anything made ... vacation idea for you

 

[Betinapple]

@Ta-ta: I think most purchases are fun as well. Mostly because I nowadays buy my basics with some detaling, so it's not just boring staples. I hate replacing things though. Ultimately most boring shopping!

The images in my head thing rarely works for me either. I've gotten pretty good at readjusting. I must go to Asia sometime - when I get rich