The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #6

[Betinapple]

Eizhowa: Really love your resent purchases. Also I would def. Keep the ACNE pumps if I were in your shoes (pun very much intended)

Trenchcoat: Not sure if you can use my SS essentials since they are personal and not neccesarily on trend. But so far:

1. Trenchcoat (perhaps Vintage Burberry)
2. Fitted Breton sweater
3. Mid-sized black bag. Perhaps something Chanel-ish
4. A fitted black all-round skirt
5. A black boucle jacket
6. Perhaps a new wallet - I will try dying mu old one black since nothing is wrong with it, the red leather is just starting to look worn.

I am not neccesarily getting all of them. My only NEED is the trenchcoat. And then the sweater and perhaps the bag is my top priorities. The other things are just things I have in mind when shopping.

Ta-ta: thanks for your advice as well. I decided against it. Have you got a picture of the sandals? Are they Lanvin perhaps?

Jina: wow - I am impressed. I think I am pretty good sticking to my shoppinglists - but not like you Great stockings - and I think it is great you decided not to buy a new dress. And really, how many party dresses does one need? I myself have far too many.

Have you started your SS list?

 

[Jinadaze]

God no, as Juliette said the winter here is yet to begin, it was really mild till now. I just know I will be on the hunt for a perfect white dress and also shirts/formal tops with short sleeves or without. Basically just the items I wanted to get in the previous SS seasons but nothing 'just right' came across.

 

[Nymphaea]

I'm still in the winter mood, no ideas for summer yet.
Still looking voor some nice (cashmere) sweaters.
Hopefully the upcoming F/W 14.15 shows have some nice items, because I'm planning to go to London in october, yay!

 

[Betinapple]

God no, as Juliette said the winter here is yet to begin, it was really mild till now. I just know I will be on the hunt for a perfect white dress and also shirts/formal tops with short sleeves or without. Basically just the items I wanted to get in the previous SS seasons but nothing 'just right' came across.

I feel you. Like I mentioned earlier it has only just gotten cold(er) here as well. It has been easier for me to make my AW14 list than my SS14 list - but like you I had a few things on my mind from last season as well.

 

[Fewormany]

Very classic/timeless SS-lists so far, I like how focus everyone is.
I'm pretty content with my SS wardrobe, my list so far:

Only thing I really need:
Summer shoes/sandals (gonna be tricky, open shoes for men rarely look good).

Possible wants:
Nice shorts (not sure yet on the color, but something that matches my summer colors)
Lightweight jeans/pants (not sure on the color either)

I'm sticking to the colors I've been wearing the last summer(s grey, white, mint green, blue/navy, beige and a bit of orange.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Maybe get a pedicure--I find that's the secret to making sandals look good! (They can do it without polish or anything like that--though I do see polish on guys! Definitely not very Dutch ...)

 

[eizhowa]

FeworMany: I was going to say something similar to what ta-ta said Nice feet in nice shoes is always a good look But not a french manicure, please! They make toes look like chubby little sausage fingers

Thank you, Betina! I wouldn't worry to much about the boots. Like you said, they are worth it, and this way, you don't need to tie up your money at ACNE. And I am pretty sure the Acne pumps are staying. No clue when I should wear them, but they make me look so tall

--

Colors: I said earlier that I couldn't wear navy or blues because they make me look very yellow and sickly. Well, thats changed I think it is mainly because I eat less apples and spend more time outside. I spent my two last years of high school in a basement without much natural light, eating primarily apples (and studying) and doing little else. That can't have been good for my skin and well-being I was very yellow, but now I think I have more of a neutral skin tone. A little bit more yellow than pink, but not to the point where it is an issue. This means I can wear navy/black/gold combinations again!! * happy dance * I think navy will complement the other colors in my wardrobe well.

 

[Fewormany]

^ Maybe get a pedicure--I find that's the secret to making sandals look good! (They can do it without polish or anything like that--though I do see polish on guys! Definitely not very Dutch ...)

Not Dutch at all!

I think step one is finding nice sandals, I'm not sure if a pedicure is needed. My feet look quite ok (ok, because they're still feet. One of the ugliest bodyparts, no matter how well kept) actually.

eizhowa I have a yellow undertone in my skin as well but never had any problems wearing blue. It's one of my best colors actually.
Navy look great with gold, good combination!

 

[Caramel]

eizhowa I have a yellow undertone in my skin as well but never had any problems wearing blue. It's one of my best colors actually.

Me too, I have a neutral to yellow skintone and dark blue and navy are some of the tones I feel best in.

Colour is actually one of my big issues at the moment. I feel like I need a new accent colour in my wardrobe but I have a hard time finding one that looks good on me. More or less everything I have is black, white, pale grey, camel, navy, plus a few pieces in light olive. Very classic, which I am very comfortable with, but it sometimes feels a bit boring. I don't know, I might just be giving in to my friends who keep saying they wish I'd wear more colour...

As for this season's shopping, I have been looking for some nice knitwear for months, but haven't found anything I like yet. I'll see if I can find a cashmere sweater or two when I go to London next month, otherwise I'll put it on my AW14 list. I am also keeping an eye out for a pair of black lace-up boots in the sales, but only if I come across a very good deal.

I have also made some unsuccessful online sale purchases this month. Two cashmere sweaters which turned out to be of really bad quality, they are going straight back. And something non-wintery, a pair of Sam Edelman ballet flats which were sadly too small (the store sent me the wrong size - the second time that's happened with them ). They seemed incredibly comfortable though, such a soft cushioned sole, so it's definitely a brand I'll keep in mind. Also a pair of patent leather Bloch ballet flats which turned out to be grey rather than the nude the pictures showed. They are quite lovely, and the fit is really great on my short, wide feet, but I just don't know if I need a pair of grey shoes. I could exchange them for a black pair, since black ballet flats are on my spring list, but I think maybe black patent flats are a little too much like the dressy shoes I would wear as a child...especially when there are bows.


Other than that I am planning for next season. What I am thinking so far is:

• Black ballet flats
• White blouse (maybe with some eyelet or subtle white embroidery)
• Bag (I am considering this or something similar, but I still haven't decided whether the lack of lining and closure will bother me...)
• Navy skirt
• Trench coat (I have been looking for a replacement for years, but still haven't found something I like enough to invest a lot of money in...)

And I also need to replace some basics like t-shirts, black jeans, and tennis shoes. I think this will be my priority for the coming month instead of any more winter items.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ We have a thread called something like What is your best color?, and it has some color analysis info in it. If you look good in olive, are you an Autumn? What about teal or duck egg blue? What colors do you use when decorating?

 

[eizhowa]

Me too, I have a neutral to yellow skintone and dark blue and navy are some of the tones I feel best in.

Colour is actually one of my big issues at the moment. I feel like I need a new accent colour in my wardrobe but I have a hard time finding one that looks good on me. More or less everything I have is black, white, pale grey, camel, navy, plus a few pieces in light olive. Very classic, which I am very comfortable with, but it sometimes feels a bit boring. I don't know, I might just be giving in to my friends who keep saying they wish I'd wear more colour...

As for this season's shopping, I have been looking for some nice knitwear for months, but haven't found anything I like yet. I'll see if I can find a cashmere sweater or two when I go to London next month, otherwise I'll put it on my AW14 list. I am also keeping an eye out for a pair of black lace-up boots in the sales, but only if I come across a very good deal.

I have also made some unsuccessful online sale purchases this month. Two cashmere sweaters which turned out to be of really bad quality, they are going straight back. And something non-wintery, a pair of Sam Edelman ballet flats which were sadly too small (the store sent me the wrong size - the second time that's happened with them ). They seemed incredibly comfortable though, such a soft cushioned sole, so it's definitely a brand I'll keep in mind. Also a pair of patent leather Bloch ballet flats which turned out to be grey rather than the nude the pictures showed. They are quite lovely, and the fit is really great on my short, wide feet, but I just don't know if I need a pair of grey shoes. I could exchange them for a black pair, since black ballet flats are on my spring list, but I think maybe black patent flats are a little too much like the dressy shoes I would wear as a child...especially when there are bows.


Other than that I am planning for next season. What I am thinking so far is:

• Black ballet flats
• White blouse (maybe with some eyelet or subtle white embroidery)
• Bag (I am considering this or something similar, but I still haven't decided whether the lack of lining and closure will bother me...)
• Navy skirt
• Trench coat (I have been looking for a replacement for years, but still haven't found something I like enough to invest a lot of money in...)

And I also need to replace some basics like t-shirts, black jeans, and tennis shoes. I think this will be my priority for the coming month instead of any more winter items.

Concerning the bag; Definitly go with a version without any closure. This design looks best without them. I got a zipper closure myself (stupid-stupid-stupid), have never used it and really regret paying more for it. It looks better when open, and the zipper just gets in the way. Also, it stores way less when closed! I have never had an issue with the open-ness of the bag. I really love mine

I have found that burgundy works really well with my color scheme of black, grey, dark green and now navy. I think it is because it is a warm color, so it is more of a contrast to all the cool tones in my wardrobe. So even if it is not neon pink, it still brightens everything up quite a bit.

--
Navy: I am not saying people with a yellow skin tone can't look good in navy, but when I left high school, it was definitly an unflattering color on me. I was much much more yellow back then. Especially my face and hands. I looked like I had nicotine fingers I was very self-conscious about it, and blues just emphasized it... But anyway, it is all in the past. I love navy now

--

Is there anyone who doesn't either already have a trench or have one on their S/S wishlist?

 

[Caramel]

^ We have a thread called something like What is your best color?, and it has some color analysis info in it. If you look good in olive, are you an Autumn? What about teal or duck egg blue? What colors do you use when decorating?

I have read quite a bit about seasonal colour theory, but I still can't make quite sense of it. I don't know if I have problems seeing myself clearly, but
I feel like I don't fit entirely into any of the categories. I am leaning towards maybe a soft autumn or soft summer. I am quite pale but I have olive undertones which makes my skin look quite yellow, when there are actually a mix of warm and cool undertones. When shopping for makeup the SA's tend to push warm colours on me, but they often make me look quite sickly. Cool pinks and reds suit me better. For clothes, I look good in white while cream makes me look sick, which would suggest cool toned. But then I also look good in olive and camel/tan which are warm, and I definitely prefer gold over silver.

My home has lots of white, with dark woods, natural linen, dark tweed, gold accents, sometimes pops of pink with flowers and such. Again, not much colour. I have always preferred playing with texture rather than colour, so I suppose I am very out of practice. I actually do look good in some clear bright pinks, but since I have a kind of young and innocent face (and I am not that young) I find that colour hard to wear. I might see if I can find some different kinds of blues and teal to try and see how that works though.

 

[eizhowa]

^I tried to make sense of color theory too, but it didn't really get me far either...

This is very unscientific, but I think going for a color that you like, doesn't make you look sickly and works with your wardrobe is a decent method. I think some of the people in this thread tried to tell me this last year, but it took a while before it sunk in Btw, your home sounds nice!

 

[fashionista-ta]

I use red as an accent color myself, and both pink and red (in different rooms) at home, and I think those colors are very effective. You get a lot of bang for your buck

To me, red sounds like it would go better with your color scheme. I have a couple red cardigans, multiple red/russet shoes, a watermelon red top ... I think you should try an item and see how you like it. Shoes are very effective ...

 

[Ganybelle]

Is there anyone who doesn't either already have a trench or have one on their S/S wishlist?

Me I actually don't like them much, especially the beige ones. But that might have to do with the fact that I look horrible in beige.

 

[Caramel]

^I tried to make sense of color theory too, but it didn't really get me far either...

This is very unscientific, but I think going for a color that you like, doesn't make you look sickly and works with your wardrobe is a decent method. I think some of the people in this thread tried to tell me this last year, but it took a while before it sunk in Btw, your home sounds nice!

I think that is a much better idea, actually. But I think perhaps I keep coming back to the colour theory method because I can't seem to find a colour that I truly like apart from the ones I already wear.

I have found that burgundy works really well with my color scheme of black, grey, dark green and now navy. I think it is because it is a warm color, so it is more of a contrast to all the cool tones in my wardrobe. So even if it is not neon pink, it still brightens everything up quite a bit.

I use red as an accent color myself, and both pink and red (in different rooms) at home, and I think those colors are very effective. You get a lot of bang for your buck

To me, red sounds like it would go better with your color scheme. I have a couple red cardigans, multiple red/russet shoes, a watermelon red top ... I think you should try an item and see how you like it. Shoes are very effective ...

I have always had problems with red for some reason...I like how it looks, even on me if it's the right shade, but I just can't live with it. It's too intense for me maybe? As for pink, I could perhaps try it, but I don't know which garments one could wear in pink without looking too much like a Barbie doll..? It feels very girly. Perhaps more of a pinkish plum, though. I am kind of warming up to burgundy too, though I don't know if it looks that good on me.

 

[Caramel]

Concerning the bag; Definitly go with a version without any closure. This design looks best without them. I got a zipper closure myself (stupid-stupid-stupid), have never used it and really regret paying more for it. It looks better when open, and the zipper just gets in the way. Also, it stores way less when closed! I have never had an issue with the open-ness of the bag. I really love mine

I think I am sold on it. I have been eyeing it for so long, and not yet seen anything that I like as much so I think I will regret it if I don't!

 

[Betinapple]

@Eizhowa: my thoughts excactly. Also I do not feel like taking even more money out of my budget, and if I had not thought the boots were worth the expense I would not have bought them in the first place.

I do not wear heels a lot myself neither (except from boots) but I guess the ACNE pumps will be good for occasions? That is when I wear my own black pumps. - and yay about the navy! I love navy although I have very little of it in my wardrobe.

@Caramel: good knitwear is hard to find, I think. My friends are nagging me in regards of colours as well. I do not mind colour for everything else, but even though I started buying neutral clothes to have it all go together, these days I find that I just feel my best in black.

@Ganybelle: funny, I would never wear beige neither, except on a trenchcoat which I find looks just fine with my complexion.

Colours: I would love to know what colours suits me, but I am absolutely clueless to be frank. I have no skills in that area whatsoever. I am going with the tactics Eizhowa mentions. I was considering adding something burgundy as well and perhaps some navy. Nothing major, just some accesories, like a scarf.

 

[Betinapple]

Oh forgot this.. I thrifted this lovely Rosemunde leotard when visiting my mother last week. Really lovely, made from 100% soft wool and with a nice lace detail.

 

[Caramel]

@Caramel: good knitwear is hard to find, I think. My friends are nagging me in regards of colours as well. I do not mind colour for everything else, but even though I started buying neutral clothes to have it all go together, these days I find that I just feel my best in black.

Re. knitwear: I am amazed at the poor quality of most knitwear I find in the shops these days, even from mid-high end brands. I refuse to pay 1000-2000 NOK for a sweater with 50% acrylic content. Even a lot of cashmere doesn't feel as it should to me nowadays. I think I might have to make an effort to find some more vintage cashmere pieces, as those are the ones I always reach for in my wardrobe. The quality is so much softer and heavier than anything I've found new.
That, and perhaps put in an order or two with my mother, who is a great knitter. Some of my favourite knitwear that I own are made by her.