The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #6

[Caramel]

betinapple, your leotard is so pretty!

 

[eizhowa]

Caramel: I bought a grey cashmere turtleneck off Ebay about a year ago and it is by far the softest and warmest I own. Zero pilling-action going on! I think it is from the 80s, and it cost me about 30 USD/200NOK... Shame it is unbranded, I would love to know who made it...

I fell in love with a Vanessa Bruno sweater that cost 3000 NOK, and it was 50% acryllic I think... Such a shame. I am counting on having relatives knit my chunky knits. At least that way, I can get pure wool ones.

I am sorry if you already mentioned it and I forgot, but what is your coloring (skin, hair, eyes), Caramel?

 

[Caramel]

eizhowa:I think I tend to slightly misjudge my colouring, as it has changed a bit as I've gotten older. I have more contrasts now than I used to - my hair has gotten darker and my skin lighter. My skin is a pale olive/neutral, at first glance it looks more yellow but I think there is a mix of cool and warm, and I very easily look sick and washed out in the wrong hues. My hair is medium-dark brown (I think warm, as I get kind of golden highlights when in the sun), and my eyes are dark blue with golden brown around the iris (which means they look green from a distance). So, I'm a little bit of everything it seems! (this goes well with my personality, as I can never make up my mind about anything...)

Also, 3000 NOK for 50% acrylic is just insane to me! Home made or vintage is definitely a good option I think. I just knit my first cardigan last autumn, it wasn't perfect but not bad at all for a first attempt. I may give it another go soon.

 

[Betinapple]

@Caramel: thank you! I know what you mean in regards of knitwear. I find that almost everything has acrylic content these days.. Not sure if this brand is available in Norway but I am really happy with my Sibin Linnebjerg knits. I got pieces from that brand now and just talked my mother inty buying a sweater as well. My cardigan is 100% lambswool and my sweater is merino and alpaca. I paid 1300 DKK for the cardi and 500 for the sweater (marked down from 800). I find that very reasonable considering the quality and choice of material. There is rarely any pilling and the knitwear keeps its shape despite the lack of synthetic content.

They do have a few things with acrylic in it, but it cost almost the same as the things in only natural materials.

-------------------------

I really thought I was done with this months shopping frenzy - I can't remember the last time I bought SO much during one month, but I have been really lucky with the sales this year. Today when I went grocery shopping and passed a new outlet store and came across this jacket. I was contemplating buying it (but in navy blue) when we reach fall but it was marked down so much that I would have been insane not to get it. Especially since I was contemplating getting it in this pattern before I decided on the blue one.

Hopefully I am DONE now I am planning on returning to my 1 purchase each month strategy as we reach February.

Pic via peakperformance.com

 

[Caramel]

betinapple: I remember that cardigan you got, but I have never heard of the brand before so I doubt I'll be able to find it in shops here. I'll have a look for it online. The pricing sounds very reasonable for 100% wool pieces too.

 

[Betinapple]

So I have just been told that me and my boyfriend will have to move out of our apartment for a month or possibly too since an important part of the construction has been damaged by the water damage they have been workingbon fixing since October. How on earth does one pack clothes for a month? Guessing this will be the ultimate wardrobe test

 

[eizhowa]

^Well, I managed for a month on 6 items I think you will be fine

I think you've been given a great oportunity to see what your capsule wardrobe would look like...


Not being able to sleep in your own bed for two months however, that sounds terrible

 

[Betinapple]

betinapple: I remember that cardigan you got, but I have never heard of the brand before so I doubt I'll be able to find it in shops here. I'll have a look for it online. The pricing sounds very reasonable for 100% wool pieces too.

Do that - it has become one of my favourite brands and definetely my go-to brand for knitwear.

 

[Betinapple]

^Well, I managed for a month on 6 items I think you will be fine

I think you've been given a great oportunity to see what your capsule wardrobe would look like...


Not being able to sleep in your own bed for two months however, that sounds terrible

I must admit that despite trying to keep cool and focus on the positive aspects of the situation I am fed up! Our kitchen has been a construction zone for three months already. For a long period we haven't been able to cook and everything is a mess since we had to move all of our kitchen supplies into the livingroom.

The bed is the smallest issue. It really needs changing and we are planning to buy a new one as soon as our home is no longer a construction site so that part can only get better sorry about the off topic content.

I wear the same clothes over and over again anyhow, so I do not think that it will be a huge deal anyhow. Hopefully it will help me get rid of the last few things I do not wear on a regular basis although I barely have anything left in that category except from party dresses and high heels.

 

[eizhowa]

^To me it is not about the quality of the bed, just the fact that it is my bed. The centre of my universe etc. etc.

Must be a huge relief to finaly see some progress at least... Will everything be done when you move back in?

 

[Betinapple]

^To me it is not about the quality of the bed, just the fact that it is my bed. The centre of my universe etc. etc.

Must be a huge relief to finaly see some progress at least... Will everything be done when you move back in?

Not sure if I would call it progress. They just put the wall between our kitchen and the neighbours bathroom back up - now they have to tear it back down. Not excactly sure what the plan is.

I prefer sleeping in my own bed as well. But you know - trying to focus on the bright sides (;

 

[eizhowa]

I'm not leaving until late February, so I'd love an update before then. I've been into Uniqlo a number of times, but for some reason that store always overwhelms me so I never end up buying anything.

(Yes, I am quoting from the "what did you buy today" thread... it was just easier)

I'll start wearing it tomorrow I really liked uniqlo, actually. There is a LOT of stuff in one shop, but they have very few different styles. Right now, they have the same puffa-jackets, wool sweaters and cardigans in 30 different colors and very little else. It was so much easier to navigate. In contrast, I walked into a Zara and walked straight out Sensory overload! To be fair, it was a sale going on and everything was probably out on display... To get all of the items I wanted, I did have to go to 4-5 different Uniqlos though

Colors: I really like brunettes in dark greens. Have you tried to find a shade of green that will suit you? Even if some wash you out, there could still be one magical shade You could use the fact that your eyes look green from afar to your advantage. My little sister has brown/blue/grey eyes that look green if she wears certain greens. She has also found that a black eyeliner makes her eyes pop and look very green. Of course, you'll have too keep your skintone in mind.

woodlandmarchingband.tumblr/ladyofsilences.blogspot/dagbladet/imdb

Betina: Ah, well then. Sleeping in your own bed is such a hassle! I don't even know why we bother with a bed of our own!

 

[Betinapple]

(Yes, I am quoting from the "what did you buy today" thread... it was just easier)

I'll start wearing it tomorrow I really liked uniqlo, actually. There is a LOT of stuff in one shop, but they have very few different styles. Right now, they have the same puffa-jackets, wool sweaters and cardigans in 30 different colors and very little else. It was so much easier to navigate. In contrast, I walked into a Zara and walked straight out Sensory overload! To be fair, it was a sale going on and everything was probably out on display... To get all of the items I wanted, I did have to go to 4-5 different Uniqlos though

Colors: I really like brunettes in dark greens. Have you tried to find a shade of green that will suit you? Even if some wash you out, there could still be one magical shade You could use the fact that your eyes look green from afar to your advantage. My little sister has brown/blue/grey eyes that look green if she wears certain greens. She has also found that a black eyeliner makes her eyes pop and look very green. Of course, you'll have too keep your skintone in mind.

woodlandmarchingband.tumblr/ladyofsilences.blogspot/dagbladet/imdb

Betina: Ah, well then. Sleeping in your own bed is such a hassle! I don't even know why we bother with a bed of our own!

That's the spirit (;

I know what you mean regarding Zara. I have given up the idea of shopping in their stores. I just can't.

 

[eizhowa]

My first encounter with Zara was completely different from how they are now. I think it was around 2006, and I was on Holiday in Warzaw. The shop was super-tidy, had a calm athmosphere - it was almost empty, and a very polite, well dressed man opened the door for you. The clothes seemed looked very expensive because of it. Today it is crowded, loud (both due to people and the music!), cluttered and very bright. Makes avoiding the shop much easier... It looks like H&M now, I think... We will get a Zara in our town in a year or two (they have been trying for years to get permission to build), and all of the exitement I had years ago has died away. Even my friend, who doesn't bother much with "the dark side" of Zara backed out of the shop very quickly

 

[Caramel]

betinapple: What a frustrating situation! We had something similar happen once, so I don't envy you one bit.

Colour: I have been giving it some more thought, and I think I may not need to introduce a new colour to my wardrobe necessarily. I do have some blues and greens but they are mostly spring/summer pieces, so I think that's where my current frustration comes from. I think I just need some more pieces with colour, especially for my winter wardrobe, and that I can focus on those two for now, maybe explore some different shades. So I like your suggestion eizhowa. I really do like green. I used to make a lot of 50's style dresses a some years ago, and I have a green one that I really like the shade of (it's kind of hard to see the true colour here though since the lighting is quite low). I generally don't see too much green in stores though. Perhaps that's why I tend to feel more comfortable in the men's departments, there are always lots of pretty greens and blues.

And re. Uniqlo, I really like that sort of shop in theory, but it's probably the colour thing that throws me, and the fact that I find decision making so difficult! I'm the same in f.ex Benetton. If I can choose from ten different colours and I'm not even quite sure what looks good on me...hopeless

 

[eizhowa]

Caramel: Hunting for the perfect green is not easy... You basically have to wait for it to appear on the runway and become fashionable... I agree that the colors in mens departments are much nicer. They are often more flattering and classic, I find. I really liked the green dress

 

[Caramel]

Oh, and I also decided to send back the grey Bloch flats and exchange them for black ones. I do have some grey in my wardrobe and I really like pale greys, but I don't think it suits me that well so I want to try to limit my use of it. I'm still a little unsure of black patent ballet flats, but I'll try them out and see what I think. I do need a pair of black ballet flats, and they were 50% off, so.

And the cashmere sweaters also went back today, but instead I ordered a vintage one from etsy last night...

 

[Trenchcoat]

Eizhowa I do have to agree with you on ZARA. Especially in the sales the clothes look so cheap because the biggest part of the sale is of TRF, the cheaper brand that is sold in ZARA. But if you look only in the more expensive WOMAN collection you can find some really pretty things. Their clothes are so feminine. Yesterday I went to the ZARA and bought black (suit) trousers (from 60 to 10 euros) and a black tight skinny (50 to 15 euros). It's a little bit silky cotton.


zara.com

The things that I have bought recently
- Beige cashmere sweater
- Black suit trousers
- Camel jacket
- Black jacket
- Ballerina's leather black
- Black bag (for school)
- Black skinny

Things still on my wishlist
- Black silk cami
- White silk blouse
- Something emerald green (just like Eizhowa's post!)
- Coat (maybe next year, the winter is over here, I will wear my trenchcoat in a while)
- Grey shirt
- Navy cami

As you can see I've invested in some basics because I didnt have them.

 

[Betinapple]

Eizhowa: Zara has been bad all the time I have been coming the their stores. The first time must have been in 2009 or 2010. I have only bought one thing at their stores - a scarf. In Zurich. A panic "I have to buy something on this vaction"-purchase. Everything is just so.. messy. I even find H&M to be better.

Caramel: thank you. It is indeed frustrating. I know how you feel regarding colours being better in the mens department. I work in a mens/boys clothing store and I find that we have a lot of nice colours - but nothing that I can seem to find in the womens department.

I do not think you need to worry about grey not being your best colour when it is for shoes, but I can understand why you feel the black would be a better choice. I have a pair of Bloch ballet flats, that I have been quite happy with.

BTW: love that green dress of yours!

 

[Caramel]

Caramel: thank you. It is indeed frustrating. I know how you feel regarding colours being better in the mens department. I work in a mens/boys clothing store and I find that we have a lot of nice colours - but nothing that I can seem to find in the womens department.

I do not think you need to worry about grey not being your best colour when it is for shoes, but I can understand why you feel the black would be a better choice. I have a pair of Bloch ballet flats, that I have been quite happy with.

BTW: love that green dress of yours!

Thank you!

Yes, I am not worried about the colour of the shoes not suiting me, just that I am trying to cut down on the amount of grey in my wardrobe in general so I worry that they wouldn't get too much use. The website showed the wrong picture, so when I ordered them I thought they were a light beige/nude, colour, which goes better with my wardrobe I think. They seemed quite comfortable though, so I hope I will like the black ones.

I went shopping with my boyfriend this afternoon, and he bought a lovely green blazer and cardigan. I was jealous! Sometimes I wish I could just borrow from his closet, but unfortunately the oversized look is not that good on me.