The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #7

[Betinapple]

What kind of Uniqlo knitwear have you been buying, ladies? Cause I have to say that I haven't been very pleased with the merino sweater I got there in August. It has already gotten several small holes and generally look worn. In comparism my old Benneton lambswool sweater lasted me 2 winters where I wore it every day more or less. Maybe I should have gotten the cashmere one grom Uniqlo?

 

[eizhowa]

^Thats too bad The merino sweaters are not very fine knit, and they can snag easily I think. I kind of treat them like t-shirts - essential, but I know I won't have them forever... However, mine have not gotten holes (this far...). I have gotten snags before, but I managed to pull the threads back into place.

The Cashmeres are much thicker and mine have not snagged, despite my cat occasionally using them as a toy when I am not looking...

Was the Benetton sweater not available any more?

 

[Betinapple]

^Thats too bad The merino sweaters are not very fine knit, and they can snag easily I think. I kind of treat them like t-shirts - essential, but I know I won't have them forever... However, mine have not gotten holes (this far...). I have gotten snags before, but I managed to pull the threads back into place.

The Cashmeres are much thicker and mine have not snagged, despite my cat occasionally using them as a toy when I am not looking...

Was the Benetton sweater not available any more?

I didn't expect it to last forever, but definetely more than just a few months. I could have just gotten the Benneton one again, but I wanted to see if there was something better out there. Also it was a bit too long for my likings.

Now I've bought another one from Benneton instead. A bit more expensive than the other one, but way nicer as well. Unforunately it is not a part of their regular line, but I Hope it will be a part of the fall collection this year as well. Otherwise I might try Uniqlos cashmere sweater.

 

[eizhowa]

^Considering how well the uniqlo wool sweaters sell, you'd think Benetton would make it part of their permanent collection! I wish more stores sold good basics as a part of their regular line. Hopefully your new sweater will last you as long as the previous Benetton sweater

Today I ran to Filippa-K and bought the scarf Fewormany recommended for me. I was so worried it would be gone and I was completely prepared to pay full price for it - I needed that scarf! I got it, and it was actually 30% off now!

I am wearing it now, and I have a feeling that for the next few months I won't be taking it off except to shower and sleep It also looks great with my tan/orange leather gloves I really love it

my own picture

I finally took a picture of the 2 vintage scarves I bought in October. I am really pleased with them, and I expect to get a lot of wear out of them when the weather gets a bit warmer.

my own pictures

 

[eizhowa]

I discovered a new wardrobe combination today, and it put a black blazer back at the top of my wishlist. I realized that I can layer a wool blazer under my grey COS coat for extra warmth... Why didn't I think of this before? I could have saved myself so much pain

Top priorities for S/S:
- Black blazer - made of natural materials/wool blend and not too office-y.
- Basic t-shirts - preferably a white v-neck and grey crewneck.
- Black Porsellis
+ Take in my tobacco brown trousers

I am really happy with my current wardrobe though

Thanks again Fewormany, that scarf felt like the cherry on the top of the ice cream

 

[Fewormany]

You're welcome, great to hear you enjoy scarf so much already!

 

[fashionista-ta]

Nice job, fewormany! The scarf looks very nice, and I also like the vintage ones.

Barbara, I like your yellow sweater with the bow! Agree about miniskirts ... nothing elegant about a flash of (especially non-matching!) underthings! Agree that we have plenty to worry about without adding to the list.

My blouse arrived today (had it shipped so I could get triple points) ... but it's far too cold to wear it. Hopefully we'll have some nice days in February when I can break it out. Some black and white espadrilles would be fun! Also part of my shoes & hose order that isn't heavy enough to be shoes.

 

[Jinadaze]

I didn't expect it to last forever, but definetely more than just a few months. I could have just gotten the Benneton one again, but I wanted to see if there was something better out there. Also it was a bit too long for my likings.

Now I've bought another one from Benneton instead. A bit more expensive than the other one, but way nicer as well. Unforunately it is not a part of their regular line, but I Hope it will be a part of the fall collection this year as well. Otherwise I might try Uniqlos cashmere sweater.

That's interesting, I have a completely different experience. The black and olive green wool sweaters I got from Benetton had to be disposed, while Uniqlo merino wool cardigan is as good as new and I didn't expect such quality (I also don't hand wash it, I never do that with knitwear). The Benetton ones were totally ruined after just a season. I bet they would fit a 7 yo kid. And the texture became felt-like. Is there any english word for it? We have it in our language though.

Eizhowa, that scarf is perfect for you, congrats! Must be something related with the karma of this thread, since we all got some amazing scarves lately.

I ordered my first item for spring today, the Hudson's! Can't wait till their arrival and I really hope they will fit this time. I think they will look very nice even a bit worn out.

office

 

[eizhowa]

^Thank you! Congrats on finally getting the patent shoes you wanted!

We have a word for felt-like wool as well...According to Google, the word is "felted"... The Norwegian word is so much better though

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Yep, you beat me to it ... felted is the word. I have curtains made of felted sweaters in my bedroom ... they were felted deliberately I believe it is done with multiple washings in hot water.

Very funny about the scarf karma ... it does seem to be quite true

Hope the brogues fit well. Patent seems to wear well. I clean it with the same cleaner I use on my counters (I use all gentle cleansers).

 

[fashionista-ta]

PS Would appreciate any recommendations for rose gold hoops. I was thinking about some texture, but I don't think I've seen any like that in rose gold. I've been looking at local jewelers' and stores' websites mostly, and what I had in mind--a large, possibly textured, statementy, 3D hoop--I have only seen in yellow gold--and not many of those. For some reason the rose gold hoops seem to be tiny, and often have diamonds, which I prefer to avoid.

I need a dimensional hoop because of the angle of my ears. A skinny hoop can visually disappear when looking at me head-on, which I find disconcerting.

 

[eizhowa]

I think rose gold is very popular amongst Etsy sellers. I don't know if Etsy is "your thing" though.

I remember making (incredibly homemade-looking) felted wool slippers as a child. We rubbed the knitted wool with dish washing soap before throwing it in the wash. It was such tedious work... and the slippers were so ugly

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ OK, thanks, I'll take a look ... haven't really looked at jewelry on Etsy before, though I use it for other things.

I once ordered some felt slippers for myself, and they fit like boats

 

[Nymphaea]

Great scarf from Filippa-K eizhowa, can totally see why you love it and I can visualize it looking great on you. Very good suggestion from Fewormany.

Love your Hudson's Jinadaze. I'm looking for something similar, difficult to find the perfect oxfords, I'm also looking in the mens section.

fashionista-ta Herve van der Straeten at Neiman Marcus has some structured hoops, but no rose gold unfortunately. Most hoop earrings are indeed rather nondescript. Maybe take a design you like and let them be made in rose gold at a good jeweler/goldsmith? I'm contemplating that myself with some earrings I have seen, but my reason is that I think it will be much cheaper than the original.

 

[Trenchcoat]

Eizhowa I like your scarf!! How will you combine it. With which colour. I was thinking about maybe buying the navy colour.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Great scarf from Filippa-K eizhowa, can totally see why you love it and I can visualize it looking great on you. Very good suggestion from Fewormany.

Love your Hudson's Jinadaze. I'm looking for something similar, difficult to find the perfect oxfords, I'm also looking in the mens section.

fashionista-ta Herve van der Straeten at Neiman Marcus has some structured hoops, but no rose gold unfortunately. Most hoop earrings are indeed rather nondescript. Maybe take a design you like and let them be made in rose gold at a good jeweler/goldsmith? I'm contemplating that myself with some earrings I have seen, but my reason is that I think it will be much cheaper than the original.

Thanks for the ideas. Neimans' website has been where I have had the best luck so far ... it's not my favorite store, but what can you do. I pinned some of the ones I like. Next time I'm over there, I need to go by and try some on, see how they look. The yellow gold is kind of the look for the brand I've been looking at ... but I should look at their own website and see if they make anything else.

You might try Lanvin for oxfords ... they make a lot of them, and the ones I returned made me feel like I had shopped in the men's department That was really the only reason I returned them, they were a bit too literal for me. Otherwise very nice ... I think they had ribbon ties, which I like.

 

[eizhowa]

Eizhowa I like your scarf!! How will you combine it. With which colour. I was thinking about maybe buying the navy colour.

Thank you!

I am really loving combining the brownish orange shade with greys/blacks. I prefer using different materials/patterns (herringbone/breton) to add interest to an outfit.

I will try to post a picture in the other thread tomorrow. It was already dark when class ended so I had no time today.

I really like navy, but I prefer it on others. It looks really great on brunettes.

Caramel: I forgot to thank you for the measurements! Thank you! I will compare it to my other tops

 

[Nymphaea]

I think J crew only carry Petite sizes online (and not in London), becuase the demand is not as great. However, last year, J crew had a free shipping + free returns + 30% off sales items (and they have a LOT of items on sale), just before christmas. That means no taxes, no duties and no shipping costs to Norway, and you can return everything that doesn't fit! The only limit is your bank account I am hoping they will do this again this year.

Currently J Crew has 40% off on the perfect fit tee I would like to buy, but no free shipping and still taxes applied. Any idea if they are going to offer a higher sale percentage and/or free shipping and/or no taxes? Tia!

 

[Betinapple]

So much activity here - very nice!

@Barbaraa: glad you liked the sweaters! Love the colour of the pale pink one.

@Eizhowa: lovely scarf - and just "your" colour PS: I really wanna know what the Norwegian word for felted is In Danish it is very similar to the English word, we call it "filtet"

@Jina: so weird. Sounds like the way sweaters get when they are washed the wrong way, but I bet you know how to wash a woolen sweater properly, so thats is probably not the reason. Love the shoes!

______________

Still going strong in regards of not shopping (thankfully, if I can't handle 9 days I am not sure how to deal with 3 months..). I do think I have found the item I want to spent the gift certificate I got for christmas on. I have always liked this cardigan from my favourite knitwear brand Sibin Linnebjerg, and the store that I have the gift certificate for should get it in navy by the end of this month. I think it will be a great addition to my black/white/grey wardrobe and look very well with stripes (important!).

They will also be getting some other knits from this brand as well though, that I might want to take a look at, before I make a decission.

pic via slopkisten.dk

 

[Caramel]

^ I think the Norwegian word for 'felted' is 'tovet'? Unless there is another word that I don't know about, perhaps eizhowa can confirm.