The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #7

[Caramel]

Caramel: the ankle-strap pumps are gorgeous. The straps are very sexy
Very similar to what I'm looking for too and I'd totally get them (in nubuck), but I'd destroy those heels with the first cobblestone, being clumsy that way.

Thanks to your suggestions I was inspired to pay COS a visit, looked through it thoroughly and liked the quality and price point and concept, except I didn't find anything, sadly it wasn't really my style. Maybe I'll look into Massimo Dutti next.

Now I need two evening dresses again.

I wear heels so rarely (doctor's orders), and on the few occasions that I do I always wear flats to and from and just put on the heels right before I get to where I'm going. Reduces the damage quite a bit.

But since I wear them so seldom I don't want to own lots of different pairs of heels, that would only be a waste of space, so I need whatever I get to be as versatile as possible. Haven't quite decided on the Sam Edelmans, but I'm leaning towards yes.

Melisande, I'm also quite curious about Massimo Dutti. I quite like their overall aesthetic.

And I am also on the search for an evening dress, which I will need to find before the end of october. I kind of have my heart set on something in a plummy/berry colour or navy, and preferably slim/pencil skirted...I haven't seen a single thing yet that I've found interesting.


Re. wool: Wool and itchiness seems to be a very individual thing. I follow a knitting page on facebook, and alpaca is very often debated - some find it the softest, most comfortable wool in the world and recommend it for everything, while others find it horrible and itchy and won't come near it.
Apart from cashmere my favourite type of wool is probably lambswool and I wear it next to the skin all the time, but I know plenty of people who feel it's too harsh for that. I even have some heavy vintage cardigans, I don't know exactly the type of wool but they are quite coarse, that I have no problems wearing against my skin.

 

[eizhowa]

Re alpaca: I once saw a teddy bear made from alpaca fur. It was so soft. It was the softest fur I have ever touched. I think the hair was relaxed though. I would guess that expensive alpaca is softer... Thats how cashmere works, at least. Also, wool ithces less when it is cold outside

 

[Fewormany]

I prefer cotton over wool anyway. I usually get a rash when wearing wool, even when I layer something underneath it.

 

[Melisande]

Aaargh, made the Zara Error again, found some nice stuff online, went to the store and tried five tops on which were great in concept, and none of them looked remotely good. I keep forgetting there's a reason I hadn't bought anything from them in ten years

I went to Massimo Dutti however and had the opposite problem, discovered a gorgeous rust colored coat that looked amazing on, as well as a silk burgundy skirt...that...I don't really need......grr...
I wonder if they'll have warmer coats later on in the season??

Will keep plodding on...

 

[eizhowa]

^No idea. I think the brand is spanish though, and Spain does not have winter... There is a bright orange coat on their website (when you said rust (the magic word) I had to check their site out!) that looked gorgeous. If I lived somewhere more urban and could wear heels, I would definitly want a statement coat like that

Can the burgundy skirt combined with a nice top be a substitute for one of the two dresses on your wishlist?

 

[Melisande]

^No idea. I think the brand is spanish though, and Spain does not have winter... There is a bright orange coat on their website (when you said rust (the magic word) I had to check their site out!) that looked gorgeous. If I lived somewhere more urban and could wear heels, I would definitly want a statement coat like that

Can the burgundy skirt combined with a nice top be a substitute for one of the two dresses on your wishlist?

Hi eizhowa, thank you for the valuable input! Yes, it looks orange on the website but it's more rust in real life, and it looks even more gorgeous when worn I know...I'm still toying with the idea...I'm wondering if I wouldn't get tired of the colour (or if other people won't get tired of the colour), because it's such a new colour to me, and because there's so much of it constantly on display, obviously, being a coat...and if it would work with the rest of my wardrobe, and if I really need it. What I really need is a solid cold winter coat; I have a great long black cashmere coat which is even not warm enough in deepest winter, and I need/want to replace my down coat which feels like I've worn every single day for three seasons and two years and I'm sick of.

Aww, thank you for remembering my wishlist, I do need day-to-dinner dresses, for which the burgundy skirt would work well, but actually I have lots of skirts that would work in those situations...the question remains the tops.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Perhaps if you freeze your a$$ off in the lovely rust coat for a little while, you'll gain new appreciation for the down Is it worn, or are you just tired of it?


Personally I like to allow a bit of room for serendipity. If I get half statement pieces, and half 'I really needed that' pieces, I am happy. However, I also never get tired of anything I ever loved to begin with, unless it turns out to have some fatal flaw (like attracting every piece of lint in the known universe).


Right now, since I haven't bought anything in awhile, I'm really enjoying my statement shoes, which I continue to get compliments on even though they're not new. (Even the guys in the shoe department have to stop me to talk about my silver swirl sandals!) I think the fun things are good for getting you through the lean times ...


And speaking of not spending money on clothes, my dishwasher just died ...

 

[Caramel]

Personally I like to allow a bit of room for serendipity. If I get half statement pieces, and half 'I really needed that' pieces, I am happy.

I think this is a good strategy. I find it's very often those impulsive and unexpected buys that I end up loving the most. And I think the rust coat is gorgeous Melisande!


I am still thinking about shoes...the Repetto shoes that eizhowa pointed me to got me thinking about looking more into dance shoes...they are designed for comfort and usually well padded, and come in small sizes and different widths and heel heights...hmm.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Jazz shoes are probably wearable IRL ... just want to make sure you pick a style with arch support

I should add that I am also willing to live with what I've done in terms of perhaps limping along a little in one area of my wardrobe because I splurged in another. When I make the decision, I sign up for all of that--no complaints

 

[Melisande]

^ Perhaps if you freeze your a$$ off in the lovely rust coat for a little while, you'll gain new appreciation for the down Is it worn, or are you just tired of it?


Personally I like to allow a bit of room for serendipity. If I get half statement pieces, and half 'I really needed that' pieces, I am happy. However, I also never get tired of anything I ever loved to begin with, unless it turns out to have some fatal flaw (like attracting every piece of lint in the known universe).


Right now, since I haven't bought anything in awhile, I'm really enjoying my statement shoes, which I continue to get compliments on even though they're not new. (Even the guys in the shoe department have to stop me to talk about my silver swirl sandals!) I think the fun things are good for getting you through the lean times ...


And speaking of not spending money on clothes, my dishwasher just died ...

Lots of wisdom here, thanks ta-ta.

--the down coat is more worn than I'd like it to be. And so true that if it's really love to begin with it will last forever. I wish I could get half-necessary and half-statement pieces. I have so much trouble finding the items I MOST need, like a beautiful dressy top (I'd prefer a dress but I've given up on that after years...), so it's hard to justify getting stuff I don't really need. I think I'll have better luck finding shoes though, since I like the styles that are popular now.


Caramel: Thanks! And dance shoes are gorgeous and comfy. Just get the soles covered, as they're usually in soft leather.

 

[eizhowa]

^I was going to mention that as well. I wore dance shoes out once, and the soles peeled off because the ground was wet...

 

[fashionista-ta]

Melisande, for the top, have you tried Yoox? I got a nice bargain on Lanvin there before ...

 

[Melisande]

Melisande, for the top, have you tried Yoox? I got a nice bargain on Lanvin there before ...

Hmmmm...I confess I've never tried shopping online for clothes before...I'm so fussy so I'm just naturally wary of things I can't try on...but maybe it's worth it...I'll have a look, thanks for reminding me!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I want to try things on too ... but if I know my size in a label and how things are typically cut, it can turn out all right. I believe they have free shipping/free returns, IIRC?

 

[Caramel]

Lots of wisdom here, thanks ta-ta.

--the down coat is more worn than I'd like it to be. And so true that if it's really love to begin with it will last forever. I wish I could get half-necessary and half-statement pieces. I have so much trouble finding the items I MOST need, like a beautiful dressy top (I'd prefer a dress but I've given up on that after years...), so it's hard to justify getting stuff I don't really need. I think I'll have better luck finding shoes though, since I like the styles that are popular now.


Caramel: Thanks! And dance shoes are gorgeous and comfy. Just get the soles covered, as they're usually in soft leather.

I'm exactly the same, Melisande. I find it so hard to justify those statement pieces or love-at-first-sight items because there is always a long list of specific things that I feel I need. I have a boyfriend who is quite good at pushing me in those situations.

^I was going to mention that as well. I wore dance shoes out once, and the soles peeled off because the ground was wet...

A lot of the sites I've looked at actually have an option where you can add a sole for walking outside for an extra 10€ or so! Very convenient. There are so many options for everything, so it seems it's all made by order. Heel heights, heel type, material, colour, etc.


Speaking of impulsive splurging, we've just ordered new wardrobes for our bedroom, which should be arriving today! I'm super-excited!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ But you also need those pieces that make your heart leap and make you happy to be going out into the world

 

[Fewormany]

^ I agree, things you love are more important than basics. In my experience I end up wearing things I bought because it was love at first sight more than items I bought because they were basics or I needed them.

In the end, aren't thing you love the ultimate basics in any wardrobe?

 

[Melisande]

That's what my sister says: "Don't try to make what you need into what you want; make what you want into what you need."

 

[Trenchcoat]

where do you buy good cardigans

 

[eizhowa]

Uniqloink: