Of course I made many shopping mistakes but since I was much more discriminating and shopped much less, many of my clothes from that time period are my favorites.
Everything in this outfit is at several years old and comes from "inspired by your daughter" phase, aka Raising Little Fashionistas period. The top is made by Oilily, a brand mostly known for their children's line but they made wonderful clothes for women as well. They are pricey but their quality is impeccable and if you feel like splurging on something 'boho', their stuff is better made and more original than anything you could get at Anthropologie.
The skirt is from Janeville, another store owned by children's brand, this time Gymboree. Their stores were only open for a few years (I think between 2003 and 2008), so I guess they were not a success story, but I quite liked them and bough a few things from them that are still my favorites.
My boots, to continue the theme of children's brands, are from Boden and I featured them previously here. Well, Boden did not really start out making kids clothes, but this is how I came to know them Before I bought anything Boden for myself, I bought a lot of Mini Boden for my younger daughter.
My bag is not that old, maybe 3 or 4 years and it is by (totally adult) Coach. I suppose there are not that many children's purse designers
***
That's all Folks!
What are the ghosts of your shopping past? Or have you been always been shopping at the same stores?
Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!
Interesting thoughts about shopping a wider range of retailers. I've been an online purchaser for a long time, in part because of where I've lived. Now starting to explore local boutiques more, for new brands, better quality, special pieces. Have a great weekend ajc.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have an excuse if you live farther away from big malls and variety of retailers. I think the local boutiques are wonderful to explore but one needs more confidence in your own taste and style.
DeleteWhen I was young a teenager at school, I had an account at Scotland's most exclusive designer store.
ReplyDeleteI know, spoiled wretch! It was mum's idea of course, she love clothes, so I really wore top to tie designer.
But even now mum says the most amazing thing is how low my account was, she would settle it every quarter - so old fashioned isn't it? But I never abused it and bought only what I really needed.
Sorry about punctuation, on iPhone
My first bag at the age of 16 was an LV speedy and until my late twenties I wore very high end clothes but my lifestyle is different now and I'm happier with mid range clothes.
Oh lucky you! I don't think I could have been trusted with an account like that in young age, I would have probably spent a lot on silly stuff!
DeleteI agree with you 100% about the shift in brands over the last few years. Before 2008, the Canadian $ did not make it worthwhile to shop online (let alone the lack of options), so I shopped less frequently, was more discerning about what I bought and had a greater variety of brands.
ReplyDeleteEnter 2008 and the Canadian $ becoming par with the US $ and my obsession with J.Crew entered a whole other level. Now I get several packages a month (even though I've been so disappointed with their latest roll-outs - how is this possible??) and have more clothes than I can ever wear and it's almost all J.Crew. And yet I constantly feel "miffed" with J.Crew. It's become a total love/hate relationship.
Another strange thing about the online shopping vs. B&M - I spend like I have a money tree in my backyard when shopping online, yet in an actual store, I'm much more cautious. $800 shoes online - no problem. $800 shoes in a store - most likely not.
Sigh.
This is a good point Sinead. Before I started shopping at JCrew I bought more brands because they did not have the almost 'cult' status, they were just clothes. And I too spend more than ever and return/regret more than ever, although I bought less this year and kept even less so I am starting to see the light in the tunnel...
Deletei think the thing about j. crew is their styling. they are so good at it. and you can duplicate it yourself if you wanted to with items that cost a lot less and may even be of higher quality. it's v much like ralph lauren (my style guru) as he too is a master at styling.
ReplyDeleteagain, another v insightful post. xo
That is very true, they probably know it too and that's way they try to control their image and don;t like reviews and social media.
DeleteThose boots are amazing--what a versatile shade of pink!
ReplyDeleteYou make a very interesting point. With e-commerce, we can order from an almost unlimited number of sources, so it's ironic that my wardrobe labels are so much less diverse than when I actually had to go into a store and pick something out. Ordering online has driven me closer to, rather than away from, bland national retailers. In the last year or so I've made a firm effort to buy fewer items of better quality, but strangely that hasn't caused me to branch out--just to be choosier about what I order from our favorite retailer. And who am I trying to fool? I think before the weekend is over there will be a pair of red Valentinas on their way to me! Have a great weekend!
Thank you Hexicon, Boden used to make wonderful boots, the leather is also very soft and they have pink buttery lining.
DeleteIt bothers me to buy from such limited sources I feel like I am losing my creativity with putting outfits together, they all start to look the same. It is maddening that having so many choices we would narrow our options and rely on ubiquitous styling.
But I think you going to love the Valentinas, they are great in red :)
Great post! I have sent so many J Crew boxes back this fall it is ridiculous! The pieces that I have gotten this fall which I really love are from the local boutiques, which are certainly pricier than J crew, that's for sure, but also surely of better quality and not seen on everyone. The one happy note is that things to blogs like yours and the advice I am given on my blog, I am really honing in on my style. My big issue is that I can't seem to stick to one colour story! sigh...
ReplyDeleteWMM, you just need to work with many color stories, I think it suits you. The pieces you picked from local boutiques are lovely and you are too big of a personality to fit the JCrew-only mold.
DeleteI really like your pink boots, the color is a little bit unexpected and the design is so sleek. Boho is not a look I can pull off. It's certainly not my style and my husband would not approve anyway. It's interesting that you have pieces from a few years ago as I thought you were one who would consistently refresh and didn't keep things for years.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to shop at smaller boutiques, I like the service and attention to getting the right things for me and finding something unique is always nice. I have shopped less this year than ever, I think because I spent the last few years with focus on really building my professional wardrobe and now just add a few pieces here and there.
Those boots are great and I know you love those local boutiques. You certainly have great shopping personality to be shopping there, you are confident in your style, quality minded and discriminating.
DeleteYou are right, I don't keep many things for years as I do get bored easily and I am a ruthless purger, but it is interesting for me to look at what survived, I think I should treat it as a hint of what to look for.
I have been shopping J. Crew since the 1980s so I'd say that is my consistent retailer, although I didn't buy a lot from them back then. There wasn't a store or the internet so you'd have to either dial the 800 number to place an order or you could fill out the paper order form stapled in the center of your catalog and mail it in (dark ages). I've had re-sale/thrift shopping phases, Eddie Bauer/Lands End/Ann Taylor/Banana Republic and outdoor/sporty brand phases.
ReplyDeleteI used to get those catalogs all the time and they went straight to the garbage, but after I started shopping there more and more I got less and less catalogs...
DeleteI never thrifted but I had an ebay phase that was just as consuming.
I still love J Crew, but am finding more and more at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack that I like these days. Have tried Ann Taylor over and over again, but something isn't quite right with the fit for me (esp. pants) and I just had a rip in a thin merino sweater after one wear. :( I still shop at Banana Republic, but have been disappointed with Gap and Old Navy lately. Thanks for blogging - yours is one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment Havanagirl! Ann Taylor pants don't fit me well (Bananas do) but I like the fit of their dresses.
DeleteCute outfit!!! I remember Janeville. We had a shop the next town up across from J Crew. Their clothes were cute and well priced. I also loved the short lived First and Towne (I think that is the correct name)-a GAP store that had a short life. It was a beautiful store with lux dressing rooms that felt like something from a Doris Day movie. Their clothes were also fab and well priced. I was so sad when they closed.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a lot about the decor of the stores with Jeneville, they were like little cottages, I loved the act of shopping there. I suppose this concept does not do well with the customers. I love boutiques for that reason and for the service. But I do feel more pressured to buy something...
DeleteI have an aunt who lives in Manhattan and loves Oilily, I've always admired her for her unconventional style (she wears what she loves, ie rainbow colors and polka dots with stripes, and doesn't care what others think). Her Oilily pieces were always lovely and so original.
ReplyDeleteI've realized lately that online shopping has been stressing me out! I've placed way too many J. Crew orders lately, and a lot of it has been sent back (I just sent back some big boxes to J. Crew and Madewell). I also realized that I'll spend way more for basics/unoriginal items at J. Crew than I would justify anywhere else...Great post!
I love the people that dress unconventially, even if I would not dare, I admire that. It is great to have family member with flair and personality, isn't it?
DeleteOnline shopping is stressing me out too, I have too many boxes to return and now I dread the Holiday shopping crowd.
Thought-provoking. My fashion progress: from Loehmann's (when it was good) and tracking seasonal sales and clearances at the "better stores" -- this led to a preponderance of Donna Karan Collection and Ralph Lauren all levels, and many of these pieces are still more than wearable. AND THE CASHMERE SWEATERS STILL HAVENT PILLED! then brief flirtations with First and Towne and something called Alcott and Andrews. Both died. Then -- oh, let's see, I never did designer jeans, just wore casual stuff till it shredded. Then outlet shopping became practical, there were more outlets, more outlet malls. With all that training, I did well. Then even the "grab and pay" on a fast lunch time became impractical and I took to web shopping, store returns. I think this is why I get annoyed with shopping at JC, it's overpriced, often needs returning, and has become a blood sport rather than a late-night convenience. I still stalk the RL and DK sales, although the DK collection line is kind of space-y and the DKNY line is Synthetic City. Of course I hold on to things that I still love. I wouldn't have bought something in the first place if I hadn't loved it. Or, in the case of JC, if I hadn't had high hopes for it.
ReplyDeleteoh my, cashmere sweaters that don;t pill, it is a wonder!
DeleteAnd you are right, we treat online shopping as convenience but then there is a nuisance of returns and re-buys and keeping track of all the codes and sales and timing of them at all takes time and so much energy.
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ReplyDelete