Orange rhymes with pink

I hope you all had wonderful time, enjoying the Holidays with your family and friends. Thank you so much  for all the Christmas wishes, they warmed up my heart!

I ate enormous amount of food and drank quite a lot of wine, so I am now in recovery mode. I am technically off from work, but since I support end-of-the-year activities, I am still 'on call' and watching my emails. I will also spend New Years Eve working until midnight. This is not the most fun way to greet the New Year but hey, since everything in life can be commented upon using a quote from the Godfather movie "I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen..."

My gifts this year did not include any J.Crew and I am happy with that. I am also not into after-Christmas sales, just like I don't do Black Friday. I think I am definitely coming off the crewlade and shopping for clothes in general. I have plenty in my closet and I hope that in 2013 I will be mostly recycling what I already own. 

The outfit above is from couple of weeks ago, I just never got around to post it. In fact, I have several of those, so I will be using them this week. Since I am staying home, I am sitting by my Christmas tree, wearing (red) pajamas and a hoodie, having no reason or inclination to dress up.

This skirt looks like last year's Bright Flame, but it is an earlier version (2008?) and the color was called Persimmon. Persimmon is very similar to Bright Flame, Modern Red or Poppy, but the wool is thicker and the skirt has a fully fashioned waistband, which creates more flattering fit, at least on me.

 

I needed some cheering up in the rainy weather, so I decided to double up on brights and wear the skirt with the predominately pink Liberty print perfect shirt.

It is funny how sometimes, when you add more, you actually lessen the effect. Worn with something neutral or contrasting, the skirt color might have blinded your eyes, but when paired with something bright, it gets neutralized or maybe just more intentional, therefore less shocking orange.

My shoes and purse also have orange tones creating almost monochromatic effect again. I liked this outfit and it definitely put me in a cheerful mood.

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That's all folks!

Are you 'recovering' after Holidays? Watching the after-Christams sales?

Do you do bright on bright? Do you think it works here?

Please share, It would be no fun without you!!!

Sweater dresses

There is something snuggly and cozy about sweater dresses. They are warm, comfortable, easy to throw on with boots and be ready. But in reality, sweater dresses may also be unflattering, unforgiving, adding bulk everywhere and easily turning into shapeless sacks.

I am a big fan in theory but irl, not so much.

In general, I avoid sweater dressed for reasons mentioned above but sometimes I could not resist. This was the case  with J.Crew cashmere Fiori dress from 2009.  I loved the silver gray shown in the stock picture but since I already owned a gray sweater dress (see below), I decided to go with black.

I was not disappointed when I received it, it was exactly what I was looking for.

It has just the right length and it is not cut too low. The slightly a-line skirt does not get out of shape by the end of the day.  The rosette is subtle and eliminates a need for a necklace but makes the dress more elegant. However, I have worn it with boots to the office without feeling overdressed.  Miraculously, it does not pill.

 

I took a smaller of my sizes (S) and the dress was still roomy at first, but after I washed it couple of times, it shrunk a little and become more fitted but not too small. Btw, I hate dry cleaning and I wash all my cashmere with regular detergent on gentle cycle and air dry. It shrinks a little but other than that, I did not have any problems. I actually think it pills less after washing. You just have to be careful, so you don't throw it in the dryer with the rest of the load. I learned that the hard way. However, putting it in the dryer for 5 minutes to fluff works well.

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I am wearing the dress with my Nottingham boots and Boulevard coat in sandstone. I love this coat and I hope J.Crew will come back with the classic Boulevard silhouette next year. I don't like the cut of the one they did this year, although some of the colors are beautiful.

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My other sweater dress is even older (2007?) and I bought it from Boden. I used to buy much more from them in those years.

This is 100% thick, ribbed merino wool with not a single pill in sight. It is not itchy and merino can bother me. I got it in size 10 but it is still roomy in hips. The length is good but the neck is rather exposed, which is a slight problem in the winter when I want to be covered up. What I like about it (besides the color and 100% merino) is that it reads quite casual.  I am not DaniBP (I wish) but I can wear this dress around the house and feel comfortable.  

Also wearing Ryder boots and Tillary purse (review HERE).

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That's all folks!

Do you like/wear sweater dresses?
Do you own J.Crew Fiori dress?

Do you wash your cashmere and merino?


Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

Start each day with a grateful heart

I am forever grateful to be living the life I live...

I am rather healthy and so are my dear ones

My children are kind and smart and funny and I am grateful for many happy years I have spent with my husband

I have wonderful friends that have become my family and support system far away from my actual family

My job let's me utilize my talents and education and my boss is understanding and flexible

I laugh often and easily and don't consider anybody my enemy

I live relatively comfortable and sheltered life in a country which makes big dreams possible

I could look at my life quite differently...

I have had my share of the sadness, sorrow and misfortune

I have known abuse and lived in poverty

I have become pregnant very young and struggled working minimum wage jobs

Both my children had some serious issues at some point and my marriage has been rocky at times

I have once been diagnosed with life threatening illness 

But I choose to think I am incredibly lucky and should count my blessings twice

I am incredibly grateful to my parents and ancestors, for the combination of genetic makeup and upbringing that made me an eternal optimist, a dreamer and a believer in the best that is still to come

This a greatest gift I ever received and I hope I can pass it on to my children

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This is not my actual Thanksgiving outfit since I am writing this post ahead of time, but I love orange and green around this time of year.

colder day version

I am wearing almost all J.Crew: cashmere shawl popover in heather agate, Surf tweed charter skirt, Nottingham boots in Pony Brown, herringbone tights and garden floral wool scarf.

The green pumps are by Jeffrey Campbell.

I will be spending the Thanksgiving with my friends in their house and again, I am very grateful for being invited and therefore having it easy this year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE CELEBRATING!!!

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What are the things you are most grateful for?

Where are you spending your Thanksgiving and what will you be wearing?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

 

Taste of Cherry

"Taste of Cherry" is an Iranian film about a guy who tries to find someone to bury him after he commits a suicide. It may sound depressing but it is a great cinema and I highly recommend it, if you haven't have a chance to watch it. This post has nothing to do with the movie, and I don't have any such plans, in case I got you worried. I still plan to kick around for a while, fitting room ban drama notwithstanding. I just could not resist a title for some reason. I watch a lot of movies and I suffer from random film title association syndrome.

If you are a regular reader of this blog you may know that I love Liberty of London prints and specifically J.Crew button down perfect shirt in Liberty prints. With the previous round of new arrivals I posted that one of my favorite new items was Liberty perfect shirt in claire-aude in cherry. I decided to order it with the 25% off (plus 9% off cashback and 5% rewards), which brought the price to more reasonable level (although still expensive).

I ordered my regular size 6 and it fits TTS, like my other Liberty shirts (see more HERE). What I did not expect from the website pictures, was that there was so much green in the print. Actually, the same thing happened when I ordered Margaret Anne print, so now I know that the greens tends to recede in the pictures. I thought it was more of a creamy background with red and pink flowers. Even now, when I zoom in, the green looks more like light sage green, but irl it is a rather grassy medium green.

It is still pretty, just not what I expected. It is not that I don't like how the green looks on me, there is just something about the color itself that I have a problem with. Maybe it is that I consider green earthy and traditional, as oppose to urban and modern and this is how I'd rather think of myself?

With the green, the shirt has much more 'folksy' vibe to it, imo.  Instead of fighting it, I decided to double down by wearing traditional coral necklace from my place of birth (Krakow, Poland).

Here is the closeup of the print so you get better idea of the colors. As you can see the coral tones are dominant (the necklace is real coral so you can compare) but there is plenty of dark green. It is rather vibrant, don't you think?

Also wearing my matchstick cords in sage green, stretch denim jacket, Nottingham boots, all by J.Crew and Kate Spade purse.

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That's all folks!

Anybody watched the "Taste of Cherry"?

How do you like the shirt?

Have you found that certain colors are not reflected well in pictures, even without photoshopping?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!! 

Gold Star Seeker

This summer, when I was on vacation, I picked up the 'Happiness Project'  by Gretchen Rubin in the local bookstore. The book, according to Amazon's book description "chronicles (author's) adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier". Have you read it?

I am not usually into self help genre and most of the time I find those books preachy and annoying but as I flipped through the pages, I came across some passages that got my attention. One was when Gretchen describes how her husband made seemingly innocent remark about her snoring at night and how that provoked the out of proportion reaction from her. You see, apparently I also snore (although I am in denial about it) and when my hubby joked about it, it annoyed me beyond belief. It just seems like such an unsexy trait. I could totally understand how Gretchen quickly blurted out something unpleasant in response.

But the section that made me purchase the book was when she realizes that she is a Gold Star Seeker. She describes how they were mailing out the greeting cards to friends and family and how her husband did not want to participate in sealing and stuffing of the envelopes. She had designed the cards and took pictures of the kids and put a lot of energy into it. But aside from help, she realized, that what she wanted the most, was her husband acknowledging what a wonderful job she did and how great the cards came out.

This is me, I thought. I am happy to do the work, as long as somebody notices and acknowledge it. I guess, in many ways it is only natural and maybe obvious but it was a aha moment for me. Gretchen then proceeds with trying to change her thought process to be more in the lines of  'I want to do it for me. I wanted the cards to look great and this should give me enough satisfaction'.

When I read that chapter I realized that even blogging is part of it. I always liked fashion and putting together outfits and many times I received compliments from coworkers and strangers alike, but posting an outfit definitely gives me a chance to get an instant reaction, especially that it is coming from people that also care about fashion and styling. But in fact, this may apply to blogging about anything, since it is a format that usually invites comments and feedback and provides you with statistics on pageviews.

Here is where I am trying to change my mindset, thinking that whether writing a post like this one, styling an OOTD or writing a review, it is just something I wanted to share and not to focus on how many pageviews it generates, how many followers I get and how much praise I get in comments. This is not to say that I don't value what my readers think, of course I do! I just try to focus on 'I am doing it because I like it' part.

I also try to keep that in mind in my relationships and domestic and professional life. When I cook a good dinner or throw a great party I should be happy because I wanted it to turn out well. Any praise from others is just the icing on the cake.

Although... I do like the icing.

1. 

Wearing Academy Blazer by Madewell (review here), Doily Lace skirt by Anthropologie (review here), Pia  top (review here) by Banana Republic, J.Crew Nottingham boots (old) and Kate Spade purse.


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That's all folks!

Have you read 'Happiness Project'?
Are you a 'gold star seeker'?
Do you think blogging feeds the beast?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!