Me in Melange

WWYW?

It is RAINING here in the pacific northwest... and although it always starts raining (and continues to rain for the next 6 months) this time of year, I'm never really prepared for it.  No umbrella, no rain jacket... nothing.  They say it's a sign that you're a native here in Oregon, if you do without such things, but I'm not a native, I have a baby now and I feel that it's time to get some protection from the elements.  The base of the outfit is taken care of... straight leg jeans tucked into boots (wish I had these cuties that LV scored, the yellow is just the right amount of color for a dreary day like today) a Michael Stars or Rag Doll tee layered under a cute hoodie such as this.  But it's the umbrella that I'm on the hunt for... I love the style of this one

but considering I will inevitably loose or destroy it, it may be a little too pricey.  I've always thought these were super cute...

 

ever since SJP had one in sex & the city.  But, I have my doubts about being able to juggle baby and not-so-broad umbrella and still stay dry.  So I think I will have to go with something like this...

 

very classic (albeit a little boring) and affordable gem.  'What would you wear' in a wintery-rainforest-like environment??  signed, me {CA}

Best Jeans Ever!!

 So I was washing my jeans this morning, and I hung them all up to dry in the living room and it looked like some underground, corner dry cleaner shop, because you know, being a clothes horse, I have a few pairs! And I realized as I looked around that I have like ten pair of denim that really don't fit me at all. I mean, the back pockets kind of hung down below my behind, and the fabric gathered under my belt strap because they were too big, and you get that bubble in the back where it gathers. Yup, generally just not attractive at all! Insert unhappy icon here.

Well, I guess I just got used to never finding the perfect pair, and I stopped dreaming about feeling like a million dollars in just my jeans. Until... I found the AG Angel Jean-10 Yr Wash  bootcut jeans. They are the most flattering pants I have ever had on! In fact, I love them so much, today I bought my second pair of the exact same wash, same style, and I am going to go home tonight and give those saggy old jeans to the Goodwill and wear my new pair to Portland this weekend! There is a God!

-BAG

   

I'm just saying....

For the last two weeks or so I've reintroduced myself to my A.L.G. Healing Necklace .  I've gotten SO many compliments on it I can't believe it....and that is before I tell people the cool thing about the necklace, and then they love it even more.  This necklace is a Nepalese healing mellos.  It is commonly worn by women in Nepal to heal their children.  It is a very tactile necklace, the backside of it is super smooth and domed, so you want to touch it constantly.  The women in Nepal physically rub it on their children to heal them when they are sick.  Here is the thing....I haven't been sick since I put it on despite being exposed to the flu everywhere (and I mean everywhere).  I am not sure, but I'm just saying....it could be the necklace :-).  Signed, ME {lv} 

Passing down my quirky style!

This past spring, In efforts to teach Ava how to tie her shoes, I took her to "shoe tying class" (which she passed) and promptly bought her some new kicks.  Brand new "tie" tennis shoes.  She wore them once, and then wouldn't look at them again for months, wouldn't even try them on again.  Meanwhile, summer came and went, and school shopping landed her 3 pairs of shoes, including new tennis shoes.  School started....and guess what she decided to become obsessed with? That is right, her tie tennis shoes from the spring.  When I say obsessed....I mean, wear everyday, can't get enough, won't leave the house without them, obsessed.  Hasn't even touched her other shoes (should have just bought myself shoes instead). 

So as I'm pondering this the other day after my request that she branch out and wear something else were denied...I realized with a gasp, ugh...I'm the SAME EXACT WAY.  Eee-gads, it is true.  I love to get obsessed with an article of clothing and it often defies logic and isn't something that is even new.  I'm currently obsessed with this pale pink cashmere sweater from Beth Bowley from FIVE YEARS AGO!!  I also wore my Adriano Goldschmied boyfriend cropped jeans everyday for almost two weeks (and I only exaggerate a little).    

Makes me wonder what other annoying habits I'm passing on to her. :-)  Signed, ME {lv}

Remember to purge!

This past weekend we started a huge house project that involved switching bedrooms around upstairs and basically completely uprooting the top floor of our house.  In the process, I did a massive purge of the childrens' rooms, my room, the attic....everything.  I hauled so much stuff to the trash, and SO much stuff to charity.  The most difficult thing I parted with:  handmade wool cable knit pull-over sweaters that my husband and I bought 14 years ago on our honeymoon in Ireland.  We wore them for maybe one year...and then realized that they were HUGE (why we bough them so big, I'll never know), and I packed them up into a nice tupperware container that housed them for the next 13 years.  13 YEARS!!  Every so often I would pull them out and wonder for a split second if maybe we'd wear them again, then I'd quickly come to the conclusion that we'd look like idiots and NO, we weren't going to wear them.  I kept them for purely sentimenal reasons.  Well, this year I pulled them out, my husband by my side.  We confirmed that we must have looked really silly wearing those XL sweaters (I'm sure I looked like a marshmellow on a stick).  Then we decided that there was some homeless man, who was cold and considerably larger than either of us, who would love that sweater to death.  And so we purged.

It is hard to part with things...even things you don't use and don't like.  We all have a part of us that hoards for all sorts of reasons....guilt in letting it go, tribute to the past, fear of not having something in the future.  The list goes on.

What I can say though, is that it felt GREAT to get rid of all the "stuff" we had accumulated.  It felt great to give something to someone who really needed it, instead of letting it just take up space in my attic.  I love to purge, but even for me it is a struggle sometimes to let go of things.   But think about it, the moment you let space into your life, there is more space for what you really need, and really want! 

Signed, ME {lv}

Feeling Flannel

There have been periods of my life where I slept in slinky silk teddies.....there have been periods in my life where I slept naked.....I use to wear boxer shorts and a tee-shirt, and I went through a time that I loved sleeping in cotton chemises.  Once, in my 20's, when the heat was broken for weeks, I slept in my robe.  But now ladies, I'm all about the flannel pjs.   I've bought two pair this fall of the new PJ Salvage pajama sets and I love them.  First, the sassy prints make me smile.  More importantly perhaps, they make my kids laugh like crazy.  They love it when mommy wears her "bus" pjs, and it has been hours of entertainment for them ("mommy, did you know there is a bus on your butt?")  The jammies are cozy too, and I'm feeling the need to snuggle up this fall, literally and figuratively.  I think these make great gifts too, they are an easy fit, and everyone smiles when they see them!  Signed, ME {lv}

  

Let your clothes do the talking!

So I was listening to NPR radio today, and they were interviewing former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.  It was kind of an interesting interview, because she talked about her new book, called "Read My Pins".  Some of you I'm sure already know this, but she become quite infamous for the costume jewelry "pins" she wore on her left shoulder.  She explained how she had different pins she wore daily to set different moods, and to signal different things to whatever Heads of State she happen to be meeting with.

Middle East talks...maybe a dove pin.  When she was feeling aggressive, maybe her wasp pin.  When the bipartisan talks were going nowhere, her turtle pin. 

I love how she recognized the impact that wearing something (in her case the jewelry) had on both HER attitude and mood, and ultimately on the perception that others had of her on any given day.   Regardless of whether you liked her from a political standpoint, you sort of have to appreciate her ability to embrace her femininity without compromise, while being a strong and intellectual force in a man's game.

Signed, ME {lv}

They're bbbaaaacccckkkkk!

We had them last year, and blogged on their fabulous nature, and since none of us felt like we got enough, we doubled our efforts this year and went cashmere scarf crazy!  There isn't a color (a good one anyway) that we didn't get in, and they feel wonderfully snuggly--who doesn't need cashmere around their neck?  I treat myself to a few each season because I'm a scarf maniac, but they also make wonderful and easy gifts!  The easiest way to bring a flash of color to your outfit.  Grab your favorite hue soon, they are sure to find homes quickly!

Signed, ME {lv}

 and more!

 and more!!

Keats & Bloom lovelies!

These new Keats & Blooms scarves I am particularly excited about.  I'm a scarf person for sure, I tend to only wear a few jackets, but dozens of scarves will spark them up all fall/winter long.  My usual standby is cashmere, I will admit, but when I saw these merino wool wraps I was amazed at how soft and wonderful they felt.  Even after years in the biz, I'm still condition to think, "wool...itchy".  Those definitely were days past, because now a well done merino wool is serious competition for any knit!  The colors are what really melted my heart, there isn't one that isn't perfectly breathtaking...and I thought each was a variation of the "norm".  Yes, there is deep orange out there, but nothing quite like the turmeric color.  The blue fir....that deep bottom of the sea green/blue that I adore isn't easy to come across in this richness.   The right color will light up your face and take your black, brown or charcoal "basic jacket" above and beyond!  Signed, ME {lv}

 

Eileen Fisher has a new following-me :-)!

I remember being in my 20's and my mom adored Eileen Fisher.  My recollection of the fashions in those years was boxier, more generous cuts, classic silhouettes, gorgeous colors.  My mother always look tasteful, always age appropriate.   I bought a few pieces, but I didn't consider EF one of "my brands".

But Eileen Fisher has evolved.  She still dresses my mom, and I would say her style is still relaxed, but the silhouttes have gotten much more updated, and much more youthful.  Now they have that really difficult to achieve balance of youthfulness, classic lines, detailing, and sophistication...without being stuffy, unflattering or boring.  Eileen Fisher has managed to cross over multi-generations of women, and with just a few tweaks here and there, it works for all of us. 

When I wear and Eileen Fisher sweater I pair it with a great pair of jeans, layer it over a tee, throw on my boots and an obi belt and I"m off.  My mom takes that same sweater and pairs it with a pair of Eileen Fisher pants and simple flats and looks great too.   The sweaters and jackets are wonderful and the ones I've bought in the last few years have become the favorites in my closet.  The skirts and dresses are beautiful too...the only thing that hasn't worked for me are the pants (rise a little too high for my short waist).  What I can also trust in, is the EF quality, and dedication to environment protection in the production of her clothing.

If you have erased EF form your mind thinking she only dresses your mother, think again.  I really feel strongly that her company, her styles, and her vision are worth getting behind.  We'll all look better!

Signed, ME {lv}