Levi’s Wedgie Icon jeans (made with American Cone denim in China) | Levi’s 501 style on sale at Amazon
Petit Bateau long sleeve crew neck (made in France) | mine was secondhand via SLOWRE
Lauren Manoogian Alpaca Capote Coat (made in Peru) | purchased partially with credits at Garmentory*
Nike Free Sneakers
Rag & Bone pilot nylon backpack
What I wore yesterday. It was cold and rainy here, and I only had to run a few errands (Costco…Ugh), so warmth and comfort was key. I still haven’t worn this sweater a lot – it’s pretty warm – but now that I’ve eased into it, I’m definitely looking forward to wearing it more often. I did wash it once, and have worn it twice before yesterday, and in that time, it seems to have softened up a bit and is much less itchy on my neck than it was initially. In fact, I didn’t think it was itchy at all yesterday. So, I’m really glad I didn’t give up on it as quickly as I wanted to at first.
here’s a nearly identical coat/sweater via the Peruvian collection, and it comes in different sizes
And now, I’m exploring more ways to add alpaca to my wardrobe; it’s a more sustainable fiber than cashmere or wool. I do already have an alpaca pullover by Zady, but have been thinking about a beanie/hat. Incidentally, my mother knitted a shawl/wrap for my sister out of an alpaca/wool blend and asked me what I wanted her to knit me, so, maybe a hat? Any of you knitters out there have recommendations for a pattern and yarn? Where to find ideas and buy?
The last picture, you see what’s beneath it all – what I’m trying to “hide” if you will. One of the reasons I love these jeans is that they are pretty flattering to my backside, but along with that, they accentuate my hips/saddlebags and increasingly noticeable tummy, and thick thighs. So, I usually wear something long with them to cover my backside. I’m working on that, and trying to get more comfortable with wearing the cropped styles I love with these jeans, even my leather jacket maybe – which I have yet to wear.
*if you sign up at Garmentory via my referral link you’ll receive a $20 account credit and so will I
Show us the leather!
haha! yes, well, first i have to wear it… 🙂
which i will do when it warms up a little and the sun comes out. i got a small size, so i can’t layer it easily over sweaters, only something rather thin…
I know we are all our own worst critics, but I think those jeans look great on you from all views.
Your sweater coat is very similar to my ES Jane kimono I bought last year (though mine has no pockets). I love love love it!
thanks jen. i am definitely my worst critic 🙁 and it’s not necessarily that i think they look “bad” it’s that i seem to have a disconnect between how i think they look on me before i actually look in the mirror…and how they REALLY look. whatever that means…i don’t even understand it
That coat looks amazing. But I can’t go there. A coat without closures would work in New York for probably about one week a year. I’m really heartened that they work for people in some climates. I would be clutching it closed while trying to manage whatever it is I’m carrying. It’s maddening to me how much open styles like this have proliferated lately, because I’m so tempted by them. So beautiful. But so impractical. Sigh …
You look so cute it these informal photos! Looks like you have a green thumb, too!
I feel your pain! It’s not just the lack of closures, it’s also a knit and not lined so the wind in the north would blow right through it. I, however, am soooo far north that I use “coats” like this….closures or not…..as layers. In fact, right now, which is just below freezing but damp, I am wearing camisole, wooly tights, long sleeved wool turtleneck, sweater coat like this with ties, pants, big wooly scarf and gloves, sherpa lined booties, with a lightweight long down parka with hood over all. It’s the wind!!!!! For deep winter I will switch up all outerwear to those rated minus 35, add a wind breaking overpant and switch the tights for leggings under my pants,. But then I do walk and wait for buses quite a bit 😉
That coat…O M G, serious oversized sweater envy. I’m glad to hear it softened up for you.
Really, Grechen, what hips and what saddlebags? You look fantastic. I have lost some weight recently and I know about the disconnect between reality and what’s in the head, but still, look at you, there is nothing to be unhappy, critical, self-conscious about. Are you planning on an update about your diet and weight-management anytime soon? I am very inspired by your efforts and evident success.
Ask your mother to knit you All the Shades of Truth–you can see it by google-imaging that phrase + Ravelry. You will love it, at least in its original colors of black/white/grey. I haven’t made myself one yet but I totally intend to.
beautiful!! thank you for the suggestion.
they’re definitely there…i understand the “reality” isn’t quite as extreme as i see it, but as you said, it’s so hard to get over…
Yes, Jen!!! It’s so easy to revert to criticism of ourselves in a photograph, but I was looking at the pic and thinking how great you look! I’m trying to learn to “be happy at every stage” no matter whether I’m carrying extra weight or where I actually want to be (which I haven’t been for quite some time!). It’s not easy.
I noticed that, too, Corinne! So Dagny doesn’t eat plants? I’m so jealous of your fiddle leaf fig. My cat eats literally EVERYTHING! So no real greenery for me (He’s even going to munch on the Christmas tree….sigh….)
Sorry! I don’t mean to hijack your post, but there are a couple of knitting accounts I follow on Instagram, including @thethirdpiece and @woolandthegang, that sell patterns and yarn. I drool over their sweaters!
ha! no, that’s okay, i appreciate the recommendations.
and you always crack me up when you have been “gone” for a while, catching up on comments LOL – i love it 🙂
she doesn’t touch them. ozzie never did either – i guess i’m lucky…
i’m amazed at the fig – i didn’t expect it to do very well for me, i’d heard they’re really finicky. and i don’t get a lot of light in here, especially in the winter time. but it’s doing REALLY well. i’m so pleased. it was the most expensive plant i ever bought!
Hi Grechen-
it seems so many of us have the same disconnect- I get inspiration from you to try new things and I’m with the rest of the GC crew- you do look great! – but as you have pointed out, what we wear and how we wear it is so tied in to how we feel.
An update on diet and cookbooks you use would be really useful.
It’s a brisk 10 degrees with the wind here in NY today so I would love an alpaca sweater coat.
Be well and keep rockin those jeans,
Gena