James Perse canvas surplus pants | no longer available
H&M Conscious Collection top
Jerome Dreyfuss Florent backpack | review here
Charlotte Stone Alice sandals
As I mentioned on Monday’s post, I was in a fog the first part of this week; couldn’t concentrate, felt sort of scattered. I think I figured it out though – over the weekend, I had pizza for lunch AND dinner, along with copious amounts of proseco, then one of those heavenly breakfast souffles at Panera Sunday morning for breakfast on my way back home from Austin. Yeah. That’s a whole lot of gluten & dairy for a person who normally eats none.
Anyway, since I couldn’t focus on writing on Tuesday, I went shopping instead. REAL LIVE shopping, which I hadn’t done in awhile given our household austerity measures and all. I do have a little extra money to spend in the next month since I earned more money last month, so I’m trying to pinpoint exactly what I NEED for fall/winter this year.
In case I haven’t mentioned this before, I am single-minded when it comes to shopping and finding what I’ve determined that I need; I have a hard time thinking about much else. And I’m REALLY REALLY in the mood for fall clothes right now, since it’s the hottest time of the year. Ugh.
And I also learned (by wearing these pants) that once I have found “the right ____________” (whatever it is…and yes, I almost wrote “perfect”), I can be done looking for anything else. That requires a couple of things though: one – to be HAPPY with what I have, and two – to acknowledge that it’s the right whatever for me, and that I’m not going to find better.
These JP pants are SO GOOD that I’m done looking for any more pants, gray, black or otherwise (EXCEPT I have FINALLY found a pair of wide leg pants that FIT ME, so I’ll get those and then be done!). I’d been thinking I’d like a pair of army green/olive pants, but I don’t need them. These pants are perfect for when I don’t want to wear jeans or black pants. I will say they’re quite warm for summer, but they are so fabulous for cooler weather, and for traveling. I know they will last forever. They’re sturdy as hell.
I’m also done looking at/for jeans. My Le Garcon jeans are THE BEST for me right now, and I’m very happy with them.
I do need a warm black blazer/jacket, a shirt dress, and black loafers. I would LIKE TO HAVE a big slouchy cashmere sweater and/or sweatshirt, and a long grey dress that I can layer easily. I’ve identified the exact pieces I want/need, now I just need to get about the business of procuring them!
While I was shopping, I did pick up this Madewell oversized chambray top, because I thought I needed a chambray top, but now, I’m not so sure (more in this week’s The Minimal Closet post, coming tomorrow!). I also used up a store credit card I had at H&M on a great oversized gray sweater. Now, I’m officially done with H&M. I just can’t anymore.
I checked out new arrivals at Splendid – I liked this pink top, but that was probably it. At Neiman Marcus I looked at this IRO dress I’ve had my eye on; maybe it will be my long gray dress? I also tried on this Vince sweater I’ve had in my “hearts” at Shopbop, it was good, but I’m not sure it’s $495 good, you know? Actually I’m 100% sure it’s not $495 good…especially for not being 100% cashmere.
Finally, I tried on the Rag & Bone fedora I’ve been obsessing over for the last couple of years. It’s SO GOOD. But I’m not sure how a hat is supposed to fit. The large seemed almost too large and the medium just sat on top of my head. Also, I’m not sure how a person who is completely anti-frivolity wears a hat if not to keep her head warm? When would I wear a fedora??
I spent quite a lot of time at James Perse also, but I’ll do another post on that, because it will be LONG, given all I tried on 😉
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What’s on your fall shopping list? Have you knocked any of it out yet??
I’m with you on the fall clothes but no fall weather for a while…we’re heading into the warmest part of the year for Northern California, so no hope of wearing wool blazers, boots or wool sweaters until November! Not that I’m complaining to my family on the East Coast though…
But in terms of “fall” shopping, I did order a pair of black loafers (very traditional-style Cole Haan penny loafers: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50102614579783974/), and sourced a new pair of straight-leg jeans (from Vince, of all places). I would like to get a couple of basics–a black silk long-sleeve blouse and a white popover.
I’d still like to get some boots–I have my eye on the Ugg Darling (http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50102614579766064/) –I tried on another pair of similar boots by Ugg and was surprised at how clean-lined and comfortable they were, and they seem like a bargain compared to Rag & Bone.
And I will start looking out for a grey tweed jacket–something like that Isabel Marant one that all the French style bloggers wear ;-).
ack!! i love those UGG boots!!!! whoa. now i must try them on… although i’ve (again) given up on boots. i have great boots (rag & bone) and madewell, but i don’t wear them. i’m just not okay with how they look on me…but i always WANT to find a pair of low, easy boots. these look awesome, just a little higher up on the ankle than i’d like.
i love basic, classic loafers, and i may just end up with a pair of simple ones, but i really love that vince pair. and if the everlane pair comes in black i may try those also.
i tried on a pair of vince jeans once – i forget where – and loved them. they fit so well…i don’t know why i haven’t tried them again.
and oh how i love popovers! i have this one by nili lotan in my hearts at shopbop, and she actually has some good ones on sale at her site. this white tuxedo one is $90…but small only – love it!!!
In the past 3 weeks, I’ve ordered/bought 6 pairs of black skinny pants. I won’t keep them all, but I do need to figure out what I plan to keep so I can return the others! It’s 94 with 99% humidity today, so contemplating a fall wardrobe (which is basically whatever I’ll wear from October through April) is beyond me. I have started to make progress by pinning outfits I like, but so far (the good news) the stuff I’ve been pinning I could probably recreate with stuff I own already. Boring traditional/classic taste has some benefits.
Re: shirtdress – Uniqlo has a black watch plaid flannel shirt dress. I want it. I think it would probably look horrible on me, but I love black watch plaid and, being Uniqlo, it’s cheap….I also worry it just won’t fit and their return shipping bugs me….
J. Crew has a nice white popover that I tried on and actually fits me (NONE of their button-front shirts ever fit me across the chest, but the popover styles are fine), and isn’t too sheer, which is a problem I have with a lot of white tops. And of course it’s on sale.
https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/casualshirts/PRDOVR~B1825/B1825.jsp
Omg, I tried on the Rag & Bone fedora recently too (after only admiring it online). I love a good hat but I’m just not sure if it’s ridiculous to spend close to $200 on one. Since most of your outfits lean towards simple/uncomplicated, a fedora can serve as a punctuation mark/spark to your outfit instead of just functioning as something to keep you warm.
I am so ready for fall. I’m all for layering and I’m dying to wear a sweater and some scarves and to throw on a hat. However, I’m determined to not rush the seasons because that means winter is coming and I hate the freezing cold (be glad you are in TX during the winter months!).
I’ve already made my fall/winter shopping list and managed to knock a few items off but I’m really looking for more top options, a wrap coat, and blazers. I also find myself in need for new jeans because now that I’ve been exercising, a good number of them are too loose. I suppose that’s a good thing right? I found one pair of AG at Nordstrom Rack last weekend. I also managed to score a new Equipment blouse for about $50 and a Helmet Lang leather jacket that I had no business buying lol. I still can’t believe I bought it when I already have a black leather jacket but it’s kind of awesome and that’s another reason why I need fall to get here. 🙂
yes. that’s my hurdle with the fedora – it’s a GREAT hat, seems very well made, you’d never have to buy another one. but seriously…when will i thrown on a hat? my friend says it great for traveling, but then if you wear the hat, you have to take it off on the plane or you couldn’t lean your head back, and then you’d have hat hair. and i don’t understand hat etiquette. i thought you were supposed to remove them inside, no matter what. but no one does that. i guess i’m old fashioned?
and yay for your jeans not fitting 🙂 that IS a good problem, but frustrating…i know…nordstrom rack is the best place for jeans on sale in my opinion…or the outnet online – they seem to have GREAT jeans for less than $100. can’t try them on though.
i do appreciate living in TX during the winter. now, not so much! 🙂
This is the oversized sweater I’m dying for this Fall…
http://www.intermixonline.com/product/10+crosby+derek+lam+double+hem+boatneck+sweater.do?country=US&gclid=Cj0KEQjw1NufBRCx8ayaqY2t6KkBEiQA2nLWm5TnSiNUI5x4tTob7W5slpHzIuXgbxr3vNwzgjwKmGUaAp9k8P8HAQ
erin, i love that sweater!!! it’s already layered 🙂
Hi Grechen,
I’ve had the Vince circle cardigan on my fall wishlist as well, but have been unsure about it, as I find long circle cardigans iffy on me. You mention that it was good, but not great. Any further comments on fit, etc?
Thanks!
I tried on the small, thinking I would size down so it wasn’t too long on me, but it was way too small across my back. They didn’t have a medium to try, but I’m sure it would have been much better, and not as long as I thought it would be. It seemed like it would be very comfortable though.
And I found that you can kind of play with the placement of sweaters like them to make them longer or shorter…which is good. But it was definitely Long enough to wear with leggings or slim jeans.
I still like it a lot, but for about half price!!
Great, thanks for this information! Sometimes I find Vince sweaters hard to size from pics on line – they seems to run true to size, to quite large, depending on the style. Good to know that it’s not super long – I had wondered about that. I’ll see if I can try it on the next time I’m in the US.
You’ve got me totally craving a close-fitting tank dress! I’m picturing it with an oversized cashmere sweater, cozied up in front of a fire with a hot mug of tea and a good book. (See? It’s the visual of the outfit that gets me every time!) In fact, I ordered the Halogen at Nordstrom tank dress in olive ( http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-racerback-stretch-knit-midi-dress/3627715?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Black%2F+White+Stripe&resultback=0&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_1_A) because I really want to see if I like the look on me before spending more money. But they’ve got a really cute James Perse striped grey one on sale that would do the trick, too. Now, for the cozy cardi….hmmm???….what color???
Re hat etiquette: a lady can leave her hat on indoors because the hat is part of her outfit. A gentleman always removes his hat indoors because his hat is practical – like a coat. Remember the Sex in the City episode where Carrie went to a party and had to remove her shoes before entering the apartment? She protested that her Manolos were part of her outfit. Reluctantly she took them off and of course they were stolen.
love that one!! yes, it would be perfect for reading by the fire 😉 with a cardigan. well, you know i’d go for black, but heather gray would be really nice with olive.
haha. yes, i remember that episode. i’ve heard that before, i guess, but you don’t really see men taking their hats off anymore…sadly. and they’re all baseball caps.
I just bought the Halogen dress and the JP ruched skinny tank dress. They have a plain black and striped version of the JP dress at Nordstrom. The black one is a little more flattering and has some cashmere, great for Fall. The Halogen dress is not lined and is very thin, better for summer. Both super cute and look great on.
Love your choices, Jen! Popovers get me every time!
I remember having a college friend that wore adorable newsboy caps all the time with her glossy dark hair and bright red lips (this was the 80’s… 😉 ), so I tried….and just couldn’t pull it off. I think you’re either a hat person, or you’re not. And I am decidedly NOT.
I’m thinking heather grey, too. I might look at Uniqlo men’s cashmere.
Cool! I’m glad to hear you like them. I hope I do!