Rachel Comey Monterey pants (made in the US)
Rachel Comey clogs | chewed slightly…
Petit Bateau long sleeve top (made in France) | via SLOWRE
This week…
Shopping
Remember that beautiful Robert Clergerie bag I’ve been carrying? It broke. It was very hard to tell from the photos, but the bag had some minimal hardware – very small “screws” that attached the shoulder strap in the middle, and one came unscrewed and disappeared. I took the bag back to Tenoversix a week ago, and they were going to deal with contacting Robert Clergerie about getting it fixed or a replacement, but they didn’t hear back from the company. So, Tenoversix offered me the same bag, just in dark green, or store credit. I chose to take store credit instead of the bag; it was mostly the color that drew me to the bag, so I wasn’t super excited about the green.
I am still really disappointed, because I loved that bag, and wish it could have been fixed, but I appreciate the way Tenoversix handled the problem and the quick resolution. But now, I have store credit to spend. I don’t do well with store credit…I don’t like to just leave it, I’d rather use it so I can stop “thinking” about what it is I’m going to spend it on. I become obsessive like that and try to avoid store credit for precisely that reason.
But since I tried on the Rachel Comey Monterey pants three times since early in the summer, and still couldn’t stop thinking about them, I decided to get those with a portion of my credit and leave the rest for later. I did try on all the Rachel Comey pants (including the legion and the slim legion), and the super-popular Jesse Kamm wide leg pants and nothing fit (they didn’t have anything bigger than a size 6 though, I probably could have fit into size 8). I do still love the look of a wide leg pant as long as they’re slightly cropped, although I know they’re not the MOST FLATTERING LOOK on my short legs/short torso body type. The pants are so cute, and really comfortable and work really well with my Everlane cropped cashmere sweater from last year, which I can’t wait to wear…but in the meantime, I can wear them with a t-shirt tucked in.
I also have been wanting to try to find some simple high-waisted 100% cotton jeans, and ordered the “wedgie icon” by Levi’s with some birthday money at Amazon (I also like this distressed pair, and this black pair, although the black pair has 1% “stretch” in it). According to Shopbop (which is owned by Amazon and sells via Amazon, which means I can use my Amazon birthday money there, yay!) these jeans are made in the US. And Levi’s actually is making great strides in using less water to make their jeans (denim uses SO MUCH water to manufacture…) so I’d been wanting to try a pair of their jeans for a while. The particular jeans I got are not made using their “water-less” innovation, but I’m happy to support the company’s move in the right direction. If the jeans fit, that is.
Oh, and I mentioned next to the link to my shoes that one is slightly chewed (the left one). Dagny got a hold of it a couple weeks ago and chewed on the wood at the toe of the shoe, and some of the rubber/sole also. This is the second pair of shoes she’s done this to, but at least she leaves them still wearable, and for that I’m thankful. It’s odd, because she really never messes with anything unless she gets in a frenzy and something interesting (apparently one of my really expensive shoes LOL) is nearby for her to fling around and chew on. I don’t know, I was upset at first, but like I said, at least I can still wear it.
Speaking of Dagny, we boarded her while we were in Florida over the weekend and now she has kennel cough. She was due for the vaccine at the time of boarding though, which she received, so it may be that it’s a result of the vaccine, and not bordetella itself, but this is the second time this has happened! Her cough is jarring and I feel so bad for her, and wonder if we should a) take her to a different boarding place that doesn’t require the vaccine or b) stop boarding her altogether and find a pet sitter. I’m going to discuss options with the vet, but last time this happened and we spoke she mentioned that bordetella isn’t as serious as it’s made out to be and often it will just pass without any medication – I hate to give her meds unnecessarily. Does anyone have any exeperience with this?
Random
nbd, just the most AMAZING sunrise ever at my dad’s house
and a flock of ibis grazing through
I did really enjoy the On Being podcast episodes I listened to on the plane recently, thanks Christine for mentioning those! I’ve added more podcasts to my list now also – I’ll just have to find time to listen to them. I also ordered three non-fiction books for my kindle recently during one of their $4.99 promotions (yay for Amazon birthday money LOL) : Hillbilly Elegy, the Last Lecture, and Moonwalking with Einstein. I love to read non-fiction but haven’t much lately, so I’m looking forward to getting into these, or at least adding them to my rotation of interesting fiction 😉
What about you? What have you bought? listened to? read interesting lately?
Hope you have a great weekend!!!
I am so curious to hear how you like the Levi’s… I’ve been eyeing that style for a while too but haven’t pulled the trigger yet…
And, and upvote for petsitting! I am a petsitter on occassion and I love it, and I think it’s great for the animal, because then they can stay in a place they feel comfortable in — though staying in a place they’re comfortable with might be more crucial for cats than dogs?
i’m conflicted about a pet sitter – i actually have a good recommendation for one, but have yet to try. Dagny is very anxious, and i’m not sure she does REALLY well at boarding/daycare, but i think the more often she DOES it, she gets better. and i love to think that she’s playing with other dogs and doing something ‘fun’ while we’re gone, instead of doing her usual hanging out at home doing nothing, you know?
and, i would want someone to spend the night with her – i hate the idea of leaving her all night alone. not sure how many petsitters do that?
i don’t know. i do think she would appreciate staying home, but i don’t want her to feel lonely either.
Totally. The petsitters I know usually have a small extra fee for staying overnight, but are willing to do it. If the animal is anxious and you go the petsitting route, I think it’s extra helpful to have the person work from home or run errands throughout the day, so they’re not only around in the morning and at night. Just my two cents.
Those pants ARE flattering on you! I love them. They look so comfortable and the wide legs and hemline make them look very contemporary. May be the next thing I save up for……..
Yeah, I’m getting tired of the default-skinny silhouette and seeing these pants and how they make Grechen look like she’s all legs is reminding me to start looking for my own iterations on these.
haha. well thank you guys 🙂
i should have qualified it as not “conventionally” flattering, or flattering according to my husband LOL
i do think wide legs can be flattering on me as long as i show a little ankle and my waist.
Long time reader here. I went to Anthropologie to try the Levi’s Wedgie Icon Jeans, and there was a major fabric feel difference between their blue wash jeans and their washed black option. The blue denim has 99% cotton, and feels like a sturdy pair of jeans to me. The black one feels stretchier and thinner, for some reason. I ended up getting the classic medium blue. If you find that the blue denim is a little tight on you (but still button-able and not suffocating), that is the right size. Over the next few days, the jeans will loosen up (as all Levi’s jeans do), and it would mold to fit. I’m normally a 28-29 in Jbrand, Paige Denim, Rag n Bone, and chose to go with the 27 in the Wedgie fits. When they released the LVC 606 jeans, I ordered them in a 29 because I was afraid they’d be too tight, and now they are only wearable for a few hours after I’ve washed and dried them. Beyond that, they will start sagging. However, if you’re into the boyfriend jeans look, you’ll be ok with it.
Thanks for the feedback!
Hello
I found my petsitter at my vet. I asked and a couple of the techs do it on the side.
She spends the night as well, I live by the beach and have washer/dryer/ cable
she does not have so no extra charge. ;c)
Have a great weekend, hope your pooch is feeling better soon.
e
Very helpful!
Well aren’t you just full of surprises, Ms. Grechen?!? I love these pants on you, but I never thought you’d go with a wide-leg after the Black Crane experience. These fit SO well and I think that makes all the difference in the world. Especially silly good with the close fitting tee….key, I think, along with ankles/skin, to making this look work (for anyone, really!).
Even though I read you every day, it’s today’s bordetella and pet sitter talk that spurred me to write for the first time. Our (vaccinated) dogs picked up kennel cough at the dog park, and one recovered quickly; our Lab’s pathetically painful-sounding cough persisted for a couple of weeks. Our vet told us that the vaccine isn’t always successful, and that dogs often heal as quickly without an antibiotic.
I am committed to pet sitters, and I also ask them to spend the night because I hate to think of our dogs alone all night, too. I’m a high school teacher, so I’ve been lucky to be able to get students who are older who are thrilled to stay at our house. It makes all the difference in my comfort level and that of the dogs, and I can check in with them. Our vet (who runs a boarding facility as part of his practice) unabashedly recommended pet sitters over boarding. Our (many) past pet sitters sometimes come by just to visit the dogs 🙂
I love your blog, and as a 60 year old, hope I’ve come to some balance in my wardrobe/life. Still I have to admit I struggle with the idea of comfort over appearance. Maybe too many years in a Catholic school uniform–
Thanks so much for your comment!! I did take her to the vet today and he said as much; that she probably has just an”cold” and not the pneumonia that the vaccine is supposed to prevent. He did say we need to do antibiotics though…
I will look more into a pet sitter now for sure- and I’m encouraged by all the positive comments!! That’s wonderful that yours still come by to visit- that’s so sweet 🙂
Haha! Yes. Well I’m nothing if not fickle when it comes to my clothes. If I recall correctly also I wasn’t crazy about the faded black of the black crane pants…but I definitely had a hard time with the wide leg too.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that look! Makes me want to search out those jeans today and try them for myself.
I have two pairs of vintage “wedgie” Levi’s. I buy them at secondhand stores for $6.99 and have the waist altered for $20 so they fit perfectly. I get picked up in the grocery store when I wear them! Always by younger men {I am 47}. HAHA
We have two pit bulls and a chiweenie and have always used the same pet sitter for years as every boarding place in AZ discriminates against pits and will not let them around other dogs or even be with their own pack. Our pet sitter initially was very willing to be interviewed in person and wanted to meet the dogs and spend time with them before committing to the job. She has even taken our dogs to her house {she lives on a ranch} and they frolic with her dogs and touch noses with her horses and goat. We return home and they act like we weren’t even gone.
Hi Grechen! I’m so sorry to hear about your purse, but those Rachel Comey pants are really cool. And I’ve been thinking of you because we just adopted a new dog. Marnie is about 6 months old and is perfect for our family. I’m the one who walks her all the time and it always makes me think of you walking Dagny early in the morning and late at night. Marnie had a bit of kennel cough when we got her, and the vet suggested giving her a half dose of chewable Benadryl. I didn’t end up giving it to her, but I guess that’s an option. I’d also love to find a pair of pants with pockets (for treats and my phone) that are like the Elizabeth Suzann, but maybe not as much of a commitment. I’m nervous to order made-to-order pants, in case they don’t fit. We don’t travel very often, but I’m not sure what I’ll do with Marnie when we do.
oh yay for new puppies!! that’s so exciting 🙂
i’m going to write more about these later in the week, but i received these pants a couple weeks ago from christine at simulacra: https://www.simulacra.nyc/collections/all/products/terry-trousers?variant=11734031748 and they’re wonderful. she sent me a couple of other things when she first launched and everything is in high rotation in my wardrobe. the new terry trousers are super comfortable and are my go-to “home” pants lately. the pockets aren’t super-deep, but they hold my phone, treats, keys and a bag easily and I don’t worry about things falling out. they might be worth a try for you…
i also sometimes use a fanny pack slung over my shoulder or around my waist when i’m not wearing something with pockets…
Thank you! These might be perfect. I found a couple of pairs of Elizabeth Suzann pants on eBay, but these look really comfortable. With the ES pants, I feel confused about the sizing, and that makes me hesitant to try made-to-order.
elizabeth suzann can be challenging…that’s for sure. finding the right size is totally worth it though.
the simulacra pants are heavenly. and they do stretch a little, but not a lot, which i like – they don’t completely lose shape with wear, and i wear them every day but laundry day. they’re not exactly oversized though, on me anyway – the mediums just fit in a slightly slouchy way.
For anyone who’s interested, Elle did a really good review of 10 different pairs of jeans on 5 different editors, and the Levi’s Wedgie came out on top.
http://www.elle.com/fashion/shopping/a38165/types-styles-jeans-women/
I ordered the Levi’s, and actually really liked them–except that I couldn’t zip them shut without lying down on the bed (which I used to do when I was 15, but no longer!) But for people who actually have a waist, that shouldn’t be a problem. 😉
so cool.. now i can’t wait to try them!! i ordered my “normal” size 29, so we’ll see.
it’s been a long time since i tried a 100% cotton pair of jeans, but i had a pair a million years ago from the gap and they were my favorites.
should arrive tomorrow!!
Those Simulcra pants are SUPER-COOL!!! I’d wear them for relaxing around the house (sans fanny-pack! 😉 ) and feel “dressed” at the same time. A big WANT!
What a great jean review! Thanks for the link.
I have been LOVING those jeans on you so much. So I finally hit the link and found that they will likely be shorter on me (disappointing but not a deal-breaker) and the pair on offer is bleached denim ( which is kind of a deal breaker at this time of year, for me anyway. Just can’t do beachy and Canadian winter together at the same time. Must wear dark or bright to keep warm. It’s a thing! If I wear flame colours I am warmer, I swear! Especially socks and pjs)
So does anyone know where I can get these in darker denim? I’d be ever so grateful for a link.
hi kathryn – what size are you looking for? I’m wearing a six. and they’re meant to be quite cropped, which of course, they’re not on me…
you could contact tenoversix (here’s the link to their main page, scroll down for phone numbers: http://shop.tenover6.com/) and see if they have the darker wash still available. i bought mine in the dallas store, and i’m not sure if they had more sizes or not. you could mention my name if you call there and say you’re looking for the ones i bought.
otherwise, i had a hard time finding the darker wash online. but i’ll let you know if i find it…
here’s a black pair – but it’s polyester: http://www.eatontradingcompany.com/rachel-comey-monterey-pant/?gclid=CjwKEAjw19vABRCY2YmkpO2OzTsSJAAzEt8sX7PnfDNGYmQbWWp1kmIQH4EzVFCFv9JiifmmaLlNYhoCvLbw_wcB (they have 30-40% off coupon codes all the time)
and also at garmentory: http://www.garmentory.com/sale/rachel-comey/bottoms-pants/68848-monterey-pant?gclid=CjwKEAjw19vABRCY2YmkpO2OzTsSJAAzEt8sPxtp8xUzxLO_c_KkL1pnZD6eEcmJfO3xSrPS8tUQWRoC22Dw_wcB – via a shop in toronto
in wine, on sale: https://mrlarkin.net/store/rachel-comey-monterey-pant-wine/