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Dear Readers,
We all know what a harsh winter we are enduring this year, so I will not add salt to the wound by whining about it. And I won't say that I have completely forgotten how to drive in snow (did I ever really know?) or that I am witnessing the slow and painful death of my beautiful black shearling coat.
No, I refuse to complain.
Instead, I will talk about the great style that is possible despite the winter dregs; and how now would be the ideal time to shop for a new winter coat if one intends to get a good deal on shearling or heavy wool. One might also consider faux fur which is way warmer than one might think. My beloved shearling is faux.
Yet, my all time favorite coat remains the traditional camel wool coat as shown:
This classic monochromatic look will continue to be classic if we combine beautiful pieces like these; a look I aspire to but have yet to fully realize (sigh). It's classy and rich looking not to mention highly practical. In this photo it looks like the suit jacket under the overcoat might be a vest rather than a long sleeve jacket. Brilliant idea. It's those bulky sleeves that can wreak havoc with proper fit, especially when wearing a sweater as a layering piece. I'm going to look for a vest like this and will let you know when and if I find one.
And speaking of sweaters, you may have noticed the newer modern sweater shapes this year. They are great looking on young and /or very slim bodies but . . . buyer beware. Shapeless oversized cuts will make many of us look bigger, not better. A bulky knit plus a barrel shape usually equals five or more extra pounds. A beautiful cable stitch pattern like the one shown below, however, can be both extremely flattering and fashionable.
Not this:
Skirts are in the news this year too as hemlines continue to fall. I am so grateful because up until now, skirt/dress shopping has been annoyingly difficult for women of a certain age. We want to dress fashionably but we don't want to look ridiculous. This year many designers are listening and trying very hard to create clothing that speaks to us. Examples are skirts and dresses that are long and lean and very slenderizing like the gorgeous cashmere skirt shown below. But we must be careful! There are longer skirt styles out there that give the impression one is standing in a bucket. Much like capri pants, it's the unflattering mid-calf length coupled with a bit o' flare that'll do us in.
Choose this:
Not this:
Please note: if you are petite in stature, probably best to steer clear of these longer lengths and stay with skirts and dresses that hit right at the bend of the knee.
So, dear readers, let us don our gray apparel, brave the elements, and shop some of these clearance sales.
On the other hand, if you need to shop but hate to shop, call me: 708-579-1016.
I will gladly shop for you. But only if the wind chill is well above zero . . .
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