One of the things I'm passionate about in dressing myself is playing with trends in a way that works with my life. Generally, this means office-appropriate, budget-friendly, easy-care, and pairs well with pieces I already own. I want trendy items to be of good enough quality that they don't look cheap or out of place in my wardrobe, but because they're trends, I don't expect them to last for the next decade. Keeping this in mind, I've been on a quest for a black & white striped blazer - I've seen them all over the place, wanted to try out the look myself, but I didn't want to spend a lot. Target came through for me, with a ponte knit poly/rayon/spandex blend with -- wait for it -- REAL POCKETS. That was just a a bonus, but YAY.
Jacket: Target (Matching skirt here)
Trousers: NYDJ, Chaplin style, via Boutique Larrieux (Similar here)
Tee: Eloquii (Sadly, they are shutting down, but you can score this same tee for $6.49 right now if you're a 14/16!)
Scarf (which I have wrapped around my neck, not worn as a shawl): I purchased mine at the China pavilion at EPCOT, but the same design is available from this eBay seller (no endorsement of this seller implied - I've never purchased from them)
Now, about those investments. These black trousers are, in my opinion, pretty much the best black trousers I've ever owned. The fit, the style, I love everything about them. But they will take a chunk out of your budget, especially if you're normally a deep-sale and discount shopper accustomed to spending a quarter of the price on your trousers. I still maintain one should invest in classic basics like this AND one should patronize local boutiques, but if you can't swing it, I strongly suggest using eBay and sales at high-end department stores or outlet stores to add pieces like this to your wardrobe without resorting to ramen for months.
You'll note that I did not mention shoes in my collage. Well, I have some news on that front:
Yep, those are my feet, both in shoes! I'm officially 10 weeks post-op today, and seem to have transitioned fully to a shoe! Not my top choice of shoes, but this is what I can wear right now on Day 2 of Full Time Shoe Wearing. Those, by the way, are Wolky Moira lace-up shoes, which are discontinued. So I'm hobbling around in actual shoes, though I still need a crutch to get going when I first get out of a chair because of stiffness and soreness in my ankle and foot, and to get up and down stairs. I've been doing various foot exercises -- the same things I did in physical therapy last summer -- to improve my strength and range of motion, so I hope to be wearing something other than lace-up shoes in the not-too-distant future.
You know, I bought a pair of NYDJ cords on clearance at Nordstrom several years ago (I spent more on that pair of pants than I had on any other). I had them hemmed, and I wore them well. However, the back pockets blew out, and the corduroy did not wear well. Was this an anomaly? Are they otherwise good pants? Is this why they were on clearance? I LOVED the fit, but did not like the wear.
Posted by: Leslie | April 11, 2013 at 10:13 PM
I've not tried their cords, but I have 2 pairs of jeans & 2 pairs of dress pants, plus my faux leather skinnies (purchased at Boutique Larrieux, on eBay, & at Nordstrom Rack). So far, so good on all of them.
I will say, they don't go in the dryer, other than for a quick de-wrinkling tumble after they've line-dried. I firmly believe that a lot of my clothes last longer this way, so it's worth the extra time & step to me. I also frequently wash pants inside out to protect the finish on them.
Posted by: stylishboots | April 11, 2013 at 11:01 PM