It's Like Clothing for Your City...

This week, in deference to the (re)opening of a premier architectural landmark (the Gehry AGO addition), I thought I'd focus a bit on spaces and interiors that appeal. Please stay tuned for Art and Design Theme Week, sure to appeal if only for my decidedly unsavvy (read: "real layperson's") perspective.

I didn't do architecture at university and I don't know much about interior design - unless my natural flair and fierce opinion count for knowing something, that is. And I'm gonna hedge that, since it is my blog after all, they do! :-)

PS: I've been tagged with a few great awards and fun games over the past couple of weeks, super lucky me! Just want to let my generous tagging friends know that I haven't forgotten and I am intending to post and send the love along to others soon.

Beige Turtleneck: Bloomingdales circa 1990

To call this piece ubiquitous is kind of understating it. I've had this Bloomie's sweater forever. It cost $50.00 on sale at Xmas almost 20 years ago. It has weathered many seasons, fluctuating weight, every trend you could imagine. And it's still here...

Necklace: From Ewanika. It's two separate stones on either end of a chain, which you tie.

Short outdoor/indoor wool jacket, 3/4 sleeve, inset belt by Club Monaco

3/4 black wool wrap evening coat by Kenzie. It's weird poodle-y fabric. Shoes: Vintage YSL

Grey Square Neck: Laundry circa 1998

This is one of the first "designer" pieces I ever bought. I got it at Loehmann's in West Palm Beach when my parents lived nearby. It cost a fortune by my standards at that time - approaching $80.00 at a discount store 10 years ago! Man, that store was always good for a great buy...

This pullover is a very slim knit and cut. After I had my daughter I could barely fit it over my arms - much less my chest! It took until a couple of years ago before I could wear it again (and it's a bit shorter than I'd like given my current "figure challenges" read: stomach).



Here it is (seen below) with amazing new vintage jacket I bought a couple of months ago. The jacket is very fitted, wool with a flare at the waist. You can't actually see any of that in this picture, which is why I'll post about it again another time... Oh, and the belt (seen above) is metal - from Anne Taylor about 10 years ago. It was $50.00 - which also seemed steep - but look, I'm still wearing it.

My husband likes to call this my "political bio" photo. Ha!

Oversize Oatmeal Cardi: YaYa Aflalo circa 2006

This piece is so warm, so deliciously amorphous. But it does add volume... (I discovered this particularly while looking at about 10 photos I deleted instantaneously!)


The funnel sleeve is my fave element - or maybe it's the shawl collar. This piece feels amazing with a cashmere cami underneath (not that I appear to be wearing one). But, yes, I own one of those too...

Brown Cable Knit: Ca Va de Soi circa 2007

I know these aren't the best shots ever, but I'm trying to show you the versatility of thick cashmere (albeit in a fitted style) to create a long, slim silhouette.



This Ca Va de Soi sweater (cashmere and merino), from Ewanika, was on sale for about $100.00. It was very well-priced, IMO, given its original price was twice that, and the cashmere isn't flimsy in any way. It's got give but it snaps back.

Its greatest strength may also be seen as a bit of a flaw: It's a very bizarre, potentially hard to manage, caramel colour. Given how well it fits, I'm sure this is the only reason it ever made it to the sale. But with my new, crazy highlights (and my propensity to mix yellow with anything) it works particularly well.

Looks great with skinnies and leggings too...

'Shmere Campaign

My husband came up with this title and he'd like you all to be aware of that. :-)

At any rate, y'all know (if you've read this blog at least twice) that I'm a bit of a freak for cashmere. There are few substances in the world that thrill me as much. It's so soft, so fluffy, so slim, so durable, so insanely warm. And it comes in so many deniers. I own cashmere that's thin enough to be translucent. I own cashmere that's thick enough to be cable knit. I own scarves, glove sleeves, hats and - natch - sweaters. Practically zillions of them - or maybe more like 10. Of course this doesn't include the many sweaters I have that are constructed of merino wool.

I suppose now's a good time to say, please don't judge. I live in Canada peeps; it's frickin' cold here! Besides, never has a girl taken such good care of or enjoyed every element of buying, owning and wearing the stuff. So it's all good.

Recently, I came up with this idea. It includes:

• 2 pairs of shoes
• 1 skirt
• 3 jackets and
• 4 cashmere sweaters

What I've decided to do over the next few days is post photos of me in (basically) the same outfit - working a few styles of cashmere to (I've gotta hope) good advantage.

To kick things off, here's a couple of shots of me in that new - admittedly not cashmere - Club Monaco V neck I profiled last week. Talk about getting your money's worth in photos and copy!

It Appears I Love A Lot of Things...

I never realized how much I totally love the things I love, until I started this blog and it occurred to me that you, my friends, might love them too!

So here's today's offering, Sahale Snack Blends:
I particularly love the Ksar mix, a delish combo of pistachios, pumkin seeds, dried figs and spicy zing. It's salty, sweet, spicy heaven! And it's entirely healthful / within the spectrum of one's daily diet.

I love it when nutrition and satiety converge!

PS Just reread this and it sounds very "advertise-y"! No one paid me to endorse this product. I swear. :-)