Den Um?

TGITuesday! That's something people say, right? It's not? It's not.

Recently, I purged my closet of all most of my long-unworn clothing. The process was shamefully overdue, largely because I create irrational and unnecessary sentimental attachments to my wardrobe. Plenty of folks do the same. (Weirdly seems like lady-only, or lady-mostly, behavior.) If you're worried you'll regret parting with that top you wore five years ago, on your second date with your now-husband, or you'll miss the dress you wore, once, to your best friend's birthday, and it hasn't fit you since, or something along those lines, let me tell you that I FEEL YOU but YOU WON'T REGRET A DAMN THING. It felt GOOD to bring bags of still very wearable clothes to a nearby women's shelter -- way better than hanging onto items I hadn't glanced at in... who even knows how long. (Pro tip, gleaned from this book: Memories can and will survive in your head, with or without the associative object.)

Whoa boy. Quelle long & borderline preachy way to introduce a considerably superficial subject. SHOPPING! As in, I might have been a tad gung-ho when clearing the closet. The few jeans I kept are now, unfortunately, in dire need of replacement (or, at the very least, short-term sabbatical).

Something you should know: I hate shopping for jeans. And pants. Any garment, really, that requires leg separation + confinement. Not to mention the ordeal of Saving Private Ryan-ing a size that fits both my waist and my ass -- body parts which, like my boobs (tmi?), either never got the message their sizes should be harmonious, or the feedback was received but unwelcome, so now they are being spiteful. Whatever. At almost every turn, I have avoided the dreaded Shopping For Denim experience by (A) honing in on that *one* good jean that fits and buying a pair in every color, or (B) wearing skirts. Until today. Today, the job can be avoided no more.

In an effort to reduce store-level frustration and anxiety, I poked around online for viable options.

Hence:

Topshop, why is all your denim cropped? Wait, I forgot, I don't care. I'm 5'3". Nothing is cropped. As a person who already owns three pairs of Jamie, I'm thinking it's time to branch out. Or not -- the ripped option is still a Jamie cut. The first style is Leigh and I'm digging the mid-rise. 

Is American Eagle Outfitters still a place to buy denim? I mean, years ago, all my jeans were from there. I was also eighteen, living in suburbia, and AEO just arrived at the local mall. But I remember the quality being good! Right? I think so! Anyway, I'm enjoying the cut and wash on this pair, dubbed the Hi-Rise Skinny Jeans (round of applause for name originality). Worth a peruse, at minimum.

 

And then there was Zara. Simple, cute, probably affordable. But will there be anything on the shelves? To be confirmed this afternoon.

Can we talk about this sweater?

Hey Zara, thanks for continuing to feed the addiction.

I hear the collective ZZZs coming from the internet. Does the sweater look plain-ish? Sure. Boxy shape. Scoop neck. Drop shoulder. Not much else going on, really.

DID I MENTION IT COSTS $18? And is made of cotton? AND comes in oodles of colors??

Surely you don't need to go out and buy ALL of them. Maybe just one (but probably two). Or, maybe, I'm being swayed by the insane price tag. Ultimately, everything will boil down to a shopper, a sweater, and the unforgiving glare of fitting room lighting. If you so venture, please come back & let me know how it went! (I'm presently on self-imposed Zara furlough, otherwise I'd go try it myself.)

25 // Fall coats

It's that time of year. Leaves are a-falling, weather's getting a-chilly. You look at your perfectly good coat from last season and... start making up excuses why you need a new one.

For a bevy of reasons, I am neither in need nor in a financial position to splurge on new outerwear. (This fall, I chose boots > jacket.) Has that stopped me from e-window shopping? Nah.

You see, if I were to indulge...

Loving the masculine, structured, double-breasted, oversized-suit-jacket-y look (this one c/o Zara, left). At the same time, the more slouchy/casual parka thing is very appealing. Can't tell you how many times I've looked up this Gap option (right). I also can't decide if gives off a murder-living-deep-in-the-woods vibe.

12 // Summer dresses

Excuse me while I fantasize about buying (and fitting perfectly in) these Zara dresses.

 

 

 

They're all part of the end-of-season sale. And the online store offers free shipping to Canada. Is it terribly irresponsible to buy one (or two) tonight, or only mildly so? Good lord, the internet kicked window shopping up a whoooole other level.

I've recently become a big fan of dresses with an a-line and/or trapeze silhouette. They have great movement and, depending on the fabric, do that great woooosh thing when you move. Plus, the cut is super forgiving of post-carb-heavy-meal bellies, which is basically my body's default position (no shame).

Maybe I'll just park my shopping cart overnight, then see what happens tomorrow.

(All photos were taken from www.zara.com, in case it wasn't obvious.)

04 // Black & White

I was (very irresponsibly) browsing the French Connecrion summer sale. Eventually, I found myself in a changing room with my seemingly absent-minded selection of things to try.

Do you think I have a "look"?