Firecracker's Blog

I mentioned on Angie's post that I had just bought a sweater vest from Madewell. I really like it for its cozy, soft feel and the easy, boxy fit with extended shoulders. This is the second time I've worn it, in the past couple of weeks. It seems like the kind of knit that may pill, but I'll happily wear it until that time.

This outfit is a version of Angie's Classic formula, #3, though my shirt is a little twist on classic, with its cowl neck and uneven hem.

The outfit: Cowl-neck, high-low hem big shirt in coordinating box and dot prints (made by me, Sewing Workshop Icon Shirt pattern); dark wash boyfriend jeans (AG); navy sweater vest (Madewell); cream loafters (27 Edit). I added my blush lightweight jacket and blush cross-body bag to go out.

Questions and comments welcome, as always!

I ordered the AllSaints Lock mock neck sweater after mention of it somewhere here, and it arrived today. I was excited to try it on, so here are a few pictures.

I think I will return it, because the color is more yellow in person than I had hoped. More butter than chalk. It is soft, and I really like the style. It has my favorite neck style--a cozy cowl. This is my usual size, and it is quite roomy. I don't think I would size down, despite the oddness I'm seeing on the right sleeve in the back-view photo. I just think I need to hold out for a better shade of white, or I won't wear it. I do like it better with the lower-contrast pants and the narrower silhouette jeans.

I tried it on with

1-2: off-white boyfriend jeans I had on today (you can see how it is more yellow than the jeans)

3-4: black and white pinstripe flannel wool pants (OSKA) and black booties

5: neutral shades glen plaid wool wide-legged cropped pants (OSKA) and black booties

6-7: dark wash jeans and graphite booties

As part of my "wear the clothes" campaign, I brought out a silk tee I made a while back but have only worn once that I can remember. Of course I needed a topper, because it was in the 60s for the first half of this summer day, inside as well as outside. I tried a few options and landed on this jacket, a recent sewing project, which honestly I wasn't sure I would wear, once i finished it. But it feels good on, and I like it with this outfit, so it may have a purpose after all!

The outfit (worn for a day at home):

Off-white boyfriend jeans (Citizens of Humanity, Emerson); silk watercolor floral tee (Coram Top pattern by Allie Olson, made by me); navy textured-cotton jacket with miniature peplum (Sterling Jacket pattern from The Sewing Workshop, made by me); off-white loafers (27 Edit); olive belt (Fossil); sage crossbody bag (Madewell).

April's quest for silvery lavender tops was timely for me. I had the color on my mind as one to keep an eye out for. Specifically I wanted it to go with a jacket I made a few years ago, which I have trouble wearing, even though it should go with a lot of my clothes.

I went to Aritzia to see if I could try any of the tops Inge found for April. I came home with this one. It's very oversized. This is a size down from my usual, and it is still big. But I like the look and feel of it. I think it brings a little attitude to the jacket. I also tried it with my new blazer bought at NAS (which has a thin line of purple running through the checks), and with a knit vest that I also like to pair with an oversized blouse.

One thing I'm bummed about: I paid full price, and when I looked it up online to make the Find, I see it's on sale. If I had paid the sale price, though, I wouldn't be able to return it. So if I decide to keep it, I'll see if I can get a price adjustment (or return it to the store and order it online).

photos:

1) The shirt on its own. I buttoned the cuffs two ways. The sleeves are a little long, but when I button the cuffs on the second button, they sit fine, and I don't feel the sleeves look or feel too-too long. I buttoned the other cuff after turning it back, creating a faux cufflink effect, a trick I like to use sometimes.

2) With the jacket that could use a companion.

3) With my new blazer (1.State).

4) With a slate gray and off-white marled knit vest (OSKA).

5) What I wore shopping. Boyfriend jeans (Citizens of Humanity, Emerson); dusty teal t-shirt (Madewell); hemp knit off-white jacket (OSKA); off-white loafers (Open Edit); sage cross-body camera bag (Madewell).

I'm thinking I'll probably keep it, but am open to your thoughts.

P.S. They have the same shirt in cotton and in linen. I got the cotton one; didn't see the linen in store, but I'd prefer the cotton anyway, for year-round wear.

Here are some pics from the dressing rooms at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

I tried on a few blazers, looking for just the right boyfriend look that can be worn casually but not too oversized. I found one that I love--the 1.State, which I hadn't picked in my online persual. I bought two pullover sweaters, undies and bras. The unintended purchases that somehow followed me home are pajamas and two pairs of jeans. I really don't need more jeans, but I'm thinking I can retire some that I'm not wearing. I might only keep one of these.

1: What I wore shopping. Peacock blue pants and swirl-pattern t-shirt (made by me); white denim jacket (Banana Republic), white metallic sneakers (Paul Green); blush crossbody bag (Nordstrom).

2-5: The winning blazer (1.State)

3-4: Two other blazers I tried (Nordstrom and Open Edit). The Open Edit is a different color than what's shown online, a really pretty mauve shade.

8-10: Pullovers. I bought the Nordstrom Signature cashmere in purple dawn and the Vince funnel neck wool blend in silverstone. I passed on the Nordstrom Signature in gray heather (I tried it in one size too large, but I liked the Vince better anyway).

11-13: Mother Tomcat cropped straight leg jeans.

14-15: Rag and Bone Rosa ankle boyfriend jeans. I might not keep these.

It was fun to shop at the flagship Nordstrom. I browsed bags and shoes but didn't see anything I couldn't pass up. I also didn't get to see the Zella track suit in person, and the jacket is sold out. I won't lose sleep over it. 

I ordered the Kiehl's body lotion, Caviar shampoo and conditioner, Olukai flip-flops, and a Zella tee online. I feel I kinda went crazy! But not too crazy.

I welcome your thoughts and questions, if I can be of help in your shopping decisions.

Edited to add: I also tried on the Vince and Theory blazers in Finds. The Vince is a beautiful dark olive, but the fit was off for me. The Theory was pretty, but I couldn't try it in my size, and I liked the 1.State better on me anyway.

After buying a cozy boucle pullover from Eileen Fisher last week and wearing it right away, I hit upon the idea of copying it with a piece of fabric I had been puzzling over how to make up. I knew I wanted a pullover, but wasn't sure what pattern to use. I made a simple boxy long-sleeved crew-neck pullover much like the Eileen Fisher. I finished it yesterday and wore it today.

photo 1: Today's outfit (for hanging around home): Teal boucle pullover (made by me), black lantern jeans (OSKA), black triple-buckle moto booties (Blondo), Czech glass earrings with tones of blue and green, teal and blue framed eyeglasses.

photo 2: Another outfit I might wear tomorrow: the pullover again, with dark olive slouchy pants (ISCHIKO), olive suede booties (LaCanadienne).

photo 3: a closeup, trying to show the earrings

Any thoughts appreciated!

Shopping with a friend yesterday, I came across a pullover on sale in a favorite wine shade. One of the few odd sizes left was perfect for me, so clearly it was meant to be mine--haha! Now I can let go of an old sweater in this shade that I haven't been wearing--because it is past its prime--but that I just couldn't part with because of the color. "Team Wear" here: I wore the new find today. It matches my wine corduroys perfectly.

The outfit: Wine corduroys (made by me), wine wool boucle pullover (Eileen Fisher), black booties (with wine topstitching!) (Pikolinos), silver and garnet necklace (gift from DH many years ago), silver toned earrings and bracelet (Brighton).

I'm not leaving the house today (after returning from swimming this morning), but I am happy in my wine-out and wanted to share it with you.

Any thoughts appreciated!

I am continuing on ChristinaF's no-jeans challenge through the end of this month. I've been taking photos and saving them for one post at the end. But with today's no-jeans outfit, I tried different toppers and thought I would share the results here.

The backstory is that I'm in a bit of style flux right now, having a hard time putting together outfits. I seem to have a lot of pieces I like, but it's a challenge to make outfits that I really love. Part of it is transitional weather, which others have noted recently; I want to wear spring clothes, but I need closer to winter warmth. But also I've been reexamining color and realizing that much of what I have in my wardrobe is okay but not my best colors. And I've been finding I don't always have the right length of topper to complete an outfit and keep me warm. Finally, I've been questioning what styles actually suit me, and whether my style is evolving in a direction I like or not. This unsettled-ness may be influenced by what feels like a turn in the pandemic, with a gradual un-masking occurring.

These pants fall into that color category. They are a near-miss color-wise, from my previous "work" capsules at OSKA, where I needed to wear articles from lines that were current at the time. They are a super comfy style, like wearing pajamas. I am considering passing them on, because they are too much of an outlier--I have very little to go with them, other than a couple of matching OSKA tops (which were too dark for my spring mood).

The outfits: Plum drapey viscose knit pants with a yoga-pant style waistband (OSKA); mixed-print tee (made by me); white platform low-top sneakers (P448); white enamel and glass earrings with a bit of sparkle, worn with different toppers. . .

1-2) light heather gray sweatshirt jacket (Caslon)

3) short, boxy black denim jacket (made by me)

4) long black and white marled cardigan (Bobeau)

5) short, boxy charcoal lofty wool v-neck cardigan (ISCHIKO)

The sneakers are new, and I just had to wear them. I went with 1-2 for my short trip this morning for coffee and running DH to an eye exam.

I'd be interested to hear your reactions to these outfits and the variations. Anyone else feeling unsettled in their style these days?

You Look Fab strikes again! I couldn't resist trying a boilersuit after all the cute looks posted here. I scoured the possibilities online and decided to try the style by Madewell that Angie got in pink. The green was just the right color for me, though I wasn't sure I wanted to be that green from head to toe! When I tried it on in the store, I was surprised to find that I loved it. (As many have pointed out, fitting a one-piece garment is about as hard as it gets; and I tried to keep my expectations low.)

My other choice is one that I have tried on before at OSKA, but, even at its current sale price, it is quite a bit more expensive than the Madewell one. (And bonus: Madewell was having a sale, too.) The OSKA boilersuit is a softer fabric and a slouchier style, and you can see it here. I liked it a lot, and to be honest, I liked the fit on me better than on the model. I am shorter, so it didn't pull at all in the seat as it seems to do on the model.

I haven't cut the tags on the Madewell boilersuit yet. I'm leaning to keep it, but also still wondering whether I should get the OSKA one instead.

I jumped on the balloon jean bandwagon with this mauve pair from Madewell. These are right up my alley: I love the wider leg, the fabric (all cotton, but so soft), and the color! I got them last week, have already worn and washed them and am wearing them again today.

I am unsure of the fit; perhaps I could have gone a size down, but I didn't try, and it's too late now. These are the smaller of two sizes I usually wear in jeans, and the sales associate told me they do run large. I was able to try them on in store, but in blue, and I ordered these based on that try-on, which was perfect. This color may run a little bit larger than the blue ones. Anyway, they feel great; flattery is another matter.

The outfit: Balloon jeans in vintage petal (Madewell); asymmetric drawstring-hem cowl-neck top in a lightweight sweater knit with a Venice scene print (made by me), black Chelsea boots (Pikolinos).

I thought I would give you all views, even the less flattering back view, just fyi. I welcome any thoughts you may have.

P.S. I don't know why the Find photo doesn't show up. I've tried several times to "collect" the item, and it keeps showing up with no picture, even though there are plenty of them on the website. :(