Second, I have a new computer. It is beautiful (like a Mac, except it is a PC) but I am having troubles to get use to it with all those icons. It took me 10 minutes only to find the icon of the desktop to access my files. In the long term is very good news because the old one was so slow that as of late it discouraged most of my attempts to blog (it made the noise of a diesel engine, I kid you not) but as I said I am getting used to it (especially to the picture folders and treatment) so it is going to take time probably for me to post new pictures (I mean, besides the ones that I have transferred from the old computer).
Back to regular business, I went to the Opera yesterday night. I used to go quite often pre-baby but with the exception of a Madama Butterfly a couple of years ago I hadn't been back since I was pregnant. I am no opera expert but I love going to the Met, it is such a beautiful place that it is almost impossible not enjoy yourself. Anyway, yesterday night was Puccini's Turandot and even if it isn't my favorite one, "Nessun dorma" and the scenery more than makes up for the rest (as a side note, I can sing "Nessun dorma" in an almost-tenor tone and keep it up until the last "Vincero'", that's one of my few skills in life but I could never be an opera singer because I am no soprano). Plus it was a "mom's night out" so just being in the company of my friends was a treat.
Ever since I knew I was going, I had planned to wear the beaded mockneck sweater, that I got before the holidays with the 30% off. I had to do a WWFIFY for this one and for a change it was a successful one. Since it is a very warm sweater (100% thick wool) I didn't wear it just to hang around at home during the holidays and "saved it" for yesterday night. Well, for the life of me I couldn't find anything to wear with it as I didn't want to wear pants and I think it looks better with pants than skirts. Actually I think it looks great with "glorified" leggings or track pants. I tried it with a pair of black velvet leggings by Joe Fresh and I loved the look but I knew you wouldn't approve of my wearing leggings (glorified or not) at the opera ;-.
I took pics of the sweater when I received it, so these are just to show it how it fits and looks on me (you can also see it on our friend WWM). I got it in my regular XS after trying both the S (too big) and the XXS (a tad too small on the chest but I could have done it, out of desperation).
It is definitively a sweater that makes your shoulders look square and I think it suits small frames best. In any case I didn't wear it and I wore my golden brocade Zara skirt and peplum top instead. I kind of regretted not wearing the sweater though because it was cold in the theater, even if I was very close to the stage.
However, I got to wear (or carry) a new bag that in my mind I associated with the opera. It is a new evening bag by Tory Burch that I got retroactively as a belated Xmas present from my husband (I could convince him because it went on sale after Xmas). I have stalked this bag forever but it jus wouldn't go on sale and it was a whooping $475, price semi-justified by the fact that it is a fur bag. As much as I liked it I didn't feel like putting so much money on it because I get easily tired of my bags and I don't have the occasion to wear evening bags that often. But patience in this case has been rewarded as it finally went on sale and with an extra % off that brought the price down to around $250, which I can stomach.
I tend not to carry clutches and I like the fact that it is a shoulder bag with a leather strap that can be removed:
The inside is supple leather:
Without the strap, as a clutch:
I love this bag and I have a matching fur "funnelneck" that I wear around my neck instead of a scarf in the evening with my black coat. I felt a bit overdressed in the subway until I arrived at the Lincoln Center and both my friends showed up in floor-length fur coats! So at least I wasn't completely furless.
What do you think of the beaded mockneck sweater? Any suggestion on what to wear with it? Anybody going to the Opera?
I love the beaded mockneck and maybe i can find a xs as a popback.
ReplyDeleteThe clutch looks darling,even though i am not into fur bags.I just got a chloe paraty(pic on my blog) and love it!
ina, I wanted to tell you that I have troubles to read your blog because it doesn't refresh in Blogger (when I click on it it shows posts from 2011). Maybe others have this problem too?
DeleteI hope to be able to see your bag soon!
Do you know how i can change that?
DeleteTry typing in my blogs name:
ina-wonderland.blogspot.com
Well look at you, looking so fabulous in this! I think I will cut and paste your picture in it and put it back in my blog a few weeks ago when I posted the WORST PICTURE EVER in that sweater!
ReplyDeleteI love the purse as well - so lovely!
And Puccini - lucky! I love opera! Have never been to Met. A question: what does one typically wear to the opera there? I have same Joe Fresh velvet leggings and I agree - slightly too casual.
What about your black theory trousers? I think you have some nice ones, don't you? They would at least be a lovely bottom that would not compete with the sweater. If you could find a pale pink skirt that could be lovely...
let me know what you pair it with!
Wendy, you crack me up! Have you thought of stand-up comedian as a change of career?
DeleteWell, it's NYC so you see everything at the Opera from ladies in long dresses (not many) to people in their everyday clothes. It is kind of a chast system, it depends on which ring you are (it becomes more casual as you go up). I would say that most of the theatergoers wear some sort of evening outfit. You can wear anything you want, really, but I was a bit horrified by the North face puffers. Those were really ugly and almost an insult to the grandeur of the place, if you make the effort to go to the opera, at least wear a coat!
If you have a chance to go while you are in NYC go, it's magnificent!
Ema that sweater is a beauty. I think it would look perfect with a full black skirt, maybe in a silk taffeta.
ReplyDeleteAnd your bag! I have a black bag for evening on my list this year. It has to have a little strap so I can hang it from my wrist. I have had too many almost-accidents trying to hold my green patent J Crew clutch while balancing a drink, snack, shaking hands etc. I haven't found what I like yet.
Your new bag is so you!
And yes I love the opera but I am the only one in my family. Next time I go to NYC I want to go to the Met!
Hi Ema! That might be a good career change!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to the Met - will have to see if there is anything on when we are going!
wow- the beading is incredible! What a gorgeous piece! It frames your shoulders so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand not dressing up at least a little for these kinds of cultural spaces. It seems so rude...I went to the ballet last year and there was a woman in a track suit next to everyone else in their pretty frocks. Ugh!
I am going to try to be as neutral as possible here, and you can feel free to moderate/delete this if you want. I'm only posting because I love your blog and you seem like a lovely person, and I don't think what I'm about to say will completely fall on deaf ears here.
ReplyDeletePlease, before buying another fur item, do a little bit of research on the conditions in fur farms in China (your bag is rabbit from China). That poor animal lived a miserable life before possibly being skinned alive to make that bag. If you think that's worth it, then okay, I just wanted to point it out because I know it's something many people aren't aware of or haven't considered.
There is no question that my clothing and other purchases could be more ethical/responsible. Fur is just a particular issue with me because it is SO unnecessary. People need to eat, so I never harp on people for eating meat even though I don't personally do it. Leather is a bit more of a grey area, but it is generally a by-product of cows that were killed for meat anyway, and it serves a functional purpose. But fur is purely for fashion and there are a huge number of viable alternatives.
Please don't jump all over me here, I hardly ever make comments like this. I'm glad you enjoyed the opera :).
First, animals are not commonly skinned alive. Second, there is no way of knowing where Tory Burch gets their fur from. Third, most of these animals would die in the wild as babies and rot & decay in the wood.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your purse.
longish taffeta skirt would look nice with that sweater.... ivory, or black, or gray ...pink would look OK, but if a pale pink, instead at hinting at "ballerina," it would be a bit ballet costumy I think. A jewel tone would look OK too, such as purple or turquoise.
ReplyDelete