Sunnie Day

When I grow up I want to be a ballerina... The Nutcracker was beyond expectations, such a magical experience and I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough to be able to enjoy it (did I mention that she takes ballet classes?)
I finally wore my Talbots plaid taffeta skirt, plaid top and bling cardigan and it was very appropriate even if it was coooold on Sunday and I was freezing while desperately looking for a cab for fifteen minutes (I have just read some personality saying that he felt like a real New Yorker the first time that he couldn't find a cab under the rain).

Anyway, today I am wearing something much more weather-appropriate. You have probably understood that I didn't make a typo in the title of this post (even if I could have, knowing myself) but I was referring to the Sunnie pencil skirt that I bought this past weekend. I have this rule to only buy pencil skirts on sale (20% off doesn't count as sale) because I don't wear them enough and they are usually pricey. I am happy that I sticked to my rule and I could get this beauty for half of its original price, thanks to the GIFTS promo and a very accomodating SA at the Collection store (who gave me the online sale price plus 30% off).
Another rule that I have when buying pencil skirts is not to buy something that I could only wear with heels, because wearing heels during the day is not exactly my cup of tea. So what I particularly liked in this skirt is that it fits my casual lifestyle. And of course I like the colors and I can pair it with a lot of things that I already have, for example my mustard-y cashmere cardigan from last year:



Or my zip cashmere cardigan in mossy oak (yes, this is my second one, I couldn't resist the price and the color):




But today is probably going to snow (although, it IS sunny now) so I am wearing a cozy turtleneck. This is one of my oldest sweaters that I bought in Paris years ago (it's by Claudie Pierlot, a French brand) and still looks good after all these years. It was pricey but when you pay that's what you should expect, just saying:



What really sold me on the skirt was that I tried it with my Chalet boots on and it looked surprisingly good. Do you agree?



Anyway, I can always wear it with my Glanbrae tall boots if not with the Chalet (but I think I am going to dare). By the way, I sized one up in this skirt even if it is a little bit loose in the waist. They didn't have the 0 in store and I remembered that when I tried the 0 in the other colorway I found it little bit snug. Plus it is a skirt that shows every bump and being it winter I wanted to be able to layer and tuck in without worrying about bumps showing. I think a 0 would have also fit, but I feel comfortable in the 2 and if I really want I can have it taken in the back. And in the 2 the length is perfect for winter, not too short.

Do you have the Sunnie?

Have a nice Tuesday!

La Dolce Mini Two Ways

Just before leaving for Italy I bought the Dolce mini. At that time it was an in-store only item and I didn't want to risk that it would sell out while I was away as it is one of the most beautiful tweeds that I have ever seen. Interestingly enough, the name on the receipt is "Lacroix tweed" mini, so I wonder if the same tweed has been used by Christian Lacroix for some "couture" piece. Maybe it has nothing to do with that Lacroix but it would be a strange coincidence, don't you think?

As usual, the website pics don't do this skirt justice. I know that many are turned off by the length of the skirts this year but this one is not "that" short and this shape works better as a mini than the bell shape IMO. I mean, if you could bear the length of the felted wool bistro mini, you should bear this one. I happen to have the felted bistro one in the same size (bought this summer on a popback), so I took a pic for you to compare (the grey felted wool is less than an inch longer):



I find the felted bistro to run larger than this one so you can easily size up for more length.

While I was in Italy I couldn't wait to come back and wear it. I like it THAT much and it makes me happy seeing it when I open my closet every morning. I am honestly puzzled that this beauty hasn't sold out yet. It's expensive for sure for a mini but so are many other things that sell out in days. One sure thing is that it is much more striking in person and they didn't do much for it on the website.
For example I don't know why they have picked a grey sweater to show on the product page pics, as the skirt has in it a plethora of yummy colors mixed with golden threads:



In my opinion grey is one of the few colors to avoid completely (as probably navy and all the reds), as it tones it down. Plus, there are so many colors to pair with it that a neutral like grey seems lazy to say the least. It's like a concentrate of those JCrew colors that many of us love so much: the yellows, the pinks and the beautifusl greens. Speaking of green, look at the forest green lining:



I know what you are thinking: we could have lived without the the gold-zipper pockets and absolutely speaking I would have preferred this mini without those zippers that I found initially very ugly. But then they grew on me and I am now convinced that they actually add a modern touch to it, so it can appeal to the younger customers (as tweed generally doesn't). The thing is, you can still wear this skirt a la "old JCrew", if you can wear a mini.

So I want to show you these two different ways to wear it. Modern and aggressive (with the right shoes) and pretty-sophisticated, like in one of those beloved old JCrew catalogs that some of you treasure.

For a modern look you need a pair of shoes with an edge, to echo the zippers. While I was in Italy I splurged on a pair of lace-up peep-toe stiletto-heel booties by Sportmax (the younger line by MaxMara) that happen to do just that, they echo the zippers. I have been wanting a pair of shoes with a WOW factor for a while and these are just what I was looking for (they are also incredibly easy to walk in):







So, the rest of the outfit could be a long cardigan and a tee, like this:





Or a simple turtleneck. During the 20% off sweaters promo I ordered two merinos turtlenecks to try specifically with this skirt, one in black pine and one in paradise blue. Both colors are present in the skirt (the darker threads in the skirt are not black but dark green), but I preferred the black pine for a turtleneck. If you have never see this shade IRL, it is a very dark forest green, more unexpected than black (it comes across a little bit lighter than it really is in this pic):



I am going to show you the pairing with the paradise blue color, even if I had to crop this pic and I am going to return the sweater because I would wear it only with this skirt:



Now for the "pretty" version of the outfit, I picked an old cami that was screaming "me, me" from my closet as I haven't worn it in a long time. For the life of me I can't remember the name of this one but I am sure that it was Fall 07 as I bought it for as part of my "back to work" attire after my maternity leave (I went back to work in August). I am pretty sure that the color is the beautiful honey glaze, that is back this year. The advantage of this top is that it's long enough to cover the zippers. I have paired it first with a cashmere crewneck in a similar hue (the warm maize from last year) and the crystal colletto in dusty blossom (as for the shoes I would go for flats or a mid-heel like the Juliet):




And for a total "candy effect", with the Michelle cardigan in dark rose. A darker gold glitter-y belt or a mustard-y one would be better than this pale gold one, but this is what I have:



You can also wear it with a little cardigan, even if in this case you will see the zippers. Two example, with the same warm maize cashmere cardigan and with the Jenna in black (here in s S):





What do you think? Which way do you prefer it? Would you give it a try now? If not, why?

PS
I spent a lot of time to take the pics for this post and I am kind of curious to know if you like the skirt or not, so I appreciate anything that you have to say!

A Few More New Arrivals

A quick post on a (very) few new arrivals that I hadn't tried on last Saturday. I found my "MUST HAVE" item from this rollout and it's a store-only for the time being.
It's a dream sweater (dream like the blend) that is a pullover but it has an opening in the front like a double-breasted cardigan. It comes in the beautiful heather cobblestone, which is maybe the best color this season so far (I know, for us who love muggy and hearty tones). I saw it for a brief moment yesterday while I was at the Collection store to make some returns and I couldn't stop thinking about it. That's my definition of MUST.HAVE. NOW.
Here it is, in XS:





It also come in burnished olive and a pink that I haven't seen IRL. The name on the recipt is "Dream Yoga sweater" and the style number is GY6877. It retails for $88.
I would have preferred if the arms were a little less tight so that you could wear a long-sleeve blouse under it, but the XS fitted so well that sizing up wouldn't have been a good idea and anyway it is going to look great with a tank under it. A few days ago I pre-ordered the Khloe Jacquard Cami in (guess?) cobblestone because I needed a ride-along for free shippinga and this cami was the new arrival that really caught my eye during the first (gasp, we are at the second one already and it's barely August!) fall rollout and the stores haven't received yet (I will report back when I receive it, after the 8/17 shipping date). The two should look smashing together.

I know that there are people who have sworn off the dream blend, but I am a fan. It is very soft (more pleasant on the skin than merino) and piling is not an issue for me. It's a little bit like wearing cashmere but without the price tag. If you have a different experience don't hesitate to share.
Just to be sure, I also tried the new cashmere crewneck in the same color, that was my original choice/option when I started to want something in heather cobblestone, but I actually preferred the dream one over the cashmere (because of the style I must admit). Anyway here is a (partial) pic (this is the XS, I found it a little bit tight in the arms):



In reality I was trying to take a pic of the Herringbone bell skirt that someone was asking about on the JCA and I had regretted not trying on the last time that I was in the store. I really liked the fabric an the color but the length and the elastic at the waist don't work for me (it's too young-looking, even if I know that some of you will say that I can pull off the mini length). Here I was already sizing up to a 2, so don't be afraid to size up, there is room for it.

Last new arrival that it tried is the Lace panel tee. This tee is very pretty IRL and almost worth its $42.50 price tag. However I am incapacitated to buy a tee FP at the moment, I have tee nausea after seeing all those graphic tees languishing for months in the sale section of the B&Ms. Maybe in a few weeks I will be ready again ;-).
Still, this one was tempting, very flattering and new:




What do you think of these new arrivals? Do you share the enthousiasm for the heather cobblestone color? Dream hate or love?