While I work on my 2021 Reading List and my 2021 Closet-Additions Assessment, let me quickly “fill two needs with one deed” (I’ve been less and less keen to use “Kill two birds with one stone” these days when our wild birds suffer enough! — If you’ve found a favourite new way to express this kind of non-violent efficiency, please advise!).
The two needs? 1) Posting here today and 2) Clearing my photo files — apparently, I’ve been hoarding a number of Outfit of the Day (OOTD) photos. (Not for a rainy day, evidently, as there have been plenty of those around here this winter).
The photos in this post date back to early December, before we had record-breaking cold (for Vancouver, remember, it’s all relative, but for two weeks, our daytime highs were mostly below freezing). The outfits in these posts wouldn’t have been warm enough for those days unless we’d cranked the thermometer much higher. But they were perfect for late fall/early winter daytime temperatures of 5 – 15 degrees Celsius.
What I’ve been motivated to show, in these photos, the reason I stopped in front of the mirror and grabbed my camera, is simply Clothes on Repeat in the Everyday, if you will. . . or also . . . Simple Combinations that Please Me. What pleases one particular non-influencing late-60s woman to wear, that is, . . . because I believe particularity contributes something to diversity of representation, and mine is the only particularity I have to share.
And also because choosing, combining, and wearing clothes, however simply, however quickly, however mindfully, is often a small daily act (or measure) of hope and joy for me. . . and when I embolden myself enough, sharing enhances the pleasure of that act.
In fact, I wonder if posts like this one might be as important in the whole Slow Fashion scheme of things as the annual post I’m currently preparing: one of those posts that “confesses” the purchases we make for our closets. Certainly, we want to move toward some version of “More with Less,” to being more mindful of acquisition and of sustainability of our sartorial habits, but I’m beginning to wonder if there’s already too much emphasis on the act of Buying. Just beginning to think about this, tangled, tentative thoughts. But for now, I’m considering more What I Wore posts as a quirky antidote to a phenomenon I’m still trying to thematize (as we once would have said, in grad school, ha!).
Enough said. Or rather, I said the rest in the captions under the photos (I’m sorry that font is so small; so far, I have not been able to figure out how to make it bigger).
I should explain why I’m wearing a hat in the house (photo below), though. I’d recently finished knitting it, and had thought of including it in this post about Recent Mending and Making. And then didn’t, thinking that post already full enough. . .
Finally, this “outfit,” worn on an early December date with my guy to check out a new restaurant in the neighbourhood.
I have more What I Wore photos I will probably share with you before I delete them, but Basta for now, right? I know that some of you have no interest in these Style posts whereas some of you have told me you’d like more of them. Trying to balance your overall interests with mine, as always, and hoping you might find something that interests or pleases you. Comments welcome, as always, in the space below.
As I sign off, it’s very grey and misty here, but this morning, before the rain began I had a pleasant walk to my first Italian class of the year and by the time I got back home my iPhone showed over 12,000 steps, 7.1 kilometres. The batch of kimchi I made Thursday is burping lightly cabbagy-sulfuric fumes into the room behind me (so that you get a full olfactory sense of my day ;-); Paul’s just offered me a glass of wine and a small plate of smoked salmon, and I am ready to disappear into 1930s Italy (Santa Marinella) via the pages of a book. And you, how’s your weekend so far? Dites-moi! Dimmi! Tell me, please. . .
xo,
f
Re those poor birds: try ‘prendere due piccioni con una fava’ (take two pigeons with one bean) which sounds gentler unless you want those pigeons for pie. No of course not, you are just feeding the birds. (I seem to have amassed a little collection of sayings and swear words as I have worked on my Italian…)
I enjoy your outfit posts very much…the first photo in this is my favourite…jeans, boots, sweater/t-shirt (or both!)…nothing better really.
No plans for weekend…cooking, reading, music, long funny phone calls…avoiding-the-world type stuff…
Author
Okay, this is a useful Italian expression, but the timing is not good. At the moment, pigeons are the bird I’d be most likely to aim my one stone at. . . A woman in a building across the lane has begun feeding them from her balcony occasionally, so they’ve begun stopping on our (much larger, much more room to poop) terrace to see what drops from the feeders set up for smaller birds. I let them drink from the fountain when everything’s frozen or, last summer for example, during a drought. But I know my neighbours will object if we let them hang out here because they always invite the extended family. . . So. . . feeding the pigeons not my goal at the moment š
Thanks for the outfit-post encouragement. I’m never sure. And good luck with avoiding the world š
Itās so nice to see ārealā dressing here instead of the contrived outfits of some bloggers – do they really go out like that ? I mustnāt be mean . What caught my eye was the word ābastaā which took me back to a small island called Lipari off the coast of Sicily . We ate at the same little place every night , there wasnāt much choice & it was very good . It was always full of locals who knew each other & we watched the goings on with fascination . As the wine flowed they became more & more excited & the arguments began until it looked like it was going to end in violence – one of the waiters actually got hold of the local policemanās gun one night . Then the proprietress would come racing out of the kitchen & shout ābastaā which made everyone calm down . We thought she was swearing until we looked it up . Perhaps it was a different argument every night or it could have been one continuing argument but it was the same end result every night – ābastaā
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What a great anecdote, Wendy!
And it reminds me of a very different use of the word but just as clearly remembered — my then almost three-year-old granddaughter at a restaurant on a hill overlooking the sea at Split (Croatia). She was a bit cranky-hungry and my cold green-pea soup came first so I offered her some and she liked it. I’d give her a spoonful, then scoop up a quick one for myself, then another for her, then one for myself. . . and that was when she said, “Basta, Nana, Basta!” Might be the moment I really got what it meant to have a bilingual grandchild!
Love the knit wool skirt!
I could use a skirt like that in my minimal wardrobe….bright colours and it looks very cozy.
I’ve been wearing my new Eileen Fisher wool tunic top almost everyday, which is good because it was definitely an “investment piece.”
Me too!
Author
It’s so good for introducing drama and colour into a minimalist wardrobe (not that I can claim mine is as carefully and beautifully curated as yours).
Have you shared photos of your EF tunic yet?
I really do enjoy your outfits of the day. I have a pair of La Canadienne boots that I purchased at least a dozen years ago that are still real workhorses in my Winter wardrobe. I recently had them refurbished , but I am going to have to replace them soon. I am trying to practice slow fashion these days, easier now that I am retired. I have a few Eileen Fisher pieces in my wardrobe. A year or so ago I discovered Eileen Fisher Renew, where they have” gently used” EF clothing. One pair of crepe slim trousers has been especially useful. Some of their stores carry the pieces but you can go online as well. You and your readers probably know this already but thought I would pass it on. Mostly wearing cozy sweats as it is so cold here now!
Author
I’ve been curious about that EF Renew — I love the idea and I see that a few retailers are finally thinking along these lines. I don’t imagine the Renew pieces show up in stores in Canada, and I don’t shop online for clothes, but worth knowing.
Curious, when you say cozy sweats, what’s the fabric for those? I can’t find much warmth in cotton; seem to need wool when it’s cold.
They are for the most part cotton blends. and they are not really that warm as you say but wool irritates me. I find I can wear cashmere but usually over a light layer anyway. I have a set of old longjohns of a technical material left over from the days I ran regularly( and still use for walking) which I put on when it’s really cold. Last year when I was updating my at home clothing I purchased a sweat shirt from Everlane, which is supposed to be an ethical fashion brand. It was a fleece made of recycled plastic bottles, a soft sage. it looks soft but it’s scratchy. I miss the days when I could shop locally for well made clothing. those shops have closed long ago. I could go to the big mall near me but I confess I find it overwhelming. I am very petite and have trouble finding things in my size. When I go out I try to make a real effort to look “put together”. even put on makeup to go grocery shopping at the supermarket. at home, as I live alone, I guess I let things slide.
Author
My husband’s like that as well and so generally prefers at least a cotton lining next to his skin. Some wool bothers me, but I’m lucky that enough doesn’t.
Interesting about the recycled fleece — and it’s probably hard to tell until you’ve bought and worn it a bit. . .
I would say that you “let yourself” wear what suits you for the circumstances rather than that you’re “letting things slide.” But I know what you mean about having lost so many of those local shops, especially the independent ones. . .
I love that skirt! I know youāve shown it before. Please remind me where itās from.
Author
It’s by a Serbian company, Ivko.
Oh,Frances,it seems that you are shopping in my neighbourhood ;)!
Nevertheless,the skirt is fabulous indeed …..and you go places, having dinners….not happening here. We have only outdoor caffes with heated (more or less-usually less ) terraces. A lot of people don’t worry about dining inside without masks (and other,like me,are waiting for the spring-although I’m completely vacinated ,with a booster,too)-so,there is no need (think the restorant owners)
You are a lady with a lot of style!
I have two sweat pants (one wide leg,like trousers) in cashmere cotton blend 50%:50%,both in grey. I’ve bought the wide leg ones in HM Conscious 2020. and the other pair was a Christmas gift from a friend in 2020 too. They are comfy and warm,I wear one at home,another for walks, every day on repeat and wash them in a washing machine.
Dottoressa
Author
Yes, I’m almost in Zagreb when I wear this skirt š
I’ve stopped eating inside in restaurants for now, but I’m finally getting my booster today . . .
Those sweat pants sound perfect for the circumstances . . . but let’s hope the “circumstances” don’t last too much longer. (Aren’t you glad you managed your trip to Vienna when you did?!)
Yes,very much so,as well as you,I guess. Although,people travel….some have got Omicron,some not ….
Brava for your booster!
I must say that I’ve felt pretty safe in Vienna,for all of the inside activities,restaurants,caffes,exibitions…..one has to show Covid pass(and they check it),so I went to all of them without fear.
D.
I am so with you in posts which show what we wear and rewear. That’s the essence of slow fashion, in my opinion. I love that knit hat with your curls! I have a finished knitted hat that is sitting pom-pom-less in my basket. Maybe today since it is snowing like crazy here, with winds and drifting snow, and we can’t see the river at all. It feels like a day when I will read and maybe make pom-poms. xox
Author
Ha, thanks for letting me know the hat looks okay with the curls — the problem we curly-heads have with hats is that of “the squash effect”: once we put the hat on, it really can’t be removed unless we want to share our strange new hairstyle — straight and flat down to our ears (or lower) and then flared into curls below. Risk assessment is always necessary. . . .I would probably have worn it in your blizzard though! (bet you got a few pom-poms made)
Love your OOTD posts. I appreciate seeing what other women of a similar age to me are wearing and itās a refreshing antidote to the often unrelatable offerings of newspapers and magazines. Your winter skirt is gorgeous and you wear it so well. Itās good to see that Iām not alone in wearing clothes and accessories that Iāve owned for several years. If a garment has stood the test of time it suggests that it was chosen well.
Author
Thanks for the encouragement! I do enjoy wearing this skirt, and hope I’ll still be enjoying it 5 or 10 years from now.
Really enjoyed this post! Your style exudes such a great mixture of authenticity, confidence, edginess and low-key cool (as in it is not screaming, ālook at meā)š
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Thank you for the very kind and encouraging words!
Great post – love to see what you’re wearing. Especially that skirt – it’s right up my sartorial alley, as I love a burst of color with my dark basics. (Memo to self: must find my red/black patterned knit skirt…).
I’m excited to have a travel wardrobe to figure out: just booked a trip to Malta for a few days in February to meet up with friends from the US who are on an exploratory trip. Averages are highs of 16, lows of 9, so somewhat like here, but I’ll want something more sophisticated that cat fur-covered sweats. š
Author
Oooh, that is exciting! I don’t know much about Malta, but someone from my Italian class was heading there in November. And what fun to reconnect with some of your friends from “back home.”
You know what my favorite is? You in the wool cap. It represents a youthfulness of thought I associate with you xox
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Aw, thank you! I love that! xoxo
YES to more about using and not so much about buying. Iāve also been thinking about the way that social media and internet sharing seems to push one towards talking about purchasing & acquiring. My own thoughts are still tangled up but suffice to say youāre not alone in thinking along these lines.
Like other commenters I really love that knit skirt. Iāve been considering adding something similar to my wardrobe (haha there we go with purchases & acquisitions again) and youāve helped me see how such a thing could have real staying power ā I think Iām about 15-20 years younger than you but with your example I can say yeah, that sort of garment would work for quite a while.
Maybe it would be interesting to see a post focusing on how you have worn an item before and after visible mending? As in, does the mending open up new combinations/possibilities for the garment that you wouldnāt have thought of before? Can mending not just make an item serviceable again but actually help us recapture the excitement of a new purchase?
Author
So good to know I’m not alone in this — you encourage me to think through a bit further . . . and I’ll think about your suggestion (in your last paragraph). I’m just finishing some felt-mending on a black cashmere cardi and it might just be an example.