Plagued by the Muchness of Sameness

Even to me, this is boring...

I don't imagine that it surprises you to learn that I look at literally thousands, if not tens of thousands, of garments and accessories each day.  Of course I peruse most of these online while I'm building beautiful vignettes to share with you, but I look at them nonetheless.

Why do I have to look at so much STUFF every day?  Because the vast majority of it either (a) looks like most of the other things I've seen, or (b) looks cheap, poorly made, poorly photographed, and utterly unworthy of your attention.  Often, I see clothes that qualify for both (a) and (b)... the true losers of the wardrobe world.

What can we do to combat this infinite sameness?

1.  Don't give in to it.  Buying basics is wise and often a good choice, but when stores offer you nothing but the same old same old, it's time to refuse to buy.  Many major department stores have begun to look so much alike to me that I just avoid them.

2. Accessories.  Especially artisan things like those that come from Boticca, Novica, local artisans and small shops will go a long way toward customizing an otherwise rather conformist garment.

3.  Vintage.  Not easy, and time consuming, but there are beautiful things to be found.

4.  Invest in something extraordinary and wear it to pieces.

5.  Learn to sew, or find someone you can hire to make clothes for you.  This really NEEDS to happen - exceptional seamstresses need to make a fantastic living, and we need to remember that a few perfect items made just for us are worth shelves of mass-produced dreck.  I would love to find someone in Chicago to make a suit for me - I have all of the details thought out...

Anybody else find the sameness of our clothing offerings to be irritating?  And do you have any suggestions for how we can express ourselves in this ocean of conformity?

Black and White Packing for a Long Weekend

Always my favorites!

Cardigan – 5preview,  earrings – Novica,  pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim, tee shirt- Uniqlo, watch – Shinola, scarf – Echo,  loafers – Bass,  Coat – Desigual,  bag – Aspinal of London

necklace – Novica, shirt – Acne, sweater – Alexander McQueen,  scarf –  Hermes,  dress – Uniqlo,  jeans– 7 for All Mankind, bracelet – Novica,   flats – Munro

Turtleneck – Uniqlo,  sweater - Uniqlo

Thanksgiving Irony

Edgar Degas - Woman Ironing (1872)

Today, in the US, we're supposed to take a day off and reflect upon our many blessings, and the abundance of our lives.

Tomorrow, we're supposed to go buy stuff that we really really need.

Maybe, tomorrow, try to remember how contented and comfortable you feel today, and sincerely question what you're buying.

Yellow and Grey for a Long Weekend

If you can wear yellow and grey well, I must heartily encourage you to do so - these colors are always so delightful to see together.  The citrine jewelry is particularly fun, and not blindingly expensive.  Sunshine and clouds together...

As always, if you have trouble with the links, PLEASE let me know.  I'm not always sure what goes wrong, but I'm always eager to fix things!

Cardigan – Uniqlo,  earrings – Novica,  pants - Hallhuber, tee shirt- Uniqlo, watch – AX Armani Exchange, scarf – Nordstrom,  loafers – Mazzarina,  Coat – Mint Velvet,  bag – Briggs and Riley

Flannel shirt – Frank and Eileen, sweater – Uniqlo,  scarf – terracotta New York,  dress – Hoss Intropia,  necklace – Novica, jeans – JBrand, citrine bracelet – Novica,   flats – Vince Camuto

I'm pretty sure that this is a man's sweatshirt, and I'm also pretty sure that gender is not really important in sweatshirts...

Sweater – P.A.R.O.S.H., sweatshirt - Adidas

Teal and Camel for a Long Weekend

Camel is such a versatile neutral! These are the camel garments that I showed a few days earlier, looking quite lovely with deep teal blue.

And please, if you can't click through on product links, let me know!  I can't click through them myself, from my computer, because they recognize me as the link creator (don't ask me why I don't get to see them myself, but I don't...)  I will repair broken links as quickly as possible, if you let me know!  Thanks, Janice

Cardigan – Ralph Lauren,  earrings – Adami and Martucci,  pants - Jaeger, tee shirt- Avhash, watch – Anne Klein, scarf – Esther Bonte,  loafers – earth,  Coat – AutreChose,  tote – Filson

shirt – Hien Le, sweater – Marni,  scarf – Hermes,  dress – Mint Velvet,  necklace – Novica, jeans – CC, gold and pearl bracelet – Novica,   flats – MM6

Tee – Dorothy Perkins, blouse – Vince

Rust and Grey for a Long Weekend

This was today's inspiration - bronzy rust leaves with overtones of grey...

Cardigan – A.F. Vandevorst,  earrings – Novica,  pants – Societe Anonyme, tee shirt- Diellequ, gloves – Acne, scarf – Hermes,  loafers – Tods,  Coat – Uniqlo,  tote – Tumi

Brown sweater –Kristina Te, grey  sweater – Uniqlo,  scarf – Missoni,  dress – Edun,  necklace – Maria Xuan,  jeans– Paige, earrings – Novica,  flats – Kork-Ease

Blouse – Diane von Furstenberg, tee shirt- Rag and Bone

Just in Case you wanted ALL of the Neutral Color Combinations

It's 183 pages, and includes all 728 different combinations. Labeled with the color names, and organized in groups for easier reference.

Click on this link, or on the ghostly box at the top of the post, and it will take you to a link where you can purchase ($1.99) and download the PDF file.  

Enjoy!

Camel and Wine for a Long Weekend

 Just some simple, solid colors that look rich yet uncomplicated...

Cardigan – Ralph Lauren,  earrings – Novica,  pants - Jaeger, tee shirt- Topshop, gloves – Dickens and Jones, scarf – Arlette Ess,  loafers – Cole Haan,  Coat – Autre Chose,  tote – Isaac Mizrahi

shirt – Mango, sweater – Uniqlo,  scarf – Vince Camuto,  dress – Uniqlo,  necklace – Novica, corduroy jeans – Dsquared2, flats – Loeffler Randall

Blouse - Merci, blouse – Vince

Navy and Camel for a Long Weekend

A classic cabled cardigan is always a good starting-point for this travel outfit.  After I tossed in a striped top, I thought that a solid scarf with a little bit of embellishment might be a calming touch.  This scarf is one of those things that you could wear forever... and if you want jewelry made of genuine stones that don't break the bank, take a look at Novica.  You know that these aren't investment-grade gems, but they aren't glass or synthetic, and the unique designs are delightful. 

Cardigan – Ralph Lauren,  earrings – Novica,  pants - Jaeger, cowl top – Phase 8, watch – Skagen,  sparkle scarf – St. John Collection,  loafers – Munro,  Coat – Uniqlo,  tote – Fossil

I love this sweater... I have a thing about cable-knit sweaters, I admit!  And this dress is cut in such a way that it would forgive a holiday dinner without giving away the secret.

shirt – Mango, scarf – Joanna Alsop,  dress – Acne,  necklace – alienina,  boots – Andre Assous,  corduroy jeans – Dsquared2,  cabled sweater – MSGM

A couple of alternate/spare tops: 

Sweater – Kai-Aakman, blouse – Vince

Grey and Navy for a Long Weekend

 I love these travel vignettes, and I'm going to share the step by step thought process I go through to build them. Once you have your two core neutrals chosen, the  rest just falls into place.  It gives you a great deal of ease in life to have a nicely-chosen wardrobe that is focused...

First off, choose your travel outfit using any combination of the two colors.  I usually opt for a cardigan and pants that are the same color, and then use the 2nd color for shoes and a coat.  A printed tee shirt, and a printed scarf, that include the 2 colors, finishes off your travel outfit. Your watch and your bag will of course be in one of your neutral colors, and a simple pair of stud earrings give you some dressiness and finish, without being fussy or getting in your way when you're juggling your other gear.

Cardigan – Uniqlo,  earrings – Novica, jeans – Adriano Goldschmied, tee shirt – 194T, watch – Skagen, scarf – Zegna,  loafers – Munro,  Coat – Uniqlo,  tote – Comme des Garcons

Next, I always include a dressier pair of pants, in the same neutral, and another sweater, which can be worn on its own, or layered over a shirt.  I'm very fond of plaid shirts, for no good reason, and in the cold weather flannel shirts seem sort of cliche in the nicest way.  Your dress could be grey or navy...

Another scarf, another pair of shoes, a necklace, and you're set!

Plaid shirt – Uniqlo, scarf – Uniqlo,  dress – Acne,  necklace – alienina,  boots – Andre Assous,  wool pants – L.K.Bennett,  cabled sweater – Uniqlo

Now you  have four outfits, at least, good for a variety of events and activities.

But if you're going to be gone a few days longer, or you can't bear traveling with only 4 garments, or you want to substitute for one of the other tops, here are a couple of additional choices.  Again, I just look for items that include both neutral colors, and which offer a couple of different "moods".

Sweater – Vanessa Bruno, blouse – Equipment