accessorize with hockey stick

First, the Trench Dress. 100% wool, at least the outer layer is, and very nicely made. I tried on my "larger" size, and since the dress opens up the front and is held together with buttons and snaps, I just slipped it on over my tee. There was plenty of room, in fact a little too much room, and it moved nicely. I was told that my "smaller" size was not in the store, and decided to go home and order it rather than get involved with discussing whether they could or would do a store search. It arrived the other day and instead of being one size smaller, i.e. just a little snugger than the roomy larger size, it was snug. Period. Some of the buttons didn't even close and it was three inches shorter than the first try-on. Fail. But while I had it on, I realized why I hadn't just decided that the swingy larger size was the one - I had this vague sense that I'd left my hockey stick in the locker room.  If it had fit perfectly the first time I tried it, I'd have grabbed it without brooding and would have loved it. Given time to reflect….

Next, this year's silk blouse. The bright blue didn't do anything for me, but the vintage cabernet is a winner. I have a few things from last year and the year before, and I realized that the reason I was considering them "dubious" was that they were waiting for this blouse. To my delight, the buttons are a dark "pearl," not tinny metal, and the fabric has a lovely sheen.  It's more substantial then the Blythe, and happily doesn't have those gathers at the shoulder seam. Keeping. Will wear with the heavy wine and light blue tweed skirt, or my RL tweed patchwork jacket, or with anything pale grey or light camel or taupe. Thinking about the black.




I fell in love with the Merino Tippi in Mixed Stitch when I saw it in store, the wool is smooth and soft and I seem to have a lot of gray in my closet. When it was marked down, plus some mad bad promo or other, I ordered it in small and medium. I should have tried it on in the store. The small was just clingy enough to cause the change in pattern to happen right at the tips of my ... and while the medium was ok as to that feature, the extra room caused quite a few of the lines to be wavy and wobbly. I didn't care for the black and white combo, it looked like a failed test for astigmatism,




but I wish the gray and white had worked for me, and I would suggest that ladies who don't have bumps or bulges try it.

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