oh, no, not again… and a few words about yielding to temptation?

Himself stumbled into the kitchen, stood in front of the coffee pot yawning and gathering his resources, and finally announced that he'd never been to Oktoberfest. In Munich. Apparently he had only just figured that out, and it woke him right up. "It's just like your college reunions, hon," I said, "only larger and noisier and with fatter guys." After all these years, we realize that the Parade of the Returning Classes needs an oompah band. The Class of 1917 would just love it.
Yes, I know that this has nothing to do with Oktoberfest
beer, but the couple have all their clothes on and this
is by far the most politically correct illustration I could find.
I'm worried about what could happen to people like me
if Google achieves world domination ahead of J.Crew.
I haven't been to Munich in a very very long time. I gather they've fixed up a lot of stuff since I was last there.

Oktoberfest takes place in September, I don't know why, and tickets and reservations sell out way in advance, in fact seats in some of the beer tents sell out years in advance and when a seat-holder dies, his kids step up to the seats. So much for spontaneously falling in and lowering a few, I thought, but it seems even if you don't get into a tent, there's plenty of beer around.

On the other hand, it's not a dressy occasion unless you're a participant in some event or parade or pageant, in which case guys wear lederhosen and hats with feathers and girls wear full skirts with vests and aprons. As do, often, visitors from out of town, who, after a few pitchers of bier rush to buy "the outfits." So my mission this trip will be to say "Step away from the lederhosen. Put the suspenders back. Take that hat off." Probably often. Well, I am curious to see what Munich looks like.
one of Rouen's many sights

Naturally as long as we're getting on and off airplanes, we'll kick off with a few days in London, and we'll have a week or so in Paris.

We'll be doing old favorite restaurants in both cities, and depending upon weather, we may grab a TGV up to Rouen for old times' sake.

So, as usual, there will be at least one packing and frantically getting ready post, and some on-the-road posts. I started off thinking that at least I didn't need to do any shopping, but it turns out I've gained a few pounds over the summer and a pair of pants or two would not come amiss. Thinking about non-skinny cords for the beery part of the trip (last few days in September). And there are a few Michelin-starred restaurants in München - which to my disappointment does not rhyme with munching, so there goes that idea for a silly verse - so a skirt or dinner dress. Oh, well, could be wurst.

I will not apologize for that last.

If you've had the patience to read this far, I would like some thoughts/suggestions about the following burning question: I have regularly visited the two black lace skirts at the J.Crew Collection Store, and of course I have no intention whatsoever of buying the very expensive one, even with coupons and whatever, although it is a work of art which you should really go see if you're on a shopping diet, because it will put you off junk for at least a few weeks. It seems to be sold out on the web, but honestly, how does a $995 plus tax item sell out that fast? I think that's a ploy.













this one
Anyway, it was the other one that sopped up my rewards card and percents off. Sigh. I still have plenty of time to return it, but I haven't yet. Now that it's home for a trial period, I can't figure out what to wear with it.

This is the leather tee I had in mind. Note that it's real leather, front, back and sleeves. I must have hit a really good  great sale on a good day when I grabbed it, because when I searched for a decent shot for this post, the price had zoomed - skyrocketed! up higher than the first price I saw this past winter. Anyway, if I don't wear it with the lace skirt, the red butterfly skirt is still eligible, which is a good thing because now I view the purchase as some kind of triumph.

I'm thinking black cashmere shell and black leather blazer. But I'm not thrilled.

So - any other ideas? The lace is too intricate for any kind of pattern on top to work with it, and I am not thinking stripes or even gray cotton knit.

23 comments:

  1. I love the black lace skirt. I would love it with almost any color, especially deep(forest green) or soft( beige-y pink). It is hard to match blacks, but if they are sleeveless like a shell it makes it easier. I wouldn't wear a black shell with a black blazer and a black skirt. I had a lace skirt and would wear it with a cashmere turtleneck. BTw the black and white effect of the guipure $1000(really?) skirt, reminded me slightly of the print in this Brooks Brother skirt:
    http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Silk-Grand-Terminal-Print-Skirt/WL00070,default,pd.html?dwvar_WL00070_Color=BLCK&contentpos=5&cgid=0490

    Oktoberfest. Oh, to be a Flintstone!

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    1. hi, Knit Yarns, v. interesting suggestions, thanks! I checked out BB and got a little lost daydreaming there.

      And yes, that was the price on the website - shown right next to the skirt above - and all I can say is, at least it isn't some furry extravaganza that looks like Peruvian Guinea Pig.

      I agree with your comment about sleeveless tops, now I'm thinking about a black satin v-cami.

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  2. I guess you pull off Stevie Nix and do leather and lace. I like the idea of something a bit oversized and sloppy on top of the lace skirt. May sound odd but try a J Crew vintage tee ...one without holes. Lederhosen would look fab with the leather tee. Or some red mini or red jeans/cords. I agree black is hard to match but with all that beer who cares what you have on.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, BB, the skirt actually reads quite dressy in person (?), much more so,than it looks on the site. And it's a lot longer on me than on the catalog model. almost a midi, which I quite like.

      You're kidding about the Lederhosen, right? Bavarians take their Trachtkleider very seriously, and a woman tourist strolling about in Lederhosen would not be treated nicely. The women's garb is not just for happy farmladies, it's worn - in a black silk and lace version, to openings at the symphony, etc etc.

      Anyway the lace skirt is for the nice restaurants, not the beer stalls. I think those call Ffor something that's either washable or disposable ;)

      Delete
  3. The skirt looks lovely. I would probably go denim or leather with it, or as BB suggests above, a tee in a more subdued hue.
    Rather jealous you're off to Europe.... My first and last time at Oktober fest was in 1989. I slept on München Hauptbahnhof for three nights. It was deeply unglamorous.....

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Ruth, I've been trying a mental inventory a few possibilities, and when I get back to the city I'll just try on everything.

      My train station experience in München: I arrived v. early In the morning, having missed dinner the night before and slept on the train, got off the train and made for the cafė that the train staff had suggested. Everything looked wonderful to Starving Traveller Me, who in those days was still skinny, and the servers loaded me up and hovered and explained the names of local specialties. This attracted the attention of two young American students, who decided that I must be local and proceeded to criticize me and my "local" eating habits in very loud English. For some reason, I found this excruciatingly funny, and kept thinking of one come-back after another... and then I looked around and they were gone.

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  4. Ha- the last time I was in Munich I completely forgot it was Oktoberfest season, and wondered why it was so hard to find a room! I would totally succumb to the dirndl look. it's irresistible in context- perhaps a black one with that lace skirt? :) Sorry, I'm not helpful at all- entschuldigung!!

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    Replies
    1. hi, TDGD, since my hips can make almost any skirt look like a dirndl, I'm kinda reluctant to add to the effect...

      Delete
    2. It would be contraindicated for me to don a dirndl. The hip thing.

      Delete
  5. I love beer with a Tuetonic accent - lucky you.

    And yes, those sold out things are 90% of the time a ploy! Even when the daily mail says the dress Kate Mids wore sold out - it is all PR!

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    Replies
    1. well, even with my magic 20% card, I wasn't going to get it anyway, just wanted a pic for the blog. I'm sure it'll be back when the last promo ends.

      Delete
  6. Your black lace skirt really thrills me for this trip, I think it's just the thing. I had an Elieen Fisher silk charmeuse vneck blouse with short sleeves, kind of an oversized thing, that would look perfect with that skirt. If I still had it I would send it to you. It's made think that a satin-type black silk would be such a pretty partner to the lace. My other, initial, thought was white, is that crazy? White blouse? You wouldn't want to have to tuck it in though, that would be annoying.
    Fred once again I have to thank you for a Great Book Tip: The Diary of a Provincial Lady. I think you wrote about reading it on the blog and of course I rushed to amazon and ordered it... I'm nearly done them all and I have so loved reading it. Thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dani, thanks, I love the idea of a satin texture, and will rummage thru the "archives" as soon as I'm home! I think contrasting textures was the look I was stumbling towards with the leather.

      I'm so glad you're enjoying the book, that's my favorite kind of escapism.

      Delete
  7. How about an ivory or emerald green cashmere sweater with the black skirt? I think a rich color in soft cashmere would be so luxe. Have a wonderful time. Can't wait to read all about it.

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    Replies
    1. hi, xoxo, again, texture... great suggestion, I think I'll be trying ion lots of outfits this week!

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  8. Himself may wish to acquire lederhosen to gad about the Manor so don't put the kabosh on too early.

    I can't get over that price. For the $ you could pay a Belgian lacemaker to tat the lace and fly over an Italian dressmaker to custom tailor a skirt. Silly, really.

    Would a plain silk shirt work with the black lace, worn untucked, maybe belted?

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  9. Hi, Lane! well, that would not be a pretty sight.

    The "other" skirt - well, I'm still shaking my head. I'm imagining a SA suggesting "styling" it with a gray tee and a cropped denim jacket. Oh, and lace-up boots.

    well, anyway, I've just mentally added a few blouses to the list of Things To Try On With Lace Skirt.

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  10. I would mosey over to your old friend Marissa Webb and peruse her sale. There a many choices to be had-blue or black silk, white and black combinations, dots,etc. I think one of her blouses would be a lovely investment. I would go with the bright blue or black silk shirt.
    Shopping your closet-any cashmere turtleneck would be beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, yippee! Just spent a glorious few minutes chez Marissa. Sigh.

      As it happens, I noticed a silk shirt that's very similar to one I have. Another addition to the try-on list!

      Delete
  11. IMO the leather tee with the lace skirt would make a fabulous outfit for dinners in Munich. London and Paris. You can always wear your "favorite" color with the skirt, but I think black or white/ivory/natural would be simpler for traveling, and of course keep the skirt classy, but edgy. (Ha! There are your style words - classy and edgy!). I feel that you'l get enjoyment out of wearing your leather and lace - together, or separate!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jen! I've been trying on stuff like crazy, and you posted your comment just as I was coming back to my original idea, which was contrasting textures, smooth black leather against the lace. Well, I never ignore coincidences of timing, so....

      Delete
  12. These comments have been really helpful -- I am fairly certain I have the same black lace skirt (and have also found that it is quite long on 5'4" in me), and I have yet to wear it because I have been a bit stumped on what it could go with. I have an Edwardian style mint green blouse with cotton lace at the shoulders that I was thinking about but figured it was a case of Too Much Lace. I like the idea of an ivory cashmere sweater though and may have to try it out. Have a wonderful trip to this side of the world and don't worry about the few summer happy pounds until you return -- beer, Haribo and struedel should not be put off!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi, monty, welcome! As it happens just today I found an excellent black satin tank, all silk, and am very happy with it. There's a JC black silk tank with a bow design in black beads that I still have to find, I know I held on to it, as another choice. The black lace is so elaborate that I really hesitate to wear anything even a little fussy with it.

      I also found a lightweight black suede shirt that I held on to, which I'm thinking about, it's just that the weather seems so unreliable that I want the flexibility of being able to remove long sleeves. Ach, such problems!

      Delete

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