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.