A Little Shopping

This hasn't been the best week, and blog motivation has been seriously lacking.  I think about things to post, but they all seem so frivolous at this point, and I haven't quite regained my focus, if there ever was any focus,  that is.   I am sure it has mostly just been in my head.  G has been particularly scattered.  I have been experiencing one of my periodic flare-ups of back pain and sciatica, a normal part of life for me since my 20's, and I am sure it is mostly due to a combination of stress, unpacking, heavy lifting, and not enough sleep or exercise.  Already I am on the mend, but at the end of the day, when I am tired and stiff, my patience has not been up to snuff, and I tend to beat myself up about it.  Hence no blogging.

But I am going to try.  

I've been doing a little bit of clothes shopping.  Even though I can sew, and fully intend to sew, the sewing room is nowhere near being functional and the simple truth is that I need some clothes.  Several of the things that I packed in my December suitcases are too big and I haven't gotten my own things unpacked because my focus has been on keeping G's life as smooth as possible, and having the rest of the house settled and operating cleanly before I turn my attentions to myself.  As I have noticed that a few things are too big, I have also begun to dread the unpacking and requisite new round of trying-on and sorting that this is going to entail.   But I've needed a few things to wear, mostly basic tops that fit, and more transitional pieces as the climate in Knoxville hovers far longer in those transitional seasons than did the climate in my previous abode.

Truthfully, I was initially appalled at the shopping choices available.  But I have since found a few things that I like including the standard chains:  J Crew, Banana Republic, a department store that carries good jeans and sportswear brands like Ralph Lauren and Eileen Fisher. I've picked up a few things, but I can't say that any of these lines will become the basic bones of my wardrobe.  That sewing machine was looking more and more tempting.    

Last week however I went to a Lafayette 148 trunk show and ordered several pieces.  There is a local store that carries and extensive selection, and has 3 trunk shows a year, where the entire line is available for order.  Gratefully, I found that the line fits me pretty well, both in size and cut, as well as in terms of having pieces that fit my own personal view of "my style".  Several pieces were ordered, including this pink dress, which I frankly think looked much better on me than on the model in this photo.  I had been looking for this dress since Duchesse sent me a link to it, but had been too unsure of sizing and fit to order it online, which proved fortuitous.  I had been looking at the black version, which may be more versatile, but when I saw this pink on me, there was no other choice possible.

There were several things I ordered which are not yet available on the web, things that will be arriving a bit later in the sping, including more of those cool mid-greens that seem to be so fashionable this year, and which are also so perfect for me.  But there was enough to wear now and into the spring, enough to tide me over, and enough to integrate into my own things once I start sewing, and altering things I own to fit.  

After all, at this point in my life I still maintain that I am not interested in making everything I wear, although I would like to make a fair amount.  Pants and skirts will be high on that list as I have finally figured out the basic fit issues and why even the best RTW pants and pencil skirts don't fit and what to do about making pants and skirts that do fit. With both, it is easier to make it right from the start than to alter after the fact (though I am likely to end up dong some of that as well).

White Blouse courtesy of Lafayette 148 New York

Pink Shirt courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Pink Dress courtesy of Neiman Marcus

 Gray tee courtesy of Lafayette 148 New York