A little spring shopping

 One of the things G always wanted to do in retirement was just get in the car and explore. He wanted  to just be able to drive around the back roads of our little county but also go further and take day trips not just in the Hudson Valley but around New England.  

Unfortunately, retirement did not turn out quite the way we planned.  He no longer drives, and although I don't mind driving, his ability to cope with uncertainty and changes in routine is not what it once was.  But we do, occasionally, get out to explore.

Saturday was one of those occasions.  It was such a lovely, sunny, warm day, the daffodils were blooming and the trees are all budding out, a trifle early I might add.  We decided to drive up to the little town of Chatham, roughly 40 minutes north of us. 

Granted, I had an ulterior motive as there was a little boutique in town I wanted to check out.  But first we walked up and down Main street and looked into other stores.  I happened to find a parking space right next to a yarn shop, and since G's mom had been a knitwear designer he always likes to look at yarn with me.  Then we went to the bookstore and a toy store, poked our head in a few little cafes, and finally settled down in the boutique.    

As you can see from the photo above, we did not come out empty handed.  I am wearing a skirt made by a company called Elm.  The clothes are designed in Iceland and made in Peru and they have very interesting and intriguing cuts, or at least this was true of the clothes I saw.  

 I basically tried this skirt on because I couldn't imagine how it would fit or look on the body judging by how it looked on the hanger.  It is a combination of fabrics, a rayon/lycra knit on one side, and a crisp cotton on the other, with rather odd looking puckers and gathers.    You can see the construction of the skirt somewhat here.  I apologize for the washed out color, but I tried to lighten the photo enough so that you could see some detail.  This is the front of the skirt.

Frankly I thought it was a little weird, and was pretty sure I wouldn't like it or ever wear it.  Well, I thought that until I put it on.  I loved it, and as you can see I came home with it.  G was not so certain, but although I will listen to his advice when I am not so certain myself, I had no doubts about this skirt.  I have, simply put, never worn anything like it.  I feel crisp and cool with it on and I think it will be a mainstay of my summer wardrobe.  

 I need a few different tops to wear with it; things I don't necessarily have in my wardrobe right now.  But these things should not be difficult.

I also got a dress which I think can be worn alone in the hot summer months, or layered in spring and fall and I will try to show you that soon.  There were several other things I tried: a giant raincoat, and a very fitted little top with a pleated peplum all around the hips which I have to admit shocked me because it looked so good.  Even my spouse was trying to get me to bring that piece home but I just couldn't do it.  I felt like a little girl playing ballerina, like I was wearing a costume, and I just wasn't willing to go quite that far.