Transitioning…

Ah, Sunday nights.  It’s the time when I think, “oh fuck it, I have to go to work tomorrow morning” and “what have I accomplished this weekend?”  Last weekend (long weekend) it was absolutely nothing.  This weekend I had a list as long as my arm, that included putting away my summer clothes and pulling out the fall/winter stuff.

I share my bedroom closet with my boyfriend, and unfortunately it’s not big enough to store all seasons, so when the weather changes, my summer clothes get folded into a box.

Bye-bye flip-flops…bye-bye sandals…bye-bye summer dresses…

The good news is that I have a lot of clothing that works for both seasons, with the addition of a heavier cardigan and tights.  But there are some pieces that are really just summer only.

Like my beloved Height of Summer dress…

And the Circle the Globe skirt…

It could probably work with tights, but to me this is a summer skirt, so I’m ok with putting it away for this year.  I’m just not looking forward to the wrinkly mess it’ll be when I pull it out next May.

The other thing I noticed was that everything I was putting away is colourful, and everything I pulled out was black or grey.  A little depressing.  As much as I’ve already said that I love the cooler weather, putting away the summer clothes makes me a little sad.  But onwards to fall!  Hello to Wolford tights and the Cream Confection Jacket and my beloved Soïa & Kyo trench coat.  And my trip to Europe!  So it’s ok.

From summer to winter with nothing in between

I know I said I like cool weather, but today was frickin’ cold.  Why is there never any transition weather?

• Doubly Dapper Dress by Tabitha, Anthropologie
• Cardigan by Bordeaux, Anthropologie (can’t remember the name!)
• Tory Burch flats
• Hilary Druxman necklace

My legs were freezing.  I could have used a coat.  But I refuse to wear a scarf yet.  It’s still technically summer!

Looking forward to Paris in style.

Last year I travelled a lot—five weekend trips to Ottawa (not so surprising, my family lives there), a week in Vancouver and Victoria, a long weekend in Boston, an extra-long weekend in Martha’s Vineyard, a whirlwind 5-day trip to San Diego/Orange County/Los Angeles, and a weekend in Chicago. It was fun, but exhausting.  This year, I’ve only gone on one weekend trip to Ottawa and one long weekend to a luxury cottage in the Muskokas, but I am really looking forward to my trip to Dublin, London, and Paris next month.

Will is really looking forward to our trip, and he’s been making all the travel plans while I haven’t been feeling well over the past few weeks.  He found a very trendy place for us to stay in Paris, the Apostrophe Hotel.

This is our splurge on our trip, so Will went for the room with the soaker tub (because I LOVE soaker tubs).  To get a better price, he signed up for the “romantic night”, which means the hotel will spell our initials in rose petals on the bed.

We are not that shloopy.  But it’s Paris, so we’ll try to stop laughing and be romantic.

I hope we get this room….

 
Since the tub is in the same room as the bed, the reviews advise that you don’t travel with someone you don’t want to see naked.

Ooh, maybe I want the room with the literature on the wall.

I can’t wait!  Only 4 weeks to go!

Window shopping

Now that I no longer want to be a hermit (I actually want to go out for walks, rather than sitting inside in the air conditioning), I’ve been window shopping all over Toronto.  Well, as much as I could over the long weekend. 

It really is only window shopping at Holt Renfrew (Canada’s answer to Neiman Marcus), because I can’t really afford anything in it.  I always love their window displays though.

Always eye-catching, and the speech bubbles made me laugh.

It’s jacket weather!

It’s chilly outside and I LOVE it.  I can breathe again after a summer of paralyzing heat and humidity.  I have ENERGY.  And I don’t want to dress like a skank ho!  I want sweaters and jackets!

So with this regained energy and desire for layers, I took myself over to Anthropologie at Don Mills early this morning in search of the Cream Confection Jacket.  They had it in black, I tried it on, I bought it (exchanged the Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress).  Unfortunately, the pictures I took in the dressing room turned out really blurry, so I’ll have to take some better ones later.  Unfortunately only the black was available (the tan came in on Monday and sold out within days, and no cream yet), but it’s the colour I wanted anyway. 

So after I got what I wanted, it was time to try on a whole bunch of other pieces and have fun.

Ha’penny Cardigan by Moth, CAD$148.  I first became intrigued about this cardigan with the catalogue shot, and also by Carol's unadulterated love for it.  No way I wasn’t going to try it on.  But I’m confounded, as Tim Gunn might say.  I love the length and the softness, but the ties and the collar and how it does up like a cape confuses me.  I don’t know.  I’ll have to try it on again.

Boucle de Souffle Jacket by Elevenses, CAD$148.  I thought I had to have this after seeing it in an outfit set on the website, but I had to check the fit.  Unfortunately, the fit is off so it’s a no.  Off the wishlist.

The cream (in a size up) didn’t do any better either.

Rushcliffe Cardigan by Charlie & Robin, CAD$178.  I would never buy this sweater, but I had to try it on anyway.  It looks awful on me, but at the same time I wish I were fabulous enough to be able to pull it off.

  
Dreamy Days Cowlneck by Bordeaux, CAD$68.  An underpinning of some sort is definitely required, because you can see belly.  The fabric is also so flimsy it’s practically see-through.  I look skinnier, but I wouldn’t pay $70 for this.

 
Monologue Top by Bailey 44, CAD$118.  A version of the summer Chantico Tank with sleeves.  Nice, but not interested.  Also, I think it makes me look slightly thicker around the middle.

? top by C. Keer (I think), I can’t find this on the website.  It’s a ribbed knit slash-neck top with ruching and buttons on the cuffs, with floral appliqué at the neckline.  It’s a nice fall top, but nothing that special for me.

Norwegian Woods Skirt by Edme & Esyllte, CAD$98.  I’ve always wanted to visit Norway, and I have a weakness for hot Norwegians and their pop music (my guilty pleasure since that concert last spring), but that has no bearing on me liking this skirt.  In fact, it surprised me that I picked it up because I don’t usually gravitate to this kind of print.  But I really loved it; soft yet sturdy fabric, pockets, great length, good shape, reasonable price (well, for Anthro).  I don’t think it looks that great in the picture, but serious consideration for my fall wardrobe.

Goodbye summer, bye-bye dress…

If we’d had a summer of warm, sunny, non-humid weather, I wouldn’t be so quick to say goodbye to it. But after another week of being hot, sticky, and uncomfortable, I’m ready for fall.  The heat wave ends today and I can’t wait!

And as part of letting go of summer, I’m saying no to Antropologie’s Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress and returning it.

I went back and forth on this one, and even still I’m tempted.  It’s a really pretty dress.  I actually bought it at full price because I loved it, and then it sat in my closet with the tags on because I had nowhere to wear it.  Now it’s on sale, so that makes it even more tempting, because I could return it and pick it up at the sale price.

But I have to stick to the fact it doesn’t work for me.  I hate halter tops, I always feel like I’m being choked.  I don’t think halters do anything for my broad shoulders either.  The top is too low for me to throw a sweater on and wear it to work.

Still, it breaks my heart because it’s so pretty.

I feel like I’m wavering slightly…be strong, Rach!  Just think of it as making room for fall goodies.

I got me some horses to ride on

The September Anthropologie catalogue reminded me of Tori Amos’s song “Horses”, from her 1996 album Boys For Pele. 

It also reminded me how Tori’s music was my angry-girl soundtrack in high school and university.  I’m past the angry-girl phase now, but I still love this song.

Horses, tweed, plaid…all that says fall.   Well, tweed and plaid for me.  I’m allergic to horses. :(

I’m not sure how I feel about this.  There seems to be a lot going on.  The “sweeping swag” on the Sweeping Swag Sweater confuses me.

Super cute!  But the Cordial Embrace Dress seems a little plain for the price (US $148).

Great necklace!  Too bad it’s so pricey (US$198).

I love how this looks, but I tried the In The Trees Skirt on and did not like it.

I love dogs, but I cannot wear the Dog Trot Cardigan.

Love this.  I would consider the Tweedy Leaves Dress.

This to me is batsh*t crazy. 

Love the Akela Necklace!  However, loving does not equal buying.

 
I think the Pebbled and Primped Boots are adorable.  If only I thought my gigantic calf (the left one only, the right one is fine) would fit.

I’m actually not a big fan of plaid, but I could consider the Made to Measure Skirt.

…while I ride off into the sunset.

In which she bemoans her curves…

I have a difficult relationship with my body, for many reasons that are too complicated to get into right now.  But for the most part, I’ve learned to accept my body as it is.

That is, until I saw this look on the Leifsdottir website:

I think it’s adorable.  I love the model’s bangs too.  But with my hips in those super-skinny jeans and my boobs in that top?  Laughable.  And affording it?  Even more laughable.

Oh well, at least I can enjoy the picture.