A Girl And Her Wardrobe

Hi Ladies,

I would love your thoughts on these skirted pants from Moto.  These are not the skirted leggings I bought the other day.

I have tried these on and trust me they actually look better than on the model (hope this doesn't sound arrogant but I was very surprised at the lovely line this item created on a real person i.e. me:)  ).  

Upon trying them on I could immediately see these becoming part of my very small special occasion capsule:)  I currently have three dresses across all seasons that get worn to weddings and the like.  I feel one of them is soon to be retired as it's no longer quite the style I want to be wearing (it's over 5 years old) and the last time I wore it was about 3 years ago.  

I could see these working with a short tunic top, a sharp white shirt and tux jacket, even a subtly oversized fine gauge sweater.  

Do you see the potential here, or are they just a bit weird??  They are on sale so now would be a good time to buy.  Fabric is the same as my skirted leggings and quite transeasonal so I could wear them for one or two end of year/Christmas events we will be attending.

Thank you for looking and I appreciate your opinions.

xxxDeborah

Hi Ladies,

Over the past few months I have secured three Highly Elusive Wardrobe Items.

#1 A white shirt that fits and flatters me and works with my overall look. The shirt was from COS.

#2 Skirted Leggings. Found thanks to Australian label Motto.

#3 Blue tall boots. Discovered 'by chance' yesterday?

I am thrilled with the shirt and have found it can be worn with quite a few different combos and I use it to layer under less structured items. I have worn it a lot. It has lived up to my expectations.

I received my skirted leggings today and have had a play in my wardrobe and they work with so much. I expect that these will become a workhorse but only time will tell.

The boots wont get a lot of wear, if any, until next Autumn so I really won't know until then.

This got me thinking about how sometimes an item which proves to be 'elusive' can become almost an obsession :) Skirted leggings were like that for me. I HAD to have them. But the truth is I really didn't know if they would work for me. The EF ones would have been too short for example, but you know if they had been more readily available to me I am not sure I would have had the self control and am 99% sure there would be a pair hanging in my wardrobe now lol.

My question to you is have your HEWI's turned out to be all that you expected and hoped for. Were they items that were tried and proven in the past and you knew were perfect for you? Or were they items that you took a risk on... in your mind you 'knew' they were perfect but in reality you wouldn't know until you tried them. Has anyone found and purchased a HEWI, only to return it?

xxxDeborah

Hi Ladies,

I guess this is predominantly for the Aussie girls, but note that they do ship overseas for a standard rate of $25.00 :)

I made it my mission to find a quality skirted legging in Australia, and I have now completed my mission lol and am reporting back.

I tried them on in store today and the quality is lovely.  The fabric is a stretch jersey but it's not like tshirt jersey, its more refined, substantia and drapey.  They have a flat stretch elastic waistband.  Machine washable and no ironing required.  They only had larger sizes left but I tried them anyway and the Manager pinned and pulled them into how my size would fit. (I am getting the size 10 - they run very true to size.) They are stunning.  Apparently only one pair left in the state and it's on its way to Bendigo for me:)  The Manager has said that they are restocking soon. They are currently at full price of $89.99 and well worth the money.  They are a little dressy but could be dressed down with the right tops and say leather slip on sneaks for the weekend.

This is the only pair that I have found in Australia that I feel stands up to the EF ones in terms of design, cut and quality :)

xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

Just a quick update... My plan to follow the Five Piece French Wardrobe concept has loosened a little!  What can I say!!  So it may be more than 5 per season, but I am enjoying putting thought into what I need/want and staying focused on a more minimal wardrobe:)  My shopping has absolutely lessened.

White pants are something I have flirted with but am yet to get to where I want with them.  My mum gave me a slim leg pair she bought for herself but didn't wear.  I enjoyed them.  They were tailored and a nice slim leg but the quality was average and white not a solid white so I moved them on.  Since then I have struggled.  I bought a straight leg white denim jean and wore them a couple of times before I moved them on.  I then found a really nice pair of white skinny jeans towards the end of late last year but having lost weight, they now read as boyfriend jeans.  I have kept them but I want a nice slim leg.

So I am considering the ones in #1.  The crop version may be ideal given my height and they might just be ankle length on me, otherwise the short length in the same pant should be fine.  I have these pants in the short length in black and they are now, I think, onto their 2nd or 3rd Spring summer, so I know they work for me.  I will go an try these on during the week and see how the length is.

I am really hoping to get a pair of white jeans/pants into regular Spring rotation.  I love the look but in the past haven't mastered the styling.  I have seen a lot of inspiration shots on Pinterest that encourage me that I can make the white jeans look mine.

Will let you know how I go :)

xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

My wardrobe is in good shape, so much so that I am not browsing or shopping anywhere as much as I usually do.  I now pretty much just keep an eye on Metalicus and Motto on line and even forfeited my Metalicus rewards dollars this month because there was nothing that truly made my heart sing:)

One of the things I have become aware of, is that I am very happy to wear a column of colour (black, occasionally navy) everyday but enjoy having a variety of toppers, and while I generally prefer solids, jackets are where I don't mind a bit of colour and / or pattern - even 'statement'.

SO, with that in mind I thought I would show you a jacket I am thinking about.  This would be my second FPFW purchase.

#1/2/3 is the Motto Marble Femme Jacket, it's a stretch fine knit and is a little reminiscent of Chanel.  I think I will pop in store and try it on over the weekend.  I would love something that has a hint of Chanel styling, but has stretch and can be edged up a bit.  

For your info, #4 was my first FPFW purchase last month.

I will let you know how I feel after a try on:)

Thanks for taking a look.

xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

Some of you will know that I am attempting to embrace the concept of the Five Piece French Wardrobe.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....h-wardrobe

So!  Here is my first purchase.  Please  note, not styled but anticipate I will be wearing it with skinny leg pants and simple top (just not the ones I have on).

It's a cocoon shaped jacket, in light grey. Warm enough to wear now with warm layers underneath and then perfect for Spring with lighter under layer.  It does need a press:)

I don't have anything similar to this and I am wanting to add soft grey into my wardrobe.  The idea with this is to add just  5 new (on trend/statement/special) items each season and I feel this meets the criteria.

Appreciate you taking a look and letting me know what you think.

Thanks so much
xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

I have been processing this 5 Piece French Wardrobe concept in my mind, and, of course, I have fallen off the wagon spectacularly within days of deciding it could work for me!

However, my essentials and basics are in good shape, so I did stay on track by purchasing (for me) slight statement-y / special pieces to work with my essentials.

Find #1 
Metalicus Mali Long Sleeve Jacket.  This jacket is light weight and has snaps on the shoulder and the side.  It can snapped closed so it creates a cowl neck and drapes, it can be worn open and it can be worn as in the picture.  Versatile, dramatic but softened by being black and white.  I had been eyeing this since it came out a short while ago.

Find #2
Zara Brogue Ankle Boots in Navy. I have decided to move my cobalt boots on as they just were not doing it for me.  These caught my eye and I loved the navy tone, the patent finish and just the overall look of the boot.  I don't have anything like these.  And they will work nicely with my slowly growing collection of navy items.  They are a lower contrast than the cobalt (and not black) and I think this will make them a very positive addition to my wardrobe.  In fact, I am wearing them today with an orphaned pair of navy ponte skinny pants:)

Find #3
Zara Long Knit Cardigan in Navy.  This fits more into my essentials category.  It's a typical garment for me, but I don't have anything like this in navy.    It can be worn as in the picture, or the lapel can be draped upward and secured at the neck to create a more funnel type neckline as shown in the other pics attached to the Find. I wore it that way yesterday and I LOVED it.

So, this post is really about accountability!!  I have done enough shopping in the past two months, much of it funded by birthday money (the Metalicus jacket was purchased using a gifted voucher) but there are only so many days in a year right??

My goal is to move more to the 5 Piece French Wardrobe (5PFW) concept starting in August.  I need to replace my black skinny jeans (they died) - these are a wardrobe essential for me and as we move into Spring, my ponte skinny pants will be too warm -  and Metalicus have a great Super stretch Jegging in Black.  I would like to purchase a pair at the end of August, and I would like them to be my only 
purchase in August.  I am also looking at spending more on these than I would have in the past, hopefully attaining a better quality item that will stand the amount of wear they will get.

So, I am happy to be kept accountable:)  Feel free to ask the hard questions if I weaken, and to encourge me as I resist the temptation of so many lovely things that I don't need :)  BTW, I don't want this to be too ridged, it still needs to allow for some flexibility, but ultimately I see it being a good way for me to operate.

Thanks for reading!

xxx Deborah

Ps.. LynD if you are reading, forgive me!  I had a last minute opportunity to go the Melbourne on Monday and managed to wangle a drive by Chadstone:)

Hi Fabbers,

Having spent some time 'drooling' over the EF look book - thank you Gryffin - I am considering duplicating my black cropped loose knit top from Metalicus.  

They have two colours left.  White or Dusty Olive.  Now the dusty olive looks grey to me, so I will phone the store and check on that.

My initial thought was to buy the white as I am keen to the type of layering in #1.  I already have a soft cotton shirt dress in white. BUT I am a bit sensitive about about such an expense of white.   I would normally layer dark over light.  

Can I ask what you think?  That black one has proven to be an excellent addition to my wardrobe.  It's a lovely weight and quite transeasonal.

Thanks for taking the time to think about this for me.

xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

When I returned the patterned jacket to Myer, I did come home with something else.  Just FYI I am still 'enjoying' some gift vouchers I received for birthday in June:)  

This purchase is a little better thought out, probably very typical for me and motivated by practicality.

I have 4 winter weight but still streamlined (no chunky) sweaters (only 2 are office appropriate) and three lighter weight ones for Spring. I have been wanting to add another work appropriate one to my winter capsule but wasn't going to buy anything that wasn't perfect. My desire to increase my sweater capsule is based on that two things;  1.  I am currently working in a very cold office (old building) and a smart, sleek sweater worn over skirts or pants is ideal for the really cold days, and 2. I am now only working 2 days so dressing down those sweaters (again very cold days) for the other 5 days of the week, (where I wear many hats) seems to make good sense.

So here it is:)  Sorry not modeled by me, but the fit is very much the same as these catalogue pics.  It's a lovey navy, soft, refined knit, in a length that will work equally well over skirts or pants.

What do you think?  Can I keep this purchase??

xxx Deborah

Hi Ladies,

Further to my post on the Five Piece French Wardrobe, I was considering further how this concept might work for me.

My wardrobe is in good shape and I am very comfortable with my all black looks.  I recognise that I can happily wear a black bottom and a black top every day but when I perused my jackets, I realise I am partial to a "statement-y" jacket/ topper and if I am going to choose a patterned garment, it usually a jacket.   So I started to think that my 5 items per season could be good quality "Wardrobe Stars".  Items that 'elevate' my all black and mix things up a bit.

 I am feeling a little adventurous (hence the striped dress - it's a bust btw and is going to a new home) so I ventured out and bought a jacket that I have had my eye on for a short while.   I had tried it on before in a size too big and couldn't find my size but today they had my size:).  I can return it.

It is from Esprit and is their Monochrome Cotton Coat from this season.  I have a real love for this type of pattern but it's hard to get the right mix of jacket style and pattern to work for me being a petite.

Fit is good, length is good, sleeves need adjusting as they are too long.

I have just put it on over what I was wearing today (excuse the ratty jersey cami, I was wearing it under my tunic).  I promise I would wear a more suitable top:)  So there is no styling to speak of here.

The jacket works over pants, and I think it would work over the right shape and length dress too.  IRL is is a lovely fabrication and quite dressy.  I have a few styling ideas already and can see it over cropped skinny black pants and a soft sligthly draped white top.  It's quite a transeasonal weight and in the cooler months it could be left on in the office for warmth, and in the warmer months you might wear with less under layers and remove it or keep it on depending on the a/c.

I have added in the Finds area below my non solid black jackets just to give you an idea of what I have.  I think the Scarf Print Jacket and the Coloured Geometric Jacket would qualify as statement pieces, the others are more subdued.

Ok, so I am not invested but I *think* I really like it.  

Over to you.  

Thanks for looking
xxx Deborah