Channeling a cashed up female retiree...

Do you ever visit the "ladies co-ordinates" or "ladies items" department in your local department store?  You know the one I mean, the department where your grandmother shops?  I do, as I find that they are a mecca for striped tops.

I passed through the other day - initially just for fun, but I ended up buying this tee:



The top is from the brand Jump and I purchased it from David Jones for $69.95, which is a lot more than I would usually pay for a tee on the spur of the moment whilst supposedly shopping for a Wedding card... but I liked the fit, and was experiencing a tough day at work, so I bought it.

It's a linen/viscose blend and the stripes are actually printed - so in time I think the stripes will take on a weathered appearance. I hope the top doesn't stretch too much like linen usually does. [Who am I kidding? I know it will.]


I know that the sequins are a little circa-2009, but at least it doesn't have shoulder pads...

My US shopping list - the items which need replacing...

This time next week I will be in the midst of packing... In the meantime I am seriously starting to think about the types of things I want to buy during my travels.  The items in my wardrobe that need replacing are the first to make it on to my shopping list.

A.P.C Fancy Mariniere Tee, Boy. By Band of Outsiders striped  cotton-blend top, MIH Jeans breton striped cotton top, Etoile Isabel Marant Ina coat, my Country Road dress, Repetto BB leather ballet flats

Black ballet flats.  I have worn my ballet flats so much that there is a hole worn through the sole.  Usually with my absolute fave leather soled shoes I take them to the cobbler to have a TOPY rubber sole protector applied.  On this occasion I didn't bother because I wasn't entirely happy with the fit of the shoes to invest a further $30 into them.  Nevertheless they became a workhorse in my wardrobe.  I am not intending to spend mega bucks on a new pair but I am after a good quality leather pair.

Black leather biker boots. My Country Road biker boots are also well worn out - to the point that there are holes in the leather lining at the heels. Given that the retail stores in the US are now starting to stock Summer attire, I am not holding my breath that I will find the perfect pair - but I'll be on the look out.

Black pumps.  My go-to black pumps are pretty much wrecked. They are looking overly stretched, they are totally scuffed up and the back of one heel is damaged. Black pumps are supposed to make a woman feel elegant - but these make me feel like I can't afford new shoes (even though they are comfortable). Time for a replacement pair!

Black leather biker jacket.  My beloved jacket is so well worn that the lining is starting to fall to pieces. I will not throw it out though - it will become the jacket that I keep in my car in case of emergencies.  I would love to find a new black biker jacket which is perfectly fitted, not too cropped and made out of soft smooshy leather just like the one which has served me so well for all of these years.

Black silk dress with sleeves.  My current Country Road number (pictured) has developed holes under the armpits.  To avoid peek-a-boo moments I always now have to wear this dress layered over a black sleeved top.  The replacement dress will need to be suitable for the office, but fancy enough to transition into Friday night drinks.

Striped tops.  I donated the one long sleeve black and white striped top which I owned because I disliked the neckline, the ruching on the ends of the sleeves and the fact that it was starting to pill.  I will be looking for a number of  new striped tops to add to my collection, especially plain 3/4 sleeve and long sleeve striped tops in black and white, grey and white and red and white with either boat necklines or soft scooped necklines.

Dark coloured wool coat.  I'll know it when I see it, maybe there is a lucky find waiting for me on a sale rack somewhere.  I'm after something in black or dark grey.

Black work appropriate handbag.  My Chloe Heloise is currently at the repairers for the second time... I guess nothing lasts forever if you use it almost everyday and use it to carry cans of tomatoes home from the supermarket! 

Cozy knitwear dreaming...

Ahh, knitwear... what's not to love about a warm woolly cardigan? When it adds pounds, swaps your frame, pills like crazy (a topic which by the way has its own Wikipedia entry) or makes you itch like you have fleas - that's what!

A good number of my knits were recently (immediately) culled - no qualms whatsoever, for the following reasons:
  • I got rid of ALL my skivvies and turtlenecks as I find them to be suffocating.  I am uncertain about how it is that I managed to build up a collection of 7 such styles if I despise wearing them.
  • A long line grey cardi seemed like the ideal addition to my wardrobe one Winter, but in wearing it I discovered that it just clung horribly to my hips and crept up over my bottom - not a good look. 
  • Another long line 'lounge wear' type cardi made me feel like a desperate housewife (of which I am neither), so it was culled before I even got to wear it. It was way too drapey and and a little too "homely" even though that's what I desperately seek from a cardigan.
  • Knits with extreme piling - I'm looking at you acrylic. 
  • I sadly threw out a couple of knits which quite clearly due to not being worn for an extended period of time had become delicious meals for moths.
  • Culled also were a couple of short sleeved knits (one with a turtle neck even!) a concept which I do not understand.  If you are cold enough to wear a woolly knit, why on earth would you want bare arms?

A small pile of knits survived my cull sessions and now sit folded neatly in my drawer.  Nevertheless, due to fit and quality issues, all but a few are destined to be culled in the future as soon as I upgrade and buy replacements.

I really long for one of those gorgeous cozy knits (sans all the problems listed in my opening paragraph and the above list) that ends up becoming my 'go to' on a cold Winter's Saturday or Sunday.  I've had a quick look online and the styles below take my fancy if money was no object (but it always is).

Top row: La Garconne 'Moderne' alpaca handknit sweater in black, heather grey and cream, Etoile Isabel Marant 'Claire' cropped pullover, Crumpet raglan sleeve cashmere sweater, Bottom row: Chinti and Parker striped knitted organic sweater, Peter Jensen waffle knit cardigan, J.Crew fisherman cotton-blend cardigan and Hope 'Ease' cardigan

The cull diary - bags and belts

Today's efforts saw me tackling my handbag and belt collection,  managing to cull 2 shoulder bags, 3 clutch bags and 10 belts.

For the record, this brings my cull tally to 208... including the Bettina Liano skirt I culled last month (donated to my Mother by the way).

Sadly I have decided to let go of my Mulberry Emmy bag - beautiful as it is, it sits on it's shelf hardly used.

If only it was black not brown...

I'm also moving along one of my Chloe bags.  It is well loved but in need of a new home as I have started to look at it and resent it that it's not a different bag (I can be a real cow sometimes).

It's not you, it's me...

I spent the rest of the day washing, steaming, ironing and photographing clothes for eBay.

To tell you the truth I will be happy to see the back of my wardrobe culling and eBay listing efforts. I feel like it has taken over my life (or at least my spare time).  The next few days will see the remainder of my Summer items listed, and prior to leaving for overseas I hope to find the time to schedule some Winter listings to finish upon my return.  I foresee that the cash injection will be welcomed as I expect to be broke upon my return from my holiday :)


ETA: Make that a total 213 things culled since starting this blog.  I forgot to include a further three pairs of shoes I culled (there are actually a couple more pairs on the chopping block) and a couple of dresses that were sitting in my "to mend box" for the past year. Clearly the task of mending them was too arduous for me, so out they went!

The perfect white t-shirt

James Dean

I think the *perfect* white t-shirt is the quintessential wardrobe staple. The appeal of this piece lies in its simplicity yet versatility, easily taking one from day to night to weekend.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect white t-shirt for many years now and for years I have not found it.  Sure I have owned the odd white t-shirt, but it's never been perfect.  In fact it's been far from perfect.  Never would I dare to wear any of my white t-shirts to work, and on a few occasions just catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror wearing one of these t-shirts has resulted in swift outfit changes and the relegation of said t-shirt to the around-the-house-and-pyjamas drawer.  

So what is the perfect white t-shirt (in my opinion)?  I'm looking for a t-shirt of the perfect length - not too short and not too long.  I would like the fabric to be a super soft cotton blend, with just the perfect amount of fluidity and drape. I want it to hang on my body so that it flatters. It cannot be too loose and it has to be a little nipped in at all the right places... but it cannot be clingy!  I would like the neckline to be femininely scooped and not too casual. This is important if I am ever going to wear it to work.  I might settle for a t-shirt with a breast pocket, but any other feature details such as prints, bows and ruching and it's going back on the rack.  The sleeves?  Don't even get me started about the sleeves...  Most importantly though I want it to be reasonably priced, because after all it is JUST A T-SHIRT.  Am I asking for too much?

Net-a-porter's selection of white t-shirts


Do you own what you consider to be the perfect white t-shirt?

If not, once you do find it (if you are looking), I suggest that you buy another and then also the same style in the black and the grey and the blue... at least.