Thursday, November 08, 2018

Sounds Painful

My husband and son tease me for calling the season Autumn rather than Fall. I don't know, "Fall" always sounds vaguely biblical to me, or at the very least, followed by some sort of injury. Today I have some Autumn fashions for you.
 I love a good tweed jacket, and I have a difficult time leaving one on the rail in a thrift shop, but after a bit, no matter how nice the item is, they start looking similar enough that it is hard to justify yet another. When I did the clothing clear out last spring, I kept out three jackets. This 70s piece has a matching skirt, so of course it survived along with a Harris Tweed and a Donegal. I think that will probably serve me well for the rest of my life, but I would be foolish to promise I'll be able to resist. What is it about tweeds?!

 Outfit Particulars:
vintage polyester dress-Hand-Me-Ups (.99 cent rail)
80's Talbott's belt-Thrift World
Suede Boots-Goodwill
Tweed jacket (part of a suit)-Salvation Army store, Lincoln
Vintage handbag-New Life Thrift
Halston scarf (on bag)-Goodwill
Bakelite bangle-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-I can't remember but if I didn't wear Lentheric Tweed, I should have!

I like tartan almost as much as tweed. The photo is a little washed out, but the wool really is a pale grey and beige. It shouldn't work, but it really does.
There's a better up-close look at the fabric. The suit is vintage 70s Pendleton. This is a quality vintage purchase. I rarely wear a suit, (though on the day this photo was snapped I did really need to look professional )but it was too well made to leave in a thrift store. Five bucks later, it was mine. I can see the skirt getting tonnes of wear, and maybe the jacket with jeans.
 The earrings were such a good match with the brooch despite being made at least a generation apart (the brooch has a c-clasp).
Outfit Particulars:
1970s Pendleton suit-Goodwill
St. John sweater-Goodwill
Brooch-Goodwill
Earrings-Thrift World
Vintage shoes-Thrift World
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Wildflower and butterfly 70s necklace-Goodwill

 You're probably thinking one tartan suit would be enough for most people. Sigh. I'm nothing if not consistent. This suit was another 70s bargain. It has suede patches on the elbows for heaven's sake. I couldn't leave it.
 Again, a quality bit of vintage. It costs more to make a suit where the pattern matches up, but it shows. If I'm going to have something take up space, it needs to be worth it.
Outfit Particulars:
1970s wool suit-Goodwill
Vintage Bass loafers-Goodwill
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Necklace-Et Cetera, Seward
80s blouse-Goodwill
 I treated myself to an antique.
 This is a Medieval piece. It is bronze, but has aged into this remarkable black patina.
Sometimes a piece speaks to me, but most of the time I don't listen😀. Listening can get expensive. I'm glad I listened this time. Portals Of Time is an Etsy shop worth your time, and your money. Stephanie has an eye for pieces you likely won't run across elsewhere. She also knows what she's talking about unlike so many people on internet sales sites. I'm not being compensated in any way by Portals of Time Vintage, but I am a very, very, happy customer.

Here's a change in the typical wool, tartan autumn wardrobe staple...polyester! I mean, sometimes you need a little wash and wear in your life that can take your lunch spilled down the front. Not that I do that, because I have impeccible manners.




Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Sasoon side-snap denim skirt-Goodwill
Vintage polo neck-New life Thrift
Vintage Polyester jacket-New Life Thrift
Vintage shoulder bag-Goodwill
Vintage Kachina copper necklace-Goodwill
Vintage earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
90s boots-Goodwill, about 15 years ago
Vintage bracelets-both Goodwill

Here I am in an uncharacteristic suit. I found it with the original 70s tags still on from Montgomery Wards. I didn't shop at Wards much, but I do still have the stereo I bought there (and I use it). It was a long time ago-it plays 8-Tracks as well as cassette tapes! Anyway, Wards wasn't really a place to find stylish clothes, but after 45 years, this suit isn't just stylish-it is fashionable! The colour is odd-between a grey and a brown, but it was easy enough to find matching accessories because I have this handbag in the same frustrating shade of... I dunno, phlegm?
 Sometimes you find cool stuff in the museum gift shop.
 I really like museum reproduction pieces.

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage suit-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage polo neck-Goodwill
Vintage handbag-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage Greek coin earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Museum reproduction bracelet and brooch both-Nomads With Baggage on Etsy (Wonderful seller!)
Necklace-Field Museum gift shop late 80s
Vintage hand brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Bronze coloured boots-Goodwill
Talbott's belt-Thrift World

 After our early snow, the weather has been more seasonable, and I couldn't do a post about autumn fashion without showing you what the trees are wearing. The Fuzzy Headed Twitcher is wearing a lovely new Cubs cap.


 Sketching beside the pond at Heron Haven.


 Deer oblivious to humans at Chalco Hills NRD.

Danny is still preparing dinner for us on Fridays as his home ec. assignment. We're getting spoiled by his cooking, and I may just hand over kitchen duties to him. He has a crock pot fish chowder planned for tomorrow which seems seasonally appropriate.

I will leave you with a look at the butterfly pins I made with self-adhesive pinback from the craft store. It opens up all sorts of possibilities for interesting brooches made from miniatures, dollhouse pieces, and silk floral bits. I'm not a very skilled crafts person, but peel and stick is about the level I can manage. Anyway, thought I'd share.

We are having our first 14 degree overnight. My bedroom has a north facing window and it gets terribly cold when the wind is blowing. Danny's room faces south and is over the kitchen, so it stays at a reasonable temperature. It isn't as drafty as the farmhouse was, but the room thermometer was reading 57 degrees when the rest of the house was 68. Last night I slept in velour leggings and tunic, with all the wool blankets and quilts on the bed. I am seriously thinking about sleeping in my parka. It will of course get worse as winter arrives, but by then my body will have a chance to acclimate. The first cold weeks are always the worst. There's a silver lining though-the cold, dark room is where I store the perfume collection, so at least the Guet Apens is happy!

Have a great weekend (if you wish, I don't like telling people what to do).









11 comments:

bahnwärterin said...

hooray for tweeds and tartan suits!!
yours are the bees knees and very chic - especially with your cool accessories. very inspirational - here it just got cold enough for woolen suits - i definitely need more fancy rings!!
danny is the coolest son ever - his cooking sounds yummy!
xxxx

Bibi Maizoon said...

Was perusing the AUTUMN/Winter fashion looks and any & all plaid, animal prints, & western are 'on trend'- so you have as the kids say NAILED IT!
I'm loving the green polyester number and the plaid on plaid ensemble. That old Pendleton was really incredible quality- my dad had Pendleton shirts from the 50's he wore til he passed.
I prefer Autumn too, as it is my favorite season & I love rich autumnal hues.
Thank you for the introduction to Portals of Time Vintage!

Vix said...

Great new cap, Danny! Is his sketching bag adorned with smiley radishes? The boy's got taste!
A wonderful Autumnal fashion parade, classy suits, perfectly alligned prints and rich colours. My favourite is the Polyester check - it looks so American - and that's in a good way, not a Trump one.
I'd love to know the story behind the ring. Is the seller a detectorist? xxx

Mim said...

Mmmm, tweeds and tartan - you are taunting me with your fabulous wardrobe. And you'll probably need all that wool as the weather's got cold. (I envy you your tweeds, but not the chill. Brrrr!)

Polyester Princess said...

Autumn does sound much gentler than fall, that's for sure! I have a weakness for tweed jackets too and find them quite hard to resist. Love the Pendleton suit, and you could have fooled me into thinking the brooch and earrings were a set. My favourite (no surprises there) is the outfit with the denim skirt, green polo neck and polyester jacket! Those self-adhesive pinbacks are a great idea. I'll see if the craft store here has them, as I can think of several things to turn into brooches ... xxx

Mrs Rat said...

All those beautiful suits which you wear so well... And those lovely museum reproduction pieces. I have a weakness for those too---is it the connection to history that makes them so intriguing or just the elegance of objects that have retained their beauty over time? As always, your outfits are inspiring, and I like the unexpected background of potted mums.

Beth Waltz said...

Phlegm? We called that color "greige", that odd combination of gray and beige. It works with the suit! (Remember that odd plastic gray "genuine leatherette" that the mannequin would have worn then?)

Love the Halston scarf worn on the bag! A handsome print, well used to tie together a polyester dress with a tweed jacket and suede boots!

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

Tweeds and plaids - what's not to like? I loved your first outfit particularly; you look so elegant. The trouser suit was brilliant and looked lovely on you. All those wonderful accessories as well! You do have some wonderfully quirky things; the butterfly and plant necklace, for example.

I loved the sound of the fuzzy haired twitcher's fish chowder. I bet it was delicious.

Our trees are nearly denuded of their beautiful autumnal coloured leaves which always makes me sad because they stay bare for so long.

I hope you keep warm in bed. Have you tried hot water bottles?

Have a great week.

Goody said...

@Beate
Thank you. Danny is a good kid. I can't take credit for that, but sometimes kids with lousy mothers turn out ok ;)

@Bibi
Pendleton still makes nice clothing. Obviously it isn't exactly the same quality as raw materials are harder to source, but they seem to appreciate their heritage and are trying to maintain it.

@Vix
The bag has a pair of radishes that says, "You look radishing my dear." I love that bag.
The seller purchased the ring from a British collector so it is possible.

@Mim
If you ever decide to visit North America, do it in winter. Oh sure, Death Valley in summer is fun for tourists but if you really want to experience the worst the new world has to offer, try February.

@Ann
Thank you. It gets addictive making anything and everything into brooches.

@Mrs. Rat
Thank you. I confess to enjoying museum gift shops more than museums many times. I suspect good design is enduring. The mums were outside of K Mart of all places.

@Beth
Ah, greige sounds much nicer! I am finding those tiny square scarves in my collection work best on handbags as I never tie my hair back in a ponytail anymore. Sreems a shame to waste such pretty little things.

@Veronica
The hot water bottle has been in use since August! I am thinking of getting a second to stick at the foot of the bed for my feet. I am currently sewing a blanket which does keep my lap warm as I work. The chowder was great and we were able to stretch 3 meals out of it, so definitely a winner. This week he has a stew with chicken and apples (I'll skip that as I'm vegetarian) that sounds lovely.
Hope you've had a good week and the weather behaves.

Sue said...

I love that you call the season Winter, that is what us Southern Hemisphere peeps know it as!! As you are cooling off we are warming up here. I am enjoying Spring very much, everything is flowering and it is pleasant not HOT. I very much like your Autumnal tree pics, the leaves are gloriously colourful. Stay warm Jen!!

Radostin said...

Those suits are amazing!