As in every other outfit I've posted this month, I'm sporting my Frye boots, this time with a tweed skirt by Ralph Lauren. I bought it in this size 6, even though I should have known better, because of the blue fleck in the wool. As I pondered the problem of how to get around the size problem, I hit upon the trick all expectant mothers have probably used with our jeans--the rubber band or hair tie, then covered that up with the leather belt! It worked and the skirt is perfectly comfortable. I suppose this is a sign of MY neurosis!
The fine gauge turquoise sweater is by Banana Republic. The camel coat below is by Talbots. ALL items made in the U.S.A! And ALL items thrifted.
But like most of us, I have 5 pounds that come and go on a seasonal basis. This pic was snapped BEFORE Christmas and BEFORE the full effects of the winter weight. Some years I have worried about this, but if I can refrain from the worry as my mother advises, the weight does seem to magically disappear when the weather grows warmer. Do any of my readers find this to be true?
that first pic is incredible! love your neurotic panther!
ReplyDeleteBella, in real life that cat only weighs 10 lbs!
DeleteI, too, am taken with your magnificent black kitty! You look stunning as well in your classic wools and Fryes. very nicely done! And thanks so much for linking up to Visible Monday.
ReplyDeleteThis kitty selected our household for reasons unknown. As always, Visible Monday is a great event and serves to organize my blogging week very nicely.
DeleteI love those boots, they are so gorgeous! I love the sunny outdoor shot, too.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's nice to have some sunshine!
DeleteLovely skirt :) this length looks so elegant on you!
ReplyDeleteKi--I think there are tricks to wearing this length. The boot helps break up the length and gives some height.
DeleteWow, that cat does look like he could be a panther!
ReplyDeleteYou look elegant as always. I refuse to weigh myself anymore, so I don't know if I have seasonal weight fluctuations! You look mighty slim and sleek to me! xxx
Actually, our local school mascot is a panther. We don't keep a scale either, but I can definitely feel my winter weight around my waist.
DeleteYou look very elegant.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling with my weight.
I have put on a stone over the past two years.
When you are only 5ft 1in it seems to make a big difference.
Let's hope 5 pounds melts away in the Spring sunshine which leaves 9 pounds of hard work to go.
Small Fabric--thank you for the kind comments. I know a lot of my work as a college instructor is fairly sedentary so I have to LOOK for ways to keep moving. Shopping is exercise. :)
DeleteI'm drooling over that camel coat - I've never owned one in my life. Love the skirt and boots - my winter style right there. And of course I have resorted to the rubber band trick many times! I find that resuming my usual healthy eating after the hols drops 2-4 pounds right away, but sadly one or two pounds remain. I have remained at the very top (or sliding over) of the healthy BMI range for the past five or six years and I'm struggling to find the motivation to buckle down and tackle it. I'm hoping this year to find some exercise classes that I enjoy (one of my 'spending out' priorities.)
ReplyDeleteShelley--It took me two years to find this coat and when I did, it was the middle of summer. I have never tried the rubber band trick since I was pregnant last (uh, 27 years ago) I haven't taken my BMI in a while, but it has always been under normal. That's thanks to my dad.
DeleteYou look elegant! I don't own anything to weigh myself on, so the fast that my clothes still fit me keeps me happy ;)
ReplyDeleteCharlotta--not having a scale is probably the healthiest way to stay sensible about one's weight!
DeleteThat coat is beautiful! I don't tend to put on weight with the seasons. last time I put on substantial amounts it was in the summer, from eating and drinking out in the sunshine all the time and not exercising. i tend to be much more disciplined in the winter, i usually just go for a run or an exercise class after work and then i'm in for the night.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much quit drinking about a year and a half ago, as it seemed like a lot of unnecessary calories to me. I do like the sunshine and my exercise is always activity incorporated into my life instead of a special routine.
DeleteI covet that coat!
ReplyDeleteI put on weight quite easily and lose it with a fair amount of difficulty. There's some substantial new research that suggests why this is, but those 5 holiday pounds require great effort on my part to lose. I am glad that you let them go without much effort.
The stubbornness of the weight surprises me since you run quite a lot. I know back in the days I was swimming a lot, I often craved a huge breakfast afterwards no matter what time of day I swam.
DeleteI adore that coat!
ReplyDeleteAs for weight, I'm actually the opposite. I tend to lose weight in the winter (they say that being cold causes you to burn calories) and put on weight in the summer.
♥ Leia
You and Franca! I blog by a window that often gives me chills. I think this habitual position probably justifies the extra calories in my body's mind.
DeleteA fun skirt! And I wonder if that trick will work with a couple of mine--MP despairs that I'm sending too-large clothes off to Good Will before wearing them more often.
ReplyDeleteCatherine--I should have known better than to buy a skirt this size, but the fabric persuaded me I'd figure something out. I don't think you can see how I've worked around it. My waist measurement is easily 30 inches.
DeleteRalph Lauren has nice classics, your skirt being a good example. I like the idea of your clothes all being made in USA.
ReplyDeleteMy weight is balancing around plus/minus 2 ,5 pounds. I can feel the difference. It is disturbing, and I do think about it.
Your cat is either enormous, or then you are super small ; )!!
Mette--I can "feel" the difference myself. I notice it mainly at night when I'm trying to find a comfortable position before sleep. Some positions make me feel fat.
Deletethe photo is an optical illusion. The cat weighs just 10 pounds.
Your entire outfit looks great on you, but I am especially attracted to the camel coat with your Frye boots. I don't like cold weather very much, but I love winter coats. A bit of a paradox, but one I can live with.
ReplyDeleteJudith--I have notices your collection of fine winter coats. I have three and most of the time I wear a bone trench coat, filled with down.
DeleteThat kitty is HUGE! Or is the angle of the photo?
ReplyDeleteI like both outfits. The camel coat is such a great piece! It looks very elegant on you.
Adrienne--It is the angle of the photo! The cat oftens tries to help with my photo shoots.
DeleteI searched for the camel coat for a long time. Found many, but none in the good condition this one was.
I love the coat and can't believe you thrifted those Frye boots. You are truely one of the Queens of Thrifting!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I didn't thrift the Frye boots. I have mis-spoken. those of my readers who have read me for a long time know that in the fall of 2010 I had to be carefully talked into indulging myself with the boots.
DeleteA Ralph Lauren skirt in such good condition!!!You are very lucky as it looks so 70s.Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteAngie--I have some other more fitted skirts that this "tip" would not work with. There's nothing for it except to wait until I've lost the added weight.
DeleteYou are one lucky lady to find such wonderful thrift finds!!!! A Talbot's coat thrifted? OMG.
ReplyDeleteYou look fab in everything.
Debbie--If you want to make a weekend of it, we could go thrifting in Kansas City. We have 30+ stores to choose from. I found the coat in a Salvation Army of all places.
DeleteMy weight seems to fluctuate almost weekly! PLEASE tell me the rubber band trick. I need that as I have a couple of skirts that are a tad small in the waist. That would be SUCH a help! Hugs gorgeous...you look FABULOUS in this very Ralph Lauren look! ~Serene
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you getting wear out of those boots! I too, have not had any outdoor shots; and the indoor ones get boring--don't you think?
ReplyDeletePanther--hehe
Paula--the indoor shots DO get boring and I seem to have progressed beyond using cutesy props. Interesting to watch our development as bloggers, isn't it?
DeleteI like these colors together and I like the shape of this outfit - I know I said this on your oatmeal post too but I think it looks very classic, classy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us meet Kitty. And kudos to all thrifted, all made in the USA! That's some magic right there!
jesse.anne.o--Yep, my natural inclination is always toward classic rather than edgy, though occasionally I luck onto a different look. Kitty says "meow."
Deletei may have told you this before, but this is a look i love...the long skirt and tall boots...but i could never find the right proportions for me. and i've always wanted a pair of frye's...just can't shell out the money for them!
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
oomph--well, I venture to say that YOU can get away with looks I couldn't! The Frye's were expensive and it took all my blogger friends weeks to talk me into them.
DeleteYou always look svelte to me. I love that first photo with kitty and the hair in your face. Don't talk to me about Christmas weight.
ReplyDeleteDon't want the weight to be a sore subject...but I eat heavier foods in the winter and I'm less active. It. adds. up.
DeleteI have the 5 pound problem as well!
ReplyDeleteBut i don't worry too much about it , i loose weight fast, if i put my mind to it
That is big cat you have there or is it a photographic illusion?
Love your outfit, a midi skirt is so elegant with boots!
Can't wait for spring ! No chance for me to take pics outside, too cold!
the cat is a result of trick photography!
DeleteI'm ready for spring and outfit shots on location!
Somewhere in my long long ago past, something happened with cats that I don't know about, but that makes me very uneasy around them. In the case of YOUR cat/panther, think I'd probably have to hug the walls if I was in the same room with him/her/it.
ReplyDeleteVery sophisticated blue and tan color combo. Love the boots too. Pat
Pat--I don't touch this cat. the last time I did, I got poison ivy on both forearms!
DeleteWhat a lovely, elegant outfit! (And I can't believe you found Frye boots thrifting. That's a lucky find!)
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought of the hair-tie + belt to extend a button...how ingenious! Now I'm wondering how many of my slightly-too-tight skirts I could get away with this technique on. My skirt-alteration tends to go the other direction...use a brooch to take in the waistband of a skirt that I'd prefer to sit higher up on my waist.
Elly--everything but the boots came from the thrifts. I have a skirt I need to shorten, I wonder if this trick of yours would work.
DeleteYou have a great figure Terri! You could wear pretty much anything and would look wonderful on you. I'm really loving your coat...the color is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteJeannie--the figure is mostly thanks to my father's genes. And yes, I got lucky, with the coat.
DeleteYou look great here -- love the Frye boots. As for the weight, yes, I fluctuate 3-5 pounds. At 5, I put on a pretty concerted effort to get back to my more comfortable weight and I can usually do it through healthy choices. At my height, they don't spread out very well, those extra pounds, so my clothes let me know pretty quickly!
ReplyDeleteMater--if my winter weight doesn't come off on its own, I look for something to "give up" temporarily and that usually does the trick.
DeleteOnce can never go wrong with tweed.
ReplyDeleteKionon--at the moment it is the only tweed in the entire wardrobe.
DeleteI love all of your classic choices.
ReplyDeleteDanielle--thank you! And it fits the modest bill too!
DeleteTerri, I wrote this great comment last night and when I came back....it was gone! I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone!!! Anyhoo, I was asking about the elastic rubber band thing....I have a couple of skirts that would SO benefit from that! Please DO tell what you did! Hugs! ~Serene
ReplyDeleteSerene--sorry about the disappeared comment. I know that has happened to me. I just loop the elastic through the button hole, basically making an extender for the button hole. This would likely only work on a garment with a waistband. Mailed your surprise on Monday.
DeleteSooooooooooo chic, dear Terri
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Sacramento--thank you!
DeleteLove your black and camel...such a classic.
ReplyDeleteTamera--thank you!
DeleteLove the tweed skirt. I agree that indoor shots can get boring. I think that is why I'm shying away from getting as many outfits photographed that I usually would. I don't want to snap pictures indoors, but I think I may have to or my blog will have to big of a change in directions. I'm still having fun posting pictures of what I wear, so I don't want to change focus.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm getting eager for spring. I liked your indoor photo with Lila!
DeleteI like both these outfits, and I am slightly envious of your Fyre boots. My weight tends to fluctuate up and down fairly regularly, no matter what the season. It is frustrating, as sometimes it seems I can be incredibly healthy & gain weight, but sometimes I can be incredibly unhealthy & the weight will drop off.
ReplyDelete