Monday, January 4, 2010

On the Banana Train...Banana Boat...Banana Fan...

Happy New Year to all! I admit I enjoyed a nice long break from...eh, pretty much everything. Very little blog reading or Polyvoring, no blog writing, lots of away time from the electronic devices over the holidays...it was a good thing.

So...remember that fab Banana Republic tee I got WAY back in mid-November (the cute white tee with the screen printed necklaces)? Of course you do. Yeah right, whatever, you have better things to do, I know. Well, apparently it made its way into Lucky magazine for January. Yes, I just went through my January magazines - I was saving them for the out of town trip to see in the in-laws. I love to have lots of reading material on trips. And maybe I'm a bit behind since they've been out a while...but seriously? My BR trompe l'oeil beaded tee from EARLY November? In a January magazine?

Ok, it's a bit fun to go "oh, so you like it, too, huh?" But wow, pity the fool who falls in love with the magazine pic only to go looking for said item in store in vain. Not that everyone needs my shirt, or that I want everyone to have the same shirt as me, but haven't you had that happen where you fall in love with something in a magazine only to be utterly unable to locate it? Not that I can argue with the cuteness of the tee (for me at least). I guess if you were reading the magazine when it came out about mid-December, you might have a shot of still finding it in the store, but I don't know...

And continuing on the Banana train...I have utterly fallen in love with a 12/26 purchase. Yes, I went to J Crew the day after Xmas when all sale stuff was 30% off (final sale, too, but that's so much better when you can try on). All I got at J Crew was a tshirt...long sleeve perfect fit tee in shadow for about $10 that I've already worn twice and thus it was a great buy, but still...not so enthused with the other offerings. Then we went to Banana Republic because I needed to return a sweater.

And I got this...the Cashmere Wrap. On 12/26, all in store sale items were an additional 50% off, so I got this beauty for $30. But I swear, it's still a great deal at the current sale prices. I ordered the Cocoon (ivory) for a friend when it was additional 20% off online. Because I love love love love love love love mine. I got it in a light heathered gray. It says "oatmeal heather" on the website, but I think that must be another color since mine is definitely not a tan. It is so soft, so cuddly, so luxe, so yummy... I think the wrap is very versatile and it's very generous in size (for a scarf, I guess). Let's see, I got it on 12/26, it's 9 days later, and I've probably worn it 5 times, including the day I got it. And most of those involved all-day wear, not just outside with a coat. (Although light gray cashmere + yellow Winnie = love)

Today I had my monthly chiro visit. As an update - my neck and shoulders and back and arm are SO much better than they were in August. I credit the therapy, but I also credit (1) learning the right stretches for my neck muscles, including the one to try to restore spine curvature, and (2) relocating my laptop from its usual spot at the kitchen table to the living room desk, with its keyboard tray, so that I am more ergonomically correct. And whether you see a chiropractor or an orthopaedist, I don't care, but if you are having neck/spine issues, please go see someone and get it checked out and fixed - this stuff only gets worse, especially with age.

Ok, off soapbox. So chiro...comfy clothes, warm clothes...J Crew gray/white striped tissue tee and gray BR Michelle-clone cardi, with Chicos slim leg jeans tucked into black boots. I think my outfits for the next few weeks are going to be "___ sweater with ___ jeans/pants tucked into ___ boots." We have an "Arctic air mass" that has descended and seems to be hanging around for a while. This is why I don't live any further north. I do love my sweaters, but I'm just NOT used to this.

So as an outfit, it was ok, but the scarf really made it. Maybe it if was warmer, I would have gone with major jewelry or fun shoes or something, but it's just plain cold. Scarf, please. And truthfully, when it's brutally cold like this, or even when it's just a bit chilly, I love the feel of a large wrap/scarf bunched up around my neck - it just works better for me that a thinner scarf.

I wore it today wrapped around the neck as more of a scarf (as in 1st picture), but when I was wearing it with the JC shadow perfect tee and jeans, I ended up using it as more of a wrap (as in 2nd picture). And it works both ways. And it was so so so nice for the road trip to and from in-laws this past week. Really, let's be honest, it's a socially acceptable blanket.

(Note: Northern US & Canadian bloggers, yes, I know, I'm a big old wimp. But that's what happens to us here in the Mid-Atlantic)

I picked up 2 other pieces at BR on 12/26. A fab black skirt, yet to be photo'ed, and this sweater here, which I'm still on the fence about. What I love about it: Price (ended up at $18). I love the feel of the large turtleneck, or is it a cowl neck? I like that it's cotton - sometimes, even at these temps, even I can be a bit too warm some places in cashmere and wool. I like the shape of it, because it's fitted. And I love the color gray in the stripes - it's almost a warm charcoal.

What I'm not sure about: Do I need another sweater? (or do I just need to go through what I have and clean out - wore my JC Cambridge cable tneck from last winter and realized that it's too wide or too short or both, and my JC Wellesley cable tneck from several years ago is really starting to show its age a bit). Do the stripes work? Does it actually look ok with jeans, or am I just limiting myself to black pants? Would be pretty fab with the Minnies, though, no? But even thought it's a great deal at $18, am I only going to wear it a couple of times this year and be bored with it next year? In which case, it's not a great buy. Cost per wear, more conscious purchasing...but more on that topic tomorrow. Isn't this post long enough already??

Fyi - just tossed on with today's jeans/boots - made no attempt at styling...but who are we kidding...I'd probably wear it this way anyway.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy to hear you had a nice break. I agree with you about BR, I love their Resort clothes, have you seen their cardigan sweater that looks like your navy striped merino crewnwck? It has buttons on the sleeve and is super comfortable. When I tried it on I could not leave behind. I missed buying the tee I regret it.

I also have spine neck issues and see a physio for a looong time now, I still have not kicked the laptop on the couch habit yet.

I love in a northern climate (1.5 hr drive from the US border) not Eskimo land even though it feels like it lately, I am still not used to it.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to add to my post, I love the striped sweater with the jeans, it looks good to me.

Kristin said...

Welcome Back! Love the wrap! What boots are you wearing? Regarding the sweater - my opinion is that if you have to ask (yourself or others) then it should probably go back. Yes, it's a great deal but that is $18 you could spend on something you love.

Funny - I went to my JC on the day after Christmas too and all I bought was a long sleeve perfect fit tee in dark slate! I have worn it a lot so it was a great purchase but I was hoping so score more that day! Oh well!!

dinagideon said...

Even I need a socially acceptable blanket in this cold...now that is saying something.

I am so glad you are back. BTW, congrats--200 followers. YOU ROCK!

And my word verification--you are going to love this--heidili.

No joke. ;)

Pamela said...

What a great cashmere wrap! I went to BR the day after and did no see any signage about the extra 50% off nor did a SA inform me of it. They must have been too busy b/c the checkout line was out of control. I love that the wrap is wide enough to actually cover up with!!!

And the sweater-it's super cute and a good deal, but if you are hesitant about it and questioning it-take it back. Put the $18 towards something that really gets your heart beating.

Kristin said...

One more Banana comment. I went to BR this weekend and made a small purchase (gloves that are likely going back) and the SA gave me a card with coupons on it. Every Wednesday for the next 4 weeks you can get 40% off one full price item. Worth visiting your BRs to see if you can get one. Can you imagine if JC did a promo like that? I did see some cute spring arrivals so I may go check those out and 40% off might just get me to buy.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! We missed you!
I am not so sure about the sweater, even for $18. If you do not love it, I say take it back. I do love cashmere wrap. So beautiful and cozy!

HeidiG said...

Thank you all for the feedback!

casual-crew - oh yes, BR does do resort well - all that navy. I will have to check out that cardi!

Kristin - the boots are Anne Klein from Lord & Taylor, probably 4 years old. I know, I was surprised I didn't find more at JC on 12/26. BR was doing a similar promotion through Dec, but I never used it. Oh how I wish JC would copy some of those promos!!

dinagideon - LOVE your word verification! And I think I just lost 1 b/c I'm back down to 199. Ah well, can't believe half that many read...

Pamela - there was no BR signage, and the SA who told us was in the way back. Are you sure you weren't at my BR? By the time we checked out the line was to the back of the store - out of 3 registers, 1 was "permanently" occupied with 2 women and 2 very large stuffed bags...no idea what was going on there.

Rosa in DC - miss you too! We need to do another DC JCA get together soon - I realize I totally dropped the ball on the last one (sorry).

Kitty and June said...

love the way your wrapped the scarf in your second pic..very chic!

OneFashionistaDiva said...

i love that wrap! i need that in my closet right now. congrats on the amazing deal!

HeidiG said...

Domestic Goddess - thank you! That's the "I want to be cozy but don't have to stuff this under a coat" look. :)

One Fashionista Diva - well, not to enable but...it did work rather well with the yellow Winnie today, hint, hint...

Anonymous said...

Yep-it's all about the stretching...personally I would forgo the Chiropractic and do YOGA...but that's just me! Yoga puts your body in perfect alignment!

HeidiG said...

yogagirl- Yep, the stretching and flexibility are so important (especially as we age!) and yoga is so great for that!!

Ema said...

Welcome back Heidi, I missed your posts.
I think that the striped sweater looks good in the pic, but you have to "feel it".
I wondewr why at BR they didn't advertize their 50% until noon promo. I walked by the store that day and didn't go in ...

post-fab princess said...

I die for that wrap. I die. (:

HeidiG said...

Ema - no idea on the stinginess of the 50% promo - maybe they just wanted to reward the folks that actually came in. But seriously?? Ridiculous.

PFP - thank you, ma'am. me too. :)