1 November 2009

These are a Few of My Favourite Things

As I browse the fashion magazines and websites the past few weeks, there are a few things that have jumped out at me. Here are some of garments and accessories that spark my lust for the fall/winter season.

Riding Boots
I love a good tall boot. They go with everything - pants, skirts, dresses - everything. This season the tall boot is everywhere, in every incarnation; flat, wedge, over the knee, stiletto, fringed, slouchy, etc. My pick of the bunch is the riding boot. I love the quaint English, upper crust ambiance of this leather charmer. My only issue is with fit. I have been blessed with athletic calves, which make finding a comfortable boot difficult. Even if I'm lucky enough to force up the zipper, my legs often feel like they are being strangled. So, I'm on the hunt (ironically enough) for a pair of fab riding boots. I just ordered a pair of Naturalizer Hunter boots in brown leather. I'm hoping the elastic and the buckle at the back will allow me to wear them.

ETA: I received the boots today and unfortunately they do not zip up over my calves. For reference, my calves measure 15" at the widest point. So, back to the store they go and back on the hunt I go.


Booties
When fashion bloggers first started wearing booties with skirts and tights, I was definitely not sold on the look. As time has passed however, I have become quite smitten with the look and now I actually want to emulate it. So, while I was shopping at Naturalizer I picked up a couple of cute booties: Corso and Dublin, both in brown leather. I adore the leather/suede combo, along with the sweet stitching accents on the Corso. The multi-colours and textures, combined with the menswear inspired laces on the Dublin are also drool worthy. I picture wearing both of these with some cozy textured tights (see below). These shoes, as well as the boots above come in wide widths, which makes me ridiculously happy.

ETA: I received the booties today and they are fairly comfortable. I think the lace up booties will require a bit of breaking in, but the other pair seems fine right out of the box.


Tights
If I could wear skirts (or dresses) everyday, I would. But, come winter, it gets a tad too nippy to be sporting uncovered legs in my neck of the woods. The reintroduction of tights into the fashion world the last few years has helped to remedy this chilly situation. So, I headed over to We Love Colors and bought up some microfibre tights in a variety of colours (rust, gold, maroon, teal and olive green - I already own some in brown, black and grey), as well as a pair of Croche Fishnets in brown. I just hope they fit well - us short folks often have leg length issues, resulting in elephant knees and crotch droop. I'll report back on my findings. I am also on the look out for some textured wool tights that don't bag out at the knees.


Cardigans
I must own upwards of 40 cardigans - some with the matching shell, some without. Being a lover of 50s style, it stands to reason that I am smitten with the ubiquitous twin set and the sweater girl look. So easy to wear and perfect for those days that deciding on an outfit seems difficult. Toss on a twin set over a great pair of pants, accessorize with a strand or three of pearls (or a vintage brooch) and you're good to go. Right now, I am lusting after several cashmere lovelies, in particular this one from Land's End. I am drawn to the simple lines, the 3/4 raglan sleeves and of course, the luscious park green colour - it would fit seamlessly into my existing wardrobe.

ETA: I succumbed to the siren call of cashmere. I now have the cardi winging it's way to Canada as I write. I'll report on the quality when I receive it.


So, dear reader, what are you lusting after for this fall/winter season?

21 comments:

Nancy K said...

Those boots you ordered. Unfortunately I have a wider calf and a wide width foot and these Naturalizer's don't come in wide widths! Damn. Great boot. Your post about saggy tights made me laugh. My dd is 5'3 and she complains about the same thing. One of the good things about being small and living in Korea is that tights come in the right length for her.

angie.a said...

Ok I commented on this post and blogger ate it. :P I posted almost the exact same this morning! I bought boots, jeans, a couple of freshly colored ls tops, and...other things I'm forgetting, HA! I had a shopping binge. :D

My boots were almost identical to your Naturalizers (which I looked at first!) But I went for a brand I was recommended from a friend for my athletic calves. They're supposed to be really comfortable, but they are man-made uppers. Still...they were only $31! Woohoo! I got black. Now I want brown, dangit.

Jen said...

I love your choices. I'm also starting to try out the bootie thing and have always been a tights and dresses/skirts in winter gal. Once the weather gets cooler I tend to buy a new pair of tights every week. An addiction....maybe.

Anonymous said...

I love boots and have quite a collection...If a boot fits snug--I take them to the cobbler to have the triangle elastic put in at the top band. I know there is a name...godget? sorry--I am having a senior moment!
Also, I have success with Eddie Bauer boots which come in the wider calf sizes! I believe, they have a cute riding boot too!

Carol said...

What a bonanza of a blog entry! Where do I start?? I am sure there are Canadian boot makers who make several calf width fittings. The winter just gone I bought a pair from an Australian maker (Wittner.com.au) which also came in a wider calf fitting. I love boots, too and own many pairs, despite living in the subtropics. I wasn't sold on the booties with dresses either, until I bought a pair (mine are black patent and regular leather combo). I like the pair on the left, but I love the lace up pair even more. I'd wear them both. I adore textured tights and still have, unopened, several pairs I bought in the 80s that I'm glad I stocked up on! If you need warm legs, you might just have to make a long overcoat. I'm off to look at the Lands End website because I want that green cardigan. It's my favourite colour this week and it would go with the dress I made last week. 3/4 cardigans are perfect in airconditioning in my office. Thank you so much for this visual feast!!!

Toby Wollin said...

hehehe..I could just do a cut and paste on this post and put it up at my blog - you and I have such close senses of fashion taste.

Rachel said...

I haven't gotten into ankle boots yet, but the other three are loves of mine. I really love tights and cardigans and am trying to increase my collection. Unfortunately, I live in hot south Alabama and don't get to wear them as much as I would like.

Maggie said...

I'm there! I love that riding boot Ralph Lauren look. My problem is the reverse...smaller thighs! Don't be envious because it's just as bad. Thin legs look lost in most boots. Although you can tuck in the pants with the riding boots. And ho could you ever have too many luxe cardigans????

Unknown said...

I have wide calves too. I have a black pair that has a stretch panel in the back for a little give. I love the style of yours.

Linda L said...

I too am coming around to the bootie. I still think I will prefer wearing it with pants. I am so loving the pattern hose and tights.

Gail said...

Those boots are absolutely fabulous. I share Carol's problem of wide calves. A lot of Aussie made boots are made for stick insets with no muscle. Like I needed another excuse to buy Italian boots.

wendy said...

those tights are really cute!
i love wolford wool tights... they're kind of expensive, but they last for years. and they're not itchy at all :-)

amber said...

Pretty much everything you're lusting after. :P I have several pairs of riding boots I'm living in (I got mine at Talbots and I have to say, they fit my larger than average calves really well) and I also just recently purchased my first pair of booties. Took me awhile to get on board with the look, too, but I'm loving it now. I have a drawer full of tights (plain opaque and patterned) that I'm pairing with the boots/booties and all of the above is being worn with an ever increasing closet full of skirts and dresses.

knitmachinequeen (KMQ) said...

I would so love to have boots fit my calves. My calves measure 16 1/4.

Sheila said...

Great line-up of fall/winter lusters.

I'm looking to add more twinsets to my wardrobe and sweaters and a few more Nine West Nuncio pumps.

Lori said...

Great boots and booties. I really like boots and am starting to waver with the booties. Think I am going to have to purchase some. Twinsets are starting to take up quite a bit of space in my closet, too. Thanks for the fun, inspiring post.

Mardel said...

Love the boots and the booties. I've become more enamored of the bootie and skirt look too, although it took me a while also.

I love the tights from We Love Colors, they hold up well, don't lose their elastic and come in gorgeous colors. But then I am also tall and that changes so many things. Would still love to hear your report.

sarajane said...

Delurking to say - my lust list is practically the same as yours, excepting the booties - not on that bandwagon just yet.

Also nthing the Eddie Bauer wide calf boots. Bought 2 pair last year and they fit fabulously, no calf-strangulation.

Best wishes to you and Simon.

Summerset said...

Awesome stuff, well, except for the booties. I can't go there, at least not yet.

I have the same issue with boots and calves, thus I don't own any. I don't like the looks of the all stretch ones and they're too binding anyway. I'm always on the hunt, so I'll read the comments and see what you come up with here.

Rose said...

Shannon, you are an enabler (and good for the US economy!). Now, I'm lusting after everything on your post (except the booties although that is subject to change) and especially the boots.

deb said...

Delurking ... today I have a big box by the garage door to ship back to Zappos, full of boots with too-small calves! Those riding boots are great. If you find a pair that fits athletic calves, please please please post about them! On my lust list this year are riding boots, and all the fabrics I own that I want to sew up. I work with many women who are wearing the booties and they look great. The taller thin women seem to be able to wear them with nude hose.