Obvious observation #1, courtesy of my dear love, who told me: You look like it’s the 80s, and you’ve just put out a hit on somebody. Thanks, honey. I prefer “Badass Boss B*tch”.
Obvious observation #2: I cut my own bangs. I was desperate, you guys. They need to, um, settle. Still, infinitely better than the old fivehead (and cheaper than Botox, obvi).
OK, with all that out of the way, let me tell you the important stuff. Run, don’t walk, over to Club Monaco and buy yourself one of these extra fine wool-cashmere blend turtlenecks. I’m serious; go right now before they completely sell out. You know I almost never buy anything at retail, but I gladly paid $38 CDN for this (dark forest green) turtleneck, along with a black version as well. And then, after wearing this outfit for a 16 hour day (don’t ask), I ran out and bought the dark plum colorway as well (which rang up at $32, for some reason). No regrets. I will probably go back around Boxing Day to check for further reductions, and possibly acquire a back-up black one.
Let’s back up a bit. I had been looking for a thin, black turtleneck for ages, having realized it would be a great staple for my wardrobe — perfect for layering, especially under my summer dresses and my blazers. How did I know? Because time and again, I kept finding myself wishing that I had one on hand. Sadly, the thrift stores did not deliver one to my specifications (super lightweight, close fit, non-ribbed). So, reluctantly, I decided to go looking at the mall. Luckily, I started at Club Monaco … where my search ended almost immediately when I found this guy on the clearance rack ($59 plus an extra 40% off). The material (a wool-polyester-cashmere blend) is a perfect weight, and super soft; my skin is sensitive (not allergic) to wool and stiffer fibers, and I found this to be minimally scratchy when I first put it on (becoming less so as the day went on). It’s warm without being too warm, and breathes nicely.
I would advise sizing up, particularly if you’re larger on top than, say, a B cup. The sales associate told me it fit small; personally, my bigger concern was that the sweater was quite sheer in my usual size. Sizing up resolved the sheerness almost completely (enough that I can wear this on its own without worries), and I did not see an appreciable difference in fit otherwise.
I had a thin black Primark knit one years ago, it was only £6 and I absolutely loved it. Was great for layering under sleeveless dresses and thin cardis etc. As with most things Primark it developed one too many holes and I got tired of repairing them. It was so perfect though as the neck was loose enough so I didn’t feel strangled but still looked neat and tidy rather than floppy or baggy. Sigh, I’ve never found a replacement either!
Isn’t that the worst? It’s the downside of getting a great bargain in the first place … you’re almost guaranteed to never find a replacement (at the same price).
What size did try on and what size did you end up getting? I don’t have a store in my area and would like to order online. I am on the smaller side too (small chest).
I tried the Small and the Medium, and ended up getting the Medium. Very happy with the fit.
Thanks! 🙂
I love your pants! This outfit is fantastic!
Thanks! I liked it a lot too, no matter what the husband said 😉
Hello Adina,
i’ve been a reader of your blog for a while but don’t chime in often. Recently I have been reading the archives – I’m starting my next mat leave soon and needed some encouragement (or something) that a. I won’t always be this watermelon-huge, and b. mat leave style can be fun – even in sub-zero temps. So… thanks for the archives and for continuing with the blog – as a professional nearing 40 with young kids , its really enjoyable to read about style etc..
I also have a few random reading/book questions…
– Are the Game of Throne books as graphic in sexual violence as the show is reported to be (I’m intrigued but have low tolerance:/)
– Any other suggestions for long-ish historical reads? I enjoyed Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth series, and Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall series.
Take care and have a lovely holiday season!
A
Hello! It sounds like congrats will be in order shortly so — mazel tov! I was in your shoes at the end of my last pregnancy (soooo done feeling huge and cumbersome) and it took some time to adjust to my postpartum body and to find a postpartum style I could be happy with … but it happened! Good luck 🙂
As for your questions:
– there are definitely very graphic scenes in the GoT books, though I found them to be less frequent than on the show. I also found them easier to skip. When I’m reading a book, once I get the sense of where a scene is headed, I can skip ahead without being tempted to keep looking, car wreck-style (as is often the case when I’m watching a TV show). However, one of the hardest scenes for me happened very, very early on in the series (won’t spoil just in case) and because of the way it was written and its nature, it was impossible to skip. The violence was not sexual in nature, but it almost made me stop reading altogether. I’m glad I stuck with it, because I ended up enjoying the books a lot (and then started watching the show) but definitely be forewarned.
– Oh man! I have a ton, and don’t even know where to start. I love Margaret George’s novels, particularly the one about Henry VIII. They are all LONG books, though standalone. I also love Susan Kay Penman’s books, especially The Sunne in Splendour (about Richard III). A favourite series is Jean Plaidy’s on Catherine de Medici (Madame Serpent, The Italian Woman, Queen Jezebel). It’s a bit harder to find, because Plaidy is not as well known these days (she was a prolific historical fiction writer back in the 50s I think). Another older series I enjoyed is Maurice Druon’s The Accursed Kings (about the French monarchy in the 14th century — full of scandals and plot twists and supposedly one of the inspirations behind GoT). I think it might have recently been re-issued in a new edition, though, so you might be in luck if you’re interested. I also quite enjoyed the two-part series on Empress Theodora by Stella Duffy. As you can see, I like historical fiction that is inspired/based on real life events 🙂 I’m sure that I’m forgetting some. Paging Laura (who is my source for historical fiction recommendations) — any other suggestions?
Thank you! Looking forward to digging into those recommendations.
A
Great post! Who doesn’t want to be like Elmira from Scarface?
I like how you tell the story of your retail items. I’m the same way they are often basics or specialty sizes I can’t find easily in thrift stores and need multiples of.