Weekend Shortlist

Currently Wishful Thinking About: Crop Tops

Topshop skirt & top
Topshop skirt & top

I know. Crop tops are a dicey proposition after a certain age (quaere: which age would that be?), and they are certainly impractical in the extreme for a professional working mom of small kids. I cannot think of a single likely situation in my current life when a crop top outfit would be appropriate. I might be inclined to say “date night”, but that usually involves a meal of some sort; my opportunities for eating a nice dinner, NOT standing over the sink, and NOT in a rush, are few and far between and I like to savour them to the fullest. Crop tops don’t strike me as particularly food-baby friendly.

But they are darn cute, aren’t they?

Currently NOT Loving: My Midlife Crisis

I have been half-jokingly telling friends anyone who will listen that I’m going through something that I can only describe as a midlife crisis. I don’t know if it’s my impending (35!) birthday, or general summertime restlessness, or work stress, or kids stress, or what, but I’ve reached a point where every-damn-thing about my life bugs me. And everything is fine. My husband is convinced that my problem is that I’ve accomplished everything on my “Life – To Do Before 40” list, and now I’m floundering for lack of new goals. He may have a point. The last time I felt such unease was right after graduation, a decade ago (holy crap!). So, in lieu of a red Lambo, I guess I better start thinking about some new goals.

On the bright side, I have really supportive and understanding friends:

Texts

Same lady earlier sent me a link to a very NSFW pic of Sebastian Stan, so she’s a keeper.

Currently Reading: The Distant Hours

cvr9781439152799_9781439152799_hr

I’m still making my way through GRRM’s Dreamsongs, but I managed to sneak this book in as well, whilst procrastinating on writing my own book. [New life goal: finish my decade-in-the-making book by the end of the year. Ha. Hahahaha!] I … didn’t hate it. This is the second Kate Morton book I’ve read, and the second one that was fine, but underwhelming. This one, just like The House at Riverton, struck me as Atonement-lite. The premise had a lot of potential, and reminded me a little bit of Nemesis, one of Agatha Christie’s excellent Jane Marple novels, but I wish the author had gone full-on gothic with it, instead of half-assing it. When your premise is based on two elderly twin sisters guarding a crumbling castle with lots of secrets, well … realism is just a bore, you know? Anyway, I didn’t hate it, but I also wouldn’t call this one a must-read.

Currently Obsessing Over: White Walkers!

Photo credit: HBO, Game of Thrones
Photo credit: HBO, Game of Thrones

Hello, did anything else happen on GoT last week? I mean, OK, yes, Dany and Tyrion finally met (yay!), and Arya is a budding assassin (yay!), and Sansa found out that Theon didn’t kill Rickon and Bran (yay, I guess – why is Ramsay still alive? Priorities, Sansa!). But, really, last week was all about Hardhome. Apart from the stunning visuals and excitement of the ice zombie battle itself, there were the implications to ponder. We now know so much more about the White Walkers than the books have ever told us. And Jon killed one! With Longclaw, not dragonglass. And did you see the way the chief White Walker dude (the Night’s King?) looked at Jon? I’m probably just projecting my favourite fan theories, but I could have sworn the interest went beyond “hmm, dude has a nice way with a sword”. Are the White Walkers descended from the Starks, as some people are speculating? Did the Night’s King recognize his predestined nemesis? I really want to go back and re-read all of the prophesies and “old women’s tales” that are sprinkled throughout the books (including the visions that Dany has, and the stuff about R’hullor) because I feel like the show is doing a lot of the same foreshadowing from different angles. Jeez, listen to me. Who would have thought I’d turn into a conspiracy theorist? (But seriously, share your fave GoT speculations in the comments.)

Four Eyes

Dress, Sweet Chemise (thrifted); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, Louis Vuitton
Dress, Sweet Chemise (thrifted); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, Louis Vuitton

You saw this dress not too long ago, and the styling here is, well, pretty much non-existent, so the real reason I’m posting these photos is becauseĀ I got new glasses, see?

frames, Orla Kiely via Costco
frames, Orla Kiely via Costco

I’ve had glasses for as long as I can remember, and because I grew up in the 80s, they were big-ass glasses. Fellow Gen X-ers will know what I’m talking about. Unsurprisingly, I got teased a lot for my glasses, and developed an early and abiding hatred of them … which explains why, for most of the past decade or so, I’ve worn contacts almost exclusively. So, these glasses were an interesting development. Chalk it up to wanting to try new things. I think … I like them. I certainly enjoy the Miss Moneypenny-ish vibe happening with this outfit.

black on black
black on black

My bag is an old Louis Vuitton limited edition I scored for a song on Kijiji years ago. I really should use it more often because it’s such a lovely bag, even with the monogram overload. The silver “lace” filigree work is so beautiful and unusual. This is actually the bag that ignited by love affair with designer bags, and started my collection. So … thanks, bag!

all the black
all the black

Librarian Chic

Skirt, RED Valentino (via consignment); top, Cynthia Rowley; cardigan, J. Crew Factory; shoes, Ferragamo; bag, Marc Jacobs
Skirt, RED Valentino (via consignment); top, Cynthia Rowley; cardigan, J. Crew Factory; shoes, Ferragamo; bag, Marc Jacobs

I used to wear cardigans all the time. “Librarian chic” could well have defined my style at the time, and I say that without any intended self-deprecation. Librarians are cool. For a law office, this look is on the more casual side, but still perfectly acceptable on days without any client meetings. With summer around the corner, and most of my blazers on the heavier side of knits, it’s a look I’m enjoying rediscovering.

outdoors shot!
outdoors shot!
watching my feet (?)
got my eye on the prize (?)

Can we talk about my shoes for a minute? Conventional wisdom is that Ferragamo shoes are the epitome of style and comfort, and while I would not dispute the former, I have reservations about the latter. The Vara style IS indisputably one of the most comfortable I’ve ever tried (at least the older/vintage pairs I have). The Varina style (i.e. these flats) is another story. Admittedly, I haven’t worn them extensively in the 3 years I’ve owned them, but I am still breaking them in. Painfully. Good thing they’re such a pretty colour.

earrings, J. Crew Factory
earrings, J. Crew Factory

Okay, minute’s up. Back to the outfit. I’m glad I’ve held on to this ancient Valentino skirt (scored at consignment, years ago, for $40 or so) because it’s such a nice staple piece, strange silhouette and all. (It’s not an A-line, nor a pencil skirt.) Did I mention how much I love rediscovering old classics in my closet?

cardigan love
cardigan love