Are We There Yet?

This weekend I did the unthinkable and went back into the closet to do a round two purge. Despite having amassed a pile the weekend prior, I knew there was more that needed to go. It's confession time: I'm kind of grossed out by how much stuff I've held onto and just how much I have period. Even though I take very good care of my clothes and that's part of the reason I retain them, that should also mean I don't keep on buying new things. Key word: should.

For the past few years I've felt like things were piling up around me, literally and figuratively. Even though everything still fit within the closets, it just felt like too much. Then I'd get overwhelmed and wouldn't know where to begin, so I'd get rid of a chunk and the cycle would continue. This time I actually made time to try things on and subsequently ask myself why in the hell I still thought they looked good. 2002 is over Carrie, time to move on.

There are just a couple stragglers I'm debating on and the jacket below is one of them. Have you ever been to the Totokaelo site? It's super sleek and fabulous. Even though I usually veer to the boho side of things, their clean lines kind of have me lately (common denominator: clean, clean, clean). The only thing I've allowed myself to order is a pair of Rachel Comey boots I've eyeballed for 2 years, and I struggle not to wear them every day so I think the purchase has been justified.

Now about the jacket: it reminds me of some of the pieces on Totokaelo, but I wonder if I'll wear it more than a few times in the winter. Is that enough to warrant keeping it?

To keep or not to keep: that is the question.

Buttons to the bottom.

Exhausted, woman just wants it to be over.

But the boots? No question there. 

~Outfit details: Club Monaco-Wool S/S Jacket (old), Basic V-T by Alexander Wang, Current/Elliott-Legging Jean, 

Rachel Comey-Boots, Foley and Corinna-Handbag~

Revelations From a Rooftop

I've got a confession to make:  I am absolutely uninspired by my wardrobe at present.  Whenever I think about an outfit post I enter the closet, become depressed, turn and walk out.  The solution is not buying more things to make an outfit.  Of that I am certain.  It doesn't take much to walk through Saks, Barneys or Bloomingdales (*or insert any retailer here*), buy a bunch of labels and put an outfit together - let's face it - it's label land.  It's just that, well, all of that has suddenly become very bland to me.  I think I'm having an existential closet crisis. 

Last week, after staring at Olivia Palermo's $1200 $895 (red alert friends!  I just got a note regarding price reduction!) Daryl K leather pants (Daryl K are you out there?  Carrie loves your pants and is a total hypocrite after her above statement, but still means every word) I decided that I, too, must find my way into something similar.  This led, of course, to a significantly less expensive pair at H&M - which I love nonetheless.  It took everything in me not to throw then on with a fave Tank Farm T, but I wasn't going to a metal concert or a biker bar.  Maybe next time. 

James Perse Cotton/Cashmere - Sweater Coat, T by Alexander Wang, H&M - Pants,
Elizabeth and James - Boss Haircalf Western Booties 

Suffice it to say this won't be the last you see of these booties.
I envision them with skinny denim and a plaid flannel - due to wardrobe block
I haven't gotten beyond that part.  sigh

James Perse really does have some of the finest craftsmanship out there.
This sweater coat is one of my favorite things.

Free People Necklace.  Perfect mixture of clunky and junky with a feminine touch.

See even though I do love this outfit, something in me is just missing a bit more pizazz - a bit more creativity and off-the-wallness.  I'm feeling rather labeled out these days.  It's actually making me tired...has someone slipped something into my tea?

I feel a hippie phase coming on.

A Foretaste Of Fall For These Shoes

That title is so 'Before and After' on Wheel of Fortune.  I just have to take a moment to give myself a WOF shoutout.  I love that show.

Moving right along.  I got out of bed at 2pm today.  That's a bloody shame (only kinda seeing as I needed rest badly).  There's been just too much going on lately - some I've mentioned here and some, well, it goes without saying this is not the place to be my own personal Dear Abby so let's just leave it at that.  Okay let's not.  My birthday's coming up and I'm having a breakdown.  There.  I said it.

Now we can move on.  So anyway, last night I was totally exhausted.  I told myself I could sleep in until 9am.  Of course the telephone then proceeded to begin ringing at 4am.  Seriously?  Seriously??  Seriously.  Not amused.  And it did not quit until well after 10am so I just started answering in a complete and total daze.  I had conversations this morning the content of which I have little to absolutely no recollection of.  That's effective.  This hazy daze of mine was quadrupled by my loving cats who have recently decided to rekindle an old habit of theirs...galloping up and down the hall in the middle of the night, crashing into my room at top speed, running up to the closet door, opening it by pulling the underside with their little paws and then wrestling in the closet all night long.  This morning I woke up to a stray t-shirt in the hallway, a couple pairs of socks hanging out from under the closet door, a random watch I haven't seen in 2 years lying by the bed and a mumble jumble of shoes, belts and scarves strewn about the closet floor.  Presh, isn't it?

Can't say as I blame them though...I know what they were after.

  They're heee-eeere.

Truth be told, when I blogged about these last week I had no idea they would live up to and exceed any expectations.  You can never tell what you're going to get when you order online. When I opened the box I was elated.

 It's ironic that I'm standing on a 'Yield' sign because bikers, rollerbladers 

and walkers alike stopped and commented on them. 

They are absolutely perfect for now and for well into fall...meaning they are a completely justified purchase (not that I've really given much thought to that when it comes to shoes...).  Hel-lo transition!

 You can even scale walls in them.  Okay low walls, but still.

I wore them with a pair of my go-to Current/Elliott Boyfriend Shorts, an Alexander Wang Pocket-T and (don't judge) an Abercrombie & Fitch fabulous sweater I picked up last winter for next to nothing.  It was the perfect outfit for late evening just before the sun went down.

From the length of the drape on the sweater you can get an idea of how perfect the shoes will be with any dress.  I'm already dreaming of wearing them with leggings, harem pants and a pair of long lost military shorts I found during Closet Excursion 2010 this past Saturday.  

I kept it simple with a rope necklace and primarily silver jewelry, but mixed it up with the chainlink ring and the turquoise stone on one of the others.  I'm finding it's getting much easier to mix silver and gold - or at least a tarnished version of gold - which is growing on me every time I wear it all together.  

Before I zip off, here's another picture of the shoes.

And now there's some money fairies I need to catch up with...I've got my net out so there's no escaping me!

Outfit details:  Abercrombie & Fitch Sweater, T by Alexander Wang Pocket T, Current/Elliott Boyfriend Shorts, Dulce Amsterdam Clog, Club Monaco Necklace, Melinda Maria Rings, Dean Davidson Turquoise Ring, Nicole Miller Sunnies