simplepretty

Here we are: it’s Clothing Hall of Fame day, brought to you by Uniform Girl. My uniform of choice? tee shirt (usually long-sleeved), sweater, jeans, and flats. I’ve got it bad for flats, by the way. Above are some clippings from last spring’s shopping obsessions … yep, mostly shoes. So let’s deconstruct my uniform. Clearly, that’s where my hall of fame will come from.

• tee shirt There was a time when this meant one thing, and one thing only: JCrew. I lived for their perfect tee. You could wash it and throw it in the dryer. No twisty side seams (I hate that!) and it didn’t shrink. The wide assortment of colors (complete with great names – a plus) meant that I would just order up a few new tees from the catalog each season. Then, a year or so ago, they changed their tee shirt! It’s not perfect (to me) anymore. It’s too thin now, and just feels different. So, I’ve been on a mission to find a suitable replacement. I like Petit Bateau. It’s comfy, but harder to find, and fewer color choices. Banana Republic’s are nice too, but you’re limited to white and black. I need the “ballet pink” or “cerise” or “harvest” options, guys! In my opinion, this is an underserved market :) The new Garnet Hill catalog arrived today, and these might work, but I’d still prefer that JCrew bring back my old favorite. That’s right, just for me. (In the meantime, this is nice, in soft granite. See what I mean about color names?)
• sweater 9 times out of ten, this means a cashmere cardigan. My favorite sources? JCrew (surprise), TSE, and Mai. One of my best finds of late was a chartreuse Mai v-neck cardigan that I got on sale last winter. But really? It all comes back to color and fit. Sound familiar?
• jeans I think this is as hard as swimsuit shopping. I’m in search of the ultimate jean: not skin tight, but not baggy, and preferably, it should look and feel broken-in and loved. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1.) most jeans are too low-rise for the mother of a 10-year-old, no matter how much Pilates you do, or way too dorky for the mother of a 10-year-old. 2.) I need to have any jeans tailored. Luckily, I’ve found an excellent source that can take in the waist, hem, you name it. 3.) I have not found the ultimate jean yet, but I’m still searching.
• flats Ah, my favorite shoe! I’m hoping that they stay in style for a bit longer, because I cannot get enough. What do I look for? Usually, a pointy toe. Usually, black. And bonus points for something “crazy” about them. Like some jewels, or a strap, or a button. A detail that makes you stop and look just a little longer. For spring, I’m kind of liking these, simply because they’re orange. It’s early, though. Things could change. As I live in snowy and cold Chicago, I’m still substituting Merrells and socks for my flats. Can’t ruin the cute shoes with road salt. Putting those practical boot-shoes away is one of the joys of spring.

Oh, and while I’m wearing my uniform? I’m thinking about my virtual life, and the pretty dresses I’d wear if I lived in the city, and wasn’t on my way to soccer practice. Like this elegant Narciso Rodriguez number.

photo from eluxury.com

As always, please add any comments below. What are your closet go-to’s? See you tomorrow.

Giveaway #2’s winner is Alicia! Congratulations! Send me an email (see my profile) with your mailing address and I’ll get the stationery off to you.