Retail therapy...a welcome tonic to a grey day.

For the past few months I have been consciously avoiding shopping for clothes.
Saving as much money as I can has been my goal.
I'm not too good at being frugal...but I have been quite prudent with my spending.

My daughter and I ventured out on a bleak and grey afternoon to browse the shops...
"browsing" being the operative word!

Lovely daughter bought several things...
a soft dove grey wool coat, a cute black felted Fedora, several tees and some jeans.
She works in an office downtown and likes to dress well...she loves fashion and mixes vintage, and thrifted items with new garments. I love her sense of style...and may I remind you, she is my fashion advisor!

I browsed too but kept reminding myself that I already own a basic core wardrobe at home,
and it meets my "needs."

I'm drawn to the various shades of grey, especially when it comes to clothing...

I like how it fits in with the black palette that I have chosen for my wardrobe.

I tried on this soft tee top in Forever 21...

and at almost 60 you'd think I would not find a thing in a shop with that name!

There were oodles of young women trolling the aisles, coffees in one hand and cellphones in the other.

"Fast Fashion" are two words that come to mind when looking around and scrutinizing the stock...

however

this simple top filled a void and the price was reasonably priced

the garment looked well constructed and the fabric is super soft

as I have only two other long sleeved tees in my closet

one in white and the other a blue grey

this will be a staple

I'll be pairing this with my black Barbour quilted vest for starters and layering it with my cardigans.

I have three scarves that will work with it too...

the grey and banana Pashmina, the new black, grey, and cream felted one and the Hermes white a grey silk square.

Window display at Uptown Mall.

It's looking decidedly festive in the parking lot!

I spied a pure white Hellebore blooming in a planter...

such a cheery display, a harbinger of Spring!

I found this vintage jug on the boulevard free pile...

I'm already imagining it filled with our limelight hydrangeas...

or perhaps a bouquet of roses.

In other news, Mr. HB and I watched this very entertaining film...

a couple return to Paris to celebrate their anniversary.

It's a fast moving film that comments on the highs and lows of a marriage.

Like life, it has both joys and sorrows...

I originally mentioned that it was "non stop fun"...and upon careful consideration I have amended my comment...

which was misleading.

(Thank you Duchesse)

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the acting is superb.

Speaking of fun...I hope you are having some!

Simply Flowers...

My BFF gave me these flowers...

 such pretty bouquet and have cheered me no end these past few days.

when one's spirits are low and flagging

 looking at a vase of fresh flowers feels like a breath of fresh air

looking back through my photos there are hundreds of flower images

I'm a rose lover and a gardener who loves to bring in some of what I grow in the garden

I like to be surrounded by flowers

their shape, scent and beauty make me happy...

I cannot imagine a life without flowers.

with that thought in mind 

here are some pictures of the many arrangements I have made

if you don't like flowers click away now!

this bouquet was sent to me when I had pneumonia

summer sweet peas from our humble bungalow garden 

Jacob's Coat roses from our back garden

more sweet peas

I adore bouquets that have white blooms with some lime green foliage

simple wood hyacinths 

(and a macaron!)

I took flowers on every trip we took aboard our Classic Chris Craft Constellation

if I left my garden behind for time afloat I always snatched a few blooms just before we left the bungalow

such lovely roses...

 a snapshot of the tulips I took on a visit to Point No Point Resort, 

which is one of our favourite spots to enjoy a quiet respite.

"Flowers really do intoxicate me."

~Vita Sackville-West ~

"The Earth Laughs in Flowers."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr was a Christmas gift and I loved the book...

the story takes place in Paris and France and a young blind girl features prominently in the story 

which is set during war time.

I finished the book a few days ago but it has stayed with me...

So much so that I am not able to start reading a new one just yet.

I wonder if author's have any idea how much their works affect their readers?

Thank you for all your comments on my packing list.

I have made note of your suggestions and will be making some changes.

 BTW I have ordered some long thermal wear from Lands' End!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My carry on wardrobe for travel...and a word about scarves.

My recent post "packing for Paris in a carry on" was a work in process.
It was by no means a complete list of what I am taking to Paris. I really hope that I didn't mislead you into thinking I was only taking two dresses!

I've had time to look in my closet and I wrote out a few lists...edited them.
Rewrote the list and edited some more...

What I have chosen "feels right."
As a challenging project which may be subject to a few small changes...
Spring in Paris can be chilly and rainy.

The core wardrobe is in my go to colour palette...basic black!
I have added quite a few accessories to allow me to add some colour, texture, and interest.

Pants
black and dark denim skinny jeans ~ g21
black ponte knit pants ~ Eileen Fisher

Dresses
Black tweed V neck sleeveless ~ Banana Republic
Pattern wrap dress ~ Jones of NY

Tops
black tank ~ White House Black Market
cream tank ~ Lands' End
white linen tank ~ Eileen Fisher
black short sleeve Tee ~ Wilfred
cream short sleeve Tee ~ Lands' End
Breton stripe long sleeve top ~ Gap
black, grey, cream patterned wrap long sleeve top ~ Laura
coral tunic top ~ Cute Creations

Sweaters
coral cashmere V neck cardigan ~ Lands' End
black short sleeved dressy V neck cardigan for dresses ~ Talbots

Coats
Trench coat ~ Elie Tahari
Black waterproof light jacket ~ Style and Co.

Shoes
blue flats ~ Joseph Seibel
metallic sandals ~ Ecco
short black leather boots ~ Timberland

Undergarments
nude and black bras ~ Olga
nude and black undies ~ Elita and Olga

cashmere socks
mesh hose in black and beige ~ Hue

black silk nightie

Scarves
felted black white grey print
silk ~ Hermes
silk ~ Lanvin

Jewelry
watch
diamond studs
coin necklace
pearls
crystal and black artisan necklace ~ Debra Kay
vintage brooch with baroque pearl

I plan to roll my clothes and use packing cubes and Ziploc bags to keep things compact and organized.

Orange will be the punch of colour with my black basics...

Have you got the Hermes scarf tying app ?

I have it on my IPhone.

Here's a quick scarf tying tutorial from Eileen Fisher.

I think this gal is adorable and I love her style.

another older EF tutorial with some great ideas for wearing your scarves.

See you again soon.

Posting from "my office"...creating a workable wardrobe for 3 weeks in France using a carry on.

Our arts and crafts bungalow circa 1912, was designed before home offices were even on the radar, so I use our kitchen as my "office."

This is the view from our trestle table where my Mac sits waiting for me...

it's handy too as I spend many hours in our humble kitchen.

It's a pleasant space in which to write as there is a window beside the table and many birds are in the side yard.

I sip my tea, look outside

 and ponder...

It might not look like much right now as the beds are "resting up" for their displays in the spring and summer...

there are two dwarf fruit trees, roses and hydrangeas.

I am a messy cook and so I always wear an apron when I am cooking and when I am cleaning...

Here's the newest one handmade by my friend LA, a thoughtful Xmas gift.

Thanks L!

OOTD...

White long sleeved Tee ~ Ellen Tracy

apron

jeans ~ Talbots

cashmere socks

Timberland boots

While the laundry spins...

I am hard at work trying to figure out my travel wardrobe.

3 weeks travel in France...

2 weeks in Paris with just a small carry on...

I've been writing notes and lists

 then...

editing, editing editing...

Over the holidays I went out with my lovely daughter and we did a bit of a shop.

I found an inexpensive fun new top in a bright shade of coral...

in the same shade as my new Lands' End cashmere cardigan, which is also coming with me to Paris.

If the weather is sunny and warm I will wear this top when I venture south to visit our friends.

Love the lacy details...

now I am looking for some ethnic jewelry to pick up the same shade.

 I have the cardigan...

I have that Jones of NY dress with splashes of coral in the pattern.

I am trying to tie it all together so living out of a carry on for three weeks will be easy.

I am taking layers...

tanks and tees and two pairs of pants.

One is a pair of jeans and the other Eileen Fisher black knit pants.

The tweedy black Banana Republic dress is coming too...

I think I will take this vintage navy leather bag 

 inside this Longchamps expandable bag as my personal item.

I have to work on the accessories that I will bring...

 I have one scarf so far...

It's quitting time in "the office" I've done enough work for one day and I am closing up the laptop...

preparing dinner is next!

Mr. HB and I are ready for the season 5 premiere of Downton Abbey tonight.

Will you be watching?