Wednesday, October 28, 2009

seasonal essentials (or, feeding the fashion dragon)

OK, this Ironman training thing is just about eating my lunch, but there is a light at the end of the crazy tunnel.

The good news is, the build is over. Ironman "build" is that part where you do crazy training weekends where you run for like 4 hours on Saturday, and then bike for 6 hours and run for 1, on a Sunday. Yah, I know -- who does that?! Toward the end of the training cycle, Ironman training is like taking on a part-time job. Although it sounds really impressive, you just can't judge the whole Ironman training by the crazy weekends during the build thing. That's just one insane month. All the other months are well into the realm of sanity. As I say, the hard part is over. The training is in the bank.

The bad news is, the race is November 7th and I am nervous. As usual. I'm trying not to think about it.

Between training for an Ironman, raising kids, and working a full time job, I've been a very busy girl. I've barely had time to shop.

Ok, that's only kind of a lie. You know I like my online shopping. I do. Nonetheless, the fall season snuck up on me while I was busy doing my weekends of insanity, and I feel like I'm missing out. What I really really want, now that it's taper time, is to fill in my wardrobe with a few fall/winter essentials.

So - here's a partial list of stuff I feel I may not make it through fall/winter without. . .

BCBG textured tube skirt - this is the cheapest bit of Herve Leger I might ever get to own. I need to go try one on to confirm what I already suspect, which is that skirt will hide all flaws, either real or implied. Moi tells me she tried it on and it really does what it looks like it does. Oh, Mama, I needs me one of those! Plus, with the over-the-knee boots, and some tights -- can you see it? CAN YOU?? I can!

Ankle Booties - or "Shooties." Stupid name, cute shoe. I'm liking the shape of these here jCrew ones, and the suede is great for pairing with a lot of styles. Perusing the Style Bible of the jCrew Catalog, you can see they pair this shoe style with short skirts (like BCBG does, see above), cropped pants, skinny jeans, pretty much anything.

Ankle Socks. I'm loving the way jCrew is matching bright colored ankle socks up to some cute shoes and the rest of the jCrew "uniform" (which consists of jeans, cardi or jacket, vintage t-shirt). They are making the ankle sock work with heels, strappy shoes, and shooties. It may also help with my less-than-awesomely-fitting Vivs. I curse and love you, jCrew, for your stupid punch of color (tm). Socks! So simple! Just perusing the 'hosiery' page on jCrew's website I get a TON of cute ideas on what to do with socks.


A ruffley top. This can be paired with above jCrew uniform (cardi, jeans, shooties, etc.), and can be done either as a neutral or in a bright color. Are you starting to see a theme here?

Pencil cords - I have plenty of denim and plenty of black. I need some texture. I need something not denim, and not dressy. Cords are nice - they're warmer. They are making them in stretchy fabric, in the same longer leaner lines that they do denim. They're like leggings with more bite.

Speaking of, I need me some more of these:

Leggings. With sweaters, boots, shooties, whatevs - it's definitely the done look this year. I need say nothing more.

My last but not least essential piece,

A very very sheer turtleneck. The versatility of this piece is astonishing. Due to the sheer sheerness of it, there is no way on the planet it can be worn on its own...but under jackets, short sleeve sweaters, BALLGOWNS? Yes, it can (and will) be done.

One more week, and then I can get back to shopping like a normal person. Hopefully by then, everything will be on sale.

So, tell the bitches: what's on your list of essentials for this season?

6 comments:

moi said...

Holy crap! I thought your Ironman was St. George? In APRIL. Holy. Crap. To celebrate? You should go buy that bandage skirt. It's genius. Genius, I tell you. Now, excuse me while I go build my Santa List.

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

oh, some friend I am.

I got TWO ironmans coming up: One on November 7 (Beach 2 Battleship in North Carolina), and then one next May 1 (IM St. George). Ya see? The training has injured my brain.

sparringK9 said...

i am getting that tube skirt. that. is. killer.

good luck on ironman!!

Aunty Belle said...

Sigh...I doan git it? I like the LOOK of the skirt, but huh? Won't it make your thighs look like the Michelin Tire man? All that HORIZONTAL line around the hips and thighs?

moi said...

K9: It shouldn't work, but it does.

Aunty: That's what I thought, too. I fall squarely into the J-Lo booty/thighs camp and this skirt should have made me look like I was auditioning for the next Macy's float. But it doesn't. It's a genius of a piece. My only warning is that it's short, so to keep it out of hookerville, most definitely tights and clunky booties or short heeled boots. I can even see it with cowboy boots, a fitted prairie-style shirt, and jean jacket.

LaDivaCucina said...

Good luck on your Iron WOMAN race Pirate baby! Are you going to eat pancakes afterward like Moi? xxx