Thrifted Booty, aaarR!

Okay, that's enough pirate-speak for one post! Here's some of the first looks i wore using my Fancy Pants World Tour loot. This first look uses the new H & M stretch cotton blouse, stretch cotton jean jacket, and Charlie 1 Horse mules. I loved this look - very sleek, great, interesting play of newtrals and nice details. I wore it to stroll down Solano Avenue with Mr. E and got a number of looks from my fellow distaff citizens. They'd start at the feet, and slowly move up until i could see the disbelieving/disapproving - yet 'filing this away for future reference' look on their face.

A successful outfit.

I made The Sheila Skirt of 100% linen a couple/three of months ago, and i'm enjoying it even more now that i can wear it over bare legs. I wasn't sure i'd like a knee length, straight skirt but i love the pulled together feel it gives to many looks. How foolish of me to doubt the power of Sheila! I'm scheming to make more.

This CAbI jacket is cotton seersucker with woven stripes. The details are wonderful - little pleated ruffles at sleeve hem and on the pocket tops, and the seams inside all finished with aqua calico. It's a lot of fun with jeans, and plays quite nicely with my frou-frou cami-tops. It shows no signs of wear, and the 3/4 sleeves give it a sassier feel. $5.50!

A closer look.

Here's a look with the black cotton capri-length cargo pants. The fabric is thin but closely woven, thus sturdy and easy to wear when it gets hot. I think they're men's, i had to take them in at the waist and crotch.

And here's the same outfit with the H & M stretch cotton top visible. It's the same cut as the white top, only in black, i was so tickled to find both! I like buying closet staples in a light and dark version - you get the benefit of having more than one of a piece you love and can use, but with even more flexibility. These cargo capris illustrate the same principle - they're a mish-mash of my fave khaki cargos and workhorse khaki capris, made up in black.

Since i stuck to my list in buying these pieces, i immediately integrated them into daily rotation. I've been wearing the jean jacket 3-4 times a week since i got it! It fills the same 'ecological niche' as my khaki jean jacket, but with a different color, cut, and 'feel' or 'style vocabulary word'. I have to say, stretch fabrics have become phenomenally wearable the last few years. When i was little, they would weave in these elastic 'fibers' (basically the rubber bands they put on newspapers or a floral bouquet, only in ivory) that would start busting and hanging out of your clothes like little rubbery teeth. Nowadays, they have truly become a miracle fibre. I'd never wear a jacket of this heavy denim cut this close without the stretch - with, it's incredibly comfy!

I'm also wearing it a bunch because 'any day now' the weather will turn summer and it'll be way too hot. We're having this strange, late summer here - yesterday the weatherman said it looked like a February weather system! Who knows, but when it comes to this jacket i'm getting while the getting's good!