My haul

Yesterday I needed a break – been working too hard in recent weeks. So
I slipped out for a few hours of shopping. ;–)
I had a handful of $25 cards from ATLoft, and they're having a sale on
top of that. I ended up with a nice haul for a song. Since I usually do
a horrible job of describing things, I wish I could share the links but
the items I bought are not anywhere on their online site.
My haul included:
1) Wool/angora V–neck sweater in a *gorgeous* shade of pink. Pink is
always a hit–or–miss color for me and my complexion – too pale and it
washes me out; too bright and it overpowers. This pink is more like an
orchid, with just the right undertones of blue for my complexion.
Really love this sweater – it'll surely be the one I pick on days I'm
feeling tired, because the color seems to perk me right up. Plus, it is
very thick wool and thus quite toasty. Has great detailing around the
neckline (not sure what you call this – those who knit would know), so
it's a nice change from my usual simple boring V–neck sweater look.
2) Off–white sweater with a slouchy portrait collar neckline in a
gauzy–ish kind of lightweight knit that I think is an angora blend –
very soft and fuzzy feel to it. Gauzy enough it needs a cami underneath
it. Longer than hip length (which is not something I normally would
choose, but the look is right – lengthens & thins). This sweater is
just so different than anything I currently own, and turns out, quite
versatile. I've been playing around with it. With off–white wool dress
pants or skirt, the look screams "luxurious woman of liesure." With
long black wool skirt, the look is more along the lines of "playful,
comfy, cozy."
3) Brown velour hoodie with matching sweat pants – essentially free
with use of my discount cards. I'd been wanting one in brown, and it's
so hard for me to find sweats that fit – has to be petite – but I
usually balk at the price of sweats from petite speciality shops (irks
me that I'd have to pay that much for sweats that regular–sized people
can buy for peanuts at a place like ON or Target or Wal–Mart!!!!!). So
this was a total bonus!
Then I hit the rounds continuing in my search for the perfect pair of
knee–high leather boots with a *flat* or very small heel. Since I
turned 40, I am finding I am wearing heels less and less and less, and
my back and my feet are thanking me. I have knee–high boots but they
all have heels. Therefore, I've not been able to continue my skirt
trend this season like I've wanted to. Comfy toes keep winning out.
But boots are always a big challenge for me because my calves are
scrawny. Well, yesterday I totally lucked out!! I found the perfect
pair:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/8243490/c/8683.html
Slip–ons normally work better for my calves. This is now the third pair
of Franc Sarto boots I own. Thank you, Franc. ;–)
Last night I wore the new pink skirt with my longish black skirt (hits
below the knee) and these boots. The boots are incredibly comfortable.
jen

Yesterday I needed a break – been working too hard in recent weeks. So
I slipped out for a few hours of shopping. ;–)
I had a handful of $25 cards from ATLoft, and they're having a sale on
top of that. I ended up with a nice haul for a song. Since I usually do
a horrible job of describing things, I wish I could share the links but
the items I bought are not anywhere on their online site.
My haul included:
1) Wool/angora V–neck sweater in a *gorgeous* shade of pink. Pink is
always a hit–or–miss color for me and my complexion – too pale and it
washes me out; too bright and it overpowers. This pink is more like an
orchid, with just the right undertones of blue for my complexion.
Really love this sweater – it'll surely be the one I pick on days I'm
feeling tired, because the color seems to perk me right up. Plus, it is
very thick wool and thus quite toasty. Has great detailing around the
neckline (not sure what you call this – those who knit would know), so
it's a nice change from my usual simple boring V–neck sweater look.
2) Off–white sweater with a slouchy portrait collar neckline in a
gauzy–ish kind of lightweight knit that I think is an angora blend –
very soft and fuzzy feel to it. Gauzy enough it needs a cami underneath
it. Longer than hip length (which is not something I normally would
choose, but the look is right – lengthens & thins). This sweater is
just so different than anything I currently own, and turns out, quite
versatile. I've been playing around with it. With off–white wool dress
pants or skirt, the look screams "luxurious woman of liesure." With
long black wool skirt, the look is more along the lines of "playful,
comfy, cozy."
3) Brown velour hoodie with matching sweat pants – essentially free
with use of my discount cards. I'd been wanting one in brown, and it's
so hard for me to find sweats that fit – has to be petite – but I
usually balk at the price of sweats from petite speciality shops (irks
me that I'd have to pay that much for sweats that regular–sized people
can buy for peanuts at a place like ON or Target or Wal–Mart!!!!!). So
this was a total bonus!
Then I hit the rounds continuing in my search for the perfect pair of
knee–high leather boots with a *flat* or very small heel. Since I
turned 40, I am finding I am wearing heels less and less and less, and
my back and my feet are thanking me. I have knee–high boots but they
all have heels. Therefore, I've not been able to continue my skirt
trend this season like I've wanted to. Comfy toes keep winning out.
But boots are always a big challenge for me because my calves are
scrawny. Well, yesterday I totally lucked out!! I found the perfect
pair:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/8243490/c/8683.html
Slip–ons normally work better for my calves. This is now the third pair
of Franc Sarto boots I own. Thank you, Franc. ;–)
Last night I wore the new pink skirt with my longish black skirt (hits
below the knee) and these boots. The boots are incredibly comfortable.
jen

Amazing haul! I especially love the pink wool/angora sweater and, of
course, the boots. (I don't usually thank bootmakers when I've developed an
addiction to their stuff; sometimes, I even curse them. <g>)

Since you know exactly how the Sartos fit, you might want to enter a search
notification option on ebay in which they will email you when things meeting
your criteria are listed. I would do "Sarto boots" without including color
or size. When I've really jones for a particular item––a certain BR skirt
and several Betsey Johnson items come to mind––I've *always* scored on ebay
after a fairly short time.

cofarb wrote:
Heh, well I just might curse Franc, because now of course I'm debating
whether I should snap up a pair in brown, too. ;–)
Except that I paid much less than the Zappo's price... there was a
sale!
Originally I was on the hunt for burgandy – a versatile color that can
go with black or brown or whatever. But I have been having no luck at
all. I must've been snoozing when all the boots first hit the stores.
Everything so picked over now. And because of my scrawny calves, I just
can't trust an online purchase, even with free returns – too much
hassle.
At first I was debating on settling on a "close enough" pair of Ralph
Lauren boots in burgandy, with cute little buckles and a felt lining.
The store clerk, after showing me several options and probably getting
exasperated with my whining about how they were all too loose in the
calves, was really trying to convince me they were perfect on me, and
fit right. But my calves were sloshing in them, more noticeably when I
walked in them – and these weren't extended calves either. She said
something about "wear really thick tights and it'll be fine" LOL.
Then I did one last twirl around the shoe floor and spotted the Franc
Sarto's that I'd missed on my previous go–round's. I knew they were
Franc Sarto's right away, since I already own two pairs with heels. In
black, but oh well! I'd rather have a boot that fits just right – and
by that, I mean snug at the calf. Just looks better, I think, and IME
prevents hose from getting snagged.
The leather is soft and supple....... oh how nice they are! I think I
will get tons and tons of wear out of these. They work just as well
under dress slacks too.
jen