Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Spring Thinking



Is it time for the winter to spring "transitional" wardrobe yet? Please, can it come out to play?

Our Shopping Day was freezing at mid-morning, literally at 32 degrees. The Huz and I dressed in our customary layers to make the considerable schlep to the Big City. Scarves and sweaters, t-shirt and camisole (respectively) scarves, boots, socks and gloves. By the time we got into town, the weather had warmed at least 20 degrees. There were girls in bare legs and summer dresses, I swear to you.
More than one. I was uncomfortable and sweaty, but these young women had goosebumps on every exposed limb. However, I watched them with more than a little empathy, because in them I recognized my sister Uber-Optimists. If I had known that the temperature was going to climb, I would have dug out a dress or filmy top that I hadn't seen since late last summer, just like they did. It's a kind of magical thinking ... that if you bring out your spring wardrobe, the weather will cooperate.

Of course, we know it won't. But it's the time of year (at least here) when cold mornings turn into balmy afternoons with happily increasing frequency. By the same token, it can still get uncomfortably cold uncomfortably quickly! Our springs here last for a precious few minutes, moving directly into triple-digit heat that lasts until fall is well underway. Accordingly, our spring is highly valued.

So, since it's much closer the the Vernal Equinox than the last Winter Solstice and the first day of spring just over a month away, it's absolutely time to start pulling out the spring stuff, and plan and dream about additions. And remember a coat, of course. Transitional wardrobe time!

So, my spring planning and purchasing began with a few pieces from the Prabal Gurung-Target collaboration that hit stores last week. The Huz agreed with surprisingly good grace to make the 7:15 (A.M. !) start time, play chauffeur, and serve as cart and purse watcher.
As usual, our little old country store got far fewer goodies than larger stores, but I found what I wanted before all the late-but-better-rested ladies got there.

Besides more summery pieces, I found a pretty floral print tee that worked just right with a Cynthia Rowley silk scarf in an abstract print that I already had. I love it when that happens! With jacket and colored jeans ... Ta-da! A transitional ensemble!




Late as always, I'm linking up with the adorable hostess Patti and all the amazing presenters at Visible Monday!

Have a great spring inspired Week!

***UDATE: THE VERY NEXT DAY...***
As I write, it is 34 degrees and snowing.  So, perhaps not quite the day to banish any of my winter-wear to seasonal storage.  Clearly, wishful thinking cannot have a demonstrable effect on the weather.  But if I were a less enlightened climate observer, I would suspect that Mother Nature is telling me to cool my jets for a few more weeks.  Just saying.

33 comments:

  1. I hear you, PLEASE do come out and play! Great inspiration for a transitional enemble. I love the fun pattern mixing with the scarf and floral tee. I'm definitely going to try the magical thinking, hopefully it will work its magic.

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    1. Once again, it's not working for me. Seems I'm not right with the Weather powers-that-are. It's REALLY cold here after rain ... still can't get into my car! But I'll still enjoy springtime in my dreams. Sigh. Hope you have better luck where you are.

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  2. Yummy tee and scarf! I haven't made it to Target yet to see the goods - I think you did well. Thanks for sharing with VisMonday!

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    1. Oh,thanks, Patti. Regarding Target goods ... here, there's little left. *Spashionista* is going to cover her store's offerings of the Garung collection soon. I'll be interested to see how they fare where she is! Thanks again for hostessing (hosting? PC? ... probably hosting.) And have a great week.

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  3. I'm impatiently tapping my toes, awaiting Target to open here in Canada. They have started the hiring process, as well as renovating the store(s) that they are opening, so I know it's coming, but sheesh. Ah well, I'll live vicariously through you.

    Jan, I nominated you for a Liebster Award. I know they can come across suspiciously similar to chain letters, which I avoid like the plague, but if you do want to participate, you can check out my Liebster post. If not, absolutely understood.

    Sue xo

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    1. Darling Sue ... I dropped you a note on your email. Thanks so much and with whip right over to it when I get a few minutes to be thoughtful. Snowed in and over, as you may know.
      Hope your Target gets there soon. Ours is only a couple of years old. It took many months longer than planned to construct the mall it anchors, and I watched the news closely for a real opening date. FYI, *Spashionista* is doing a post on her store and the Garung offering!
      Have a great one, kid.
      J

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  4. I'd like to get myself some coloured jeans - quite fancy a burgundy pair like yours! It is still single digits here in London so long way off thinking about a transitional wardrobe! Even then I still see young women dressed here exactly as you've described the ones you saw!

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    1. I'm yearning for a good floral pair, with a dark background that and more-subtle-than-not pattern ... that will work with my short figure.
      I'd like to see those little whippersnappers swanning around here today. I've got inches of show in my pasture with freezing rain. Burrrr. I'm going to go look at your Christmas posts again, just to feel warmer!

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  5. Not ready for transitional clothing yet here - despite yesterday's sunshine, I still wore my faux fur coat!
    The colours and flowers of your outfit are lovely. xxxx

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    1. No, really, not here either. At least not today. Snowy and rainy. But the weatherman says we'll be in the high '60s
      (15.5 C?)in 3 days. Don't 'ya just love faux fur in winter? I have a cover-my-bum length one that I bought from a friend who thought it was too "girly." Her mother had spent a tidy sum on it as a Christmas gift for her. Idiot girl. My gain, her loss.
      Wishing you a lovely spring!

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  6. How cool are these pictures! I've been thinking about spring shopping too, it can't come soon enough!
    Ginny
    mynewfavoriteoutfit.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Ginny. They take me a lot longer to complete than they should, but I soldier on. Don't know where you are, but we're snowed in today. Here's to an early spring for both of us!

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  7. The color mix is delicious! And very hopeful, as though if you dress for transition, it will come.

    It has been warm in the afternoons in Denver, but a storm is brewing. I look forward to snow, which will provide moisture for the parched soil.

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    1. They are pretty, aren't they? I only have a few weeks to wear long sleeve tees ... it gets so hot here in the summer, and with the additional heat of the restaurant, I must go sleeveless. If I gross-out folks with my old arms showing, so be it!
      Did not know you are in Denver! My Huz is from Fowler, went to college in Gunnison, and his sister is still in Westminister.
      We're in the middle of the second day of the same storm I think you had ... it's good for our pasture (lots of nitrates) even though it's a big pain in the fanny for our business! May it leave you a good snow pack for the summer!

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  8. I love how you illustrate your outfits!

    It appears Mother Nature also needs to transition into spring. Yesterday we woke to snow, but by lunch it was gone and I was out walking without my jacket. Signs of the season.

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    1. Oh, thanks! I'm just learning how to draw digitally ... my current obsession. Combining it with my style blog seems a no-brainer, even for me!
      Yup, we got snow yesterday, and more today (THAT wasn't supposed to happen!) I am SO over winter! (Even as I note my own whining about the cold, I know I'll be sorry in July when it may hit 115 degrees!)

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  9. It is FREEZING here. Seriously I hate it. This winter has been brutal. Plus I'm still sick. Husband brought me this wonderful gift of flu back from his last trip and it is hanging on like the grim reaper.

    So looking at this lovely Spring inspired outfit is a nice breath of fresh air : ) Thanks for making me believe that the flowers will bloom once again.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. You're in company, now, with the weather. It's so nasty and wrecks my restaurant business.
      So sorry you've got the flu ... take great care of yourself. Really. A friend of ours just lost their 30-something daughter to complications from the flu. Grim reaper, indeed. It is not to be messed with.
      Wishing that you feel better very soon and that flowers come your way soon!

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  10. I'm sooo ready for spring, can't wait to take the coat off and wear light floral dresses!!! Great illustration
    Elena
    http://dcinstyle.com/

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    1. Thank you, Elena. You stay warm and safe ... don't take off that coat too soon!

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  11. Your illustrations are about one of the coolest things I ever see on any blogs...EVER. I love this so much. We are stuck in this spring fever affliction together. Your fun florals are a great way to transition. Bring on the warmer temps!

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  12. Your avatar is so cute in this outfit! Congratulations to your finds!

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    1. Thank you! I was just staring at my closet, wondering what to wear (as one does) when I saw their bright colors peeping out from all the black, gray and navy still hanging there.
      Hope your winter is mild and that spring finds you happy and healthy!
      My little avatar is evolving ... digital painting is my current obsession, so I'm trying to make it useful!

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  13. Cool pic! I love that jacket and it looks like it fits you perfectly! I'll be posting about the PG Target capsule collection this week, too.

    Spashionista (Alicia)

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    1. I'll really be interested in your post, then, for a lot of reasons. I'm guessing the Target you'll be visiting is a bigger one than ours, so I'd like to see what they're offering. There were about a dozen individual items, max, from this collection. The previous effort, from Kirna Zabete, opened with only one size in each of the few items. Not sure if that was because of local or national markenting strategy.
      I've put the link to my early blog on that collection for you below. I include it only for your use in comparing what is available, 'cause I'd like to see how different stores look.

      http://fortsmithstylista.blogspot.com/2012/09/kirna-zabete-at-target-shops-or-small.html

      Glad you liked my illustration ... I'm currently obsessed with digital drawing and painting, and it's a long learning curve for me.

      I'm copying this to your own blog in hopes you'll see it ...
      Thanks again for all,
      J

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  14. I would like to change my wardrobe so much but I think I have to wait until Easter. Most years we have snow on Easter.
    Your floral shirt is amazing, I hope you can wear it under a cardigan when it is too cold.

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    1. Oh, thanks Sabine! Here it gets too hot for even long sleeved t-shirts very early in the year, so I have a precious few weeks to wear them. I'll wear them with coats ... then not wear them at all!
      Thanks for reading, and I wish you an early spring (only if you want it!)

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  15. I love that you and you husband shop together. That's so sweet he offered to take you that early to Target. I am hoping for spring, we had sleet today and all the schools were out! Sunshine please!
    Xoxo,
    Carrie

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    1. Yes ... I need to do a blog just on him. I'm going to collect photos because he always dresses up a little on our days off. He'd be a clothes horse too if we had more time and money. That's always it, isn't it?!
      Here's hoping you have a nice spring, very soon.

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  16. Jan, I really like these animated pics of you.
    I'm over winter too and wishing for warmer weather. I didn't make it to Target for the PG rush, but from what I've read those that did thought it was well worth the effort.

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    1. Darling girl! So glad to see you. So glad you're ok, happy and healthy and back at your blog.
      I've become obsessed with drawing on my Kindle Fire 8.9 ... very cheap-o as far as tablets that allow you to draw, but you use what you got! So fun, so frustrating ... I love me a steep learning curve!
      Nah .. you didn't miss much. You have better things in your closet. I've seen them on you!
      Welcome back!

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  17. Jan, thanks for stopping by! For the last 6 months I have been very challenged when it comes to retail shopping. First of all I don't like the prices and secondly it's not currently worth the effort! I did go to one of my favorite stores yesterday and was just blinded by the spring colors...........that is blinded in a good way!
    Your little mimi Jan is looking great!

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    1. Thanks right back at you, Tammy. Seems like every penny counts for a lot of us. Frankly, I save to shop a little, because I never window-shop. I go to buy or not at all ... that made for a frustrating winter. Things are marginally better now, though!
      Glad you like mini-me. She's looking a little rough in my newest post, but I'm learning!
      Keep getting better ... we all love 'ya!
      J

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