I feel kind of dashing in these booties and leggings, and the coat-as-cape adds to that. This old wool coat you saw a long time ago, I think. I spruced it up for this winter by removing the collar to change it up, and I'm happy I did. The bag is more interesting than it looks here ... it has a stitched and quilted pattern for texture on the cream colored wings. A good size for shopping.
I'm being more than a little careful about the red shades I'm wearing since the recent Great Haircolor Adventure is still in process. Still love the cut though, and that's a happy place for me.
When we made the photos, I didn't realize that the Pantone Color of the Year for 2015 had just been announced ... Marsala (the color inspired by the fortified Sicilian wine, not to be confused with Masala, any of the various blends of spices used in Indian cookery ... yummy though they both sound..) Pantone makes a completely unabashed marketing tool of this annual event, lest anyone mistake it for anything more official than it is. The color is described in a variety of ways, and there's the usual amount of love-hate stuff from the design and fashion press, but here's a color sample so you can decide for yourself.
I haven't been wild about the last few year's choices, but I like this one. For me, it's nice because I may see more of a color that I like out and about, and that's fun. But that's all it is. Nice and fun.
None of what I'm wearing is exactly Marsala, but all three pieces are cuddling up next to it pretty close. A complete, timely, handy and happy coinkydink, I thought. Good thing, too, 'cause all I had was a cold weather outfit post. Saved by Pantone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Late breaking update: I'm going to join in at The Truly Elegant Patti at her Visible Monday link-up! So fun, so come with!
You look very pretty all Marsala-ed up! Very chic. Unfortunately I can't think of a worse color for me than reddish brown. In fact, REAL Marsala wine gives me hives. This is just not my year color-wise. I'm going to have to sit on the side lines and admire from afar.
ReplyDeleteAll the reds look fabulous on you and you wear this color so very well, so I am not surprised that you have some in your closet. Happy Holidays!!
ReplyDeleteIsn`t it fun to shop in your closet and know you were already ahead of the "colour" of the season, clever girl you.Your coat as a cape adds a very polished finish , very Vogue.The burgundy shades look good on you, with or without a brighter do.I have never really followed the colour thing, just as well as I am with Connie, nothing suited me.
ReplyDeleteQuite swashbuckling in fact. I can see you swirling into the shops in the Winter weather, wind buffeting your feet, clicking your heels together and all the staff run to provide!
ReplyDeleteI do love your bag, with the cream wings :-)
Not a great fan of Marsala, but your deeper versions give me pleasure!
Well done on the coat conversion. It looks very smart. xo JJ
These names always confuse me, still burgundy in my eyes. Regardless you are a woman ahead of her time since that's for 2015 :) I love these colors on you and I am envious of your sewing skills to remove a collar from a coat!
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
Dear Jan, I've enjoyed catching up on your posts....it sounds as things have been just a little hairy for you over the past couple of weeks....LOL. But seriously! I'm not sure I've seen you looking more chic than in your photos today! The cut and the colour rock! It's no secret that short hair requires more frequent maintenance. And that maintenance; both the time and the cost, gives one such a polished and cared for look! And yes, you should feel dashing in this outfit! You look perfectly aligned for a big city experience! Lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool outfit, love the boots and the cape. Have a fabulous time in the big city! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's a great look - I love rhe colour of the jumper along with your hair colour, dashing is a good word for the whole ensemble.
ReplyDeleteI've learnt lots of new words from your posts Jan and now I can add coinkydink to that list - I'll see if I can work it into one of my work emails today . . .xx
You look absolutely fabulous Jan. Love the whole ensemble. Another word to add to my vocabulary. Coinkydink. xo
ReplyDeleteThis seems a good colour for you, goes with your hair. It's sort or brown(ish) burgundy? Anyway, something I would stay away from, but it will look fabulous on any red-haired woman. And your outfit so so casual chic, perfect.
ReplyDeleteWow that is a drastic change from last year's colour. I like it though. Much more wearable.
ReplyDeleteI love the layering here. Très chic madame!
bisous
Suzanne
Yes, dashing! (I watched Errol Flynn in Robin Hood last night) I love the bold blocks of colour. Wasn't oxblood a recent colour-du-jour too? I don't see much difference between it and Marsala. Collar removal is a great upcycle idea. Coinkydink? Haha - my new fave word.
ReplyDeletewell, love your cape and boots, and you look elegant and glamorous (as usual!), such a lovely bag!!
ReplyDeleteNot a huge fan of those marsala or bourdeaux or grenat shades myself, but I think you can look amazing wearing them!!
besos
Marsala, hmm.. Well, I like it in a zabaglione. Is it brown, red or dark pink - or maybe a bit of all three?
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed looking like a dashing Principal Boy here, Jan - love the newly collarless coat-as-cape and the fabulous boots and bag. Always stylish and gorgeous, my lovely friend! xxx
Dashing indeed :) I like the deep shade of red, almost brown, of the boots. It is not a color I would wear near my face, but I think it is perfect for shoes and even pants. Imagine a nice pair of "leather" pants in that color. As far as Marsala goes, I am torn. great for accessories, nail polish. Not near my face please. Still it is more attractive than radiant orchid ;-) And I like a lot of the other colors in the palette.
ReplyDeleteAlex - Funky Jungle
Looking very good in this, indeed. I would have liked some more (close-ups) photos of bag and boots. They look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI grinned when I saw your picture as I went out yesterday dressed very similar: short(er) sweater over white shirt, black skinnies and brown/marsala (thanks for the Pantone tip) boots. Shopped from my closet as well. So I kinda recognized myself.
As for the colour marsala, hmmm not too keen on. I was quite please with the radiant orchid (or something like that) of last year. A sort of bright fuchsia. Did I see it in the shops??? NO. Bummer.
Greetje
Red wine red. Great. A great match (again ;-)). This time, your hair colour and the pullover love eachorhter. Great style. Have a good time. Sunny
ReplyDeleteYou colour your own hair and alter your own clothes. You are a bold, adventurous and talented woman!
ReplyDeleteYou look like a Big City Gal in this super chic sophisticated outfit, Jan! The sweater looks beautiful on you, and I love all the layering you've created, beautiful, beautiful! I really like this muted brownish shade of red, now I'll have to keep my eyes open for something in this color that suits me. But they usually don't make us wait for too long, do they? :) Have a great weekend and stay warm! xxx
ReplyDeleteI visited Marsala the town this summer (and bought a bottle of the alcoholic stuff to cook with from there too!) so glad it is also going to next year's colour.
ReplyDeleteNow I have a terrible confession to make - I really really hate coats as capes... with a passion - in fact there has been a bile filled post brewing in me on them for several seasons now... I guess my take is why not just wear a cape? Surely it would be easier to walk in one than having your coat perched precariously on your shoulders? Not that I'd ever suggest anyone not have fun experimenting with a trend, each to their own and all, and I can see why getting to wear your coat in two ways rather than one might appeal to the fashion adventurous, and you know Jan that I have nothing but heartfelt adoration for you, your style and your endless enthusiasm for experimentation with fashion so I feel especially guilty now for my innate hatred for the coat-cape, but I can't bring myself to like them. I think my reaction to coat-capes is more to do with the fact that they have been rubbed in my nose now as the only way to wear your coat every fashion week for so long now by the most pretentious fashion folk who have more than enough time to stick their arms into their coat sleeves (but pretend they're too busy and then have to walk at a snails pace so their coat doesn't fall off their shoulders) that it just irritates me to an irrational degree.
So forgive me if I mentally photoshop the sleeves out and put you in a cape - and then yes you do look swashbuckling indeed and I love the marsala inspired colour combination of this outfit and you the way you rock leather leggings. Please don't stick your arms in your sleeves on account of my fashion bah-humbug moment but do tell me we can still be friends!
Good lord woman! This outfit is utterly fabulous! You nailed every aspect of it...the colors, texture, layering and the coat over the shoulders...beautiful! And I really am lovin' the hair color. :)
ReplyDeleteDebbie
www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com
I like the color, but a slightly more purple tone works for me... as opposed to the slightly orange tone in this color. I'm still whining about a suit I can't buy, in a bordeaux color, because the pants aren't cut for my shape. http://lawyerdoll.blogspot.com/2014/12/teasing-not-pleasing.html
ReplyDeletevery contemporary stylish outfit! Absolutely love it. The booties are perfect!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with all shades of burgundy and now I am really looking forward to the new, slightly softer and warmer "Marsala".
ReplyDeleteYour look is fabulous and I love this classy colour combinbation and I am wearing it a lot. In fact maybe you want to check my post at the end of this week when I'll be wearing something very similar. Currently I am addicted to faux leather leggings!!
Thank you so much for your kind comment recently. Have a lovely week,
Annette | Lady of Style
Hello, Connie! I'm sorry you get a reaction from the wine! Lucky for you, it's not commonly used in a lot of cooking, and it's usually advertised in the name of the dish! Thanks so much for your kind comments ... it's a good color for me. I love muted and mixed jewel tones and tertiary colors, and this one makes me happy. However, it's just one of a plethora of colors, and I don't see this marketing ploy from Pantone putting our Connie on the sidelines. So happy to hear from you ... and I've been thinking about doing the Women in Clothes survey. I'll let you know if I do them .... but I've got a new Sketchbook program to play with and am wanting to draw right now. I'm always happy with a new toy to learn!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neti! So glad you liked the color for me. I'm a lover of tertiary, manipulated and mixed jewel tones, and this one makes me pretty happy just looking at it. Nice to see it back on the racks after years of no warm browns around.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to you, to, Neti!!!
Thanks you, Jack! I couldn't decide between a light saber and a claymore so I swashed completely unarmed. What a picture ... I do storm around a bit because I'm always on the run, but sales staff tend to ignore me until I beg. It's 'cause most of my stores know me and they are aware I "pre-shop" a lot and do a lot of agonizing about purchases, and often have only one specific item as a quest object. Thank you ... so glad you like the bag. It's a practical one. And I'm a great deal happier with the coat. Looks more modern to my eye, and I like a different neckline with my newly cropped hair.
ReplyDeleteA Sketchbook program! How fun. You've got to tell us about it.
ReplyDeleteHey, Alice! That's the thing about color ... there's a lot of subjectivity in how they're named. It's burgundy if you say so. I like what I see as a slightly muted version of "wine" a lot. Thanks for always having something nice to say.
ReplyDeleteNo big skill needed with this coat collar. There was an easy-to-see pair of stitches to snip and few hidden hand-stitches to the neckline back together. Otherwise, I wouldn't have risked this coat as I'm not that much of a seamstress! So happy you're impressed, though!
Hello, Sue!!! Yes, this is never a storybook time of year for us ... it's always a challenge, and spills lots of parts of our lives! But all is improved, and I'm content with the current color. Love the cut ... its been years since I could fall out of bed with hair that I can wear without too much fuss getting out the door. But I think it suits me, and it makes me happy. That's a lot!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, O Talented Sue!
Thank you, Vix! Had a great time, so thank you for the good wishes and kind comments!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had fun wearing this outfit ... suited my day perfectly.
ReplyDelete"Coinkydink"... such a silly old word from my youth. Dates me! Glad you got a kick out of it, though!
Hello, Elsie! So happy you had fun with my choices of attire and vocabulary. It's a silly old word from my youth, and hope you have fun with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tiina! It does work with the hair, I think, and I'm glad you agree. It's muted with a little white, and I find that kind of and interesting treatment of the more familiar darker reds. I enjoyed wearing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne ... I know you've got items just this color in your wardrobe already. You'll understand what I like about this color; the deep red-brown-burgundy, oxblood-ish base of the color (which I tend to think of as translucent like blood or wine) is made opaque with white, and that really refreshes the color in my perception. Looks new to my eye, and I do better with tertiary color than most primaries.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shani! I'm pretty pleased with the whole outfit, but a little dismayed that the layers are becoming a winter uniform. So pleased you stopped by, especially with such nice things to say!
ReplyDeleteHey, Mel! So happy you stopped by, and had fun while you were here! Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteYes, to my eye, the Marsala looks like oxblood made opaque and lighter with some white and just a little of some cooler hue; some shade of blue, maybe.
Hello, my dear Senora! So happy you think I ever achieve any level of glamour! I'm pleased if you like my turn-out!
ReplyDeleteYes, I know. Closeups do help ... never sure when it's worth doing, though! I'm always on the way out the door when we photograph, and often don't think about more than a token pic for whatever blog idea I intend to go on and on about!
ReplyDeleteYes! We did think alike on the day ... I just went to look and will stop by later to sing your praises for another shoppy-tour of your world. You do wear the brighter colors well! And I see how fuchsia works for you. But you can wear any color!
Thank you, Greetje ... you don't realize how much you brighten my day when you stop by!
Hello, Sunny! Glad you liked my choices ... and I'm always happy when you drop by!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a wonderful time with the seasonal preparations and celebrations!
Thank you, Dawn Lucy! Always nice to hear you like any of my choices. Sadly, I'm never a trendsetter, but always a follower. Somebody has to follow, though! I prefer to see myself as the creator of an additional iteration that adds to the body of interpretation for this hue.
ReplyDeleteAhem.
Sadly, less bold and adventurous than poor and desperate! My "talents" tend to be hard-learned skills ... but I'm happy you're impressed! Also, very happy to have you drop by. Thank you, kiddo.
ReplyDeleteAww ... such very nice comments, adorable Natalia. I thought about you and how you wear your earthy palette when I posted this picture ... and glad to see it resonated with your tastes! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteSo, does this make you the "Anti-Coat-as-Caped-Crusader?" (Snort, guffaw ...) Sorry.
ReplyDeleteNah ... don't worry ... I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to use your response as an opportunity to vent a little. Happy to be of service! Sort of sorry it put you off, and I do see your point. You caused me to question why I wear my coat that way sometimes, and that's never bad.
Dan always takes the pictures I post when we're on the way out the door to shop for the restaurant, and I almost always take a coat that I may or may not wear. I walk out the door, Dan takes a few photos, and I walk 6 more steps to to the car, throw the coat over the seat back so I don't have to wear it while driving, buckle in and take off ... so that's one of the reasons I just throw it over my shoulders.
I've been sort of amused at the "coat-as-cape" nomenclature; that it's even a "thing" all of a sudden. When I first saw the term, I remember thinking, "There's a term for this? I thought everyone just did this sometimes." For me, it functions as part of the car culture, 'cause there's no getting anywhere when you live 40 miles from the nearest practical shopping, and there's little need to actually put it on as I'm about to take it off anyway, but it's cool enough not to carry it for later in the day.
I see your objections to the affectation, though ... but sometimes it's just an easy thing to do.
I have memories from my girlhood of my mother flying out the door with her dress coat flung over her shoulders, heading for her car to go to work. This was in the late 1950s, a time when it was less common for women of my mother's generation to work away from home. She really seemed "dashing" to me in a time when working seemed like a big adventure! That was in Southern California, a big car-culture and another place where coats are taken-with, but might not need to be worn right away.
Habit more than affectation, perhaps a bad one, but habit nonetheless.
I SOOO get that you hate walking behind what I think of as the sidewalk-swans. I'm a very fast walker ... burns more calories, I tell myself, but it's really from learning to keep up on very short legs. I can run in 3.5 inch heels pretty easily, and often the strollers are also the ones tottering on very high heels that don't allow them to stride out apace. Or they're nose down into a mobile device, everyone else be damned. That may be an American bad habit, mostly, though.
I also sometimes take a coat when I want to spend most of the day in a blazer or light leather jacket that I don't want to take off as part of my outfit ... I really like the usefullness of coat-over for brief periods.
I don't have a cape I like, though. I have trouble with the tailored ones which I do like. If there are arm slits, they are invariably cut too low for my use, and a pistol to alter! I do keep an eye out, though, for a workable one.
Not long after I read your thoughts, I ran across one of those photo-collections of street-style at a fashion week somewhere. You are right ... every single overcoat was slung over the shoulders. I see your point!
I'll probably show out in a coat-over from time to time, but at least now I know more about why I do it. In fact, you'll be relieved to know that I'm so okay with your post that I won't alter my plans to use the idea in an upcoming post I've been planning! I actually dreamed (not just once, but on two successive nights!) of wearing an old coat of mine this way, so seems like the thing to do! (Yikes ... now I plan my posts in my dreams!)
Seriously ... glad always to hear your comments, especially since you couched your dislike with some very sweet compliments! Always happy to talk about stuff like this. There are lots of current trends that make me nuts, too, and happy you count me among your bloggy friends! We're good.
Thank you, Debbie! So happy you thought it all worked well. It's an easy and very practical look to wear here. I'm pleased you like my hair, one red to another!
ReplyDeleteMmmm ... yes! I see a cooler version works for you with your pretty paleness and dark hair!
ReplyDeleteCan you alter the pants? Is the suit priced as two separate pieces, or is it a traditional paring?
Thank you, Oksana! I love these booties a lot ... super comfy, and they do great things for my stubby legs if I take care with proportions of the rest of it!
ReplyDeleteOh, hello, Annette! I'm so glad to hear from you! I've been bad about getting around to see everyone I love to look at ... you are certainly a favorite! I need to do better ... it's one of my new year's resolutions coming up! I'll definitely be by to learn from you ASAP! Faux leather leggings are the best, I agree! They can do wonders for even square figures like mine!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind comment!
I mean to, once I get proficient with it. I always promise myself I'll draw for an hour, and write for an hour each day, but I end up with my nose in a book every time! Sketchbook is by Autodesk, the people who developed the marvelous and venerable (and huge) professional program, Autocad. They can pack a lot of capability into a tiny program better than almost anyone!
ReplyDelete;DD
ReplyDeleteI love the way you wear a cropped sweater, Jan. Perfect proportions, and a very cool purse - I really dig those purses that have "wings". Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox.
ReplyDeleteThey are separates, but I explain in my post why alterations wouldn't work. It's all about which type of body the pants are cut for... straight or curvy. They didn't make the pants in the curvy cut. I'm furious!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shades of colours, very similar to marsala! The bag is cool, and your boots are great!
ReplyDelete