STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Polishing my travel look

Lilykind · Hermes

I think we're about the same chest size. I got an M/L in mine...it's not long in the arms at all (I'm 5' 3") and when I tried on both sizes I liked that it was easier to do all the draping variations with the M/L than it was with the XS/S.

I wish I could justify owning a cashmere cable one, so I think you should get something like that.

Hermes

If you really want to polish your travel look, I wouldn't bring tennis shoes. I would bring mid-calf to knee high black boots with a flat rubber sole that you can wear with jeans or with a skirt and tights. I was in Prague in November a couple of years back and this worked really well for me for any occasion (I wore black suede, mid-calf, flat, rubber soled boots).

I personally have had my eye on these for this purpose (9 west "swatches"):

as far as the cardi wrap sizing, you should be ok with just fitting your arms, although the wraps will fit further apart, and may not be as wrappable. You can also take a look at bluefly for them. I bought a cream cashmere cable knit one from there that I wore the hell out of last year. I would also look at sephorablue's thread style for inspiration/ideas on sophisticated travel wear.

Your down coat may be ok if it's not too casual. You may also want to consider a more fitted coat, and a pashmina to wear as a scarf with or without the coat (my winter staple - worn looped vs. tied).

ETA: these campers are cute too - they might even be better with a thicker, more athletic shoe sole:

-- Edited by D at 14:58, 2006-09-19

Hermes

Lilykind wrote:

I think we're about the same chest size. I got an M/L in mine...it's not long in the arms at all (I'm 5' 3") and when I tried on both sizes I liked that it was easier to do all the draping variations with the M/L than it was with the XS/S.

I wish I could justify owning a cashmere cable one, so I think you should get something like that.

on that note, and it's not cashmere, but I did recently order this wool/nylon with angora one from NN for $59 + 15% off with code 542 (free shipping with L05 too) -- hasn't arrived yet:

-- Edited by D at 15:02, 2006-09-19

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Thanks for the input! I'll definitely take a look at the cashmere blend, although I don't know if I'll be able to justify the price... And I think I'll go with the M/L, since I want to have the option of the different styles of wrapping.

As for the tennis shoes, they're Diesel, and polished enough for the sightseeing I'll be doing. I would love boots, but I'm short (so the mid-calf look doesn't look good on me), and I have big calves, so it's next to impossible to find flat boots that work. But I'll definitely keep the idea in mind, and who knows, maybe I'll stumble across something!

Thanks again!!

Lilykind · Hermes

gingembre1 wrote:

I would love boots, but I'm short (so the mid-calf look doesn't look good on me), and I have big calves, so it's next to impossible to find flat boots that work.

from one girl with large calves to another...stretch leather is your best friend!

seriously, at my local DSW there's a pair of Miu Miu flat rubber-soled boots with a stretch leather shaft that can be worn up to thigh high or slouched according to the wearer's preference. They're only $130 too.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Oooo, those Miu Miu's sound great!!! I might have to make a trip to the city this weekend to check out DSW....I've also had my eye on some back-lace kenneth cole's...i figure those could be expanded, right? Also, I found some AWESOME black boots by Nicole, which are not only wide enough, I can wear them over jeans, AND they're narrow through the ankles, so my legs still have shape!! Unfortunately the heel is too high to justify bringing them to Europe with me.

Hedvig · Coach

When I visited Finland in late August, most stylish girls that were walking around the city seemed to be wearing driving mocs with jeans. Something like this:

I loved the casual and comfy look so I actually just bought a pair myself.