the joys of wool

it's 48 degrees here this morning (maybe 50 at my desk with the heater one). yes, i get that that's significantly warmer than many (perhaps most) other parts of the country this january, but it still feels cold to me. especially to my toes which are more than a little overly-sensitive to the chill.

fortunately, thanks to a great sale at any mountain last week, i now have 6 new pairs of wigwam wool socks to help keep them warm. today i'm wearing the brown ice socks, which are not only surprisingly soft and not at all itchy, they are super-paddy which is perfect on those days when your feet just hurt for no reason.

i've always avoided wool because of the itch factor and was definitely taking a chance buying 6 pairs at once of a brand i've never tried, but they were worth every penny and then some -- even if i had paid full price.

quick tip

not ready to make the leap to full wool? start with smartwool. their socks use a wool blend that is really nice and they come in a variety of weights suitable for everything from business attire to camping gear. even better, the color and pattern selection is awesome. perfect for anyone who wants to make a surreptitious fashion statement and still stay warm.

fashion win

so this morning I walk over to chat with my stylist friend and no sooner had I sat down than she made me stand up again and do a slow turn so she could assess the outfit of the day. this was a change from usual when I can see her eyes struggling not to roll. when I sat down again, she smiled a big smile, gave me a double thumbs-up and said “approved!”

clearly I have a lot to learn, because while I thought I did okay with this outfit, I didn’t really think it was any better than others I’ve worn recently (and in some cases liked a lot more). I was however able to discern from her comments just what makes this outfit work:

lines
- oversized belted sweater nips in waistline while camouflaging junk in the trunk
- skinny-leg jeans and high heels make legs look longer and slimmer

color
- hot pink top and scarf compliment skin-tone and draw attention to face
- dark wash jeans make legs look lean

accessories
- scarf ties together all the different colors in the outfit as well as my hair and eye colors, while the metallic gold thread provides a little sparkle
- turquoise cuff bracelet compliments yet another color in the scarf, adds a touch of fun and keeps the dark colors from getting too overwhelming

but what really makes this outfit work for me is that it’s super comfortable. the jeans have stretch, the shoes are tall but well-padded, and I can take off the scarf and/or sweater if the day gets too warm.

i’d like it even more if the jean were slightly more bootcut so i didn’t feel quite so much like a child’s top (skinny point at the bottom, wide load at the top) but that’s just me. according to the feedback I’ve received, the skinny cut actually shows off my legs. just goes to show you, i am not a natural when it comes to figuring out what flatters my figure. but that’s okay. these things can be learned.