Thanks guys! I have to retrain my newly ALGO brain all the time to stop thinking that simple=boring. I don't think that way about others (Claire, I don't think your looks are boring at all--they are simply graceful and casually elegant!) but for some reason I have a hard time believing it about myself, especially when there's no patterns involved.
Red top and black pants & shoes was a very classic and typical combo for me pre-YLF and it's nice to revisit the formula again but in an updated way. Previously it would have been crew neck short sleeve Liz Claiborne red sweater (a little too short and boxy, having to tug it constantly over my mummy tummy), black BR trousers (a little old and faded, slightly too big and imperfect PPL), white crew socks and black Merrell mocs or Dansko clogs, and no belt (what's a belt?). Red is one of my favorite colors and I like the way it looks now much better!
As for the quality of the cashmere, I can't really say as I haven't had it for very long and am not a cashmere expert. I'm new to cashmere and have only had the sweaters for about 2-3 months. One of them (the teal one) that I have worn the most is pilling slightly along the sides/front--not horribly, but I should probably look into getting a sweater stone. The rest of them seem OK so far--I have four total. I do also have a plum Classiques Entier cowl neck cashmere sweater that seems to be holding up a little better--only a couple of pills. I also have a J Crew "Dream" cashmere blend ivory turtleneck that is not as soft or thick as the Only Mines and I don't like wearing it as much (like if your hands are dry and you rub your hand over the sweater it kind of catches a little on your dry skin). The Only Mines are very very soft and I love the colors, so I like wearing them a lot. It's hard for me to stomach paying more than $100 for knit sweaters so I think the OM's fit the bill nicely for me, but I admit I am not a cashmere connossieur. I think the CE's are a little higher quality, but the OM's are pretty nice too. Haven't tried any premium cashmere brands to see if there is a difference.
