More TitleNine success, casual summer pants, and end of an era

I posted recently about my successful order from TitleNine to update my workout gear and also on the quest for truly casual comfortable summer dresses. I placed a second order to try the dresses in pic 1 and 2. The second one is really cute, but too small in the chest and the racerback coverage is not enough for my bras. I didn’t realize when I ordered it that it comes with removable pads in the top, so I think it’s meant for a smaller bust who can get away without a real bra. I wish they’d make this same style with a little more coverage and no bra top. Big-boobed ladies want cute styles too, darn it!

But the dress in 1 is a good one. My husband proclaimed it a 8.5/10, LOL. There is a cutout in back and a tiny bit of my bra strap shows, but I have a teal bra that makes it a little less obvious. It’s subtle anyway. I wore it yesterday (pic 5, which I’ll explain further down).

I also decided to keep this Madewell linen top I ordered from Nordstrom in pic 3. I can live with the wrinkles in this style. It’s pleasantly oversized and breezy in the heat; I’ve already worn it, and it pairs well with fitted waist bottoms and narrower legged shorts and pants.

#4 is an example of leaving no retail stone unturned. I was killing time in downtown Annapolis before meeting my husband for a little celebratory dinner, and found these pants in a new-ish boutique I had not previously explored. Somehow I thought all their offerings would be too preppy for me, but I was pleasantly surprised. These pants are by XCVI Wearables, and they are super lightweight and extremely comfortable. Sort of athleisure but a cute style. My pair is actually a lighter, slightly bluer grey than this stock photo. I’m wearing them today on the airplane!

Number 5 is my last selfie in my old home. The mirror has to be 48 years old, and possibly older. I don’t remember whether my dad installed it or it came with the house. This is in the little shore cottage my folks bought when I was a child, where we vacationed. I later moved in and my husband moved in with me a couple years after that. We fixed it up, built an amazing backyard garden, got married there, and lived there for seven years before buying our current home.

After a miserable tenant experience last year, I talked my sister into selling the house. Yesterday was the settlement, so I made one last visit and had all the feels. It’s sad to say goodbye, but it’s a burden relieved, and I’m glad to be moving on to the next chapter! Pic 6 is when my parents bought it, and pic 7 is from yesterday. 8 is our wedding in the back yard (we still have the gazebo!), and 9 is part of the garden from around that time. Yes, I built those rock walls and we planted all that! It was beautiful, as are the memories I have from nearly five decades.

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6 months ago

kkards

Veteran

It’s so hard to let go of the things from your past, but the memories live on.

Lovely wedding photos and how lovely that you still have the gazebo.

Olive Green

The garden is beautiful. And so many memories.
My opportunities for brick and mortar shopping remain very limited, so will be looking up your Title Nine scores. That teal dress is floaty, and looks very good on you.

RobinF

Hard to sell a house with so many memories - bittersweet.

Great dresses. They look cool and floaty. Too bad they don't make concessions for bras. Love the Madewell top, it reminds me of a vest I had many years ago that I loved. Off to check it out!

cjh

(website)

Thanks for sharing your stories, photos and new wardrobe items. Wishing you peace and happy memories.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Bittersweet to pass on the cottage. What a beautiful wedding pic! You have precious memories. Thankfully! Onto the next chapter.

The new dress is great! Jamie’s scoring is encouraging - too bad about the other dress.

Cute Madewell top too! On trend and practical.

Roberta

Thank you for letting us live that beautiful memory with you!

cat2

Congrats on finding a new brand you like. My new to me brand this year is Saint and Sofia; murky prints and everything I have tried has just fit.

Suz

Oh, Janet! Thanks for sharing those memories and the photos of your cottage. No wonder you had a lot of feelings, passing the place along. Gorgeous gorgeous garden! And the place where you got married....big sigh.

But onwards, well dressed, right? I love your new items. Dress works great on you and the new top is really cute.

Kate

What a beautiful wedding photo. The garden is lovely. Thank you for sharing.

The top is cute and perfect for our humid weather. The dress is great!

Peri

How great to have such long memories of a place! My family moved so many times that the longest I had growing up in one place was 10 years. My parents sold that place before I was even out of college, and by the time we were dealing with my mother's estate she had been in her 5th place since that move. The only strong feelings I have tied to any place is my own house...38 years and counting. I will definitely have a hard time leaving here, but that's hopefully still down the road a bit. I don't have such place memories from childhood and I think it's great that you do.

The pants look wonderful and they remind me of those Athleta ones (from pre-pandemic days) with the side ruching that you turned us all on to. And...I'm wearing them today! That's how slowly my closet moves.

Runcarla

Oh! Well done, Janet! Some great (fashion) discoveries, but also managing to wrap up a piece of your past while holding on to the good memories. I’m glad you ‘celebrated’ the sale.

After a series of apartments through my 20’s, I’ve owned 3 houses. 7yrs and 19 years (same town) and 10 years (new town). It’s not the house that was hard to leave, it was the gardens I made!

Jaime

Wow I felt the nostalgia seeing that old Century 21 sign, of all things. What a beautiful wedding picture and backyard. But it sounds like a good decision to let someone else enjoy it now. Back to the present your new dress looks great on you and good picks all around.

April

I remember your miserable tenant experience. Wow - you did all that yourself! Impressive. I can see why it's bittersweet to let it go.

I'm with RC - I don't think Mr. A will ever feel ok about selling our current property, where he has created so much beauty (3 meadows, countless new trees, a stream with about 7 waterfalls, etc.) out of a space that was a swamp choked in 6 feet of dead invasive vines when we moved in.

Joy

Thank you for sharing precious memories with us. It must be hard to let the house go. All your picks are lovely. I especially like the linen blouse for hot weather.

Karie

The gardens at your childhood vacation home were beautiful. My family had a summer home at the NJ shore and I have many fond memories of that.
I really like the pants in #4 - I have a very similar pair from North Face and they get worn a lot.

Firecracker (Sharan)

The dress is really nice and looks great for summer travel. I like XCVI! I haven't seen anything by them in quite a while, but I have had some pieces that I loved. Those pants are super cute and should be really comfy.

Farewell to your family home. The photos are fun to see, and they will always bring back your fond memories.

Laurie

Thank you for reminding me I have a XCVI top that I like! In fact, it's the same color and style as those trousers.

Congratulations on achieving the milestone with your home. It's such a complicated, bittersweet accomplishment as I recently experienced as well, though I did not have the even more personal 2nd phase of living in my childlhood home as an adult. It's been 2 weeks since my closing and the relief is just starting to settle in. I definitely feel like a burden has been lifted. Love those photos! You did a wonderful job with the house and garden.

Eliza

Great post, Janet. The combination of fashion, fond memories, beautiful gardens and life transitions (with bonus photos) is compelling. Love the dress, such a beautiful color. The wedding photo is fantastic, too.

Debora

Thanks for the inspiration, Janet. I just ordered a Title Nine dress. I think it’ll be perfect for summer!

I like the Madewell linen too. It looks like your style and well be a good cooling top for summer. The dresses look to bare for me and need to be pull on or button down...no zippers or polyester. No low necklines or above- the- knee hems. Each year I seem to add more no's for dresses.weight loss has taken a toll. I need to tend to arms to wear sleeveless this year.

Staysfit

I’m glad you are finding some dresses! The Title Nine looks perfect on you! You obviously put a lot of time and thought into your family cottage and I’m sure it was a tough decision to sell. I hope your pictures and memories from that time of your life continue to bring you joy.

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