I've been thinking that my casual, every-day look could stand a tune-up heading into Spring. I'm interested in looking a little less dark-and-plain, and a little prettier with a classic side . Stripes are always being touted as a classic - and "should" be in every modern woman's wardrobe. I've never liked them much- always feeling they were too preppy for me, and with short hair....eh, just not a good look. I know, I know, we said we weren't going to talk about suburban moms...but I am one, so ...

Anyways, I bought this sweater-ish thing last fall (kind of a cross between a sweater and a t-shirt in terms of weight) on the urging of my friend the boutique owner , and then regretted it.. Didn't wear it. Couldn't return it. So today : It's been feeling like early Spring here in the Prairies, with melting snow and temps above freezing. I had errands to run with a possible stop-in to see one of my customers, so - out came the striped top I was determined to figure out how to wear. Stripes always bring to mind that East Coast look - so this is a riff on that. Jeans - and going forward, I am officially done with distressed and ripped and unhemmed jeans and will not buy another pair-, leather sneakers instead of boots (yay!) , an unlined camel coat (going with the classic vibe) and a huge striped poly scarf inside the coat that acts almost as a second layer and adds some softness . Went with exaggerated silver earrings for a feminine edge ,and wore a very classic Fendi bag. Felt pretty good in this today - and was happy I made the effort to look a bit different . Note: my legs are not really this short ! Haha- the angles I get with my phone camera kill me .

Thoughts, jokes always welcome , - oh a joke:

Jill (dd, aged 21) : (peering at me) "are you wearing BLUE mascara?"
Me: (bracing for a rebuke of some kind) "yes ?"
Jill : "Hmm. Looks very pretty."
Me: phew (score one for Angie)

jeans - Gap
top - Joie Soft
scarf - H&M
coat - Eileen Fisher
sneakers - Vince
earrings - Nickel and Suede
bag - Fendi