Susie -- I am always jealous of YLF meet ups. I came closest to meeting Carter. I was in her city attending a conference and she suggested we meet for dinner. Sadly, I was with my supervisor and I wasn't sure how to leave him behind. I have since learned he is busy with his own social life at conferences and would never have noticed if I was out to dinner with a friend. A missed opportunity.
Ryce -- Interesting about NAS!!! I can have success at NAS if I very carefully shop my needs and climate. But this is really, really hard. My BF has come to hate NAS because I become crazy obsessive. I order and buy everything I think has the slightest chance of working out for me because I am afraid it will sell out be gone forever. I will definitely be shopping Neiman Marcus for Last Call this year.
At this point, I only own two linen blouses and neither of them are scratchy. This was luck rather than skill. But now that Susie pointed out that some linens can be scratchy, I will certainly keep that in mind.
JAileen -- I love the idea of soft cotton sleeveless tops. I find them incredibly comfortable to wear during the summer months. I have not seen a lot of the around this year, have you?
TexStyle -- I wear most of my jackets as coats now too. I don't mind this. They continue to be worn and I feel a bit dressier than if I were wearing a normal coat. I do have problems translating things I love on YLF into hot climate alternatives.
Anchie -- I knew you and I lived in very different climates when I reviewed that post in which you presented counts/needs/projections. Fabulous post, by the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is always reassuring when someone from a colder climate has the same issues with buying certain categories. I am so over transparent. For a while, I thought I would never buy another top again for as long as I lived.
I obviously need to go back and read that other thread about clothing longevity, Gigi. I may have missed some very valuable insights.
I only very recently learned about linen tee shirts, Unfrumped. I love the idea, but I agree they look very casual and/or floppy. The single one I bought was from Madewell and it felt great, but was cropped and very boxy. I eventually decided it wasn't for me. But I would love to explore the idea of thicker nubbier linen knits. Do you have any finds that you can share with me?
Shevia -- I can't help but wonder if your climate isn't drier than ours. Our is hot and humid (emphasis on humid). Synthetic fabrics literally stick to my skin and I have to peel them away at the end of the day. If it was less humid, I might be able to wear them.
I heard about women that don't wash their jeans, CindySmith. Ick!! Icky. I launder or dry clean everything. In fact, there was a time that I began to think I over laundered things. I have backed off on that, but I will always have my wardrobe items cleaned regularly. Like Shedev, I very much prefer that feeling of clean.
And that brings up another point. Everyone seems to think that the South is all about Arctic Air Conditioning. There is no such thing because there is always that one woman in the office that whines and bitches until the entire office is overheated and that single woman is still wearing a sweater!!!! OMG. I. Just. Do. Not. Get. It.
Author Linda -- I can still wear some silks. Yes. I do have them dry cleaned, but they are some of my most dressy tops and I always feel fabulous wearing them. I do find washable silks every once in a while. Those are true treasures.
The change in temperature that Jenn mentions is incredibly interesting to me. Specifically, "because when I first moved to Colorado, summer temps in the 70s and low-80s were the norm. Our climate has shifted so much in the past twenty years that it requires entirely new strategies for longer stretches of 90s-low hundreds." What is that about? Climate change? Is this in the front range? That is desert-y, right?
Joy -- I have NEVER met a linen that I did not need to iron. You say you wash summer tops, fluff in a no-heat dryer, and hang to dry. Seldom does anything require ironing. I avoid cotton and wear linen or silk or a rayon fabric. The linen doesn't need ironing? Tell me more about the brands of linen you shop because I am thinking that is the primary difference between you and I.
Delurked -- Read Ryce's post about NAS. I will read her post to myself every single night when NAS re-asserts itself (and then I will head to Neiman Marcus).
Thanks for the positive reinforcement, Isabel. It now makes so much sense to buy more of what works and expect that it will have a shorter life frame. This information is quite freeing in its own way.
Waves at Angie!
