What is your HEWI? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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What is your HEWI?

Bijou

Veteran

We often talk of highly elusive wardrobe items (HEWI) - those things that we would love to own, but just cannot find the right one for us.

I love wearing coats - admittedly not during summer, but in Autumn, Winter and Spring, a nice wool coat is a great topper. I love the elegance and drama of a good coat and have a few - so I don't need any more.

However, the perfect white wool coat has been a topper that I would love to have. I have a complete sugar eye for white clothing and black and white together. A look that I would love to copy is Kim Novak from Vertigo but a beautiful white coat at a reasonable price has eluded me. Often they are cut too slim, too short, look like a bath robe, are double breasted.... so the search continues.

I would be interested to know what your HEWI is.

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Dressing

52 replies

Latest reply was from nemosmom

bj1111

Veteran

red silk satin le smoking

jussie

Veteran

Wow that’s a fabulous coat and I could see you really rocking something similar. However I think it will be...as you say... ELUSIVE....
My HEWI is, somewhat surprisingly, a pair of light tan or nude booties. They often seem to have details on them that I don’t like, or are poor quality, or are out of my budget. I’ve been looking for ages!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Oh, such a fun question. A few years ago I saw a runway picture of a Stella McCartney show: a look topped with a looooong denim jacket, coat-length, all bleached and distressed at the bottom. I thought it was Brilliant!!! But like $750. And yet STILL I sorta looked for it, even once venturing into a Stella shop to ask about it, but no dice.

Since then I’ve tried on and even bought a few cheap approximations, but none are just right.

kerry

Veteran

Gorgeous look on Kim Novak and could see you rocking it. Timeless!

My HEWI is a pale pink (cooler tone) cashmere crew neck sweater. The crew neck needs some ease, the cashmere needs to feel gorgeous and the fit needs to be fluid but not oversized.

Style Fan

Veteran

Gorgeous coat. I could see you wearing it Bijou! Hitchcock movies had great wardrobes.

My HEWI is a Smythe Blazer. I have tried on Smythe Blazers and wondered if I would actually wear them enough to justify the cost. I love blazers and haven't bought one in a long time so the debate continues.

SMYTHE Duchess Blazer

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SMYTHE Patch Pocket Duchess Blazer

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SMYTHE Duchess Blazer

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Anonymous

Youd rock that coat!
Looked at that tan blazer as a possibility for one of my hewis but out of stock and not anywhere close to my budget range
Other than that: camel/toffee pencil skirt, nude to me full coverage bra, nude to me lacy tights, sleeveless robe, tall dressy heeled boots in cognac and burgundy, fitted princess seamed sleeveless tops for flowy skirts, and in general dressy work appropriate things in warm colors!

Bijou

Veteran

bj1111 - your red satin le smoking sounds very glamorous!

Jussie - hopefully your boots will turn up in 2019. I can understand that finding the right colour / heel height and design that are also comfortable can be tricky when you want something other than black.

Jessikams - is this the Stella McCartney coat? I can definitely see you in this.

Kerry - when you find that sweater, I hope you post on it because it sounds like a perfect item. I love the Boden cashmere sweaters, but they don't have your colour at the moment - they only have warm pinks and brights.

StyleFan - you are wise to hold off buying a Smythe blazer until you find the one you can't live without. I am sure you will know it when you see it.

Suntiger - you have quite a list!

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Anonymous

Im always hunting unicorns

always trying

Veteran

right now the perfect white booties, have to have zippers, not rub on the front of my legs, the right heels, etc. every time I find what I want they don't have my size, or they are too expensive.

another one is a perfect white long sleeve somewhat dressy top that I could wear all year round in my climate.

wendy

Bijou, love that coat.

Mine is a jacket I posted about.

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Molly Mac

Veteran

The perfect navy one piece swim suit. I am looking for a classic cut with an interesting detail (I.e. Scalloped neck line, or back strap detail). Plenty of black options but no navy:(

Helena

Veteran

Any top/topper/scarf in a taupe that doesn't make me look like death, and a layering tank as good as the old Target Merona ones!

Runcarla

Veteran

The perfect white cotton shirt dress for summer. Been looking for 2 years now, but may luck out this year. The IDLF Uniqlo Colab due to drop late February has a cotton linen shirt dress in white.

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Peri

Veteran

For many years mine was (past tense, wow!) a dress that I could feel I looked decent in, that could fit many occasions and seasons, be dressed up or down, with sleeves. I found it! Finds is not enabled so I will link. https://www.garnethill.com/eil.....womens-fas

I liked it so much I bought two colors...black and a kind of cinnamon/burgandy that isn't showing up anymore. I sized up one from what was recommended because I wanted it to fit like it does on the model...a little loose to skim over my apple belly. The fabric is beautiful...not heavy but not clingy. It really does skim. In my climate it is good for probably October through May. Not for the hot months, and if you are in a really cold climate, probably not for the coldest...but maybe with tights, boots, and a thick cardigan.

I guess this is a PSA. It took me years to find a dress that worked for me!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

A well fitting pair of dress pants is my HEWI. Dress pants hardly ever fit me correctly in the back, even after professional alterations. I can get jeans to fit me correctly, but not dress pants. Go figure.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A white coat would be beautiful on you and over your dresses, Bijou. Such gorgeous pics.

I have a very old one, that I wore last week. 8 or 9 years old. I like the black buttons on it.

My HEWI of 12 years are comfy tailored tall cream boots with low heels that fit my narrow calves. And a turquoise wool coat. Not teal - but a true aquamarine turquoise like Tiffany blue.

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ChristelJ

Veteran

I really want you to have that coat! Each of us should have something that makes us feel like a movie star...
Once I had lace-up leather booties with 2 inch heels and leather soles, perfect for dancing the night away. They were made in Spain and lasted over 10 years, even though I wore them constantly. My search to replace them has been fruitless, so far.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

A white coat is so glamourous and very you Bijou.I would love a chic sophisticated white summer dress.l will keep my fingers crossed for both of us!

karen13

Veteran

When we stop looking, maybe these will magically appear! I’m searching for the perfect 1 carry on bag travel shoe:

Wide width, leather not suede, lace up, removable insole to fit orthotic, running shoe comfort and cushion for 15 miles on pavement, mid to dark grey for versatility, soft padded heel counter that doesn’t aggravate my fussy Achilles or slip at my narrowish heel.

This one just went back - I would have overlooked it being suede had the fixed insole and built in arch support worked with my orthotics. However DD loved it, so she she just got it in her size. It ran true to the higher end of our size ranges.

Vionic Womens Taylor

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Roberta

Veteran

Knee high red (not oxblood or wine) dressy boots with a flat or very low heel. Leather, not suede. I have a pair of ten year old Boden boots that are still in good shape, but the heel is a bit much for me these days.

I think of red as a dressy color, but the only possibilities I've seen have been quite casual or rugged. I've even tried the fancy stores! Cole Haan came very close, but that brand just doesn't fit me.

Lesley

Veteran

A leopard winter coat! This search became all the more absurd because leopard coats were really in style this year and EVERYONE. CARRIED ONE. I can't tell you how many I ordered and sent back, including the super cool Boden one that Angie rocks! But alas, none of them were what I was going for nor were warm enough to qualify. It's gotten so bad I'm considering opening up my search and trying to fall in love with some other kind of loud winter coat.... just have to crystallize what that new vision would be!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I would LOVE for you to have that coat, Bijou! You would look incredible in it!!

My HEWI is a simple structured bag with silver hardware that is big enough to hold my stuff but not overwhelming. Actually I would like two such bags. One in a bright colour and one in a light neutral.

kkards

Veteran

the prefect white blazer...3 season wool...$200 or less.....

Kate

Veteran

An endless supply of full length, high rise black jeans that fit perfectly without alteration. I think my HEWI will probably remain one.

In pursuit of said item, I just purchased from Aritzia the Olivias that Suz has
because they had them for $75, down from $218. Figured it was worth a shot. For anyone interested, Aritzia does have a few left in sizes 30 & 31.

Though it’s not a HEWI, I’m drooling over the beautiful white coat Bijou posted from the Hitchcock film. Coats are my favorite category of clothing, and I have quite a few. For sheer glamour, a white coat is unbeatable. I have a white wool jacket that I love, but a long white topper? Hmm...

Irina

Veteran

Mine is very simple, it seems - a white button down straight cut shirt in cotton or linen or both. Whatever I try is either fit in the shoulders but too tight in the chest or fit in the chest and too big in the shoulders.
Another one is mid calf lace up winter boots that are elegant and with a good grip soles at the same time. Been looking for both for ages.

Sal

Veteran

I am not sure that I quite have one. For a couple of years it was brown tall boots with a solid low-mid heel that would work with skirts. I found a pair in late winter 2017. In July 2018 I found a pair of white jeans that I like - thick denim, relaxed but slim fit, good fitting waist, seat and thighs!!

Things I find a challenge to find (and would pounce on)-

1) Perfectly fitting work trousers, slim fit, high rise, quality fabric. Probably cropped.

2) Slim fit puffer to hip length - shaped, warm - definitely not black - ideally in warm red or bronze.

Along with flat practical city walking boots these are my main winter needs for 2018.

DonnaF

Veteran

For DD: Black 14” tall grippy soled boots narrow in the calves and not too masculine or stompy.

For me: Super sheer knee highs that match my skin color so look invisible.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Bijou yes that is the coat! Aaarrrgggh just seeing it again reawakens the yearning...

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Lesley would you be open to a long printed puffer? I see them with graffiti print, cartoon characters, or plaid or checks. They are very popular in Beijing- warm, practical and fun. My friends tell me they just buy one new coat every year and wear it every day for 4 months- so they want it to be fun and trendy. So different from what my mother taught me (“buy timeless quality”) but it actually makes good sense.

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