Fashion! (Ongoing)

Lord Lucan To me that pattern also looks very Balkans/deep Eastern European (almost like something you’d find from one of Russia’s minority republicans)—I think part of that might be the colors, but also that sort of weaving pattern is very universal, especially among people with some kind of tent-living/carpet-making heritage who were in the Turkish (or broader Turkic) cultural zone of influence.

A kindly, senior Chinese man sidled up to me at the grocery store today while I was examining asparagus to ask what exactly my criteria was, which made me conscious that I actually had none.

Disappointed that I couldn’t enlighten him, I was tempted to tell him instead that the Duke of Windsor was minded to wield asparagus-fasces in lieu of a sceptre at his second coronation following the successful conclusion of Sea Lion, but I restrained myself.

Calm down, boy-o.

Still can't decide whether to get the Porg shoes or not. The fact that I don't know how well these will fit isn't helping.

I generally only do it if it's a brand whose sizing I'm comfortable with, meaning that functionally limits it to about seven brands (Docs, Nike, Reebok, Creative Recreation, Saucony, C1rca, Nunn-Bush). I've occasionally gone out to a shoe store to try a brand out first and then order a different model. The other option is a place with an easy return policy, like Amazon often has.

Amazon and Zappos (same co) have free returns, you can effectively order a bunch to try on and return what doesn’t work. But it does help to know the brand, I’ve only ordered for brands where I knew the sizing would work for me.

I buy them online from places that have storefronts locally, then I can return them without having to ship them back. Most places make it fairly easy to return though. 

Request for consult on a coat upgrade:

Since 2010ish, my Proper Winter Coat (for Chicago winters) has been a nice puffy down 3/4 length hooded coat from Spiewak. I believe I purchased it online for under $200. Now, after so many seasons, the coat is getting raggedy and I think it's about time for a replacement. I also figure the end of winter might be a good time to snag a deal. The question is what to buy? My current coat is jewel-tone plum colored, because jewel tone coats were all the rage in the early teens. Now, it appears we are back to drab black, navy, and olive coats, which is no fun except for the bit of fur trim. It also appears that Speiwak coats are way more expensive, so I must explore other brands, but I am a non-conformist so I will not consider North Face, Eddie Bauer, etc. Here are some options I was considering:

either of these in black, don't know how I feel about real fur trim
www.amazon.com/dp/B074WW995K/ref=sspa_dk_detail_9?pd_rd_i=B074WXS7MQ&pd_rd_wg=ZEWdP&pd_rd_r=TF4S3WCPR9EVDCTSDMJ8&pd_rd_w=XBOqN&th=1
www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3LNDT0/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01N3LNDT0&pd_rd_wg=b4AFz&pd_rd_r=SXZQKK7PFKMWGN9FFCX6&pd_rd_w=Z5MDI

perhaps this one instead? I think it's fake fur and I like the contours
www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5RBM63/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01N5RBM63&pd_rd_wg=pHPoC&pd_rd_r=C0AREBMSJBRBV9Y09HT7&pd_rd_w=jYuAZ

duffel coat?
www.amazon.com/dp/B008XD3BAC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_9?pd_rd_i=B005D7F6S6&pd_rd_wg=b4AFz&pd_rd_r=SXZQKK7PFKMWGN9FFCX6&pd_rd_w=Z5MDI&th=1&psc=1

basically the coat I have, only with fur trim
www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3YUHVW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?pd_rd_i=B01N0BVOZY&pd_rd_wg=ev9ZC&pd_rd_r=61ZJT3JJMXBA6XWNXZ3M&pd_rd_w=CdYUC&th=1&psc=1

the burgundy or gray Style 4 are kind of sporty - definitely affordable, thought it's probably made by slave labor
www.amazon.com/dp/B01L3DNTZA/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?pd_rd_i=B01MYV66XE&pd_rd_wg=b4AFz&pd_rd_r=SXZQKK7PFKMWGN9FFCX6&pd_rd_w=Z5MDI&th=1

I like the toggles on the duffel coat best.

The sizing on that last one may be way off; from the comments, it looks like it's Asian sizing, and picking the right one is always a crap shoot, no matter what their info says.

It does seem odd that there aren't more Chicago-appropriate coats in more than just neutral colours.  You might actually check Sears, Kohl's, that kind of place; Amazon doesn't seem to do end-of-season sales on coats & etc.

Oh no I found Poshmark

But on the upside, I won't buy pants or even most shirts, these days, without trying them on, so the damage I can do is limited.

moimoi. What coat did you finally choose?

A very elegant choice.  The collar and pocket trim are sharp, and it looks warm.

Good jeans are so hard to find. My favorite pair is from Ann Taylor Loft of all places, and I will be very sad when they go. I'm pretty sure they discontinued the line.

Honestly, I've had really good luck with Rue 21 and Forever 21's jeans, specifically the jeggings. Their sizing is at least fairly consistent, although I did miscalculate last time because I forgot I lost a bit of weight. I know it's cheap fast fashion and not the best, but my thighs wind up destroying jeans within a year or two anyway, so I can't see spending more money. Even when I was at my thinnest, my thighs still caused serious friction, so it's been an ongoing issue since I was like, 13. Also those jeggings make my ass look amazing, and they're really quite comfortable.