What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Going Through the Motions

Sweater: Boxy, knit by yours truly
Dress: Alabama Chanin, sewn by yours truly
Tights: Unknown
Boots: Blundstones

Week One Plus for Me Made May 2016

Here's the round-up of outfits worn since May 1.

• Bottom right:  Rowan sweater originally made for the ladyfriend.  It got a little felted in the wash so it became my sweater.  The pants are J. Morgan Puett.
• Bottom left:  Me-made wrap skirt with Imogene + Willie shirt and my Blundstones
• Middle right:  Cappucino dress with Robert Clergerie shoes
• Middle middle:  Saint James top with Alabama Chanin skirt
• Middle left: Long sleeve t-shirt (worn with Prana jeans, not seen)
• Top right bottom:  Junya Watanabe shirt with Betsy Ross patterns pants
• Top right top:  Lisette top (worn with Prana jeans, not seen - again)
• Top left:  Wrap skirt with mustard top-down sweater, Blundstones, and a Wrangler jacket.

I'm in DC now, visiting family, and what I'm starting to realize is that I don't make enough things in black.  Putting together a little capsule collection for the trip (brought only carry-on suitcase) made me realize that while I have a fair amount of me-made clothing, I need some to make some things that are more easily integrated into my overall wardrobe.  As it happens, I've been mulling over a little capsule collection for the fall/winter although it's not black.  We'll see how all this pans out.

If you're participating in MeMadeMay16, how's it going?  Are you encountering any challenges?

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Details, Details, Details

Turtleneck:  Three Dots
Vest:  Noro pattern & yarn, knit by yours truly
Skirt:  Yohji Yamamoto
Shoes:  Blundstones

Day 3: Reminiscent of My Punk Rock Days

Yep, this is the dress off-duty but still working hard.  Add a sweater, some striped (barely visible) Falke tights, my Alabama Chanin demo (for class) bandana, Blundstones, and the boy's hand-me-up leather jacket, and I'm good to go, or stay home, which has been my inclination.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Updo

Sweater:  No label (Mom thinks Comme des Garcons)
Skirt:  Comme des Garcons
Tights (not seen): Wolford
Socks (not seen):  Target
Boots (not seen):  Blundstones

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Cover Up! It's Cold (Outside as well as in the Fridge)

Dress:  Morgan le Fay
Jacket:  Comme des Garcons (mom-me-down)
Turtleneck:  Cadeau (thrifted)
Tights:  no label
Boots:  Blundstones

On My Mind Mondays: Forward, Never Straight

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It is the first day of the winter term at my university although I don't go in until tomorrow, so naturally my mind is geared toward start-of-school/start-of-the-new-year issues.  However, these may be different than most conventional issues.

1.  Resolutions:  I stopped making resolutions awhile ago although I always have ideas about how I want the new year to go or what I wish to accomplish.  I generally say that each year I want to be more of the person that I am.  Today I read this post, and it hit a chord with me.
2. Nighttime visibility:  Yes, I'm searching for reflective tape.  My initial thought was to get black reflective tape (that glows silver in light) and accessorize a number of my jackets; however, I'm beginning to think that making my bike more visible will be far more efficient.  In keeping with my Made in USA/Canada desires, 3M makes a reflective tape in the US, which MEC (sort of a Canadian REI) sells by the meter.  If I'm putting it on my bike, the fact that it's silver isn't a deal breaker (will most likely line my rims and spokes).  I've spent a good amount of time online trying to find a good deal, but sometimes convenience and supporting a local-ish store trumps cost.  Besides, I don't think I need a 50-foot roll of black reflective tape.
3. Winter cycling:  It was -9C (15.8F) this morning and got colder as the day went on.  I used my physio appointment as a chance to continue to problem-solve stylish winter cycling.  I ended up layering a Nike dri-fit long-sleeved shirt under my new Vulpine merino jersey, which looked nice with a felted wool skirt and black tights.  I wore cycling "legs" over my tights and a neck gater, a head/ear band (do these things have a proper name?), and my Patagonia Lidia parka (no longer produced).  On my feet, I put a pair of SmartWool socks (low profile) over my tights and put my feet into my Blundstones.  I wore ancient polypro glove liners under a pair of fleece gloves.  I was pretty warm although my face froze.  Note to self (and to everyone else) - don't wear metal framed sunglasses in the winter.  Ouch!
4. My first day of class:  What will I do?  What will I wear?
5. (Totally unrelated but on my mind) - DSLR photos on blogs:  Has anyone else noticed that people who have DSLRs seem to post way too many photos?  It seems to me that every single image is precious to them.  I'm in favour of editing.  I don't need to see every moment, captured in a single frame, of...pretty much anything.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: A Crossbreed

Feel like a cross between Pippi Longstocking & a schoolmarm?

Jumper:  Cabbages & Roses
Turtleneck:  Three Dots
Tights:  Falke
Boots:  Blundstone

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Really, I Had Been Thinking About Pattern

Dress:  Piazza Sempione
Jacket:  Gucci (Mom-me-down)
Scarf:  Hermes
Tights:  Wolford
Boots:  Blundstone

Some Things I Learned From a Long Trip - Baggage

Before I begin, let me say one thing - 2013 has felt like the year of packing poorly - and I have always been a pretty efficient and smart packer.  But this year, so far, has made me rethink that.

So, the first thing I have realized is that a) you'll always need something and b) you'll always have at least one item you don't wear.  How is that helpful?  Well, it's not, by itself; however, let's take this a bit further and use it to make a guideline.

(Stay with me here; there's a little background/digression coming, but I swear, it'll all come around to my point.)  As you know (if you don't, pretend), clothes are very important to me, and while in Berlin, I did have a bit of a crisis around my wardrobe and feeling like myself.  I won't go into too much detail except to say that my clothing and how I dress is an integral part of my identity (I have ideas for an article around this).  How can one pack for a trip longer than a week or two and maintain one's sense of self (I know, pretty intense) without carting, say, five suitcases?  (By the way, our extra suitcases cost us €50 each, which is already pretty expensive, but the person to whom I paid the fee told me that if we'd flown out on Saturday, the rate would've jumped to €150 each!  He went on to say that American Airlines made something like $8billion in excess baggage fees alone last year.)

Now this is a work in progress, but I have an upcoming 5-week trip to put it to the test.  What I think would work best for someone like me is to start with some key pieces, like a dress that always looks fantastic and that you can dress up/down and wear in multiple temperatures.  I would've had that with my Patagonia dress (the one of the traumatic day in Marrakesh), but I had jettisoned the hoody I wear it with when we were in the "lightening the load" frenzy before we flew to Berlin.  This time?  Dress and hoody.

These key pieces should be distinctive but malleable, and this is where I plan to do more experimenting.  For example, I almost never think about wearing a skirt over another dress to create a different look.  This technique has great potential and is quite versatile.  I tried a variation of it with a long white shirt over a fully pleated skirt, and it was pretty cool.  Also, the jeans that fit you perfectly should be packed.

A number of my friends had said to me, "You'll buy clothes in Berlin," and I've already discussed one of the issues with that.  Nonetheless, there is something to be said for not packing and getting basics like t-shirts, for example, where you land (if possible).  While there can be issues with that approach (spending money, buying things made in China, etc.), it can also save you the headache of the "lightening the load" frenzy one might be engaged in to avoid paying €150 for an extra suitcase.  To make this really work, I'd suggest donating whatever basics you've bought abroad to a charity (I doubt you want to pay €150 to bring some t-shirts home).  I did end up making a number of items including a t-shirt and a skirt, which I have yet to blog about.