Wednesday miscellany: style mood board & what caught my eye this week
My style mood board for February, and a few things that may have landed in my shopping cart…😉
MIDDLE: HIGH COLLAR CARDIGAN
BOTTOM: IMAGE VIA PINTEREST | FISHERMAN SWEATER | STRIPED SWEATER
Back in the ‘aughts when the internet was still mostly a guileless ‘tween, I loved creating looks and mood boards on the now-shuttered site Polyvore. I then moved on to Pinterest, but found it wasn’t as useful for creating a single image I could easily reference. I’ve since learned to use a few different tools to create these mood boards. They can help me focus my style direction to create capsules or just find inspiration.
My current style mood: relaxed minimalism, subtle detail
Lately I’ve been drawn to quietly elegant shades of ivory, beige, camel, and light peach. I’m loving softly structured pieces (nothing too crisp) with some texture and movement. A certain relaxed, effortless, minimalism (with just a hint of quirky) is what appeals to me now.
The bait I bit…
I know many of you are BIG fans of MZ Wallace bags. I’ve wanted to love them, but none of their styles ever felt quite right for me, until I saw this one. I love the color, and the 3-compartment design. It looks to be a bit roomier than my Pearl, and has lots of interior organization.
Three strap options (included) make it a versatile and potentially a great choice for travel. I have it on order and will report back.
I was back and forth on this cotton fisherman sweater. I love the color, which is sort of a peachy beige (Autumns, I think it’s close to the Apricot in your palette. Springs, it can pass for the Salmon in ours…) But did I really need another fisherman sweater? I have one in Ivory from Jenni Kayne that gets a lot of wear in the milder months…
I finally had a chance to check it out in person, and was convinced. The color is unique but should mix easily with the rest of my wardrobe. It runs true-to-size for a relaxed but not oversized fit. (They didn’t have a Small in this color in the store, so I’ve ordered.)
Liked but didn’t buy…
A few years ago, I had a couple of Eileen Fisher pieces in the silk & cotton interlock fabric. I loved the weight, the elegant look, and the perfect balance of structure and fluidity. They haven’t offered many styles in this fabric in recent seasons, so I was glad to see it make an appearance again, even if in just this one piece. I’m hoping it’s a harbinger of more…
This relaxed cardigan is available in sizes XXS-3X in both Black and Bone.
I love the sophisticated mix of stripes in this sweater. Autumns, these are your colors. But I might have ordered this anyway if I didn’t think it would be too oversized for me. If you’re taller….have a go!
I’m already thinking about sandals, and may yet succumb to these. They have that nerdy, minimal, cool vibe I love. (I’d even wear them now with colorful socks. 😉)
Do you keep a style mood board? If so, what’s on it now?
Looking for more color? Here’s a comprehensive look at this spring’s color trends, and how to wear them.
I’m working on some travel wardrobe capsules for all the seasonal palettes; look for those in the next week or so!
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I love the Eileen Fisher piece you featured – but I so wish EF would offer more range in the white palette. I ordered an EF blouse in the Bone color that features in so many of their pieces, but for this Summer, it shows up dirty. Black washes me out – come on Winter White!
I never thought of creating style boards. Can you give us more information on what you use to create them?
Thanks…Carillon
I’d love to hear more about what products you use (apps) to create your mood-boards. Always enjoy your posts and I always learn something! Thanks
Susan, I’ve just returned from three weeks in Europe, with part of that a cruise in the Mediterranean. I started in Rome and ended in Athens. I was interested in how much black stylish women (and men) were wearing. Maybe because it was mid winter, but it was so prevalent. Saw a lot of small camera style bags with webbed straps, and designer bags. Mostly in black! Not many sneakers. Black heavy lug sole boots on everyone. So practical in winter. Glad I had mine. We had snow a couple of days! I have an MZ Wallace tote. I like it, but, it lack structure that I like in a bag. Similar to a Longchamp Le Pliage, it can look too casual. I hope the one you are considering is different. Will be interested in your opinion!!
I always love monochromatic styled outfits, especially in creams. That Eileen Fisher cardigan is beautiful.. I will keep my eye on it to go on sale!
Just in case the Eileen Fisher people are reading your blog: WHY do they make only short pants? Am sure I’ve whinged about this before in your comments! I just looked at the EF site from the link for the cardigan. Every pant is an ankle pant or cropped, with one exception, a full length wide leg pant which still only has a 30 1/2 inch inseam. I’m not super tall (5’7”) but 30 1/2 is too short for me in a wide leg pant. 32” would be much better. I would love a pair of EF stretch crepe pants if they weren’t all so short!
Hey, Jill Ann, you’re singing my song! Not sure what’s up with the pants at EF but it drives me crazy! I keep wondering if this is why EF herself has taken back the design reins, noting she wasn’t totally pleased with the direction the team had gone. Hopefully we see full length pants again soon. And not to hope TOO much, but once upon a time, EF offered a tall length pant — just one — in the stretch crepe. That’s my dream!
It’s not just EIleen FIsher – what is up with all these cropped pants? I’m 5’8″, and for me these cropped pants hit at a weird place above the ankle. in my opinion a wide legged cropped pant is just about the least flattering silhouette out there. Thankful that I sew and can make myself pants that actually fit.
Jill Ann, you are not alone! My legs are about the same length as yours. Full length pants are hard to find and hit me at ankle length. Ankle length look too short. Crops hit in the widest part of my calf. Not attractive.
I totally agree with these comments, especially with Eileen Fisher pants. I know not to even look at her pants. I’m 5’8″ and would be thrilled just to find a 30″ inseam. Can’t wear cropped.
I wear a lot of Eileen Fisher but steer clear of the silk/cotton sweater jackets. They are incredibly easy to snag, and once snagged, look terrible. I’ve tried weaving the snag back in, but it never stays. Also, FWIW, I’ve started buying EF pieces at (online) department stores — esp Bloomingdales — for far better discounts and points than the EF website. It’s worth it to set up a Wish List and check back periodically.
I do the same – Nordstrom – although sometimes it takes a bit for the newer colors to make an appearance.
I own an older EF silk-cotton sweater jacket. I cherish it, and I’m excited to see this outstanding fabric return. (No problems with snagging…?) However, my old one is beautifully structured with curving seams so that it is flattering to the feminine form. This new one –like so many of their tops these days, just hangs. I think they struggle to come up with so many products every season (Bloomingdales and Nordstroms don’t carry exactly what’s on the EF website). I personally would prefer if they’d do few pieces with more attention to fit detail.
I have an older EF felted jacket/cardigan that lo and behold is in THIS Year’s fuschia color!
Hello Susan, I was just looking at Eileen Fisher’s new color. Cobblestone. It looks like a match for the color mushroom in my summer palette from House of Color. what’s your take?
Thanks Linda
I haven’t seen the new pieces in person yet. In past seasons, it was a cool-ish taupe. I’ll report back once I’ve had a chance to see up close.
Lots of good stuff there Susan!
On another angle, can you or any of your readers tell me where I can buy a thin, light denim jacket that’s not stiff, heavy or thick.
Don’t care about the price as long as it’s lightweight.
Chicos? I have a couple denim type jackets, from them and I think they fit your criteria.
Thanks for your advice!
I eventually found one at Simon’s in Canada , it’s light and not stiff, though it’s a little longer than I would have liked, will be wearing it on my upcoming Europe trip.
Mood boards, capsules… they are all too one-dimensional to me. I have no idea how it would look together on me. So, no I don’t have them. Great for those with fantasy.
Greetje
I am looking for off white denim jeans in wide leg (not flare) with some stretch. All I keep finding are rigid ones in this combo—I hated jeans in the 80s-90s and these remind me why! Any suggestions?
I’m finding the same issue (rigid fabrics). Though these are a lantern style rather than wide leg, the fabric is lighter and not as rigid: https://bit.ly/3PTQHQK