A la Mode

[laliandra]

So my poor kaiserkuchen is writing her thesis and needs something to cheer her up, and we all seemed to be in agreement after my last post that Winter Fashion is great, so I thought I would make a post about it! I am by no means any sort of fashion expert or Style Icon, but, hey, I like clothes, and I love to talk about them and most of all ILKAZ.

It is no secret that I love Autumn, I love the colours and the smells and Halloween (yay dressing up!) and Bonfire Night (yay fireworks!)

And it is even less of a secret how much I like getting out my winter clothes.

Let's talk coats, the most important aspect of your Winter Wardrobe!

I have a bottle green wool coat that I've had for 3 years now and still adore. It came from Topshop so it's still in pretty good nick.

I like that it's not black, and the collar and the buckles are great details. But there are so many pretty coats about this season. And there are lots of nice coats for guys, too. There is nothing more stylish than a man in a good coat... There are lots of cool military ones for both sexes, and lots of nice retro ones too, which I like because I am a retro kind of girl (only not the wanky 'oh it's VINTAGE" scenester type. I hope!)...

I especially like all the very old fashioned styled ones with nipped in waists.

Like this, or this cute blue one

Or the cool detailed, slightly Steampunkish ones like these

Or (Modcloth ftw) combine two great Autumn things into one with a plaid coat,


OMG SO PRETTY.

Wouldn't the grey one look so cool with some brightly coloured tights and a matching knitted hat? Red perhaps...

Speaking of coloured tights, I have a whole drawer of them (Verity tells me some people think this is weird. Go figure!) in all the colours of the rainbow. Pretty much. Apart from orange. I will not lie to you lovely people, Autumnal as it may be as a colour, I do not much like orange... Tangentally, what would be the American equivalent of Autumnal? Fallish? Fallen? Fell?

I love my tights, though, because they make non winter outfits (ie skirts) into something suitable for the Frozen Wasteland that is Leeds, November - February. I love my city, you guys, but goddamn it gets cold and windy. And I own a lot of black (what?!) and tights are a good way to brighten or add interest to an outfit. Plus, I wear much shorter things with thick wool tights than I would ever DREAM of without...

My current hearts desire is some cute grey wool tights, which are sassy and cute, but not cutesy. I am picky!

Like these, look how they just hint at being sexy without being, like, suspenders or anything like that. Plus, soft and warm!


My other two items on my Winterware Wishlist are a proper wool beret and some new gloves.

Now, I love all things French, and I love hats, so I should really get on and buy myself a beret already, am I right? People who know me in RL would certainly agree, because I go all ♥_♥ whenever I see one in a shop. I want a proper felt one, perhaps this adorable berry coloured one from H&M (my favourite shop in the world. About half my clothes come from there, and about 3/4s of the ones I wear regularly. Affordable and so cool!)

I would also love some new glove mitten (glitten?) things. I do have some kick awesome gloves that Nat calls my 'emo kid gloves' because they are elbow length, black and white striped gloves with black buttons down the side. But I used to have glovittens, and they were great because you can have fingerless gloves for doing fiddly things like getting your change out and texting, but still have warm fingers when you put the mitten bits back over.

Accessorize has the best selection of these kinds of gloves (they call them capped gloves but I like my smoosh words better) that I've seen. Like these, aren't they adorable?


They also have super sexy leather gloves, and normal ones with bows. Oh, Monsoon and Accesorise, why must you be so shiny, and yet so expensive...

I also wanted to talk about boots. Yay boots! Also, arg boots. Shopping for boots is like shopping for jeans (did I mention I'm picky) because you are going to be wearing them a lot and they have to fit just right. It took me about 2 years (no, really) to find the perfect pair and I plan to wear them forever. They are brown and have just enough heel. I also have some white material boots that I like to refer to as my steampunk boots and have absolutely no idea what to wear with. I'm working on it, never fear.

In conclusion, here is a what Autumn!Lal looks like, in coat and tights and boots. Do you love boots and coloured tights too? Talk fashion to me, darlings, I'm all ears under my snuggly hat.

(I'm all contradictions too, because I feel like I should make my next entry about something really deep/ungirly. I am so weird, y'all.)



Things to ignore in this picture, my face, the mess of cables on the floor, how yellow the walls look, my face, the fact that I am wearing red and green and look over Christmassy.

Comments

[taurenova.livejournal.com]

Oh my Gods, that coat is so cute. I'm obsessed with finding a knee-length coat of some level of awesome. I am coming to the conclusion that I will have spend much more money than I normally spend on clothes. (Most expensive things I own? Probably my Converse trainers.)

My other problem with buying awesome coats is that my size 16/18 body does not go hand in hand with awesome coats very often. Then I end up having to go through, like, Littlewoods or something. *sighs*

I do have a fondness for military style coats, also. I think it's the collars? (Or my faint genderqueerness)

Glittens! (Mloves?) I bought a new pair from Claire's Accesories the other day. They actually fit my tiny hands for once. (I also bought an unnecessary trilby.)

I too keep talking about getting a beret. Every time my parents go to France to visit the distant relatives I ask them to get me one. For some reason I'm determined that I must have a beret actually from France. IDEK.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

Yeah, coats are unpleasantly expensive. This one was a present and is probably the most costly thing I have ever bought, clothing wise! I don't really ~need a new one, but it would be nice, and I find myself saying things like "Well, a good coat is like an Investment" and bastardizing the Sam Vimes Socio-Economic Boots Theory.

I think it is the buttons that draw me to the military ones, or maybe too much writing about Steampunk Captains... I wish you luck in your coat buying!

Mloves! Oo, Claire's is a good plan, much less prohibitively expensive. And there is no such thing as an unnecessary trilby, hats are always the answer.

Heh, I bought my best friend a Real French Beret (from a supermarket clothing line but still. FRENCH.) and she loved it but sadly it was eaten by swans. Really. It would be so cool to be able to go "Oh this, yes, it's just something I got FROM FRANCE" :)

[altogetherisi.livejournal.com]

...BUT SADLY IT WAS EATEN BY SWANS?!

Also, Sam Vimes Socio-Economic Boots Theory FTW.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

YES. She lives in Lincoln and there is a river full of swans and her beret blew off next to the river and some swans made off with it and appeared to be eating it.

It was EXTREMELY TRAGIC.

I may have quoted it in GCSE Economics, once.

[hanelissar.livejournal.com]

Does a beret count as 'real' if it's from Belgium instead of France? *ponders*

And I second Isi - EATEN BY SWANS?! WHAT?

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

I think so. Though I suspect there are French people who would not agree.

YES. She lives in Lincoln and there is a river full of swans and her beret blew off next to the river and some swans made off with it and appeared to be eating it.

It was EXTREMELY TRAGIC.

[mcollinknight.livejournal.com]

Oh lal I love this entry<3 and winter and shopping and scarves!!!

But most of all coats. I still wear the ski jacket I got in Grade 9 because I haven't grown since then, but I also have a beautiful black-and-white plaid/gingham coat from Le Chateau that is the EPITOME of winter class.

Alas my choices in winter fashion are severely limited due to me living in The North and having crazy Ottawa winters - thus the ski jacket is a necessary evil, as are the legit mittens that look like things Everest climbers wear (though I have fuzzy wool ones that are sooooo warm). And legit winter boots, though my mom picked out cute ones for me :)

BUT SCARVES. PLAID ONES. WOOL ONES. SOFT ONES AND LONG ONES AND BRIGHT ONES AND MY BLACK ONE THAT I PROBABLY WEAR FOUR TIMES A WEEK FOR LIKE SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR. SCAAAARVES <333

I love those two modcloth coats you chose - and I have been having such a hankering for a military style coat, unf. My fingers are itching for the first modcloth one, ahh. It's beautiful.

I basically own this coat only mine is bright red and from H&M. I also find this one (and this one) quite fetching.

Oh and boots <3 I have no pictures, but I am quite the fan of boots. YAY FOR WINTER!! (and I can say that now, because we're actually having a pleasant warm snap. ask me again in january. lol)

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

It was fun to make! <3

That does sound like the classiest of coats, I do love patterned ones, they are so fun and interesting. Poor you with the terrible winter, but at least you get snow and exciting things like that.

I do love scarves, but I tend to loose them. I must have had about a thousand and five, and I don't know what I've done with them.

I have seen and lusted after that coat in H&M! GOOD CHOICE BB. And that last one? I was really considering linking to it, in fact, I think I meant to. Aren't they just so gorgeous? I think the first one would be so versatile and unique and GAH, MODCLOTH.

I need more boots. My lovely flat black boots gave up the ghost and I really do need some without heels. There was a girl wearing red, flat boots with star details and I nearly wrenched them off her in the street they were so cool.

Boooooots.

AHAHA, WINTER IS COMING FOR YOU...

[jorajo.livejournal.com]

I'm too lazy to pull out pictures, so I'm providing links. Hopefully you can see them!

Once upon a time, about 6 years ago, I scored an amazing Old Navy car coat on clearance. It was the love of my life. Perfect length and weight. It went with EVERYTHING. Alas, I gained weight and now it doesn't fit (though I've considered moving the buttons so it WILL). I have found a suitable replacement, also at Old Navy, but apparently they hate me and don't want me to buy it in black.

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50299&vid=1&pid=692513&scid=692513002

But I don't have the $$ anyway, so it's not that big a deal. There's also this one: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50299&vid=1&pid=692512

Sgt. Pepper meets mid-1800s United States. I love it.

I need a new wardrobe, period, but I'm not looking forward to the winter with very little warm clothing. Argh.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

I see them. That is so sad, I hate it when good clothes get too old or small or w/e. And those coats are GORGEOUS.

There is a part of me that really wants a cream coat (very decadent!) but I know it would be completely impractical. Le sigh...

"Sgt. Pepper meets mid-1800s United States."

Now that is a style I approve of.

Get you some layers, young lady!

[empresstria.livejournal.com]

This post makes me smile so much, because you sound so adorably happy and chipper and squeeful! And I totally agree, winter clothes are the best--sadly, we don't have much of a winter in San Diego.

This has not stopped my collecting of scarves and tights.

Regarding equivalents to "autumnal" in American English... We use both "autumn" and "fall" to describe the season between summer and winter, so we still use "autumnal" as an adjective :D

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

Making it made me smile, and I am pleased you liked it :D

See now, why would you spurn such a wonderful word as Autumn? But thank you, I was actually wondering and not just being flippant!

[altogetherisi.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THIS POST.

I'm trying not to buy any new clothes until Nov, but its hard, I really want to go shopping... I've never really got into coloured tights, even though I love them on other people somehow I've never really worn them myself, but I do totally agree on a flash of colour between a dark outfit and a dark boot could be lively. And boy do I love boots. But, I have a complete weakness for suede boots, (I have two sets in black, one in brown, one in pink, one in grey) which are amazing, but then you have to spray them to water protect and even after they aren't great for walking through the rain. So I'm looking for some more waterproof ones this year, and ones I can walk and even run in as oppose to just pose in...

OMG COATS. Last year I just stuck to the coat I had had the season before, which is a nice teal colour, but I think I'm definitely gonna get another one this year because there are many many many around everywhere you look. I am impressed at the existence of a plaid coat but wouldn't wear it myself, the pattern is too big for me and I don't think it would be necessarily be loved as much by me in a season or two... I don't want a black coat, but a classic white or cream with big black buttons would be excellent, or maybe even a bright red one. Hmmmmm.

I have such issues with hats, I feel very insecure wearing them, but I want to fight this irrational faer because again, most of the time hats on other people look awesome, and also it means you can blame the hat if your hair looks a bit rubbish. And you know, they do actually keepe you warm and shiz. I wear scarves with everything btw - a range of pashminas and lovely thick wool. Mmm, cosy. I've always thought those glovitten things look both useful and stupid, probably because I have a long and abiding hate for mittens, but perhaps this season I will buckle and buy some. Hmmm. We'll see.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

:D:D:D

Oo, suede boots. They are not something I have ever got into but I know how you feel about actual practical boots. I do tend to get rather carried away by the prettiness of things.

I am slightly inclined to agree about the plaid, it could be difficult to wear, and go out of fashion very quickly, but so pretty. I really want a cream coat, but fear that I would just drop stuff down it all the time. It is an unfortunate habit of mine. I think Not Black is definitely the way to go.

HATS, they are so marvellous, and people are always complimentary. I know the feeling, it does seem like adding this great big accessory, but I think they should be embraced.

Oh, pashminas, I do love a pashmina.

<3

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

I love your coat, and that light red one in the first link makes me almost weep with coat-lust. And you will be ashamed of me, but I own a black beret that I have been too scared to wear for the last two years because I fear I will look silly (I'm not very good with hats).

IK bought the best grey tights the other day! They were from Gap, and madly expensive (although got around this by not putting the price on them anyway, so I innocently wandering up to the till without realising), but I love them; they're so soft and such a good colour.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

I KNOW, the red and the buttons! *lusts*

Everyone is good with hats! You must just put it on like you would a scarf or gloves, I am sure you will not look silly. I worried like that about bright tights, but people are always say nice things about them...

Oh that is crafty of Gap, but at least now you have lovely tights, I think grey is a very useful colour.

:D

[isil-helyanwe.livejournal.com]

Winter fashion is so one of the best parts of winter. I'm really quite a fan of the chunky knitwear, and since I've already knitted myself a set of winter accessories - scarf, fingerless mittens, hat - I'm really feeling the next step of actually making myself an actual real jumper.

Also, I really want some Docs for the winter so I can stamp around in my angry girl boots with thick socks and tights and be all warm and awesome.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

Wow, knitting stuff, that is so cool. I am really enjoying all the chunky knitwear that seems to be in fashion this season.

Angry girl boots, that sounds marvellous! I am such a wuss, and am worried that I am Not Cool Enough for converse, nevermind Docs. *frets*

[isil-helyanwe.livejournal.com]

Oh no, everyone is cool enough for Converse! They're awesome!

[brimtoast.livejournal.com]

You should do posts like this, like, once a week. Fashion is such a cool thing that I know nothing about. And I like looking at the pretty pictures. My favorite is the first coat you embedded the picture of. And are colored tights really warm? Because I love the idea of them, but thought they would not be warm enough.

[hanelissar.livejournal.com]

Tights are ridiculously warm and cosy, seriously. I have absolutely no winter skirts at all because I have no shoes to wear with them, so I do not wear tights any more. But in the olden days of school and uniform and wearing tights, it was ridiculous how cosy tights made your legs! They can be warmer than trousers even, and when they are wet dry so much faster. Very handy things indeed!

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

Hee, for you dear, I would. What should my next theme be?!

They are, they really are, see, even Hannah agrees. I think that they are even warmer than trousers in many situations...

[hanelissar.livejournal.com]

Ohh lovely joy-filled post! Although I am totally the least fashionable person in the world, pretty clothes do make me so happy! And the recent realisation that my wardrobe is totally not equipped for a land where I walk through long wet grass twice a day and it is very windy and rains constantly. So a super-duper shopping trip is in the offing at some point - I must buy new jeans and boots and waterproof shoes (totally with Isi on that issue, my suede boots must be saved so my trainers are utterly trashed from walking in the rain) and sexy winter clothes and become a fashionable person. :P

I love my winter coat a RIDICULOUS amount. It is not that amazing, but I was looking for it forever and so the day when it appeared on a rack in Debenhams, right in front of my eyes, was ridiculously joy-filled. :) Coats are lovely.

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

You seemed a stylish young lady to me! I think uni is a great time to go out and buy new clothes, because you need lots more, and you get to see all these cool, fashionable people. Mostly far more stylish than one could ever hope to be...

You must tell me all about your mega shop. I do like to talk clothes, even though I keep wanting to add bits to this post/responses being all "I like to talk less shallow stuff too! Really!" because I am neurotic like that...

Coats have to be love at first sight, I think. How lovely!

WORDS SO MANY WORDS (that are not thesis relevant)

[kaiserkuchen.livejournal.com]

I KEEP LISTENING TO ADAM'S NEW SONG, at first I typed watching, but then I realized that was a lie because while I adore Mr. Lambert's face, I cannot stop loling at the DRAMA!!!!!! of the vid. TOO MUCH CHEESE that isn't even edible!! Lol.

But I gotta say how very much pleased I am by this post! FASHIONNNNNN ♥ Those coats are indeed super swank and I adore plaid, though as is the case with colored tights, I've realized that we are simply Not Meant To Be. And by that I mean I am apparently too attached to my otherwise v. colorful wardrobe & handbags, and having a patterned coat or bright tights would veer me straight into clown street lol. ONE DAY I WILL FIND SOME NICE BLACK DRESSES. Though I bet I will veer off to the colorful versions again. I will just live vicariously through you and Carmen then, who also loves herself a pair of bright tights (she even bought leather leggings! Lol what I so need to see those in RL) Though I ~HAVE~ bought dark grey and heather grey tights though, whichs is already a very big step for me and my otherwise MASS OF BLACK TIGHTS lol.

I HAVE SEEN THOSE GLITTENS IN MONSOON TOO and argh so tempting indeed! I just buy the el cheapo H&M ones, and sometimes the glittery versions because if there is one thing I actually always do end up misplacing, it's mittens lol. I love the recent stash of handbags Monsoon has stocked though nggg why must it all be so expensive?? And why must I have so little space? One day I will have an extra room for all my clothes and bags and shit just like my mom has, I SWEAR TO GOD (it makes steali--- ahem, borrowing her clothes even more fun and easy!)

Those white boots are simply delightful! I look forward to seeing what you eventually pair them up with-- do you have any tiered skirts that hit around your knees or past them? Or you could go for a dress that also has white in it, and match it with white accessories and all that.... HHHHM

Re: WORDS SO MANY WORDS (that are not thesis relevant)

[laliandra.livejournal.com]

SLOW MO WALKING FTW! And all the EXPLOSIONS and SERIOUS EMO FACE ADAM. It is kind of hilarious, I cannot take it seriously. But the song is actually good, thank GOD. I am so ridiculous, I am all INVESTED in the careers of total strangers. I am still a bit worried for our bb Kris...

FASHION ALL FOR YOU, BB. You see, I have a lot of dark coloured clothes (I swear, I was not a goth) and so tights are a good way of adding colour for me. Grey is such a useful colour. How about some dark blues or purple too?

OH MONSOON. *sighs*

They are, I've had them for years but only found them in the loft last year. But I still do not quite know what to wear them with. I do have this adorable blue dress with white hearts. Perhaps that. Hmm... I will send you pictures when I figure something out!