Monday Musings- Going For Delighted

Happy Monday, ladies. Our weather turned cooler and almost stormy over the weekend, which I love. There’s nothing like fall weather to make me think about cleaning out my closet. Today, I have a maxi denim skirt outfit of the week and some thoughts on being delighted.

I think many of us have too many clothes in our wardrobes which makes putting together an outfit we’re really happy with, more difficult. I’m not talking about an outfit we’re satisfied with or even like. I’m talking about an outfit that lights us up inside. One that really delights us.

The older I get, the less I want to feel mediocre about my outfits. Of course, they won’t all be home runs, but I want more of them to have something special. The base of my wardrobe is made up of classic items. If I’m not careful, I lean too heavily on them and neglect to add in unique pieces that spice it up. I used to rely on small, independent boutiques to find my treasures, but they’re few and far between these days.

I have three enormous bags of clothes and footwear ready to donate, and I don’t think I’m done yet. One category that has not had any weeding out is my accessories. They’re most often the special pieces that add spark to my outfits. And because my taste changes, I’ve learned to hold on to my accessories, even if I haven’t worn them in 30 years.

Not Going There

Every fall, I can look forward to emails and articles suggesting that the must-have MVP in your wardrobe needs to be a black, faux, or real leather Moto jacket. They’re everywhere and available at all price points.

FAUX-LEATHER MOTO JACKET

I love how cool they look on others, but I’ve never owned one and donā€™t expect that I will. Itā€™s one of those iconic classics that usually gets included in a wardrobe essential list…but we know those lists need to be personalized for our own style recipe.

Mine has never included a black leather moto jacket because:

  • theyā€™re often stiff
  • usually shiny…which enhances the look of the texture on my complexion
  • and have a tough vibe that I donā€™t aspire to

MORE MOTO JACKETS

I love to have a cool vibe in my outfits, but I’ll have to settle for a faux or real suede moto jacket…so long as it’s not overloaded with snaps and zippers.

Outfit of the Week

This week’s OOTW is with soft black (the nap of velvet softens the black), plum, and some fun textures.

velvet denim jacket with plum henley and maxi denim pencil skirt
VELVET JACKET /Ā  Ā MAXI DENIM SKIRT / J. CREW HENLEY / LIFESTRIDE BOOTIES / WOVEN FAUX LEATHER BAG / RESIN V-CUT EARRINGS / REFILLABLE LIPSTICK IN SOFT PLUM

I had a velvet denim-styled jacket several years ago and got a lot of wear out of it. The fabric upped its fun quotient considerably. I hope to unearth it in my closet soon. This maxi denim pencil skirt is a classic I’ve just ordered. This woven bag is very soft and reminiscent of the very expensive Bottega Veneta bag that’s so popular these days. With cooler temps ahead, I’m looking to deepen my lipstick slightly and have been anxious to try this Rose Inc brand that’s clean, vegan, hydrating, and refillable.

Have you started to look for unearthed treasures in your wardrobe from years past?

 

40 Comments

  1. Rosemarie says:

    Oh my goodness – 3 enormous bags of clothes/footwear to donate. I don’t even have 3 bags of clothes to wear! I have about 1 enormous bag. Reason being – I hate to shop. Wear a uniform at work.
    Enjoy the fall.

  2. I have some leather jackets that I’m thinking about donating. People tell you to hang onto leather and denim but I know I won’t wear them again. They just aren’t right somehow. I like everything about the outfit of the week but maybe not the long skirt for me.

  3. Catherine says:

    PLEASE remember it is spelled ā€œbroochā€ but pronounced ā€œbroachā€!!
    Also I love a good velvet jacket like that. CABi had a good one several years ago – Iā€™m going to wear it to an upcoming Gordon Lightfoot concert at the end of this week with a simple white T-shirt and jeans.

    1. Iā€™m sure Iā€™ll forget šŸ™‚

  4. Yup, not riding a motorcycle anytime soon šŸ˜œ, so no to black leather clothing period. The one item in most fall and winter wardrobes I just donā€™t do is boots, and or booties. For me each step just makes me so uncomfortable. I have a few pair and change out of them before I can leave the house even though they look ok. Iā€™ve tried several, just not for me.

  5. Cleaning out my summer things to pack them away for winter. What to do with tops longer in the back, shorter in front. Can they be altered successfully They look very last year today.

    1. I had two tops altered that were high/low. Breathed new life into them. I would not have worn them otherwise.

    2. They can be altered if they have side seams.

  6. I have a light pink fake leather moto style jacket. I wear it occasionally and it is quite warm, usually with jeans, but I plan to experiment with other items. We are moving and I don’t have it available until later on this week, but look forward to seeing all my old clothes again.

    1. Good luck with your move

  7. I bought a faux leather moto jacket 2 years ago from Chico’s and was thrilled how well it fit me, except for the sleeve length. After having the sleeves shortened and the zippers re-inserted in the shortened sleeves, I dam well intend to wear my moto jacket this season, the first Fall that we are getting out more! It certainly is just a fun/funky piece, I hasten to add. I am only 5’1″ with short black hair, so it goes with my not super-feminine approach to dress.

    I bought some moto-inspired booties, as well, and am finding those more difficult to style!

    1. You will be totally in style!! Bravo for having it altered to fit you perfectly.

      1. Thank you, Jennifer!

  8. I have been cleaning out this week, too.
    I love a denim maxi in the fall. I have had mine for about eight years and love it with a striped tee. I also wear it with boots and a cozy sweater. I love the logo jackets and have one in a very dark green faux leather and a longer version in dark brown where that I bought in Buenas Aires over 10 years ago. In the rainy PNW, can only wear it in dry weather.

  9. I usually do a clean out every year, some things I hang onto to give them a second chance but not many. Iā€™m trying to pare down my clothing. But accessories are a different story! I have two vintage Bottega Veneta bags, one black and one dark olive that I inherited from y aunt. Those will come back out very soon. That woven leather never gets old!

    1. Youā€™re so fortunate to have inherited the BV. Theyā€™re always amazing.

  10. In my opinion, black leather moto jackets just say ā€œtrying too hard to be cool.ā€

    1. I agree whole heartedly, although I purchased a very distressed denim jacket recentlyā€¦ Itā€™s very comfortable, functional and it was only $12 at a closeout sale. I bought it just for fun but I find that Iā€™m wearing it a lot more than I thought I would.

  11. I am so on your wavelength, Jennifer. I have broad shoulders on a short body, and so many outfits can take the feminine away. Even blazers, I’m better off with a lovely longish sweater. Jewelry and scarves are my friends. But I do need to channel the “get rid off” gene. I guess if you haven’t worn it it 30 years, it wasn’t meant to be in your closet?!

  12. Hi Jennifer, I am in the same closet cleaning mode, trying to eliminate the ā€œmehā€ from my wardrobe.
    I agree with you about the moto style, but wonder if you have any suggestions for where to buy nice leather jackets that arenā€™t that cut. Leather is a nice in-between weight for Fall, but it seems like blazers and moto are the only styles easy to find. Thanks!

    1. Blazers do seem the common cut other than moto. You might find some bomber types this season since theyā€™re on trend.

  13. I havenā€™t even thought of fall clothes yet. Iā€™m still wearing cropped pants and short sleeve tops. The mornings are cooler though, so fall is in the air. I think itā€™s about time I sort through what I have, what fits, and what I still like. Maybe tomorrowā€¦ Every season when I go through my closet to switch pieces out, I then decide what to donate. That way my closet doesnā€™t get overfilled and I donā€™t have several bags to donate.
    I never got on the moto jacket trend. I love it on others but itā€™s just not my style. I do have leather jackets but they are a more feminine cut and style.
    I donā€™t like denim skirts, at all. Never have! I find them too stiff, too casual, too countryā€¦Just not my style. But, Iā€™m sure some can rock them.

    1. Itā€™s funny but I have no leather jackets anymore.

  14. Happy Monday. Still warm here but fall is definitely coming: the air changes. I, too, am doing a partial closet switch over. Until this post, I hadn’t thought of looking at accessories, so I’ll take a look. Totally with you on moto jacket vibe – just not me, but velvet isn’t either though I really like your OOTW.

    1. Itā€™s a big process but a fun explore too.

  15. I would love to see this outfit on a real person. Just wondering what the booties look like with this skirt.

    1. Depending on your height, there will be a gap between the skirt and booties. Iā€™ll probably wear tights if I wear short booties with it.

  16. I feel the same regarding the Moto jacket but I found a knit Moto jacket on a clearance rack and I love they way it feels and looks. It has the traditional styling but is more age appropriate. I’ve nearly worn it out and am on a quest to replace with a new one.

    1. Iā€™ve seen a few ponte ones lately that feel nice on.

  17. I don’t think many people realize that “faux leather” is, for the most part, plastic. It’s not biodegradable and it’s not environmentally friendly.

  18. Moto jackets are usually too short. The faux leathers and suedes are now a good quality. You mentioned bags to donate. Do you feel you hang onto things too long? Or are these recent purchases? Lately if I put it on to take it off it goes in a bag to consider donating. Sometimes even recent purchases just donā€™t feel right when I put them on.

    1. Iā€™ve regretted some donations in years past so Iā€™m careful.Sometimes it goes into a bag within a year but usually I give it several. I probably shouldnā€™t. Being decisive has definite merits but my tastes also change.

  19. Two years ago I purchased an emerald green velveteen jean jacket and emerald denim pants. Who knew the color would be so popular now! I still love the color and the items.
    Thanks for the Forever sweater recommendation. I ordered two of them the day you showed them.

    1. My heart leaped when I read emerald green velveteen..talk about delightful! How fabulous

  20. Sorry, completely off topic, but it made me giggle. I’m seeing the oddest ads from Etsy on your page. They are for Indian Sari’s, dentures and baby essential lists! Not sure what demographic I’m in now LOL.
    As for accessories – yes I keep them for years. I still have scarves and jewelry from the 80’s that I treasure and wear. The other day I pulled out some old brooches to add to fall jackets and coats. We are still experiencing summer-like weather, but hopefully next week I’ll be able to wear some fall clothes. Closet partial switch over is on my list of to do’s this week.

    1. Thatā€™s hilarious! Their ad servers must be broken šŸ™‚ Iā€™ve been hoping to add to my brooch collection this year because theyā€™re such a unique accessory.

      1. Those pop ups about 25 things that make us look older have pronounced brooches a major culprit. Disagree…depends on how one styles it.

      2. Brooches are classy and fun in my book, so I ignore those pronouncements.

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