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Monday Musings: White Stripes

Happy Monday ladies, I hope you had a nice weekend. We finally got our veggie garden planted, (I had no part in it #blackthumb), including some seeds so I’m hopeful we’ll have things to harvest soon. We did discover there are two bunnies living in our backyard. So far they haven’t found our raised beds.

Here’s some of what’s on my mind this week-

White Shirt

Even at home, I’m reaching for a white shirt many days. I just feel better about myself in a classic white shirt, even if no one sees me. Plus, since I’m cooking more than ever, I’m eating more and an untucked white shirt covers a multitude of sins.

everlane shirtdress
Shirtdress

How about this white shirtdress? It’s just a super long cotton shirt with a slight shirttail hemline. I would likely just wear this open over a tank and a pair of jeans or wear it as a bathing suit coverup. This shirt is highly rated so I ordered it and will report back. I also ordered this button up and am very excited to try it. It’s designed by women for women. Town and Country magazine calls these shirts, “the perfect styles to make you look polished, put-together, and effortlessly cool”Ā which says it all for me.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing leopard cardigan with white shirt and blue jeans

I wore this white shirt from Target last week with a pair of jeans (old) and a leopard cardigan that I’ve worn a zillion times. Yes, I iron it but as one of you mentioned last week, ironing can be a meditative way to relax.

Tea Kettle

Our electric tea kettle bit the dust last week, which is a real issue because I drink a lot of tea. I knew what I wanted to replace it with but hesitated because they’re pricey. I shopped tons of alternatives online and read tons of reviews..until I found the one I originally wanted on sale. Score! white smeg tea kettle on counter next to espresso machineIt comes in lots of gorgeous colors and I debated between them all. The blue is gorgeous, as is the pink, and aqua. But in the end, I went with the always easy, white. Let me tell you, this kettle is awesome!! I can not believe how much delight this kettle gives me. Not only do I LOVE the way it looks, it feels substantial and heats up very fast. When my blender goes, which is on it’s last legs, I will be very tempted to get another Smeg.

Stripes

striped pajama set

I never met a stripe I didn’t like. It’s a classic, modern and all-around easy pattern to wear. My favorites always seem to have white in them which look fresh to me. I really love the classic Breton tees but most have round or crew necks and I look better in v-necks. I was happy to find this one on sale. There’s actually more around than I thought.

How to Find Your Best Neckline

Are you a fan of stripes?

Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.

55 Comments

  1. Lisa Bieri says:

    I love stripes…..and I love to iron, as long as it’s fairly easy – ha!

  2. I love stripes. So cheerful. I’ve been contemplating that Smeg kettle so thank you for your review.

  3. Elaine @ Following Augustine says:

    I love a classic Breton striped t-shirt!

  4. Christine says:

    My comment comes out of left field – the SMEG tea kettle is beautiful and has great design, but what caught my eye is your coffee maker to the left in the photograph. Consider a blog posting about how we go about creating the coffees and teas we love. I’ve used a Mr. Coffee Latte Maker for several years and it has given up the ghost. Unfortunately, it’s no longer made. Thank you and have a great week!

    1. I am not a coffee drinker but I do love tea! It must be the Canadian in me. I have an entire closet of teas.I’ll see what I can come up with. Be well!

  5. I have always loved stripes. Watch out for those rabbits. They will eat EVERY marigold!

  6. Yes! Iā€™m always drawn to stripes, which makes sense since I have a classic style. I pretty much like everything you wear, Jennifer.

    I had wanted to send a private message to you, but couldnā€™t figure out how to do that. Just wanted to tell you that a few weeks ago I left a response to another comment in which I mentioned my DIL living in BC was almost due with their first one. Under the current circumstances, I was concerned for them. You kindly offered prayers, which I greatly appreciated. Sheā€™s since delivered a beautiful & healthy baby girl. Since we wonā€™t risk travelling, even within our own country, weā€™re getting to know our new granddaughter through video chats. Itā€™s great!

    1. Prayers for you, dear Jennifer, for a good report with the MRI, & for good health. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

    2. Please always feel free to send me a private email. Just hit reply to any post you get in your email box. I’m so happy she’s doing well. There’s nothing as special as a new baby. Congratulations and thanks for letting me know:) xx

  7. When you said you needed a new kettle, I just knew it was going to be a SMEG.
    Having lived in the UK for a no. Of years, I of course discovered the beauty of having an electric kettle and in those days, everyone had a Russell Hobbs. So of course had to have one when moved back to Seattle. In fact, the last kettle I purchased was a Russell Hobbs… I donā€™t even remember when… in Canada & I absolutely love it still.
    Can you even buy Russell Hobbs anymore?
    Great choice, the SMEG, also love the white. Quite pricey though šŸ˜®
    Love your posts and hearing about your journey.
    Take care

    1. You can buy a Russel Hobbs and that was my second choice! Stay safe

  8. Lovely upbeat post! Just what I needed today. Love the tea pot, will be checking that out. Have been praying for you.šŸ™

  9. Carla Mahaney says:

    The shirtdress would have to be a no for me. I do like it, quite a bit actually, but right now it just gives me more permission to continue eating while not giving any thought whatsoever to everything else in the closet that feels just a wee bit smaller every day the longer I WFH and eat at home more often than I should.
    The other shirt you mention I love – I think that’s a timeless classic I’d put in my closet anytime!

  10. Sharon Mulliken says:

    I am a sucker for stripes! Have a closet full of them and really enjoy how easy they are to style with cardigans and blazers and vests. And I have several white shirts, but haven’t found the perfect one yet. Oh well. It’s all in the journey! So, what I really need some help with is where to find a good basic white and a good basic black v-neck tee. Any suggestions? It’s such a challenge to HAVE to order online right now, and not be able to try on. My postman must wonder what in the heck I am doing, getting packages and returning packages!!!! Thanks for your musings, sharing your experiences with appliances and everything else in your life and your fashion sense. I look forward to your posts and am so glad I found them! Still hoping and praying for good results and an easy fix for your health issues, Jennifer!

  11. Any update on your health that you can share?
    Hoping all is well.

    1. Iā€™m hoping to get some results from last weekā€™s MRI today. I will share as soon as I know. Thank you.

  12. I want to like stripes. I know I am “supposed to”. I find the classic black/navy and white stripes jarring to the eye. I do own an almost imperceptibly striped chambray blue and white button down. Does that count?

    1. Lol, that counts. Soft and subtle sounds lovely. I have a blue one like that and adore it. Happy Monday

  13. Pat from Wisconsin says:

    Love that kettle! SO cute. I did have an idea for a post, something that would help me. It would be a deep dive into using the jewelry you have. For instance, I purchased some necklace extenders on Amazon, so I could make short necklaces longer. Very useful, although if your necklace is light weight, it ends up working it’s way down to the lowest point. Do you use these and is there a remedy for that? My husband got me a diamond pendant but it’s on the tiniest chain with the tiniest clasp. If I knew a way to use the extenders and not have them drift down by the diamond, that would be great. Also, how do you combine necklaces without having them tangle? Can you wrap one necklace around another? How is that done. Also, are brooches old lady or can they look trendy? I had a fuddy duddy looking ring opal ring that my husband got me (looks like something Tootsie would wear) made into a pendant. I thought you might have some jewelry wisdom to share.

    1. I havenā€™t had luck with extenders either. I donā€™t have a problem with my necklaces tangling but Iā€™m careful not to combine ones with very fine chains.
      Brooches are cool! I love mine. Wear them and enjoy. Try pinning them in unusual places like jacket pockets, hats, cuff of sleeve.

  14. I need a new tea kettle!

  15. Last spring I told myself “no more striped shirts.” I can’t seem to stop myself from buying them! I’m still looking for that perfect white tee. I’d buy a bunch if I could find that perfect one. Any suggestions?

    1. Iā€™m still testing them out because I want a v-neck one. I do know the Everlane tee in white is too sheer for my liking. Iā€™ll report back when I find it. BTW- JCrew Factory makes great thick tees if you like crew necks.

    2. If you could see my closet you would laugh – stripes everywhere! When shopping I am just always drawn to them. Also searching for that perfect white shirt and tee shirt- and like you, I’d buy a dozen!

  16. Iā€™m still looking for a white shirt that I love. I donā€™t like classic shirt collars and prefer the camp shirt style. Seems those are hard to find in any color. Especially in a body shape and fabric I like. Also, I like aā€ soft ā€œ Warm white rather than a bright cool white. A tall order. If I found my perfect white shirt I would buy half a dozen.

    Everyone seems to love horizontal stripes except me.
    I do like very large stripes, or rugby style stripes, but somehow all-over, smaller, repetitive stripes are a miss on me. Maybe itā€™s the hard edges, or the busy look. The stripes I do really like are usually the wide stripes, or are multicolored, varied in widths, and often muted, almost hombre blended.
    Vertical stripes are a different story. Love those pjs.

  17. I find striped shirts look great on hanger, but not on me, Iā€™m 5ā€™2ā€ and they make me look disproportionate. I prefer wearing a diagonal stripped top. I love your look of a tied white shirt, I have not done this for many years.

    I know many tea drinkers swear by heating water with a kettle, either electric or stove, but I do not notice a difference and I always microwave my tea water. I like to keep my kitchen appliances to a minimum.

    1. I make a pot of tea so need more than just a cup or I might pop mine in the microwave too. I always reheat mine that way.

  18. Your introductory photo is beautiful … stripes, vase, white tulips! So restful … thanks, Jennifer!

  19. I love classic white shirts, but Iā€™m not sure about the shirt dress. Iā€™ve never embraced the duster look because Iā€™m so short 4ā€™11ā€ – Iā€™m not sure I could pull it off. Thanks for inspiring us with new ways to put together outfits

    1. Cyndi- you should definitely try duster! I too am 4ā€™11ā€- with really short legs. The duster give the illision of length. I make sure itā€™s a narrow ( not tight) fit and a soft material. So perhaps not cooton unless itā€™s thin and drapey. Good luck!)

  20. Can I just ask what size you ordered in the Everlane shirt? I am around same size as you and have no idea what size to order.
    Thanks
    Val

    1. It says it runs very large and the chest measurements bear that out so I sized down to a 6, which I never wear. I want it loose but not too sloppy.

      1. Thanks v much. Will give it a go I think.

  21. I am interested in the coffee/espresso maker. What kind is it? Thank you for sticking with your blog and give us a health update when youā€™re ready.

    1. The espresso machine is a Delonghi Magnifica. We bought our at least 10 years ago and itā€™s loud but works like a charm:)Thanks for being here.
      The current version is here https://shopstyle.it/l/bgcOW

  22. Can’t go wrong with a white shirt! I’ve never met a stripe I didn’t like either. Love those shirts! I drink tea also and would love that teakettle. Does it get hot enough?

    1. It comes to a full rolling boil then automatically shuts off. Itā€™s as good as boiling on the stove.

  23. Linda Henderson says:

    Thank you for sharing your Smeg tea kettle information. I was not familiar with the brand but love the styling. The white shirt look has appeal and please tell me how you keep your hair looking so great.

    1. Thank you. I certainly have good and bad hair days. Iā€™m washing it everyday because itā€™s looking particularly flat if I donā€™t. I also use tons of product:)

  24. Wondering how you tied the bottom of the white shirt?Mine never stay!

    1. I tied it around a belt loop. Slip each end in through the loop in opposite directions and tie.

      1. Thank you!I would never have figured that out!

    1. That’s awesome, thank you! I sent the link to my husband to watch!

  25. Joyce Reardon says:

    My closet is so filled with stripes! I love them! Need a good white shirt too.
    We just got back from Florida to MA, so cleaning my closet while I unpack.
    Canā€™t wait to start planting. Canā€™t wait to see your beds.
    Have a great day

    1. Thatā€™s the perfect time to clean your closet:) Happy Monday Joyce

  26. Linda R Gaertner says:

    Love striped tops and I just purchased two white shirts from Talbots.

  27. Nice looking kettle but if Smeg replacement guarantee is available in US regisater it now. One of my friends has this in red and it stopped working after about 18 months

  28. Paulette Levy says:

    Like Val I need new white shirts, at Keats two, but absolutely need to try them on so will wait until stores re open. Hope it’s in not too distant future.
    I may order some new pjs now, as I’m less particular about those…just not tight anywhere, so I upsize usually.

    With our unpredictable weather gardening right now is limited to lettuce and a few early herb starters. We go from 40 and cool to 60 and warmush feeling….all over the place.
    Have the best Monday possible!

    1. White shirts are hard to get right. Iā€™ll keep to updated on sizing.
      Happy Monday. p.s.- a hate tight pjs too. Xx

  29. Ohhh I think I need some new white shirts now!
    Also I have that Smeg kettle in the baby blue…..Santa brought me the toaster and the blender. Love them all.
    Hope youā€™re doing well.
    Val

    1. That baby blue is SO pretty. I may need the blender in blue:)

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