Saturday, March 20, 2010

A Road Trip

...well not really a road trip but it d*mn sure seemed like it because we took the munchkin and I've forgotten how much stuff you have to take with you when a small child is involved!

Anyway, I went to Princeton today to visit my local Talbots store.  I've been oodling and oodling the goods online and I really wanted to touch them in person.  Plus it was such a lovely spring day here on the East Coast that it was just too nice to stay inside.

So we set off to Princeton, me, the darling daughter and the little one.  Who is such a flirt!  Seriously, dude just lit up as woman after woman proclaimed his cuteness! 

There use to be a Talbots Woman store in Princeton but there's only a Petite and Regular size one now...so even though I didn't get to try anything on...I did get a sense of the fabrics that they are using in their garments.

The ones I specifically looked at were:

This tweed sheath is displayed prominently in their catalog, as well as on their website, with a cute floral cardigan sweater.  I thought the tweed fabric would be thin but it is a medium weight tweed.  Great for early spring and spring-like temps.  I don't think I would wear this dress during the hottest days of summer but would definitely pull it back out for the first crisp fall days.  I wasn't as impressed with the cardigan shown with the dress.  The fabric is thin and since I use cardigans during the summer to keep me warm from overly air conditioned places, this one wouldn't have provided much comfort.  However, I did like the mother of pearl shank buttons that they used...and will be using that on a garment of my own in the future.

This shirtdress again exceeded my expectations.  It is constructed from a firm medium-weight linen with a lot of body.  Of course the dress is lined with an invisible zipper in the back...so even though the dress has its design roots in the early 60s, it is missing that side zip...which I've never fully understood anyway!  I was glad that I got to touch both dresses, even though Talbots website has considerably more dresses than the store does.  However, I have a much better idea of where I'm headed with creating my own spring dresses.

Of course there were shoe stores...Nine West and Aerosoles along with the shoe departments in Talbots, Ann Taylor, J. Crew and Banana Republic.  And all of these stores are featuring nude colored shoes. 

I like Nine West shoes, they just tend to come in heel heights over 3" which is my absolute cut-off for shoes.  Gone are the days when I can tip around in high, high heels *sigh* so I have to make it work with lower heeled ones.  However, I tried this pair on:



And I really wanted to take them home with me but since they were just a little over 4" heels, I left them.  Even though, I've really, really wanted some platform pumps, ultimately I decided to take this pair instead:


...which are really more me!  They also received the "seal of approval" from the Significant Other so I guess they are keepers.  He actually grinned quite broadly at them so I guess I did good!  Although, I did manage to find this pair:

from Dillards - they are a tan patent leather with a 2.5" heel...and this pair:

which are a slingback...my ultimate favorite type of shoes to wear.  So now I'm in possession of three pairs of bone heels.  I think I went a little overboard! *LOL*  Won't need any more of these anytime soon!   Or maybe since I'm not really buying fabric...I've probably replaced buying fabric with buying shoes.  As you'll see in the upcoming months, I've bought quite a few pairs!

Anyway...that was my day trip...a little snoop shopping, a little shoe shopping...and a great lunch with my darling daughter & the Little Prince (who was so well behaved in the restuarant - but I think that had more to do with the great french fries than the stimulating conversation!) 

Tomorrow I will be sewing...so more later!


23 comments:

  1. You aren't kidding about shlepping things when you have kids in tow! My dad and I had my oldest niece and my 2 year old nephew for the day, and OH GOODNESS THE KID STUFF. Changes of clothes, snacks, etc etc etc ;)

    The dresses look so beautiful- I hope we get to see your interpretations soon!

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  2. Fantastic haul! I love those shoes, too!! I feel a trip to the mall coming on....I shouldn't wear heels over 3 inches, but inappropriate footwear is kind of my "thing," lol. My husband finds the sheer number of shoes in the closet, stashed under the bed, and in boxes in the basement just a little disturbing. And you are right about all the stuff it takes when you have a baby with you, when I babysit my nephew, it's a minimum three trips back and forth to the car for his paraphernalia!

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  3. Oh! love the shoes. Slingbacks are also my all time favourites. Unfortunately as a SAHM I don't get many opportunities to wear great heels these days but one day....
    My son is now 6 so the carting of 'stuff' is over, but snoop shopping with him in tow is definitely out. Despite my best efforts it looks like he's shaping up as an alpha male ("shopping is for girls Mum")

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  4. I totally agree with you about Nine West shoes: they look stylish, but most of the pumps are over 4", which makes them so impractical. I'd buy more if they lowered the heel by an inch (Nine West, hope you are reading this!).

    What does your SO think of your sewing addiction, errr, I mean hobby?

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  5. When I think of the crap I used to schlep around for 7 small kids, it's a wonder my back didn't go out years ago. I'd love to make a snoop shopping trip; it's time to think of summer clothes! This was a wonderful Greater NY weekend weather wise!

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  6. Ah shoes! I have recently bought 5 pairs...what can I say? But I don't have the nude ones yet. But I will....
    Love all of yours.

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  7. Great shoes. they will go with just about everything so 3 pairs is not remotely excessive!

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  8. I love the slingbacks. They are gorgeous.

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  9. An enthusiastic two "thumbs up" on the shoes. Those Nine West pumps are fabulous . . . I think they want to become part of MY shoe collection!!

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  10. Woo hoo! A shopping trip with a shoe haul - sounds like heaven!

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  11. I love 9 West shoes but don't want the higher heels. Those 4 inch heels have keep me being good about not buying shoes because they are too high. So I have been buying fabric instead.

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  12. Sounds like it was a wonderful day... My favorite of your shoes are the slingbacks w/ the open toe - very cute!

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  13. I love the slingbacks. They're my favourite shoe, too. These are even better being snake.

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  14. I love Talbots too. Great minds think alike, I think!

    I'm glad everyone had a great time, love the shoes!

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  15. Aside from a demure 2-inch high pair on my wedding day (and I shed them asap even then) I've never worn heels -- EVER! Think I might be missing out. The slingbacks look great...love the texture. I love shopping at Talbots, too. Some of the styles are a bit matronly for me, but the jeans and a lot of the tops are just fabulous in fit and comfort.

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  16. LOVE the shoes, Carolyn! I really enjoy your blog. I have nominated you for a new award which you can pick up from my blog (if you have time).

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  17. My faves are the patent ones. Such great, classic style! I have so many shoes. And I'm still buying fabric *and* shoes.

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  18. Oh, you got some pretties! I particularly love the patent ones, but I think you'll get some great use from all of them this spring/summer.

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  19. Carolyn, it always amazes me at how much we think alike. 3" is my cut-off point too for heels. Did you know that a shoemaker or repair person will actually cut off as much as 1/2" from the heel of a shoe. I've had it done and the shoes looked just fine.

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  20. I need me some nude pumps for spring...

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  21. I like to shop "just to see", too. I've got some fabric that would make a simple dress like the boucle/tweedy one, in fact I was thinking of it for Easter. I need to shop for a matching cardigan first, though.

    The shoes are great. I have to admit, that while the first three are nice, when I saw the slingbacks, I thought, "Now *those* are some Carolyn shoes!". Enjoy them, they're perfect.

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  22. I splurged on 5 last week at Target. I really wear 2 the most, but love them all. It's good for the soul. What can I say? lol

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  23. Looking forward to the "Spring" mind set! So much so that I was thinking of you when I got an e-mail from Threads magazine with this little bit on vintage items and thought of you... they show a darling silk blouse and it has.... a side zipper! Just thought maybe you would like to give it a look!
    http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/12712/vintage-inspiration

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