How many pairs of jeans should a person own?
How tall is your denim pile? Mine is 15 pairs high.
According to Fashion United, the average number of jeans a woman owns is seven. But the catch? They say she only really wears four. Mind = blown.
So, how have I come to have so many pairs and is it a bit excessive?
The truth is, I’ve just sort of accumulated them over the past 6 years. They range in size from a 27 to a 31. Having had two kids recently has meant my weight has fluctuated significantly. A lot of people would say that I should have cleaned out my closet more thoroughly over the past few years. That no one needs 15 pairs of jeans - especially if half of them don’t fit perfectly at any given time.
But you know what? I’m glad I’ve held onto them.
They’re all classic styles and they work just as well today as they did the day I bought them. Most have a skinny or slim leg. They’re all in shades of classic chambray or black. I have no regrets.
I’m ok with having items in my wardrobe that are a bit too big or a bit too small. It means that when my weight fluctuates (which I’m sure it will continue to do) I don’t have to freak out about not having clothes that fit. So, I’m holding onto my 15 pairs for now and, who knows, I might even add a couple new pairs into the mix this year.
But back to the original question: how many pairs of jeans should a person own? There’s no right answer but I think having 3-5 pairs that you really love and that fit well is a pretty good benchmark to work towards.
A LITTLE BIT IN BETWEEN...
Freezing temperatures have meant that I've been staying inside cuddled up under a blanket most days. How did over a week go by without me posting anything on this blog? I've just started taking an intensive German class so my mind is tuned into arbeitens and Deutsch instead of fashion. Please accept my sincerest apologies. I still love this blog but I do feel as though I've come up against a bit of a brick wall. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I'm not sure what I want to post about and outfit shots just seem so mundane these days. How many photos can you see of me snuggled up in a warm coat? Fashion week is coming up in a few weeks so hopefully that will give me an injection of inspiration. In the meantime here's a shot of me from yesterday wearing a casual low maintenance outfit. I'm loving burgundy legs and wooly jumpers these days.
Wearing: Laird & Co Hatters hat, Patouf jumper, J.Crew jacket, Topshop jeans, Lilifi clutch and Balenciaga boots.
EMBRACE THE CHANGES...
Why, hello there...
You might have already noticed (or heard the incessant grumbling) but let's just get it out in the open. Yes, the are rumors true. After two and a half years the Style Crusader has finally landed peacefully onto a dot-com home. Please, please, hold your applause. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?! This baby started out on blogspot in August 2009. Then, in July 2010, was moved to wordpress. You know, because it gives you more flexibility in design (yada-yada-yada). That was fine, albiet slightly traumatic as I lost all my blogger followers. I bought the dot-com domain on the same day that I got my first DSLR camera (a second-hand Canon 450). Some techy glitches meant I wound up hosting on dot-org, a site which got so badly hacked/spammed that it reached the point of no return. Phew. So, here we are...
I'd like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you to my new home. Curtsey
This was the first day I was at Paris Fashion Week. I decided to bring my bright orange beanie with me, you know, for warmth and stuff. I got this hat for $2 at Walmart when I was in the US at Christmas. My family was not impressed with it and my sister refused to stand next to me when I wore it. Imagine my jubilation when NYFW rolled around and I saw this. Mwaahaha. See family, I told you orange was the right decision. I have to admit though I feel like a bit of a turd when I wear this hat... it's so bright. People honestly give me funny looks and say strange things when I wear it. I mean, really, it's just a hat people. Come-the-freak-on.
Anyway, clearly I wasn't the only person at PFW that thought an orange beanie was a good idea...
This was outside the Stella McCartney show by the way. It was literally freezing. I felt a fool and was SO PAINFULLY COLD that I literally couldn't take any photos. I got a tall latte with an extra shot from Starbucks (so American) and tried to use it to keep my hands warm. Resistance was futile. Shini and I admitted defeat and went in search of gloves (we found some in an Adidas store - they were 10 euros and oh-so-stylish). After going home to regroup (i.e. change clothes) we headed back out into the city to try to catch some street style action - in flats and as many layers as we could pile on.
Yes, that's the story of my first day at Paris Fashion Week.
Wearing: [Part 1] Walmart hat, Muriee cashmere scarf (which is literally glued to my neck - ok, not literally... that would be disturbing), Jigsaw sheer jersey T-shirt, Madewell jacket, J Brand Bette jeans from Anthropologie (found in the sale for $19?!) and Balenciaga boots. [Part 2] 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans (old version), Dagmar knit jacket, Converse and Varg canvas bag.
p.s. any questions on the blog change and/or how to follow please post in the comments.
JUMPING BACK IN THE DEEP END...
Photos by Shini Park
I'm obsessed with knitwear at the moment.
Ever since seeing this Carven jumper on Leanne last season I've been dreaming about a piece of knitwear with some sort of neck detail. As you can imagine I was over the moon when Anna sent me Patouf's AW12 look book a few weeks ago and, right there in the mix, was a little dusky pink knit with black contrasting pattern at the neck and shoulders. Swoon. She kindly sent it over just in time for fashion week and I was so glad because I felt very in the know wearing it. Hello, have you seen the roll neck sheer chest jumper from Marios Schwab's collection - there are parallels.
Wearing: Flyaway jumper - Patouf AW12, pink 2nd Day jeans (Varg), Theory jacket (My Wardobe), Muriee cashmere scarf (Task), Mykita sunglasses, YSL arty ring, Maison Scotch clutch (Sane) and my always trusty Balenciaga boots.
p.s. headed to Paris today! Eeek. If you're there then give me a shout. Any tips/tricks for surviving the city?
SNOW ANGEL...
Brrrr... I'm starting to wonder whether the temperature will ever get above zero degrees. In my delirious dreams for Spring I seem to be grasping at anything that isn't black or grey. The fact that I've spent the last two weeks resembling a multi-layered arctic explorer is getting old - as much as I do love wandering around the house with a duvet glued to my back the thought of being in London tomorrow, where the weather is supposed to get up to 11, is making me feel positively balmy. For now though, here's a little introduction to my new neighborhood. This weekend we moved into a new flat that's situated just opposite a cemetery and old crematorium - pretty beautiful to explore when it's all covered in snow.
Wearing: Mykita Aritana sunglasses, Dagmar jacket, Cabbages & Roses top, Jigsaw t-shirt, H&M shoes, Topshop ring and J. Lindberg jeans
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DOUBLE JACKETS & TRIPLE DENIM
I think it's a continuation of the January blues but I've been feeling hugely uninspired about getting dressed lately. In my head I've already moved onto Spring but sadly the weather isn't on the same time frame. It's absolutely freezing in Zurich at the moment.
When I came across this look on the Sartorialist this morning I thought it was too good not to emulate. The only problem, though, is that when wearing a long sleeve shirt, thick knit, denim jacket and a coat you instantly start to look and feel like this (not familiar with A Christmas Story? See here.) It's worth it though, despite being almost incapable of putting my arms down.
Wearing: J.Crew peacoat, Gap denim jacket, J.Crew chambray shirt, 7 for all Mankind jeans, Balenciaga boots, Laird & Co crushable fedora, Sambag tote, J.Crew fisherman sweater, Bottletop clutch and vintage earrings.
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Tricia's Varsity Jacket
'Varsity jackets are so in right now, don't you know? Hello, everyone from Alexander Wang to Proenza Schouler has shown them. Sure, they might be all over the high street but those knockoffs ain't got nothing on this little vintage one.' Err, just kidding.
'Varsity jackets are so in right now, don't you know? Hello, everyone from Alexander Wang to Proenza Schouler has shown them. Sure, they might be all over the high street but those knockoffs ain't got nothing on this little vintage one.'
Err, just kidding. When I found this little gem of a jacket crammed on a rail at an antique mall in the mid-west a couple weeks ago my family didn't even look a bit perplexed or seek an explanation. My sister did, however, suppress a gag reflex every time I insisted on putting it on. Whether that was due to her viewing me as a sartorial pariah or the jacket's musty smell, well... I'll never know.
I couldn't bare to leave this item behind so I forked out $12 and left feeling giddy with my purchase. Made from recycled wool, the fabric is so heavy and thick it'll make you sweat on even the coldest days. The hood unzips to reveal 'Tricia', the original owner at the back and the pockets are lined with white leather. It's cliche and, at the moment, a bit annoyingly trendy but I kind of love this jacket.
Wearing: thrifted varsity jacket, Banana Republic jumper, 7 for all Mankind jeans and Converse. Photos by Stephanie.
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FLANNEL PAJAMAS...
One of the things I find most frustrating about being away from home is packing...
When I arrive at my final destination things go like this: throw open my suitcase, longingly peer through the contents and then, suddenly, start to panic. Frantically I pull everything out and, defeatedly, start to realize that something has gone horribly wrong. Why did I forget underwear? How did I only pack t-shirts and it's almost freezing outside? No coat and it's winter One pair of jeans that have coke spilt on them from the flight. My packing efforts are clearly delluded and misguided. All this to say, I was pretty excited when I received a pair of J.Crew flannel pajamas last week and discovered the top could double as a real shirt (it gave my weak holiday wardrobe a little boost). Staying in my pajamas all day suddenly became way more acceptable and I like it.
Wearing: J.Crew flannel pajama shirt, Timex Andros Watch, J Brand Bette Superflare jeans and Osprey bag from eBay Fashion Outlet.
Snow fall...
Switzerland experienced one of the driest Novembers in history this year which left ski resorts in a bit of a panic. You see, no rain means no snow on the mountains... but, after a week of almost non-stop drizzle the alps are now covered in snow. Not a bad view to have from your roof, eh?
Lately I'm feeling rather anti-winter and as a result have decided to protest the cold by wearing sheer silk and cropped jeans instead of wooly jumpers. I'm desperately seeking a pair of slouchy soft boyfriend jeans that actually reach down to my ankles (they are all I want to wear right now).
Wearing: Gallery4 shirt (ss12), ckone jeans, American Apparel large leather clutch, Salvatore Ferragamo heels and random assortment of bangles.