Stripes

Time to replenish my stripes collection.

Samuji Sunny Shirt

Armor Lux Mariniere Sweater

Wood Wood Adrien Top

Armor Lux Passarelle

Here's to a happier 2014!

Back to Work!

Time for an early lunch break.

Sale goodies at Conifer
Rachel Comey Mars boots in Whiskey, $275
Ace & Jig Button Up, $92
Demylee cashmere Stripe Alexa pullover, $192
UPSTATE Kimono, $121

I'm thinking about ordering this Gloverall Monty Duffle, which has been marked down to $270. My coat collection still lacks a duffle, and a few of my workhorses are starting to look shabby. I tried on a few different Gloveralls at Gravity Pope. Sizing is seems to depend on the style. I'm a 32 in the slim fit and a 30 or Small in the original fit. The sleeves are a bit too long, but I like that they keep my hands covered.

Winter Break

Black Crane Square Shirt

Grades are submitted, presents have been purchased, and it looks like we might finally have a white Christmas after 10 years of waiting. I'm looking forward to seeing a movie or two (Her and American Hustle) and baking cookies with the boys. Maybe even sledding and ice skating.

I've been shopping so much at J.Crew lately. The quality is iffy, but the sales have been too good to resist. I do wish there were a Muji or Uniqlo in Toronto. Also, sometimes I forget that there are nice basics like Black Crane at relatively affordable prices. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. If you're on break, don't forget to take the time to do something completely frivolous. I have spent the past 10 years skipping family celebrations and daily pleasures in order to scan books and edit essays. (Almost) everything was placed on the back burner in pursuit of something I thought was attainable. I'm done with this ascetic lifestyle. There has to be a better way, I'm just not sure what it is.

The boys.

It's that time of the year when you have to go through hundreds of photographs in order to put together the holiday card. Here are a few of my favorites that didn't make the final cut.

checking in, december edition

My final lecture of the semester is today, and then there are papers and an exam to grade in the next two weeks. I'm looking forward to a few days off in between various other December deadlines. I'm lucky I only have to teach two courses next semester. I hope there will be job interviews, but I'm preparing for the worst.

I've been continuing to focus on relatively boring wardrobe-building for the past month. I bought a pair of Cole Haan Monroe penny loafers in October after many months of hesitation. Of course they're half a size too big after stretching out, for some reason I didn't anticipate this inevitability. I'm destined to live in Birkenstocks, I have terrible luck with real shoes! I also stumbled upon an Isabel Marant for H&M blouse, which has worked equally well for teaching and going out.

Last night I decided to order the shirt-tail mini in boulevard green from J.Crew. I haven't worn skirts on a regular basis in many years, but I'm hoping this one will be a dependable workhorse this season. J.Crew quality is so iffy, but I always wait for sales and additional discounts. I have no expectations of these pieces lasting more than a season or two.

I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving. Maybe it's because I haven't been online much these days, but I've been enjoying a slower pace of life. We buy groceries, draw pictures, clean, and fold laundry. I'm trying hard to be content with the current situation. If I stop to think about what may happen in the next few months, I fall apart. There's a character in A.S. Byatt's The Children Book who chooses to live lightly on the surface because the alternative is too troubling. In times like these, that's the best advice I can offer myself and those in a similar situation. For all of you on the market, here's hoping for interviews and campus visits...and contracts.