KNIT LOUNGE

Traditions

About a year and half ago a friend of mine and I started a tradition. When we are out and about we purchase a little bauble as a memento of the occasion.  It can be anything from a mug with a sheep on it, to a small piece of jewelry, or something that we can use fairly often. Nothing to expensive just a little something.

My delightful friend Patricia and I are both Leo's and our birthday's are 9 days apart. To celebrate ours,  I buy her lunch and vise versa. After lunch we always go shopping in downtown for fun.

In keeping with my tradition I brought two bold bracelets as my memento.

Both are from Mango Tree, an eco friendly company and these bangles fit like a dream and the wood is as smooth as silk. For a petite person is is very difficult to find bangles that do not overwhelm our smaller frames and these are scaled to size perfectly. Did you notice the price? What a steal. 

You know, I had to purchase the Race Car Red beauty.

 

And I also fell in love with the marbled Raspberry. I need to knit a sweater to match!

Does anyone want to go out to lunch with me so I can get another one?

Fabulous

As a pretty firm rule I have given up wearing high heel shoes. I think it has something to do with the aging process. I no longer wish to make painful physical sacrifices on the alter of beauty when it comes to shoes but this does not mean that I am going to give up style. That would be criminal. 

There is a fabby little store in Key West named Wander Lust that carries a lovely assortment of stylish flats. And I just had to have this pair in dusty silver. I think of them as an early birthday present to myself.

 

The shop owner even gave me a discount since my special day is just around the corner on the 14th.  She is a sweet heart. On Saturday, I wore them with my taupe linen trousers and Blush. I got compliments on both. How cool is that???!!!

Thrift

The Salvation Army thrift store in Key West is perhaps the dreariest and dumpiest one that I have ever seen.   

The walls are a dingy yellow that is almost sickly in appearance. The air conditioning is practically non-existent on a good day. I can only be in there for a short time in the summer before my hair is soaked with perspiration, my nose is dripping from the dust and my eyes start to itch from the mold. How utterly charming.

One would think that this would be a deterrent but I have learned that this is only a minor inconvenience when I might score some high end clothes for pennies on the dollar. 

Quite often I have found Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Michael Kors, Talbot, Orvis etc. hiding amongst the rubbish.

A few weeks ago I popped in and picked up a sporty linen top. I can wear it with both my white and black linen trousers. Though I think it looks best with the white. 

 

As the rummage continued on I found a crinkled linen tank in Eggplant from the Dress Barn. I think it looks smashing with this cotton wrap. Its too bad that I can't convince my camera how pretty it is.

 

By the time my eyes were tearing up and my nose had transformed into a faucet I was ready to take my leave but something compelled me to poke about in the dress rack.

I rarely find anything there because I wear a size 6 and that is the hardest size to come by around here. 

Then squashed in between a wack of boring black poylester dresses was this chic fully lined white cotton and machine embroidered dress from Talbot's in mint condition for $3.50!!!!

 

I almost missed adding this beauty to my wardrobe but I have learned that it pays to push the dresses about to find the gems.  

Yeah, this place is amazing even though it does make me terribly damp and slightly ill when I'm there!

Kismet

Like I said I've been doing my best to stay away from Ross because I really don't need another thing. My closet is beginning to bulge.

Well last week I had to go in there because a *Client of mine needed a few things from there.

As I was walking toward the check out line I spotted a terrific dress hanging on the rack for 12.99. It was hard to keep going without the dress but I did.

The remainder of the week was so full that I completely forgot about the dress.

Saturday morning rolls around and I decided to take Techboy out for breakfast at Goldman's Deli  which happens to be on the other side of the parking lot from Ross.

As we were eating I remembered the dress. On a whim, I thought if the dress is still there I'll take it home with me though I did not expect it to be and if I had to hunt for more than a few minutes I'd give up the chase. 

I go in. The dress is still in the same place on the rack!!! I slip it on in the fitting room. 

It fits. And I found out that it looks like a tunic over my white linen pants that I just happened to be wearing. Two looks for the price of one. How cool is that??!!!

 

On my way out I took a side trip to the shoe department and picked up a pair of $6.00 black flats that complimented the dress! 

In less then 15 minutes and 20 bucks later I scored two new outfits.  I love it when things come together like that!

 

* I am the proprietor of Fetch and Carry Concierge. I run those pesky errands for clients.

 

 

 

 

That's my Story

Ask anyone who knows me personally, what is my signature color is and they will tell you without hesitation, Red. Not that orangey red but a true proper British Redcoat Red.  

With that being said I've been trying to avoid Ross because I almost always find something fabby there in my signature color and I really didn't need to purchase anything else. My wardrobe does not need another thing. 

So when Judi called and said she was going to run a few errands including popping into Ross and wanted to know if I would like to join her.  Of course I never pass up an opportunity to have some girl time and off we went. 

As we were walking by the size 6 1/2 shoe rack in Ross her eyes landed on a sweet pair of 20 dollar Bandolinos!!!!

I was choosing not to look. Shoes make me rather giddy and I was trying to exercise self control in the face of temptation.

Judi practically shouted in excitement, "Oh Abigail, look at these! They are perfect shade of red! You just have to try these on!" In that moment I powerless and took a quick look. I should not have done that.

She had my undivided attention. I examined them more closely, quickly reviewing in my mind what I could wear these with.

 

Of course they would look great with my almond, taupe, gold, and black linen trousers and not to mention my collection of assorted skirts in the same colors. I also have a few tops that would compliment the East Indian Flavor as well.

Then I looked at the soles. It is almost a crying shame to walk on them but I think I could make the sacrfice.

 

I caved.  So it's Judi's fault that I brought home yet another pair of red shoes.

And that my story and I'm sticking to it!

Trio

Hi all, Zoe here.

Abigail gave me permission to write the blog post today. Currently she is prostrate on the bed recovering from a "Girls Day Out".

She spent the day with her friend Judi and Judi's sister Cindy. They had too much fun inspecting a plethora of clothing stores on the "Rock."

Judi and Cindy purchased the most items but I think Abigail brought home the best. 

She has a tremendous weakness for Ice White button down shirts with assorted unique details and she has a modest collection of them.  The Poet shirt with the shirring details caught her attention right away and she very nearly swooned when she tried it on. Perfect with jeans.

 

At Ross she purchased a crisp white Linen jacket -  unstructured and unadorned with the exception of the eyelet lace on the 3/4 sleeves. The effect is quite delicate and feminine in an understated manner.

 

I saved the best for last. The tomato red silk blazer for 19.00 dollars.  The fit is perfect on her and the  French cuffs are smashing. 

 

OMG! I love it here!