I’m so grateful for your comments on yesterday’s post — they let me see how very much to-be-expected are my current mixed emotions, and they reassure me that I will eventually (soon?) be swept up into my new life here, as some of you have already experienced. I’m whittling down what I want to say about all that, mostly deciding to tell you a bit more about my Ottawa socialising (new friends and old friends, lunch or dinner out with someone almost every day of the week away!) and to tell you what activities are giving structure and rhythm to days in our temporary space. But that’s for later.
For now, I’m unpacking a bin or two and trying to figure out where in our tiny apartment to put these items I’d deemed absolutely necessary for our ten weeks’ waiting time. And I’ve also been trying to organise my Macbook Air, getting used to the absence of the PC I’ve always counted on, space hog that it is. . . So in the interests of clearing out and moving on and getting organised in new spaces, both virtual and material, here are some WIW posts taken in the last days of our move.
As you can see from these, all taken end-of-May and early June we’ve not seen much of summer here on the Coast yet, and Transitional seems to be a theme around here. It was warm enough, once or twice, to wear this navy J Crew dress, to enjoy the comfort of my new blindingly summer-white Birkenstock Arizonas, even sunny enough to justify the hat. But I kept a light cardi handy, and you’ll notice that my legs are still a very winter white. . .
And while I probably wouldn’t need the cashmere scarf AND the jean jacket together this week, I could still appreciate either one, especially in the evenings.
Honestly, this is probably my comfort zone, weather- and dress-wise. I could wear this outfit every day (oh, let’s be frank, I pretty much do!)
Old Gap jean jacket, Bompard cashmere scarf (bought last summer and worn at least fifty days since — indispensable in this colour!), J Crew olive-striped top, Levis, Fluevog loafers . . .
Here’s another variant.
hand-me-down Joe Fresh floral khakis (my daughter left them to me when she moved to Rome–I’m doing my best to redeem their fast-fashion provenance by wearing them into the ground), a navy cotton poplin top, J Crew, my Gap jean jacket, and my new Vince sneakers (yes, the blisterers! but we’re working on that. . . )
Also working on how I will manage WIW posts in this temporary space (while trying not to feel too nostalgic about these shots in my old home. Sniff. Sigh). The only mirror here is hard to get any light at. Sue showed me her trick when we ladies-who-lunched it in Ottawa, and I may try to set up something similar with my iPad. Or try to recruit Pater again. . .
So now I’ve put these What I Wore posts on the blog, and I’ll delete them from my MacBook, banish them from the Cloud, and with that, one more move is made from Transitional to New Space. Perhaps this might move us one step closer as well to Full Summer here in Vancouver. Although given what I’ve been reading about the temperatures some of you have been coping with (46 C, 114F?!!), I’ll be careful what I wish for — I found 32C in Ottawa quite hot enough, thanks.
Over to you now, the mic’s all yours. . . comments on transitions and dressing for them, life and weather-wise both, very welcome. What’s the weather like where you are at the moment? Are you finding comfort in clothes? Or even delight? Or boredom, perhaps? Resisting the retail sirens or steering close to those rocks? Do tell. Or instead, a snapshot in words of what you’ll be doing today, no matter what the outfit. As for me, time for a yoga video workout, and then I’m picking a certain redhead up from preschool for an afternoon with Nana. That’ll knock melancholy off its blocks!
You look quite stylish for someone who is moving. Moving in Florida requires buckets of sweat (we're in the 90's now) and is never pretty or stylish. We are taking the summer off (no teaching) to get our house back in shape after the last several summers tending to elders' needs. So resisting shopping except to replace some worn tee shirts. Foundation repair plus floor and kitchen updating is expensive! At this point we don't know when we will sell. Moves may be in the future in the next couple of years for both boys and significant others so the current plan is to see where they end up. I never thought aging would require so many decisions — all of this is quite a surprise.
Best of luck for the next ten weeks. When I was a child my parents sold their house before the new one was available, so we had to move into my grandmother's small house. It was a challenge, and I think we spent as much time as possible at the pool, library and other places to find some space. I imagine you will do the same!
I don't think I could live in that climate, truly!
Our own move comes 18 months after our last elder passed away — we couldn't possibly have done it during those years of sitting by bedsides and helping to medical visits. Especially since those years coincided with our grandkids' entries into the world and that need to support the young parents. Ages and stages, as my friend used to say during our early parenting years, with no idea then that it would get even more compliated — as you say "all of this is quite a surprise."
You've got it exactly, in suggesting we'll spend much time discovering all the public spaces a city has to offer. I'm planning to get my library card sorted tomorrow, and right now, I'm thinking I'll head off to the big Public Market across False Creek. Luckily, in summer, this isn't a hardship at all. . .
good luck with your summer plans — I hope that you get the house back into the shape that can nurture you until you have to make a decision about what's next. Lovely to have choices, isn't it?!
Really like that J.Crew dress! You've really honed your style; each of these outfits feels so organically "you."I'm with you on the sartorial comfort-zone…happiest when some layers are called for. Right now I'm trying to plot out a summer travel wardrobe, though from the looks of forecasts right now, "transitional season dressing" may still be the way to go…
Thanks, Sue! I'm really pleased you'd say that, as it reflects what I've been feeling but not sure how it translates to an observing eye.
Europe's weather looks all over the map (ha!) right now — my daughter texted from Rome this morning that they're mid-30s but I know many parts are still quite cool-ish. Good luck sorting out your packing choices.
Transition season style is definitely needed here lately. I'm longing for those warm days we had in early May, or was it even April? I'm furiously marking and working on report cards, but taking some time to plan my wardrobe for Europe – am thinking transitional season might be appropriate there, too.
Love the J. Crew dress.
You've had such a busy spring with your full-time teaching — and it's always such a ferocious pace, those last weeks of marking and writing report cards. When do you leave? Perhaps you'll do a packing post before that. . .
Thanks re the dress — it's been a very versatile find!
Oceans and miles apart-I could repeat Lorries question-where is this summer? We had a family dinner at the lake restaurant in April-I wore a summer dress- and this sunday-"transitional clothing" with rain all the time. My legs are completely white,too (but,mostly because I wear white jeans when is sunny :-)!)
I like your combinations,"so you",as une femme said
You have really precious opportunity to organize and curate the nucleus ( not using "capsule wardrobe" term :-)) of your wardrobe,things you wear,like and want to stay in your wardrobe- in a most natural way,living in a condo before moving to the apartement.
Monitoring my WIW, for couple of weeks I wore jeans,white jeans (my summer uniform for years), one silk blouse, 2-3 tees,one navy cardigan (with diferent scarves,of course) -and some other things,for evenings out-
And I really liked it!
I wish you great Nana time
Dottoressa
So you're not getting any of the heat that my daughter's feeling in Rome, D? Bodies of water make such a difference, and whether you're on the East or the West Coast of a body of land. . .
I think I could probably live in white jeans as well, if I had a few pair, of course. Your nucleus wardrobe (I do like that term better) is great — it's so satisfying and simple once you get it right, isn't it?!
Having finally succeeded in subscribing to your posts (the first two tries, long ago, didn't work), the first post I received was yesterday's. Your comments on the your feelings about the move really resonate with me. My husband and I are in what has become a much longer downsizing process than we first anticipated. We have not yet made progress on finding a new home I can imagine living in or on substantially reducing the amount of "stuff" we have (mainly papers), but we have made steady progress on preparing our house for the market. After looking back at a few of your posts about your move, I've found references to where you are going and when, but have not yet discovered why. In our case, neither of us really wants to move, but the economies of retirement (in 5-8 years) demand it. Looking forward to reading more about, and learning from, your journey to a new home, Leslie
Thanks for persisting with the subscription process, Leslie — sorry it's tricky, beyond my ken!
Good luck with the downsizing and trying to decide what's next. It's definitely a tougher process than I'd have thought, and I'm quite pleased to be through the other side. . . .
As for why we moved, you can read about that here materfamiliasknits.blogspot.ca/2016/04/how-we-got-here-why-were-leaving-part.html
and to find out why we made the move when we did (earlier than we'd originally anticipated), that post is here: materfamiliasknits.blogspot.ca/2016/05/how-we-got-here-why-were-leaving-part.html#comment-form
Hi Frances …weather here in the middle of England is overcast and rainy with the odd burst of sunshine! As everyone seems to be saying "where has summer gone?" We've had crazy episodes of flash floods in between the bursts of sunshine as well …so strange! Reminds me a little of Florida without the intense heat and humidity. A couple of days ago, en route to my doctors I had to take a detour or remove my shoes (new ones 🙂 ) and paddle across a road. Very unusual here.
Today, I'm planning my clothes for our trip to Canada and the US and mentally admiring all of you who travel with only a carry on!
I've enjoyed seeing your transition outfits …love the trousers your daughter gave you with your Vince sneakers!
Rosie
Yikes! Makes you want to travel with a folding kayak! 😉
Traveling carry-on only isn't for everyone — isn't it exciting, though, putting together your travel wardrobe and thinking through what you'll be doing and seeing while you're wearing the different gear.
I really like those trousers as well–they were great for travel last year. Cotton, and lighter than jeans, so good for summer, plus the floral pattern in the olive meant they scarcely showed dirt.
I absolutely love those EB cashmere voile scarves (in either the scarf or stole size), and they make squeal-worthy gifts, too. (On sale now.) You look very put-together for someone living out of boxes, and I am hoping each day brings more equanimity.
It was the only purchase I was set on making last trip, as I've really wanted to find a neutral that would go well with everything. This seems to be it! And there's just something about cashmere wrapped around your neck that is so luxurious, well worth eschewing having multiples in other colours and prints and fabrics (and little space for multiples at the moment anyway!)
Bored stiff with wearing virtually the same clothes as in the last mild winter, minus the Puffa coat. I try to put on something summery and then have to capitulate and reach for the cashmere again.
I attended an outdoor play at the weekend wearing a vest, T-shirt, cashmere jumper, long cardigan, jeans and a mac with supplementary rug and umbrella. Needed a hot water bottle when I go home damp to the core with the incessant drizzle. The actors kept going and so did the audience out of sheer respect!
Oh dear! That doesn't sound fun at all, although it does sound as if you were a good sport about it, along with the rest of the audience (remembers me of a late June visit to London in 2001, my daughter and I getting standing-room-only tix to King Lear at The Globe. And it poured. I mean Biblical rain, torrential! Still remember the squelching of our feet as we swam to the Tube . . . Here, the local Bard on the Beach season has started up, but I think I'll give those cheery open tents a pass until the weather creeps up a few degrees!
I love your transitional looks, especially the navy dress. I'd take that on a long trip and wear it at every opportunity.
With this so-so June weather I have had an easier time dressing for my work-walk-lunch life. Sometimes I have all three activities in the same day with no opportunity for a change of clothes. Good walking sandals (in one or two or six colours), jeans/capris, lots of striped tops and jean jackets (in one or two or six colours) see me through all the changes the day brings.
I am intrigued by the way your a minimising more than the 'stuff' in your life. I am in need of a good e-cure. Thanks for the inspiration!
I really MUST take the time to proof read my own comments!
I adore your transitional looks and so yearn for some transitional weather right now. I shouldn't complain we had a lovely long spring, but I am in Florida now for a family gathering and the humidity is oppressive. It is not that I cannot adjust to the heat, I am sure I could, but I have absolutely no desire to do so. Your outfit posts look so much like you, like the person who writes. Brava!
Great looks, I always enjoy your style. I am drawn to sage greens, pale blues, soft greys just now, I don't know why. Some summers I can't get enough colour, but this year more subdued tones, with hair left loose and not always straightened so it waves a bit. Feels right for now. X