Well then again, a few shivers down your spine can come with some benefits, believe it or not. For example, did you know that feeling a bit of fear burns more calories than when you’re not afraid? I bet you hadn’t a clue that a small dose of fear can boost your immune system.
With great determination, we managed to persuade The Wicked Witch of the Northwest to come out of her beloved green castle and bring many of her tried and true ghastly green friends to adorn our window at 5th and Main for these magical weeks of Autumn’s slow walk to Halloween.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “do one thing each day that scares you.”
Maybe today that one thing should be a trek to Sound Styles and a visit with The Wicked Witch of the Northwest. Lose a pound or two, boost up the white blood cells and then go to https://historicedmonds.org/view-scarecrow-entries/
Scroll down to retail entries and vote by entering our ID# 3870 for our super stylish, stunningly sassy and ‘spookily’ scary green witch.
After all, “there’s a little witch in all of us.” ~ practical magic.
I’m asking you to “bear” with me for I’m on a bit of a trend roll, as I’m eager to share with you another trend that has been flourishing and growing since 2013.
One that I must admit my own reluctance to understand, let alone embrace. Trends usually have patterns. If it appears once in the fashion scene, who pays much attention. But, when it keeps cropping up and coming back and fluorishing by taking on new dimensions then we start to wake up and ‘smellthe coffee.’ The first teddy bear coat to make its mark was the Max Mara Teddy Bear Icon coat rocked by Kim Kardashian and Katie Holmes way back in 2013.
Ouch! A mere 3.7K back in the day. Well, it is still around and still running true to price.
Since then, there have been many variations from the original tan, long length coat – proving this is a wardrobe staple that’s here to stay and now comes in a fabulous range of colors from pastels to bold and also comes with much more bearable (pun intended) prices.
Coats, jackets, pull-on 1/4 zip tops or pull-on mock-necks are all part of the teddy bear trend. Most commonly this means outerwear but the trend also includes comfy, cozy cuddle up by the fire items of clothing that embody fleece or faux fur which wraps us in warmth and teddy bear love we all remember from childhood and the favorite teddy bear we held close. Imagine cuddling up to your first cup of coffee in the morning donned in slippers and a warm, cozy, shaggy, fleecy pull-on.
As for my reluctance, my first reaction was that it’s one thing to love Fozzie Bear but another to want to look like him. As with so many trends of late, I may be slow to the plate but I’m going to hit it out of the ballpark once there and, I think that I am there.
Fashion rarely offers us something with equal doses of cozy and chic but the teddy bear checks both boxes. The vast array of colors and patterns, the options for low or high fleece (low or high fuzziness) and the big selection of different silhouettes… not to mention how cute they appear on real people in all the many pics I’ve looked at the past couple of days are mellowing my initial rejection. Now for the fun part. Which one to pick!!!
We do have several to choose from in the store right now. There’s a full length black teddy bear coat or the 1/4 zip pullover that has warm cuff sleeves and comes in three colors.
I’m leaning in the direction of the zippered pullover from Funsport. I love the zipper and I love it unzipped because guess why? I can layer with it. Big surprise! Me the queen of layers. But I can just see a pink or red or teal turtleneck or mock neck popping the grey fleece. Also love the banding at the bottom cause it gives some shape to the silhouette as does a banded sweatshirt. Oh…. and pockets. Who doesn’t love pockets? Love to see this with jeans of any silhouette from skinny to bootcut.
Bottom line however. . . All I gotta do is put on a happy face and find myself a teddy bear coat to warm the chill in the air and then just go hibernate somewhere.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW GO-TO COLD WEATHER JACKET.
YOU CAN HANDLE IT!
AFTER ALL, YOU’LL HAVE A TEDDY BEAR ON YOUR SIDE!!
“Any item in your wardrobe should satisfy one of two criteria: utility and joy.”
~ stacy london
Let’s step that up a notch, shall we? How about one item that can satisfy both utility and joy. I’ve got just the one for me and perhaps you too.
There’s been a trend emerging for several years now that I have adopted for the utility of layering with warmth in mind and the joy of loving two items in my wardrobe that have been considered “opposites” for what seems like forever. This trend might seem an oxymoron to most, as the two clothing articles involved usually hang in opposite corners of one’s closet and would duel for time spent alone with you and never consider being seen together.
But, thanks to the boys (Alas!) of the basketball world, blazers and hoodie sweatshirts have come out of those opposite corners of the closet and now “hang together.” It started years ago on the college campus where prominent players of basketball began combining their blazer with their hoodies. As the best of the best got recruited into the NBA, they carried their wardrobe with them and hence….. wearing a hoodie under a blazer concept was not only born but flourished and found itself as the favorite fashion model’s “off-duty” look.
That leaves me loving one of my most favorite articles of clothing…. a navy blazer that has a sweatshirt grey hoodie liner attached so that I get the best of both looks without having to actually wear two items. And even better…. I can wear another layer that gives it a third dimension like a patterned turtleneck or a plaid flannel blouse. Is it loungewear or real clothes? Layering a sweatshirt under a blazer combines the benefits of comfy, relaxed leisurewear and put together, structured tailoring into one effortless look.
AND. . . surprise! surprise! Wouldn’t you just know where this post is going?
LIVERPOOL BOYFRIEND BLAZER WITH REMOVABLE HOOD
Our signature boyfriend blazer with removable hood is now available in a beautiful knit tartan plaid. Versatility at its best! Perfect for the woman who keeps it casual or the woman who means business.
Removable zip hood panel Please note: Hood is not an actual sweater. Easily zip the panel off if you prefer to wear just the blazer without the hood.
I spent some time late this afternoon on my front deck, legs stretched out in front of the teak bench where I sat in the sun for a couple of hours.
Newest paperback open to page 148.
Tall skinny vanilla latte in hand.
Slight breeze scattered the first falling leaves on some of my many maples and tousled my new bob but I didn’t care. Stayed around until the last of the sun’s rays were trying to warm the inevitable chill that befalls these last days of September.
Even with the chill, I was quite comfortable. A blend of layers from my cotton turtleneck to a new pink and grey cardigan from Baciano had me wrapped in warmth.
Couldn’t pull myself away from the slight smoke-filled autumn evening and watch as the sunset decided to flirt with the last remnants of the day. Magnificent!!
While Lagerfeld spoke that opinion many decades ago, back in the 1990s, Jerry Seinfeld echoed Lagerfeld’s lament, advising his friend George Costanza, “You know the message you’re sending out to the world with these sweatpants? You’re telling the world, ‘I give up. I can’t compete in normal society. I’m miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.’”
And I’m in the here and now and ready to disagree with both of them.
Then Again: We could give it a great big shout out and “style” our favorite sweatpants for more than just comfort. If I can do it, anybody can. I got brave today and put together an outfit around my newest sweats from Sound Styles and we have lots to choose from. I kept an appointment and got many compliments on my fashion choice for this beautiful Autumn Monday. Now mind you, this was daring for me, as I’ve never been one to go out in public in my sweatpants. But I took a few of the suggestions that I’m about to offer to you as to how to style a pair and just went for it.
Picture First:
Choose sweatpants that are fitted rather than baggy: If you’re looking to dress up your look, the fit of your sweats can make a huge difference. Baggy sweats may be cozy, but they can be more difficult to dress up. This could be as simple as choosing a size that is smaller than what you normally wear. Sweats are already easy to wear so look for ones that are more slimming to the body.
Pair them with a trendy coat or blazeror patterned sweater or a plaid button down shirt: Instead of reaching for a sweatshirt when heading outside, wear your sweatpants with a blazer or coat that will immediately make them look more put together. Think of all those pretty sweaters on the shelf or those button down blouses hanging on the rod. The coat or blazer or sweater or shirt will give the sweats a more dressed-up feel than a sweatshirt might.
Dress up the shoe: Yes a sneaker is cute and always appropriate. But consider a sueded ankle boot or a velvet moccasin or even a low-heeled pump to give just a bit more sophistication to your new sweatpant “look.”
Add one “glamorous” piece: This to me would obviously be an accessory or maybe two or three accessories such as a fabulous handbag, dramatic sunglasses or dangly earrings or mysterious beret and always, always, always a wonderful, colorful scarf.
LAYERS! LAYERS! LAYERS! Simply said. . . it often comes down to all the layers we are assembling. They so easily add interest, warmth, texture, color to any outfit you are putting together.
As for me today, I wore my navy jogger sweats with a cowl neck tunic sweater in heather grey, added my favorite for the season, a plaid boyfriend cardigan sweater in navy and grey and just thought my favorite silver, chunky necklace set it off. It was fun to feel dressed up a bit in my sweatpants. My appointment was with the eye doctor and I picked out new glasses in a red tortoise that just complimented the whole outfit. Can’t wait to get those glasses.
Please come in and look at our selection of sweatpants from which to choose. Come with some new thoughts on how to wear them. Comfort is great but to be stylish at the same time you are comfortable is the the best of both.
GOOD GRIEF! Got so wrapped up styling our sweats that I forgot to tell you about the title of this post. Have you ever heard of Tracky Dack Day? On the last Friday in August, Australians ‘dack up and donate’ by wearing tracksuit pants (‘trackies’) and fundraising for sick kids. Everyone, including patients in the hospital, wear sweats on that day. Hmm! Maybe we could take a page from that book!! A holiday for sweats and a good cause!
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