M is for Marvellous!

Wow. Wearing this cotton-and-wool be-bowed cardigan would make me look worse than death warmed over, since yellow isn't my colour at all, but...darn! is this cardigan not wonderfully darling? From Modcloth, the cardigan has soft and ladylike puffed sleeves, not to mention the shimmery trim and buttons. And the bow! What a perfect top-off to a perfect (well, except for that colour, for me at least) sweater. Perfect with everything, everything from jeans to skirts, this retro cutie is just $54.99.

I suppose the fair-skinned among us who can't wear yellow can always console ourselves with this blouse, right?

Just Your Size Retro!

If y'all wouldn't mind praying for my family, I'd appreciate it. My grandfather suffered a very (very) mild stroke Saturday and is still in the hospital due to an infection. The doctors seem to think he'll be fine, and he'd regained some use of his arm and hands by that very evening, and was speaking lucidly just hours later, but...still. We'd appreciate your prayers just the same! Thanks.

Now, August or not, the nights are getting cool...very cool. Downright chilly, in fact. So it's wise to keep a cardigan or three around for evening excursions of simply sitting on the porch watching the world go by (or wandering around the yard while munching on a peach and stargazing, like I do). For some reason, though, simple cardigans that still have personality can be hard to find. It's either Christmas Horror Hell or bland, bland, bland fitless sacks of knit silk and cotton.

Thankfully, Heavy Threads has a solution: cotton knit cardigans with retro embroidery bedecking them. This black atomic cardigan really does look like something straight out of the 50s, doesn't it (also available in dark grey and several other colours)? The starburst pattern was created as a wearable homage to the fabulous 1950s Franciscan dishes starburst pattern. Delightful! 

Wearable with just about everything from jeans to skirts and camis to daydresses, the cardigans are custom-made and come in sizes extra small to XXL. $42, hand-embroidered right here in the USA! No way can even Target match this coolness.

If you want something a little more girly, don't be afraid to try one of the bubblegum pink cardigans with a single, large starburst. Very cool, very retro, very adorable, and just $40.

Warmth and Sleeveless

This time of year, when it can go from balmy to just a bit chilly rather quickly (such as in the time it takes one to run into Lowe's to grab fertilizer and out), it's nice to have a few pretty, sleeveless sweaters to turn to. Yes, you'll still have goosebumps on your arms, but it's amazing how keeping one's core warm helps prevent the sometimes inevitable collapse into a pathetic, shivering mass because, hey, it was 70 and climbing when you put this on, and there was no way you were going to believe the temperatures would truly drop to 59 the very same day!

Trust me, cozy sleeveless sweaters are a very good thing to have if you have decided to rebel against the winter a few days too soon.

Tonight we find a very pretty lilac sleeveless sweater, hand-knit with soft cotton blend yarn. If you're smart (or just don't have five thousand other things on your mind), you'll remember to grab that trusty fitted denim jacket for when it actually does get cold or, goodness forbid, you have to grab something from the arctic air-blasting supermarket cooler on your way home (brrrrr!).

From Iryna, it's $29 and a size small.

Snuggly Hoodie

The temperatures here are presently hovering in the balmy-for-December range of 50 to 60 degrees. Despite the thermometer reading, though, the damp and the wind can still leave one feeling a bit chilled even if it's too warm to haul out the woolen coat and gloves. This weather, during fall, is typically referred to as "sweater weather"; designer Lorigami comes to the rescue with this very pretty garden hoodie.

First of all, the colour is delicious, somewhere between mulberry and rose wine. This is a flattering shade, one most women can wear without trouble. Lorigami has turned what used to be a plain sweater and added yarn-like flower appliques to the sleeves, pockets, and hood, then added a vintage buckle closure made from mother of pearl. The hoodie features bell sleeves, which I happen to think are very pretty and romantic; the hood, of course, will keep you extra-toasty and (let's be honest) protect your hair and skin just a little better from the dry winter air.

This hoodie sweater is a large, though with sweaters like this size isn't quite as vital since it's meant to be worn over already-warm clothing. The bust is 48" and the sweater itself is quite long, appropriate for traipsing about outdoors, whether it's in and out of stores or just going in to pick up your crumb-crunchers from school.

$45 from Lorigami.

Fun Friday: Panda Wear

Isn't this cardigan adorable? The little panda bear and leaves are hand-embroidered, adding a sweet touch to what might otherwise be a rather plain (if brightly coloured) sweater. This is a size medium-small, from the shop of SideBon. This cute sweater/cardigan is also available in yellow and a teal-y green at the moment; any of them would go wonderfully with a cami underneath and maybe even topping this pretty and twirly denim skirt, also from SideBon. The sweaters are $45.

Have a great weekend! I'm really looking forward to having a great time at Handmade Arcade tomorrow, and hope you all have great plans as well. See you Monday.