Winter Repeats: Clothes, scents and other warm fuzzies

That are also coming with me to Paris.

I don’t like the cold, but I do like dressing for it. More than any other time of year, my wardrobe gets very succinct, plus the whisper-thin layers I wear as a base and the thicker knits and cashmere that get piled on top feel cocooning in the best way.

At the moment, I feel like a walking ad for my friend Alejandra’s Frances de Lourdes (though Amy Wesson looks much better in it than I.) But her pieces are just that, a suitcase wardrobe (I like those two words together!), and as I head off to Paris next week, they will anchor what I’m taking.

Clockwise from top left: FDL Lilah sweater and Crosby pants; FDL Lucie Turtleneck and some JA pearl earrings; FDL Zoe cashmere shirt. Bottom left: My JA image of bullseye pendant worn with FDL Romy tee.

I’m never without her sheer Lucie turtlenecks (black and grey), and her Romy tees (black and creme). I’ve had her navy Zoe cashmere shirt (that I wear over a Lucie turtle) so this year I updated to the charcoal color. Then, I added the matching Crosby pant, which is insanely soft—my tailored version of a cashmere sweatpant, and her grey Lilah sweater. Note: The tees and turtles are being restocked in two or three weeks. If you want first dibs, email shop@francesdelourdes.com and they will reserve pieces for you and let you know when they are restocked so you have first dibs. (What service!)

Add to those items, my favorite Maria McManus high-waisted crop pants (restocked), my The Row Dan black jeans, my Rika Studios X Inex and Vinoodh red sweater, one silk shirt, New Balance sneakers, my old Toteme Mid Heel boots and my old The Row Teatime booties and I could get dressed for weeks.

I just need to add a coat or two. For sure last year’s Toteme black tailored overcoat (a newer version below, below) and then maybe this nice one from A. Emery below, because then, with my Michino bag, I can really greige out!

Chez Alfano in shades of grey

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Besides layering on the cashmere, I also get into layering lotions/potions/scents both for practical skin moisturizing reasons and because it feels indulgent. Don’t ask me for notes, I don’t have that kind of sophisticated nose, I either like a scent or I don’t (most of the time it’s the latter). I finally tried Perfumer H’s Saddle fragrance and am seriously considering it, but not the handblown bottle shown, I wish. Then a friend sent me the Liis Of True Minds, which is also quite lovely. Monastery is beauty brand I learned about from my p.r., then I saw it everywhere and I met the founder, Athena Hewett who is lovely and exudes California chill. I got hooked on the Attar Floral Repair Concentrate when I was doing a trunk show at Goop. I will just rub a bit on here and there, because the scent makes me SO HAPPY. I could seriously just sit and sniff the jar. I’ve added the Lapiz Body Oil to my post-shower routine, because lotion is no longer enough these frigid days. To keep my hands from drying out, my Poetica hand lotion is always in my bag.

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Because I’m going to Paris, which means I have a short (but possibly lethal) shopping list, I have been ignoring everything else of late. But this collection from Toteme has peaked my interest. Called Garderob (wardrobe in Swedish), it is a new permanent collection that launches today. Of course, I love the imagery. It’s a reminder that I have most of what I want and need, though I am super keen for a bit of leather and in Spring to continue my pencil skirt, low heel/slingback look that I wore a couple of times early fall.

What is my Paris shopping list you might ask?

1. This Alaia Teckel clutch. I don’t need it, but am so smitten and would wear to death.

2. Charvet slippers.

3. Paraboot Michael lace-ups, because I need another everyday shoe and these are hard to get State side.

4. Something from Carven, before Louise Trotter, whose style I love, is off to Bottega.

x

Jennifer

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