Careful with those Anti-bacterial Wipes!

Closet Fashion Analysis:
Secondary Consequences on Clothing

Note-Worthy

With greater use of bleach and bleach products during this time of controlling our environment to reduce the chances of contacting COVID-19, our clothing is being affected as well. It may seem a trivial consequence, in times of greater concern with the virus, but nonetheless it is annoying when a favourite something or any item of clothing has been relegated unwearable because of a bleach accident.

A friend who was voluntarily delivering chocolates for a local chocolatier before Easter, was disinfecting the interior driver's side of the delivery vehicle with L(brand) disinfectant wipes.  After she sat behind the wheel, "the wipe was resting gently on my pants for maybe 30 seconds", she told me, and this is what happened. A disappointing result. 

Photo Source: SW-Z (April 11, 2020)

We don't know exactly how much bleach is in many of the products we are using more frequently at this time but in order to be germ-killing the concentration must be higher, thus the effects on clothing more dramatic. 

She obviously didn't think and I certainly wouldn't have thought that the wipes were so concentrated with bleach. A noteworthy lesson learned.

It's important, to read the ingredient list and no matter the amount of bleach, be careful to not have the product come into direct contact with your clothing. 

The positive, the wipes obviously work at their antibacterial claims. 

Easter Celebrations Past & Present

Closet Fashion Analysis: 

Easters Past & Present

Nice

Photo Source: SophiasStyle

When I lived with my parents, Easter was a time to dress up for blessing the Easter basket filled with foods to break the lenten fast and then go to church early Sunday morning. When I was little, I always got something new to wear for Easter. Not just one something but a whole outfit, dress, coat, matching hat, ankle socks with a lace trim and new shoes. I particularly remember a yellow and white jacquard dress with wide satin sash (much like this one), a yellow swing coat, a Juliette cap of white and yellow petals and white shoes. It was still early spring and I remember not wanting to wear the white leotards my mother insisted upon because it was still colder than a normal spring day that Sunday morning. I posed in front of the house on Main Street while my mother took a photo outside because she didn't want to waste a flashcube.

Note-Worthy

Fast forward several decades later when Easter 2020 will be remembered with voluntary confinement and restrictions to congregating in groups, which of course, affects churches (and well they should) as well as extended families which would include several different households. Everyone I know here in our prairie city has been, is and will be compliant given the pandemic requirements. 

I plan to dress up for Easter dinner, just as I have done for most of my life, albeit in nothing new this year. Although, I do wish I had something yellow. Dinner will involve 3 people all living within the same household. Perhaps I will order yellow flowers and have them delivered.

No Thanks but Necessary for some

I understand that several American states have granted exemption to churches regarding the no-congregating-in-groups initiative to help suppress the spread of COVID-19. Excuse me? What's that all about? Nicolas Little in his online article Keeping Churches Open will Damn Us All (posted April 2, 2020, retrieved April 9, 2020) appeals to those who continue to think rationally, "Let's not grant the extreme fringe, like Florida Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne license to jeopardize the health and safety of the rest of us, just so he can keep the donation basket full." I must say, I am glad I am not living in Florida or in any of the States perpetuating non-compliant attitudes among the general public.

Generally, I do not like sarcasm since it often degrades another person, incites ridicule at someone else's expense and is scornful. However, I have succumbed to that level with the news of this sanctioned non-compliance . . . I would suggest to those who have decided to congregate that they choose an appropriate Easter Sunday outfit during the present pandemic . . .  

Photo Source: China Medical 

Photo Source: China Medical

Update (April 13, 2020) Thanks Amy Jo for the photo enhancement.
The perfect colour for the non-compliant churchgoers on Easter Sunday during the pandemic.

From Shopping to Shut Down to Shock

Closet Fashion Analysis: 

Un-Necessary in this Post

Within the last 8 months we have moved from shopping, visiting and dining in Romans-sur-Isere, France, without a care in the world to voluntary quarantine in Canada because of Covid19 to shock at senseless human-wielded tragedy, back in France, which I may not be able to return to in a long while.

Romans-sur-Isere - I have written about this lovely town in South-East France where a great factory-store mall, Marques Avenue exists. Every year, I do a pilgrimage to Romans-sur-Isere for shoes, cashmere sweaters, and my favourite Yves Delorme bed linens. 

With every visit over the past 20 years, we have dined at the restaurant "La Charrette" and the original owner Christian Vinson and his son, Julien were always visible in the restaurant. Most recently, we met, Julien, who was "our age" through a friend, who lives there. Julien died Saturday and no, he was not a victim of Covid19 - he was slaughtered by a deranged murderer while protecting his son, The Guardian tells us. The murderer first killed a shopper at the butcher's, a shop we have been to. Four others were injured and taken to hospital. 

We have walked down that street, past shops and restaurants, been to the tobacconists and to the butcher shop, eaten pizza at a sidewalk café, and bought bread, wine and flowers to take back to our friend's home. As I contemplate the situation on the other side of the Atlantic, my feelings are surreal as my imagination takes me to before, during, and after.

Who was this murderer? Mentally unstable? Obviously. Deranged? I assume so. Apparently, he came to France as an immigrant, was granted his 10 year residency, received government subsidized education for a trade and was also helped by Secours Catholique (Retrieved April 6, 2020 from The Guardian). A professed Islamist, this particular immigrant from Sudan and temporary resident of France, in my mind, took advantage of the generosity of the French government and Secours Catholique, whose mission is to "serve the poor and to promote charity and justice throughout the world", and then reciprocated with murder. Even with that, those who profess Christianity and pacifism still proclaim, "you are forgiven". I ask now for forgiveness as I struggle with that.

The BBC reported that he was "found on his knees . . .  praying in Arabic" and he asked police to kill him. They did not and so he did not die a martyr as his political and religious beliefs made him desire. Nothing good can come of this and so yes, I take the position against violence and the evil it generates. I just can't wrap my head around how one human being can slaughter others and profess spirituality. Yet our history is riddled with exactly that.

Romans-sur-Isere is in shock. Residents are confined to their homes, restricted by government orders, because of Covid19, and are unable to carry out the emotional, spiritual, and physical interactions so needed.

My friend from Romans-sur-Isere writes, "We are all confined and very sad now."

What is in our closets, figuratively speaking?

Project Closet De-Cluttering

Closet Fashion Analysis: 

Minimize and De-Clutter

During this COVID19 time of limited careful contact and distancing, most charitable organizations are curtailing or at the very least limiting clothing donations. Call your charity to find out about their policy.

Our self-isolation time provides an opportunity for getting our clothing donations ready. Very often I have procrastinated with the process because there are other tasks taking up my time. I really do not have any excuses not to de-clutter my closet now when I am staying in.

This last winter I sent off two full-length camel coats and several skirted suits to Dress for Success, the organization that helps women with their wardrobe needs when returning to the work force. I still have some old favourites that I am finding difficult to let go and so this may be the time to cull, sew on a missing button and clean my future donations.

NEED

You can visit your chosen charity's website or call to see what your location requires. When I called during the winter, they needed all categories of winter outerwear, classics such as simple tops and dark trousers and although they accept all sizes, they had a particular need for larger sizes. Owing to my past career, this charitable organization, whose mandate is to collect donations of business attire and accessories to supply women, who are experiencing financial difficulty, with the professional wardrobes needed to make them look and feel their best while job hunting and beginning a new job, is a perfect fit for me. I'm ready to let go of all of those items.

Prepare 6 large bags or boxes and label them: Donate to charity, Give to a friend or family member, Garage sale/Online sales, Throw Out, Mend, Remodel or Clean, Keep. Or just go through your closet with a Donation box and never mind the rest. Sometimes having to make too many decisions will keep you from focused de-cluttering time. 

I like to concentrate on one thing at a time. Last spring before I left for France, I invited a niece who is presently working in management to raid the closet and she did. What amazed me is that I hardly noticed the difference and have already forgotten what she took. Now I am ready to donate. 

NECESSARY

1. Items have to be current and clean. 

My question is what is current? In business dress - a good quality white shirt is timeless, a blazer of medium length - not too short, not to long - can span several years. A good pair of trousers, not too wide and not a skinny fit are also timeless. Accessories? A scarf is a scarf. Colours that are basic - black, camel, navy, grey - these are not easily dated. I do understand that an 80s suit with football size shoulder pads and mid-calf skirts are dated. But I have a navy tuxedo shawl collared blazer that I still wear and still enjoy wearing. I bought it in 2011. 2011 is not current. And I'm keeping the shirt you see on the left which I also bought a good while ago.

So rather, I like to follow my definition of classic because classic, no matter how old, can be current.

If you would not wear it because of a stain on the sleeve, you should not expect anyone else to. Stained clothing ends up in my "housework" clothes drawer and if I have too many pieces, I give the 100% cotton things to a woodworker friend.

2. Items have to be in wearable condition. 

But of course. This seems rather obvious. And now is the perfect time to sew on a button or teach your children how to sew on a button, to repair a falling hem, to stitch a seam that came apart. Rips and tears pretty much should be thrown out because repairs can cost more than what the item is worth.

3. Items should be seasonally appropriate. 

Many charitable locations have limited storage space and so you should donate summer clothes and winter clothing in their relative seasons. Heavy coats, mittens, gloves, scarves and boots are all appreciated by charity volunteers because we don't own as many of these things and we wear them longer, therefore fewer are donated. Do the same for anything you want to try to sell online. You will get a better price selling a pair of Tory Burch boots in winter than in summer.

NO THANKS 

Now you're ready to take a closet inventory and ask yourself the following questions. Your answers will help you determine which box it belongs in.

When was the last time I wore this? A year or more, get rid of it.

Why am I not wearing it? It doesn't fit right; it hangs funny; I just don't like it anymore; my lifestyle has changed. If it doesn't feel right when you try it on, chances are it will not feel right the next time you try it on either. Any one of these responses is reason enough to get rid of it.

Happy Closet De-Cluttering! 

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

A Clothing Strategy for COVID19 Inspired Staying at Home

Closet Content Analysis:

 Dressing for your Emotional Health

I have always been a proponent of dressing appropriately and this time of self-isolation to avoid COVID19 is no different.

Knowing you are not going out at all during the day may lead you to do the easiest and in relation to clothing, that means putting on your sweats and staying in them all day. “Why not?” you rationalize, “you have no one to impress.”

The consequence of that is lethargy and laziness. Now you don’t shower, you stay in your pyjamas until noon or don’t change at all and then crawl into bed. One day out of the week may be good for your mental health – a day of rest. Do that for a few days in a row and you may end up disgusted with yourself.

Hopefully you have not resorted to this kind of behaviour and are keeping positive and healthy throughout this inconvenient, albeit necessary time to stay at home.

NECESSARY

Purely from a mental and emotional health perspective, there may be some benefit for changing clothing relative to activity. Try it, you might feel a little boost in your disposition.

1.     Think about your day as if you were leaving the house to go to work.

2.     Follow your morning routine – shower, hair, shave or make-up.

3.     Dress for your day – let’s call them your “day clothes”. Are you working at home? Obviously you can be more casual but still, choose an outfit, one that if you do see someone during the day, you would not be embarrassed to greet them (remembering social distance). For me, a pair of cropped pants, a t-shirt and my flip-flops – this is extreme casualness for me and I would never go to work this way but it is better than sweats.

4.     Change your “day clothes” everyday. You probably don’t wear the same thing to work each day, so change up your wardrobe staying at home.

5.     Maintain some form of exercise and change into your workout clothing, then change back into your “day clothes”.

6.     Need to do some cleaning or de-cluttering (future blog post on this)? Change into your cleaning clothing. You don’t want to splash bleach on your favourite blue jeans or shirt or get all dusty unpacking forgotten boxes from your last move.

7.     Now for something completely different: (borrowed from Victorian times) – change for dinner. “What’s that?” you ask. Doing it everyday might be a bit much but occasionally, dress-up for your evening meal, even if it is just adding a favourite necklace or bracelet. Shut the TV, turn off your phone, put on your favourite music and eat your dinner – even if you are alone. Enjoy every morsel in the now and have that peace found in mindfulness.

Happy coping and know that you are doing your part for the slowdown of this virus through your self-imposed quarantine and positive attitude.

Leave a comment letting us know if this is making a little difference in your day.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

A New Year - Continued Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Friendships - and a Rejuvenated Closet

There are those who don't care to make resolutions but I love to, if not making new ones, at least revisiting former ones. Some of mine are not so much resolutions, but affirmations for renewed energy and motivation to do all that I believe needs to be done.

1. My first includes my closets - again, still and forever. A new year confirms my thoughts of something new in, something old out. I have been negligent with this one but once again, I reaffirm that this is a good strategy. Why I cannot seem to let go is a work in progress, which leads me to my second resolution . . . 

2. Don't think, don't worry, just ________ (do it). For me this translates as Don't think, don't worry, just write. Don't think, don't worry, just throw it out or give it away. Don't think, don't worry, just meditate. That may be the most important of all.

3. My "box a day" rule for organizing the stuff in my life needs a motivating kick in the inspirational butt. On New Year's Eve, a friend told me how effective the "box a day" has been for her over this past year. I did not admit to her that I hardly gave it a thought in 2017. Thoughts change. No matter the size of the box, a drawer, a closet, your purse, whatever container you can manage in 30 minutes or less, a "box a day" will lead to a wonderfully organized life.

4. Re-establish routines that make me healthier, wiser and well, more abundant. This is once again a version of the, "Don't think, don't worry, just do it" sentiment. Just how to do it is the challenge.

5. Eliminate or at least reduce those things that are robbing you of your time and energy. Sorry gamers, both addicts and occasional imbibers. Unless you are "making your living" from this activity, too much of it is just plain wasteful. I know a woman who tells me that her games, all word related games, make her mind active and will result in less chance of eventual dementia. Unfortunately too much of her good thing may end up giving her high blood pressure. I don't know that for sure but "balance" in all we do seems to be a better strategy.

6. Back to the stuff in our lives - use what you have, be grateful you have it and don't be wasteful by buying more stuff that you really do not need. Re-assess buying habits and start giving stuff away or selling it. I think I am repeating myself. Seems that resolution #2 covers all that.

Therefore at the risk of saying the same thing over and over again, I now leave you with wishes for a prosperous, healthy and happy 2019! As the French say, "bon courage" in all that you resolve to do this year.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

Christmas-Themed Clothing and Accessories - No Thanks

Call me what you want - kill-joy, stick-in-the-mud, party-pooper, wet-blanket, fuddy-duddy, spoil-sport, fossil, old fogey - I am unlikely to change my mind about this. 

Novelty clothing and accessories are For Children Only

No Thanks - For Adults

For anyone who is old enough to vote or to legally imbibe, novelty clothing items and accessories, including sweaters, t-shirts, leggings, socks and headgear, no matter the holiday, are a waste of yarn, fabric, thread, labour, energy and money. 

A visit to my doctor's office requires me to check-in with the receptionists before I make my way to the waiting room. Approaching a middle-aged woman with an oversized sequinned bow in red, green and silver, fastened onto a headband makes her look ridiculous and does not bring a smile to my face, just a sense of pity. Before attending to my request for a copy of my blood test results, she excused herself to right the headband gone awry. As she stood up, her leggings were reminiscent of children's pyjamas fully illustrated with Santa Claus and a red-nosed reindeer. A woman, no matter what the age should not be wearing form-fitting leggings with a smiling Santa on one cheek, saluting, a reindeer on the other cheek. The other receptionist limited her holiday accessories to a pair of snowman earrings. As I waited for the receptionist to align her headband and pull up her leggings, I felt an overwhelming sense of sympathy for those who believe they are adding to someone else's happiness by allegedly being cheerfully dressed. For this woman, save the get-up for your family. Don't worry about my happiness.

One could debate that the novelty clothing worn during designated holidays make for a more relaxed environment in the more intense places of business or service. I really do understand this choice in hospitals, particularly children's wards. But for me there is something slightly disconcerting when someone with a reindeer antler headband is smiling inanely while taking someone's blood pressure.

My doctor's assistant was dressed in nurse's garb that was Christmas themed but not obtrusive or offending. Her classic top was made from a print fabric with tiny blue and white Christmas ball ornaments. The print was muted and could have been flowers or birds or hearts or whatever . . . it was acceptable and for a novelty top, in good taste.

I don't have to post any photos or guide you online to the multitude of novelty clothing and accessory items, in both acceptable and unacceptable forms, since Mr. Google will help you if you want to have a look-see.

Although I acknowledge the other side and even empathize, I'm still sticking with my bah-humbug attitude when it comes to novelty apparel.

This might be a good place to share if you have examples of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to novelty clothing and accessories.

Re-Think Your Next Online Purchase

I just watched and listened to a TedTalk that motivated this post: Where do your online returns go?

You may already know that I am not an online shopper. My history goes back, from the time I was born to about five, to being a child growing up in a small town and my parents the proprietors of a general store. I sat on the counter with my mom behind the till and was cute. I'm sure I was not part of my mom's marketing plan but I did spend a lot of time with her in the store and provided some entertainment for those who came in to buy their groceries or sundries. I have always had an allegiance to independent retailers and I am now much older than my mother was when she was running the store.

The idea, or at least my parents' idea, of returning items to a store was always based on the premise that the customer was always right. In the case of online shopping and returns, this has changed. In fact Aparna Mehta who gives the TedTalk, Where do our online returns go?, reveals that her online buying habits contributed to this problem. The customer in this case is most definitely wrong.

I don't know how many people think like me, but I cannot imagine doing what she admitted to. She would buy the same item in different sizes and different colours and then return all that she would not use because, after all, the companies offered "free shipping" and "free returns". There is no such thing as a "free lunch". The free return policies of online marketers has contributed to billions of kilograms of clothing filling our landfills. But my first thoughts consider how this wasteful process escalates the cost of things and continues to exploit people because of the need for low production costs.

Tomorrow is Black Friday. Make it your Don't Buy Anything Day or at the very least, Buy Only What I Really NEED Because it is a Good Deal Day.

Have a look of some of the posts I have written in the past about related subjects:
Buy Nothing Day Re-Commitment
Buy Nothing Day - November 28, 2014
Buy Nothing Day 2015 Resolution
Sale Induced Overbuying
It Just Doesn't Stop
Buy Nothing Saturdays During December

Re-Constructing from Previously Worn Clothing

In keeping with my perpetual clothing resolution to "remake" I decided to start easy . . . or at least I thought it was going to be easy.

I have always been impressed with shawls and scarves that have been re-made. I have seen a few examples at artisan markets in France and so I decided to design a shawl using fabrics from no longer serviceable clothing items. Essentially this is a form of patchwork.

Skills: sewing a relatively straight line
Tools and Sundries: scissors, iron, thread, and sewing machine

Like with most things, I started by searching scarf re-construction online and found All Free Sewing.

1. Find items in the same colour tones or in contrasting tones that work together. I ended up with:
• a pale beige cashmere shawl whose fibres had caused splits in the length of the fabric
• a striped white and beige linen shirt that my husband has always hated and assures me he will never wear - now that I have it, he is right
• a beige linen shirt that was splitting at the seams and was impossible to fix
• an ancient white jacquard linen napkin whose fibres were also splitting
• a dark taupe pair of linen pants that my husband promises he will never get big enough to wear again - he hasn't yet
• a meter length of beige and white trim that I bought at a vides greniers (household sale) for a euro.

Photo Source: JoyD in France

2. Wash the items, iron and then cut out the largest salvageable pieces that you can.

3. Lay them on a work surface and stare at them. (Or put them in a large box that you can hide after you have stared at them and not come up with any ideas. Bring out the box when you feel inspired.)

In my jewellery design, I have never been a sketcher. I put my materials on a working surface and stare at it for long periods of time, walk away, return, stare at it some more, try an idea or two, take it apart and stare at it some more. Seems like a waste of time. I wish I could take a sketchbook and draw what I will make but it just doesn't happen that way for me. So . . .

4. Decide if you want finished edges or raw edges on your finished product.

5. Plan the approximate size of your square or triangle.

6. Start putting the pieces together in an agreeable pattern. Don't concern yourself with getting your size dimensions perfect right now. Just pin it together until you have a bit more than what the finished product will be.

7. Now you can start sewing the pieces together.

8. Trim the edges and hem your rectangular or square piece.

So far my shawl is hovering between stage 3 and 6 of the process, and presently in a box without inspiration. It will happen, I'm just not sure when.

A Few of My Favourite Things

Travelling to and from France every six months has got me to thinking about going back and forth with just a carry-on. The problem is my favourite things take up more space than a carry-on allows and having two of everything might be economically challenging.

NICE: Here goes an analysis of what I should actually be doing with those favourite things.

Cobalt Smythe "Duchess" blazer
Photo Source: ShopSmythe

Cobalt Blue Smythe Duchess Blazer: Having two is economically prohibitive at this time. I wear it as my travel outfit. Problem: it looks best with jeans and I like a more comfortable pair of pants, which necessitate my black blazer. This in itself is ironic because I have more than one black blazer but my lightweight single-button Sandro blazer (purchased in 2016) travels best. So now I'm taking back two blazers.

LBD Photo by JoyD.

Little Black Dress: I cannot tell you when I bought this because it is so long ago now, I have forgotten but it still is my favourite LBD. I have purchased others but they have not stood the test of the fickle time of fashion. This one has. And I still fit into it. It still gets me through the most basic luncheon to a gala event. I can't leave home without it.

Little Navy Dress: I should leave one of these two dresses behind. Last year I didn't bring my navy one back to Canada and I did go looking for it a few times before recalling that it was in France. It's a MaxMara dress I bought ages ago in a consignment store in Calgary. Perhaps this year I should take it back and leave the LBD in France. It's a thought.

Dark Blue Denim Jeans: Like my LBD, my dark blue denim jeans take me everywhere and look great with my Duchess cobalt blazer. They come back and forth between France and Canada and accompany me on every vacation, whether a weekend or two weeks. The pants I'm wearing are more flexible, black and white check, stretch that travels well.

Linen matching top and trousers: My latest purchase when I visited Arcachon at the end of September was a linen matching top and trousers. Funny . . .  the label says Orto Botanico Italia yet I have not found the clothing company online. Perhaps I have not tweaked in on the word/tag that needs to be used to get me to their site. I see this outfit as a "lounging" or "hostess" outfit as my mother called them - simply comfortable clothing that looks elegant yet casual.

What do I leave in France? It would seem from my analysis that the little navy dress or the LBD should stay behind. The linen top and trousers are a possibility as well since I will be in Canada for the winter and a linen outfit in the winter seems incompatible.

NO THANKS: Well, after having written all of that, I have decided to leave the little navy dress in France.

One more thing to add: I need my denim jacket!

Photo by JoyD.

Yet another thing to add: A white Burberry shirt. Two or three years ago I tried to return a Burberry shirt because the metal appliqués were falling off. I called the location in London and the person I spoke with told me to send the shirt to their address in London with an explanation of what I wanted done. I did that. The package was returned to France - return to sender - without ever being opened. I was annoyed but not enough to pursue it and so I am taking my Burberry shirt back to Canada to see if I can get the collar replaced by a wonderful seamstress I discovered a couple of years back. The story is too long and I only get frustrated when retelling it and so here is a photo of the collar I need replaced. I probably would never have tried to return it if it was a cheaper shirt but it was a Burberry shirt and well, I don't need to relate the price because it is after all a Burberry shirt. I'm not so fond of Burberry anymore.

Photo Source: Lyst (Retrieved Oct. 31/17)

I will be taking my Harris Wilson camel coat back to Canada with me. I left it in France last year when I bought it because I had a coat to wear and did not want to take two. As it turned out the weather was wonderful during October in France this year and I never did wear it this year. I will have better use of it in Canada.

NOTE-WORTHY: And then there are four scarves and my pyjamas. 

I'm good to go!