Life lately…
I’m hoping to get this out on Thursday because, if not, it will be the third Friday of the month! You know how some days you just wake up in a funky mood? Yeah, that was me yesterday. Unfortunately, it was also Nigel. It was the first day of the week with nothing going on, and we should have made some plans. But, Nigel’s recovery, while never fast, seems to be regressing. I’m kinda at my wits end. I’m afraid he’s given up, and I have no idea what to do to change that. Today, though, is the third Thursday of the month which means it’s time for another Ageless Style challenge. This month, Mireille chose “Tweed.” Last month, I selected “The Oldest Thing in Your Closet.” In the past we have worn “Vests,” “Favorite Skirts,” “Colors of Fall,” and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Next month’s prompt is “Outerwear!” if you’d like to join us! Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites!
A little history…
Tweed seems to be one of those fabrics that can mean a lot of different things. I always think Chanel when I hear the word, tweed. Actually, I should be thinking Harris! Tweed is a woolen fabric with a soft, open texture. It can be either cheviot or homespun. It’s usually woven in a plain weave, twill, or herringbone. I never think of any of those things. I usually think of a fabric that is woven like on a loom (remember those potholders we used to make as Christmas gifts) with different colors of yarn included.
A little more…
Traditional Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and English clothing represent a large portion of the tweed repertoire. If you’re wearing a true tweed, it’s moisture-resistant and durable. Think of Queen Elizabeth. I’m sure some of her tweeds were decades old…even older than anything in my closet! Tweed is also desirable because it’s made for harsh weather and, if you’re into it, usually worn for shooting and hunting. In Ireland, tweed is most closely linked to County Donegal, but it originally covered the whole country. If you’re in Scotland, tweed is most often manufactured on the Isle of Harris in the Hebrides. When I was in Scotland, I saw many items made from Harris tweed. I surely do wish I’d bought something, but I was happy with my wool sweater I’d bought at the gift shop by the Blarney Stone!
Origins of the name…
So, where does the word, tweed, come from? It’s from the word, tweel, which is Scotts for twill. I didn’t know that twilling is a way of weaving material. One story says that James Locke, a London merchant, got a letter from Wm. Watson & Sons, Dangerfield Mills about some tweels. Locke apparently misread the handwriting and though it was a trade-name taken from the River Tweed that flows along the Scottish Borders textile area. From then on, the fabric was advertised as tweed. Tweed became popular during the Edwardian period when the middle class saw it as a way of mimicking the upper class. They chose tweed Norfolk jackets for things like hunting, cycling, golfing, and even motoring around. Ever notice Mr. Toad’s Harris Tweed suit? Tweed isn’t just the pattern I thought it was which is an open kind of weave. It includes houndstooth, windowpane, Glen plaid check, and herringbone.
The outfit…
Is it ironic that the last Ageless Style challenge involved barrel jeans? Well, I took them a little bit farther with this pair. Alison from Wardrobe Oxygen posted about these horseshoe jeans from Gap. So, I thought I’d give them a try. I wasn’t sure if they might be a little bit too much, if maybe they were a little too voluminous, a little too clown-esque. Well, Nigel loved them! He rarely gives his opinion so when he does, I listen. They were on sale which was even better. But, the blue floral ones were calling my name. The angel on my shoulder was telling me, “Hey, those probably won’t even be in style this summer.” The little red guy on the other shoulder was saying, “Life is short, buy them!” Guess who won? Believe it or not, this tweed (or is it tweed-like) jacket is somewhere around 12 years old. It’s from the Michael Smaldone Talbots era…back when Talbots really was fashion. I also had a matching skirt with a trumpet hemline. I donated that years ago, but for some reason I held onto this jacket. I always loved the colors and the bracelet length sleeves. It even has pockets! I added one of my white Luxe Old Navy long sleeve tees. Does it work? Hmmm…I think so, but I couldn’t tell you why.
The Lewk!
Hahaha! Now, this is getting ridiculous! I even wore the same adidas München Sneakers in silver/off white/silver. I have no idea why they call them that. They are more greige than silver, and I don’t know where the extra silver comes in to play! I forget where I got the necklace, but I bought it through one of Kellyann’s links. It’s heavy-ish, and I’m kinda afraid the clasp won’t last long. But, isn’t it just plain old spectacular? I had my choice of colors when it came to earrings. I went with these pink gold rimmed earrings from J Jill.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I’m sorry this is coming out so late. But, better late than never, right? I do have a couple of tweed skirts, but I really like the colors in this jacket. And, I’m calling denim as well as tweed a neutral. That means two neutrals make a good look, right? So, can we talk? Did you know tweed came from the Scots word, tweel? How do you feel about having special pieces just for hunting…as in fashion, not camouflage? What do you think of horseshoe jeans? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts about denim, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
I like the look of tweed. I have watched documentaries on Harris Tweed and also follow them on Instagram because I like how they put a picture of a colorway and of the landscape together.
I wish the Bakerboy caps that I love so much still came in sizes and not with the stretchy band in the back for “one size fits all”. I like to put all my hair under there and “one size” doesn’t work for me. So I’m glad I have at least one cap from before that time!
Thanks, Cat! Oh, I’ll have to look for them on Instagram. I am guessing you’d need a very large hat for all of your hair! Maybe eBay?
I love tweed very much. That jacket is so beautiful. And those jeans! Wow, I’m currently doubting to buy a pair of leopard ones. Love your layered necklaces too! Super outfit!
Thanks, Nancy! I should have kept the skirt that went with it! Oh, you need to get the leopard jeans! You will look fabulous in them. I love this necklace, but I’m a little worried about the clasp holding on.
Thank you for sharing the origin of the word tweed and tweel and twill. What a coincidence because yesterday I was in the gift shop at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem MA looking at their collection of Harris Tweed embellished purses, bags and luggage. Next sale, I’ll score the doctor’s bag I’ve had my eye on. I love tweed, though I don’t think I currently own any. Love the necklace 😍😍😍 Hope Nigel is recovered completely soon!
Yay Marsha! I am so glad you got the jeans – bonus that Nigel likes them! I think you’ll wear them for a long time, the floral print will be fun this summer!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! I have them in the blue denim, and he liked those. I really wasn’t expecting him to like the floral ones. I’m hoping they will be still relevant next fall, too!
The jeans are so cool and fab on you. The contrast of the jacket and jeans is really chic!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! I bought them first in the plain denim, but I really wanted the floral pair. I kept waiting for them to go on major sale so when they did, I pounced. I really like the way they work with the jacket, too.
That is such a lovely jacket! I can’t really say much about the whole outfit though as I still don’t really do any pattern mixing.. I do love those jeans though and the print on them is so cute.
Thanks, Joanne! I really hadn’t meant to wear the jeans with the jacket, but after putting them on together, I really liked them. They are so comfortable and definitely unique. I also have them in plain denim.
What a fun outfit! I like the print mixing and how modern your outfit feels! Well done, Marsha!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I was just having fun, trying the jacket on with the jeans, and decided I really liked the way it all came together!
I immediately think of Chanel when I hear the word ‘tweed’. Your jacket is gorgeous! Love the print mixing and seeing a pic of your cute pup!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! My dream is to someday have a Chanel jacket…hahaha!! Yeah, Jack is a ham and would be in almost every photo if he could be!
This is a crazy mixed up outfit in the best possible way! Sometimes it seems like you can put on a bunch of random-seeming things that you love and it all works. I love those griege Adidas sneakers; I’m still very early in the life of my black ones, but every time I see yours, I get a hankering 🙂 I feel like I shouldn’t care for those jeans, but I love ’em on you!
Thanks, Sally! It really is kinda nuts, isn’t it? I really wish I’d bought a second pair of these sneakers because I had no idea how often I’d wear them and how much I’d love them! Now, I just wish I felt the same way about my Stan Smith ones. I thought these jeans were just a little off the wall, but Mike liked them. He’s very truthful about things like that so I kept them! I have so much fun wearing them. I’ve probably gotten my CPW pretty low already.
Love, love, love the print mixing. It’s just such a fun way to combine the clothes in our closet.
XOOX
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I don’t know that it works, but I really like it. And, in the end, that’s all that matters!
I always love to see the outfits you put together, Marsha, and today I was also intrigued by the history of tweed, so that was an added bonus. Thanks for sharing this with us. I hope you and Nigel have broken out of the funk.
Thank you, Christie! We are working on the funk…it’s hard when you don’t want to leave the house. It’s beastly cold here this week. You know me…I can’t just do a fashion post. I love learning!
I’m a big fan of tweed and the colors in your jacket are perfect! LOVE! It’s been a rollercoaster for Nigel on that journey (and thus for you) and that can be endlessly tiring! I’m praying that you both get some respite and encouragement as he continues to recovers.
Thanks, Laura! A rollercoaster is the perfect analogy…and I don’t like rollercoasters. Thank you for the prayers. I appreciate you and them.
Goodness, when I went through my closet looking for tweed, I went right past a ‘lady jacket’ I have that is very similar to yours. It would have been perfect. Instead, I opted for a very safe tweedish blazer. So sorry to read that Nigel is struggling again. Has he ever considered or would he ever consider going to talk with someone? Could he be depressed? And winter is a difficult time for many who might be inclined to anxiety and depression. Hope you guys can figure out some way to get him feeling better.
Thanks, Leslie! He has pursued that avenue. I do believe he’s a titch depressed, but it’s more resignation than anything. That’s what concerns me. I’m hoping for a turn around. I was thrilled to remember this little beautiful jacket. It hangs in Jack’s closet because…well, I hang all my good jackets there. I’m just happy it fits again!
I think a tweed jacket is a must have! That’s the only tweed I have in my wardrobe, and I like to wear mine with jeans too! You look fabulous.
Sorry to hear things are not going well with Nigel’s recovery though, I hope things improve for him soon!
Thanks, Mica! It’s so good to hear from you! I do have a couple of tweed skirts, but this jacket was my first pick.
I love how you layer patterns and colors. You could teach a masterclass on it 😍
Aww, thanks, Edi! I’m not sure about a Masterclass, but I’d have lots of fun trying to get people to try it. Believe it or not, there was a time when I would never have worn anything like this!
Hi, Marsha – Love your jacket. I have a vintage beige tweed blazer and a pair of light brown tweed trousers. I just about never wear them any more. My life is so casual now. I have the opposite of “nothing to wear;” I have too much to wear. Lol! I’m thinking I should start a little shop on a second-hand site to sell my beautiful clothes that I have nowhere to wear. I have a pair of taupe clogs that are similar in color to your greige sneakers and they always seem to go with everything! Thanks for sharing this interesting look – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I have lots to wear, too, but I’ve culled the closet down to things I truly love and will wear. I may still need to get rid of a few things that no longer feel like me. It’s tough finding a good place to sell. The consignment store I use pays me pennies on the dollar which is probably par for the course!