<p>On the subject of personal stylist. My very good friend is an amazing stylist. This past year I have done two major shopping trips with her. I bought this jacket this week. It is not something I would have tried on as I don’t usually like jackets.
[url=<a href=“http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/blazers/noveltyblazers/PRDOVR~11654/11654.jsp]Boucl”>http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/blazers/noveltyblazers/PRDOVR~11654/11654.jsp]Boucl</a></p>
<p>I LOVE that jacket mom60! I love that the zipper goes both ways. It’s awesome. I will have to look for it at my local JCrew. I don’t usually do well with rust, but I’ll try something other then white just for kicks to see how it works.</p>
<p>btw, elbows check out okay. :)</p>
<p>Sorry for not responding to you, Beil! 
I try not to go on cc as often as I used to! ;)</p>
<p>My personal clothing style seems to have shifted a lot in the last few years. I no longer wear turtlenecks or bulky sweaters. I’m opting for more lightweight layering pieces instead. Mom60: Nice jacket! I tend to wear a few lightweight long sleeve pieces in the colder months…instead of heavy sweaters like I used to. Could be menopause??? Who knows, I just like the look better.</p>
<p>I should be getting in my order of three cords/jeans from Eddie Bauer anyday, Deborah T…hope they fit without that big gap in the waist!</p>
<p>I also tend to go with a lot of solid colors these days instead of a lot of patterns & prints. I agree that I’ve also tried to wear a bit more jewlery each day rather then just for eveningwear. I tend to be getting into scarves as an accessory lately too. I’m also trying to bring clothing with me to the stores that needs matching… ie; bring pants with me if I need a new shirt or blouse or shoes to match…I take my time and buy a few pieces at a time and always try for the sales!</p>
<p>I bought a belt from Chico’s today, paid $13 for it. And a new blouse & tanktop, originally both pieces totalled $114, I paid $60 today. Not bad, huh?</p>
<p>Yay, finally have cc access again! CCC, I hope the cords/jeans work out.</p>
<p>Love the jacket, Mom60. One of my stylish friends always says a woman can never have too much outerwear, especially great jackets. I like that jacket because it’s got the lady like vibe going without being too obviously cloning Chanel like you see a lot lately. </p>
<p>After packing up my DD for college, we unearthed a LOT of clothes in her closet that she never wears and that fit me fine. I am shopping her closet lately. :)</p>
<p>Love the jacket. Love JCrew.</p>
<p>I need the collective help of this thread. I am so sick I could just scream! Hopefully someone will have advise. I sent DH with a 30+yo cashmere sweater to the dry cleaner, and it came back with two holes in it. I am beside myself. It belonged to my dad and I snagged it out of a pile as he was packing to move out when I was 14. In all the years I’d had it I’d never washed or dry cleaned it. I just spot cleaned it occasionally as needed. It’s in great condition, no pilling or thinning anywhere. It’s a stunning not quite navy blue v-neck that is the perfect amount of slouch, but not too sloppy, and obviously has a lot of sentimental value. It’s the kind of nice cashmere you have a hard time finding today. I KNOW those holes were not there when it went in. There was a spot on the front I pointed out to DH and I held it up to the light to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. One hole is small and could probably be stitched up passably, since this is just for casual wear. The second is about 3/4in long.</p>
<p>My question is, is there anyway to repair cashmere like this, and would you bother to say anything to the dry cleaner? It’s not like a sweater I have a receipt for that they might replace. I can certainly buy another, but I can’t get that one.</p>
<p>TIA</p>
<p>Many good dry cleaners can reweave a knit so well that you cannot see the hole. I don’t know your location, but this cleaner in LA does a fantastic job - you can mail the sweater to them. I had a (heartbreaking) hole in one of my H’s Loro Piana sweaters repaired recently, and it’s as good as new. They also do a great job with leather and suede.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.margarets.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.margarets.com</a></p>
<p>[What</a> Sets Margaret’s Apart? Unique Services, Southern California’s ONLY Certified Couture dry cleaner](<a href=“http://www.margarets.com/what-sets-us-apartUniqueServices.htm]What”>http://www.margarets.com/what-sets-us-apartUniqueServices.htm)</p>
<p>Yup. Reweaving is what it’s called. Usually it’ll be a small shop, with one woman who knows how to do the work. In my town, it’s always a woman from another country - Poland, Korea, Russia, etc.</p>
<p>Thank you both. I’m sure it seems silly to repair a sweater this old. I’m just a little attached to this one. I’m in the outer-outer DC suburbs, but DH commutes to the Hill daily so if I found something downtown that would certainly be doable. I’ll look around.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s silly at all, not to mention that 30-year-old cashmere is usually of much better quality than all but the most expensive stuff you can get today. I have a black cashmere sweater that belonged to my father-in-law (he was a fairly small man, and my husband is much taller, so the sweater fits me) that’s about three times as thick as anything I usually see now.</p>
<p>Yes, DH was so sweet and said if we couldn’t repair it he would get me a new one just as close as we could find. When I explained to him what that might cost he cringed just a little before saying “it’s okay, we’ll really try to get that one repaired”. :)</p>
<p>I second what Gourmetmom said. My buddy used Margaret’s to dry clean a (very!!!) expensive purse with great results, so I have them bookmarked just in case. They do mail orders. Just an FYI - majority of cashmere can be hand-washed in cold water with mild soap and dried flat.</p>
<p>sewhappy, I just “bought” a great pair of REI hiking pants from D’s closet! LOL.</p>
<p>I send all of my suede and leather cleaning to Margaret’s - it’s well worth it. It’s very difficult to find a good leather cleaner - leather, especially suede, usually comes back stiff and decidedly “changed” from most cleaners. I had a full length buff colored shearling cleaned by Margaret’s last winter, and it looks absolutely perfect and rejuvenated.</p>
<p>Thanks, Gourmetmom! I have a suede skirt that needs to be cleaned. Off to Margaret’s it will go soon! :)</p>
<p>This is the skirt:</p>
<p>[Lauren</a> by Ralph Lauren Suede Skirt | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-suede-skirt/3190958?cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=10&cm_ite=1&siteId=fV7QgDWUWe0-w60JLXgXPGNFIN3EwrOgBA]Lauren”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-suede-skirt/3190958?cm_ven=Linkshare&cm_cat=partner&cm_pla=10&cm_ite=1&siteId=fV7QgDWUWe0-w60JLXgXPGNFIN3EwrOgBA)</p>
<p>That is gorgeous! I love chocolate brown - one of my favorite fall/winter colors. I like the little ruffle/fishtail hem. What do you wear on top? I would snatch one up if it was still available. You will be very happy with Margaret’s treatment. My coat was about $180 to clean, including return shipping - they resewed the buttons as well.</p>
<p>Wow, that is a great price! I wear it with either a cashmere sweater or a country-like shirt(also by RL), depending on what I’m going to do. This skirt is one of the few items in my closet I ended up paying full price for, but I do not regret it. As soon as it went on sale, it disappeared faster than one could say “suede”.</p>
<p>I have a love-hate relationship with RL. Love their dresses, skirts, and cashmere, but hate the humongous pony. :)</p>
<p>Let’s talk shearling! Where do you all think I should look for a blonde “car coat” length shearling? I want something other than my lined wool peacoat for our upcoming San Francisco winter></p>
<p>I wonder if the shearling is too warm for your climate? It would have to be very lightweight. My coat is actually warm for New England, and I only wear it infrequently on cold, dry days (most cold days are wet around here). I would look for something very, very light - which is hard to find. My coat is Loro Piana - incredibly supple and just the right blonde shade. </p>
<p>What do you think of this vest?:</p>
<p>[Loro</a> Piana](<a href=“Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes”>Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes)</p>
<p>Browse through the catalog - I love the honey cashmere:</p>
<p>[Loro</a> Piana](<a href=“Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes”>Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes)</p>
<p>I’m pining for the flamenco shawl - very distinctive:</p>
<p>[Loro</a> Piana](<a href=“Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes”>Loro Piana United States Official store | Clothing, Bags & Shoes)</p>