Let The Madness Begin!

voltee ♦ December 19, 2010 ♦ 6 Comments

Item: Sweater/Dress Color/Fabric: Plum, cashmere Designer: Rebecca Taylor Where Purchased: shopbop.com Years Owned: 2
I am standing on the edge of a great, yawning chasm, and feeling very likely to tumble in. Actually, I have no choice but to tumble in.
It’s the Holiday Madness.
It began today. Today is a marathon of theatre.
Tomorrow is a marathon of work, then a dash to the city for some high-flying, very expensive disaster.
Tuesday, I will work all day, then scurry home to pack and wrap (which I cannot believe hasn’t happened yet) and load up the car.
Early Wednesday morning, off to Ohio we go for my Toledo Surprise.
It is crazy, and stressful, and too fast, and exhausting, and I will love every single second!
I cannot wait.
I will do my best to keep up with my posts, but this is the time where things will get a little tricky.
So. This sweater I have been dreading to post, but I know that I have to. It’s something I most likely should not have purchased in the first place. It’s not my size.
Some things, though, I am powerless to resist. Baby animals. Food that contains sugar. Cashmere. Procrastination. A free drink. Massage chair demonstrations. Rebecca Taylor. Anything associated with Bono. Celebrity gossip. Clothes that are purple. Just to name a few.
This sweater is three of those things. Indeed, I could not resist.
It just fits weird. It almost works perfectly, but falls a little short. It’s just a touch too loose fitting, and kind of hangs like a bag if worn as a dress.
Sometimes, I will cinch it, and wear it over jeans as a sweater, like this:

I realize that this is not much, if any, more flattering than the first version. But try to imagine it on someone with hips, and a much cooler belt than I had time to locate for this purpose.
This version never really quite works for me, either.
I have thought, many times, about creating something entirely new out of this.
I imagine cutting it up the center, rolling the sides in a little, adding a few buttons, and creating a cozy, large collared sweater coat. I think it would be beautiful!
I haven’t done this yet for three reasons: One, I do already own a purple sweater coat. Two, Nate is vehemently against this plan. Three, I have yet to master button hole creation.
I do wear this though, as it is. I wore it two years ago to Christmas with my mom’s extended family. It is always a festive occasion, with amazing baked goods and snacks, and a gift exchange which has often caused tears, shouting, elaborate scheming, and the capacity to scar one for life. And yet, every year, we try again! Whether that makes us all masochists or optimists, I do not know. But I look forward to it every year!
Ah, ok! Late for the marathon! To summarize, briefly. My favorite aspect of this sweater is the flowing bell sleeves. Not only do they look beautiful, they are lined with silk and feel amazing. I would hate to give those up. And also the thick, cozy cashmere. What to do?

**I Wore this just two days after writing about it- to see Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark. The night the actor fell into the pit. Does that mean it should go? I’m just not sure.