White's boots preview

{photo by lisa} 
 Review of my White's Boots coming soon.

Joan Watson boots

I've recently started watching Elementary (where have you been all my life?) and am completely slightly obsessed with Joans style. Specifically her gorgeous variety of high heeled ankle boots. Of course Lucy Liu is dressed in high end designer footwear, but I did track down a similar simple black style by Penelope and Coco. They design and make fashion forward footwear in L.A. which let me tell you is a rarity. Most women's footwear domestically made are versions of mens (which I love, but branching out is great), and they have some really cute styles besides their Ivy Boots. 
At $395 a pair it's a little steep for me to justify something I wouldn't be wearing almost daily, but a girl can dream right? 
{Penelope and Coco Ivy Boots}

{ r e v i e w } Imogene + Willie - Elizabeth

I found Imogene + Willie from a post Beth did on Local Milk. They're a Nashville based brand, but have a store in Portland Oregon as well as their flagship so I was able to see their products in person before buying. 
I was initially attracted to the fact that not only are the jeans crafted domestically, but they have a high waist option, with a true high waist. My natural waist hits pretty high, so while some pants are advertised as "high waist", 90% of the time that means a mid-rise, or reach a couple inches below at best. But these looked pretty promising, so I went to the Portland store to try them on.

And walked out wearing them.

The staff was very helpful, and made sure I got the best fit and was comfortable in the denim I picked. The sizing can get a bit complicated with Imogene + Willie, so if you're unsure and not able to try them in person, know your measurements, contact them, and they can help you find the perfect fit. I measure at a w-25.5 h-38, and tried the 25" Elizabeth in Indigo which I thought fit great, but the employee recommended trying a size down. I put on a 24" and they fit even better, a bit snug at first, but as with all denim it'll relax and form to your body the more you wear it. Which it did, months later and they're just as easy to wear as any other denim in my closet.

This was my first pair of jeans I don't intend to wash much. So far so good, there hasn't been a need and as I mentioned, they have already formed beautifully so I don't want to mess with that. A part of me loves the fresh color and lines, but I also look forward to some getting some wear here and there and a bit of darning and patching. 

American threads

There's a movement right now that caters to those who want quality craftsmanship, things made in small factories or local studios, and things that will last. Classic pieces that will wear in, not out. The general offerings are abundant, but the choices for clothing and accessories made specifically for women are a bit sparse. They are out there, but they're just more difficult to track down. 
I'm rebuilding my wardrobe from the ground up, and in doing so have leaned more and more towards clothing I can live in and wear in. I'm not looking for the trend of the moment, I'm looking for the classics and quality that comes out of true American made clothing. 
This blog will follow that search, with reviews, outfits, features, and more. If you know of a brand or maker that would be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you.