What To Do When You Find A Piece You Love But It's Too Darned Expensive.
The allegory of the linen suit.
You know that piece that you see, don’t buy, and then can’t stop thinking about? The one that lives rent free in your noggin and just. won’t. leave. And try as you might to forget it, your mind drifts to images of you wearing it while regaling friends in witty anecdotes to rapturous response. For me, recently, this piece has been a certain linen suit. Let me talk you through it.
I follow a lady called Sarah Corbett-Winder on Instagram (still on there despite this) . I have done for some time. In fact it was only after a few years of following her that I realised we’d actually met in a shop in the Cotswolds once. Anyway, she has recently launched her own label - a collection of women’s tailoring and it is sublime. There is this stripe suit that I have gone wild for, and a succession of other fabulous pieces. The label is called Kipper and is stocked online at Liberty. Check it out here.
So the linen suit. It is kind of April from The Turtles meets Steve Irwin meets The City. It is modern but yet classic. It is not a neutral colour, but yet it is is not colourful. I love it. Here it is, as modelled by Sarah herself:
Isn’t is dreamy? Imagine it in the boardroom in high summer. Imagine it at a BBQ with friends. Imagine it when having lunch…..I’ll stop. However, it costs £700. In this economy. Now, some things in life are worth £700. Like a maximum security pram, I assume. Or a second hand car. Or house insurance, maybe. But a blue linen suit, purchased to facilitate the enactment of my “safari in the city” fantasy is not on that list. So instead of abandoning my dreams entirely, off I went down an internet hole in search of something that might scratch the itch, and here is a report of what I found. And by the way, I’m sharing this story because it happens us all, right? You spy something you like, and then realise that buying it would involve selling if not a kidney, at least a substantial part of your existing wardrobe. We are resourceful women. We shall over come!
Also, this is not a case of finding a “dupe”, or knock off version of a design. It is taking time to drill down the style you love and making it work for your budget, lifestyle and existing wardrobe.
Firstly I needed to define exactly what it is I love about it, and cross-reference this with what I already own, as no one wants to make a purchase only to discover that they already own something that would have created the same effect.
Easy. I love the updated waistcoat shape, the long line, the collar, and the colour. However, I already own this suit:
It is three years old, I still love it, and have worn it loads both together, as the suit gods intended, and as separates. But what it means is that I’m not in the market for a suit of this colour, nor a suit if this exact shape. I want a long line waistcoat, I’d settle for a higher neck with or without a collar, and maybe a belt situation going on, but certainly a little cinch.
Now to start the search. This where using a stylist or someone with good oversight of where to look is helpful.
So I knew the I had spied some bits in Aligne that had potential. This butter milk one is the perfect shape but my wardrobe houses mine and a few other others fair share of pale yellow clothes so I’m not keen to expand that. But if this were not the case, this would be The One, with the sleeveless option, not the sleeved.
Aligne also offered this blue pinstripe number, which I appreciate, but it is a little more naked, and therefore less versatile, than I intended to get. There were other options too:
Next virtual stop was Australian linen heaven DISSH. I have purchased from here before - in store in Brisbane and online - and can testify that the quality is great. I love the shape of the lighter brown below, but it is slightly too unstructured - an option nonetheless. I LOVE the dark brown backless number, but again, I am searching for one that doesn’t require balmy temperatures to wear. I do blinking love it, mind you.
Then, for no reason other than the sale was on, I checked out Harvey Nichols. A flawed logic, if I’m looking to spend significantly less than £700 but I’m an idiot optimist. Unsurprisingly, it came up with nothing BUT I did spy this from Max Mara…remind you of anything? A lot more expensive than my Zara number of yesteryear.
I visited another high street stores too. The closest I have come has been River Island who have a well shaped offering, again in the buttermilk shade. I thought that Free People may have had my back here, but, while they had so gorgeous pieces, again none that were quite what I am after. I also checked out Sézanne, as it seemed like this label’s vibe too, but alas, nothing.
I did, however, venture onto Net-A-Porter’s sale and came across this from Faithful the Brand. I’m into it. It ticks the longline box, and while it isn’t a higher neck it is an update on the classic waistcoat style. Colour wise, not perfect, but still good - great with black. The pick of the bunch, for me.
So I do hope this walk through my though process helps to dislodge the imagination block for anyone who is still pining over that one horribly expensive, very gorgeous piece of clothing that you can’t stop thinking about, and proves that there are ways to wear the style you want without parting with a body organ.
Feel free to leave a comment with the pieces you have lusted after but can’t quite justify, and we can play a game of finding alternatives. Because that, my friends, is my idea of a very good time. Rock and roll, baby. Rock and roll.
A little dating update coming your way on Sunday. Nothing exciting to tell - no need to get excited - but a bit of a half year check in, on that scene.
Until then
Big Love
Una
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