fashion

Old Friends and New

Psychologists agree, the secret to healthy aging is maintaining strong social contacts. Making new friends, and keeping the old. Same with our wardrobe, don’t you think?

A healthy, workable wardrobe means that we acquire a few new pieces each season and the rest is comprised of wearable, older pieces which we still love. And, I might add, which still fit, and are in good condition. We welcome the new, and take good care of the old.

woman in black leggings, charcoal sweater, checkered tee and burgundy scarf

Smile, smile, big smile.

Just before Christmas I made friends with this long-sleeved tee shirt from Noujica, a Montreal company. I love the loose fit, and narrow cut. I like the different pattern across the shoulders, and the fringe trim on the arms. It’s a pretty basic piece, but it has unique features, which make it cool, I think. And as Rosie always says (hope you don’t mind me quoting you, Rosie) it’s “versatile.” I wore it with my leather pants out to supper, with my black leggings to book club, and I can see wearing it with my white jeans or my Rag and Bone cropped pants in the spring.

woman in black pants and sweater, checkered tee, holding a charcoal sweater

My old Vince leggings, my new Noujica tee, and my old Vince coat sweater.

But if the new tee is to be a valuable part of my closet team, it will need to play well with others who’ve been around a while. Like my Vince coat sweater bought at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale in 2015.

Last weekend, my book group was meeting for lunch at a restaurant in a lovely, old stone building, in historic Almonte, a town not far from Ottawa. The building is actually an old mill; we watched the river rushing by directly below our window. But, lovely though they are, stone buildings can get a bit chilly in winter. And my old Vince coat sweater solved that issue. Luckily my new friend and my old friend got along like a house on fire. As if they were made for each other.

But with black leggings, black and white checkered top, and charcoal sweater… I needed some colour. So I added silver and burgundy Anne Marie Chagnon earrings and bracelet, my burgundy scarf, and my burgundy down coat. I felt pretty snazzy. And comfortable. And warm.

woman in black leggings, charcoal sweater, burgundy scarf, holding a burgundy down coat

Adding my burgundy scarf, and my old burgundy down coat to this old/new outfit.

I felt so snazzy in fact that I wore the same outfit yesterday. Snazzy on repeat. Oh, it’s lovely when everyone gets along, isn’t it? When the whole wardrobe team just pitches in and pulls together. Old friends and new.

Happily on my way out yesterday.

And speaking of new friends, when I was on my way to the library yesterday, I stopped off for a latte at a new little coffee shop on Bridge Street, right across from Manotick Public School. Mimi’s in Manotick. I met the two young owners, David and Emily, and we had a great chat. It was lovely to see them so excited about their plans. They serve great coffee and tea, fresh pastries, ice cream, and fresh doughnuts (I lo-ove doughnuts.) That’s what Emily was doing when I was there, making the doughnuts. As soon as the weather warms up a bit, we’ll be able to sit with our coffee and doughnut on their deck in front of a fire blazing in the outdoor fireplace. And if pastries are not what you fancy, they also own Fitz’s Fries, the chip wagon right next door. So I’m thinking fresh hot chips, and then coffee and doughnuts. What about you?

woman and man smiling behind the counter of a coffee shop

Emily Sousa and David Patafie partners in pastries, and coffee… in Manotick.

I hope they make a go of it, these two local kids who are working so hard. As I said, they are excited, and have a million creative ideas. And I’m thinking, instead of sitting in your car in that mile long line-up at the Tim Horton’s drive-through, why not spend your money at Mimi’s? Local owners, friendly staff, tasty food and coffee… and you’d be supporting a Manotick community business, not a huge faceless corporation. I know my walking buddies and I will be there after our labours on Thursdays. Maybe I’ll see you.

You know, building strong connections is really important as we age. Isolation can be devastating, and even more so the older we get. And the secret to building a strong healthy community is strong connections too. Old friends and new pitching in and pulling together. And of course, the secret to a healthy closet is… well.. the same thing. A closet where the new pieces work well with the old pieces can make your life so much easier. And happier.

Yeah, I know, I’m pushing it a bit with that last comment. But a cohesive closet, where the new pieces play well with the old, really does make me happy.

I’m shallow like that…. I can’t help it.

Now, I have to go and finish my packing. Tomorrow, Hubby and I are off for a week of skiing. We hope. With the freezing rain, followed by the rain, followed by the deep freeze we’ve had, we may not be skiing for a few days. So we’ve packed our skates too. Along with everything but the kitchen sink. Books, DVDs, work-out gear, tons of food and wine. It will be a multi-activity ski holiday. Whatever. We’re flexible.

So over to you my friends. Any thoughts? On community, or closets, or making connections with people or with clothes… either way. We’re all ears.

FYI… If you’re interested, I noticed on-line that the tee shirt I’m wearing from Noujica is on sale. I’m wearing a size small so the sizing is generous. And when I was on the Anne Marie Chagnon website, I saw that her jewellry is available outside of Canada, in lots of stores in the States, and in France and even in a few other places in Europe.

P.S. By the time you read this, Hubby and I will have already headed for the hills. And the internet is sketchy there. So my replies to your comments might be sketchy, or non-existent. My apologies in advance.

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High Heels in the Wilderness is for women like me. Women who love clothes. And books. Who dream of travelling to amazing places. Who want to explore their own lives, and their own potential, now that they aren't twenty (or even forty) anymore.

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