Lana Shirt ... and Monty

Tuesday 23 July 2013


I thought I'd treat myself to a little top whilst the Matches sale was on. Nothing very happening, nothing very in your face. So no skyscraper heels and no bling bling handbags - just a little top that will take me from year to year without dating too much. 

So I went for the Isabel Marant Etoile Lana shirt. Honestly, I feel a bit sheepish after the palaver about the Matches box as this is quite an unexciting little shirt in quite a lot of people's eyes but it just so happens to be the kind of shirt I feel happy in. Quiet and unassuming. Infact it's so quiet and unassuming, I can't find a pic of anyone wearing it except for store models. No one seems to like it. Except me.

Isabel Marant Lana Shirt (still available here)


And the other thing is you could probably find something similar in dare I say it ... Gap, Fat Face, White Stuff or even good old Marks & Sparks. Bang! Arrghghg. I've been shot down by Marant lovers everywhere. But honestly, look at it - you could, couldn't you? Come on, even I can say that and I like Marant designs very much. But I'm under no illusion that this is quite a regular little top.

New Look Jeans (old), River Island espadrilles (old), Monty (old)

Spot the tag still attached to the blouse. Yes I will be taking it off. This one is not on the list of returns. 

By the way, have you met Monts? Aka Monty the cat? He's an old geezer. He's about 16 years old now and I rescued him from the RSPCA when he was about 1 and before the Grumps took me on. He was the skinniest cat there and the one that ignored me so I thought I'd take him home, feed him up and make him love me. The day I got him, I nearly returned him as (1) he took a swipe at me every time I walked past him and (2) as he brushed past my dark coloured sofa, I nearly had a heart attack at the mass of white hairs left behind. I also nearly lost him on the first day I got him as I fell asleep with the back door open and thought he'd legged it out of the door. Thankfully, he realised I was his new food provider and decided to stay put. Phew - try explaining that to the RSPCA "yes the cat that I've had for two hours has disappeared, yes I know I signed a document saying I am a trustworthy responsible person and that I will be loving and loyal to the cat, tend to it's needs and and look after it but the fact is .... I've lost him ... after 2 hours".

Anyway, back to the Lana shirt. It's a cheesecloth type fabric - not that thin despite looking light and airy from where you read. But it is versatile and it's one of the shirts which looks great with boyfriend jeans as seen above. Or with a pair of denim shorts seen below ....

H&M Boyfriend Shorts, Russell & Bromley Bag, Monty (old)


Or with a denim skirt.

French Connection skirt (old), River Island Espadrilles (old), Monty (old)

Monty "I'm not moving"


Can you see the theme? Basically, this shirt goes great with denim. I'm sure it goes with other things too but I don't like how they styled it weird on the websites with funny patterned trews and stuff. But that's just me being boring.

Anyway how do you shop in the sales?

  • Go for something you've had your eye on for ages which was too expensive but is now affordable?
  • Buy something because you were seduced by the 70% off but you never knew you needed or thought about previously? 
  • Give yourself licence to browse the more expensive sites to see what is now affordable? 
  • Buy something practical but better than usual?
  • Buy something just for the helluva of it?

Guess what? I do all of the above :o)


----------------------------

Last Note :

  • The vet says Monty's gammy eyes are part of his old age. Poor old thing.  
  • He's still a tough cookie though - he will take on any passing dog. Mad Cat Monty.











39 comments

  1. I'm a number one - I have to be in control . I'm the sort of person who can't just have one biscuit out of the packet - it's either none or it' the whole flipping packet. I'm like that with sale shopping :( Resist or lose control. Sad state of affairs! LOVE this unassuming gorgeous top.

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    1. You're a bit of a force to be reckoned with Claire - quite disciplined. And I'm just a shopping schizo - one minute good as gold, next minute - everything in the basket. Though a lot gets put back too (phew).

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    2. But when I cave in, it is quite spectacular! Once this building is done I think I could well lose the plot completely and spend spend spend on clothes instead of bricks and sand and wood !!!

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    3. Can't wait to see you unleashed. Get the house finished pronto!

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  2. I'm number 2 and 5 Sue (wouldn't you know it!) - sorry Claire! - I have no control whatsoever and just rely on the 'refund card'! Anyway - love the top with the shorts - gives it an edge! So wish I could wear shorts like that but I've only just progressed to wearing my shorter skirt - will have to build up to shorts! Monty looks good for 16 - bet he'd see our dog off!

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    1. I like you :o) Impulsive. Some of the best purchases are made this way you know.

      Let the heatwave come back and you'll be in shorts before you know it, Jenny!

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  3. Oh what a lovely top! I'm actually tempted to make a purchase from Matches after discovering the price difference between them and NAP is just ridic.

    I do all of the above too - I like browsing just for fun and it's when I manage to sneak in all those purchases which seemed just a little too pricey... :)

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    1. I think NAP do quite good sales especially at the end - I was eyeing up the IM sweatshirt for £40 but knew I couldn't squeeze into the 36 as Marlene had already done a review on it and commented on the sizing coming up small and which size she was trying on (Thanks Marlene - thanks for saving me the trouble).

      Browsing is fun but that's how I end up with Zoe Karssen bat sweatshirts (blue/black) in my bag! Would have been good for Halloween if it had fitted - now that one really did come up small.

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  4. That's a nice top Sue, cheesecloth is so nice in warm weather and I like the blue stripes, kind of zero effort in getting dressed since it goes so well with denim! And hello Monty!! I didn't know you had a cat, what a cutieeee :) One of ours is 17 this year and still going pretty strong, I think indoor cats tend to live longer.

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. You're totally right about the zero effort - the stripes just make the interest in the top.

      And yes we have Monty - he's old, has no teeth and breathes on me with his cat breath after he's had some nosh. Delightful. Not :o(

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  5. It's gorgeous Sue - it looks perfect on you. You are a 70s girl at heart aren't you? I had one similar for my first trip to France in '77 - I wore it with a denim skirt with buttons up the front and Scholls:). No Isabel Marant either - Kay's catalog I think:). You know me - I'm impulsive and buy stuff because I love it but I do return stuff too if I don't love it - I'm getting wiser I hope.

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    1. I'm a total 70's girl but also like a bit of the 60's vibe. I however have you down for being an eighties girl?

      And I have to say you must have been one stylish child - you can't have been any more than 5 or 6 in 77? I'm currently hankering after the Bella Freud jumper which says 70 on it as that's my birth year. Then I feel I can wear something with meaning across my chest (pricey though).

      And you're obviously learning from me - if you don't love it - take it back. With age comes wisdom.

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  6. That top is SO you Sue, it would have been a crime had you not bought it! Did you know IM made a jacket called Monty? Was a big seller, though not as cute as your Monty!!

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    1. Thanks Amber. It is me - a little unassuming. And the Monty jacket is lovely and was a big seller if I remember correctly. I think I'd rather have my Monts (we've been together for 16 years and counting). Cheaper too.

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  7. It is easy and practical - requires little or no thought to wear something like this.

    And I take it you've indulged in the sales a little then? Look forward to seeing the newbies. Forget about the bill ;o)

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  8. I love that shirt Sue, I was going to buy in the sale but went for the MIH one instead as it was longer in the length to cover my bum. It is very you, I love cheesecloth shirts, they remind me of my mum in the 70's she use to wear alot of them. Sale shopper, I have been know to be all ~ but training myself to be number 1 only x

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    1. I went for this one as it looked shorter in the body and it wasn't too fitted. My kind of clean colours too. I struggle with some of the longer shirts - they shorten me. But you have a lovely shirt in the MIH one. I love their Birkin shirt also but the sleeves don't work on me.

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  9. Love that shirt on you ... it's sooo you, practically has your name written on it really! Re sales shopping, well I've been so restrained and well behaved this year, that I barely recognise myself. Hopefully by the time the next sales come round, that will all change again - generally I'm a 3 and 4 with a bit of 5 thrown in!

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    1. I'm starting to think that people can work me out now and how I dress - everyone is saying this shirt is very me! But they're right, it is.

      And you are holier than thou on the shopping front this year. I bow to your amazing willpower.

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  10. Now you've made me wish I'd bought it. I owned a very similar shirt which I'd purchased from Karen Walker. Wore it so much it fell apart after many many years. I love that top on you, Sue! Looks like it was made for you.

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    1. I haven't worn it yet (surprise, surprise). It's been too hot and I need lighter layers. It's quite a heavy fabric but good for a slightly cooler day. Shame about your Karen Walker shirt but that's a sign of a good buy if you've worn it to death.

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  11. I love cheesecloth shirts, they remind me of growing up in the 70's. Monty is a cutie, we have an old lady cat who's almost 19 and has the runny eye thing too, she's the boss of the house and has lived with me for over 17 years!

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    1. This is a proper throwback shirt. Cheesecloth is so 70's isn't it?

      Oh wow and well done your lady cat - 19! That's going some. Gammy eyes - glad to know that it's not just our Monts.

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  12. LOVE - understated, simple and chic. Love monty too, cute & someone to run your outfit ideas by?! ;)x

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    1. I think this is what they call a KISS outfit don't they? Keep it simple stupid (not calling you names I hasten to add).

      I think we're both cat ladies.

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  13. Haha, you finally caved in to the Marant cult! :)) It's a really lovely basic.
    Love anything with stripes, not too tight with a retro touch just like your IME blouse.
    Regarding sales shopping, I guess it dépends on the season. I certainly show less restraint for winter sales. This summer I only got 4 items during sales, 1 I had my eyes upon for a long while, the other 3 were "coups de cœur"!

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    1. Do you know I got to the point where I was actively avoiding getting anything Marant. But I caved. When faced with a good price on Matches, what's a girl to do?

      I don't think I've had that much from the sales actually - 3 were items I'd eyed up before (this being one of them), 1 was silly price but returned and 1 is a practical one if and when it turns up and fits. Quite restrained really.

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  14. I LOVE cats. And dogs. And other animals really. Well, apart from snakes. I'm scared of them, innit.
    Anyhow...the shirt is lovely. I can definitely see myself wearing it too. I love your espadrilles too. Such great choice for summer.

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    1. I know you love cats - you spoil yours rotten and why not indeed. And I'm with you on the snakes - pass.

      I think you have a slight seventies vibe about some of your looks too so I can see you in this shirt - with your flares and some tan wedges? And a saddle bag. Or maybe that's what I want to wear.

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    2. You're right. I would wear it like that. :D

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  15. Hi Sue- I really love this top, cheesecloth is a real favourite of mine (I don't have a top, so will be hunting one down!) and it looks so chic with denim, this was a fab buy xx

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    1. Thank you Sharon. It's the perfect top for denim isn't it? To be honest, I wouldn't even know what else to wear it with. Look forward to seeing yours when you hunt yours down.

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  16. I think it's a great top because it would suit my apple shape perfectly and skim the tum. I haven't seen it on their website which would only mean it was never made in an XL - I search by size first save disappointment - gutted!

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    1. I love any tops which skims the tum. I'm over the fitted numbers these days I just can't do it anymore. The kids have killed the waistline (and the bagels).

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  17. I think simple items are often the best - they tend to be classic and you come back to them year after year. This may be simple but it's perfect on you - love it styled each way. I'm not a huge fan of sales as I always seem to get there too late when there's nothing but tat left!

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  18. I think that sums it up for me - I tend to buy things in shapes which I can wear from year to year and which don't date terribly which is probably why so many pieces in my wardrobe are so old.

    As for the sales - I hate rifling through sales rails in the shops - the new stuff always looks so much neater and more appealing don't you think?

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  19. This top is just perfect for you. You have an eye for what you like and what suits you. I think Monty concurs. He is a brilliant little chap. I love cats with attitude.

    Helen xx

    (p.s I have done the little transaction if you would like to check all went through ok, thanks again. They have, already, had several outings on my tootsies)

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  20. Love it with the skirt! And a kitty surprise, adorable!
    (had been wondering what was in that marbled box!)

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  21. Love the top! Sometimes the best investment pieces aren't ones that scream "fashion investment!" at the top of their lungs, just quiet simple pieces that make you feel quietly happy and will live for ages in your closet doing just that. Makes me quietly happy just to think about it ;) As for shopping the sales, I am magically resisting all temptation. Pretty crazy, knowing me!

    www.nomadicd.com

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Susie So So