Part II: Gray Matters

Sometimes best laid plans and all that. . . 

I had intended to get back to gray later, but I found so many things I like and since I'm an excessive monkey brain, I thought, "Let's get right to it so everyone has time to think and shop."

A word of fashion advice from French Elle on the subject of wearing and finding the ultimate gray flannel trousers without looking too, heaven forbid, BCBG (preppy). The formula: choose a high waistband for more femininity; go for a heathered gray (this fashion editor says, "whatever"); opt for wide bottoms -- not bell, but wide boot cut -- with the polish of a cuff (I so agree); wear pants long, almost touching the ground (that means you can only wear them with one pair of shoes or one collection of shoes with the exact same heel so decide early on).  

And finally, Elle suggests, team up your pants with gold boots and a snug leather blouson in the "fauve" family -- camel-ish -- so we can have the two hot seasonal color trends under control, gray and camel. I suspect the "gold" reference was not the metal family, but rather in the vast tobacco-ish colors of leather, at least I hope so.

Gray from the top:

• Eileen Fisher
  
• Talbots -- twice
• Repetto ballerines
• Loro Piana (the most expensive item on this post)
• Talbot gray flannel trousers (I've found it's difficult to find them this year. I have four pairs so I'm literally covered. I didn't want you to worry on my account.)
• Landsend cashmere shawl
• American vintage tunics, both in gray even though one looks black (or dresses for those who dare)
• Lands' End cashmere V-neck and T-shirt
• J.Jill