Sunday sweater (and shoe) inspiration, more knitting swatches and winter's final gasp!

Ogden, AB, 1923. Glenbow Museum, Calgary AB

There are elements here that I really like. I like the sweater on the girl in the middle, which if I’m not mistaken is a sort of textured, open cardigan, in a soft yarn. The sweater on the right is also pretty, with its loose or lace stripes.

There are elements of the shoes that also work for me. A modified strapped shoe or a slim fitted bootie can look great with skirts. There’s something demure (but not too much) about them. I’m biased in this regard as my favourite pair of shoes at the moment is this one, which I bought second-hand, online:

The shoes even came in the original box with the original label and price tag. I’ve been buying all of my shoes and boots vintage, second-hand lately. Some people are a bit squeamish about used shoes but honestly wearing something pre-worn has never bothered me one bit. This could be because my mom often accepted hand-me-down clothes for us when we were kids; I enjoyed trying to style them into interesting outfits. When I was a teenager, too, I took my first earnings from a part-time job and cruised the vintage shops on Queen St. West in Toronto. I always wanted to wear things made with high-quality materials and tailoring, and I understood that the way that I could get these things at a price I could afford was to buy old things!

The shoes above came looking almost like new, never worn, and frankly it makes much more sense to me to spend $20-60 plus shipping for a high-quality pair of shoes than to go to the mall and buy something that might cost far more but that has been poorly-made of inferior and less-comfortable materials, and shipped all the way from China, etc. I’m fortunate in that I have the opportunity to buy some high-quality shoes in Italy when I’m there, as it is still possible to buy high-quality leather goods there at modest prices, but shopping for shoes here in Canada is not at all like that. Plus I believe in recycling and re-using, as our consumption patterns these days don’t feel at all right to me. You’d also be surprised at how easy it is to buy shoes without trying them on – it’s simply a matter of understanding the materials and measuring carefully. I’ve bought two pairs of short boots (one brown, one black), one pair of oxford shoes and three pairs of low or modest heels for work in the last year, at prices varying from $23-$56, and all of them fit well.

The original price tag on these shoes was $53, but I’m not sure from the label when they were sold. I would say early 60s, but I could be way off. I had originally thought that the shoes were from the early 70s, as I hadn’t bothered to examine the box. Hmm…

I adore the drawing on the box, as I walk by the building all the time in Florence. It’s right by the Arno, in via T0rnabuoni.

Otherwise, I went to a local knitting and sewing store yesterday afternoon to buy some additional circular needles in various sizes, so I could prepare some more test swatches (one in the round and the other flat, but with Rowan Wool Cotton instead). I’m still not satisfied; I’m searching for the perfect gauge!

Incidentally, I just realized, in reading over my entry from yesterday, that I am awfully opinionated! (Actually, I suppose I already knew that. I do analysis for a living, so every day I am expected to look at things very critically. It seeps through to everyday life.) I need to keep an open mind. I also don’t want to offend anyone with my pronouncements! Just ignore me,  if you don’t agree with anything I say.

I am also officially declaring the last gasp of winter. It has been known to snow here in April, but I am completely ignoring that fact, and the birds chirping outside my window seem to agree with me!

Happy Sunday!

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