Sand And Stone

I knew just what I wanted to wear this morning when I reached for a fabulous open-weave top that had been in a box of clothing sent to me recently by my best friend’s mother, Joyce. Now that I have lost 70 pounds, Joyce and I wear the same size, so I have become the incredibly lucky recipient of some fabulous garments Joyce has collected over the years.

This particular pullover with three-quarter sleeves, by Coldwater Creek, caught my attention right away for its soft shades of gently undulating acrylic yarn in sand, wheat, stone and earth, my absolute favorite colors. And I knew just what I wanted to pair it with, too: some lightweight, beige rayon dress slacks by Calvin Klein that I picked up on clearance at Macy’s a couple of months ago.

To complete my outfit, I added strappy cream-colored sandals by Boutique 9 with beachy jute wedge heels, a bracelet of cream beads and sand-colored seashells that I found in the Bahamas last October, another bracelet of citrine beads that I bought at the deYoung Museum gift shop in San Francisco in 2004, the day before the venerable museum closed its doors for a massive years-long renovation, and a gorgeous necklace with matching earrings of citrine gemstones set in sterling silver by Fire & Ice Jewelers of Baltimore (www.fireandice.com), a birthday gift several years ago from my dear friends Robert and Jan.

The piece de resistance for me, however, was tucking my essentials into a marvelous taupe-hued macramé hobo bag embellished with earth-toned wooden beads that was also in the box of clothing from Joyce. I had been searching for weeks for a summer purse that was not too big and not too small, something woven and casual and sandy colored, but could not find anything that suited me. Then, voila, there was the perfect handbag in the package with the other treasures Joyce sent me. I was smitten at first glance.

The weather in Baltimore continues to be ideal – mid 70s with brilliant blue sky and puffy clouds hastened along by a pleasant breeze – soon it will be too warm to wear this beautiful sweater, no matter how light the weave, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to show it off today.

Cheers,

Lynell