Mood...

All Photos of/by Muffy Aldrich

 

A Reader Question: How do you navigate chemical finishes on garments?

A reader question:  

Dear Ms. Aldrich,

I have been infatuated with your blog for years and check almost daily for updates or scour the archives. I have now started to read everything going back to the beginning, a real treat. Thank you for this vault of knowledge.

I have a wide collection of clothing consisting of natural materials as often discussed, of which the staples are of course cotton and wool. In Europe, the material composition is mandatory to name on the label of the garment. Yet, what I have learned only recently, there is a wild variety of icky finishes possible (the more obvious ones being non stain, non odor, wrinkle free nonsense etc.) but apparently also heavy toxins, formaldehyde, etc. I was baffled to learn it is not mandatory to explain what sort of paint was used to colour the garment, what finishes have been used on the garment (even when it is cotton, certified organic, OEKO-TEX, etc) and which chemicals have been used in production. I have just never considered the wide variety of possibilities here. Is this something you have learned to navigate or perhaps your readers can offer more insights? Naturally, when I ask clerks “what can you tell me about the finishes on this garment” I receive the most impressive sheepish looks with a mumbling of “no one asks that ever or cares about that, you old git”. 

I’d consider it my next step in really, totally going overboard with the wardrobe in having only the purest forms of clothing possible.

All the best,

A Cinnamon Babka? I mean, a Cotton Guernsey?

All Photos of Muffy Aldrich

Le Tricoteur has begun offering 100% cotton Guernseys. While all of their wool jumpers are famously made right on Guernsey and are hand-finished in the homes of islanders, their cotton jumpers they have made for them in Nottingham, England. (The equipment on Guernsey could not work with cotton.)

They offer two cotton styles, the traditional unisex Guernsey style and their newer cropped versions for women, and in some brilliant colors, including this cropped striped version. Just perfect for this transitional time of year.

• Cotton Guernsey Jumpers <https://letricoteur.co/en-us/collections/cotton-guernsey-jumpers>

• Cotton Cropped Guernsey Jumpers <https://letricoteur.co/en-us/collections/off-shoulder-cropped-guernsey-jumpers-copy>

Shown with:

• Made in New England Lotuff Leather No 5 Knapsack in Indigo <https://lotuffleather.com/collections/womens-backpacks/products/leather-no-5-knapsack>

• Patsy’s earrings <https://patsykane.com/products/yankee-pearl-earrings>

The cropped version is a very boxy and oversized style. Check their helpful garment measurements for the right size.

 

If you know New Haven pizza...

Photo by Muffy Aldrich

If you know New Haven pizza, you know Foxon Park.

 

A Reader Question: What to wear to keep our heads warm?

 A reader question:

Good afternoon,

I have a question for you and the community - when the temperatures begin to drop, what will the ladies and gentlemen of SWNE  be wearing on our heads to keep warm? 

Kind Regards,

Shootout in Newport over a Vintage Hinckley

In case you missed it, from CBS News via YouTube:

Easing into Autumn

Socratic Cards Resupply

Thank you everyone here who bought our Socratic Cards. The "Muffy" Signature Edition has now sold out!

• Socratic Cards <https://www.socraticcards.com/>

We now have a fresh printing of what we are calling the "Standard Edition," aimed at a broader audience, featuring the same questions and the same back pattern, but in place of the "Muffy Card" on the back of the deck, it has a more traditional description, and the font and the logos are a bit smaller.

Random Photos from the End of Summer

Photos by Muffy Aldrich