I thought this dress was slimming until I saw the photos.
That extra pattern on the hips isn’t doing me any favours. Those side panels should be all black.
This sweater dress is 100% wool. Perfect for the -15 C windchill we had on Friday night.
Today as I write this it is 7 C and sunny.
I own two sweater dresses that are ideal for Canadian winters. I’m wrapped in a cocoon of warmth. Especially with tights, thigh high boots and a turtleneck layered underneath.
I’m wearing one of my handmade cuffs made from a vintage brooch and crystal beads. It’s not tied very well as you can see in the photo. My ladies maid is quite useless when it comes to helping me get dressed. She is lacking those indefinable skills that the ladies maids on Downton Abbey possess.
She was decidedly less expensive (requiring only that I throw her a bone every once in a while and scratch behind her ears) and can be rather pig pug headed.
One does the best one can with the dismal selection of hired help nowadays.
{sigh}
When I’m layered up like this and wrapped in a wool sweater dress I have a fear of being caught in a sudden extreme hot flash.
When I wore this on Friday night I thankfully managed without incident. I think the walk from the parking two blocks away in the -15 C wind might have helped.
I do however, think I need to start carrying something like this in my handbag in case of emergency…it could be a life saver. I didn’t know those types of things existed.
In fact, wouldn’t it be great to have a menopause emergency kit always at the ready?
My menopause emergency kit would include:
- family size dark chocolate bar
- a mickey of vodka
- a button that says, “BACK THE F-OFF!”
- panty liners
- instant cold packs
- tweezers & compact mirror
- magnifying glass
- mini flashlight
- wet wipes
- lube
- wick-away cooling PJs
- extra strength Nytol
- brain cleaner & memory refresher spray
- extra strength pain killers
- huge sunglasses
- fold out fan
- extra deodorant
- face shaver
- full body Spanx
Those lasts five items were provided thanks to Melanie.
What did I forget? Can you think of anything I should add?
Linking up with Visible Monday I Will Wear What I Like What I Wore Throw Back Thursday
LOL….the picture of Zoë is priceless! Great writing Suzanne! And…you look fantastic in the the dress…I think the dress silhouette is beautiful!
She was a dear to let me dress her like that. ; )
oh man…the emergency kit would do wonders I’m sure. One of my co-workers always commented on how she was having hot flashes and I felt soo bad for her. I hate feeling warm. It’s one of those “weird” things about me. So I can only imagine…
xo,
nancy
I don’t really freak out about getting hot, but my whole face turns beet red which in turn makes me flush even more.
You’ve got a long ways to go before you need to start worrying Nancy : )
Hmm, emergency kit… How about a t-shirt with a text: “Hot Flash Alert: hand over the chocolate and get me a drink, NOW!”
LOL
I could have a t-shirt that says, “hand over the chocolate and get me a drink NOW” pretty much any day of the week. Adding that to the list of t-shirts I need to make : )
LOL! The brain killer and shot of vodka will do me most days. Love this dress, and this post. My husband tries, but really doesn’t understand hot flashes. Gotta be a girl. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Just like we don’t understand about the whole “peeing while standing up” thing. LOL
I have to disagree with your assessment of this dress as “Not doing you any favours”.
I think you look stunning.
The colours are beautiful, especially with the punch of black.
I love it and there is nothing you can say to change my mind! :oD
I laughed out loud at the Hired help photo…Pugs have such wonderful faces, irresistible for such comedic shots. Brilliant!
I have not yet reached the menopausal stage but I fear it is in the post.
(this is probably one of my “too much information” moments)
But, my period has gone from no-bother-at-all to please-shoot-me-now!
It is only a question of time!
I agree wholeheartedly with the list, though.
Many of my colleagues are going through the menopause (or post menopause) and I feel their pain.
The hairy face is a real problem too…..especially as eyesight fades and the hairs disappear from sight! (I wrote about this very subject a while back)
I would add tranquilizers (for the menopausal person) and a tazer (or cattle prod) for use on annoying people who are not paying attention to the simple message on your badge.
Samantha
XXX
Yes, the period thing is a nightmare. It really keeps you guessing. All the way from “no biggie” to “dare I leave the house or stand up?”
I hear you, loud and clear.
I’m SO over it.
It all just goes to prove what fabulous creatures women are.
We can go through hell and still keep smiling. XXX
And we need one of those wheelie carts to carry our kits in, just as icing on the cake. Which reminds me, we need cake too. Or we get our maids (pugs, haha Zoe is so cute!) to carry our kits, like those St. Bernard rescue dogs.
AWESOME sweater dress, Suzanne. Cozy for the cold but looking fabulous at the same time -15?! I think the side panels are fine – this is one of those cool pieces that moves so well.
Where can I stock up on that brain refresher?!!!
Yeah, I know. The kit grew from something I might actually be able to fit into my handbag into something that does require a little red wagon.
If I tried to put anything on Zoë’s back she’d call her union representative.
I’m hoarding all the brain refresher. I’m starting to wonder if I was scammed when I bought it though. It smells like Pine Sol.
😀 hahahaha, can’t stop laughing!
Yessss, that’s one big and excellent Menopause emergency kit you have put together.
Would get it any time!
I like your dress – you look good in it. Don’t worry about hips or whatever. It’s great the way it is.
Greetings from this side of the world 😀
I agree with Samantha. I think the dress looks great on you. The black vertical lines on the skirt accentuate your curves, which is always very good thing IMO.
I often carry a small hand held battery operated fan. Around here you can get them at Target in the camping department. It fits perfectly in your purse, so you can reach for it in a “flash!”
The photo of your ladies maid is priceless, btw. Since I own cats, they expect me to hire servants for them!
Yes I’ve heard that cats require their own staff ; P
Thank goodness they hate riding in the car, or they’d expect me to hire them a chauffer too!
Ha ha! With a proper hat too ; P
I think the dress looks fabulous on you! Boy does it get cold in your neck of the woods! After living in California for 25 years, I’ve turned into such a wimp when it comes to cold temps…
Love your list! All these changes are no fun…
I find as I get older I am not able to cope with the cold like I once was. Lucky for us this year has been very mild, staying above zero, which is ….32 F . We are probably at 40 F today with no snow.
What a beautiful dress. The thought of a wool dress just makes me already itchy but I am sure it provides the warmth you need for your cold winter. As for menopause emergency kit, you are making me scared!! I have several cases of night sweats in the last several years and it was so miserable.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
I guess everyone is different. I’ve been prone to serious blushing all of my life, so really it isn’t that different during the day, but I still find it embarassing.
Hi Alice,
Went to the doctor when I started getting migraines during my monthly, he sent me to an Gyn doctor, who was not friendly at all, no advice nothing nada niks, like I should understand what happens in menopause. How the heck would I know??? I never had it before and my mothers generation never discussed it except to say oh its warm…. Every question I had short word answers and looked at me like I was an idiot.
Anyway I had told her I had been getting night sweats for a few years, like someone poured a bucket of water all over the bed (what the heck is that all about??!!) I suffered alone in silence but when the migraines came along I refuse to miss work so went to her. Well she said stop taking the pill, I did and within 2 months no more issues with headaches.
I didn’t go to her again and I finally started playing internet doctor (I don’t have many female friends here and none near my age) Apparently pre-menopause can last for years! It did, I started like at 41 and now at 47 the sweats are pretty much gone, and along with it I am now happy to say period is gone:):):) (although I hear it can come back as a surprise, just to remind you) Apparently when the period stops you are considered in menopause. Most of us misunderstand the proper term, no wonder it is all so confusing.
But now since the period stopped I notice any wine even 1 glass gives me a super duper headache. So bonus minus it is a mess, you get one good thing then one bad thing happens.
Why don’t they ever tell us all this stuff, why do we have to learn it all on our own with a ball of confusion. At least our generation has internet to find out a few things.
Hi Suzanne,
Suzanne, sweetie, this dress looks absolutely gorgeous on you. (I say my honest opinion believe me) But I guess I could see how you feel that, it emphasizes the curves but in a good way, serious, not big at all, the dress and design hits in all the right places. But we as women always seem have a different view of ourselves than others do. A friend always tells me that when I make comments about how I look. She says Melissa I think you see yourself very different than others do…..
Cheese wonderful cheese glorious cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep I was always a chocolate lover, but since the premenopause thing it is cheese in every form, especially melted over everything…. Is how I gained 10 freaking kilos living in NL. But thankfully I have lost a few.
The dress is gorgeous, and looks fabulous on you. I think I’m at the very beginning of the menopause journey. No hot flashes yet, but I expect one any minute. Love the kit – I don’t have anything to add but give me a few years!
Zoe seriously let you dress her up? She is priceless and a much better housemaid than any human, right? As for your sweater dress . . . it’s fabulous just the way it is, we are way too hard on ourselves, it looks wonderful on you. I have come to embrace and love sweater dresses for the same reason, I feel like I’m wearing a warm cozy (dressed up) bath robe for the day. Although I have to admit, I’m also in the same fun exciting, and challenging stage of life as you, my friend, therefore; I always worry about the hot flashes coming on and me wanting to strip off that cozy dressed up bathrobe. Your emergency kit is the best yet! What a wonderful gift this would make for a fun girlfriend (haha). Can I order my wick-away cooling Pj’s ASAP and I’ll also take some dark chocolates, the button and I’m stealing some of your memory spray.
Ha! No, Zoë would never go for this ; P I Photoshopped her head onto the real maid from Downton Abbey. I never would have fit her very large neck into that dress!
My dear Suzanne you look wonderfulllllllllllllll. Kim Kardashian eat your heart out.
Menopause sounds terrible, but hot flashes pass and a great liberation comes to women too.
Every stage has its pros and cons. The spotty teens, Mood swing PMS, etc
You are an inspiration.
Mil besos
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I’m waiting for this “so called” liberation to show up. : P
Personally I’d go back to my teens in a second. It was an exciting time. It is harder to find excitement now.
Omg that dress. Spectacular. You look amazing! I love that print!
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
I need some of the brain cleaner and memory refresher in an industrial strength and Costco size container. Menopause and it’s partner old-age, suck.
You need to add new specs to that list, my dear. That dress looks incredible on you! Your figure looks amazing and your hair is utterly fabulous.
Loving the cuff and adoring Zoe in her finery!
I don’t know anything about the menopause other than what I’ve read on blogs, there’s no surviving females in my family to ask. I’ll just do like I do with housework , ignore it until it goes away. xxx
Menopause secret – hot flushes embarrass other people far more than the person having them. Indulge in fancy notebooks and diaries to foil brain fade and view Saramai who is a black belt in dealing with meno-fuckwittage http://stylelikeu.com/the-whats-underneath-project-2/sarah-jane-adams
The dress is beautiful and you are too.
mwhaha, I’ve laughed so loud than my hubby came to see what was going on!!!
I should buy the whole pack, but love particularly that vodka shot, chocolate bar and sunnies: these are my most valuable resources for anything. Sunnies are way better than any concealer!!
Loving your dress, it looks comfy, warm and colorful, and those are magnificent qualities. And you look gorgeous wearing it!, such a fab print!!
besos
Scratch out the vodka and face shaver and you’ve got yourself a pregnant woman pacifying kit! That’s dress is awesome and whatever is going on behind you with the flowers and butterflies is ridiculously awesome. I guess U’m just noticing or maybe I’ve forgotten I’ve commented on it before… meh.
Suzanne—I’m in total agreement with everyone else….that dress is the bomb! It’s great you have hips—you’d look awfully funny with your torso situated on your thighs!!!
As for the menopausal thing—just think of how boring life would be if we didn’t have these issues?
And I’d like to stand up for your poor, poor puppy—he gets no respect—ha ha (i’m sure he’s extremely neglected and mistreated!!)
i know I’ve said it before (and I’m sure I’ll say it again since my memory skipped out along with the periods)—your humor is just what I need on many a days! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Oh yeah, Zoë is supremely spoiled. Don’t worry one bit about her.
Glad you had a laugh : )
My mom would love one of those kits (maybe add in a cloth to wipe glasses that get steamed too). I love the dress. I like how it is an intense pattern but doesn’t distract from the wearer at all.
Okay, steamed glasses? That is one serious hot flash!
Whahaha… this was very funny again. Which is why I love following your blog. OK also for the outfits. The dress looks fine silly. The vertical lines which go in, give you even more of an hourglass shape. You just stay nice and warm in it.
The menopause… sorry dear, it didn’t bother me much. OK there were hot flashes during the day, but I didn’t have more than 10 a day, usually less. Would sit still, very still for a minute and it would then die down. No problems during the night. It lasted for a year, disappeared for a year, returned for half a year (unpleasant surprise) and that was it. Gone. Bought a 10x times magnifying glass for doing make-up and hair removal on face. Oh.. and some lubricant. Just saying as it is. (TMI?)
Greetje
No it’s not TMI. I kind of wish more people would talk about that. I felt so unprepared. I kind of still feel like the sky might fall at any minute, or my brain might dry up and blow away.
Exactly feel totally unprepared, everything was so unexpected.
ok yeah and I now realize reading this blog that forgetfulness is part of it, I thought it was just me. Oh and my “drive,” has gone kind of downhill….
Please dear God I hope the face hair doesn’t become an issue:( I am already light skin with dark hair, been shaving from ankle to hip for years, no other way works for me cause my hair is super thick and strong, I hate it.
I just love this dress, and I do think it’s slimming. Where can I get one? I usually wear 90% black but this is so fantastic, I would make an exception.
That kit should be patented :-D. I could use everything on it. I think you look terrific in your dress. The colors are terrific on you. Greetje is right about the lubricant!
xo Jennifer