And heaven and angels sing...

As the cold weather approaches, most people’s thoughts turn to home, hearth and family. Mine turn, unequivocally, to cashmere.

It started with a serendipitous purchase last winter. I happened upon a lovely tomato red Kenzie cashmere cardigan in Winners, and following the Cinderella’s Folly philosophy, purchased one in sage green and black as well. That was enough to tide me through the long, cold winter. But this year I, like the rest of the retail masses, have been caught up in sea of cashmere that is showing up in every store, from coats to scarves to cozy sweaters. I have become a cashmere glutton.

The latest focus of this gluttony has been the sinful luxury of Club Monaco’s Claudine wrap sweater, available in the most delicious winter cream. I have been tracking this elusive piece of cashmere for weeks now, calling the stores to see if it was on sale. Yesterday I struck gold. A salesperson, who I had been calling for days, replied in a bored voice that it wasn’t on sale. When I said sadly that it was out of my grasp at regular price, she mentioned, as if the thought had just occurred to her, “Well, it’s not on sale, but it is on promotion. Today is the last day. 30% off.”

The heavens opened and angels sang. Telling myself that I could not miss such a divine opportunity, I cleared my calendar for the afternoon and rushed to the downtown store, the only one to have it in stock. Now me and my Claudine sweater are one, and never the twain shall part.

Pick up your own at Club Monaco stores for $239. But, wait for the 30% off ‘promotion’ – it’s sure to come again before the holiday season is out.

My Saviour

WHAT: The Cropped Jacket

WHERE: Club Monaco

HOW MUCH: $179

I come from a long line of generously-hipped women. And by generous, I don’t mean Kate Winslet; I mean ancient Sicilian peasant women who spend their days planted in front of a stone counters rolling out acres of pasta. It all starts off well enough; I am what you would euphemistically call pear-shaped. When I look at my mother, she has graduated to more of a butternut squash shape and my Grandma resides somewhere between the squash and an upside down mushroom.

Needless to say, this level of junk-in-a-de-trunk precludes me from sashaying down the streets of Toronto in the season’s hippest skinny jeans and slouchy boots. While I have resigned myself to a lifetime of A-line skirts and dresses that cinch the waist, I am thrilled to see that there is one trend that I can happily indulge in: the cropped jacket.

The 50's glamour and Audrey-Hepburn feeling of the cropped jacket enchant me; I can just see myself slinking into a party wearing one paired with elbow-length leather gloves and accessorized by an uber-long cigarette holder. Here, my favourite from Club Monaco; the graphic print and clean lines would look fantastic with a pencil skirt or even my trusty A-line. At $179, it’s a bit pricey for a trendy item, but I hold faith that it will go on sale before the season is out. Will keep you posted.