A Friday Buffet
No. 003 I'll never be a long-neck person. Fact.
Hi, hello, how are you?
It is a beautiful Friday here in New England and I cannot wait for the long weekend ahead. Plans include snapping too many photos of foliage, finding quintessential October flavors other than pumpkin spice, and rejoicing (per usual) that I can go for a long walk wearing a (mostly necessary) jacket. It’s the little things!
Amidst the frequent flow of random questions, or statements, I ask/tell Seth (my husband) on any given day, the other night included one that’s definitely a fact, but felt like a lament: “I’ll never be a long-neck person,” I quietly stated. As I admired a turtleneck sweater that looked chic and effortless on the model, I knew such an item would have a dramatically different visual on me and my short-neck self.
You see, I am not a tall person. I am five feet “tall.” But that is not tall. My height is five feet and that is short, which means no individual part of my body is long or tall. This fact is one I have grappled with for most of my life; however, it does not anger (or define) me. It is rarely bothersome except when it comes to clothes shopping, one of my lifelong favorite activities.
Due to my not-long-neck, most turtlenecks have too much turtle, which hovers close to my nose unless I fold them down. Not an atrocious style change, but I’ll always long for (pun intended) the chance to wear a turtleneck top with ease. It looks so cozy; turtleneck sweaters (of all sorts) are that classic New England style that signifies that one’s neck will be warm indoors and out (hooray!).
Personally, I’ve had my eye on this cozy sweater from Alex Mill, but there is a 100% chance that turtleneck will not look like that on me and my neck. In other news, a hairstylist once told me they couldn’t give me the haircut I wanted because I was not Heidi Klum and did not have the same length neck as her, a supermodel. How dare they say the truth to me…
Besides the troublesome turtlenecks, I have also found that shirts, sweaters, and coats will always have too-long sleeves that end up covering my hands or go past the “correct” part of my wrist. This is less of a lament and more of a “this is how life will be” since I could take some of these items to be tailored. Nah. I’d rather have the built-in hand-warmers for the winter and my usual “push the sleeves up” mindset. It works!
Finally, finding the correct length of pants for my short-leg-self is a journey I’ve been on for decades (don’t even get me started on jumpsuits, they continue to pay rent in my brain since they will always be a dream). And only now, as I wave past my 37th birthday (it was in August), have I found proper-length denim that not only fits well, but the length is perfect, too. A miracle! If you also need “not just for tall people” pants, then I’d strongly recommend jeans at Abercrombie.
I know - we’re not in high school anymore - but Abercrombie has made a comeback and it’s due to (in my opinion) the variety of lengths, washes, and fits offered for all of their denim styles. It is an incredible feeling to wear jeans that do not need to be hemmed, rolled, cuffed, or worse, never even worn. I feel like I’ve found a diamond in the rough, but actually, I’m just buying jeans with the correct inseam. What a rush! Is this how tall people feel every single time they buy pants? I may never know…
My favorite fit that I wear a few times each week is the High Rise Skinny in the Short length. I do find the Extra Short option is also a good choice (yes, I’m that short), but the Short seems to be the best for the variety of shoes I wear with them. If you’re in the new-pants-mindset, then my suggestion is to either order several styles online to find your favorite or visit your local Abercrombie, carry 2098 pairs into the fitting room, and find your new favorite pants like it’s 2002 all over again. Trust me - it’s worth it!
Why have I spent several paragraphs discussing my height and some of its shortcomings? Because we tend to focus on what we consider the toughest parts of our selves, the elements of our bodies that aren’t “perfect.” Yikes. We need to stop doing that! But it’s hard.
I love clothes shopping and I know for a fact that finding “perfect fitting” everything isn’t always feasible. My not-long-neck, very short legs, and upper body that is a mix of narrow shoulders and arms of someone who lifts heavier-than-two-pound-weights is a tricky combo when it comes to clothes. That being said, I’m proud of myself for focusing on fitness and health even if it means my dimensions aren’t “proportionate” to my (lack of) height. It is something I am working on daily to accept.
At the end of the day, I’m a strong, capable, and confident person, which is far more important than a coat with too-long sleeves or a turtleneck sweater that isn’t perfectly-proportionate for my not-long-neck. But this is the truth: when my jeans are the correct length, I feel like a super hero. ;)
PS: If you discover a jumpsuit that will correctly fit someone shorter than 5’2’’, contact me immediately.
Now, shall we get to today’s Buffet? It’s a mini version (I’ll explain later), but I hope you enjoy it.
How do we feel about the Birkenstock Tokio Super Grip? I don’t love the heel strap…
Gifts for gardeners - saving this guide!
I have the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and yes, it is one of the best fanny packs for running errands.
We’re making this Slicked and Spicy Lamb Noodles dish very soon. Looks so good!
We need to re-start our years-ago plan to host more dinner parties. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of snacks!
When it’s a very chilly fall night, I think we’ll be making this Brown Butter Chicken Pasta. Decadent and divine!
I wore vests a lot as a kid, but I’ve been seeing this style a lot recently. Not sure I could pull it off?
Just for fun luxury: I love this Moncler Velvet and Boucle Knit Puffer. Not the most practical, but it looks so chic.
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
