Far from the saddening fruit

Over at Sal's there is an interesting discussion about age appropriate dressing that has struck deep at the heart of many bloggers. Many of the daily-wear posts have addressed the topic with close reference to what they are wearing today. I'm going to do the same but first I want to draw attention to a mandarin that is breaking my heart:

I ate one of its relatives today, or at least tried to, only to end up with a mouth full of tense squirting flesh that tasted of stewed knitting. I left this mandarin where I can keep an eye on it but I don't know that I'm actually going to trust it enough to eat it.

I'm glad we've got that out of the way. Now, clothes.

I am very fond of my workhorse clothes and accessories. I've already shown you my current work bag and one of my favourite pendants; today I present the dress I will invariably don when I feel & look like I have been eating bowling balls or when my skin is the colour of ash and infection or when I am running twenty minutes late or when I need to look capable and when I want to be comfortable but still wear a rather nice frock.
This is from Jaeger in London. It's made from a beautiful silk jersey, has very empowering shoulders and deep pockets that keep safe pens, stray business cards and some life saving almonds. I bought this dress the same day I bought my red Bayswater. I wear this dress so frequently even my drycleaner recognises it. The only thing I don't like about it is that I didn't buy two for that one day this one will disintegrate from the constant wear it endures.

I love Jaeger for a number of reasons, not the least being it's where Sylvia Plath went shopping when her benefactor sent her a cheer-up cheque after Ted Hughes & she separated. Jaeger is the one label I believe addresses the needs of a woman of any age with complete respect. There is no patronising advertising, no shrill dresses designed for one type of excitable teenager, no dowdy hide-me clothes that are so often manufactured for women who have a few decades under their Celine belt and no fuss made of the fact that their clothes will suit & delight women of any age. Also, they use fabulous fabrics and are not afraid of the big button.

Finally, my learned friend who kindly took the Jaeger dress photograph suggested that I feature too many feet in my posts. It smacks, he hinted, at a sort of foot obsession. He is of course right. Here are his: