Vindication After Years of Abuse

Guess who is my favourite daughter now! After years of abuse from Daughter Number One and Daughter Ditto on the subject of wearing white shirts under sweaters, I have a girl who actually wants and asks for one as a Christmas gift. Ah, Nirvana! I have been the subject of such teasing and ridicule in front of friends and family over the years for "making" my little girls look "preppy" growing up (their interpretation of being dressed with good taste - and when was "preppy" ever considered a negative thing in any case???) by having them wear little white blouses under their pullovers to take away from the starkness of the sweater neckline and add another design element to their ensemble. The litany of abuse on this issue has become such a habit with The Sisters of the Whinesome Chorus that Daughter Number One was bitterly complaining about it just a couple of weeks ago in front of the Not-The-Other-Rutherfords while looking gorgeous in a grey cashmere sweater, chinos, and A WHITE SHIRT! Now I forgive them, of course. It's a mother's job. That and holding firm to your own innate sense of what is right and waiting for your kidlings to grow, gain worldly experience, and finally understand the reasoning behind your stance. But that doesn't lessen the satisfaction I experienced on receiving the following email from Isabelle:

I could also do with a white shirt with a collar. I have colourful V neck sweaters (tomorrow I'll wear my pink cashmere from you), but I have no nice crisp white shirt to wear underneath. Something long sleeved with maybe a few buttons? And long enough so that I can tuck it in my trousers and keep my lower back warm? Is that what you call a blouse? In French une blouse is a lab coat.

I think I am in vindication heaven. Finally, a gal who understands how to achieve a timeless, classy look that sets off the sweater and the rest of the outfit. A gal who can use a white shirt with jeans for a casual, classy look or with dress pants for a professional, classy look. AND she responds promptly to my request for Christmas wishlists to make Mrs. Santa's job easier. Viva La France! And Viva ma fille francaise! (The French have such a well deserved reputation around the world for good fashion sense. Sophie raised that child well!)


And on the subject of wardrobe, here is a sock that makes me happy every time I pick up the knitting needles. The colors are so pleasing that it is one of the fastest sock projects I have ever worked on.

Pattern: Simple stocking stitch with partridge eye heel flap
Yarn: Trekking XXL #126 (Brachs Candy)
Needles: circular 2.25 mm