Dressing for Comfort (with a dash of style, I hope . . ).

Cold, damp cold, the kind that insinuates itself nastily between every fold, burrowing deep into joints, making old injuries whine. And then the other kind of cold, the one that attaches a soggy kleenex to one's hand day-in, day-out, that threatens to pull one's lungs out one's eyeballs with each wracking cough . . . These two ganged up on me last week. I eventually cried "Uncle," and called in sick, although I dragged myself back in the next day, and then spent the weekend at home hacking over a stack of essays that had to be marked, preparing a lesson for Monday's class.

Ah, woe is me. Poor me.
And poor me wants comfort. Comfort with a bit of cheer-me-up style. Print that's whimsical enough to lift my spirits but in tones muted enough that they don't exhaust my red-rimmed, pestilence-wearied eyes.

Cashmere is the first, and obvious step --  so, one Bompard v-neck pullover. And the muted but whimsical print comes in the form of skinny corduroys by Citizens of Humanity. I'm not sure how or why I came to purchase these a size too big when I'd already learned that even my regular size is too big where Lycra is involved. However. While the slouch might not be for everywhere, in a skinny jean, I quite like the effect (while admitting that the photos below show its disadvantages) in these cords. Once again, I assert that not every woman strives to look 5' 7" and 107 pounds. For me, that's so far off the range of possibility as to be ridiculous. . .

Anyway.
The cashmere pull comforts, but the cold is not defeated. First solution, wind a cashmere scarf around my neck -- the print-mixing may be a tad too bold to attempt while ill, but again, the colours are muted, and the fabrics so soft. . . .

Add just a bit of shine -- because smiles have to come from somewhere, right? -- in the form of Fluevog Cha-Cha slipper-loafers, so comfy. . .

Admittedly, this last layer of cashmere (Bompard extra-fine cardi) might weigh the look down somewhat, frump me up more than necessary. But ah, the comfort. . . .

And speaking of comfort. . . . when I'm sitting at work, I get to look down at these subtle jewels of colour in such a pretty paisley. I find that comforting indeed.. .

Not sure what we'll find in terms of Comfort Dressing over at Patti's Visible Monday, but it's always fun to see what others are sharing. So much personal style collected by such a gracious blogger -- I'm linking up there today, and I hope you get a chance to check it out.

I also hope you find some comfort these January days, dark here in the Northern Hemisphere.  How are you keeping your body warm and your spirit lifted?