Thursday, March 5, 2009

My Two-Dollar Red Pashmina


I picked up a red pashmina today for two dollars at a thrift store. It's 70% pashmina, 30% silk, made in India. That's 1.42 GBP, 2.57 Canadian dollars, or 3.11 AUD.

Now, what about that color? And really...do I need a pashmina?

In January I posted a story about colors that look good on everyone--quoting the Pantone Color Institute in a Real Simple article. The red of my new pashmina is one of those colors.

Imogen Lamport, of the wonderful blog Inside Out Style, has doubts about this shade being good for everyone. I tend to agree--not because I know about other people, but because I've basically given up wearing red. The few red pieces I've owned in my life have always stayed in my closet.

And there's this. Word on the Web is that pashminas are passe. Passe-minas. Or no: they were out, but now they're back. Is that right?

Then there's the fact that I don't know how to wear a pashmina. Seems like one tosses it casually over an evening dress. This is how many times I've worn an evening dress in the last five years: 0.

Regardless of all that, I couldn't pass up this deal. Even though pashminas are cheaper than they used to be and I suspect the one I got is on the cheap end, there's just something about a pashmina that my small town heart can't resist. I imagine something like this: It's a dark night and a cab awaits. I am wearing my little black dress. I say breezily to my handsome escort as I touch my perfumed hand to his wrist, "Attends un peu, cheri. I must fetch my red pashmina."

13 comments:

ceecee said...

I LOVE red! Shawls are great for the summer. I am always cold in the air-conditioning and never go without a shawl in my bag. Who cares if they say they're out of fashion....wait five minutes and they'll be back in! Isn't fashion just too fickle! Grab some red lipstick and go!
All the best,
Catherine

Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP said...

I think pashminas will never go out of fashion in winter as you can wear them both as a scarf and a shawl.

Clare said...

I found you by way of the english muse. Nice blog and I will definetely follow you. Please come over to my side of the blogworld and if you like, please follow me too.

I have recently come to embrace the color red. I love a bargain and that is one heck of a bargain

Seeker said...

Oh I love red, and what a great pashmina!!!
I think they will never go out of fashion.

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You've here a very cool blog, so keep in touch if you feel like.

xoxo

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Unknown said...

I love red, one of my fav colors. can't pass up a good deal! great find.

fashion is in the eye of the beholder.

Anonymous said...

Love the red myself. I have taken to wearing pashminas as a sweater alternative, just around the house in evenings. It's like a personal throw blanket and much cuter than a Snuggie. Chris

sallymandy said...

Well, there are a lot of votes for red. I'm going to try the pashmina.

Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP said...

I was just looking again at your previous post about your favourite scarf and noticed how the colours are much more soft and muted - this could be why you don't wear this kind of 'red', that you have dusky coluring and need a more soft and muted dusky red rather than the bright red of this scarf (and of that pantone post you did).

What do you think?

Anonymous said...

I'm getting too old for waiting cabs. At this point in my life, the car needs to be black and attached to a driver to make it into my imaginary love life.

But a pashmina would be part of the story.

Great buy; hope you use it or pass it along!

Anonymous said...

How can pashminas ever be out of fashion? That's like saying lamb's wool scarves are dated. Red is a wonderful, positive colour if you are feeling confident and want to draw attention to yourself. Otherwise skip it for the time being.

sallymandy said...

Imogen: I'm sure you're right. Pretty much everything I wear is in the muted range as you saw in that favorite scarf. The red just isn't muted.

Anon: I have a friend who wears red and if I can't make use of this, it's probably hers!

ProSup: Yes, exactly...drawing attention to myself. I hardly ever want to do that. Thanks!

Maria Killam said...

I could wear red in my 20's and early 30's and after I hit about 35 I would it on (along with the red lipstick I would always wear) and I just looked terrible! I couldn't wear it anymore. Red is a grounding colour though, it's the first chakra so if you want to bring your ideas into reality, it's a good colour to have around you! Lovely scarf.