WoolWeenies Club

[elk]

well you and wool, Lisa...obviously meant to be..

I just found a land's end jacket i bought years ago that is windproof and i think it might even be waterproof...and its BIG on me...I must be losing weight...and it'll make a good shell too!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Here, I took a picture somehow in the mirror (believe me, this takes all my brain power, hence the vacant expression!) of me in my new Ibex Skyline merino top and my Ibex wool tights. Smartwool thick socks.
I used to wear this kind of stuff only when biking. But it feels so good that I often just wear it, like today- it was cold and windy and rainy and I went to the supermarket and bank and PO and was sooo cozy. People ask me "Are you riding your bike?" and i just answer "Not right now, but I might jump on it at any second!"

Attachment 4883

[elk]

that's a great picture!

That skyline top is designed so that the white part makes the black part look like a an evening dress!!!

I got my shak zip today...brown...very soft!!! i'm waiting for my icebreaker leggings.....my ibex capris and Lena skirt....all, of course, on sale...

[Dianyla]

Lisa, you look fabulous! It makes me think we should all start a Wool Weenies Photo thread showing us wearing our woollies...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, you look fabulous! It makes me think we should all start a Wool Weenies Photo thread showing us wearing our woollies...

Yeah, and call "Weenies On Parade". Hmmm....maybe not....
Maybe "Show us your woolies", or "Bully Woolies".....

Elk- my brown zip shak arrived today too- haven't opened it yet!

[Dianyla]

Yeah, and call "Weenies On Parade". Hmmm....maybe not....

OMG!!!

Maybe "Show us your woolies", or "Bully Woolies".....

Um, that would probably be more appropriate...

[emily_in_nc]

Cute pic, Lisa! Love the outfit, and your cute bedroom too, especially the floor! Very charming!

Emily

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well Dianyla, why don't you you post a pic of you hiking in some exotic place in your woolies?

Elk- I am pleased with the brown shaks (halfzip and full zip). The brown is a soft mocha color that is pretty pleasant...between that and the skyline it will provide an alternative to the ninja look. I like to wear the half zip shak in medium with a Large full zip over it like they used to wear "sweater sets" in the old days. They'd have a pullover sweater with a matching cardigan over it.
God knows I go out in below freezing often enough to justify it. Chance of snow all day tomorrow (will likely just be cold rain though) and I plan to do my 3.6 mile walk in the morning in the 30's. Definitely will be layering wool.

I still wish they had picked more yummy women's colors this year in Ibex. But the black and brown will work, -especially if I wear colorful socks or vest or neck gaitor or a hat in an interesting color. My switchback vest in persimmon will go very nicely over the brown shak.
Dianyla- I do the same thing as you with putting the Smartwool ski socks on over my leggings and pulled up to my knees, then my hiking boots. They have some great wacky colors and patterns in those ski socks!

Wool diary confessions:
With the success of the skyline top for me and the arrival of the brown shaks today, I feel like a frustrating weight has been lifted off.
I had gotten enough thin merino base layers last year to last me a good while. I also had good outer vest, jacket, socks.... But i was kind of lacking in the mid layer torso dept- something warmer and thicker to wear over my base layer but under a vest or jacket. Or just by itself indoors, over a base layer. I had given two midweight SW wool zip tops I had to my daughters.
I knew the Switchback line from Ibex, and have a vest and jacket, but switchbacks were now eliminated by Ibex. Hence the search for mid layer tops like the shaks and the skyline this Fall.

But i had trouble finding colors I liked. The black was a no-brainer, and I loved the black shak I got- have been wearing it every day, and was getting sad when it was in the laundry. But a second color choice to alleviate the all-black-all-the-time look proved more difficult.

I tried the loose tights in grey- Had no idea what size I'd take so I ordered M, L & XL. The Large fit me, but they just did not look good on my type of figure.
I found a shak hoody in red- it was too snug when worn over things, and no larger size was available. Back it went.
I tried the skyline in the new "warm green"....didn't like that shade of green.
With all these new unfamiliar items, I'd be unsure of the sizing so I'd order 2 different sizes to be sure and then send stuff back.
Because of all this trying things out, packages were arriving from Ibex at an alarming rate. I had to try to send back the returns as quickly as possible, to stay ahead of my credit card billing cycle as much as I could. Most of the stuff was arriving and then getting returned. I consolidated stuff together if I could. I was able to narrow down my choices slowly.
This morning was truly the last Ibex box to arrive (of how many?.. 5 or 6 maybe?), and I pretty much knew I could be happy with the brown shaks, and from having the black shak I knew just what sizes I needed for the brown ones.
DH brought this last package in from the porch this morning and hollered up the stairs in an amused manner: "Oh Sweetie!- Your daily Ibex delivery has arrived!" (he's just too good really)
Now I am finally set with the mid layer thing (whew). The shaks in both black and brown, and the skyline top in black/chalk. I don't foresee any more Ibex deliveries this winter. It's been rather frustrating but I think I made some good decisions and I'm feeling well prepared for lots of outdoor activities and exercise this winter.

Ok I've babbled on long enough.

P.S. Thanks for the kind words! And Emily- that's our little attic guest room- but it has a good mirror for trying to photo yourself. The floor is the cheap pine subfloor that was underneath the ragged 1950's linoleum which was glued on with black asphalt(!!). It looked sweet in a humble way so we just had the guy sand the black tar off it and then I sealed it.

[elk]

you bike in yr boots?

my fave shoes to bike in are my Keens...

Let's see. I now have a switchback persimmon zip up.
A yummy brown shak zip up
A black crew neck LS under layer.
Waiting to get: (all of it was onsale!!)
pair of icebreaker capri leggings black
ibex capris black
ibex norgie crew brown and berry
icebreaker tank. lilac

NOt as cold here as it is in the northeast.....but wetter...

[sandra]

Ducking in in my Dufold midweight to say

Lisa, I love the picture. You look great! What pants are those you are wearing? Love the top and the pants really look nice!

[Andrea]

Based on the ravings in this thread, I went to Ibex's site & ordered the long sleeve crew (from the "clearance" page). You guys have me all excited to try it out!

[elk]

http://www.backcountry.com/store/ICE0134

Thanks KathiC, Sandra and LSH....I found this last one in black XL and boom I bought it...oh oh oh I hope it has thumbholes...I covet thumbholes!!!1