Quick Closet Clean-Out

Out with the old and in with the new!  The beginning of January is the perfect time to do a mini closet cleanse.  Nothing major:  Spring cleaning is still THE BEST and a few months away.  But if you want a quick feel-good project, follow these five steps and your closet will be refreshed with minimal effort.

1. Bye-Bye beat up handbags.  Toss out the ones you are never going to use again---those with broken hardware or stretched out handles, marks, rips and scratches.

2. See You Later white T-shirts, white dress shirts and white blouses that are no longer very white.  Check for stains under the arms and at the collar--see anything? If yes, then release.

3. So long, stretched out elastic.  Work-out gear, pajamas, bathing suits--anything with elastic that is worn out (have you ever heard that horrible cracking sound the really old stuff makes??) goes straight into the recycling bag.

4. Peace out, pilled-beyond-repair sweaters.  If you've taken it to the cleaners already and the pills are still there, it's time to let it go. It's done good by you for a long time.

5. Sayonara, shoes that give you blisters.  We all have them: shoes and boots that are just so cute but hurt every single time they're worn.  Time to say farewell, forgive yourself (we all make mistakes--sometimes this one is expensive) and move forward.

That's it!  All done!  Well...unless you're ready to shop for replacements :) Here are some suggestions (and they are all on sale). Happy New Year, my friends!

Born motorcycle boots,  Zara frilled white blouse, Gap floral PJ bottoms and Lanvin mini shoulder bag.  Click here for links to all the rest plus more ideas. 

His-n-Her Christmas Party Outfits

You can't go wrong wearing red or green to a Christmas party, but avoid a plain red sweater or dress. Here are three ways to wear the colors of the season in a more sophisticated manner.

Brunello Cucinelli suede vest, Brooks Brothers plaid flats, Renee Lewis peridot earrings, J.Crew red pumps, &OtherStories green sweater and skirt.  Click here for links.

1) Choose your palette. Use pattern and texture to add a bit of interest.  A green checked shirt plus a green striped tie plus an olive suede vest looks festive and chic. Adding black and some fur to a red dress looks bright and stylish.

2) Make it shiny.  Look at the red plaid pants, green skirt or red patent pumps above; they all work because they shine.

3) When in doubt, accessorize.  If head-to-toe red or green doesn't feel quite "you," then choose one accessory in a merry color.  A black silk T-shirt and simple black pants plus red shoes or green earrings will make a subtle but effective statement. A red pocket square will pop on a black blazer.

Which Boots Go With Which Jeans?

The chart below shows some options for boots and booties + jeans.  These are just a few of the many, many combos you can make.  Read below for more details and choices.

Straight Leg Jeans:  choose a bootie that does not come up too high on the ankle.  Something with a lower vamp, that even shows a bit of skin, will elongate your leg when wearing a straight jean.  Conversely, don’t be afraid to ‘scrunch’ up the straight leg over a combat style boot. 

Skinny jeans:  choose just about any boot or bootie you like.  These jeans are great for wearing under tall boots (to the knee or over the knee).  Remember to wear more volume on top when you do that.  For booties, these skinny jeans can be tucked into or worn over top.  See the pictures above for ideas. 

Full length Mini-bells, Flared, Wide-leg:  choose a boot or bootie that comes up higher on your ankle, even to mid-calf, so that the jeans fall easily over top.  You want to see the toe and heel of the boot/bootie.  One of my favorite, super-comfy options for this style of pants is a pair of cowboy boots. 

Cropped-Kicks or Boy-friend Jeans:  choose a bootie that complements the particular length of the jean.  The visual effect you’re going for is not too much skin exposed from the end of the jean to the top of the bootie.  So, if your jeans end a bit higher up on the leg, then wear a bootie that comes up above the ankle. These shorter jeans are excellent for showing off a unique and interesting boot.  And again to the contrary, you could choose a black cropped kick jean and a black mid-calf boot—allowing the jean to fall over the top of the boot even though the jean is shorter than full length.  This looks very modern and elongates the leg.

Vince Camuto black bootie with buckle,  Stuart Weitzman leopard print bootie, Nine West light suede cowboy bootie, Gianvito Rossi black quilted leather boot.  Outfit images: Netaporter.com and my clients.

His-n-Her Trends-to-Try for Fall 2016

What do shearling, leopard print, velvet and pearls all have in common?  They are some of the biggest womenswear trends for Fall 2016, of course!  Hmmm…those sound more like ‘classics’ to me. I really do love when the arbiters of style tell us that these classic items are ‘new’ trends.  But as you know, it’s all in the way in which you wear them that makes things feel either new and fresh or outdated and passé.  Here are some of my favorite new pieces for both women and men.  Did you know that pink is one of the biggest trends in menswear this Fall?  According to GQ, it is!  So are plaids (revolutionary!) and bomber jackets. I love this stuff :)

Outerwear and accessories are great places to add a trendy piece into your daily wardrobe.

Here are two examples of how to mix all these trends together.  Click here for links to everything you see in this post.

And here are examples on both ends of the budget spectrum.  With price comes quality.  With savings, comes easy turnover. Again, click here for links to all. Let me know if you see something you like!

Here are a few exhibits on my radar for this season.  Has anyone been already?  I'm looking forward to the inspiration these give!

Klimt and the Women of Vienna's Golden Age at the Neue Galerie in NYC.

Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Jerusalem 1000--1400: Every People Under Heaven at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC.

Summer to Fall Wardrobe Transition

It’s after Labor Day, and “Summer” is officially over.  But the days are still warm and humid. Your Summer clothes don’t feel quite right for the activities on your calendar, but when you wear anything appropriate for Fall, you end up roasting. I'm speaking about this at The Wilton Woman's Club luncheon.  Click here for links from that presentation, and follow the tips below to transition through the month of September until cooler weather arrives.

Yes, you can wear white jeans after Labor Day.  Pair them with black, brown or tan for a chic transitional outfit. Mother white crops from Elyse Walker, Frame white skinny jeans, and Mih jeans at Netaporter.

1. Choose the weight of fabrics based on the outdoor temperature.  If it’s going to be hot and humid, don’t even consider wearing a lightweight wool or cashmere piece.  Stick with your Summertime cottons and linens, BUT...
2. Use color to differentiate between the seasons.  Colors with a lot of ‘white’ in them--light pink, baby blue, bright green--will read Summer.  Put these garments away for now and choose deeper shades such as navy, fuchsia, hunter green.
3. Speaking of color, it is OK to wear white after Labor Day!  White jeans with navy, blue and tan look fresh and suitable for an early Fall day.  Black and white is another great alternative for transitional dressing.
4. Layering is key during this time of year.  It can be cool in the early morning, only to be hot in the late afternoon sunshine and then cool again in the evening.  Use lightweight layers (cotton/linen blend blazers or cardigans and scarves) so that you can be ready for the temperature changes.
5. Last but not least:  Sandals + Pants.  If an open-toe shoe is acceptable for your lifestyle, this will keep you cool and comfortable until the weather turns.

Use natural fabrics (cotton, silk, or linen rather than anything polyester) and choose muted colors (navy, plum, grey); then combine white, tan, and creme in layers. Both of these outfits can transition even further by swapping out the white pants for blue jeans as the days get cooler.

Blue jeans with sandals, a neutral top and strong necklace make an easy and casual cocktail outfit. Natural agate necklace, Lafayette 148 sequin tank, Veronica Beard bootcut jeans.

Back to School Shopping: SoHo NYC

With mixed emotions, I realize it's almost time for the kids to go back to school. Summer is always so great with its relaxed schedules and lots of time spent with family and friends.  It's hard to let that go...but Fall, in my opinion, is the best season for clothes!  And, as you all know, I'm kind of into those :)

To make a Back to School shopping day a bit more fun than a basic trip to the mall, I designed this SoHo itinerary for a client and her daughters and myself. We had a blast and the girls' wardrobes were refreshed and ready for a new year. Mom found a few great things, too!  Read on to learn where to shop, where to stop and eat (molto importante!) and where to continue shopping after lunch...

Cover all the bases: flannel shirts, good jeans, comfy footwear, casual sweats for hanging out, a cool denim jacket for everyday, a pretty dress or top for when you need to 'dress up.' Click here for links to all of the above.

Make Bloomingdale's your home base (504 Broadway between Spring and Broome). Right next door is All Saints, across the street is Brandy Melville and The Levi's Store.  A few steps up the street is Aritzia and across from that is H&M. One block down (still on Broadway) is Madewell, Topshop and Timberland.  Time to break for lunch!  If you want something quick and yummy, go to sweetgreen around the corner on Kenmare St.  If you have a little more time, sit down at Jack's Wife Freda (around a different corner).  After refueling, head up Lafayette to G Star Raw then back over to Broadway to stop into &OtherStories.  Loop back to Bloomingdale's for any final purchases and call it a wrap!

My clients last week were young girls, but many of these shops cater to young men, too. Bloomie's lower level is the Men's Shop; there's TopMan (also downstairs); and Levi's, Timberland, H&M and G Star have great choices for the boys.  Everything above (and more) is listed on the Pinterest board right here.

“Thank you so much for everything today! It has a been a LONG time (maybe never?) since I felt so good after shopping. Your sense of style, plus a great sense of humor, made today much less scary and way more fun than I thought it would be. And I not only got great stuff, but we stayed in budget! ”

— S.W.

How to Do Summertime Black-Tie

Recently, a client called me for help in pulling together an outfit for a black-tie party held in July. A lightweight and colorful dress felt right for the Summertime date, but how to incorporate the traditional black-tie accessories and details?  The solution: add both black and white/light accessories to the monochromatic lace dress. We created the final look without ever meeting face-to-face.  See how, below...

Above are just a few of the styling options I found for this sweet dress.

1) She sent me a picture. The first picture was of a pretty salmon colored dress that I felt was too 'daytime.' This had been her concern, too; and it felt good for her to get confirmation on that. I created an Online Boutique with some dress options for her and she ultimately found this mustard colored lace dress after looking at my suggestions.

2) I shopped for all the finishing touches. She wanted to add traditional black details (shoes, necklace, etc) but thought that black may feel a bit heavy against this dress.  I agreed that solid black would be too overwhelming and shopped for accessories made of black, white, and crystal elements. The black formalized the look; the white/crystal lightened everything up for Summer. I gathered all my finds into her Online Boutique so ordering was a breeze for her: just click on the photo and put the item into her shopping cart.

3) She ordered, tried on, sent me photos--and we finalized the look all via email. She had a pair of white earrings and a small white/gold box clutch already in her closet.  Mixing those pieces with the new shoes and necklace created the authentic final outfit.  My extra touch of adding the black ribbon to the necklace made it one-of-a-kind and at the same time on-trend with this Summer's feeling of vintage layering.  As an added bonus, she kept a few other pieces that I'd found and I sent her styling tips on how to wear those within her daily wardrobe.

Click here to see her entire Online Boutique for this outfit--more dress options and jewelry and shoes.

“I bought a dress for a summer black tie party, and realized I had no idea if the dress was appropriate for the occasion or how to accessorize it. Maria pulled everything together for me in just a few days. First, we shopped together via online links for jewelry and shoes. Then, we used cell phone pictures from my current closet to select the clutch and earrings— this took 10 minutes. The whole process was easy, efficient and very economical. She pulled the look together in less than a week, and I did not overspend for this black tie party. She is a gem and her process is pure joy! ”

— ALB

Are these a bunch of bracelets or a study in repetition and contrast?

Repetition makes the human eye happy!  It can move from one element to another without getting stuck.  Too much repetition and the grouping becomes boring.  This is the time to add some contrast.  See below for an explanation of how these two ideas are working in the image and how you can apply these concepts to your own wardrobe...

Keep some basic design principles in mind when choosing your accessories.

Each of the bracelets above repeats its shape over and over.  The large red rectangles repeat as do the crocheted flowers, the pearls, the links and the brown rectangles.  The contrast comes into play with the softness and texture of the crocheted yarn and twisted silk rope (with pearls attached) against the smooth, hard red and brown rectangles.  There is even more contrast in terms of size:  the extra large red rectangles against the tiny pearls or smaller brown rectangles. But then the repetition comes back into play: the brown rectangles pick up the brown in the red bracelet. And then there's more contrast: the dark red and brown colors play against the creme and gold.  But then the creme and gold colors are repeated in three consecutive lines.

These principles of repetition and contrast can be used when choosing many accessories from necklaces to neck ties:  layer your necklaces to create the repetition and contrast--wear a tie with a repeating pattern that picks up a color or pattern in your dress shirt or pocket square. Keep these ideas in mind the next time you're finishing an outfit.  Attention to these principles with elevate any look you put together.

HOW TO SHOP THE GREENWICH SIDEWALK SALES

Few shopping experiences are more satisfying than finding a great deal:  a quality piece at a deep discount that works perfectly for you.  Greenwich offers it's sidewalk sales each July and there is abundant opportunity to find those great deals.  But there's also the temptation to buy something that used to be very expensive just because it's no longer so pricey. Those purchases tend to hang in closets with tags still on.  Here are 3 tips for maximum success at the sales going on now…

Above are a few pieces from Greenwich Avenue stores which are offering sales online as well as on the sidewalk.  Alice and Olivia embellished jacket, The Row navy coat, Moncler trench, Charlotte Olympia flats, Vineyard Vines all-over floral print sport coat, Alexandre Birman crocheted sandals,  Anya Hindmarch caramel shoulder bag, VineyardVines classic windowpane sport coat, Theory leather T-strap sandals

1) Have a Plan.  Decide what you would like to find before you go. This is the perfect time to search out an 'investment' piece at a great price--something classic that will stand the test of time.  Do you need to update your trench coat? perfect leather pumps? beautiful handbag or earrings?  You can also go in the opposite direction:  find a show-stopper dress for an upcoming event; or statement sandals that will complete any little black dress already hanging in your closet.  A unique and specific piece that you would never spend $$$$ on...but would consider spending $$ on.

2) Don't buy it if it doesn't fit.  We've all been in this situation: you've found a piece you love at an amazing price...if only it wasn't so short; ; if only it wasn't backless; if only it zipped all the way up.  Those who have worked with me know that I'm all about altering favorite pieces so that they work for you.  A hem here, taking in at the waist there, even fixing the shoulders when called for...but letting out skimpy seams (there's never a lot of room in there) or completely re-cutting something to make it fit isn't practical.  Not only will it be expensive and time-consuming, but the final result rarely resembles what you had imagined it to be.  And if it's a matter of only losing 5 pounds to make it work, unless you've already lost 4 of those pounds, release the item.

3) Shift your inner attitude.  This is my favorite one because it always works!  Approach the sales with an appreciation for the amount of choices and great quality to be found in our own backyard.  Isn't Greenwich amazing?  Wonderful community spirit, beautiful amenities like parks, marinas, and the beach, and Greenwich Avenue with all of its offerings to boot.  Focus on this third tactic while keeping #1 and #2 in mind and most likely the perfect pieces will fall right into your lap.

Good luck and let me know you do!  Post comments here or let me know privately at maria@mariaturkel.com.  

A Week of Casual Summer Work Outfits

If you work in a casual-dress office setting, then you know that sometimes casual is the hardest look to get right.  A T-shirt is casual, but often just not professional enough.  Put on a dress and heels and you can look like you're trying way too hard. Particularly in the Summertime, when casual can mean shorts and flip-flops to some people, dressing for the office can be confusing. Here are 5 outfit ideas from Monday through Friday.  Use the templates as daily ideas and adjust the looks based on your personal style.  All details below…

Give Mondays a boost of energy using color and pattern. These are red linen cropped trousers with a drape-y, back-printed tank plus gold geometric details on the necklace and sandals.  Notice the silhouette of the tank—long and loose; it is still Monday, after all.

For Tuesday, a simple dress with an espadrille wedge and feminine drop earring looks polished yet easy.  Keep a pair of flats under your desk for running to lunch.

Wednesday calls for another dress.  This one is more structured and worn with classic silver hoops and a more refined cork slide/sandal.

On Thursday, a pretty tank and colored cotton pants look fresh.  Add nude patent leather flats and classic gold ball earrings.  When stepping into a meeting, create a ‘casual suit’ by adding a linen/cotton chambray blazer.

Summer Fridays in a casual office call for denim.  Rather than wearing typical blue jeans and a white top, flip that idea with a blue denim popover and white brushed-cotton jeans.  The metallic flats and colorful bracelet pull the look together while keeping it comfy and ready for the weekend.

blue hydrangeas + Gucci = 2 of my favorite things

I love the entire Gucci Blooms collection and was so excited to see the new blue pieces.  Here's a little collage that makes me happy! Links to the four Gucci pieces are below...the flowers are from my garden :)

GG Blooms platform sandal, GG Blooms supreme chain wallet, Reversible GG Blooms leather tote, GG Blooms print silk scarf

Workout Clothes with STYLE

 I'm often asked, "Is it OK to wear my workout clothes all day?" These new pieces answer that question with a resounding, "Yes!"  I'd still rather see your personal style displayed through 'real' clothing, but on the days when it just makes sense to stay in your yoga pants or tennis skirt, choose something fabulous-looking yet functional.

And, for sartorial inspiration this Spring, I’m looking forward to these: Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology at the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History at The Jewish Museum in NYC. Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible at The Met Breuer.
A Bigger Splash starring Tilda Swinton wearing costumes designed by Raf Simons while at Dior. 

Winter to Spring Wardrobe Transition

Spring can be the most challenging season for your wardrobe.  One day it's 40 degrees; the next it's almost 70.  How to dress for the temperature changes?  Here are 5 tips to remember.

1. Use Color--this is the time to wear a bright pop against darker Winter colors.

MZ Wallace quilted tote

2. Wear Black and White--it's really not too early to wear white jeans when you pair them with a black sweater and boots/shoes.  I love to add a camel coat and pretty scarf over black and white.

Anthropologie short swing trench coat

3. Choose Light Denim--no matter if your jeans are skinny, flared, cropped or straight, a lighter tone feels like Spring.  Combine with a black, navy or green sweater for the chilly transitional days.  

4. Own a Spring Coat--the perfect option has an interesting color or pattern and still keeps you warm.

5. Layer Your Tops--start with a camisole, add a short-sleeve T-shirt or blouse, then a cardigan or blazer and finish with a scarf and coat.  You can remove, re-combine, and re-style your outfit all day long as the temperature fluctuates.

Zara pink coat and Madewell scarf

What to Wear When You're at Home

I'm writing this during our first snowfall of 2016 (and, really, of the entire season) here in the Northeast--the Big Blizzard!  Most of you are at home right now--what are you wearing? To see many more ideas, click here to link to my Pinterest board dedicated to at-home comfy yet stylish pieces.

A client and I were discussing what to wear around the house and I told her that one of my favorite things to do is to change clothes as soon as I come home. After a long day of seeing clients, attending school meetings and driving carpools for the kids, this small act makes a big difference in my mood: it delineates my private space from the public sphere and immediately makes me feel more relaxed, at ease, and focused on the work I do in the home. I still want to project my sense of style though--let's call it Pajama Chic :) Add soft sweaters and scarves to traditional pajamas or simply wear a flow-y robe and slippers around the house.  Key detail:  soft undergarments!  Just in case the dog-walker stops by earlier than planned or your teenage son’s friends pop over, you’re covered.  Punny but true!

What to Wear to Work When It's Freezing Outside

Whether your professional wardrobe calls for suits, separates or blue jeans, these tips can keep you warm and stylish when it's really cold outside.

Turtlenecks and Blazers
Merino wool, silk or cotton modal blends are ideal fabrics for refined turtlenecks.  Consider the weight of your blazer when choosing the fabric type for your turtleneck.  Add a necklace or scarf or let the turtleneck itself be the focal point of the outfit.

Weatherproof Boots and Wool Bottoms
Aquatalia and La Canadienne offer stylish and warm boot options that are polished enough for any office.  Stretch wool skirts or tapered pants add another layer of warmth.

Lots of Layers (Under not Over)
Layer warmth under your outfit rather than adding bulky pieces overtop.  For example, Heat Tech tanks and Smartwool tights are thin and warm at the same time.

All clothing pictured is from my clients' closets except for the Brooks Brothers windowpane suit and oatmeal sweater/camel blazer found on tumblr.

How to Pack like a Pro for Holiday Travel

Here are a few quick tips on how to pack your suitcase for the upcoming holidays:

Start with your shoes.  Choose a dressy night shoe, a couple of everyday good-looking yet still great for walking options, and then add in a sneaker and/or flip-flops depending upon your destination.  If you’re flying: wear easy on-off shoes to go through security OR conversely, your heaviest boot so that it doesn’t take up space in your suitcase.

From the shoes you’ve chosen, build your outfits up.  Work within a specific color way so that many (or all!) of the pieces can be mixed and matched.  Start with either a black base or a tonal base.

Once you have a few outfits pulled together, don’t forget specific undergarments and jewelry to go with each.  Use an accessories travel pouch with clear, zip pockets or separate your jewelry for each outfit and store in individual zip-top baggies.

Ship any gifts ahead of time OR designate one suitcase just for presents.

What to Wear to Thanksgiving Dinner

**Thanksgiving 2022 Update ** The following ideas are still relevant: choose your style direction (boho, classic, casual, etc) and then mix colors and patterns. The links may be outdated but you can click here to see lots of my 2022 Thanksgiving picks or shop your closet and pull these outfits together. Happy Thanksgiving to you all 🤎 🍁 🦃

Joie lace blouse, embroidered T-strap flats, Lands End polka dot cashmere sweater, Theory trousers, Charlotte Olympia kitty flats

Creme cable knit sweater, Woolrich pants, Ugg booties, Joie blouse+turtleneck, Frye Melissa over-the-knee boots

What to wear for the big dinner? It depends...are you hosting?  Then short sleeves and flat shoes are in order.  Heading outdoors?  Then a yummy sweater and extra-warm layers are needed. Whether you're drawn to the lace-n-distressed vintage look, classic trousers-n-cashmere ensemble, outdoorsy cables-n-plaid or relaxed boho-n-boots, always use color and texture to pull your Thanksgiving outfit together.  

Tones of blue, brown, bronze, chestnut, gold and grey mix well and add a bit of sophistication to any style.  Don't forget to finish each look with simple jewelry. For links to all of the above and many more Thanksgiving Day ideas, click here.

When She Wears This, He Wears That

How to dress cohesively as a couple without looking like you stepped out of the same catalog?  Use color, texture and/or accessories to pull the looks together.  No matter the personal style genre, fit is of utmost important.  No baggie shirts or pants on men or super-tight or too-short garments on women.  The above are only a few options...these principles can be applied to casual outfits, cocktail attire and black tie as well. 

Click here to link to all of the men's garments plus even more choices.

Date Night: When She Wears That, He Wears This

Her outfit is casual and polished and mixes tones of blue and brown.  Coordinate his colors with hers--add some pattern on the shirt and texture on the jacket.  There is a great rhythm of tones between the two of them without feeling too 'matchy.'

She goes preppy and bright and so can he.  Keep his outfit a bit more tonal  (only blue and green used above) to avoid an overly-colorful, juvenile feel. 

Her outfit has some edge.  His can, too--use black and grey exclusively.  The leather jacket is sharp--not too many bells and whistles (in other words, zippers and snaps) allows it to go edge-y or more refined with other combinations.

Click here to link to all his choices.

Newsletter: Fall Closet Turnover

Remove all Spring/Summer to another location--Take out all the warm-weather clothing that you can’t use as layering pieces. I love to hang as many pieces as possible so I keep everything on hangers and just shift from one closet to another.  Clear bins work well for folded items.  Put your flip-flops and sandals away in clear bins, too. The goal is to see only the Fall/Winter pieces when you open your closet each day.

    Launder, dry clean and repair before storing--Cleaning items before putting them away keeps clothing in great condition for years. Shoes, also, need some attention--new soles and some polishing work wonders.  When you open your bins next Spring, you’ll be so happy that everything is fresh and read to wear.

    Hang, fold and stack in garment and color order--Starting on the left, hang all of your Fall/Winter tops and sweaters together in your closet.  Next hang pants and jeans and then dresses.  Within each of these sections, hang the items in color order.  For example (and again starting on the left), hang all the white then all the creme tops; then all the blue, green, red, etcetera...going through all of the colors you happen to own and ending with black on the right for each section.  Apply the same method to folded items and stack by color.      

   Keep only the Fall/Winter pieces that make you feel great--This is the perfect time to edit.  Create give-away or consignment piles of pieces you just aren’t wearing anymore. I’ve heard the ‘haven’t worn it in two years then it’s time to go’ rule but mine is: if you feel great when you wear it, then it doesn’t matter how old it is.  Feeling confident and authentic is the best style guide. One caveat:  the piece has to be in excellent condition (no stains, pilling, discoloration--recycle these types of items at any H&M store).

Click here for more on Elena Ferrante and her Neapolitan quartet of books.