It’s Always Nice To Be Invited
One of my trademark sayings is “it’s always nice to be invited”. (Helps me get over fear of rejection.) Today I’m wondering if that has anything to do with why I am not pathetically envious of my friends and associates who will be partying together tonight at the Coutorture Launch Party. Yes, believe it or not, I am just happy for those guys.
These are exciting days:
Zoe (Verbal Croquis) won her Very Important Fashion Thingie. Did I catch a mention of $10K? That’s a reason to celebrate!
Too much to mention at Coutorture, like appearing in WWD. Check out the fun fashion polls.
Rumor has it that Danielle will be making Almost Girl into a comic strip. What fun!
Of course, it could have to do with me being busy with responsibilities. Hopefully next week will mark the end of these lazy, quickie posts and return to more analytical hard work. Anything special you’d like me to be thinking about?
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Cheap (Post) Substitute
Due to my responsibilities, I am unable to actually write a post today. I recommend you check out Shannon’s blog for helpful “Works For Me” ideas.
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Feeling the Pull to Frugality
Lately I’ve been feeling like, now that I kinda have a handle on my wardrobe spending, it’s time to re-visit my other expenses and see where I can “squeeze a couple more cents out of every dollar I spend”. To that end, I plan to do my partying this week at the Festival of Frugality , over at Boston Gal’s Open Wallet, where I am pleased to be featured in the “seeking efficiency” section.
But, as long as you’re here, can you recommend a toilet paper?
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Carnival of Couture: Best Bargain
The Bargain Queen’s invitation:
What is your best-ever bargain? Where did you find it, how much was it and why is it your favourite?
This is hard. As you are well aware, I buy alot at the thrift store on $1 Mondays. In addition, I have a number of favorites which were hand-me-downs or heirlooms; the rest of my wardrobe, for the most part, was purchased on clearance at department stores and such. Like my winter coat, $40 American at the Bon Marche!
For today anyway, the above-mentioned coat stands as my best bargain. I wasn’t shopping for a coat that day, actually we were looking for swimwear for my daughters (collective groan). But I did need a coat; and the fitted wool coats, above the knee, with or without the half-belt in the back, were everywhere. If there was one thing I was not going to do, though, it was to buy a black one. Ugh! And look like everyone else?
So I had in mind a color. Brown, charcoal, or a pattern would have done as well. But never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to stumble upon a coat in aubergine. Oh yeah! And $80, down from somewhere around $250. The catch? I only had about $70 to spend (until next month). Dare I ask if it would be going down again? Why not? I could always pull out the credit card, if I had to. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that.
The saleslady, and there was one, had a handy-dandy little hand-held inventory thingie that she just punched the numbers into and then she got this look. “Actually”, she said,”it will be half-price tomorrow”. How does one spell “WOO HOO!!!”?
That was several years ago, before the Bon Marche became Macy’s. My aubergine wool coat still makes me happy. That makes it a bargain.
See more great bargains at the Carnival and in the comments here.
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Uniform for a Mom With Responsibilities
Slowly dawning on me is the fact that next week is one FULL week, full of “mom responsibilities”. In a way, I’m looking forward to it, which is a good thing because, ready or not, it’s coming. And, you know it’s coming, last night I started thinking about what to wear.
Just to simplify the thought process, I decided to use a uniform template. Now I may at the last minute on any given day decide to wear a dress or capris, but here’s my current plan:
- Skirt: It’s supposed to be in the 80s, so I will probably rotate through my 3 straight, below-the-knee, no-hose required skirts.
- Top: Probably something with a collar, but maybe a tee or tank.
- Layer: While I may wear a cardigan on the day that I am just the chauffeur, the other days I have more official responsibilities and I will undoubtably feel more confident in a tailored jacket.
- Shoes: The WEDGES! I’m so happy they’re comfortable!
Dressed in this, a form of Business Casual, I can be both comfortable and respectable. I remember what I used to think about stay-at-home-moms, and I really don’t care to feed those misconceptions.
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Frugal Mom Classics
I confess right up front: this topic I love, but this post has been a bear to write! Don’t expect it to be exhaustive (well, it’s sorta been exhaustive … )
Frugal Classic Mom is all about being appropriately dressed for every occasion, which is why I like to have a tailored jacket on-hand. In the heat of the summer, I will tuck a cardigan in my purse. You FCMs will appreciate this quote from Cotton Incorporated — The Return of the Twin-set:
Grace Kelly knew it, Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn, too. The twin-set embodies timeless elegance.
Typically coordinates are more expensive to purchase, which is why I favor separates, nevertheless they are a Classic ace-in-the-hole. If you can afford to, always buy the coordinating piece when one is available (the jacket to go with the pants, the cardigan to go with the tank, and so on). You won’t regret it.
This tipped twin-set, on sale at Target, kinda reminds me of Charlotte’s tennis sweater.
Another great classic look: a Doris Day dress, frugal because it is all one piece. If you can’t find vintage, how about getting out that dusty sewing machine? For about $10, even I could make a simple dress (no buttons, though, only zippers).
Only one more thought: I hate to be the one to break it to you ladies, but I think capris are on their way out. (Actually, I never wanted to see them around in the first place, but I have adapted. They really are practical.) I have been planning my purchases for the past few years with the expectation that capris are going to be looking dated before long, buying a khaki pair for $1 each winter. What am I looking for to replace them? Long linen slacks, like these from JCPenney.
Clearly, Frugal Classic Mom has a bit more challenging time staying within her budget than us Chaco moms do, especially if second-hand clothing is not readily available in her locale. In her favor, however, she hopefully makes fewer wacky mistakes.
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Carnivals, Festivals, and Films
Alas, The Carnival of the Couture at Clothesaholic, film-inspired fashion, has come and gone without an entry from yours truly. What can I say? I live mostly unplugged.
However, I am happy to announce that my post Frugal Mom Wardrobe Basics appears in this week’s Festival of Frugality at Clutter2Cash. I can’t wait to check out the other entries!
Combining the two themes, film-influenced fashion and frugality, how about this Narnia-inspired princess dress? Purchased for $1 at Value Village yesterday, I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I just loved the ankle-length full skirt! (Did I mention it’s silk? And notice the hangtag? It’s new!) 
Well, happily for me, it fits my sixteen-year-old; the one who walked out of the theatre wanting a princess dress. Don’t all girls want a princess dress? Even big ones?
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Semi-Casual Defined
I should have known. After all, I did serve my high school sentence in a minimum security facility located in a corn field.
What I actually wore to the awards banquet last night (after agonizing much more than would be Biblically defensible under any circumstances):
- Khaki capris.
- Long-sleeve dress shirt and white jean jacket.
- The wedges. The only thing about the outfit that wasn’t BORING.
(Previously I mentioned that the “principal” specified “no shorts” when he handed out the invitations. Surprising to me was how many people heard that as “no jeans”. I, on the other hand, was fairly certain HE would be wearing jeans.)
So, just in case you ever receive an invitation to a “semi-casual” event, you can now know the definition:
Semi-casual = black jeans and a western shirt.
I was right! It’s half as nice as what I would wear to lunch with my grandma.
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What I Won’t Be Wearing Tonight
Previously mentioned a time or two, I just wanted you all to be able to see what I won’t be wearing tonight, because the invitation reads:
You are invited to a special dinner and awards night!
Dress: Semi-Casual
In an earlier post, I gave the following definition of casual:
Casual = Nicer, but still fairly relaxed. Due to geographical variations, I prefer to not define this category too precisely. Lunch with your boss, your pastor, or your grandma requires casual clothing. Business casual fits here.
Now, in High School semi-formal meant that instead of being able to wear something special, you wore an everyday dress; and your chances were about zero that your date would be wearing anything nice at all. And my daughter reminds me that a semi-circle is half a circle. So, what does that make semi-casual? Something half as nice as what you would wear to lunch with your grandma.
Yet another dinner where I can’t feel appropriately dressed in anything but jeans. Somehow, I don’t think that was the effect they were after.
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A Word or Two About Belts
Since I am not an embellishment person, I have a very hard time justifying spending many times more for a belt than I spent for the pants it holds up.
An incomplete list of ideas for others who won’t be wearing this season’s latest and greatest belts:
- Men’s leather belts, like the one I was wearing yesterday, can be significantly less expensive than women’s.
- Consider raiding your dad’s wardrobe for belts he has outgrown or doesn’t use. Would your husband share his belts?
- Salvation Army, at least here, prices most or all belts $.89. Recently I bought an eelskin belt, in cordovan with bright brass buckle, and got change back from a dollar bill!
- Belts with holes all the way around are more versatile, because they can be adjusted to more sizes.
- For you girly types: this, from Style Bytes.
The old rule of matching shoes and belt? It works. Not strictly necessary, but a way to coordinate a simple wardrobe.
What ideas would you add?
