WFMW: Bamboo Knee Socks
Feet always cold? Can’t wear wool?
Try bamboo socks. Thin and soft like cotton, yet somehow the feet still don’t get cold.
It works for me. BTW, I buy them at Target.
More fabulous tips logged at Rocks In My Dryer.
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TeenStyle Tuesday Kick-off
Outfit for piano adjudications:
- Shoes: $5 at Ross
- Skirt: $1 at Value Village (it’s wool)
- Long sleeve t-shirt: borrowed (from sister, who bought it new with the tags still on at Value Village for $7)
- Secret Weapon (modesty tank): also borrowed (from sister, who bought it new at Shopko as part of a set, 2 layering tanks for less than $10)
Yes, this outfit is a little casual for the event. But she felt very comfortable and played with excellence. Strictly speaking, black and white is preferred.
Which brings up a pet peeve of mine (which pet was, thankfully, not fed today): young “ladies” showing up to perform at these kind of events barely dressed. That simply cannot be comfortable for the adjudicator, reflects poorly on the teacher (who no doubt does everything she can to encourage appropriate attire), and is down-right embarrassing to all involved. With the exception of the person who should be embarrassed, the parent.
What are these people thinking?
Update: The guest post I wrote for the Bargain Queen is now available for your viewing!
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This Week: Reader Input Fashion Lab and a New Feature
Readers, I need your help! When wearing the funeral suit to church yesterday, I felt somehow as if I needed something more feminine around my face, in my hair, or something. What do you suggest? Your ideas will form the basis for this week’s Friday Fashion Lab.
I will also be kicking off a new feature this week: TeenStyle Tuesdays! Tell your friends! (And for some fascinating related reading, go check out the Modesty Survey at The Rebelution: a teenage rebellion against low expectations.)
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Tips for Larger Sizes
The other day I brought up the question, “Does this make me look fat?”, along with three considerations: form, fit, and focal point.
Form, aka silhouette. The thing to remember is simply that the most slenderizing look is going to be one that fits with your natural shape. I use a system which splits into 6 body types, but “lumpers” could cut the types down to 2: Trinny and Susannah
Recognizing a good fit is simple, as well. Vertical lines on the garment mean it is too big. Horizontal lines on the garment, too small.
And the most basic principle of this blog, and where I differ from the experts: your focal point should always be your face.
This picture illustrates all three. It also shows how flattering dark colors, subtly patterned can be, as opposed to solid black, which shows up so boldly against most backgrounds that it emphasizes the outline.
Anticipating Karen’s concern, as well as others who live in warm climates, I found this for you: What Not to Wear’s Trinny and Susannah, for Oprah, on Dress Slimmer This Summer.
Enjoy!
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What To Wear: Funeral for a Child
Death happens.
In this fallen world, even children die. And, as long as today I am in the uncomfortable place of trying to be comforting to a co-worker of my hero, I might as well deal with what to wear. After all, one must be dressed to attend a memorial service.
Recently, it seems, it has become the norm for only the family to wear black to the service. Which then leaves the rest of us with the question, “do I dress for mourning or celebration?” Clearly the answer rests in the spiritual beliefs of the bereaved.
It snowed all day yesterday. We will be outside at least part of the time. And I will be with a bunch of Great Northwest, business casual people. I’m so glad I bought this charcoal wool pantsuit.
Please share your thoughts: what do you think is appropriate?
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Fashion Lab: Combining Warm and Cool Colors
For a fresh and modern look, wear a combination of warm and cool colors. Examine your coloring carefully. You have both, don’t you? Blue eyes with gold flecks in them, brown eyes rimmed with gray, peach skin and silver hair (that’s me). Here’s a typical CMB
And here’s the same thing, but this time with a gray turtleneck:
(Please excuse the fuzzy photography.) Doesn’t it just look softer?
Often, just out of reflex, we match when we should mix. Next time you think you need a cream blouse with a brown jacket, think again. White and brown is a very sharp look.
- I have also previously done a very thorough post (with lots of links) on color combining.
One easy way to apply this principle: wear gold jewelry with cool colors and silver with warm.
Presently I’m loving peach and white, with or without another neutral in the mix. What are your favorite cool/warm color schemes?
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7 Days to a Cleaner Closet
Note: this post is not about organizational strategies or cleaning tips. It is just about what clothes should actually be in your wardrobe. Perhaps a better title would have been 7 Days to a Leaner Wardrobe.
A closet cleaning program for the busiest of schedules:
Day 1: Pull out the things you already know don’t work.
Day 2: Separate your beloved wardrobe staples from the question marks.
Day 3: Cull items based on color, texture, and idiom.
Foundational tip: Biff anything you don’t like at least 70 percent worth. In other words, ask yourself, “on a scale of 1 to 10, how much do I like this item?” Those items scoring 7 & up are keepers. And aren’t the 5s and 6s the items that cause the most grief and confusion?
These first three days you should be able to complete without getting undressed.
Day 4: Try the remainder on in front of your mirror. If it doesn’t fit or flatter, do you want to wear it? (Tip: you may be able to avoid some trying on by using a tape measure. For example, when I recently did my crewneck t-shirts I laid a tape out on the bed, after trying on the first one. If it wasn’t 22 inches long, it didn’t stay.)
Day 5: Try things on for your husband. At the very least, show him what you have left to decide on and ask him if there is anything he hates. Single ladies, if you like, you could have a friend over.
Day 6: Arrange your stuff in a way that works for you. I hang everything in my closet, or store folded in my drawers, by lifestyle segment, and then by item. Things I like best together are stored together.
What to do with the items you are biffing and bagging? Angie has written a helpful post on that.
What to do next in the wardrobe planning process? Create your spring shopping list.
Day 7: Rest.
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Got Jammies?
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Why I Don’t Wear Polyester
For those interested: The NYTimes article on polyester via Deeply Superficial.
Now, why I don’t wear polyester:
- I only get a haircut every 3 months or so. Which means, a fair amount of the time, my hair is sitting on my shoulders, touching my clothes. Polyester causes static. But then so does silk. And cashmere. Oh well!
- Because it doesn’t breathe, I am invariably too hot or too cold when wearing it. I’m a wimp. I don’t need any help being hot or cold.
- Smells and stains positively cling to polyester.
- Petroleum-based fibers are made from, you guessed it, petroleum. The stuff that makes the world go ’round. If it were not being made into disposable clothing, it could be heating homes. This is the one I guessed you wouldn’t have thought of.
.
To be completely honest, I do have items that are lined with polyester. And my navy blazer and a few very nice dressy items that are hard to find in any other fabric. But for my everyday clothing I prefer cotton and wool.
Interested in sustainable style? I recommend the excellent and very thorough blog at the crossroads of style and sustainability, fiftyRX3.
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Updates on This Blog
Have you noticed the new feature around here? At the advice of MInTheGap, I installed the subscribe to comments Wordpress plugin. Now, if you elect to do so, you can receive via email subsequent comments to any you leave on this blog. Just check the box!
Speaking of MInTheGap, I have an article up there: The Power of a Positive Habit. Since I shall be quite embarrassed if my first contribution over there gets no response, would some of you “Bible Moms” run over and take a look at it?
Currently in the hopper:
- Seven days of closet-cleaning.
- Why I don’t wear polyester.
- Looking slim and dignified, for plus sizes.
- A guest post on bringing up princesses on a budget, for The Bargain Queen.
Last, but not least, getting back to the Friday Fashion Lab. I have two thoughts this week: combining cool and warm colors or repeating the pant silhouette topic, but actually picturing myself. I am also open to suggestions.
What are you curious about?
