Worth Repeating: How to Avoid Clashing
You walk outside, look down … aaaaghh! It “matched” in the house! Now what do I do? Unfortunately, not much. Maybe mutter under your breath that you’ll never try to match beiges again.
Pairing orange and purple, or chartreuse and teal, is not usually the source of the stealth clash. No, usually it’s something like trying to put orange-brown with purple-brown, or wearing chartreuse-taupe with teal-taupe. They’re neutrals, right? And neutrals go with everything, right? Uh, not exactly.
In The Age of The Essay, Paul Graham writes:
An essay is something you write to try to figure something out.
I don’t have this one figured out. But it’s been on the front burner ever since my very practical daughter decided she wasn’t going to buy green pants, because she likes to wear green shirts (and she should - she has green eyes). So here’s my messy essay.
Some thoughts on building a wardrobe without clash:
- Start with the pieces near the face. For more on selecting these colors: the Salty Jacket series.
- Always buy the coordinating piece if it’s available.
- Don’t try to assemble a do-it-yourself suit. Instead, choose another color the contrasts or blends.
- Using a pattern with a small amount of the color you are trying to match allows being less precise. It’s amazing! A small amount of pink, for example, can look magenta when paired with a magenta jacket.
We’re trying to figure this one out together, right? What thoughts would you add?
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Websites That Link Here
- Bargainista
- Couture Society
- fashionko
- Modesty and More
- Sharon’s Scrapbook
- The Story of My Stuff (the more you know, the less you need)
- Stylefinds
- Talmidah B’Yeshua
- The Tate School
- Thrifty and Creative
To be included, simply link to this blog and inform me. (Of course, I reserve the right to decline linking to sites I deem inappropriate.)
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Frugal Friday: My First Couch
I consider it somewhat pathetic that it took me until 43 years of age to graduate from Grandma’s old couch to one of my own choosing. Even more pathetic is my personal expectation that I should be able to buy furniture at a certain point in my life, and my envy of friends with different “furniture circumstances”.
But how I finally got the one pictured fits perfectly with Crystal’s own Frugal Friday post: Ask around before paying full price. 
At an upscale consignment store several months ago, we first found this lovely, pre-owned, custom-made sofa; for the reasonable price, I think, of somewhere around $675. Several months later, my daughter and I went back in for her approval. Now $495, we continued to wait.
A week or two ago, my hero and I popped in on his lunch hour. The price by now was down to $395. Now, I call him my hero for a reason … he asked the gentleman politely if he had any further flexibility on the price. We got it for $300!
I consider that pretty frugal. But I know from painful experience that even $300 can be too much for some. Fortunately for us, it was a lovely spring day, and fortunately for a couple who happened to be driving by and saw it out on the sidewalk for FREE, the old couch wasn’t all that terrible.
Picture us all snuggled together watching movies on the laptop.
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Fashion Lab: Short Sleeved Pants
Announcing what I will wear to MOPS tomorrow: either the first outfit OR the same, but with jeans instead of short sleeved pants. And how about the sequin one for opening night?
Now, announcing the topic for next week’s Fashion Lab: The White Blouse. I will be picturing I am Fashion’s 6 Ways, with a twist - using the same shirt for all 6 looks! Anyone else who would like to play, put up a post sometime next Thursday and I will link to you Carnival-style.
Back to short sleeve pants, do you think they have a longer life expectancy than the slinky gauchos? Why or why not?
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Two Ways to Wear the Almost Flesh Tone Jacket
Two ways to wear a jacket that is close in tone to your skin color, without becoming washed out:
- Just exactly like Beth did here, for a second interview on a casual Friday. She brings a darker color in around her face, thereby repeating the color values in her face, eyes, and hair.
- For a rosy glow, combine the jacket with a collared top or scarf in your cheek color or close facsimile. For me, that would be anything from a light pink to coral, Beth can use bluer pinks. Darker complexion? Red works.
BTW, she did get the job!
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Save Your Lips With SPF Gloss
Did you know that Burt’s Bees doesn’t contain sunscreen? I learned that the hard way last year at Family Camp. Nothing’s worse than burnt lips (unless it’s burnt feet!).
BE YOURSe.l.f WITH e.l.f. COSMETICS - Everything in the entire store just a DOLLAR!
Is there something you need to replace?
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Knee-length Shorts Under $20
Is anyone having trouble viewing the links to comments here? Jenn emailed yesterday that they had disappeared, and today she says they are still not there. I’m having no trouble. But more importantly, does anyone know how to fix it? Please email if you are unable to comment.
Over the past several days I have been in more “new” stores (as opposed to thrift) than I have been in months. That’s okay. Shopping avoidance can only take one so far in the quest for a workable wardrobe.
The short list (stealth pun alert) of places where I’ve found short-sleeved pants (it makes them sound dressier than does “bermuda shorts”) for $19.99 or less:
- JCPenney
- Nordstrom Rack
- Costco
In order to hit mid-knee on me, the inseam must be between 12″ and 13 1/2″. Old Navy had some nice ones for around $25. I did not make it to Target; but by the looks of their online store, that would also be a good alternative.
Thank you to Cathy, who left the following helpful comment:
I just wanted to let you know that these short sleeved pants look good even on plus sized girls! I’m size 18 and I feel comfy in these and they flatter even us big and beautiful women!
Any other shops you’d like to mention?
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WFMW: Where to Shop for Shoes
When shopping for shoes, one often overlooked consideration is the return policy.
Once upon a time I bought a pair of black dress shoes for $20 at Ross, parked a block away from church, and found them so uncomfortable that I took them off and walked barefoot the rest of the way. And, yes, I had tried them on and walked around the house in them. Ross would not offer any remedy. That, I would say, is an unacceptable cost per wear.
Back in the days of my retail career, when I worked for a wannabe Nordstrom competitor, we were all keenly aware as management of the Nordstrom tire refund legend. At Nordstrom, if you are not satisfied with your purchase - they will take it back! That policy extends to The Rack, as well.
Updated: Thanks to Ambika for telling us about The Rack’s 30 day limit on returns. That’ll still work for me.
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TeenStyle Tuesday & Ellegirl.com
As a member of the fashion blogging community Coutorture, I have various helps and benefits available to me, including the current (test-run) Elle.com and Ellegirl.com content share. We have a badge with their headlines and they have, at their site, a badge with ours.
This picture is from an Ellegirl.com feature on street style in Ecuador and Spain. Personally, I have a weakness for fashion magazines, but don’t subscribe to any, so it was loads of fun to flip through these pictures. This was my favorite.
She’s got all the basics down:
- Style personality. (There is nothing confusing here, only contemporary classic congruence.)
- Silhouette. Emphasizing the roundness of the shoulder area with the cap-sleeve creates a credible figure-eight.
- Lifestyle. Undoubtedly this young lady was treated well in the shops!
What else do you notice?
About white shirts (what’s not to love?): if you didn’t catch it at The Bargain Queen, I am Fashion has a wonderful post: 6 Ways to Wear the White Blouse. All 6 are inspiring! (Starting with “roll up the sleeves and wear them loose over bermuda shorts …”)
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Just Linking: April 16, 2007
Last week I overlooked another friend of ours, Sales Rack Raider, whose jewelry creations are available to purchase. See her etsy store here.
Mom (kid) humor, from Life in a Shoe:
“Canadians? Are those the people that are supposed to be funny?”
You can add your kid humor to her Mr Linky. Marchauna should.
Humor makes me happy. So does getting free perfume. That’s right. Thanks to Amy at MotherLoad I just walked in to the retailer formerly known as Bon Marche, sashayed up to the Clinique counter, and left with my own little bottle of Happy-ness. It’s a nice fragrance. With a name like that, it just had to be, didn’t it?
BTW, a long time ago, Jess asked for maternity style stuff. I haven’t forgotten. (The guilt - it’s unbearable!) But now I want you to know that “short-sleeve pants” are available in maternity too! Chingow! Better late than never.
And finally, this Friday, I thought I would model my new short-sleeved pants for a Fashion Lab. Dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down. See if it really works. What do you think?
