Another Boring Cashmere Sweater
School is still out. After staying home for too many days in a row, today I ventured out (no prob!) to do some shopping and errands. At Dana’s suggestion, I went to TJMaxximus, not my usual shopping grounds, simply due to (lack of) proximity.
Sadly, I didn’t find anything exciting. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t buy anything. I felt practically forced to buy this sweater, after almost not even trying it on.
Yes, it’s boring. But it fits fabulously and the color is basic for me. (I think dd’s camera is on some sort of distorted, short and wide setting. Is there such a thing?) And even though I feel like I’ve bought nothing but cashmere sweaters in the past two months, this morning I had to go to the laundry room to get one - the bare wood in the bottom of my dresser drawer was showing. Total spent $16.29.
Lloyd Boston suggests giving up on cotton sweaters in favor of cashmere. It’s true that cotton sweaters rarely hold their shape for more than a season or two, especially as hard as my clothes get worn.
Any outfit ideas to make it less boring?
Related Posts:
Frugal Faces: More on Makeup
I have never thought of myself as a beauty expert, but when Kristine asked for some tips I realized I had a few useful things to share. Before I forget them all …
General color selection: I think the key to finding makeup that doesn’t look like it’s just sitting on top of your face lies in blending with the underlying skin tones, those caused by your hemoglobin, that is, the reds and oranges.
Foundation and concealer
- Bobbi Brown believes everyone (or is it almost everyone?) needs yellow based foundation. I believe that most foundation color mistakes arise from choosing a color that is too pink. Conclusion: if you keep ending up with foundation colors that are too pink for you, go straight to the Bobbi Brown counter of your nearest department store.
- It is not necessary (or desirable IMO) in most cases to wear a full face of makeup. A good match should be able to blend. A technique that works well for me for everyday makeup, using Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick
: cover under-eye circles, then slap a dab in nose creases, chin, and center of forehead. Blend. Notice that it is one product doing the work of the foundation and concealer, no powder necessary. Getting by with fewer products is frugal.
- For foundation and concealer I have not been brave enough to try drug store makeup. Any super-frugal options you can recommend?
Lipstick and blusher
What inspired this thread is the E.L.F. All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade I bought to use as both blush and lipstick. (Pink eyeshadow I’m not so sure about.) I’m smitten with the concept!
Good places to look for blush/lipstick color inspiration:
- the color of your gums or the tip of your finger when you pinch it,
- your tongue, or
- your lips when they get chapped.
Eyes
- For eye shadow, a good basic color scheme would be your eye color with liner the color of the rim around your iris.
- I have an inexpensive little pot of brown eyeshadow doing triple duty for me: as shadow, applied with a soft brush, as liner, applied with a wet angled brow brush
, and as eyebrow filler, with the same brush.
- This on mascara from an old post last spring:
friends who are make up artists have always told me that applying a single coat each of 2 different mascaras work the best and i have found this to be true in my own make up experiments. usually one lengthening and one thickening or curling or separating or waterproof, whichever you need. don’t forget to comb out with a clean mascara brush. vc
General shopping: Do you have Rite Aid where you are? They have a wonderful return policy on makeup, designed to discourage people from testing it out in the store: you can return anything you don’t like. Also, paint brushes can substitute for makeup brushes and, in a pinch, I wouldn’t hesitate to try very cheap ones (obviously new and clean).
I think this is comprehensively everything I know about makeup.
Related Posts:
Real Fashion for Real People: Extreme Snow Day
Church was canceled. Awana canceled. Libraries closed. Even the community colleges were closed today, something my daughter was told NEVER happens. Spokane received as much as 17 inches of very wet snow over the weekend.
On an extreme January snow day, for some odd reason (my inner preppy?) nothing seems as right as a pastel fair-isle patterned sweater.
Personal Style Idiom: Functional Contemporary Classic
Lifestyle Segment: (Winter) Leisure
From the bottom up:
- My flat boots. Sorry we couldn’t light them up a little better. Suffice it to say, with having to walk through a foot or so of snow I am very happy I got these this year! (Around $80 at Macy’s this fall.)
- Very worn jeans are easier to tuck in. (So old I don’t remember when I bought them or how much I paid, but they are Gap. For sure they were not over $30.)
- The coral pink cashmere turtleneck, on its second wearing within the week. (New. $30 at Nordstrom Rack.)
- The pullover I almost biffed this fall. I’m so glad I didn’t! The colors make me happy, it’s super warm layered like this, and the length and kangaroo pockets work with my proportions. ($1 at Value Village. It looked never worn and the brand is American Eagle Outfitters.)
Thankfully, we are all safe, warm, and happy. DD with Macy’s job already had today off. Yesterday we picked up some kerosene for our emergency heater. Just to be on the safe side.
Anybody inspired to send in a Real Fashion for Real People entry? I’d love to run another series of them!
Related Posts:
Just Linking: January 25th, 2008
My Beliefs
Just in case you were wondering what kind of a Christian I am: I am this kind NOT this kind. And I do believe in prayer.
Makeup
I admit I am aging. With age comes the opportunity to change what I do in terms of decorating my face. Lately I have been enjoying adding as much reflectivity as seems dignified; no glitter, but plenty of gleam. Powder blush has got to go.
In my search for a product that can be used as both blush and lipstick, I found this All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade from E.L.F. While it may not end up being my favorite blush - it’s a good color but a little sticky - it’s a fabulous lip color for me. And at $1 a pop, or lemonade as the case may be, I can afford to have one in my purse, one in my makeup kit, one in my pocket …
Shopping Clearance
It pays to learn the clearance practices at your favorite stores. For example, Macy’s takes markdowns at the end of each month, which means some stuff has been reduced since last weekend. And just in case you aren’t getting out of the house this weekend, but prefer to do your shopping online:
Spokane Friends
Would anyone like some help going through their closet? It’s one of my favorite hobbies. I even haul away the junk.
Wendy sent an email picturing a bunch of balloon creations. Some even look like clothes!
There’s a bit of the randomness from my mind, what’s on yours?
Related Posts:
Winter Tops for Smart Casual
Christie’s question concerning smart casual winter tops, which came in response to my post on the six levels of casual:
I also need better ideas for smart casual winter tops. I have a semi-wrap merino wool sweater which I like, but it seems to have shrunk in length.
I like to be warm, so I look for non-bulky wool sweaters. But my first layer under sweaters usually is just a tee, so that’s kind of boring.
My off-the-cuff answer:
I was just thinking that I could get a couple of slim turtlenecks and just use them for the boring t-shirt part, topped by a snappy jacket in velvet or suede or wool. I have also been using drapy silk blouses under my v-neck sweaters and liking that.
You see, typically I think of assembling an outfit, or a uniform template, in terms of
The Base (pant, skirt or dress) + The Top + The Layer
Brenda Kinsel suggests considering each zone as a room in a house. The larger the room, the more furniture (line breaks, detailing, embellishments, bells and whistles) you can put in there.
Based on the fact that shorter hip-length fitted jackets, the more pockets and detailing the better, are the hands-down best length/shape for me, I’m toying with this variation on the “formula”:
The Base + The Top Layer + The Connector
The top layer being the jacket, sweater, sweatshirt, etc and the connector being the top underneath which makes it all work together. Which really makes perfect sense, as the character of an outfit is created by the jacket … which I am now in the market for more than ever, for two reasons: one, I have laundry snafu’d all my favorites right out the door and two, Fall/Winter clearance. 
So I don’t know if I helped you, Christie, but you certainly helped me!
What say the rest of you lovely people? Other than that I over-analyze things. Isn’t that the point? 
Related Posts:
Teen Staples
I’ve been thinking alot about staples lately. (ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk
Wardrobe staples: those items which if missing make it almost impossible to get dressed on a daily basis.
Having my wardrobe staples in place enables me to get rid of multiple “almost-right” items. For example, one perfect pencil skirt could replace one that is a little tight (or loose), one that is a little too short (or long), one that is a heavy tweed, and one that’s plaid. Or whatever. I don’t wear skirts everyday.
So maybe that’s not a good example, but you get the idea.
Lately I have been able to score a number of staples for myself. (Read more about them at my new page where I am tracking my wardrobe purchases for the year.)
In order that this may become a Teen Style Tuesday post, I have identified four top teen wardrobe staples:
sneakers
Hoodies
camis
jeans
What staples are missing from your wardrobe?
Related Posts:
On My Mind This Fine Monday
Perhaps one of you more computer-savvy readers can help me with this problem: Google has inexplicably deemed my email address “invalid” for the purpose of signing into their system. Thus, I have not been able to comment on Blogger blogs (so sorry!), sign into my Google reader or groups, or access either of my own Blogger blogs (which have been somewhat inactive lately). Does anybody know how to contact Google about that? Their “contact us” button appears to lead to an endless loop of not-helpful help.
Moving on.
Weight Challenges
Ever since I read my sister’s review of The Skinny: How to fit into your little black dress forever, by Melissa Clark & Robin Aronson
Their basic premise is that every slender woman restricts what she eats, whether she realizes (or admits) it or not. That cuts right to the feelings of unfairness that those who struggle with our weight feel when we see a skinny person eating (ice cream, potato chips, french fries, whatever).
People really feel that way? I had no idea!
And I bet people who are overweight have no idea what I sometimes think about them either: they lie. (NOT BETH, she has always been very honest with me, but others.) They say they never eat anything but fruits and vegetables; they “barely eat anything, but can’t seem to lose the weight”.
Another One of My Far Out Analogies
Some may think I think too much; I consider it a hobby.
In order for me to keep my general shape, I have to stay under about 140 pounds. One of the tools I employ to this end is to allow myself to experience hunger. You see, otherwise I find myself eating to keep from getting hungry, rather than because I’m hungry.
Today as I was driving around in the sunshine, feeling rather lonely and forlorn, it occurred to me that just like hunger is a positive thing in my physical health, loneliness might be a positive in my social/emotional health. I have often compared the need for social interaction with the need for food.
If this analogy works, what is the danger in over-socializing? Maybe that is where it breaks down.
Something more wardrobe related when I come back.
Related Posts:
Just Linking: January 18, 2008
MyShape
Joy has tested out MyShape.com and found their service to be both helpful and affordable. From her post:
I ordered a white blouse, a pair of pants, a denim skirt and a long sleeve shirred tee. Total price after discount, $73.
I’m intrigued and impressed!
Update: I’m an S. Who knew?
Color Palettes
Lloyd Boston
Today’s Social Events
Speaking of inspiration, am I the only one who likes to coordinate my outfit thematically to a show I am going to see? Today’s outfit (worn also to MOPS this morning): well-worn jeans tucked into my flat boots (normally I’d wear heels, but I’m still babying my back), white button-up shirt trimmed with ruffles, with my brown paisley velvet blazer. Feeling rather like the dread pirate Rebecca, somehow I did not feel too costumey to be seen in public. Care to guess what movie we’re going to? Or buy the theme song, by my favorite band
What’s on your agenda for this weekend?
Related Posts:
A Cost Per Wear Tale
Sadly, 2007 was not a good year for me in terms of wardrobe development. (Too many hours at the computer?) These post-Christmas days, with their clearance sales and Christmas cash on hand, should be good times for shopping. Unfortunately, we’ve been short a car and I’m low man on the car totem pole.
Last week I did manage to squeak out once and get up to Nordstrom Rack. On the way home I kept thinking about a sweater I had seen. $50, not too much for cashmere but far more than I would normally spend on anything other but shoes or a coat, it looked exactly like the one pictured here.
As I said, I thought about it all the way home. You see, I have owned the sweater pictured for about six years. Every year I think it’s going to die, and every year I manage to continue to wear it. Alot. Mentally calculating whether I could possibly justify the purchase went something like this:
At least once a week, for 20 weeks (really? 20 weeks? maybe not), that’s 20 wearings per year … times five years, at least, that’s 100 wearings … That’s still more than a quarter per wear …
And so on. I just kept working the numbers until they came out the way I wanted. I was buying it- and one in peach or coral pink, too, if they had one. (As I said, my wardrobe has become quite skimpy.)
Momentary trouble: by yesterday, when I got back, there was not a small left on the rack and only one medium. But somehow it occurred to me to ask the fitting room attendant if she had a smaller size. She did! Only now the tag was sporting a bright red “additional 40% off” sticker!
With the savings I bought this: 
And yes, I got the peachy colored sweater too. Two cashmere turtlenecks and this jacket (or coat?) for about $80.
My goal cost per wear for separates is 25 cents, for outerwear even less. Have you identified yours?
Related Posts:
Furniture That Works
Intending its function to be less for lounging and more for perching (and guitar playing), I ordered color swatches for this chair, both aubergine (pictured) and ruby red. The removable seat lifts off to reveal a large storage area underneath, storage we will use for tapes, dvds, and other presently homeless media. $250 American.
I realize this has nothing to do with what to wear. I just wanted to share.
