Convertible Winter Everyday Template
Another one of those ‘duh’ moments, as my friends of another generation say, “I could’ve had a v-8!”
Has winter arrived in your region? (Not you. lol) I know for some of you winter doesn’t necessitate adding many clothes, but here in the Great Northwest the sky has turned gray and my feet are cold. From today on, white takes a backseat and heather gray moves up in my wardrobe.
But the real “aha!” was this: the convertible everyday template (for my personal style idiom, winter 2008/2009).
- around the house: jeans + collared shirt + sweater, pullover wool or cashmere
- out & about town: jeans + collared shirt + blazer, velvet or washable suede or maybe tweed
Upon rising, I can “just get dressed” for whatever I am doing first, knowing that later in the day I need only change my top layer (and shoes) to remain situationally appropriate.
Have you had a convertible template you used successfully?
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My Coat Wardrobe
(Sadly, necessitating the re-run of this post was getting the heavy winter boot - in the behind - from Eddie Bauer. That’s right, no longer can you contribute to my “never have to re-enter the paid work force” fund by buying through Eddie Bauer links on the blog. In fact, the links were only permissible because of the affiliate relationship and have now been removed.)
In my lifestyle segmentation pie chart, only two slices are really worth serving: casual and leisure. Living in a region with four distinct seasons requires more coats, to my practical mind, than would seem necessary. But they are.
Here’s the run-down:
- Casual winter coat: If I could only afford one coat, it would have to be a topper-length wool. And if I could only afford one coat, it would have to fit better than mine does. HOWEVER, this coat fits perfectly over a wool suit or a velvet blazer, which makes it perfect to throw on over smart casual winter ensembles or for church.
- Leisure winter coat = a puffy down jacket. Primarily worn for sledding and dog-walking, I am currently using a black one (for which I paid a single dollar), which will naturally be replaced when I happen on something in a great color.
- Casual spring: even though it isn’t a spring color, I will have to wear my new sateen trench.
- Leisure spring: the pink puffy thing pictured back here?
- Casual summer: All summer long I carry a cardigan around in my purse. Comes in handy at restaurants, the grocery store, basically anywhere air-conditioned.
- Leisure summer:
a white jean jacket. What else?Something else. Now’s not the time to think about it, though. (I do have a windbreaker, in case I go to the beach with my parents.) - Autumn casual: Again, the wine sateen trench.
- Autumn leisure: the burgundy quilted pictured here. I also wear a chamois washable suede jean jacket.
One little hiccup in my system: what color gloves, etc., to buy. For the most part my coats are all similar colors: burgundy, wine, aubergine. My purse is that color too, as are most of my shoes. Perhaps I have painted myself into a comfortably colored corner. What color gloves would you suggest?
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(I Am a Purple) Velvet Blazer
(Hopefully I don’t get in trouble for using this photo from Banana Republic.)
Considering my present state of mind, this post is likely to be an unlikely mish-mash. Oh well. I’ll try to produce a somewhat organized mash. 
From the top. Hair:
- Presently, I’m okay with my hair.
- This haircut - without the turned under, uniform smoothness of the other - suits me better, both style idiom and hair texture.
- Here’s the problem: hanging across my face, hair would goo up my glasses. Yet Christopher Hopkins would say that asking for this haircut but with bangs is like asking for chocolate chip cookies but without chocolate chips. (I don’t think my stylist would mind doing it.)
- Comments on how this haircut would suit me?
Next: If I were to wear a scarf, unlikely as that is, this application is one I would consider. Thoughts from you accessory people?
Finally, twenty years ago, when I had a fashion retail career, I considered myself a “pink suit”. Daily I wore suits. But they were feminine and colorful, not mannish. Now I am finding myself with a strong preference for velvet blazers. Currently in rotation: blush pink, brown paisley, and grape. My favorite way to wear them is with white oxford button-front shirt, collar flying.
So, all in all, this post was just an excuse for running the photo, which captures the stylistic essence of my personal idiom (me on the inside), everyday-wear. Now, I’m off to the studio. In a little over a week, I have the final for my beginning watercolor class. I need all the practice I can get.
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Wardrobe Therapy with Dr Wende
While I am busy with homework for my watercolor class and building sets for Peter Pan, I nevertheless leave you with both amusing reading and a wardrobe organization project for the weekend. The schedule, and ground rules, for drwende’s fall wardrobe therapy are here.
Enjoy your weekend! What kind of fabulous projects are on your calendar?
(BTW - Have a fashion question? Globe and Mail is taking your questions for Amy Verner to answer Monday online. Hat tip: Wendy.)
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Are We Hair Yet?
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Another Spin on Spending
I know “Teen Style Tuesday” is supposed to be Tuesday, but I’m trying to put less publishing pressure on myself these days.
Generally speaking, I have issues spending “real money” (translated = anything over about $15) on clothes. Shoes, as you may have noticed, are a different story.
But, sometimes it just makes more sense to go out and buy what you need. As in the case of staples, like jeans. Or for my hero, twill pants for work. I just bought him two pairs of identical brown cotton trousers, and paid $100!, but it was worth it. He wears business casual everyday, and he wears a difficult-to-find size, and he has been looking for brown for a few years now. (And now if he wears a green shirt, he can look like a tree.)
But it was jeans I really wanted to talk about. Last week, my daughter and I were walking past the one store whose jeans she has consistently been able to wear (Express) and they were having a sale. She did more or less the same thing I did for her dad: bought two pairs, although hers were not identical, spending $100. And considers it money well spent. (For the record: she buys her own clothes, so it was her hard-earned $100. How we handled teaching our girls to budget for their clothing: Crazy Budgeting Mama.)
Incidentally, when we were there, I mentioned to the young lady helping us my most recent visit to that particular shop, which I describe back here. Her response - to the idea that a salesperson would not bring me skinny jeans to try on - hilarious laughter! That relieved the tension! LOL (Paranthetically: what brought it up was dd buying a pair of bootcuts and a pair of skinnies. I am convinced skinnies are more slimming and flattering.)
BTW, there was no possible way I could shop for myself. Am I the only one who has to spend all their energy to keep from break-dancing in those stores?
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Fashion Authority
“I am always representing my own level of fashion authority.”
When I said that, more poking fun at myself than intending to be profound, several of you liked the quote so well you mentioned message t-shirts. *chuckle*
So now, in between wondering whether the inherent humor in that concept is worth putting aside my disdain for clothing with printed messages and scrambling to pick up the fumbled pieces of my personal makeover, I’ve been chewing on the question: What goes in to fashion authority?
The answer I like best? Congruence. That is, being true to your own idiom. I thoroughly enjoy seeing a woman dressed in a manner that reflects both her unique personality and God’s astounding creativity. Truly, being around a woman like that can encourage me to express my own style, though it be different from hers.
But there’s another form of fashion authority, a sort of counterfeit of genuine style, where the more a person looks like Barbie or Stacy or the fashion layout in the Sunday paper, the more fashion authority accrues to their account. Here, the pressure is to conform to popular style (or unpopular style, as in some micro-cultures with their own “what not to wear” code”).
What are your thoughts about what goes into fashion authority?
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Off-site Fashion Lab: Dark vs Light Jeans
In case you haven’t seen it, Karen of a certain age’s dubious experiment: light denim/dark denim.
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Inching Toward An Infrastructure of Accessories
Speaking of shoes, since that’s been the gist of the conversation around here the past couple of days, Karen made me a skechers polyvore. The brown ones in middle, just above the silver, are serious contenders.
And Imogen sent me this picture of (part of) her necklace collection, showing us also how she stores them. Great idea!
Tomorrow is MOPS and the beginning of our church’s fall women’s conference. The great thing about both is: no uniform! I’m planning to wear my brown suede boots, that much I know.
Fall is a busy time. What events are you looking forward to (dressing for)?
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Do You Wear Shoes at Home?
Increasingly, I am feeling alone in this. But I don’t know that I care. When I am puttering around the house, I wear shoes. In fact, if I’m not wearing proper outdoor shoes, I feel as if I’m not dressed - simply lounging.
Jennifer was wondering.
How about the rest of you? Are you like Jennifer, wearing house shoes in the house and keeping a pair of outdoor shoes near the door for running into the yard or to get mail?
Tell me I’m not the only one who needs shoes to feel dressed!
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