The $250 Skirt
Ever since last fall, when I pulled out my winter skirts only to discover I didn’t like the fit of one and then promptly ripped the lining of the other the first time I wore it, I’ve been limping and skimping in the Sunday wardrobe department. NONinspirational! Basically, winter alternatives can be reduced to:
- wool trousers, which I love. I have been diligently searching for another pair.
- jeans, which I’d rather not wear to church, but I do in a pinch. And believe me, I’m feeling the pinch now!
- dresses. A winter dress is a rarity in my wardrobe. So rare, in fact, that it doesn’t exist.
- which leaves skirts. And with as many skirt options as there are, why is it so hard for me to find even one that doesn’t leave me feeling frumpy and grumpy?
The skirt in my idiom, and I say this more for myself than for anyone else:
- is tapered, pegged, pencil, whatever you want to call it. I don’t mind a little do-flippy hem, but the full skirt on me is downright awful; A-line is a significant compromise.
- falls BELOW the knee, at the “hemline of supreme elegance”.
- has only tasteful and necessary slit(s).
- doesn’t cling to my legs and bunch up and move around when I walk. Also doesn’t have some dorky clash of sleazy underwear fabric “slipping” out from under it.
In desperation, I have begun collecting thrifted skirts, with the hopes of cannabilizing one or more to somehow piece together something that would work. I’ve found lots of cute prints and fabrics, but somehow when it comes time to actually cut or sew I end up painting or blogging instead! So, while I normally wouldn’t spend $15 on a thrifted skirt, when I found one this week that was lined and below-the-knee and tapered, $15 looked like a bargain.
Closer inspection revealed the bargain it really was: brand-new tags said $250 $100!
Admittedly, the peachy color and cotton/linen fabric make it more of a spring wardrobe staple than winter. But it rather looks like spring is here to stay this year, doesn’t it?
How would you define the perfect skirt in your own idiom?
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Brainstorming on Fitting Trousers
Stephanie asks:
I don’t have a need for work slacks, but I would like some slacks for church. Any tips on fit? I have never worn them. I’m especially thrown by the noticeable lack of back pockets, and I just don’t know what is flattering. I see so many women wearing slacks that fit poorly…Don’t know how to not make that mistake. Right now, if I don’t wear a skirt to church, I wear dark wash jeans, but I’d like to expand my options.
Well, I’ll tell you a couple of things that are not flattering:
- form-fitting, skin-color pants
- visible pocket outlines
- jiggle
Defining what works is a bit more challenging. Let’s face it: women’s bodies are complicated.
Assuming we (at the bottom of the fashion food chain) lack the means, and/or skills, to do custom, here’s brainstorming on trouser fit:
- If your waist and hip measurements correspond to different sizes, go with the larger size and get alterations if necessary. (This is different from the way stretch jeans are normally fit these days.)
- Lining adds to a smooth look. Alternatively, wear magic underwear.
- The benefit of a mid-rise style with a waistband construction is breaking up the area visually. Recently I’ve seen styles with pocket flaps; same idea.
I suspect different styles flatter different figure types. For me, the fast diagonal line created by the slash front pocket is like magic; it almost transforms my figure eight silhouette into a V!
I’d love to hear what works for others.
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Winter Wear to Work
When Duchesse mentioned cashmere sweaters + wool trousers as her winter go-to formula (a formula I love!), the concept lodged in my mind, in the vicinity of a collection of thoughts about architects, engineers, and other technical professionals. Professions Mella DP describes as follows:
That often means having to demonstrate credibility in the executive conference room and on the plant floor on the same day. Dressing in a way that works for both situations is tricky. It’s easier for the guys - most men can wear chinos and a polo shirt and and sturdy shoes and look decent and functional (if a little dull). Most women in a similar outfit would look like an Applebees hostess.
But most women dressed in a cashmere sweater and wool trousers would look conventional and context-appropriate, Mella DP’s words, my opinion. (Hey, I realize not everyone can wear wool. I figure if you’re reading this, you’re smart enough to figure out a wool alternative that works for you. If that’s something you’d like to discuss, we certainly can.) Perhaps it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, any ensemble worn in a business context should be decipherable by both men and women. Much of what is popular for women is simply not understood by the men they work with.
Since we haven’t had any illustrations around here for a long time:
(Ugh! Now I remember why we haven’t had illustrations for so long! This took me all afternoon!)
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The Dress as Winter Uniform
Undoubtedly many of you, like me, grew up in the era of “mix and match”, subject to the ubiquitous idea that the more combinations possible with a few components, the better.
But it’s not the only way to go. Throughout most of history, women wore dresses. No mixing and matching there. A person able to make dresses work for them on an everyday basis has a very simple uniform template indeed. (Alternatively, an outfit which always stays together works much the same, albeit in the building stage is much more complicated.)
In the summer, nothing could be easier than a dress! To be practical in the winter, however, additional thought needs to be given to the “prepositional pieces”; that is, what goes under, over and with. Both casual and career looks can be built on dresses. Here are some random thoughts I’ve been having:
- Tights, for casual. Recently I was given a pair of brown bamboo tights and a pair of charcoal heather Australian wool footless tights. I’m rich!
- Warm socks under boots. Personally I like the look of the sock cuff showing at the top.
- Leg-warmers are fun for casual and can be practical for commuting career ladies, like a muffler for the leg. Obviously, when wearing formal business attire, the mufflers come off when you arrive at work.
- Speaking of mufflers, scarves of various styles can add warmth to a dress without complicating the silhouette like a blazer would.
- Somewhere recently I read about layering stockings for color, and then I tried it for warmth. Actually, what I did (with boots and a skirt) was wear my silk long underwear pants underneath a pair of tights. Yes, it worked.
I’m going to stop there and leave room for input. How do you wear the day dress in winter?
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Weekend to Remember: Buy One, Get One Free
Hey, all you beautiful married or nearly married people! This deal is so good, I had to share:
Right now when you buy one individual registration ($129) for a Weekend to Remember, your spouse comes for free. It’s a great way to experience another life-changing weekend.
To take advantage of this offer, simply register online at FamilyLife.com/Weekend by January 18th, 2010 and enter the promotion code: HOPE.
We challenge you to love like you mean it.
It came to my inbox with the subject line: Your Spouse Is Priceless. Isn’t that cute?
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Are You a Thinker or a Feeler?
Step 3 in my initial rip through the myers briggs personality code brings us to how we make decisions, the T or the F. This one is the hardest for me to grasp. But I wanted to get some thoughts out of my head and into words on the internet (since that’s how I do these things, as opposed to paper) before I go to the library and get more input.
Essentially, the definition of a Thinker is one who makes decisions based on logic. But the Feeler is not what you probably think, a person who makes decisions based on their feelings. No, the Feeler is one who makes decisions based on their own values, or one who bases their decisions on ethical considerations.
One could also describe a Thinker as a person who knows their own mind. On the other hand, a Feeler is easily able to identify with the feelings of others.
How does this relate to how people dress? Let me tell you.
I don’t know.
The only specific I’ve noticed is a slight preference for black leather jackets among Thinking types. Myself, I would never wear one, because they have always felt unfriendly to me. I prefer colored suede. 
In the big picture, I suspect Feelers are more inclined to follow fashion trends, and to care what others think about what they wear. Thoughts?
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