What’s Your Metal Strategy?
(Congratulations if you’re invested in gold, but that’s not what this post is about!)
If you’ve been reading any length of time, you know that I most certainly do not consider myself an accessory person. It’s complicated. I don’t enjoy thinking about accessories, I get overwhelmed looking at them, and don’t honestly think they are all that necessary. They kinda make me cranky. And they do little to cover my nakedness.
On the plus side, I have been able to clear away at least some of the mess in my mind, that mess relating to those extras that so many of you enjoy. This improvement should make accessorizing at least slightly less painful. I’m adding the following to the rules of my personal idiom:
- all metal hardware will be silver
- wear earrings or necklace, not both
- a necklace must be bold
Clearly I’m not there yet. But, since I adopted these guidelines I have had the energy to: clean out my jewelry drawer, biff through my belts, buy a new pair of gloves and a belt, and get dressed every day. Get dressed completely, as in, all the way to the right shoes, belt, and earrings; not just throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt (just to be clear, in my idiom this time of year that is a casual cashmere sweater), and comfortable shoes. While under the weather.
No doubt in time I will add to my “guidelines”, ever with the intent of simplifying my life. But what’s kept me from this simplicity before? Good question! For one, my favorite metal has always been yellow gold; my wedding and anniversary rings are gold, as is my watch (albeit with brown leather band). But now I’m not going to let that bother me. They are part of me and my earrings and belt buckles are accessories. For another, I find the hardware options on shoes and purses especially to be limited. Usually I’m just happy to find something that works that I can afford. But I expect silver to be easier to come by.
Do you wear a mix of metals or only one? Do you have any helpful suggestions?
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Boots for Each Energy Type
While I’m cooking on the innovative approach Dressing Your Truth represents, perhaps a pictorial example or two are in order. To learn your ”energy type”, read the book It’s Just My Nature!
A flat boot selection for each energy type:
1. light, upward movement
2. fluid, flowing movement
3. active, reactive movement
4. constant, still movement
BTW, see boot #1? Those are my newest footwear! They are Puma’s and my hero bought them for me (for $45) from an online liquidator. Light colored footwear is generally a no-no for me, as is a mid-calf height boot, but for whatever reason, and I’m sure it’s more complicated than energy movement, they work for me.
Any insights?
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Apparent Body Size
It’s hard to tell how big somebody is just by looking.
In this post with picture, I noted that when I wear these particular jeans a frequent comment is that I look small. To which Maria Palma said it was hard to tell from the picture that I look small. She’s right.
But even in person, looks can be deceiving. I have one friend who is about my size, but somehow she appears to be a larger-scale woman. Presumably her larger scale features and exotic appearance create a greater “presence”, making her seem larger-than-life, so to speak.
So what goes into apparent body size?
- Height
- Width
- Supposedly that’s all. I wonder. That in no way explains why gifts to my two daughters are invariably smalls while mine is medium.
Selecting the everyday purse is the primary reason to identify apparent body size.
What about you, do people tend to guess your size wrong?
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Colors to Choose for Summer Shoes
What color are your flip flops? Honestly, no matter your coloring or proportions, your flip flops probably don’t ruin your looks. That is, when worn poolside. But that isn’t the point of this post.
Fully functional athletic shoes are different. In my experience any kind of white runner or trainer, even worn with the shortest possible socks, looks distressingly unnatural on me when worn with shorts; and a color is worse! But then what on earth am I supposed to wear to play tennis? Or when I am required to wear “gym shoes”?
Of course, to add insult to injury, there are all these people walking around looking perfectly normal dressed like that! But here’s the difference: proportionately my legs are short. And, although recently I have taken a slight detour into dark brown accents, when wearing shorts or casual skirts flats that blend with my legs have always worked for me. Naturally, heels change everything.
(If you resemble these remarks, I recommend reading these posts where Imogen explains what you need to know in all the detail you could want: Body Proportions Explained - Long Body, Shorter Legs and How to Look Taller and Make Your Legs Look Longer.)
Consequently, in my wardrobe:
- my new Chacos work because the upper color blends with my skin.
- my lipstick colored flats have made the mental move from spring (which for me is long pants worn with full shoes, no socks) to summer, where they somehow don’t jump out and call attention to my feet and the low-cut vamp elongates the leg.
- I need a pair of shoes to play tennis in. But I really don’t play often, so I don’t want to spend alot of money. My hero’s grandma, a very stylish 85 year old, was wearing leg-colored keds the other day; do you think I could get away with them?
Now, enough about my problems. Is there anything you have been frustrated trying to wear?
What look(s) seem to work for many people but not for you? And what wonderful alternatives have you found?
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Hot or Not? Summer Leisure Shoe Fashion Lab
Of all the topics we discuss here, shoes - especially leisure shoes - is one of the most volatile. Ladies like their shoes! And they are a very personal thing, in terms of expressing the style idiom of the one wearing them. So, I thought perhaps we’d play another personas and perceptions fashion lab.
Here’s what to do: I’ll post pictures of different shoes, but they’ll all be from the same season (summer) and lifestyle segment (leisure). Paranthetically, I am allowed to use the pictures here because if you click on one, it will take you to a site where you can purchase the product. If you purchase the product, they pay me a small commission. There, full disclosure. Now, back to the lab. :) What you are to do is to identify the age of the wearer and something about their style personality, as well as any other comments you’d like to add.
One last thing: I realize that not everyone can pay $100 for a pair of shoes, even one that promises to last 8 or 10 years. What’s your upper limit in this shoe category?
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A Chaco Story
If you’ve followed my wardrobe conversations for any period of time, you have no doubt heard me talk about my Chacos (pictured here). After a couple of years of online peer pressure, I have reached the conclusion that no dressy casual sandals can substitute for an everyday leisure shoe - and with my lifestyle, that’s what I need. And no summer athletic shoe is more elegant than Chaco.
Learning that Chaco was recently purchased by Wolverine ramped up the urgency for me. I needed to buy a new pair this year! (My old ones have served 7 full summers already and, while they aren’t worn out, shoes were much heavier looking 8 years ago than what is flattering on me.)
So, for an anniversary gift, my hero bought me these:
Chaco - ZX/2 Unaweep (Multi Brown) - Footwear
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Rate My New Summer Handbag
Believe it or not, I have been continuing to carry my old one (it has had the zipper repaired). Fashionable ladies keep telling me, and I keep believing them :), that it just looks better as it gets beat up looking (I believe the word they use is “distressed”).
But brown leather doesn’t always look good with summer outfits. And most of the other summery options I’ve used in the past are small. Too small. These days I switch between THREE pairs of glasses: distance, reading, and sunglasses.
My plan was to get something silver - to match my hair, of course. But then I got this great coupon from Macys, $10 off a $25 purchase, and found this black and white bag, which is perfect with my mother of the bride outfit, among other things. What makes it work for me:
- the bowling bag style - it fits my idiom
- so does shiny patent
- it’s mostly white, with black just as an accent
- most of all: although it is vinyl, the straps are sturdy nylon (the most annoying thing about vinyl purses is that the straps wear out after a year or less of use)
Also shown in the picture: 100% cotton, reversible, gray and off-black Adidas track jacket.
Total for both items: $37.62. Not bad!
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Simple and Professional Stocking Guidelines
Sometimes it truly is the little things that make or break an outfit. Or a person’s professional image. Beginning my deeper look into professional clothing, here are a couple of sock do’s and don’ts.
In the common misconception department: socks, like accessories, can be an accent color, match your shirt, or anything else in the outfit.
Truth: socks should disappear. Best practice is blending with the trouser or hem. (Nude hose is generally an appropriate alternative with a dress.)
Also in the common misconception department: because stockings are appropriate professional (office) attire (which statement I agree with) and mules are “in style” (which statement I heartily disagree with), if follows that wearing stockings with mules to work is acceptable.
Truth: wearing stockings with mules makes you look (and sound) like an idiot. Save the mules for Saturday!
It took all my self control not to title this post “Save the Mules!” lol
Anyway, I’m sure this is not a comprehensive list. What’s your pet stocking peeve?
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These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
Before I start putting together color groupings a la Brenda Kinsel’s Fashion Makeover: 30 Days to Diva Style!
In addition to what’s pictured here, I have a bracelet or two and an emerald ring that I like. Currently not in use due to metal allergies, I also have a couple of pairs of earrings which are sentimental and I plan on having remade when I get to it.
First photo (my everyday left hand):
- I like my watch: cordovan leather band, face dark in the center with medium gray ring, bright gold metal.
- For years I only wore a wedding band, then I inherited the unique anniversary ring. I could not have selected a style I like better, this suits my personality in every way (maybe there’s a clue there).
- See how shiny my thumb nail is? That’s because the nail kits from Israel that they sell in the mall really work!
Second photo, things I like:
- The pearls my hero gave me for Christmas a few years ago.
- His grandma’s pearls. The two can be worn together.
- The medium/large, twisty, silver hoops. If these were better metal, I would wear them all day long, many days of the week.
- Instead, I wear these small, real gold twisted hoops. And I am quite comfortable about it.
- Any suggestions on how a woman can wear a tie pin? I think that’s what that next piece - which I
stoleborrowed from my hero - is. I’m keeping it. - Generally I wear the Mickey Mouse pin to evening (Disney) theatrical events.
- The long “pearls” twist together with the clear crystal necklace. I admit, I’m a little afraid to wear it for fear of looking dated, but I’ve always liked it.
- VW Cuff links were also “borrowed” from the hero.
- In the summer I wear the pink flip-flop, regardless of the possibility that it looks dated. It suits me AND was picked out by a daughter and purchased by the hero.
Okay now, since we’re on the topic of musicals and I want to alleviate the tension the topic of accessories causes me, here’s today’s fun question:
If you were auditioning for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, what part would you want and, being magically gifted the ability to sing it, what song (from another show) would you sing?
Of course, I would want to be the Fairy Godmother, but today I can’t imagine singing anything but I’m dreaming of a White Christmas …
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Accessories as Infrastructure: Round 1
Previously posted, in Accessories: Embellishments or Infrastructure:
Without even doing the project I know what I need: necklaces.
- silver to support my hair color (I already have pearls),
- pink to add color near my face when wearing a neutral outfit, and
- brown to enhance my eyes and complete the infrastructure effect of brown buttons and belt.
Often when getting dressed, I know I need a third color near my face. Without a necklace (or scarf, but I don’t like them) my options are limited.
Spending a grand total of $25.41, here’s what I’ve found so far (mostly at Fred Meyer):
- silver and rose (pink) beads
- non-gold-tone earrings to coordinate with my pearls
- big brown tortoise-shell looking earrings
- wood pendant necklace
Both necklaces are convertible length.
This is a good start. When I get around to it, I’ll pile everything I have on the bed, sort it out, and take pictures of color groupings. But I’m still working through the wardrobe therapy part. When I think about wearing accessories, rather than getting excited like I do about, say, argyle or paisley, I get sort of a sick feeling. Like the feeling of losing one’s individuality. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
