Joseph, The Rock Opera
Does that sound more appealing than “a musical based on the Bible story of Joseph and the coat of many colors”?
But what does that have to do with matters pertinent to this blog? Well, some of you may remember that last summer I made over an old maxi dress (60s/70s?) for my daughter. Unfortunately, I finished it right after the weather change and she never got to wear it. But tonight it makes its debut in the go-go dancing scene in the local production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Tonight I am working the show, thus I am required to wear all black. But next weekend I plan to wear my mother of the bride outfit. Unless I decide it’s not costumy enough.
What are your plans for this beautiful weekend?
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Semi Casual Revisited
SCON (Spit Coffee Out Nose, according to Bella Online). I stand corrected, but I still think it’s ridiculous. Apparently, semi-casual is an actual dress code, albeit in the American context. *sigh* According to Lisa Plancich, Bella Online’s Etiquette Editor:
Where semi-formal is a step down from formal, semi-casual is a step up from casual.
That, my friends, is the end result of the mass confusion between “casual” and “leisure“. Casual, as a dress code, has never meant “what one would wear fishing”.
All I can say is “ugh”. And what I’ve said before (links are to pictures of what myself and others have worn to this annual semi-casual event):
- year one: I’m going to a nice dinner tonight, but I don’t get to wear my nice dress because it’s semi casual (which I should have realized means black jeans, white tennis shoes, and a western shirt - for a guy)
- year two: since western shirts are kinda costumy, semi-casual can be too!
- year three: any opportunity to get dressed beyond “just get dressed” can be used as therapy
year four: 
Sufficiently costumy, yes?
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What Do You Wear to a Bridal Shower?
I don’t think this is exactly what I wore to my daughter’s bridal shower, but something like it. If I remember correctly, I wore this outfit to a baby shower around the same time period.
The pieces:
- coral blazer - last year’s birthday gift from my sister
- short-sleeve knit button-front top - $1, clearance with coupon at Gap
- navy cotton trousers - $16.30 at TJMaxx
Although I would have been a little over-dressed and out of place, I’m still intrigued with the idea of dressing up - like in a dress - for a ladies luncheon type event like a shower. In the summer, I would be more likely to wear a dress or skirt.
What do you usually wear to a shower?
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Mother and Grandmother of the Bride
Finally I got around to posting a picture of my outfit. I even found one that shows the shoes.
BTW, most of the grandmothers of the bride wore pants. I realize that isn’t the globally correct term for that article of clothing, but I just can’t bring myself to call them trousers unless they are of a certain quality of both fabric and fabrication (that is, construction). Although, I would never have considered wearing “trousers” to a spring wedding, it didn’t seem out of place. We are, after all, in The Great Northwest. 
So, do you think we look alike? If so, what is your reason, coloring or something else?
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An Elegant and Affordable Bridal Gown
Where would you look for bridal gowns if the consignment shops, thrift stores, and craigslist all turned up nothing?
My daughter, who had every intention of buying her own wedding dress for around $200, thought to head to David’s Bridal. When asked the upper limit of her budget, she truthfully told the consultant that she would not go over $400. And look what she got!
Now a word on modesty. See the little cap sleeves? This dress came with them, but it’s good to know they can be added to any strapless dress!
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An Alternative Mother of the Bride Ensemble
+ 
+ 
= not exactly a mother of the bride dress. Nonetheless, what I will wear.
Details:
- the “shrug” (which word will never pass my lips when describing an article of my own clothing) is actually a tan color which makes a nice set with the metallic “bustier” (which word I will also hereafter not use)
- the skirt has the tan in the print
- skirt and top are lined, and mostly cotton. Sweater is mostly silk. Thus I will be warmer than if I wore a $300 polyester dress
- I already had all the correct underpinnings and accessories to complete the ensemble
- bride and groom both like it
- I will have another opportunity to wear it in late May
Now, the truly amazing part of the story: yesterday, at the suggestion of one of the ladies in my Bible study, at stopped at this store on the way home, around noon. With the helpful service I received, I spent well over an hour in the fitting room before deciding on the outfit pictured. But they didn’t have my size in all the pieces. I took home the top and ordered the rest from Bellevue, and they arrived today! Before the mall was even open today, I had my entire outfit, with time to try it on!
Now I can relax and enjoy the season.
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What Are You Wearing This Fine Green Day?
Am I the only one who seriously is still afraid of being pinched? Who do I think is going to pinch me? Nevertheless, every year on the seventeenth of March I scrape together some outfit with green. Today I pulled out everything I own that has any green in it at all, which is not much. In random order:
- the asparagus shoes
- ribbed tank
- short sleeved, button front, knit shirt
- half-sleeve pleated neckline top
- striped shorts
- unlined cotton skirt
- rockin’ belt
- satiny shirt dress
- aubergine, green, and tan print scarf
Since I was going shopping in the nicer part of town, I wore the dark green top, with wool trousers and aubergine sateen trench, and added the scarf.
What are you wearing this fine, green, wintery and/or summery day? And what’s for dinner? We aren’t having dinner together tonight, but I’m hoping to fit corned beef and cabbage in another day this week.
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The Modest Wedding Guest
Why should modesty be a consideration when attending a wedding? Simply because, while it is quite natural to be the center of our own attention, a wedding guest who wants to be the center of attention at a wedding ought to just have declined the invitation. The wedding, my friends, is about the two people getting married. They are the rightful center of attention.
Here’s where I cease to be dictator. From now on, consider my ideas descriptive, not prescriptive. In other words, these are words with which I hope to paint a picture of modesty, not a list of rules.
The modest wedding guest …
- chooses a color or print, as opposed to black or white (black is okay for evening weddings).
- prefers a softer tint or shade to something intense like red or cobalt blue.
- foregoes the sequins and spangles, as well as anything that you’d wear “clubbing”.
- remembers she’ll be sitting down. Skirts should be long enough to cover thighs when sitting. And when viewed from behind, sitting in a pew, the wearer of a halter dress may appear to be wearing nothing at all!
- doesn’t choose to skip, even if the couple’s religion dictates stricter guidelines (like sleeves).
- and the big, obvious, in-your-face one: please, no cleavage!
Admittedly, depending on the wearer, any of these pictured could appear immodest. The good news is they are all from Nordstrom.com’s page of dresses under $150.
This post is for the Carnival of Modesty, hosted by MamaArcher.
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Fashion Lab: Mother of the Bride
Updated to add: Duchesse at Passage des Perles has scoured the internet for tasteful mother of the bride styles. See her picks at Rebelling against Mother of the Bride drag.
Here are your instructions:
For each dress you may offer an estimate of the age of the wearer, personality trait(s), and perhaps also how she relates to the bride (mother, grandmother, stepmother, or other). And any other comments.
Dresses from Nordstrom.com:
Do you like any of these looks for me?
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My Spin on the (Winter Office Party) LBD
LBD = Little Boring Dress
I know we’re a bit behind, but Spokane was closed to a winter weather emergency on the date my hero’s office had scheduled their holiday party. Although the venue changed from the Country Club to Barrister Winery, and the time from just before Christmas, my outfit remained the same:
- dark green satiny shirt dress
- brown suede boots
- skinny brown belt
- enormous gold/purple paisley scarf
What can I say? Sunset magazine says, in an article this month mentioning Barrister Winery (which is a big room with brick walls, wood floors, and exposed beams), Spokane’s dress code is LBD for the symphony and fleece and boots everywhere else. *chuckle* Sad, but true. This outfit combines the idioms.
I never gave my outfit a second thought for the entire evening, including not being too hot or too cold.
What’s your favorite LBD alternative?
