Out with the Old (and New) Summer Clothes
Updating my “what I’ve spent on clothes so far this year” page, brought me to the realization that I’m done. I’ve spent this year’s allowance. And then some. From now on, if I need or choose to buy any clothes the money will have to come from somewhere else. Like my “spending money” (which is totally fine, since I mostly shop thrift and spend not much).
Speaking of spending out of my pocket money: when I pulled my shorts out this year, I discovered I had not much that was going to work. Thankfully, this was the year to find lots of “short sleeved pants” for really cheap (which may mean that next year they are going to be officially “out”, but I don’t care). Most of these I bought this year at thrift stores, with my spending money, and I bet I didn’t spend over $30 for all of them together.
Click to view picture big enough to really see
- top row: grey pedal pushers, green/white mini-stripe, tan linen
- front row: light khaki sheeting, khaki twill, green convertible
The better part of my excuse for spending all my clothing money already lies in the fact that this year I bought a bunch of stuff that is expensive and doesn’t have to be replaced often:
- the mother of the bride ensemble
- runners
- swimwear, although I’m still working on filling in some of the subordinate coordinate pieces
From left: what we call “swim underwear”, the real (modest) suit, the necessary one-piece.
So far, I have packed all the swimwear into a cotton bag, which lives on the top shelf of my tiny closet and packed away my camping clothes in a cardboard box, also on the top shelf of the closet. Currently, I am finalizing the process of making sure all my shorts, tank tops, and white short sleeve shirts are clean, prior to putting them away for the season.
But I’d love to hear how the rest of you deal with off season clothes. Suggestions?
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Friday Fashion Lab: Effect of Print
I’ve been thinking about how it sometimes seems that pattern can break up an area and make it look smaller. Not certain how or why or whether it really works. So, just for fun, I thought we’d look at maternity swimsuits in solids and prints!
Any hypotheses concerning (slimming effects of) prints?
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What’s Ahead in 2009
As of December 30, 2008, via CBS news:
Spokane residents were trying to dig out Tuesday after a month of record-breaking snow collapsed roofs and clogged streets.The center of a snow-laden supermarket roof in north Spokane collapsed Monday evening, prompting the evacuation of that store and adjacent businesses. A fire official said only one minor injury was reported.The roof collapse came as Spokane set a monthly record for snowfall, at 59.7 inches, after 8.3 inches were recorded in the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Monday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ellie Kelch. That’s more snow than the area receives in a typical winter.
So that explains alot of my recent absence from blogging. In addition to having beloved family members home from school and work, the holidays, building a long overdue second bathroom, and watching way too much antm on youtube (which I neither recommend nor excuse).
What’s on the horizon:
- The blogging continues. I have paid for another two years of “betweenmypeers.com” ownership and the web hosting. Now if only I understood how to work it all.
- By cleaning up the formatting, adding useful links, and regularly posting on basic concepts, my goal is to sharpen the focus of the blog, continually making it more useful.
- I also intend to make blogging submit to my regular life. Hence, the unannounced “vacation”.
- And speaking of my “regular life”, we will be having a spring wedding in the family. More on that to come.
Allow me to take this opportunity to express just how blessed I feel to have this opportunity for on-going discussion with you. As I wrap up loose ends from the year past (like my busted budget and marathon makeover) and begin thinking on fresh topics (like more posts on fun personality stuff and a possible series on business attire), my question to you is this:
What’s ahead for you in 2009? And what would you like to see here?
Don’t say more pictures of me. My New Year’s resolution is less.
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What I’ve Been Buying
Allow me to dispel the rumor that I haven’t been shopping. It’s not that. Somehow it’s just easier said than done to keep my annual spending page updated.
My pile of accumulated receipts:
- $3.26 - Walmart. Solid brown, sarong front, one piece swimsuit. Size 16W. He hee. Not sure what possessed me to try it on, but it actually fits as well as my old suit (size 12).
- $13.00 - Grocery Outlet. Smooth tanks, one each: black, heather gray, white. As Grocery Outlet, aka Food Rainbow, has no fitting rooms, I ended up having to exchange for another size. Something else to watch out for: hang-tag “bones” stuck through the fabric of the shirt rather than the tag. Not sure I will buy clothes there again.
- $5.40 - Value Village. Purple velvet blazer (Gap brand) which will make a suit with a purple wool pencil skirt I have. Pink and tan corduroy paisley skirt. Purple floral print half-sleeve blouse (that’s a bit challenging to describe).
- $4.61 - Macy’s clearance. Short, black, half-sleeve, cotton cardigan.
Aside from these few clothing bargains, allow me to share what I’m currently really excited about: Fresh Abundance! Fresh Abundance, in Spokane, is an organic and whole foods grocery with local products and free delivery. Free delivery, an idea whose time has come. Certainly it makes sense to have one truck driving to the multitudes of houses, rather than each family driving their own car to the store.
I got into it for the raw milk. But in order to get the delivery, one must spend $35 per week and the $35 produce box has nothing in it my family won’t eat.
Last week I got my first box; everything in it was wonderful! I weighed the box full and then weighed it empty and figured out the average price per pound for local, organic produce, delivered to my home, was $2.79/lb. Not frugal, but not bad given today’s fruit prices. They even gave me the gallon price for the milk when they had to sub two half gallons.
If you live in Spokane and decide to sign up with Fresh Abundance, there is a fee for membership. And if you join, please put my name (Rebecca Mielke) in the box asking where you heard about it. I can get a freebie!
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Color-blocking for an A
In Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45
Consider, for example, the fact that the Type A figure is the most common figure type. Consider also the ubiquity of the black top worn with khakis. Precisely the “don’t” illustrated in the book. With that lovely contrast line right around the hips.
This suit would be a do for anyone wishing to minimize hips or tummy and maximize the upper body, where, incidentally, the face is generally located.
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Modest Swimwear for Young Ladies (June 2008)
Two things I notice about young ladies when it comes to swimsuits: one, they don’t like black, and two, they don’t like to spend $80. In addition, the young ladies I am acquainted with, and their mothers as well, are more modest than the majority of 50 year olds out there on the beach. So I just want to show some affordable, cute, and modest suits.
These suits are all from Swimsuits for All, with which company I am affiliated (which means if you buy through any link on this website, I get paid!). And be sure to check my “online shopping” page for available coupon codes.
And a modesty tip for halter swimsuits: tie the top where you need it and then sew together!
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Friday Fashion Lab: Is Black Really Slimming?
In comments on my post why do you wear black, of course the idea that black is slimming came up. But is it really the best/only slimming option? My theory is that sometimes a softer dark shade or a subtle print might be better, due to black creating a stark silhouette against a lighter background. Worn in a dark setting, the effect might be different.
Here are some pictures:
Now, I confess, when I turned my attention to swimsuits, which I admit I dislike in black, the results were clear: black really did make the body parts it covered look slimmer. The difference was so obvious between black and brights that I didn’t even bother bringing any pictures to show you.
Here’s black vs. brown and print vs solid:
To help me adapt to the uncomfortable truth that old ladies really do have a good reason for wearing old lady swimsuits (oooh, that was nasty!), I am posting this really darling plus-size model looking elegant in a Miraclesuit® Skirted One Piece.
Oh wait! It’s polka dot! How cute is that?
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Lands’ End Swimwear
I finally figured out a legal way to link to Lands’ End, since they keep turning me down for their affiliate program: Lands’ End Swimwear on Amazon.com
Normally I’m not such a skirted swimsuit person, but in paisley this one is very tempting! Plus it would match my Reefs.
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How to Wear Brown and Red Without Looking Like a Blood Clot
I can think of two, maybe three, ways to wear brown and red together without looking like a blood clot:
- With khaki, which is actually a tint of brown.
- With white.
- Maybe with pink, the tint of red.
- Never alone with black.
- Okay, also in a print with other brights such as apple green, hot pink, or turquoise.
- For the extreme outdoors person only: with camo.
If you’re daring enough to try it with solid color separates, I do advise using the 60/30/10 rule and keeping either the red or the brown the 10% accent.
It kinda reminds me of the color scheme of this blog. Have you noticed the picture of me has a brown frame now?
This just in: Take 25% off Gapbody swim styles. Limited time only. In stores and online. Most of what you will find I am not recommending as modest swimwear. But this Gap Essential tankini, if combined with a pair of board shorts, could work and it illustrates the colors I’m talking about here.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ONLY: Get $6 Shipping at gap.com. Offer ends May 28.
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A Modest Swimsuit from Urban Outfitters
Good news! I’ve been accepted as an affiliate with Urban Outfitters, which means they will allow me to link to their site. If you choose to buy something when you click on a link from here, I even get commission.
This darling one-piece swimsuit, found and recommended by erin is nice, is $98, not necessarily frugal. But since when are swimsuits ever frugal? Rarely.
The rest of the particulars:
Product Description
Marilyn-style suit, complete with an adjustable halter tie and an interior shelf bra. Partially lined. Made in the USA. Hand wash.
* One piece
* Full coverage
* Fits true to size
* Nylon, spandex
* Web exclusive
