Month: June 2024

To tuck or not to tuck

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logo-by-samRecently, a reader commenting on one of the fashion blogs that I follow suggested that the blogger consider tucking in her blouse because, in her words, it would reduce the “frump factor”. The blogger took exception to being told that she looked frumpy and responded by devoting part of her next post to the topic. She pointed out that tucking tops in doesn’t necessarily work for everyone and that many very stylish women choose not to tuck. That post resulted in a lengthy discussion amongst her readers and inspired me to write today’s post. So, with apologies to Shakespeare, to tuck or not to tuck, that is the question!

I very rarely tuck my tops in. The quality of the photos isn’t great, but I’ll let them speak for themselves. This is just a simple jeans and t-shirt outfit that I’d wear around home, but I think it’s sufficient to make my point. 

For me, to tuck or not to tuck has a lot to do with body type. I’m tall and thin, but I have a boyish figure with a wide waist and narrow hips. To top that off, as is true of most women who are midlife or beyond, I have some extra me around the middle. Leaving my top untucked tricks the eye and makes that less noticeable. To see what I mean, look at the line between my t-shirt and pants in the photos. When my top is tucked in, your eye is drawn to my waist, the area that I don’t want to emphasize, but leaving it untucked draws your attention away from that area. An important key to making this work is to choose a top that drifts over the body instead of clinging to it and showing every bulge. 

When I do tuck in my top, I usually wear a third piece over it as I’m doing in this photo from a recent post. This actually has a narrowing effect as only a small portion of the line between my top and pants shows.

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When it comes down to it though, to tuck or not to tuck is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer. That’s why we call it “personal” style. 

Why I write about fashion

/ edebock / 7 Comments

logo-by-samLately, especially on weeks like this one when writer’s block seems to have set in and I have a hard time thinking of a topic for Friday’s post, I’ve been pondering why it is that I choose to write about fashion. After all, I was the awkward teen with zero fashion sense who, even when I stretched my babysitting and allowance dollars to buy what the “in” girls were wearing, felt self-consciously out of place and wanted to fade into the background. Fashion just wasn’t my thing and I certainly had no idea back then that there was such a thing as personal style or style adjectives. 

It wasn’t until about 15 years ago when fashion blogging became popular, that I began to take an interest in the topic. In those days, it was mainly seen as a hobby, a way for fashion enthusiasts to share their thoughts and ideas with the world. Eventually, after following several of these blogs for awhile, I found myself looking for a topic that would keep my blog active when I didn’t have anything more exciting (aka travel) to write about. Why not try my hand at fashion, I thought, and Fashion Friday was born!

With the passage of time, fashion blogging has changed. Some of the blogs that I originally followed eventually disappeared, but as others became more visible and gained a greater following, opportunities to monetize arose. Advertisers and brands began to recognize the value of these voices and reached out to engage with them. At first, popular bloggers were offered free merchandise in exchange for positive reviews, but as time went by they started to earn commission on items that were purchased through links on their blogs. Some even saw this as an opportunity to make fashion blogging a full-time career.  

I’ve never had any desire to move in that direction. I’m still very firmly in the blogging as a hobby camp and the more I see, the happier I am to stay there. One of the bloggers that I’ve been following for many years recently wrote about the fact that she never buys any clothing for herself that she can’t link to on her blog. As a result, her personal style has taken a hit and where she once found joy in fashion, she no longer does. On a recent trip, she visited several local boutiques and had the opportunity to buy some unique pieces, but didn’t because she couldn’t earn income from them. How sad! Others lament the fact that they no longer feel free to be their authentic selves. Instead they’ve created an image that they need to keep up and, in some cases, it’s taking a toll on their mental and emotional health. 

So why do I continue to write about fashion? I sometimes wonder if it isn’t a bit narcissistic, but I try to avoid too many “look at me” posts by also delving into a variety of fashion related topics like sustainability and shopping ethically. I’ve learned a lot about the fashion industry, but also about myself. I’ve figured out what my personal style is. I know what I want my clothing to say about me and I’ve chosen the appropriate adjectives to help me build the right wardrobe. These are the kinds of things that I want to share with you, my readers. After all, connecting with other women with a common interest and being part of this community has been the best part of writing about fashion! That’s really what keeps me doing this. 

Throughout the summer, however, I will be indulging some of my other passions… camping, hiking, kayaking, and visiting with family. I have no more medical appointments until the middle of August and I intend to take full advantage of that! For significant periods of time, I will be without internet access. I’ll blog when and where I’m able, but it will be sporadic and there will be some weeks when Fashion Friday doesn’t appear. Don’t go away though. It will be back!   

 

Book of the month – May 2024

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The Life I Stole

Nikola Scott

hbg-title-9781472260826-44Like many children in wartime Britain, 10-year-old Agnes Crawford was sent out of London to the safety of the countryside where she lived with the well-to-do McIntyre family. Tragically orphaned by the war, she stayed on afterward as their maid and close friend of their daughter, Isobel. When tragedy strikes again, Agnes adopts her deceased friend’s identity and with it the opportunity to become a medical student at a London university. 

The early 1950s were an exciting time for medicine in Britain as the National Health Service, in its infancy, began offering treatment to those who had previously been unable to obtain or afford it. It was also a challenging time for female medical students who faced discrimination in what was at that time a predominantly male environment. 

Agnes works hard to succeed all the while maintaining her secret, but discoveries about her family history, feelings of guilt, and a potential love interest make it increasingly difficult. Tension mounts as she tries to decide whether to continue the ruse or reveal her true identity and accept the consequences. I’m not going to tell you what she chooses to do. You’ll have to read the story yourself to find out!

I will tell you though that this novel brings post war London to life and explores issues of social class and women’s roles in a way that is both entertaining and informative. I found it hard to put down.