Those darned socks!

January 20, 2023January 9, 2023 / edebock / 10 Comments

We hadn’t been married very long when hubby was shocked to discover that I had no intention of darning his holey socks. He grew up in poverty and darning socks was something his mother did out of necessity. We were both teaching school, however, and could afford to buy new socks when our old ones wore out. After more than 46 years of marriage, however, I recently darned a pair of sock slippers that he uses when we travel. Not only did I want to extend the lifespan of something that he loves, but mending and darning, once second nature to homemakers, are making a comeback as a way to participate in sustainable fashion.

I’ve done lots of sewing and needlecraft in the past, but since darning was something new for me, I first had to figure out how to do it. You can learn almost anything from YouTube, so I started by watching this very helpful video.

I don’t have a darning egg. In fact, until I decided to tackle this project, I didn’t even know that such a thing existed! Always one to improvise when necessary, I found that an empty olive jar did the trick. Next, I dug into my old crafting supplies and found some yarn. I would have used blue to match the soles of the socks, but I didn’t have any, so I made do with what I had.

After just one false start, I figured out what I was doing and the first part of the process went fairly smoothly. I was even beginning to think that this darning thing was pretty easy.

The next part was more challenging though and I’m sure the end result isn’t as neat and tidy as it would have been if my late mother-in-law had done it. I’m satisfied though and so is hubby. I just hope he doesn’t think this means that I’m going to start darning all his holey socks because that’s definitely not going to happen!

These boots!

January 13, 2023January 8, 2023 / edebock / 8 Comments

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These boots are made for walkin’And that’s just what they’ll do 🎵

Ever since I unwrapped my Christmas gift from hubby, the lyrics of that old Nancy Sinatra song have been going through my mind! Back in November, in this post, I wrote about wanting a pair of warm ankle boots that would be safe and comfortable for winter walking. When hubby didn’t know what to get me for Christmas, I decided to help him out.

This is my third pair of Taxi boots, the other two purchased second-hand. Taxi is a well-established footwear brand developed by a design team based in Toronto, but shipping is now available to customers in the US as well.

My new red boots are water resistant and have durable rubber soles and soft faux fur lining. I added a pair of thermal insoles for added warmth. The outer zipper is purely decorative, but there’s a fully functional inside zipper meaning that I don’t have to adjust and tie the laces every time I wear them! How easy is that?

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While these boots are made for walkin’, they’re also stylin’. Though they look great with jeans, I decided to be adventurous and wore them to church on Sunday morning with a sweater dress and leggings. I thought they gave the outfit a slightly edgier look than when I wear it with shoes or tall fashion boots.

Would you wear ankle boots with a dress?

Loving my new pjs!

January 6, 2023January 5, 2023 / edebock / 2 Comments

I’ve never been a person who spends all day in pyjamas and I certainly don’t wear them in public, but after opening a Christmas gift from our daughter, I could be tempted to change my ways! They are so beautiful and also very comfortable!

The handwritten gift tag included a note that said, “Special Delivery! Product of a local vendor in Bogota, Columbia!” She knew how much something like that would appeal to me! Our daughter is not a traveler (she seems to have missed out on that gene) but she has a close friend who’s husband is Columbian, so I’m guessing that they had a part in helping with her Christmas shopping.

Always curious, I decided to search for the vendor online and quickly found her Facebook page. My pyjamas are even pictured there!

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I love the rich, vibrant colours and I’m learning to identify some of the South American birds. I recognized the toucans and hummingbirds, but according to illustrations on the Facebook page, there are also Mountain Carriqui, Quetzal, Guacamaya (macaws), and Carpintero (woodpeckers).

The pjs are made of a lightweight satiny polyester with a touch of spandex. My newly acquired Spanish vocabulary has been very helpful in reading the fabric care label. Lavar a mano = wash by hand. Secar en interior = dry inside. No planchar = don’t iron.

So, will I wear them in public? Probably not, but if I did, I’m sure I’d look at least as good as the woman we once saw walking through the Louvre in Paris in pink pjs! 🤣

2022 fashion shopping review

December 30, 2022December 29, 2022 / edebock / 12 Comments

Once again, I kept a list of all the clothing, footwear, and accessories that I bought over the past year so that I could analyze my shopping habits and establish some goals for next year. I started doing this a few years ago because I wanted to be more intentional about wardrobe development and because I wanted to focus on becoming a more ethical shopper. I think it’s helped. There are definitely a few impulse buys on this year’s list, but the majority were planned purchases or items that filled specific needs.

Let’s begin by looking at a few stats.

I bought a total of 43 items
- 31 garments
- 9 accessories
- 3 pairs of footwear
21 items were thrifted and 22 bought new
I paid full price for 14 items
I spent a total of $819.87 CAD or an average of $68.32 a month
The most expensive item that I purchased was a purse that I paid full price for ($79.99)

This analysis alone was a good exercise for me as I discovered that I bought 15 more items and spent $237.49 more than I did the previous year! Considering the fact that it’s estimated that most North American women purchase an average of approximately 70 items of clothing annually spending somewhere between $1800 and $4800, I think I’d still qualify as a frugal fashionista, but why such a significant increase in purchases and spending since last year? With pandemic restrictions lifted, I spent more time shopping, but the biggest reason is that this was a wardrobe basics rebuilding year.

In addition to a 6 pack of underwear (I counted that as one purchase), I bought 2 pairs of pyjama pants, 1 pyjama top, and 6 bras. The bras alone cost a total of $295.60, more than one-third of this year’s fashion spending. I didn’t actually need all 6 of them, but I absolutely hate bra shopping. When, after a great deal of frustration, I finally found two styles that fit beautifully, I bought extras and put two of them away for the future.

When it comes to ethical shopping, I definitely slipped up in 2022. One of my fashion shopping goals in recent years has been to avoid buying items that were made in China. I loved my time living and teaching there in 2013, but I know that the conditions for many factory workers in that country are abhorrent and that human rights are being increasingly eroded. I also consider China a threat to Canada, so I see these as good reasons to avoid purchasing items made in that country. I’m not proud of the fact that I failed in this area this year. Almost 25% of my fashion purchases were produced in China. 😦 My only consolation is the fact that the half of those items were thrifted which is, at least, an ethical way to shop.

Another of my goals for 2022 was to add more colour to my wardrobe. While I did try a couple of different colours that were new to me, I still found myself gravitating to my favourite blues and warm neutrals and I’ve decided that I’m okay with that.

What was the most surprising thing about my fashion shopping this year? I DIDN’T BUY ANY SHOES! None! Not a single pair! My three footwear purchases were tall black boots and sandals, both thrifted, as well as a pair of slippers that I use for travel. My shoe purchases have been far fewer and much more intentional since Payless ShoeSource closed all their North American stores in 2019. I seldom passed one of those stores without at least going in to browse and I often ended up buying something.

My goals for 2023 are simple.

I will continue to be intentional about my purchases, limiting impulse buys to a few items that I love and that will go well with what I already own.
I’ll continue to experiment with new ways to wear what I already have.
I’ll buy fewer new items that were made in China.
I’ll continue tracking my purchases.
As long as I don’t run out of ideas, I’ll continue writing a Fashion Friday post each week.
And I might even buy a pair of shoes! 😂

Now for a few of my favourite fashion purchases of 2022. They’ve all appeared on the blog before.

The red Calvin Klein jacket that I bought for $7 at a local thrift store in October is a hands down winner!

The grey animal print t-shirt and the Clarks sandals, also both purchased second-hand, were great additions to my summer wardrobe.

This dress was an impulse buy that I’ll never regret.

Then there’s the hat that I bought on a chilly April morning in Victoria. Not only is it a fond reminder of our trip, but I love wearing it.

And now, with with less than 48 hours left in 2022, I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year!

A hygge sort of outfit

December 23, 2022December 19, 2022 / edebock / Leave a comment

All of our regular weekly activities have taken a break until after Christmas and the weather outside has been frightfully cold and snowy. Days like this are good for staying home and staying warm! I’m reminded of the Danish and Norwegian word “hygge” (pronounced hyoo’-guh) describing a mood of comfort and coziness. The lights on the Christmas tree, a couple of candles burning (a fire in the fireplace would be even better, but we don’t have one) and a warm cup of tea or hot chocolate add to the feeling.

So what do I wear on a stay-at-home, stay warm, hygge sort of day? I don’t own any sweats and while it might be tempting to spend the day in pjs and a warm fuzzy bathrobe, that’s just not my style. No, instead I want to look put together while still feeling cozy and comfortable. Today I’m sharing one such outfit that has become a recent favourite.

“Is it a sweater or is it a dress?” That’s the discussion that took place at the thrift store counter when I bought this cozy tri-coloured garment a couple of months ago. The volunteers operating the shop that day decided that it was a sweater and charged me accordingly, but technically, I suppose it’s a sweater dress. It could be worn over leggings or tights, but I usually choose to wear it as an extra long sweater over pants instead. These pants are a very old and much loved pair of uncut (no-wale) corduroy. They are so worn in the rear that I hesitate to wear them outside the house for fear that they’ll end up causing me major embarrassment! They’re so comfy that I love wearing them around the house though and under the sweater, they’re pretty safe if I do decide to venture out for any reason or someone drops in. The SoftMoc slippers that I bought over two and a half years ago are still going strong keeping my feet warm on winter days.

My one dress Christmas season

December 16, 2022December 15, 2022 / edebock / 6 Comments

Prior to the pandemic, hubby and I had half a dozen or more Christmas events to attend each December. When we were still working, there were staff parties, of course, but even in retirement there were dinners, dances, and parties. All that seems to have changed and this year we had only one Christmas event to attend together, a catered banquet and program put on by our church.

In 2018 and 2019, I actually sat down in late November and made lists of what I’d wear to each December event, right down to the accessories. It made getting ready so easy, but this year there was no need to do that. Even without all those events, it’s been a busy month and I don’t know how we would have fit in much more, but I do miss all those opportunities to dress up!

In addition to the church banquet, I did have one other very special event to attend. Last Thursday evening, my daughter-in-law Colleen, granddaughter Harlow, and I had a girls’ night out. We went to see an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre. We even had front row seats. Front row might not actually be the best seats in the house, but for 13-year-old Harlow’s first exposure to professional theatre, being so close to the action was very exciting!

I saw very few dresses on women in the audience, but I was happy for an opportunity to wear an old favourite of mine, the midnight blue Dream Dress from cabi’s Spring 2019 collection. You first saw it on the blog here. Since it’s winter in Alberta, I wore it over leggings and tall black boots this time.

After spending the weekend in the city, we got home just in time to get ready for the church banquet on Sunday evening. I pulled the dress out of the suitcase and wore it again, changing only my accessories! That’s one of the things I love about the Dream Dress. The floaty polyester fabric and the underslip take up virtually no space in a suitcase and come out without a wrinkle.

Speaking of suitcases, I’ll soon be packing for our trip to Vancouver where we’ll be spending Christmas with our oldest son and his family. I don’t know that we’ll have any need for dressy outfits, but I’ll tuck in something that would work just in case.

From self-conscious to self-confident

December 9, 2022 / edebock / 2 Comments

Here I am more than half way through a Friday and I haven’t written a Fashion Friday post yet. To tell you the truth, I didn’t think there’d be one today. I usually try to write these posts earlier in the week and have them ready to publish on Friday morning, but this week was a hectic one. I was only home for two and a half days between pre Christmas visits with two of our offspring and their families. I didn’t have time to do any research or even a photo shoot.

The first piece of advice that is usually given to an aspiring writer is to write what you know. Thinking about that this morning, I asked myself why I write about fashion. I have no formal training or experience in the industry. It’s not even a topic that interested me until late in life. So, why fashion? Why these weekly posts?

When I discovered that an item of clothing or an outfit can change how you feel about yourself, I went from self-conscious to self-confident and that’s something that I wanted to share with my readers.

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If how we look on the outside makes us feel good on the inside, then it’s important to choose what we wear with intention. Think about what you’re wearing right now. How does it make you feel? Fashion is a form of expression and we all deserve to express ourselves in ways that make us feel confident and joyful. Since we’re all unique that will look different for each of us. For specifics on how to dress with confidence check this post from last month.

With Christmas just around the corner and plans being made to spend the holiday with another branch of the family, time to write and to explore the topic of fashion might be limited, but I’ll do my best to keep up and to have something to share with you each week. For now, though, there’s a grandbaby to play with and a couple more coming home from school in just a little while.

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What is vanity sizing?

December 2, 2022November 29, 2022 / edebock / 4 Comments

I can remember when I wore size 12 or 14, but now I shop for size 6 or 8. Did I find the secret to successful weight loss? Am I actually that much smaller than I used to be? On the contrary, I now weigh approximately 20 pounds more than I did in my younger years. My drop in clothing size has nothing to do with me getting smaller and everything to do with something called vanity sizing.

Vanity sizing, or size inflation, is the phenomenon of ready-to-wear clothing of a certain size becoming bigger over time. Apparently, putting smaller sizes on larger clothes boosts the self-esteem of customers and encourages them to purchase more. As a result, brands have gradually shifted their metrics to make shoppers feel thinner. So much so, in fact, that a women’s size 12 in 1958 is now a size 6! In 1967, teenage fashion model, Twiggy, wore size 8. Today a girl the size that she was then (bust 31″, waist 23.5″, hips 32.5″) would wear size 00. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you shop for vintage clothing.

New Yorker Vanity Sizing Cartoon

Source: The New Yorker

A recent CBC Marketplace investigation found that the waist sizes of jeans are commonly bigger by an inch or more than what the label advertises. One brand was off by a whopping 6 inches! I can attest to the fact that this is true of men’s jeans as well as women’s. Hubby recently bought a new pair and the waistband is exactly two inches bigger than what the label says.

Another aspect of vanity sizing that is even more confusing is inconsistency between brands. Some deliberately skew their sizes, based on the idea that people might feel better if the tag on the clothing says a size or two smaller than they wear in other brands. Again, it’s all about trying to increase sales.

While customers like vanity sizing because it makes them feel better about themselves and retailers like it because it boosts their sales, it has become a significant problem with the increase in online shopping. Billions of dollars worth of apparel is now purchased online each year and an estimated 40% of that is returned because of sizing issues. That’s a hassle for shoppers, a nightmare for retailers who are stuck covering the cost of “free” returns, and as I wrote about here, it’s estimated that more than 25% of those returns end up in the landfill!

With all of this in mind, how can you avoid the complication that vanity sizing adds to shopping online? Use a measuring tape! Know your bust, waist, and hip measurements and check the brand’s size chart. Though these charts can provide valuable insight into which size to order, they aren’t always completely accurate, so also pay attention to what other customers say about sizing in their reviews. Finally, in case you still end up with something that doesn’t fit, be sure to check the retailer’s return policy before placing your order.

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I can’t help wondering how much further vanity sizing can go. I used to laugh at the concept of size 0, but the way things are going perhaps someday we’ll see labels with negative numbers on them!

How to wear mismatched earrings

November 25, 2022November 18, 2022 / edebock / Leave a comment

In last Friday’s post, when I mentioned that mismatched earrings are on trend this season, I included a photo of this pair, which I love. Unfortunately, I found the picture on Pinterest with no explanation of where or whether they’re available, so I guess I won’t be adding them to my collection. 😦

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This pair from cabi’s fall 2021 collection is my only mismatched pair. They’re among my favourite earrings and I wear them quite often. The difference between them is subtle and might not even be noticed by some because they are identical in length and the shape doesn’t differ much.

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While there are plenty of mismatched pairs to be found, some cutesy and others elegant, you don’t need to buy more earrings to try this trend. Instead, why not mix and match from your existing collection? The key is to ensure that your choice looks intentional, not like you crawled out of bed and accidentally put on the wrong earrings! Here are a few tips to help you do that effectively.

Choose two earrings that are obviously different from each other so that it doesn’t look like you simply mixed up two similar looking pairs.
Ensure that there is some correlation, some connection, between the two. It could be a common theme. For example, earrings that are sold as mismatched sets often feature moons and stars. Choosing earrings made of the same metal could also be a connecting factor as could colour.
Play with lengths. Perhaps try wearing a stud in one ear and a longer or more dramatic earring in the other.
Mix up shapes. For example, wear a round stud in one ear and a star shaped one in the other. Try a round hoop in one ear and a square or triangular one in the other.
Experiment with sizes. Wear a small hoop in one ear and a larger one in the other.

Here are a few examples from my earring collection that I’m going to try wearing.

Wearing mismatched earrings might seem a little quirky. It’s a departure from tradition and may take you outside your comfort zone, but it’s an easy way to add an element of creativity to your look. There’s also one more advantage to this trend… if you’ve ever lost a favourite earring and it’s partner is sitting alone in the bottom of your jewelry box because you can’t bear to part with it, now’s the time to take it out and find it a new companion!

Do your ears hang low?

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022 / edebock / 3 Comments

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?

When we sang this silly ditty around the campfire at girls’ camp when I was growing up, we didn’t know that when we reached our senior years, our ears might, in fact, begin to droop! As we age, our skin loses elasticity causing the tissue of our ears to sag and stretch. Sometimes this is worsened by wearing heavy earrings which can also cause the piercings themselves to stretch.

I’ve been wearing pierced earrings for approximately 50 years, but I’ve always been very careful about their weight. I clearly remember two pairs over the years that felt heavy when I put them on for the first time. In both cases, that first time was also the last. I wasn’t going to take a chance on developing droopy earlobes if I could help it! Thankfully, there are many earrings, even large ones, that are made of very lightweight materials including aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel as well as plastic and acrylic.

When my children were very young and there was the possibility of one of them grabbing an earring and pulling, I wore mostly studs. While a torn earlobe can be surgically repaired, I certainly didn’t want to have to go that route!

If you have a pair of heavy earrings that you can’t bear to part with or if your earlobes are beginning to sag, there’s help for you! Easy to use, clear and unnoticeable, EarLite patches applied to the backs of the earlobes Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 4.56.24 PM prevent stretching or tearing or provide relief for already damaged lobes. While I haven’t used these myself, I’ve been told that they are effective. “Bullet clutch” earring backs with plastic pads also provide extra support for larger, heavier earrings.

And finally, while we’re on the topic of earrings, let’s look at some of the popular trends for fall and winter 2022. These include hoops, geometric shapes, florals, colour, pearls, crystals, chain links, and mismatched sets.