Fashion Friday!

My one dress Christmas season

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Logo by SamPrior 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!

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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

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Logo by SamHere 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?

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Logo by SamI 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.

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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

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Logo by SamIn 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?

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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. 

Logo by SamI’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 PMprevent 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. 

Hello snow! It’s time for boots!

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Here on the Canadian prairie, boots are more than just a fashion item. Winter arrived all of a sudden early last week. With it came snow and temperatures as low as -30ºC (-22ºF).

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The snow is pretty, especially when the sun is shining on it, but boots are absolutely essential! So, is six pairs of winter boots enough, or should I add another pair? That is the question!

Let’s take a look at my present collection.

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Two pairs of tall boots by Taxi, identical except for colour. The first time I wore my previous pair of tall winter boots out into the snow in November of 2019, I discovered that they leaked. Wet feet at subzero temperatures is more than uncomfortable; it’s dangerous. I knew that I needed to replace them, but since I live 85 km (53 miles) from the closest shoe store, I decided to check one of our local second-hand stores on the off chance that they might have something in my size. That’s when I found the brown pair. They were like new and now, going into their fourth winter, they’re still in very good condition. They’re comfortable, stylish, and reasonably warm and perhaps best of all, the elastic panel at the back means that they fit my slim calves. Last winter, I decided to keep my eye out for something similar in black and eventually I lucked out again when I found the exact same pair in black, also second-hand! Score!

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These three pairs of ankle boots, two also bought second-hand, are really just for show. They have smooth outer soles that don’t provide traction on ice and snow, the insoles aren’t cushioned for comfortable walking, and they don’t have warm linings. I love them, but they aren’t practical for spending much time outdoors in the depth of our winters.

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Then there’s this rugged old pair. And I do mean old! I distinctly remember buying them while on a high school basketball trip with my youngest son when he was in grade 11 or 12. That was over 20 years ago! In fact, he now has a daughter in grade 8! Although I used to wear them a lot, I pretty much only use them for snowshoeing now.

So, with six pairs of winter boots, why would I be thinking about buying more? That’s easy! I don’t have a pair of warm ankle boots that are safe and comfortable to do much walking in. The old rugged ones used to serve that purpose and perhaps they’d still do if I added a pair of comfortable insoles, but I’m thinking that I might want something a little more attractive and in style. Vanity, I know! I’ve been thinking about something like these

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these

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or maybe these.

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How to dress for confidence

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Logo by SamIn last Friday’s post about fighting invisibility with fashion, I wrote that we should wear what makes us feel confident, but how do we do that? To begin with, let’s think about what we mean by confidence. An article in Psychology Today, defines it as “a belief in oneself, the conviction that one has the ability to meet life’s challenges and to succeed – and the willingness to act accordingly.” It went on to say that projecting confidence helps us gain credibility, make strong first impressions, deal with pressure, and tackle personal and professional challenges. It also helps put other people at ease. So, what does all this have to do with how we dress?

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When you know that what you’re wearing looks good, it’s empowering. It gives you a sense of confidence and strength. It makes you feel like your best self and helps you hold your head a little bit higher. In psychology, this idea that what we wear influences who we are or how we think, act, or feel is called enclothed cognition.

Style confidence is something you can learn. Here are ten tips to help you dress confidently:

1.  Know which colours look best on you. 

Knowing whether your skin has cool or warm undertones can help in choosing the colours that are best for you. An easy way to figure this out is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they look blue or green? If they appear more blue, you are cool-toned; if they’re more green, you’re warm-toned. The study of colour can be a complex one, but essentially, if you are cool-toned, take your inspiration from the cool end of the spectrum. Bright blues, deep purples, emerald greens, and frosty shades of lavender, ice blue, and pink will look good on you. If you’re warm-toned, look to the warm end of the spectrum for your best colours. Think fiery reds, peach, coral, oranges and rusty tones, creams, camel, and earth tones.

2.  Know your body type.

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While exercise and healthy eating can make some difference, your body shape depends largely on genetics and skeletal structure. A quick search online will result in many videos and articles to help you dress to flatter your unique shape. Designer, Justine Leconte, created a video series on this topic several years ago. You can find the introductory video here and then go from there to explore your own body type.

3.  Emphasize your best features and play down your least favourite. 

This tip goes hand in hand with the previous one. Once you’ve identified your body type, consider which of your features you’d like to highlight and which you’d prefer to draw attention away from. For example, if your waistline is one of your best features, you may want to show it off by tucking in your top and wearing an eye-catching belt. I, on the other hand, have a rectangular body shape with very little definition at the waist. Add the thickening of that region that invariably seems to come with age, and that’s a part of my body that I’d rather not emphasize.

4.  Know your personal style. 

Style is how we personalize what the fashion industry produces. One way to identify your personal style is to choose 3 to 5 adjectives to guide your fashion choices. Check here for an exercise that will help you do that. Pinterest is another excellent tool to help you identify or clarify your own style. This post will show you how that works.

5.  Dress for the occasion. 

When it comes to clothing, we seem to have become an anything goes society, but you will definitely feel more confident when you dress appropriately. That doesn’t mean following a bunch of archaic fashion rules, but simply being sensitive to the occasion and the location. For example, if you’re going to a job interview, find out what type of company it is and what the work environment is like, then dress accordingly. For any event, when in doubt, I recommend erring on the dressier side.

6.  Wear what you feel most comfortable in. 

I mean that literally. If you find walking in high heels uncomfortable, choose flatter shoes. If a particular fabric is uncomfortable against your skin, avoid it. If something feels too tight, don’t wear it. In my opinion, comfort is key to feeling good in what we wear.  As far as styles go, while I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and try new looks, if something is going to make you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable, don’t wear it.

7.  Get rid of clothes that make you feel second-rate. 

If there are pieces in your closet that don’t fit, aren’t the right colour for you, don’t suit your body type or your personal style, or that make you feel uncomfortable, now is the time to move them out! Reserve the space in your closet for things that make you happy.

8.  Don’t try to copy someone else or be someone you aren’t. 

Don’t compare yourself to others or try to copy them. Take inspiration from women whose style you admire, but be yourself. Mimicking someone else won’t give you the confidence you’re looking for.

9.  Don’t be so hard on yourself. 

What do you say to yourself when you look in the mirror? What negative thoughts do you repeat about yourself? A woman who values herself accepts and appreciates who she is, including her imperfections, so stop beating yourself up! Instead, practice positive and respectful self-talk.

10.  Wear what you love, not what anyone else tells you you should wear. 

Shopping with friends can be a lot of fun, but their taste might be different than yours. Consider their advice, but resist buying something that they like unless you know that it’s actually right for you. Similarly, don’t let the fashion industry dictate what you wear. As I said in my last post, wear what makes your heart sing!

Fighting invisibility with fashion

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Logo by SamIf you haven’t read the first two instalments of this series about age related invisibility or Invisible Woman Syndrome, you can find them here and here. Today we’ll bring the series to a close by looking at how style can help us be more visible.

We could dress like 101-year-old style icon, Iris Apfel, but that might not be our best option!

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Instead, let’s begin by thinking about style adjectives. What do you want your appearance to say about you? I’m sure you wouldn’t pick words like old, tired, or boring. No! Instead, we want to tell the world around us that we are current, confident, approachable, and comfortable with who we are. So, how do we do that?

Notice that I didn’t include words like young, youthful, or trendy. We want to be noticed for who we are, not for trying to be something we’re not. Those of us who’ve been around for 50 years or more are never going to be young again, nor do most of us want to be, but great style is possible no matter how old you are. Pay attention to trends, but add them to your wardrobe judiciously. Stay abreast of what’s modern, fresh, and relevant, but consider adding bits that are on-trend to an otherwise classic wardrobe.

Vibrant, visible women ignore so-called fashion rules and dismiss antiquated ideas of what’s “age-appropriate”. Instead, wear what makes you feel confident and present. Wear what makes your heart sing! When you do that, you’ll walk into a room with a bounce in your step and your head held high and people will notice. Being visible is about more than what you wear; it’s about attitude!

Don’t be afraid to wear colour. Neutrals might form the core of your wardrobe, but you don’t want to look drab. Even a small pop of colour can add interest and visibility to an outfit. Just make sure that you know which colours suit your skin tone and wear those close to your face.

Play with accessories. A statement necklace, an interesting bracelet, a colourful scarf, or a unique handbag will help you stand out.

Finally, wear a smile! It’s an inexpensive fashion accessory that’s available to everyone! Research has actually shown that people who smile regularly appear more confident and are more likely to be approached by others.

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And it doesn’t cost a cent!

New red coat

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Logo by SamToday’s Fashion Friday post is later than usual because we’ve been having internet woes. Fortunately, they appear to have been resolved, at least for the moment, so let’s get this out there before something goes wrong again!

After writing about second-hand shopping for the entire month of September, I wasn’t planning to mention it again for awhile, but then I found a treasure!

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I was already planning to replace a similar charcoal grey coat that I’ve had since the fall of 2007 when I found this one in one of our local thrift stores. After fifteen years of serving me well, the old coat was beginning to show its age and for some reason, it didn’t fit quite as well as it once did. Okay… perhaps I should admit to having gained a few pounds over those years! 

I was prepared to pay full price for a new coat, but when I could get a beautiful Calvin Klein jacket that looked like it had never been worn for just $7, why in the world would I? A similar CK coat sells here for $129 USD or approximately $180 in Canadian dollars. 

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If I’d bought the jacket in a regular shop, I would probably have tried on one size smaller for comparison purposes. Buying second-hand, of course, that isn’t an option, but I like the fact that the coat is roomy enough to wear over a bulky sweater in cold weather. I wouldn’t want the fit to be as snug as the old one is now!

A coat like this one is perfect for early winter and early spring here in Canada. The fabric is 70% wool, 20% nylon, and 10% recycled cashmere and it’s fully lined with polyester. In the depth of winter, I’ll be wearing the much warmer coat that I showed you here. 

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Inspired to try cream

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No, not in my coffee! I don’t even drink coffee.

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Greetje, Dutch writer of the blog, No Fear of Fashion, usually wears bright, bold colours, but she recently published this post about a monochromatic cream outfit. I was immediately inspired to try a similar look from my own closet.

As I mentioned last week, those of us whose skin has warm undertones look ghastly (or perhaps, ghostly) if we wear white close to our faces, but we can wear off-white and cream.

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It wasn’t until I saw the photos that I realized that this outfit didn’t work. Can you see why? In real life, the sweater isn’t quite as pink as it looks here. I’d actually call the colour oatmeal, but it is a pinkish cream whereas the pants are more yellowish. To my eye, at least, they don’t go well together.

That sent me back to my closet to see what else I could find.

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I traded the cream chinos for this comfy old pair of soft corduroy pants. No longer cream; more like café au lait, but this is an outfit that works for me. The sweater is the same thrifted maternity sweater that you saw two weeks ago in my Second Hand September wrap-up post. I tried adding a pop of colour with a scarf at my waist as Greetje did, but that didn’t work with the length of my sweater, so I wore one at my neck instead. That’s the thing about finding inspiration in what other women wear. It’s not about copying. My final outfit doesn’t actually look much like Greetje’s, but she planted the idea and I worked with it.

I still think that I could wear a monochromatic cream outfit. I just don’t have the right pieces in my wardrobe. Apparently Diane Keaton does though. Here’s a photo of her that I came across while I was thinking about writing this post. I absolutely love her coat!

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