Fashion Friday!

A new hat

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Logo by SamOn Tuesday’s walk from our Victoria hotel to Chinatown and back, we passed many little souvenir shops that sell pretty much the same things that we might find in Banff, Jasper, or one of several other Canadian tourist destinations. Those stores didn’t particularly appeal to me, but then I spotted Roberta’s Hats! I rarely pass a hat shop without stopping in “just to look”!

Roberta’s Hats is an eclectic little shop that features a wide selection of styles for men, women, and children, many at very affordable prices. There were berets in almost every colour imaginable, but I still have the one I bought in Paris three years ago and didn’t feel the need to buy another one. As much as I loved the section of hats that looked like they came right off Downton Abbey, I knew that I didn’t have anywhere to wear one of those. Then I spotted the corduroy newsboy caps. The moss green one would go perfectly with the spring/fall anorak that I was wearing. Of course, I had to try it on! And then I had to buy it! I simply had to!

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It was a chilly morning, so I had the lady behind the counter remove the tag and I wore it out of the store. I’ve been wearing it almost constantly ever since! I have a fairly large collection of hats, but most of them don’t get worn very often. I don’t foresee that happening with this one though! Until the weather gets too warm, I expect that I’ll be wearing it a lot. It just feels like me.

There are many good reasons to wear a hat. Sometimes it provides protection against the elements… shading your eyes from the sun or adding warmth in extreme cold. Often, however, a hat is an accessory that adds panache to an outfit and gives a woman a look of confidence. It’s also a quick and easy solution to a bad hair day!

If you’re a hat lover like me and you’re ever in Victoria, make sure to take a short walk up Government Street from the harbour and visit Roberta’s Hats.

What I wore for a walk by the sea

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Logo by SamWhether you like to read about travel or fashion, there’s something in today’s post for you. I seldom write “what I wore” posts, but I figured that that was the best way to squeeze in a Fashion Friday post this week!

For the past eight and a half years, since being diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer, I’ve had an injection of Sandostatin every 28 days. Until two months ago, a nurse came to the house to administer theScreen Shot 2022-04-06 at 9.35.43 PM jab, but that service has been discontinued. Now, I get my monthly injection at my doctor’s office, but I can still easily arrange to have it done anywhere in Canada. Yesterday’s appointment, for injection #110, was at a clinic in West Vancouver.

One end of the popular 1.7 km West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk is just 3 blocks from the clinic. The weather was beautiful, so as soon as I was done, we went for a walk.

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Along the way, we saw a couple of harbour seals poking their heads out of the water some distance offshore and this long-legged heron standing guard closer in.

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At the end of the Seawalk, we made an unexpected discovery, The Beach House restaurant. The restaurant’s beachfront patio opened for the season yesterday and we were the first to sit at our table for two overlooking the shore. The service was impeccable and the food delicious!

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And now for what I wore…

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Everything I’m wearing has been in my wardrobe for quite awhile. The olive chinos were purchased almost two years ago at Mark’s. They’re a nice alternative to jeans and perfect weight for spring and fall. I’ve had the short-sleeved animal print top from Laura for so long that I don’t actually remember when I bought it. In spite of the fact that it’s been in my closet for a long time, I haven’t actually worn it a lot, but it’s been coming out more often lately. I added the anorak from Reitmans to my spring/fall wardrobe three years ago. It’s wind and rain resistant making it a perfect jacket to wear here at the coast, but it gets lots of use at home too. My white leather sneakers, also from Mark’s, are two years old and still like new. They’re super comfortable for long walks like yesterday’s.

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Though you can’t see it in the previous two photos, I wore my Shirttail Cardigan from cabi under the jacket. Layering is key to staying warm at this time of year. The sweater is over five years old and still going strong. It has been an absolute workhorse in my wardrobe and has appeared on the blog many times before. I don’t know what I’ll do if it ever wears out!

Before I go, did you notice my new Fashion Friday logo? It was designed especially for me by my 12-year-old grandson, Sam! He’s one of the young artists in our family. Thank you, Sam!

Packing for the in-between season

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LogoLast year at exactly this time, I wrote a post about deciding what to wear for a day away from home during this in-between season when the weather is so unpredictable. This year, my challenge was much greater as it involved packing a suitcase!

At home on the prairie, the geese are returning and the gophers have come out of hibernation, but there are still patches of snow on the ground. We’re travelling through high mountain passes where winter conditions are still a distinct possibility, but our destination is the coast where flowers will be blooming and rain showers are likely. Daytime high temperatures there are likely to be around 10ºC (50ºF). How do you pack for all of that?

There’s a “just in case” bag in the back of the vehicle with heavy coats, toques, scarves, and gloves, and we each brought along a pair of winter boots. I’m seriously hoping that we don’t need any of those things, but as they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Layering is always the key to coping with varying temperatures and weather conditions, so I packed accordingly. I want to be able to add or subtract layers as the days warm up or cool off. For the most part, the clothes in the suitcase came from my fall/winter wardrobe, but I did go into storage and pull out a couple of the warmer items from my spring/summer collection. The majority of what I packed was neutral in colour allowing me to mix and match, creating a variety of different looks with a limited number of pieces.

The main purpose of our trip is to be with my special brother who is having surgery on Monday, but since that’s taking us to the coast at such a beautiful time of year and since it feels like forever since we’ve had a real holiday, we’ve added a few days in Victoria to our plans. Casual outfits will work well for most of what we plan to do, but I’ll probably want to dress up a bit for a couple of events. Accessories take up very little space and easily add polish to an outfit when that’s what’s needed.

A change of shoes can also give an outfit a lift. That’s one area where I can indulge myself on a trip like this one. When we fly, the number of pairs of shoes I can take is limited by suitcase space, but when we travel by vehicle I can fit in many more! Comfort is key, however. We plan to do a lot of walking, especially when we’re in Victoria, so I made sure to bring more than one pair of comfortable, supportive walking shoes. That way if one pair gets wet, I’ll have another to change into. We also packed umbrellas!

I’m not sure if I’ll be posting anything for Fashion Friday the next two weeks, but it will be a treat to be able to write some travel posts instead! Do stay tuned!

Dopamine dressing for spring!

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LogoThere’s no denying that the past 24 months have been challenging. Everyone is ready for a booster shot of joy and in the fashion world, it’s coming in the form of something called dopamine dressing. Dopamine, often called a “happiness hormone”, is essentially a chemical released in the brain in response to things that make us feel good. Dopamine dressing is an approach to style that involves the use of colour, texture, and pattern to make us feel happier. An infusion of bold, bright colours is this spring’s answer to the stay-at-home doldrums of the past two years.  

If you’re like me, you wore the neon rainbow back in the mid 80s and perhaps you can’t quite see yourself doing that again. The real goal of dopamine dressing is to dress in a way that makes you feel happy and gives you joy, so that may not mean dressing head to toe in highlighter colours like vibrant yellow, orange, green, and pink. Dopamine dressing isn’t going to look the same for everyone. 

If you’re interested in bringing a bit more colour into your life but don’t want to overdo it, consider adding a colourful accessory or two. A bright pair of shoes or handbag can go a long way toward giving you a new, current look. If you want to go a bit further than that, think about anchoring a bright top with a more neutral pair of pants or basic blue jeans. 

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And if you think that dopamine dressing is only for the young, think again! Here’s 100-year-old fashion icon, Iris Apfel, in all her sunshiny glory!

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Ultimately though, always strive to dress in a way that make you feel happy and you’ll inevitably spread your happiness to others too!

 Images: Pinterest

Inspired by art

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LogoFashion inspiration can come from anywhere. If the colours of nature inspire you, perhaps you can incorporate some of them into an outfit. My OOTD (outfit of the day) was inspired by a piece of art.

My niece is an Indigenous artist and photographer who draws inspiration for her work from nature, particularly her early childhood years living in the Northwest Territories and later years growing up on the Canadian prairie. Though I grew up at the coast, I love the big prairie sky and this painting from Esta’s Prairie Landscapes collection reminds me of my harvest days operating a combine.

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I absolutely love the colours in the small print which has a place of prominence in our living room. Recently, I’ve felt inspired to try putting together an outfit using those colours, so I went to my closet to see what I could come up with.  

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The pants may be more reminiscent of caramel or cognac than wheat, but they come as close as I could to picking up the darker bits in Esta’s field. They’re the soft corduroy Button Fly Skinny from cabi’s Fall 2020 season. I found the blues of the sky in the Scallop Top from cabi’s Fall 2019 collection and the light denim shirt from Uniqlo that you’ve seen on the blog several times before. I finished the outfit with a pair of gold earrings that I won in a golf tournament several years ago. 

I wonder if I can find anything else around the house that might inspire an outfit? Stay tuned and I’ll let you know! 

 

 

Does fashion matter?

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LogoIn a world where women and children are fleeing a war torn country with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the few possessions that they can carry, does fashion really matter? In a time when opposing opinions about wearing masks and getting vaccinated have torn families and friendships apart, does fashion matter? In a patriarchal world where International Women’s Day has just pointed out gender disparity in vital areas such as education and health care, does fashion matter? These are questions I’ve been asking myself as I wrestled with what to write about today. Perhaps writing about fashion is too frivolous, or is it?

In the light of eternity, maybe fashion doesn’t matter, but it matters to Farah, a young mother in Pakistan who took out a Kiva loan to buy a new sewing machine. With it, she can supplement her husband’s meagre income by making clothes to sell and thus afford to send her children to school.

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From growing and processing cotton and other fibres to the finished product, the fashion and textiles industry employs millions of people worldwide – roughly one in eight workers globally. Add the retail workers involved in selling the clothes and fashion matters to a lot of people!

Then there’s the question of whether or not fashion matters to us personally. Enclothed cognition is a term that relates to the effect that clothing has on the way a person thinks, feels, and functions. Studies actually show that what we wear directly affects our behaviour, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with other people. If that’s the case, perhaps fashion really does matter. Perhaps it’s part of self-care. How we dress can reflect our personality, character, and mood. It’s a way to express our individuality and creativity. So, in this day and age, when life sometimes seems heavy or overwhelming, think about those outfits that you feel happiest wearing, the ones that you receive the most compliments on, and wear those. Let fashion give you a boost!

Things I said I’d never wear

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LogoI still remember standing in the high school locker room after physical education class and seeing classmates of mine squeezing themselves back into their girdles. It wasn’t a pretty sight! They looked so uncomfortable that I immediately said to myself that I’d never, ever wear such a thing. Of course, I was skinny as a rail at the time, so it wasn’t something that I had to worry about. Shapewear has changed a lot in the 50+ years that have passed since I made that promise to myself. Soft, subtle pieces have replaced the “scaffolding” of yesteryear, but I haven’t broken my promise yet!

I also remember saying that I’d never wear an underwire bra. As a young girl, I thought that they would be just as uncomfortable as those structured girdles must have been. I’ve been wearing them for decades though, so never say never!

So, what else did I say I’d never wear?

Low-rise jeans. When those became popular in the 90s, I was sure I’d never wear them. I still think they’re one of the worst trends ever, but eventually I had to give in when there was nothing else to be found. Now, I still have a couple of pairs in my closet that I hate to part with. I like everything about them except the low rise. With muffin top spilling over, they really ought to be worn with shapewear! 🤣 Instead, I wear them with loose fitting tops that hide that problem area. I’m very glad that higher rises are back in style though.

Distressed jeans. Distressed anything actually. I just can’t see the point of buying clothes that look like they’re already worn out. My view on this one has softened somewhat though. While I’ve yet to actually wear any of them, I have seen some tastefully distressed pieces that I might not say no to. On the other hand, I’ve also seen jeans that are barely there, ones that have more holes than fabric! Those are still a definite never!

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Cropped pants. I’ve always liked capri pants, or pedal pushers as we called them when I was a child, but when longer cropped pants came into style I didn’t think I’d ever wear them. For a long-legged gal who often had trouble finding pants that were long enough, purposely buying a pair that ended at the ankle seemed counterintuitive! I didn’t hold out on this trend for very long though and soon found myself adding them to my summer wardrobe. Again, never say never, I guess!

Leggings as pants. There is absolutely nothing wrong with leggings. I own several pairs, but they are not the same as pants!  I’m not a proponent of fashion rules of any kind, but when it comes to leggings, unless they’re being worn strictly as exercise wear, I think they need to be worn with a long top, a tunic, or a dress.

Crocs. I’m sorry, I know lots of people love them and say that they’re comfortable, but those colourful rubber (technically resin) shoes are a big NO for me! Apparently it was Stacy London who said, “If Crocs were the last shoes on earth, I would cut off my feet.” I might not go that far, but in my opinion, they’re just plain ugly!

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Now it’s your turn. Are there things that you would never wear? Have you ever said that you’d never wear something and then changed your mind?

Stripes for spring!

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LogoI used to write a blog post twice a year about the trends for spring/summer and fall/winter based on the looks that ruled the runways for that season. I’ve quit doing that because they were a lot of work and amongst the women who read this blog, who actually dresses like a runway model? Probably no one! I know I don’t. Real women do, however, want to know how some of those looks translate into the clothes that we’ll actually see in our favourite retailers; things that we would actually wear.

That leads me to one of the biggest trends for the upcoming season… stripes! That’s right, though some of us have been wearing stripes forever, they’re going to be especially popular this season!

A classic Breton top, first introduced in 1858 as part of the uniform for navy seamen in Northern France, is an easy pattern to wear and a favourite of mine. The original design had long sleeves and featured 21 horizontal stripes, one for each of Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories. Apparently, the distinctive navy and white stripes made it easy for rescuers to spot sailors who fell overboard!

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Nowadays, Breton striped t-shirts are available in both long and short-sleeved versions and a myriad of colours. Since they never really go out of style and can be worn year round, I’d like to add a couple more to my wardrobe this season while they’re easy to find. I much prefer to shop in person, but I’ve been doing some looking around  online and thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve found with you. Please keep in mind that I’m not affiliated with any of the companies represented here and I don’t benefit in any way if you choose to order something. Since I have readers in wide variety of locations, I’m showing retailers from the UK and US as well as Canada.

The Original Breton Shirt  –  The Breton Shirt Co

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In addition to the traditional Breton top shown here, The Breton Shirt Co offers a variety of colours and styles.

Striped Oversized Long Sleeve T-shirt  –  Uniqlo

This one is also available in several colours.

Three-Quarter Sleeve Criss-Cross Sailor Top  – Blair

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I really like the sleeve detail on this one. Though it also comes in a variety of colours, teal is a colour that flatters every skin tone.

This is just a small sampling of the Breton type tees that are available this season, but stripes are not limited to this one style.

Square Neck Button Front Tank  –  Cleo

Stripes aren’t always horizontal!

Prep School Shirt  –  Cabi

This cropped shirt is a cute and casual look for summer.

Washable Linen Pull-On Pants  –  L.L.Bean

These look a lot like pyjamas to me, but they would be light and breezy on a hot summer’s day.

24/7 Sweats, Dress Stripe  –  L.L.Bean

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I had just about finished writing this post when this dress popped up on my Facebook newsfeed. Isn’t it interesting how Facebook knows exactly where we’ve been on the internet? Not always a good thing, but in this case I didn’t mind!

Trend or not, stripes may not be your thing. If that’s the case and you really can’t see yourself wearing any of these, why not add a just a touch of the trend in a scarf or a handbag?

Colour Joy Floral Striped Scarf  –  The Bay

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Stripe Shopper Bag  –  Nordstrom

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We’ve just come through another incredibly cold snap and it looks like winter will be with us for awhile longer, but it’s nice to start thinking about spring and about what we might be wearing when the weather finally does warm up. What about you? Will you be wearing stripes?

Date night

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In many parts of the world, Monday was Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love and romance. In past years, that might have meant going out for a special dinner for hubby and I, but our province recently lifted the public health restrictions that would have assured us that we were eating in the company of people who have chosen to protect themselves and others by being vaccinated against Covid. As a result, we aren’t eating out these days. Instead, we decided to celebrate with an at-home date night. 

Preparing in advance, we ordered a special Valentine’s meal to be picked up at The Wooden Spoon, a local bistro that’s a favourite of ours. We also put a bottle of wine in the fridge to chill. The table was set with tablecloth and candles and we sat down to enjoy a fabulous dinner. Afterward, we enjoyed a romantic comedy in the comfort of our own living room. 

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Since this was a date, we dressed as though we were going out. I chose a favourite dress from cabi that I haven’t had occasion to wear since the beginning of the pandemic. It was a little snugger than I remember it being, but thankfully, it still fit! 

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The lighting wasn’t great for getting good photos, but if you want to see some great pictures of the dress, which is a deep midnight blue, check out this post by Dutch blogger, Greetje, who writes No Fear of Fashion. It was fun to discover not too long ago that she has the same dress as I do! 

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You might also notice that I had my hair cut recently. It’s not quite what I had in mind when I went to the hairdresser, but it was time for a change! 

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25 style tips that every woman should know

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LogoHave you ever noticed that some women always look polished and put-together? What is it that makes them look that way? Who doesn’t want to look fabulous every time she steps out of the house? Today I’m sharing 25 style tips that every woman should know. Tips that work regardless of size, age, budget, or taste.

1.  Use a lint roller to remove lint, hair, and other small fibres from your clothes. This is especially important if you have pets!

2.  Similarly, make sure you have a fabric shaver to remove fuzz and pills from sweaters.

3.  Invest in a good quality iron with a range of settings; one that can get out the toughest wrinkles but is also gentle enough to use on delicate fabrics.

4.  Even if you’re not a seamstress, have a basic sewing kit on hand and know how to use it to sew on a button, tack up a hem, or do a minor repair.

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5.  Make sure that your shoes and boots are clean and/or polished.

6.  Use empty wine bottles or rolled up newspapers to keep tall boots standing upright when you’re not wearing them.

7.  Declutter and organize your closet. Hang what needs to be hung in neat categories and fold the rest. You won’t wear what you can’t see.

8.  Read labels when you shop. Pay particular attention to washing or cleaning instructions. If an item requires hand-washing or dry-cleaning, don’t buy it unless you know that you’ll give it the care it needs.

9.  Be a strategic shopper. Keep a wish list of specific gaps in your wardrobe to prevent impulse buys that you’ll regret later.

10.  Remember that a bargain is only a bargain if you’re actually going to wear it. Don’t buy it unless you love it.

11.  Dress up a little when you go shopping. This tends to result in better customer service.

12.  Put the majority of your fashion dollars into good quality basics. Have fun with trends, but don’t fill your closet with them as most won’t last long.

13.  Check the rear view. Use a 3 way mirror when you’re shopping for clothes and check your back before you leave home. Every angle matters!

14.  Wearing white? Check it in the light. White clothes tend to look more see-through in daylight, so check in bright light to make sure you’re not revealing something that you’d rather keep hidden.

15.  Make sure your clothes fit properly.

16.  Don’t prioritize fashion over comfort. If you feel uncomfortable, you’ll probably look uncomfortable.

17.  Don’t be afraid to mix patterns. For tips on how to do that successfully, check out this post.

18.  Think about balance. Your top and bottom should complement one another. Pair a loose skirt or wide-legged pants with a fitted or cropped top. Wear skinny jeans or leggings with a looser, longer top.

19.  Remember, leggings are not pants! Unless you’re wearing them strictly as exercise wear, pair them with longer tops, tunics and oversized cardigans that cover your butt.

20.  Accessorize! Accessories are the finishing touches that can take an outfit from drab to dramatic.

21.  Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

22.  Know which colours suit your skin tone. Wear those colours close to your face.

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23.  Know your personal style. This post explains how to use Pinterest to help you identify yours.

24.  Think about what you want your outfit to say about you. For help in choosing and using your own style adjectives, read this post.

25.  Remember, age is just a number! Regardless of how young or old you are, embrace the styles that make you feel good.

If you have questions about any of these tips or would like to add some of your own, please use the comment section below.