Fashion Friday!

Judith Viorst: Embracing age with style

/ edebock / Leave a comment

After writing about heavier topics the past couple of Fridays, I wanted to write something lighter this week and I really felt like it was time for another fashion related post. Earlier in the week, I was still thinking about what to write when Pam Lutrell shared a link to an article on her blog, Over50Feeling40, that caught my attention.

If you’re like me, you might be familiar with the children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, but what I didn’t know was that the author, Judith Viorst, has published at least 50 books, many for children, but some for older readers. In fact, I didn’t really know anything about Viorst until I read the article, At 94, I’m Still Worth Looking At.

It was fun to read about her “looks” throughout the years. There was her Greenwich Village Girl look in her 20s followed by her With-It Mommy look in her 30s. Later came her Hat Lady years when she seldom went out without a hat from her vast collection. Hats, she says, flattered her face, drew attention away from her aging body, and hid her hair on bad hair days. I can identify with that! Now 94, she says she’s not finished finding new looks yet. Her newest look is Tattooed Grandma. No, she hasn’t gone under the needle. Instead, she wears a temporary tattoo of a rose on the side of her neck, slightly below her right ear. Each tattoo lasts about a week.

I hope I look half as good if I live to be 94!

But what really resonated with me was what Viorst had to say about aging and invisibility, something I’ve written about before on the blog. She asks, “Why does it feel so important to be seen? Aren’t there more meaningful things to think about, to read about, to do?” She writes about people who feel that attention to looks will “obscure and distract us from what is truly significant”. In response she writes, “But the people I love the most embrace what’s playful and fun as well as what’s profound. Celebrate as well as cogitate. And are willing to discuss, without apology, both eyeliner and the meaning of the universe.”

I love that! In times like these when the world seems upside down and sometimes tragedy hits close to home, regardless of our age, let’s not forget to embrace both the serious and the fun side of life. Right now, I’m looking for joy in the little things. In the coming of spring. In the tiny green shoots coming up in the garden beneath my kitchen window and the teeny, tiny buds forming on the trees.

Simple skin care

/ edebock / 2 Comments

What’s the one thing that every human being wears every single day? Their skin, of course! Unlike our clothing, we can’t buy a new skin when the old one starts to show signs of wear and tear. An effective skin care routine is the only way to protect this most important “garment” and keep it looking and feeling its best.

There are a myriad of products available, but skin care doesn’t have to be complicated. The important thing is to choose the right products for your skin type… oily, dry, or combination… and then use them consistently.

My daily routine involves just three products; a cleanser, a day lotion, and a night cream. Morning skin care should focus on prevention and protection, so I simply wash my face, neck, and decolletage with warm water and apply a moisturizing day lotion with SPF. Nighttime is about cleansing and repair, so that’s when I wash with the cleanser before applying my night cream. When I was younger my face was oilier and I also used a toner, but as skin tends to get drier with age, I eventually found that I didn’t need it anymore.

I’ve been using Olay products for years and have always been happy with them, but unfortunately they’re made in the United States. In light of the current president’s reprehensible behaviour toward my country, I felt the need to find an affordable made in Canada alternative. Yesterday I spent over an hour in a very informative free online consultation with a Beauty Advisor from Marcelle, a company that has been caring for Canadian skin for 150 years. While the products are available in most London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Marts as well as Walmart, I plan on placing an online order to take advantage of the International Women’s Day sale that’s on until March 16. Once I’ve used the products for awhile, I’ll let you know what I think.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention sunscreen. As much as I love sunshine, it isn’t friendly to our skin. In fact, in spite of the fact that I’ve always been diligent about using sunscreen when I spend time outdoors, I’m presently healing from a treatment of liquid nitrogen to a spot under my right eye where the rays of the sun, intensified by the lens of my glasses, did some damage. Unfortunately, I’m also going to have to search for a replacement for my favourite sunscreen as it, like so many other things, is produced in the States. I’d better do that soon before the last of the snow disappears from the golf course and the hiking trails!

Cognac and olive inspired by Greetje

/ edebock / 6 Comments

If you’ve been reading my fashion posts for very long, you might remember me mentioning Greetje, author of the blog No Fear of Fashion. I look forward to her entertaining posts every Sunday. In each one, she shares an outfit and tells a bit about what she’s done that week. Her outfits aren’t always new. Instead, she looks for new ways to combine pieces that she already owns. Greetje is Dutch and always chooses interesting locations for her photo shoots, so I also get to enjoy glimpses of life and architecture in the Netherlands when I read her posts.

Greetje is very outgoing and her style is much more colourful and flamboyant than mine. She says that she writes to entertain, not to inspire, but once in awhile an outfit of hers does inspire me to put together something similar from my own closet. That’s what happened this week. 

As soon as I saw Greetje’s cognac coloured trousers and green sweater in this post, I knew that I had similar pieces in my own closet, but couldn’t remember if I’d ever worn them together. I don’t have a scarf like hers nor do I have white combat boots, but the idea was to take inspiration from her outfit, not to copy it. Here’s the outfit I came up with. 

I didn’t like the bulk of the eternity scarf wrapped around my neck, but the colours worked so well with the outfit that I knotted it and wore it this way. The boots, top, and scarf are all thrifted items. Only the pants were bought new and they are several years old. 

This outfit fits all my style adjectives… classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic… and I’ll definitely be wearing it again. Thank you, Greetje!

The Rule of 5… could you do it?

/ edebock / 5 Comments

Throughout 2024, two of the bloggers that I regularly follow reported on their attempts to follow the Rule of 5. What’s that, you ask?

The vast overproduction of clothing by the fashion industry is responsible for almost 10% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. In 2022, Berlin’s Hot or Cool Institute determined that in order to meet the internationally agreed upon goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC, we should purchase no more than 5 new garments a year. That led to the Rule of 5.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Buy no more than 5 new items during the calendar year.
  2. Socks, tights, underwear, and nightclothes don’t count.
  3. Shoes, boots, and accessories DO count.
  4. Second-hand shopping is allowed, but don’t go overboard.
  5. Gifts count. (This is to prevent cheating by having someone else buy for you!)

I haven’t actually participated in the Rule of 5, but looking back I discovered that I inadvertently met the goal in 2023 before I’d even heard of it! I didn’t do as well last year, buying 8 items that would count. The bloggers that I follow didn’t meet the goal either, but they both agreed that trying had changed their shopping habits and made them much more intentional about what they bought. I’d consider that success.

Although the idea has merit, I haven’t committed to the Rule of 5 for this year either. I will continue to keep track of my purchases though and see how close I come. So far, 7 weeks into the year, I’ve only purchased one item, a colourful necklace that cost less than $10 at a tiny shop in the bus station in Xalapa, Mexico. The anchor and cross symbols are very meaningful to me, but if I’d been committed to the Rule of 5, I probably wouldn’t have bought it.

So, what do you think? Would you ever try the Rule of 5? Do you think you could do it?

Fashion and self-care

/ edebock / Leave a comment

What comes to mind when you think of self-care? Eating nutritious meals? Exercising? Getting enough sleep? Scheduling some “me” time? In reality, there are a myriad of ways that we can take an active role in preserving or improving our own well-being, but when I asked what comes to mind when you think about self-care, you probably didn’t think about fashion.

The morning ritual of getting dressed is an often overlooked aspect of self-care, but it plays an important role in our well-being. In fact, a common symptom of depression is difficulty showering and getting dressed.

There are times, like during the incredible cold snap that we’ve experienced here in Alberta recently, when getting dressed truly is a matter of caring for our bodies. Keeping warm and protecting ourselves from the elements is priority #1.

But dressing contributes to self-care in ways far beyond keeping warm. Taking care of our mental and emotional well-being is just as important as caring for our physical comfort and fashion can play a vital role in that. We’ve all heard the term “dress for success”, but dressing mindfully is about more than impressing other people. It’s also about feeling confident, comfortable, and empowered. When we dress in ways that make us feel good about ourselves, we’re also more likely to participate in other self-care practices like exercising, eating well, engaging with others, or getting out in nature. In addition, intentional dressing sparks creativity which is also good for our physical and mental health.

Please note that this is not a post about “retail therapy”. Retail therapy is the act of shopping for clothes to make yourself feel better which may or may not actually work. Instead, as I’ve done before, I urge you to shop your closet. Take time to put together outfits that enhance your mental and emotional state; that make you feel truly good about yourself. If there are pieces in your closet that don’t do this for you, that drag you down emotionally, consider getting rid of them.

In the dark days of winter and a time when what’s going on in the world around us might seem overwhelming, it’s easy to begin to feel like we’re in an emotional rut. In times like this, more than ever, we need the boost that looking and feeling good in our clothes can give us.

Ricki’s and Cleo closing: a major loss for Canadian shoppers

/ edebock / 1 Comment

LogoAs a Canadian shopper, I was deeply disappointed this week to learn that two of my favourite retail brands will be permanently closing their doors. Parent company Comark Holdings Inc. announced the upcoming closure of all 221 Ricki’s and Cleo stores across the country due to financial difficulties.

ricki_s-and-cleo-1-7170145-1736449245644

Image: CTV News

The loss of these two brands will be deeply felt as they filled an important fashion shopping niche for many women. Both were what could be referred to as middle retail; not low-end fast fashion, but not high-end either. Instead they offered quality clothes at reasonable prices. They also carried styles that appealed to a wide range of ages. As a 72-year-old woman I knew that I could find clothes in these two stores that would keep me looking current, but not like I was trying to look like a teenager. In fact, my closet is full of clothing with Ricki’s and Cleo labels that fit my style adjectives; classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic.

I recognize that there are many challenges facing Canadian retailers today. Overhead costs are high and it’s difficult to compete with online retailers that ship directly to the customer’s door, but I still prefer to go into a brick and mortar store where I can see the clothes in person, feel the fabric, look at the construction, and try them on. With two of my favourite stores closing, that’s going to be much more difficult and I’m sure I’ll be mourning their loss for quite some time.

2024 fashion shopping review

/ edebock / 2 Comments

logo-by-samFor the past seven years, I have kept a list of all my fashion purchases including clothing, accessories, and footwear. Initially, I had three goals in mind. I was interested in finding out more about my spending habits, I wanted to be more intentional about wardrobe development, and I wanted to work on becoming a more ethical shopper. At the end of each year I’ve published a fashion shopping review analyzing my purchases and setting some goals for the next year. What I’ve found is that over those years, my shopping habits have changed significantly.

In 2018, I bought 35 items. 30 of them were purchased new and the other 5 were thrifted. I spent approximately $1135 CAD. This year, I bought only 14 items. 9 of them were new and again, 5 were thrifted. I spent $420.58.

Why such a dramatic change? In the past, I tended to buy on impulse. I saw something I liked and I bought it. Now, most of my purchases are planned. Also, for several years, I regularly shopped with friends. I often gave in to their opinions about what looked good on me or what I ought to buy instead of trusting my own instincts. Although most of the clothes that I bought were good quality and I still have some wonderful pieces that I wear regularly, I also ended up with a number of purchases that I regretted making and seldom wore. Discovering more about my personal style and deciding on 5 style adjectives to describe it made a big difference to my shopping habits.

I also find that I don’t actually enjoy shopping as much as I used to. I’ve spent so little time in stores over the past few years that unless I’m looking for something specific that I’ve already looked at online, I tend to find them quite overwhelming. Time is also an issue. Whenever we’re in the city, we have so many things to accomplish that I don’t have time to simply browse, try things on, and enjoy the experience. Perhaps one goal for the coming year should be to set aside some time to do exactly that.

So, after all that self-examination, let’s take a look at what I bought this year.

  • 1 pair of lightweight, wide legged pants
  • 6 tops
  • 2 sweaters
  • 1 denim jacket
  • 1 pair of knit gloves
  • 1 ball cap
  • 1 pair of hiking shoes
  • 1 pair of slippers

I didn’t buy any accessories this year. In fact, I’ve decided that I have way too many and one of my goals for the coming year is to sort through them and narrow down my collection to those that I actually wear or am likely to wear again. I also didn’t buy any socks, underwear, or sleepwear. That will likely change in the coming year as those things do wear out.

By far the most expensive item that I bought this year was my Merrell Moab 3 hiking shoes, but they are worth every cent that I spent. As much as I enjoy thrift store shopping, good quality footwear is something that I’m willing to spend a significant amount of money on. I consider it an investment in healthy feet and I’m excited about all the places that those shoes might take me.

MRLW-J036328-021621-S21-001 2

Here are a few of my other favourite fashion purchases from the past year. All of them have appeared on the blog before.

IMG_6854

A simple cropped linen top.

Both these sweaters have been getting lots of wear this winter. The one on the left was thrifted, the other one bought new.

IMG_7409

My denim military jacket.

Not all of my purchases were as successful as these ones. One shirt was only worn a couple of times before I decided that it didn’t suit me. I donated it back to the thrift store where I bought it and hope that it has found a place in someone else’s wardrobe who will appreciate it more than I did. The pants were completely appropriate at the resort where I bought them last January, but they don’t fit my at-home wardrobe very well and were only worn once or twice during the summer. I guess another goal for 2025 should be to not make any more fashion shopping blunders!

My other fashion shopping goals for the coming year are really a continuation of the things I’ve learned to do over the past few years. They include avoiding fast fashion and buying quality pieces that will last, attempting to shop for ethically sourced garments (which is much easier said than done), and continuing to track my purchases so that I can evaluate again a year from now.

Inspiration from J.Jill

/ edebock / Leave a comment

Logo

Although they do ship to Canada, I’ve never made a purchase from American womenswear retailer, J.Jill. When I saw this ad, however, my mind immediately went to items in my own closet.

J.Jill

When that happens, whether I see something in print, online, or on another woman, I don’t try to replicate the look exactly. Instead, I simply take inspiration from what I see. In this case, though I can’t imagine why, it had never occurred to me to style the denim military jacket that I bought in September with the aqua top that has been a favourite in my wardrobe for the past three years. Once I saw the J.Jill ad, however, the combination seemed like a no-brainer. 

IMG_7792

The first scarf that I tried worked very well with the colours in this outfit, but it was too bulky. I didn’t care for that look, so I went back to my scarf collection to see what else might work. I received this one as a thank you gift for taking part in a very special event while I was teaching in China more than ten years ago. I tied it loosely to fit the V neck of the top and cover its short zipper. When the tails hung too long, I decided to knot them. A pair of hand painted earrings, a gift from dear friends who live in Mexico, completed the look. 

IMG_7791

IMG_7803

How to care for sweaters

/ edebock / 5 Comments

logo-by-samI hate being cold, so it seems that my style uniform this winter has become a pair of jeans or corduroy pants and a pullover sweater, or a jumper as it’s known in some parts of the world. A style uniform is simply a combination of clothing that you know you can always rely on and feel comfortable wearing.

Since I’m wearing them so much of the time, sweater care has been on my mind and today I’m going to share a few tips for keeping your sweaters going strong.

Washing 

Begin by reading the care label. Most will advise hand washing in cold or lukewarm water as hot water may cause the fibres to shrink or the sweater to become misshapen. I’m very thankful that my washer has a gentle hand wash cycle, but if you do wash by hand, avoid wringing or twisting as this is also hard on the fibres and might stretch the sweater out of shape. When washing by machine, turn the sweater inside out to help reduce pilling and place it in a mesh laundry bag so that it doesn’t catch on anything. If your sweater is wool, use a mild, wool-specific detergent. Personally, I wouldn’t buy a sweater that needs to be dry cleaned.

Drying 

If washed by hand, begin by laying the sweater out on a dry towel and rolling it to squeeze out excess water. This step isn’t usually necessary if the sweater is machine washed. To dry, lay the sweater flat on a drying rack or another towel and gently reshape if needed.

Removing pills

Pills are the tiny balls of fluff that often form on the surface of knitted fabrics regardless of how carefully you wash them. DO NOT try to pull these off. Simply run an inexpensive fabric shaver over the affected areas as needed. This is the one I use.

Storage

There are two options for storing your sweaters; folding and hanging. Folded sweaters can be piled neatly in drawers on on shelves. If you simply hang a sweater on a hanger the way you would a shirt, gravity will stretch the sweater and leave those nasty little hanger bumps at the shoulders. Instead, I’m going to show you two options for hanging your sweaters that will avoid these problems.

Method #1

Step 1:  Lay sweater flat and fold in half lining up the sleeves.

IMG_7767

Step 2:  Position hanger as shown so that the hook lies between the arm and body of the sweater.

IMG_7768

Step 3:  Wrap the sleeves over one shoulder of the hanger.

IMG_7769

Step 4:  Wrap the body of the sweater over the other side of the hanger.

IMG_7771

Method #2

Step 1:  Same as above.

IMG_7767

Step 2:  Fold sleeves across the body of the sweater.

IMG_7772

Step 3:  Slide folded sweater over the crossbar of hanger with sleeves inside.

IMG_7773

Personally, I prefer the second method. It’s simple, neat and tidy, and there’s no chance of the sweater slipping off the hanger.

Following these tips should keep your sweaters looking good season after season.

Staying chic in winter: essential outerwear tips

/ edebock / 4 Comments

logo-by-samIn response to last Friday’s post, one of my regular readers made this comment on Facebook… “In addition to your tips, there are two items I think will help you look put together. In our cold climate most people we meet will only see our outerwear, so I invest in a nice flattering coat and boots. They go a long way to creating good first and lasting impressions.” That reminded me of a hilarious story that has been told many times at my poor hubby’s expense. 

Many years ago when we were in the city for our annual teacher’s convention, we went out for dinner with a colleague who is also a good friend. It was a cold, blustery evening in early March. Hubby dropped us off in front of the restaurant and then went to park the vehicle. We were seated in the lounge while waiting for a table and our drinks had just been delivered when hubby came in to ask if I had some change for the parking meter. He was wearing a ratty old winter coat that I had been trying to convince him to replace for a very long time. I wish I had a picture to show you! It was bad! I gave him the change he needed and as soon as he left, the waiter came over and asked, “Ladies, was that man bothering you?” He thought hubby was a vagrant begging for money! Guess who bought a brand new winter coat the very next day!  

So yes, outerwear is important! It’s often the most visible part of a winter outfit and in many cases, it’s all that people see. Climate should, of course, dictate your choice of outerwear. Here on the Alberta prairie where temperatures plunge to -30ºC (-22ºF) and sometimes even colder, warmth has to be our first priority, but we don’t have to give up looking good in order to stay warm. Six years ago, I wrote this post about how to buy a winter coat. Believe it or not, I’m still wearing that coat and it still looks as good as it did when I bought it. 

If we lived where winters were less harsh, I’d maybe wear this coat all season long or perhaps I’d invest in a longer wool coat, but as soon as the temperature dips much below 0ºC (32ºF) I reach for the warmth of my insulated jacket. 

The second piece of outerwear that will keep you looking put together in the depth of winter is a good pair of boots. If I wasn’t such a frugal fashionista, I’d probably have a very large collection of those. I’m not really a fan of winter, but I do love boots!

Whether choosing tall boots or an ankle style, there are several important factors to consider. As with any footwear, comfort is my first priority. Part of comfort is warmth, so that’s another very important consideration. Wet feet equal cold, uncomfortable feet, so if your winters are rainy and wet, look for boots that are waterproof. Falling on an icy surface is a very real risk where I live and I don’t want to end up breaking a hip or a wrist, so soles that provide good traction are essential. Thankfully, there are plenty of fashionable boots that tick all these boxes. I do have a couple of pairs of ankle boots that are less practical, but I’m very careful when and where I wear those.

As with any footwear, keeping your boots clean and in good condition is part of looking put together. Using a water-repellant spray will help protect them from water, stains, and dirt.

So, now that winter is upon us, don’t forget that you can stay warm and still look good even when you’re out in the cold. 

IMG_5036