Fashion Friday!

How to care for your hands and nails during Covid

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LogoThe cold, dry air of a Canadian prairie winter is always hard on exposed skin, but this year we have more than that to contend with. Constant hand washing and sanitizing might protect us from Covid, but it’s wreaking havoc on our poor hands!

I spent last weekend in the city on my annual Christmas shopping trip with three of my closest girlfriends. At the entrance to every store, we had to stop and use the hand sanitizer that was provided. On Monday, I was back in the city again as my hubby had a medical appointment. Before heading for home, we stopped to do a bit more shopping and, of course, more hand sanitizing. By Tuesday, four very brittle fingernails had broken and the skin on the back of my hands was stinging! It felt like I’d burned them! 

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Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with a minimum of 60% alcohol are recommended for combatting viruses including Covid-19, but frequent use can lead to dryness, itching, cracking, and even eczema. Clearly, good hand and nail care is going to be more important than ever this winter.

Here are a few tips to help:

Wear gloves while doing anything that might irritate your skin such as washing dishes and cleaning house. 

Use hand sanitizer only when soap and water are not available. 

Stay well hydrated. In addition to other health benefits, drinking plenty of water helps prevent your skin and nails from drying out. 

Lock in the moisture. Keep your hands hydrated by gently drying them with a clean towel after washing and then, while they are still slightly damp, immediately apply a moisturizer. Work some of it into your nails to keep them from cracking, splitting, and breaking. If your hands are already irritated look for fragrance free products and ones that are formulated for sensitive skin. 

When you use hand sanitizer, apply a moisturizing cream or ointment immediately after the sanitizer dries. If you’re spending the day shopping, this may not be possible every time you enter a store, but carrying a travel sized lotion in your purse and applying it occasionally throughout the day will help prevent the distress that I suffered earlier this week. 

Rehydrate hands overnight. Apply a hand cream just before you go to bed at night and give very dry hands an overnight treatment by applying a heavy cream or petroleum jelly and wearing cotton gloves while you sleep. If you don’t have cotton gloves, a pair of socks will do. 

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With Covid numbers steadily increasing, it looks like this is going to be a winter like none other, but hopefully with a bit of extra care, we can get through it with healthy, beautiful hands. 

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Digging deeper!

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LogoNow that winter has arrived, challenging myself to wear skirts and dresses to church every Sunday has resulted in me digging much deeper into my closet. Last Sunday morning, the temperature was -10ºC (14F), a strong wind was blowing, and it was snowing. Clearly, dressing warm was a priority. 

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I started with a camel coloured pencil skirt that I bought in early 2013, just before we left for a teaching term in China. Named for it’s long, slim shape, a pencil skirt is a timeless garment that never goes out of fashion. It’s a basic wardrobe piece that many different outfits can be built around. In addition to this one, I have navy and grey pencil skirts that both date back to my teaching days. 

I wore the same tall brown boots and patterned top that were part of last week’s outfit. Though only barely visible in the photo, I wore a pair of dark brown leggings under the skirt, partly for warmth, but also because the skirt wasn’t quite long enough to cover the top of my boots and I didn’t want a sliver of bare skin breaking up the look. Next, I added my cozy Checkmate Jacket from cabi’s Fall 2019 collection which you’ve seen on the blog a couple of times before. 

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Costume jewelry can be a fun and inexpensive way to finish off an outfit. The name dates back to the early 20th century and simply reflects the use of the word “costume” to refer to what we now call an “outfit”. To complete Sunday’s “costume”, I chose a pair of dangly earrings and a simple bead necklace. The beads are made from coconut shell. We spent the summer of 2011 as short term missionaries on the Pacific island of Saipan and it was there that I purchased the necklace from a Chamorro woman who made them to sell to tourists. The Chamorro are the indigenous people of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Now that winter has arrived, I’m not sure that I’ll continue wearing skirts and dresses to church every week, but it’s been fun digging deeper into my closet and coming up with new ways to style some of my older pieces. 

 

What’s the story?

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This is what I wore to church last Sunday. Before the service began, a friend who reads my blog regularly told me that she liked my skirt and asked if there was a story behind it. That got me thinking and I quickly realized that my closet is full of stories. Today I’m going to tell you how I put this outfit together and the story behind each piece.

Since our church reopened in early July, I’ve made a point of wearing dresses and skirts on Sundays so this outfit started with the skirt which has been in my closet for more than thirteen years. I don’t remember exactly when I bought it, but that’s how long I’ve been retired and I know that it dates back to my teaching days. It’s funny the things that stand out in your memory, but I distinctly remember wearing it to a district wide teachers’ event when it was new. I don’t recall where I was prior to the event or what I was doing, but I do remember arriving at the venue with my outfit for the evening in a bag and slipping into the ladies room to change!

When I decided to wear the skirt to church, I knew that I’d be wearing it with my tall, dark brown boots. They were a lucky find at our local thrift store early last winter when the pair that I’d been wearing started to leak. The closest shoe store is an hour away, so I was very fortunate to find a suitable replacement in my size in our small store.

Next, I had to decide what to wear on my upper half. I decided that the sleeveless patterned top would add a bit of visual interest. It was purchased last November while I was on my annual Christmas shopping weekend in the city with several close girlfriends. In the 18 (soon to be 19) years that we’ve been making this trip, I’ve missed only two of them. In 2008 I was living in Japan and in 2013 I was isolated in a lead lined room at the Cross Cancer Institute.

It’s chilly in Alberta at this time of year, so I clearly wasn’t going anywhere in a sleeveless top without something over it. Would you believe that I tried on five different toppers before I finally settled on this one? It was given to me by my very generous sister-in-law several years ago and is one of those well loved pieces that remains in my closet even though I don’t wear it very often anymore.

Accessories put the finishing touches on any outfit and the necklace that I chose to wear with Sunday’s outfit has a very special story.

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I was a young teenager in the 1960s when my aunt visited a friend who was teaching in Japan and brought the necklace back for me. Over 50 years later, it’s now considered vintage. (Perhaps I am too!) The back of the pendant is stamped with the name, Amita, a Kyoto company that started selling damascene jewelry like this in 1932. Damascene is made by etching an intricate design into oxidized metal and then pressing gold and/or silver metal into the chiseled design. The images on Japanese damascene are usually either pagodas or floral designs like this one. I have worn mine over and over throughout the years and it still looks as good as it did the day I received it.

Are there any stories in your closet? Why not share one of them in the comment section below.

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Shopping like a goddess

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LogoIf you’ve been reading Following Augustine for long, you know that I love thrift store shopping. In fact, one of my most popular posts over the past year has been this one. I’m not crazy about big city stores like Value Village where there’s an overwhelming amount of merchandise to sift through. Instead, I prefer smaller not-for-profit stores like the two that I shop locally. 

Other than one pair of pyjamas that I picked up at Walmart, the only clothing that I’ve bought in the past four months has been second-hand. One of my most recent finds was the Goddess Blouse from cabi’s Fall 2018 Collection. Although it’s two years old, it’s like new and it fits into my wardrobe for several reasons. 

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Like many cabi pieces, it isn’t trendy. Its timeless quality means that it’s something that I’ll be happy to wear for a long time. The cream coloured background is flattering to my complexion and the abstract pattern, in colours that are part of my spring palette, doesn’t overwhelm me. The blouse also coordinates with lots of things in my present wardrobe including many other cabi pieces. That’s one of my favourite things about cabi; the fact that pieces from one season are intentionally designed to coordinate with those from several previous seasons so that you can build a cohesive wardrobe over a period of time. 

In the first photo, I’m wearing the Goddess Blouse with my grey skinny jeans, also from the Fall 2018 Collection. My necklace is another recent thrift store purchase.

I love the next look which is entirely cabi. I styled the blouse with my Brick Dust skinnies from Spring 2018, the Tudor Cross necklace from Fall 2019, and one of my oldest pieces of cabi, the Shirttail Cardigan from Fall 2016. It might be four years old, but it’s still going strong!

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Next, here I am wearing the blouse with a pair of dark wash jeans and yet another piece from cabi, the Checkmate Jacket from a year ago. 

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And finally, here’s my very good friend and cabi stylist, Deborah, wearing her Goddess Blouse with several items from this season’s cabi collection. 

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By now, you might be wondering if this is a sponsored post. It’s not. I just have a lot of cabi in my closet and I’m delighted that I was able to add another piece for just $3.00 by shopping my local thrift store! 

How to dress in layers

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Those of us who live in cold climates know the importance of dressing in layers, but how do we do it without looking like the Michelin man?

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Today I’m going to take a quick look at layering for winter sports and outdoor activities and then I’ll talk about fashion.

Layering for the great outdoors:

A three layer system is key to staying warm and comfortable while protecting yourself from wind, water, and moisture. 

  1. Base layer (underwear) – This is the layer that is in direct contact with your body and that wicks moisture away from your skin toward the outer layer where it can evaporate. Choose seamless or flat seamed garments that won’t chafe and aim for a snug fit, but one that isn’t too constricting.  
  2. Mid layer (insulation) – This layer retains body heat to keep you warm and continues moving moisture outward. Fleece or ultra light down work very well for this.  
  3. Outer layer (protective shell) – This layer shields you from wind and rain, but needs to be breathable so that moisture from the inner layers can escape. It should fit easily over the other layers and should allow you to move freely, but it shouldn’t be so loose that it allows body heat to escape. 

Layering for everyday fashion:

LogoUnless you’re spending all day at home (which many of us are these days) where you can change your clothes multiple times, layering provides versatility and allows you to deal with changing temperatures throughout your day. 

I started today’s post with layering for winter sports and outdoor activities because we can actually use a similar three layer approach to everyday wear. Rather than wearing a single bulky knit on a chilly day, being able to add or take off layers as needed adds adaptability and comfort. 

Again, our goal is layers without bulk. I’m assuming that we women are all starting with a good supportive bra. (Men, you can skip that layer!🤣) After that, your base layer can be a simple t-shirt or a dressier blouse. Since I get cold easily, I often start with a cotton or bamboo camisole under that. Sometimes a base layer and an outer layer might be all you need, but when the weather is especially cold or when you expect fluctuations in temperature, a mid layer might be a good idea. That could be a lightweight cardigan, a pullover, or even a blazer. If you’re going to be outdoors at all, a coat or jacket will likely be your outer layer. Add a scarf and you’re ready to go.   

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve only mentioned your top half. There’s not a lot of layering that you can do with the bottom half of an outfit other than wearing pants, a skirt, or a dress over leggings or tights. 

Before we look at an example of layering, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • lightweight knits add warmth without bulk
  • it’s okay to wear short layers over long or vice versa
  • necklines should compliment one another
  • remember that you might want to remove a layer, so make sure the outfit still works if you do
  • consider sleeves; bulky or embellished sleeves work best under a structured layer where they don’t create bulges
  • some textures and patterns mix better than others

Now let’s build a layered outfit using a few items that I’ve pulled from my closet. If you notice some white bits and streaks in the pictures, they aren’t flaws in the photos. I didn’t realize that it had started snowing until we stepped outside! 

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As the base layer, I used the animal print t-shirt that you last saw in my recent post about clothing that endures and added a lightweight hoodie as the mid layer. Purchased second-hand for $3.00 almost two years ago, the hoodie has been one of the most useful items in my wardrobe. It was -5ºC (23ºF) when we took these pictures though, so I definitely needed another layer! 

I added a grey blazer, one of the few classic pieces left over from my teaching days. This outfit fits my classy, casual style. If we were doing any shopping other than groceries, this is something I might wear to the mall. If I was going to spend more than a few minutes outdoors, I’d need to add an overcoat, but I like to leave that layer in the car when I’m in the mall. Even mid winter, these three layers would be enough for the quick dash from vehicle to mall entrance. If I wanted a bit more warmth, I’d add a scarf which could easily be tucked into my purse later on. 

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So there you have it, layers that will take me through a Canadian winter without looking like the Michelin man!

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Overcoat overload

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LogoOur beautiful fall weather is rapidly disappearing and winter is on the horizon. It’s time to begin bringing out winter coats and boots. As I thought about doing that, I decided that this week would be a good time to purge my wardrobe of some of the jackets and coats that have been taking up closet space and not being worn. I decided to take a similar approach to my scarf edit of a few weeks ago.  

I started by rounding up all my coats and jackets from various closets around the house and hanging them in one place, the guest room closet. There were 25 of them. Yes, 25! Even with four distinct seasons, no woman needs 25 coats! 

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The next step was the easiest. Pulling out the coats and jackets that I wear regularly, I moved the fall and winter ones to the hall closet and those that I only use in the warmer seasons to the hanging rack in the basement storage room. I also pulled out the jean jackets that I wear from time to time throughout the year and moved them to a different closet.

Next came the much more difficult task of deciding what to do with the 13 items that remained. I’m not as disciplined as I’d like to be when it comes to getting rid of things which is why I ended up with 25 coats and jackets in the first place!

Two items were put aside to keep for sentimental reasons. The first, a vintage reversible wool cape, originally belonged to my mother. Forty-four years ago, on a blustery October day much like today, I wore it over my wedding dress. Thirty years later, my daughter wore it over hers on a stormy mid December day. Though I’ve only worn it a handful of times, it has become a family heirloom and I won’t be parting with it. Since capes are very much on trend this fall, I moved it to the front closet where I might remember to wear it this year.

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The second item that I’m keeping for strictly sentimental reasons is a patchwork jacket that I made for myself from recycled jeans a long time ago. I made a similar one for my very dear friend, Joan. When she lost her valiant battle with breast cancer in 2006, Joan’s husband returned it to me and the two jackets have been hanging side by side in our storage room ever since. Mine has been returned to that spot and they will stay there, a reminder of an enduring friendship that was cut short far too soon. 

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That left me with 11 coats and jackets to decide what to do with, but I hadn’t got rid of any yet! The next step was to try each one on, stand in front of the mirror, and ask myself, “Does this fit well?” “Is the colour right for me?” “Do I love it?” and probably most important, “How likely am I to ever wear this again?” At that point, the donate pile began to grow quickly!

Soon I was down to just three jackets hanging in the closet; three beautiful leather jackets that originally belonged to my very generous sister-in-law, Sue. She often shares with me when she cleans out her own closets. I’ve had the jackets for quite awhile and don’t expect to wear them again, but I hesitate to drop them off at the thrift store with the rest of my donate items because I know that that they’ll be sold for far less than they’re worth. I thought about trying to sell them on one of the buy and sell sites that I belong to on Facebook, but I don’t really want to profit from them, especially when I didn’t buy them in the first place. Then I had an idea. After consulting with Sue, who gave her enthusiastic approval, I’ve decided to sell the jackets and donate the proceeds to neuroendocrine cancer (NETS) research. The recent CNETS HOOFING IT Across Canada fundraiser that I took part in fell a little short of our $100 000 goal, so every bit that we patients can add will help! 

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Clothing that endures

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LogoThis week, I finally had to admit that fall is here (actually, it has been for awhile) and that it was time to do my seasonal closet switch. As I put away my spring/summer wardrobe and brought out fall/winter, I thought about the fact that some of the pieces have been with me for a very long time while others have come and gone. 

What makes an item an enduring one? I think there are several factors. I’m going to use some photos from previous Fashion Friday posts to explain. The date below each picture is a link to the original post that it appeared in. 

Believe it or not, everything that you see in this photo is still in my wardrobe, but it’s the grey and white Breton striped t-shirt that I want to focus on today. Purchased at Reitmans, it wasn’t new four and a half years ago when this photo was taken, but it continues to be a workhorse in my wardrobe for two important reasons. First, it’s a classic piece, not a trend that looks dated after a season or two. Second, it’s good quality. It’s been worn countless times and has stood up to many, many washings. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it was expensive. In fact, it wasn’t. I have t-shirts that are much newer than this one and that cost significantly more that are starting to sag around the neckline. I know that this well-loved piece won’t last forever though, so I’m already watching for something similar to replace it with when it finally wears out.

Animal prints are amongst those things that never seem to go out of style. They’re like neutrals with a bolder twist. Another reason that some items, including this one, stay in my wardrobe for many years is fit. I have the good fortune to have maintained a fairly steady weight throughout my adult life, so changing size hasn’t been an issue for me, but like most post-menopausal women, there’s a little more me around the middle than there used to be. This t-shirt’s body skimming fit doesn’t cling and disclose those bulges. 

Here’s another animal print that has passed the test of time. I have no idea how long I’ve had it, but I’m sure that it’s more than 20 years old! It spent several of those years in storage before I decided to resurrect it a couple of years ago. I try to adhere to the wisdom of getting rid of things that I haven’t worn in the past year or two, but once in awhile a well-loved piece takes up long term residence on the hanging rack at the back end of our storage room and waits for a day when it might brought back into circulation.

The popularity of plaid seems to wax and wane a bit from season to season, but like stripes, animal prints, florals, and polka dots, it’s a timeless pattern. The fact that this shirt is very well made is another reason to keep it in my closet year after year. Look how perfectly the pattern lines up across the front. That’s always a sign of good construction. In addition, there’s a hidden button at the bust line that completely eliminates the possibility of gaping. Again, quality doesn’t have to be expensive. I got this one for $3 at the thrift store! 

This simple lace overlay dress has been in my closet year round for about six years. It’s my little black dress that isn’t black. It’s an excellent traveller and can easily be dressed up or down. In fact, here it is dressed down with sneakers and another classic piece that I’ve had for years, a basic jean jacket. 

So, again, what makes an item an enduring one? Timeless pattern and style, good quality, good fit, versatility, and perhaps most important of all, it has to be something that you love and that you don’t grow tired of!

Do you have anything that’s been in your closet for a very long time? Do you still wear it? Please tell us about it in the comments section.   

Styling an old favourite

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LogoI don’t wear dresses very often, but since our church reopened its doors in early July, I think I’ve worn a dress or a skirt every Sunday morning. I sometimes dress more casually for church, even wearing jeans on occasion, but since we haven’t been going very many places in recent months, it’s been nice to have a reason to dress up once a week. 

Fall has definitely descended on us here on the Canadian prairie and it was quite chilly this past Sunday morning. When I went to my closet to choose something to wear, I realized that almost all my dresses are better suited to the warm summer months. Then I spotted something in the back of the closet that I’d totally forgotten about.

I have no idea how long I’ve had the long, faux suede, sleeveless shirt dress, but it’s probably been in my closet for 20 years or more. It’s one of those pieces that I never got rid of simply because I’ve always loved it. It actually appeared on the blog almost exactly eight years ago, three and a half years before I started my weekly fashion feature! Here’s how I styled it then. The olive colour, very much on-trend this fall, is actually truer in this photo than in the ones we took on Sunday.  

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So, back to Sunday morning. I looked at this old favourite and wondered how I could style it for a chilly fall morning. Clearly, I would need to wear it over something with sleeves. I pulled out the Garden Blouse from the cabi Fall 2018 Collection which you saw earlier this year on this post and decided that it worked. Though the dress has a matching belt, I thought it looked better unbelted. 

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As I mentioned, it was a chilly morning and though you can’t tell from the photos, the wind was blowing. We snapped a few very quick pictures and headed back indoors! 

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Covid-19 continues to keep me out of the stores and shopping my own closet, but I do think I need to add some warmer dresses to my fashion wish list for the day when I’m finally able to go shopping again! In the meantime, I’m going to be looking for some more ways to style this old favourite with pieces that I already have. 

Emanuel Ungaro scarf

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LogoAs I mentioned in my last post, I buy most of my scarves in thrift stores. Thrift store shopping is always a treasure hunt, but once in awhile you’re lucky enough to find something particularly interesting. Everything I purchase second-hand is washed before I wear it and it wasn’t until I was ironing one of my latest purchases that I realized what I’d bought. Sewn into the edge of the scarf, visible but not obvious, was the name emanuel ungaro.

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Emanuel Ungaro (1933-2019) was a French fashion designer who, after working for famed couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga, went on to found the fashion house in Paris that still bears his name. He attracted celebrity customers known for their good taste in fashion including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani. Second-hand Emanuel Ungaro scarves sell online for anywhere from $15 CAD to several hundred dollars. I bought mine for 50 cents! 

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It was the colours in the scarf that caught my eye and caused me to add it to my bag, particularly the olive green which is a favourite of mine and on-trend this fall. I also like the clear violet and light lilac, both part of my Spring colour palette. They remind me of the little flowers that are so prevalent along the hiking trails that we love so much at this time of year.

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These purple colours are sadly lacking from my wardrobe. In fact, they only appear in these favourite earrings, a gift from my sister-in-law. Perhaps I need to remedy that!   

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Depending on size and fabric, there are numerous ways to wear a square scarf and plenty of tutorials online to show you how. Here’s the super simple cowgirl style which shows off the colours nicely. I’m wearing it with a plain white Uniqlo t-shirt and the olive green shirt/jacket that I showed you here. It was also thrifted.

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And here’s another very simple option. 

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Do you enjoy thrift store shopping? Have you found any treasures?

Scarves, scarves, scarves!

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LogoFall is a beautiful season, but bittersweet because it means that our long, cold winter is just around the corner. At this time of year, I’m always reluctant to put my summer clothes away because I keep hoping that there will be a few more truly warm days and that I’ll still need them. Realistically, however, the days are getting shorter and cooler and I’m wearing mostly transitional pieces. While I haven’t switched my closet from spring/summer to fall/winter yet, I have started making some small moves in that direction. A few summer clothes that weren’t used at all this year have already been dropped off at the thrift store and this week, in preparation for fall, I decided to take a serious look at my scarf collection. 

IMG_1449I have a few warm, wooly scarves for outdoor wear in the depths of winter, but for this exercise, I was addressing only what I’d call my fashion scarves. I started by gathering them all together in one place. There were infinity scarves, rectangular scarves, square scarves, and even a few very tiny scarves. There were animal prints, polka dots, stripes, and a variety of other patterns. As you can see, there were lots of earth tones, some blues, greens, and greys, and a few pops of other colours. For a woman who doesn’t wear scarves very often, I seem to have a lot of them! A couple were gifts and a couple belonged to my mother-in-law before she passed away, but I picked up the vast majority of them at the local thrift stores over the past few years. Some I’ve never actually worn! It was time to decide which ones to keep and which ones to move along. A scarf doesn’t take up much space, but getting dressed is so much easier when your wardrobe is pared down to only those items that will actually be worn.  

I decided to start by separating my scarf collection into three piles… ones I’ve worn regularly in the past, ones I don’t wear and probably never will, and ones I’d like to wear but haven’t figured out how yet. This method can actually work well for everything in your closet, but for now I was focusing only on scarves. The don’t wear pile was set aside for my next trip to the thrift store. Hopefully someone else will enjoy those ones. Next, I went through the favourites pile and took a closer look at each of them. One of them was badly worn with lots of little catches in the fabric. It was time to let that one go too. The rest of that group went into my closet on handy scarf hangers purchased at the dollar store. 

Over the next while as I do the rest of my seasonal closet switch, I’ll play around with the final few; the scarves that I like but haven’t quite figured out how to wear with my existing wardrobe. Hopefully they’ll result in some new looks for fall. 

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And finally, here’s my newest scarf. Infinity scarves are so easy to wear and when I saw this one in the thrift store last week, I knew immediately that it would look great with a jean jacket, in this case a basic one from Gap that’s been in my closet for several years. Perfect for an early fall day! 

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