Fashion Friday!

More than your appearance

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Logo by SamI’ve written about today’s topic before, but the beginning of a new year seems to be a good time to revisit it. As women, we are constantly bombarded by air brushed images promising us thinner bodies, younger looking skin, flawless complexions, lusher lashes, smoother lips, and glossy nails. How easy it is to forget that these are simply advertisements aimed at selling products. For many, they become the goal, the standard of beauty, and they go to great lengths to try to attain it. But do these things truly make us beautiful? What about clothes? Does beauty come from wearing the right brands and the latest trends? I think not!

A nasty, mean-spirited woman dressed in designer clothes and made up impeccably, is still mean and nasty. Unless something happens to transform her from the inside out, that ill-tempered spirit will soon become evident and we will see through her attractive appearance.

The Bible tells us  “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” 1 Peter 3:3-4a

Does this mean that a woman shouldn’t concern herself with style, dress in fine clothes, wear elaborate jewelry or use make-up. Absolutely not! It simply says that her true beauty shouldn’t depend on these things. It ought to come from within.

Stephanie Lahart, inspirational author of Overcoming Life’s Obstacles, puts it this way:  “Her outer beauty is just a bonus, but it is her inner beauty that’s most captivating. She’s loving, caring, kindhearted, empathetic, and genuine. She’s comfortable in her own skin, therefore, she’s able to compliment, celebrate, and build up others around her. She’s a quality woman with a strong sense of self! She doesn’t need the spotlight, because she is the light wherever she goes. Smart, confident, ambitious, and fearless… Beautifully created from the inside out.”

Being beautiful on the inside is about how you treat other people, but it’s also about how you nurture yourself. What do you tell yourself when you look in the mirror? Instead of berating yourself for your physical flaws (we all have them!) try acknowledging something positive about yourself, something that you’re proud of, something that makes you feel good. Appreciate your uniqueness. Don’t try to hide your authentic self or be someone you’re not. As much as possible, surround yourself with positive people who encourage you to be the best that you can be. Choose role models, not for their outward appearance, but for who they are on the inside. And finally, practice gratitude.

In 2024, let’s have fun with fashion, but let’s focus on being more than just our appearance!

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Dressed to the nines

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LogoWe’ve just come through a season where I heard the phrase “dressed to the nines” used several times to refer to people who dressed very elegantly to attend holiday parties. As a lover of words, I began to wonder where that idiom came from and why we say “dressed to the nines” instead of to “the eights” or “the tens”? As often happens, curiosity sent me looking for answers!

There are several theories about the origin of the phrase. For example, one popular one says that it came from the nine yards of fabric that a tailor needed to make a suit. Apparently, however, a very nice three piece suit can actually be made from only four or five yards. The real origin of the saying is unknown, but it’s believed to have originated in the late 19th century. It’s most likely simply an extension of an earlier phrase, “to the nines”, which meant “perfectly” or “to the highest standard”. That phrase had been around since the 1700s, but its early use wasn’t specific to clothing.

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There are actually several English idioms that include the number nine. A stitch in time saves nine, we go the whole nine yards, or perhaps we’re on cloud nine. There must be significance to the number, but that’s another rabbit trail that I won’t go down today! Regardless of its origin or the meaning of the number nine, “dressed to the nines” is commonly used to describe someone who is dressed to perfection and looks their absolute best.

New Year’s Eve is often a time to dress to the nines, but that certainly wasn’t me this year. While the final hours of the year often find us either on the dance floor or babysitting so that our adult children can enjoy the night out, this year was different. We enjoyed a quiet party for two at home. Since El Niño has gifted us with an unusually mild winter, we spent the early hours of the evening bundled up by our backyard firepit watching the last light of the year fade into darkness.

Later, we went indoors to watch a couple of movies, sip some wine and nibble on party food. I crawled into bed just as the clock struck twelve!

What about you? Did you “dress to the nines” and go out to celebrate the arrival of the New Year?

2023 fashion shopping review

/ edebock / 9 Comments

Logo by SamAt the beginning of 2018, following the example of one of my favourite bloggers, Sue Burpee of High Heels in the Wilderness, I started keeping a list of all my fashion purchases including clothing, accessories, and footwear. I was interested in finding out more about my spending habits and I wanted to be more intentional about wardrobe development. In addition, I wanted to become a more ethical shopper. I’ve continued this practice every year since and at the end of each year I publish a fashion shopping review analyzing my purchases and setting some goals for the next year.

What surprises me most when I look at this year’s list is how short it is. I only bought 17 items! That’s less than half as many as most other years. Of those, 12 were thrifted and only 5 purchased new. I spent a total of $395.50 (CAD), again less than half what I’ve spent most other years. Research shows that some women spend that much every month!

So, what did I get for less than $400?

  • 2 pairs of pants
  • 7 tops
  • 1 vintage jacket
  • 1 vest
  • 1 scarf
  • 1 swimsuit (which hasn’t actually been worn yet, though I hope to remedy that soon)
  • 1 swimsuit cover up (also not worn yet)
  • 1 pair of earrings
  • 1 necklace
  • 1 pair of sandals

The last item on that list was by far the most expensive. At $175 my Ecco walking sandals were worth every cent. I love thrift store shopping, but 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.

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Trying to shop ethically is complicated and how successful I’ve been is always very difficult to assess. One of my fashion shopping goals in recent years has been to avoid buying items, especially new ones, that were made in China. I loved living and teaching there, but these days Canada-China relations are chilly at best. Conditions for many factory workers in that country are abhorrent and human rights are being increasingly eroded. It’s a personal choice, but I prefer not to support China if I can avoid it. One of the items that I bought new in 2023 and several of the second-hand ones were made in China and others were made in Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s virtually impossible to find out whether they were made in sweatshops where workers are exploited and forced to work in unsafe conditions or manufactured in socially and environmentally responsible factories. Unfortunately, since the vast majority of fashion manufacturing takes place overseas, those of us who live in North America have little choice but to buy clothing made in these countries.

Until recently, thrift store shopping was lauded as being ethical and sustainable, but now that’s a topic that’s up for debate. I still feel that it’s often a better option than buying new, but I plan on writing a post about this early in the new year, so I won’t go into it here.

Having done this exercise for the past six years has definitely made a difference to how I shop. I’ve become much more intentional, making fewer impulse buys and limiting them to things that I love and pieces that go well with what I already own. My goal for the coming year will simply be to continue in this vein. Some new blue jeans will probably be on my shopping list as a couple of pairs of old favourites are starting to show their age. I’d like to try a pair of wide-legged ones while they’re in style. I also need some new capri pants for summer as most of mine are quite worn. The worst ones didn’t make the cut when I did my seasonal closet switch in the fall.

And now, in addition to the sandals shown above, here are a few of my favourite fashion purchases from the past year. They’ve all appeared on the blog before.

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When winter rolled around again, I was very happy to start wearing the dark brown button fly cords from cabi again. Purchased in a season end sale last January, they’re a little dressier than my jeans.

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The neutral plaid shirt, originally from Gap, was an excellent second-hand purchase that only cost me $2! 

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As comfortable as pjs, these striped linen blend pants were a great addition to my summer wardrobe. They were also thrifted.  

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Finally, I was very fortunate to find this sleeveless top from cabi’s Fall 2018 Collection in our local thrift store in September. I don’t know where it had been hiding for the past five years, but it looked as if it had never been worn!

And now, with with just two days left in 2023, I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Wearing navy and rust

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Navy is often considered a neutral colour because, like black and grey, it’s a good base colour that plays well with just about every other colour. Perhaps that’s why I like dark wash jeans so much. They go with almost everything. That’s not as true of my rust coloured corduroy skinnies. I often pair them with cream, but when I tried them with navy, I knew I’d found another combo that worked. 

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Except for the slippers, I’m dressed in head to toe cabi here. Though you probably can’t see them very well in the photos, even my earrings are from cabi. The pants are from the fall 2020 season and the lightweight striped pullover is from fall 2017. It has been a workhorse in my wardrobe for the past six years and it’s beginning to show it’s age. It’s cost per wear would be so low that it definitely doesn’t owe me a thing and I’m keeping my eye out for something similar to replace it with when it’s no longer wearable. 

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For some reason, this colour combination reminds me of my mother. She was an artist who loved colour. When she decided to redecorate our living room with a blue carpet and an orange couch back in the early 1960s, I remember being somewhat skeptical. That’s when she sat me down and taught me about the colour wheel and complementary colours. Colours that are opposite one another on the wheel go well together, she told me. I guess Mom knew what she was talking about! 

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Perhaps it’s Christmas and not just colours that has me reminiscing about family, so let me take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, I hope Santa is good to you!  

What I wore for a Christmas event

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I really didn’t want to buy anything new for the few Christmas events that we’d be attending this season, but I did take a look at what was in the stores. It quickly became obvious that I didn’t need to buy anything. Everything I saw was either black, red, or sparkly and I already had similar items in my closet from Christmases past. Here’s what I wore for a banquet that we attended last Sunday evening.

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I started with a pair of wide-legged black pants that have been in my wardrobe since the last time wide legs were in style! A sleeveless top, also several years old, added a bit of sparkle and a hint of red. After trying on several possible toppers, I settled on a cozy sweater jacket that I purchased at one of our local thrift stores a few winters ago. I tend to feel chilly much of the time, but I knew that even if the venue was a bit cool, I’d be warm enough dressed this way.

I accessorized the outfit with a pair of sparkly earrings and a necklace that also has a bit of sparkle. The little vintage evening bag is big enough to hold everything I need for an evening out and is one of my favourite second-hand finds. While I could have taken a pair of dressy shoes to change into, I decided that I’d just wear my red ankle boots and leave them on.

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Although a few women were dressed more formally or fancier than I was, others were dressed more casually. Neither overdressed nor underdressed, I felt very much at ease in my ‘middle of the road’ outfit.  It fit my five style adjectives… classy, comfortable, casual, confident, and authentic.

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Posture and appearance

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“Stand up straight!” “Stop slouching!” 

Did you hear your mother’s voice or perhaps your grandma’s when you read that? It’s timeless advice that’s worth heeding. Good posture has many health benefits. Incorrect alignment of the spine puts extra stress on the legs and can lead to achy knees and feet. Poor posture can have a negative impact on circulation and digestion and may lead to increased headaches. Good posture is also essential to balance which becomes increasingly important as we age.

So, what does good posture look like?

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Image: Stanford University

Notice that in the image on the left, the model’s ears are directly above her shoulders. One of the leading causes of poor posture today is constantly looking down at phones and laptops. Did you know that your head weighs approximately 5 kg (11 pounds)? Every time you look down for an extended period of time its weight adds stress to muscles, joints, and nerves, especially in the neck and upper back.

But what does all this have to do with our appearance? Have you ever been to a fashion show or watched one online? Models, without exception, have great posture; shoulders back, chin level and hips neutral. There’s a reason for that. Clothing always looks better on a body with good posture.

I love to people watch and I can’t help noticing that people with good posture walk with more ease and grace. They look taller, more slender, more confident, happier, and healthier. So, as you put on your Christmas finery and head out the door to whatever special occasions this season holds, remember to listen to that inner voice that’s telling you to “Stand up straight!”

Logo by Sam

Wearing the unexpected shoe

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Logo by SamSince well-known stylist and wardrobe consultant, Allison Bornstein, posted this video on TikTok earlier this year, the idea of “choosing the wrong shoe”, as she calls it, has gained popularity in fashion circles. The idea isn’t actually new; Allison just gave it a name. Personally, I would call it “wearing the unexpected shoe”.

Do you remember when no one would have considered wearing sneakers with a dress? Then, women started doing the unexpected and in time, it became accepted. But what about combat boots or chunky loafers with a dress or kitten heels with sweat pants? As Bornstein points out in the video, choosing the wrong or unexpected shoe can be an intentional choice that personalizes a look and makes it more interesting. The Germans even have a word for it. Stilbruch (literal translation: style break) is an intentional breach of style or a combination of clashing styles.

Wearing the unexpected shoe isn’t about deliberately looking ugly or weird. It’s about adding an element of surprise instead of wearing what everyone else would wear and it’s an opportunity to use what you already have in your wardrobe in a new and different way.

To illustrate, I pulled together a simple outfit from my closet; one that I’ve never worn before. It’s not the most flattering because this much black close to my face doesn’t work well with my complexion, but it’s the shoes that I want you to focus on today. Hopefully you can’t see the goosebumps on my legs. It was 0ºC (32ºF) when we took these pictures! It’s easier to get good photos outdoors, so hubby bundled up and I tried not to shiver! 

Let’s begin with an expected shoe… a classic black pump with a kitten heel. I’ve had these shoes for many years, but haven’t worn them for a long time. Now that kitten heels are back in style, I think that’s about to change. 

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One of the next shoes is a bit more unexpected than the other. 

Yes, I do have the same shoes in two different colours! It was a buy one, get one half price sale many years ago. Though it was the red pair that caught my eye at the time, I’ve actually worn the black ones more often. Now that wearing the wrong or unexpected shoe is on-trend, perhaps I should reach for the red ones more often. They add an interesting pop of colour to an otherwise neutral outfit. 

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This time, we’re back to black, but a bootie instead of shoes. Personally, I’m not as fond of this look, but I think it would work better with a more stylish looking bootie. Perhaps something like this. 

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The final look is definitely an unexpected one, but I like it! Of course, whether I chose this look would depend on where I was going. If I was wearing this outfit to a funeral, for example, I would choose one of the first two shoes shown above. This pair definitely takes the outfit’s formal look down a notch or two. 

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What do you think? Do you ever wear an unexpected or “wrong” shoe? Which of these looks do you prefer? 

 

An on-trend inVESTment

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I’ve always loved the tailored look of a menswear inspired vest (or waistcoat), so I was delighted to see them back on-trend for fall/winter 2023. When I found this one in our small town thrift store for just $2.50, I was thrilled! 

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In addition to being a versatile layering piece, it ticked another box for me. I usually wear longer tops, but I’ve been wanting to try the cropped length that’s so popular this season. 

I knew immediately that I wanted to style the vest with the same cabi blouse that you saw in this post two weeks ago, my dark brown button fly corduroy pants also from cabi, and my tall brown boots. I’m sure it will look equally good with jeans and I look forward to trying it with several other items from my closet.

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I love the boy meets girl, masculine/feminine contrast between the tweed look front and the lace on the back. 

Another plus is that the vest will take up almost no space in a suitcase should I decide to take it traveling.

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In addition to the vest, the blouse, boots, and necklace shown today were all thrifted. 

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Uniqlo comes to Southgate

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Logo by SamI fell in love with Uniqlo on our first visit to Japan in 2005. The popular Japanese fashion retailer is known for innovative yet functional apparel as well as high-quality, reasonably priced, easy-to-wear basics for men, women, and children. When we lived in Japan in 2008-2009, it was a short bicycle ride from our apartment to the closest Uniqlo store and later, in 2013, when we spent a semester in Dalian, China we were delighted to find Uniqlo a short bus ride from home!

From one store in Hiroshima in 1984, the chain has spread across Asia and around the world. The first store in Canada opened in Toronto’s Eaton Centre in September 2016, but that’s still a very long way from my home in Alberta! In October of the following year, a Uniqlo store opened in Vancouver just a few kilometres from where my father was living at the time. Every visit to that city included a stop at Uniqlo! Then, in September 2019, Uniqlo finally came to Alberta! A week ago today, Edmonton’s second Uniqlo store opened in Southgate Mall and we were there!

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The chain has been very strategic in choosing new locations and if the number of people crowding the aisles last Friday morning was any indication, they’ve made another good choice.

Like the more than 2400 stores worldwide, Uniqlo’s newest store will carry business attire, leisurewear, intimate apparel, and some accessories. With winter’s sudden arrival in our part of the world, customers might be particularly interested in the brand’s HEATTECH line made of innovative fabric that absorbs body heat and stores it in air pockets deep within the fibres to keep the wearer warm. For additional winter comfort, the brand also offers cashmere sweaters, extra fine merino garments, fleece jackets, and a variety of ultra light down outerwear all suitable for our cold climate.

My favourite Uniqlo purchase has been the Ultra Light Down Vest which I’ve had for several years. The 2023 version of this Uniqlo staple is slightly shorter and boxier than the one that I have, but otherwise the same.

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Last week, I left the store with just one new item, the HEATTECH Lined Padded Scarf a cozy neck warmer that folds into it’s own little pocket for easy carrying. For someone who feels the cold as I do, I know that it’s going to be another favourite!

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PLEASE NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. I am not a brand ambassador for Uniqlo (although I probably wouldn’t say no if they asked!) I simply like the brand and want to share it with you. 

Styling an old favourite

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Logo by SamThis week I’m featuring a garment that has been in my wardrobe since my teaching days. Far from new when I retired in 2007, it’s over 20 years old and now qualifies as vintage in the fashion world. Although I don’t wear it very often, I keep it because I love it and on those occasions when I do pull it out, as I did for church last Sunday, it feels like I’m wearing something new. 

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I’m not actually sure what to call it. Since it can be worn alone, I guess it qualifies as a dress, but I’ve usually worn it over a blouse. As a child, I might have called it a jumper, but according to the dictionary, a jumper is actually “a collarless sleeveless dress, typically worn over a blouse”. Jumper is also a confusing word in the world of fashion. This definition is North American, but elsewhere, especially in the UK, a jumper is what we would call a sweater. 

Whatever we call it, this garment is versatile. Not only can it be worn without a blouse underneath, but it can also be worn without the belt. Styled very differently, it first appeared on the blog in this post written over 11 years ago, long before I added a weekly fashion post. 

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Today’s photos were taken very hastily as I was freezing. It was only 3ºC (37.4ºF) outside, but I wanted to take advantage of the last of our beautiful leaves before they were buried in snow! Sure enough, there was snow on the ground when we got up the very next morning! If I hadn’t been so cold, I probably would have taken a moment to ensure that the front wasn’t puckered. 

The Classic Blouse is from cabi’s Fall 2019 collection and was bought second-hand as were the cute booties. 

And now, this morning, I’m off to the grand opening of the new Uniqlo store in Southgate Mall in South Edmonton! Maybe more about that next Friday.