Fashion Friday!

The dark side of sequins and synthetics

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Logo by SamI’ve never been one to wear sequins or glitter. They’re a bit too flashy for me, but I was alarmed when I recently read how devastating they are for the environment. Made of plastic with a shiny metallic coating, they’re non-biodegradable and will sit in the landfill for hundreds of years, possibly shedding harmful micro plastics into the soil.

As often happens, reading that fact led me down a number of other rabbit trails. I discovered that ancient sequins, made of gold, have been unearthed in archeological sites from Pakistan to Egypt including heaps of them scattered in King Tut’s tomb and sewn in flower shapes on his ceremonial robe. I also learned about modern day attempts to produce sequins that are biodegradable. So far, however, those haven’t been able to withstand heat and moisture making them unsuitable for use on clothing. Perhaps someday though.

All of this led me to wonder about the biodegradability of the kinds of fabric that we commonly wear. Here’s what I learned about how long it takes for different fibres to decompose:

Cotton:  1 week to 5 months. Denim, which is a much hardier cotton, takes 10 to 12 months.

Linen:  as little as 2 weeks

Hemp:  2 weeks

Wool:  3 to 4 months

Bamboo:  4 to 6 months

Silk:  1 to 4 years

Nylon:  30 to 40 years

Polyester:  20 to 200 years

Spandex:  up to 200 years

Acrylic:  200 years

Clearly, natural fabrics are better for the environment. Not only do they decompose much more quickly, but they also require much less processing to turn them into fabric in the first place. Did you know that they’re also better for you? Natural fibres are soft, strong, breathable, and don’t irritate sensitive skin.

So, am I planning to go all-natural and stop wearing synthetic fabrics? Probably not. That would be pretty difficult to do, but as one who wants to shop ethically, one thing I will continue to do is to shop second-hand and keep those synthetic fabrics out of the landfill longer. And I probably won’t be wearing any sequins!

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Fall fashion colours 2023

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Logo by SamWe are fortunate to live far from the wildfires that have devastated vast areas to the north and west of us this summer, but smoke travels amazing distances. As I peered through the pall of smoke that hung over us for most of the past week, I saw leaves beginning to turn colour. Yes, fall is here whether I like to admit it or not!

Coloured leaves are beautiful, but it’s the colour trends for fall/winter 2023 fashion that are on my mind this week. Bold, fiery reds are definitely big this year. While I vividly remember both a red sweater and a red dress that I loved and wore a lot many years ago, the only red in my wardrobe at present is the coat that I found in a local thrift store last fall. That’s something I definitely want to correct this season! 

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I’ve sometimes seen red referred to as a universal colour, a colour that looks good on just about everyone, but although there is a red for everyone, not every red looks good on every person. Those, like myself, with warm skin tones should choose brighter orange-based reds, while those with cool skin tones look better wearing darker blue-based reds. If wearing red isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to add just a pop of it with an accessory or two.

Another colour that is on-trend for fall is brown. Think caramel, cinnamon, chocolate! Yum! Brown has always been a favourite wardrobe basic of mine, so I’ll definitely be making good use of the pieces that I already own. Other neutrals that will be big this fall are grey and cream, bone, or winter white. 

Two popular shades of blue this season are icy blue and cobalt. 

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Yellow, especially bright yellow, is another colour that’s on-trend for the new season. With the influence of the Barbie movie carrying on into fall this year, pink will also continue to be popular.

Will you be adding any of these colours to your fall/winter wardrobe? What are your favourite colours to wear? 

Styling a vintage tapestry jacket

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Screenshot 2023-08-24 at 5.01.09 PMI’m never ready for summer to end, but fall is definitely in the air! One thing that always makes the seasonal transition easier to bear is looking forward to wearing some of my fall and winter favourites that have been in storage for the past few months. Having something new (or new to me) to wear also adds excitement. After all, I’m sure we all remember the feeling of having something new to wear on the first day of school and, since I spent my entire career in the classroom, I had a lot of those first days!

Today I’m going to share a new for fall item that has been hanging in my closet since an early summer trip to a thrift store with my daughter. I haven’t actually worn it anywhere yet, but with the weather changing, I pulled it out earlier this week and started shopping my closet for ways to wear it.

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If you’re old enough, you probably remember the tapestry vests and jackets that were popular back in the 90s. I had a couple of the vests and now that I see vests coming back into vogue, I kind of wish that I’d kept them, but I never had a tapestry jacket.

Who cares that I’m 30 years late to the party; I love it and I’m very much looking forward to wearing it this fall! Clothing and accessories are considered vintage once they’re at least 20 years old, and in 2023 it seems that vintage fashion is gaining in popularity everywhere. Vintage is a great way to express individuality and it’s so much better for the planet than buying new. Cost can vary a lot. Prices for jackets similar to mine range from $30 CAD to over $160 on Etsy. I was fortunate to find mine in a second-hand store for $14.50. 

The key to wearing vintage and not looking like you’re wearing a costume is to add one vintage piece to an otherwise contemporary outfit as I’ve done in today’s photos. Another idea is to look for vintage pieces in classic styles. My vintage jacket in a different fabric would fit right in with today’s looks.

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So, how did I put today’s looks together. Since the jacket is a multi-coloured, stand-out piece, I paired it with basic solid-colour pieces. In the first photo above, I’m wearing it with a navy Uniqlo t-shirt and dark olive chino’s from Mark’s. Both pieces are several years old. Immediately above, I’ve switched out the chinos for a favourite pair of dark wash jeans from Old Navy, also several years old. Below, I’m wearing the same jeans with an olive green top that I bought second-hand about a year ago. 

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There are many shades of pink, rust, green, brown, beige, peach, grey, and even a few bits of blue in the tapestry, so it would be easy to wear this jacket with many other colours. I can also give it a modern twist by rolling the sleeves.

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The impact of the Barbie movie on fashion

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Screenshot 2023-08-14 at 11.58.52 AMEver since the Barbie movie, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was released last month, women and girls of every age (and men too) have been flocking to the theatres dressed in pink. Pink is definitely having a big moment in the fashion world!

Historically, pink was just another colour worn by men and women alike and, in many parts of the world, it still is. In North America, however, it’s been considered a feminine colour since the 1920s when US department stores arbitrarily made the decision that blue would be for boys and pink for girls. Later came an era when pink was thought to be too girly. Women who loved pink weren’t taken seriously and boys who wore pink were accused of being gay. All those stereotypes have been shattered by the Barbie movie phenomenon.

Living where I do, two hours from a major shopping mall, I haven’t been in a clothing store for quite awhile, but a quick look at a few of my favourite Canadian retailers online turned up an amazing array of pink; every shade of pink imaginable, but especially Barbie’s iconic hot pink.

There were casual clothes, of course, like this tank top and wide-legged linen cargo pants from Reitmans.

But also dressier pieces like this satin wrap skirt from Ricki’s.

Satin Wrap Skirt Ricki's

And even business appropriate suits and blazers like these from Cleo and Ricki’s.

Cropped Pant Suit Cleo

Single Breasted Blazer Ricki's

I can imagine Barbie wearing a bright pink trench coat, can’t you? This one’s from Reitmans.

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The only pink in my wardrobe is a couple of golf shirts and special bright pink hoodie that I’ve had for many years, but if I was in the market for new walking shoes, I’d definitely consider these Asics from the Marks website!

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But, back to the Barbie movie. I haven’t seen it myself and I don’t know that I will, but I did see a trailer that looked like it might be fun. What is it though that is drawing huge crowds to a movie about a doll having an existential crisis and venturing into the real world? Certainly one of the things driving the phenomenon is nostalgia. Women who grew up playing with Barbie can relive a part of their childhood and in many cases, share the experience with their daughters and granddaughters.

I never had a Barbie doll. I was 6 when Mattel officially introduced her to the world on March 9, 1959. Perhaps my mother was a woman before her time, but from the beginning, she didn’t like the unrealistic beauty standards presented by the doll. About that time, she and my father made a trip to the States. There, she bought my little sister a Vogue Ginny doll and me a Jan. Compared to Barbie, with her ridiculously minuscule waist, Jan had some meat on her bones and was definitely more pleasing to my mother’s sensibilities. Somewhat later, my sister and I both received a Tammy doll for Christmas. Tammy was created by the Ideal Toy Company and made her debut in 1962. She was portrayed as an American teenager with a “girl next door” image. Although I didn’t have a Barbie, I did have her younger sister, Skipper, and she was probably my favourite of the three.

Perhaps for girls and women who did grow up with Barbie, her iconic pink evokes not only nostalgia, but a sense of fun and escape to a time when life was more carefree and joyful. That would certainly explain the crowds dressed in pink lining up at the box offices and the influx of pink in clothing stores this summer!

What about you? Did you play with Barbie? Have you seen the movie? If so, did you dress in pink? I’d love to know your thoughts on the movie, the hoopla surrounding it, or the colour pink in general.

The 3rd piece rule

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Logo by SamIt’s been an unusually hot summer this year and I’ve spent most of it in shorts and sleeveless tops. Lately, however, there’s been a hint of fall in the air, especially first thing in the morning. I sometimes find myself putting on longer pants and reaching for a third piece.

Though you know that I’m not a follower of fashion rules, there is a “3rd piece rule” that actually makes sense a lot of the time. The idea is that for an outfit to go from good to great, it needs three key elements. Usually, your top and bottom (skirt, pants, or shorts) are the two main elements and the third piece is something extra that finishes the look. It could be a blazer, sweater, vest, scarf, or hat, but for me, it’s often an unbuttoned shirt.

Here’s just one example from my closet. All three pieces have appeared on the blog before. 

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During the hotter part of the day, I’ll break the 3rd piece rule and abandon the overshirt. For me, the third piece is more about warmth, than style. 

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You might be wondering about shoes and how they fit into the 3 piece formula. Apparently, they don’t. Shoes, boots, or sandals definitely add interest to an outfit, but they aren’t counted as a third piece. In today’s photos, I’m wearing the ECCO walking sandals that I bought back in May. Although they still look new, I’ve put a lot of miles on them over the past 3 months. As I mentioned then, I challenged myself to walk 350 km between May 1 and October 31. At the halfway point, the end of July, I’d walked just over 200 km! 

Opposite views of aging

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Logo by SamSince reading Breaking the Age Code and featuring it as my July Book of the Month, I’ve been doing what the author, Dr. Becca Levy, suggested and looking more closely at the messages that I see about aging in the media, in advertising, and on social media. While this topic is much broader than just fashion, I think it’s appropriate for a Friday post because so much of what we see about age is directed at women and their appearance. Take the article that I saw posted on Facebook recently for example. “40+ Short Haircut Tips and Styles That Make Us Look 20 Years Younger”  sounds innocent enough until you ask yourself, why should we want to look 20 years younger? What’s wrong with looking 40, 50, or even 80? The message is that young is good, young is beautiful, and old is not. 

Thankfully, there are positive messages to be found too. “72 is the new 30! Get fit at any age along with this 72 year old fitness star!” implores an ad for an online fitness program. Scientists claim that life expectancy has increased to such an extent that a 72-year-old person today has the same probability of dying as a 30-year-old primitive hunter-gatherer would have had. Hence the saying, 72 is the new 30. That’s good news, I think, but the real message of the ad is that at 72 we can still be active and physically fit.

In contrast, look at this meme taken from Facebook.

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What? We’re old and washed up at 50? Maybe this is supposed to be funny, but it’s exactly the kind of self-defeating, negative message about aging that Dr. Levy wrote about.

Instead, here’s the kind of message we should be seeing.

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This the the kind of age belief that can add years to your life and quality to your years. In the long run, you’ll probably look better than the gal who’s lying on the heating pad eating nachos too!

Cropped pants, cuffs, and the psychology of fashion

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Logo by SamI’ve always been very particular about the length of my pants. From the time I was a child, I’ve loved wearing capri pants, or pedal pushers as we called them way back then. On the other hand, I’ve never liked wearing cropped pants. They look great on other women, but they feel all wrong on me.

The difference between capris and crops is simply a matter of a few inches. Capris end at the calf and crops fall 2 to 4 inches above the ankle bone. They’re a great way to show off your ankles, cute shoes or booties, or even a fun pair of socks, but I just can’t convince myself to wear them.

Why is that? Why such an aversion to something that is admittedly stylish and cute? I think it has to do with the fact that I have long legs and back in the day when I was young and terribly self-conscious, I often had trouble finding pants that were long enough. The thought of being mocked for wearing pants that were too short horrified me. Pedal pushers were intentionally short. Everyone knew that. I could wear them and fit in, but cropped pants were not a thing back then.

This summer, I’ve discovered something odd. I have 3 pairs of summer pants that are designed to be worn either full length or with the cuffs rolled up which essentially makes them the same length as cropped pants. Those, I love wearing! Again, I have to ask myself why and again, I go back to my early memories of growing up on the waterfront. When we played on the beach and waded in the tidal pools, it was natural to roll up our cuffs to keep them dry. Now, when I wear my cuffs rolled up, that carefree feeling of childhood play is what comes to mind!

Amazingly, how we dressed as a child or the fears that we might have had back then about not fitting in can affect the way we dress and shop for clothing decades later. Can you think of any examples from your own life?

Dress codes for travelers

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Logo by SamWhenever you travel to a foreign country, it’s a good idea to learn a bit about the culture and traditions before you go. It’s also wise to know what to pack so that you don’t get into trouble by wearing something inappropriate or possibly even illegal.

It may not surprise you to know that modest attire is usually expected when visiting religious sites such as churches, temples, and mosques. Visitors to Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temple complex and to the Vatican are required to wear pants or skirts that fall below the knee and shirts that cover their shoulders. Sleeveless and low-cut garments, shorts that end above the knee, and miniskirts are not allowed and men entering the Vatican must also remove their hats. Some religious sites may require women to cover their heads, so it’s always a good idea to pack a scarf just in case.

Afghanistan is the only country that requires women to wear a burqa in public today, but did you know that there are countries where these garments are forbidden? That’s right! It is illegal to wear a burqa or a niqab in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Cameroon, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Niger, and parts of Russia. In fact, face coverings of any kind including masks (with the exception of those worn to prevent the spread of Covid and other respiratory illnesses), scarves, motorcycle helmets, and balaclavas are illegal in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

I was surprised to discover a long list of countries that forbid the wearing of camouflage. Leave your camo at home if you plan to visit Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.

For your own safety, you aren’t allowed to wear sandals while driving in Spain and those who hike the steep, hilly terrain connecting the five villages of Italy’s Cinque Terre are prohibited from wearing flip-flops, sandals or high heels. High heels are also forbidden at some historic sites in Greece such as the Acropolis and Delphi to prevent damage to the ancient monuments.

Most dress codes are a matter of modesty and what is considered appropriate differs greatly from place to place. All women in Iran must cover their hair or wear a hijab in public areas. Women must have their arms and shoulders covered at all times in Oman. Swimwear is not allowed except at the beach in Majorca, Croatia, Maldives, Turkey, and some cities in Spain including Barcelona. In France, men must wear speedos in public pools. Boxers aren’t permitted! In Thailand, one must wear a shirt while driving and must always wear underwear in public (although how anyone would know if you weren’t, I’m not sure!)

Perhaps Saudi Arabia and Sudan have the strictest dress codes. In Saudi Arabia men are required to have their shoulders and legs covered at all times. They’re not even allowed to go shirtless at the beach! Women must dress modestly at all times, covering both their knees and shoulders. Sleeveless shirts, short dresses, loose tops, shorts, crop tops, miniskirts and bikinis are all forbidden. In some places they must also wear a headscarf. Similarly, in Sudan, men cannot wear makeup, shorts or sleeveless shirts and women cannot wear shorts, pants, sleeveless shirts, anything see-through, or skirts shorter than mid-calf.

I’m not sure why anyone would want to visit North Korea, but if you do and you’re a woman, you need to know that you can’t wear pants there either.

And I saved the funniest for last… it would be a good idea not to wear clothing with Winnie the Pooh on it near schools and playgrounds in Tuszyn, Poland. Apparently Pooh’s uncertain sexuality and indecent exposure (he doesn’t wear pants!) are proof that the loveable bear is “wholly inappropriate for children.”

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Dress codes for airline travel

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Logo by SamIf any of you are fortunate enough to be flying somewhere this summer, you might be interested in knowing that airlines have the right to refuse to board passengers who are deemed to be dressed inappropriately. By purchasing a ticket, you automatically consent to abide by the rules and conditions outlined in a legal contract known as the “conditions of carriage.”

United Airlines has the right to refuse to board passengers if they are “barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive.” Similarly, American Airlines has a section in its conditions of carriage that instructs passengers to “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.” Delta Airlines can refuse to transport passengers whose “conduct, attire, hygiene or odor” may create an unreasonable risk of offending or annoying other passengers. Their conditions of carriage also ban bare feet.  And the list goes on.

While comfort and safety take precedence over appearance, there are several reasons why passenger dress codes exist and why some frequent flyers suggest that they need to go beyond the minimum and somewhat vague standards mentioned above. Clothing that exposes too much skin or with offensive language on it can make other passengers feel uncomfortable, but what one person considers offensive might be perfectly acceptable to another. Keeping the peace is important when hundreds of people are packed into an aircraft, often for several hours.

According to the International Air Transport Association, the number of unruly passenger incidents worldwide increased by a shocking 37% in 2022 from the previous year. The organization reported one unruly incident for every 568 flights last year, up from one in every 835 flights in 2021. Psychologists believe that people tend to behave more respectfully when they’re dressed up. “When people dress better, they tend to behave better,” said Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. “A dress code might help.”

So how should you dress for a flight? Think classy but comfortable. Choose clothing made of breathable fabric and items that allow for ease of movement. As always, I recommend dressing in layers. Planes are often chilly, so a scarf or a wrap can be a good addition to your travel wardrobe. Although I’ve never worn them myself, compression stockings are often recommended for long flights as they reduce the risk of developing blood clots when sitting for long periods of time. You’ll probably want to wear your bulkiest footwear, especially if you’re traveling carry-on only, but it’s important to ensure that your shoes are also comfortable. Hopefully, it never comes to this, but it’s also wise to choose clothing and footwear that would allow for smooth evacuation in the event of an emergency.

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Once you reach your destination, there might also be dress codes that you should be aware of, so we’ll look at what to wear when you travel the world next Friday. Some of the rules are quite unusual!

Repurposing… sustainability at it’s best

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Logo by SamWe are a wasteful society, but it hasn’t always been that way. There was a time when women especially were so much more resourceful than we are today. They had no choice. As a young widow in the latter years of the Great Depression, my grandmother raised two teenage daughters on a shoestring. She learned to reuse and repurpose out of necessity. Clothing that was outgrown or worn out didn’t go to waste. As a child, I remember hand braided rag rugs on the floors throughout her tiny house and I loved examining the multicoloured squares that made up the quilts on the beds in her spare room.

A regular reader who is also a personal friend shared a great example of repurposing with me recently. The garment was originally a top that belonged to her mother-in-law. When she had worn it until she couldn’t  stand to wear it any longer, she realized that the fabric still had plenty of wear in it. Obviously creative and handy with a sewing machine, she turned it into a dress for one of her granddaughters. Now it’s been passed down to a younger granddaughter, my friend’s 5 year old.

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When she sent me the photo of the dress, she also sent a message dictated by her daughter. Here’s some of what little Lizzy had to say…

Did you see the picture of my dress? It is really nice. I wear it all the time and my grandma used to wear it and it was a shirt. Then my cousin was wearing it first. A dress was made for her out of my grandma’s shirt. I like it because I like to play Cinderella in it. Cinderella is a nice game to play, a really nice game. I love playing Cinderella. Oh, I like my dress. It has swirls and little dots around it and it’s so great. The end.

Yes, Lizzy, it really is great and it’s also an example of sustainability at its best.

As the cost of living continues to climb, perhaps more of us will need to be like Lizzy’s grandma. Maybe we’ll need to resurrect some of the repurposing skills that carried our foremothers through difficult times. In addition to protecting our pocketbooks, we’d also be taking valuable steps toward passing on a better world to future generations.