Fashion

Finding hope during challenging times

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It’s Friday, so normally this would be a fashion post, but considering the state of the world today, writing about clothing seems frivolous and I just couldn’t get my mind (or my heart) around the idea. These days, I just want to wear my favourite jeans and coziest sweaters on repeat.

It’s also the end of the month, so I should be writing a book review, but that isn’t happening either. Oh, I’ve been reading. In fact, I’ve been reading quite a bit, but I’ve been escaping into frivolous, fluffy novels, not the sort of thing that I would bother to review or recommend. 

As I was leaving my doctor’s office yesterday (more about that in a future post), I decided to stop at a thrift store on my way home. I immediately spotted this and it ended up being my only purchase. I’m not sure where it will eventually end up in my newly renovated home, but for now it’s in a spot where I see it every time I enter the kitchen.

You might remember that, for the second year in a row, hope is my one word for the year and if there’s ever a time when we need hope I think it might be now. So how do we find hope and hang onto it amidst the barrage of negative occurrences in the world around us today? One way of doing this is to focus on what is good and right in our day to day experiences. This doesn’t mean living with our heads in the sand, but it might mean less time watching the news or scrolling the internet. 

According to Wikipedia, hope is “an optimistic state of mind”. It’s a glass half full attitude. It’s being able to imagine positive outcomes and when possible, acting to achieve them. That’s what I want the new sign in my kitchen to remind me of.

Like the puddles on the street and the water dribbling out of our downspouts remind me that the long cold winter is almost over and spring is coming, I want to be reminded that there are still more people in the world who want equity and justice than those who are fighting for the opposite. Believing that gives me hope.     

What gives you hope today? 

Fashion and self-care

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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

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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.

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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.

How to look put together every day

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logo-by-samIt’s late in the day and I still haven’t written today’s Fashion Friday post, so this is going to be a quick one. We spent two days in the city this week attending medical appointments so that’s my excuse for not being better prepared. The good news is that the lab work and CT scans that I’ve had done over the past couple of weeks showed that my cancer is stable! That’s a word that I wasn’t sure I was ever going to hear again, so of course, I’m delighted. We’ll redo all the tests in three months time, but for now I can put that on the back burner and get on with other things.

We may not always feel as if we have it all together, but we can always look as though we do and how we look affects how we feel. Today I’m going to share 14 tips on how to look put together every single day regardless of age or occasion.

  1. Start by taking care of yourself. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep go a long way toward looking and feeling your best.
  2. Get a good, low maintenance haircut.
  3. Good grooming is key. Develop a good skin care routine, make sure your hair is neat and clean, practice good dental hygiene, and don’t neglect nail care.
  4. Make sure your clothes are clean.
  5. Don’t wear wrinkled clothes (with the exception of linen which is supposed to be wrinkled). You might want to invest in a hand-held steamer for quick touch ups.
  6. Ensure that your clothing fits well.
  7. Invest in good basics. Shop within your means, but buy the best quality that you can afford.
  8. Use a fabric shaver to remove pilling from knitwear.
  9. Find the colour palette that works best for you.
  10. Make sure your footwear is clean and in good condition.
  11. Accessorize, but don’t overdo.
  12. Use makeup strategically. Again, don’t overdo.
  13. Practice good posture.
  14. And finally, wear a smile!

These tips might seem obvious, but you don’t have to look far to see women who ignore them, especially at this busy, sometimes frenzied time of year. Do you have any other tips to add to the list?

How to elevate a simple jeans and shirt outfit

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In last Friday’s post, you saw this simple jeans and shirt outfit featuring one of my latest thrift store finds.

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It’s a comfy, casual look great for wearing around the house or going for a walk, but today I want to show you how I would elevate the look a bit.

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First, I unbuttoned the shirt and added a cami underneath. I tried white, but with the pale coloured shirt it looked blah and I looked washed out. Besides, it’s laundry day at our house and all my light coloured bras are in the wash. For me, a black bra under a white top is a no go. The rusty red coloured cami was a much better choice.

Next, I rolled up the cuffs and added a belt and some accessories. Considering the fact that the two main pieces are a pair of jeans and a cotton shirt, it’s still a casual look, but definitely a little classier than the first one.

You can’t see my footwear in either photo, but in the first one I was wearing sneakers. For the second look, I might choose a dressier pair of shoes or at this time of year, a pair of booties. After all, there are snowflakes in the air as I look out the window this morning and we’re back to taking fashion photos indoors. 😦

Not really a fashion post

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logo-by-samI expected the blog to be quieter than usual over the summer months. In fact, I warned you about that at the end of this post back in June. I didn’t expect it to be totally silent for the past three weeks though! The fact that we’ve only been home for a total of six days during that time has had much to do with that, but there’s also been the thought that I don’t want to write and post simply for the sake of writing and posting. I don’t want to contribute to the “noise” of social media unless I actually have something worth saying.

When I introduced Fashion Friday back in March of 2016, I wondered how long I’d be able to keep it going. How soon would I run out of things to write about? More than eight years later, I’m actually surprised that it’s lasted this long! While I’m not ready to retire the topic yet, I do admit that I’m finding it more and more difficult to come up with new and interesting content. This might mean some changes to the blog in coming months, but at the moment that’s just something I’m mulling over. In the meantime, there will be a real Fashion Friday post next week that will look at some trends for fall.

One thing I tend to steer away from on the blog is politics. As a Canadian, I’m watching from the sidelines as the campaign south of our border unfolds, but I realize that its outcome affects all of us. We’re part of a global community.

I was especially inspired by former first lady Michelle Obama’s emotional, but fiery speech at the DNC in Chicago on Tuesday. If you haven’t watched her speech, it’s well worth tuning in for the entire 20 minutes here. Hope is indeed making a comeback! Hope is my one word for 2024 and for me it has been an especially meaningful one.

While this isn’t really a fashion post, I must make mention of the stunning outfit that Michelle Obama chose for her speech. There was clearly symbolism in the futuristic design of the midnight blue MONSE Resort 2025 Crisscross Jacket and Tuxedo Pant as she spoke about hope for the future of her nation.  “In 77 days, we have the power to turn our country away from the fear, division, and smallness of the past. We have the power to marry our hope with our action.”

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Why I write about fashion

/ edebock / 7 Comments

logo-by-samLately, especially on weeks like this one when writer’s block seems to have set in and I have a hard time thinking of a topic for Friday’s post, I’ve been pondering why it is that I choose to write about fashion. After all, I was the awkward teen with zero fashion sense who, even when I stretched my babysitting and allowance dollars to buy what the “in” girls were wearing, felt self-consciously out of place and wanted to fade into the background. Fashion just wasn’t my thing and I certainly had no idea back then that there was such a thing as personal style or style adjectives. 

It wasn’t until about 15 years ago when fashion blogging became popular, that I began to take an interest in the topic. In those days, it was mainly seen as a hobby, a way for fashion enthusiasts to share their thoughts and ideas with the world. Eventually, after following several of these blogs for awhile, I found myself looking for a topic that would keep my blog active when I didn’t have anything more exciting (aka travel) to write about. Why not try my hand at fashion, I thought, and Fashion Friday was born!

With the passage of time, fashion blogging has changed. Some of the blogs that I originally followed eventually disappeared, but as others became more visible and gained a greater following, opportunities to monetize arose. Advertisers and brands began to recognize the value of these voices and reached out to engage with them. At first, popular bloggers were offered free merchandise in exchange for positive reviews, but as time went by they started to earn commission on items that were purchased through links on their blogs. Some even saw this as an opportunity to make fashion blogging a full-time career.  

I’ve never had any desire to move in that direction. I’m still very firmly in the blogging as a hobby camp and the more I see, the happier I am to stay there. One of the bloggers that I’ve been following for many years recently wrote about the fact that she never buys any clothing for herself that she can’t link to on her blog. As a result, her personal style has taken a hit and where she once found joy in fashion, she no longer does. On a recent trip, she visited several local boutiques and had the opportunity to buy some unique pieces, but didn’t because she couldn’t earn income from them. How sad! Others lament the fact that they no longer feel free to be their authentic selves. Instead they’ve created an image that they need to keep up and, in some cases, it’s taking a toll on their mental and emotional health. 

So why do I continue to write about fashion? I sometimes wonder if it isn’t a bit narcissistic, but I try to avoid too many “look at me” posts by also delving into a variety of fashion related topics like sustainability and shopping ethically. I’ve learned a lot about the fashion industry, but also about myself. I’ve figured out what my personal style is. I know what I want my clothing to say about me and I’ve chosen the appropriate adjectives to help me build the right wardrobe. These are the kinds of things that I want to share with you, my readers. After all, connecting with other women with a common interest and being part of this community has been the best part of writing about fashion! That’s really what keeps me doing this. 

Throughout the summer, however, I will be indulging some of my other passions… camping, hiking, kayaking, and visiting with family. I have no more medical appointments until the middle of August and I intend to take full advantage of that! For significant periods of time, I will be without internet access. I’ll blog when and where I’m able, but it will be sporadic and there will be some weeks when Fashion Friday doesn’t appear. Don’t go away though. It will be back!   

 

Mixing old and new

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Logo by SamInstead of going home after church last Sunday, hubby and I set out for the little village of Donalda and the Willow Canyon trail, one of our favourite places to go hiking. Realizing that the restored train station near the trailhead would make a great backdrop for photos, I wore the outfit that I planned to share with you this week to church and changed into my hiking clothes after the photo shoot.

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In addition to the jean jacket, thrifted several years ago, my outfit consists of one of the oldest items in my wardrobe as well as the newest. I distinctly remember buying the dark navy pinstriped pants at Uniqlo shortly after our arrival in Japan in 2008. They were a workhorse in my teaching wardrobe that year and again in 2013 when we taught in China, but after that they spent a lot of time hanging in storage. I kept them because they fit well and I really liked them and when wider legs came back in style, I started wearing them again. They’ve appeared on the blog several times in the past year or two. 

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Someone painted the bench in front of the station since the last time we were there, so of course I had to try it out. 

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The new item in this week’s outfit is the linen blend top purchased at Sweet Home on Main in Stetter on a recent retreat weekend with several ladies from our church. 

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It was obviously a popular item as two of us bought it and it’s presently out of stock. Simple and versatile, it can easily be dressed up or down and the soft ecru colour is more flattering to my complexion than white would be. I prefer a linen blend to pure linen as it has a similar feel and drapes just as well, but it doesn’t wrinkle as badly. 

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I usually wear longer tops, but I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and try this short boxy style. I just have to make sure that I wear it with high waisted pants and I won’t be raising my arms very high in the air when I’m wearing it. At 71, my midriff isn’t as attractive as it once was! 

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And finally, here I am just waiting for my train. Actually, I don’t think one has been by here in a very long time! 

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Please help me decide

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Logo by SamWhen I wrote last week’s post, I had almost finished deciding what to do with the 14 items from my everyday closet that hadn’t been worn since I did my seasonal closet switch at the end of September. I’d returned several to my closet and started wearing them, started a donate pile, and set aside a couple of pieces to be upcycled. That left me with just two tops that I was undecided about. Once I realized that I had something very similar to one of them in the closet, that it fit me better, and that I actually preferred it, adding that one to the donate pile was a no brainer. That left me with just one last piece to deal with and I thought it might be fun to ask you to help me decide.

Keep or donate, that is the question!

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This is the Timeless Blouse from cabi’s Fall 2020 collection. There are several things that I really like about it. The midnight blue colour is versatile and flattering to my complexion. I like the neckline, the fit is perfect and I love the silky fabric.

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It’s only the puffy, pleated sleeves that are a bit outside my comfort zone and have made me somewhat reluctant to wear this blouse. They remind me of pictures of medieval dresses.

Images: Etsy

So, what is the verdict? Do you think I should keep this blouse or add it to the donate pile?

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The closet cull

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Logo by SamThis is a follow-up to last Friday’s post in which I lamented the fact that I was feeling uninspired by my winter wardrobe and decided to do something about that by dealing with items in my closet that hadn’t been worn all season. 

First of all, I should explain that because the closet in our master bedroom is not large, I have clothing stored in more than once place. My half of the bedroom closet is what I would call my everyday closet. That’s where I pull clothes from most mornings when I get dressed. What was actually meant to be a coat closet at our front entrance, an entrance that we rarely use, is where I hang dresses, skirts, dress pants, and a couple of dressy tops that I would only wear for special occasions. The clothes in that closet stay there year round. It was the everyday closet that I had in mind when I decided to do this midseason cull, but now that I’ve started, I think I’ll push on and delve into the other one as well. Today’s post will deal only with the everyday closet though. 

My first step was to pull out the 14 items that had not been worn since I did my seasonal closet switch at the end of September. Fourteen items that had simply been taking up space. Two were pieces that probably should have gone into storage when I put my spring/summer clothes away, so since I’m pretty sure that I’ll wear them both again when the weather warms up, I moved them into storage. I hung the remaining 12 items in the empty guest room closet where I could look at them more easily and decide what to do with them. I knew right away that I wouldn’t wear 3 of them again, so those were set aside to be donated. After careful consideration, 5 were returned to my everyday closet and I’ve already worn 4 of those in the past week! That left 4 pieces. After trying them on, 2 have been set aside for some simple upcycling. Perhaps I’ll share those projects with you in a later post. That leaves me with just 2 pieces that I’m still undecided about. 

While I continue to ponder those two pieces, let me share three of the items that I decided to keep and how I styled them this week. 

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This cozy grey cardigan that had been hanging near the back of my closet all winter felt just right on a cold morning. I wore it over a column of navy made up of a basic t-shirt from Uniqlo and a pair of Old Navy jeans. I tucked the t-shirt in and added a belt. That bit of belt showing under an open cardigan or jacket creates the illusion of a more feminine waist for someone with a boyish figure like mine. Finally, I added a pop of colour with my red ankle boots. I wore this outfit while providing childcare at our church during a young Mom’s Bible study and then for a casual lunch date with hubby.

The black t-shirt, also from Uniqlo, and the animal print shirt are two of the other items that I hadn’t worn all winter. I don’t usually wear black close to my face because it makes me look washed out, but it can work well as a base layer under a colour that complements my complexion. For church on Sunday, I wore the t-shirt and my dark brown button front cords with a dressier jacket. Afterward, for a relaxing afternoon at home, I changed out of the jacket and into the shirt which has been in my wardrobe for many years. Later, when hubby suggested that we go out for dinner, I thought about putting the jacket back on, but decided not to. 

Now… back to deciding what to do with those last two items!