Dressing up

September 16, 2016September 13, 2016 / edebock / 13 Comments

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One evening while we were in Vancouver this week, we went out for an elegant dinner with my father. We ate at Hart House Restaurant in Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park, just a few minutes from the assisted living facility where my 93-year-old father resides. The restaurant opened in 1988 in the beautiful century old Tudor-style house that was originally home to New Westminster businessman Frederick Hart. We dined in the sunroom overlooking nearby Deer Lake. The food was outstanding and the service warm and friendly.

I seldom wear dresses, but this was an occasion and setting that seemed to warrant dressing up a bit more than usual.

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This simple dress, consisting of navy lace over a nude underlay, is a couple of years old, but still a favourite and very much on-trend. It’s also a perfect traveler. How well a garment packs in a suitcase is an important consideration for me and this dress is a winner in that department. It takes up very little space, weighs almost nothing and doesn’t wrinkle.

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The colourful totem pole stands outside the building where my father lives.

Feeling fabulous

September 9, 2016September 6, 2016 / edebock / 1 Comment

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Can a woman have too many cute jackets? I don’t think so when fall is in the air and she can get them for $3.00 apiece at her local thrift store!

My latest acquisition is a variegated grey denim jacket from Denver Hayes, one of Canadian clothing retailer, Mark’s, popular in-house brands. The fabric is soft and the ruffle trim adds a feminine touch.

I wore it on Tuesday when I went to Edmonton for a follow-up appointment with my surgeon, the one who removed a cancerous tumour from my left parotid (salivary) gland during a delicate seven hour operation in May of 2014. (This was my second cancer, completely unrelated to NETS, the incurable cancer that I continue to live with.)

Here I am feeling fabulous after my appointment, not only because a woman feels good when she knows she looks good, but also because the appointment went so well. Not only is there no sign of recurrence, but even this long after surgery, healing is still taking place. I don’t have to see Dr. Williams again for a whole year!

On this occasion, I wore the jacket with a pair of black jeans, comfortable for the four hour round trip to the city, and a top that I’ve had for several years. I’m also wearing my comfy grey flats with their cushiony memory foam insoles, perfect for a walk through the mall after my appointment.

Chokers are back!

August 26, 2016August 25, 2016 / edebock / 5 Comments

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Last week’s 70s girl post got me thinking about another favourite style from that era that has returned in recent months. Chokers are back! Or did they ever really go away? They were popular in the 70s, again in the 90s, and now they’re being seen yet again.

One of my favourite chokers of the 70s was a cameo on a wide velvet ribbon. Another was a leather cord with wooden beads. Those were pretty typical of the era and looked good with the flowing tops and dresses of the day.

The choker of the 90s often had an edgier, gothic look. I think my daughter was in junior high when she wore one that looked exactly like a shiny black dog collar. I’d post a picture, but I suspect she’d hate me for it!

Today’s chokers are more reminiscent of the 70s. Here are a few examples:

While I’m definitely not a proponent of age related fashion rules, it’s my personal opinion that chokers usually look best on the young. Because the skin on our necks is thinner than elsewhere, it tends to loosen and wrinkle earlier. As a result, our necks may look older than the rest of our bodies. Why draw attention to that?

On the other hand, I recently found this one in my jewelry box and I’ve decided to wear it again. Made of pewter and gold plate, it was a gift from a good friend back in the late 70s. It’s a bit longer than most chokers and it’s shape tends to draw the eye down, away from my 63 year old neck. IMG_20160825_171601778

Do you have any favourite fashions from days gone by? Would you wear them today?

70s girl

August 19, 2016August 13, 2016 / edebock / 9 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 11.07.24 PM 3 When we lived in Japan in 2008 and 2009, lightweight, loose-fitting tops made of almost sheer fabric were very popular amongst the Japanese women. Many of them had floral patterns. I bought this one at a tiny, hole-in-the-wall shop around the corner from one of our main schools. It usually had a rack of clothing on the sidewalk out front and I often stopped to take a look on my way by.

Until this week, I hadn’t worn this in a long time, but I couldn’t quite make myself part with it as it was one of many reminders of the wonderful time we had in Japan. In keeping with my commitment not to keep things that I don’t wear, however, I pulled it out of the closet earlier this week and put it on. I was immediately glad that I’d kept it. Worn over a neutral camisole, it was cool and comfortable in the summer heat which doesn’t come close to the heat and humidity we endured at this time of year in Japan.

Rather than transporting me back to Japan, it took me all the way back to the peasant tops I was so fond of in the early 1970s! I know I’m dating myself, but I really don’t mind. I’ve worn some things over the years that would make me cringe now, but I really liked the comfortable boho chic style that I wore in the 70s and I guess I still do!

I sewed most of my own clothes back then. I wish I had some pictures to share, but here are a few of the Simplicity patterns that I might have chosen.

Yes, I guess I’m still a 70s girl at heart!

Fore!

August 12, 2016August 12, 2016 / edebock / 3 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 11.07.24 PM 3 Today seems like a perfect time to write about what I wear to play my favourite sport. After all, I won the ladies side of the Viking Golf Club seniors tournament yesterday!

Let’s ignore the fact that there were only four ladies entered in the tournament, shall we?

Weather permitting, my golf attire usually consists of a sleeveless, collared golf shirt worn with either capri pants or long shorts.

Though my wardrobe is made up largely of neutrals, golfing is a fun time to add a splash of colour, so I have several bright shirts to choose from.

I always wear a ball cap when I’m golfing to shade my eyes and keep my often unruly hair under control. I have a variety of them in several different colours to coordinate with my shirts.

Though I most often golf in a comfortable and supportive pair of golf shoes, I also have a pair of golf sandals that are especially nice on hot days.

Regardless of what I wear, I’ll never look as elegant on the golf course as my Mom did! Here she is back in the 1940s. I doubt if there’s a course anywhere in the world today that would let you on the greens in those shoes, but aren’t they adorable?

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Swimsuit shopping

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 / edebock / 9 Comments

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We spent the past few days camping with two of our grandchildren, 8-year-old Drew and 6-year-old Jami. The prime attraction at the campground was the outdoor pool where we spent many very enjoyable hours. Drew even learned to swim this week!

I’ve never been particularly fond of swimsuit shopping and though I hate to admit it, the newest one in my bag was probably purchased more than a decade ago! It wasn’t until I entered the pool this week that I realized how saggy it had become. I was literally in danger of showing off body parts that ought not to be displayed in public!

On Wednesday, I had to go into Edmonton for a medical appointment, so we had arranged in advance for the children to spend several hours with their auntie and uncle, our youngest son and his wife. Before it was time to pick them up again, we had a bit of time to kill and I decided that I’d better use it looking for a new swimsuit.

I started at The Bay in West Edmonton Mall and got no further. Apparently late July is the ideal time to shop for swimsuits at bargain prices. Every suit in the store was on sale, many for as much as 60% off. The swimsuit department was a hodgepodge of season’s end offerings, but there were still many to choose from.

I quickly realized that it had been so long since I’d shopped for swimwear that I had no idea what size I should be looking for! I wandered around gathering up a variety of sizes, styles and colours and was delighted when the attendant let me take all of them into the fitting room at once! As I narrowed down the field, she kept stopping by and taking away the ones I rejected. Soon, I was down to two choices.

Choice #1:

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Because I’m quite long in the body, I prefer a tankini, but this one piece was very comfortable. I liked the colour, the ruching which disguised the bulgy bits around my middle, and the removable straps. I prefer a higher cut leg, but the price was great. It’s hard to say no to a $95 suit that’s selling for $38.50!

Choice #2:

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This one was a tankini. The downside to a two piece these days is the fact that the pieces tend to be priced separately. As a result, this one was almost twice the price of the first one. I loved the bold black and white stripes though and I also liked the racer back which doesn’t show in the photo.

So which one did I choose? Both of them, of course! I wore one of them to the pool yesterday and the other today and I felt comfortable and attractive in both of them.

Which one do you like best? What do you look for in a swimsuit?

I’m only home overnight; long enough to do laundry and repack. Tomorrow, we take Drew and Jami back home to Calgary and then make our way to Camp Harmattan where we’ll spend the coming week. Nestled in a beautiful location in the Little Red Deer River valley between Olds and Sundre, Camp Harmattan is a place of peace and tranquility where I look forward to a time of social and spiritual refreshment. Following Augustine will be on hiatus until our return. There will be no Fashion Friday post next week, but I’ll see you right here when I get back!

What’s in your purse?

July 22, 2016July 21, 2016 / edebock / 2 Comments

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A friend of mine once reached into her handbag and pulled out half a hamburger wrapped in a paper napkin! It had been there for several days and was practically petrified.

What’s the most unusual thing in your purse?

Here’s what’s in mine right now:

leather clutch wallet purchased 8 years ago in Japan that contains driver’s licence, health care cards, cash, credit cards, receipts, business cards, an expired State of Israel Border Control Stay Permit and a reloadable Japanese Pasmo card that can be used for anything from train and bus travel to shopping. (The last two items are non-essentials, but they don’t take up any space and they bring back memories that make me smile every time I see them!)
cell phone
keys
pens
small folder containing rewards cards
cheque book
notebook
address book
calendar/planner
small pack of tissue
an ultra compact reusable shopping bag
2 small cosmetic bags containing lip balm, lipstick, nail clippers, emery board, tiny foldable scissors, bandaids, eyeglass cleaning cloth, allergy and headache medication, a small tube of hand lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste
ziploc snack bag of almonds

Until recently, I was a one purse person, carrying the same bag for months on end without ever switching. The purse we carry is part of our overall fashion statement, however, and since boring is not the message I want to give about myself, my collection of handbags has started to grow and I’ve figured out how to switch quickly and easily from one to another. The trick is to organize the contents of your purse into smaller bags that can be transferred from one bag to another with ease.

I’m presently using this one a lot. I love it’s carefree summer look and the fact that it’s big enough to carry extras like sunscreen, sunglasses, my camera and even a hat. From The Sak, I won it last summer and first posted about it here.

What do you carry in your purse?

Brand new, but second-hand

July 8, 2016 / edebock / Leave a comment

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I volunteered at the Good As New, our local thrift shop, on Wednesday afternoon and had hoped to find something new to share with you today, but that was not to be. Though I tried on several items, some didn’t fit and others simply didn’t inspire me. Then I remembered that I had yet to wear one of my recent frugal fashionista purchases.

The royal blue sleeveless top, originally from Laura, one of my favourite Canadian fashion retailers, still had it’s original $65 price tag on it when I bought it for just $2! I can’t imagine why anyone would buy a garment and then donate it to a thrift store without ever wearing it, but the Good As New has recently set aside one rack especially for brand new items because they receive so many of them. Obviously, in spite of our present economic downturn, we are still a culture of excess!

When I was young, I refused to wear anything without sleeves because I was very self-conscious about my skinny, toothpick arms. Once I started working out, however, I began to feel differently and now I’m very comfortable in sleeveless tops and dresses.

The polyester/spandex top is just loose enough to hide the little bit extra that I carry around my waist these days and the silver grommets around the neckline and on the shoulders dress it up a bit.

My sister and I are off on a road trip to visit our brother’s family this weekend. Perhaps this outfit should go with me. The white jacket is a hand-me-down from my daughter, or perhaps I should call it a hand-me-up! The pants are the white crops that I’ve featured in a couple of other posts recently and the shoes are a favourite pair of denim flats from Payless ShoeSource that are several years old and, sadly, almost worn out.

Black lace

July 1, 2016June 30, 2016 / edebock / 5 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 11.07.24 PM 3 Lace is on-trend for 2016 for both evening and stylish daytime wear. My latest frugal fashionista (thrift store) purchase, a black lace top, is feminine without being too girly and, unlike some lace garments, it doesn’t remind me of my grandmother’s curtains!

For me, versatility is an important factor when I’m shopping for clothes and this top definitely fits that bill. It can be worn with dressy pants, jeans, capris or even a pencil skirt. It isn’t lined, so I can wear it over any number of different camisoles. It looks good over both black and white, but I especially like it over khaki as shown below.

Black has never been the best look for me, but the khaki camisole underneath seems to soften the overall effect. Even so, this much black close to my face can leave me a bit tired looking. Adding a little extra colour to my face helps overcome that. Hence, the bright lipstick, something that I seldom wear.

Considering the fact that I seem to be perpetually packing and unpacking our suitcases, I also think about how well a garment will pack before I buy it. Again, this top works well. It takes up hardly any space, weighs practically nothing and doesn’t wrinkle. It has to be hand washed, but I can easily wash it out in a hotel sink (after all, isn’t that what they’re for?) and hang it overnight to dry.

At just $2, this was definitely a bargain! I wore it to a conference last week, to church on Sunday and here, I’m wearing it for a day of shopping.

That brings me to another recent purchase. I bought this handbag brand new at a garage sale for just $8! It still had its tags on, the handles and zipper pulls were still wrapped and the tiny silica gel packs were still inside. It had clearly never been used.

No, it isn’t a Tory Burch (I’ve been asked twice), it’s from La Terre Fashion, but what do you expect at a garage sale? It’s very well made and I love it!

Frugal fashionista!

June 24, 2016June 23, 2016 / edebock / 6 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 11.07.24 PM 3 I looked through my closets yesterday and counted 24 garments purchased at our two nearest thrift stores; the Good As New here in Sedgewick and Twice Nice in the neighbouring town of Killam. Add to that a couple of belts, several scarves, a pair of shoes and a favourite necklace and I am clearly a frugal fashionista!

In our area there’s no stigma attached to shopping second hand. In fact, the shops are social gathering places frequented by people of every social and economic status and, for many of us, searching their racks for bargains has become a delightful game.

Richard and I were invited to the home of friends for dessert and drinks last evening. Here’s what I chose to wear.

The sleeveless cowl neck top (originally from Reitmans), the necklace and the shoes were all purchased at the Good As New for a grand total of $9. The pants were bought new a couple of summers ago.