Fashion

Not exactly a fashion post

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Life has been a bit crazy lately between our usual fall/winter activities starting up again and numerous medical appointments for both hubby and I. More about that in the future when we have a better idea what’s going on, but for now, suffice to say that it’s been a bit difficult to focus on something as comparatively trivial as fashion. I will, however, share what I wore yesterday for what was probably our final hike of the year.

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I don’t usually wear graphic t-shirts nor do I often wear black close to my face, but this particular tee has significant meaning to me and I really wasn’t worried about what I looked like out on the trail! 

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The logo, known as The Creator’s Path, was created by Indigenous artist, Don Monkman, for Indian Life Ministries, an organization that I do volunteer work for that seeks to reach Native people across Canada and the United States with the good news of the gospel. If you look closely, you’ll see the cross surrounded by Christ wearing the crown of thorns, the two thieves on either side of Him, His nail pierced hands, the people who rejected Him piercing His side, and those who accepted His sacrifice kneeling in prayer. All of this is held within a circle representing creation. 

Anyway, back to our hike. It was an absolutely beautiful day, one of the last few in the forecast before winter is expected to hit early next week. We spent a couple of hours exploring one of our favourite hiking areas, Willow Creek Coulee, located near the village of Donalda, Alberta. With beautiful sunshine and a temperature of 23ºC (73ºF), it was hard to believe that snow and sub-zero temperatures might be just around the corner! 

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In addition to the t-shirt described above, I wore an older pair of chinos, my trusty Merrell hiking shoes, and a hat to shade my eyes from the sun. There are few things that I love more than the peace and quiet of nature. For awhile, I even forgot all about the headache that I’ve had for the past two weeks! 

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On the way back to the vehicle, we almost decided to do a bit of international travel, but we didn’t have our passports with us.

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Just kidding! 😂 That’s actually a new sign that has appeared on the fence of a property near the trailhead since the last time we hiked the coulee. The land is held by a member of a movement known as  Freemen on the Land, a group who believe that they can declare themselves independent of the government and any laws to which they have not consented. It takes all kinds, I guess! 

Not promising, but I’ll try to have a more conventional fashion post for you next week! 

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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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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.

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

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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.

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?

Book Club: The Next Chapter

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Logo by SamLast Sunday evening, hubby and I went out for dinner and a movie. Like the original film, Book Club: The Next Chapter is hardly Shakespearean drama, but sometimes we just want to be entertained. What could be better for that purpose than something silly and fun starring four stellar actresses of our generation – Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen?

As much as I enjoyed the antics of four lifelong friends on a late-in-life bachelorette trip to Italy, it was their wardrobes that captured my attention. Fashion plays a key role in the movie, the clothes reflecting the fact that these women in their 70s and 80s are vibrant, sexy, and full of life.

In case you didn’t see the first movie, let me introduce the characters with this photo from the 2018 rom com.

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On the left, Diane Keaton plays Diane, a widow. Yes, she kept her own name as well as her quirky fashion sense. And look at that… she’s wearing a jean jacket! If you read my last post, you’ll know that some people are of the opinion that a woman over 40 should never be seen in a jean jacket. Candice Bergen plays Sharon, a self-deprecating judge who has been divorced for many years. Vivian, a flamboyant hotel magnate, is played by Jane Fonda and Carol, a successfully married restauranteur is played by Mary Steenburgen.

In the sequel which takes place immediately after pandemic restrictions are lifted, Judge Sharon has retired, Carol’s restaurant has closed, and Vivian, who reconnected with an old beau in the first movie, is engaged. At their first in-person get together after the shutdown, they decide to fulfill a long-time dream and travel to Italy together.

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During their romp through Rome, Vivian wears a Bride to Be sash and veil over her leopard print blouse and the foursome visit a bridal salon where she tries on multiple wedding dresses. I wish I could show you an actual photo of 85-year-old Fonda rocking this amazing gown! She was as stunning as any young bride to be.

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Losing their luggage (but thankfully not the wedding dress) meant shopping and an opportunity to push the envelope and make their looks a bit more daring, more colourful and exuberant. Steenburgen, the youngster in the crowd at 70, looks fabulous in a daringly low cut red gown, but again, I couldn’t find a photo, so you’ll have to watch the movie to see that one.

Costume designer Stefano De Nardis clearly had fun with this movie. “To me, ‘age appropriate’ means being able to have a personal style and let it out through clothing. I believe more in ‘personality appropriate,’ than ‘age appropriate.’” he says.

The plot might be somewhat thin, but in our ageist, youth-obsessed culture, the message that life is not over when we hit 60, 70, or even 80 is an important one. Senior women (and men) are still very much alive, engaged, and an important part of society. So, why not dress like it?

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Wear what makes you comfortable

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First of all, a big thank you to everyone who responded to last Friday’s post, both here on the blog and on Facebook! Clearly, the consensus is that the top with the unusual neckline is not weird.

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I especially appreciated those readers who reminded me that what matters most is whether or not I’m comfortable wearing it. That leads me to today’s topic. I recently read another one of those stupid articles about what older women should or should not wear. Believe it or not, this one actually said that “a woman over 40 should never be caught in a jean jacket.” Really? What absolute balderdash! A jean jacket is a classic fashion staple that never goes out of style. If you’re comfortable wearing one at 101, why in the world wouldn’t you?

Created in the United States in about 1880 by Levi Strauss, it was originally designed as a durable, heavy-duty jacket to be worn by cowboys, miners, and railroad workers. Over time, however, the jean jacket has become a wardrobe staple for both men and women of all ages.

I have two of them, both thrifted several years ago. 

The one on the left is a very traditional style from Gap while the other, from Jones New York, is a bit dressier looking.

I love the versatility of a jean jacket. You’ve seen me wearing one with a dress both here and here, but they can, of course, be much more casual. You’ve also seen me in a “Canadian tuxedo” here.

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. It fits my style adjectives… classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic. 

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I paired the Jones New York jacket with white jeans, a sleeveless top, and sandals. It wasn’t until I looked at the pictures that I realized that everything except my accessories was thrifted! According to someone, I’m 30 years too old to be wearing a jean jacket, but as some of you reminded me, we ought to wear what we’re comfortable in and I’m definitely comfortable in a jean jacket! 

Is it too weird?

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Today I want your honest opinion about something. Awhile ago, while thrift store shopping with my daughter and one of my teenage granddaughters, I found this top. I liked the fabric and the colour, but I was unsure about the unconventional neckline.

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Though I was hesitant, I decided to try it on. When I stepped out of the fitting room, I asked my granddaughter whether she thought it was weird or not. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face told me that she was skeptical. My daughter, however, said she really liked it. Hmm… what to do? Buy it or not? 

I decided then and there that I’d do something I’d never done before. I’d buy it and ask your opinion! 

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Shortly after hanging it in my closet, I noticed that cabi was offering a top with a somewhat similar neckline as one of their spring specials. Maybe my top wasn’t so weird after all.

1080 I haven’t actually worn it anywhere yet except out to the yard to take these photos. I’m waiting for your opinion, so… is this top weird or not? I’m looking forward to knowing what you think. 

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Analyzing an outfit

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Sometimes I like to analyze an outfit to figure out why it works, or in some cases, why it doesn’t. Let’s do that with this outfit today.

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The L.L.Bean tunic is new to me, purchased recently at one of our local thrift stores. There was a time in my younger (and perhaps more foolish) days when I might have worn this fingertip length garment as a dress, but not any longer! Instead, I could wear it with leggings, but here I’ve chosen to wear it over a pair of dark wash jeans. But what is it about this outfit that makes it work for me?

First, as with any outfit, I ask myself whether or not it fits my 5 style adjectives. Does it say classy, confident, comfortable, casual, and authentic? This is, of course, a personal judgement call, but I believe that it does.  

A garment that fits well can accentuate good features and disguise less desirable ones. I have a boyish figure; straight up and down with very little waist definition and narrow hips. The shape of this tunic gives me a more feminine profile by creating the illusion of girlish hips. It’s loose enough over my midsection not to reveal any bulges and the three-quarter length sleeves draw the eye away from my waist area. 

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If you’ve been reading Fashion Friday for long, you know that I really like horizontal stripes and contrary to what we were taught years ago, research has shown that they don’t make you look fatter. In fact, they might actually make you look thinner! And then there’s colour. Teal is known as a universal colour because it looks good on everyone; it flatters every skin tone. 

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Accessories add the finishing touch to any outfit and in this case, I chose to wear my Nordgreen watch with its navy leather strap, a wide bracelet made of multicoloured beads, and a pair of iridescent earrings that pick up the teal colour of the tunic. Try as I might, I couldn’t seem to get a decent picture of the earrings, but this one shows off the bracelet well. I like its boho vibe which adds a bit of creativity to my look without being too over the top. 

PS.  Did you notice a recent change to the blog? No more ads! After blogging free for over 15 years (except for a small fee to cover extra space so that I could include lots of pictures), I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to a paid plan so that I could bring you a cleaner, ad free read. Until now, those ads have been paying my way, but I was finding them more and more intrusive and annoying. I suspect that you were too! 

7 years of Fashion Friday!

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Logo by SamWhen I introduced this weekly feature to my blog seven years ago this week, I had no idea that it would last this long. I knew that I could keep it up for awhile, but I wondered how quickly I’d run out of ideas. More than 300 posts later, here we are! I have learned so much and I’ve connected with so many interesting women around the world. Sometimes I wonder what this 70-year-old woman with no formal fashion training has to offer, but your feedback definitely encourages me to keep going!

Today I thought it might be fun to look back at the very first photos of myself that I posted on Fashion Friday.

As I look at these photos, I notice several things:

  1. My style hasn’t changed much in seven years! Though I don’t have all of these pieces anymore, I’d still feel comfortable going out dressed like this because this outfit fits all five of my present style adjectives… classy, confident, comfortable, casual, and authentic.
  2. Seven years later, I still have the blazer and the shoes! The blazer is left over from my teaching days. Though I don’t wear it often anymore, it’s a classic piece that really doesn’t go out of style. The shoes are a comfy pair of flats that I last wore to the symphony in Xalapa, Mexico last month!
  3. My hair! After letting my thick, naturally curly hair grow out and wearing it considerably longer than this for the past several years, I had it cut short again a couple of weeks ago! It looks almost exactly like this except that it’s a bit greyer now!
  4. The lack of snow. If I was standing on the stairs that replaced those ones when we added a small deck to the front of our house and hubby was taking my picture today, he’d be up to his knees or more in snow! Though daytime temperatures are occasionally creeping up above the freezing point, it will likely be awhile before we see bare ground and start taking outdoor fashion photos again.

While preparing this post, I also decided to look at some stats and see which of my Fashion Friday posts have been the most popular. Far and away the winner, with over 12 000 views, is the post entitled How to shop like a celebrity published on August 2, 2019. It would appear that a lot of readers have found it on Pinterest. My second most popular Fashion Friday post, A model who embraced her age, announced the death of 67-year-old model, Cindy Joseph, in July 2018. That one has had more than 8000 hits. I guess it pays to mention celebrities!

And now, let’s see how many more fashion posts I can write before I run out of ideas!

Make your closet more eco-friendly

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Tips for creating and maintaining a sustainable wardrobe

Logo by SamTo begin with, what is a sustainable wardrobe? In a nutshell, it’s one that reduces the impact that your clothes have on the planet. Adopting sustainable practices improves the quality of our lives, protects the environment, and preserves natural resources for future generations. So where do we start?

I’d recommend doing some research and trying to find sustainable and ethical clothing brands and purchasing only those, but I know how challenging it can be to find accurate information. Choosing sustainable fabrics is also easier said than done, so what’s an ordinary person to do? Here are some simple affordable steps that we can all take to dress more sustainably:

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Buy less

The most sustainable anything is the one you already own. Instead of shopping, look for new ways to wear what’s already hanging in your closet. 

Quality over quantity

Instead of chasing trends and buying numerous pieces of poor quality clothing every season, avoid fast fashion altogether and invest in a few good quality pieces that will last. There’s no question that buying higher quality clothes will cost more initially, but they’ll outlast cheaper, less eco-friendly options, greatly reducing the cost per wear. 

The 30 wears test

I was shocked to read on the Wear Me 30 Times website that the average woman keeps a piece of clothing in her wardrobe for only 5 weeks! In my opinion, that’s inexcusable! Wear Me 30 Times is a slow-fashion initiative focused on supporting conscious consumption and increasing awareness of the problem of waste in the fashion industry. The principle is very simple. Before purchasing something, if you can honestly say that you’ll wear it a minimum 30 times (and hopefully more often), then go ahead and buy it. There are exceptions, of course. The dress you buy to wear to your son’s wedding or your 40th anniversary celebration might not pass the 30 wears test and that’s okay, but even on those occasions try to invest in something with longevity that you’ll be able to wear again. 

Shop second-hand

If you’ve been following my blog for very long, you know that I love thrift store shopping! Not only is it a great way to welcome sustainability into your wardrobe, but it’s fun. It’s like going on a treasure hunt, never knowing what you’ll find. If you’re new to this, you can find 18 tips for successful second-hand shopping here. 

Look for recycled fabric

Check labels. You may be surprised to find clothing or accessories made from plastic bottles or sweaters made of pre-used wool. Some brands are even making vegan leather out of pineapple rinds and apple peels!

I have to give a shout-out here to Karyn, one of my former students and founder of Repurposed Plastic. Earrings from plastic bottle caps! Brilliant!

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Follow good laundry practices

First and foremost in this category, as mentioned in last week’s post, don’t wash clothes that aren’t dirty! With the exception of socks, underwear and workout wear, you should be able to wear an item at least three times before putting it in the laundry. Not only does washing less often save water and electricity, but it also helps your clothes last longer. Make your laundry routine even more sustainable by using eco-friendly laundry products. Wash in cold water, don’t overfill the machine, and when possible, air dry your clothes. 

Mend and repair

Prolong the life of your quality clothing by learning how to mend. It’s not as difficult as it might sound and there are lots of online articles and videos available to help. If the job is beyond your skill level, consider finding a tailor who can do it for you. Most dry cleaners also offer mending services. Taking shoes and boots to a repair shop for resoling is a cost-effective way to prolong their life while keeping perfectly good uppers out of the landfill.

Do you have any tips to add? Have you found any sustainable clothing brands that you can recommend? 

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