Fashion

Packing for the in-between season

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LogoLast year at exactly this time, I wrote a post about deciding what to wear for a day away from home during this in-between season when the weather is so unpredictable. This year, my challenge was much greater as it involved packing a suitcase!

At home on the prairie, the geese are returning and the gophers have come out of hibernation, but there are still patches of snow on the ground. We’re travelling through high mountain passes where winter conditions are still a distinct possibility, but our destination is the coast where flowers will be blooming and rain showers are likely. Daytime high temperatures there are likely to be around 10ºC (50ºF). How do you pack for all of that?

There’s a “just in case” bag in the back of the vehicle with heavy coats, toques, scarves, and gloves, and we each brought along a pair of winter boots. I’m seriously hoping that we don’t need any of those things, but as they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Layering is always the key to coping with varying temperatures and weather conditions, so I packed accordingly. I want to be able to add or subtract layers as the days warm up or cool off. For the most part, the clothes in the suitcase came from my fall/winter wardrobe, but I did go into storage and pull out a couple of the warmer items from my spring/summer collection. The majority of what I packed was neutral in colour allowing me to mix and match, creating a variety of different looks with a limited number of pieces.

The main purpose of our trip is to be with my special brother who is having surgery on Monday, but since that’s taking us to the coast at such a beautiful time of year and since it feels like forever since we’ve had a real holiday, we’ve added a few days in Victoria to our plans. Casual outfits will work well for most of what we plan to do, but I’ll probably want to dress up a bit for a couple of events. Accessories take up very little space and easily add polish to an outfit when that’s what’s needed.

A change of shoes can also give an outfit a lift. That’s one area where I can indulge myself on a trip like this one. When we fly, the number of pairs of shoes I can take is limited by suitcase space, but when we travel by vehicle I can fit in many more! Comfort is key, however. We plan to do a lot of walking, especially when we’re in Victoria, so I made sure to bring more than one pair of comfortable, supportive walking shoes. That way if one pair gets wet, I’ll have another to change into. We also packed umbrellas!

I’m not sure if I’ll be posting anything for Fashion Friday the next two weeks, but it will be a treat to be able to write some travel posts instead! Do stay tuned!

Dopamine dressing for spring!

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LogoThere’s no denying that the past 24 months have been challenging. Everyone is ready for a booster shot of joy and in the fashion world, it’s coming in the form of something called dopamine dressing. Dopamine, often called a “happiness hormone”, is essentially a chemical released in the brain in response to things that make us feel good. Dopamine dressing is an approach to style that involves the use of colour, texture, and pattern to make us feel happier. An infusion of bold, bright colours is this spring’s answer to the stay-at-home doldrums of the past two years.  

If you’re like me, you wore the neon rainbow back in the mid 80s and perhaps you can’t quite see yourself doing that again. The real goal of dopamine dressing is to dress in a way that makes you feel happy and gives you joy, so that may not mean dressing head to toe in highlighter colours like vibrant yellow, orange, green, and pink. Dopamine dressing isn’t going to look the same for everyone. 

If you’re interested in bringing a bit more colour into your life but don’t want to overdo it, consider adding a colourful accessory or two. A bright pair of shoes or handbag can go a long way toward giving you a new, current look. If you want to go a bit further than that, think about anchoring a bright top with a more neutral pair of pants or basic blue jeans. 

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And if you think that dopamine dressing is only for the young, think again! Here’s 100-year-old fashion icon, Iris Apfel, in all her sunshiny glory!

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Ultimately though, always strive to dress in a way that make you feel happy and you’ll inevitably spread your happiness to others too!

 Images: Pinterest

Inspired by art

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LogoFashion inspiration can come from anywhere. If the colours of nature inspire you, perhaps you can incorporate some of them into an outfit. My OOTD (outfit of the day) was inspired by a piece of art.

My niece is an Indigenous artist and photographer who draws inspiration for her work from nature, particularly her early childhood years living in the Northwest Territories and later years growing up on the Canadian prairie. Though I grew up at the coast, I love the big prairie sky and this painting from Esta’s Prairie Landscapes collection reminds me of my harvest days operating a combine.

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I absolutely love the colours in the small print which has a place of prominence in our living room. Recently, I’ve felt inspired to try putting together an outfit using those colours, so I went to my closet to see what I could come up with.  

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The pants may be more reminiscent of caramel or cognac than wheat, but they come as close as I could to picking up the darker bits in Esta’s field. They’re the soft corduroy Button Fly Skinny from cabi’s Fall 2020 season. I found the blues of the sky in the Scallop Top from cabi’s Fall 2019 collection and the light denim shirt from Uniqlo that you’ve seen on the blog several times before. I finished the outfit with a pair of gold earrings that I won in a golf tournament several years ago. 

I wonder if I can find anything else around the house that might inspire an outfit? Stay tuned and I’ll let you know! 

 

 

Does fashion matter?

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LogoIn a world where women and children are fleeing a war torn country with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the few possessions that they can carry, does fashion really matter? In a time when opposing opinions about wearing masks and getting vaccinated have torn families and friendships apart, does fashion matter? In a patriarchal world where International Women’s Day has just pointed out gender disparity in vital areas such as education and health care, does fashion matter? These are questions I’ve been asking myself as I wrestled with what to write about today. Perhaps writing about fashion is too frivolous, or is it?

In the light of eternity, maybe fashion doesn’t matter, but it matters to Farah, a young mother in Pakistan who took out a Kiva loan to buy a new sewing machine. With it, she can supplement her husband’s meagre income by making clothes to sell and thus afford to send her children to school.

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From growing and processing cotton and other fibres to the finished product, the fashion and textiles industry employs millions of people worldwide – roughly one in eight workers globally. Add the retail workers involved in selling the clothes and fashion matters to a lot of people!

Then there’s the question of whether or not fashion matters to us personally. Enclothed cognition is a term that relates to the effect that clothing has on the way a person thinks, feels, and functions. Studies actually show that what we wear directly affects our behaviour, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with other people. If that’s the case, perhaps fashion really does matter. Perhaps it’s part of self-care. How we dress can reflect our personality, character, and mood. It’s a way to express our individuality and creativity. So, in this day and age, when life sometimes seems heavy or overwhelming, think about those outfits that you feel happiest wearing, the ones that you receive the most compliments on, and wear those. Let fashion give you a boost!

Things I said I’d never wear

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LogoI still remember standing in the high school locker room after physical education class and seeing classmates of mine squeezing themselves back into their girdles. It wasn’t a pretty sight! They looked so uncomfortable that I immediately said to myself that I’d never, ever wear such a thing. Of course, I was skinny as a rail at the time, so it wasn’t something that I had to worry about. Shapewear has changed a lot in the 50+ years that have passed since I made that promise to myself. Soft, subtle pieces have replaced the “scaffolding” of yesteryear, but I haven’t broken my promise yet!

I also remember saying that I’d never wear an underwire bra. As a young girl, I thought that they would be just as uncomfortable as those structured girdles must have been. I’ve been wearing them for decades though, so never say never!

So, what else did I say I’d never wear?

Low-rise jeans. When those became popular in the 90s, I was sure I’d never wear them. I still think they’re one of the worst trends ever, but eventually I had to give in when there was nothing else to be found. Now, I still have a couple of pairs in my closet that I hate to part with. I like everything about them except the low rise. With muffin top spilling over, they really ought to be worn with shapewear! 🤣 Instead, I wear them with loose fitting tops that hide that problem area. I’m very glad that higher rises are back in style though.

Distressed jeans. Distressed anything actually. I just can’t see the point of buying clothes that look like they’re already worn out. My view on this one has softened somewhat though. While I’ve yet to actually wear any of them, I have seen some tastefully distressed pieces that I might not say no to. On the other hand, I’ve also seen jeans that are barely there, ones that have more holes than fabric! Those are still a definite never!

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Cropped pants. I’ve always liked capri pants, or pedal pushers as we called them when I was a child, but when longer cropped pants came into style I didn’t think I’d ever wear them. For a long-legged gal who often had trouble finding pants that were long enough, purposely buying a pair that ended at the ankle seemed counterintuitive! I didn’t hold out on this trend for very long though and soon found myself adding them to my summer wardrobe. Again, never say never, I guess!

Leggings as pants. There is absolutely nothing wrong with leggings. I own several pairs, but they are not the same as pants!  I’m not a proponent of fashion rules of any kind, but when it comes to leggings, unless they’re being worn strictly as exercise wear, I think they need to be worn with a long top, a tunic, or a dress.

Crocs. I’m sorry, I know lots of people love them and say that they’re comfortable, but those colourful rubber (technically resin) shoes are a big NO for me! Apparently it was Stacy London who said, “If Crocs were the last shoes on earth, I would cut off my feet.” I might not go that far, but in my opinion, they’re just plain ugly!

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Now it’s your turn. Are there things that you would never wear? Have you ever said that you’d never wear something and then changed your mind?

Stripes for spring!

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LogoI used to write a blog post twice a year about the trends for spring/summer and fall/winter based on the looks that ruled the runways for that season. I’ve quit doing that because they were a lot of work and amongst the women who read this blog, who actually dresses like a runway model? Probably no one! I know I don’t. Real women do, however, want to know how some of those looks translate into the clothes that we’ll actually see in our favourite retailers; things that we would actually wear.

That leads me to one of the biggest trends for the upcoming season… stripes! That’s right, though some of us have been wearing stripes forever, they’re going to be especially popular this season!

A classic Breton top, first introduced in 1858 as part of the uniform for navy seamen in Northern France, is an easy pattern to wear and a favourite of mine. The original design had long sleeves and featured 21 horizontal stripes, one for each of Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories. Apparently, the distinctive navy and white stripes made it easy for rescuers to spot sailors who fell overboard!

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Nowadays, Breton striped t-shirts are available in both long and short-sleeved versions and a myriad of colours. Since they never really go out of style and can be worn year round, I’d like to add a couple more to my wardrobe this season while they’re easy to find. I much prefer to shop in person, but I’ve been doing some looking around  online and thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve found with you. Please keep in mind that I’m not affiliated with any of the companies represented here and I don’t benefit in any way if you choose to order something. Since I have readers in wide variety of locations, I’m showing retailers from the UK and US as well as Canada.

The Original Breton Shirt  –  The Breton Shirt Co

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In addition to the traditional Breton top shown here, The Breton Shirt Co offers a variety of colours and styles.

Striped Oversized Long Sleeve T-shirt  –  Uniqlo

This one is also available in several colours.

Three-Quarter Sleeve Criss-Cross Sailor Top  – Blair

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I really like the sleeve detail on this one. Though it also comes in a variety of colours, teal is a colour that flatters every skin tone.

This is just a small sampling of the Breton type tees that are available this season, but stripes are not limited to this one style.

Square Neck Button Front Tank  –  Cleo

Stripes aren’t always horizontal!

Prep School Shirt  –  Cabi

This cropped shirt is a cute and casual look for summer.

Washable Linen Pull-On Pants  –  L.L.Bean

These look a lot like pyjamas to me, but they would be light and breezy on a hot summer’s day.

24/7 Sweats, Dress Stripe  –  L.L.Bean

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I had just about finished writing this post when this dress popped up on my Facebook newsfeed. Isn’t it interesting how Facebook knows exactly where we’ve been on the internet? Not always a good thing, but in this case I didn’t mind!

Trend or not, stripes may not be your thing. If that’s the case and you really can’t see yourself wearing any of these, why not add a just a touch of the trend in a scarf or a handbag?

Colour Joy Floral Striped Scarf  –  The Bay

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Stripe Shopper Bag  –  Nordstrom

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We’ve just come through another incredibly cold snap and it looks like winter will be with us for awhile longer, but it’s nice to start thinking about spring and about what we might be wearing when the weather finally does warm up. What about you? Will you be wearing stripes?

25 style tips that every woman should know

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LogoHave you ever noticed that some women always look polished and put-together? What is it that makes them look that way? Who doesn’t want to look fabulous every time she steps out of the house? Today I’m sharing 25 style tips that every woman should know. Tips that work regardless of size, age, budget, or taste.

1.  Use a lint roller to remove lint, hair, and other small fibres from your clothes. This is especially important if you have pets!

2.  Similarly, make sure you have a fabric shaver to remove fuzz and pills from sweaters.

3.  Invest in a good quality iron with a range of settings; one that can get out the toughest wrinkles but is also gentle enough to use on delicate fabrics.

4.  Even if you’re not a seamstress, have a basic sewing kit on hand and know how to use it to sew on a button, tack up a hem, or do a minor repair.

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5.  Make sure that your shoes and boots are clean and/or polished.

6.  Use empty wine bottles or rolled up newspapers to keep tall boots standing upright when you’re not wearing them.

7.  Declutter and organize your closet. Hang what needs to be hung in neat categories and fold the rest. You won’t wear what you can’t see.

8.  Read labels when you shop. Pay particular attention to washing or cleaning instructions. If an item requires hand-washing or dry-cleaning, don’t buy it unless you know that you’ll give it the care it needs.

9.  Be a strategic shopper. Keep a wish list of specific gaps in your wardrobe to prevent impulse buys that you’ll regret later.

10.  Remember that a bargain is only a bargain if you’re actually going to wear it. Don’t buy it unless you love it.

11.  Dress up a little when you go shopping. This tends to result in better customer service.

12.  Put the majority of your fashion dollars into good quality basics. Have fun with trends, but don’t fill your closet with them as most won’t last long.

13.  Check the rear view. Use a 3 way mirror when you’re shopping for clothes and check your back before you leave home. Every angle matters!

14.  Wearing white? Check it in the light. White clothes tend to look more see-through in daylight, so check in bright light to make sure you’re not revealing something that you’d rather keep hidden.

15.  Make sure your clothes fit properly.

16.  Don’t prioritize fashion over comfort. If you feel uncomfortable, you’ll probably look uncomfortable.

17.  Don’t be afraid to mix patterns. For tips on how to do that successfully, check out this post.

18.  Think about balance. Your top and bottom should complement one another. Pair a loose skirt or wide-legged pants with a fitted or cropped top. Wear skinny jeans or leggings with a looser, longer top.

19.  Remember, leggings are not pants! Unless you’re wearing them strictly as exercise wear, pair them with longer tops, tunics and oversized cardigans that cover your butt.

20.  Accessorize! Accessories are the finishing touches that can take an outfit from drab to dramatic.

21.  Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

22.  Know which colours suit your skin tone. Wear those colours close to your face.

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23.  Know your personal style. This post explains how to use Pinterest to help you identify yours.

24.  Think about what you want your outfit to say about you. For help in choosing and using your own style adjectives, read this post.

25.  Remember, age is just a number! Regardless of how young or old you are, embrace the styles that make you feel good.

If you have questions about any of these tips or would like to add some of your own, please use the comment section below.

From dressy to casual

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LogoAbout this time of year, I begin to get very tired of my winter wardrobe. When you aren’t going shopping and haven’t bought anything new for quite awhile, the only solution to this wardrobe weariness is to try to create some new combinations using items that you already have. That’s what I did this week.

Ever since wide-legged pants came back into vogue, I’ve been thinking about pulling out a pair that have been in storage for several years. I remember exactly when and where I bought them. It was a rainy day in March of 2008. Hubby and I had been in Japan for about three weeks. We were over the jet lag and had settled into our teaching jobs and our tiny apartment. It was a national holiday and because of the inclement weather, we decided to spend the afternoon exploring a mall that we’d often passed on the train on our way to work. This was years before Uniqlo came to Canada, but we’d been introduce to the brand on a previous trip to Japan and were delighted to find a Uniqlo store in the mall that day. Before leaving Canada, I had looked everywhere for a pair of navy blue dress pants to add to my teaching wardrobe, but hadn’t been able to find what I was looking for. Amazingly, there they were waiting for me in Japan and I hadn’t even had to fit them into my suitcase!

The pants, which have a subtle pinstripe that doesn’t show in the photos unless you zoom in closer, served me well that year in Japan and again a few years later when we spent some time teaching in China. Once we were home to stay, however, I didn’t need a working wardrobe. I wore them to church occasionally, but eventually they were put away in storage. I didn’t get rid of them because I really liked them, they fit well, and they reminded me of our wonderful experiences teaching in Asia.

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When I decided to bring them out this week I wanted to see if I could style this old pair of dress pants in a more casual, sporty way. Inspired by this post published by Greetje who writes the blog, No Fear of Fashion, and others I’ve seen wearing dressier pants with sneakers, I started pulling pieces from my closet. In no time, I had come up with four very similar but different looks.

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I started with a basic Breton stripe tee. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Breton stripes! I very seldom tuck a t-shirt in, but in this case I wanted to highlight the pants, so I tucked it all around and added a black belt. Without a topper of some kind, this would have emphasized the thickness at my waist, so I added my Uniqlo ultra light down vest. I finished the outfit with white sneakers and a pair of silver earrings. Suddenly, the pants that were previously part of a career wardrobe fit my more casual retirement lifestyle. A quick switch from vest to lightweight hoodie resulted in another outfit that I would definitely wear today.

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Next, I put away the Breton stripes and brought out a more colourful t-shirt. I also exchanged the white sneakers for navy blue ones.

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Finally, I switched back to the vest for one last look.

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Now that I’ve seen how easily I can work these pants back into my present wardrobe, my mind goes to another pair from the same era that are still in storage. That pair is black and even wider in the leg. Perhaps I’ll pull them out too and see what I can do with them.

Brooches are back!

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LogoBrooches, once considered stodgy and old-fashioned, have made a fashionable comeback and are now a stylish and versatile accessory that can add a spark of glamour and attitude to almost any outfit. Unlike our grandmothers, who tended to wear a bit of elegance pinned to their lapels or upper bodices, today’s brooches are often styled in unexpected ways.

If you’re lucky, you might have inherited some vintage ones from your granny, but if not, second-hand stores are a good source. I found these two in one of our local thrift shops for 25 cents apiece!

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The newest trend where brooches are concerned is wearing a cluster. Why wear just one when you can wear two or three? Some are even sold in sets like these ones found on Amazon. Though insects wouldn’t be my personal choice (except maybe the dragonfly and the butterfly), having a theme can sometimes help pull a look together.

At the moment, since I only have the two to work with, I’ve been wearing them together.

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As a gal who loves casual glamour, I like the juxtaposition of a little sparkle on a basic denim shirt. I’d also wear them on a plain t-shirt, a sweater, a cardigan, or a jean jacket.

Brooches didn’t actually begin as jewelry. Historically, they were functional items used to hold pieces of cloth together. The pin on a Scotsman’s kilt comes to mind as a good example. Today, however, there are numerous ways to make a statement with a brooch. Here are just a few ideas:

  • use one or more to dress up a purse or a bag
  • add one to a hat
  • use one as a hair accessory
  • position one at the point of a V neck
  • add one to the waistline of a skirt or dress instead of wearing a belt
  • attach one to a belt
  • pin one to the wrist of a shirt or jacket

I even read about one woman who liked to pin a sparkly dragonfly to the back of her shoulder!

If you’re wearing a brooch, or especially a cluster of them, be careful that they aren’t too heavy for the fabric. To prevent them from pulling it down, try pinning a piece of felt or sturdier fabric behind your garment to provide support. A cotton makeup pad will also work well.

A post about brooches would be incomplete without mentioning Queen Elizabeth II. Apparently she owns 98 of them and is seldom, if ever, seen without one. Many of them have historic and personal significance and some are meant to convey a message. I’m not a monarchist, but I can’t help chuckling over the fact that on July 12, 2018, the day that Donald Trump arrived in the UK for a three day royal visit, she wore one that had been given to her by the Obamas!

That skirt again

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LogoThree weeks ago, I shared this skirt with you. It was one of my most recent thrift store finds. One of my personal fashion rules is that everything in my closet should be able to be worn at least three ways, so I’ve been playing around with the skirt and looking for other things to wear it with. Today, we’re going to look at two combinations that I tried and discuss why I think one works better than the other.

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First, I tried the skirt with this turtleneck sweater that’s been in my wardrobe for many years. The colour worked, but I felt frumpy. That definitely wasn’t a look I was going for! But what was the problem? The sweater is a bit bulky and very straight. I don’t have a girlish figure and the shapeless sweater emphasized that. It made me look thick in the middle! I tried adding a long necklace and belting it at my natural waist, but I still felt frumpy, so this look was a no go for me.

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I think this look is much better. The V neck, the shape of the sweater and its shirttail hem give me a more streamlined look. The necklace and the glimpse of navy at the neck draw the eye away from my midsection and toward my face.

What do you think? Do you agree with my assessment?

I meant to have hubby take a close-up shot to show you the jewelry I was wearing, but I forgot, so here they are.

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I’ve had the necklace for about 20 years. it was a gift from a very dear friend who lost her battle with breast cancer 15 years ago, so it’s very special to me. The cameo earrings are my latest purchase from cabi. Aren’t they exquisite? I felt a bit like I should be walking around a heritage house or maybe a stone castle instead of my 1980s bungalow!