But I won't. That's not real.
What is real is WEARING THE PINK SWEATER!!!!!
I can't believe it, but I was in a pickle. I haven't picked up my clothes at the dry cleaners, I am feeling sorta fat, my boots are ready to kick the bucket....
November 30, 2005
I Am Embarassed To Admit This....
I could lie. I could say I am wearing a fabulous designer outfit I just picked up at a chi-chi boutique last night.
But I won't. That's not real.
What is real is WEARING THE PINK SWEATER!!!!!
I can't believe it, but I was in a pickle. I haven't picked up my clothes at the dry cleaners, I am feeling sorta fat, my boots are ready to kick the bucket....
So the pink merino v-neck from J. Crew that I sport waaaaayyyy too often. Light gray suiting fabric skirt from Banana Republic - straight cut, lined, hits to bottom of knee. Bare legs. Same color pink pointy pumps from NYLA with cool studs and stuff on them. Silver necklace from Chico's, silver hoops. Makeup pretty basic - ivory shadow over entire lid, thick line of black liquid liner, plenty of pink blush, and pink lip gloss from maybelline from last year (found it in my coat pocket!).
But I won't. That's not real.
What is real is WEARING THE PINK SWEATER!!!!!
I can't believe it, but I was in a pickle. I haven't picked up my clothes at the dry cleaners, I am feeling sorta fat, my boots are ready to kick the bucket....
November 29, 2005
It's Almost 80 Degrees Out Today!
What to wear in this heat when all the summer clothes are in the attic!!!
Electric blue tape yarn square neck cap sleeved shell ( bought at Marshall's for $9.99!). Black cuffed trousers from Banana Republic two years ago. Black pointy toed pumps. White gold chain with green glass pendant from Italy. Silver hoops. Beaded bracelet in blues and greens.
New Highlights!!!
i.d. Bare Excentuals for foundation and concealer. Pale gray shadow (Body Shop) from lashes to fade a bit above crease. Charcoal shadow (also Body Shop)along lash lines and a touch in the crease. Two coats of black Zoom Lash mascara (MAC), a bit of Almay bronzer on the cheeks, and a touch of Nars Orgasm blush on the apples. Origins Bronze tinted lipbalm on the lips.
New Highlights!!!
i.d. Bare Excentuals for foundation and concealer. Pale gray shadow (Body Shop) from lashes to fade a bit above crease. Charcoal shadow (also Body Shop)along lash lines and a touch in the crease. Two coats of black Zoom Lash mascara (MAC), a bit of Almay bronzer on the cheeks, and a touch of Nars Orgasm blush on the apples. Origins Bronze tinted lipbalm on the lips.
November 28, 2005
Monday Monday....
And I am wearing the damn denim blazer again. It's 70 degrees outside and I am so confused as to what to wear in this weather. Figure if it's too hot int he office, I can remove the jacket.
On body:
Previously mentioned dark denim stretch blazer from Ann Taylor. Orange-red silk scoop neck knit shell from Banana Republic. Black wide-leg triacetate trousers from Ann Taylor. Black open-toed heels from Steve Madden. Two strands of orange glass beads from random hippie store at the beach.
On face:
i.d. Bare Escentuals foundation and concealer. A bit of Almay bronzer on the cheeks. Copper metallic shadow from Garden Botanika on the lids and swooped up a bit above the crease. Black liquid liner from Maybelline. Black Zoom Lash mascara from MAC. Origins tinted lip balm in bronze.
In hair:
L'Oreal Studio Fix Out of Bed
A bit placed in damp hair and used while blow drying, then added to edges for messy texture. This usually works lovely in normal weather, but today is hot, rainy and humid so it looks a bit... greasy. No worries, tonight I am going to get highlights (first time getting hair colored since 2003 and the first time ever getting it colored professionally!) so they will wash and restyle my hair this evening.
On body:
Previously mentioned dark denim stretch blazer from Ann Taylor. Orange-red silk scoop neck knit shell from Banana Republic. Black wide-leg triacetate trousers from Ann Taylor. Black open-toed heels from Steve Madden. Two strands of orange glass beads from random hippie store at the beach.
On face:
i.d. Bare Escentuals foundation and concealer. A bit of Almay bronzer on the cheeks. Copper metallic shadow from Garden Botanika on the lids and swooped up a bit above the crease. Black liquid liner from Maybelline. Black Zoom Lash mascara from MAC. Origins tinted lip balm in bronze.
In hair:
L'Oreal Studio Fix Out of Bed
A bit placed in damp hair and used while blow drying, then added to edges for messy texture. This usually works lovely in normal weather, but today is hot, rainy and humid so it looks a bit... greasy. No worries, tonight I am going to get highlights (first time getting hair colored since 2003 and the first time ever getting it colored professionally!) so they will wash and restyle my hair this evening.
November 26, 2005
That Pink Sweater!
Date Day with Sister. We went to a museum exhibit, and then a semi-chi-chi restaurant for dinner in the city. Needed to look nice, yet comfortable for mucho city walking.
My pink merino v-neck from J. Crew. Black trousers from Ann Taylor with a nice crease down the front. My Liberty scarf that Sister bought me when in London. And my shoes?
Well, Dilly owns hiking shoes, trail running shoes, trendy sneaks. She owns stiletto boots, pumps, strappy heeled sandals. Yet for a bitter cold day in the city, she owns NOTHING to don her feet. There was a pair of black loafers with an uber comfy sole, but they went the way of the garbage when they got too scuffed and too stinky to mend.
So I wore my teal suede wedges. They didn't go with the outfit, but boy are those shoes comfy! Call me eclectic, consider me starting a new trend... I just know that me feet felt fabu all day!
Hair - Your Life-Long Accessory
Hair, your crowning glory, or your arch nemesis.
Many busy women find hair to be a bother, a waste of time in the morning, an insane cost at the salon every few weeks. Women often complain about their hair due to the weather, the time of the month, their genes. I too am one of those women who has threatened to shave all my hair off on a "bad hair day."
It is tempting to cut it short or throw it in a clip or pony tail and not worry about your hair. However, your hair is not going anywhere any time soon, and you wear it every day, every event. You wear it to bed, you wear it when you wake. You can't hide your hair under a bulky sweater, or even under a hat in most circumstances. You need to face your hair, and make it your ally.
How does one do this?
Cut
Yes, there are some talented stylists at the bargain cutteries in the strip mall down the street. Heck, you have a pair of scissors at home - you can trim off your own split ends. Are you satisfied with the results? Most likely if you are reading this, the answer is NO.
One day wash your hair and let it dry naturally. Examine the texture, the thickness. Where does it wave, where does it hang limp? Where does it naturally part? Look at your face. Is it round? Long? Your forehead, do you find it too short, too wide? What are your favorite features?
There are many sites out there that will assist you in figuring out your face shape and what cut is best for that face shape. Many other sites will help you get the most of your cut and your stylist. You will never have good hair or easy hair if you are constantly fighting nature.
You need a stylist that will listen to you. It may seem pompous or ridiculous, but if you are going to a new stylist, you should always have a consultation first. A meeting with the professional, while your hair is still dry. Talk about your problems (cowlick, no time to style, limpness after a few hours, dryness from over-processing). Don't assume the stylist knows by looking at your head - divulge everything. Your dreams, your reality.
If a stylist wants to force you into color, a cut you are not sure of, or a styling regime that will not fit your lifestyle, WALK AWAY. Life is too short to wear bad hair, if you can prevent it - DO IT.
As the stylist cuts your hair, feel free to ask questions. This will help you when you wish to have the style recreated, or modified next time. Ask why a razor is being used instead of scissors. Ask why the cut is being done on dry hair instead of wet. Knowledge is power!
When the stylist dries and styles your hair, again ask questions. You can even ask the stylist to dry one part of your head and you attempt the other part to ensure you have the method down pat. Ask about the products. You don't need to buy the specific products your stylist uses. Find out why she used a spray gel, or what kind of serum he used to make it piecey. You may already have something similar in your bathroom at home, or you may find a cheaper version at a discount place like Trade Secret.
If you are unhappy with the cut, let the stylist know. A smart stylist would rather make you happy, than never see you again and have you run all over town speaking poorly of his talents.
To maintain a cut, get it trimmed every 6-10 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows.
Product
Ladies, the look right now is for relatively natural looking hair for day to day wear. If you like the funky look, I commend your creativity. If you are not looking for a rocker/goth/artsy/club-scene look, then product should not be noticeable in your hair. Too often I see women with "crunchy" curls: hair coated in gel and dried to a high-shine lacquer. Long hair slicked back into a greasy-shiny ponytail. Short, dull hair suffocating in mousse, attempting to keep it "manageable."
Your hair, with the correct cut adhering to Nature, will not need so much product. Curls can be beautiful ringlets without needing starch. Long, limp hair does not need to be restrained to a life of ponytails. Short hair can maintain proper shape without an entire container of spray or foam.
Curls
Curls work best with a lotion product, not gel or mousse. Gel is usually high in alcohol, which dries out hair. Mousse also dries out curly hair, causing a dull finish. Curly hair is more coarse and dry than straight hair, and requires moisture to maintain shine. Products like John Frida's Frizz-Ease, Aveda's Be Curly, and Marc Anthony's Strictly Curls line offer moisture and control for curly hair, without drying it out and causing "crunchy curls." With curly hair, make sure to moisturize well, and often. If you have oily scalp, conditioner only need to be applied to the ends, but bi-weekly insense conditioning will keep your curls bouncy and shiny. The less you brush or comb your hair, the better your curls will form and the less frizz you will encounter. If combing is required, it is best to be done before washing, so that the curls are not tugged on prior to styling.
Limp/Straight Hair
Limp hair needs less conditioning, and as little product as possible. Product will only weigh the hair down more. Use light products like sprays (PHYTO Phytovolume Actif Volumizer Spray is a great product to use to set styles and hold body created from irons and hot rollers. Look for shampoos and conditioners for limp hair - they will provide enough moisture to hydrate the hair without weighing it down.
Combination Hair
All of you with "combination" hair - straight in some parts, wavy in others, or limp yet thick - you need to decide which direction you want to go, which texture nature seems the most fond of. Straightening is best done with a balm-type product that adheres to the hair, disperses, but doesn't evaporate with the dryer. I have had success with Power Straight Straightening Balm by SexyHair. Dry hair with a round brush with boar bristles to maintain shine and reduce split ends. The longer the hair, the large the barrel of the brush. Ceramic straightening irons provide the most intense heat and longest lasting results.
When trying to coax curls out of waves and frizz, it often takes routine to have the hair "learn" what you are desiring. Use a shampoo for curly hair, and products for curly hair. Drying hair on a low setting with a diffuser will prevent frizz and coax out curl. For large curls, a few hot rollers in select places will encourage the shape you desire. For smaller curls or shorter hair, a curling iron will help. A light misting of hairspray after styling will help retain the curls throughout the day. After a few weeks of your hair being maniplulated into curl, you will see that your hair will need less coaxing. As with curly hair, try to refrain from brushing or combing too much. Finger combing as well as using a regular tool with stretch out newbie curls and cause limpness and frizz.
Color
I have had almost every hair color under the rainbow. Manic Panic in high school, thick chunky blonde streaks in college. I even went completely blonde after college, and did the black hair/goth look in the late 80's. With each transformation, I did it at home. Color came from a box at the local grocery, streaks were made with a paint brush, aluminum foil and Jolen Creme Bleach for facial hair (I once read that Kristie Alley used Jolen for her streaks when on Veronica's Closet).
Though sometimes I had success, often I encountered failure. Blonde hair that turned out a cantaloupe sort of shade. Streaks that ate away some of the hair during the process. Black hair that tinted my neck a pale gray for several days. Light "temporary washes" that came out in Crayola shades and lasted for months and months.
Now that I am an adult, I realize that home haircolor is best left to teens and college kids who can hide pink roots under baseball caps. Those of us who deal with clients and colleagues and respectable peers on a daily basis best leave color in the hands of a professional. This may seem like an expense you cannot fathom, but consider your hair as your most used accessory. It is something you wear more than a gold bracelet, more than a wool coat for winter, more than an evening gown for your company's holiday party, and MUCH MORE than those snappy red heels you have been eyeing at Nordstrom!
When considering how often you wear your hair, doesn't it seem more logical to spend your money on your hair and scrimp on other parts of your look? For ever three times your home highlights come out perfect, there is that one time when the roots are not the same color, when the ends get too light, when too much hair is processed. For each time a temporary wash comes out beautifully and adds that bit of pizazz to your look, a time happens when it is far too bright, too bland, or splatters on the toilet seat causing a permanent auburn stain.
Talk to your stylist, a stylist you trust. Admit your hesitations due to price - sometimes they know a cheaper alternative or can work something out. My stylist recommended partial highlights since I never wear my hair half-up. It cut the price in half. I have another friend who offers to be a hair model in trade for free cuts and color. She can't always ask for what she wants, but she gets an edgy cut and designer color for free.
Just remember the mantra I bring up in post after post on here - style is about quality, not quantity. Good hair will camouflage a small wardrobe. Good hair will detract from dark circles or that zit on your chin. Good hair will make you look thinner, look younger, look more polished. A good haircut can be less than $50 every other month. Good color can be less than $125 every six months (if it's even needed - natural hair is GORGEOUS). Break it down. Without color, you're looking at a max of $25 a month. That's one dinner with a friend, one night at a bar, one "it's a STEAL!" sweater at Old Navy, a week of lattes as Starbucks, three pieces of makeup fromt he drugstore that you will only wear once and hide in a back drawer. When you feel that you can't afford quality, consider that quantity you are already purchasing. If you seriously think ou your purchases, you will see that you can save a lot of money. Buying quality means you need to buy less often. Having great hair means spending less on styling products, hair clips, pony tail elastics and baseball caps. Having great hair makes any outfit better, every day bit easier, your outlook on life peppier. It's a part of you, something you wear every day, every night. You deserve quality.
Many busy women find hair to be a bother, a waste of time in the morning, an insane cost at the salon every few weeks. Women often complain about their hair due to the weather, the time of the month, their genes. I too am one of those women who has threatened to shave all my hair off on a "bad hair day."
It is tempting to cut it short or throw it in a clip or pony tail and not worry about your hair. However, your hair is not going anywhere any time soon, and you wear it every day, every event. You wear it to bed, you wear it when you wake. You can't hide your hair under a bulky sweater, or even under a hat in most circumstances. You need to face your hair, and make it your ally.
How does one do this?
Cut
Yes, there are some talented stylists at the bargain cutteries in the strip mall down the street. Heck, you have a pair of scissors at home - you can trim off your own split ends. Are you satisfied with the results? Most likely if you are reading this, the answer is NO.
One day wash your hair and let it dry naturally. Examine the texture, the thickness. Where does it wave, where does it hang limp? Where does it naturally part? Look at your face. Is it round? Long? Your forehead, do you find it too short, too wide? What are your favorite features?
There are many sites out there that will assist you in figuring out your face shape and what cut is best for that face shape. Many other sites will help you get the most of your cut and your stylist. You will never have good hair or easy hair if you are constantly fighting nature.
You need a stylist that will listen to you. It may seem pompous or ridiculous, but if you are going to a new stylist, you should always have a consultation first. A meeting with the professional, while your hair is still dry. Talk about your problems (cowlick, no time to style, limpness after a few hours, dryness from over-processing). Don't assume the stylist knows by looking at your head - divulge everything. Your dreams, your reality.
If a stylist wants to force you into color, a cut you are not sure of, or a styling regime that will not fit your lifestyle, WALK AWAY. Life is too short to wear bad hair, if you can prevent it - DO IT.
As the stylist cuts your hair, feel free to ask questions. This will help you when you wish to have the style recreated, or modified next time. Ask why a razor is being used instead of scissors. Ask why the cut is being done on dry hair instead of wet. Knowledge is power!
When the stylist dries and styles your hair, again ask questions. You can even ask the stylist to dry one part of your head and you attempt the other part to ensure you have the method down pat. Ask about the products. You don't need to buy the specific products your stylist uses. Find out why she used a spray gel, or what kind of serum he used to make it piecey. You may already have something similar in your bathroom at home, or you may find a cheaper version at a discount place like Trade Secret.
If you are unhappy with the cut, let the stylist know. A smart stylist would rather make you happy, than never see you again and have you run all over town speaking poorly of his talents.
To maintain a cut, get it trimmed every 6-10 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows.
Product
Ladies, the look right now is for relatively natural looking hair for day to day wear. If you like the funky look, I commend your creativity. If you are not looking for a rocker/goth/artsy/club-scene look, then product should not be noticeable in your hair. Too often I see women with "crunchy" curls: hair coated in gel and dried to a high-shine lacquer. Long hair slicked back into a greasy-shiny ponytail. Short, dull hair suffocating in mousse, attempting to keep it "manageable."
Your hair, with the correct cut adhering to Nature, will not need so much product. Curls can be beautiful ringlets without needing starch. Long, limp hair does not need to be restrained to a life of ponytails. Short hair can maintain proper shape without an entire container of spray or foam.
Curls
Curls work best with a lotion product, not gel or mousse. Gel is usually high in alcohol, which dries out hair. Mousse also dries out curly hair, causing a dull finish. Curly hair is more coarse and dry than straight hair, and requires moisture to maintain shine. Products like John Frida's Frizz-Ease, Aveda's Be Curly, and Marc Anthony's Strictly Curls line offer moisture and control for curly hair, without drying it out and causing "crunchy curls." With curly hair, make sure to moisturize well, and often. If you have oily scalp, conditioner only need to be applied to the ends, but bi-weekly insense conditioning will keep your curls bouncy and shiny. The less you brush or comb your hair, the better your curls will form and the less frizz you will encounter. If combing is required, it is best to be done before washing, so that the curls are not tugged on prior to styling.
Limp/Straight Hair
Limp hair needs less conditioning, and as little product as possible. Product will only weigh the hair down more. Use light products like sprays (PHYTO Phytovolume Actif Volumizer Spray is a great product to use to set styles and hold body created from irons and hot rollers. Look for shampoos and conditioners for limp hair - they will provide enough moisture to hydrate the hair without weighing it down.
Combination Hair
All of you with "combination" hair - straight in some parts, wavy in others, or limp yet thick - you need to decide which direction you want to go, which texture nature seems the most fond of. Straightening is best done with a balm-type product that adheres to the hair, disperses, but doesn't evaporate with the dryer. I have had success with Power Straight Straightening Balm by SexyHair. Dry hair with a round brush with boar bristles to maintain shine and reduce split ends. The longer the hair, the large the barrel of the brush. Ceramic straightening irons provide the most intense heat and longest lasting results.
When trying to coax curls out of waves and frizz, it often takes routine to have the hair "learn" what you are desiring. Use a shampoo for curly hair, and products for curly hair. Drying hair on a low setting with a diffuser will prevent frizz and coax out curl. For large curls, a few hot rollers in select places will encourage the shape you desire. For smaller curls or shorter hair, a curling iron will help. A light misting of hairspray after styling will help retain the curls throughout the day. After a few weeks of your hair being maniplulated into curl, you will see that your hair will need less coaxing. As with curly hair, try to refrain from brushing or combing too much. Finger combing as well as using a regular tool with stretch out newbie curls and cause limpness and frizz.
Color
I have had almost every hair color under the rainbow. Manic Panic in high school, thick chunky blonde streaks in college. I even went completely blonde after college, and did the black hair/goth look in the late 80's. With each transformation, I did it at home. Color came from a box at the local grocery, streaks were made with a paint brush, aluminum foil and Jolen Creme Bleach for facial hair (I once read that Kristie Alley used Jolen for her streaks when on Veronica's Closet).
Though sometimes I had success, often I encountered failure. Blonde hair that turned out a cantaloupe sort of shade. Streaks that ate away some of the hair during the process. Black hair that tinted my neck a pale gray for several days. Light "temporary washes" that came out in Crayola shades and lasted for months and months.
Now that I am an adult, I realize that home haircolor is best left to teens and college kids who can hide pink roots under baseball caps. Those of us who deal with clients and colleagues and respectable peers on a daily basis best leave color in the hands of a professional. This may seem like an expense you cannot fathom, but consider your hair as your most used accessory. It is something you wear more than a gold bracelet, more than a wool coat for winter, more than an evening gown for your company's holiday party, and MUCH MORE than those snappy red heels you have been eyeing at Nordstrom!
When considering how often you wear your hair, doesn't it seem more logical to spend your money on your hair and scrimp on other parts of your look? For ever three times your home highlights come out perfect, there is that one time when the roots are not the same color, when the ends get too light, when too much hair is processed. For each time a temporary wash comes out beautifully and adds that bit of pizazz to your look, a time happens when it is far too bright, too bland, or splatters on the toilet seat causing a permanent auburn stain.
Talk to your stylist, a stylist you trust. Admit your hesitations due to price - sometimes they know a cheaper alternative or can work something out. My stylist recommended partial highlights since I never wear my hair half-up. It cut the price in half. I have another friend who offers to be a hair model in trade for free cuts and color. She can't always ask for what she wants, but she gets an edgy cut and designer color for free.
Just remember the mantra I bring up in post after post on here - style is about quality, not quantity. Good hair will camouflage a small wardrobe. Good hair will detract from dark circles or that zit on your chin. Good hair will make you look thinner, look younger, look more polished. A good haircut can be less than $50 every other month. Good color can be less than $125 every six months (if it's even needed - natural hair is GORGEOUS). Break it down. Without color, you're looking at a max of $25 a month. That's one dinner with a friend, one night at a bar, one "it's a STEAL!" sweater at Old Navy, a week of lattes as Starbucks, three pieces of makeup fromt he drugstore that you will only wear once and hide in a back drawer. When you feel that you can't afford quality, consider that quantity you are already purchasing. If you seriously think ou your purchases, you will see that you can save a lot of money. Buying quality means you need to buy less often. Having great hair means spending less on styling products, hair clips, pony tail elastics and baseball caps. Having great hair makes any outfit better, every day bit easier, your outlook on life peppier. It's a part of you, something you wear every day, every night. You deserve quality.
November 23, 2005
What I Believe
1. I believe there is a shade of pink that is right for every woman's complexion.
2. On the other hand, I believe that with her natural skin tone (no fake bake!) there are only 68 women on this planet over the age of 12 who look good in yellow.
3. I believe that only a person who is petite understands the plight of petite women.
4. I also believe that general fashion suggestions for "big boned," "heavy set" or "plus" women are usually WRONG because they were thought of by emaciated women or slim men. I trust those who understand not every woman over 130 lbs is not 5'9", is not a size 18, does not have huge hips, and usually is not all over large, just has some more curves in more places.
5. I believe God's gift to women is not men, but mascara.
6. I believe that fashion is a form of art, and should be respected as such. Why are art collectors considered intelligent and as investors, while fashionistas are considered frivolous and self-absorbed?
7. Though no one can see it, I believe beautiful undergarments make any outfit.
8. I believe that obvious brand names and logos are a cheater's way to achieving style.
9. I believe every woman should get refitted for a bra every year. A wonderful birthday gift to yourself - a lovely new, shapely, supported bustline!
10. I believe we each only have one body in this life, we should treat it well, praise it often, and decorate it in the lovely way in which it deserves. You are no help to anyone else if you do not help yourself first. You cannot bring complete joy to another's life if your own life is not full of joy. Caring for yourself and your appearance is not selfish. When you are happy, when you are confident you perform best - be it at your job, with your family, in life in general.
Take good care of yourself - you deserve it.
2. On the other hand, I believe that with her natural skin tone (no fake bake!) there are only 68 women on this planet over the age of 12 who look good in yellow.
3. I believe that only a person who is petite understands the plight of petite women.
4. I also believe that general fashion suggestions for "big boned," "heavy set" or "plus" women are usually WRONG because they were thought of by emaciated women or slim men. I trust those who understand not every woman over 130 lbs is not 5'9", is not a size 18, does not have huge hips, and usually is not all over large, just has some more curves in more places.
5. I believe God's gift to women is not men, but mascara.
6. I believe that fashion is a form of art, and should be respected as such. Why are art collectors considered intelligent and as investors, while fashionistas are considered frivolous and self-absorbed?
7. Though no one can see it, I believe beautiful undergarments make any outfit.
8. I believe that obvious brand names and logos are a cheater's way to achieving style.
9. I believe every woman should get refitted for a bra every year. A wonderful birthday gift to yourself - a lovely new, shapely, supported bustline!
10. I believe we each only have one body in this life, we should treat it well, praise it often, and decorate it in the lovely way in which it deserves. You are no help to anyone else if you do not help yourself first. You cannot bring complete joy to another's life if your own life is not full of joy. Caring for yourself and your appearance is not selfish. When you are happy, when you are confident you perform best - be it at your job, with your family, in life in general.
Take good care of yourself - you deserve it.
How did I not catch how icky my bangs looked this morning! (and no, though the second picture looks as though I am underwater, actually what you see in the window is a cover/taro over the car next to mine in my court)
So the lipgloss I am wearing is another of those Sally Hansen glossed I adore. It shows dark red in the case and has the lovely name of Garnet Gala, yet as you see when applied to the lips it is almost clear, just a hint of pink. Boo on Sally Hansen.
The sweater is from Target. Thank you to 1blueshi1 for the heads up on the cozy and budget-friendly cashmere sweaters they are selling. Unfortunatley my neighborhood Target SUCKS and the turtlenecks were only in gray and cream, the crew necks in pink (pretty, but sadly wrong with my skin tone), lime (would look fabu on my sister) and black. So I bought the black and plan on going online for the orange color I have heard so much about!
Silver hoops, silver cuff, funky silver necklace from Chico's. Low rise bootcut jeans from The Gap that drag on the gound and are a great vintage color with a tinge of dirtiness to the wash. Very cool. (By the way... Gap I am not speaking to you right now for discontinuing this cut, and then having a few on sale online and me ordering more and finging out that they are NOT lowride bootcut, but REGULAR bootcut, which makes me look like I am wearing Soccer Mom jeans. boo on you Gap!)
And my black pointy boots.
Makeup? Bare Escentuals, ivory shadow in corers of eyes and on brow bone, a pale gray int he crease and around lash line. Two coats of Zoom lash on the lashes. The Sally gloss I mentioned, and I can't believe it, I forgot both blush AND bronzer! I look like a corpse!
November 22, 2005
Quality, not Quantity
I cannot stress this enough for a wardrobe.
Consider fashion icons - Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, Diana Vreeland, Coco Chanel, Gwyneth Paltrow...
These women have always looked polished, stylish, but not over the top.
These women in 2005 would never wear sweats with words printed on their bums. They would never wear shoes made of plastic, or clothes that were ill fitting, overly trendy or poorly made. Their style didn't change much from season to season. They understood what flattered their figure, expressed their personality, and stuck to it, making slight modifications each year to not look overly dated.
So you're not a millionaire. You don't have a limitless fashion budget. Your clothes come from malls, big box retailers, discount stores. Your priority is not image, but family, work, LIFE.
Buying quality, not quantity fits that budget, and fits that lifestyle. If you shop CORRECTLY, you will spend less, shop less often, and require less "prep time" each morning. Having a wardrobe you like, and you trust (quality allows trust) gives you freedom, as well as personal style.
When I was 23, I got a "real" job, a job where I had to dress professionally every day and interacted with clients. I was at the mall every weekend, leaving with bags full of fun things, yet every Monday I had a mini breakdown at my closet doors, not having a thing to wear. I couldn't understand it. I didn't understand it until a few months later when I moved to a new apartment. As I was packing up cocktail dresses, pencil skirts, glittery halter tops (some with tags still in place) I realized the problem. I was shopping, but not for my lifestyle. I was shopping as though I had the life of Paris Hilton, not an entry-level person in suburban corporate America, living paycheck to paycheck and only going to clubs and bars once a week. Once I made that realization, and held on to that realization each time I entered a mall, I found that shopping may not have been as exhilarating, but it was more efficient, and weekdays weren't as distressing.
I didn't have the party life I had in college, nor did I have as much spending money. I needed to adjust my shopping to match my lifestyle.
My dear friend had a different situation.
I like fashion, but I can't afford Gucci, Dolce and Gabanna or Chloe. One day I wandered into Forever 21 and found knockoffs of some of the things I adored on the pages of Vogue. The prices were more my speed. Yes, the fabric was not quite right, the fit was a bit off, but wearing that skirt or that jacket, I felt I was a bit closer to looking like a fashionista. Every few weeks I ran to the mall to get cheap reproductions of popular styles.
I went to a friend's birthday party. I was dressed in what I thought to be my most trendy outfit. Another friend videotaped the evening. A week later I saw the video and wanted to faint. I was not a fashionista. My pants were too short and too tight. My belt obviously was not made of leather, and it looked stupid with the top. My bra straps were visible all night, and not in a sexy way. I wasn't a fashion maven, I was a fashion victim. I noticed the other guests looked nice, and I noticed many were wearing pieces I have seen them wear before. It was a huge eye opener, I saw that fashion isn't what's new, but what's stylish. I started buying less, but pieces that fit well, looked nice, were less trendy and more stylish. Suddenly people were telling me I looked as though I lost weight, asked if I had changed my hair, giving me compliments. I realized the compliments of the past were on an article of clothing. The compliments I got now were for me - the total package. It felt really good.
How do you start the road to quality not quantity, and more importantly, how do you do it without breaking the bank?
1. Standards.
What is your lifestyle? Single working woman in the city? Stay a home mom of four? Retired world traveler? Make a list of "events" you attend in your life. This does not mean black tie galas, but day to day activities where you need to get out of bed and face the world. Grocery store. Regular day in the office where most people dress business casual. Business meeting where a more formal business look is needed. Date with the significant other. The occasional wedding/christening/bar mitzvah/funeral/holiday party. Attending your house of worship. Job interview. You get the picture. Drinks with the girls after work.
Stop and consider your wardrobe. Does your current wardrobe fit the lifestyle you have? What are spending a lot on? Are there things in your wardrobe that still have tags on them after a few weeks have passed? How many pieces in your closet have been worn once and then left to collect dust? What events in your life leave you in a clothing panic?
Write down these events. Write down the clothing that gets the most wear, and write down the clothing that gives you the most pleasure when worn (not the pieces that look gorgeous in your closet or possibly on your frame if only you lost 10 lbs.). What correlates with one another? Do any of them match up?
2. The Down and Dirty
I have before written about the standards that are needed in every woman's wardrobe. This may vary based on climate, age and lifestyle, but is a pretty basic starter wardrobe for most women. Do you have pieces like this in your wardrobe? Basics you can fall back on at a moment's notice? Pieces like this are the types of things that style icons would have in their wardrobe. Classic pieces that go from casual to dressy, summer to winter, wedding to funeral.
3. After You Have Gotten Down and Dirty
Now that you have a base wardrobe, it's time to bring your personality into it.... slowly. Looking at the basics in your wardrobe, consider another sweater in a different neckline and color. A necklace that can really jazz up multiple outfits and makes you happy every time you see it. A pair of pants in another color - a neutral like gray, brown or camel. Or possibly something fun yet basic like a dark red, plum or a pinstripe. Your mantra at the mall is Quality, not Quantity. You don't need 30 sweaters that don't fit quite right, show your bra and are yucky colors. Instead, invest in three sweaters that fit great, look great, and are built to last. Though those three sweaters will cost more individually, it will be cheaper to buy those three, than keep replacing the cheaper ones as they pill, fade, stretch out, or get shoved to the bottom of the drawer for not being quite right.
4. What Am I Looking For?
You can find quality at a boutique, you can find quality at Target. It's all about looking for the signs of quality, style and durability.
Think "if Jackie O was on a budget, what would she purchase?" Keep this in your head as you scour the racks. Visualize your style icon, her trademark pieces, what she did to become a style icon and not a fashion victim.
Pills and Fuzz - do the pants have pills or fuzzies on them when on the hanger? Then leave them on the hanger. They will be a fuzz magnet, no matter how often you wash them or what fabric softeners you use. History has shown the pants and jackets that collect fuzz seem to fade the quickest as well.
Buttons and Zippers - Are the buttons the right size? This means, if you sit down, do they slide out of the button holes? Are they hard to button and unbutton? If you answer yes to either, put the piece back. This will look sloppy once worn out of the store, and will either make the button fall off or you get frustrated with the piece. As for zippers, slide it up and down many times. Think about how you will be wearing it - will you be handling that zipper with gloves and a bag of groceries in one hand, or will you be yanking it down several times a day int he restroom? Is it sewn in correctly so it won't get jammed, won't break, won't slide down with wear. Give it a test-run in the fitting room.
Pockets - You shouldn't be able to see the lining of pockets through your clothes, be it a suit jacket, skirt or pair of pants. If this is the case, leave it onthe rack. That is a sign of cheap fabric, poor construction and a bad cut. Pockets also shouldn't bow out. If you have curves below the waist, it's best to usually pass on slash pockets as that they will gape open, causing you too look wider than you are. Flap pockets on the bum are rarely flattering, get bent when sitting, and usually are an add-on cheaper brands use to make their clothes look more... gosh knows what, maybe fancier? I usually steer clear of flap pockets on the bum. As for faux pockets, mini pockets that can't hold anything larger than a quarter, or any other weird form of pocket that cheaper designers place on their clothing - STAY AWAY. These are signs of cheap manufacturing, quick trends that will die soon, and frustration (you'll constantly try to put your hand in that faux pocket, I just know it!).
Fabric - If you can't afford cashmere, that's okay. The only thing I won that is cashmere is a pashmina I got as a gift. However, because you can't afford it doesn't mean you can wear a poor knockoff. Silk/cashmere blends usually pill and thin. Pleather makes you sweat and doesn't stretch. Faux fur is far more PC, but any fur is overly trendy, overly controversial, and would not be part of a new millennium fashion icon's wardrobe. Your undergarments should not show through the clothing. This is never an attractive or stylish look. The fabric should not make you itch. If you push up sleeves, it shouldn't case the arm band to get permanently stretched out. Sit in the clothes, dance in the clothes. See how the fabric stretches with you, moves with you. Rub it against a different piece of clothing. Does the color transfer? Does have the decoration fall off? Does it shed on everything on on this planet? If so, leave it in the fitting room.
Cut - Are they perfect pants except.... Is the top exactly what you need if it only....? Almosts and Not Quites do not have room in any woman's wardrobe. These items either gets one wear (if that) and then retreat to the back of the closet, or get plenty of wear but look dreadful every time they don your body. The world will not end if you don't have a pair of black pants NOW NOW NOW. It's better to go without than to go halfway. Jackets should be able to button across your torso. Pants should be able to be sat in, legs crossed without straining. A belly button should never show through an article of clothing. Pant legs should be long enough to hide your ankle bones and be no more than an inch from the bottom of your heel. Long sleeves should cover your wrist bone. Shoulders should be appropriate, not an inch from your actual shoulder (oversized shoulders make you look heavier and shorter). Try sitting. How does the piece lie? Can the world see your bra? Your panties? When you stand, do you have weird creases at the crotch that won't disappear? Does it take two minutes just to put the outfit back in place? Do you need to buy a new bra, new camisole, new tummy cincher and a pair of silicone breasts to make the dress fit correctly? If you say yes (or yes but....) to any of these things, leave the article of clothing at the store.
Style - A sign of cheap clothing is over embellishments. I mentioned the use of flap pockets. Cheap clothing often tries to mask faulty manufacturing with brooches, bedazzling, contrast stitching, applique and other adornments. These adornments may be fun and quirky, but I suggest you stick to simpler pieces that will go from year to year, and get your fun and funky adornments through accessories that can be retired when the trend passes. Overly embellished garments make impact - these are pieces that can only be worn a few times a season or people will soon be saying "...look she's wearing that pink sweater with the leopard collar and cuffs AGAIN." Having pieces that are that limiting in your wardrobe are not what you need - they will be a waste of money if you are on a budget.
Color - This season it's purple, next season it may be green. Whatever the fashion magazines dictate, buy what you enjoy. Neutrals aren't always the best choice. Neutrals fade into the background and you lose your personality. Pick colors that make you happy, make you feel powerful, make you feel beautiful. Black can be versatile, and khaki doesn't show stains, but you will feel better about yourself and present a better image to others if you wear color. Look for saturated fabrics, ones that will hold their color after washings. The thread in the stitching should perfectly match the fabric. Again, rub it against another garment, check for color transfer (this often happens under the arms when the fabric gets warm and humid). Consider the color, will it compliment the rest of your wardrobe, or will you have to buy eight more articles of clothing to match it? Only buy clothing that brings you happiness. You wouldn't hang artwork in your home that made you feel depressed, why decorate your body with depressing art?
Accessories - These don't have to be made of platinum, gold and emeralds, but should be able to withstand multiple wearings, a bang against a table or a kid playing with it. I have found great accessories at Target, at Claire's Boutique, at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory and Marhshall's.
These should be pieces that compliment an outfit, not compete with it. Signature pieces, like Jackie O's pillbox hat, Grace Kelly's scarf, Coco Chanel's red lipstick. Pieces that help make you... well you! For me it's a bold silver cuff that is my signature piece. I compliment it and my wardrobe with Silver hoops, chunky silver rings. Artsy pieces that I feel help reflect my creative side. I have mentioned before what accessories belong in every woman's wardrobe. Now you need to think quality, taste, elegance, style.
Shoes should be comfortable. They should have classic lines. Leather lasts longer than pleather, can be shined up to look beautiful again, stretches to mold your feet perfectly, and is more versatile. Heels should be wide enough at the base of the shoe to properly support your foot and not cause pain. Toe cleavage (when you can see the spaces between your toes out of the top of a pump or shoe) is an extreme no-no. It is cheaper to buy a pair of quality pumps and get them resoled and reheeled each year than to buy a new cheaper pair each year. Invest in shoe shine tools - you can find them at your grocery store. One hour, every few months will give years to your footwear. Invest in classic pieces. Hot pink suede booties may be adorable, but will you still adore them and wear them weekly after three months? If in doubt, purchase black leather or brown croco. Both fabrics and colors will wear nicely over the years. My mother still wear a pair of black ankle boots she purchased in 1968. The soles have been replaced, the heels reheeled. New inserts have been purchased but the leather is still supple and rich and she is still complimented when she wears them. That is quite an investment, and a fabulous example of how quality can save you money.
When you go shopping, take pictures for assistance. Tear out pages from magazines. Take a headshot of your fashion icon. Take a photograph of you in an outfit you regret as motivation. Make a list of what you believe you need, and don't let a salesperson or friend tell you otherwise. Consider purchases of clothing as you would consider a purchase of an appliance or a car. Do your homework, don't buy the first pair of black pants you see. Take them for a test drive in the fitting room or around the store. Do price comparison, fabric comparison, and don't settle. You deserve the best, and you can find it, no matter what your budget may be.
Quality, not Quantity.
Consider fashion icons - Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, Diana Vreeland, Coco Chanel, Gwyneth Paltrow...
These women have always looked polished, stylish, but not over the top.
Elegant.
Classic.
Tasteful.
Classic.
Tasteful.
These women in 2005 would never wear sweats with words printed on their bums. They would never wear shoes made of plastic, or clothes that were ill fitting, overly trendy or poorly made. Their style didn't change much from season to season. They understood what flattered their figure, expressed their personality, and stuck to it, making slight modifications each year to not look overly dated.
So you're not a millionaire. You don't have a limitless fashion budget. Your clothes come from malls, big box retailers, discount stores. Your priority is not image, but family, work, LIFE.
Buying quality, not quantity fits that budget, and fits that lifestyle. If you shop CORRECTLY, you will spend less, shop less often, and require less "prep time" each morning. Having a wardrobe you like, and you trust (quality allows trust) gives you freedom, as well as personal style.
When I was 23, I got a "real" job, a job where I had to dress professionally every day and interacted with clients. I was at the mall every weekend, leaving with bags full of fun things, yet every Monday I had a mini breakdown at my closet doors, not having a thing to wear. I couldn't understand it. I didn't understand it until a few months later when I moved to a new apartment. As I was packing up cocktail dresses, pencil skirts, glittery halter tops (some with tags still in place) I realized the problem. I was shopping, but not for my lifestyle. I was shopping as though I had the life of Paris Hilton, not an entry-level person in suburban corporate America, living paycheck to paycheck and only going to clubs and bars once a week. Once I made that realization, and held on to that realization each time I entered a mall, I found that shopping may not have been as exhilarating, but it was more efficient, and weekdays weren't as distressing.
I didn't have the party life I had in college, nor did I have as much spending money. I needed to adjust my shopping to match my lifestyle.
My dear friend had a different situation.
I like fashion, but I can't afford Gucci, Dolce and Gabanna or Chloe. One day I wandered into Forever 21 and found knockoffs of some of the things I adored on the pages of Vogue. The prices were more my speed. Yes, the fabric was not quite right, the fit was a bit off, but wearing that skirt or that jacket, I felt I was a bit closer to looking like a fashionista. Every few weeks I ran to the mall to get cheap reproductions of popular styles.
I went to a friend's birthday party. I was dressed in what I thought to be my most trendy outfit. Another friend videotaped the evening. A week later I saw the video and wanted to faint. I was not a fashionista. My pants were too short and too tight. My belt obviously was not made of leather, and it looked stupid with the top. My bra straps were visible all night, and not in a sexy way. I wasn't a fashion maven, I was a fashion victim. I noticed the other guests looked nice, and I noticed many were wearing pieces I have seen them wear before. It was a huge eye opener, I saw that fashion isn't what's new, but what's stylish. I started buying less, but pieces that fit well, looked nice, were less trendy and more stylish. Suddenly people were telling me I looked as though I lost weight, asked if I had changed my hair, giving me compliments. I realized the compliments of the past were on an article of clothing. The compliments I got now were for me - the total package. It felt really good.
How do you start the road to quality not quantity, and more importantly, how do you do it without breaking the bank?
1. Standards.
What is your lifestyle? Single working woman in the city? Stay a home mom of four? Retired world traveler? Make a list of "events" you attend in your life. This does not mean black tie galas, but day to day activities where you need to get out of bed and face the world. Grocery store. Regular day in the office where most people dress business casual. Business meeting where a more formal business look is needed. Date with the significant other. The occasional wedding/christening/bar mitzvah/funeral/holiday party. Attending your house of worship. Job interview. You get the picture. Drinks with the girls after work.
Stop and consider your wardrobe. Does your current wardrobe fit the lifestyle you have? What are spending a lot on? Are there things in your wardrobe that still have tags on them after a few weeks have passed? How many pieces in your closet have been worn once and then left to collect dust? What events in your life leave you in a clothing panic?
Write down these events. Write down the clothing that gets the most wear, and write down the clothing that gives you the most pleasure when worn (not the pieces that look gorgeous in your closet or possibly on your frame if only you lost 10 lbs.). What correlates with one another? Do any of them match up?
2. The Down and Dirty
I have before written about the standards that are needed in every woman's wardrobe. This may vary based on climate, age and lifestyle, but is a pretty basic starter wardrobe for most women. Do you have pieces like this in your wardrobe? Basics you can fall back on at a moment's notice? Pieces like this are the types of things that style icons would have in their wardrobe. Classic pieces that go from casual to dressy, summer to winter, wedding to funeral.
3. After You Have Gotten Down and Dirty
Now that you have a base wardrobe, it's time to bring your personality into it.... slowly. Looking at the basics in your wardrobe, consider another sweater in a different neckline and color. A necklace that can really jazz up multiple outfits and makes you happy every time you see it. A pair of pants in another color - a neutral like gray, brown or camel. Or possibly something fun yet basic like a dark red, plum or a pinstripe. Your mantra at the mall is Quality, not Quantity. You don't need 30 sweaters that don't fit quite right, show your bra and are yucky colors. Instead, invest in three sweaters that fit great, look great, and are built to last. Though those three sweaters will cost more individually, it will be cheaper to buy those three, than keep replacing the cheaper ones as they pill, fade, stretch out, or get shoved to the bottom of the drawer for not being quite right.
4. What Am I Looking For?
You can find quality at a boutique, you can find quality at Target. It's all about looking for the signs of quality, style and durability.
Think "if Jackie O was on a budget, what would she purchase?" Keep this in your head as you scour the racks. Visualize your style icon, her trademark pieces, what she did to become a style icon and not a fashion victim.
Pills and Fuzz - do the pants have pills or fuzzies on them when on the hanger? Then leave them on the hanger. They will be a fuzz magnet, no matter how often you wash them or what fabric softeners you use. History has shown the pants and jackets that collect fuzz seem to fade the quickest as well.
Buttons and Zippers - Are the buttons the right size? This means, if you sit down, do they slide out of the button holes? Are they hard to button and unbutton? If you answer yes to either, put the piece back. This will look sloppy once worn out of the store, and will either make the button fall off or you get frustrated with the piece. As for zippers, slide it up and down many times. Think about how you will be wearing it - will you be handling that zipper with gloves and a bag of groceries in one hand, or will you be yanking it down several times a day int he restroom? Is it sewn in correctly so it won't get jammed, won't break, won't slide down with wear. Give it a test-run in the fitting room.
Pockets - You shouldn't be able to see the lining of pockets through your clothes, be it a suit jacket, skirt or pair of pants. If this is the case, leave it onthe rack. That is a sign of cheap fabric, poor construction and a bad cut. Pockets also shouldn't bow out. If you have curves below the waist, it's best to usually pass on slash pockets as that they will gape open, causing you too look wider than you are. Flap pockets on the bum are rarely flattering, get bent when sitting, and usually are an add-on cheaper brands use to make their clothes look more... gosh knows what, maybe fancier? I usually steer clear of flap pockets on the bum. As for faux pockets, mini pockets that can't hold anything larger than a quarter, or any other weird form of pocket that cheaper designers place on their clothing - STAY AWAY. These are signs of cheap manufacturing, quick trends that will die soon, and frustration (you'll constantly try to put your hand in that faux pocket, I just know it!).
Fabric - If you can't afford cashmere, that's okay. The only thing I won that is cashmere is a pashmina I got as a gift. However, because you can't afford it doesn't mean you can wear a poor knockoff. Silk/cashmere blends usually pill and thin. Pleather makes you sweat and doesn't stretch. Faux fur is far more PC, but any fur is overly trendy, overly controversial, and would not be part of a new millennium fashion icon's wardrobe. Your undergarments should not show through the clothing. This is never an attractive or stylish look. The fabric should not make you itch. If you push up sleeves, it shouldn't case the arm band to get permanently stretched out. Sit in the clothes, dance in the clothes. See how the fabric stretches with you, moves with you. Rub it against a different piece of clothing. Does the color transfer? Does have the decoration fall off? Does it shed on everything on on this planet? If so, leave it in the fitting room.
Cut - Are they perfect pants except.... Is the top exactly what you need if it only....? Almosts and Not Quites do not have room in any woman's wardrobe. These items either gets one wear (if that) and then retreat to the back of the closet, or get plenty of wear but look dreadful every time they don your body. The world will not end if you don't have a pair of black pants NOW NOW NOW. It's better to go without than to go halfway. Jackets should be able to button across your torso. Pants should be able to be sat in, legs crossed without straining. A belly button should never show through an article of clothing. Pant legs should be long enough to hide your ankle bones and be no more than an inch from the bottom of your heel. Long sleeves should cover your wrist bone. Shoulders should be appropriate, not an inch from your actual shoulder (oversized shoulders make you look heavier and shorter). Try sitting. How does the piece lie? Can the world see your bra? Your panties? When you stand, do you have weird creases at the crotch that won't disappear? Does it take two minutes just to put the outfit back in place? Do you need to buy a new bra, new camisole, new tummy cincher and a pair of silicone breasts to make the dress fit correctly? If you say yes (or yes but....) to any of these things, leave the article of clothing at the store.
Style - A sign of cheap clothing is over embellishments. I mentioned the use of flap pockets. Cheap clothing often tries to mask faulty manufacturing with brooches, bedazzling, contrast stitching, applique and other adornments. These adornments may be fun and quirky, but I suggest you stick to simpler pieces that will go from year to year, and get your fun and funky adornments through accessories that can be retired when the trend passes. Overly embellished garments make impact - these are pieces that can only be worn a few times a season or people will soon be saying "...look she's wearing that pink sweater with the leopard collar and cuffs AGAIN." Having pieces that are that limiting in your wardrobe are not what you need - they will be a waste of money if you are on a budget.
Color - This season it's purple, next season it may be green. Whatever the fashion magazines dictate, buy what you enjoy. Neutrals aren't always the best choice. Neutrals fade into the background and you lose your personality. Pick colors that make you happy, make you feel powerful, make you feel beautiful. Black can be versatile, and khaki doesn't show stains, but you will feel better about yourself and present a better image to others if you wear color. Look for saturated fabrics, ones that will hold their color after washings. The thread in the stitching should perfectly match the fabric. Again, rub it against another garment, check for color transfer (this often happens under the arms when the fabric gets warm and humid). Consider the color, will it compliment the rest of your wardrobe, or will you have to buy eight more articles of clothing to match it? Only buy clothing that brings you happiness. You wouldn't hang artwork in your home that made you feel depressed, why decorate your body with depressing art?
Accessories - These don't have to be made of platinum, gold and emeralds, but should be able to withstand multiple wearings, a bang against a table or a kid playing with it. I have found great accessories at Target, at Claire's Boutique, at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory and Marhshall's.
These should be pieces that compliment an outfit, not compete with it. Signature pieces, like Jackie O's pillbox hat, Grace Kelly's scarf, Coco Chanel's red lipstick. Pieces that help make you... well you! For me it's a bold silver cuff that is my signature piece. I compliment it and my wardrobe with Silver hoops, chunky silver rings. Artsy pieces that I feel help reflect my creative side. I have mentioned before what accessories belong in every woman's wardrobe. Now you need to think quality, taste, elegance, style.
Shoes should be comfortable. They should have classic lines. Leather lasts longer than pleather, can be shined up to look beautiful again, stretches to mold your feet perfectly, and is more versatile. Heels should be wide enough at the base of the shoe to properly support your foot and not cause pain. Toe cleavage (when you can see the spaces between your toes out of the top of a pump or shoe) is an extreme no-no. It is cheaper to buy a pair of quality pumps and get them resoled and reheeled each year than to buy a new cheaper pair each year. Invest in shoe shine tools - you can find them at your grocery store. One hour, every few months will give years to your footwear. Invest in classic pieces. Hot pink suede booties may be adorable, but will you still adore them and wear them weekly after three months? If in doubt, purchase black leather or brown croco. Both fabrics and colors will wear nicely over the years. My mother still wear a pair of black ankle boots she purchased in 1968. The soles have been replaced, the heels reheeled. New inserts have been purchased but the leather is still supple and rich and she is still complimented when she wears them. That is quite an investment, and a fabulous example of how quality can save you money.
When you go shopping, take pictures for assistance. Tear out pages from magazines. Take a headshot of your fashion icon. Take a photograph of you in an outfit you regret as motivation. Make a list of what you believe you need, and don't let a salesperson or friend tell you otherwise. Consider purchases of clothing as you would consider a purchase of an appliance or a car. Do your homework, don't buy the first pair of black pants you see. Take them for a test drive in the fitting room or around the store. Do price comparison, fabric comparison, and don't settle. You deserve the best, and you can find it, no matter what your budget may be.
Photo Attempt
And almost full length picture! Yay!
Got a hair cut yesterday, love it but today is terribly rainly and the hair is acting weird.
Makeup - i.d. Bare Excentuals, a bit of bronzer because I have hit WInter Sallowness. A touch of Nars Orgasm over that. tried to get a bit creative with the shadow - fawn over the lid, ivory in the corners and on the brow bone. Royal purple in the crease and along the lash line. A very thin line of black liquid liner on the top lid. Two coats of MAC's Zoom Lash. Lipgoss is a brick liner covered with clear gloss.
Outfit - black scoop neck sweater tank from Ann Taylor Loft. Dark denim stretch blazer from Ann Taylor. Zebra print cord skirt from Target. Cool red stone necklace I found in a boutique at the beach for $14. Red leather pumps that are more muted, not hookerish.
November 21, 2005
Accessories Make the Woman
"You always look so put together!"
"I love your sense of style!"
"What a cool necklace, where ever did you get it?"
"I wish I could put together outfits like you."
"What a great outfit!"
I received 23 compliments on my outfit or a piece of my outfit today. No, I am not trying to brag about my sense of style. I am trying to make a point.
Want to know what I was wearing today? I was wearing a slightly faded black cotton sweater with a round neck, a bit stretched out from multiple wearings. With it was a pair of cream pants I have owned for too long. I have resewn the hem multiple times, and the lining in the pants had torn and raveled so much I finally tore it out in a fit of rage.
Why the compliments on such a mediocre (at best) outfit? I bet most of you women have similar pieces in your wardrobe. What made it special enough to compliment the person wearing such lackluster garments?
Accessories.
I wore a necklace. It's long, hangs past my breasts and is made completely of shells. The shells are pretty much the same color as my pitiful cream trousers.
On my feet are a pair of $40 pumps I bought last season from Nordstrom. Slightly pointed toe, but not so much that they look overly trendy or are overly painful on the toes. 2" heel. A classic, yet stylish look that was so flattering, so comfortable, and priced so nicely, I bought them in three colors.
Black leather purse in finish similar to shoes that I picked up at Marshall's for $19.99 three years ago.
Soft eye makeup, blush, concealer and subtle lipgloss.
These accessories are not particularly fancy, and far from being expensive. What makes them work is that they have... personality. They help express my personality.
When looking for accessories, do not adhere solely to what the magazine pages tell you is hip. True fashion is timeless and is creative. Anyone can buy the "right" pieces. What matters is not what you wear, but how you wear it.
Shell necklaces are not considered "hip" or stylish. I found the necklace in my mother's house in a box of costumes. I believe it was used one year when one of us kiddies was a hula dancer. The shells were beautiful, the necklace makes a cool clinking noise when you walk. Long necklaces help elongate a short body (moi). No one else I knew had a necklace like it. I decided to take it as my own, wear it with a subtle outfit that would not compete with the necklace.
Accessories are art. Clothing can be the canvas, while accessories are the medium.
Each year I buy a new purse. I don't buy an expensive one, or a designer one. I buy one I like. A purse is carried with you every day, it should match your personality, compliment your wardrobe, but most important it should make you happy. A pleasing shape, a cheerful color. Something to make you love it, make you proud to fling it over your shoulder. My sister bought a turquoise vinyl purse from Payless Shoe Source this Spring for less than $20. She got more compliments on it than the designer purse she received as a gift. Why? Because it fit her personality, it was fun, it was pleasing.
Accessories can add to an outfit, can detract from an outfit, can overwhelm an outfit. See fashion not as a chore, but as art. Like music, painting, home decorating. See it as lines, shapes, color. Fashion is more than just covering skin. It's more than trying to imitate celebrities. It shouldn't be about your hips, your belly, your breasts, your budget. It's about making your body a work of art, an extension of your personality.
Sounds daunting, but it's not. Go with your gut. Color Me beautiful says you're a Winter, yet you love orange. When you wear orange you feel happy, powerful, sassy. Then darn it, wear orange! You see a necklace that catches your fancy, but you fear it's too ornate, it's too flashy. Well then, don't wear it with a silver lycra mini and pink maribou heels. Like a fine work of art that you wouldn't hang on walls papered with cabbage roses, a great accessory should not compete with your outfit.
The right bracelet or necklace can take a faded sweater and a pair of pants too worn to donate and make it a stylish outfit. You may not have the budget for a new wardrobe every season, but a few key accessories picked up every few months can add live and vitality to your closet.
"I love your sense of style!"
"What a cool necklace, where ever did you get it?"
"I wish I could put together outfits like you."
"What a great outfit!"
I received 23 compliments on my outfit or a piece of my outfit today. No, I am not trying to brag about my sense of style. I am trying to make a point.
Want to know what I was wearing today? I was wearing a slightly faded black cotton sweater with a round neck, a bit stretched out from multiple wearings. With it was a pair of cream pants I have owned for too long. I have resewn the hem multiple times, and the lining in the pants had torn and raveled so much I finally tore it out in a fit of rage.
Why the compliments on such a mediocre (at best) outfit? I bet most of you women have similar pieces in your wardrobe. What made it special enough to compliment the person wearing such lackluster garments?
Accessories.
I wore a necklace. It's long, hangs past my breasts and is made completely of shells. The shells are pretty much the same color as my pitiful cream trousers.
On my feet are a pair of $40 pumps I bought last season from Nordstrom. Slightly pointed toe, but not so much that they look overly trendy or are overly painful on the toes. 2" heel. A classic, yet stylish look that was so flattering, so comfortable, and priced so nicely, I bought them in three colors.
Black leather purse in finish similar to shoes that I picked up at Marshall's for $19.99 three years ago.
Soft eye makeup, blush, concealer and subtle lipgloss.
These accessories are not particularly fancy, and far from being expensive. What makes them work is that they have... personality. They help express my personality.
When looking for accessories, do not adhere solely to what the magazine pages tell you is hip. True fashion is timeless and is creative. Anyone can buy the "right" pieces. What matters is not what you wear, but how you wear it.
Shell necklaces are not considered "hip" or stylish. I found the necklace in my mother's house in a box of costumes. I believe it was used one year when one of us kiddies was a hula dancer. The shells were beautiful, the necklace makes a cool clinking noise when you walk. Long necklaces help elongate a short body (moi). No one else I knew had a necklace like it. I decided to take it as my own, wear it with a subtle outfit that would not compete with the necklace.
Accessories are art. Clothing can be the canvas, while accessories are the medium.
Each year I buy a new purse. I don't buy an expensive one, or a designer one. I buy one I like. A purse is carried with you every day, it should match your personality, compliment your wardrobe, but most important it should make you happy. A pleasing shape, a cheerful color. Something to make you love it, make you proud to fling it over your shoulder. My sister bought a turquoise vinyl purse from Payless Shoe Source this Spring for less than $20. She got more compliments on it than the designer purse she received as a gift. Why? Because it fit her personality, it was fun, it was pleasing.
Accessories can add to an outfit, can detract from an outfit, can overwhelm an outfit. See fashion not as a chore, but as art. Like music, painting, home decorating. See it as lines, shapes, color. Fashion is more than just covering skin. It's more than trying to imitate celebrities. It shouldn't be about your hips, your belly, your breasts, your budget. It's about making your body a work of art, an extension of your personality.
Sounds daunting, but it's not. Go with your gut. Color Me beautiful says you're a Winter, yet you love orange. When you wear orange you feel happy, powerful, sassy. Then darn it, wear orange! You see a necklace that catches your fancy, but you fear it's too ornate, it's too flashy. Well then, don't wear it with a silver lycra mini and pink maribou heels. Like a fine work of art that you wouldn't hang on walls papered with cabbage roses, a great accessory should not compete with your outfit.
The right bracelet or necklace can take a faded sweater and a pair of pants too worn to donate and make it a stylish outfit. You may not have the budget for a new wardrobe every season, but a few key accessories picked up every few months can add live and vitality to your closet.
Happy Monday!
Black fine gauge cotton scoop neck sweater from Caslon. French vanilla cuffed creased trousers from Ann Taylor Loft. Black pointy toed pumps. Funky shell necklace that my mom had from the 70's and I snagged from her.
Makeup is i.d. Bare Escentuals - love how this stuff lets my freckles show through and still covers the redness under the nose and the bags under my eyes! Love you - mwah!
Bronzer in place of blush. Fawn and Damson shadows from The Body Shop - Fawn over the lid, Damson in the crease and smudged into the lash line. Black Zoom Lash on the lashes, and Pearl Plum gloss from Revlon.
Thought you may enjoy the beauty that is Dilly on her way to the gym at 5:30 AM before applying the above mentioned cosmetics and clothing. No makeup, hair in an accordion band and elastic, I think bits of sleep still int he corners of my eyes. Old black scoop tee from The Gap that enjoyed many festive times in the summer, but started to get misshapen as time passed. Black sueded cotton drawstring pants from the clearance rack at Target on the bottom. New Balance sneaks - gray/blue with touches of orange. Socks that actually match - ankle height. Hot mama.
November 18, 2005
I Tore My Pants
I was walking from my car to the office when my right heel got caught in my left cuff, tearing the seam and part of the fabric.
Just swell.
Hair in desperate need of a haircut - I think Sunday will be six weeks. it just grows too fast!
Salmon pink silk knit cap sleeve scoop neck shell from Ann Taylor - Spring collection. dark denim stretch blazer from Ann Taylor Summer collection. Brown cashmere/wool cuffed trousers from Ann Taylor Fall collection.
And my snakeskin pumps.
Makeup is the i.d. Bare Escentuals foundation and concealer, Nars Orgasm blush, my tannish bronzish pink gloss from Sally Hansen, black Zoom Lash from MAC, and the shimmer quad shadow from Body Shop - darkes color around the lash line with a slanted brush and in the crease with a dome brush. The pale shimmery beige over the whole lid.
Just swell.
Hair in desperate need of a haircut - I think Sunday will be six weeks. it just grows too fast!
Salmon pink silk knit cap sleeve scoop neck shell from Ann Taylor - Spring collection. dark denim stretch blazer from Ann Taylor Summer collection. Brown cashmere/wool cuffed trousers from Ann Taylor Fall collection.
And my snakeskin pumps.
Makeup is the i.d. Bare Escentuals foundation and concealer, Nars Orgasm blush, my tannish bronzish pink gloss from Sally Hansen, black Zoom Lash from MAC, and the shimmer quad shadow from Body Shop - darkes color around the lash line with a slanted brush and in the crease with a dome brush. The pale shimmery beige over the whole lid.
November 17, 2005
Neglectful Allie!
Thank you 1blueshi1 for making me post my wardrobe. I have been neglectful. Why? Have I been busy? Not terribly so. I just have been feeling very... uninspired by my wardrobe. I dream of shopping. I window shop on the internet all day, imagining how much more colorful my life will be with that sweater, that necklace, those fabu boots.
So a recap since my last post.....
Friday, November 11th
Had a wedding rehearsal and dinner immediately after work. Wore my hair straight and sort of chunky - played with the molding paste (L'Oreal Studio Line). Pale gray smoky eye, pink blush (the Whipped stuff from maybelline in the Strawberries color), the tan colored gloss from Sally Hansen that I raved about before.
On the body: Ivory creased cuffed trousers from last year's Ann Taylor Loft collection. Black sweater I got at a department store - cool cowl neck with lettuce/ruffled edge that I hang a bit off one shoulder. Matching flutter sleeves. Slim fit, hits at hips. Black pointy toed pumps.
Thought it was appropriate attire for work as well as the rehearsal dinner, but I was *GASP* overdressed! The entire wedding party was decked out in jeans, tennies, hoodies and the sort. my husband wore khaki flat front chinos, a blue oxford with the top button unbuttoned showing a white tee, black slip on loafers. We were the only two not in denim. Oh well....
Saturday, November 12th
My husband was in a wedding starting at 3PM. I ran around the mornign getting a pedicure, buying groceries and the such. Wore a gray half-zip hooded lightweight sweatshirt, papaya colored v-neck tee underneath, vintage looking creased jeans, black boots. Hair was a messy-next-day look. Just wore blush, mascara and pink lip gloss.
Then a wedding.
Black slink knit sleeveless v-neck dress with calf-length handkerchief hem. Black crepe strappy heels. Black matte satin clutch purse with silver detail. Black and silver knit wrap. Subtle smoky eye, tannish pink gloss that I kept eating off, large funky black and silver earrings I got from a street vendor at the beach. Breasts kept in place by toupee glue (much better than double sided tape for those fellow large-busted gals. They sell a glue remover which works decently, but shampoo seems to work best).
Sunday, November 13th
Did I even leave the house? I can't remember. Obviously if I dressed that day, it wasn't very exciting.
Monday, November 14th
Black trousers from Ann Taylor Loft. Black pointy heeled boots. Coral pink merino scoop neck bracelet sleeved sweater. Silver and coral link necklace, silver hoops, silver cuff. Smoky brown eyes and coral lipgloss. Nars Orgasm of course!
Tuesday, November 15th
Olive sateen military pants. Black merino v-neck. Silver hoops and cuff. Black pointy boots. Eyes done in a smoky gray and green combo. Plum lipgloss. Bronzer instead of blush.
Wednesday, November 16th
Yesterday was hot hot hot! Muggy and 73 degrees. Ew. Wore a dark blue silk knit v-neck shell, black creased cuffed trousers, teal suede wedges, aqua pashmina slung over the shoulder like a scarf. Blues and greens beaded cuff bracelet. Blue and green beaded hoops. Nude shadow, black liquid liner and tons of mascara, pink cheeks and gloss. Again there is a picture, I will upload it soon.
Today, November 17th
Training all day. dark jeans, slight stretch, creased, nice bootcut. Black spiky heeled boots. Dark red ribbed merino sweater with floppy large turtle/cowl neck. Hair very straight. Just mascara, foundation, blush and pale gloss. Very low-key day.
And now I must get back to training! Promise to have a better report on tomorrow!
So a recap since my last post.....
Friday, November 11th
Had a wedding rehearsal and dinner immediately after work. Wore my hair straight and sort of chunky - played with the molding paste (L'Oreal Studio Line). Pale gray smoky eye, pink blush (the Whipped stuff from maybelline in the Strawberries color), the tan colored gloss from Sally Hansen that I raved about before.
On the body: Ivory creased cuffed trousers from last year's Ann Taylor Loft collection. Black sweater I got at a department store - cool cowl neck with lettuce/ruffled edge that I hang a bit off one shoulder. Matching flutter sleeves. Slim fit, hits at hips. Black pointy toed pumps.
Thought it was appropriate attire for work as well as the rehearsal dinner, but I was *GASP* overdressed! The entire wedding party was decked out in jeans, tennies, hoodies and the sort. my husband wore khaki flat front chinos, a blue oxford with the top button unbuttoned showing a white tee, black slip on loafers. We were the only two not in denim. Oh well....
Saturday, November 12th
My husband was in a wedding starting at 3PM. I ran around the mornign getting a pedicure, buying groceries and the such. Wore a gray half-zip hooded lightweight sweatshirt, papaya colored v-neck tee underneath, vintage looking creased jeans, black boots. Hair was a messy-next-day look. Just wore blush, mascara and pink lip gloss.
Then a wedding.
Black slink knit sleeveless v-neck dress with calf-length handkerchief hem. Black crepe strappy heels. Black matte satin clutch purse with silver detail. Black and silver knit wrap. Subtle smoky eye, tannish pink gloss that I kept eating off, large funky black and silver earrings I got from a street vendor at the beach. Breasts kept in place by toupee glue (much better than double sided tape for those fellow large-busted gals. They sell a glue remover which works decently, but shampoo seems to work best).
Sunday, November 13th
Did I even leave the house? I can't remember. Obviously if I dressed that day, it wasn't very exciting.
Monday, November 14th
Black trousers from Ann Taylor Loft. Black pointy heeled boots. Coral pink merino scoop neck bracelet sleeved sweater. Silver and coral link necklace, silver hoops, silver cuff. Smoky brown eyes and coral lipgloss. Nars Orgasm of course!
Tuesday, November 15th
Olive sateen military pants. Black merino v-neck. Silver hoops and cuff. Black pointy boots. Eyes done in a smoky gray and green combo. Plum lipgloss. Bronzer instead of blush.
Wednesday, November 16th
Yesterday was hot hot hot! Muggy and 73 degrees. Ew. Wore a dark blue silk knit v-neck shell, black creased cuffed trousers, teal suede wedges, aqua pashmina slung over the shoulder like a scarf. Blues and greens beaded cuff bracelet. Blue and green beaded hoops. Nude shadow, black liquid liner and tons of mascara, pink cheeks and gloss. Again there is a picture, I will upload it soon.
Today, November 17th
Training all day. dark jeans, slight stretch, creased, nice bootcut. Black spiky heeled boots. Dark red ribbed merino sweater with floppy large turtle/cowl neck. Hair very straight. Just mascara, foundation, blush and pale gloss. Very low-key day.
And now I must get back to training! Promise to have a better report on tomorrow!
November 14, 2005
Dressing For The Occasion
This weekend I attended a wedding. Weddings are difficult days to dress for. What time is the wedding? Where is it located? What religion is the couple? What is your role (or the role of your date) in this wedding? What colors are unacceptable?
What Time is The Wedding?
Etiquette states that you do not dress in formal attire until after 5pm. This means if the wedding begins before this time, one does not wear strapless, sequins, floor length or stylized updos.
The wedding I went to this weekend had a ceremony that started at 3pm with the reception at 5pm. To dress appropriate for both portions, I wore a cocktail dress with a wrap to cover up and show respect at the church. Come reception time, the wrap was left on my chair.
Safe bets for this mix are nice suits (with a skirt, or pants with dressy heels), or a sheath dress in a dark color like black, plum, burgundy.
For day weddings, attire is more varied. The basic sheath or suit is appropriate, but floral dresses, chiffon or lacy tops with skirts or dressy pants, separates (silk twinset and skirt) are appropriate.
Where is the Wedding Located?
You will dress differently if the wedding is on a beach or in a mansion. The invitation often alludes to the type of reception. For a beach wedding, wear layers as that it may be chilly. Slip dresses, dressy full trousers with a chiffon layered shell, pieces that catch the breeze, are dressy yet comfortable. Wear shoes that are easy to slip off.
For a garden wedding, again layers are in order. Forego the spike heels for a flatter shoe that won't sink into the soft grass. Floral dresses, simple sheaths and softer fabrics help set the tone. Similar attire for a home wedding.
For a wedding at a hotel or an historical site, the dress is usually more formal. This is when the sequins can come out after 5pm.
What Religion Is The Couple?
This matters even more if the ceremony is held in a house of worship. It is a good idea to bring a wrap or cardigan to cover your shoulders out of respect. If more traditional or conservative, try to have a skirt cover your knees. Some religions frown upon women wearing pants - if you are unsure be safe and wear a skirt. Out of respect, forego plunging necklines, form fitting pieces and anything too "loud" (hot pink satin anyone?).
I'm A Reader/Guest Book Attendant/Wife of the Best Man
You will be more on display, whether you like it or not. The photographer will capture your image at least three times that day, and depending on your relation to the couple, may be in some of the group posed photographs that may end up on holiday cards and fireplace mantles across the globe.
Try to compliment the color of the wedding. If the wedding is pale celadon and ivory, do not wear bright purple. Compliment it with a muted shade like gray, tan, soft blue, soft pink, or even black (most often than not the men will be in black tuxes so you will blend). Attempting to blend or coordinate shows respect to the event and the bride's hard planning.
As a date of an important part of the wedding, similar rules apply. Try to blend, not distract. Black and subtle colors are best. Let your date take the limelight.
What Colors Are Acceptable?
It used to be that one could not wear red for it is disrespectful. One could not wear black because it is the color of mourning. One could not wear white or ivory for fear of upstaging the bride.
Red is acceptable, though it's not always in best taste to wear fire engine or scarlet to a wedding. Though impossible to upstage a bride, you may be drawing too much attention to yourself, when he day is about the couple and the wedding party and family. Preferred shades are garnet, bordeaux, dark ruby.
As for black, it is acceptable at any occasion. These days even brides have been known to wear the color. Black is a safe bet for a wedding, and you should always have a simple black sheath in your wardrobe for events just like this. Accessories take a black sheath from work to a day wedding to an evening wedding to a funeral with ease.
The only color that hasn't seemed to change with the times is white. A dress can have a white background with a colorful pattern or floral, pants can be ivory or winter white with a color shell, but a solid white or ivory dress or suit is disrespectful. That is, unless the wedding has a color these and you are asked to wear all white or all ivory.
What Can Be Worn to Any Wedding?
Some dresses can go from morning wedding on the beach to black tie affair at a swanky hotel. Party of 10 or party of 1,000. Conservative family or flower children.
Colorful dresses made of silk, flattering yet not gaping neckline, feminine yet conservative hem. This color can go from day to night with the right accessories, and can be paired with a cardigan or wrap for a more conservative look.
The classic black sheath. Conservative neckline, body skimming yet not body hugging silhouette. Simple, elegant. Again, can be dressed up and down with the correct accessories.
The dressy suit. Dependent on the color or level of glitz, it may not be as appropriate for day, but if you find a brocade in a beige, taupe, silver/gray or a soft color, it will often work for both day and night dependent on the shoes (strappier for night, and of a dressy fabric) and hair (updo for night to add glamour).
The chiffon layered slip dress. Enough layers to look classy, not trashy. A matching cardigan or wrap for chill and for the church. A calf length that will look beachy with mules or snazzy with strappy satin heels.
The surplice neck dress. Surplice means wrap. These are the style of dresses that lend to having a v-neck because they wrap at the bust. Be it an actual wrap dress like the jade green confection, or a surplice style like the black georgette version, this neckline add drama without sluttiness. A little skin at the neck looks dressy and festive. Add fun sleeves, and you will be a knockout.
If you purchase wisely, you can have a dress that will work for a multitude of events in a multitude of seasons and levels of dressiness. Dress to flatter your body, not to fit a mold. Dress to feel attractive, not like a piece of furniture. Dress to impress, but not overwhelm. Shop with enough time to not get desperate and just buy any old thing that will cover some skin. Think of this event and potential future events where the dress can be worn. Consider a good dress as an investment.
What Time is The Wedding?
Etiquette states that you do not dress in formal attire until after 5pm. This means if the wedding begins before this time, one does not wear strapless, sequins, floor length or stylized updos.
The wedding I went to this weekend had a ceremony that started at 3pm with the reception at 5pm. To dress appropriate for both portions, I wore a cocktail dress with a wrap to cover up and show respect at the church. Come reception time, the wrap was left on my chair.
Safe bets for this mix are nice suits (with a skirt, or pants with dressy heels), or a sheath dress in a dark color like black, plum, burgundy.
For day weddings, attire is more varied. The basic sheath or suit is appropriate, but floral dresses, chiffon or lacy tops with skirts or dressy pants, separates (silk twinset and skirt) are appropriate.
Where is the Wedding Located?
You will dress differently if the wedding is on a beach or in a mansion. The invitation often alludes to the type of reception. For a beach wedding, wear layers as that it may be chilly. Slip dresses, dressy full trousers with a chiffon layered shell, pieces that catch the breeze, are dressy yet comfortable. Wear shoes that are easy to slip off.
For a garden wedding, again layers are in order. Forego the spike heels for a flatter shoe that won't sink into the soft grass. Floral dresses, simple sheaths and softer fabrics help set the tone. Similar attire for a home wedding.
For a wedding at a hotel or an historical site, the dress is usually more formal. This is when the sequins can come out after 5pm.
What Religion Is The Couple?
This matters even more if the ceremony is held in a house of worship. It is a good idea to bring a wrap or cardigan to cover your shoulders out of respect. If more traditional or conservative, try to have a skirt cover your knees. Some religions frown upon women wearing pants - if you are unsure be safe and wear a skirt. Out of respect, forego plunging necklines, form fitting pieces and anything too "loud" (hot pink satin anyone?).
I'm A Reader/Guest Book Attendant/Wife of the Best Man
You will be more on display, whether you like it or not. The photographer will capture your image at least three times that day, and depending on your relation to the couple, may be in some of the group posed photographs that may end up on holiday cards and fireplace mantles across the globe.
Try to compliment the color of the wedding. If the wedding is pale celadon and ivory, do not wear bright purple. Compliment it with a muted shade like gray, tan, soft blue, soft pink, or even black (most often than not the men will be in black tuxes so you will blend). Attempting to blend or coordinate shows respect to the event and the bride's hard planning.
As a date of an important part of the wedding, similar rules apply. Try to blend, not distract. Black and subtle colors are best. Let your date take the limelight.
What Colors Are Acceptable?
It used to be that one could not wear red for it is disrespectful. One could not wear black because it is the color of mourning. One could not wear white or ivory for fear of upstaging the bride.
Red is acceptable, though it's not always in best taste to wear fire engine or scarlet to a wedding. Though impossible to upstage a bride, you may be drawing too much attention to yourself, when he day is about the couple and the wedding party and family. Preferred shades are garnet, bordeaux, dark ruby.
As for black, it is acceptable at any occasion. These days even brides have been known to wear the color. Black is a safe bet for a wedding, and you should always have a simple black sheath in your wardrobe for events just like this. Accessories take a black sheath from work to a day wedding to an evening wedding to a funeral with ease.
The only color that hasn't seemed to change with the times is white. A dress can have a white background with a colorful pattern or floral, pants can be ivory or winter white with a color shell, but a solid white or ivory dress or suit is disrespectful. That is, unless the wedding has a color these and you are asked to wear all white or all ivory.
What Can Be Worn to Any Wedding?
Some dresses can go from morning wedding on the beach to black tie affair at a swanky hotel. Party of 10 or party of 1,000. Conservative family or flower children.
Colorful dresses made of silk, flattering yet not gaping neckline, feminine yet conservative hem. This color can go from day to night with the right accessories, and can be paired with a cardigan or wrap for a more conservative look.
The classic black sheath. Conservative neckline, body skimming yet not body hugging silhouette. Simple, elegant. Again, can be dressed up and down with the correct accessories.
The dressy suit. Dependent on the color or level of glitz, it may not be as appropriate for day, but if you find a brocade in a beige, taupe, silver/gray or a soft color, it will often work for both day and night dependent on the shoes (strappier for night, and of a dressy fabric) and hair (updo for night to add glamour).
The chiffon layered slip dress. Enough layers to look classy, not trashy. A matching cardigan or wrap for chill and for the church. A calf length that will look beachy with mules or snazzy with strappy satin heels.
The surplice neck dress. Surplice means wrap. These are the style of dresses that lend to having a v-neck because they wrap at the bust. Be it an actual wrap dress like the jade green confection, or a surplice style like the black georgette version, this neckline add drama without sluttiness. A little skin at the neck looks dressy and festive. Add fun sleeves, and you will be a knockout.
If you purchase wisely, you can have a dress that will work for a multitude of events in a multitude of seasons and levels of dressiness. Dress to flatter your body, not to fit a mold. Dress to feel attractive, not like a piece of furniture. Dress to impress, but not overwhelm. Shop with enough time to not get desperate and just buy any old thing that will cover some skin. Think of this event and potential future events where the dress can be worn. Consider a good dress as an investment.
November 10, 2005
I Look Terrible
I had a rough night. I went to bed late, I woke up late. Not gym today.
Husband came home, we had breakfast together. next thing I know I have to leave in 5 minutes.
Black ribbed v-neck knit top from Old Navy. Dark crosshatch bootcut jeans from The Gap. Black high heeled boots.
No makeup (can you believe it?)
No Hair done (didn't even brush it)
No photograph (don't want to scare away my 2 readers!)
Husband came home, we had breakfast together. next thing I know I have to leave in 5 minutes.
Black ribbed v-neck knit top from Old Navy. Dark crosshatch bootcut jeans from The Gap. Black high heeled boots.
No makeup (can you believe it?)
No Hair done (didn't even brush it)
No photograph (don't want to scare away my 2 readers!)
November 9, 2005
New Eyeshadow
I bought it to go with a purple top, but I am returning the top as that it is a bit too long and looks maternity. Figured I could use the shadow.
They say those with brown eyes should wear purple shadow. I hate those all-emcompassing "rules" about colors and makeup and life. If they were right, i should look atrocious in orange. But I don't!
However....
I think "they" are right. My eyes look very brown!
I wore my apple green stretch twill blazer, lilac silk knit scoop neck shell, new black trousers I picked up at Ann Taylor Loft last night, black pumps. car shopping has been movied to tonight, I think I have dressed the part. I also have a "working lunch" with a client today, so I wanted to look approchable yet presentable.
They say those with brown eyes should wear purple shadow. I hate those all-emcompassing "rules" about colors and makeup and life. If they were right, i should look atrocious in orange. But I don't!
However....
I think "they" are right. My eyes look very brown!
I wore my apple green stretch twill blazer, lilac silk knit scoop neck shell, new black trousers I picked up at Ann Taylor Loft last night, black pumps. car shopping has been movied to tonight, I think I have dressed the part. I also have a "working lunch" with a client today, so I wanted to look approchable yet presentable.
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