the more things change

...the more they stay the same.

Since Em is getting ready for Band Camp (she leaves tomorrow and comes back on Friday) I bought her some clothes last night. Very reminicent of what I used to wear, inspired by Flashdance! The ripped/cut sweatshirts, the skinny jeans, tops hanging off one shoulder.

I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying "I used to wear this stuff..." every time. I remember rolling my eyes at my mother and I won't have her doing that to me.

At least to my face, lol.

my history of fashion

I believe that my mother ingrained my love for clothing and fashion. I remember being a little girl and sitting at her dressing table in her bedroom when I was maybe four, or five. She had little pots of eyeshadow in blue and green and really cool lipsticks. When I finished snooping around there I'd go into her closet where she had little gold and silver go-go dresses, black patent and white leather sandals. I remember asking once, why are the white ones at the very back? That was the first time I'd ever heard that white was reserved for Spring and Summer.





When I was six I had a little traveling suit that I wore when I visted our Grandmother in Vancouver. It was a peach coloured shift dress that had a peach argyle jacket and matching hat. I had white tights and mary-janes that completed the outfit and I loved it even more than the little green vinyl shift dress that I'd worn for Christmas in 1970, when I was five.

Years later, after Mom & Dad broke up and we were living in Alberta. I bought my first pair of high heeled shoes when I was fourteen. They were knock offs of the famous Candies Disco Slide. I bought them in brown and wore them with a brown pencil skirt and a brown and tan plaid boyfriend blazer, and felt completely gown up and stylish!



If I could have worn those every day I would have. Instead, due to the harsh Alberta winters, I had to wear these:

I hated those boots, but would not be allowed on the bus without "proper footwear", so I would wear my high top converse sneakers (in purple!) and carry these over my shoulder.

After graduating from high school I worked at the local hotel in the restaurant, and wore my high waisted jeans with a variety of blouses. Most were very form ftting with asymetrical button closures and mutton sleeves, but my favourite was made from green plaid and had at least twenty buttons.

New Years Eve was huge for me when I was in my early twenties, and my favourite outfit of all time was a dress that I designed and my mother sewed. It was made from black taffeta and consisted of a high waisted pencil skirt with shoulder straps and a long sleeved tuxedo-styled bolero jacket. I finished it off with knee high black leather boots and gloves, a red satin purse, and a red satin bow tie.





Over the years I've had other favourite outfits, but most of them consist of pencil skirts and high heeled slingbacks.I'm a sucker for a well made jacket or interesting bag and LOVE a sexy boot, but I need to work on my casual wardrobe for school. This is the first time in more than a few years where I've needed to work on jeans, blouses and casual jackets, and it's been kind of fun so far. Who knew that I would fall in love with interesting scarves?!

post a don't

I recently joined Glamour.com and have been perusing the site over the last few days. One feature that I love is that readers can upload pics of don'ts! Some of them are just outrageous!

I am off to pick up Jamie, who is at her Nanny gig this afternoon. She wants to help me shop for the food bank, and she's good at it.

Have a good one.

summer fashion for real life

photo by Lawrie Brown

1. Hoisery is not always necessary.

In fact, I haven't worn hoisery, in public, for more than ten years. I love the look of opaque tights in the winter, and have seen some very dressy looks that require black stockings, but for a basic summer wardrobe, you don't need them.

In particular, if you are attending an outdoor summer wedding, I recommend a strappy shoe with bare legs. To achieve this, it is a must that your feet and legs be smooth, clean and slightly tanned. Self tanners are awesome these days, and you can even buy a moisturizer with self tanner that even a child could use successfully.

2. Dressy capri's are the new casual wedding guest attire.

And for good reason! Women are so tired of shopping for dresses that are comfortable and fit well, and they have really learned how to dress up a basic piece like this. Every single weekend I am dressing pluz sized women for showers and weddings, and capri's work for almost everyone.

They can be worn with blouses, jackets, or flowy tanks, and can be worn with flats or heels. After the event, they can be integrated into your every day wardrobe.

Younger women can wear city shorts with killer heels. (City shorts = bermudas in dressy fabrics)

3. I cannot stress how important a good bra is!

Here are some rules for showing straps.

a. All straps must be the narrower kind. "Comfort" straps (which are wider to support bigger breasts) should never be seen.

b. Clear straps look good, but can be a bit of a pain.

c. Coloured straps are best. White can be acceptable sometimes (picture thin, pristine straps) but beige is always a no-go.

d. Look for wider bands across your back to avoid bunching and back fat roll-over. You don't have to be plus-sized to have this problem.

4. Get the right undies.

I love white skirts and white shorts, but I cringe when I can see someone's thong. Last summer I shopped behind a girl in white capri's with a green thong and every time I saw her afterward (small city) I pegged her as an attention whore. (That sounds so mean, but it's what I thought)

Beige thongs, full backs or control garments work good under white.

*edited to add* that when wearing white, DO NOT go tightly fitted with white bottoms. Looser is always best.

5. The most flattering kind of shorts for every body type - bermudas.

6. A store here in Canada is now making sundresses with built in bras. Brilliant!

7.Keep your summer sandals fresh.

Men and women can keep their sandals fresh by using anti-bacterial wipes to clean the insoles. Works best every two to three wears. Keep a pack of wipes in your car, or your office, because they're good for everything.

8. Think skin tones when it comes to shoes.

Especially if you have short legs! I am always tempted to buy black, but in recent years have noticed how long my legs look in light coloured shoes. Heels, sandals, for men and women alike, this works.

♣ ♣ ♣

That's all I can think of for now. Bill is sick today and we're not sure if it is from the Irish Whiskey (and Tequila) from last night, or a virus. A virus would hurt my parents, so we're waiting until a little later to leave.

love your clothes

photo by Tim Lyons

The other day, one of the girls who works at my financial centre asked how it is that all my clothes are in such good shape. I'd recently given her a lightweight fuchsia sweater (that she'd seen me wearing last year) because it had a crossover bodice, and I couldn't wear it without a tanktop because my chest kept popping out. I figured that she'd wear it because she always layers her clothes, while I'd only wear a tank if I can layer it with a jacket that I can take off.

At any rate, she mentioned that she cycles through a wardrobe every ten months to a year because the washing machine wrecks them, and no one has ever taught her how to hand wash clothes. When I still recommended it, she replied "I couldn't imagine all the time it takes!"

I suppose it does, but not anymore than machine washing. In my case, I have to trudge downstairs to my tiny laundry room, dig through the piles of towels and jeans and socks and other assorted crap to find my stuff. Then I'd wait half an hour, trudge back down, put it in the dryer (if the dryer is even empty) wait another forty-five minutes, bring it up and fold it.

I'd rather do it my way.

All my skirts, blouses, tank tops, sweaters, and nighties are hand washed. I usually buy a small container of cheap liquid laundry detergent to keep beneath the bathroom sink. Any kind, as long as it doesn't have bleach. I wash two to three items at a time, rinse them once, and roll them in a thick bath towel. Sometimes I leave them in the towel overnight, especially if it's a sweater. The next morning I unwrap it and either drape it over the shower rod or on a hanger. Within a few hours it can be moved to my closet, which has an ironing board set up beside it 24/7.

I have managed to keep certain dressy items for up to four years by doing it this way, and considering that I used to spend $2,000 a year on clothes, it's saved me a bundle. Now when I buy something, it's because I love it, not because I need it.

Have a good Sunday!

WTH kind of GD boots are these?

From Go Fug Yourself

Hooves?! OMG, I almost went blind when I saw these.