Closet Fashion Content Analysis

Splurges

2022-02-02T00:10:00.000-06:00

It's Nice to be Back

2020 to 2022 has been unsettling. For some, online working, shopping, and recreation has kept them sane. For me, I abandoned many online activities and began to live a somewhat low tech life. I hate to admit it, but I'm loving it, but I have missed writing here.

Splurges

When it comes to clothing, everyone has a splurge? Even people who buy all their clothing at the grocery store, have a something they splurge on.

For Me it's cashmere sweaters: I once splurged on a V-neck pullover bought at Black Goat Cashmere in Vancouver. It's the best quality one I have. The ones from I bought from the Bay, or Costco or yes, a grocery store, have come and gone. The one from Black Goat was definitely worth the splurge.

My Favourite Ballet Flats Guy Brian Davis told me: "I'm so cheap in my everyday life but I have no problem spending $175.00 to $350.00 on a cute pair of flats."

www.businessinsider.com reported that, during the pandemic, the United Kingdom splurged on loungewear, UGG and Crocs and that Calvin Klein was the "best performing brand" in respect to online consumer traffic.

www.thetalko.com tells us that for Lady Gaga it's Michael Jackson's clothes — apparently she bought a crystal glove for $100,000. and his black and red jacket that he wore on his Bad Tour for $250,000.

It's interesting that people who once would splurge on certain luxury brands they coveted when their incomes were lower no longer want those things now that they can afford it.

Add a comment and let us know . . .

What have you splurged on?

Preparing for a Different Normal

2021-06-27T00:09:00.003-05:00

Notice to those receiving email notices from this blog: In July 2021, Blogger is discontinuing this service. I have been trying to work this "feed" service thing out but have not yet been successful. Presently I can't even access who is on my email service list so I can't contact you directly. You will have to either bookmark this blog address or simply visit me periodically to see what I have written lately. I'll be working on it but I can't make any promises. Thanks for your patience and understanding. And now to my post, something I have a relative amount of control over . . .
no thanks to pandemics
noteworthy that we are moving toward a new normal
need for more people to be vaccinated
nice that we are on the road again

2020-21 has been an unsettling year. We have been given the opportunity to experience and live through a truly global event. The pandemic affected everyone on this planet. Through science and compliance with vaccination protocol, we will overcome this hurdle. Those who are choosing not to vaccinate are hindering humankind's general well-being. Think of polio and if you are too young to have remembered standing in line in elementary school for the polio vaccine, do some research. Trust science. I am alive today because insulin was invented. OK, enough of that rant, this is a blog about clothing after all.

That being said, Covid-19 has affected what we consider "normal". It's time to prepare for a different normal. I don't believe we can resume "back to normal" or what was once practised as "normal". We are or at least should be much more aware of the correlation between basic hygiene and health, and hopefully, be more conscious of spreading a virus. How many of us didn't hesitate going to work, sniffling, sneezing and coughing with "just a cold" or "the beginnings of the more common flu" in the past? Continuing to wear masks, particularly if suffering from the common cold or flu, makes perfect sense.

As we move toward the normalcy we all want, my husband and I hope to be spending time in France this year. When we go, it will only be for three months since we do not want to deal with the onerous process of getting a long-stay visa. Yes, Canadians need a visa if they are staying longer than three months. Many think, both in Canada and in France, that because of Canada's historic relationship with France we don't. We do. And the fines imposed, if you are detected staying longer than you should, are significant.

But back to preparing for my trip. I still cannot travel with only a carry-on because of all the non-clothing items I take. Here are some of the things I need to take or have taken when staying away for the long haul.

Protein Powder and Supplements: All the protein powders in France (or so I have found) contain sucralose and I have chosen not to use any products using this artificial sweetener. Most of the ones you buy in Canada do not contain this product anymore. I guess Canadian rats show different results in scientific analysis than French ones. So if you use protein powders in smoothies, it's preferable to bring it from home. I also find their prices for protein powders anywhere from twice to three times as expensive.

Many companies offer a single-use packet, which is convenient for short-term travel. Also, check to see if the country you are visiting allows you to bring in this product or supplements generally. Several years ago, a friend had all hers confiscated when entering Australia. Actually, any food item is suspect and you are lucky if they simply take it away and don't fine you. An apple or an orange is not worth $300.00.

Medication: I'm a diabetic and have gotten into the habit of taking all my medication and supplies for the time I will be away. Yes, of course, I can buy any of the above in France, but my Canadian health insurance will not cover it, nor will medical travel insurance because my diabetes is a pre-existing condition. It makes economic sense to take what I need.

My supplies for 4 to 6 months take a fair amount of space. As well the Freestyle Libre monitor calculates blood sugar levels in different calibrations depending on which country you live in. I have purchased one in France but I'm not accustomed to reading 3 digit numbers since I'm used to average readings in single digits.

I try not to take many clothes because I have a summer wardrobe in France, which is probably better than what I have in Canada.

I have already written about a more extensive list of clothing to take on a trip to Europe in the fall (underwear excluded) — August to October Trip to France.

This year I'll be wearing the following on the aeroplane:

a mask

a pair of skinny leg Buffalo blue jeans — I don't wear white jeans when I know I have to wear the same clothing for 24 hours.
my seersucker Smythe plaid blazer that goes great with jeans. I got this photo from lyst.com a while back but it's no longer in their inventory.
a blue merino long sleeve lightweight wool top (planes are often cold)

my white Keds

In my carry-on:

my three-month supply of diabetic supplies and medication. Medications should always be with you and not packed in your checked luggage owing to temperature fluctuations and most importantly, the possibility of loss.
over-the-counter decongestant tablets or nasal spray for take-off and landing (if you have trouble with your ears in these situations) and eye drops for dry eyes.
my journal and two pens
my laptop and European plug-in converter
packaged snack foods (in case my blood sugars start dropping and I need something quickly)
my 100% moderate weight cotton beige & white shawl (a recent acquisition) or my camel-coloured cashmere shawl (I always need more than the little blanket you get on overnight trips when flying Economy)

an oversized t-shirt and lightweight cotton pants or shorts (respectable substitute for pyjamas) to change into when taking an overnight flight
basic toiletries including moisturizer, lip balm, hand-sanitizer wipes, toothpaste, and toothbrush. I have taken more in the past but never seem to use it.
an extra pair of glasses

This year, I might be packing the following favourites in my checked luggage:

my LBD (little black dress). I've carried it back and forth over the pond for years. Maybe it's time to get a second one.
my favourite scarves and signature necklaces. Scarves don't weigh much so I can rationalize taking a few but as for the necklaces, I can always make another one or two or three while I'm there.
my Burberry white tailored shirt
dressy black flats
beige heels

As well as . . . two items I will take and leave there — a white denim skirt and white flip flops

Everything else in our check-in luggage will be items for the pantry and the house along with favourite toiletries that can stay there.

I always take photographs of the contents of our check-in bags along with an itemized list. This is important, particularly if you are a designer type of guy or gal. You never know, your bag could be the lost one and this way, any insurance claim you make can be substantiated.

With this plan, there will be plenty of room on our return trip for wine and the clothing and shoes I buy there.

Wedding Gown: Then and if I was doing it Now

2021-06-19T12:16:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Sutherland from Glamour Girl Bridal and Formals, on Graham Avenue in Winnipeg, Canada, (no longer in business) wrote the following about my wedding gown:

The bride chose for her wedding day a gown of imported silk organza and re-embroidered Alençon lace. The gown is beautifully enhanced with miniature pearl beading. The gown, in Empire style, has a princess collar and long slim sleeves with a petal point finish at the wrists. The skirt flows in soft lines to the back to form a full chapel train. Scalloped beaded lace trims the collared bodice, sleeves, front of the skirt and train. Her veil of silk illusion in chapel length is edged with the Alençon lace and drifted from a head piece of matching lace trimmed with pearl beading.

This is not a photo of my wedding gown. I only have paper copies and haven't seen the need to transfer them to digital format.

Therefore, I have been looking for a photograph online of my wedding gown worn in the late 1970s. The closest I have come is the one you see here. The sleeve finish was different on mine. Rather than a cuff, mine had what was called a "petal point" sleeve - a double-scallop border/edge, which I believe looked more elegant than the cuff on this one. The A-line style was the same but it is difficult to assess from online photographs how the lace differed. The neckline was similar. I found this version, dated as late 1960s/early 70s, on Etsy. Mine was purchased in the late 70s so it was probably a popular classic style that lasted a little longer than usual contemporary bridal trends. It's selling there for $527.30. My parents, who ran an upholstery shop and were of modest means, paid $351.75 for my gown.

My mother and I spent a cold February Saturday in Winnipeg shopping and it was the dress I said was "the one" in the first bridal shop window we encountered. And she agreed! The floral Alençon lace (described as a re-embroidered chantilly lace) is imported from France featuring beading which shapes beautifully and if I had to do it over again, I would choose a dress made of the same lace.

If I were getting married today, I would probably choose something that showed off the back more like this one from Marilyn's Bridal in Aukland, NZ.

The collar of Kate Middleton's gown appeals to me.

Or better still, a bateau-style neckline. This gown was featured in the Mori Lee 2015 Collection.

I've been to a lot of weddings in my lifetime and there is only one bridal gown I can say stood out. It was amazing and when I saw it I thought, I would have loved to have gotten married in the same one Carly chose. I wish I had photos! In this case, electronic files disappeared when my husband's first IPad bit the dust. (We lost 3 years of our photograph archived lives on an airplane headed to Vancouver. When we got to the Apple dealership, during this pre-Cloud era, we received the bad news. Nothing was retrievable!)

As I'm thinking about what I should do with this dress — no kids, all my nieces are married, and their children are a long way from being married, and who wants their great-aunt's dress anyway? I'm thinking to have my gown remade into a cocktail-length dress. The dress is a size 2 (now I live in a comfortable size 6 and sometimes 8) but a good tailor should be able to manage. I have a friend who can advise me and maybe even oversee the project. My plan is that I will eventually wear it on our 50th. My husband and I have full intentions of being around for that event!

Re-construction — it's a thought . . . I'll keep you posted.

The Mask as a New Accessory

2021-06-10T19:28:00.001-05:00

Necessary

We're fully vaccinated — places to go, people to see. But hold on, not so fast.

Even though we are fully vaccinated and many of our friends have had their first shots, we're still very conscious that the virus does not discriminate and variants are still a challenge. This of course means that many of the habits we have started and re-inforced over the past year and a half need to continue — a new normal.

I appreciate the precautions taken in the grocery stores such as disinfecting carts, providing antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, and plexiglass shields for the masked workers. All of the above needs to be continued for the workers' and our safety. As well, after going out for lunch in a 50% capacity restaurant, I rather liked not being an arm's length away from the next table. Lunch was a beautiful experience on the riverbank with a calm atmosphere and a sparsely occupied space, even though the place was full.

When it comes to personal habits, are people going to stop washing their hands and taking precautions? Of course not, at least I hope not. It's just good basic hygiene. This past winter no one around me had a cold or the usual run-of-the-mill flu. In the past, when one person in the house had a cold or the flu, everyone eventually got it. Not this past winter. When my guests come to my house I'll still provide them with antibacterial wipes and sanitizing options. And I will continue diligently cleaning for their safety. After all, we still do not know a whole lot about this virus and why some people are asymptomatic, others are afflicted with longstanding complications, and others die. Even though we are vaccinated we still can get it. And although we may not get as ill, we potentially can be carriers if we stop being diligent and catch it from someone, putting unvaccinated folks in danger. It will be a while before herd immunity kicks in.

So don't put the mask away just yet. As for masks, they will continue to be part of my wardrobe accessories especially for shopping and casual visits. It's not such a big deal. How wearing a mask became a threat to personal liberty is beyond me. It's science, not an issue of freedom.

Thanks to Shirley B who made all of these except two (the stripe and the animal print).

I'm happy to see celebrities doing their part, although in this situation, I've chosen masking and it has nothing to do with them. Tory Burch has a #wearadamnmask challenge. Through the campaign, celebrities are posting selfies sending the message of the importance of wearing a mask in public. There are sequined masks, tie-died, floral, basic solid colours, bright neon colours, pastels, animal print motifs, plaid, gingham, and of course, the novelty ones including sport team promotion, lipstick kisses, smiley faces, cartoon characters, and anything else that suits your personality type. Then there are the disposable options also being promoted. Bien sur, you need a LBFM - little black face mask. For a look at the celebrities and their choices visit the hellomagazine website.

The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) tested 20 different face masks and summarized the effectiveness in this Marketplace overview. Beware the one-layer bandana-scarf-face mask and gaiter-styled face mask. According to the Marketplace report, these are the least protective. These masks allow too many germs in and let too many out. If there is a disposable face-covering insert underneath, or a filter pocket insert inside the bandana and gaiter styles closely fitting the nose and mouth, then they may be redeemed but not always considered more effective.

Masks with an exhalation valve are not recommended at all.

Need

Look for the following criteria when choosing a face mask:

Good: tightly woven fabric (high thread-count)

Better: two layers of fabric (both fabrics with a high thread count)

Best: reinforcement of a two-layer, high thread-count mask with a standard disposable mask underneath (In the photo you see that I just use tiny safety pins to add and easily remove disposable masks from my cloth ones.

Continue all those good habits when you are out and about. Don't be irresponsible during this pandemic (even if you are vaccinated).

Scarves: Wash, Iron, Mend

2021-06-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

Necessary

I was out for dinner last weekend and had chosen to accessorize with a black, yellow, and white scarf. My scarf had twisted and so I gave it a tug and noticed a stain. Embarrassed, I excused myself and, in front of the powder room mirror, tried to position the stain so it would not show. Of course, the lightweight silk curled and curved the stain right back into its full frontal position. I finally tied a knot at the point of the stain and managed to get through the evening with a different look than what I had originally planned. The stain was hidden and that was more important.

This scenario motivated me to go to my closet and do a stain analysis of my scarves. My winter scarves, mittens, gloves, and neck warmers were all in good condition since I washed everything that was worn over the winter as soon as the spring sun started shining.

Embarrassment revelation number 2: I could not remember the last time I had washed most of my accessorizing scarves. They appeared "clean enough" especially the patterned ones or ones that had no white or pale colours in the pattern. Nonetheless, I gathered them all up, took out my Forever New laundry soap for delicate fabrics, filled the fabric softener dispenser with vinegar and lavender oil, set the machine to delicate wash/gentle spin and set up my ironing board.

I washed everything, the ones I barely wear along with my favourites. I didn't realize how many scarves I had. They are all now stain-free, ironed, and colour-organized. I need a tool, sort of like a fish counter, for every scarf so that I give them a timely wash. Make-up, natural skin oils, moisturizers, sunscreen, and hairspray all conspire to hold grime and so I'm setting up a routine to wash them, whether they are showing any errant stains or not. I don't think we need to wash accessorizing scarves after each wear as we do with cotton face masks or underwear but they certainly need to be washed more often than I had been previously doing. Jewellery is another accessory that we forget about cleaning, but I've dealt with that in older posts.

Doing this inventory was a good thing, I found one scarf with the hem ravelling and I found several that will be put into the "donate" bin. I don't know about you, but it does feel good to have a "clean slate".

I was inspired to attend to a summer set-up and re-organization of my closet. I colour-coded everything so that I can look at one section and have all my options available. And now my scarves are all organized in the same way providing even more options. Yay!

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ITSO . . . In the Style of . . . Diane Von Furstenberg

2021-06-01T10:04:00.002-05:00

Character. Intelligence. Strength. Style. That makes beauty.

— Diane von Furstenberg (1946) Belgian fashion designer

Diane von Furstenberg started her fashion design career and became famous with her wrap dress. This orange 70s vintage example was retrieved on May 30, 2021 from Shopmodig.

Her silk jersey wrap dress was an influencer for me as I grew into adulthood. It was the seams on her dresses (or dresses like hers) I checked in my first job. I had to make sure every article of clothing that was put on the sales floor of the high-end dress shop (at least it was high-end in the mid-sized town I lived) was in faultless condition. I worked in the basement and checked for split seams, fabric flaws, sewing mistakes, dye irregularities, and print or stripe mismatches. Does anyone do that anymore?

People say I made the dress. Yes, I made the dress, but the dress made me.

- Diane von Furstenberg

Apparently, she originally created a wrap-around top with a matching skirt and that evolved into the dress. The DVF's wrap dress was born in 1973/1974 (depending on the source you read) when she arrived in New York with a suitcase full of jersey print wrap dresses. Asked why she invented this particular dress, she emphasized the ease of getting dressed and I would also suggest getting undressed. She has been quoted as saying:

If you are trying to slip out without waking a sleeping man, zips are a nightmare. Haven’t you ever tried to creep out of the room unnoticed the following morning? I’ve done that many times.

Considering DVF's wrap dress has been used to symbolically represent the the rise of the women's movement in the 1970s, liberated women, and comfort and ease in workplace dressing, I find it has similarities to previous "house dress" patterns from an era that was not so liberated. Here's a wrap dress called "a 1949 Women's Wrap Around Brunch Coat" from the category of House Dresses in a Simplicity Vintage Sewing Pattern (Retrieved May 30, 2021 from Ecrater — 2845 https://www.ecrater.com/p/7216806/1949-womens-wrap-around-brunch-coat).

I remember my aunt having a blue floral wrap house dress just like the vintage Simplicity pattern. I feel certain that DVF, who was married to a prince (making her a princess although she lost that privilege with divorce) and who first designed a wrap-around top and a skirt was not influenced by a "house dress". However, DVF's wrap dress does look like a re-stylized, re-invented, shortened adaptation of the 1950s version. Has anyone ever had that thought before? It does appear like there's really nothing "new", simply revisited, modified, and revitalized with updated fabrics created for a new market audience and regenerated with a new "story". No matter the origin or motivation — it was brilliant.

Photo Source: Yahoo!Life This photo was retrieved May 30, 2021 from https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/diane-von-furstenberg-means-woman-140021841.html. Read the interview, Diane von Furstenberg on What it Means to be a 'Woman in Charge', by Nikara Johns, March 8, 2020

At 75, Diane von Furstenberg is still designing and still in charge.

For me, the zipper issue is huge. I have one dress that has a side zipper - that's perfect. All the others have back zippers. Impossible if you are alone. With apologies to DVF, the ease of dressing gives the wrap dress a greater advantage than for the purpose of "sneaking out without waking a sleeping man".

Matching Summer Sets

2021-05-23T14:12:00.004-05:00

2021 Summer Trend

This summer's trend is rather matchy-matchy. Mainly tiny tops with matching shorts, short and long skirts, capris, and pants. The models wearing the trend look fabulous with their tanned skin and slim figures. Of course. (This photo was retrieved from wheretoget.com)

Nice:

I have always been a fan of solid matching sets. Being 5'3" and with the probability of shrinking as I get older, solid coloured matching sets are the nicest for me. That means top to bottom solid colour even shoes. Accessories such as jewellery, scarves and purses send out a colourful punch and make the solid colour a canvas (a thought for another post). I get my fill of the colour trend of the season with accessories and it proves to be more cost-effective. Your "outfits' go a long way for a long time with this kind of clothing strategy. This outfit was available on jamesascher.com, but when I went there, it was sold out.

My 2 No Thanks rules for matched sets:

1. No thanks to matchy brightly coloured patterns.

And yes, Guys, the trend is yours as well! But as far as I am concerned, my No Thanks rules apply for you too. This photo was retrieved from www.outfittrends.com.

I once received a shorts & shirt outfit from a relative who had been in Hawaii. It was a swirl of hot pink, bright green, and fluorescent yellow flowers. I wore it once to a theme party. It ended up in a donation bag. I do hope someone found some pleasure in wearing it.

Whether stripes or a floral pattern, if I absolutely had to, a pairing of pale colour — blue & white, beige & blue, beige & white, yellow, pink, mint green in combination with white is the closest I would ever go to a head to toe patterned match.

2. No thanks to stripes for bottoms such as these from www.lyst.com. Imagine head to toe black & white stripes and all I can think of are 1920s jailhouse convicts. There is a mixing stripes idea that suggests putting a horizontal stripe on top with the vertical stripe on the bottom or vice versa. I don't know. Maybe, but for me, I doubt it.

Note-worthy

Pyjamas! Head to toe matched sets — I have several.

Summery Comfortable Casual

2021-05-13T22:22:00.003-05:00

Nice:

We want to be comfortable and we are most comfortable when we dress casually. The question is, what clothing does it take to bring this about in our fashion sense? "Comfortable casual" is too wide a topic to tell you what it is or what it is not. This category is definitely in the eyes of the beholder.

Even comfortable casual changes with where you are and what you are doing. Comfortable casual at a seaside restaurant in France may be different than one in Clear Lake, Manitoba, and different than one on a cruise ship. Yes, what we wear is always "event" or "place" inspired. Appropriateness is important whether at work or at play.

The ultimate in comfortable casual is something that is trans-cultural and can be worn anywhere. The linen pants and top you see in this photo were purchased on a student tour of Italy many many years ago. When I saw it in a shop window in Sorrento, I envisioned myself sitting on a yacht (I've never been on one and it's unlikely I ever will be) sipping a glass of rosé wine. The yacht location has not yet materialized but I've sipped a fair number of glasses of rosé in that linen outfit over the past 20 years. It is one of the most cost-effective outfits I have ever owned since I am still wearing it. It is also one of the most comfortable outfits I have ever owned — pajama-like in feel and cool to wear on the hottest most humid days of the summer. This one definitely has the ability to be worn at a seaside restaurant in France, at an ice-cream parlour in Clear Lake, Manitoba, or in a dining room on a cruise ship.

Noteworthy:

Accessories can be used to adapt the same outfit to many different situations and locations. Plain as in the first photo makes it beachwear after a swim. Add a statement necklace to take it into an outdoor evening party. Put on a sunhat and there you are on that yacht (if not in real life, in your dreams).

Necessary:

The one item that is necessary in my life is my favourite everyday casual shirt for the summer — a cotton, white and blue stripe, that can be worn alone, or over a t-shirt or as a bathing suit cover-up. I wear it with shorts, jeans or wide-leg linen pants.

Also needed a few short-sleeve white t-shirts along with the shirt.

Another Necessary:

Timeless white pants or capris. Jackie Kennedy wore them in the 1960s and we're still wearing them. Everyone needs a great pair of white summer pants. Whether you choose wide-leg or narrow leg, regular pant length, ankle length, capris or walking shorts, it only matters that you are comfortable. Make sure they are a natural fabric such as linen or cotton and you are good to go.

Need:

What are your most adaptable, wear everywhere and feel comfortable outfits?

And what do you need to complete your summery comfortable casual wardrobe?

ITSO . . . In the Style of . . . Juliette Binoche

2021-05-07T12:17:00.001-05:00

Photo Source accessed from The Snipe

French women bloom at 40! I can't wait!

Juliette Binoche who is now closer to 60 than 40, apparently had been quoted saying that while in her 30's.

It was the movie Chocolat (2000) where I first noticed Juliette Binoche. I loved the character she played and a love interest with Johnny Depp kept me interested until the end of the movie. And although I had seen The English Patient (1996), somehow the character did not interest me enough to find out who the actress behind her was. That sounds so terrible now that I watched the movie again, and pay closer attention to Juliette Binoche. As an Oscar-winning supporting actress for that role, I'm obviously the one who didn't get it. Now she ranks as "my favourite" actress and I seek out her movies.

If you don't know her work, this 3-minute youtube video will introduce you to Juliette Binoche, the actress. One of the reviews of her acting career (that I enjoyed reading) was written by Sofia Bohdanowicz, The Double Life of Juliette Binoche.

As I learn more about her political, social, and humanitarian activism, her own choices when accepting and rejecting roles, and the tidbits from her personal life, the more I admire her.

In 2014 her public persona took on a new "face" for Blue Illusion, an Australian clothing company focused on women 45+. Binoche uses the words "effortless" and "comfortable" when describing the look of adopted Parisian style translated by an Australian company. Those two words have different interpretations in Paris as compared with the rest of the world, particularly North America. But, that's another topic for another post.

The photo is one of La Binoche in a Blue Illusion design as sourced from Styling You.

Binoche described herself as "feminine with masculine strength" in a Daily Telegraph article in 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying "A face has to move with the emotions because it's a mirror of what's happening inside . . ." when responding to a cosmetic surgery query.

Interviewers often are surprised by her casualness. British journalist, Tim Adams, described her as arriving in "a plain sweatshirt and no make-up". But more often than not, she shows up in what appears to be a suited look. She arrived at an interview with Kristen Yoonsoo Kim in a "cream-colored suit and baby-pink dress shirt". Perhaps it was that "feminine with masculine strength" that triggered the choice to wear a suit in light colours. The blazer and pants or jeans have always been a "look" I loved but I never thought of it as "feminine with masculine strength", just "feminine strength".

She will soon be 60 and continues with grace and poise. That's the ticket, grace and poise.

I'll leave you with a gem of youthful wisdom from Binoche,

The only way for me to stay young is to let go of youth. You cannot hang on to the past. You cannot try to be young when you're not young anymore. But the youth is within yourself. How do you renew yourself, how do you go to a new layer of yourself? That is the real youth. That is the renewance of yourself.

Who, Where & What you were Wearing

2021-05-01T21:06:00.003-05:00

Last night, around the dinner table, we created a game, "who, where, and what we ate". Some of the responses at our table were — "Angie & Jim, at their acreage, German roulade", "Nadia & Joel, Calgary, shrimp and grits" and "Lolita, Arcachon, oysters".

Here, I have modified the game to do the same with clothing — "who was there, what were you doing, and what were you wearing". "The girls, a bonfire while camping, warm thick sweaters and jeans", "the sisters, cleaning mom's house, stained t-shirt and leggings", "colleagues, retirement party, beige Lida Biday suit & Jimmy Choos" (in the photo).

Let's see . . . what else? Angelica, Danielle and I — having dinner in the garden in Port Ste. Foy — all three of us in black and white Breton stripes.

Me — Fashion Fur Ladies Wear — my first designer purchase, a knit dress by Louis Féraud.

Me — my Masters convocation — my first Armani suit purchased at Holt Renfrew in Edmonton. Unfortunately, this also brings back memories of me at my heaviest.

The skirt has been reworked into a pencil skirt from its former tulip skirt self.

Even though the jacket fits a little more loosely, it is so well tailored, I can still wear it and do.

Another adaptation that would be fun —the place, the event, and the shoes. "Winners in Prince Albert — going to Chad & Alyssa's condo at Elk Ridge — bought beige Havaianas flip flops".

My husband and I — after a picnic on the banks of the Dordogne — barefeet.

Let's play . . . hit the comments and tell me: Who was there? What were you doing? What were you wearing?

To Dress or Not to Dress in Comfortable Casual

2021-04-27T11:48:00.004-05:00

Closet Analysis: Dress the Part

The "comfortable casual" post has received many visitors and it's about time that I re-visit the topic especially since so many people are working from home during this pandemic.

Over the past year, I have fallen into a slovenly routine. Here I am at 10:50 A.M. on a Sunday morning, still in my pajamas, writing this post. I change into regular clothes about noon, very often something that I wore the day before. Sigh. This has got to change. I rationalized that today was Sunday, not a day I would choose to deviate from this routine. Tomorrow.

A television commercial has embraced this phenomenon by having a suited torso of a man sitting in on a zoom meeting while his bottom half is still only in his underwear. Actually, there are several variant advertisements on this theme.

No matter how casual, no matter how comfortable, you still want to look good and be productive. Looking good is a matter of opinion. Being productive is what counts. Are we more productive when we are "dressed up" even marginally better dressed than sweats? Speaking for myself, I would say yes. It's easier to play video games in my pajamas than it is when I am dressed, even in blue jeans and a t-shirt. I walk differently in my flip-flops than when I put on a proper pair of shoes, even my soft suede loafers. When I'm in my pajamas, I am not motivated to write, except when I'm writing about writing in my pajamas.

Noteworthy:

It's not so much a direct correlation. Apparently, those who "have to" dress formally for work claim to be more productive when they dress down a bit. Those who can wear what they want to work usually "dress up" when having to prove their productivity to someone else. Hmmm?

It always comes back to appropriateness. And just about anything is appropriate in 2021. Factors you might want to take into consideration are:

Age

Sorry. I don't want to be accused of ageism but there are some styles that older folks just cannot pull off. At the same time, older folks cannot look stodgy in a work environment. Contemporary classic (that's another blog post) is always the way to go no matter what the age. If your classic is dated because of shoulder pads, colour trends, or lapel widths, you are no better off than wearing ripped knee jeans.

Company Culture

Yes even at zoom meetings. The suited realtor can forego the tie and button down shirt for a t-shirt, sport jacket and jeans but the jacket is still important. Even someone in a techie industry can put the jacket on over the t-shirt. Same outfit — t-shirt with jacket and jeans means dressed down for the realtor, dressed up for the techie.

Photo by Avigail Alfaro on Unsplash
Meeting with Clients

Basically, the more money and trust a client has to relinquish the better dressed the salesperson has to be. Hence, realtors, insurance agents, and bankers dress in suits; whereas those in car sales don't have to because you will buy more cars in your lifetime than houses. Sales associates in designer stores can't be dressed like Wal-ly-Mart-ian greeters.

In conclusion, the suited techie at work is inappropriate in the same way the t-shirt and jean-clad realtor is inappropriate. Know your workplace culture, know your clients and keep things classic. You'll never go wrong with that formula (more to come on that topic).

It's 11:48 A.M., this post is finished, I'm still in my pajamas. And no, pajamas are not comfortable casual — they just mean I'm procrastinating.

The day I decided to post is Tuesday, it's 10:46 A.M. and yes I'm still in my pajamas, but I'm ready to jump into the shower so that means I'm an hour ahead of my pajama pattern. Things are looking up. Since it's laundry day, I can't wear what I wore yesterday, so I am ahead of the game. With the start of the pandemic, I've noticed my expectations have become lower than usual. 😉 Time to change that!

My Mother's, Now My Jacket

2021-04-24T15:01:00.004-05:00

Closet Analysis: My Mother's Stuff

Noteworthy:

Funny the things we save. I have been working at following my own advice. After all, I developed and wrote a guided journal about de-cluttering and here I am holding on to stuff. I decided to attack the "junk room". Some people have junk drawers; I have a junk room.

Because I write, I save articles that inspire me or that I might find useful in the future. Therefore I still have many boxes of paper files. Paper is one of the easiest things to recycle and so, I thought, I can do this. After all, I wrote about how easy this would be in the guided journal, didn't I? Well, I did.

One of the files in the piles of files was about, you guessed it, de-cluttering. And one of the articles was written by Ronna Lichtenberg in a 2008 More magazine edition, "Selling my Mother's Stuff". She wrote, "For daughters, there is stuff and there is Mom's stuff." All in all, the article was about the fact that decisions such as these are all about the heart. Yes, ten years later, I still have things from my parents' home that will be worthless to those having to look after my estate after I am gone.

Nice:

Over the past ten years, since my mother's passing, I have given away many of her things to my nieces. I am grateful that they want them. The wondrous thing is that Mel and Kim use the china and hang the photos and retrieve the tree ornaments at Christmas. I have learned from them and am now using both my mother's and my mother-in-law's things — things I didn't particularly like but have grown fond of, with use.

Relative to the theme of this blog is my mother's swing jacket circa late 1940s, early 50s. It was stored in a cedar chest for years and it is just recently that I have taken it out and started wearing it. The fact that it might be a 70-year-old jacket, purchased perhaps in the late 1940s, is amazing. The fact that I loved it when I was growing up and would take it out of my mother's cedar chest and "pretend" makes it all the more precious. Although I never saw my mother wear it, I imagined her wearing it when she lived and worked in Winnipeg. I believed that some day I would wear it. Well, it is mine now and I am wearing it. And yes, I am loving it.

The swing style hits the top of my hip bones and looks great with a pair of skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

I believe the fabric is wool, it's fully lined and has no holes or tears. It's in immaculate shape. It has no tags which leads me to believe she might have had it tailored. The buttons may be lucite since lucite was the most popular material for button manufacture from the 1930s to the 1960s (but I do not know for sure). If any of you have any ideas about the style, the vintage, the buttons, or the look, I would be most appreciative to hear from you.

When my mother died, my brothers and I invited the closest family members to come and take what they wanted. It was all very civil and no one disagreed over anything. In retrospect, I sometimes think, I should have, would have, and could have, but I didn't; and so it's over. I am enjoying what I did decide to take. Mel, who was the only unmarried grandchild, had taken my mother's wedding dress and another swing coat and admitted to me, that the coat was just sitting in a closet and if I wanted it, I could have it. I thanked her and told her she would be getting it back. It's a royal blue velvet 3/4 length version, longer than the yellow swing jacket in the photo. I do remember my mother wearing this one to my grandmother's funeral when I was very little. It was her Sunday go-to-church coat that would have been worn in the spring and fall. The velvet feels very formal to me now and I'm not sure when and where I will wear it, but there it sits, now in my closet waiting for the perfect time to be worn.

If you need to de-clutter, enjoy journaling and appreciate the goal focus of guided journals . . .

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The Breton Stripe

2021-04-21T01:23:00.005-05:00

I always associate the Breton stripe with the French company Armor Lux and with being a French invention. I was wrong. Its origin is actually English and apparently, it was Queen Victoria who started the trend when she dressed her son in sailor stripes.

Nice:

I have one black and white striped Armor Lux here in Canada and another three back in France, one of which is a beige and white stripe, a white with black stripe, along with a turquoise and white long-sleeved one. I like the heavier cotton and the perfect crew neck collars. I limit my stripes to tops. My preference is the subtlety of the beige and white stripe.

Need:

For Spring 2021 Judith and Charles have embraced the Breton Stripe in more choices than just summertime tops. I don't yet have a blazer. "Need" may be too strong a word to use because I have enough clothing and really do not "need" another blazer. "Wouldn't it be nice if . . ." is a better phrase to use in this case.

No Thanks:

I do not own any striped pants because I have never seen a pair that looks good. They run from looking garish to clownish on me. Good for you if you are tall enough to manage them. the closest I ever got to a striped pant was back a few years ago when I bought a trendy pair with a single strip that ran vertically down the side. I did like those pants (the ones here in the photo to the left).

Another "no thanks" is when two or more people in one group are all wearing black and white stripes. That happened to me once. In fact, one of our friend's husbands made a comment about not knowing he was coming to a Marcel Marceau convention when he saw the three of us. We laughed. What else could we do?

Noteworthy:

Striped accessories, shoes, bags, scarves, and even jewelry say "summer" to me and can be fun to add if you do not like wearing stripes. This Michael Kors bag is several years old now but pretty much a summer classic.

Colourful Spring Legs — A Transition from Winter to Spring

2021-04-16T08:53:00.001-05:00

Spring is in the air and that air can be a tad chilly on the Canadian prairies. It's time for skirts and tights.

Photo Source: Image by Michael Jarmoluk from Pixabay

Photo Source: Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

Noteworthy:

Bright legs can transition winter skirts as this photo shows you. I like colour blocking but it might be a tad matchy matchy for some of you. This is a great option for work in an air-conditioned environment.

If you're short, like me, 5'3", and have a collection of ballet flats, like Brian Davis, matching your tights to your ballet flats gives an illusion of a longer leg even with a flat shoe.

Of course, I love a bare leg with a jean skirt in the summer, but it's still too cool here to be comfortable. A jean skirt would be perfect, with a solid leg and a top that had the colour of the tights in it but not necessarily another solid block of colour.

Photo by mayu ken on Unsplash

No Thanks: Stay away from white tights. They look too much like what little girls wear to church.

Seasonal Closet Changes

2021-04-14T21:34:00.004-05:00

Photo Source: Dan Gold on Unsplash

Seasonal clothing transitions from winter to spring require washing, mending, repairing, and storing winter clothing, boots and accessories; and washing, mending, repairing and preparing clothing for spring and summer (because you didn't do it when you packed your summer things away). Overwhelming is a good word.

I'm a big proponent of small steps. I chose to do all my sweaters over a week because I wanted to wash them by hand. When they were dry I rolled them and put them in drawers in a spare bedroom. All the scarves, mittens and gloves were taken from the front entry closet and placed in one of the drawers in that same chest. Pick a category of clothing and commit to getting all of it put away and soon you will have gathered up and organized your summer clothing while putting away your winter things.

Cleaning:

Make sure they're clean. This may mean handwashing wool and cashmere sweaters, scarves, and mittens; drycleaning wool suits and blazers, and cleaning and polishing boots.

Mending & Repairing:

There's no sense in putting something in storage and then taking it out the next season and finding it's unwearable. Mend it and if it's unrepairable, discard it. If you can't wear it and it can't be mended, no one else is going to want it. Check the heels of your boots for wear and tear. Get them re-soled or re-heeled with new heel tips now so that they are ready to wear when winter comes.

Photo Source: Nathan Oakley on Unsplash

Storing:

Depending upon your space, this can be tricky. Storage is often a problem and the luxury of having a spare bedroom with an empty closet isn't available to everyone. A friend who lives in a 500 square foot condo, stores her sweaters in a large suitcase. She tucks in two or three unscented dryer sheets that she sprinkles with lavender essential oil between the sweaters and keeps the suitcase under the bed. Vacuum storage garment bags work as well. These can also be piled on high, hard-to-reach shelves while waiting for the next season. "Storage" furniture that doubles as seating (ottomans and benches) is another option.

What's your storage strategy for off-season clothing and footwear?

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ITSO . . . In the Style of . . . Bianca Jagger

2021-04-09T22:59:00.004-05:00

Photo Source: marieclaire.co.uk

If you play Fashion Word Association and say, "Bianca Jagger", the most frequent response is "The White Suit" followed by "It Girl in the 70's". That is if you are old enough or have been influenced by someone old enough to have been there, done that.

Photo Source: Independent.ie

She wore a white suit for her marriage to Mick Jagger in 1971. Designed by Yves Saint Laurent, it featured a classic blazer style jacket aka "le smoking" and a long pencil or column skirt matched by a veiled wide-brimmed hat. Bianca Jagger, the suit and the hat were the focus of the 1970s paparazzi.

Her dark, exotic, sultry look was refreshing for those of us who were dark-haired and had blonde "bombshells" and Barbie dolls set up as the ideal. When I was at the age of wanting a Barbie doll, my mom refused. She bought me a "Mitzi". Mitzi was a brunette. I never had children but if I had had a daughter, I would have done the same. My mother was smarter than I gave her credit for.

Back to Bianca . . . but like Barbie, Bianca wore a white suit and I tried but very often ended up with blue. Blue became my signature colour. In fact, every shade of blue became my go-to option.

Photo Source: PurePeople

The white or almost-white suit still is Bianca Jagger's signature style. This photo features a pale pinky-beige jacket on white, which she wore in Paris in 2017.

What is your signature style?

Styles change, although Bianca Jagger still wears white suits and she's in her seventies.

Will you still be wearing your signature style in 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 years?

I think Brian Davis will still be wearing ballet flats.

I think I will still be wearing blazers in some shade of blue.

I think blue, white and beige will still be the colours I prefer in the summer and black and camel in the winter. Yet, I haven't kept my white blazers. I tried but I couldn't do it. And I'm not sure why. Too stark? Perhaps. Too blindingly white? Probably. Too, too white? Most definitely. As Bianca Jagger aged, she too tempered the white as we can see in the photo of her in Paris in 2017. With all of those responses, I still admire the "look" and admire Bianca Jagger for still pulling it off in her seventies.

I think my brother-in-law will still be wearing "sweats".

What's your signature style? Analyze your style, what's in your closet and post a comment (where it writes, "no/# of comments") to let me know if you think you'll be wearing some version of your present style.

I've written about Bianca Jagger before Check it out here.

So Many Pairs of Shoes, So Little Space

2021-04-04T23:23:00.004-05:00

Closet Analysis: Choose the Right Tools

For those of us who have more pairs of shoes than is reasonable, this post is for you. For those like my husband, who has six pairs of shoes — a pair of Geox black leather loafers, a second pair of same style Geox caramel beige leather loafers, a pair of running shoes, a pair of leather sandals, a pair of Merril sandals, and a pair of Oxfords — don't bother reading this post.

Brian Davis, my ballet flats guru, tells me that he kept his Keds in their original boxes for years. "But as more and more pairs were added I realized I don't have enough room. My Keds are stored in the plastic tubs with no real organization method at all (embarrassing I know). I have several of these plastic tubs with Keds in them."

We've all been there, done that and many of us are still there, doing that.

He did tell me that his brand new vintage

Keds are kept in their original boxes in a closet as are his Puma flats and sports flats and his Michael Kors flats are in a trunk in a spare rooom. The spare room and extra closets have become his shoe repositories.

Now where are his Tieks and his Tory's?

Brian tells us, "My Tory's are the most organized of all my ballet flats. I keep them in what I refer to as "The Tory Vault."

I recognize a couple of "what looks like Tory boot boxes" at the bottom of that closet.

Even though Tieks are his newest ballet flats passion, they are the most unorganized, according to Brian. Tieks come folded in half in a tiny blue box but Brian has an issue with the presentation. "Since it drives me nuts to see them folded in half like that, I don't store them in the original box."

Here's what they look like freshly unpacked. Yes, these cute flats came out of that little box!

Thank you Brian for the providing the reveal through your photographs. You are braver than I!

There are so many alternatives out there to organize your shoes and I'm sure you will be able to add another idea or two to the list that follows.

Necessary: Now, let's take a look at what tools are available out there for shoe organization:

Nice: The only advantage clear plastic shoe boxes offer over the original cardboard box is that you can more readily find what you are looking for. They still take up a lot of space but if you want to invest the money (around $2.00/box or so), the plastic shoebox is a good option —stackable, easy to label, and transparent. When you no longer need them, they can be used to store something else. Original cardboard boxes don't hold up and vary in size thereby making it difficult to stack properly. The problem is, if you are like me, you haven't kept the boxes. If you like the idea of the transparent alternative, you will also like the "heeled" shoeboxes that come in three different height sizes.

Noteworthy: Then there are all forms of . . .

Boot Hangers and Boot Racks

Hanging Shoe Shelves

Over-the-Door-Shoe-Bags or Racks I personally don't like things hanging on my doors. Opening and closing doors with stuff on them just doesn't cut it for me. If it's a good idea for you, choose one with clear pockets making it easier to identify the shoes you want to wear.

Cubby Shoe Organizers or Shoe Cabinets Some shoe cabinets are combined shoe cabinet/storage benches or shoe ottomans that look like a piece of furniture

Under the Bed Shoe Organizers For the shoes you don't wear on a regular basis. No Thanks. I like to see what I have.

Floor Placement Shoe Racks That's what I have right now and it serves the purpose in the space I have allotted for them. My shoes are visible, on the floor beneath my hanging clothes, and easily accessible. Those shoes I don't wear often are in cloth bags piled in a corner shelf and this is a No Thanks for me.

Tiered Shoe Shelves/Racks multiple shelves high, shoe shelves can vary in size, from 6 pairs to 48 pairs — the more shoes it accommodates, the higher the shelf. Made of wood, bamboo, plastic, or chrome-plated steel.

Nicer & Noteworthy: Shoe Slots/ Shoe Space-Savers

I found this photo of the shoe slots on eBay. I love the design and can imagine my shoes organized in this way. Unfortunately, I don't have any open shelving in my closet. It just might be worth giving up some of my hanger space for a narrow shelving unit. But for now, I'll put up with my floor placement shoe rack.

If you are lucky, you may have built-in shelving in your closet. I can imagine shoe slots in the shelving on the right side of this closet. Where two pairs of shoes lay, 5 pairs could be accommodated with shoe slots.

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Finding shoe organizers for 6 to 12 pairs is fairly easy. If you want something for 48 pairs, the best strategy is to start your search, be patient, but you will eventually find them online.

Or if you need a guide on the side to help you de-clutter and organize, check out my latest project in collaboration with Janet Parkinson, an interior consultant, and owner of Changing Spaces by Design.

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Two Decades of Wearing Ballet Flats

2021-03-30T21:52:00.005-05:00

Brian's Passion for Ballet Flats Timeline

Brian's passion began when he first noticed, then coveted, the white leather Ked running shoes "all" the cool girls were wearing in high school. From that moment he wanted a pair. He discovered Keds also made ballet-flats and soon he began collecting different patterns and styles. Here began close relationships with sales associates who made sure to inform him of new styles and colours. The Keds sales gal was the first of many who helped Brian out with finding the perfect ballet flat. Coinciding with his Keds discovery was the fabric Chinese-influenced brown-soled Mary Janes. The Mary Janes are long gone but the Keds have continued to be a wearable choice in his closet.

During this developing passion for ballet flats, he was not loyal to any one brand but he did begin showing a preference for particular fabrication, decoration, and comfort. Nine West, Puma, and Michael Kors progressively became favourites during this period.

As with any collection, once you have everything you can get locally, you want, no you need to expand your collection by exploring what is available out there. When he mentioned Tory Burch to the Michael Kors sales staff, the gal who got to know him well, told him to check the next time he went back to Arizona where he vacationed every year. Brian had one of those smack yourself in the forehead kind of moments. But of course.

"And that's when my passion for Tory started — November 23rd, 2001." For seventeen years, he was loyal. How loyal? Imagine, additional pairs in every shade Tory Burch offered (in those seventeen years) between each of the base colours in this photograph.

"I still love my Tory's but in 2018, I decided to try a pair of Tieks." He actually anticipated hating them but Tieks has a free shipping and return policy within the United States and so he thought, "Why not?" He ordered a pair of the blue Tieks called Sapphire. He loved them and four days later, ordered another two pairs.

His transition from Tory to Tieks was influenced by two practical factors — the sales people at Tory Burch (with whom he developed relationships) had moved on and he already owned every pair he wanted. I imagine after awhile it becomes more of the same. I have never had the good fortune to test out that theory. Brian feels both are similar in comfort but his Tory Burch selections have a classier feel style-wise. His Tieks have become his ballet flat of choice for everyday wear.

Relationships continued to be a part of his ballet flats experience. Tieks has an organized social media following numbering 40,000 members, male and female, from all over the world. Brian now belongs to the group and has become f2f friends with some of them. TieksMeets, when Tieks "fanatics" (that's Brian's word) and Tieks in the Wild when you see someone wearing Tieks nurture the Tieks phenomena. I know how the TITW people feel because when I'm out, carrying a Lancel bag and see someone else with one I want so much to go up to them and ask them about their Lancel. With the number of ballet flats Brian has and with spring organizing on my mind, I'll soon be talking to him about the content of his closets.

What's not to love?

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

2021-03-26T22:56:00.005-05:00

Necessary: It's time for spring cleaning — or just general de-cluttering.

The following strategy is all about "how to do anything better". It can be called "time management" or "organizational development" or "solving management problems" but in this case, it's simply how to get your closets and drawers organized.

Statistics Canada tells us that 2/3 of the population considers themselves stressed and theories abound that a cluttered environment at work and at home increases everyday living stress. Too much to do, too little time. Self-help books are out there and helpful — everything from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff to Awaken the Giant Within. All of them deal with the issue of putting first things first and just doing it.

Whenever you face a "spring cleaning" dilemma, the Nike slogan needs to be first in your mind, "Just do it!" Often the response after this command is "but . . . " The "but" statement comes from how you perceive yourself. If you see yourself as disorganized, you will continually perpetuate this state. It's called self-fulfilling prophecy. "That's just the way I am," can apparently be changed through your own self-talk to "I take pleasure in keeping my life organized." An organized perception or state affects how you approach even the mundane.

Noteworthy: More to the point of this blog post, Do you open your closet door, find only one shoe, and have to take out 15 other shoes before you find the match, close the door and promise to get to it . . . tomorrow and tomorrow never comes? Underlying any behavior is the "pain and pleasure" principle — if something brings you enough pain, you are likely to change it so that it becomes more pleasurable. Therefore, the only reason you haven't organized your shoes is that there may not be enough pain associated with looking for the errant shoe. Alrighty then. Depending on how much pain or stress you are experiencing will depend on whether you want to keep reading or not.

Nice: The three principles to getting anything done are:

1. Set Achievable Goals: Divide the work into small tasks and get rid of that overwhelming feeling. Years ago, I began by breaking spring cleaning or de-cluttering into small, manageable tasks. My solution was to deal with one shelf or one drawer or one file folder, a container, a box, even one pocket, anything, but it had to be one something, which had to get cleaned, sorted, organized, or put away each day. It worked. In fact, I collaborated with Janet Parkinson at Changing Spaces by Design and wrote A Box A Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph over Clutter. With a place for everything, it's easier to put everything in its place.

It really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned and got rid of stuff I no longer need . . . The result: I know what I have and where to find it. Amazing!

— Shirley B, Canada

2. Believe in yourself, believe you can do it. If you don't believe you have the ability to do one something every day, then take action to achieve the skills you need. Many tools exist and yes, forgive me for blatant self-promotion, A Box a Day is a guided journaling tool that will get you started and believing in your ability to get it done. Daily affirmations get you into the habit of believing in yourself: I am efficient at making decisions to help me de-clutter.

3. Commit and Take Action. It's not hard work; it's not good luck. All you have to do is commit a length of time, even if it's only 10 minutes, to a "box" that can be accomplished in that amount of time, and do it every day. You can also break it down further into categories — but again, sort only one something, your shoes, your winter boots, scarves (winter/summer), only one category. Don't get carried away. You set the limits and commit to doing it.

These mundane tasks, the little things, will result in a solution. Doing it for 30 days may even get you into the habit so that a "box" a day becomes a pattern for life.

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A Pulled Together Look in Your Closet

2021-03-22T15:53:00.004-05:00

The blog post, about "vote" fashion, inspired more thought about what we choose to wear or in some cases, what we are forced to wear.

I was in a "box store" the other day and asked a badge-wearing employee where I could find the bundles of copy paper. As she turned toward me, her t-shirt said, "Tell someone who cares." She grunted and pointed me in the right direction. Before I left the store, I stopped at customer service and described the t-shirt. I couldn't help myself. I finished by saying, "It may just be me and I know it's just a t-shirt, but for someone who is representing the company, it sent me the wrong message." Of course, customer service thanked me but I don't know if the employee will "get it". If a command is given from above, with no explanation of why then this young person will not have learned anything. Rightly or wrongly so — what we wear tells the world who we are and what we think. "It's just a t-shirt," is the defense one uses when rationalizing for wearing something objectionable to parents, bosses, and teachers.

There are many sayings or symbols on clothing that are meant to shock. Fine, do it on your own time. If I had seen the same t-shirt on the street, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Worn on an employee in the service industry, it sent the wrong message.

Being forced to wear something for your job that you find objectionable is quite another story. The classic is what some refer to as the "monkey suit". It originates with the monkey on old-time movies who was dressed in a vest, bow tie, and hat and performed tricks to make money for the man playing the tune on a crank-turned organ grinder machine. The monkey was obliged to wear the suit to collect money in a tin cup and so any "uniform" required for work became a "monkey suit".

"Monkey suits" vary from the classic suit requirement to standardized uniforms to skimpy outfits for waiters and waitresses. I suppose one doesn't have to apply at that place of business. But in some desperate situations that won't be an option.

Most of us are left to make our own choices. For the past 40 years, clothing for work has been evolving to easy understated sportswear-styles. Even though you can dress casually, you should still look pulled together.

The following guidelines can help you create that "pulled together" look:

1) 3 Base Colours - Have at least one base colour - we'll use navy for an example. Navy is a good summer and winter colour. For winter add grey and beige. In the summer add white and another bright colour. Build your accessories around at least one of the base neutral colours. In summer I follow the colour scheme of sea, sand and sky — blue, beige and white. My winter colours are black, beige and grey. I add colour with fashion jewellery, scarves and shoes.

2) Update your wardrobe each season with accessories or one or two new pieces that fits or ties your base colours together. This year it was a plaid blue, white and black Smythe blazer for me. (Mind you, I'd never wear the dress the model is wearing with it.)

Spend more on classic pieces so that you don't feel obligated to keep wearing an outdated article. When your favorite pair of shoes starts to look shabby, look for a similar or identifcal pair. Don't settle. If you know what you like and were pleased with it, search until you find it. You will feel most satisfied if you are able to add to and build a solid base. As well, you will spend half as much as you did when you bought every new fashion fad or settled on less.

3) Stay away from colours that drain you or that make you feel uncomfortable. I have never been happy in orange. Some reds, definitely not those that are orangey, I enjoy wearing. I will always temper red with accessories. Brown, olives or anything muddy will never be base colours for me. I just don't feel comfortable in them. Yet I love camel, but again with an accessory combining the neutrals with other colours.

4) Perfect Fit. A tight fit will always accentuate therefore a tight t-shirt with tight pants will accentuate all of the body parts you don't want to accentuate. My rule is to never buy pants in clingy fabrics. The pants I buy have to be narrow through the thighs and knees without any pleats or gathers at the waistline. Set up your criteria for the best fit and follow it. Buy the best you can because quality clothes keep their shape and will look better longer. When you find the perfect fitting t-shirt, buy them in multiples.

5) Choose a signature accessory whether jewellery, scarves or ballet flats. For me it's stacked bangles and bracelets.

What you feel you look best in will also be what you will be most comfortable in. For most of us, that means separates. I'm short and I like my legs, so in the summer skirts are easier to buy than pants, which have to be hemmed, adding yet more cost to the item. Separates may take more time to organize, but once you have your colour combinations in sync, you don't have to think about what to wear. There will always be a comfortable pulled together look available in your closet.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

"Vote" Fashion — Noteworthy but No Thanks

2020-11-04T16:30:00.001-06:00

Now that the U.S. Election is over, what will happen to all the Votewear out there? More for the landfill I suspect. In every respect except one, Votewear is a No Thanks for me. If you have visited here before, you know that sports promotional wear and most advertisements on clothing is a No Thanks for this blogger.

The one positive and it's not so much a Nice but a Noteworthy — if it made a difference in the numbers of people who went out to vote, then I suppose it is Noteworthy, but how does one discern if it made a difference to anyone except the wearer?

Now, if the article of clothing is blue and says vote, does that indicate a vote for the Democrats? Logical I think. Therefore, if the article of clothing is red, does that indicate Republican? Logical in the United States; if it works for one it works for the other. However, red in most of the world traditionally indicates communism lead by a dictatorship. Really? Well, that's my perception. Thank goodness, they have a constitutional basis that should save them from a dictatorship but we on the outside see the similarities between the Republican's choice for the presidential candidate and dictatorships filled with "yes-men" and family members who have no business running a government.

Does what we wear influence anybody? Designers believe so since they blatantly expose their mark on clothing, footwear, and purses along with every other accessory. I'm not a fan of that either. I have a classic Louis Vuitton purse I bought with the cheque from my first writing assignment and have barely worn since. It was a small purse. I have a pair of Tory Burch boots that will soon be on Kijiji because I just don't like the extra branding. It serves no purpose on the boots and well, you know how I feel about that. What will happen to the Michael Kors cashmere sweater with "vote" in full-frontal exposure? Symbolically it was black and white. 100% of the profit from the sales of $850. USD sweater went to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and so I suppose, one can rationalize for the swag that the sweater became.

Back to the political situation in the United States. Blue or red, the ex-pats I know living in Canada and France are hoping for blue. When you ask any of them why they love their new homes, one of the reasons is the health care systems — a blue clincher, yet Republicans call it socialism or communism. I don't think they know the definitions of either. Of course, there are many other reasons but it would be interesting to know how ex-pats voted.

Excuse me for the scattered rant. I only know I am very grateful I live in Canada for six months and France for six, but I wish we were not so close to the political or economic influences of the United States. We wait for the final decision — blue or red?

Changing a Cluttering Habit

2020-09-06T12:20:00.005-05:00

Closet Fashion Analysis: A Place for Everything . . .

No Thanks: I have the unfortunate habit of leaving my shoes wherever I settle. So that there will be flip flops adjacent to the chair I am sitting, under the table at my place, and at various entrances to and from the house. I know this exacerbates my husband but for some reason, he's never gotten into a snit about it.

Nice: However, the other day, I found the various pairs of shoes that were laying around the house all lined up and positioned to be entering our closet. I began to laugh and continued until I came downstairs to thank him. I'm getting better, at least for the last couple of days, at putting my shoes where they belong.

Note-Worthy: A friend, décor and colour consultant, Janet Parkinson, is working on a de-cluttering guide eventually to be featured on her website. Many who hire her for decorating, staging or move management services need to de-clutter their spaces first and so we have collaborated to create a guide that will help anyone and everyone through the process. She'll be making it available on her website. I'll update this post when it's ready to go.

Obviously, I must practise what the guide preaches but it got me to thinking about the strategy my husband used. It made both of us laugh and I learned my lesson. How much nicer is it to remind people to put things back into the places they belong with a giggle rather than a grimace?

I'd love to read about how you have helped someone change a habit in a light-hearted way rather than in an agitated way. Leave a comment to help us all develop better habits especially when it comes to de-cluttering.

Buy my Guided Journal

A Box a Day: A 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter

Your Personal De-Cluttering Guide

The Best Scarf and the Worst

2020-06-03T22:06:00.001-05:00

Closet Fashion Analysis:
What Makes the Best and the Worst

Photo Source: JoyD

Nice: Last year for my birthday, my friend Shirley gave me a silk floral scarf. I'm not big on florals but this is a chameleon scarf and I love it — I can wear it with anything. It seems that every colour is in it but not in a garish way. It blends with blues and greens and highlights reds, purples and pinks.

It's a huge square and the silk drapes beautifully. Truly I have never owned a scarf with so many good qualities. This one is my once in a lifetime scarf.

So not only is it now my favourite, it is also my most precious. She hand-rolled, and hand-stitched the hem. And this was before COVID isolation practices. I am still in awe, seven months later.

As well it not only adorns me but I have it in my living room, draped over a chair and the effect is better in real life than what is represented by my amateur photography skills.

Photo Source: JoyD

Note-Worthy: I have many favourites but they are relegated to particular outfits and can only be worn with one or two items. My blue, red, brown and beige scarf is limited. It complements the colours within it and that's it. Besides, it's a fine wool and is too warm to wear in the summer although it doesn't look or feel heavy. Besides, it's in my French closet so it's not working for me while still in Canada owing to "the Covid".

Photo Source: JoyD

No Thanks: Then there's this one. Why I ever bought it, I still can't figure out. It's only redeeming feature is that it is silk but it is a difficult-to-do-anything-with size and goes with nothing in my wardrobe.

Perhaps I should have a scarf exchange - invite fewer than 10 people with instructions to bring their least favourite scarves and then put them out for grabs. This of course would best be complemented by drinking wine and since it's summer, a French rosé would be perfect. Add some open your own snacks and munchies and you have a healthy compliance to pandemic morés.

Check out a previous post on scarves, shawls and pashminas.

In Readiness to Return to Work

2020-05-17T22:14:00.003-05:00

Over the next week, certain districts in North American and European countries will be allowing shops to re-open under particular guidelines. Our prairie newspaper (retrieved April 23, 2020 from Saskatoon Star Phoenix) reported: "Some of those guidelines are geared to specific businesses, including bans on trying on clothes at clothing stores, which will also be encouraged to use online purchases and adopt no-return policies." Since then guidelines have been changed and adapted to more realistic limitations. With the original guidelines, customers like me, asked, "What's the point?" Government policymakers listened to retailers and now guidelines are much more reasonable for the face to face shopper.

Although I recognize it is much easier to buy online, I do not want a world where that is my only alternative therefore if we do not support storefront businesses, they will go bankrupt and I certainly don't want that.

As we check the days of the calendar in anticipation of hairdressers and more retail outlets re-opening between now and the middle of June as the flattening trend continues, it's time (if you haven't already) to get your wardrobe work-ready.

Instead of saying, "I have nothing to wear", you can say "everything feels new again".

Re-organize - take out all winter wear and if you have the luxury of another closet, place everything you won't need this summer. Make sure they are clean, mended and stored properly whether in drawers, bins or closets. This is also a good opportunity to place winter things in a "donate" bin for things you know you won't wear again. You will be ready when clothing donations will be accepted.

Organize your closet by colour and category. Place all tops starting with white, followed by colours - light to dark with black ending the "tops" category. Now do the same for skirts, followed by shorts, capris, jeans and pants, and dresses.

You probably have noticed that you have a particular colour palette represented in your closet. In summer, my colour palette is what I affectionately call, "sea, sand and sky" — basically blue, beige and white. Kick it up a notch with yellow or red and you can portray variety with essentially a limited numbers of pieces.

Summer wear also means more casual wear and after working at home or not working for two months, we may have become a little too lax, a little too informal.

Greek Designer. PhotoSource: AngieB

Appropriate casual workwear can be characterized by 4 features:

1. Nice and simple as in this sheath dress. The design encorporates textural detailing without being over the top.

2. cover up — nothing revealed. Say "No thanks" to too short shorts, bosomy cleavage, cropped tops and sheer sheer fabrics."

2. clean up — nothing grungy, nothing sloppy. Say "No thanks" to oversized t-shirts and badly fitting denim.

3. add to — upgrade your look with natural fabrics, simple but well tailored pieces, and statement accessories and make it "note-worthy". In the sheath dress photo, notice the shoes — simple nude heels which don't compete with the dress. Yet summer suggests colour so play with it in your accessories.

Photo Source: Zenka

Accessorizing is where you can play with colour. Scarves, belts, shoes and jewellery express your individuality. As with all advice at this time . . . do it creatively but do it responsibly.

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

My Life-Style Choices During COVID -19

2020-05-11T21:09:00.002-05:00

There are times I digress from writing about clothing in one's closet and this post is one of those digressions. To quote myself, this "can be rationalized for health sake and so . . . do what it takes. Take care of yourself so that you can enjoy the clothing, the shoes, the bags, the jewellery, the accessories . . . and look great in them."

Nice: First and foremost I am employing relative self-isolation. The extent of my excursions: a local grocery store, recently the plant and seed store and the pharmacy. I have done some food deliveries for friends but generally I have not see or spoken to anyone who wasn't at least 2 meters away from me. I wash my hands. I wear a mask. I don't touch my face while out. I have a box of those blue plastic disposable gloves for grocery shopping.Oh yes and I take my temperature twice a day.

No Thanks: To meeting with my friends for a glass of wine or dinner (this saddens me the most and is my greatest sacrifice). I am planning a strategy to meet with another couple of friends but I haven't worked out the details yet. I suppose I don't want to jeopardize anyone's safety even though I think I am healthy but we just don't know. That being said, I am a Type I diabetic and do not know how the virus will manifest in my body at this time. I care not to find out.

Note-Worthy: There are strategies I am employing during this pandemic that are not considered effective or valid. No, it's not that — I guarantee you. I am not drinking bleach or ordering holy water nor am I hoarding anything.

Essential Oils: I do use essential oils for aromatherapy and for topical application. I like them. They make me feel good. I don't wear perfume and I seldom wear make-up. And yes, I do believe they have have some therapeutic effect. So to those who are telling me that I am wasting my money because nothing works against COVID-19, all I can say is, we choose where we want to spend our money. Do I think thieves blend or eucalyptus, lemon or ravintsara oils will keep me safe from COVID-19? For the most part, NO. It is very improbable but not entirely impossible (disclaimer - no scientific evidence therefore this is not a recommendation). Do I still admit to using them? Yes, I believe they have properties that can lessen effects of normal flu bugs and I know enough about how to use them that they're not going to hurt me, so I put them in my diffuser at night and rub them on my neck and upper chest when I go out. Remember I still maintain social distancing and wear a mask but I believe I'm adding an extra layer of protection, at least, in my mind if not in reality.

Supplements: I am also taking supplements, which I have always taken in my adult life. There is nothing new in my regime, except for one that deals with helping to lower blood pressure, Quercetin. The others are the usual, which I take rotationally — not all of them all the time: Omega 3, Vitamins C, D and E, Zinc, a Mushroom blend (I have taken this for years to boost my immune system), Magnesium and a combination including Collagen for hair, skin and nails.

Meditation: I meditate and listen to hz sleep music while I'm trying to and am falling asleep. Does it help? I believe so. It certainly does not hurt and I am falling asleep more quickly and sleeping through the night. Is it the music or the Magnesium? I don't know.

Eating and Exercising: I'm eating healthfully and exercising, not as strenuously as I was when I was going to the gym but I am maintaining my weight and I am pleased about that.

The point of this digression is simply to remind everyone who is reading about fashion and trends and other frivolous stuff, to take care of yourself and no matter what else you believe will keep you healthy, make sure you do not jeopardize your safety when going out.

I have written about oils before:
Not a Closet and No Clothing Within: Essential Oils in a Wine Box