Dress Better!

Dressing Better in 2011

2011-07-29T04:00:00.002-04:00

Haven't posted in quite a long time. But I intend to post more in the very near future. Please stay tuned!

JTV Real vs. Fake

2010-09-24T21:50:00.007-04:00

Tonight I was browsing Jewelry Television's website, jtv.com, looking at rings. For the fun of it, sorted all the rings with the highest priced one first. It was a 12.02 carat tanzanite ring set in white gold and surrounded by diamonds for $9,999. Interestingly, JTV offers a ring for $64.88, which looks very, very similar to the one for ten grand. This ring is a simulated sapphire ring from their Bella Luce collection. If you haven't already guessed, the ring on the left is the simulant, and the one on the right is the real deal. Can you see a big visible difference between the two rings? Is the difference with over $9,900?

Advice from Emily Post - Part III (The Woman Who is Really Chic)

2010-08-26T20:24:00.003-04:00

This is Part III of the Emily Post advice I found regarding how to dress better! This section is entitled, "The Woman Who is Really Chic." Emily Post's tips on clothing and style were found on the following website: http://www.bartleby.com/95/33.html. I loved her advice so much, I am reprinting it, section by section. This is PART III.

Emily Post (1873–1960). Etiquette. 1922. Chapter XXXIII, Dress.

The woman who is chic is always a little different. Not different in being behind fashion, but always slightly apart from it. “Chic” is a borrowed adjective, but there is no English word to take the place of “elegant” which was destroyed utterly by the reporter or practical joker who said “elegant dresses,” and yet there is no synonym that will express the individuality of beautiful taste combined with personal dignity and grace which gives to a perfect costume an inimitable air of distinction. Une dame élégante is all of that! And Mrs. Oldname is just such a person. She follows fashion merely so far as is absolutely necessary. She gets the latest model perhaps, but has it adapted to her own type, so that she has just that distinction of appearance that the sheep lack. She has even clung with slight modifications to the “Worth” ball dress, and her “wrapped” or fitted bodice has continued to look the smartest in every ballroom in spite of the Greek drapery and one-piece meal bag and all the other kaleidoscopic changes of fashion the rest of us have been through.

But the average would-be independent who determines to stand her ground, saying, “These new models are preposterous! I shall wear nothing of the sort!” and keeps her word, soon finds herself not at all an example of dignity but an object of derision.

Emily Post Advice - Part II (The Sheep)

2010-08-26T20:14:00.004-04:00

This is Part II of the Emily Post advice I found regarding how to dress better! This section is entitled, "The Sheep." Emily Post's tips on clothing and style were found on the following website: http://www.bartleby.com/95/33.html. I loved her advice so much, I am reprinting it, section by section. This is PART II.

Emily Post (1873–1960). Etiquette. 1922. Chapter XXXIII, Dress.

Frumps are not very typical of America, vulgarians are somewhat more numerous, but the greatest number of all are the quietly dressed, unnoticeable men and women who make up the representative backbone in every city; who buy good clothes but not more than they need, and whose ambition is merely to be well enough dressed to fit in with their background, whatever their background may be.

Less numerous, but far more conspicuous, are the dressed-to-the-minute women who, like sheep exactly, follow every turn of latest fashion blindly and without the slightest sense of distance or direction. As each new season's fashion is defined, all the sheep run and dress themselves each in a replica of the other, their own types and personalities have nothing to do with the case. Fashion says: "Wear bolster cases tied at the neck and ankle,"or "A few wisps of gauze held in place with court plaster," and daughter, mother, grandmother, and all the neighbors wear the same. If emerald green is the fashionable color, all of the yellowest skins will be framed in it. When hobble skirts are the thing, the fattest wabble along, looking for all the world like chandeliers tied up in mosquito netting. If ball dresses are cut to the last limit of daring, the ample billows of the fat will vie blandly with the marvels of anatomy exhibited by the thin. Comfort, convenience, becomingness, adaptability, beauty are of no importance. Fashion is followed to the letter ... therefore they fancy, poor sheep, they are the last word in smartness. Those whom the fashion suits are 'smart,' but they are seldom, if ever, distinguished, because... they are all precisely alike.

Emily Post Advice - PART I (Dress)

2010-02-13T21:43:00.017-05:00

I recently came across Emily Post's tips on clothing and style on the following website: http://www.bartleby.com/95/33.html. I loved her advice so much, I am going to reprint it here. This is PART I.

Emily Post (1873–1960). Etiquette. 1922. Chapter XXXIII, Dress.

CLOTHES are to us what fur and feathers are to beasts and birds; they not only add to our appearance, but they are our appearance. How we look to others entirely depends upon what we wear and how we wear it; manners and speech are noted afterward, and character last of all.

In the community where we live, admirableness of character is the fundamental essential, and in order to achieve a position of importance, personality is also essential; but for the transient impression that we make at home, abroad, everywhere in public, two superficial attributes are alone indispensable: good manners and a pleasing appearance.

It is not merely a question of vanity and inclination. In New York, for instance, a woman must dress well, to pay her way. In Europe, where the title of Duchess serves in lieu of a court train of gold brocade; or in Bohemian circles where talent alone may count; or in small communities where people are known for what they really are, appearance is of esthetic rather than essential importance.

In the world of smart society—in America at any rate—clothes not only represent our ticket of admission, but our contribution to the effect of a party. What makes a brilliant party? Clothes. Good clothes. A frumpy party is nothing more nor less than a collection of badly dressed persons. People with all the brains, even all the beauty imaginable, make an assemblage of dowds, unless they are well dressed.

Not even the most beautiful ballroom in the world, decorated like the Garden of Eden, could in itself suggest a brilliant entertainment, if the majority of those who filled it were frumps—or worse yet, vulgarians! Rather be frumpy than vulgar! Much. Frumps are often celebrities in disguise—but a person of vulgar appearance is vulgar all through.

Banana Republic Jewelry

2010-02-08T19:30:00.009-05:00

Lately I've been checking out Banana Republic (BR) jewelry. They have some very stylish designs! I also love that BR has customer ratings and comments on their merchandise. It makes shopping so much easier to read the opinions of others. It seems that most pieces are quite pricey for costume jewelry, but check out their sale selection. Here's a piece I've been eyeing lately - the Centurion necklace, for $69.50. I'm waiting for it to go on sale, but it might never. I had been eyeing the Grace necklace, too, but see it is sold out tonight in the clear stone which I liked better than the aqua, which is still available.

The Limited Jewelry

2010-01-03T13:24:00.005-05:00

Recently I discovered The Limited as a great source for party jewelry. Many pieces are now on post-holiday clearance! This Statement Nested Chain necklace is a steal at $29.99 (regularly $49.50).

The Limited Ruffle Sweater

2009-11-24T22:31:00.006-05:00

I got a couple cardigans from The Limited's clearance rack awhile back, and was amazed at their quality and durability. They were stretchy, comfortable, and well made. Tonight I checked out The Limited's website. I haven't been on their site in ages, and was surprised great one (pictured). This looks like the same stretchy, high-quality fabric that my other cardigans were made of. The small ruffles and 3/4 sleeves are cute. This sweater would be great to wear to the office, especially around the holidays.

Old Navy Rant

2009-11-14T22:42:00.004-05:00

Tonight while killing time before going to the movies, I browsed through my local Old navy store. Has anyone noticed that Old Navy has slightly higher prices lately? Their women's wool winter coats are up to $100 or so! Their men's fur-lined sweatshirts (poor quality fur) are $49.50! On the clearance rack I only found ugly rejects. Some of the clearance sweaters were still priced over $30. I tried on some shoes and they pinched my feet. I felt like I was walking on cardboard. They couldn't be more cheaply made.

I tried to find a sweatshirt for my son, but the boys' clothing is too stylized to appeal to him (or most boys in general, I would imagine). What's with the checkered print sweatshirts for boys? The sweatshirts with Eastern Division logos? The shirts and sweatshirts with skulls, cartoon figures, argyle designs, and other silly things on them? I have never bought my son anything at Old Navy unless it was a plain color with no logos. Old Navy might sell much more clothing if it did not plaster the Old Navy logo on everything! A big Old Navy logo on a sweatshirt ruins the garment for most people. My son would never wear anything with a big logo, nor would I buy logoed clothing.

At the checkout (I bought a simple waffle knit shirt for my husband) I was, as always, asked if I wanted to save money by opening up an Old Navy credit card. It is tiresome to always say no. I hate being questioned. I have no need or desire for a store credit card of any kind. However, Old Navy treats non-cardholders less well. The store has very few online coupon codes for non-cardholders. I think coupons and offers should be given to everyone, not just card-holders! It is a bit of a turnoff to not get the same deals, just because I don't want or need store credit cards.

To rant further about Old Navy, a month or so ago I purchased a long gray sweatshirt. It pilled terribly after two washings. The cashmere sweaters I bought last year and the year before were good for about two wearings, and then they looked like crap.

Old Navy is ok for solid color staples, and the occasional quirky item, but beware of quality. For not much more money, you could get a better made alternative at a department store sale.

Torrid Jeans - surprisingly flattering!

2009-09-05T19:12:00.009-04:00

Before last night, I had never bought anything at Torrid. The hip hop and pin-up girl styles in the store windows had never drawn me in. But in a desperate attempt to find good fitting jeans last night, I visited the Torrid at my local mall. I found a pair that fit fabulously - the Dickies Rinse Wash Flare-Leg Jean. My problem is that the waist is always very loose when the thighs are skin-tight. This pair fit ever so slightly loose when it fit in the thighs. Not bad! Last night after trying on every pair of jeans in J.C. Penny with no luck, this was a welcome surprise! The jeans are on sale right now at Torrid for $52 (http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/product.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036084&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442212483&bmUID=1252193111884). I also picked up a pair of high-waisted, wide leg jeans (so hard to find) on the clearance rack at Torrid for about $30.

Trinny and Susannah - New Book!

2009-01-19T16:41:00.010-05:00

If you aren't familiar with Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, they are British fashion advisors who met when writing for a major newspaper. They are famous for the BBC television series, "What Not to Wear," and, "Trinny & Susannah Undress," on ITV. They have written several books on fashion which have become bestsellers in Britain and America. They have appeared on Oprah and are estimated to be worth $10 million combined.

Trinny and Susannah have come out with a new book! "Who Do You Want to Be Today?" Check it out at trinnyandsusannah.com. I plan to get it and write a review on this blog! Their other books are funny and helpful (in my opinion). I just reread their book, "Trinny and Susannah Take On America," today. Love their photos, and their advice is so relevant.

Aerosoles Mary Janes Gain Unexpected Compliments

2008-11-20T21:14:00.007-05:00

Last Friday I was walking across the parking lot of a bank and a woman at the ATM yelled out loudly to me from quite a distance, "Nice shoes!" I turned and said, "Huh?" She yelled louder, "NICE SHOES!" I laughed and yelled back, "THANKS!" That was just one of the three unexpected compliments on these shoes that day. I can't remember the last time anyone said anything about my shoes! I am not daring in my selection of footwear. But I wore the Aerosoles pictured here, with a simple brown dress, and got some attention! Still kind of wondering why. I LOVE these shoes, however. They are so comfortable. I have a hard time wearing heels, but these do not hurt my feet, even when walking all day.

Clothes Shopping in Uncertain Economic Times

2008-11-11T23:23:00.009-05:00

Tonight I came across an interesting article about how women are adjusting their beauty and clothing spending habits in these hard economic times.

According to this news story, many women are giving up other discretionary spending before spending less on clothing. Also, they are shopping smarter and buying longer lasting, more quality items.

Shopping for women has a "feel good" factor that is especially needed in this current time of economic turmoil.

How have your clothes spending habits changed, if at all, due to the state of the economy?

Purple Penelope

2008-11-09T22:19:00.004-05:00

Does anyone avoid buying and wearing purple because they don't want to be labeled a "Purple Penelope"? I heard this term for the first time over a year ago, from my husband. "A what?!" I asked. "A Purple Penelope," he said. "You know - fat women always wear purple. You haven't noticed that?" I did a search on the internet tonight for "Purple Penelope" as a related term to overweight women, and could not find one single thing. What a horrifying term!

eHow Fashion Articles

2008-11-07T03:20:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I have posted! I have been busy writing eHow articles, my new passion. I've written a few having to do with fashion. Here are the links:

HOW TO AVOID WEARING A STUPID OUTFIT TO WORK

HOW TO FIND A GREAT HAIRSTYLIST

HOW TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES LIKE A PRO

HOW TO AVOID WEARING STUPID ACCESSORIES TO WORK

HOW TO DRESS LIKE HILLARY CLINTON

HOW TO DRESS LIKE BRITNEY SPEARS

Saved $230 at NY and Company This Weekend!

2008-10-12T20:08:00.004-04:00

Wow, with a $60 off $150 postcard I got in the mail, plus the great deals going on at NY and Company yesterday, I walked away with three bags of clothes for $97 (I saved $230)!

Here's what I got:

1. Long charcoal sweater (tag price $52.95)
2. Long brown sweater
3. Gold cardigan
4. Apple green cardigan
5. Cream and black fancy tank
6. Pink cotton tank
7. Blue and yellow sleeveless poly shirt
8. Black long-sleeve dress
9. Grey drawstring sweatpants

Just Say No to the Little Black Dress

2008-10-08T22:35:00.007-04:00

You've heard it a million times - the little black dress is the cornerstone to a well-rounded wardrobe. Personally, I've always found black dresses to be boring and predictable. That doesn't stop me from wearing them constantly. Perhaps I shouldn't.

Attend any party or function, or roam through any office, and you'll probably see quite a few women in black dresses. How many times have you spotted a woman at a wedding, for example, in a black dress, and thought, "Ugh! Why do women always have to choose black? Couldn't she have been a bit more imaginative in her selection?" It is a treat to see a woman dressed in an unusual color. Even any color is refreshing!

Keep a few black dresses in your collection. But don't always choose them for every event you attend. Try a new, fresh color. Break out of the norm for once and opt for something brighter and more interesting.

Great Sale at NY and Company!

2008-09-30T20:30:00.007-04:00

I love nothing more than a great cardigan. It pulls together an outfit beautifully. I've found lots of great cardigans at NY and Company lately (as you can tell from my previous posts). Last weekend I saw some nice, classic ones in bright colors but they were not on sale! I usually wait til something is on sale before I buy it, unless I am convinced it will be sold out before being marked down. Tonight I noticed these cardigans (see picture) are on sale for just over $22.46. (http://www.nyandcompany.com/nyco/browse/product_detail_with_picker.jsp?productId=prod680082&parentId=cat60162&subcatId=cat720008)! The yellow cardigan is more of a gold color than what appears on the internet. Also cute - and on sale - is a ruffled tank (shown in picure). I bought this in black recently.

7 Days of Wardrobe Risk-Taking

2008-09-27T21:58:00.004-04:00

Just signed up for an account with "43 things" (http://www.43things.com/), a site where people share hopes and goals. I joined the "dress better" goal (http://www.43things.com/things/view/9897/dress-better! My first post to this goal stated that I was going to try to wear something "out of the ordinary" for the next seven days. Today was day 1, so for today I wore brown tights with a brown dress. BIG STRETCH!! have never worn brown tights before. The tights went perfectly with the dress and my brown shoes. I think I overdid it on brown today - brown everything! Beige jacket. But I did wear something I normally would never wear.

I also don't usually wear suit jackets, either. Today I worked for a bit at my part-time weekend job and felt much more professional in a jacket. I had much better posture and felt more confident. I think I will start wearing jackets more often. Though if I change my normal attire too much at work, people will comment excessively or think I am interviewing for another job.

Here's a summary of what I did for my 7-day challenge:
1. Tried brown tights and wore a blazer!
2. Opted for a print, not a solid top!
3. Wore something new, albeit it was gray.
4. Wore gray shirt and black pants - abandoned my goal today.
5. Wore a bit of color and pattern.
6. Wore a bright apple-green sweater!
7. Wore a new yellow, black and white print dress, black cardigan, and very high heels.

Five Ways to Break Free From Black Dressing

2008-09-26T06:40:00.003-04:00

It is so easy to just throw on a black dress and run out the door in the morning. Black is slimming and comforting and safe. A long black jersey skirt can be a woman's best friend. Throw it on and pair it with nearly any top or sweater easily. Problem is, there are too many women around that resort to black outfits or bottoms every day of the week. They are easy to spot. When you wear a black skirt, pants or dress Monday through Friday, people will instantly recognize you as one of those "black clothes women." Your wardrobe will communicate, "I just want to be covered every day. I don't care about spending time on my wardrobe or myself." Here are a few ideas for breaking free, even for just a day, from the black clothes rut.

1. If you need a new coat this winter, consider buying it in a shade other than black. Red, dark chocolate brown, navy, or pine green are practical choices that are not black! The fuschia jacket, pictured, is from the current Victoria's Secret website.

2. Make it a goal to donate three of your black clothing items to Goodwill. Then replace them with new items in other colors or patterns. For example, if you choose to part with your beloved black jersey skirt, replace that with a new patterned jersey skirt.

3. If you tend to steer clear of bold colors altogether, try to find some budget-friendly accessories in colors you would never dream of wearing (but that are in flattering shades for you). Examples would be a peacock-blue scarf, a bright yellow leather purse, a multi-colored beaded necklace, red shoes, etc.

4. Assess you wardrobe and put together outifts that don't center on black. Write each outfit down on a piece of paper. Then every morning pick a piece of paper and wear that outfit.

5. Black-clothed women are often women who need to dress comfortable and quickly every morning, yet still look professional, Jersey dresses are a wonderful option. They don't need to be ironed, if washed and hung properly. They are machine washable. They are easily found in stores in all sorts of colors and patterns. Paired with a jacket or cardigan sweater, they look neat and proper in an office environment. Kohl's is a good place to search for such dresses.

Forever 21 Has Halloween Costumes!

2008-09-22T19:47:00.003-04:00

There's a Forever 21 store in a mall near my, but I've never been. Since I am not 21, and probably don't fit into teen sizes, I never bothered. I have been curious about this store, however, since a very fashionable girl in my workplace shops there. Tonight I found the following on the Forever 21 website and thought it would be a great Halloween costume. I don't know what of. But as far as wearing this out - is it wearable? What do you think?

Bluefly's Clothes are Unflattering and Too Expensive

2008-09-20T21:18:00.017-04:00

Wow, what crazy positive publicity Bluefly has had. All I hear are rave reviews about this site. I hadn't been on the site for a couple years before tonight due to my discouragement with their high prices. Sure, I love high fashion and designer labels but I also can't stomach spending $200 for a shirt. Not if I can get an entire wardrobe for that amount on sale racks at mall stores. Here are the first three random items I pulled up tonight on the site.

The first is a Michael Kors raincoat. It doesn't even look flattering on the mannequin. It looks like a black trash bag. $156 for this beauty.

Guess how much this 100% polyester Rachel Roy dress is? $719.99 (reduced from the Bluefly price of $799.99, with a retail value of, gulp, $1,340!) Looks like a crumpled, brown bag! Not sure what the pinning is on the skirt, either. I priced out leather sofas tonight and some were around $700 on sale. What would you rather have, a leather sofa or a weird, beige polyester dress?

In the sweater section, I found this Pringle grey cardigan, thinking, who in the world would pay $319.99 for such a nondescript cotton sweater? I am sure it is well made and comfy. But I just don't get it.

Sweats that Aren't Sloppy

2008-09-20T09:43:00.003-04:00

One thing I love about NY and Co. is that they usually have a selection of "sweatshirts" and "sweatpants" that are pretty! This dark green jacket is feminine and stylish, a far cry from your basic Hanes zip-up. I like to be comfortable on the weekends but not look like a slob. I got this sweatshirt in green and may go back for another color. Also, the NY and Company jersey pants are comy, soft and fairly flattering. I have some capri style ones, and some wide-leg. Paired with a t-shirt, these are great!

Ten Things Women Should Never Wear to the Office

2008-09-19T23:50:00.004-04:00

1. Anything with embroidery. In the olden days, clothing with embroidery was a sign of quality, as it was more expensive to produce. But that was the olden days. If you think embroidered clothing is somehow “more special," it isn't. It is probably made in China like everything else. Embroidered shirts, jumpers, and dresses make you look cluttered and grandma-ish.

2. Penny loafers with coins in them. A woman in my office has a pair. A girl in my 6th grade class had a pair. What’s the use of safekeeping two pennies nowadays, especially in your footwear? Choose a smarter-looking footwear option.

3. Short skirt with tall boots. I was surprised to spot it on two people in my office building recently. They both looked like they belonged on an Austin Powers movie, or out trolling the streets for a living. It takes balls to pull off this look, and stupidity to bring it into the workplace.

4. Pants in crayon colors. Have seen this look in the past week, too, on a real person. Bright red cropped pants paired with a bright yellow shirt. If you work in the Marketing Department, that’s no excuse. Leave the primary colors to two-year olds. If you must wear crayon orange, buy a purse, scarf or even camisole in that color.

5. Polo shirt. Polos are commonplace and blah. Some companies have employees wear company-logo polo shirts to the office. If you are required to wear a polo shirt, do. But if you have some creative choice with your office dressing, why opt for such a droopy pick? Polos quickly fade and sag in the wash. There is nothing special about a polo. They do not make you look younger or leaner. So why wear them when you don’t have to?

6. Hair accessories. Get a cut that doesn’t require pinning, bunching or braiding. A fancy rhinestone hairpin worn to a wedding might be ok. Colored elastics, plastic tortoise hairclips, or a scrunches worn to work looks juvenile.

7. Jumpers. Try finding a denim jumper for sale, and most often it will have an apple embroidered on it. Or a pumpkin. Maybe little witches running across the bib. This is another style that is best left to toddlers and teachers.

8. Anything with a big collar. Find a denim jumper with an apple embroidered on it for sale, and more often than not, it will be displayed with a bit, white-collared cotton shirt, probably having matching apple embroidery. Big collars are magnets for food spills and other stains. It is not enjoyable to spend a day at the office with a coffee stain on a big, white collar.

9. Harley Davidson attire. Like wearing a Barbie jacket or carrying a Bratz lunch box. Keep the advertisements of your personal life away from your impersonal life.

10. Holiday-themed attire. That includes snowmice turtlenecks, Christmas sweaters, and Halloween costumes. this one’s so obvious, it’s a wonder so many people still show up wearing reindeer smocks and jingle bell crocs.

Gap Knit Dresses Grow Old Quickly

2008-09-18T20:14:00.002-04:00

Tonight I got rid of five dresses from my closet that were bought in the past year. They had pills and were saggy. Three were from the Gap, one from Old Navy, and one from NY and Company. All were cotton knit. The three from the Gap I bought last summer on the clearance rack. I thought I had gotten a great bargain. I bought several dresses for under $100, all marked down dirt cheap. The regular prices were $29.99 to $59.99! Unfortunately, after a turn or two in the washer in dryer, most of them fell apart or started looking cruddy and old. I use Woolite and the gently cycle, but it doesn't help. The flat drawstring on one of the Gap dresses curled up after one wearing, creating an eyesore. Who has time to get out an iron to fix a drawstring?!

Although I love the comfort and ease of knit dresses, I think twice lately about buying them. Fabric that feels soft and has a slight fuzz should be avoided! The fabric gets fuzzier and more faded with every wash. This picture is from the current Gap website, and is an example of a dress I foresee looking baggy and old very quickly.