STYLE TALK
Kimberly
POSTED: Wed, 02/16/2011 - 10:13pm
My finds today.....
Today mother and I were out finding new things to breate for our booth. We did find some furniture and accessory find that will work really well. We love to be thrifty and were at some local thrift shops. I not only came home with new items for our shop booth, but also a solid white button down shirt, a blue with white pin stripe blouse, a blue and white scarf and some brown flats. So excited with my new classic pieces. Everything for under $20.00MIREILLE'S CALENDAR
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Ava
POSTED: Fri, 02/10/2012 - 7:42am
My finds yesterday:
I went austerity shopping yesterday; in my own wardrobe! I found a beautiful Episode LBD in lace and a Ralph Lauren black lace skirt (both still with tags attached!) I also found a nice LK Bennett top (that was previously destined for the charity shop but now fits well). A faux fur white jacket (was also destined for charity but now looks good.) What else? Some La Perla undies stashed at the back of the drawer (they were a little on the small side) but now fit. A TODS black leather bag (a charity shop find that I had forgotten about!) I also had a sort through my bits of jewellery and hair accessories. Found many things there that I had hidden away in boxes! All in all, a complete revamp and not a penny spent!Marilyn
POSTED: Fri, 02/10/2012 - 12:23pm
Wow
That is good austerity shopping, Ava. I went to see if my dress shop friend had returned from buying (she had not) and found a blue Crea T in her sale in my size at half price. I couldn't resist as I already have the Crea knitted dress that goes with it.jas
POSTED: Fri, 02/10/2012 - 11:42am
yeah Ava
How fun!Vintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 02/10/2012 - 8:54am
Brilliant
Congrats.on all those items now fitting well.I'd love to shop your closet.OXOcoco1960
POSTED: Fri, 10/21/2011 - 7:37am
A scarf pin
I had forgotten how ell a scarf pin can hold fabric into place. It's a seashell design found at a fill a bag for 5 dollars at a church rummage sale.bren67
POSTED: Thu, 10/20/2011 - 2:28pm
My new handbag!
I have been searching for a few months for a good leather handbag that fits my fits my petite stature...well today was my day! I never thought i would ever own a red handbag! but.....this beautiful all leather soft as butter handbag,caught my eye today while i was shopping.and i brought it home!!!ChristineE
POSTED: Tue, 06/28/2011 - 7:34pm
Found a beautiful scarf and
Found a beautiful scarf and fabulous Calvin Klein sleeveless dress today. I'm trying not to buy...but these were too good to pass up!Vintage1944
POSTED: Tue, 06/28/2011 - 8:32pm
Temptation
But how can one let good deals go?LOL.ChristineE
POSTED: Sat, 06/18/2011 - 7:26pm
It's not clothing, but...
My find today doesn't really qualify, but I am so happy I have to share it! My daughter is leaving for university at the end of summer and has to have extra long sheets and comforter for the bed in her dorm. I found a beautiful Roxy complete set (!) today for under 50.!! It's just her taste-bold floral in bright pink, purple and green. The school sent an information packet for buying the sets through them, but at twice the price. And for plain, boring colors.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 06/19/2011 - 7:39pm
ChristineE
Such a great find.Bet she will enjoy it.Today I purchased a pair of white linen pants and a white shrug,at A Jones of New York Outlet.I had been watching them ,waiting for the price to go down and it did.oxo Jean
Marilyn
POSTED: Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:23am
Yesterday
Yesterday I picked up the jacket I have been saving for as it is for a wedding in a fortnight. I am lucky in that I have a friend who has a dress shop and will keep things for me. In this way I can afford the more expensive items and she knows what I have and will only sell me things that will have a place in my wardrobe. The jacket is off white with black piping and buttons to wear with a black and off white dress. It will fit in nicely with my LBDs, black skirt, jeans and trousers that are already sitting in my wardrobe. I love Christine's idea of the note book of purchases required to keep her on track, something we all should do in these days of recession and frugality.Kimberly
POSTED: Fri, 02/18/2011 - 10:59am
Yes.....
I think they are the same as what you would call charity shops, but here they are much larger than what I saw when I was there. It is a very popular thing to do here. We either have the "charity shop" or the next step up is a consignment shop where people put their name brand clothing at a discounted price. They might be slightly more expensive. You simply get the item and have them cleaned and yes, they are just like new. But here you would be surprised at the brands you can find. Also it's a great place to find scarves. People are not as fashion forward in Alabama as say New York. I think they suffer here from casual wardrobe syndrom. It is not uncommon to see girls and women at the store with sweat pants outfits or even pajama pants and a t-shirt. I have never thought this was acceptable. My whole life I was labeled by my cousins as "dressed up". I have always loved coordinating my outfits and adding special touches. Even an outfit that I would consider casual, they would label dressy (I call jeans casual, even if they are dark colored). Anyway......enough of this rant lol. I hope you all are having a wonderful day.snorklee
POSTED: Sat, 02/19/2011 - 8:59pm
PJ's and sweats...
Are de rigueur in my corner of the world. Oversized sports team jackets are another fashion accessory here. And for added insult, in the winter the whole thing seems to be paired with Ugg boots. Uggs might be cute in California, but exposed to our salty, frozen road muck, they don't look very good after a while. The whole sports/sweats/pjs/ugg look is sloppy, and baggy, and unkempt. I've noticed also that people here will wear jeans to the Philharmonic, and other cultural events, like plays, and gallery openings. Not nice tailored jeans, but the same ones they lay around at home in. I really feel that I am the awkward one when I dress up to go to the grocery store.I just feel that it doesn't really cost more to dress nice. I do it cheaply by buying things on sale, going to thrift shops, and even finding some nice coordinating pieces at the bargain stores. It's a matter of putting a little thought into it. I think that whole sweats/PJ thing is more about being lazy and only rising to the low bar that everyone else has set.
Why do I know this? Because I used to fall into that category. :) I was a baggy sweats, sneaker wearing woman for many years. I'm sure I've even worn the pj pants to the store once or twice in the past. It was Mireille's book that shook me out of that, and for that I'm grateful. I love to get dressed to go out now and I will never go back to that sloppy style that masquerades as "comfy". I am reformed. :)
Stylishly yours,
Deb
Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 11:22am
Reformation
Good for you!It really doesn't take much effort to dress well.And as you say does not cost more.Putting thought into it as you said,can be fun.OXO JeanChristineE
POSTED: Thu, 06/09/2011 - 2:20pm
On dressing well
I agree! It really takes no more effort to put together something that fits well and looks good, than sloppy sweats! I have also found as I've gotten older, it really doesn't have to cost more. Certainly I have time on my side, I've been able to put together a lovely wardrobe over the last 8 years (updating as needed, of course), but at no great expense. I have no memory so I've come to keep a little list tucked in my wallet with things I'd like to add to my collection. If I stumble across a good sale, I check my list. That way I don't fall into the trap (learned this from experience, believe me!) not to buy items I don't need or won't work just because the price is good.jas
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 11:03am
how cool
HOw cool that you are different now Deb...I used to be the sloppy one too and I credit all of you for helping me regain my femininity and sense of style (though I am still working on my style) You are so right "sloppy style that masquerades as comfy" I am reformed too! Happily reformed. And it is fine with me to be alone in the crowd, to "paddle upstream" as it is said.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 11:24am
Hi Jas
Style does develop over time and that's the fun of it.It is also fluid,in that your tastes change and your style thinking beomes more refined.Keep up the good work.OXOKimberly
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 12:33am
I will admit....
that I have worn a coordinated jacket and pant sweat suit out, but have never worn pjs in public.... What was it that Mirielle wrote......something about dressing up even to go to the mailbox. I am pretty sure I saw that somewhere in one of her books. Makes me think. I went over to do a little work in my booth at the shop and I dressed up a little.....dark jeans, reddish pink suede flats, a matching top and a beige jacet topped off with a scarf. A little dressy than the t-shirts most we wearing but why not....if one can feel confident in how they look everything else will just follow naturally.Marilyn
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 7:31am
Don't get me started
I hate it when I see people dressed in pj's etc in town or at the theatre. The other awful thing you see in the UK is women, often large, dressed in football strip tops. Why oh why do they not look in the mirror and see what other people see!!!! I have never been able to grasp what is in their minds when they dress like that. Rant over!!Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 02/19/2011 - 8:26pm
Oh oh Kim and Meneia
I can fell a rant coming on.Pjs in public!!Awful.And how can taking care of yourself and looking well become a pejorative?Do I sense envt there?OK OK I'll stop the rant.Take care.Jeanmeneia
POSTED: Sat, 02/19/2011 - 6:40pm
Pyjamas In Public
I frequently see people here in pyjamas, at the supermarket or just walking down the street. I don't get it.jas
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 11:06am
the rant
The rant...how funny, I'm laughing as we all rant about current day dressing... You all forgot one though, Why oh Why do men, young men I suppose, wear their jeans way below there waists so their plad boxer butts show? You all I feel I have won for naming the WORST most Awful fashion trend!!!!!! We should have a prayer meeting about this or something. (laughing out loud)Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 1:59pm
I agree with Marilyn
First prize to you.I am in total agreement.That is a wretched sight.At work we have started"Nurses against Crack"and we don't mean the drug!we are treated to some amazing sights with droopy pjs or pants.Yuck.And Marilyn,it makes one wonder about what they'll wear at the wedding.Egad.Marilyn
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 2:08pm
Oh Jean
We didn't see one dress that was simply elegant. They were all frills and furbelows, the perennial meringues. DD, I think, is going to have hers made as she is not a 'frilly' person. We had a few giggles between us listening to comments around us. Weddings are a big industry over here, encouraged by the so-called 'celebrity culture'. She will not be taken in by it as she has wise head on her shoulders, we are very proud of her.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 3:11pm
Oh my
Frills etc.Gack!!Good for her ,to not be caught in this "celebity"wedding thing.Simple and elegant is surely the way to go.Weddings are big here too.The money people spend makes my eyes pop.Great plan to have the dress made.Wise head on her shoulders?Hmm,woner where she learned that?;-)))OXOMarilyn
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 1:20pm
First prize
to you Jas, I had forgotten that awful sight!!!Today I have been to a Wedding Fayre with DD to get some ideas and prices for the various things she wants for her wedding next January. I thought people might have made an effort with their dress but I have never seen such a lot of badly dressed ladies in my life. At one point DD and I looked at each other and I could see she was thinking the same as me. We weren't what I would call dressed up but by comparison, without being big headed, we looked so much better than the majority. Jeans that had not seen either the cleaners or the iron were the norm for both future brides and their mothers. OK DD had on jeans but they were smart and had been ironed prior to her putting them on, she had a smart navy and white striped top, polished boots and a nice jacket. I wore a long black skirt with a black v necked sweater, a red belt, black long boots and a red jacket. We were what you would call smart casual. I spied sports wear as well as the scruffy jeans. I give up!!
Kimberly
POSTED: Sun, 02/20/2011 - 4:33pm
Maybe, just maybe
when all of those ill dressed ladies spotted you and your daughter, maybe they were inspired. I am tired of meshing with our society (sloppy) so I don't mind standing out now and putting a little fashion flair into my wardrobe. The terms my husband uses are "strange" "different" .....but I don't care. He was also not happy about my going back to my natural color.(but that's a whole other story) For years I had been coloring my hair or highlighting it to blonde....no more. I think it looks much healthier and classic in the dark brown. For years I have succumbed to what others wanted me to do. Now it is time for me to do what I want. So bravo to you and your daughter for taking that extra attention to the details. I am sure you presented yourselves very well, indeed.Marilyn
POSTED: Thu, 02/24/2011 - 5:19pm
Thank you Kim
The thing is it is so easy to work with what you have if you pay attention to detail. Simply getting the iron out and pressing a pair of jeans, adding a clean, neat sweater, a pretty scarf, cleaning ones shoes or boots, picking up a smart bag can make so much difference. Keep the gym clothes for the gym and the pjs for bedtime!!!!snorklee
POSTED: Wed, 02/23/2011 - 9:24am
To being authentic...
You have to be true to who you are, Kim. I admire your strength of conviction. It's hard to go against what others think, especially when they are close to you. But to be authentically you, you have to do what pleases you. We all get to decide what we do in this one lifetime that we are given. It's hard to remember that sometimes, when others constantly tell us how we should be. So, brava to you, for taking control of your own life and being who you are. :)Vintage1944
POSTED: Wed, 02/23/2011 - 11:07am
hi Deb and Kim
I second what Deb said.And Kim you can only be you,so why waste time.WSell done.OXO