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In a deep shopping freeze on Black Friday

11/29/2013

Are you giving thanks today, cleaning up from last night, or shopping?

I know one person definitely not heading out to shop. In fact, she will not be buying anything--not even books, dvds, cat toys--until the holidays are over.
That person is my friend Rachel Willard, and she, along with her friends Nia and Erin, is engaged in a 6-month shopping freeze. The freeze will hold until January 1.

I sat down with Rachel last week to find out more...

Q. What inspired your freeze?
A. Well, I did a shopping freeze about 7 years ago when we were saving up for a big trip to Greece. Lately, it seems as though I shop when I'm bored, for entertainment, and online a lot. Yet, I still have a hard time in the morning finding something to wear! After the last freeze and for quite a while, it really helped me to reassess my wardrobe, wear things I hadn't in awhile, and when I was done, I really shopped less. A lot of the addictive desire of it went away! I spent my time on other things like reading and pottery.

Quality over quantity When the freeze was over, I really started to focus on quality instead of quantity. After wearing $5 Old Navy shirts for 6 months, I realized it might be worth the extra few bucks to buy something that doesn't fade and stretch out.

Aren't we all a little gluttonous? This time the freeze is inspired by two things. Part of it was I’d just gone to Mexico and Peru, and I saw how happily others live with so much less. I came home and looked at my walk-in closet and actually felt a little ashamed. Gluttonous, to be exact. My closet, filled with lovely things, was bigger than the little sheds that whole families lived in.

The second inspiration is Jennifer Scott's blog The Daily Connoisseur and her book about French women/lifestyle/wardrobes (Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris). Most stylish women in France have 10-20 things they treat well and reuse. [Jennifer Scott gives several benefits of The 10 Item Wardrobe here.] I am such a Francophile! It's pretty inspiring to think about a 10-item wardrobe and how chic French women are. For me, I realized I had 10,000 things but only wear a few of them. I hoped the freeze would help me to wear more of them. I felt like I had enough.

Q. What are you going to buy when the freeze ends?
A. Black dress pants.

Q. What's been the hardest part of enduring the freeze?
A. I've stopped buying anything that isn't a necessity. So I miss my favorite British interior design magazines like
Living etc. and Elle Decoration. I miss my favorite perfume Chanel Allure.

What Rachel misses most (what would you miss most?):

Her favorite perfume

Her favorite British design mags

Q. What have you missed the most during the freeze?
A. I miss going to the mall with my sister. I don't roam the mall because I feel looking is akin to shopping. If I were on a diet, you wouldn't show me a plate of cupcakes, right?

Q. What's been the best part?
A. My credit card statements. They've been about $800 less a month [I had to bold that figure :-)].

Q. What's been the worst moment during the freeze?
A. Last week Nia said let’s quit. I asked Erin what she thought, and then I sat there and said to myself: Are you going to quit? It's been really hard for all of us. Right now it's especially hard because of the holidays, the sales, all the ads, emails, etc. But we intentionally planned for the freeze to go past the holidays. My husband has been so supportive.
Nia, Erin, & I decided we could hold out until January 1, as planned.

Q. Do you feel like stopping shopping has increased something else (maybe a vice?) in your life? Like how at the end of The Nutty Professor, when he manages to push the fat in one place, it pokes out in another? Often addicts will stop drinking alcohol but take up smoking or drinking soda.
A. I haven't increased anything else, as far as I know, during the freeze. I thought it would change things a lot, but it really hasn't. When I get bored, I just work on one of my hobbies. I have quite a few--even if it's just reading a book, I was able to find something to do to replace the shopping as entertainment.

Q. Did you find another way to "treat" yourself during the freeze (like massages or pedicures or special foods or something)? I treat myself with shopping; how do you treat yourself, Rachel?
A. I know that shopping and buying new stuff is a treat (for me too!), but I haven't done other things to make up for it.
I do maybe one or two mani/pedi's a year (usually before a vacation) and have never had a massage. I've just been doing without the "treats," I guess, and really been trying to focus on appreciating what I do have. I've also done a few fun things like my clothing swap, and I've done lunches or coffee with friends rather than shopping. :)

Read about Rachel & Nia's Clothing Swap...

Q. Any last words for the rest of us?
A. If everyone did a freeze, they’d think more about what they buy. After all, it's just stuff. Join us in our freeze....if you dare! *laughs*

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Remembering the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

11/26/2013

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On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England. Below is a small sampling of the photos from the event published in a Daily Mail special magazine, written by Tony Rennell.

What impresses me is that the entire country celebrated this day. Houses along the coronation route were decorated, and people held street parties to celebrate the event.

Pomp, ceremony, high dress, jewels, & ritual--would we benefit from more celebration, rites of passage, & traditions in our own lives?

The 27-year-old soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth in the Gold Stage Coach on the procession to her coronation, 1953

Troops paraded through Admirality Arch and on to the Mall on Elizabeth II's Coronation Day, June 2, 1953

The houses along Coronation Road in West Ham East Long were decorated for the Coronation

People celebrated across the land with street parties

The Queen and her six maids-of-honour wore Norman Hartnell dresess of white satin with silver threads. The Queen's dress had a scarlet train.

Among the 8,250 spectators in Westminster Abbey was the then-24-year-old Jackie Lee Bouvier, who would become engaged to John F. Kennedy three weeks later.

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Almost like gloves: thumbhole tees

11/24/2013

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dELiA's offers a large line of tees with thumbholes, my latest obsession.

I noticed a woman in a thumbhole tee the other day--she pushed up her sleeve a bit when she took her hand out of the cuff, & then you couldn't see the thumbhole at all. When she wanted to warm her hands up, she pulled the cuff back down.

Thumbholes tees make a cozy layer for winter. The tees below come in many colors & prints.

Thumbhole tees from dELiA's

dELiA's Lizzy Long Sleeve Tissue Tee, $9.99 (BOGO 50% with code SEASON)

dELiA's Laura Solid Burnout Thumbhole Long-Sleeve, 11 colors, $19.90 (BOGO 50% with code SEASON)

dELiA's thumbhole tees come in 12 colors. I like the stripes.

dELiA's Laura Print Thumbhole Long-Sleeve, 12 colors, $24.90, BOGO 50% with code SEASON

dELiA's Laura Print Thumbhole Long-Sleeve, 12 colors, $12.90, BOGO 50% off with code SEASON

dELiA's thumbhole tees come in 12 colors

T-shirt Sunday Tees

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Comparison shopping: suede ankle boots

11/23/2013

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Have you used ShopStyle, Flit, or other comparison shopping websites much?
I usually just search my favorite stores on my own. I feel like the shopping sites are limited to certain stores--do you think that's true? But sometimes they can help you find the best deals.
I recently searched for a suede bootie. I wanted a heel that was not too high & not too low, & I didn't want a western flair. I found the options below (organized from least to most expensive) through ShopStyle, through a google search, & on my own.
I've started to believe that it's worth spending a little more on shoes because you wear each pair so many times & often for several years.
Any guesses on which bootie I picked? Which one would you pick?

Kohl's SONOMA life + style® Suede Ankle Booties, 4 colors, 24.99

Urban Outfitters Dolce Vita Joust Suede Ankle Boot, $59.99

Amazon Nine West Women's Fletch Ankle Boot, $61.33

DSW Bandolino Demelza Bootie, 2 colors, $69.95

Nordstrom Vince Camuto Grayson Bootie, $74.47

Victoria's Secret The Metro Bootie, 6 colors, $79

GAP Suede booties, $89.95 minus 20% with the code GAPLOVE

Lord & Taylor Ellen Tracy Randa Suede Boots, 2 colors, $89 minus 20%

Marks & Spencer Indigo Collection Suede Elasticated Panel Ankle Boots with Insolia®, £59

Nordstrom BP Trolley Suede Ankle Boot, $99.95

Arhaus Jewels Billie Boots, $195

Garnet Hill Giorgia Ankle Booties, $198

Sundance Catalog Aventura Boots, $198

J. Crew Aggie Suede Ankle Boot, 2 colors, $278 minus 25%

Don't forget: If you see a shoe you like in a store or catalog, get its exact name & look it up online. Many manufacturers will carry it, & you may find a lower price.
Also, you really should never pay for shipping when it comes to shoes--almost everyone ships them for free.

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The devil's in her heels

11/20/2013

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Do you own red heels?

Images from Piperlime, ModCloth, Red Envelope, & J. Crew.

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Retro film & band tees from Videofe

11/17/2013

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What do The Ramones, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Edward Scissorhands have in common? They appear on organic cotton, handmade unisex t-shirts from Videofe. Sold on Esty. Click here to check out more choices.
Another factor they have in common? One of them would make a great gift for someone you know.

Retro Joy Division Punk Rock UK Band T-Shirt, $14

Retro Vintage Movie Poster A Dog's life Charlie Chaplin T-Shirt, $14

Retro Jimi Hendrix Rock n Roll Music T-Shirt, $14

Retro John Lennon The Beatles Rock n Roll Music T-Shirt, $14

Retro The Smiths Morrissey Punk Rock T-Shirt, $14

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Celebrating the tailor in Taylor Swift

11/16/2013

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"She wears high heels, I wear sneakers."

Tailors are all light & love. Put on a few pounds? Popped a button? No problem--let me just take out the waist a notch. Tore a seam? Let me sew that up for you. No judgment--just unconditional love.

I felt an outpouring of this love as I left the Tailor Swift Black Sheep Fridays event at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Denver Friday night. Leave it to the hippest museum in town to come up with such a clever event, a happy hour with flair--Taylor Swift songs played by a live band while four beautiful seamstresses hemmed people's pants.

There is, ahem, the small issue of payment, of course.
In this case, every item sewed was just $5. The going rate would be at least $10.

Seamstresses at work at the Tailor Swift event at the CMA

I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like

Now no one will claim to like Taylor Swift (even my kids put their fingers in their ears & yell when she comes on the radio), but, let's face it, her songs are catchy, & she does have a sweet voice. Her songs sounded edgy & haunting sung by the live band at the CMA.

"We are never ever ever..."

I just want to know you better (a little more about the seamstresses...)

I didn't meet all the seamstresses though they were working in unison. After a short talk with Claudia Miller (on the right), I learned that they are professional seamstresses & advanced sewing instructors at the Fancy Tiger craft store on South Broadway. They teach everything from quilting to embroidering. For a complete list of classes, click here.

Sweet & beautiful Sadie Fox & Claudia Miller donated their hemming skills for the night, though they both typically teach advanced sewing classes at The Fancy Tiger

The lovely Tina, one of the seamstresses who went beyond the call of duty altering some pants for me.

These lovely tailors are the seamstresses who can make things--skirts & scarves & dresses. Imagine a bride-to-be describing her dream dresses for her bridesmaids, & the person who sews them--tailors make dreams come true.

Everything has changed.

The Museum of Contemporary Art has been open since 2007. They are currently featuring Pattern: Follow the Rules.
The works "begin with a system or set of rules (mechanical, technological, digital or otherwise) and, through repetitive action, create objects that are rigorous in their optical repetition" (read more here). The MCA exhibits change about every four months. The CMA building is as cool as the exhibits, and the rooftop cafe is one of the best features.

Taylor Swift cupcakes (along with beer, wine, tea, cocktails, & other treats) were served

The lobby lightening in the CMA

Black Sheep Friday attracted a happy, hip crowd to the rooftop cafe in the heart of downtown Denver's Riverfront district

Like ever.

I look forward to the next Tailor Swift event & to all the Black Sheep Fridays because it was, like, the most fun ever.

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Mixing patterns: a special post with Lena Penteado

11/14/2013

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Mixing patterns is risky business--can it be done? What are the tricks to make it work?

For this post, I teamed up with Lena Penteado, a lovely fashionista from Portugal. You must go follow Lena right now.
She is so wise a stylist yet she will not bury you in posts--each of her posts feels like an eagerly-awaited treat. She will show you how to make the most of your assets, how to dress to be more chic, how to avoid style mistakes, how to stay on trend without losing your own style. If you visit Lena's website, she'll also email you a fantastic free style ebook with brilliant, simple tips to help you dramatically improve your image & style. Lena's motto: "In love with helping you look fabulous, feel confident and achieve everything you want!"

For this post, Lena and I each created two outfits mixing prints, combining patterns in different ways.
Here are our four tips for mixing patterns:
1. Mix prints of a similar size
2. Mix prints of a similar color
3. Mix a small print with a large print
4. Mix bold prints with discreet prints

Outfit 1 (me): mixing prints of a similar size
Sometimes I tilt my head & look at the things in the closet to see what looks nice hanging together. That's how I came upon this combination. I already love the colors blue & raspberry together. I wouldn't have thought of pairing two prints, but because the prints are both small, I think they work well together. A long neutral cardigan creates a kind of unifying frame (or cement :-). I also threw on a small blue-stoned pendant necklace to echo the colors in the pants.

H&M printed pants, Long Tall Sally shirt, Tulle cardigan, & Lord & Taylor ankle boots

Outfit 2 (Lena): mixing prints of similar colors
I think Lena must have a crush on raspberry & blue too. Here she pairs a plaid shirt with a small-print, pleated skirt--it works because the colors are similar.

Zara skirt, Pull & Bear shirt

Outfit 3 (me): mixing a small print with a large print
The first tendency when pairing a printed skirt is to look for a solid top of one of the colors in the skirt. But you know me--always looking for more options, so I'm not wearing the same ole skirt with the same ole top every time. Here I think the combination works because the colors complement each other, because the skirt is actually neutral in color, & because the tiny print of the top is balanced by the large swaths of the print on the skirt. What do you think?

Outfit 4 (Lena): Mix bold prints with discreet prints
I love this outfit! I love how startling, edgy but also simple the combination is. Rather than softening the bold print of the graphic tee, the contrast of the delicate cardigan makes image on the tee even more dramatic.

Zara graphic tee, Zara cardigan

Great thanks to Lena for creating this post with me! I hope it's given everyone some new ideas on how to pair prints in their wardrobes to create new outfits & get more of their clothes out on the streets into circulation!

What do you think? Which outfits do you like best? Have you paired prints yourself? What are your tricks?

You may also like...

Opposites attract

The view from inside: looking to the lining for style ideas

From Lena:
The Essential Pieces (and Looks) for this Fall/Winter

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What to wear when you've been dumped

11/13/2013

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"One thing I know/ This pain will go." --Suzanne Vega

I kissed a few frogs on the path to meeting my prince. And along the way, some left me green and croaking for a while. In those tough times, I would become even more aware of the textures & qualities of my clothes--my clothes became a form of solace, and dressing up would help me get through the next day even though I wanted to die.

I would often turn to corduroy for solace, in particular an oversized navy shirt. I'd study the way my skin looked against this rough fabric, the pureness of its dark color against the light of my skin. I'd pull the shirt around me like a cape and wait out the night.

In the morning, the world insisting that I pick myself up and go to work, I'd don a crisp white shirt--white always fresh, always a new start. I'd make lists of all the things I liked about myself, about my life--from my kitty purring on my chest to listening to my favorite songs, to walking in the park through crunchy leaves.

I'd go to the movies by myself every Sunday afternoon back then, escape for a couple hours into someone else's make-believe existence. A married woman said to me then: "When you meet the right person, they'll like the same movies you do."

After a while I might start to feel angry instead of sad, anger always a stronger emotion, & then there were lots of options: torn jeans, beat-up tees, & heavy boots.

If I could make it past the anger, I was about ready to come out of hiding. They say to "take care of yourself," which sometimes translates into buying yourself something new--ideally the trendiest, hottest outfit possible to say "I'm moving forward. I'm part of the new; goodbye, old."

"I'm moving forward.
I'm part of the new; goodbye, old."

Ask the married when they spent the most on their clothes, and they'll tell you it was either when they got a new job or when they were dating. Looking good on the outside really can help you feel better on the inside. It's not so much the clothes as the confidence they help restore.

I've been green & I've been blue. But in the end, maybe we just want someone who likes to go to the movies with us, someone who says you look nice every day.

What have you worn to survive a break-up?

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The view from inside

11/12/2013

2 Comments

Some designers take great care with the linings of their skirts & dresses. Sometimes they'll offer a surprising swash of color on the lining, sometimes just a matching shade. These linings can offer inspiration for new pairings.

This lining has led me to pair the skirt with turquoise & with florals...

Athleta Vintage Ridge mini-skirt, $24.99 minus 20%

H&M Embroidered Top, $24.95

old J. Crew shirt

VS pant, BR top, Piperlime belt

Pants and jackets often contain a ribbon of contrasting color under the label that can help you find a new style combination.

Nikki Duckworth (@NikkiOnStyle) on Twitter suggested that we also check other unexpected places for "design surprises."

"Also check pockets, bags/linings of jeans, plackets, cuffs, and inseam thread colors for design surprises" --Nikki Duckworth (@NikkiOnStyle)

Nikki's suggestion made me think of my H&M bag
with its bright red liner--such a great color combo
with army green!

H&M Shetland Wool Beanie, $17.95

For about a year I've wondered what color tights I should pair with this multi-colored Tulle skirt--not black, maybe cream, taupe, gray? I'd admired the lining but ignored it. Then, suddenly, I was like duh! use the lining as a guide--pair it with brown!

Have you looked to the linings of your skirt, dress, or pants for some new style inspiration lately?

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<<Previous

In a deep shopping freeze on Black Friday

Remembering the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Almost like gloves: thumbhole tees

Comparison shopping: suede ankle boots

The devil's in her heels

Retro film & band tees from Videofe

Celebrating the tailor in Taylor Swift

Mixing patterns: a special post with Lena Penteado

What to wear when you've been dumped

The view from inside

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