A Spring Ode to the Shirtdress....

I think the shirtdress (along with the A-line skirt, the wrap dress, and yes, the pencil skirt) is one of the classic clothing forms that can work for just about any women of any shape, size or age.

I was put in mind of this when I was flipping through the February edition of the Everyday with Rachael Ray mag (This is why I love my non-fashion mags!)

While the primary focus of Rachael's mag is food (of course), she has a monthly feature Everyday Faves which features a wide array of new products. Here's the one that caught my eye this month:

Josephine Chaus Shirtdress - $119.00

I love the pattern and the shape of this dress! I'd never heard of this designer before - so of course I googled her. There is a website - Josephine Chaus - but it appears to be fairly new (I could be wrong about that however), and you can't buy the clothes there. According to the website the focus of the company to good, wearable business ware for women. You can find the garments themselves via a google search - they appear to run in the $150.00 or slightly below range.

As I said, you can't buy the clothes from the site. However, if you want to order something, here is the phone number: 888-880-8004, where you can request a list of their retailers.

While I was trying to find the above online I decided to do a general search on shirtdress. I was, frankly, stunned at all the variations that came up! Looking them over I've seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly (Blair.com had one where the form was good but the fabric was hideous - who buys that material? More importantly who makes it - and why? WHY?????).

Anyway.....

Here are some of what I thought was the best:

Over at Spiegel.com:




Sash-Tie Shirtdress Misses or Petite $69.00

Great lines, simple and sharp, with the, oh so forgiving, a-line skirt. I love everything about this dress - except for the fact that it doesn't come in plus sizes!



Signature Ponté Knit Collection:
Shirtdress Misses $59.00, Women's $64.00

(Okay, I know the pic of the dress in cream makes it look a bit stodgy - but check out the alternate look on the site in black - and a different belt can definitely kick it up a notch!)







Belted Shirtdress, Misses $59.00, Women's $69.00

I love the flow of this dress - very forgiving for different body types. I love the print as well, which is unusual for me - I'm not a big print person!





Crinked Gauze Shirtdress, Misses $39.00

Classic and just great for summer - at work or on the weekend!




Knit Shirtdress, Misses $69.00

Now if you've been lucky enough to skip the usually obligatory 10+ pounds that seems to just lay in wait for you as you hit that 50th birthday and your bod still has it goin' on (or you have a lovely selection of Spanx in your arsenal) - you might want to take this bad girl for a spin! (Love the belt at the hip! Sigh - if only I didn't have so much hip for it to go around!)

Over at Ann Taylor Loft :



Belted Knit Shirt Dress, Misses $79.00

Actually, not a terribly distinctive dress - but it looks comfortable, would be great for work and I love the color.

At Lane Bryant:




Linen-blend shirtdress, $89.00



Button-front shirtdress, $69.50

No, not the most jazzy dresses ever. But good, solid style that will work for work. And, speaking from experience with my most of the time firmly (I use THAT word lightly) in the 18W sizes hips, it is NOT easy for a plus size woman to find a shirt dress! (As you can see from this list - 4 out of 13 dresses is NOT a great ratio!)

So it was great to see Lane Bryant, who usually skews a bit young for me, offering two good basic choices that will work well for the over 20s crowd.

J. Crew's entry:



Bette shirtdress $148.00

Frankly, I don't usually bother with J. Crew. Basically they aim their clothes at the 20s and 30s crowd and I take them at their word.

However, they came up during my search and out of the 5 offerings in shirtdresses on their site, I do think that this one could be a lovely choice for a plus 50 lady - as long as you can wear a size 14 or less!

In looking over the above, I realized that there are no designer frocks represented here. I had to remind myself that, just because I don't have designer dollars, it doesn't mean other don't (Doggone them!).

So I did a search on some of the designer shop sites (Bluefly, EDressMe, etc) and, honestly, came up empty. What I found was, to my eye at least, pretty weak - okay let's be honest, downright ugly.

So I'll leave it to you, gentle reader, to do the designer search - one man's trash is another man's treasure and all that.

You'll probably do much better, anyway, going directly to the designer's site - check out the following beauty from Anne Kline's Fall 2006 collection:





I did find a couple of nice designer bridge items over at Macy's

From the Kenneth Cole Reaction Line:



Kenneth Cole Reaction Belted Shirtdress $149.00




Kenneth Cole Reaction Tie-Front Shirtdress 149.00


Of the two above I, personally, like the red one the best - the form will work for a wider range of women.

From Jones of New York:



Jones New York Matte Jersey Belted Shirtdress
$144.00

As ever, with Jones, clean and tasteful, able to do the work thing and then dinner afterwards.

Once again with all three, you have to be size 14 or less to play!

I could go on and on (oh wait, I already have) loving this particular dress style as I do. I leave it to you to decide whether or not it's a style that can work for you as a closet staple!

A Big Congrats....

To Ms. Sylvia over at I Like Her Style! for being voted Best New Blog/Site over at Glam Network!

Brighten up that dull old winter coat....

With a lovely colored scarf!

Come on, you know what I'm talking about. In the deep mid-winter (as we are now) you look around as you walk and realize that you are moving in a sea of black coats - including the one you're wearing!

Well here's a way to brighten up your old dependable winter garb. Skip over to MyPerennial and check out their scarves (MyPerennial:Scarves).

Here's a couple of samples to wet your whistle:





And at $24.00 each, it's a cheap cheer-up as we wait with much longing for Spring!

Many thanks to Daily Candy for the heads up!

A tip for buying clothes without trying them on...

Actually something you shouldn't do if you can avoid it!

But let's face it, we've all been there. You're on your lunch break, in the store, you see a great find that will fill one of those holes you always seem to have in your wardrobe. But drat! You don't have time to do the dressing room deal!

Hop on over to Real Simple for the following tip:

Buy Clothes Without Trying Them On


With my bad memory, I'm not sure the main tip is very helpful for me - but even I can remember the the inseam one, which can certainly come in handy!

Dressing for Power....

An interesting article from The New York Times on how the women of Congress address the "what to wear to work" issue...

Speaking Chic to Power


And yes I know -- it's beyond irritating that the minute a woman moves into a position perceived to be powerful, one of the first things everyone starts talking about is "what is she wearing?". But, like her politics or not, it looks like Ms. Nancy is not going into that good night looking like she's in mourning -- and I think that's a tip all of us 50+ gals should take to heart!

And what a rare treat to see pictures of well-dressed women over 35 in the press -- really you'd think that after a certain age, nothing a woman could be wearing could be worth seeing!

Regarding wearing color, I don't know about you but I find myself becoming tentative about wearing color as I age, fearful of looking like a clown or worse calling attention to myself as if that is crime! I think I need to catch myself on that!

Anyway....Check the article out. It's interesting to hear the dressing challenges these ladies face in their job and how they tackle them. Their solutions can work for anyone who has to face their closet every morning before they head out to work.

Many thanks to Papierblog for the heads up on the Times article!

Dove Keeps on Keeping It Real....

By dealing with women's real beauty needs - right through the ages.....

Pro-Age From Dove: Looking Damn Good For Your Age

Do check out the quote from the Dove UK site - damn right!

Looks like Dove has done the baby boomer math and is getting with the program!

Now if only the world of "fashion" could get a clue!

Tips for the triangular shaped among us....

Of which I count myself! (And what a pain it is to be two different sizes!)

Over at Wardrobe 911 the wise Ms. Teresa is giving guidance to those of us who's junk in the trunk tends to overpower our top half!

triangle: work wear

I love the suit pictured there - it's a neckline I've never thought of for myself, but am now interested to try. Love her handbag comment too - Yes, Ms. T, please do do a mini workshop on handbags!

Forth and Towne Inches into the 21st Century....

By offering order by phone!

Look, I love Forth and Towne - even through I've yet to buy any of their clothes. Their clothes offer a quintessential easily polished and poised style - they bring to mind Jackie Kennedy on her best day. Just the kind of togs many 50+ Fashionistas are seeking!

For example - Their Spring Essentials:






I'm instantly in love with the collared blouse:





Sateen Button Down Blouse - $48.00



And the boot cut trousers!:





Bootcut Pant = $98.00


And as you can see, the prices, while not cheap, are certainly within reach.


But they only have a few stores which can only be found out in the far burbs and, up until today, there was no way to order their clothes.

But what should show up in my e-mail today but - ta-da!



Now I don't know why Forth and Towne seems to have such a tentative attitude towards allowing true online ordering on their site. Especially since they are a division of The Gap - on who's site you can order anything shown!

That being said, I'm thrilled at the possibility of at least calling in an order - through I still intend to make the trek up to their Skokie store to check them out in person!

(Note: To those overseas - it's not clear on their site whether or not they will do overseas shipping, but since you'll have to call anyway, be sure to ask that first thing!)

New Trends for Spring '07 - Elle.com Gives a Primer

Surprisingly, I found myself over at Elle.com the other day.

I'm not a particularly big fan of the Elle mag -- I find it a bit too manic. But somehow, while doing some of my fashion surfing I ended up on their web site. And what should I come across but their Spring Trends page - delightfully organized A - Z!

The reason I like this approach so much, is that when I turned my eyes back to fashion, I decided I was going to try to view every single Fall '06 collection! After more time than I care to comment on, on Style.com (Which, wonderfully, posts pictures from just about every runway show during all the major fashion weeks), I found myself on fashion overload! Everything started to look alike and I was doggone if I could determine what were the key looks for the season!

Now, admittedly, I was like a good amateur runner who had not run for sometime and then thought they could go for the New York Marathon on two weeks of training! Still as an amateur, I have to confess, I just don't have the time to try to see everything and try to determine what might be worth focusing on to freshen up the wardrobe!

That's where the beauty of the Spring Runway ABC page comes in. They break the themes of the spring collections down by the alphabet - starting with A for Anime and ending with Z for Ziggy Stardust!

I'll be checking them out and, hopefully, writing about the trends I think can be incorporated with class in a 50+ wardrobe. But go on over a take a look for yourself -- and start thinking Spring!

Body Image Issues..

Not just for 50 somethings anymore?

Actually that has probably always been the case -- but I have never seen it better illustrated than last Saturday.

My sister and I are taking a sewing class. That's right - we're sick to death of clothes that don't fit either our bodies or what we want to look like. And as we are not so financially flush that we can have clothes made for us, we figure we might as well take a shot at making our own.

So there we were on a Saturday mid-morning, with 7 others, 6 gals, one guy (who was there with his girlfriend but quite serious about it), almost all but one younger than we. Be that as it may, a couple of things became quite apparent:

1. NO WOMAN CAN FIND CLOTHES THAT ACTUALLY FIT HER! As it turns out, it apparently is not just a size issue.

When the instructor started talking about figuring which size you are in a pattern as opposed to what you buy off the rack, a it was like a line of bobble heads nodding in the affirmative when in the course of her explanation, she mentioned how straight forward sizing is for men as opposed to women. When she said something to the effect of "And that's why clothes in two different stores of the same size can fit so differently" that's when the bobble head action started.

2. NO WOMAN WANTS TO BE MEASURED FOR HER SIZE IN PUBLIC.

Talk about not seeing THAT comin'!

Successful sewing requires exact measurements. Thus, it should have come as no surprise when the instructor told us all that she was going to measure each of us to get our clothing size.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Now picture this: With the exception of the 4 "women of a certain age" in the class (that's counting the instructor!) everyone else was, to my and my sister's eyes, "normal" size or smaller.

Yet when the instructor said that I wasn't all together sure that the class wouldn't empty out immediately! I have to confess, MY first thought was "If I'd know I was going to be measured in public, I never would have taken this class!")

After a short break (after which, to the credit of the class, everyone returned!), it was time to face the measuring tape! As our instructor stood expectantly holding the dreaded snake of truth, we all sat there, genetically unable to move.

It was up to my ever valiant sister to resolutely get up and move to the front. A dutifully supportive sibling, I followed suite. The ice broke, and our younger fellow students followed us up as the instructor assured us all that she was just going to write the info down on our handout form -- in other words, we wouldn't hear our sizes broadcast across the room and the store!

As I was being measured I said aloud with what I hope was humor and not bitterness "Isn't it ironic that every women wants to wear clothes but nobody wants to be measured for them?". Some laughs, definite agreement and the ice dissipated - faces relaxed and the measuring completed more or less painlessly.

I guess they figured that if I and my sister could face the numbers, hell, they could too!

Later, my sister and I reflected with some laughter and more than a bit of bafflement on the whole experience. It reminded us, somewhat sadly, that women are always struggling with what they think their bodies should be and what they really are - no matter where they are on the timeline of life!

It also reminded us to be a little more forgiving of our old chassis - their not as bad as our perceptions lead us to believe!

Wondering about "Age Appropriate" Dressing?....

I've certainly been thinking a lot about that lately!

If you have too, but, like me, you're still scratching your head on the subject, skip over to YouLookFab for a to the point post on Dressing your age

Not only does Ms. Angie speak to the types of clothing that can work for different age ranges but she names names of famous femmes who embody the look.

Well worth the read! (Pay attention to the reader's comments and Angie's wise replies as well for more tips!)

More Winners from the Isaac Mizrahi for Target Collection....

Yeah I was in Target - again! - over the weekend (I know, I know, I should be skipping over to Sharebuilder to buy stock!) and saw some of the new pieces from their Mizrahi line.

I have to say I wasn't impressed by most of it, I think he's done better - but these two pieces definitely stood out:





Isaac Mizrahi for Target® 3-Button Pinstripe Jacket $39.99





Isaac Mizrahi for Target® Hepburn Wide-Leg Pants - Blue Bonnet $34.99


I especially like the pants - they really do have the Hepburn trouser look I'm such a sucker for, with the wide leg and cuff.

The fabric feels pretty good - a mid-weight poly / rayon blend that's machine washable (always a plus in my book!). They also come in different lenghts (short, regular and tall) which is as helpful as it is uncommon in women's pants be they high priced or low! Keep in mind, you might have to look twice if you pick these up in the store -- I don't remember if the different lenghts were clearly indicated on the tags. They are clearly defined on the Target website.

I'm not quite as pumped about the jacket -- it might be just a bit too short for some. But the tailoring is pretty good so it will work well with the pants as a business suit option - if it can work with your figure!

The only real down point is that the sizes only go up to a size 18. Bullah! : - p

I can say from my own experience with a pair of denim trousers from his Target line that I was able to wear the size 18 regular -- and I'm one of those women who, in store sizes, tends more towards the plus size than the regular misses!


All in all, a sharp look I think can work for women of a wide range of ages, if not sizes. Pare it with a smokin' bag and a dead on pair of shoes and you've got it made for not a lot of cash!

If you happen to be in Target, check it out!

And Speaking of the Good Doctor....

Styledash contributor Anne Metz has a lovely tribute post to Dr. King and the essence of true style - which in the end has less to do with clothes and more to do with the spirit of the person who wears them:

Style Icon: Martin Luther King, Jr.

We do well to keep that in mind as we seek our own "style".

Happy B-Day Dr. King!

And Thank You.

Art to go....

As I've said before, I'm a HUGE fan of what I call "accessible art" -- art you can either wear or carry with you on a day to day basis. It can lift both your spirits and the spirits of those around you who see it -- or at the very least, start some very interesting conversations!

Styledash.com of late has several examples of just such "art-to-go":


Change your wallet as often as you change your purse

I went over to this site and I gotta tell you I dig the concept! And as soon as my finances get back on solid ground I have every intention of picking up a couple (or maybe even the 4 for $50 deal!).

If you do decide to get one, treat it right -- you'll never know what the future will bring for these artists - you could be carrying around a future Picasso in your purse!

Give those white earbuds something extra

Personally, I find those ear buds to be extremely uncomfortable so I don't use mine. But if you do, here's a cute way to dress them up!

Movie billboards make a fashion statement

If you're a big time movie fan or have one in your life, these totes (they have messenger bags as well) can be a fun and practical addition to your bag wardrobe or a great gift. I really like the unusual styling of the Billboard bag - sleek but looks like it can hold quite a bit!

Plus saving a tree and keeping down the landfills? What's not to love?

And now I better get goin' - the old salt mine beckons!

Clip Earrings Making a Comback?

You heard it here first....

Clip-on earrings making a comeback

If you are a lady of a certain age, you not only remember clip-ons you probably wore them. That is, until you got tired of that headache and suffered the momentary pain to get your ears pierced!

Having worn clips in the past, this is a vintage trend I don't see lasting unless they've made the things MUCH more comfortable. But if you are a pierced ear hold-out that is sick and tired of trying to convert pierced earrings to clips - this might mean you can kick that DIY stuff to the curb - at least for a bit! ; - )

Issac M. is at it again!

And it appears that he feels duty bound to change the way fashion is delivered!

Mizrahi to go high and low

I think the idea is brilliant! It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Okay I think I'm in Love....

No not that silly romantic thing for another person. The REAL deal - purse love!

Bluefly is having a sale (no surprise there) on designer handbags. And so, broke as I am, I just had to go over and take a look.

Now here I have to give full disclosure: I LOVE handbags! When I moved to smaller quarters, I gave away 20 handbags, not to mention the ones I tossed because they were no longer usable! My sister teases me about my never ending quest for that perfect bag!

Now the irony of that for me is that, handbag lover that I am, I have an innate issue with spending more than, say $500.00 for a handbag (The most expensive bag I own is a $250 and change leather Coach). I also have a real aversion to "hardware" bags that seem to be all the fashion today, bags so festooned with metal circles and studs that it looks like a hardware store upchucked on them!

I tend to be a Coach bag type of gal -- at least the Classic Coach type. I favor a simple, practical elegance -- when it comes to bags, you can keep the bling, thanks.

That being said you can imagine how my heart quickened when I saw this:



Lamarthe plum leather 'Drôle de Celtique' basket bag $255.00 on Bluefly

I have to admit I'd never heard of Lamarthe, but once I saw the above bag I Googled it quickly and surfed on over to their website.

The site, like their bags, is exactly what I like -- well designed elegance. And at such reasonable prices - what's not to love?

Do yourself a favor and go check them out.

A VERY depressing shopping trip....

I took a little walk yesterday and did a little window shopping.

The good part was I'd forgotten how much I enjoy looking at clothes.

The bad part was that I no longer fit in any of them.

Here's a little run down of my "fun" soiree:

I haven't visited the H&M on Michigan avenue since it opened a couple of years ago. But since it is the store that is on everyone's lips when it comes to reasonably priced, forward thinking fashion, I thought it time for me to make another call. I also remembered from my previous visit that they actually had some plus size clothes that were, for a change, pretty good looking - I wanted to see how much fashion they were offering for the upcoming season.

How much? Nothing!

At least not if you are larger than a size 16. Which was most unfortunate, since, despite my mis-givings on the clothes there being way too young for ladies of an age, I found at least 4 potential outfits that would easily work for the fashionista of some experience and many separate pieces that could tastefully spice up a perhaps stogy wardrobe.

It was particularly irritating since when you go to their website, they have a size chart for their clothes that for women goes up to size 26!

Anyway....

For my other 50+ sisters who have been lucky enough to keep the svelte figures of their youth (Diane Kenton comes to mind, bless her!) do go on by H&M - you won't be disappointed.

Meanwhile, I twisted my size 18 hips out of there and headed to Water Tower. I took a spin through the elegant Lord and Taylor, which is, unfortunately, slated to close at the end of March. Seems the owners of Water Tower has determined it is more cost efficient (in other words, they can pull in more cash!)to split the space up into smaller stores.

But I digress....

As Lord and Taylor's carries the major clothing lines (Jones of New York, Ralph Lauren, Ann Klein, etc, etc..) I had no problem finding many fine pieces for the 50+ Fashionista - but you've got to be willing and able to drop a pretty penny to get them! (They are having a sale however, and what an organized one -- they have all the same colored garments on the same racks so you can zero right in on what you might be looking for!)

Spinning out of L & T, I made a stop in J. Jill. I've received their catalogs and I know that they do sell their clothes in a wide range of sizes. I had the store to myself -- but no sizes larger than an 16 to be found. The saleslady was quite apologetic when she told me that they don't carry plus sizes in the store but she assured me that I can order through the store and have it delivered there for trying on. Nice, but then why wouldn't I just order on the web and try it on at home?

Sighing and moving on, I made a stop at Ann Taylor. Now I have to confess, I have avoided AT, mostly because I felt their size choices were not wide enough. That was an error on my part, one, because they actually carry styles that I think work wonderfully for the 50+ woman (And as I observed above, not every woman receives the almost obligatory extra pounds as her 50th birthday present!) and two, because they do carry sizes up to 18 (Through mostly at their Ann Taylor Loft stores). However there were no 18's to be found in the store itself.

Sigh....Well at least the walk almost brought me up to my 10,000 steps a day goal!

Post Holiday Sales....

Tips over at the Budget Fashionista....

Sales, Weather, and Boots Gone Bad

My e-mail has been so inundated with sales offers that I haven't known where to start as far as posting them! TBF gives the perfect summary of the best -- so check it out!

Get on over to Wardrobe 911....

And continue your fashion education!

Wardrobe 911

Teresa has three great new posts on the following:

1. Ever wonder why the hell you're one size in one store and another one in the store right next door? Ms. Teresa gives the 411 on the noxious Vanity Sizing scam that dominates women's clothing (I've already stated my disdain for this custom in a previous post).

She's got my vote on going back to the future on sizing. We've put a man on the moon, and a woman in as Speaker of the House - surely we can get sizing for women's clothes standardized as men's are!

2. Great outfit tips for the inverted triangle figure.

3. Every wonder WHAT those little icons on the fabric care tag mean? Ms. Teresa breaks it down for you with some bonus advice on when Dry Clean is really Dry Clean!

Get on over and get schooled!

The Budget Fashionista's Annual Shopping Survey....

Is on!

If you have a couple of minutes (I've taken the survey and it doesn't take long), go over and take the survey. She has a link up to the results of last year's survey as well - interesting!

The Budget Fashionista

(My apologies for not being able to give you a direct link to the survey - but it turns out that, now that I've taken it, all I can get is the thank you page!)

Rain, rain go away....

And if that doesn't work for you, at least get a good umbrella!

Blame it on the Rain

(I don't know how the Urban Socialite does it -- she simply finds some of the best designed stuff around!)

I'm becoming a big advocate of good looking accessories -- they can give you just that bit of stylish "pop" you might be needing and they always fit!

And when they're practical as well -- it's a twofer!

Skip over to New York Magazine...

And do a little vicarious shopping as one of their intrepid editors goes on a shopping tour of the new wide jean trend:

The Find: Wide-Leg Jeans

As I've stated here before without hesitation the passing of the skinny jean trend can't go a moment too soon in my book (hopefully to take their homey the bubble skirt with 'em). And it's interesting to see how many different ways a style can be done - and at what price points (316 dollars for a pair of jeans!!!! Wowser! Everything is more expensive in the Big Apple!)!

Ironically one of the two pairs the editor liked the best were "only" $58.00 -- a price that still makes this 60s girl's head spin!

Guess money really isn't everything. Anyway, enjoy!

What I wore today....

The old "go to" outfit!

Everybody has one. The outfit that fits great, feels great and hallelujah, looks great. It's the outfit you wear when, like me, you've got two meetings in one day and you're not sure your up for either of them. At the very least, you can feel great about your game face!

All three pieces are Sears Covington separates.

Wash, tumble dry, wear. Sweet.

A guide to post 50 style....

I'd seen this book (and actually saved it to my Amazon wishlist) some time ago but had forgotten about it. The following article brought it back to the fore:

Boomer Cool

The best thing about this article is the url for Sherrie's website: www.sherriemathieson.com. I hadn't really been sold on her book but one look at the before and after pictures on her site has convinced me that it is worth picking up. I don't know about you but I'm convinced that being able to see what's gone wrong along with how to make it right really helps as you try to figure out how to revise your wardrobe.

Anyway, go on over to the website and take a look. I'll be purchasing a copy at some point and will review it here on the blog. Enjoy!

The fashion commute in old New York!

Because Christmas was so hectic for me, I'm just catching up with some of my mail!

Go over to the New York Magazine and check out their commuter fashion gallery. I love the woman/man on the street fashion pics (which is why I'm such a Sartorialist fan!) because it reminds me that we ALL participate in fashion every time we walk out the door clothed! (Something I think designers often forget in their drive to design for the rich and famous):

Because Our Daily Commute Is a Fashion Show

Be sure to read the comments of each person pictured - their as interesting as what they are wearing! Enjoy!

As you are evaluating your closet....

For the new year, here are 5 items you might want to make sure you stock....

Five items every woman needs

Pay most close attention to the good bra recommendation. I don't know about you, but I was never even fitted for a bra 'till about a year ago when I wandered into Victoria Secret to buy a replacement for a bra I'd purchased there I don't know when ago! When I stumbled over what size I was when asked by the young saleswomen, I was hustled into a dressing room, measured in the blink of an eye and provided with several different styles to try on. I left with two of the best fitting bras I'd ever owned -- and that probably included my training bra!

Victoria's isn't the only ones who will measure you - Lane Bryant and Macy's offer the same service. So if you haven't brought housing for the girls in awhile take a minute and get yourself measured. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make both in look and more importantly in comfort!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

May it be a peaceful and prosperous one for you and yours!

Speaking of shoes....

I LOVE Anne Klein's AK shoe line. The shoes are great looking, they don't require that you blow off your rent for the next 3 months to purchase them and, if I can extrapolate from my pair of beloved flats, are crazy comfortable!

Over at Manolo's Shoe Blog he has a great post which shows 3 differnt styles of AK's -- any of which a lady of any age can wear with eaze and pride: AK for the Poor Girl

Yeah, he takes kind of a slam at the fact that they are inexpensive -- but I'll overlook that -- he just has never had a chance to wear a pair! ; - )

If you're needin' REAL boots....

Not just somethin' to look good in -- you might want to hop over to the following Squidoo lens:

These Ain't Yer Granny's Galoshes!

And no they are not!

Neos Villager All Season Overshoe


I'd not heard of these NEOS overshoe boots but since I am in desperate need for a pair of boots that can take on real weather (we've been lucky so far here in Chi-town but I've lived here my whole life -- so I know THAT won't last!) I will be looking into them! I don't think I've seen an overshoe boot in many a year! And since I basically wear flats, this would be a perfect winter solution for me!

And a chance to do good at the same time -- baby it doesn't get better than that!

If you buy the boots by linking through the lens 100% of the percentage the lens receives will go to the Grameen Foundation founded by this years Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Ph.D.. If you've never heard of Dr. Yunus, he developed the principles of microcredit to provide small business loans to the poor to enable them to work their way to better lives.

Even if you can't quite bring yourself to go the overboot route, you have an opportunity to learn a ton about the foundation and it's work.

Keep your lovely Manolo ballet slippers, or whatever graces your tooties dry - and give someone else a leg up. Like I said - baby it just DOESN'T get better than that!

All I can say to this...

Is Thank God!

More Is More: Say Goodbye to Skinny Jeans

Speaking of great posts....

There is one just begging to be read over at What Every Woman Needs in Her Wardrobe on the fallacy of looking "Presentable".

Do yourself a favor - surf over and give it a read! Like me, you'll see yourself as you do (because, come on, don't we all have days when we give ourselves the "presentable" pass?).

Now I don't foresee those "presentable" days going away completely - at least not for me! But hopefully Ms. Dilly's post will give a bit more inspiration to weed out as much of the "just presentable" stuff as you can from your closet!

And who knows -- once that stuff comes out, maybe some fabulous stuff will find it's way in! ; - )

An amazing t-shirt graphic....

Is on display over at Urban Socialite in her post Art in the Age.

I know (speaking from experience), that as one ages it gets a bit harder to pull off the pictured T look. But I'm a big fan of T-shirt art (Hey, I'm still a 60's girl at heart and I DON'T apologize for it!). When done right it's wearable art at it's most accessible and affordable.

So slide on over and take a look - if you love interesting graphic design it will be worth it!

Fashion 101....

Is going on over at Wardrobe 911 with three great posts.

The first illuminates the meaning of all those fashion lines terms. From Couture to Junior, Ms. Teresa gives you the low-down on what you'll see when you check out each line.

The second gives a brief do/don't for you ladies lucky enough to have that hourglass silhouette!

The third talks going gray with grace!

So get on over there and learn something! ; - )

And becase this IS a fashion centered blog....

I just HAVE to post Suzy Snowflake and her "Snow white gown"! ; - )

If you're a Chicagoan of a certain age, Suzy is more than likely an old friend. If you're not from the Midwest, you may never have seen this little video as a child. Either way enjoy a lady who's working togs are too cool!

Holiday Treat!

I love burning logs videos (Yeah, yeah, my sister thinks I'm nuts too..) and this one has one of my all time favorite Christmas songs -- so from me to you, enjoy!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Holidays! And Peace out to all! Enjoy!

Accessories Tips...

From Michael Kors no less!

Came across this article from the El Paso Times yesterday. It's a last minute holiday gift idea article, but I think Michael's suggestions (especially when it comes to purses -- I TOTALLY agree that a woman needs more than one! ; - ) ) can easily apply as you rethink and revamp your closet.

Check it out!

Give the gift of good fashion

And by the by - Once you're done with everyone else, don't be reluctant to give YOURSELF the gift of good fashion!

And now back to the Chrismas Shopping...

Now back to shopping FOR Christmas....(Okay, maybe a little for you too - just remember those sale shopping tips!):

Forth and Towne (The Gap for grownups) is getting out that last minute sale:

Forth and Towne Holiday Sale

Okay, can we hold off on the after Christmas sales....

Until AFTER Christmas?

As anyone who has moved can attest, for the longest time you continue to receive the previous occupants junk mail. Thus it is with me also. One of the previous occupants of my present space was a Bloomies customer. I myself am not, but I have been amused over the past few years to receive their Bloomies Christmas catalog. Since along with fashion I'm interested in design, I've enjoyed looking over their luxuriously designed Christmas cats.

Imagine my surprise this year when in the mailbox came, a week and a half BEFORE Christmas - the Bloomies After Christmas sale catalog! My sister made the amused observation that they must already know what they will have left for the sale!

Ah the after Christmas sales...when after overspending on others, we feel more than justified to overspend on ourselves! And if you are longing to somehow change your look, these sales can just be more temptation than you can bear!

Well take a breath - and then take yourself over to Wardrobe 911 for some timely tips on how to shop sales. Ms. Teresa has 3 little tips that may just help you help yourself purchase smart for you wardrobe on Dec 26th!

My Christmas (or Birthday or Mother's Day) Gift Recommendations....

As I promised, here are my recommendations for gifts to the re-budding fashionista in your life. And just so you know - I purchased them all with my own dollars so their not pigs in a poke:

1. How to be a Budget Fashionista by Kathryn Finney




If you're already a fan of the Fashionista website you are familar with -- and may well own -- a copy of this book. It is definitely Fashion 101 for those of us who have been out of the mix for some time. The best part about this one for me is the fact that Ms. Finney starts out talking the economics of being a Fashionista. Her recommendation -- get your financial house in order BEFORE you start pricing out those Manolo Blahniks!

The rest of the book is just as common sense wise, covering all manner of fashion issues - dressing the body, reality checking the closet, Beauty and, of course, the best places to find your fabulous new pieces at the best prices! If you can only afford one book for your fashion yearning but challenged loved one -- this is it!

2. Dress Your Best by Clinton Kelly and Stacy London





I credit these two fashion guerrillas with re-kindingly my love of fashion! I catch their show whenever possible and love the fact that rather than take the tack that the person needs to change for the clothes (i.e. lose 10 pounds, get surgery, etc.), they make the point that 1. the clothes should suit the person and 2. You have a right and the ability to look fashionable as you are right now!.

In Dress Your Best, they do in print what they do on their show -- address dressing varying body types. In the book they breaking body types down into categories (Bigger on Top, Bigger on Bottom)for the 3 different heights most folks fall into (Petite, Average Height and Tall) that anyone can easy recognize. They start each section with a brief Do, Don't and Must Have for the body type in question. Then with the help of some, in my book, very brave folks who were willing to pose in a simple black swimsuits (black swim trunks for the guys) to show the body type in question. They then show the same individuals in 3 different outfits (Work, Weekend and Evening). And to show that their no armchair generals, Stacy and Clinton appear as 2 of the body types as well!

The pics are great, the tips are pure Clinton and Stacy - honest and positive. Get it! And when you can - watch the show!

3. Closet Smarts by Emily Neill




In all honesty, I just purchased this one and am just starting to go through it. I find the author's voice to be just a bit, well, angry -- but then the fashion industry does make you want to give them a whack up side the head at least once a month!

And while she is doing something very similar to Stacy and Clinton in Dress your Best using real folks to illustrate different body types, I like the fact that she does befores and afters - so you are able to see how each person was dressing and how to improve upon it. I think that can be particularly helpful when you are sorting through your current clothes and trying to decide if any of it is salvageable!

So there you have it -- my 3 picks! Their all available at Amazon, of course and I'm sure any other major online bookseller. However, if you're in a hurry (and if you're reading this for ideas, you better be!) I made it even easlier for you by setting up an Amazon store. Click the top link and it will take you to the front page which lists all 3 books for purchase.

There! Like I said before -- Don't say I never did nothin' fer ye!

And by the way -- Happy Holidays!

If you're reading this...

Congratulations! You are the person of the year...(But aren't we all in our own minds? ; - ) )

Here's the article:

Time's Person of the Year 2006 - YOU

I haven't read the article yet myself -- but I think the choice is an interesting one.

Whoa! The blog is on the front page of The Budget Fashionista!

Well I sure didn't see THAT comin'!

I finally decided to list the blog to The Budget Fashionista's Project:Blog Community. I'm a HUGE fan of the Fashionista site and many of the blogs I check on a regular basis (Okay, when it comes to The Budget Fashionista and The Sartorialist well that's an every day thing) I found via that list.

But imagine my surprise to see my blog listed as a top site! SNAP!

Guess that means I better start getting some more current posts up! ; - )

9 Days and counting!

Okay so here it is - 9 days out from Christmas! And if you, like me, find yourself not quite where you thought you'd be shopping wise at this point, it might be time for a few ideas for those fashion centered gifts for those fashionistas on your list!

Over at The Budget Fashionista, the buying diva has a list of great gifts under $25.00:

Best Gifts Under $25

Now if, like me, your favorite fashion fan is also a bookaholic here are some recommendations for books they can cuddle up with by the tree:

Gifts for bookworms with passion for fashion

Speaking of books -- Kick it over to Borders' Perfect Gift site for suggestions for any book lover on your list:

Borders: Find the Perfect Gift

And while we're on the subject of books - I have a couple of suggestions myself. Unfortunately I've got to fly -- Christmas tasks await! But watch this spot -- I'll try to get them posted later today!

Okay, so, if all those e-mails and catalogs that have been clogging your e-mail and real mail box from every retailer you ever so much as looked at hasn't given you enough ideas, you're armed with more! Don't say I never did nothin' fer ye! ; - )

RSS and Email Update Notification Links....

Can now be found to the right - just in case you use RSS or would like to receive an e-mail when I finally get around to posting new content! (I'm new to the whole RSS, e-mail notification thing -- so I hope this works!)

Are you an Apple, a Pear....

Or a Ruler?

Well get yourself over to A Dress A Day for a great post on body shape types and how to dress them to achieve different looks.

I think one of the great obstacles women face as they grow older is the change in their body shapes. All of a sudden the clothes you wore so successfully for so long, no longer work. Coming to terms with that change and learning how to dress that new body is one of the first and perhaps most difficult hurdles to get over - but once you do, I'm thinkin' that the rest of the trip to a look you can live with, and yes maybe love, is a lot easier to develop!

You Know the Drill.......

'Nuf said!

Shopping Alert!....

Okay. It's Friday and payday (for somebody, I'm sure!). So if there are any dollars left after the bills get paid.....


Kate Spade's got another sale going on (What, is she taking tips from Macy's?):



Kate Spade Sale

Looks like the Liz C. group is firing with both barrels for fall:




Liz Claiborne Fall Sale




Elisabeth Fall Sale

(Now if you have been reading this blog, you'll notice that I posted the 15% off sale in an earlier post. However, as the e-mail I just recieved stated "up to 60% off" -- so I figure it might be worth it to post it again....)

And Forth and Towne is already getting on their holiday groove....




Forth & Towne


Enjoy!

Okay...Now this is just wrong.....

Look, I've got a soft spot for Hello Kitty, but really how soft a spot do you have to have to justify this....





Hello Kitty Diamond Pendant

$4,250.00 baby!

And for those of you who have another $5000.00 to blow and feel you need a matching ring....




Hello Kitty Pave Diamond Ring

Honey, where else but at Needless Markup. Enough said.

(But I have to admit -- they are pretty cute! Just not 10 grand worth!)

Bargains from The Budget Fashionista....

Keeping on the subject of deals.....

If the Elisabeth sale has just wet your whistle, get thee over to The Budget Fashionista for her October coupons and deals newsletter...

The Budget Fasionista Coupons and Deals Newsletter

And while you're over there, if you haven't signed up for the newsletter, do so! EVERY Fashionista can use a bargain!

Speaking of Elisabeth....

There's another sale going on over there! 15% off any regularly priced item.

If you've got a mind to, surf on over! Here's the link....

Elisabeth 15% Off Sale

A tale of 3 Returns - Part 1

As you know if you’ve been reading the blog, I’ve made several clothing purchases over the past month or so - some in the real world and some in the virtual. Of course with varying success. And varying success leads to – yeah you know – returns.

So far I’ve had to deal with three from three different retailers – Sears.com, Lane Bryant and Elisabeth.com. Here’s the first post on how each of them faired as far as dealing with returns:

Sears.com: The online Sears site states that you can return your online purchases to any physical Sears store (that sounds so weird as I type it!).

That’s exactly what I did with a pair of black Covington pants that did not fit correctly (which was weird in and of itself since I already own a gray pair of the same model which fit perfectly! This is the kind of thing that makes women crazy when it comes to shopping – but I digress).

Actually I had to try this return twice, but through no fault of the store – I did not read the instructions for returns as carefully as I should have. Seems that the confirmation e-mail you’re sent is the important document to have with you when making the exchange – not the packing slip – because the RC# for each item is listed in that e-mail. The sales clerk will need that number in order to complete the return. By the way, my sympathies to the Sears sales staff – on both occasions they were aware that online purchases can be returned at the store – but it does not appear that they have been trained on HOW it’s to be done!

Despite that fact, both times the sales staff was very accommodating and took whatever time it took to find out how to do the exchange. Once the how was established, the return went like clockwork – no troubles!

So hat’s off to Sears.com – they are as good as their word! Kudos to their sales staff as well!

Note to Sears: Do your staff a favor and give them some training on this process okay? You can make both their lives and the lives of your customers just a bit easier!

It's been a crazy few days....

So I've not had a chance to post. Watch this space, through! New posts should be coming up starting later today!

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A visit to the The Pretty Pear and the ever popular The Budget Fashionista has brought to my attention that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

So....

1. Ladies, if you haven't had the girls checked out for this year, get to it! Yes, it's an uncomfortable, boob squeezin' experience - but a potentially life saving one as well. So don't put it off!

2. Make a visit to either of the sites mentioned above for tips on how to contribute to the cause. Both have several entries outlining offers from businesses donating part of your purchase to Breast Cancer research. In addition, the Pear has a link to The Breast Cancer Site where a click on the Fund Free Mammograms link can help provide free mammograms to women in need.

3. For more info click on over to the National Breast Cancer Foundation site. And of course the American Cancer Society website.

My newest bag.....

As I said in an earlier post, I unfortunately did not have 200+ bucks to drop on a Kate Spade - even on sale! (It looks like SOMEBODY did through -- when I checked the Kate Spade sale page the next day there was not a one of the bags I liked left!). However, I did have 60 bucks...And I did buy a purse!

Of course there is a story to this purchase (Isn't there always for any purchase?)...

In the past, I was not a big fan of wristlets. If there was a reason, it was probably because I didn't see it as a legitimate purse -- after all what the heck can be carried in that little thing?

My pride, however, was brought low when I purchased a couple of pairs of pants that do not have pockets (through I could have sworn when I ordered them that the description said with pockets!).

Now, I'm not a person for pocketless pants, but I came to love these - and that left me with a quandary - where do I carry my stuff when I make those short trips during the day, far enough to need money and/or keys on me, not far enough to need to carry a purse.

The answer - a wristlet that came with a loved Franklin Covey tote bag I was carrying at the time.

You know the rest -- I fell in love - and hard - with the whole wristlet thing!

I decided that I'd like to get a black one (the wristlet that came with the tote is blue) so I thought I'd splurge a bit and spend around 50 - 60 bucks to buy a Coach.

But then I was in my local Franklin Covey to get a refill for my binder -- and what should I see but a black hobo tote! And, as it is with the Franklin totes, it had a wristlet (Or as Anna Johnson charmingly describes it in her wonderful book, Handbags: The Power of the Purse "a satellite (or dinghy) bag") that came with the bag.

The cost for the pair? About $60.00 on sale!

Hummm....$60.00 for a leather wristlet - or $60.00 for a leather bag AND a wristlet -

I brought the bag of course!

Here's the new ship of state with the "dinghy":

Franklin Covey Tote and Wristlet

Here's the inside. I'm not usually one for pink, but it does work well with black. And I love the little detail of the dragonfly print, continuing the dragonfly motif from the enamel charm on the purse, in a pale almost mint green.




Now I know that most women don't think Franklin Covey when they go handbag shopping. But over the past few years, they have developed an excellent line of business totes - ostensibly to carry your binder, pda, cell phone, etc. But this is my second one, and I find that they make great, durable and good looking bags in general. And you can often find very nice ones on sale. So if you have a Covey near by, check them out -- you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find!

Shopping Alert!.....

When I said the sales just keep on comin' -- I had no idea!

Looks like the Liz Claiborne group is making a full court press this fall...

An extra 25% off sale items on the Elisabeth.com site. Check it out at the following link...

Elisabeth Sale

And yes, this time I could not resist! I've made the following purchases:

Elisabeth Silk Charmeuse Pleated Skirt

Elisabeth Silk Blend Pointelle Shell

Elisabeth Silk Blend Pointelle Cardigan


As I've stated before, I own a couple of pieces from Liz C's plus size lines, but I've never purchased anything from the online Elisabeth site. So I'll let you know how this turns out!

Shopping Alert!......

They just keep on comin'.....


Elisabeth Liz Claiborne's Plus Size division, is having a sale on their Fall 2006 collection. Check it out at the following link:


Elisabeth Fall 2006 Sale

Liz has a lovely plus size collection covering both career and causal clothes. I've purchased from the old Village collection (a navy summer jacket and drawstring pants that remain sleek enough for work, wonderfully comfortable and one of my favorite spring - summer outfits.) and I also own an Emma James sweater. The quality is everything you would expect from Liz.

I've not ordered from the web site as yet, so I can't speak to the experience of buying these clothes online. But if the quality is anything like what I've purchased in the store, you'll be pleased.

So if you have a chance, go on over and check them out!

To: NY Mag Fashion Page - I love ya, but....

What is up with the snub of the Elena Miro runway shows!

For you who don't know, Elena Miro' is an Itatilan fashion house who specializes in clothes for plus size women. Beautiful, ready to wear clothes.



Take a look....From the Fall 2006 collection...










As you can see -- no fear of curves here! All pics credit to FirstView - get yourself over there and check out the whole collection! 'Cause you sure as hell can't do so on the New York Magazine Fashion Show Page -- gee I wonder why!

Fear of curves perhaps?.....

Shopping Alert!.....

Kate Spade is having a 25% off sale on selected styles....

Kate Spade 25% Sale

My favs from the sale:

Madison Park Eley Small

Madison Park Eley Large

Sigh...Unfortunately I don't have 200+ dollars right now to drop on a purse (I did however, have $60.00 -- but that's an upcoming post!)

Anyway, if you do -- check it out!

Shopping Alert!.....

Forth & Towne (The Gap's "grownups" store) is having a 50% off sale on new fall pieces.

Check them out at the following link:

Forth & Towne: New Season, New Elegance

I've not had a chance to check out their stores here in the ChiTown area (but I signed up for their e-mail list - go figure!) -- I'll have to plan a field trip! But the pieces on the website do look lovely. Even better - their sizes range from 2 - 20! Go Gap! (But come on guys -- get an online store going on on this site, okay?)

A few samples:

From their Allegory collection - A great work outfit:

Ruffle shirt and skirt

From their Prize collection - This one would move easily from work to evening:

Silk Blouse and Trouser

From their Vocabulary collection - a simply lovely silk dress:

Silk Dress



As you can see, the Gap is really kickin' it up a notch with the Forth and Towne stores! And the prices don't make you feel like you're choosing between a dress and your rent!

So if you've got a F & T near you, check 'em out -- and let me know if you find something you love!

Okay - We buy their stuff but they feel free to dish us? What the f*ck is up with that???

Seems that the Budget Fashionista got trashed by the LCYRA rep at NYC Fashion week Denim Lounge. For all the dirty details go to the following:

Spring Fashion Week Day 8: LYCRA to Plus Size Women: Don't Wear Our Products?


Her comments on this tale of the sorry behavior of this company's rept brings to the fore the basic conflict between the people who produce "fashion" and the majority of the folks who buy it.

Her observations on the back door way designers treat the general public are quite right. Designers tout their "collections" and fawn over the celebs and well-heeled clients in public -- but the bread and butter of their operations are the nom de plume clothes they knock out in anonymous sweat shops all over the world and sell in JC Penney's, Macy's, Walmart, Target, etc.

Meanwhile they turn their collective noses up at the sight of the "unsightly" common folk (e.g. Karl Lagerfeld, who obviously has NO sense of irony - or how ridiculous he sounds taking about other people's girth - as if we've all forgotten how HE used to waddle through the world) -- who's money they're happy to take while pretending they don't. (Case in point: I love the AK Anne Klein clothes line -- but if you go to Anne Klein's site you'll see no mention of it. What's up with that?)

Kudos to the Budget Fashionista for not taking such treatment lying down and at the same time remaining a class act. To bad LCYRA can't say the same for the people they pay to represent them!

The Budget Fashionista Reviews Isaac Mizahi's Latest at Target

Get yourself on over to the The Budget Fashionista for her take on Isaac Mizahi's latest offerings at Target.

Stuff I love....

If you get a chance, try out the Olay Moisturinse in Shower Body Lotion. I tried it on a whim and I'm glad I did! It works like a charm and is particularly great if you're in a rush in the morning and want to be ready to roll right out of the shower!

The catch (and there's always a catch, right?) is that it's sometimes hard to find -- for awhile I thought they'd decided to discontinue it. But I'm happy to say it appears that is not the case -- so feel free to love it! I'm most successful finding it at Target.

you can find more info at the following link:

Olay Moisturinse In Shower Body Lotion

Give it a go -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!

When is thin too thin?…When it IS damn it!

I’d thought that I would do a long post on the whole too thin vs. normal model thing that I’ve been reading about as of late. However, since the whole controversy has been going on for at least a week, it just seemed like old news.

I figured I could sum the whole thing up as follows:

1. Spain is right -- the models walking down the runway right now are little more than walking skeletons – THAT should be apparent to any but the blind. So much so, that after looking at pictures of the fall and now spring collections, my eyes began to hurt – that’s how painful all those boney knees were lookin’. And it does become a distraction at some point – you’re looking harder at the model and wondering what the hell is up with how she’s looking than you are at the clothes!

2. Fashion is one of the only places that misrepresentation of your wares is acceptable – because it is just plain misrepresentation to display clothes for women on little girls who are not only bone skinny, but mostly 13 – 18 year olds as if they will look that good on your customer – 30 – 60 year olds who are the ONLY ones who have the money to buy these things!

As for the designers complaining that it will interfere with their “creative vision” if they have to pick models with a more “normal” (I’m thinking normal for most women 5‘ 3” these days is more like 130 – 40 lbs rather than 125 lbs – but I guess you have to start somewhere…) models – well that’s just an admission on their part that they can’t really create clothes that look good on women as they actually exist in the world.

3. Women are as much to blame for this sorry state of affairs as any designer is. We not only tolerate this nonsense – we encourage it by oohing and ahhing over these collections and, where the dollars are there, buying the clothes. Why? – Because very few women can face how they really look. We WANT to believe that these clothes will make us look like those “willowy” young things on the catwalk – when a simple, unvarnished look in the mirror would dispel that fancy in a hurry! But how many of us (myself included) can really bring ourselves to do that? Instead we usually end up doing one of two things:

a. Putting ourselves in clothes which make us look absolutely ridiculous or
b. Giving up and allowing ourselves to look like something the cat dragged in.

What we should do, in my humble opinion, is dress ourselves honestly – in other words, take an honest look at ourselves, find ways to dress ourselves that take advantage of our good points (and every woman alive has some good point she can play to!) and minimizes the things that, frankly, we wish we didn’t have to deal with. And we should reward those purveyors of clothing that display their clothing honestly – on various sized models and mannequins that really allow you an idea of what these outfits will look like on real women. (Yeah, yeah it will be a shock all the way around – but get over it!)

We’d all live – and dress - a lot saner for it.

(And yes, this still ended up being rather longer than I intended!)

Went in for a pendant - Came out with an outfit..What the..????

I had a bout of fashion ADD yesterday. I went into - ugh - Macy's (Or as I'm calling it - MarsMacy's because no, I have NOT gotten over the fact that Marshall Field's is no more! But that rant is for another day!) to see if I could find a silver pendant necklace to go with the gray suit I wore today. I'm very jewelry light, you see, and I'm thinking I should start to address that.

Well I did see some pieces I liked -- but oh the sticker shock! I had my sister on the phone and as I marveled at $25 bucks for a piece of, well let's face it costume jewelry, I had to admit that it had been quite some time (Okay, years) since I've brought a piece of jewelry -- and prices just might have gone up a bit!

I decided to give it some thought and rode up to take a look at the coats (both my sister and I are in desperate need of new walking coats - well, she is in need, I'm the desperate one!). We'd actually seen coats we liked at the MarshMacy in the mall near our house but not in our size. That was still the case -- looks like we have to hit the State Street store!

So since I was there, I decided to see what might have changed in the Women's section. So I took the trip up to the 7th Floor (where we are banished so the diva's won't have to see us shopping I guess!)

I was walking through when I saw it -- AK Anne Klein for Women! I'd seen this line at the mall MarshMacy -- but only for petites! I was SOOOOOO pissed....the clothes were exactly what I like - simple, soft tailored pieces.

And now here they were -- in MY size!

I was to say the least, ecstatic!

I needed a straight forward black skirt that would work for work and after work -- and there it was! Perfect fabric, pencil shape -- and yes it looked like it would fit. Along with the skirt I picked up a red, short sleeved shell with nice detail at the collar and sleeves.

I was on lunch so I brought them without trying them on -- you know the story.

When I got home I put them on....

They fit like a charm.

No length problems.

No waist problems.

Just easy, elegant fit.

I think I'm in love.

And yes, I spent a bit more than I normally do for a skirt. But sometimes it's true -- you get what you pay for.

As for the necklace -- well, maybe I can revisit that today!

What I'm Wearing Today....

Gray jacket and flat front pants, with a white blouse - All Covington separates from Sears (I know, not a particularly great pic -- I'll have to practice!)

This is one of my favorite outfits! It looks great on me, fits perfectly and is crazy comfortable!

It's one of my "go to" outfits - perfect for those days when you've got meetings up the wazu and need to both look good and feel good! And a great example of being able to put together a good outfit (I know it would never turn heads on the Bryant Park catwalk - but who cares!) for a lot less than a small fortune - I'm pretty sure the whole outfit cost less than $100! (And an added bonus - the whole outfit is machine wash/tumble dry baby!)

Whoos! Look at the time! Gotta get this puppy on and get to work!

So NY Fashion Week is over.....

And I am, frankly, overwhelmed!

As I've said before, it's been a long time since I paid any attention to "fashion". So to try to catch-up in a couple of weeks has proved to be exhilarating, exhausting, baffling and, ultimately, impossible!

I've tried to read all the fall fashion mags I thought worth reading (and believe it or not, I DID get through them!), surf the web to find all the fashion related sites, blogs and designer sites I could and to try to view all the collections from this latest Spring fashion week!

Needless to say, I found myself on overload!

So I'm just going to have to slow the train down.

I still intend to ultimately view all the collections I can. And in that vein, I want to give a big thank you shout out to New York Magazine for their fabulous Fashion page online! They have pics of all the collections shown in NY during fashion week which gave this Chi-town gal a chance I never would have had to see the collections for myself and draw my own opinions! Did I join their mailing list? You beat your sweet bippy baby!

If you haven't checked them out, click the following link and get over there!

New York Fashion Page

Meanwhile, I'm going to take a breath and figure out where to go from here on my fashion quest!

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!......

Here's a woman I can smoke the peace pipe with!

***************

...Budget fashionista

PensacolaNewsJournal.com - 8 hours ago
All you need are a few bucks and a lot of sense, said Kathryn Finney, the first-time author of a new book called "How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less" ($12.95, Ballantine).

***************

Really good article with tons of good tips for dressing well without breaking the bank.

Here's the book - which by the way, got rave reviews on Amazon:



As for me -- I got a 30% off coupon last time I was at Borders (Where I really should have a bookshelf with my name on it!) so that's where I'm headed today to see if I can score a copy! It will be fun to compare it to the What Not to Wear book I already have.

So, even with a ton of money.....

You still have a hard time finding something to wear once you hit 50!

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A woman spurned
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The loyal St. John customer was turned off by its sexy new look and ad campaign. So now the label is trying to make amends.

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I wonder when the fashion industry is going to get the hint -- while those young people they are salivating over so often look like the way to go (And actually, I do understand their point -- any business has to look to the future), it's the baby boomer ladies that have the cash! (Didn't they ever see "Fried Green Tomatoes"?)

And while, true enough, there is no way in this life I'd be able to drop St. John's type money, the point remains the same across the income spectrum.

Get wise designers! Go after the young -- but don't forget where the bread and butter is right now and for a good while into the future.

Chew gum and walk at the same time, guys -- you can do it! ;-)

(On a totally different note -- what's up with this "a 6 is really a 10" bullsh*t? I guess money may not buy happiness -- but it apparently purchases a whole LOT of denial! : - / )

Halloween early this year?.......

I think the operative word in the title of the below article is haunt! : - p

As I've been browsing the fall fashions, I wondered where the hell those damn bubble skirts were coming from! Now I know -- my past! ARRRRRHHHHH!!!!!!

Check out the article...

Eighties fashion comes back to haunt us

Stuff.co.nz - Aug 25, 2006
The '80s revival featuring puffball skirts, ruching and jumpsuits has stepped off the catwalks and onto the streets, writes Lara Zamiatin. When Alex Zabotto-Bentley talks 1980s fashion, the designer of the ...

Kohl's to offer new Vera Wang line for the rest of us (?????)

Well this should be interesting…

It appears that Vera Wang is going to try to eat Isaac Mizrahi's lunch when it comes to designing for the every day woman. She's signed up to do a clothing line for Kohl.

Check out the details at the following link (I didn't need to register to read it):

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-vera2506aug25,0,454073.story?coll=orl-business-headlines

It's interesting seeing high fashion designers attempting to push their lines out to the general public (Because, let's face it, ready to wear might be a bargain for the couture shopper -- but it might as be one and the same for women like me!).

What, is he a mind reader?......

The little fashion geek knows my secret!!!

And probably yours too!

His post is actually about the state of fashion design in India -- but his reflections on why we bother with fashion at all can apply anywhere to anyone of us who loves fashion in spite of our good sense and better judgement.

So check it out at the following link:

www.ibnlive.com/blogs/hindolsengupta/104/19754/fashion-what.html

Now a view from the other side of the mountain.....

Get yourself over to FashBlog.com and check out the post Fashion Perils of the Short and Small. (You'll have to scroll down the page a bit to get to it.)

Much as I am presently bitchin' about the issues of being a size 18W (Well actually I'm a size 18W and a 14 Reg -- but THAT's a whole 'nother post!), there was a day when I was in this young lady's shoes - size not height - and I know what it's like to wonder if it is possible not to look like a stick in a handkerchief in anything you wear.

It's a great post so if you can check it out! Makes one wonder doesn't it if it is reasonably possible to be fashionable at all - 50 plus or not!

I couldn't have said it better myself......

As I was trying to prepare to pay bills (Oh well, there's always tonight), I couldn't resist a bit more web clothes site surfing. While doing so I came across the following blog entry regarding the Jones of New York line:

My Aim Is True - Jones of New York Review

The girl does not lie. I'll write more about Jones at a later date, but let me just say that anytime I've been lucky enough to grab something from this line (usually on sale) I've been delighted by my purchase. And yes -- they are one of the few clothing lines that not only acknowledges that size 2 is NOT the benchmark for all women, but also make the same beautifully classic styles for the plus among us as they do for the minus among us. They get a whole hearted (and grateful) thumbs up from me!

Touring the fashion world....

And what a trip it was!

As I've said before, it's been a long time since I paid any real attention to the whole idea of fashion. So, along with intending to purchase as many of the fall fashion issues mags that I can stomach this fall, I decided to go on a tour of the web to check out what's being sold and/or presented by general retailers right through to the toniest of designers. I figured that way I'd get quite a range of current offerings.

So I spent yesterday afternoon surfing the web to various sites. I looked at everything from the mall staples (Fashion Bug, Lane Bryant, Forever 21, etc), what I would consider mid tier retailers (Talbots, Ann Taylor, Mark Shale, etc) and the stratospheric likes of the couture designers (Donna Karan, Richard Tyler, Vera Wang, etc).

Yowserr!

Needless to say, even this morning my head is still spinning!

Fall Fashion Extravaganza!......(If you're thin that is)

Is what's going on right now, of course, in all the "fashion" magazines.

And for the first time in a long time I'm taking a look at them. I figure that if I'm going to explore the possibility of being fashionable after 50, I'd best catch up on what is fashionable these days!

I have to say that, looking through the magazine racks made me want to bale on the whole idea! A more disturbing parade of bone thin, painfully young women has never been seen -- or so I thought to myself as I flipped through the current mags. Just looking at them it was pretty obvious where they stand on the proposition of fashionableness after 50 -- give it up baby!

Now, before I rant on, I have to say that Vogue, bless it's heart, made a weak stab at acknowledging that women actually do age and, as they do, actually have to continue to wear clothes (In fact, speaking with myself in mind, it probably should be required by federal law!). Vogue does this every once in a while, coming up with an age issue at least once a year.

The catch, of course, is that while Vogue can gag down the notion that people do grow older, they can't quite choke down the rarely escapable fact that it means the body changes too. The "older" women they feature never, ever, has an extra ounce of middle age and beyond fat on them. Somehow they've managed to travel into their 50s, 60s - oh hell in the current issue their 90s, without bring one extra pound with them.

Righttttt......

As I browsed through the magazine, I thought of my circle of friends and acquaintances that are around my age. I can't think of too many that still have the bodies they had in their 20s, 30s or - oh hell again -- in their 40s.

Yet Vogue never seems to be able to find a single over 40 woman who has been able to drag their age related pounds gracefully and fashionably forward into late middle age.

Now I understand that Vogue is a high fashion magazine and, watching myself jelly rollin' dumpyly down the street each day in those oh so unforgiving windows (And riddle me this -- why are there so many of those damn things?) I have to pass everyday, I can't imagine featuring me in the age issue would be the dream of their advertising group. However, if one is going to insist upon having an age issue, at least be honest about it -- or just give it up and don't do it at all!

Anyway, even with all my bitchin' and complaining I did buy a copy. After looking at everything else that was available, I had to at least give them props for trying!

In the end, I've ended up with 3 mags that I could live with - Bust (which I've mentioned before), Vogue (which I just discussed) and O (Which I haven't looked through yet). Actually, listing them I don't think it's a half bad selection - kind of all across the spectrum.

As for the rest of them -- well the message was pretty clear -- give it up old, fat girl!

But you think I'm goin' out like that? HELL NO!