Tag: Women’s clothing

Clothing

My Life With Clothes

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Since I am writing more and more about my wardrobe I decided to write a series on my relationship with clothes.  I plan to write about how I related to clothing through the years. How my feelings on clothing changed and what I learned about fashion.

I guess I should start at the beginning. I think my mother was always disappointed in the fact that I never wanted to dress girly.  More specifically preppy, a style which my mother adored. I love dark clothing.  I would often wear the dresses she was so fond of but I would wear them with some moderation like unique socks and shoes.

I came to realize that my mother and I had very different taste in clothes.  I would be a few years before I could get my mother to stop having an influence over my clothes.  At University she was named to the best dressed list. Even today, she gives her opinion.  I try hard not to follow it. I’m never satisfied when I follow her advice for clothes.  I like what I like.  I prefer dark colors with only one of two bright ones.

As the years went on I took classes in makeup and clothing. I even appeared in ads in local and national papers.  I helped style photoshoots for photographers.  At this point I loved fashion.  I would watch and read whatever I could on it.  Each Saturday, without fail I watch the TV show “Style with Elsa Klensch.”  I was transfixed by the beautiful gowns of Vera Wang, Bob Mackie, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and Christian LaCroix.

I had never seen so many beautiful things. I loved when the designers were interviewed and new jewelry designers were shown.  It was almost fairytale like for me. Everything was presented elegantly.  Even when avant garde. It was like watching a snow globe.  It was a beautiful scene that you could see but never quite be a part of.

As I started to get older I began to think what I wanted to do with my life.  I wanted to do something creative which made my family angry. Creativity was stupid.  I got a lot of things said to me which should have not been said.  I kept my thoughts to myself. I began to plot my escape.

I went to school for two years in the United States taking basic courses. Then I transferred to a design school in London, England. This was the single best decision I ever made in my life.

On to England in Part 2.

Clothing

Fashion Terms for May

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Agile Manufacturing: Technology that uses modular production rather than the normal piece goods method.

Colorway: The variety of two to four choices of color in the same season, for the same print or solid, in each style.

Sourcing: The decision process of determining who, what and where of your textile and apparel products manufacture, or where each individual piece is made.

Zoot Suit: An avant guard style of the 1940’s for men which used high-waisted, pleated pants that narrow at the ankle.  Worn with a long coat shoulder pads and large lapels, a wide brimmed hat, and a key chain or watch chain coming out of the side pants pocket.

Turnip Pants: For bicycling, pants that could be turned down to make full length pants.  Popular in the 1890’s.

Teddybear Coat: Large coat of alpaca fabric worn by men, women and children in the 1920’s.  Today some large, synthetic coats that appear like sheep wool has also been referred to as a teddybear coat.

Cowl-neck: On a pullover garment with extra large rolled collar which forms a cowl neck.

Ankle socks: A short sock that only reaches the ankle. It can be turned down to the ankle too.  First used in the 1920’s in the US for sport matches for women.

Bell Sleeve: A sleeve that is narrow against the arm near the shoulder and upper arm, then flaring out to the wrist or elbow. To be in the shape of a bell.

Tuxedo Pump Shoe: A low heel pump shoe with a rounded toe made of patent leather for the most part.  It can also have grosgrain trim around the top of the shoe or in a decorative bow at the toes.

 

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My Capsule Wardrobe, The Start

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So I went through my closet this past weekend.  I picked out a capsule wardrobe.  I combined all seasons together.  So I have long sleeves and sweaters but once I paired down they will be put away for the season.

Once I got my separate capsule wardrobe out from my regular clothes I realized not everything went together. I put this up to my weight gain of four dress sizes when I went on medication for my chronic migraines.  I needed clothes.  I needed anything that fit.  I needed anything that would cover my stomach.

I went from store to store in search of clothing that fit, that I liked and didn’t make me look like a grandma.  I remember my paternal grandmother.  When she was in her late 60’s she wore plus size clothing.  Frankly, it was awful.  She would wear these red and orange medallion pants with a stripped top.  Not because she was colorblind but she had difficultly finding clothing that fit and went together.  While the clothing industry has changed slightly, it is still difficult to find things.  Much of the plus size clothing I find is for office work.  I like to dress up, but don’t need a whole wardrobe of suits.  Much of the casual stuff is limited to tshirts and blue jeans.

Then take into consideration the time of year.  You have more choices in Fall and Winter than you do in Spring and Summer. Then where to shop, the type of stores.  When I mean the type of store I don’t mean plus size vs Misses size.  I mean teenager vs older woman vs career woman vs a little bit of everything.  Then take into account the sizes and the price point and you see there is really slim pickings.  Perhaps, the capsule wardrobe will help me with that.  I won’t feel like I have nothing to put on.

What do I wear now?  I buy things from LLBean Catalog, Eddie Bauer Catalog, Landsend Catalog, JJill, Chicos, Christopher and Banks, Dress Barn, Lane Bryant, Maurice’s and sometimes New York and Company.

Here is what I have chosen for my capsule wardrobe:

Blue Jeans (navy)

A button down shirt (Navy) short sleeve

Jean jacket ( Blue)

T-shirts short slv (Navy) (Black) (Grey) (Teal) (Green)

Cardigan (Navy) (Black) (Grey) (Teal) (Green)

Long Sleeve Tshirt (Navy)*(Grey)*

Blazer (Black)**

Dress Pants (Black)

V-neck light knit sweater (Black)*

Black Lace Shirt (Black)**

Casual Pants (Grey)

Tweed Skirt (Black)*

Spring Summer Dress (Green)

Leather Jacket (Brown)* **

Button down shirt (white)

Print shirt (Navy)

Print Skirt (Black)

*Winter item

**Need to purchase item

What do you think? Do you have a capsule wardrobe?  What is in it? Have you gotten rid of the other clothes or keeping them for a bit.  I’m keeping mine to see if I like this.  Let me know your story in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clothing

The Very Basic Wardrobe List

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There have been so many posts, blogs and tv segments on your wardrobe.  There are capsule wardrobes, French influence wardrobe, monochrome wardrobes, and daily uniforms. I have always had a basic wardrobe list.  A good place to start to build any closet.  You can turn this into a capsule wardrobe or any other type of style you want.  What would you put in your basic wardrobe?

Here is my list:

Dark Jeans :I like that they look more dressed up.

Trench Coat: Classic style and practical.

Cardigan:

Button down shirt

Leather Jacket

Car coat

Suit

Pencil Skirt

Dress

T-shirt

I usually prefer one color.  For a long time it was black, then charcoal grey.  Currently, I seem to wear a lot of navy.  I think I would prefer all charcoal.  Unfortunately, there is not a lot of the things in that shade of grey. Do you have a basic foundation color?  What is it?    Have you tried a capsule wardrobe before? Let me know how it has gone.  I’ve been giving it some serious thought since I gained some significant weight from medication.  It’s so hard to find plus sized clothes that look good and I like.  Have you had any problems with clothing yourself?

Clothing

10 Fashion Words to Know

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Afternoon Dress: A term used to indicate type of dress suitable for a garden party or afternoon formal tea, includes a hat.

Bikini Chain: A belt of fine gold chain worn with bikini and hip exposing pants.  Origin in the 1960’s.

Bench Wig: Tightly curled wig with flaps that hang down over the ears.  Often seen worn by judges in Great Britain.

Betrothal Ring; A ring commonly used in the 16th century which was broken in half and each half given to the bride and the groom.

Go-Go Boots: A white boot that comes up to the calf on your leg.  Originally worn by Go-Go dancers.

Godet:  A triangular piece of fabric set into a skirt or sleeve to give fullness.

Gossamer: While it has multiple meanings it is most commonly used to refer to a veiling fabric made of silk.  Think of the phase “On gossamer wings.”

Herringbone: A pattern made of short slanting parallel lines adjacent to other rows that slant in the opposite direction.  Creates a V shape design.

Karat: Describes the quality of gold used in jewelry.  24K means gold with no alloys added, but often too soft for jewelry. Not to be confused with Carat which is used for weight of gemstones.

Legwarmers: Knitted leg covers which stretch from ankle to knee.  Was a huge fashion trends in the 80’s.

See you next month for more fashion terms!

 

Clothing

10 Fashion Terms to Know

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So many terms, so little time.  Here is this month’s installment of 10 Fashion Terms to know. Learning different fashion terms not only enables you to discuss fashion on a whole new level, but can give you new clothing ideas and a history lesson to boot.  Enjoy!

Aglet:  The plastic or metal tag at the end of a shoelace tip at the end of lacing.  Can be ornamental.  Used to join clothing in earlier periods.

A-line: A term created in 1955 by Christian Dior to describe the style of dress where the dress starts out close to the shoulders and then slowly falling away from the under arm area to the hem.  It resembles the letter A.

Alpaca: An animal that is related to camels but has a sheep like coat.  It is native to South America.  While related to the Llama, it should not be confused with it. It’s coat is used to spin yarn which has a lustrous sheen.

Bagheera: A fine uncut velvet characterized by short, close loops.  It is known to be crush resistant.

Bandanna: A scarf made of cotton, calico fabric on a red or blue background.

Blouson Blouse: A blouse that has fullness at the waist that is gathered into a band.

Bow Blouse: A blouse with a band around the neck with two long ends you can tie in a bow.

Gypsy Blouse: A blouse with a drawstring neckline and short or long sleeves that puff out.

Peplum: A shirt or jacket with a separate seam at waist to which a ruffle or circular piece cut on the bias is added for fullness. Can also be a blouse that is long and full with an elastic waistline.

Snake bracelet: A bracelet made in the form of a serpent coiled around the arm. Dates back to the ancient Greeks.

 

 

Clothing

10 Fashion Terms To Know

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Each month I like to list ten different fashion terms and their meanings.  Sometimes, the terms are historical, some are modern, some are even no longer in use.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  There are so many things to know!

1. Shirting- A term for any of a number of fabrics used for men’s and women’s shirts such as broadcloth, chambray, madras, oxford, and poplin.

2. Secondary Line- A version of a company’s popular main line that is produced at a lower cost out of lower priced materials.

3. Ultramarine- Rich deep purple-blue color made from powdered lapis lazuli, or chemicals to reach the same color.

4. Tyrian Purple- Red-Purple Color originally obtained from shellfish found off the shores of Tyre in ancient Palestine.  It was reserved for royalty.

5. Bias Slip- A slip cut on the diagonal of the fabric to give a more body conscious fit, it can stretch to conform to the movements of the body.

6.Silk- Fiber from insects that is produced when they spin their cocoons (a silkworm).  It is strong, resilient and elastic.

7. Cocktail Ring-  A large, noticeable ring that can be real or costume.

8. Lapel Pin- A woman’s pin originally worn on the lapel of a suit.

9. Peignoir- A loose wrap or jacket and skirt set worn by a woman for informal bed clothes or coverings.

10. Millefiore- An Italian word that means thousands of flowers.  Used to describe a tiny flower print in clothing and jewelry.