Tag: Women’s clothing

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.

 

Clothing · Uncategorized

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.

 

Clothing

10 Fashion Terms For You To Know

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Ever wonder what a fashion or clothing term means?  This is the place to find out!  Find  below 10 new terms for add to your vocabulary.

  1. Broche.  Pronounced Bro-shay.  Is a type of shawl from Scotland.  A woven garment that rotates between two different stripes of patterned and solid colors.  Popular in the early 1800’s.
  2. Checkerboard. A solid board used for playing chess or checkers.  The squares of alternating fabric can be used on clothing to imitate the look.
  3. Chatelaine. A small bag trimmed with lace or beads that hangs from the waist on a decorative chain.  Popular in the mid-1800’s.
  4. Nehru collar. A collar that stands up like a Chinese collar but is made with rounded ends in the front. Named for the Prime Minister of India J. Nehru.
  5. Spread Collar.  A collar for a man’s shirt that has a large space between front points.
  6. Crinoline. A heavy cotton fabric used for stiffing/interfacing fabrics. A stiff petticoat worn to puff out and/or extend a skirt. Can also include a hoop skirt.
  7. Gabardine. A fabric woven with ridges caused by a warp twill weave. Durable.
  8. Grass Cloth. A general term for fabrics made of ramie, flax or help with have a smooth, shiny surface that is woven as a loose fabric.
  9. Jute. A fiber from the Jute pod.  Grown in India and Pakistan.
  10. Kimono. Loose, straight-cut cotton or silk robe made in various lengths, tied at the waist with an Obi. A traditional costume of Japan.  Men’s are in dark colors or for Women bright colors or floral prints.