My older daughter's prom was last weekend. Deciding not to heed her Wardrobe Wisdom mom's advice, she began her search for a dress a mere week prior to the event. Then, one day before prom, she told me she did not really like her dress and wanted to shop the next day. I tried to remain calm, knowing it was not the time for I-told-you-so even though I was thinking it!
This story does have a happy ending. We arrived at the Assistance League's Operation Prom shop when it opened at 10, and after trying on several dresses, one stood out. Not only did my daughter get to wear--at no charge!!!-- a gorgeous gown, she was given shoes to wear with it and offered jewelry and a bag as well. The lovely women at the Assistance League could not have been more helpful and gracious. Other girls were there, shopping for their proms which were coming up in a couple of weeks. The atmosphere was friendly and casual (my high blood pressure notwithstanding).
I am not suggesting that anyone wait until the last minute to purchase something for a special event. Ever! I do, however, strongly suggest you tell everyone you know about Operation Prom. Here is the scoop from the Assistance League's Facebook page:
Operation Prom Dress has begun! Calling all girls attending their High
School Prom! Come BORROW a dress from our beautiful Prom Boutique,
Choose from over 500 dresses in all sizes! School ID required.
Saturdays 10-2 April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, and 21. Wednesdays 3-5,
April 20, 27, Ma 4, 11, 18, 25. Assistance League
of Santa Barbara, 1259 Veronica Springs Road, Santa Barbara (off Las
Positas).The girls you see modeling the Prom Boutique Dresses at our
March meeting are members of our wonderful Assistance Volunteers.
Photo credit: www.thesun.co.uk
Musical artist Florence Welch has so many admirable qualities: she's smart, has a gorgeous, powerful voice, is a spectacular performer, is smart, and seems very in touch with herself and her goals. Reading in Sunday's Los Angeles Times about Welch's thoughts on fashion made me admire her even more. I love what she had to say when asked about work clothing:
"When I’m working really hard on a project, like making an album, I
can't get dressed. I have to put on the most simple pair of leggings
and a black T-shirt, because actually getting dressed up is a form of
creative expression, it’s a form of using your imagination, and when I
have to make a record I have no other thoughts left. ... If I need to
get from [point] A to [point] B without getting noticed I put on full
sports gear. No one thinks it’s me at all because they can’t put those
two things together. I can hide [that way] if I need to."
Photo Credit: Damon Winter, New York Times
I had a good time reading this article from the New York Times, as it reminded me about the fun, playful side of fashion. The writer, esteemed fashion critic Guy Trebay, experimented with wearing "fresh from the runway," clothing by designers who really push the envelope. He makes several good points in this article, reflecting on how clothes can transform the way we feel. I especially enjoyed what he says toward the end of his piece:
You would hardly guess it from all the conformist stuff that fills the fashion magazines, runways and Instagram feeds, but playfulness, experimentation and instruction are also the job of fashion. What interests me most about Oscar Wilde’s famous line — “Fashion is a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!” — is its reference to temporality. Walking around Manhattan in what constitutes the style of this precise moment, I felt so squarely rooted in the present that I momentarily let go of my habitual anxieties about the future. Within six months, something just as interesting as the stuff I wore will roll around. Designers will see to that.
Image credit: wardrobeoxygen.com
I just read another another brilliant "capsule" wardrobe post from wardrobeoxygen. It's always a good idea to plan your fancy outfit in advance--for an occasion you know is coming up or one that surprises you. Shopping in a panic rarely ends well. So think about putting together your own formal wear capsule wardrobe now.
Today I spent an hour at my local Michaels craft store. I keep saying I am not ready for the holidays, but I enjoyed the (artificial) smells of cinnamon and pine, and had fun looking at the decorations. This led me to thoughts of upcoming events and what I would be wearing. The only new, sparkly thing I've added to my wardrobe is a rhinestone necklace. In fact, I got rid of a number of velvet skirts and pants this fall so have fewer holiday clothing options.
Now is a good time to look through your closet and think about special evenings or parties in the next few weeks. What can you wear? What jewelry, shoes, and hair accessories can make your outfits festive? Make a list of what you need and start shopping for those items or asking friends if you can borrow them. Thrift stores and consignment stores have a super selection of sparkly accessories and clothing at the moment.
Men, do you have a suit that fits? A nice dress shirt and shoes? A good belt? If not, get shopping! Last minute, panicked shopping is never a good idea.
In this month's Coastal View News column (page 20), I make suggestions for dressy outfits to have on hand to avoid a wardrobe crisis. I also talk about costume parties, which intimidate me.
Last weekend my husband and I attended a holiday ugly sweater party. I guess these are quite popular now, but it was our first one. I borrowed a bright red cardigan with cheerful Christmas trees, snowmen, and reindeer appliqued to the hem. The sweater was festive, and I felt ridiculous which I guess is the whole idea.
As guests arrived, I noticed their sweaters and vests, adorned with all kinds of holiday motifs, sparkly sequins, and fancy embroidery. But my very favorite outfit was one I spotted from way across the room. At first I thought she had a bright green felt tree skirt around her neck but quickly dismissed this crazy thought. When she came closer, however, I realized that she was wearing a tree skirt and I so wished I had thought of doing the same brilliant thing. She looked preposterous and hilarious and was the hit of the party!
I recently wore my $18.00 Payless sparkly pumps which I purchased last year for a wedding. Let me say again how much I adore these shoes for their comfort and sheer killer look. When my husband and I were walking by a local boutique the other night, we saw a similar pair in the window. They were priced around $500. Sure, maybe they were better made and had real crystals covering their surface instead of glittery fabric, but my shoes are fabulous. And I felt quite smug about my frugal shopping.
Go to page 21 in Coastal View News out of Carpinteria to read this month's Wardrobe Wisdom column. I share my ideas on how to spruce up and plan your outfits for the holidays. My daughter's drawings which accompany the article are especially charming this month.
Now that Halloween has passed, I can release a huge sigh of relief. I've told you before about my aversion to costumes. This year I decided to be Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. I had most of the costume already in my wardrobe so it was a no-brainer. Then I realized that very few (if any) of the students at the junior high school where I work would recognize who I was. So instead of Audrey, I dressed up as a cat. This worked just fine for me. I wore a black turtleneck, skirt, and ballet flats. My daughter's cute sequined kitty ears headband and tail from when she was a cat for Halloween worked splendidly. Unlike me, my boss goes all out for Halloween and wore a magnificent Maleficent costume. While my getup could not hold a candle next to hers, I felt comfortable. And I re-learned something: wear an outfit that speaks to you and you will feel good (I love cats so wearing a cat costume made me happy). It's not much different from the advice I give for dressing everyday.
Image Credit: huffingtonpost.com
Some people become very excited about Halloween and wearing costumes. Over the past decade, these are not just little people; legions of adults eagerly anticipate the end of October, counting down the days in which they will get to wear a costume. I, on the other hand, dread wearing costumes. I do not enjoy spending money on something I will wear once; I do not like bringing attention to myself; and I do not feel comfortable wearing clothing that is not my style. Still, since I work at a junior high school, I am expected to not be a party pooper but to wear something festive. Last year I made a weak attempt in a cowgirl getup. This year I was inspired by the lazy person's costume ideas from the Huffington Post. Go here to see them again. I've decided to dress as Audrey Hepburn and if I cannot scare up a pair of long black gloves from a friend, that will be my only investment for October 31. Boo!
Photo Credit: fashion.telegraph.co.uk
I sure enjoyed watching one of my favorite comedians, Seth Myers, interview Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour about New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute gala. Go here to watch the interview.
I've been a huge fan of Tim Gunn for years. I admire his positive attitude, his excellent fashion advice, his ability to laugh at himself, and what appears to be a very kind nature. After listening to a recent interview on Fresh Air, my admiration increased. His life has been a great deal more traumatic than I had previously known, and his ability to get past it to become who is today is remarkable.
Here is what he says about dressing his best, everyday: "I have respect for myself, I have respect for you, I'm taking the world seriously, and let's navigate the world with some style." I have read Gunn's books and highly recommend them.
Image Credits: JCrew
Sometimes I am flummoxed: Will this accessory or garment I want to wear make me look matronly? My fashion sense is evolving as I get older, and some things I used to love seem too young for me now while other things seem too mature. I wonder why Talbots speaks to me now, having not shopped there a few years ago. I tell myself it's because their offerings are more hip today, but it could just be that I am nearly 50. I am their demographic!
In any event, such thoughts went through my mind the other day when I pinned a sparkly brooch to my sweater. Do I look like a grandma? I wondered. Is this brooch beautiful or over the top? But I really like it and decided it made me feel festive and cheerful. I wore it all day, smiling whenever I noticed someone taking note of it. Did any of the junior high kids comment on it? No, but that may be a good thing!
My point here is that if you have something in your wardrobe that makes you smile, for goodness sake wear it. Moreover, it is definitely the time of year to wear things that sparkle and shine.
This holiday season's fashions are carried over from some luxurious fall looks. Besides all kinds of velvet (which I covered in this post), designers are using luxe fabrics to convey a festive, rich mood. Below are the definitions* and examples of a few of these royal treatments. I hope you include one or more in your ensembles when you are thinking of what to wear to holiday events.
Jacquard: A fabric with an intricately woven pattern.
Brocade: A heavy fabric interwoven with a rich, raised design.
Satin: A smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back.
Lace: A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern.
All the trimmings: embroidery, fringe, feathers, beading, sequins, and fur.
I think this is the most beautiful bag I have ever seen (by Dolce & Gabbana)
*Thanks to the Free Dictionary by Farlex.
If you read my blog on Wednesday, you learned about my costume angst. Thanks to a Huffington Post piece, I figured out what to wear. The beauty of the Post article was its suggestion to look in one's closet, not in a costume store to create one of the ten looks. Sure, I could have been a great deal more creative, but my costume did not cost me a dime, it was comfortable, and I felt good in it. I will save the nine other ideas for the future.
Tomorrow is Halloween, a holiday loved by children and an increasingly popular holiday among adults. Unfortunately, I become paralyzed when I have to wear a costume and past efforts have been halfhearted at best. This year I will be working at my new job, as the assistant library technician at a local junior high school, and I am expected to dress up. I feel so anxious.
My older daughter informed me that putting on a witch hat and wearing a black dress (my usual costume) is a cop out. Last year my husband and I were Robert and Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Shoq, but I am quite certain Laura would not be recognized by the students. I will let you know what I came up with on Friday.
Compared to me, my cats (pictured above) are quite comfortable dressing up.
Photo Credit: Christina House for the Los Angeles Times
When I first read the headline in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times, I thought it was a joke. Then I was delighted to learn that there is a real day at Disneyland, Dapper Day, devoted to dressing well. For a day, this truly was the happiest place on Earth (for folks like me!). Go here to read the entire article.
"Many saw themselves as tastefully appointed insurgents rebelling against a world in which jeans and golf shirts are acceptable at the office, celebrities have to be reminded to cover themselves when appearing on the red carpet and the attire in airport terminals looks better suited to a track meet than to air travel."
A great number of the dapper dressers were in vintage, and they mentioned that they like dressing that way all the time. For a lot of the women, "It's just as comfortable coming in a dress as jeans and a T-shirt." This reminds me of the day I cruised around Universal Studios with my family for hours in a knit dress and sandals. I felt cool and at ease all day.
My monthly column in the Carpinteria Coastal View news covers dressing up for costume parties. I also have some advice on what to wear to sporting events beyond team jerseys. Go here to read it (on page 21).
Photo Credit: Credit: Natalie Smith/The Foothill Dragon Press
Here is another terrific article from Ventura high school student Natalie Smith. This time she focuses on James Bull-Cecil, a student who has found his sartorial groove at a young age: " He thinks that people should wear more classy clothes because dressing fancy is fun and it makes you feel better about yourself. 'I feel like one hell of a classy guy when I dress nicely.'"
Bravo James!
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