Career Clothing (#1)

Photo Credit: Kurt Wilberding/The Wall Street Journal

Well, it looks like my second post on this subject proceeded this one. Sorry about that!

I am enjoying the series featured on the Wall Street Journal blog about what people wear at their jobs. The most recent one features photos and descriptions of the people who work at The American Museum of Natural history in New York. Go here to read it and see the pictures.

It's so interesting to learn why people wear certain clothing and how they feel about their clothes and careers. Some of the quotes I liked the most are:

 Laurel Kendall "When I started work, I probably dressed more conservatively than I do now," she said. "I didn't want to take risks. And then I realized that people seemed to enjoy the way I dressed when I edged over into the exotic, and life is too short to dress in a boring way."

On having an "anthropological license" to dress: "I think that because I'm an anthropologist, I can be a little bit more outrageous than if I were, say, an administrator. People expect me to be a little exotic, or they at least tolerate it. I came of age in the late '60s, early '70s, and at that moment in time, suddenly there was Indian embroidery out there, there were Afghan fur coats, Mexican smocks, Indian mirror work. It was a way of shaking off a conservative way of being that had dominated my childhood. And I think for a lot of us who came of age then, how we dressed also reflected a worldview that was suddenly open to possibility."

Monique Scott "I like to reflect my geeky side but also with a hint of cultural inspiration," said Ms. Scott. "So I wouldn't wear those houndstooth pants if I didn't have the Indian bracelets or the necklace from the Harlem Arts Alliance to complement them."

She said she typically wears black every day, along with flats. "You can cover enormous distances traveling from one end of the museum to another, so I always tend to wear pretty comfortable shoes."

Ms. Scott started working at the museum as an intern in 1994. "I elevated myself from jeans to houndstooth, I suppose," she said. "I've tried to mature along with the position."

Career Clothing #2

Photo Credits (both): Kurt Wilberding/The Wall Street Journal

Okay, so now I am fixated on the Wall Street Journal's "Office Style" blog series. This one features what employees at Scholastic, the children's book publisher, wear and how they think about clothing. Love it!

3 Simple Guidelines

Photo Credit: The Curvy Fashionista

What follows are the shopping tips I have on the back of my business card. I hope they will save you from making unwise purchases and will lead you to make splendid ones.


1. Make sure the item will go with 3 things you already have.

2. If it's on sale, mentally double the price. Do you still love it?

3. Will it reflect your desired image?


By the way, the site where I found the image above is full of informative and insightful blog posts.

Public Speaking

When I was in high school, I took a speech class, hoping it would help me overcome my shyness about speaking in public. Nope! Years later,  before I entered the teaching profession, I took an acting class at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California. Boy did that push me to leave my comfort zone. By the end of the semester, I felt a lot more comfortable about standing in front of students.

Today one of my favorite aspects of Wardrobe Wisdom is public speaking.  Sometimes I am hired by a company's human resource department to remind employees of the dress code and what professional clothing means. Other times I talk about the season's trends, how to edit a closet, how to shop more wisely, and how to get out of a clothing rut. I have also spoken at clothing swap parties, advising women about what to swap and what to pass on.  These talks always include lively discussions, and I invariably learn something important.

Last month I spoke with Vickie (pictured above), from Renaissance Fine Consignment, about holiday wear. We were at the University Club in downtown Santa Barbara and brought along some lovely clothing to display and use as examples. On November 15 I will be speaking about dressing for different body shapes at Encanto in Santa Barbara from 2-6 pm. I will share more details this week. You can contact the store at 722-4338.

Please contact me if your club or organization is looking for a speaker. I can honestly say that I love it and do it well!

Levi's Jeans

Photo Credit: Levi's website

I am a bit of a skeptic. When I see the young women at Victoria's Secret approaching me with measuring tape around their necks like stethoscopes, I question their ability to accurately measure me for a bra. Is it because the measuring tape seems so flimsy, tissue paper thin? In any event, except for my favorite tailor, Kim at ZipKleen, I don't put much stock in people's measuring skills.

What a welcome surprise it was then to have my skepticism challenged and obliterated at the Levi's store on State Street in Santa Barbara. I had been hearing about Levi's "Curve ID" jeans and noticed their ads throughout my fall fashion magazines. Growing up, Levi's had never fit me and I sort of gave up on trying to wear them. But this recent campaign piqued my interest in Levi's denim.

Upon entering the Levi's store, a young woman asked if I needed help. I told her I was interested in finding my Curve ID, and she asked another young woman to measure me. "Oh, boy", I thought, "Here comes the smoke and mirrors." Once I was measured, I was given two pairs of jeans to try on, the Slight and Demi Curve styles. The first pair seemed custom made--just for me! They (pictured above) were an absolute dream, hugging me where I wanted a closer fit and skimming over other parts of my legs. PERFECTION! The Demi style also fit well but could not compare to the Slight Curves.

I noted the style number and color, and then told the salesperson that my husband needed new jeans more than I did. I asked if they measured men and had the same system for determining what jeans would best suit them. No, they did not offer this service for men, but I was assured that my husband would be steered  in the  right direction. I am very eager to return to the Levi's store--for him and in the future, for me!

Very Useful Shopping Advice

One of my favorite blogs, PutThisOn, recently posted a very good piece on shopping. The writer suggests shoppers go to high end stores:  "This is useful even if you can’t afford such things, because by handling the best of what’s out there, you’ll get a better sense of how other items compare. When you’re out doing your real shopping, you’ll have a better eye for how to spot quality and know what things you value."

I have done this before, when I tried on an exquisite jacket at Saks Fifth Avenue in Santa Barbara. You can read about my experience here. I think about that jacket and its fit and feel whenever I try on other jackets. And I remind myself of what true quality is by heading to Saks or other high end stores on a regular basis. This has saved me from making unwise purchases.

While combing the internet to find a vintage photo of a Saks department store, I made a very exciting discovery! There is a department store museum. Who knew? Go here to learn more but note that the site is being renovated.

That's a Closet?

Photo Credit: LA Closet Design

I was intrigued to read about "closets as boutiques," a concept that has become more common recently, according to this article in Forbes magazine. The photo gallery of huge, insanely organized closets made my jaw drop. I can only imagine what the bathrooms look like in such houses!

Naturally I am all for organized closets, containing only items you love to wear. But I find the closets in Forbes to be a wee bit over the top. I would like to know what you think.