You Never Know

Dropping off a number of bags at the Assistance League in Santa Barbara the other day filled me with joy. I'd been putting in donation bags all summer and was so happy to get them out of my garage. Since I had time to kill, I did a quick perusal of the clothing racks and tried on a couple of darling dresses (from Ann Taylor and White House/Black Market) and a cute top. Six dollars (yes-$6!!!) later,  I walked out with a plaid, silk, sleeveless top that I just love. Clothing surprises are everywhere if you just take a bit of time to look.

Dressing to Impress

I like it when clothing plays an important role in a book. This week I picked up the novel Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English, in which the title character is determined to become a full-fledged English gentleman after leaving his native Germany just before WWII. He relies on a pamphlet given to  immigrants called While You Are in England: Helpful Information and Friendly Guidance for Every Refugee, following its instructions to the letter.

Mr. Rosenblum decides that getting a bespoke suit from Savile Row is an important step in his attempt to fully assimilate into (high class) English society. Here is the rich, wonderful description of his experience at Henry Poole on Savile Row:

The store smelled deliciously of cedar wood, and the tailor called him "Sir," measured his small frame without a sneer, and the suit was delivered twelve weeks later, wrapped in crepe paper inside a pearlescent box with the Henry Poole crest emblazoned in gold. His pattern was to be kept in the company vaults alongside those of Churchill, Gladstone,and Prince Albert. When he put on the suit, he felt taller than his five foot three inches, his bald head appeared to shine less and his nose felt, well, less pronounced.

So far, his suit has not helped him achieve one of his goals, but I'm looking forward to seeing him use his "sheer tenacity" to get what he wants.

Fashionable Sleuth

I've always been a sucker for mystery novels and television programs. My current TV favorite is Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, from Australia. I adore the complex plots, strong female lead, likeable characters, and beautiful scenery;  and I love, love the 1920s costumes, especially those worn by sleuth Phryne Fisher.

Actress Essie Davis provides an excellent description of her character: "I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp."

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

I guess Phryne Fisher is the female answer to James Bond, Indiana Jones or a combination of both. She’s an incredibly independent woman from the 1920’s, who was born in poverty and inherited great wealth. She’s incredibly skilled, she lives life to the fullest and is a woman who never wants to get married but loves life and loves men. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of the less privileged in the world and she’s got a knack for sleuthing and finding out ‘whodunit’. She’s both a mystery and a bit of a romp. - See more at: http://tellyspotting.kera.org/2013/07/08/qa-with-essie-davis-star-of-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/#sthash.L8fvptZ5.dpuf

Fashion Show in Santa Barbara

Yesterday my younger daughter and I stopped by De Marcos Fashion Academy, at 120 West Mission Street in Santa Barbara. We were captivated by the original full-length gowns in the store window, and were curious to see what was going on in the Academy. (I'd been in and met Ms. De Marcos once before; go here to read a past blog post.)

This time we learned about the upcoming fashion show in Santa Barbara, on September 5, 2015.  I'm looking forward to Santa Barbara Fashion week, and am eager to see the designs by De Marcos' students. I know De Marcos is looking for local businesses to help sponsor this exciting event.  For more information, go here.

Baring Arms

Journalist K.C. Cole wrote a very thoughtful piece about clothing and feminism in Sunday's Los Angeles Times. Like so many women, Cole wonders if it's okay to go sleeveless if one has less than perfectly toned arms. She asks, "Is bare arms one of those feminist dilemmas? Or is it more a matter of simple vanity versus sweltering heat?" This leads to her thinking that covering up for the rest of one's life is "unacceptable." She lets readers know that fashion's and society's rules are not simple to interpret as a feminist, and that "Feminists want to look good too." I strongly urge you to read the entire column; Cole makes a lot of good points.

Ebay Shopping Tips

 Image credit:eBay.com

I gleefully opened the package from eBay the other day, eager to see my purchase in person. Before trying on the lovely, red silk Joie blouse, I inspected it closely. There were no stains or imperfections; it looked like new. When I found that it fit me perfectly, I felt very smug in the knowledge that Joie blouses start at $150.00 retail. I paid less than $30.00!!!

Have I always been an eBay shopper? Decidedly, no. It was only when I began working with an eBay devotee that I began visiting the site regularly. In the past couple of years, I have purchased shoes, running attire for my daughter,  and clothing for myself. Only one item did not work out, and I was able to send it back and receive a full refund. But without my co-worker's guidance and tips, I would have floundered.

Here is how to shop like a pro on eBay for clothing and accessories:

1. Search for items using specific words. For example, include the brand name, the style, the size, and the color you are looking for. When I wanted a Joie blouse, I searched under "Joie, blouse, silk, XS." The more specific you are, the better chance of learning whether it exists on eBay.

2. Check the seller's return policy. Make sure that you can return the item for a full refund if it does not fit you well or if it is not the item described by the seller. Some sellers are happy to provide refunds; others are not.

3. If you are serious about bidding on an item, you must check on it often. I am not always diligent and have lost out on certain garments. I like to "watch" items I am interested in but am not ready to bid on. I've also done well simply deciding to "Buy it Now" when the item is something I've really wanted but did not want to play the bidding game for.

4. The old adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is"  holds true on eBay. If you notice someone is selling a designer handbag you have been coveting forever, and the price is significantly lower than one you have ever seen, it is most likely a counterfeit. I'm not a huge fan of designer labels so don't spend a lot of time looking for them on eBay. What I do know is that there are many tell-tale signs when something is a fake. Go here to learn about them, and shop wisely with this information.

5. Shop often. I have written before about consignment store shopping and the importance of going often. The same is true for eBay. If someone is not selling something you want today, someone may be next week.

Worn Stories

Somehow, in the midst of all the hype surrounding the book Women in Clothes last year,
I missed reading Worn Stories, by Emily Spivak. You can read what the New York Times had to say about it here.

Worn Stories describes itself as a collection of "sartorial memoirs." I found myself flipping through it, choosing what to read by the clothing pictured. I wondered what someone would have to say about a canary yellow Hermes coat; why a person would hold onto a bright blue hoodie sweatshirt; and who wore the little hat with the feather and striped band. I'm so glad I happened to read what Susan Orlean had to say about the dress and pants ensemble that accompanied her memoir. She describes her quest for the perfect uniform, and how over the years, she thinks she has found it, only to start her quest all over again. I think a lot of us can relate to her musings:

"It's a temporary delusion that comes over me with regularity--a belief that by wearing this perfect thing, I will look right and feel good no matter what. When I'm in it, I totally believe I have found my look, my personal style. I understand that fashion, by definition, is a changing thing, and so is one's body. " (My bold font added for emphasis.)