Fake It?

 Image credit: ihatecounterfeitbags.info

People ask me fairly often how I feel about knock-offs. Of course, high end fashion designers like to say they are simply influenced or inspired by various artists, designers, musicians, etc. when they create their looks. But it's widely accepted that everyone sort of copies everyone else a great deal of the time.

I am okay with a copy being obvious and inexpensive.  For example, cheap shoes at Payless or Target are not trying to be anything but a much less expensive version of a designer shoe. The same is true for 95% of what  I see at Forever 21.

What I am not keen on is the pricier knock-offs, and the huge industry that makes money off doing good or fairly good copies of designer handbags, for example. You may be the only one who knows your bag is a fake, but do you know what the money you paid for that bag funds? Go here to learn about the human trafficking that goes on in the world of counterfeit goods. This link also provides information on how to tell if something is a fake.

An Edited List

Image credit: silverminegifts.com

Each day I receive an email from WhoWhatWear.com. Sometimes I immediately delete it, if I see the information it contains has little to do with my life or my Wardrobe Wisdom philosophy. And some days I glean very useful information. WWW's post regarding ways to "live a more stylish life" fell somewhere in between useful and useless. Still, its advice served as a template for a short list of my own on how to live a more stylish life:

1.  You know those clothes in your closet which will benefit greatly from an alterations wizard? Collect them now; put them in a bag; put them on the passenger seat of your car (reminding you that you have something important to take care of); and finally, take them to a tailor--this week!

2. Put your gym/tennis/running/or just plain chic Converse or Vans in one place. Then re-lace them so they fit you better and feel just right. This is a task I have not done since purchasing my gym shoes and my Converse sneakers. Duh! What a difference in comfort re-lacing can make!

3. Polish your jewelry. Most of my jewelry is silver, and it looks SO great when it is polished (something I do not do nearly enough). If you have children, or teen neighbors who can use some cash, pay them to polish your jewelry, after giving them a tutorial. Giving all of your jewelry a wipe with a clean cloth will make your pieces sparkle and shine.

4. Plan tomorrow's outfit. I like this advice though I rarely follow it. Most of the time I wait until my shower to decide what I want to wear, though I do think about wanting to wear a dress, skirt, or pants the night before. Outfit planning reduces stress and gives you more time to eat breakfast, exercise, or do your hair and makeup properly.

5. Work on your list of style goals. Yes! Even if you think you have no style goals, they are in you somewhere, rattling around, urging you to update your look, get rid of some clothes, or shop in different stores. Take just a few minutes to think about styles you really like, and which ones you would like to try. Write them down and refer to this list the next time you are shopping. This is a terrific exercise to do once a year.

Thank You, Humorist Sam Levenson

 Image credit: www.fanpop.com


The advice below has been attributed to Audrey Hepburn repeatedly, although she always let people know the words were those of Sam Levenson. In any case, the sentiments are lovely, and I think Audrey Hepburn was the embodiment of loveliness and grace.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

MLK Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his oratory skills, his tireless fight against injustice, and for remaining steadfast in his beliefs. I appreciate all of this about him, along with the confidence he exuded by always dressing well.

Cozy Days

Photo credit: www.chud.com

I love most everything about my day job at a junior high library. My boss is wonderful, the kids are friendly and interesting, and the staff is great. The only drawback I've encountered so far is the Arctic temperature in my office. Still, I make an effort to look professional and chic each day, even if my outfit includes a wool coat that I never take off.

Some days, however, I must simply be cozy. So I look forward to wearing layers--a long sleeve T-shirt in a color I feel good in, a scarf, a cute and cozy fleece jacket, my boyfriend jeans, and a pair of nice sneakers. Having a day like this reminds me I can be warm at work, as long as I am casual!

Time for Color

Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org

While folding my knit tops the other day, I counted an alarming number of white and gray ones. Though I have made a deliberate effort to incorporate more color into my wardrobe the last few years, my T-shirts and my sweaters clearly tell another story. Now I am on the hunt for purple and red items. These colors can be neutral, and I know I wearing them will enliven and update my look.

Take a look at your wardrobe. Do you have a surplus of certain colors and a dearth of others? It's time for color!

A Few Good Tips

Go here to read Pamela Druckerman's piece about insights she has gained in the last 40+ years. In addition to a lot of experiences I could relate to, I appreciated her tips about clothing:


 Do not buy those too-small jeans, on the expectation that you will soon lose weight.

• If you are invited to lunch with someone who works in the fashion industry, do not wear your most “fashionable” outfit. Wear black.

• If you like the outfit on the mannequin, buy exactly what’s on the mannequin. Do not try to recreate the same look by yourself.

Lumbersexual, Normcore, and More

Photo credit: collegecandy.com


In this month's Coastal View News, I define some current fashion terms in addition to describing patterns and prints that have been around for decades. Go here, and then use the right hand arrow to get to Wardrobe Wisdom on page 9.

Baby Steps

Nifty image above from stylespyblog.wordpress.com

While I was putting away my holiday things, I boxed up some to purge December year, when the thrift stores will be happy to accept my Christmas-themed decorations and train sets. (Why I have two train sets is a mystery.)

Naturally, this weeding out led to other projects, and I began to feel giddy but also a bit overwhelmed. So though January is an excellent time to think about editing your wardrobe, I advise you to take baby steps. Start with one drawer or shelf in your closet. Take everything out, and make a pile of items to keep, ones you are unsure of, and ones to donate or discard. Revisit the maybe pile in a week and make a decision!  I went through my workout clothes drawer and found some shirts could be demoted to rags, my sock orphans could be tossed, and a few tops that no longer fit could be donated. Tomorrow I am going to tackle another drawer, and by the end of the month, my entire wardrobe will be trimmed down. I know that will feel fantastic!

Ready for Flares?

 Photo Credit: Charlie's Angels

You've seen them in the stores: flare-leg jeans. According to Melissa Magsaysay's December 21 article in the Los Angeles Times, "the flare-leg silhouette that was popular then [in the 70s] is becoming the next big thing in a denim landscape that has been all about skinny fits in recent years."

Are you ready for them? According to the article, today's flares are modernized by the current clothing styles that are worn with them. For example, today's woman will wear her flares with a "sharp button-down blouse. . . cropped sweaters. . . and boxy tops."

The article points out that a woman needs to be mindful of keeping the "integrity of the flared shape" intact when it is hemmed. Designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott maintain that "the best length for a flare-leg jean is to barely graze the floor in the back and allow for just the tip of the shoe to poke out in the front." The model in the article's photograph has her jeans hemmed shorter than that, and they look funny.

Of course, flare-leg jeans are a huge departure from what most of us have been wearing. And if you are petite, this retro style can make you look even shorter. So make sure that they fit and flatter your figure before committing to flares. Worn with heels, they can make your legs look longer.