The Basics

Black top, H & M
Navy tank, Cotton On

I've written before about my quest for the perfect white t-shirt, and how, when you find that perfect basic, buy more than one. I followed my own advice recently and walked away with 3 ideal tops for less than $50.00

My secret is the "basic" line at H & M. I adore their elbow-length sleeve scoop neck knit tops and have them in almost every color. They wash well and always look smart. A friend just discovered a similarly ideal knit top at Cotton On, whose price is under $20. So don't be snooty about tops that can be workhorses in your wardrobe. They don't need to be costly so seek them out in stores geared for young folks. Next stop, Forever 21 (as long as I wear earplugs!).

Personal Shoppers

Image credit: highorbirts.com

Today I picked up a splendid silk blouse for a mere 25.00 at Jessica Consignment in Santa Barbara, thanks to my alert friend. She was in Jessica yesterday, noticed the blouse--made by one of my favorite labels and in my size-- and put it on hold. Shannon said it just "looked like me" and she was right. It's perfect for my style and my budget!

You can always get to know salespeople in stores you frequent and ask them keep an eye out for things on your wardrobe shopping list. Savvy salespeople will call you when they see a suitable item. Many of my friends ask me to be on the lookout for certain garments and accessories when I am shopping, and I do. Be sure to entrust your (very short) list to friends who like to shop and are familiar with your style and budget. And tell them you will do the same for them. Shopping is serious business so invite others to be on your shopping team.

Standing Desk Fashion

Photo credit: biomorphdesk.com

When my older daughter asked me what jobs I have had over the years, my list was long and varied. I scooped ice cream, worked at a dry cleaners, was a gofer for a jeweler, taught English, was a salesperson in many clothing stores, waited tables. . . The job I have never had, in nearly 35 years of working, is a desk job. Now I learn that more and more people are finding it healthier to not sit at their desks, and are instead bouncing on large balls, using a treadmill while they use their computers,  or are using stand up desks. This trend reminds me an amusing account by A. J. Jacobs of his time writing while walking on a treadmill in his book Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection (2012). Of course many are re-thinking their wardrobes for this new way of work. Go here to read an article on this topic.

This Is Getting Old

Image credit: wardrobeoxygen.com


A couple of weeks ago I had dinner with some folks from Connecticut. They commented on our warm weather and how strange it must be to live in a place where it is summer year-round. I've heard this before from other people who were not raised in southern California, and I can understand what they mean. Still, there is a certain smell, a particular feel in the air in September that is different from  a summer day. Of course I cannot describe this feeling adequately and just end up telling people that I really enjoy the sunshine.

Even though I do love warm weather, these unusually hot weeks we have been experiencing in Santa Barbara are getting old. Imagine for a minute that you too work in a  non-air conditioned junior high school library. Now imagine hundreds of young, hormonal students coming in and out of the library each day. I am not painting an invitingly fragrant picture am I?

These hot, stuffy days make it challenging to figure out what to wear that is fall-ish but won't make me wither. Fortunately, I can turn to wardrobeoxygen.com for these helpful suggestions:

Simple switches to your wardrobe can offer maximum impact without changing your comfort level. Darker washes of denim, closed-toed shoes, brown and black leather shoes and accessories, switching pink lipstick for a dark berry, adding some lowlights to your hair, choosing darker colors and textured fabrics like suede and calf hair, adding a scarf or heavier/more solid of jewelry. Fall fashion is far more than cable knit and tweed; it’s easy to incorporate elements of this season’s fashion trends and still be comfortable no matter your environment.

The Long and Short of It

Image credit:longtallsally.com


My co-worker and I both love clothes. We share our shopping frustrations and victories, our favorite stores, what works for us and doesn't, and the latest trends (which we often try to skip). How we differ is our body type: She is a tall, leggy 5' 9" while I am a petite, long-waisted 5' 4." I have learned a great deal about shopping for a tall person from her, and have a website to recommend: Long Tall Sally. The clothes on this site are chic, reasonably priced, and good quality. Moreover, they offer free shipping and free returns!

Dressy Outfits and Costumes

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.

To Belt or Not to Belt?

Image credit: Anthropologie

My boss is a big fan of belts. And her belt must match her shoes though she is not really a fussy dresser in general. I have lost track of how many belts she has, but I do know one thing: She always looks put together. Belts complete an outfit and make you look like you know what you are doing style-wise.

Suspenders are an entirely different matter: For one thing, they are mostly for men. For another, it takes courage and sartorial flare to pull off suspenders. What a recent Freakonomics episode brought to light is the physics of belts versus suspenders, and how belts do not do the one job they are asked to do--hold up our pants. I liked learning what turned a physics professor from a belt guy into a suspender guy:

"This [a belt] basically works the same way as a tourniquet. You know, you strap it on, pull it tight, and hope your pants don’t fall down. But the physics of a belt — it pushes in, and hopes that it creates enough friction to have your pants not fall down. Well, that didn’t make sense. Here I was talking to my students about physics, and what direction gravity was pulling and moving things, and here I was wearing a belt. And I thought about it a little bit, and I was like, well, wait a minute. I need something to pull up, if gravity is pulling down."

This episode is full of fascinating factoids about belts, as well as a brief history of pants, and I urge you to follow the link above to give it a listen or a perusal.