Simplicity

I'm slightly obsessed with the idea of a capsule wardrobe, clothes that all mix and match. A similar idea that appeals to me is a "French" wardrobe. The idea is that French women are so utterly chic they base their wardrobe on about 5 high quality basics. This might be a grey pencil skirt, black dress pants, a white button down, a cream turtleneck, a navy cardigan for example. Then each season they update with a few trendier items. I love this idea, both for the elegance of wearing classic pieces and the simplicity. I have such a tiny closet that a small, ultra functional wardrobe would suit me very well.

Taking it down a notch

I came to the realization recently that I'm giving up heels. I feel more like myself in flats and love the look. I might consider a 1" wedge or stacked heel, but probably nothing higher.

I used to dread putting heels on in the morning, not to mention trying to match up various heel heights to pant length. I'm fairly active during the day, so it's a relief to give my feet a break and be able to walk comfortably.

I wasn't a long-term or frequent heel wearer, but in the last few years I've been wearing them more trying to be stylish. Now I've realized that style is all about the individual and flats are more true to who I am.

Just hanging out...

Ok, so it took about a year but I've finally come to the conclusion that I can't wear skinny jeans or pants to work unless the top comes to mid-thigh. Even with dressy cigarette style pants I just feel strange with my bum hanging out! More accurately, I'm self-conscious about the thigh and crotch line! Sorry to be so crude, but there it is. So if in the morning if I'm delirious and try this manuever, please talk some sense into me. I spent all day tugging at my shirt trying to make it an inch longer!

Coming in under budget

In January I decided to put myself on a clothing budget. Now I know what you probably think, I needed to put myself on a budget to rein in my spending. Actually it's the opposite, I put myself on a budget so I would spend.

Looking back, I realized some of my challenge with fashion is that I don't like to shop. I was too cheap to invest in nice pieces and I'd wear my clothes until they were unwearable. My workhorse dress pants for example were close to 7 years old.

I felt guilty about spending on clothing, I didn't see it as a necessity. I worried about people in the world who didn't own a pair of shoes, much less mid-calf boots with a cute little heel. I started realizing I was being a little unreasonable with myself, so I did some research on setting an appropriate budget. Many financial advisers say 2-7% of your gross income is a reasonable amount for clothing. No wonder why $200-300 a year (including shoes, coats and gear) wasn't getting me far!

So I'm resolved to spend a little more. I actually look forward to shopping now and like to plan what I'll buy with my monthly budget. It must be my new interest in my fashion, because so far the $100 a month hasn't been hard to spend!

Seasonal colors

I recently explored the idea of determining my seasonal color palette. I'm sure most people have heard of this but if you haven't, this is based on the idea that we all fall under a seasonal color. Knowing our season helps us pick colors that are the most flattering with our skin tone, eye color and hair. I checked this out a few years ago and thought I was an autumn. I wasn't overly conscious of shopping for my season, but I did seem to be drawn to jewel tones and dark colors. I never felt right in what I chose and didn't have a clear sense of which colors were working for me.

As I've started to redevelop my style I looked more carefully at the seasonal color idea. I realized I'm probably not a strict autumn but a soft autumn. Soft autumn is more delicate and is overwhelmed by many of the colors I was choosing. That explained why a color I loved on the hanger just didn't do much for me in the mirror.

I can't tell you what a revelation it was to understand that I'm a soft autumn. A soft autumn hovers near the neutral line, so I can wear warm or cool shades. But the most important factor is the saturation of the color. Saturation is the level of color present, in other words fire engine red is highly satured while pale pink is less so (pink is just red mixed with white).

The best colors for me are moderately saturated, not pastel but not jewel tones either. And I look best in colors that aren't primaries- blue-green looks better than pure blue for example. And extremes of any kind- stark white or deep black don't work well next to my face.

Now that doesn't mean I'm throwing out anything that doesn't fit my color palette. I still wear a white shirt for example, but I soften it with a scarf in soft shades of brown. And I can still wear any color, but sometimes it's best to wear it in pants or skirts. As I work on building my wardrobe I now feel more empowered to go into my closet (or a store) and immediately understand what will probably work on me. It makes it easier to put things together and it's starting to get easier to get dressed in the morning.

Here are some of the colors I've decided work best on me:

Neutrals: Dark grey, brown, off-white and cream

Colors: Mid-tone blue-green, soft plum, rust, soft goldish-brown

Accents/accessories: Using complementary colors works well to create some interest and contrast. Complementary colors are those directly across the color wheel.
Mustard yellow (works nicely with blue-green, plum, goldish-brown), green, turquoise.

Almost all of these colors work together, which in theory should result in a wardrobe that can be easily mixed and matched.

Seasonal color palettes aren't hard and fast rules, but sometimes when you're fashion challenged and wandering around lost they can serve as a road sign.

Looking fab!

I haven't posted in a while, but I've been hard at work on developing my style. I recently found a website called You Look Fab. Angie and the forum members there have been a great help in giving me pointers and feedback.

I've come to realize that style is something you develop, it's rarely as effortless as it looks. Many of the fundamentals I learned in an introductory Design class carry over to fashion- color theory, symmetry, focal point, repetition. Art and Design is not easy and it gives me a new respect for people in creative fields. It doesn't have to be intimidating though, fashion works best for me when I keep it playful and creative.

I don't where my style's been all these years, it feel asleep sometimes in my late 20s. Let's face it, life can be mundane sometimes. It's easy to feel like we're in the movie Groundhog Day. Fashion is a simple way to bring a little creativity and artistry into our lives.

I bought a belt!

I'm the proud owner of a belt. It sounds like a simple thing, but I can't remember the last belt I bought. I have one standard black leather belt which I rarely wear. I wanted something a little more interesting which could liven up some of my outfits. I settled on a black/bright pink reversible belt with grommets. It's so cool! And the first day I wore it, I wore it pink over a dark olive green shirt. See? I'm getting a little braver... And I want another belt!

I dye for fashion

Ok, I was a bit cranky on my last post, sorry. I guess fashion is like anything in life, some days you feel very optimistic, some days are more of a challenge. I recently saw a few pictures of myself, one from 5 years ago, another from a year ago. I really have made progress! I wouldn't be caught dead in some of the things I was wearing then. Hey, wait!! Oh well, you know what I mean. And most of all I have to keep a sense of humor about. It's just fashion and if it isn't fun I'm not doing it right.

Lately I've been interested in the idea of remixing the clothing I have. Like most people I'm on a tight budget and I'm trying to see it as a challenge in creativity.

I had a few things which still had a nice cut and decent fiber, but were looking a little tired. So I bought a packet of IDye in Navy and for a few dollars gave them new life. I had a sweater which was slightly faded turquoise, now it's midnight teal, very pretty! I also dyed a favorite pair of jeans that had lost their dark wash. I was a little nervous to throw them in, I didn't want them to look dyed. They turned out beautifully. The denim dyed, the thread didn't (probably poly). So I found you can dye jeans successfully. IDye is a great dye and the results are better than Rit. They have formulations for natural fibers or synthetics, which usually need a higher temperature water to dye.

Dying can sometimes look awful, but I've learned that certain colors turn out better than others. Black's very difficult and fades quickly, but softer colors like green or navy can often look nice. And of course you have to be a little flexible. I expected the turquoise sweater to turn out navy and was actually pleasantly surprised it kept a bit of its teal. These were items getting ready for the thrift store pile anyway, so it's nice to get a little more wear out of them!

I don't understand fashion

I just don't. I've been trying to pay attention to magazines and trends, getting ideas for fall. Truth be told I think 90% of the fashions look ridiculous. I live in a ultra-casual city, you'd be laughed out of the grocery store in the outfits they show for "weekend". Yet it depresses me to the street full of people in t-shirts. I'm trying, but I'm not sure I'm getting this...

Dressing room class wars

I have a certain weakness for clothes shopping in discount stores. I'll be in for printer paper and the next thing I know I'm roaming the clothing section, looking for that one in a million gem.

Now that I try to shop in nicer places once in a while, the difference in dressing rooms is really apparent. Mid-lower range stores have a bored (or surly if you're not so lucky) dressing room attendant to carefully count your clothes to see if you're trying to steal something. Nicer stores give you the benefit of the doubt or even assist you. The cheapest stores don't staff their dressing rooms at all, as if they can't be bothered.

While I was in a cheap dressing room, I couldn't help but notice the broken doors; missing hooks; dirty mirrors; harsh lighting; discarded clothes. Not surprisingly the garments were about as flattering- cheap cuts; scratchy fabrics; slightly off colors. It didn't make me feel good about myself. Was my hair really orange?

When I first tried shopping at nicer stores, I discovered that the dressing rooms were wonderful. Flat screen tvs in the waiting area (a waiting area!?); clean carpeted floors; nicely upholstered chairs;large hooks; wooden doors that close and lock; soft music. It just makes the shopping experience more relaxing, more positive, less taxing on your body and mind.

As I stared at my orange haired self in the cheap fluorescent lights, I vowed I was done with my rock bottom clothing shopping days. Shopping's hard enough for me, the least I can do for myself is pay a little more for a nicer dressing room (and yes of course, the nicer clothes that go with it).

Neutral mumu

I have a strange teeter totter with color and pattern in my wardrobe. One day I'll buy a navy t-shirt, the next week I'm drawn to a mumu-like shirt in a wild geometric disco pattern. I have a hard time hitting the middle mark. One of the things I'm working on is finding items with subtle pattern and color. I don't have to overcompensate for a boring wardrobe in one loud shirt! Yet some pattern or texture is nice too, it's not all that interesting to be dressed head to toe in solid colors.

Color is challenging for me in that way too, my closet is probably black, grey, navy, BRIGHT FUSCHIA PINK, grey, black, navy, WILD RED AND BLACK GERANIUM PATTERN.
It doesn't sound so bad, but in reality it looks bumbling and kind of cheap (especially when the quality of the wilder pieces isn't high). I'm like a toddler, I see a cool pattern on a rack and I gravitate towards it.

What I need are details, a touch of fuschia trim or a steely blue bag, touches that will make the neutrals richer. Subtle, subtle. Sometimes I have to chant that to myself as I reach for yet another mumu.

Sheen and fabric

One of the issues I've identified in my wardrobe is that I'm drawn to simple cotton tanks and shirts, which I like to layer under cardigans. That's fine in itself, but ribbed cotton tank tops have a way of looking casual. For example, I have a dark purple tank top, kind of grape-y. It's a nice touch of color, but a better alternative (for work anyway) would probably be a dark plum silk or rayon top with some sheen or detail. The cut could be the same, but the difference in sheen and fabric would give an outfit some interest that simple cotton just doesn't have. So some of the items I'm looking for are shells or tank tops with a nice fabric, interesting color or detail. I have some kind of aversion to blouses in general, which sometimes makes it difficult to look polished. So a blouse or two is on my list also.

Fashion challenged

A fashionista I am not. Oh, I have those Jackie O daydreams. I jauntily sling my scarf over shoulder, effortlessly chic, classic, impecable, the envy of everyone on the street. In reality, I have more than one Rit dyed item in my wardrobe and sometimes cry when I try to get dressed in the morning. It's not easy for me.

Being the book worm that I am, I've studied fashion. I don't mean casually flipping through fashion magazines, I mean stacks of books from the library on how to dress. Books with titles like how to acquire taste, what you shouldn't wear (I have that one down already), who should be in the dressing room with you. I get the message but somehow it doesn't translate to real life.

It's not a body image issue with me. I like my body just fine. It's just figuring out what to put on it that baffles me. I haven't always had this issue. I look back at old photos and, while I wouldn't wear the same things today, admire my courage and style. So somewhere along the way I got derailed.

This is my attempt to find my way back, to develop my personal style and have some fun along the way. Walk along with me if you too... are among the fashion challenged.