Recently, I had the privelege of attending a Junior/Senior Gala put on at my university by the Student Government Association. The theme was The Golden Age of Hollywood: The 30's and 40's.
A friend graciously offered to arrange my hair since I am far from proficient at it. (It's difficult when you have no long-haired siblings to practice on, and there's only so much you can do with Barbie dolls.)
Most attendees wore lovely prom dresses and bridesmaid gowns--I attempted to stay somewhat true to the period and donned a gray, wool, sheath dress from Goodwill. (Quite old based on the discoloration and moth holes in the lining though the outside was pristine.)
It was cheaper to buy two tickets, so a girl on my hall and I went together as "dates."
The weather was lovely and promised a pleasant night.
The event itself involved a live jazz band, hors d'oeuvres, goody bags filled with candy, raffle prizes, some illegal swing dancing, and tiny champagne bottles filled with "bubbles" since alocohol is forbidden on campus. Lots of pictures and an M&M catching contest closed out the night. :)
*Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be taken seriously. It is simply a good-humored poke at modern fashion.
Base: Every outfit needs a base. It is the canvas of your masterpiece. Here I give 5 simple steps to take a pair of jeans and turn them into a fashion staple.
Step 1: Cut holes in jeans.
Step 2: Rub dirt on jeans.
Step 3: Pour bleach on jeans.
Step 4: Crumple into a wad and let sit overnight until wrinkles are firmly set.
Step 5: Wear.
Top: The top is the second most important layer. The top states whether you are a fashionista or a frumpanista.
Step 1: Find a top that is bright. Really bright. Preferably neon with stripes. (Be sure to buy it 3 sizes too large)
Step 2: Pinch shoulder seam between thumb and forefinger.
Step 3: Take scissors and cut hole.
Step 4: Take excess material, wad it up, and pin it to the front of your shirt.
Step 5: Wear.
Hair: The messy 'do. Never has it been so easy.
Step 1: Get really sweaty.
Step 2: Put your hair up in a scrunchy
Step 3: Sleep on it.
Step 4: Get out of bed in the morning.
Step 5: Voila!
Shoes: Shoes are simple. The higher the better. And if it has fur or metal studs, buy two pairs.
From the age of six, I yearned to have lengthy tresses, so I could put them up into different "shapes."
Once I got older, caring for and styling my hair didn't come very naturally. Oftentimes it was tangled, greasy and a source of constant frustration. Ponytails, braids, and half-up-half-downs were the extent of my hair knowledge, and even those took numerous tries before I was satisfied.
"But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory. For her hair is given to her for a covering." --1 Corinthians 11:15.
Now that I'm older and more capable of caring for long hair, I'm constantly on the lookout for quick, easy hairstyles that look elegant.
My favorite "quick n easy" hair solution is the Lilla-Rose flexi-clip. It is elegant, sturdy, and extremely easy to use once you figure it out. In addition to looking beautiful, it protects my hair and if I put my hair up damp, it adds waves and body to the ends when I take it down. My only complaints are sometimes it pinches if I put it up wrong, and my hair can get tangled in the beads if I'm not careful. Other than that, it's the best hair accessory I've ever owned!
All this rainy weather is making me think of shiny red rainboots...
And big red umbrellas...
And adorable raincoats that are way too expensive...
Oh, the possibilities...
On the morning of my birthday, I opened up a mysterious package to find this delightful one-piece from Unique Vintage.
It has a shirred overlay in the front and a full coverage bottom in the back so I won't need to wear shorts with it like other one-pieces I've owned in the past.
I also received some money to go shopping with, so it looks like I'll be making a visit to Goodwill! ;) If you're looking for a swimsuit that's both modest and cute, vintage is the way to go. There are a bunch of cute ones here. Happy hunting!
As summer approaches I am getting more and more excited about the outfits that come with it. Especially now that the retro look is back in style. My favorite fashion era has always been the 40's and 50's. Feminine, flirty, flattering and glamorous characterizes the clothing of the mid 20th century!
With cute capped sleeves, slimming fitted waists, and full fun skirts, who wouldn't love these dresses?
While the swing dresses of the fifties are fun, the fitted dresses of the 40's have a very sophisticated look.
I love the charming sweetheart neckline and capped sleeves of the dress below!
With all these delicious dresses, it's too bad my wallet isn't fat enough to afford them. ;) But then again, I have far too many clothes as it is...
A few weeks back, I started altering a blue cotton skirt my grandmother gave me. (You can see that post here.) It was quite a feat for me since sewing is not my strong point, but I am happy to say I have finished and can't wait to wear it!
A white t-shirt, hat, heels, and matching jewelry complete the outfit.
I bought the hat from Target and sewed on a matching ribbon. It was an impulse buy, and I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not, but I've finally decided to keep it.
I think this outfit would be most suited to a tea or wedding. :)
Since I've gotten older (and my mother doesn't remind me anymore), my manners have been getting more and more lax. Even though our society doesn't really value or uphold manners anymore, I still want to make it my goal to be a well-mannered young lady who puts others first. So in 2009 I made a list of resolutions, one of which was taking a refresher course in etiquette. (You can read that post here.)
Though I didn't sign up for Manners 101, I did find several old etiquette books in my grandmother's basement that I've been reading. The one I'm going through now is called Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette, a Guide to Gracious Living. It was written in 1952 and given to my grandmother in 1955. Even though our society has changed a lot since then, amazingly, most of it still applies today! The following are some excerpts from chapter 23, "The Fastidious Well-Mannered Woman."
A Practical Beauty Routine
"A woman is well-groomed when she looks fresh, neat, clean, and well-pressed. This means a daily...shower or bath [and] fresh underwear and stockings daily...Hair must be brushed morning and night with a clean, firm brush and combed with a good comb that, like the brush, is frequently cleaned...A dirty comb or brush is as repellent as a bath towel used beyond its initial freshness." (I always reuse my bath towels :P)
"The fastidious woman understands how much the appearance of her hair has to do with that of her whole person...She has it styled in the way that stays neat and attractive longest, and she never combs her hair or does her nails in public." (I usually brush my hair, let it air dry and leave it down--the lowest possible maintenance. I also comb my hair and do my nails in public all the time...hehe.)
Changing for Dinner
"Every woman should change for dinner, if only into a clean house dress. Dinner is the high point of the day, the forerunner--it is to be hoped--of a free evening...Fresh clothes and make-up, even if you are to be alone with the children for a simple meal, are psychologically sound and bring a needed change in the day's pace. Fresh grooming for evening is one of the criteria of gentility." (This is one I fail horribly at. Most of the time when cooking dinner, my hair is usually a mess from rushing around the kitchen, my clothes often covered with flour, water, grease, or whatever ingredient I've been using, and I certainly don't appear "fresh." Yet a new change of clothes and a freshening of the complexion was standard for this age!)
How to Sit Comfortably and Gracefully
"You never see a product of Victorian days sprawled in a chair. Women trained in the austere etiquette of that time will invariably select the straightest, most uncompromising chair in the room and sit on it, spine straight...feet parallel and flat on the floor. On entering a room, try to select a chair or sofa that suits your height and figure...If you do sit on [the deep, wide, modern-style sofa] don't flop, then squirm back into position. Instead, seat yourself on the edge, then, placing your hands on the sofa, ease yourself back with a lifting motion." (I always flop and squirm into position when the sofa is deep. Oops.)
"There are good reasons to avoid [crossing the legs] as much as possible. First...it creates unattractive bulges on the leg and thigh crossed over. Secondly, it is said to encourage varicose veins by interfereing with circulation...It is much more graceful to sit, model-style, with the toe of one foot drawn up to the instep of the other and with the knees close together...[Crossing the legs] should not be done at the dinner table, in church, or at any formal occasion...When the legs are crossed, attention should not be called to the fact by bouncing the free foot." (Out of all the others, this area is probably the one where I have the most trouble. Because it's tiring to keep the knees drawn together all the time--especially through a long sermon!--I can frequently be found with legs crossed and the free foot bouncing energetically away!)
So far I've found this book extremely helpful (and embarrassing since I'm always doing what she says a lady ought not to!) But with Amy Vanderbilt guiding me and a lot of practice, perhaps I'll manage to pass for a lady someday. ;)
Flowing, lacey, delicate, feminine allure. That is what lingerie used to be. But not anymore. For some reason, today's lingerie has always bothered me and for the longest time I couldn't figure out why. Then I finally pinned it down:
The majority of it seems vulgar and degrading (How can you say this is not degrading?)
Lingerie was originally designed to incite passion in a beautiful and feminine way.
I think the women in the 40's and 50's knew how to do it right. Their lingerie was modest enough to preserve mystery, and revealing enough to rouse a man's passion. Flowing robes, sheer peignoirs, silk dressing gowns...
Of course, I understand that wives are commanded to submit to their husbands and that both partners' wishes need to be honored, but I think it's perfectly possible to keep it classy and still score every time. ;)
Being a cheapskate who hardly ever goes shopping and frequents thrift stores when I do, I can hardly post a weblog on fashion but here are my two cents if you care to read them. :)
1. Have your bases covered. After reading the book Color Me Beautiful, I have learned the value of having all your base colors covered. Whether you wear skirts or pants, it is always wise to have these base colors waiting in your closet: black, khaki, and/or brown and navy. This way you can mix and match your clothes, giving you more combination options. This gets rid of the feeling that you "just don't have anything to wear!" and prevents needless shopping trips to accumulate more clothing that won't match.
2. Comfort > Looks. The french say you must suffer for beauty, but that's not my creedo. If it's not comfortable, I'm just not going to wear it as often no matter how gorgeous it is. For example, I have a sparkly read sweater that I wear in the fall/winter seasons. It is very beautiful, but it is also very scratchy. Because of this I do not wear it as often as I would like, which ties into my third point...
3. Save it for a rainy day. Always keep a special article or two of clothing that you can save for that special occasion. How many of us have walked to our closet, peered into it (stuffed with clothes) and felt like we've worn it all? This is more than likely because we have been exhausting that certain article's specialness by frequent wearing. Setting that special sweater or skirt aside keeps it fresh, unfaded, and exciting when we dig through our everyday clothes and spot it peeking out!
4. What's in a name? I went through a (very) brief stage of the teen brand craze where I wore clothes from Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Hollister. After a few months of unreasonable prices and finding the exact same clothes at Goodwill for $30 cheaper I gave that up for good. If the quality of your clothing is at stake, it's sometimes better to invest in something pricier, but just because it's a popular brand doesn't mean it's quality clothing.
5. Classy is always current. This is probably what I most strive for in shaping my wardrobe. If you purpose to buy only timeless clothing that will last a lifetime (and perhaps longer as an heirloom to pass down!) I promise you won't regret it. There is no style that is more versatile than the classic look. And I'm not talking the high-priced kind. Pairing jeans with a pretty sweater, scarf and cute pair of shoes is an outfit that would fit into anyone's budget. It's also an outfit that you won't feel out of place wearing to school, church, the mall or a nice restaurant.
I'm a long way from my goal of having a completely "classyfied" wardrobe but with discretion, taste, and determination, I'll get there someday. :)
