What I Want as a Consumer

Everyone who has ever gone shopping has experienced the frustration of going from store to store hunting for what seems like the simplest, easiest to find items, but every time finding nothing at those stores because they are stocked full of the wrong kind of items. Not that every store should have exactly the same kind of items, or that there shouldn’t be any room for individuality or originality by designers, but stores that are full of 100% trendy, oddly designed clothing, in strange colors, and fits, shouldn’t be surprised that their stock is not selling well and that they are now having to cut back prices and give into consumer demands for constant sales.

It seems that stores that have caught onto the idea that they need to be producing less stock during this economic slump, even though they are doing so, are producing stock that is seemingly intended to reel in more customers by their attempts to design “original,” “unusual,” or “new,” clothing. They are actually driving customers away who would rather buy traditional pieces that would last for a couple of years instead of being out of style within 6 months. We don’t have money to waste anymore.

As a consumer, every time I spend a dollar at a store I am casting a vote for whatever item it is that that store produced which I am now buying, and every time I refrain from buying an item I am casting a vote against that item that that store has produced.

Here are some examples of what I want more of, and what I want less of as a consumer at Gap:

More jeans that are in simple styles; non-exaggerated boot cut, straight (not skin tight skinny!), and gently flared trouser jeans are styles that are classic and don’t end up looking dated.

These boot cut, dark wash, simply styled jeans get my vote, and I would wear these for as long as they lasted without feeling out of style:

On the other hand, these throwbacks from the 80’s in a hideous light rinse, with goofy “carpenter pants” details, in a super wide bell style will remain hanging on the rack while I’m around:

This cardigan is good. Very classic, even downright basic, and also offered in a load of different colors, and wearable with jeans, or a skirt, or a dress:

This boyfriend cardigan is tolerable. Yes, the boyfriend cardigan is a current trend, but it’s a doable trend that actually looks good when it’s worn in a slim, fine-knit style over jeans, or a pencil skirt; it also looks good belted with a skinny belt at the natural waist. My main complaint about this particular boyfriend cardigan is that the two bright colors they carry are magenta and a salmon color, yuck! I also would rather have a lighter, more silvery grey (instead of that heather grey) and a white, or cream color:

This horizontally, “rugby” striped cardigan is just plain ugly by my book and not worth the $48 bucks. I wouldn’t even pay $8 bucks for it because I know that it would sit forever in my closet; I would only be able to wear it with plain colored shirts and bottoms, not to mention that horizontal stripes are unflattering on 99% of the population:

All I can say is, wow, what were they thinking (what were they drinking?) when they designed this atrocity, unless they had expectant mothers in mind? Even as a pregnant mother I might draw the line :

These cropped jeans for summer are all right, I like the slim fit and the colors are good, but the length is a big turn off unless I could get them hemmed. Cropped pants that end at my mid-calf make me look like I have stumpy legs; the most flattering length for anyone for cropped jeans and pants is for them to end at the knee:

These white cropped jeans are more on the right track but still a little too long:

These are just laughable, they are so unflattering with in the flared cut that ends a couple of inches above the ankle and they wouldn’t look good on any body type!:

This simple knit top with a the ruffle placket is pretty but needs to be offered in some more basic colors, black, brown, and cream:

This drop waist, horizontally striped top from Gap is pretty ugly on the other hand!:

Can ya hear me, Gap? Any thoughts from my readers? What would you prefer to see more or less of in stores?

Anna

Building Blocks

I mentioned in my previous post about not wanting to buy very much this season. I want to keep my new wardrobe items to a minimum and give my outfits creative looks by adding accessories. But, it would be impossible to survive with just those few items that I picked if I didn’t already have staples in my wardrobe that I rely heavily on every time I create an outfit.

If you’re literally starting from ground zero this upcoming spring, here are my recommendations for building blocks in your wardrobe:

1. One, to two pairs of jeans. I like having a pair of bootcut and a pair of straight legged jeans because it adds more variety to my looks and it’s easier to pair blousier, looser tops with my straight legged jeans, and fitted, knit tops with my bootcut jeans. I can’t say it enough times, buy dark rinse jeans for an instant dressier, classic look. Don’t buy jeans that look like this.

2. A good bra or two, or three, is very much part of your outfit; choose a bra for good support, lining, and smoothness, and then forget about it when you are wearing it under your outfit. Get it replaced every few months if it is getting worn and stretched out!

3. A light trench coat or rain jacket for windy spring days.

4. A cardigan for layering over t-shirts and blouses. Cardigans, in all sorts of styles and colors, are widely available in stores like Target, Old Navy, Gap, and AE. Pick up one, or two in a bright and a neutral color.

5. A full and a straight skirt in easy to wear fabrics, cotton, denim, or light wool for Sundays, or dressing up occasions.

6. Shoes! The ever classic Converse, a pair of mary-janes, a pair of bright flats, boots, and a pair of pumps are what I need to survive the last blasts of winter, and chilly spring days, which in most places it’s still too cold to wear open-toed shoes. I’ve learned the hard way that it pays off to buy an actual shoe, not a cheap imitation made at Payless, or Old Navy. Those sorts of shoes can be worn just fine for short periods of time, and if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to spice up your shoe wardrobe then those are the places to go. But, if you need serious shoes for walking around town, then buying cute, comfortable shoes is a must. The struggle is to find cute, comfortable shoes. Don’t fall for the trap that, in order to be stylish, you must always wear heels. With the loads of shoe choices out there, opt for flat boots, mary-janes, ballet flats, pumps with a 1-1.5 in. heel, or Converse sneakers when walking around city blocks.

7. A black, and white camisole is a must these days when tops and dresses are lower cut, or made out of thin material. I even prefer wearing a camisole with my t-shirts to create a smooth contour, and to make sure when I’m bending over that I don’t play peek-a-boo.

Anna

The Plan for Spring

Spring is hovering in the air, despite the onset of rain and clouds, and when the sun clears them away the mind turns toward blossoms, and green grass, and new clothes.

How, how, how to create a Spring wardrobe this year without spending hundreds of dollars at Anthropologie, Boden, J. Crew, or Banana Republic? I want to take basics, t-shirts, jeans, and sweaters, and mix them up with bright, vibrant accessories that would stretch a couple of t-shirts and a pair of jeans as far as they would go. Here’s what I came up with.

2 long-sleeved t-shirts, long sleeved for those April showers ahead:

This in Bodega Bay, and Blue Slate.

3 short sleeved t-shirts for layering under sweaters:

Gap short-sleeved tee in black

Old Navy short-sleeved t-shirts in this color blue, and dark grey.

Dark rinse, mid-rise, boot cut jeans for wearing out casually:

Lightweight wool, classic cardigan in Bright Royal Blue:

2 brightly colored scarves for gloomy, overcast days:

Neutral colored canvas handbag; large enough to comfortably fit everything I need to haul around with me, small enough not too look silly on my short person:

A set of bangles in a bright color:

It doesn’t seem like very much, but the key lies in many different types of accessories, accessories that don’t cost an arm and a leg, but add pizzaz to that tired, old t-shirt that has been worn to death. As you may have noticed, another key is to “theme” your colors. I’m not talking about buying the exact same color for every item of clothing, but looking at what I chose you can probably tell that I like blue and yellow, a lot, because those are the two colors that work from me. When I open my drawers and look at the clothes hanging in my closet I can more easily create and put together outfits when I own clothes that coordinate color wise, and when I am confidante that the colors I’m wearing look good on me. From time to time, I’ll take “risks” and wear a bright color that I wouldn’t normally wear, but it’s not a crime to stick to colors that look good with your skin and hair. If you feel that you want to try out the color of the season, whether it’s regal purple, mustard yellow, or bright red, try it at first in the form of accessories, such as a scarf, or a non-expensive purse, or shoes.

I hope, while mixing these new purchases with some of my wardrobe staples, to make it through Spring without buying much more. It’s a challenge to me to come up with new, creative outfits from only a handful of items to wear this Spring and I hope I’ve inspired you to do the same!

Anna

Sales Everywhere

This is what I just bought for the nice price of $29.99:

From Gap’s Final Sale where they have wool coats marked down to $35.00, t-shirts for $5.99, and sweaters and cardigans for $11.99. You just can’t beat those prices. Of course, be sure and check out Gap’s other sale (though, it’s not final) that has just as many bargains.

Perhaps, they stole the idea of a “final sale” from J. Crew’s Final Sale where you can find high-quality t-shirts marked down to $6.99-$9.99 in a wide variety of colors and styles, dresses marked down to $19.99-39.99, and loads of other bargains. If you hold out long enough, though, J. Crew might just do another one of their 20-30% off your entire order again, and then you’d really be getting a bargain.

Old Navy is taking 30% off orders of New Spring arrivals at checkout.

Banana Republic has already marked down their new spring arrivals and is combining that with 25% off your entire order.

Anywhere you look, sites and stores are having massive sales. Not necessarily a good sign, but if you’re looking for bargains for your wardrobe you don’t have to look far.

Anna

Review: Winter Silk Silk Camisole

The hunt was on. I bought my first 100% silk dress slipped it on and looked at myself in the mirror. Something was wrong. The dress itself was pretty, but it was a wrap dress with a v-neck that exposed my cotton camisole. Therein lay the problem. Layering the cotton under the silk was wrong and deadened the sumptuous, silky look of the dress.

Where to find a silk camisole? All the regular stores that I shop at didn’t carry silk camisoles when I looked, and any other possibilities were as expensive as the dress!

Finally, after a Google search, I found a site called WinterSilks with many different choices of 100% silk camisoles for bargain prices; most were listed at $25 and under! I selected a favorable looking style and ordered it.

I received my order within 4-5 days and happily opened it to try on with my dress noticed a few things:

Pros:
The cami was lightweight and felt wonderful next to my skin.
The fit was just right as a Small, not too loose as I might expect a non-clingy fabric like silk to be, and not too tight.
The construction of the garment was good; there were no loose strings, and no sloppy seams.
I didn’t know this before, but silk is known for its insulating proprieties, surprisingly since silk is so thin. I wore this cami under a sweater a few nights ago and stayed toasty warm. Much warmer than I have with plain cotton camisoles before. I’ll probably save up to buy another one it insulated me so well!

Cons:
This was NOT a suitable modest layering piece as I had expected it to be. The cami was lightweight but it was also a bit too sheer to wear with a deep v-neck. With a dress or top that doesn’t truly need a good camisole underneath I’d wear it and let the lace be exposed a bit, but anything beyond that would show more than I want people to see!
The fit was right, but when so much of the cami was exposed and also layered under my non-structured silk dress, nothing really helped to hold it in place and the cami was prone to slipping to the side a little bit. With a more structured blouse, or dress, this cami is perfect.

My rating: 4.0 out of 5

I was disappointed that this camisole didn’t cut it a modest layering piece under my dress, and I still need to find a better camisole for my dress, but in the meantime I’ll let the it hang in my closet until I save up the money to order another camisole. I would probably buy from WinterSilks again but would consider a silk/modal/spandex blend as these would not be as sheer and would be better suited to modest layering, maybe one of these:

Anna

Simply Accessorizing

I’m attending a film festival in San Antonio in a few weeks. For the awards ceremony I have been hunting for a simple sheath or a-line style dress that is made of a durable fabric (no polyester or cotton!) is a decent color, and costs around a hundred bucks. Finally, I found the perfect, qualifying dress at J. Crew in their sale, and I bought it.

Then, a creative bug started nagging at my brain:

What if I didn’t have the money to spend on a dress yet wanted to pull together a semi-formal outfit that would be pretty, exciting, and low-budget, $50 or less?

I’d start with the basics that most women own: a black knit top*, or blouse, and black pants, or a black skirt, and black pumps. Sounds exciting, no? Sounds like someone is going to a funeral.

Then bring in the star of the show:

And a beautiful transformation has taken place. By using a black backdrop the gorgeous colors and pattern of the scarf take center stage. This is no place for cheap scarves made from polyester with fraying edges, bought from Forever 21 or Old Navy. I venture to say this look is also pulled off best with a bright, bold pattern, too, not a solid color. Spend a little bit more than you’re used to and invest in an accessory that easily adds pizazz to the dullest outfits.

One doesn’t have to wear black, either, but could stick to a neutral colored bottom, a colored top, and a scarf, or statement necklace that has the same color scheme as the top. i.e. a black skirt, a bright blue top, and a blue patterned scarf, or necklace. Voilá! Trés chic. You are suddenly the belle of the ball and the most creative one to boot!

*To really achieve a more formal look wear a sleeveless black top.*

Anna

Buy This not That

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Scream all the promotion cards, and websites with 30%-60% off prices. Yes, hurry indeed and buy our ill-fitting, poorly made merchandise because we will soon be out of business.

Right now is time for good deals, so keep a look out for low-priced items and combine them with promotions codes, easily found online, to get a fantastically priced bargain. But, do NOT be seduced by a piece of clothing, no matter how lowly priced it is if it’s cute, but a little tight, cute, but you really don’t need it, cute, but unworkable with the rest of your wardrobe.

As my wardrobe has grown over the past year I’ve learned by trial and error what I should have bought instead of items that now occupy space in my closet but are difficult to incorporate into outfits. Too easily seduced by needing something right away and settling for an item that was less than it was worth, or an item that was so-so, but not something that I really loved, or that was compatible with the rest of my wardrobe, I’ve wasted many a dollar on shirts that are too short, sweaters that are too tight, shoes that are painful, and jewelry that I’ll never wear. All those $5 and $10 keep floating around my mind, nagg me, reminding me on what I could have spend them on.

1. Instead of a 3/4 length hoodie that only works with short sleeved tops, I should have bought a long-sleeved hoodie in a neutral color; white, cream, black, grey, and paired it easily on casual days in the wintertime with long-sleeves and jeans.

2. Instead of a lightweight, long-sleeved cardigan that gets rumpled easily and gets lumpy when paired with t-shirts and blouses, I should have bought a thicker weight sweater, still long-sleeved, in a neutral color that will easily stand up to heavier tops during wintertime.

3. Instead of the low-heeled loafers that slip off my feet and don’t look good paired with socks, I should have invested in a pair of Converse shoes that are a more fashionable choice than sneakers but are just as comfortable and look classy and retro paired with jeans and a t-shirt, or casual top.

4. Instead of blah-colored, pullover sweaters that are cute on the hanger but when put on hit me at the widest point of my hips, I should have invested in a long-sleeved, fine-knit pullover sweater in a longer length that ends just above my crotch area. But NOT one that emphasizes my hips and makes me look like I don’t have a waist.

5. Instead of a couple of cotton blazers that don’t fit easily over my tops, I should have bought a trench or a cropped trench for those times when a wool coat is too heavy but a sweater by itself isn’t enough.

6. Instead of ugly-as-sin bracelets and necklaces that might, possibly, look cute if I squinted my eyes and wore them once in an unnoticable manner, I should have invested in more simple looking, elegant jewelry. It needn’t be expensive, but a necklace that makes a statement when worn with a demure top, a more simple necklace, a bangle bracelet, and (if my ears were pierced) medium-sized silver hoops, and black, drop earrings would be plenty to choose from when adding accessories to an outfit.

7. Instead of cheap eyeshadow, powder, and foundation, I should have invested more Almay and Neutrogena products, focusing more on skin products than on eye makeup products. The current trend for makeup is to focus heavily on the eyes, than on the skin, I think that one should focus more on glowing, healthy looking skin than on heavy eye makeup. I use Almay eye concealer, a small amount of Almay foundation, only in the spots were I need more coverage, a light dusting of Neutrogena powder, and a bit of rose colored, Neutrogena blush for my skin. I do believe that my eyes are the focus of my face, so I use makeup to emphasis them, but not in a blaring way. I line my top lid only, usually with a black or dark brown eyeliner pencil, sticking close the the base of the lashes, and then give my eyelids a dusting of light tan, or nude colored eyeshadow, and then put Maybelline mascara on my lashes.

So stop, think twice, and remember a few of the items listed here the next time you are out buying!

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

What to wear on Thanksgiving Day?

1. Staying at home outfit:

>Dark wash jeans, bootcut, or straight. Dressy enough to impress any guests, relaxed enough to move around in and comfortably eat your Thanksgiving meal in. I’ll be wearing my dark wash, straight legged, American Eagle jeans.
>Simple knit top, tunic, or sweater, in a longer length. I’ll be wearing my black, mock turtleneck, knit top from Banana Republic.
>Statement piece of jewelry, or scarf. Pick ONE piece of jewelry that compliments the top you’re wearing, either earrings, or a ring, or a bracelet, or a necklace, or a scarf. Not two combinations
or else you’ll overwhelm your outfit. I’ll be wearing either my skinny purple scarf, or a bracelet.

2. Going over to someone’s house outfit:
>Dark wash jeans, jean trousers, or black/brown/grey pants.
>Simple, no-fuss, knee-length skirt, either a straight style corduroy or denim skirt, or a fuller skirt.
>Knit top (see above), sweater, or blouse in a complimentary color, style, or length to your pants/skirt choice.
>Again, a statement piece of jewelry, or a scarf.
> Hosiery (if it’s cold were you are.) Black, brown, or a muted color.
>Low-heeled pumps, or ballet flats.

Makeup ideas. Keep it simple and clean, as always, not too heavy, but not 0 makeup, either.

Hair ideas. As one of the cooks today I intend to keep my hair up in a bun, or ponytail. If you are a guest, then you can keep your hair down if you like.

Colors that say “Thanksgiving” to me: Rich, but muted, purples, dark greens, cranberry reds, mustard yellows. Either pair a colored top with a neutral bottom, or wear a neutral outfit (like I am, black top, dark wash jeans) with a colored accessory that will make the outfit “pop.”

Everyone have a happy Thanksgiving!

More Than Just Lipstick

What’s the difference between a pit bull and hockey mom? Lipstick; and a $150,000 wardrobe.

Under the weather, preoccupied with work, too many books going at once, are a few of my excuses for not posting on this blog lately, but when I saw this headline today I felt compelled to write a quick little blurb and pass on the link to my fellow readers:

$150,000 Wardrobe for Palin May Alter Tailor-Made Image

As one lady on a fashion blog astutely pointed out: if you bought 20 pairs of shoes that cost $1000 each that only comes to $20,000. WHAT do you spend the remaining $130,000 on? Is the stress of campaigning and interviewing with the Katie Couric’s of the world so high that Palin needs to spend thousands of bucks on facial and spa treatments every day after her work is done?

Is this just an unravelable mystery?

Anna

Triple Dare

This next week I:

• Dare you to dress simply. I’m not talking about dressing slutty, frumpy, or dumpy in ripped jeans and camisole. Just don’t spend half an hour piecing together an outfit. Pick pieces and accessories out of your closet that appeal to you when you get up in the morning and look through your clothes, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. Have you always worn that plain skirt with a matching button down shirt? Try it with a bright colored tee or flouncy blouse that you picked up from the thrift store. Be content with what you have and become creative! Don’t worry about looking “funny.” You also don’t have to have a new and ingenious outfit for every day; if your clothing isn’t dirty after wearing it, iron out the wrinkles and wear it again if you want.
• Dare you to add color, even it it’s in the form of a necklace or a bracelet. If you wear brown, or black, or tan, as your primary color then this is for you! On chilly days or in the evening, throw on a pashmina in a vibrant hue. Wear a pair of fun, cheerful flats with your jeans and t-shirt. Even if you are wary of wearing colors right next to your face, there are so many ways of adding color to your outfit using affordable accessories you really have no excuse for looking drab and dreary.
• Dare you to be minimalist in your makeup. Girls and women look best when they let their natural face shine through, even if every makeup advertisement around is bombarding you with pictures of dark, heavy eyeliner and cakey foundation. I’m not suggesting stopping using coverup and foundation to even out your skin tone or to hide blemishes, but put down the eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and lip gloss for a minute. Groom your eyebrows, and brush your hair, or tame the frizz. Now even out your skin tone, add some blush, a little bit of brown/tan eyeshadow, a stroke of black or brown eyeliner on the top lid only, then some mascara, and a bit of lip gloss, or a light stroke of creamy red or pink lipstick. Think you look funny? Then take a look at this, this, and this.
  These images were taken from Garance Doré, a street style blog. I enjoy going there for inspiration, but be warned, not all the images on this blog are what I would call modest.

Who is going to take me up on my dare?