No matter what you celebrate today, or if you stay indoors because of your faith system, may you have a wonderful and peace-filled day. May your family strengthen and your heart be light and joyous. For those who celebrate it, may the new year bring your bright blessings and may your ancestors grace your hearts and minds as you reach out to them and they reach back for one moment in time.
Much love and peace.
Nancy
The Over Forty Princess.
About shaved heads, crazy crap, or general insanity. I’m not sane. I’m hardly in a position to judge others…So here is Brit-Brit’s new vid and I love it. There’s that stupid, commercial at the beginning with her ex, but it goes fast. Thank God.
What is fitness? Good question. I’ll tell you what it is to me, then you can stick your little nose in it.
To me, fitness is a goal of a level of health you, and only you, are comfortable with. Do you want to walk up three flights of stairs without losing breath? That’s a good level of fitness to start with.
Being fit does not equate with size, shape, or looks. It’s about you in your body and how they fit together to form a whole. I like both my mind and body fit. To be able to answer questions and think for myself. To find empathy, not easy, and learn from my mistakes, to slog on, even when it’s hard, because I have a goal. That’s fitness and fitness means not letting it be easy when I work out, but making the last part hard. Not quitting when it gets to feel like too much. If I have five more minutes, then I do it. I push myself. It’s not the job of anyone, but me.
What does it mean to you?
Okay, I read about this idea on Mizzcheivious’s blog. I’ll probably do a vid too, btw new vids out today on my YouTube page, look right for the url. Anyway, onto the point. To me it’s all in. Okay, we can pretty much put anything that’s been done the exact same way on the out list, I don’t care what designers, or Vogue has to say (okay, I care a little about Vogue), but taking something from the past and putting a modern artistic spin on it is new and exciting. A definite in.
Artistic Clothing Outside of the Bubble. I love artistisn clothes, hand dyed and painted silks, appliqued jackets, my skirt make out of ties (almost done now), my arm warmers that are about to get a matching purse cause the mix of color is so fantabulous. Your own style, in your own way. I’m a bit of most things, and love wearing ethnic clothing, even though I’m about as ethnic as June Cleaver. Your own look, in.
I refuse to call $200.00 jeans in. Even if they shrink your ass to the size of a head of a pin. Sorry. This is Michigan. Until we move forward with our economy, Old Navy looks mighty hot on my scrawny ass. Old Navy in, Expensive out. Just until the recession is over. I mean more than some Wall Street optimist on NPR spreading the good news too.
Hot cars in. However the meaning of hot has changed. It’s got to look awesome and be gas saving. I know we can do this.
Holiday sweaters: Sorry, never in, should all be burned, in a wondrous celebration in front of Coldwater Creeks main office. Out.
YSL, retired, or not, in, always. Smooch.
Vera Wang…gorg wedding stuff, but she’s getting over-hyped. Never good.
Martha Stewart. Out, out, out. Why? She said a snarky remark to Jennifer Garner. You don’t tell her to have her husbund buy her things. She’s an actress, she can buy her own crap. It was a sexist comment and I’m not over it. Made on Martha’s show and the last time I watched it.
Dogs as accessories. Out. I need not say more. A cockroach on a leash….hmmm, I could start a trend. Can you paint them and not hurt them? I know they eat crap. Crap. I’ve got. “Someone pass me a Cheese Doodle for George please.” I like it. A definite in. Watch some moron actually do this.
Jewelry that costs a mint, out. It’s the time of recessionista fashion. Classic hoops are always in and you should have some in silver and gold in various sizes and styles. Just wait till the price of gold comes down to buy them. Faux jewels, done well, always in. Funky that looks sexy and Bollywood, totally in. Mix your ethnic pieces. I have an African dress with a modern art necklace, awesome and totally in.
$3000 dollar purses out. Unless, it’s a Birkin Bag.
People judging your wardrobe based on their taste? Out, 100%. You only have to please you. However, a thong in public , outside a European pool, is just wrong, on every level. No matter how amazing your ass looks.
Sure, it’s a hoot to shop for makeup and jewelry, clothes, purses and SHOES! I have a bit of a shoe addiction, but what do you need when you are 1. Starting out in the corporate world, 2. School, 3. When you decide to get out of those sweats. These are my ideas. I would love to read yours.
Today, we’re going to talk about universal things. Not all of these are right for all circumstances, but most of them fit nicely into any of the lives I mentioned. Since I’ve lived all three lives, and more, we will start with the universals and narrow it day, by day, over the next week.
This is what I believe every woman should have in her closet. Do *YOU* need to have these? Heck no. This is just advice. Take what you like, dump the rest. I think it should go without saying that these need to be in your personal style. Hollywood Chic, Boho, Prep, Corporate, all call for different variations of these, oops, forgot romantic and a thousand others, but it should be said and there, I did it. Make these items your own. When I say, blue blazer (I won’t) think what you’re equivalent would be. A blue sweater you feel tailored and sexy in? Something with a military flair? Step outside your box and try on different trends. I’m conservative and wild, all at the same time. I have clothes that are both and work together. Today, I’m going over my wardrobe staples and my pattern staples in my vlog. It’s fashionista Thursday. So read this and follow me on twitter and face-book. For the full list.
Today, pieces to spend the bucks on.
A. Clothing
Jeans that make you feel pretty. Not mom jeans. Dear God! If it goes to your waist and flairs at your hips, avoid it. I like Old Navy Jeans. Why? They carry an array of fits and washes. Unless you’re rolling in it, don’t buy distressed new jeans. Go to the thrift store with tights under a skirt, and try on jeans until you find a pair you can distress. We will be doing this next week on my new vlog.
A sweater. Boho, or boyfriend, this should reflect you, and be nice enough for a date. I have a new H&M sweater that’s short, and military with gold buttons. It has limited seasons, so I spent very little on it. If it was Channel-like, I would have spent more.
Crisp white shirt. Never goes out of style. Put your bucks here. Again, make it yours. Don’t wear Brooks Brothers if the thought nauseates you. Just fine one you love.
Well fitted white T. Again, put some money in it and make sure it actually fits. Not a sloppy 3X Hanes. We all know you weight what you weigh. Celebrate it. You’re not hiding in that ratty old thing.
A slim skirt that skims your knee. Avoid the widest part of your calf. Not a mini either. You should be able to wear this in ten. I’m artsy-fartsy when I dress. I’m designing a slim skirt with zippers in it. The odder the places, the better. This is not what everyone wears, but it works better for me than a Brooks Brothers skirt and I’m getting what I want, to pair with one of my dad’s old Brooks Brothers shirts I altered, or the white shirt, or the sweater, T, you get it.
Black pants. Good ones. Ones that fit you. Lined is nice, if it’s a good lining. No front pleats, I don’t care that they are back in style. You’re hiding exactly nothing. I detest front pleats.
A longer fuller skirt. You can go short on this too, but if it hits your calf below your heavy part, that’s sexy and wonderful and fun. Your fabrics and style are what make it yours. I have to make mine. No one makes a pattern like it and I’ve never seen it in the stores. I’ve made this skirt in the same style in six sizes now. I’m making my final one this week.
A black dress. Wild, mild, everything in between. Do not sacrifice personal style to be conservative at funerals. Wear what’s you, but polished. Covet will send you a daily e-mail with good sales in it and allows you to tell them what you like. You can really find your personal style there and good ideas for purchases and things to sew. Don’t know how to sew? Get a good quality, inexpensive machine (I like Janome, Kenmore and Brother) and teach yourself the basics, or get a friend to. There are a billion easy patterns out there and the woman at JoAnn’s are happy to help you. Go first thing in the AM on a weekday. Take the time off. It’s worth it. Take some sewing classes, again, worth it.
a wrap dress. There is more than one style and some are mock wraps. I like a jersey with a nice hand (the way the fabric moves and flows on your skin and hand as you feel it). Smooth, flowey and an unexpected color, or pattern.
A good scarf. Save for a Hermes, buy a close one till then. Silk only. Thank you. What do you mean, what do you do with it? Belt, necklace, hair bow, fifties look, wrapped around your arm like a bracelet and tied in a bow (get help), use your imagination. They’ve never gone out of style. Oh, head wear, like a motorcycle goddess.
Jewelry
One pair real gold hoops, any size
One pair real silver hoops, or while gold
One pair pearls. Stop! I’, not talking fusty aunt Grace’s things, I mean freshwater strands that wrap around your neck forever, chunky odd shapes you string yourself. Any color, any style as long as it’s you. Can’t afford the real thing? Well, freshwater pearls are not expensive, but if you need fakes, get good fakes.
Cool ring, one in gold tone and one in silver. Please make sure your finger does not turn green under it.
bracelets. I own a wide variety. Watch. Mine are either sports, Ann Klein, or men’s. I want more and I will buy good knockoffs as long as they don’t say the designers name on them. That does hurt the designer.
Shoes
Tall boots
Short boots
pumps
sandals
exercise shoes
All in your style and all comfortable. Zappo’s is a great place for shoes online. I love them. Also Payless. Yes, Payless. If it’s trendy, that’s where I get them and I wear them a lot, because trends die.
Purse:
Your choice, quality.
Makeup:
Foundation (really research this)
Eye shadow (get one kind and learn how to use it, first. Then, you can go nuts)
Mascara, the best one you can afford
Lipstick. Try this on till you love it. If you can’t afford super expensive, go to Sephora and pick out a color scheme that looks good on you, make a note of it for the future, then march yourself to a drugstore and try to match it. You should be able to come close.
A good cleansing regime for your skin. Period. Spend on it, if you have to. This is your face and it’s important.
I read Makeup Alley like a good novel. The reviews matter to me.
There, I’ve hit most of it. Just the beginning parts and you will need to add pieces. Stuff that works long term. In artsy that would be anything. We can get away with maxi skirts when they’ve been out for years. We’re crafty. In classic, classic. Brooks Brothers and Talbots are good places to start, so is Coldwater Creek. You would not catch me dead in any of those stores. No wild. Goth? Well, you know where to go for that.
Take a friend who’s open minded and who’s style you admire. Take a mental health day together and prowl. Sales are great right now, even for in-season stuff. Hit thrift stores for a divine coat you can change the buttons on, make a belt for, embroider, paint on, make your own. I will NEVER buy a new coat again, as long as I live. I find amazing stuff at the local thrift store. Shop online. I’ll start with the links any day now. Oh, and if you’ve not subscribed to my YouTube videos, please do so. I’m having a contest and the winner gets Diorshow mascara in their choice of types and color. All you gotta do is sign up.
Have fun and play with your looks, till you know what you love. Don’t worry about what’s in style now. Make it timeless and classic, in your own way.
