| Author | |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Oct 05 2012 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I know what I need - I wish Suzanne lived next door and could go shopping with me!!!
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Oct 05 2012 at 8:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
oh but you don't have to live next door to "shop online" together.. it can be quite fun.. and you can do it while sipping a glass of ... something  You just post to each other and share links.. this can be more fun if you have someone on a instant message program with you.. and share back and forth that way.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Oct 09 2012 at 2:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mimi, that skirt you said is a good length is longer on me than the model.. it's brushing the tops of my feet rather than hitting at the top of the ankle.. so maybe take off only a couple of inches.. not go to mid-calf but bring it up to top of my ankle. But this has really helped.. so basically anything that shortens the leg from knee to ankle will make you look shorter.. and gives me (and my girls) a good length for longer skirts.. which I have several which I like.. I think this one skirt just ended up with enough variation that it's too long.
And I wear loose shirts (still nursing). I found this great shirt at the thrift store.. it's a fitted button down shirt but the side panels are stretchy fabric.. looks nice and still has the ease needed for pulling it around to nurse.. it has that nice shirttail hem that looks good over a skirt.. so you generally don't see the elastic waist bands on the skirts.
I have black knee high dress boots (winter ones that are water resistant and warm lined without being bulky) and I just got a cute pair of winter boots.. these are the casual, work, play in the snow winter boots I have black ankle boots and I have black or brown heels and black flats. like I said I'm good at the basics, but I'm wanting something more fun. Fun colors but.. I don't necessarily want heels.. I only occationally wear the heels and I'd like to wear the fun shoes more often than I'd want to wear heels. Can't spend much on them though, something to wear with my church skirts (mainly long) and something that could maybe be worn with jeans to dress it up a bit.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Oct 09 2012 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've been pondering this post alot, I think part of 'my problem' is lack of confidence in ability to put it all together and part is I get overwhelmed with too many choices, oh yeah and I like a bargain. But re-evaluating myself I realise I don't hate shopping overall any more, haven't for a few years, I am slowly feeling more confident in 'pulling it all together'. I still struggle with shops with too many choices but I'm learning not to be overwhelmed.
Love all the fashion tips going on here, empowering and enthusing me 
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Oct 09 2012 at 5:48pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, I think dd and I decided we did have a style. We both like jeans and a nice t shirt. I say nice - I mean not old college t's or man looking t shirt. I have some form Jc Penneys - st Johns bay brand. Cute short sleeve, flattering cut (but not immodest) with nice patterns. DD likes t shirts in cute colors that go in at the waist (not just straight). Neither of us like lacy girly like stuff (nothing wrong with it though) for dressing up. Finally got dd nice black skirt she wears with an ivory blouse or sweater for church. I wear to church (only time we dress up  ) black pants and sweater or top. I think its my confidence too - I am always second guessing myself!
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amyable
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3798
|
| Posted: Oct 10 2012 at 7:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Suzanne mentioned blogs - anyone have some favorites? I don't know where to begin. I need visuals! 
__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: Oct 10 2012 at 7:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm loving this thread. I'm 47 -- 48 next month, and my big theme for years is that I don't know how to look as a middle-aged person. Not that I *want* to look middle-aged, but the granola-girl arty-outdoorsy look that carried me through my 20s and 30s just seems kind of tired and not in sync with who I am any more. I *am* still arty and outdoorsy, but I'm also . . . 47. And 30 pounds heavier than I was as an arty-outdoorsy 35-year-old. Suddenly the put-togetherness of my appearance seems to matter a lot more, because I can't just get by on being young and cute, and I am so bad at putting things together!
Things I do like that seem to work (ie I get compliments on them):
* I have a couple of sleeveless dresses from TravelSmith -- I bought the first one for an overseas journalistic assignment that didn't pan out, but for which I would have been packing in a carry-on for about week and needed something that I could ball up in the corner of my bag and essentially wear every day with a small assortment of sweaters, shoes, and accessories. It's this dress -- I had initially bought it in black, but went back and bought another in teal when they were on sale in the summer.
The fabric takes some getting used to -- it is a synthetic knit which feels thin, though after grilling my husband repeatedly I'm finally convinced that it's not see-through. But it stays unwrinkled, doesn't cling, and the cut of the dress is quite flattering to a pear-shaped body. It can also be worn backwards, which is good if you feel the scoop neckline is too low. The neck in back is more or less straight, so makes a kind of boatneck or drape-neck effect if worn in front. I've worn both these dresses with sandals in summer and with sweaters or jackets and boots in the winter, with leggings underneath for warmth (I love leggings!). The skirt is very pretty and swirly, long enough without being super long. The fabric holds its shape decently -- I've had my black dress for about 3 years now, and it still looks nice. TravelSmith is pricey, but they have good sales as the seasons change.
*Leggings! I'm so happy leggings are back! I have a couple of shorter dresses that I wear as tunics with a pair of leggings, which I think is a fun look: leggings and flats or sandals in warmer weather, leggings with boots when it's cold.
*Boots. For years I didn't have a pair of boots, and now I wonder how I ever lived without them. I bought a pair of tall black boots at Shoe Show last year for not-expensive, and have been waiting for the temperatures to drop so that I could wear them -- I'm loving this week! My one must-have item for this fall is a pair of brown ones, because I wear a lot of brown.
I try to keep my closet pared back just to items that I actually wear, but boy, it's hard. Right now I have a number of things that I *think* I'm going to wear -- mostly misbegotten thrift-shop purchases -- that just don't work nearly as well in reality as they did in my imagination at Goodwill. Here's where I need serious help. I love thrifting and have gotten many of my favorite things that way, but I need someone to say, "Try that on. Don't wear that. This goes with X that you already have. That does not go with anything." And so on. I've gotten more careful and conservative as a shopper, but I still buy things that I *think* will go with things I have, and then it turns out that they don't, for one reason or another.
Sigh. But I agree that blogs are helpful. If you google "fashion over 40 blogs," you'll pull up an entire community, for example. A lot of them are going for more "sexy" than I'm really into as a public image, but it is useful to see what other women are wearing. Many of them are quite creative, and just seeing what they're "allowed" to wear gives me more confidence in my own choices.
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Oct 10 2012 at 9:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Today at Zuilily they have a TON of very cute clothing- dresses, tops- for plus sized ladies. Most of the prices I saw were under $20
I have to say that I have always thought that the plus sized fashion options are way better than smaller sizes in my area. They look so polished to me, somehow- real people clothing.
I wish I could find similar styles in the lower size ranges.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 4:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
amyable wrote:
| Suzanne mentioned blogs - anyone have some favorites? I don't know where to begin. I need visuals! |
|
|
Start here....What I Wore Wednesday...the links at the bottom are totally fun! It's just fun to skim through and see what ideas you get and what others are wearing, what you like and don't like, etc. So many ideas!!! Take what you like and adapt it for your body type, your problem-areas, your modesty level, your climate, your financial situation, etc.
There are moms in their 20's, 30's, 40
's there! Smaller and Bigger! Different styles and accessories. Just so fun to look around.
I liked this post...she used someone else's outfit as inspiration....liked the colors together, but knows that those skinny jeans on her body without a longer top would never fly, so she goes with a different jean-cut and different shoes.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I saw stirrup pants for sale today...proof that fashion trends recycle themselves. Our family portrait, taken 20 years ago, features Yours Truly in stirrup pants. 
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 4:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
And, ladies.....here is my soap-box about the current fad of skinny jeans and jeggings :
DO NOT BE AFRAID!!!!!! If you keep these things in mind:
1. You are not EVER wearing them any sort of SHORT TOP unless you are super skinny and under 100 #! You wear these jeans/pants with longer, tunic-style tops and long sweaters and vests. Tight bottom.....loose top....cover the rear at all times.
2. Legs are usually longer and leaner parts of our bodies....ie: they don't have flab and rolls on them so it's ok that they have tighter fabric on them. And, then wear the looser top to cover the SITUATION---whatever that may be.
3. Because you are covering up the butt, it's not as important HOW they fit or look. Because....who CARES? You are covering it up! So, you have much more flexibility with buying. They don't have to be "the perfect fit." As long as they aren't falling down, you're GOOD!
4. And, since you can be more flexible and not picky about what they look like or feel....you can spend less money on them.
5. They CAN be really tight to sort of "hold you in" and it's not immodest. I love my jeans to be super tight....it takes pounds off and I am reminded not to eat a WHOLE BOWL of chips and guacamole! And, no one is seeing my butt or anything around the middle, so it's totally fine that they are tight. This also helps me with my posture. I stand up much better when I'm wearing tights or support hose or I have tightness around my middle...helps the core!
6. They look good with lots of shoes that are out there now. summer flats....winter boots. They go across the seasons!
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
OK.. so maybe I just want to wear something "nicer" than the stretch pants and long tees I wore 25 yrs ago  .. BUT then at one of the sites for skirts posted on the thread for girls.. I saw this vest..
Now that would give a tunic look to an outfit.. could probably be done with regular jeans as well as skinny jeans/leggings/etc and you could change the top under it for sleeve length and color and neckline
One thing that I had an "ah ha" moment on.. I've NEVER worn much in the way of accessories.. I do like earrings and could stand to add in some fun ones there.. and I might look hard for a scarf or two that I could wear straight down my front.. I won't get choked that way (littles swinging off it) and it could add some elongating to an outfit or splash of color or such. And then that long vest.. I might want to try it. It wouldn't feel fussy.. the scarves and necklaces might be pushing it for that (especially the necklaces).
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 4:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SuzanneG wrote:
And, ladies.....here is my soap-box about the current fad of skinny jeans and jeggings :
DO NOT BE AFRAID!!!!!! |
|
|
Suzanne, your unbridled enthusiasm for for jeggings is really cracking me up!
guitarnan wrote:
| I saw stirrup pants for sale today...proof that fashion trends recycle themselves. Our family portrait, taken 20 years ago, features Yours Truly in stirrup pants. |
|
|
Oh so true, so true...20 years ago, stirrup pant girl here, too...  (but as Suzanne has pointed out - worn with long tunic tops and sweaters can be cute.)
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 5:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
guitarnan wrote:
| I saw stirrup pants for sale today...proof that fashion trends recycle themselves. Our family portrait, taken 20 years ago, features Yours Truly in stirrup pants. |
|
|
Say its not sooooo! Yes - stirrup pants and a long sweater! But I'd hate to see myself in them now!
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 5:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Suzanne - you are soo funny. You know - I AM AFRAID! Really - never even tried jeggins on.
But - I hate the feel that things are tight! Makes me remember my rolls on my tummy!
So, who on earth came up with the idea of stirrup pants anyway? Just wondering! I must say - when I wore them I lived in Wisconsin (much younger and thin!) and one put on stirrup pants, heavy sweater (alas - here in Texas I mourn not being able to wear big heavy sweaters (its 80 today, with 80 % humidity! - oh where is fall?). OH - and the stirrup pants fit GREAT in boots!
But - I'm not going there! I am afraid to even try! I don't know - 50 yr old in stirrup pants. . .
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barb.b
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 22 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 5:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jodie - that vest is very cute!!. I could wear it with anything. So what kind of top underneath?
Barb
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Barb I was thinkign it would be cute with either 3/4 sleeves or long sleeves.. it has that wintery look to it.. but it could be a lightweight top.. I'd wear just a plain tee shirt (women's rolled neckline not the men's neckline but it could still be a high scoop) under it.. the scoopneck of the shirt would look very cute under the v-neck.. but if it's cold it would look great over a turtleneck. And I think it would look cute with a button up collared shirt under it too.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 5:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh!!! I used to LOVE stirrup pants and long jumpers, so excited they are back in 
Yep I agree skinny legs help me feel better you are all so inspiring me to think fashion!
Talking accessories, I love scarfs, they look so chic, just never confident to pull it off. so I need scarf 101 help!
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 6:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SCARVES!!
Oh scarves can be so fun! If you have littles that you carry look for all cotton scarves they can chew on. A couple of years ago I got some really fun cotton scarves from Lands End and they're so much fun! They look great in a variety of wraps, and I don't take them off when I take off my coat - leave them on and let them be a fun accessory! And don't do anything matchy-matchy! Have fun with some great colors!
And color can be SOOO fun! You can have some black leggings and a long tunic type shirt, but then pair it with a crazy red scarf and a lemon yellow sweater! Very trendy right now - the bright yellow sweater. And think how much you can vary a look with a fun yellow sweater!!
ONE TOTALLY FUN YELLOW SWEATER!!
** Pair it with great jeans over a simple white tee and some fun funky turquoise jewelry.
** Add it to a black skirt and black boots for a nicer look and add a chic grey scarf.
** Pair it with black leggings and a long tunic top with ballet flats and fun jewelry.
And it can perk up your entire basic wardrobe! If yellow isn't a good color for you - pick any great jewel tone that works well for you and find one great little sweater that will work in a variety of ways as a fun anchor piece in your fall/winter wardrobe and SPLURGE.
Go out and try a few different styles!! I can wear cardigan styles with a couple of buttons buttoned in the middle of the sweater and leave the top and bottom open and that's a really cute look...but if you have a "SITUATION" in the hips or tummy area a cardigan will draw attention to that so find a different style like a longer tunic type sweater, but look for it in an updated, fun style...with a matching sweater belt that tied loosely brings the eye to the waist area and can be a really great look with any of the options listed above!
BOOTS!!!!
Boots with heels - oo-la-la!!
Comfy, outdoorsy fun leather boots - fun!
You can do so much with a few good pairs of boots!!! Wear them with jeans or any length skirt! You can have so much fun with a pair of boots and a little summer dress that hits about knee length. Add the fun boots, a cute fall jacket and ta-da! So cute!
STATEMENT SHOES!!
I discovered statement shoes not too long ago and I love it! I always keep my basic boots and basic pair of good shoes, but I love having some great shoes in statement colors. Red is a favorite and looks fantastic and turquoise is another favorite statement color for me! Imagine the yellow sweater, white, tee, jeans outfit above with a fun pair of red ballet flats! I found a great pair of red ballet flats on ebay and they were very inexpensive, but they're really fun! And they look adorable with skirts!! I had a great time with a strappy red pair of wedges I found in a consignment store this summer. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF COLOR or of wearing contrasting colors in the same outfit! It also looks fantastic when you go neutral with browns or blacks and throw in a fun pair of statement shoes!
I really think that there are so many great looks that can be built to fit a variety of tastes and body type "situations" out there! This season's trends move toward color - so add a punch of color to your fall outfits, gals! Do neutral with some basic leggings or a skirt, but add a colorful scarf or sweater and some fun statement shoes!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Oct 11 2012 at 6:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I want pictures, ladies...pictures of you in these combos to better picture it. Especially the SHOES...I can't make good choices there about what looks good together.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: new clothes topic. . .
