the FASHION thread

TeeHee.  I'm the proverbial pear.  LOL DO NOT have "swivel hips."  You are so lucky; you can wear all those lovely pants styles.  Well, looking on the bright side, I can sit on bleachers all day and not get uncomfortable.

I have ordered some fat pants, cotton/spandex knit with drawstring waist, in a larger size, from Land's End.  A pair in navy and a pair in heather gray.  I'll probably look like a lump, but what ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  Sigh.  Anyway, with the drawstring waist they'll probably do extended duty later as jammies.

Speaking of jammies, my favorite outfit is oversized bottoms made out of a brushed cotton but not flannel.  Oversized is great because they don't bind up in your crotch at night.  The top of choice is a rib-knit, scoop-neck, sleeveless T (from LLBean or JCrew) that hugs the body.  No riding up and no cold trunk.  If it's really cold, a microfleece turtleneck goes over it all.  Boy, am I sexy or what?

Tina

Lipo in a box  any testimonals with this product

http://www.lipoinabox.com

Thanks evil!

Well...I have purchased a few clothing items to wear to my new job. TJMaxx has GREAT stuff...some of you have posted about it. Their prices are FAB too! I'm lucky because I'll be able to wear jeans. Nice jeans...not sloppy OR grungy. I took my 17 yr old niece with me - she helped me choose "current/in" items. LOL I thanked her for keeping me "young" and in style. LOL She has a great sense of style. It's amazing at her age...she knows exactly what looks good on her and what doesn't! I'm still learning! LOL I've always envied that ability. She's teaching me lots! It's amazing how the tables turn!

txgrl01, you asked a while ago for advice on being able to wear those scoopy neck empire waist tops.  Well, I just saw the cutest bra/idea that might be right for you.  Garnet Hill has a very decorative bra that is meant to show with low necks.  Take a look.

www.garnethill.com  Search for Natori lace cami bra.  I cannot get the URL link to work for some reason so you'll have to do the search.

This is so cute!

Tina

I read the Llyod Boston tips on Oprah's website- liked the tips. I have recently been adding color to my wardrobe and breaking out of my black and grey rut. I love the advice on bright scarves and the cashmere sweaters. I got hooked on cashmere sweaters last year- usually buy them at my favorite consignment shop but did get a new one from my mom on my birthday. Overall I go for quality over quantity in my wardrode- like to have a few things I really love vs an overflowing closet. I do see a trench - maybe a bright one as LB suggests - in my future. On bikinis- I know I am getting pretty damn old but I SWEAR I look better in a bikini than in a one piece. This was one of my reasons against reconstruction- the tummy is still good despite 2 kids and almost 50 years. If I was going to spend $$$$ and pain on fixing something it would definitely be my legs. Once I get over my medical tx burnout I may "treat" myself to some varicose vein surgery. I try to use the flat belly as a distraction to keep people from looking down .

are ballet flats still in style?

I'm going to Hawaii in 20 days and was in the market for a bathing suit. For those of you wondering about the Venus swimwear, I've been ordering it for years for both myself and my girls. I own a boat and we're on the lake and in the pool alot. It holds up very well. This year I went to a place here in Michigan that makes them. It's called Excelnt Swimwear. I was able to get a skirted bikini that fits my reconstructed breasts very well. My 17 year old was also very happy because she was able to get a young looking bikini with small bottoms but they made her a 32G top. Obviously something we couldn't get at a store.

They have a website but it doesn't do them justice. They can make much younger looking suits than just what's on the website. They also are familiar with working with women with mastectomies, or women who are hiding bags or diabetic pumps, etc.

Sharon

drw, never heard of them before but I just googled them and there are some stores an hour or two fromme.  Thanks for the tip!

Tina

I've never actually purchased any H&M stuff, but always like their fashions in Glamour and Self magazines. And those prices are fabulous!

Tina....I don't think anyone can look bad in leggings and ballet flats with a mid-thigh length dress over the leggings. For women our age, I think that less fussy colors and styles look better. For myself, a totally black look is attractive....black leggings, a smooth, knit, empire-waist dress with cap or long sleeves and black flats. Oh yes, and a black fedora (just kidding...I'm getting carried away!).

~Marin

Marin, I have to tell you, I saw a very unflattering example of the leggings/short dress combo yesterday that could serve as a cautionary tale. The wearer was a middleaged woman of petite stature, maybe 5'3. She had curly (frizzy) hair about chin length - first horizontal line. Her smooth knit, empire waist dress had a square neckline - 2nd horizontal line. The elastic under her substantial bosom was in line with the elastic around her sleeves, another horizontal line. The hem hit about mid-high thigh, where unfortunately this individual was somewhat broad and this horizontal line only accentuated it. Her leggings ended above her ankles, giving a stark horizontal line between black and white at a point of roundess on her calves and pointing up the fact that she did not have slender, defined ankles. Her ballet flats were that, FLAT, with no structure, making her feet spread like pancakes.

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Not a fashionista look. It illustrates though, my belief that one needs to THINK about styles. Just because it's what is 'in fashion', it's what is in the stores, does not mean it is what you should wear.

Major disclaimer here: I am pretty conservative with my clothes. I go for classics -  Anne Taylor, Jones New York, Talbots, LLBean. Natural fibers. But what I bought at Nordies 10 years ago I still get compliments on today. So I am a fashion dud in many ways, but it works for me. I never bought a single pair of thick or wide heeled dress shoes in all those years that those were ALL that was out there. I didn't think they were flattering - I like a classic European heel. Some chunky heel - even on a spring dress sandal - was just incongruous to me. I knew the classics would come back. Sure enough, I have been vindicated - every Jimmy Choo and Manolo B. has a nice delicate heel that compliments a woman's foot and ankle.

Well, tjhat's my rant.

Lisa

Marin, the black look you describe is also very me, when I am not "down on the farm."  Did you see Oprah yesterday?  She had on Vera Wang, and Vera is the queen of leggings with longish top.  Also, black and dark colors.  I love her look.

I, OTOH, do not have long, black hair.  Right now it's many-layered, curly from chemo still and almost touching my shoulders in spite of the curls.  Ash blonde/brown.  Blue eyes.  Pinky skin.  Oh, no Vera Wang.  But, I still LOVE the look.  I'm trying to think up some way of adapting it for me.  Luckily, I am not too broad in the beam.    Well, just a tad, but not so you'd notice.

It's true that some women do not consider at all their body type when dressing.  I knew a rather zaftig (sp?) woman years ago that was half in tears one day because she had been told by her husband the night before, when they were all dressed up to go to some party, that she looked like a "bag of basketballs."  It did prompt her to go on a diet. LOL  I'll never forget that.

My clothing philosophy is that I should wear the clothes, not the other way around.  Anything that smacks of attention getting or too wacky is not me.  My mental warning whistles go off at the first hint of looking ridiculous. 

OTOH, I do believe in that little, sneaky bit of tart, maybe a bright lining in a conservative coat or racy underwear under the jeans.  A tendril of hair on the neck.  You get the picture.

Tina

Has anyone ordered anything from the catalog Boden?  Right now they're having free shipping, free returns and 10% off.  I'm tempted to try but............

Tina

I wanna know Beth's fashion advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

Signed, fashionably inept

"Geek chic" as my brother calls it with a sprinkling of granola over here- I just want to see what Marin says...if she's surprised or if she had me pegged. Love the all black look BTW but recently have discovered color- esp. fushia/raspberry. Beth NY- nice to hear your fashion etc. input again!