flea | Entries tagged with fashion

Woo, exciting, I know!

Casper needs:
-Jeans, maybe 2 more pairs (retire the two pairs from last year which are both too small and have holes) - Old Navy/Target?
-a longer skirt - she has been liking those three-tier full ones in catalogs, should be able to find something similar cheap.
-leggings? She has 1 pair, black. (Target)
-tights? Need to check what still fits.
-new undershirts (old ones outgrown) I may spring for Petit Bateau because they are so lovely.
-a couple more long-sleeved shirts - I love a layered leaf print one at Hanna that went on sale today, they have great stripey/dot hoodies at LL Bean, and tie dye at Lands End (still loves tie dye)
-maybe a sweater? They have a cute swing cardigan at LL Bean.

She doesn't wear dresses much any more, but does wear her black velvet skirt and red tutu skirt with shorts under. I have a watch on a black velvet Hanna dress on ebay - she saw the black tutus they have now and wants one (also the hot pink and black tee and tights, natch.)

Dillo needs:
-More, and bigger, underpants.
-socks, socks, socks. He has like 3 pairs right now. (Old Navy)
-maybe another pair of shoes; he basically has crocs and sneakers right now.
-elastic-waist pants he can get up and down by himself. He has some, must count.
-long-sleeve Ts that are 3T and are not turtlenecks. Preferably not character-themed. (Preferably striped!)

He has a fair number of clothes, there's just a limited amount of stuff that I actually think is cool. Boy clothes are sadly boring. (Tea Collection and Hannas are the best, style-wise, IMO.)

Both kids have sweatshirts and lined raincoats, which can be combined if it gets cold. Neither has rain boots that fit at the moment.

Me:
-black tights. As usual.
-basic long-sleeve t-shirts, in white and/or off-white (J Crew?
-more cashmere!

I am debating what to do about my hair. I kind of want to grow it out into a bob, but we are embarking on summer, a time of humidity and pouffiness and sweat. Growing out my hair now seems like a bad idea. But I am tired of having it super-short. Wouldn't it be nice if we were like those dolls that you can adjust their hair length at will?

I am testing Neutrogena's Build a Tan lotion product. A patch test on my thigh on Sunday produced no rash. Unfortunately it also did not produce any discernible tan. I did my whole legs this morning, so we will see.

I want to buy tons of summer clothes (J. Jill is having lovely blueberry and lavender colors, just right for me), but between house repairs and car repairs and tooth repairs I don't feel like I can splurge. I don't really need anything, so will try to hang on for the inevitable clearance sales.

Still desperately want a staycation. I worked solidly on the house between dinner and bedtime last night and made very little dent. So frustrating to have the sink empty and clean and by the next morning it's full of dishes again.

Last week Casper emerged from my closet dressed in my cream-colored polyester half-slip with my black Patagonia long underpants wrapped around it at the chest and announced that she was wearing this outfit to the wedding (my brother's, in New Hampshire, in late May).

After disabusing her of this notion I did own that we could look for a "silky dress" for her to wear to the wedding. So I'm looking, and not finding what I want. There are silk dresses (J. Crew's kids line) but these tend to be highly structured and rather more formal than what I think she wants. She wants the silky feel, not necessarily actual silk. I've looked at Gap Kids, Olive Juice, Mini Boden, Gymboree, and Etsy, and am well familiar with the options at Hanna Andersson, Lands End, and LL Bean, but nothing seems to suit. What I want is either something simply styled in washed silk (like those Waldorf School silk playscarves), or something simply styled in a silky jersey knit. I'd prefer actual silk or a silk-cotton knit blend, but am willing to settle for woven polyester or a cotton-poly jersey. But I can't find anything right. Ideas? Am I going to have to resort to asking my mother to sew something?

Also, a late May NH wedding is a bit of a dilemma, style-wise. It is in the afternoon and the principals will be in full rig - and all their 10,000 attendants. I can't remember what the weather is like in normal parts of the country in late May - for Casper will it be white tights and black patent shoes, or sandals? For me, oh dear, my dress shoes consist of purple suede Danskos (in May? It's before Memorial Day...), black Mary Janes that are 15 years old, or my wedding shoes. And I have nothing to wear on my body. I suppose I need to go dress shopping, too. I would actually like to own a dress, but do not have high hopes for finding anything off the rack due to longwaistedness. I'll probably settle for separates.

Am I nuts for considering buying one of those swimsuits with a little skirt? Not because I am ashamed of my ass - I actually think I have a rather nice ass, although it is admittedly blinding white and somewhat cottage-cheesy - but because I hate shaving my bikini line, but can't bring myself to overcome societal prejudice and just go hairily forth.

So, are swimsuits with skirts always super-duper-dowdy, or could they be cute and charmingly retro or ironic?

I hate being female sometimes.

Why is it that stripes and plaid are gender-neutral, but polka-dots are uniformly feminine? Is there anything particularly female about dots? I mean, they are round - is that all it takes to be off-limit for male clothes (except, I guess, neckties)?

I spent quite a lot of time today looking to buy a SUIT on websites (Lands End, J Crew, and the like.) Note: I do not currently own a suit. I have never owned a suit. I do not need a suit.

mr. flea, on the other hand, has a job interview on Friday, so we were discussing what he should wear. His suit doesn't fit him any more. Today he called the receptionist and asked about the work environment. She said office casual and when he floated the suit idea she said, "Well, I wouldn't go out and buy a suit if I were you." Sportcoat and khakis it is.

But, here's the insane thing: today, I kind of want to own a suit. I want the kind of life that requires occasional dressing up. Also, dining out, driving ridiculous flashy cars, and international travel, business class. I never have had and never will have such a life. I don't usually want it. Perhaps it is the aftermath of spending yesterday watching TV with sick children in pajamas on a crumby living room rug that makes me want a suit today.

(Dillo is much better. He was quite sick all yesterday, but the fever broke at about 6 and he had a normal night and went off to school for the afternoon, since he eats and naps better for them than for us, and he needs food and sleep. Casper threw up at 8:45 but then was fine the rest of the day, so whatever.)

Another in the annals of the New York Times Style section on upscale urban parenting...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/garden/14kids.html?_r=1&ref=garden&oref=slogin

If you look at the comments, on page 5 a couple of the people profiled in the article commented, more or less hurt or amused at the mostly negative response to their parenting choices to put designer furniture above their children. My question is, why would anyone agree to be the focus of a NYT Style section article on parenting NOT expecting to be portrayed as a completely shallow, over-priviledged twit? It's their stock in trade! Don't these people READ the Times Style section?

Baby name notes: rich people with designer furniture are likely to name thier kids: Harrison, Cole, Brooke, Raine, Beckett, Vin, Fia, Ryder, Seth.

Casper: "You look very - elegant."
me: "I look elegant? Thank you!"
Casper: "There's something that's sort of like Sears."

Casper herself is looking elegant; Bobby cut her hair in the salon chair last night, so now it's chin length. Still no bangs (which was the first thing my mother asked.) Bobby was *incredibly* sweet with her, and she was very good and adorable.

It's been a rather undistinguished spring for fashion - little in the way of trends or interesting/innovative dressing.

New things I have been seeing:
Black leggings, both ankle length and capri, especially paired with jeans miniskirts (mid-thigh or above, straight).
Jeans worn capri-length with a turned-up cuff of about 4 inches.
Little dainty spring dresses, often knit, generally very short and tight-bodiced, but somewhat fluttery and feminine.

Things said to be trendy that I am not seeing:
Skinny jeans. We are still heavily boot-cut.
80s style stuff in general. We have preppy-80s, but not Flashdance-80s.

Things I saw last year that I am not seeing much any more:
Knee-length shorts.
Knit gauchos.
80s-style hoop earrings.
Scuff-style sandals with sequins on the toes.

Things I saw last year that continue in force:
Ballet flats. In general they seem plainer now - more simple black leather, less tweed/sparkle.

Things that will never die:
Rainbow flipflops.
Uggs.
Shorts and sweatpants with things written on the butt.
Layered bras and tank tops with multi-colored straps on the shoulders.

I got my hair cut again last night (note to amych: Bobby has moved to Stage 1) and am wearing a camel knit sleeveless tank with a deep notch at the neck, a trumpet-shaped rayon skirt in camel with white polka dots, and black strappy Danskos. I should have worn a bright necklace, or lipstick; I need more color near the face, since the outfit basically matches my hair.