Fashion through the Ages

This week's schedule of blogs:
Monday - Fashion by Heather
Tuesday - Food by Ann
Wednesday - Frugality by Sheila
Thursday - Furnishings by Heather
Friday - Fun by Ann

November 5, 2012

by Heather

One of my favorite times of the year has always been the start of school…but not entirely because I’m eager to get back to books and learning (perhaps as a teacher I shouldn’t admit that).  It’s because the start of school has always meant back-to-school clothes shopping.  I remember shopping with my mother in the late 1960s in a downtown Minneapolis store that kept the merchandise behind closed doors and brought out only those items in which you might be interested  – in that particular case it was a cream drop-waist dress with leopard print collar and cuffs (see how cyclical fashion is?).  My favorite memory is of a burgundy (oxblood? wine? And isn’t that this fall’s signature color?) corduroy jumper purchased for the first day of school in 7^th grade.  It even smelled good. 

Fashion was such an interest of mine that it became my major in college along with a minor in Interior Design.  Upon graduation, I was lucky enough to be hired for the executive training program of a major fashion department store and thus began my career in both buying and store management.  I like to blame that job for my increased interest in buying clothing, but if I look back at pictures of my youth, I was into fashion way before that time.  

Even though I eventually left that field to pursue another career, I still have a passion for all things pretty in clothing and fashion accessories. I believe that all women can dress well, no matter their age or budget constraints.  Certain people that we know or see can inspire our looks, and that inspiration combined with our own creativity is what makes fashion fun for me.  One of my early fashion icons was “That Girl.”  I still like the matchy-matchy style of Marlo Thomas in that role, even though I know it’s not a current fashion trend.  Knowing what the trends are, though, is different than following them blindly.  I think it’s important to know what you like and what looks good on your body shape…and what’s age appropriate.  And sometimes it’s just okay to say “I like this and I’m old enough to wear it if I want to!"

The time I invest in shopping and then creating outfits is an artistic outlet for me – one that I enjoy.  Even my pastimes are perhaps excuses to engage in this endeavor.  My husband says that I love riding my motorcycle more for the opportunity to expand my wardrobe into all things leather and bling than for the sheer joy of having the wind in my hair.  He might be halfway right.

Below is my first experimentation with photographing an outfit.

Even though the temps here in Scottsdale, AZ, are still hovering in the 90s, I'm convinced that someday soon it will be cool enough to wear this Chico's black fringed shawl collar coat with leopard print pants.  I wouldn't have thought I could do the leopard print (my bottom half is not the smallest part of me), but the longer  black coat camouflages the "bigger" parts.  Cinching the coat with an animal print belt (also from Chico's) defines my waist -- a help for those of us classified as curvy (I like "curvy" instead of plump...I also "purr" instead of snore and "glisten" instead of sweat).

I've accessorized the outfit with bracelets from Ann Taylor, the Loft, Chico's, and ....I don't remember where the gold bling linked bracelet came from (an age-related hazard), but it seems to be featured in many fashion blogs these days.  The boots are from Nordstrom's and the sunglasses are from Tiffany.

The necklace is also a Chico's find.  Gotta love that Chico's -- the one at Kierland Commons (Scottsdale, AZ) is particularly good.  Ask for Paula!

Would love to hear from you! 

H