First of all, I need to apologize to the makers of the Slanket/Snuggie. After two days of temperatures that haven’t gotten above 50, I would sell my Aunt Pearl to own a Snuggie.
(I don’t really have an Aunt Pearl.)
(I could actually go up to HEB and buy a Snuggie if I really wanted one. I’m just being dramatic.)
The point is that if someone tried to judge if I was alive by feeling my feet for any sign of warmth or life, they would bury me alive. Not even my Uggs can help me now.
Okay, so many of y’all asked about the green sundress Caroline was wearing in Tuesday’s post. I found it at TJ Maxx for $10.00. It’s a brand called Hype and it must run small because that dress is a size 8. I always check TJ Maxx for their kids’ clothes because they have some amazing deals and carry a lot of brand name stuff.
Kids have a total racket going with that whole “growing out of things” issue that they have going on. It’s all a pretty clever scheme to ensure a whole new wardrobe every season. Technically, I guess I could eat eighteen pans of brownies and grow out of my clothes too.
On a totally different note, last Friday I drove to Georgetown to talk to a MOPS group about fashion. They asked me to discuss spring trends and how to make the most of your wardrobe. So in lieu of answering questions today, I thought I’d share with you all the fashion advice I imparted in Georgetown, Texas last week.
1. Before you buy anything or go shopping, SHOP YOUR CLOSET.
I realize that sounds totally depressing and, trust me, it totally is. However, you may be surprised to find a few things that you’d forgotten you own. This happened to me in the form of a cute white tuxedo shirt I bought from Gap about six years ago and have now worn twice in the last two weeks.
The most entertaining way to do this is to invite a friend over whose opinion you trust, give the kids a bag of glass to keep them occupied, and try on EVERYTHING in your closet. Pants, jeans, dresses, shoes, and accessories.
EVERYTHING.
2. Make four piles: KEEP, DONATE, THROW IT OUT, ALTERATIONS
Here are some guidelines: If it’s stained, pilled, or faded then throw it out. Don’t look at me like that, THROW IT OUT.
If you haven’t worn it in two years, throw it out or donate it. The only exception is if it has the potential to be a quality vintage piece someday. I don’t care what anyone tells you, those faded pink capri pants from Old Navy will never be considered vintage.
Be honest about what you think needs to be altered. In fact, if you don’t take it to a tailor within two weeks of putting it in the Alterations pile, then you need to get rid of it because that garment is never going to become acquainted with a needle and thread.
3. Group what’s left by category and color.
Be prepared to mourn the lack of quantity in your closet, but console yourself with the fact that you never wore any of that other stuff anyway. It was all just a grown-up version of a security blanket, Linus.
Once you have a moment of silence for the dearly departed, put everything in categories according to whether it’s a shirt, jeans, dress, etc. Look at everything and put together some complete outfits, including shoes and jewelry.
If you’re really anal and organized, you can write potential outfits down on paper, or you can be like me and just remember them using Jedi mind tricks.
4. Now figure out what you need to fill in the missing space.
Do you need a new white t-shirt to wear under something? Some new tanks? Maybe a new statement necklace or a cuff bracelet to make an outfit pop a little bit?
You may not be able to go buy it all at once, but at least you know what you have and what you need. This will keep you from owning eight of the exact same black tanks from Old Navy.
Purely hypothetical scenario.
5. Every closet should have a few essential things, no matter the trends.
(Am I about to do an outline? Shut up. I thought that was a completely impractical skill set, like quadratic equations.)
(Is there really such a thing as quadratic equations?)
A. A great pair of jeans that are comfortable and fit well.
I am a believer in spending a little more for a great pair of jeans because, if you’re like me, you’ll wear them all the time. You can find great deals on designer jeans at TJ Maxx, Ebay, and even Sam’s.
What kind of marvelous world do we live in when you can purchase high-end jeans and bulk toilet paper all in one convenient location?
B. A decent pair of workout pants or yoga pants.
There will be days that you don’t want to dress up and if you have some decent looking athletic wear, you can just give the illusion that you’ve been working out, as opposed to giving up on life.
C. A comfortable, yet stylish pair of shoes.
Sneakers, flip-flops, cute sandals, mary janes, clogs, cowboy boots. Something you can wear every day and still look cute.
Of course, it’s also nice to have some shoes that aren’t as practical but fill up a little place in your heart and make you happy.
D. A well-fitting swimsuit and coverup.
(I also truly adore this one but we need to spend money on things like food) that allow you to chase your child around the pool while maintaining your dignity.
I hate to open this can of cellulite-fearing worms, but it’s true. If you have a child then it’s hard to avoid the swimsuit in the summer time, unless you hire an aquatic nanny.
E. A nice outfit for dinner out with the girls or a date with your husband and/or significant other.
Maybe a cute, short-sleeved linen jacketor fun top paired with jeans. Then there’s always the option of a casual dress, or maybe a little more tailored dress, or even a skirt.
Okay, that is a lot of information for one post. I was going to start in on trends for spring, but I’m going to save it for next week for two reasons. First of all, because I can. It’s like a cliffhanger or, rather, a clothes’ hanger. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself even though I know it’s stupid.) And secondly, I need to get a good night’s sleep because y’all have inspired me to finish out our Spring Break with a day o’ crafts and mani/pedis tomorrow. It’s going to require all my energy.
I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you want to add any fashion information to this post. You may also want to check out a great fashion post that Kelly wrote this week. She had some great bargain finds.
Have a great Friday!