Who knew fashion could be so mentally draining? Honestly, I have put more thought into this last week of Fashion posts than anything else in recent memory. Which isn’t actually saying that much.
I went shopping at TJ Maxx yesterday (purely in the name of research, I am working hard and unselfishly, for you, the reader) and my arms are sore today from the amount of clothing I toted around the store.
I finally reached the dressing room with my arms loaded down with designer jeans. Paige premiums, 7 for all Mankind, Rock and Republic…an abundance of denim riches. I also picked up several shirts and sweaters along the way, along with some activewear-type apparel.
Of course at TJ Maxx there is a limit to the amount of items they allow in the dressing room.
The little old lady guarding the dressing room, with the fervor of a pitbull on steroids, informed me I could only take in 8 of my 9 items. I counted out the 8 things I wanted to take in, handed her the 9th item, and said, “I’ll just take these things in and leave this out here.” She looked at the shirt I had just handed her and said, “Well, that’s probably for the best.”
I tell you this true story of being critiqued by the dressing room monitor at a discount store to let y’all know you need to take everything I say with a large grain of salt. Obviously, not everyone agrees with my taste.
Just ask the lady at TJ Maxx.
So, the past week has brought up some reader questions, which I will do my best to answer in a thoughtful, informative, well thought out way. Or you know, completely at random.
1. Candace from Mama Mia asks: Are the boots from Target you mentioned earlier in the week too dressy to wear with dark rinse jeans and a black t-shirt?
I certainly do not think they are too dressy. I feel a sign of a good boot is that it be versatile. I think there is no better way to dress up a cute pair of jeans and a t-shirt than with some good accessories, including, but not limited to, footwear.
2. Beth asks two different questions: What about jeans with no back pockets?
My gut instinct is to say stay away from jeans with no back pockets. My thought is that then you just have all rear end and nothing to kind of break it up, so to speak. I think pockets can create booty illusions that are crucial to looking attractive in a pair of jeans.
However, I do remember girls wearing Rocky Mountain jeans in college (remember, I went to Texas A&M) and they didn’t have back pockets. Of course, the girls wearing them were about a size zero and were in no need of creating any kind of booty illusions.
Second question: And what about wearing a jean jacket with a pair of jeans? Was that only for 1988?
Why, yes. Yes it was. And unless you’re planning on starring in a remake of Back to the Future, I suggest staying away from mixing your denims.
In all seriousness, I love a good jean jacket. Once the weather cools off, I will wear mine to the point that people will wonder if it’s some sort of uniform. I am not kidding.
However, I do not wear it with other denim items. Try a denim jacket with corduroy pants, skirts, black pants, walking shorts, gauchos, or over a cute, casual dress. Or, one of my favorite casual looks is to wear a t-shirt and a denim jacket with some velour yoga-type pants.
It’s the perfect casual outfit.
3. Zoom asks: All of the models in the pictures have a disjointed hip. Does that mean that we will have to stand one foot in front of the other, with one hip up in the air to receive maxium jean wearing pleasure???
Excellent question. I would say posture is a matter of personal taste. However, if you constantly stand on one foot with one hip up in the air, it won’t really matter what kind of jeans you have on. Everyone will be too distracted by your Karate Kid-like moves.
4. Alison from All My Sunbeams asks: i went and bought 3 pairs of natural fit jeans from Kohls last fall–they’re kind of boot-cut, and they sit just below the natural waist. They have some stretch to them and look great! The only problem i have is that they start to slide down, kind of like pantyhose will–so i’m pulling them back up constantly, and they’re not big on me–they fit the way they’re suppposed to. how do i fix this?
Well Alison, I’m not sure what to tell you. I don’t know what brand they are, but it could just be that the stretch has worn out over time.
When I bought my 7 jeans, the salesgirl advised me to buy them tighter than I usually buy jeans because they would give over time. I was extremely nervous about this because, honestly, I felt a little like a cheap tart in too tight jeans. But you know what? She was right. They have definitely stretched out quite a bit. So, next time you buy jeans with stretch, you may want to consider going a size smaller than usual.
The other thing to know about stretch jeans is that the heat from the dryer can cause the stretchiness to lose some stretch. So, you may want to hang them to dry.
Now, if they fit great but just slide down, I don’t know what to tell you.
Maybe suspenders?
Oh, I’m kidding. I’d never, ever advise anyone to wear suspenders.
Unless, of course, you’re playing the role of an alien from outer space on an early 80’s television show.
5. Judy from Hearts Look Upward asks: Will you come and go shopping with me please? I really hate it and it wrecks havoc when stuff needs to be replaced. About the jeans – do you tuck the shirt in? Or not? That’s the new 60,000 dollar question.
Yes, I will go shopping with you. In fact, I would love to take a little vacation, so if you’ll send me a plane ticket, we can hit the malls.
As for the shirt tucked in or out, it’s a matter of personal taste. I cannot stand having a shirt tucked in. I haven’t tucked in a shirt since about 1992 and I like it that way. The problem with tucked in shirts is that they require belts and then it just becomes a whole other issue.
But no one will fault you for tucking in a shirt and I’m sure your mama would be very proud.
I will take my $60,000 in cash or money order.
Alright, there are more questions but I’ll save those for tomorrow, or maybe the next day, or maybe next week. Seriously, my shoulder is killing me from carrying all those clothes around yesterday. I may need to file a workman’s comp claim.
I will leave y’all with this story.
Yesterday morning I got Caroline all dressed for school. She was wearing the hot pink outfit that she ate some of the bedazzles off of earlier last month. (By the way, eating your clothes is ALWAYS a fashion don’t) I told her I was going to fix her hair in a new style, and I put part of it up with a bow and left the rest down.
She ran into the bathroom to check out her new look. She examined herself from every angle in the mirror and finally said in a deep sigh, “Oh man, people are going to tell me ALL DAY LONG how beautiful I look.”
As if the very thought of all those compliments was just wearing her out.
And that’s what fashion week is really about. It doesn’t matter what you wear or if it’s the latest and greatest style. What I’d like for each one of us is to feel that self-confident when we walk out the door every day.