Author: Big Mama

Welcome back, Fashion Friday. At least five of us have missed you oh so much.

Earlier in the week when I mentioned all of my various hallucinations, I didn’t mention the one that caused chills to run down my spine. It was too frightening, too horrific. I’m not in the business of writing horror stories, people.

Apparently, I’m in the business of writing nonsensical things about my life.

But, in the interest of sharing and because it is relevant to Fashion Friday, I will share with the group.

In the midst of my fever breaking and being all cracked out on the Tussionex cough syrup, I dreamed (hallucinated? imagined?) that I pulled my very favorite pair of Seven jeans out of the dryer only to discover that they had become faded beyond repair, tapered at the bottom and, worst of all, high-waisted.

In fact, in my vision they appeared very much like the jeans that I am depicted wearing here at church camp the summer before my junior year in high school.

Make no mistake, the fifteen year old me worked very hard with a mixture of Clorox and razor blades to achieve that particular look back in 1987. Because I believed with all my adolescent heart that those jeans made me a little edgy and mysterious in spite of the fact that I wore large bows in my hair on a regular basis.

However, it would be a travesty to have this damage done to my favorite pair of Seven jeans. In 2008.

So, y’all can imagine my relief when I went to my closet the next morning and found my jeans hanging exactly where they should be in their present dark rinse, non-tapered leg, low-rise state. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to weep with relief.

And, really, none of this relates to Fashion Friday whatsoever. Except for this nugget of truth, Cloroxed Guess jeans aren’t really a timeless classic.

Now, let’s get to the questions.

1. Jen P asks: “Am I missing the boat on jewelry? Because I am all about the COMPLETE LOOK. I want to make sure I am complete, all framed out, no loose ends, sort of thing.”

I related to Jen’s email because she mentioned that she usually sticks with the safe diamond stud earrings and not much else in the way of accessories. This is something I have really wanted to work on in my own fashion world. Unless I’m going somewhere like a party, I tend to stick with earrings and my wedding ring. Which is fine. Boring, but fine.

I just know that when I see someone with great accessories, it makes the outfit. It can be a plain black sweater and jeans, but the right earrings or necklace takes it from ordinary to extraordinary. I think the key is to remember a little goes a long way. Make sure you don’t have too much going on, but ladies, we are seriously missing out if we don’t take advantage of jewelry that looks like this.

Or this.

Or this.

Or this.

Bottom line, jewelry is your friend. Let’s all encourage each other as we work to accessorize more completely in 2008.

2. Lisa asks: “What is the deal with outerwear? More specifically, must it match your outfit?”

Great question. I personally do not think outerwear has to match your outfit. I recommend having one good long coat in a neutral color that you can wear with everything. Then, you can buy various scarves, hats, etc. to change the look around.

I’d look for a winter coat in a classic style, like this one, and best of all, you can probably find one on sale this time of year.

However, I am a big fan of jackets and coats, so while I have a long, camel colored coat that I wear alot, I also have various courdoroy blazers, velvet peacoats, and sweater coats that I wear with various outfits. I think the key to how well these have to coordinate with your outfit is based on whether or not they are truly just outerwear that you plan on shedding once indoors or if you plan to leave them on as part of your overall outfit.

Here are a few great jackets and coats.

I love this peacoat.

Look at this cute jacket from Anthropologie. It could be dressed up or down.

Here’s a twill peacoat from Old Navy.

And, of course, I have always been a loyal fan of the denim jacket. For me, it’s a wardrobe staple.

3. Hunter Dave asks: “It being deer season here in South Texas, I need some advice. I haven’t been camo shopping in almost two years, and so I’m worried I’ll look like an out-of-style reject in the deer blind. But with a baby on the way, I can’t splurge at Cabela’s like I want to. Does camo ever really go out of style? If so, how can I put together a fashionable ensemble without busting my wallet?”

Oh, Hunter Dave, just the fact that you’re asking about camo styles warms my heart. And really, take heart in knowing that most hunters do look like out-of-style rejects. It’s just their way.

According to P’s hunting closet, I can safely say that, apparently, camo never goes out of style. Even though we have several examples of why it should. The best advice I can give you is to forget Cabela’s and their high prices and just go to Walmart like the rest of the rednecks. Just look at what I found on their website.

At $79.98, that is a steal. And it gives whole new meaning to the term “out-of-style reject”.

Or come raid our closet while P’s not home. There’s so much camo in there, he’d never know the difference.

Let’s just say he has camo that’s older than the Cloroxed jeans I’m wearing in the picture above.

And that, my friends, is old.

Happy Friday!