It's finally back to school time here in my neck of the woods. The kids, for the most part, are not ready to go back. I think it's because our household population is predominately male and they don't understand the awesomeness of the back-to-school wardrobe.
As a kid, I think that is the only reason I even went to school. (Other than, ya know, the illegality of not getting an education. Unless you are from Kentucky, where not getting an education is completely acceptable and actually embraced. Just kidding Kentucky. But you do have to admit: Turtle Man is from Kentucky, therefore ... ) I especially remember the year I was twelve (or thirteen. Yes, I remember it well.) and I got to shop at the mall (and not at JCPenny's) in a trendy junior's store. One of our ultra-cool youth leaders worked there and she helped PaulaShawn (without the Shawn because we didn't know him back then.) and me select an entire wardrobe full of interchangeable outfits. It was heaven! My very favorite outfit was PINK PAISLEY JEANS with a pink oxford that buttoned all the way to the top.
I sincerely hope buttoning shirts to top never comes back in style since nowadays I gag when something touches my neck, which means turtlenecks are forbidden from ever coming into style again either. Especially for men. Eww.
But, as I tried searching for a nerdy 1970's era man wearing a turtleneck, I found this picture of Hugh Jackman. Um ... almost acceptable, but just ... no. Sorry Hugh. No man should wear that unless he is in the Swiss Alps on a ski vacation and he has matching white snowpants.
So back to the paisley jeans thing. Printed jeans are back in style, but I've always heard the rule that if you wore something as a teenager and it comes back into style, you're not supposed to follow that trend again as you will look like a middle-aged lady desperately clinging to your youth. Does that mean I can't buy a pair of these?
These just scream, "I am Lori, hear me roar!"
How do you feel about fashion? Is it your passion? Or are you glad to just have something to wear other than your birthday suit? Or would you actually prefer to wear your birthday suit??? (That one better be a "NO." This is an anti-nudist blog.)
What styles do you hope never come back into fashion? Do you have an all-time favorite outfit? Is there something missing from your wardrobe that you would love to have? I would love to have a Golden Age of Hollywood style formal gown--something billowy and shimmery and elegant. And then I would need an occasion to wear it.
And then answer me this: what is the oldest thing you have in your closet (other than a prom dress or wedding dress)? I have a 1995 denim shirt, oversized with a zipper that is worn with leggings. I actually wore it when I was pregnant. I have no idea why I've kept it, because I really can't see ever wearing it again. Unless I paired it with those awesome animal print jeans.
Talk to me. Or as they say in the fashion capital of the world: je ne se qua. Wait, that's not right: bon appetit. No, that's still not it. Hmm, I guess I need to brush up on my French if I want to have a passion for fashion. Es tu turno! (Hablas Espanol?)
11 comments:
I don't think fashion awareness has ever been one of my talents. That's one reason why I liked living in Eugene, Oregon (Hippy central), where people don't match their socks and no one cares what you wear and people there don't judge you by what you wear, generally. Sometimes I wish everyone thought that way.
I guess when you ask what is the oldest thing in our closet, you're not counting our old favorite shirts from high school that we have stashed in boxes that we can't bear to throw away, but that we don't actually wear either, right? 'Cause I have lots of those, mostly jazz choir shirts. Other than that, I have some old sweatshirts from college that I do still like to wear--so that could be from as early as 1993 or '94, perhaps.
Hugh Jackman in a turtleneck...hmmm...I know you were thinking of me when you put that on, so THANKS! Maybe next month we could see what he looks like in flannel pajamas? Just a thought ; ), since you're always looking for blog post ideas, ha ha : )!
I hope I never see stone-washed jeans come back into fashion. Those are pretty ugly, especially when you peg the legs and roll them up the way we did. But I do think I'm still a fan of the florescent colors that we wore WITH the stonewashed jeans...that's been fun to see lately!
I used to detest bell bottoms, until they came back (2nd generation), and now they're still my favorite. I hope all of my kids and grandkids will wear them again someday. Flares included.
As for those animal prints, all I want to say is do they make those prints in velvet? That would rock. (Although it looks like the only person who would fit into those in your picture would have to be a size zero mannequin, so they better be stretchy).
I love new clothes but I hate shopping for them. Case in point: I went back to school shopping last week (yay for being a teacher and still getting to go back to school shopping!) and it was a nightmare! All I wanted were some cute tops but they were all knit and see through or one shouldered. I can work the with knit tops, but it just means layering and buying more clothes. So I get less outfits for more money. Which I dislike. Also, we noticed how everything is neon, just like in the 80's. That's one thing I hope never comes back- 80's hair styles. Those awful poofed bangs. I still hate looking at my little kid pictures because my mom did that to me! And the oldest thing in my closet.... has to be from high school? I have tons of old hoodies in there... but that's about it. At home, I have my prom dress, and that is the oldest thing (it's from 2004, so it's ancient ;P).
I love the changing of seasons and the seeing the styles change with them. I think all the bright color that's back in style is super cute... but only on certain people. What looks ok on the rack maybe doesn't look so ok on me.
I LOVE formal dresses but have no need for them in my life. They are so pretty and elegant I love to
look at them.
The oldest thing in my closet... a cute button up shirt that I got from Grandma as a teenager. I have even worn it recently...(probably shouldn't admit that) I've hung on to it because I got nice compliments when I wore it.
It seems like no matter what the style is when it inevitably goes back out of style we all kind of have a "what was I thinking moment" Well, at least I do.
JazznJenna: I need to move to Eugene because matching up kids socks is the bane of my existence! I love your velvet idea--see, you are a fashionista! I had a pair of velvet pants back in 95ish that I wore with the denim shirt on occasion--most comfortable pants ever! Why I remember that, I DO NOT KNOW. I accept your flanneled Hugh challenge.
Nicole: I'm so with you on the 80's hairstyles. My bangs could have poked someone's eye out. Thank you for rubbing in the fact that your prom dress is less than a decade old. :)
Anne: florescent colors are not meant for a fair-skinned gal like me, but with your new hair, I bet you would look oh-mazing! So that "what was I thinking moment"--is that your nice way of saying I shouldn't buy those jeans? ;) Hey, do you want to go to the prom with me?
I'm not hip with the fashionistas. When I see some things that designers come up with I think "WHY on EARTH would anyone wear THAT?" Umm...I'm not experienced enough to have something that I can think of being out...Jumpers maybe? I only wore them as a little kid. When skinny jeans go out of fashion I hope they stay that way because they're not comfortable and the wrong kind of people wear them if you catch my drift.
My all time favorite thing to wear is a clever t-shirt and jeans with awesome knee socks. I'm the crazy knee sock queen so I have many different outfit combinations. Also I have several funny vampire tees which make me happy. However, when we were deciding what was to go to college and what was going in the attic...my vampire tees lost out. Mom says they're not..."mature" enough. :(
I would love to have lots of Renaissance dresses and not be asked if I'm going to a costume party whenever I wear them. Oh! And a Team Alice shirt. I also admire colorful, sparkly clothing but I don't think I can pull it off...
Well, since I'm leaving for college tomorrow, most of my stuff is packed or being given away. Before that happened, I had this super awesome Red, crocheted top that had silk (or something similar) underneath, next to the skin. I still remember that is cost, like $45 and I had to beg my mom to buy it. That was in 4th grade. And it still fit me until recently. Crazy, huh?
I still try my best to follow the blog, but I might just be too busy sometimes. Although, After 9am on Tuesdays, I don't have anymore classes that day so I should be fine! WooHoo! Off to college!
Devree: I'm sorry that some of your wardrobe didn't make the college cut. But maybe you'll be like Jenna and hold on to those high-school vampire t-shirts until you become immortal. (Oh those lucky vampires, they never need Botox!)I'm so excited that you are headed off to college, but please find time for us. We will be lonely without you. And we won't laugh as much either. And Hugh Jackman is stopping by the blog next week for a chat, so you definitely don't want to miss that. JK. Jenna wishes! Good luck Devree!
The oldest thing in my closet, fortunately, is not there very often. My elbows. Thank you very much for creating a phobia with me about what my elbows must look like from behind. Kind of makes me excited for winter and the covering that season brings.
Actually, I do love the clothes of winter because I usually see much less of what I don't really want to see in the first place. And I'm all for turtle necks. I'd much rather see a floating head than the flesh that a v-neck shirt is meant to cover.
I'm pretty much at the point of I hate what's in style now - Flashdance again?! All the layering and hanging off one side. I'm with Nicole on that.
My problem is that when I find something that I like (which is rare) I know that it will be hard to find something I like again, so I buy one or two more of the same thing, sometimes in a different color. But then I end up looking the same all the time. But I call it provident living, or clothing storage. "Hey, didn't I see you wearing that yesterday? Or last month? Or a couple years ago?" But they're new!
I have a sever dislike of shopping and I live too far from stores to just pop in to check the clearance rack often. I shouldn't state the obvious.
And I've reached the time in life that draw string waist bands are where it's at. I don't know if I'll ever go back! And that takes me back to the beginning. When I'm in my closet I'm the oldest thing there!
severe
I have always associated the beginning of a new school year with new clothes! I should have been a teacher like Nicole just so I could feel justified in getting new clothes every September!
I remember looking in the Penney's catalog and picking out clothes. That was the best! I remember for the first month of school wearing those new sweaters, but sweating do death because it was still hot outside. And I remember blisters from new shoes.
I don't enjoy shopping much because it's so hard to find clothes that I like or that look good on me. Paulashawn lied about not liking shopping because judging by the amount of jackets and cool athletic shoes she has, she must shop all the time!
I don't care for the styles right now, and I find it especially hard to find Sunday clothes. I wear a lot of black because it goes with everything!
The oldest thing in my closet - probably Jason's clothes!
I dunno, Lori, the last time I was with you guys, they seemed pretty excited about fashion! (Were those colored jeans we searched for ever purchased? How about the designer sunglasses?)
I think you could rock those print jeans if you really wanted to- and look better than most the girls on campus wearing them! Seriously, I’ve never seen the place more vibrant. I don’t own a pair of colored jeans and I’m beginning to feel left out. Devree! College is the best place to wear “immature” shirts; they’re great conversation starters, and people usually have a good sense of humor. (And good luck, by the way! You’ll love it.)
Now that I’m back at school I’m remembering that I’m not that great with fashion. But the good news is that I see lots of different styles that work for different people. I guess what I like about fashion now is that you can wear the dorkiest, most out-of-date thing and people might assume you’re just a hipster trying to be “ironic”. So really, I’ve seen everything I can possibly try to imagine as “out” make a comeback. Big sweaters, oxfords, super long dresses... you name it.
Let’s see, I think the oldest thing I have is a t-shirt from girls’ camp, 2006. I still sleep in it, too. My favorite thing right now is my birthday watch. I’ve never owned a watch before, and I’ve realized how practical they are! Who needs a cell phone?
PaulaShawn: I don't need to burn you this time because Janice already did! Ha, you are busted! Shopaholic! High-five, Janice! I'm glad I could give you one spot on your otherwise extreme-cyclist buff body to be paranoid about. Maybe we can get our elbows "done" together in the upcoming years. I'm going to go double D with mine. You?
Janice: Please make Jason dress up in his old clothes and take pictures for me! Does he still have his wrestling spandex-overall thing? :) And you know what they say about black: it's the new ... um, navy? Hey, you could go back to school and then you'd have an excuse to go shopping.
Collegegirl Caitlin: Yes, we got colored jeans, but they will not wear them for fear of being laughed at since the didn't get to transfer to the big city. Sad. Maybe they'll get brave one of these days, since like you said, everyone is wearing them. You could just wash your faded jeans on hot with a red shirt and voila!- pink jeans! (hey, I just said something in French!) Do you think nun's habits will ever come into style? I think they would be super comfy. And it would give Paula the coverage she desires. A watch? What a novelty!Don't get rid of your cell phone though--you need to text me daily so I don't get lonely, remember?
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