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guide to elegance: age

7/31/2014

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It's time for a new installment of my review of Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's book, A Guide to Elegance. For the complete description of this series, check out the intro post here. Previous posts can be found here. This weekly series looks at traditional fashion rules and seeing if and how they apply to a modern, practical approach to style. Be sure to add your thoughts in the comments!
The section is titled "Age" and discusses what is appropriate for older women to wear, both in terms of style and color.
“There are certain taboos for older ladies - or rather, for ladies who appear to be older; colours that are too vivid and styles that are too extreme, for example a skirt that is too short.” (pg. 6)
I take issue with a lot of the points made in this section. Genevieve Antoine Dariaux suggests older women only wear neutrals and pastels and avoid “electric blue, bright orange, shocking pink, and pea green” (pg. 6) on account of those colors clashing with grey hair. (Later in the chapter it becomes clear that when she is referring to "older women," she means those between the ages of 55 and 60. She then classifies the "more elderly lady" (pg. 8) as 70 years old.) However, the last time I checked grey was also a neutral and I think electric blue looks absolutely smashing with silvery grey hair. In the TV show Burn Notice, Sharon Gless wore electric blue, orange, and many other bright colors and looked fabulous in all of them.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of pastels at any age. It is incredibly easy to look washed out in them because they can diminish the vibrancy of an outfit. While I have no issue with neutral colors in general (and believe that they have a place in every closet),
black can be a harder color to wear as you age. Navy blue is a great alternative because the color is not nearly as harsh against the skin.

Bright colors should not only be the domain of the youthful and while some styles may be more appropriate when you are young, an additional birthday under your belt does not necessarily mean that all your skirts should suddenly become longer. At any age you will look your best when you choose styles that flatter your body and colors that enhance your complexion and make you smile.
“The most elegant women are those who have discovered their personal style and who, through years of dressing themselves with care, know exactly what suits them and stick to it.” (pg. 10)
What works for you as a young and middle aged woman may not continue to work for you as you age further. Sticking with a formula may seem like a good idea, but chances are you will be disappointed when it begins to look different on you. Instead be willing to discard old habits when you no longer are excited about the way your clothes make you look and feel. It is hard for women of any age to make a style change, but aging should not preclude you from looking your best. Use your years of experience as a springboard and then have fun with your fashion!


Dariaux, Genevieve Antoine. A Guide to Elegance. New York: William Morrow, 2003. Print.
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return from my blogging hiatus

7/29/2014

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I apologize for the long and unplanned hiatus. Between a bout of being under the weather and computer problems, time got away from me. I will retroactively consider this my summer vacation from blogging. I have lots of great posts coming up both here and on my new (but rather neglected) lifestyle blog, bread & flowers.

Since I have made you wait so long for a post, I am going to give you some teasers of what to expect here on the blog in the next couple weeks:

  • Fall clothes are already available in stores which means that summer pieces are on super sale. I'll give you suggestions on which pieces you should snag and which deals aren't worth it.
  • The post series reviewing fashion rules from Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's book A Guide to Elegance will return, with discussions on her chapters regarding Age, Bargains, and Beachwear.
  • I will also be continuing posts about what to wear for wedding season, with ideas for creating a fresh look even if you have already attended a hundred weddings already this year.
On bread & flowers I will be reviewing all the books I have been reading (when I was supposed to be writing posts here). Some are new titles such as The Vacationers by Emma Straub and The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman, and some are just new-to-me titles I found in the bargain book section that I think are worth sharing. Although I don't do a ton of cooking in the summertime, I will also be sharing an easy and delicious orzo pasta salad recipe along with some other light summer fare.

I look forward to seeing you all in the comments! Regular posts resume on Thursday.
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the perils of a tunic style shirt dress

7/10/2014

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When the weather gets warm, the easy clothing option often wins out over the stylish one.  Dresses are a great all-in-one outfit and shirt dresses can be a great casual option. However, not all shirt dresses are created equal, so before you start ordering them online from the comfort of your air conditioned home, beware of these pitfalls of tunic style shirt dresses:

For a tunic style shirt dress to fit properly through the shoulders and butt, it will often become quite baggy in the midsection, looking at best like a sack and at worst like lumpy sausage. This is because they are cut to fit loosely through the body, but the arm measurements do not increase proportionately. In a size that fits your arms comfortably, you are drowning in fabric  everywhere else, and if you size down to create a cleaner line through the body, then your arms may feel squeezed which is especially uncomfortable during the hot and sticky summer months. Another issue is that tunic style dresses are generally very straight which leaves no room to accommodate any curves. The result is a tight fit through the shoulders and arms, billowing fabric through the upper body and then more tightness through the butt and upper thigh area. This highlights your widest part without taking advantage of the smallness of your waist, which is the opposite of the silhouette you should be aiming for. 

You are probably wondering why I don't just suggest adding a belt around the waist to add some definition and easily solve the issue. This is a viable solution, but only if the dress is already a bit long. When you add the belt, you will lose length because fabric will have to be pulled in so far to reach your actual body. Depending on how a specific dress fits you, there is the possibility of losing a couple inches. The other downside is that the fabric will bunch around the waist, creating unwanted gathering that not only requires repeated adjustments, but will wrinkle the fabric. 

When you are looking for a flattering shirt dress, I suggest looking for one that is designed with a belt in mind (although you should feel free to swap out the fabric belt they sell with the dress for a a skinny patent or metallic one) and that has a skirt that is slightly wider than the bodice. This will help reduce the extra fabric that is widening your midsection and give extra room to prevent unattractive pulling across your butt. 
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wedding season: dresses for bridal showers & rehearsal dinners

7/5/2014

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I love shopping for new dresses, but during wedding season it can be a little overwhelming. Imagine you are invited to three weddings this summer, as well as the accompanying bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. You now have a total of nine events that require you to dress up (in varying degrees). Wouldn't it be nice if you could wear the same dress to several different events?
You may be wondering why I have combined a post about dresses for both bridal showers and for rehearsal dinners because at first glance the two occasions seem to be quite different. Bridal showers are often mid-day affairs and rehearsal dinners are at night. But chances are you don't want to buy nine new dresses and you also want to avoid wearing the same dress to all three showers and another dress to all three dinners. These dresses can be accessorized to work for both occasions (and possibly even for the actual wedding as well) so that wedding season can be a little bit nicer on both your wallet and your sanity.
When looking for a versatile dress, it can be easy to settle on a boring option that you don't love. We think our great dresses are too distinctive so we are wary about wearing them very often. This dress from J. Crew does a great job of mixing a simple shape in a solid color with a detail like the scallop neckline that makes it feel a little more special. 

Since summer is the season of bright colors, a Little Black Dress can look out of place, but darker shade of blue or purple will be a go-to piece all year round. Choose a color that works equally well with both black and metallic shoes and you'll have the perfect dress for all your last minute party invites.
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J. Crew Scallop Crepe Dress $168
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Boden Selina Dress $218
For summertime events, a floral dress is also a great option because it feels festive in a seasonally appropriate way. The key to making the dress work for both day and evening is to choose your fabric wisely. A crisp cotton dress will usually look like casual sundress no matter how much jewelry you wear or how high your heels are. But if you choose a fabric with a little sheen or a soft drape, then it will be easier to accessorize. 

For an afternoon bridal shower, add a cropped cardigan in a bright color that coordinates with your patterned dress and wear simple (but still brightly colored) ballet flats. No jewelry is required so wear only what you would on a daily basis, such as a pair of stud earrings.

To make this dress look fabulous in the evening for a rehearsal dinner, slip into a pair of metallic heels, pull your hair back to display chandelier earrings, and add a delicate bracelet with a touch of sparkle. Grab your metallic clutch and you are ready for a summer evening of fun!
Looking for a few more options? Here are some other dresses I love that will be a hit at parties that you are invited to:
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Kate Spade Saturday V-Neck Shift Dress $160
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Banana Republic Colorblock Ponte Sheath $120
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Anthropologie Gallery Row Dress $188
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