Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Ok here goes - your Primer on dress lengths .

The Maxi is a long dress, ankle length, same as a maxi skirt.

The maxi was introduced in the early seventies, when all the fashion world were predicting the demise of the mini. A maxi was generally thought of as a day dress, usually made of cotton, and fairly loose & flowing and less formal than a traditional evening dress. Evening dresses tend to be a tad longer, often actually sweeping the floor.

As fashion rules became more relaxed the difference between the two types of long dress became largely irrelevant, maxis began to made of more exotic materials and were seen as perfectly acceptable and cheaper evening wear.

The Mini - although there had been several periods of fairly shortish dresses through the twentieth century, it wasn't until the 60's that the real mini appeared. A mini is measured from the knee upwards, anything from a couple of inches up to well - you name it. Mine were about 12" above the knee, but then I'm tall.

The micro-mini - well the name says it all really - just a little pelmet really.

Just as a little aside - fashion - just like any other industry relies on technological leaps to move forward. Without the invention of tights (properly known as panty-hose) the mini would never have come into existence.

Knee-Length Sits just below the knee-cap. Can be all shapes, slim or full.

Calf Length - Sits at roughly the middle of your calves.

Ballerina Length - Longer than a calf length, about two to three inches above the ankle, named after the dresses that a prima ballerina would wear (not the little Tutu). Usually a very full skirt, but there were straight skirted versions too, mainly for suits and day dresses.

A great favourite of designers like Balencia, and Dior during the early fifties. When rationing of cloth ended after WWIi, Dior launched the "New Look" which brought in full ballerina length skirts. Rather a difficult look to pull off and hardly ever seen now.

Back in a mo .......................

lessonlearned

Role Models and Style Icons

I was thinking about doing a post on the actual contents of what a "good" wardrobe might be however, I thought Mrs W point about celebs etc and finding your own style was extremely useful and great fun. So yes here we go.

Obviously anyone who you find inspirational is likely to be around your own age although this doesn't have to the case. If you google "best dressed women" you might get a surprise - half of them have been dead for quite some time. And yet, they still inspire and their influence lingers on.

Our old friend Jackie O is a case in point.

Here's a few of mine - you'll notice that most of them are over 50 and yes some are long gone.

But first a snapshot of me - well you know I'm pushing 60, I'm 5'7" and currently a size 16, so far so average. I do have good posture and stand straight and tall - thanks to my ex soldier dad nagging me to death and the nun's at school who would threaten eternal hell and damnation if you dared to slouch. Add a pair of three inch heels and I can look pretty imposing.

My mother is Belgian and I've inherited what I call the classic European hour glass figure, curvy with bust being larger than my hips.

The classic Brit shape is with hips larger than the bust - the pear shape (my sister has this shape). I have long legs (nice) but a short body - out of proportion to the rest of me - which is why I don't do belts.

Why wear a belt which cuts my body in two and draws attention to the fact that my bottom half doesn't match my top half.

You see what I'm getting act, style is so individual there can be no hard and fast rules. Oh just wear a belt and make your waist look smaller - it's nonsense - might work for some but not necessarily for everyone.

So I'm hardly a frills and flounces kind of girl, don't do flower prints, pink or anything remotely "girly". My style can best be summed up as "minimalist" with a bit of boho/hippy chic to lighten the mood.

Having said that I love a killer, knock 'em dead, drop dead gorgeous evening dress. When the occasion demands - I definitely "do" glamour.

I made my first evening dress for my first grown up ball when I was sixteen, a slim fitting long white satin halter neck with a high collar decorated with gold sequins. Pretty damn good if I say so myself.

I tend to wear very simple clothes, and I am a fiend for good tailoring. A well cut tailored garment works for me, it can take a stone off me. A gathered skirt adds a stone.

My all time favourite designer would probably be Ralph Lauren - purely for his American take on classic English tailoring.

My role models - oh there are so many .......need a new post so that the computer doesn't conk out again ............

Savvybunny2009

Just coming in to say thank you to clare64 for the advice re muslin cloths for facial skincare, started using them today and it has done wonders, almost perfectly clear skin after the first use. I have no idea why I have never been recommended to use them before!

Finding it a little hard to keep up with the thread atm, it's moving a little bit too fast for me but i'm sure I will be up to speed in a few weeks. I found my style when I was around 18, and sadly as the years have passed, having dd and life changng somewhat s has my style. I am off shopping on Thursday to hopefully change all that. I have lots of 'basics' but it's about time I bought some clothes that represent my style and who I am which I can use with my current wardrob, and of course help me on the journey to sophistication

A pair of heels and a lovely handbag are on my 'to buy' list.

lessonlearned

Hi Savvy - Your shopping trips sounds like fun. Do let us know what you buy.

Re keeping up with the thread - yes it is romping away isn't it. Don't worry - catch up at your leisure - we'll still be here.

I am "on holiday" this week - next week I won't have so much free time, so probably won't post as much.

Anyway - role models - inspirational women - in no particular order

Jackie O, for all the reasons we discussed
Princess Diana - what can you say - like Marilyn Monroe - she'll live in our hearts forever
Twiggy - a national treasure - the typical girl next door - lovely

Jane Seymour, Jane Asher - genteel English Roses - pretty and feminine

Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Helen Mirren - Grown up Glamour at its best, Sex on Legs

Judi Dench, gutsy, earthy, True Brit, no face lift !!!! - simple, no nonsense dress sense - no pretensions to youth

Kylie Minogue - steel fist in a velvet glove, sweet & pretty with the courage of a lion - dainty and demure

Katherine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich - Hollywood Glamour on their own terms, sharp tailoring almost androgynous

Grace Jones - strong, powerful - glamourous in her own rather offbeat almost masculine way

Joan Collins, Jane Fonda - Groomed to within an inch of their lives - testament to the ethos of hard work

Goldie Hawn - giggly, girly and fun - quirky and original

Bette Davis - nutty as a fruitcake - forthright and outspoken - took on the Hollywood establishment and won. No beauty but still a head turner.

Kate Adie - No nonsense dress sense. Intelligent, courageous and witty.

PS for you youngsters who may not know her - Kate was for many years the BBC's foreign correspondent, reporting from war zones all over the world.

She was incredibly brave chatting away to the world in some of the most appalling conflicts, sometimes with gunfire as a soundtrack to her reports.

I once heard her in an interview when she talked about trying make herself presentable for the cameras when you are in the middle of a conflict in the back of beyond. She was so modest and so funny.

Sophia Loren - voted the most beautiful woman in the world. Sexy, charismatic, intelligent, a filthy laugh. Her rise to fame is a real rags to riches story. Fashion wise often a complete disaster but her sheer Italian lust for life makes her the Grande Dame of them All.

Closely followed by the phenomena that was Liz Taylor, all woman - walking disaster zone. Her dress sense was often appalling, but when she did glamour - wow.

Bianca Jagger - check out the Ives St Laurent trouser suit she wore when she married Mick Jagger. Today a political activist - the trademark sharp tailoring lives on.

Jerry Hall - glamourous, generous and magnimous, when Jagger ditched her she displayed such grace, dignity and decorum - a true lady. She could wear a bin liner and look wonderful.

There are so many who inspire me.

Recently I saw the most sensational looking woman in the checkout at Sainsbury's. She was about my age. She looked at me watching her, smiled and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow as if to say "Yes???" I felt so shy - a real I'm not worthy moment.

I plucked up courage and said "I hope you don't mind me saying this but I think you look absolutely fabulous". She smiled sweetly and said "Thank You". So civilised, so delightful and so charming.

That's what I'm aiming for.

G'night all x

maman

:hello: Hello EVERYONE!!!!

I've been back from my holiday since the weekend but have only just found the new thread. It has taken me an hour and a half to catch up! So many excellent posts and a real buzz. Unfortunately I must go to bed now as I've an early start but have subscribed to this now so will be back tomorrow!

Hope you're having a good 'holiday' LL, have plenty of rest. You're a star!;)

Carmen

Hmmm style, not sure what you would call mine. Shabby [STRIKE]chic[/STRIKE] was what I looked like before I stumbled upon this (original) thread :eek: Since losing nearly two stone I have taken more interest in the way I dress As I mentioned before, I 'found' lots of lovely clothes tucked away in my wardrobe that have not seen the light of day for a long time:o I have been decluttering for some time and have managed to 'donate' all my disaster buys and 'make do clothes.' My friend that stayed recently managed to take some off my hands, unfortunately she has put on a lot of weight since giving up smoking, I know from experience this can happens!
I digress, my style does tend to change but I tend to veer towards casual/smart these days. I have spent many years 'dressing up' and now prefer trousers (varicose veins) which can vary from cropped to tailored and tops that vary from floaty to fitted, pashmina's or floaty jackets, depending on the weather.
I do love the shift style dresses but I prefer to keep my upper arms covered, would hate to be the target of some whipper snapper trying to beat my arm wrestling record ;)
I have been looking for a nice maxi dress but most of the ones I like are sleeveless (see above) and I think a bolero type thingy will accentuate the negatives.
To be continued...need to get some sleep!

Be good


Carmen xxxx

hamsterfan1

I think possibly the main problem a lot of us have with clothes is that most retailers assume women have no shape, like LL i have an hourglass figure with long legs & it's a nightmare getting things that fit correctly, if it fits the boobs they're too loose elsewhere (dresses), tops are often too tight at the front & loose at the back & trousers fit on the hips & you can fit a tennis ball at the back of the waist - hence the elasticated waist & loose tops I live in.

My current pet hates are empire line tops & dresses where the band is so high only an A cup could wear them - all the stylists recommend (sp?) them if your're top heavy bit can I find one to fit.....?

anyway rant over I'm hoping we'll miss the strikes today and get away on time, luckily our plane flies in from Ibiza & we're due out before the border agency strike & the greek strike should end before we get to greek airspace.

Got all my pampering done yesterday except nails & hair - will get those done before we leave. On the downside I'm missing DDs midwife appointment

Will catch up when I get back

Oh yes found the dregs of my perfume yesterday & wore it

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Maman Hello sweetie, hope you had a wonderful holiday - tell us all about it when you've caught up with your zzzzzzzzzzzzz's.

HF - Loved the little rant about High Street shopping - it's just no fun anymore is it. Anyway have a fab holiday - hope your travel plans go ok.

You can browse through the perfumes at the airport - although tbh I think a lot of the time you can get them cheaper here. We don't travel now because of OH's illness but we used to a lot. I used to find the duty free prices were quite high - still it's worth a look - they might have some offers on.

What a shame you're missing your DD's midwife appt. How exciting to have a new baby in the family.

Neither of my DS's show any signs of producing heirs yet - neither of them even have a girlfriend. Both are a couple of no hopers there - DS1 is a maths geek :eek: and sports fanatic:eek: - pity the poor girl who marries him. DS2 - well - I think he's too comfortable living at home to be bothered. He did have a serious relationship a few years ago, he said at the time the break up was mutual but on the quiet I think his heart was broken and he hasn't plucked up courage to try again.

Carmen B ] - Pashmina's - must 'fess up" I have a bit of a habit.:o

Anyway off to load the washing machine and then my early morning coffee outside. I love early summer mornings - best part of the day.

Big supermarket shop today - and then a bit of shabby-chiccing - those picture frames at last. I do get there in the end.!!!!

Have a good day x

Dawning

Hi everyone, been offline for a few days and I've missed so much of the thread. I will catch up later this afternoon when I have finished work. Just to say I've ordered some books of the books we've discussed, from Amazon, they are due to be delivered tomorrow so I'll let everyone know what I think.
Still feeling upbeat about this and determined to be looking and feeling much better by Christmas. Struggling with eating healthily though - I had two really good days then blew it completely yesterday.
Have a good day everyone.

bratz81

I haven't been participating much as I'm off work ill today and yesterday. In fact, I think I'm dying! So haven't been in the mood much to pamper etc and wardrobe right now is consisting of track bottoms and a comfy hoody layered with t shirts as one minute I'm freezing and the next I'm roasting.

But I'm really enjoying all the style chat - it's giving me so many ideas and tips so thanks