So what is in fashion?

[shootingstar]

Dress/skirt wise and dressy top wise?

Honest, I haven't walked into a women's dress shop for nearly a yr. where dresses, suits, dressy tops, business jackets are sold. Last time I did I bought a pair of black jeans.

Who here is on the ball with this knowledge PLUS the women's cycling gear (which we all know where we can get the latest)?

I just get the impression of bold print, big prints, loose tops, smock-like tops..

And I used to rifle through fashion magazines 30 yrs. ago, eager to know each spring and fall.

Maybe this is the sign of age...not caring as much. Though I do care about overall how I look in general. I guess focus is more on health, not the coolest fashion.

[Crankin]

I don't know, Shooting Star. I dress kind of in an updated, classic way, with some nod to what's currently in fashion, but more to make sure I don't look like a dowdy old lady or an older person who is dressing "trashy."
I suggest you look at some J Crew, Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor stuff on line. I buy all of my clothes at these places and they all have petite sizes. Some of the stuff is "too young," or just not my style, but you can get an idea and make it your own.
When I wear skirts, they are mostly pencil skirts, with a couple of mini skirts (not for work) thrown in. I wear a lot of cardigan sweaters, some classic, some with a more decorative look. This year, I bought a couple of "open" sweaters that I really like. Most of my dresses are from Athleta, wrap dresses, or slightly athletic looking. I suggest you look there, too. I wear my dresses with tights and boots in the winter. I don't do suits anymore, but I have a couple of more "modern" looking ones. As far as pants go, I have a bunch of wool straight leg pants in classic colors, as well as a variety of jeans in black and dark indigo. I like skinny leg, low waist jeans; I figure as long as I'm skinny enough to wear them, let other people talk. Also have some corduroy pants.

[indysteel]

Heck if I know what's in fashion. I've never followed trends too closely. I think the best thing--at least for me--is to invest in classic pieces that flatter your particular figure. To that end, I mostly wear a-line or pencil skirts that hit right above or at the knee. I generally pair them with a simple sweater or cardigan and boots (or sandals in the summer). I like the look of ballet flats, just not on me. I like boot cut pants and jeans. The skinny jean look does not flatter me, so I don't go there. I have never been one for bold tops, but some of my skirts have some fun details. I get most of them at Boden, an online retailer based out if the U.K. Again, to me the point of fashion is to dress in what flatters my particular figure. Fit is key. There's no point in following a trend if it's not flattering or appropriate for your lifestyle.

[hebe]

I'm not particularly on the ball, fashion-wise. I can't afford for my wardrobe to date itself every year so I do try to buy either classic shapes and colours, or those that I know I can keep wearing regardless of trend. I also like my clothes to be bike friendly where possible, child-proof and machine-washable. Then again, I also try to buy cycling clothes that can work in my normal wardrobe too. I don't like buying ultra-cheap clothes that are possibly produced using sweatshop labour and that won't last longer than the fashion itself. I agree that certainly as you get older it is more about what looks good, lasts well and fits your lifestyle too. None of which are necessarily "fashion" in any given season.

I *think* that capes are in this winter (at least in the UK), and beyond that I don't have a clue. I did do a rare shopping trip for me yesterday and came back with a bold print, jersey smock top , a plainer striped t-shirt, and a swingy grey wool knee-length skirt (I broke the machine washable rule here as I'm getting tired of living in jeans all winter and I can't deny the Mary Poppins effect on the bike). I am quite sure that my 3 year old daughter will despair of me in a few years, but I suspect that she'll be covetting a few of my handbags/shoes/coats/dresses soon enough too.

[shootingstar]

I don't do suits anymore, but I have a couple of more "modern" looking ones.

Crankin, in your job now it's probably the wrong thing to wear when working with patients...too corporate for a helping profession.

I realized just reading for both of you, Crankin and indysteel, how much I um..have abandoned (or in denial) about certain things and certain rules I've developed over the years for myself.

Wearing big bold prints doesn't look good on me since I'm small and short. I don't wear coloured tights with my skirts, or because it's drier air in the winter where I am. My skin flakes --still even with body lotion.

Too bad Athleta doesn't have stores or stores that carry their stuff where I am. I don't shop online for clothing.

Even what is "classic", I haven't figured out the "latest" in colours, texture, etc. Looks like leopard is.

[hebe]

I get most of them at Boden, an online retailer based out if the U.K.

Boden is a really interesting brand, I've had a few things from there that I absolutely love. You might also like Toast and Brora, though they can be pricey the quality is very good- I find them more affordable on sale.

Shooting Star - my favourite site here for cycle wear is Minx-girl, she makes many of the lovely things on TE available to us Brits without the extra tax and handling charges that arise from ordering in the US.

[indysteel]

Shootingstar, what do you mean about being "in denial"? As for not shopping online, I would be lost if I only bought from brick and mortar shops, as few of the work for me anymore. Plus, I hate shopping. I'll do anything to avoid the mall. A lot of online retailers now allow people to post reviews of each item. They often give a good sense on fit. I don't end up having to return much.

[shootingstar]

Shootingstar, what do you mean about being "in denial"?

I meant for myself to be in denial about fashion and not paying hardly any attention but maybe I should a bit. So much has happened in personal/working life in past 12 months, and also being unemployed 18 months previously, caused me not to pay attention.

Here the city where I live, it's been interesting... I find the women dress "harder" edged conservative or just plain boring (like me)...being out in the prairies is fashion-wise to me, different than Vancouver or Toronto.

[Crankin]

I would also reconsider the no on-line shopping. DH and I were just discussing what we used to do before we started riding. Go to the mall! I did my exercise early in the AM, so as not to interfere with our "regular" life. Now our cycling (or other outdoor activities) *are* our regular life. I do go into the Ann Taylor Loft that is 3 miles from my house, as they are the only store that has my size clothes in our suburban area. However, in the past few months, their styles have become a bit what I call "****ty." And the quality has gone down.
After buying a lot of Athleta stuff, I know what fits and what doesn't. I also read the on line reviews. It's easy to return stuff, so if I make a mistake, it's not terrible.
We have quite a few local boutiques with some interesting clothing, but none of them come in petite sizes and they are often of the "billowy" style that seems to be so popular with the academic/intellectual community around here. I find that even when these clothes fit me, they actually make you look larger than you are.
Shooting Star, I am apalled at the way my colleagues dress. I know, that in my specific job, because I go to people's homes and work mostly with people struggling with economics, I don't want to overdress. But, I feel that this attitude is taken to the extreme by others and has crimped my style. I am the only woman in my office, except for another woman my age who directs the early intervention program, who wears skirts/dresses. In the summer, the younger clinicians wear shorts . I do wear my Athleta type dresses and skirts maybe 1-2 times a week and I actually have had some of the moms comment that "You are the first therapist I've had that dresses decently." So, they notice. Perhaps in a more "clinical" setting, this comment would be something for "discussion," like, "why is this important to you?," but I have a different kind of relationship with these clients. I just feel like I want to have a difference in my work clothes and my hanging around clothes.

[Irulan]

As someone who runs around in jeans and patagonia much of the time, maybe I'm not qualifieed, but ehre's my understanding.

You've got Classic and then you've got Seasonal Trends. Classic are things you can invest in and keep around for years; trends are good for a season or two before they look dated. Since I don't know what the heck I am doing for staying on top of things for when I do need to step it up, I am a big fan of going to better stores with good sales help. Macy's is my favorite. Those gals know how to help you find what you need, and make sure it looks good on you. Plus their sales can't be beat. Nordstrom's is another.

[shootingstar]

I just feel like I want to have a difference in my work clothes and my hanging around clothes.

Nothing wrong with that.

I must admit I wore a total of ....2 different skirts for my full time job in last 12 months. I've been looking at skirts off and on in stores for the past few years. But have nearly given up for now.


Long skirts, way past my knee don't complement me at this time in life. I used to wear long flowing skirts in my 20's and early 30's.

Now when I try them on in stores, I feel dowdy. Besides often the skirt isn't porportionally tailored for my short, small frame. And would be too consuming to alter it on the sewing machine without some serious deconstruction on my part.

[malkin]

Classic style: jeans and a shirt? Quite often a vest too.

Any day of the week I may encounter paint, glue, food, dirt, body fluids, bleach wipes, and whatever else the world has to offer. What else would I logically wear?

Really. Last week I made pumpkin pie with 10 kids (with autism), so pumpkin and raw egg got on my pants (and I wore this lovely recipe to the Title office to sign to close the sale of my condo).

When I dress up for work I wear good jeans and a shirt that doesn't have spots yet.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, don't the major shops in Canada sell petite sizes? I am about your size and I rarely have to alter anything; maybe some nicer pants, as it seems like the style is a little longer than I care for now, as the inseam has gone from 28.5 to 30 in the petite pants. That's why I like Athleta, as their petite sized pants have inseams between 28.5 and 29.5. The skirts I buy are perfectly proportioned for small women. I don't wear long skirts anymore, either. They are definitely dowdy and too much for me. Here's a link to the J Crew petite skirts. They are expensive, but beautifully tailored and mostly classic. You can't get these sizes in the stores anymore; it's all on-line. Maybe this will give you an idea of what's out there.
http://www.jcrew.com/womens_special_...NextCategory=2

[shootingstar]

Hmm some of the petite size stores have become more dowdy in their styles.

Honest, I have to wait until I get back to VAncovuer to hunt around. Problem whenever I go back, there's so many other things that are greater priority (which does include cycling to see great views that I miss. ).

This is the skirt length I like to wear/do wear:

http://www.jcrew.com/womens_special_...2698/62698.jsp (But I just wear a natural pantyhose. No dark tights so far because of my flaking dry skin problem.)

The other pencil skirts on the same web page for skirts, are abit long, but can be altered. I would need higher dress shoes for a longer pencil skirt, to look elegant and "taller" to carry that overall look.

[jessmarimba]

I rarely dress up, though if I ride to work skirts/dresses take up less room than jeans in my bag.

When I do dress up b/c of need, it's usually b/c my music kids have a performance. Which means that I have to be "dressier than normal" but also comfortable to stand outside in Colorado in February-April to instruct while they rehearse and warm up for the show. So "dressy" tends to be a wool skirt (my favorite is about knee length and has some flowers embroidered on one side), leggings, and flat boots over wool knee socks. Pair that with a warm sweater and the nicest winter coat I have that somewhat matches.

I don't think I own hose. I almost always wear knee-high boots with skirts, and most of the time I just wear leggings (though sometimes tights) - since only my knee really shows between the two. Most of my skirts are A-line and cut just above the knee. My favorites are usually Ann Taylor but some of their stuff is too old for me.