FashBlog.com

Well, it’s time again for the update that I do about once every month regarding what we’re supposed to be wearing. Yes, I gripe a lot about having stuff pushed on me, but there’s a fine line between taking an interest in what’s considered “in” and feeling like you must go out and buy what somebody thinks is a good idea. I’ve no problem checking out the fashion magazines to keep up to date, but don’t think that anyone must have the latest stuff in order to look attractive, feel pretty, or received totally warranted complements on her sense of style. Remember, as I do, that if you really want to sport new looks, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money. You can re-style or make things to accommodate fashion trends, and even a piece or two will do. In fact, to make it simpler, I’ll offer motivation by telling you what I’ve done.

1. Dresses of all sorts: Sundresses, Blouson, Mini’s, Maxi’s, Off the Shoulder, and Draped…I finally got to a store over the weekend to get sundress for my daughter to wear as we attend a family function next weekend. There must have been thousands. It’s good to see that the fancier ones have built in bras and are fully lined, as well as the ever sturdy, A-line cotton. You can find almost every pattern and color known. I also saw just as many 50’s looking sundresses with soft little matching sweaters as 60’s bold and wild prints. (I bought a casual wrap-around dress for myself, with the one-side knotting that seems to be big right now.)

2. Brightly colored shoes want as much attention as the rest of a lady’s ensemble. It’s also good to see that closed toes pumps are back-albeit in colors far removed from neutral. To that end, I took an older pair of white sandals and applied some of my husband’s cordovan polish. They turned out a fairly pretty shade of purple, but not as dark as some of the purples I saw in stores. It seems that adding more will darken the color, but I think I’ll stop there. It’s easier to co-ordinate lilac than grape, as far as the summer clothes I already own.

3. Feathers apparently are going to be popping up on items, both as prints and as 3-D extras. Lucky Magazine’s June issue has a lovely tunic with a feather design stretching up one side, as well as a gorgeous bracelet based on a silver feather, and whimsical high heeled dress shoes, with feathers glued onto the instep straps. (I have a gold, single feather pin that was my mothers, and I think I’ve found a way to turn it into a pendant to be worn on a gold chain.)

4. Last week I mentioned the cluster necklace. I see that there are many versions of this, one that even refers to itself as “deconstructed”-but it actually looks haphazard, in my opinion. I don’t think wearing a mish-mash around your neck is easy unless it’s so artfully created it stands alone as the focal point of an otherwise plain outfit. There are some such versions which employ strands of chains mixed with pearls of all colors. I like some of those, and actually made a cluster necklace of my own by attaching several gold chain link necklaces together, then adding an array of a dozen gold pendants in 3 related designs…and even my picky teenager thinks it’s cool.

5. Rough gems are now in jewelry, but I was one step ahead. Some years ago, I broke apart some “gems” from a panning-type of outlet, found two of each kind that were similarly sized, and made them into post earrings by simply cementing on metal posts. I wore them a lot before they came apart, but they had the same quality of today’s stones set into rings and dangle earrings.

6. Apparently gals are supposed to wear huge, chunky watches now. That’s easy-grab your husband’s or boyfriend’s spare one.

I’ll bring you more of summer 08’s fashion tips next week, but until then, remember that a little ingenuity goes a long way in meeting today’s trends.