FashBlog.com

Although 40 used to be considered middle-aged or over the hill, today's 40-something women are confident, sexy, stylish and sophisticated. The biggest rule today is that there are no rules. You are only limited by your own imagination and lifestyle. By following a few simple fashion guidelines, there is no reason you cannot be as fashionable at 40 as you ever were.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY.

The number one key to dressing fashionably after the age of 40 is to stay in shape. When your body is in good physical condition, clothes of any kind fit better and look better. Also, when you look good, you feel good, and your positive, healthy attitude is going to reflect itself in the way you carry yourself. Women who take care of their bodies and stay in great physical shape can get away with wearing just about anything. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated, dewy and glowing. Get plenty of aerobic exercise by walking, running or bicycling regularly to maintain your youthful energy. Do regular strength training with weights to keep your muscles toned and to maintain proper posture. If you want to wear today's fashionably jeans, which are lower cut, do plenty of crunches each and every day to keep your abdominal muscles toned and your stomach flat. Take care that your diet is nutritious. Watch that your diet is not too high in fat, to avoid bumps and bulges that will ruin an otherwise perfect outfit. Eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables and take a vitamin supplement, if necessary, to keep your skin healthy in appearance.

KNOW WHAT FASHIONS WORK BEST FOR YOU AND YOUR BODY.

Too often, when we are deciding what clothes to buy or to wear, we neglect that instinctive voice that tells us what is right. Get in touch with your intuition and listen to it. You know better than anyone what looks good on you, what feels good on you, what works, what does not work. Do not let anyone else tell you differently. If you feel great in something, then it works. If you feel uncertain, then your hesitancy is probably a sign that this particular look is not the right one for you. When the bottom line decision is made, the most important thing is whether you are happy with how you look and how you feel in your clothes. The opinions of magazine editors, fashion designers and salespeople mean nothing if you are not happy with how you look.

IF YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS, BUY IT IN A RUN OF COLORS.

Many times when we are shopping for just the right look, we come away disappointed. Now and then, we are pleasantly surprised by one or two items that work well, although not splendidly. On a rare occasion, we suddenly encounter that absolutely perfect dress, skirt, blouse, pair of slacks or shoes. You know what I am talking about, that fashion item that makes us feel beautiful, sophisticated, sexy and on top of the world. When you find something like that, do not hesitate. Not only should you buy it, you should buy it in a run of colors and incorporate it into your wardrobe. When a style makes you feel this good, go with it.

AVOID BEING TRENDY FOR THE SAKE OF TRENDINESS.

After the age of 40, it is especially important to avoid being trendy just for the sake of being trendy. Most fads and trends in clothing are fleeting and are better suited to the youth of today. That does not mean you should not participate in the fun. Just be careful that you are not wearing something that is trendy simply because it is trendy. Pick and choose your wardrobe based on what looks good on you. This may mean discarding some trendy fashions as unsuitable for you, not because of your age necessarily, but because they are not best suited to your more mature body type.

AVOID CLOTHING THAT IS TOO YOUTHFUL IN APPEARANCE.

One of the biggest fashion taboos for the over 40 crowd is wearing youthful clothing in an attempt to look younger. More often than not, this attempt to regain a youthful appearance through youthful clothing backfires miserably. Fashions which are designed for teens and young adults are designed specifically with that particular demographic's youth in mind. Those styles are meant to flatter and to show off young bodies. When more mature women try to recapture their youth by wearing these styles, they usually come away looking older, rather than younger. There are many ways to maintain or to recapture your youthful glow and appearance. Wearing clothes that are very specifically designed for today's youth is not one of them. That having been said, do not avoid youthful clothing simply because it is youthful. Judge each and every item of clothing on its own merit, and decide, based only on the appearance of that particular item, and the way it flatters (or does not flatter) your figure, whether it is right for you. When it comes to clothing that is generally not intended for more mature women, be brutally honest with yourself before you decide to incorporate it into your wardrobe.

MAKE THE MOST OF ACCESSORIES.

Accessories are the very best place for a more mature woman to show off her every-youthful spark and playfulness. Maybe you can't quite pull off a micro mini skirt or low slung, hip hugging jeans anymore, but that does not mean you can't pull together a look that is every bit as youthful and fun. If you want to try out some of the newer fashion trends, here is the place to do it. To liven up a more sophisticated style, try trendy belts, scarves, hats, gloves and sunglasses. Fashionable and trendy jewelry will also add fun and flair to your look. Experiment with stylish earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Even trendy boots and shoes can put the finishing touches on a great look, provided you avoid those that are too trendy and are not suited to your particular style.

REDEFINE WHAT IS SEXY.

What is sexy at the age of 20, or even at the age of 30, is not necessarily what is sexy at the age of 40, or what will be sexy at the age of 50 or 60. As we age, we become more mature, wiser, more experienced, more learned, more patient, more aware of our life's priorities, more focused, more determined, and more at peace with who we are. These changes should be reflected not only internally, but in your appearance as well. Sexiness at the age of 40 is something far more subtle and more rich than sexiness at the age of 20. Being sexy at age 40 means more than wearing a short skirt, a low-cut top, a pair of tight blue jeans or a pair of stiletto heels. As you become more comfortable in your own skin, let this show in your wardrobe as well. Wear clothes that fit well, that are attractive, that make you feel good, that make you feel sexy, and that are an outward reflection of what you feel inside. Whatever wear, you should feel proud, confident and comfortable. Now that is what is sexy.

KEEP ABREAST OF FASHION CHANGES.

One of the best ways to keep your wardrobe looking fresh and stylish is to keep yourself informed about changes in fashion and styles. Pick two or three of your favorite over-40 celebrities, those whose style and appearance you admire and who always seem to look great in their clothes. Follow them in fashion magazines and on television to see what styles they are wearing. Many of today's over-40 fashion divas successfully pull off more youthful styles with grace, style and aplomb. Take a look at how they do it, and see what they do differently than a 20-year old wearing a similar style. Watch red carpet events on television, as well as the Style Channel, to learn about fashion trends and tips. Nothing will make your wardrobe look more old, outdated or tired than wearing clothes that have not been in style for years.

BE WILLING TO BREAK THE RULES.

Now that you have learned some of the general rules about fashion over 40, the most important thing to remember is that you have to be willing to break them. Fashion rules are made up of generalities and guidelines. They are based on what works for most women, but not for each and every woman. Although it is generally not a great idea for a woman over the age of 40 to walk out the door in a short, short skirt, that rule depends on both the skirt and the woman. Women like Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone can pull off a short skirt look, and do. Don't avoid color, and by all means don't stick with a wardrobe of solid black. Be adventurous and be willing to show off your personality in your wardrobe. Learn the basics, keep abreast of fashion developments, know what works best for you, and then be ready and willing to break the over-40 fashion rules when it suits you...and when it works.

Copyright (c) 2005 by Leanne Phillips

Memorial Day has traditionally marked the transition from spring fashions to full-blown summer wear. To me, this means that almost all of my long-sleeved tops, heavy jackets, and wool pants will get moved to the closet in the spare bedroom. They will be replaced in my regular closet by short-sleeved and sleeveless tops, t-shirts, shorts, and of course several pairs of cropped pants. Cropped pants are still very much in style, and are an absolute must for any woman's summer wardrobe.

One thing that I love about cropped pants is their sheer versatility and variety. They are a bit more formal than shorts, yet less formal than full-length pants. You can buy cropped pants that look very dressy, or you can go the opposite route and buy a pair that look very casual, or even whimsical. Because of this, you can wear cropped pants to almost any function that you are likely to be invited to over the summer. Top your most casual pair of cropped pants with a tank, a big floppy hat, and sunglasses for a trip to the zoo, a few hours at the ballpark, or a day-long picnic. Put on a more dressy pair and finish the look with 3/4 sleeve collared shirt or a lightweight cotton sweater for cocktails at the swanky new bar in town, a graduation party, or even for casual day at the office.

Don't forget that your shoes become an even more important accessory when you are wearing cropped pants because they are more visible. If you are going for a casual look, then flip-flops or mules would be perfect. For a dressier look, make sure you wear shoes that fit the bill, such as strappy sandals or pumps. No matter which look you go for, make sure your shoes are in very good condition. Nothing can kill an otherwise terrific outfit faster than a pair of scuffed or ratty-looking shoes.

No matter what kind of events you have planned for this summer, you can definitely find some cropped pants that will be appropriate for the occasion. From casual to dressy, you can build a great outfit around the right pair of cropped pants. Do yourself and your wardrobe a favor by stocking up on cropped pants the next time you go shopping. You'll be sure to get plenty of mileage out of them all summer long!

...it's how you wear it. Developing your own personal sense of style can make you a true trendsetter and put you out ahead of the pack.
by
Deb Powers

This spring the hottest colors are pink and green. The styles have done another 180, and feminine is in again. Layered skirts, chiffon scarves and loose, floaty poets' blouses trade spots with fitted princess style shirts in flowered rayon fabrics that could have been milled in the 70s. Not to your taste?

The fashion magazines and store flyers dictate the hot styles each season, and most girls dive right in, picking up several pieces in the latest fashion so that they fit right in. Next time you go out, though, take a look around you and see who catches your eye. Chances are that it's the girl who stands out from the crowd - not so much because of what she's wearing but by the sheer confidence and attitude with which she wears it.

Stepping outside the fashion mold can take a bit of nerve at first. If you're used to wearing what your friends wear, or fitting into the corporate mold, if you've spent your life letting other people dictate what you wear, it can be a little dauting to start looking for your own style. It takes a little effort, but the effort is well worth it.

But wait, you're probably thinking. I know what my style is! I've got a whole closet full of clothes in my style. Take a look, though. How many of the outfits in that closet do you truly love? Which ones make you feel GOOD about the way you look? Are there any that feel like a second skin when you slip into them?

The right clothes are the clothes that you feel good wearing. If you like the way you look, the way the clothes drape on you, and how they feel, you'll naturally carry yourself with confidence and attitude. Does that silky little camisole make you feel devastatingly attractive? Wear it! Slip a boxy jacket over it, tuck it into a pair of tailored slacks and add a spill of silver chains, and you'll have a drop-dead outfit that will turn heads - and they won't be thinking 'Is that *underwear* she's wearing?'

The secret to carrying off an outrageous outfit is attitude and fit. No one looks attractive when they're fidgeting with their straps and hems, or trying to cover up something that's just a little too bare for their comfort. Choose well made clothing that fits right, in colors that you love. You can't look good in clothes that don't feel good.

Want to step out of your bandbox, but not quite sure how to do it? Here's a handful of tips that will help you start dressing the way you love to dress, and looking smashing in whatever you wear.

1. Figure out what makes you feel good.
Is it a color? A fabric? A particular cut of skirt or long flowing sleeves? Whatever it is, capitalize on it. For me, it's rich, deep jewel colors and touchable fabrics - yours might be crisp cotton, or full skirts, or sleek , tailored crop tops. Build your outfits around the clothes that you feel best wearing.

2. Shop in unusual places.
If the clothes that you like to wear are 'out of style' this season, you may have trouble finding something you like. Poke through the thrift shops, consignment shops and secondhand shops for things that you like. Learn where you can find classic styles no matter what season it is.

3. Shop by mail.
Mail order catalogs are a great source of clothes that you can't find anywhere else. They also tend to have a lot of staples that they carry from season to season, no matter what the styles are. Some of the best catalogs to shop are Spiegels, Sears and Lands' End.

4. Accessorize!
What you wear with is as important as what you wear. Take a basic tee shirt and black jeans. Add a bandana around your throat and another through a belt loop, and you're a country kicker. Swap the bandana for a strand of pearls, sleek your hair back and add high heels - from country bumpkin to city chic in seconds.

5. Dress up.
Not 'dress-up' for a wedding dress-up. Costume dress up. If you want to feel confident, dress the part. Want to be a slinky diva? Wear it, girl. Clothes are a costume - make them say what you want them to say instead of letting them define you.

by Paulla Estes

The song may belong to Neil Diamond, but the concept is one that true blue jean wearers all over the world hold near and dear to their hearts. Blue jeans symbolize not just a type of clothing, a style, or an era; putting on a pair of jeans represents an attitude and philosophy of life. Much like a person in uniform, whether military or not, proudly puts on his buttons, epaulets, awards, ribbons, medals, name insignia, shoes and hat, many people put on blue jeans to make a statement about who they are, where they have been, where they are going, and what they believe about life. Blue jeans signify relaxation, a hard day's work, tradition, and simplicity.

As a disclaimer, many people who wear blue jeans are not part of this "blue jean group;" they put on jeans much like a person might don a pair of camouflage pants though he is not affiliated with the military in any way. Many people dress in faux uniforms of varying kinds, but they are not claiming ownership of the establishment or organization the uniform represents. Blue jean wearers are much the same. For those of you who wear blue jeans as a convenience or to be in style, you are welcome and encouraged to wear them. And for those of you who know the philosophy and have claimed the blue jean attitude, you know who you are. Join me here as we attempt to explain it to the rest of the world.

Blue jeans are not new. Browsing through popular stores, we may see a plethora of types and styles of blue jeans, but the original jeans were created by the man whose name is often interchanged with the term, "blue jeans," Mr. Levi Strauss. Levi Strauss, a young Bavarian immigrant, arrived in San Francisco in the 1850s during the heart of the California Gold Rush.

Strauss' purpose was to sell canvas used for wagons and tents, and other dry goods, but soon found that the real need was in strong durable clothing, especially pants. Miners were rugged men with rugged ways and they required a rugged material to protect them from the elements. So Levi Strauss began making canvas pants. One of Strauss' best customers was a local tailor named Jacob Davis, who was originally from Latvia. Davis regularly bought the strong canvas from Strauss' business, Levi Strauss & Co., and made his own pants to sell to others, but found that he had one customer whose pockets kept ripping away from his pants. Davis tried every means to strengthen the man's pants, to no avail.

Finally Davis came upon the idea of attaching metal rivets at critical areas that are given a lot of strain, such as at the corners of pockets and the base of the button fly. The pants with the metal rivets were an instant success with Jacob Davis' customers, so Davis wrote to Levi Strauss, suggesting the two of them apply together to patent the riveted canvas pants. Strauss immediately agreed and in May of 1873, the patent was confirmed. "Waist overalls" was the original name for these new canvas pants that took the mining world by storm. Sometime during that same first year, the first Levi Strauss & Co. riveted clothing was made and sold. The word "denim" comes from French origins and fabric that was used in Europe to clothe slaves. From "waist overalls" to "denim" to "work pants" and back to denim again, these rugged pants became popularly known as "jeans" in the 1960s.

The strong cotton fabric was originally made at a mill in Manchester, New Hampshire. Word quickly spread and working men all over the country were hearing about the strength and durability of Levi Strauss' work pants. Sometime around 1890, the work pants became associated with the number 501, a number they still use today. As to be expected, the popularity of Strauss' work pants exploded into many copy-cat garments once the original 20-year patent expired. Companies all over the world began manufacturing denim jeans and they became more popular than any other clothing type. Blue jean wearers and lovers will agree that although there are many wonderful substitutes, the original blue jean still belongs to Strauss.

Today jeans are more than just clothing; to many of us they are a state of mind. To borrow the lyrics from another song, Waylon Jennings sang in his popular, "Luckenbach, Texas," to his sweetheart, "Baby let's sell your diamond rings, buy some boots and faded jeans and go away..." Blue jean lovers will understand this sentiment. The concept isn't about getting rid of the money so much as acquiring an attitude of simplicity and peace.

Let's face it, you don't wear jeans to fancy parties, elegant restaurants, business meetings, interviews, and upper-crust social functions. Jeans are for working on the farm, working with horses, working with children, working construction, working at home, moving furniture, hiking a mountain, cleaning a house, walking a dog, camping, having a picnic. Jeans are for taking a walk through the woods, hunting, climbing trees, rescuing animals, roping cattle, digging in the garden, and eating a home-cooked meal. Jeans are for going to the library, hauling lumber, shopping for groceries, taking the subway, touring a city, fishing, and relaxing at home.

Of course, one could argue that you could wear a variety of other garments to do most of these things, except perhaps roping cattle, but the blue jeans represent an aura of traditional thinking. Dressing up to go grocery shopping or working with children seems just a bit ridiculous. Sure, many people feel this is important, and that's what makes our world interesting: the fact that we are all different. But my wish for others is that they could know the blue jean philosophy, if only for a moment. If only they could know the mental comfort that comes with putting on a pair of jeans first thing in the morning and knowing you are "dressed" for the day.

My wish goes even beyond this. If only jeans were not just for weekend and dress-down occasions. If only businessmen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other professionals could whistle their way to work in a pair of blue jeans. I do believe this would make them whistle! Some people will balk at this suggestion; where would the professionalism be? How will we separate them from the rest of us if they dress like we do? That is exactly my point. We are all in this life together, working together, living together, relaxing together, and just trying to get by the best way we know how. Wouldn't we be doing our professional brothers and sisters a favor to encourage this simplistic, relaxed philosophy of life? Most people probably don't think so, but I know I do. Here's to the blue jean lovers everywhere: enjoy, smile, and remain forever in blue jeans.

If you're anything like me, then you have at least a few friends who gush about the great bargains they've found on eBay, the Internet auction site (www.ebay.com). Even if you've never visited the eBay website, chances are that you've at least heard of them. Remember a few months ago when a woman sold a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that purportedly bore the image of the Virgin Mary? Well, she sold it on eBay (for a whopping $28,000). The auction site brings together millions of buyers and sellers from all over the world. The result is that you can buy almost anything you can think of, including clothes.

What are the advantages of buying clothes on eBay? For one thing, you have access to items that you might otherwise have never seen if not for eBay. For example, many people operate virtual eBay stores either as a way to supplement their incomes or as a full-time job. It costs a lot of money and time to set up a physical retail store. It also takes a lot of inventory to stock a "real" store. But when you run an eBay store, you don't have to deal with those requirements. You just sell what you have on hand in your own home. This is great for people who make their own clothes. It gives them a chance to get their designs out in the public eye without worrying about many of the marketing aspects that traditional designers have to deal with. This gives you an opportunity to find truly original clothes at reasonable prices. If you are tired of retail stores and off-the-rack fashion, but at the same time don't want to pay exorbitant prices for top-of-the-line originals eBay just might be what you are looking for.

Another advantage to buying clothes on eBay is low prices. You can often find name-brand items that are selling on eBay for a lot less than you would pay at the mall. For example, I bought an authentic J. Crew sweater on eBay for $19.99 when it was going for $34.99 at the J. Crew store at my local mall. How does this happen? Isn't the eBay seller losing money on that deal? Well, I thought so too, at first. But no one would willingly lose money just so I can score a bargain, right? I did a bit of research and discovered that the most common reason that people are able to do this is because different branches of the same store hold sales at different times in different parts of the country. So while my local J. Crew in Chicago is selling sweaters at $34.99, the J. Crew in Los Angeles might have those same sweaters on clearance for $14.99. The eBay seller in Los Angeles scoops up as many sweaters as she can, and sells them for $19.99, which amounts to a profit of $5 per sweater. That's a pretty good margin for a home business or hobby.

Shopping for clothes on eBay is not always that easy or straightforward, of course. There are several disadvantages that you should be aware of. First of all, on any given day, there are quite literally tens of thousands of clothing items up for auction on eBay. Because of the sheer volume, I personally find browsing to be a bit difficult. It's better to go to eBay if you know exactly what you want. That way, you can just type in the item description in the search box and have only the relevant listings appear on your screen.

Another disadvantage is that most of the listings on eBay follow an auction style. So, you are not guaranteed to get the item at the price that you want. Other people can inflate the price with their bids and if you don't bid high enough, you will lose the item. This usually happens with the most popular and trendy clothes. For example, I have seen Abercrombie & Fitch clothing sell on eBay for more than the retail price found at Abercrombie stores. If a shirt, for example, is a particularly hot item and is sold out in the stores, then people are willing to pay a premium (that is, a higher price) on eBay just to be able to get the item. It's the equivalent of paying a scalper twice the face value of a concert ticket in order to see your favorite band perform live at a sold-out event.

One more thing you have to watch out for on eBay is the reputation of the seller. Luckily, eBay has a pretty good feedback system, so you can check out what other buyers had to say about their past dealings with the seller. If a seller gets consistently negative feedback, then you know you better steer clear of him or her and buy your clothes somewhere else. Some reasons for negative feedback include: excessive shipping and handling charges; wrong item sent; item never sent; or fake merchandise (the seller tried to pass off an obviously fake Gucci item for the real deal). Because you can read the seller's feedback, the truly bad seeds don't last very long. I have bought countless items from eBay and have not had a bad experience yet (knock on wood).

While buying clothes on eBay might not be for everyone, I recommend that you try it at least once. Start with a low-priced item, such as a t-shirt, in order to get your feet wet and to see if you like the way eBay works. It's a nice alternative to the mall or to the websites of national retail chains. You never know what kind of great bargains or truly one-of-a-kind originals you will find on eBay.

Meeting the parents of a boyfriend or girlfriend can be a stressful or anxious time. Regardless of how considerate, friendly, and approachable we may be, there is still a fear that the parents will find something that they dislike about us. This feeling is only natural. In fact, the first time I met my husband's mother I brought along a friend to help ease my nervousness. There are also times when the parents dislike you for no apparent reason. In situations like this, they are the ones with the problem. Still, we all want to make a good first impression. The way we dress for this meeting can say a lot about the kind of person we are.

Before you open your mouth to say hello, or before you extend your hand and offer a smile, the parents will have seen you approaching. From a distance they are judging you. They are examining your clothes, hair, makeup, walk, etc. As humans we naturally prejudge others based on unimportant details. For example, women may observe another women wearing skimpy clothing and assume she is loose. Once we have in our mind the kind of person someone is, it takes a long time to let go of our initial perception. The parents of your boyfriend and girlfriend are no different. Therefore we should dress in a fashion that is modest and mature.

Dressing for the parents is much easier for males. Men can wear a sweater, pair of pants, and look decent. However, men should make sure that their clothing is cleaned. If you had lunch a few hours prior and dropped a hotdog on your white shirt, change before meeting the parents. Badly stained clothes can leave an impression. It may make you appear unclean or a slob. Men should also make sure that their clothing is free of wrinkles. Do not meet the folk looking as if you just rolled out of bed.

Females may have a more difficult time. As women, we may like to show a little skin and wear make-up. There is nothing wrong with this. Unfortunately, some women do not know when to draw the line. There is a time and place for short revealing outfits. The first time you meet your boyfriend's family is not one of those times. Mothers are especially difficult to impress. Many times a mother will already dislike the girlfriend before even laying eyes on her. An indicator of this type of mother includes her rarely smiling, appearing tense, and maintaining a stern look on her face. In the mothers mind she is looking for every reason to dislike the girlfriend. These types of mother may often use dress and appearance as her basis. Why give her the satisfaction?

When meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time, keep it simple. First, determine the setting. Will it be formal or casual? More than likely it will be casual, unless you are attending a wedding. Women tend to wear a dress or skirt for meeting the parents. This is ideal because it will give a softer look. However, avoid wearing a short dress or skirt. Also, pay attention to the length when you sit. A knee length dress will stop mid-thigh when sitting. If the dress is much shorter while sitting, carry a shawl to place across your legs. This shows modesty

Women should also avoid wearing skimpy tops. It is fair to assume that your boyfriend's parents do not want to see a lot of cleavage or your belly ring. Sleeveless tanks are perfect for summer meetings, however avoid shirts that cut too low or that show too much flesh. This does not make a good first impression, nor does it show respect. Also, avoid wearing tight shirts. I doubt the parents will want to see the imprint of every curve in your body. True, your boyfriend may love these outfits, save them for him. Another great suggestion is dressing your age. If you are in your mid to late twenties, do not meet the parents looking like a teenager. This style of dress will make you appear immature and childlike. Sophisticated and classy is the key.

Make-up should be light and natural. Try and avoid looking fake or like a clown. Some women try and impress the parents by wearing more make-up than necessary. However, this often backfires. By offering these tips I am not suggesting that women should give up their own uniqueness to conform to their boyfriend's standards. It is important to be yourself. The tips offered should be applied when trying to appear mature and classy in any given situations. Women should dress the same way for meeting the parents as they would for a job interview. You would never go to an interview wearing club clothes or revealing outfits.

By Christina VanGinkel

We have all heard the old adage that everything old is new again. I never believed this until bell bottoms came back into style a few years ago, and I now realize how naive I was to think that this just was not true. Nearly any style that is on the clothing racks in stores today can be somehow traced back to styles that were vogue long ago.

What drives us as people to keep turning the clocks backwards when it comes to fashion? I think on some level it is that we are trying to reclaim our youth. If not directly in the clothing we wear, then through the clothing our children wear. We may also be looking to recreate parts of our lives to reflect a quieter time in history altogether. Consider the retro style clothing that is so popular. It actually brings reminiscing about style back to the early 1920's. On the other hand, is it possible that designers from days gone by did such a great job, that there really is no need to create brand new? No, not at all, as new designers will always be creating new styles and designs, and building on the well grounded designs from past times. However, you will also have your fashion aficionados who just recognize a good thing and keep putting the old out as new.

As a mother and grandmother, I do find it a bit ironic that the clothing my grandson wears is oftentimes decorated with many of the same characters that have been popular on and off for decades now, including the likes of Spiderman, Batman, and anything and everything Star Wars. It is as if our generation of current adults is stuck in a time warp when it comes to children's clothing as well as our own.

Is there anything wrong with any of this? I would vehemently answer definitely not. Why should we be looking to create new, new, new of everything, when there is nothing wrong or bad about the old or already done. Fashion is such a personal thing anyways, that an outfit on one person is viewed very different on the next person in line.

Take those bell-bottoms for instance. No matter how much I would like to turn the clocks backwards every now and then, I have to remind myself that did not look good in them in the sixties and I still do not look good in them now!

My husband is one of those guys who doesn't care much about clothes or fashion at all. He hates to go shopping for clothes, and, more importantly, hates spending lots of money on clothes. As a result, he never seems to wear anything but t-shirts and jeans or shorts (in the summer). These are just plain old t-shirts, too. No henleys or ringers or anything like that. He only owns a couple of shirts with collars, and maybe one or two pairs of khaki pants. He wears a collared shirt and pants exactly once a year: when we go to my mother's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Then it's right back to the t-shirt and jeans routine until the next Thanksgiving.

I guess this wouldn't be so bad if he regularly sported new t-shirts, but he hangs on to the same clothes until they literally fall apart. When I tell him he should get new t-shirts, he immediately points out that there are no holes in his other shirts, so they've got "years of service left in 'em." And he really means it, too. I would venture to guess that at least 80% of his current t-shirt stock consists of shirts that are more than 5 years old. Yes, five years old! I don't know about you, but that seems like a long time to hold on to and wear a t-shirt (he does wear these out in public). T-shirts aren't made to endure that many years of spin cycles in the washing machine and high-heat cycles in the dryer. So you can probably imagine the state that some of his shirts are in: the graphics have peeled or become so faded that you can't read them, and the neck area has become frayed and ragged looking. But, he's right. There are no actual holes in them, so he just keeps on wearing them.

At least his jeans and shorts are in better shape. He buys cheap jeans because he can't stand name-brand clothes. So he totally avoids Levi's, Abercrombie & Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger, and all other famous brands. I think the jeans he currently owns were all bought from an outlet store for less than $15 a piece. Even though they were cheap, the jeans have held up remarkably well and don't much wear and tear from all the years of use. Who knows how many "years of service" my husband will get from one pair of jeans!

I will admit that after we first got married, I tried to change my husband's wardrobe. I know that this is a pretty stereotypical thing for a woman to do, but I couldn't help it. I wanted him to look a little more presentable when we went out to a restaurant or to a friend's house for dinner or a party. At least I didn't just take him to the mall one day and tell him that we were going to overhaul his wardrobe. I was a bit more subtle about it and gave him the new clothes as Christmas and birthday gifts. I bought casual items, such as polo-type shirts and Dockers pants. But he just as subtly turned aside my attempts at improvement, and never wore the new clothes.

I gradually accepted the fact that my husband would never dress the way I wanted him to. It's not that I mind t-shirts and jeans. In fact, a significant portion of my own wardrobe consists of these very same items. It's just that sometimes I would like to get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant, or take in a play or musical downtown. I never quite realized how not having the right type of clothing could limit our activities. But, as I said, I've learned to live with it by now. My husband wouldn't be at ease in those places, and his comfort is more important to me than eating at a certain restaurant or seeing a play.

If clothes really do make the man, then I count myself very lucky. My husband's wardrobe shows that he is a very laid back and down-to-earth person who isn't concerned with shallow things like a person's outward appearance. I would take that over a few nights out on the town any day!

Earth Shoes Redux

They arrived yesterday. My first pair of Earth shoes in twenty five years. I had actually forgotten how they looked, but they did look good.

For my first pair, I purchased sandals that were on clearance. Retro flip flops, with a peace sign above the thong. They're made of leather and denim. Right out of the late sixties, early seventies. How cool is that?

Waiting the week for them to get here was the hardest. Then on the scheduled delivery date, UPS didn't show up at the usual time. Wouldn't you know that this would be the week the usual driver would go on vacation?

So, I waited, and waited, watching the window for the brown van. Finally, at three in the afternoon, there it was, slowing down at the end of the driveway.

Running to the door, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Okay, pause, take a breath, I don't want to look like an eager idiot.

Meet the guy in the driveway, say my thanks and try to walk back into the house, all graceful like.

Inside, I quickly open the plain brown box and pull out the Earth shoe box inside. I held my breath as I opened that second box.

Had I been taken again? Would these truly be 'real' Earth shoes? I pull the first sandal out, remove the stuffing, and set it on the floor. I repeat with the second shoe.

I kick off my counterfeits, and gently slide my feet into my new sandals.

Immediately, I could feel it. My back stood straighter and my heel, well it sunk lower than my toes. I walked across the floor and could feel the familiar tug in my lower calves.

They were real!

My feet were dancing, almost screaming out "We've come home". I couldn't argue. Once again, I had the most comfortable shoes in the world surrounding my feet.

I'm so glad I didn't wait to order the boots (ordering two days after the sandals). They came today. Exactly like the boots I had in the mid-seventies. Except now, I only have to lace them up once as they have a size zipper for easy on and off.

Will I buy more? You bet I will. With any luck, I'll buy enough to last me the rest of my life. While some may stockpile food, me, I'm going to stockpile Earth shoes. Before they disappear again.

by Christina VanGinkel

My two-year-old grandson was coming home for a visit. He was driving from Arkansas all the way to Wisconsin just so he could go swimming with Grandma. He had informed us that he wanted to do three things while he was visiting. Ride the four-wheeler with his Papa, go fishing with his Uncle, and have Grandma take him to the local pool. This all sounded grand, until I realized that I had not given a thought to a swimsuit in over three years. That being the last time we went on vacation and let our two youngest children pick where they wanted to go, and they had chosen Wisconsin Dells and the Great Wolf Lodge, complete with all the water any swimmer could want in one place. The suit I wore to the lodge was still in my closet, but I had been considerably heavier when I wore it compared to my current weight.

So, the problem was, where would I get a swimming suit so early in the spring and in Wisconsin? In addition, what would I need in a suit now that my age had been rising but my figure had been falling pound wise? I temporarily considered heading to the pool in t-shirt and shorts, until my daughter reminded me of their no t-shirt rule. If you wanted to swim in the community pool, you were required to wear a suit, so, back to finding a suit.

Our area consists of your basic stores found across the country in any major rural area, Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Penney's. My first stop was Wal-Mart, simply because as the crow flies, it was closest to my house. Surprisingly, they had a few swimsuits in stock, even though the average daily temperature had not been over forty degrees. The problem with the selection I first came across though was unless I was willing to wear a very basic bikini I was out of luck. I may have been slimming down the past couple of years, but believe me when I say nobody wants to see me in a two piece swimsuit, not any as skimpy as the ones I found hanging on those racks. Before I left the store, I did check a few other racks, and had found a few hanging in the women's section on a large size rack. Nothing had tweaked my interest though, and they had all looked more along the lines of something I could envision my Grandmother wearing. The good news was that I had at least found a few swimsuits, if they were from one extreme to the next!

From there I headed to Kmart. Our Kmart is a smaller sized store with a good selection of most things you might need. No swimsuits yet though, and the clerk I asked said they would not be getting any in for at least a week or two. Problem was I needed a suit for the upcoming weekend. Next stop, and more or less my last resort unless I wanted to wear what I had hanging in my closet, was Penney's.

When I arrived, not only did they have a selection to pick from as far as sizes and styles go, they had several that had some features I had not even thought of being able consider. One suit had a nifty little panel across the stomach area, in the form of a built in girdle, yet comfortable. Several suits in my size range had built in support in the bra area. Moreover, there was a selection of two-piece suits that resembled tank tops with matching shorts if I was so inclined to go that route! Then I saw it, a perfect little black number as they say. It had this nifty little panel across the stomach with shirring that miraculously made my tummy look slimmer, tank style straps that were wide enough apart that I knew they would offer the support I needed and stay put, along with the built in bra. I knew it was the perfect suit even before I tried it on. The front, back, and leg cut were all moderate, not too much, and not too little. I had found a suit that I could both swim in and be comfortable in when I got out of the pool.

Once I had browsed the racks a bit more and tried on a few others just to make sure that this was indeed the suit for me, I headed to the checkout to pay for my purchase. That was one of the best parts of the whole deal. The suit, along with a neat little cover-up skirt, a pair of deck shoes, and two matching beach towels, one for me, and one for my grandson, cost less than one hundred dollars. Nevertheless, the very best part was seeing how excited my grandson was when we headed off to go swimming.

Written by James Fohl

If you live on the east coast of the United States, then chances are you are just like me, wondering where in the world is the warm weather. Let's face it, it is the middle of May, and as the saying goes "April showers bring May flowers.". The only problem with the east coast right now, is the fact that our May weather has been seemingly like our March weather.

It seems that everywhere I go, people are complaining left and right about the cold temperatures, lack of sunlight, and of course the rain showers that don't seem to want to go away.

I remember back in March, it was mostly sunny and I purchased a bunch of khaki and blue jean shorts along with a pair of new sandals. I had already seen some warm weather and could not wait until May came so I could have some fun in the sun.


Instead Of Wearing My New Summer Clothes, I'm Stuck Still Wearing My Beat Up Old Winter Clothes

Too bad for me that May is already here, and the sun is nowhere to be found. Instead of the warm temperatures I was expecting, I instead have been finding cold temperatures that should have gone away when we left March for April. I find my self a little angry because instead of wearing the new pairs of shorts I bought months earlier, I find myself still wearing my rugged old blue jeans. Instead of wearing my new sandals, I am still wearing my beat up black boots.

People like me are everywhere, mad and complaining about the weather. Even stores are having problems selling summer gear, because everyone is buying the clearance winter merchandise instead.

I was looking at a pair of sunglasses a few days ago, but I quickly put them down. I began thinking to myself why I should buy a pair of sunglasses since the sun had not even been out the past week. I put them down thinking that I would purchase them whenever summer officially comes in.


I Don't Know Where The Warm Weather Is, But If It Doesn't Come Soon I Think I'm Leaving

Where is the warm weather on the east coast? Who knows, I just really hope that the rest of the summer isn't as crappy as May has been. Hopefully, just hopefully it will get warm enough so that I can go back to the stores and purchase that pair of sunglasses along with a pair of swimming trunks. If it is not warm by July however, I think I am gonna get away from this east coast and find myself a nice warm place to enjoy the summer.

Written by James Fohl

Is there anything on this crazy planet of ours that is more comfortable to wear than a nice pair of sweat pants? Think about the last time you wore sweat pants? Can you remember when the last time you wore such comfortable, cotton pants?

Talking To Coworkers About Sweat Pants

I was talking to some of my friends a while ago about how cool it would be to wear sweat pants to work. While we all agreed it would be pretty cool, of course one guy had to get all technical on the subject and state that according to his company's policies any pants made with 80% or more cotton were considered sweat pants, and illegal.

This had me thinking when I arrived back home later that day, and I checked out the couple pairs of sweat pants that I owned residing in my clothes closet to see what percentage of cotton the pants consisted of. Sure enough, all of the sweat pants I own consist of at least 80% cotton, along with 20% polyester. There went my whole 'Here's a pair of 75% cotton sweat pants; go wear them to work!”ordeal that I was going to give to the Mister Know-it-all employee.

Those Cheap Pairs Of Sweat Pants Can't Compare .

Even if you are not allowed to wear sweat pants to work, they are still the most comfortable pants I have ever worn outside of work. If you disagree, then you probably have only worn Haynes or Fruit of the Loom sweatpants that you can purchase at retail stores such as Wal-Mart and Target for less than ten dollars. These sweat pants simply do not cut it, and can deserve all the bashing they get. Go into a specialty store such as American Eagle, or my personal favorite, Aeropostale, and try on a pair of their premium sweat pants. Chances are, after you have tried a pair of premium sweat pants on you most likely will not want to take them off.

Yeah, they feel that good. I used to really be a blue jeans guy until I received a pair of Aeropostale sweat paints from a friend as a gift. Then, I some how only wanted to wear that pair of sweat pants in my free time. They were the most comfortable winter pants I had ever owned, and I still have them today. Even with numerous rips, tears, and stains they are still pretty dang comfortable.

If You Are Looking For A Pair Of Comfortable Pants, Look No Further Than Aeropostale's Sweat Pants

So if you have never tried a pair of American Eagle or Aeropostale sweat pants, maybe you should go in and try on a pair. While they are regularly priced $44.50 at Aeropostale, you can usually find them on sale for around fifteen dollars, which to me is an excellent price for the totally comfortable pants you are receiving. Who knows, you might just fall in love with a pair of very comfortable pants.

I am very impressed with the different styles of maternity clothes that are available these days. In the days before my first pregnancy, when I thought about maternity clothes, I pictured over sized, ill fitting, ruffled dresses and clown style pants. Fortunately, most maternity clothing does not actually look like this. These days you can find maternity clothes that are as stylish and often even more stylish than regular clothes.

During my first pregnancy, my favorite clothing piece was a cute little black dress. It was sleeveless, came to just above my knees, had a silver decorative buckle in the front, and tied in the back to allow adjustment to compensate for my growing belly. I absolutely loved it. I wore it anytime I wanted to feel sexy while I was pregnant. I even wore it after I was pregnant. Many months after I had given birth I was still choosing that little black dress to wear at least once a month. Unfortunately, in a moment of weakness, I loaned it to my sister, who was at the time 6 months pregnant. I never saw it again. She passed it on, after her pregnancy, to another pregnant woman. I was disappointed, but I could not really complain. How could I? I wasn't even pregnant anymore!

During my second pregnancy, my favorite outfit was a blue short set. It was cute and cool for the hot summer weather and I felt sporty in it. My last trimester of pregnancy was filled with ninety degree days, but I felt great in a variety of stylish maternity short sets, Capris, and tank tops. I even had a very hot, black and white bathing suit.

The last trimester of my third pregnancy was punctuated by an endlessly cold winter. I sported bulky sweaters and pant sets that looked much like what my non-pregnant friends were wearing. My one regret was the difficulty I had with finding a coat to fit me. I flat out refused to buy a special maternity coat and nothing I had at home would fasten by the time I reached my eighth month. I could be seen, on any given day, pulling and tugging at my jacket or coat trying, in vain, to get it to close comfortably over my bulging belly. Still I was very pleased with the majority of my wardrobe during that pregnancy.

During my most recent pregnancy, my home was hit by an unexpected flood. I lost all the maternity clothes I had managed to save from previous pregnancies as well as all my new purchases. I cried going through drawer after drawer of soiled, moldy maternity clothes, thinking of all the money wasted and the hurt of losing so much I was emotionally attached to.

For weeks I survived in oversized t-shirts and sweat pants. I felt sloppy and unkempt. I missed my stylish maternity wardrobe, but could not, after suffering so many losses, justify purchasing all new clothes. Lucky for me I did not need to. My friends, concerned over my lack of suitable clothing, surprised me with a just for mommy shower. I received a brand new stylish assortment of maternity clothes from my friends/saints. Now, six months later, I realize I can no longer get away with wearing my maternity jeans or my favorite denim maternity top. It is getting too hot for most of my pregnancy clothes and I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight.

This time, instead of holding on to the maternity close just in case I decide to have another child, I decided to donate them to a local charity. I hope they will make some other woman feel as good as they helped me to feel. I did, however, hold onto my favorite denim shirt, just in case.

As I was sorting through the items in my toddler daughter's dresser drawers and closet the other day, I realized something. She has a better wardrobe than I do. As fast as she is growing, everything she has will likely be too small within six months. Yet, she has more clothes, for more specialty occasions, in better condition than her mother. How does this happen?

There are many reasons for this phenomenon, yet it is also incredibly simple. First, kids' clothes are cute. Really, really cute, especially the items for little girls. In addition, they are generally less expensive than adult items. Add to that the fact that my daughter loves clothes and enjoys shopping for them. I enjoy the pleasure of buying the things she covets more than I enjoy buying things for myself.

When I became a mother, I chose to stay at home with my daughter. I work, but I do contract work from home. Since I do not go into an office on more than a sporadic basis, I need very few clothing items that are suited for the work world. Most often, my days involve either sitting alone at my computer after a preschool drop off, or trekking to the park, mall, pool, playgroup or other kid friendly venue. I am likely to get covered with drips of toddler food and beverage and I need to be able to climb up a jungle gym to get a stranded child or kneel in the sand to help build the perfect sand castle. For all of these reasons, I opt for comfort. This means that my outfit of choice tends to be a t-shirt and jeans or shorts. Yes, I even own a pair of overalls.

I watch those wardrobe makeover shows and I see them replace all the clothing on women like me. I understand that I would look more stylish in a linen blouse and slacks. But, when my daughter placed her chocolate covered hands on my fanny, it would have to go to the dry cleaner instead of allowing me to just zap it with oxi-clean and throw it into the washing machine. Yes, little dresses are flattering, summery and cute. But, when you are perched at the edge of the sand pile in the playground, they are not terribly practical since there is no way to sit gracefully without exposing your nether regions. Strappy sandals? I love them, but they flap and fly when I have to race after an escaping toddler who is chasing a squirrel, bird, butterfly or invisible fairy.

So, I will continue to watch and learn how I ought to dress. But, in the meantime I will stay comfortable in my mommy clothes and live vicariously through my little one's wardrobe.

Right from the childhood, a person wears a lot of clothes with different fashions, styles, during the whole life. No fashion in clothing remains forever because of changing trends in everything and also for the fact that change is a must for growth. When a person is an infant he or she did not know anything about this world and it has no sense to wear clothes or not. His parents or guardians have to take care of the clothing. This is according to the weather conditions, body and the type of cloth to be used. When the child grows it is able to make a difference in its liking or disliking about a particular cloth for itself. During infancy, it hardly matters that what is the type of clothes that are used for male or female babies. But in the due course of time, this will change and there is a lot of difference in the clothing of male and female. It is generally observed that baby clothes are filled with pictures, cartoons, figures, and animals' photographs, etc., so as to enable them familiar with these things. As the child grows its clothes are changed to his school dress, dress while playing and dress while sleeping, etc. This all is governed by his parents! As the person goes to the college he gets familiar with the fashion trends, which are present in the market.

Everyone has interest that he or she should look better than everyone else and at the same time, different also! This fashion or trend in the clothing comes from the glamour world of cinema, and fashion designers, etc.
It is general trend among the youngsters that they prefer to wear clothes, which were worn by their favorite star whether be a film star or a player of their choice. That is why companies prefer to take the stars in their advertising campaigns. As boys wear pants, shirts, jeans, T-shirts, full sleeves shirts as well as half sleeves shirts, sweaters, jackets, and coats, etc.; girls also have a variety in their clothes like hipsters, tops, jeans, sari, and almost all the male clothes. It is seen that there is trend of stitched clothes as well as readymade garments among the youngsters.

Earlier it was a great problem to wear clothes of own interest. This is because of the restrictions made by parents or society, and the availability of clothes of new trends was not easy. But now days everyone can wear his own interest’s clothes, which are of new fashion and trend. This is made easy with the help of fashion shows, exhibitions or also with the cinema. In a fashion show a latest ranges of almost all types of clothes are displayed for the public interests. This is also easy now a days because every town or city or even a small village has its own cloth shops, showrooms of readymade garments, etc. Now days you can go to a showroom for purchasing clothes, you need not to worry that will it be suitable to you or not. You can try it at the shop itself and if you find it suitable then only buy otherwise you are not forced to buy that particular cloth. You can go for another piece or type of cloth or even try at another shop also.

I remember one day when I went to purchase clothes with one of my friends from the market. We left for the market in the morning and we visited a number of shops, big showrooms and every company's exclusive showroom and tried a number of clothes. We were trying the clothes for almost the whole day and in the evening decided to purchase a particular pants and shirt. This is because of the reason that we have a market full of variety of clothes and it is not a good decision to purchase anything without trying the market especially the clothes.

In the changing world of fashion the trends of clothes are changing and so are the ways of purchasing the clothes. Though online selling is one of the options, but it is better to go to the market and try the clothes!

Clothing is much more than meets the eye for many of us. It is a comfort zone of sorts. Surprisingly though, what one might consider comfortable, another would not. Some of us have our favorite pair of jeans and sweatshirt that we pull on the minute we no longer need to be dressed for the outside world. This assembly can also include items such as sweatpants, shorts, pajama tops and bottoms, t-shirts, etc., with the main criteria being the older the better, while others are not comfortable unless completely dressed in a matching ensemble from head to toe.

One friend I know insists that she would never be caught dead in most of the things I regularly wear. I responded by telling her I would surely expire if forced to wear dress clothes day in and out like she does on a daily basis. As I work mostly from the comfort of my home, my closet only holds a few outfits suitable for much beyond a trip to the local grocery store. Her closet mostly holds three-piece suits, color coordinated with matching shoes and jewelry.

This same friend once showed up at a mutual friends for a birthday party for a three year old. She arrived in high heels and a cream pantsuit complete with a white silk shirt and pearls. While other mothers dressed in mostly jeans and Capris gave her looks that clearly wondered if she was a bit off her rocker, I knew that she was dressed in what she considered comfortable for a play date with toddlers. She was not only at ease in what some of us consider dress clothes; I knew she was about as underdressed for an occasion as she would ever be.

What is it about clothes that makes some people love to wear outfits with matching everything, and make the rest of us just wish that everything looked the same so we did not have to always be searching for an outfit that would not make our great, great grandmothers roll in their graves? Why are some people able to dress in fine silks and other elegant clothes at the start of a day and still look pulled together twelve hours later after a full day of work and family? While the rest of us cannot make it out the door first thing in the morning without it looking like we tried to use a steamroller to press our whole wardrobe while we were wearing it.

She always has what she considers the perfect outfit for any occasion that may come up. I am also always comfortable, and the few places I go, I can always manage to pull something out of my closet, even if I do end up wearing the same outfit to both a wedding, a funeral, and the quarterly teachers conference at my twelve year old sons school. The more I think about it, all I can really say is thank heaven for individuality in the clothing game. What it comes down to is the need for everyone to be comfortable with their individual wardrobe and style and stop worrying if we fit in with the crowd. In addition, I need to figure out what I can wear to an upcoming graduation party. I hope that I will not run in to too many of the same people from the last wedding and funeral I went too!

We all have our favorite set of "comfy clothes" that we wear around the house. Some people might like to wear an oversized pajama top paired with loose-fitting shorts. Other people might prefer the old t-shirt and sweatpants combination. Personally speaking, my set of comfy clothes consists of a black pair of Adidas track pants and a white hooded sweatshirt with my sorority letters on it. Of course, this combo only works in winter, but I am writing about it now because I have a feeling that these particular items are on their last legs, so to speak. How long is too long to keep comfy clothes around?

I think this is a tough question to answer because, first of all, people rarely go out of the house in their comfy clothes unless it's midnight and they need to run out for a snack. Since it's not likely that anyone would ever see you in these clothes, they obviously don't have to be in perfect condition. Second, it's pretty hard (at least for me) to find an item of clothing that can attain this special wardrobe status. I don't know about you, but my comfy clothes have to fit just right. They have to be loose enough to allow me to indulge in that occasional hot fudge sundae or to allow me to sleep comfortably. That means tight elastic waistbands are out. They can't be too loose, either. The feeling of swimming in my clothes just doesn't cut it for me. When my comfy clothes are in the wash, I always struggle with the day's replacement outfit. I am so used to how my comfy clothes fit that anything else automatically feels wrong.

But I am faced with a big dilemma right now. I have been relying on the same comfy clothes for about 8 years, and those years are starting to take their toll. My Adidas pants have the trademark 3 stripes running down the sides of the legs. But after countless trips through the washer and dryer, the stitching around the stripes has come undone in some places. So now the stripes are just kind of hanging there, half off and half on. It looks pretty bad. My sweatshirt is not doing much better. It was white, but time (and a lot of spills and stains that didn't quite come all the way out, even with bleach) has turned it to a dirty gray color. The sorority letters were just silk-screened on, so they have peeled in several places and are hardly legible anymore. In short, I look pretty ragged when I wear these clothes.

I know that it's time to change, but I can't quite bring myself to do it. Every time I go to a sporting goods store, I look at their Adidas track pants, but I can't find the same ones. Mine have a nylon shell, are lined with cotton, and have zippered legs (almost like basketball warm-ups). I made the mistake of buying a pair that were merely similar to the ones I have. They ended up being way too tight, even though they were the same brand and the same size. Don't you hate it when that happens?

It seems like my sweatshirt would be easier to replace, but that hasn't been the case. I don't like hooded sweatshirts at all, but of course hoodies are all the rage now. Sweatshirts have to fit just right, too. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Some sweatshirts are too thick, some are too thin, some are too narrow through the torso area, and some are too boxy. This kind of reminds me of the "Golden Boy" t-shirt from that one Seinfeld episode. Jerry couldn't throw his favorite t-shirt away even though it had clearly seen better days. What's the big deal, it's just a t-shirt, right? Well, I can totally understand the big deal. Comfortable clothes are hard to come by.

I know that my comfy clothes aren't going to last for another winter season, which means I have about 6 months to find suitable replacements. It looks like I will be trying on a lot of track pants and sweatshirts this summer!

By Valencia Higuera

Choosing a wedding dress is just as difficult as squaring away other details for the wedding. All brides have a vision of how they would like to look on their wedding day. For one moment in time, they are a princess. No doubt they want a dress that will leave the guests and their groom in awe. The wedding dress is generally one of the first details that brides handle. The selection process sounds easier than it is. Many brides assume that they will enter a bridal shop, try on a few top picks, and walk out the store with the gown of their dreams. Brides quickly learn that choosing a wedding dress can take days, even weeks.

I was not the typical bride. While other girls were fantasizing about their future weddings and husbands, I was plotting my independence. The goal was to go to college, get a job, and take care of myself. My plan backfired and the rest is history. Still, even with the engagement ring glued to my finger I didn't think like a bride. I purchased my wedding gown in one day, and only tried on four gowns. It was an impromptu purchase. In other words, on the day of purchase I had not planned on visiting the bridal shop, let alone purchase a gown. I do not recommend that brides develop my nonchalant attitude. Weddings are special occasions, and there is nothing wrong with wanting every aspect of a wedding to be perfect, down to the wedding gown.

Prior to visiting bridal shops, brides should have in mind the type of dress they would like to wear. Those marrying for the first time may not be familiar with the latest wedding gown styles. The best way to become familiar with wedding gowns and accessories is to purchase two or three bridal magazines. These magazines are a bride's guide to planning the wedding of her dreams. They also showcase several bridal gowns. To make it easier, magazines will often list the designer and style number. This way, when the bride visits a bridal gown shop, the sales representative can locate the gown using the style number.

Some brides opt to wear gowns that have been passed down in their family. This is smart economically, if the bride wants to wear the gown. Many brides feel pressured to wear their mother, grandmother, or sister's wedding gown. However, it is normal for brides to want a dress of their own. Changing styles can make a once nice bridal gown appear old-fashion to today's standards. Brides who are expected to wear family gowns should discuss their wishes early. Initially members of the family may be upset, but they will get over it.

Once a dress style is selected, brides must decide whether they will purchase the dress from a store or have it made. Brides who are on a tight budget may choose to have the dress made by a seamstress. Seamstress charge less money than stores. Thus the bride is able to get a designer style gown at a wholesale price. A great advantage is having a mother or grandmother who sews. As a wedding gift they may make the dress free of charge. If using a seamstress, choose an experienced wedding gown seamstress. Ask to see pictures of gowns they have made, or speak with past customers.

Brides who are purchasing gowns from stores should not shop alone. An outsider's opinion is important when selecting the perfect wedding dress. Again, I am living proof of this. On the day that I purchased my gown, I took into the dressing room three gowns. In my mother's opinion, the dresses were nice, but did not give me a special look. She then selected a fourth dress that I did not particularly like because it had a little sleeve (my ideal dress was sleeveless). Amazingly that dressed looked wonderful and I bought it. Ask friends and family for their honest opinion, and listen. They are looking out for your best interests, and they want you to look your very best.

Brides should remember to bring shoes when selecting a dress. The shoes do not have to be the exact ones that will be worn on the wedding day. However, the heel of the shoe should reflect the inch that will be worn. Bringing a pair of shoes give an idea to how long your dress will be. Try and select a dress that needs limited alterations. Ordinary alterations are not very expensive. Nonetheless, alterations for a wedding dress can cost between $100 and $200. Granted, women who are very short or slim may need alterations. Instead of having the bridal shop make changes, ask a friend or family member who has experience making clothing alterations.

Do not wait until the last minute to buy a dress. Some bridal gowns can be purchased off the rack. However, many gowns have to be ordered. Gown orders vary. Some orders arrive in a few days, whereas other orders can take four months. Brides should also prepare to pay a few hundred dollars for a wedding gown. Wedding gown can be costly. Some brides have spent thousands of dollars on a gown. Personally, I do not see the point in spending a lot of money for a gown, unless you are wealthy. Many beautiful gowns are available that do not involve emptying out bank accounts. Be sensible. Do not purchase a dress that is not affordable. Depending on the store, brides may be allowed to pay for their dress in installments.

Brides may have to visit several bridal shops, and try on many dresses before they find one that agrees with their personal style and budget. Take your time. It is ideal to plan at least six months for a wedding. This allows enough time to handle all the wedding details effectively. A six month window also allows time for a bride to have her dress made in the event that she cannot find that perfect gown.

by Christina VanGinkel

Clothing is one of those things you either give a lot of thought to or not much at all. As a mother keeping a growing twelve year old in fashionable clothes without going broke in the process, clothing is on my mind more than ever in the recent past.

My son has always been big. Born at nine pounds fourteen ounces, he is now five feet seven inches tall and weighs approximately one hundred and eighty pounds. Some would immediately assume that he is overweight, but I would beg to differ. He is in all actuality one of the most active twelve years olds I have ever known. He plays catcher for his Little League team, center on offense and nose guard and tackle on defense for the youth football team, snowboards all winter, and rides motocross on his Kawasaki KX 100 whenever he has a spare minute. Any other free time is spent working for his father in the tool shop and piling logs. With an active schedule like this, I am not only trying to keep him in well fitting, good looking school and day to day clothes, but also in all the protective gear and uniforms needed for him to participate in his favorite sports.

His Little League coach got a taste of his habit of outgrowing clothes when the new season started this year, and he realized he had to special order my son a uniform in adult size. He got off easy! In six weeks time my son outgrew almost every article of clothing in his closet, save for a few pairs of jogging pants and a couple of oversized sweatshirts.

Living rurally as we do, this meant driving to the nearest town with a mall that includes all the basics, including a JC Penneys. Thankfully, my son is easygoing about clothes shopping in general. As long as the clothes moderately resemble what his friends are wearing, he is good to go. This helps immensely when we happenchance upon a sale. Name brands such as U.S. Polo, Arizona, or Levi, are preferred, but more for the fit than the name. He has always been a hot person, so clothes that are favorites are loose fitting and breathable.

The one area of clothing that he can be particular about is anything to do with snowboarding. He has his favorites for everything from his pants and jackets, to the gloves he wears. Again, this is more of a comfort issue than trying to fit in with the crowd.

Motocross pants are also an issue, as he needs them when he rides to protect his legs from any possibly wipeouts. A pair a friend picked up at Christmas at deep discount had to be altered this month for the start of season because he had already outgrown them. Thankfully, they were made in a way that the waist could have an extension put in without being very noticeable. No such luck with the jean shorts I purchased around the same time of year. At least I can pass them down to his little brother. Make that his twenty three year old brother, who may be older, but is definitely smaller!

Earth Shoes are Back


I've been buying what I thought were Earth shoes from my local super center the last couple of years. Imagine my surprise when I discovered last week that what I was buying were not the real thing, only a similar sounding brand.

I purchased my first pair of real Earth shoes in the mid 1970s. Calf high, lace up boots to wear with my Gunny Sack dresses. It took a few days to get used to my heels being lower than the rest of my foot, but once I did, I found out that they were the most comfortable shoes I had ever worn. I wore those boots everywhere, with jeans and with shorts for day hikes along the Appalachian Trail. I think I ended up with about eight years use out of them, before the soles finally wore away.

After the boots, I purchased two more pair of Earth shoes during the next five years or so. Those also lasted eight to ten years with almost continual wear. I went to replace them only to be told that the unique and comfortable shoes were no longer being made.

It took me quite a wile to get used to wearing normal shoes again. Shoes where my heel was even with the rest of my foot and I never quite mastered high heels at all.

So, when I discovered Earth Shoes at the local super center, I was ecstatic. No, they no longer had the recessed heal, but they were still made of leather and were now reasonably priced. I purchased two pair of flip-flops that day, went back in the fall, and bought ankle boots. The flip-flops lasted about a season and the boots are still in good shape.

Last week while surfing the net, I came across the real Earth shoes once again. Still high priced, but they appear to be made in the same high quality tradition. Digging around on the net for a while, I found a place that had some styles on sale very reasonably. I've already ordered a new pair of flip-flops for summer and have my eyes on the perfect pair of boots for winter.

I am a happy camper. Sure, I'll have to learn to walk all over again, but I know my back will thank me after a day or two. Now all I have to do is rediscover Gunny Sack dresses and I can be an old hippie all over again.

My biggest question is this - what is the super center selling? And how many people think as I did, that they are purchasing shoes from a trusted retailer of the 70s and not something made in China? When the store chose these particular shoes, were they capitalizing on a proven brand name and customer loyalty? I've got to admit, I feel a bit deceived.

When you think of a monogrammed shirt, does the big, swirled "L" from a certain TV sitcom character of the mid-seventies come to mind? Maybe you think of the linens in a fancy hotel that you once stayed at. Well, monograms are back, and they're not just for quirky people or for towels and bathrobes anymore. Monograms are a great way to personalize an item of clothing, and to add a touch of class at the same time. While tradition has generally shown that men's dress shirts are the most likely candidates for monograms, modern times have brought about some changes to this custom. These days, you can find monograms on women's clothing, casual clothing, children's clothing, and even on jeans or pants.

Monograms typically consist of the initials of your first, middle, and last names. Monograms of the classic style call for the initial of your last name to appear in the middle of your other two initials. The initial of your last name is also larger. Modern convention, however, allows your initials to be presented in order. If you choose this style, then all the letters would also be the same size.

The position of the monogram can be determined by personal preference, so feel free to place your initials wherever you want. If you want to go with traditional placements, then follow these guidelines. On shirts, monograms are usually placed on one of the cuffs or on the upper-left side of the chest area. Occasionally, monograms are applied to the tip of the collar. On pants, monograms can appear one either side in the front, just above the pocket area. Alternatively, they may be applied directly to the upper edge of one of the rear pockets.

Don't think you have to purchase clothes made by a professional tailor in order to get a monogram. Many stores now have a monogramming option when you purchase new clothing items. For example, when you order a button-down or Oxford style shirt from the websites of mid-level retailers such as J. Crew or LL Bean, you will be asked if you want the item monogrammed. If you select "yes," you will be taken through a series of steps that allow you to choose the letters you want, the script style, and the placement. Even discount chains such as Target offer monogrammed shirts through their website. In most cases, you can purchase a shirt or a pair of pants for less than $50, and then have a monogram added for an additional $5-$10. Please make sure that the shirt or pants size that you order is correct, because once the store adds the monogram, you cannot return the item (unless the store somehow makes a mistake on the order).

You can even add a monogram to an existing piece of clothing. If you have a shirt that you love, and you would like to update the look just a little bit, bring the item to your tailor (or your local dry cleaning shop, which usually offers tailoring services as well) and ask for a monogram to be added. If you are adept at sewing and are feeling a little more adventurous, you can even take on the task yourself.

Don't forget your little ones! Children love monogrammed clothes because the items become so much more personal when their initials are on them. Children's clothing can be monogrammed in the same ways as adult clothing, which means either through the retail store or through a tailor. Instead of just getting initials monogrammed on children's clothing, consider stitching the child's whole first name. This gives the item a more casual and fun feeling, which is perfect for the younger crowd. Babies shouldn't be left out of the action, either. Many baby items, such as onesies and bibs, are suitable for monogramming, and would make great gifts.

Now that you can see that monograms don't just belong on old men in stuffy boardrooms anymore, why not personalize your next clothing purchase by having your initials embroidered on it? You'll look and feel like a million bucks!

Women know that certain articles of clothing are made for certain people. It does not matter if a woman is small or large, she is unable to wear any outfit and look stunning in it. The expression about the grass being greener on the other side is definitely true. As a small girl I often found it difficult to find clothes that flattered my smaller shape. On the hand, large women are looking for ways to flatten their tummy. The truth is that every one (especially women), regardless of shape or size, wants to find a way to flatter their figure.

Flattering your figure has nothing to do with vanity or insecurity. We all want to look good. Those who disagree with this statement are kidding themselves. As women, we like to browse magazine for the latest fashions. These fashions generally offer practical advice on ways to enhance what we already have, or tone down what we would like to get rid of. In other words, we are guided on ways to boost our curves, and ways to appear more slimming. During the winter months few are concerned with exercise or toning their bodies. Before we realize, summer is here and we have not done anything to appear more flattering in our summer gear.

This is a battle faced by both large and small women. Yet, there are ways for both to look good in their summer clothes without much effort. Looking good involves selecting clothes that are flattering to your body type. Most women are not style experts, nor do they have personal shoppers or stylist. We are on our own when it comes to buying clothes. Understandably, many are unaware of the clothing they should wear. It is easy to copy styles in magazines or the outfits that mannequins wear. However, each body is different.

Smaller woman may be looking for ways to enhance their curves. The best way to accentuate smaller curves is by wearing clothes that fit snug. I am not suggesting clothes that are too tight. On the other hand, wearing loose fitting or baggy clothes will hide smaller figures. This could also result in a beanpole appearance. A recent survey stated that more than thirty percent of women wore the wrong size clothing. Those most affected were smaller size women. These women generally wore clothing one size too big. Smaller woman will quickly notice that making a simple change like this will greatly improve their curves. A nice fitting tank top is also ideal for smaller women. These help the chest appear fuller and shows off nicely toned arms.

For the illusion of longer legs, short women should opt for shorts with a short inseam or length. Wearing shorts to the knees will make a short woman appear even shorter. Shorts are best when worn mid thigh. This gives the appearance of longer, leaner legs. On the other hand, board shorts are perfect for women will very long legs. Short shorts are also perfect for very tall women, when modest. These will showcase toned legs

Larger sized women may have a difficult time selecting the perfect shorts. Bright colors are in style; however these colors may not be ideal for women who want their backside to appear flatter. Obviously black is a slimming color. However, no one wants to wear black during the summer months. Today, larger women do have more clothing options. Women who have weight around the stomach are encouraged to avoid shirts or shorts with material bunched around the center. This will draw attention to a larger stomach. Solid colors worn loosely are more flattering.

Those with a large backside are concerned about ways to flatten their buttocks. Skorts, which are skirts with built in shorts, are ideal. These downplay the size of hips. Shorts with a longer cut, or shorts with a slight flair are also perfect when trying to achieve a slimming effect. If this does not work, women may try tying a lightweight sweater around their waist. Sweaters are not only stylish, but they can be used to hide curvaceous backsides.

There are many clothing alternatives for those who are slightly larger and smaller than most women. The key is to try on many different styles until you find one that suits your body. It takes patience and time. Again, many of us do not have the luxury of having a personal shopper or stylist who is an expert in clothing for our body types. We must depend on magazines, and trusted friends. Before shopping for clothes this summer, first decide which clothing style you want to sport, and then determine which articles are clothing will create the best look. Remember, the goal is to select clothes that flatter your figure. Choosing the perfect jeans, shirts, shorts, etc depend largely on our size, height, and shape.

All children will eventually reach the age when they are ready to dress themselves. For some parents, this could be a welcomed mat. Granted, having a child that is able to put on, and take off their own clothes will cut down on the time it takes to get ready in the morning. Children generally begin dressing by themselves around the age of five or six; some much younger. The good thing about this stage in life is that children are usually eager to dress themselves. It gives them a level of independence, and a way to express themselves.

Although parents are willing to allow their young children to dress themselves, some parents quickly discover that their taste may slightly differ from that of their children. Younger children are attracted to bright colors. This is fine as long as the colors match. Unlike adults, children do not have the ability to discern which colors should be worn together. There are some pa