Don’t Spend Time Trying To Look How Other People Think You Should Look
Be Your Own Person
This vintage sweater dress is really NOT my usual style. However it is what most would consider a “classic” piece perfect for women of a “certain age” to wear.
It’s straight, baggy, grey and has a high neckline.
Everything I am normally not attracted to.
And yet, the simplicity of the piece and the fact that it is by Robin Kay, a Canadian designer made me reconsider.
I spent quite a bit of money back in the late 80’s early 90’s on a cardigan sweater by Robin Kay.
It was black, plain and with brass/gold buttons. I bought it because I thought it was a very classic piece that French women might wear. The cardigan was a piece of the clothing I took on my solo trip to study in France. I had failed French in University and it haunted me. I was determined to rectify my personal failure, but of course fashion was always on my mind. I didn’t want to look the part of foreigner studying abroad.
Here is a photo from one of the first parties that I attended with friends from the University of Montpellier.
I’m wearing my own version of an androgynous look. I’m pretty sure that oversized men’s jacket was thrifted. I paired this with a leather cowboy belt I bought when I was in Italy and cowboy boots (I bought in Paris) with metal tipped toes.
One thing is certain, I do not look remotely French.
I *thought* I wanted to try to emulate those effortlessly chic French women but in the end I always believed in my own personal sense of self and style. It didn’t matter what people thought of me or my style. I’m not them. I’m me. I can only be me. Why try to pretend to be otherwise?
Twenty-six years later I still feel the same way.
My style defies definition. One day I’m wearing “classic” the next day I’m dressed in what many women consider, “wackadoo”.
At least I’m a wack-a-DO and not a wack-a-DON’T.
I’d rather look back on my life and regret some of the things I did do or wear than look back and regret what I didn’t do or was too scared to try or wear.
Here I am again but this time wearing a very classic dress that I wish I still had. It may have been by Robin Kay as well. It was fitted with long sleeves and a square neck.
This was our French Thanksgiving, so it would have been right around the same time of the year as now.
My flatmate, Tina is the other gal in black. She is from the US. I met her while waiting in line to find living accommodations in Montpellier. We still keep in touch but like so many of my friends, I wish they lived closer.
I still can’t believe we cooked a full meal for 13 people in our tiny kitchen with an oven that looked like it came out of a dollhouse.
My sense of style has always been eclectic, changing with my mood.
The dress may be classic, but I’m anything but.
I couldn’t resist taking the idea of Robin Kay and turning her on her head so-to-speak by pairing a plain sweater dress with some vintage inspired teal and satin suede boots and an oversized necklace my husband brought me back from Australia. The necklace is a real treasure. It is made out of semi precious stones indigenous to Australia. I picked up the boots from a consignment store last week. Are you surprised? I didn’t think so!
Fashion is a creative tool to have fun and play with.
It allows you to express parts of yourself and personality. It doesn’t have to be boring. You don’t consider yourself boring do you? Why should your clothes be boring? Allow yourself to experiment. Try something new.
Don’t ever be bogged down by rules.
Don’t spend time trying to look how other people think you should look.
Trust your own instincts.
You’re not coming back this way again.
Do it in a style that you will look back on with joy and happiness, recognizing the person you were at that particular moment in your life.
Do you dress to please yourself? Or to please those around you?
I was lucky enough to be chosen again from the IFB for my article on DIY Rhinestone Booties be sure to check out what else is happening in the bloggy world.
Links à la Mode, November 10th
- Canadian Tuxedo: Twin Brother is Watching You!
- Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: November Crush List!
- Cover Mum: The Navy Blazer
- Fashion Fairies: 3 Days 6 Looks! Diwali Special
- Finite1: Tunic and Leggings Style and What I Am Thankful For
- Five Foot Nothing Shopping: 9 Ways to Style a Blanket Scarf for Petites
- I’m a Norbyah: Introducing Swagalls
- La Veine: The Future Creators
- Les Assorties’: Fashion Film Insights: The 12 Project
- Lucy Van Dean: Fashion Bloggers at Fashion Week
- Modavracha: OST Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum Review
- Mon-Chic Style: Don’t be a Crybaby!!
- Ms. FABulous: 5 NYFW Designers Who Cast Real People for Spring 2017
- My Own Sense of Fashion: Pastry and Pastels – An Interview with Designer Shelby Rider
- Smile is it: How to Wear Tulle Skirt and Metallics this Fall/Winter Season
- Style with Nihan: Public Desire Strappy Lace Up High Heels
- Suzanne Carillo: DIY Rhinestone Booties
- The Urbanista: All Black is the New Black!
- Trendee Toad: 8 Things Every Woman Needs at Her Desk this Fall
- Wish and Wear: Hidden Layers
SPONSOR: Shopbop, meli melo, Canada Goose Jackets, Schutz Booties, Sugarfina, The Archive, Perfect Moment, Turtleneck Sweaters, Sweatshirts/Hoodies, Combat Boots, Men’s Cambridge Satchel
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, My Whims Wednesday, What I Wore, Fun Fashion Fridays, Hat Attack
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6 Serious Thrift Shopper Fighting Techniques
Fighting is a strong word, but when you’re out for the kill perfect thrifted piece some people are willing to hit well below the belt.
Today I’ll explain the serious thrift shopper fighting techniques I’ve learned through personal experience.
You will see that thrift store shopping is a serious business.
Get your fighting gloves on.
6 Serious Thrift Shopper Fighting Techniques
1. The Snatch & Grab
This happens when you are looking through a double rack of clothing and the person on the other side of the rack pokes their arm through and snatches something from your side just as you are about to take it. Not cool, lady that did this to me at the last 50% off Salvation Army sale. I wasn’t going to argue with her about it though since she stood about three inches above me and weighed about seventy pounds more. You can see a reenactment of this technique in the little funny video Melanie, Sue and I created.
2. The Fitting Room Hover
These are the people loitering by the change rooms in hopes that something sweet is going to be discarded. Not a real nuisance, but it can make navigating the fitting room area a challenge. These people are not to be confused with the fitting room butt-in person who is just damn annoying. Get to the back of the line and wait like the rest of us!
3. The Push & Stand
While I’m trying to go through the racks of clothing in an organized polite manner someone on either side of me is pushing all of the clothing towards me so they can see the items better as the racks are usually jammed with clothing, which of course makes it impossible for me to see anything. They don’t move. They just stand and push. There needs to be some kind of thrifting etiquette established so we are all moving in the same direction, the operative word being, “moving” and not pushing.
4. The Hanger Elbow
This happens normally on sale days when the place is super crowded and there aren’t enough carts. People wind up walking around with loads of clothes in their arms with the hangers sticking out in every direction to stab or “hook” you as you walk by or get too close. One woman kept jabbing me with her hangers while she was trying to do the Push & Stand. I finally had to say something.
5. Possession Is Nine Tenths of the Law Everything
Possession in thrifting is everything. If it isn’t in your arms, cart or basket it is fair game. Don’t make the rookie mistake I did thinking, “My arms are too tired, I’ll pick it up in a second.” Meanwhile the woman pushing her cart beside me picked it up in a nanosecond and popped it in her cart. You snooze, you lose baby.
6. Cart Wars
On certain sale days it is impossible to get a cart. Sometimes you have to leave your name at the door on a waiting list. I have a love/hate relationship with carts and thrift store shopping. When the store isn’t busy they are a blessing, saving my arms. When the store is busy they are a huge hindernace for quick movement within the store. Also, people get ram-happy with their carts. I often “park” my cart at the end of the aisle so I can move freely. Beware though, I have seen people snatch items out of other people’s carts before. (And you thought Canadians were polite!) Try to keep an eye on your cart at all times.
These thrift store fighting moves are most often utilized on sale days when the stores are extra busy and the atmosphere is competitive.
Most often the people I come across while thrifting are friendly and polite.
Estate sales…now that is a whole other story!
I wrote a bit about a bad experience we had here. They are fierce, exciting and extremely competitive.
The last estate sale I was at I picked up some seriously amazing handmade vintage dresses.
At this sale there was another buyer there using a common estate sale fighting move, The Stand and Block. This happens when you can see something you want and there is a person blocking you from getting it. This same vintage collector has used this technique against me in the past. She headed straight up the stairs and then proceeded to stand in front of the only closet blocking anyone else from viewing. She is a bigger woman and used this strategy on me before with her two kids and husband. I have no idea what she scooped up before I was finally able to see inside the closet.
Here are four of the dresses I managed to acquire at that sale despite the Stand and Block…
Handmade Early 1970’s Vintage Maxi Dress For Sale, Size Small
1960’s Handmade Floral Patterned Dress For Sale Size S-M
1950’s Handmade Gold Yellow Patterned Dress For Sale
1940’s Handmade Blue Velvet Vintage Wedding Gown For Sale Size XS or S
These dresses demonstrate beautifully the reason I love shopping thrift or estate sales despite the challenges.
You never know what you will discover.
Do you have any additional thrift shopping fighting moves to share?
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, My Whims Wednesday, What I Wore, Fun Fashion Fridays, Hat Attack
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