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September 13, 2019
Happy Triskaidekaphobia!!!!
The early beginnings of the fear of Friday the 13th began in the waning life of the Knights Templar, who were the organizers and coordinators of the Crusades for many centuries and as such had gained a lot of wealth and power and even certain royals were in dept to the Templars. One thought to solve his insolvency by capturing and arresting the last leader of the Templars on Friday, October,13, 1307. Now I'm not saying anything bad has not happened since on that Friday the 13th,
but I think we can let it go!
And that brings me to other things that are as dramatic and even controversial. (I'm getting controversial in my advanced maturity!) It's fall and fall is a great time to start anew - mostly due to that's the time of year we start a new grade and start learning new things, but also we start with a new look in fashion. Traditionally every fall came out with a newer look or a fresher look and from that
we geared our wardrobe by buying a few newer pieces to update our wardrobes. Spring and summer were cooler extensions of that fall until the next year appeared.
That's long gone out the door with stores that expect and encourage consumers to complete redo their closet every 6 weeks to 6 months. I can't even keep track of that much less have that many clothes. So here goes with some really radical ideas, but some ideas that believe it or not will put you in good mind set for the years ahead in fashion.
Out With The Old and In With The New
For the past 30 years, the Grunge fashion has told us that we are to be taken for what we are, not what we wear or how we look. That's a real nice idea, but the truth is it doesn't work. What's happened now is that it was OK to wear all those worn out clothes when you were an undergrad or even starving grad student. But now that you're out in the world earning a living, most Grunge advocates
find that the nerdy competitor wearing the khaki jacket and nondescript navy pants with a shirt (that probably has a pencil/pen protector) is getting all the credit - for one reason - he looks more legitimate.
Here's how looks really matter when it really matters!
One is on a typical day at work (where he owns the company) and another is speaking before congress about his company being restricted. Now, tell me clothes don't matter.
OK - now that we have that solved, let's do something about the way we look. And what does that really mean?
Here's some basics that really matter:
1. Comb your hair. I know that bedhead look was really hot, but it's not any more and it really detracts from you and makes you look stupid and lazy - doesn't matter what you've accomplished, sometimes all people get is a look and if you have that bedhead look, don't do it.
2. Wear appropriate clothing. That means that you show respect for not only the person you are with but for yourself as well. Wearing some plunging neckline may bring you a lot of attention, but it's not the attention that will get you in the door, but not in the boardroom. Additionally it will label you a a certain type of person that will remain with you forever. Yeah, it's not
fair, but it's the facts, and you can sit there and throw a fit about it not being a fact, and that's fine, but it won't change the truths of this world.
At the same time, you don't want to look dumpy and like a wallflower (unless you want to spend your time in the bank vault making sure that all the vault drawers are closed and things are in proper order). The purpose is to let yourself shine, not your breasts, not your fanny, not your crotch, but you and your brain and your head and your heart.
3. Keep your makeup fresh and crisp. If you're going to wear make-up, keep it fresh, which means freshening it up after a meal or in the middle of the day or afternoon. This doesn't mean a whole redo- simply a freshen up - reapply lipstick, check runny mascara, refresh blusher. This can also include check your hair, if you've been outside during a foul-weather day, make sure your hair is in good order.
Let's talk honestly about clothes and styles:
4. For something really radical and something really avant-garde: finish your edges; make your hemlines straight; press your clothes; fit your clothes (this is not skin tight - this is fit with an accent on 1 or 2 parts of your body, not your whole body and not hiding your hole body); honor your style (if you're girly-girl - go for it, if you're tailored - stay with that); let the clothes flatter you, not the clothes wear you.
These are a few things that can make your wardrobe really sing for you....You get to determine how your clothes can reflect you. This is one of the things we sewists can do that the regular ole consumer is plainly just out of luck. The consumer has to wait for these styles to appear in the store, or even worse for the fashion editor or fashion magazine to tell the consumer it's OK to look nice! What a crock when we can set the tone for what we really
want to look like.
After almost 30 years of sloppy, ill-fitting, ripped-up, torn-up and what look like used clothing, we're changing. Clothes will be more finished; consumers will be more well-groomed and manicured. This is the look of the future and there's no time like now to start it. You can start it without sewing a stitch, by simply choosing to wear more finished and complimentary clothes. Ill-fitting clothes are old-fashioned; ripped clothing is out of
style; and too-tight jeans and pants are passé. It's the fit that's hot - the fit that compliments a figure not the fit that gives too much information.
These are three powerful women in the financial world
None of them wears leggings, skinny pants, skinny jeans or skin-tight clothing to work. They know that they wouldn't be taken seriously ever again, if they did. Why are consumers being told that this is appropriate clothing? It's because they don't want to have to fit people, and since this is the most common resource for fashion out there, this is what people see - not the ladies below who are succeeding and excelling in their business because they are taken seriously.
I'm not saying that you must dress this way because you must become a financial titan in the world. What I'm saying is that
if you want to go to Home Depot and be taken seriously, dress seriously;
if you want to go to your boss and be taken seriously, dress seriously;
if you want to get a raise,
if you want to make a stunning proposal,
if you want to impress your committee you volunteer for,
if you want to raise money for a volunteer organization,
even if you want to go to an art class to learn how to draw,
dress seriously, and you will be treated seriously.
Dress sloppy, unkempt, poorly, and you will be treated the same way.
Yes, it's not fair. Yes, it's not right. And no, you don't have to be beautiful or be waif-ish thin to be taken seriously. If you want to say it doesn't matter, fine others who are willing to look and see the truth of it, will pass you by. If you want to face the truth and see the world for what and who it is, then you will be the one to pass others by.
Dressing feminine is in.
Dressing well-groomed is in.
Welcome to the 2020s and because you're a sewists, you can be ahead of the curve!
UPDATE: There is a snafu on the website
. You can access the blog and the Resource Center, however I can't upload any new blogs or products in the Resource Center - Boo! And I do have some new ones to upload! I'll keep you advised here. In the meantime I'm posting a little on my social media,
but miss my blog!
😔
Or as I like to call it the FQJ for short. This is that famous jacket from France that everyone wants. From the grandest of grande dames of high society to the most forward of music divas, all of them find the jacket not only appropriate for
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I get this lots of times in my class and it’s one of those things that students don’t even know to ask – where’s the shoulder?! I guess it shows how fashion has so moved the goalposts that basic things like the shoulder
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I find this article very interesting, and like a lot of articles today about trade schools it tells a similar story – that story is that a lot of kids who are bright, and some even have college degrees, opt for trade school, where most parents would shudder […]
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PS - I do a lot of posting on Facebook as both Claire Kennedy and SewingArtistry - if you want to friend me to check out the goodies over there for free!
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