Can I get away with this? (Ruminations on clothing and mindset)

[scarlettina]

Yesterday, after a delightful brunch with matt_ruff and lisagold (and the ever assertive Sophie Sestina) and an afternoon of work, I went downtown for movies with bedii and ladyjestocostMy bus brought me downtown about a half hour earlier than I had to be at the movie theater, so in the wake of this weekend's experiments with clothing, I decided to stop into a store I've never been

Comments

[e_bourne]

Self image is tough. Maybe you should go shopping with a friend for awhile to work on that -- I know it will take time to get rid of the beast, after all, it has likely taken years to grown on you. It will be hard to shed those self-perceptions, in part because they are defensive.

Expense is a different issue. Back when I was a starving art student in Boston I got a Saks card and began shopping there. I shop Goodwill, and I shop expensive. Which is why you have my Tomatsu suit. :)

Because quality lasts. My Max Mara alpaca winter coat was expensive when I bought it nearly 20 years ago. I've relined it twice, and am thinking of getting it refashioned into a car coat. In those twenty years I would have spent more money on inexpensive winter coats than I ever did on that one designer coat.

The Brooks Bros. suit I may give you this winter? 7 years old if it's a day and it still looks as good as when I bought it.

My NYC aunt taught me to always buy for cut and cloth. It never goes out of style. And, you are absolutely worth it. One good item of apparel that fits well is worth ten inexpensive ones that sort of fit.

[joycemocha]

What Elizabeth said. Buy good, buy quality. If you can't bring yourself to pay for it new, then go to a quality resale shop. Next time you're in PDX, let's go shopping! I know of at least one killer shop and then there's always Goodwill up the street.

Seriously, having finally lost the weight (and working on keeping it off), I find the big challenge is how my body shape has changed in menopause.

I remember the first time I realized that I did not have to automatically grab for the "big girl" sizes. It took me several years to get past those buying habits (and another weight gain/loss cycle). I also find the newer, kickier styles and adapt them for my preference. Work clothes have to be somewhat conservative due to the middle school teacher thing, but I do try to find pieces that add a little bit of flair, no matter what my weight.

It's also worth it to scan More magazine if you're interested in styling while being age and size appropriate. While they tend to go with younger and skinnier models, they also offer dressing solutions for different body shapes that are rather stylish and professional. More's readership trends toward the middle-aged professional woman, and I have found it to be a useful mag to skim through on a regular basis.

Hey, whatever works, though. I learned a long time ago that fat doesn't have to mean frumpy, thanks to Oprah. Seriously. I was depressed about not being able to lose weight after pregnancy, and then started watching Oprah for a few weeks (she was in one of her heavy phases). I got taken by her clear sense of stylish dressing, and realized that life was too short to hate what I wore.

The other thing about trendy stylish stuff that you know will only be popular for a single season? Look for cheaper knockoffs or go to Nordstrom Rack. Sometimes that one piece will really make a season for you.