Link Love: Hooked on Fashion

As someone who loves to read the stories behind favourite clothing items, and who is intrigued by why people choose a certain career path, I thoroughly enjoyed these three articles:

Fab Links from Our Members

Vicki recommends the Daily Connoisseur’s two-minute video tutorial that shows how to tie a butterfly knot two ways with a long, rectangular scarf.

Shipskitty found this excerpt from Kathryn Harrison’s book Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured very interesting. It describes how the Maid of Orleans’ clothing choices formed part of her rebellion, including wearing men’s clothes and bobbed hair.

This article from The Toast about Nice Things also really resonated with Shipskitty and several other forum members.

Suz came across this fascinating article about Joni Mitchell, who in the past apparently took some flak from her musician and actor friends because after her hippy phase she chose to buy some designer things. She said: “I have to give up my individuality to belong to the club?

Ann in England found the sentiment in this blog post, What Not To Wear After 50, refreshing. 

She was also surprised about the low e-commerce approval rates for Nordstrom in this Market Force Information report on Consumers’ Favorite Fashion Retailers.

Caro in Oz would like to share this interesting article by Liz Jones, who recently resigned as editor of Marie Claire: “I had reached the point where I had simply had enough of working in an industry that pretends to support women while it bombards them with impossible images of perfection day after day, undermining their self-confidence, their health and hard-earned cash.”

Launching the Year of the Goat

Sponsor
This post is sponsored by Westfield Southcenter. Learn more about the Lunar New Year Community Celebration that is taking place at Westfield Southcenter on February 21.

Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year in Hong Kong. It celebrates the beginning of a year based on a lunar calendar, which is why the holiday is also referred to as Lunar New Year. Families and friends gather to celebrate the auspicious occasion. 

I haven’t celebrated Chinese New Year in Hong Kong since 1983 when we moved from Hong Kong to South Africa, but do have vivid memories of red lanterns, red envelopes, lion dances, mandarin oranges and fireworks. We usually went horse riding on Chinese New Year’s Day, and I remember how the temples en route to the stables in Fanling were extremely busy during that time of year. The streets were crowded with families, everyone holding red decorations or bags of oranges. It was festive and beautiful. 

Lanterns

I also remember that my parents’ friends gave my brother and me small amounts of money in red envelopes as a way of wishing us good luck for the year. I saw gold, pink, green and purple envelopes being sold all over the streets of Hong Kong today so red is not the only option. I bought some purple envelopes signifying good fortune. 

Red Envelopes

I had forgotten how important mandarin oranges and tangerines are during Chinese New Year celebrations, but my memory was jogged when I saw them decorating the city. The fruit is a traditional symbol of abundance and good fortune, so they are on display everywhere and offered to friends and family as gifts. The orange alongside the red is cheerful and vibrant. 

Tangerine Cart

Tangerines & Oranges

In the Chinese zodiac each year is represented by one of twelve animals. So new year also has astrological significance as we transition to a new animal. 2015 is the year of the goat, and if you were born in the year of the goat, this is your lucky year. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Westfield, who sponsored this morning’s post too, is having a big community celebration of Lunar New Year at Westfield Southcenter on February 21 from 11:00PM to 4:00PM. Focusing on luxury, fashion, and culture, the event will provide traditional Lunar New Year entertainment, such as a lion dance, calligraphy, and much more. We’ll be attending, having returned from Hong Kong the day before.

You can get more details and RSVP for the event at the Westfield Southcenter event page on Facebook.

Westfield  has also created a lucky gift guide with products chosen based on your zodiac sign, and a 2015 lucky horoscope where you can enter your date of birth and get your lucky horoscope for the year.

Trendy High Water Pants in Hong Kong

Sponsor
This post is sponsored by Westfield Southcenter. Learn more about the Lunar New Year Community Celebration that is taking place at Westfield Southcenter on February 21.

Yes, I am biased, but I rate Hong Kong as the most stylish and fashionable city in the world. It’s just one of the reasons I love it here so much. Dressy and trendy outfits are part of the culture, so I chose this trip to debut my new high-waisted floral cropped pants from Topshop. Just in time for the Chinese New Year festivities. Although my relationship with cropped pants is complicated, I adore these floral pants because of their fun pattern, tailored fit and comfortable fabrication. The waistband comes up to my belly button, and takes me back to the ’80s. 

Floral Pants - Jacket Full

Floral Pants - Jacket Close

Three factors make me comfortable with the leg shortening effect of the high water length. First, the cropped length of the pants has to look deliberate, which means a length about two to three inches above the ankle bone. The hems aren’t that closely tapered to my lower legs, but they are close enough for me. Second, I extend the leg line by wearing tailored booties with higher shafts, thereby closing the gap that is created by the shorter length of the pants. I chose an old ink blue pair from Zara because they pick up the black on the top part of the outfit. Their low heel offsets the horizontally cutting line that is created by the high contrast between the boots and the hem of the pants. And third, tucking the top exposes their high waist which visually elongates the leg line upward from the knee. 

Floral Pants - Lanterns

The short-sleeved mock neck pullover is a new wardrobe essential that works with most bottoms in my wardrobe. The fit is a little fluid, and the shorter sleeve a great option for Spring. I like that the piece looks as Retro as it does Modern. A little ‘50s going on 2015. The high contrast top creates a horizontally cutting line across the outfit, but I’m going with just flattering enough. 

Floral Pants - Top Close-up

Floral Pants - Cat Street

The black mixed media L.A.M.B moto jacket is five years old and still one of my favourite pieces because of the cut, quality, tailored fit, and classic styling. I opted for a tonal effect up top, layering black on black, so that the bold pants take centre stage. The dark top layers match the dark booties, which pulls the outfit together. 

Floral Pants - Top

Floral Pants - Top

It is unusual for me to wear an outfit with this amount of Hard Edge. But the softness of the black, white and blush floral, my green specs and the white satchel add the Pretty back into the ensemble. This takes the look back into my comfort zone and feels just right. I also softened my ‘do by creating a cowlick instead of spiking up the top. Subtle red lippie adds a bit of glam. All the jewellery I need is my watch and wedding ring. I’m ready to rock ’n’ roll with dear friends and wonderful Greg. 

Floral Pants - Florals Close

Floral Pants - Jacket Side

Sponsor
This post is sponsored by Westfield Southcenter. Westfield is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a community celebration at Westfield Southcenter near Seattle on 21 February. Visit the Facebook event page to learn more and to RSVP.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Nordstrom Roundup: Fitted Pieces

It’s exciting to see some fitted pieces hitting stores for Spring, especially in the blouse and shirt department. And equally fun to see flared trousers and jeans begin to make a fashion statement. Here are some pieces that caught my eye. Remember to look at all the colour options. 

Visit the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.

Clearance Sale

Nordstrom is also having a sale that runs from Feb 11 to 22. Browse the items with the list of Spring 2015 trends in hand to find pieces to refresh your style.

Closet Purging Guilt

Closet edits inevitably lead to passing items on. If you are strict about keeping a certain size closet, like I am with a one-in-one-out rule, then this happens more frequently. If you let your closet grow over time then at some point you will probably need to do a big purge of items that are no longer useful to you. They are too worn, ill-fitting and uncomfortable, too dated, or they just no longer suit your style preferences or lifestyle. Either way, passing items on can lead to what I call purging guilt. 

My own purging guilt has different degrees of intensity depending on the situation. I seldom feel guilty when passing on perfectly wearable items that no longer work for my style, because they always go to someone else who can get use out of them. I pass on all my handbags to friends (clothes and footwear too if the items fit and are suitable). The rest of the items go to Dress for Success, the Salvation Army or Goodwill. 

Strangely, I can’t help feeling a little guilty when I throw away items that are too worn to be useful to someone else. Although there isn’t an alternative, it still feels wasteful somehow.

I feel the most guilty when I pass on expensive, high-quality better-end pieces that are perfectly current and still in excellent condition. For example, at the moment I have three pairs of designer pumps in a holding zone because I never wear them (the last time was three years ago). Their three and a quarter inch heels have become painfully unwearable for me even as “sitting shoes”. I paid full price for them, and still like the way they look. I should pass them on to a happy second home with the rest of my items. Yet they are in my holding zone for no good reason other than purging guilt.

There is definitely an irrational component to purging guilt. But I think it serves a purpose. It reminds us that clothing is expensive. To us as the purchaser, but also to the environment in general. Do you feel closet purging guilt, and when do you feel it most strongly?