Why Trends Matter

One of the ways a period of time is defined is by what people wore. Even though fashion trends may seem random and arbitrary, they actually are a reflection of the zeitgeist. or "spirit of the times".

1920's

1950's (although this came out in 1947)

1980's

No matter what the fashion industry puts out on the runway or in the market place, if it doesn't match what is going on socially, politically and economically, it doesn't stick. That's why trend forecasters work so hard to predict what people are going to be into at least a year in advance. Designers and retailers use these predictions to create what they think we'll want.

One of the biggest trends right now is thrift. A lot of us are going back to that Great Depression Era and WWII mentality of reduce, reuse and refashion.

I believe creativity is a great alternative to massive spending. This not only applies to one's wardrobe but also to home decorating, party planning and meals. For now, though, we'll just stick with clothes and accessories. In the meantime, start looking through fashion magazines and see what is being consistently shown. Don't forget about your local library for free magazine browsing.

Trends? We Don't Need No Stinking Trends...or do we?

Clearly, if you read my blog roll, you know I am all up into vintage and thrift store clothing. I rarely buy clothes new off the rack. And yet, I believe that keeping up with the current trends is important. What? How superficial! How shallow! How utterly gauche!

Well, when I was a punk rocker in the '80s ( Yes, really. It cracks me up that that's how my generation starts their old-timer stories. "When I was a punk rocker in the '80s we didn't have Facebook. We had to poke people in person!") Where was I? Oh yeah. We were all about bucking the trends and you couldn't exactly do that at the mall. That was the whole point. So I began thrift and vintage and yard sale shopping so as not to be "trendy".

Unfortunately I don't have too many photos from that time period. This picture is actually from 1985, post-punk and post-Rockabilly but I was still kind of doing my own thing.

Now I'm normal. I have a kid. And I still like to buy my clothes for $4 instead of $40. Having been a costume designer for theatre for almost 25 years and a teacher on the History of Fashion, I feel I've become an expert shopper and have a unique take on putting pieces together.

No, this is not a job interview. It's leading into a series of posts I'll be writing on how to make used clothing look current and how to use what you already have to enjoy getting dressed and to feel good about yourself. Dressing up should be fun. And affordable.

The Year of Living Fabulously 2010

Yes!!! I love new beginnings.

I'm excited about this year. I have some resolutions, the main one being to appreciate what I already have and what I already am. To make an effort to make the little things more fabulous. Like not only eating healthful delicious food but also to serve it in a lovely manner. To wear my nice clothes and jewelry more often even for everyday things like going to the store. To wear make-up even when I'm not at work. To listen to music at home more often. To make a cleaning schedule, wear my nice new apron and crank up the jams while I tidy up. This was really the idea behind the name of my blog to begin with.

Also, I've always been more a fan of Audrey and Jackie (as if you haven't figured that out by now). I was brunette as a child but started going gray when I was 15. I just started lightening my hair about 7 months ago to let the roots grow out which at this point are mostly white. I've decided under the circumstances to embrace my inner Marilyn. So for 2010, this is me:

What are your goals?

Happy New Year! 1957-1958 style.

76° and Sunny for my Christmas Party. Seriously?

Okay, it was really nice out today and I don't want to be one of those creeps who brags about Southern CA weather when everyone else is freezing their yule logs off. I do, however, like a little chill in my Holidays. Enough of that.

I work at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising as a teacher and speaker and today we had our Christmas Party or Holiday Party or Seasonal Greetings Party whatever is most appropriate. I love working there. They are very good to us and I love the campus.

I also like when people show what they are wearing and when most of it is thrifted or vintage. Usually when I try to brag to people about how cheaply I bought my clothes they just look at me like I'm cheap. But not you, dear bloggers!!! You are kindred spirits. Here's what I wore to the party:

Tunic- FIDM Scholarship Store $2.50

Jacket-yard sale $1.00 (I'm serious)

Tights-gift

Boots-thrift store

Necklace-thrift store

Black rhinestone bracelet- thrift store $2.00

My 14 year old daughter took these pics. Didn't she do a good job? The one above was taken in the shade. Here's how sunny it was:

Hideous Dress To Glorious Apron

I have always repurposed clothes for play costumes but rarely do anything for myself. Well, those days are over!!! I now have a stack of refashioning projects. Yeah. more projects. Just what I needed. Anyway, it's fun, right? And eco-friendly. And I'm getting an Anthropologie-style apron for a few bucks and some elbow grease. I found this gross and too large dress at the thrift store for about $4. The fabric was great though so I got it.

Hi kitty! I didn't realize he was in the shot! Weird how many sewing bloggers are cat ladies. Anyway, I sat and unpicked all the stitches...NOT! I cut the dress apart at the seams. It's an APRON people. Sorry, I didn't mean to yell.

I got rid of the weird elastic shirred waistband.

Also cut the bottom ruffle into two pieces lengthwise, not quite equal widths. One piece became the waistband and ties and the other piece went back on the bottom because I thought it was a little short without.

I actually put the top band back on the way it was and angled and stitched down the ties to tie like a halter instead of going down the back like it was made to do. For the picture I clipped on a pair of vintage earrings for some sass.

It's possible I may add a little ruffle or pockets or something in the future but for now I like it the way it is. It just happens to be Christmas colors which is also cool. Okay, here it is:

Next!!!

Thank You, Roundheads!

I am stuffed from a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and tremendously grateful for time with my family. One of the things I'm most thankful for right now is that I wore  a dress with no waistband.

When I was a kid we would make Pilgrims for our parents out of cardboard toilet paper tubes. Classy, I know. They wore tall black hats with a buckle in front and black clothes.

In actuality, black clothes were only worn by wealthier Puritans. Black dye was expensive and not very colorfast meaning the color washed out fairly easily. Most of the Puritans wore drab colors.

This was not the popular look in England. The British Royalists, or supporters of the King, dressed lavishly and flamboyantly- think The Three Musketeers.

Clothes are always a reflection of the beliefs, politics and spirit of the times so it makes sense that the Puritans wore simple, modest clothes that matched their religious and political sentiments.

Another style choice of Puritan men was to closely crop the hair. The British Royalists derisively called them "Roundheads". The Royalists, or Cavaliers, wore their hair long and messy. Short hair looked ridiculous to them. With the threat of absolute rule by King Charles I and the disempowerment of Parlaiment, the Pilgrims set sail to America to start a new life that included freedom of religion, government by the people and barbers.

Just over 300 years later, in the 1960's and 1970's, many Americans again used clothing and hair to distance themselves from the establishment and to rebel against politics and social injustice. Men grew their hair long and wore brightly colored clothing. They were sometimes called "Longhairs".

You wouldn't think Pilgrims and Hippies had so much in common. But there it is.