tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901203011232131622024-03-13T06:07:20.281-07:00The October Dress ProjectUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-47699765799582317952014-09-30T14:22:00.002-07:002014-09-30T14:23:28.759-07:00Rundown of the Past Octobers<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbuOfTjIli8/VCsV0IqJtTI/AAAAAAAABK8/vk1w4vm9iwI/s1600/1381420_10151714057111915_1131831699_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbuOfTjIli8/VCsV0IqJtTI/AAAAAAAABK8/vk1w4vm9iwI/s1600/1381420_10151714057111915_1131831699_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013, Handmade maternity dress from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/IOGoods">IOGoods</a> on Etsy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSrrQPD0N9s/VCsV5_EHYCI/AAAAAAAABLE/eJK8WFypEg0/s1600/02e3faea0bea11e2adfe22000a1e8a47_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSrrQPD0N9s/VCsV5_EHYCI/AAAAAAAABLE/eJK8WFypEg0/s1600/02e3faea0bea11e2adfe22000a1e8a47_7.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012, H&M</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkM8AaRvdn4/VCsV9EBIMaI/AAAAAAAABLc/4nGsXliU5Fw/s1600/IMG_4204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkM8AaRvdn4/VCsV9EBIMaI/AAAAAAAABLc/4nGsXliU5Fw/s1600/IMG_4204.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011, thrifted maternity wrap dress</td></tr>
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(Skipped 2010 on account of I was on my honeymoon)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htZ8RvRHAkg/VCsV6yOGp6I/AAAAAAAABLQ/OShe0McgMtk/s1600/1936429_153663351914_5176968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htZ8RvRHAkg/VCsV6yOGp6I/AAAAAAAABLQ/OShe0McgMtk/s1600/1936429_153663351914_5176968_n.jpg" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009, brown jersey dress from a little shop I stumbled on in Kingston, ON</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLxIKg508g4/VCsV68uvOeI/AAAAAAAABLM/0FV9Oy7c3_o/s1600/1930959_33509899054_924_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLxIKg508g4/VCsV68uvOeI/AAAAAAAABLM/0FV9Oy7c3_o/s1600/1930959_33509899054_924_n.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008, the dress that started it all. Can't remember where it was from. I think it's been handed down to my sister and is still going strong.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-21330999143768252692014-09-20T19:32:00.000-07:002014-09-20T19:32:34.301-07:00What Do You Really Want?Some very interesting thoughts <a href="http://the-nife.blogspot.ca/2014/09/what-do-you-really-want.html">here</a> on dressing (and buying habits in general); suggests that sometimes what you buy are things that reflect what you want in times when you don't feel or don't realise you can get the thing you actually want. Here's a quote:<br />
<br />
"I think buying less is a natural consequence of figuring out what you really want. Because you can actually get to it, instead of purchasing items that make the false promise of giving it to you. I know it saved me a lot of sartorial purchase mistakes since my style overhaul and life simplification. The same probably apply to most emotional purchases, from the piece of art to the expensive car."<br />
<br />
Here's another:<br />
"Why do advertisers associate their brands and products with intangible values such as travel/evasion, simplicity, elegance, modernity... Because they're hoping you will buy their product as an answer to what you really want (travel, live a simple life, be more elegant, modern...)"<br />
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Love to hear your thoughts, ODP-ers. Do you see anything like this reflected in your own buying habits? Did you in the past?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-3826042737587978412014-09-10T11:05:00.001-07:002014-09-10T11:05:34.702-07:00Women In ClothesSome interesting questions, for thinking about, and for reading other people's answers, over at <a href="http://www.womeninclothes.com/survey/">Women in Clothes</a>. I especially liked thinking about this one:<br />
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<b><i>In what way is this stuff important, if at all?</i></b><br />
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I think how you choose to dress has big repercussions. Dressing mindfully-- choosing ethical/sustainable/secondhand, thinking about the ways our dress reflects and influences cultural perceptions of female sexuality and value, even just expressing joy and creativity in dress in a world of fast fashion and trends-- can influence your women friends in the ways they choose to dress and your men friends in what they find attractive. The young people and children in your life will see and absorb these things too. So, for me, dressing simply, valuing my body and sexuality, and choosing local craftsmanship and ethical production methods when I can afford it (and usually secondhand when I can't) is about more than just the clothes I put on my body; it's about my entire philosophy of living.<br />
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And this one:<br />
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<b><i>Can you say a bit about how your mother's body and style has been passed down to you, or not?</i></b><br />
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My mother is a list-maker and system-follower extraordinaire. She still refuses to wear black because she had her colours done when I was a girl and found she was an autumn. I definitely inherited her sense of list. I deeply believe that there is a list of items that I can make, purchase, and then be done shopping forever. If my body would just stop growing babies-- and thus changing sizes every three months-- I could be there.<br /><br />I'm going to post a few of the other questions in the Facebook group, love to hear your answers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-87841225785291840932014-04-05T07:25:00.002-07:002014-04-05T07:25:59.402-07:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The exercise for <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect-week-10-the-capsule-palette">this week</a> is to look at your palette and select a palette for the upcoming S/S season (which I assume you would then do every season going forward). Again, since I've departed a little from the whole capsule wardrobe strategy of the plan, I'm doing this my own way. For me, choosing just <i>one</i> colour to define a season around has always felt right. I've had a black season, a navy season, a grey season, a coral season, a green season, and I'm currently in the throes of a royal blue season. It's hard to predict what I'll feel like for summer. Orange occurred to me, but I'll just be waiting to see.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-84841543634734111492014-03-27T18:50:00.000-07:002014-03-27T18:50:44.065-07:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Nine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfLrtzTGUXM/UzTVYg0EGPI/AAAAAAAAA6A/_NY-DUm5rZE/s1600/7f253908996bf2b9cdccd774f8ca94bd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfLrtzTGUXM/UzTVYg0EGPI/AAAAAAAAA6A/_NY-DUm5rZE/s1600/7f253908996bf2b9cdccd774f8ca94bd.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect-week-9-the-capsule-wardrobe">This week's post</a> is about building a capsule wardrobe. This might be more useful for some of you, but I feel I differ from the post here a bit. I've already written a list of a base wardrobe, which I actually posted here before, and I don't really feel the need to buy much outside of it. But I'm very into basics, and not having to buy more clothes unless one of the items needs replacing appeals very much to me. It might not to everybody.<br />
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Anyways, I decided rather than doing this week's exercise, I'd review my base wardrobe list in light of what I've unearthed over the last few weeks. And because that's what kind of person I am, I went ahead and prettied it up and attach it here <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzsQKcpVeVUBSFpabXNUaHp5S0k/edit?usp=sharing">as a pdf</a> in case anyone else is as nerdy as me and wants something like this to print out and carry with them on shopping trips! (It's really pretty. I think I really will print it out and keep it in the enormous purse my husband got me when I had my second child. I can fit practically anything in it; we call it 'the base camp'.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-10822748055104872522014-03-20T13:12:00.000-07:002014-03-20T13:12:02.339-07:00Link: Does Simplicity Ever Go Out of Style?<span style="font-family: inherit;">Adventure Journal recently had a great blog post musing on "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">the line between collecting a reasonable wardrobe of attractive, functional clothing and excessive consumerism". You can read it <a href="http://www.adventure-journal.com/2014/02/does-simplicity-ever-go-out-of-style/">here</a>, but I wanted to include a quote that I thought might inspire you all:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">"</span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">My friend Becca is an awesome example.</strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> She’s been living out of her car, taking photos and pretty much living the gypsy life for the past couple of years, so she doesn’t have some huge closet full of stylish clothes. She keeps it simple. But every time I see her, she’s in the same two beautiful silver bracelets from a shop in Lander, Wyo. They’re her signature. I’ve seen her wearing the same simple outfit of jeans and soft blanket-weave shirt on multiple occasions, which totally fits her easygoing, nature-loving personality. She doesn’t need a whole wardrobe to make her interesting because she is interesting. Between her glowing smile and those bracelets, she’s a complete knockout."</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-515007574410824142014-03-13T11:38:00.001-07:002014-03-13T11:38:08.309-07:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Eight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/hair-makeup-beauty">This week</a> is about hair, make-up, and beauty. I've done a long blog post on <a href="http://strengthdignityandlaughter.blogspot.ca/2013/10/10-reasons-i-stopped-wearing-make-up.html">my other blog</a> on why I don't wear make-up except on very special occasions but I do care about aesthetics a great deal-- I just choose to express that through no make-up. Still, it's a topic I have thought through thoroughly and intentionally so I'm excited to go through the questions for this week.</span></span><br />
<ol style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 20px 20px; padding: 10px 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What hair style has been most flattering and comfortable for you? How did it make you feel about yourself? Did it invoke any of the words you came up with in our core style exercise? </b>I've had my hair in a shingled '20s bob and I've had long hair, and I've dyed it everything from bright red to bleach blonde to nearly black. These days, though, shoulder-length and natural are what I'm happiest with. Just long enough to wear up on the days when life is too busy for blowdrying and such, but not so long that it takes a lot of work and upkeep (and gives me a headache). It's really low-maintenance; I just got the ends thinned so it's lighter as my hair is thick as thieves (can I say that?) and it's really quick to blowdry now. I basically just roll out of bed and occasionally comb it between washings.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">How much makeup are you comfortable with? It could be no makeup, or a full face with contouring (and all that jazz I could never figure out). Or it could vary day to day. </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, when I was younger (and more insecure) I wore plenty of make up: eyeliner, startling lipsticks, shadow, etc. These days, I wear a little mascara and tinted lip balm to weddings but more and more I feel like it isn't actually doing anything for me. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">How does your makeup and hair reflect your personal style? What do you feel they say about you and your aesthetics? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel strongly that among the various reasons women wear make-up (confidence, fun, experimenting, to look younger/more powerful/more interesting) a lot of them are driven by feeling not good enough. Not always, but often it's in the mix somewhere. Having reached a point where I do feel like my face is beautiful as it is, I feel like it's a bit of a duty to me to do my bit to normalise going make-up free. I think I'm getting my first wrinkle around my mouth, and I was thinking about the word 'patina'. I love the patina on leather, on wood, on a well-worn-in pair of jeans-- why not on my face, too?</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">How much product do you want to own? Do you like collecting products, or would you rather just have a few essentials? How much bathroom clutter are you ok with? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You might guess I keep things pretty simple: all-natural locally made shampoo bar and conditioner (made in Aurora!) and body soap, vitamin E oil and baking soda for skin care, and all-natural lip balm are the only products I really need. I also own natural mascara and sun-protection tinted lip balm but rarely use them. I'm inspired by my husband's routine: I use more tools than products, so, for example, we have a full manicure kit-- buffer, file, cuticle trimmer, cuticle cream, clippers-- but I don't own any nail polish. I'm more into meticulously maintaining what's already there than covering up or reforming it.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">What requirements do you have for the products you buy? Do you stick with all natural products? Are there ingredients you avoid? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">See above. All about natural products, and honestly, my skin is flawless because of it, and hairdressers consistently remark how strong and healthy my hair is.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">What colors feel best near your face? How do they relate to the color palette you created? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use a coral tinted lip-balm. I've always had a soft spot for a bright red lip but it doesn't fit with my list; like we discussed in the very first post, seeing and liking something doesn't make it right for you.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">What colors never look right near your face? What colors have you tried and given up on before? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not really an issue since I don't use colours on my face...</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">How much time do you realistically want to spend getting ready in the morning? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">O minutes! I'm nearly there, if I could only figure out a way to get my clothes on while multitasking something else. I have a toddler who </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">will</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> wake up the baby if I waste time choosing socks and stuff.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">What types of scents do you gravitate towards? Do you wear perfume? Other scented products? What do you feel the scents you like communicate about your personality? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have this scent I absolutely love, called Gathering Apples from CB I Hate Perfume. It smells exactly like a fresh, cold apple you picked on an crisp autumn day. Exactly like that, none of this artificial apple scented nonsense. This is the real deal. It is the best thing ever, and if it doesn't sum up my words (h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">eritage, intelligence, essential, depth, rooted), I don't know what does.</span></li>
</ol>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-13938892791438698492014-03-02T11:27:00.000-08:002014-03-02T11:27:44.252-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLaK8VpMDUI/UxOFvkKenWI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/5pMCQW79ApY/s1600/7c755c83a3dc9ae83af0111dfbb4b801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLaK8VpMDUI/UxOFvkKenWI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/5pMCQW79ApY/s1600/7c755c83a3dc9ae83af0111dfbb4b801.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/prints-solids">This week's exercise</a> is to think about prints. What percentage of your wardrobe do you want to be prints? What types of prints do you like? For me, this is a bit of stretch because I've got basics shopping down pat, but am always wanting to incorporate prints and not being sure how. I have lots of solids in an interesting range of colours, but the only garments in my closet with much in the way of prints are a few dresses, none of which fit me since giving birth to son number two.<br />
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I had a trawl through my Pinterest fashion boards and came up with a little list of prints I know I like; now I just have to bite the bullet and incorporate some of them into my wardrobe.<br />
-small dots on dark backgrounds<br />
-realistic or watercolour florals on dark backgrounds<br />
-ikat, especially in blue tones<br />
-ombre/dip-dye<br />
-gingham in neutrals<br />
-stripes, in neutrals<br />
-ink-wash or watercolour look prints<br />
-digital prints, especially of sky or water<br />
-colour blocking<br />
-African prints (in small pops)<br />
-heather (this is a total print cop-out, but heather grey especially is a nice way to add a very subtle texture)<br />
-plaids in nearly-neutrals (nothing too whimsical/colourful. If a lumberjack would turn up his nose at it, so would I.)<br />
-lace (also not sure this counts as a print...)<br />
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Now I just need to add some prints to my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/averypins/wardrobe-architect-the-core/">Wardrobe Architect pinboard</a> and, you know, actually buy some.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-16212163047746667582014-02-23T10:49:00.001-08:002014-02-23T10:49:34.506-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYo0Bj1nHU4/UwpCnmSYQNI/AAAAAAAAA4s/C3Fh7RO5Ko0/s1600/7c755c83a3dc9ae83af0111dfbb4b801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYo0Bj1nHU4/UwpCnmSYQNI/AAAAAAAAA4s/C3Fh7RO5Ko0/s1600/7c755c83a3dc9ae83af0111dfbb4b801.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/organize-your-palette">This week's exercise</a> is to organise last week's colour palette into neutrals (buy lots), nearly neutrals (supplementary colours), and statement colours (a few pops). I'm tempted to paint-chip them all as Sarai suggests to make my own wallet colour palette.<br />
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Neutrals: Camel, black, white, heather grey, and natural or mid-brown leather, dark-wash denim<br />
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Nearly Neutrals: Navy, wine, tomato red, shell pink, deep pine green, navy and chambray blue<br />
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Statement Colours: Coral, goldenrod yellow, rich orange, emerald, royal and dark teal blue, summer-sky blue<br />
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Metallics: Yellow gold, silver/white gold, and brassUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-61533714146113851682014-02-20T17:31:00.002-08:002014-02-23T10:29:17.260-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdvrmkhstmQ/UwasV1e0JCI/AAAAAAAAA4c/NsEjfox7s_Y/s1600/ac3da05acd779afe8d18dfcc2de2f153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdvrmkhstmQ/UwasV1e0JCI/AAAAAAAAA4c/NsEjfox7s_Y/s1600/ac3da05acd779afe8d18dfcc2de2f153.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
"Undoubtedly, there are colors that you feel naturally drawn to. Some colors just make you happy, some feel exciting, others make you feel calm and peaceful. What we’re going to do today is start collecting those colors. Don’t worry about how to incorporate them into your wardrobe yet. We’re going to get to that next week. For now, just think about what you love and what you wear... <strong>Review the words you came up with, along with your style moodboard or inspiration.</strong> Begin pulling out the colors you associate with these words and images. To do this, you can list the color in text form (“ballet pink,” “scarlet red,” etc.) or use a color picking tool like the palette in Photoshop. Or, see the resources section below for more color tools you can try."</div>
<div style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I'd already done this and it really helps keep my wardrobe cohesive. I know I'm an Autumn if we're talking seasons, so I lean to warm versions of any cool colours, but I don't do the brown/cream thing; I much prefer black and true white. Here are my colours:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Coral, wine or tomato red (i.e warm, not cool-based red).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Shell pink</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Goldenrod yellow and rich orange</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Deep pine green and emerald</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Rich blues: navy, royal, and that blue that's almost dark teal but is still definitely blue</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Classic mid-blues: chambray blue, dark wash denim, warm summer-sky blue</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Camel</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Black</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">White</span></span></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-23628309715167496542014-02-20T17:21:00.001-08:002014-02-20T17:21:18.671-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Four<div style="color: #523a39; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgjhFJSZ5Lw/Uwap_v75NWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/4qotIe_ZSZQ/s1600/ac3da05acd779afe8d18dfcc2de2f153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgjhFJSZ5Lw/Uwap_v75NWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/4qotIe_ZSZQ/s1600/ac3da05acd779afe8d18dfcc2de2f153.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
"Start with the shapes you rated last week and pick out the ones you rated highly. You can feel free to add to this list if there are other types of shapes you love and wear often... Now start brainstorming how you would combine these favorite shapes with other items to create balanced silhouettes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
A silhouette either covers or emphasizes different parts of your body. It does this either through ease (how tight/loose or full/tailored it is) or through length (how much it covers up)... I think each of us has a comfort zone with how much of our bodies we want to show and which parts we like to emphasize. our silhouettes should reflect these preferences.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Look over your shapes and ratings from <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect-3" style="color: #523a39;" title="The Wardrobe Architect Week 3: Exploring shapes">last week</a>. Start combining them and list out 5-10 silhouettes that you believe would make good outfit formulas for you. If you live in a place with dramatic seasonal changes, you might want to make a warm weather list and a cold weather list."<br />
<br />
<b>Cold Weather</b><br />
1) Fitted v-neck/boatneck with straight-leg jeans<br />
2) Button shirt with pencil skirt<br />
3) Fitted pullover sweater with skinny jeans<br />
4) Shirtdress or straight tunic with leggings or tights<br />
5) No-waist dress with tights<br />
6) Mid-calf boots, jazz shoes, or simple flats<br />
7) Cardigans<br /><br /><b>Warm Weather</b><br />1) Relaxed tee shirt or simple tank with shorts<br />
2) Simple tunic dress<br />
3) Fitted no-waist dress with straight neckline and straps<br />
4) Relaxed tee shirt with skinny jeans</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-45869755976536197012014-02-07T04:57:00.001-08:002014-02-07T04:57:46.165-08:00More Reasons to Avoid Fast Fashion<a href="http://shannonwhitehead.com/6-things-you-should-know-about-your-clothes/">Two</a> <a href="http://shannonwhitehead.com/4-things-to-remember-every-time-you-shop/">fabulous</a> blog posts from Shannon Whitehead, a sustainable fashion consultant, on the ways fast, disposable fashion is bad for people, bad for economies, and bad for our environment. And some ways you can help bring change: buy local, buy indie, buy used, buy less. Sounds like a good mantra for the October Dress Project.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-4450359151131863852014-02-03T14:22:00.001-08:002014-02-03T14:22:45.107-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Three <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-180JjgJ6_vc/UvAV42LQ_OI/AAAAAAAAA3w/Vp8qlUrEAfo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+3.14.32+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-180JjgJ6_vc/UvAV42LQ_OI/AAAAAAAAA3w/Vp8qlUrEAfo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+3.14.32+PM.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect-3">This week</a> is about exploring shape; that is, identifying what basic types of garments make you feel comfortable and which you should not waste your time with. I loved this week! Just rating different garments shapes to figure out which you are happy in. The worksheet is <a href="http://media.coletterie.com/projects/wardrobe-architect-worksheet-03.pdf">here</a> and I'd recommend doing this one even if you don't do the longer, more involved ones from the previous weeks.<br />
<br />
Basically, here's what I came away with.<br /><br />-I like tops/blouses/shirts that are somewhat fitted to somewhat loose (more often fitted) and long to hip-length in the body.<br />
-Shirtdresses are my right up favourite. And tunics, I love tunics.<br />
-Garments that cinch at my natural waistline or have no waistline are my favourite, but I do sometimes wear garments with an empire waist.<br />
-I like pants to have a medium, straight fit but will sometimes wear skinnies (flare is not my style) and absolutely hate low-rise pants.<br />-For jackets and outerwear, I like a fitted shape that hits at mid-thigh or at tunic length.<br />
-I like dresses that are fitted or straight, no longer than knee-length and no shorter than mid-thigh, with straight or pencil bottoms (which are also the only kind of skirts which suit me).<br />
-I like both fitted and drapey cardigans which hit about tunic or hip height.<br />
-For necklines, boatneck, crew neck, and shallow v- and u-necks are my favourite. I will sometimes wear square or cowl neck but not often. Turtlenecks are disastrous.<br />
-For sleeves I adore 3/4, a fitted full-length (no bell sleeves!), and like t-shirts and tanks, but not spaghetti strap. I don't like cap sleeves much, and don't mind above/at the elbow one way or the other.<br />
<br />
I sort of knew this already, but the worksheet helped solidify this in my mind and will affect how quickly I shop, I think, (whether window shopping on the Internet or real shopping!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-7705922319409229112014-01-27T13:33:00.000-08:002014-01-27T13:33:17.237-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week Two <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The goal of <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect-defining-core-style">week two</a> is to define your "core" style so that you know what is truly you amongst all the things you like to look at, and can form your base wardrobe around that. The exercise is to figure out via <a href="http://media.coletterie.com/projects/wardrobe-architect-worksheet-02.pdf">the worksheet</a> what words best define your style, and then make a moodboard for it. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmV3v8iSyR4/UuVVGzXT0ZI/AAAAAAAAA3g/vm2bSM8ZwyA/s1600/1322d9644151dc950ded6178654e3459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmV3v8iSyR4/UuVVGzXT0ZI/AAAAAAAAA3g/vm2bSM8ZwyA/s1600/1322d9644151dc950ded6178654e3459.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>1) When you're wearing your favourite clothes, how do you feel? </b>Self-contained, rooted, head-turning, compact, neat, sure. Sometimes a little austere, sometimes sparkling. Ladylike.<br />
<br />
<b>2) When you're wearing something that's not quite right, how do you feel? What are the feelings you want to avoid about the clothes you wear? </b>Oversized, ill-prepared, out-of-place, exposed. Not because I'm unhappy about my size/weight, just like I'm taking up too much or the wrong kind of space. If that makes any sense.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Who do you consider your style icons? What is it about them that appeals to you?</b> I wouldn't really say I have icons, but some people whose style appeals to me are my mum's good friend Milena, Louise Brooks, most women from the 1940's, Francoise Hardy, governesses. I like a little bit of sternness, a classic silhouette, and clothes that are flattering but functional, too.<br />
<br />
<b>4) What are some words that describe styles that you like in theory but aren't quite you? </b>Gamine, whimsical, glamorous, minimalist, high fashion.<br />
<br />
<b>5) Look over your answers from last week on history, philosophy, culture, community, activity, body, and location. List at least 15 words that you associate with your answers. Think about descriptive words, moods, and feelings you associate with those things. </b>Different, thoughtful, dignity, heritage, communicative, simplicity, quality, craftsmanship, workhorse, woods, strength, beautiful, uniform, responsibility, enjoyment.<br />
<br />
<b>6) Are there any other words you would like to add to this list? What other words describe your core style? </b>Warmth, vintage, poise, intelligence, essential, reliable, neatness, depth, sonorous, liveable.<br />
<br />
<b>7) Look over the answers to all the questions above. If you had to narrow your list to only 3-5 words to describe you, which ones would you choose? </b>Heritage, intelligence, essential, depth, rooted.<br />
<br />
<b>Visual Exercise: </b>Collect 15-20 images that represent these 3-5 words for you. Here's <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/averypins/wardrobe-architect-the-core/">mine</a>. Apparently my core style is best defined by putting my hands in my pockets. Yours?<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-85574525944477334922014-01-24T12:18:00.000-08:002014-01-24T12:18:01.995-08:00Wardrobe Architect, Week OneThere's a <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/category/wardrobe-architect">great series going on on Colette Patterns' blog</a> right now called Wardrobe Architect, about how to build a thoughtful, meaningful wardrobe. I'll be posting through their weekly exercises; if you're interested follow along and if you're interested to blog along, post your blog links in the comment.<br />
<br />
The first week's exercise is to think about how your story-- your history, philosophy, culture, community, activities, location, and body-- inform the way you dress.<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"...it can help buffer you against the onslaught of trends that we talked about above. Knowing who you are and what works for you lets you filter out a lot of those consumerist messages pretty easily. It feels good to be able to appreciate something without needing to own it... i</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">t gives you a stronger and more meaningful connection to the things you choose to have in your life."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
The blog post provides a worksheet to help you think through those seven areas and how they affect your clothing choices. Here are my answers-- I'd love to read yours.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkK93EBOzM/UuLKOXOjw7I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/wZl1hRorEV8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+3.14.32+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkK93EBOzM/UuLKOXOjw7I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/wZl1hRorEV8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+3.14.32+PM.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b>1) How has your personal history informed the way you dress? When did your tastes crystallize? Have they changed over the years, and why? </b>As a teenager, I grew disillusioned with mainstream fashion because I felt I could not emulate it, and I turned to a dark, more rebellious style (black clothing, combat boots, DIY fashion) that reflected my inner turmoil at the time. As my emotional life grew more steady, my clothing choices grew more lighthearted, but still taking an angle of not wanting to dress like other people. I thought often and hard about clothing, which eventually led to my current preference for timeless, well-crafted clothing with a long shelf-life.</div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b>2) How does your philosophy, spirituality, or religion affect your aesthetics and buying habits? Or, what aspects of those things would you like to see reflected?</b> Most notably, my Christianity compels me to value other people, so dressing respectfully (of the occasion, of my own dignity, and of other people's values) and modestly (in both the sense of "chaste" and of "not flauntingly"). The Christian principle of stewardship of the earth also informs my preference for ethically, sustainably made clothing. Finally, I believe my clothing should represent the joy that God has in creation, so I value creativity and beauty in clothing.</div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /><b>3) How has your cultural background shaped the way you look? How did the aesthetics and values you grew up with affect your tastes as you got older? </b>Both from a point of view of my heritage (Dutch farming community) and my own family (alt-rock parents with a down-to-earth, off-the-beaten-track sense of fashion), I was raised to value clothing that worked-- clothing you could dance in, run in, garden in: we like practical with our pretty while still valuing creative dress. My mum wore Docs instead of heels. I spent my childhood summers climbing trees and swimming. That sort of thing.</div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b>4) How are you influenced by those around you, including friends, family, and other communities you're involved in? </b>Having indie/punk friends influenced my style a lot as a teenager, but these days my biggest style influence is probably my husband. His tastes run strongly to the classic, well-made, vintage-inspired, and impeccably neat, and I find myself a lot more likely to buy clothing in that vein now than when we got married (at that time I dressed quite whimsically).<br /><br /><b>5) How do your day-to-day activities influence your choices? </b>I like to joke that being a mum is a bit like being a welder-- dressing glamorous for your job just makes you look foolish. I dress very simply for a job that involves lots of grubby toddler hands and baby spit-up: jeans and a tee, every day. I choose good quality-- Levis jeans, Everlane tees-- but it's a workhorse wardrobe. I enjoy Sundays and date nights getting dressed up, but I also enjoy the simplicity of having a uniform with no frills.</div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b>6) How does the place you live inform your dress? How does climate factor in?</b> I love Canada, even on miserable, icy-wind-blasting days like today. I like the woodsy stubbornness of a people who'd live in such an inhospitable place, and I think my clothing choices reflect this in colour palette as well as durability, with a bit of a pioneer's flair.</div>
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b>7) In what way does body image affect your choice in clothing? What clothes make you feel good about the body you live in? What clothes make you feel uncomfortable or alienated from your body? </b>In the last three years (again largely influenced by my husband) I've come a journey of thinking badly about my body to being very proud of it and enjoying the way God made me. I think this is reflected in the comfort of my clothing-- I'm happy with the body I get to dress, and so it's easy to make choices about what's right for me and what suits me, instead of striving through clothing to be someone I'm not, whether that's a smaller size, or a different style (I've been guilty of both in the past). When you're hoping to be waifish, you dress differently than when you're happy with your size 12 hips (courtesy two sweet babies), and when you feel inadequate, you dress more defensively than if you feel confident.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-66534790777023516322013-03-28T07:59:00.002-07:002013-03-28T07:59:36.108-07:00Cheap ShoesHeard a quote I liked today:<br /><br />"Only the rich can afford cheap shoes."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-47860166687495450262013-03-08T17:34:00.001-08:002013-03-08T17:35:42.181-08:00The 10-Year Hoodie<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jakehimself/the-10-year-hoodie-built-for-life-backed-for-a-dec/widget/video.html" width="640"> </iframe><br>See, I'm not much of a hoodie person, but I know some of you will be and I think any ODP-er can put their wholehearted amen on this effort whether or not they are a hoodie person.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-37881491589689149332013-02-07T19:37:00.002-08:002013-02-07T19:37:46.918-08:00Excerpt From An Interview With Elizabeth KlineJust popping in to share a few salient quotes from Colette Patterns' interview with Elizabeth Kline, author of <i>Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. </i>I do recommend reading the whole interview, good thoughts for the ODP crowd.<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>"</i>Consumers tend to buy based on trend or print or price now, and
ironically those aren’t the qualities that make a consumer want to wear a
piece of clothing forever. We return to clothes that fit well, flatter
our figure, and feel good next to our skin."<br />
<br />
"Fast fashion feeds off consumers not knowing their own style. It depends
on us just slavishly buying whatever these stores dictate as “fashion.”
I think expressing yourself through clothes is about knowing yourself
and your own personal style and knowing what kinds of silhouettes,
colors, or prints that you like to wear. Knowing that means you
naturally stop buying things that only get worn once or sit in the back
of your closet; Instead, you buy things that you wear all the time and
return to season after season. It’s far less less wasteful and
disposable."<br />
<br />
Read the full interview <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/books/overdressed-a-conversation-with-author-elizabeth-cline?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+coletterie+%28Coletterie%29#">here</a>. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-25012593991278696772012-12-16T11:23:00.001-08:002012-12-16T11:24:12.772-08:00Reblog: Obama on dressing, eating, shopping, and decision-making<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickthemonk/6946848333/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Suits in M&S"><img alt="Suits in M&S by N.Goulden" height="428" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/6946848333_81d2d36ec8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickthemonk/6946848333/">Suits in M&S</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickthemonk/">N.Goulden</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
Came across <a href="http://reelgirl.com/2012/09/obama-on-dressing-eating-shopping-and-decision-making/">this</a> post on Reel Girl which seemed relevant to the ODP; leading off with a quote from Obama and following up with some thoughts of her own, Reel Girl says:<br /><br /> “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” he said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions on what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” He mentioned research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one’s ability to make further decisions. It’s why shopping is so exhausting. “You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can’t go through your day distracted by trivia.”<br /><br />Do you hear what our president is saying, women? Obama is saying that if he spends his mental energy thinking about what to wear, what to eat, and what to buy, he has depleted his resources. He’s got nothing left. He couldn’t be president... What is it, exactly, that the media tells women are the most important, most crucial areas of our lives? Dressing, eating, and shopping...What would happen if women stopped, really stopped, spending our time and energy obsessing about clothing, food, or shopping? What would we do?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-46237010686517177822012-10-29T18:00:00.001-07:002012-10-29T18:00:10.641-07:00The 12x12 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SE5jXGDOw8E/UI8c6GOEiBI/AAAAAAAAAh4/A1of8FMSglw/s1600/563508_347947295279692_283501129_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SE5jXGDOw8E/UI8c6GOEiBI/AAAAAAAAAh4/A1of8FMSglw/s640/563508_347947295279692_283501129_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
So, your month of learning/torture/boredom/creativity (depending on your perspective, you know) is almost over. I'd like to introduce you to some brave women who are just getting started.<br />
<br />
I like to visit the blogs of the women who participate in the ODP, and I happened across this project while doing that. Interested, I decided to put a few questions to the founder of the project to introduce you to it. Without further ado:<br />
<br />
<b>What is the 12x12 Project and who is participating?</b><br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/12X12Project">12x12 Project</a> is a year of living intentionally. Each month this
year we will highlight a specific injustice/need/cause. We will give our
time, our voices, and our prayers to the monthly focus.<br />
<br />
Our vanity
and consumerism are drastically decreasing, as we are committing to
wearing 12 key clothing items (one per month) for the year. Each clothing item we wear is tied to our cause for
the month. We
are saying "no" to frivolous spending. We're not shopping for ourselves
unless it's a serious need. <br />
<br />
<b>How did it start?</b><br />
<br />
It started as an idea. While completing a bible study this summer ("7" by Jen
Hatmaker) with some amazing girlfriends, I started to pray and ask God
what to do with myself and the mess that I am. I was feeling conviction
about the way that I am spending what God has given me (my time, my
money, my resources.) Something had to change. Clear as day I
heard the words "12x12 Project". I called my dear friend Kim and we
started praying and talking and before we knew it the 12x12 Project was
born.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>How was the 12x12 Project inspired by the ODP?</b><br />
<br />
A lot of inspiration for this project came from the ODP. When praying
about my discontent and selfish attitude, I remembered how grateful and
content I feel during the ODP. Every October I know that I am wearing
one dress all month. I am happy with what I have. I get creative with
what I already own. I am thinking of those who have less. We took that
idea, one outfit all month, and tied that outfit/article of clothing to
a "purpose".<br />
<br />
We used the ODP to kick off our 12x12 year and we
challenged those around us to shop with a purpose for their dress. Uganda is our focus in the month of
October, so we found an amazing company, One Mango Tree, who provides
work for women in Uganda and we purchased our October dresses from
there, instead of say, Target, or another big box store.<br />
<br />
All of
the "coordinators" for the 12x12 Project are participating in the ODP
this year. This is the third year for Karissa and I, actually! Lots of the
ladies participating in the 12x12 Project have joined us in the ODP
this year, too.<br /><br /><b>What are you anticipating as the most difficult parts of this Project
and what are you anticipating as the parts that teach you the most or
bless you the most?</b><br />
<br />
The most difficult part of this process will be the self denial of
"wants" and the refining of our hearts. I've already found myself in
moments of frustration wanting to go run to the store because I'm
stressed or bored or just "because I can." I want all of that to
change. My contentment is in Christ alone and loving His children, not
in a store or in some possession. <br />
<br />
Those frustrations are easily
forgotten when I see people "getting it". When my children dump their
piggy banks for the hungry and clean out their clothes and toys for the
less fortunate. When I with my friends and peers talk with tears
streaming down our faces because we want our life to "be an answer" to
the needs around us and we actually start doing something about it. When
a house is full to standing room only because people want to know what
they can do to help the suffering. These things bless me in ways I
cannot begin to explain.<br />
<br />
These
rewards far out weigh anything we think we are "giving up". It's our
hope and prayer that this year ignites a spark that will last a lifetime
and really will change the world.<br />
<br />
<b>This is a wonderful project; I'm always so moved to see the way people take the October Dress Project and move it forward in new, inspiring ways. Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/12X12Project">12x12 Project on Facebook </a>if you want to learn more or connect with the women participating.</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b> <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-12947078991155016612012-10-22T18:40:00.003-07:002012-10-22T18:40:39.788-07:00A Privilege<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WwyK4l-6cvg/UIX1hKcxxTI/AAAAAAAAAho/ooWm0kRJMdE/s1600/tea,+mum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gypsyluna/110904923/" border="0" height="412" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WwyK4l-6cvg/UIX1hKcxxTI/AAAAAAAAAho/ooWm0kRJMdE/s640/tea,+mum.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
The third week of the ODP is, in my opinion, the hardest. The first week, it's all shiny and fun. The second week, you're settling in, enjoying complaining to each other, and figuring out the foibles of the dress. The fourth week is the home stretch; you're starting to feel excited about getting your closet back, and maybe even having a pang or two of nostalgia.<br />
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But the third week.<br />
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It's the doldrums. The Facebook chatter always dies down somewhat in the third week. You're bored of your dress (or I am, anyways).<br />
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People come away with lots of different lessons from the ODP each year. This year, I was discussing with another old hand how we feel like we've "learned our lesson" after four years of ODP-ing. But I've been thinking about that since, and ironically, I think that's turning out to be my lesson-- that I <i>haven't</i> learned my lesson, because it's not just a lesson.<br /><br />Yes, in the first years I learned lessons about how little people notice what I wear, how little I can actually do with, and the benefits that simplicity brings into my life, among other things. But this year, the lesson is this: I'm in this for the long haul. I'm not going to "learn my lesson" and stop practicing this yearly discipline (not to say that everyone else needs to commit to lifelong October-dressing), because the exercise teaches, but it also <i>reminds</i>. It reminds me to stop and rethink the way I live, a sort of 'Reset' button for my life. It reminds me that for most of history and for most of the present-day world, mass-produced, ready-to-wear clothing is not available. It reminds me that living sustainably, frugally, and simply is not always fun, but it's always rewarding. It reminds me that I need less than I think. And it reminds me that saying, "I'm sick of this dress now, after 31 days," is a tremendous privilege, because I do have a closet full of lovely clothes to come back to at the end, unlike so many people.<br />
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It reminds me that I am blessed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-72176139342537220332012-10-17T18:58:00.000-07:002012-10-17T18:58:25.732-07:00Pro-Creativity WinAre you being creative with your dress? Are you really?<br />
One of our participants, Monica, just used her dress as a scarf. I'm so impressed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diabolically clever!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-80028243979549401472012-10-05T11:44:00.001-07:002012-10-05T11:44:51.658-07:00Pockets: A RantWhen you spend the whole month in one dress, you learn things. One of the things I am learning is that not having pockets is bogus.<br />
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Can we all just stop for a minute and assess what century we are in? Oh, hey, that's right, it's the 21st century! We have all kinds of technology and the Internet and stuff-- we have phones!<br />
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Okay, enough sarcasm, but seriously, in this modern age, what is a lady to do with her phone if she doesn't have pockets? (I keep mine tucked into my bra strap, but it's awkward pulling that out around, say, your grandfather. Plus, my baby notices it's there and goes digging for it.) <br />
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I think I'm going to make a pledge at the end of this year's ODP to only buy dresses with pockets in 'em. I should add it to the FAQs: <br />
<br />
<i>Q. Should I get a dress with pockets?</i><br />
<i>A. Without a doubt.<br /><br /> </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-36656351328355488772012-10-03T17:46:00.001-07:002012-10-03T17:46:26.595-07:00And We're Off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/myrninamandarina/6598536419/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#48. similar by Myrna D'Ambrosio, on Flickr"><img alt="#48. similar" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6598536419_52da5af2a0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm so excited for the Project this year! We have 140 people in the Facebook group; I can hardly keep up with all the photo posts. I'm truly honoured that my little idea has taken off like this, and the many ways people are making it their own. Here are some of the ways other women have added their own twist to the Project:<br />
-Doing it with their daughter<br />
-Doing it in honour of their grandmother<br />
-Incorporating it into a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/12X12Project">year-long project</a><br />
-Giving a daily assignment to help focus the Project<br />
-Giving up sugar along with wearing the dress<br />
-Using it to <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/octoberdressproject-inverclyde">raise money for cancer</a><br />
-Instead of wearing the dress, using the month of October to put everything in the closet into rotation, and donating anything that doesn't get worn.<br /><br />Anyone else doing a twist?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090120301123213162.post-34623230633923391882012-10-01T07:38:00.001-07:002012-10-01T11:56:05.810-07:00Day One!<br />
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Yay, we're off! You can share your photos in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1741555@N25/">Flickr</a> group if you're so inclined. Or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/132972689585/?fref=ts">Facebook</a> group. Or Instagram or tweet your pictures with the hashtag #ODP12. If you want to be added to the Roster, you can still message me as per the instructions on The Roster page. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0