...and a Happy New Year

Disclaimer: This post has little, if anything, to do with style. It's just holiday-themed blabbery. Proceed with caution and enjoy.

I join you during a brief lull in an epic Yuletide event. A long-divided East Coast family recently reunited, we've been cramming our houses full of people and our selves full of food and alcohol for going on a week, now; I am, by nature, a rather sober and private individual, so the crowds of cousins (some literally trying to pour shots down my throat), aunts, uncles, sisters, parents, grandparents and neighbours... leave me somewhat short of breath. This Saturnalian marathon culminates tonight in a blowout "open garage" party, to which my parents have invited just about every person they've encountered over the last few days, whether friend, relative, or random local restaurant patron. A single one of my mother's siblings is bringing twelve people. Twelve! We already have a houseful, at up to five to a bedroom... I hope these folks are bringing their own pillows. And a Johnny-on-the-spot.

This is the first year in recent memory that I have not given any wearable gifts. I love giving homemade presents, and this often includes handcrafted jewelry and garments; but this year, though I did a fair amount of knitting, I put not a stitch of clothing under the tree. I don't know why this may be, or that it's particularly significant, but I found it curious and thought I would share.

I put a lot of thought into all the gifts I gave--this year especially (money being tight), creativity and a personal touch was key--but the gift I am most proud of went to my youngest sister. My family has two standard (read: very big) poodles, a red and an apricot, whom Li'l Sis has missed terribly since she's been back in Ontario at college, so I knitted stuffed dogs for her to take back with her to her dorm. (Actually, I only had one completed in time for the grand unwrapping, but it was enough to get on with.)


As for the most interesting gift I received... Li'l Sis came out for Sister Bonding Time with Mi'l Sis and me at our apartment in Halifax, and, well, there's this tradition of "birthday tattoos" into which I was meant to be initiated in the summer (for my birthday), but there was too much moving around for this to happen. We were planning to get caught up on this while we were together, but we couldn't get time with the tattoo artist during her visit, so they gave me the gift of a piercing instead--and, in keeping with birthday tattoo protocol, each got a piercing of their own.

And now, as the holidays, the year, and my computer battery wind down, I wish you health, happiness and stylishness. Slainte!

Silly Me...

After over two months without posting, I was recently told to "either update [my] blog or put it out of its misery". I'm not sure if anyone, other than the person quoted, actually even checks up on it anymore--why bother, if I'm not even going to? Anyway, I took stock and realized that I didn't really have that fresh, dewy enthusiasm for the project that I started out with; life had gotten a bit complicated, the fashion industry a bit discouraging... In short, I had been given my ultimatum, couldn't think of anything to write about at that moment, and hit the delete button.

Apparently, that was not the expected response, and now Dear Reader demands that I "write!" so I have fished my URL out of the river Styx... with not a scrap of text left on its bones. I will try to re-post my original musings, but I suspect the dates will be a little jumbled; please bear with me.

From now on, I will try to post more than quarterly.

Tough Love

Phew... self-evaluation is exhausting! Over the course of the last two days I have spent, oh, probably about 5 hours or more nitpicking through every garment I own--and I'll probably need at least a couple more hours for hosiery and accessories.

I am being really hard-core about this, no holds barred, and it's really, really hard. It is mentally and emotionally exhausting to try to see oneself through others' eyes, and physically--well, OK, it's not like I ran a marathon or anything, but you try putting on and taking off almost a hundred outfits, one after another, and then tell me it doesn't take its toll.

To be thorough, I tried everything on. At this point, I didn't fuss over creating complete outfits with shoes and accessories; I tried on every item at least once--every top with a bottom I might reasonably choose to wear with it in real life (and vice versa), every jacket or cardigan with a neutral, unobtrusive top--and I noted how it felt physically (does it fit? does it scratch? pinch? rub?) and otherwise (do I feel attractive? confident? sexy? does it make me feel like me?), then looked in the mirror...

The thing is, you can't really trust mirrors. At least, you can't trust just one mirror. Or maybe it's that you can't trust yourself to look objectively when you look into a mirror. Whatever. You know in the movie Clueless, our heroine Cher has a friend take Polaroids of her before she'll hit the streets in an outfit? It sounds ridiculous, but photos are really helpful in seeing big picture design features like line, silhouette, and balance (I don't trust them for colour, though). I set my digital camera to take three consecutive shots on a timer, and then I stood against my bedroom wall and did front, profile and back views in every outfit. There were quite a few garments I chucked in the discard pile right away, before even looking at the photos: anything stained, torn, frayed, or pilled beyond repair; anything that just didn't fit; and things that just didn't feel like they worked for the look I want. Everything else went into the "maybe" pile, pending viewing of the photos.

I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the photos--there were even a couple of things in the discard pile that I pulled out after seeing them in a new light--and surprisingly disappointed in a few other "sure fire" items. And, out of all the many, many clothes I tried on, only two garments really made me feel, instantly, like a babe: a shrunken one-button blazer in creamsicle orange, and a teal jersey dress. Everything else was just... OK.

My goal is for everything I put on to give me the orange blazer/teal dress "wow" moment. I want to feel like the real me, always. Two items isn't really much to go on, but it's a start.

Trendwatch

So, here's what is jumping off the glossy pages at me for fall:

• The Modern Flapper -- mod tunic dresses over billowy blouses, paired with woolly black tights and chunky shoes
• Patent Leather -- on shoes, bags, belts, coats...
• Tulip Skirts -- I couldn't tell you why, but this strange, pleated cousin of the pencil skirt cropped up a few times in the course of my research
• Flat Boots -- more or less equestrian in style, they're a slimmer, sleeker update on the cowboy boots that have been hanging around in recent seasons
  

Of course, there the fall staples were there, too: tweed, leather, muted colours... Interestingly, although the editors are touting smooth coifs as the look to match, I spotted a few examples of real, honest-to-goodness curls in the ads. Think early Friends Phoebe; think Harriet from So I Married an Axe Murderer (a terrifically funny, if cheesy, Mike Myers movie). I'll keep an eye on that to see if it's really going somewhere.

In other news, I made the first step towards entrepreneurship the other day. I am now the proud owner of a shiny new expanding file folder. AND--I even have something to put in it. To kick off my own self-consultation, I designed a pre-consultation client questionnaire and filled out a copy for myself. Later this week, I plan to start the closet purge.

I'm back!

Wow, time flies when you're... um, dealing with the crazy stuff life throws at you. But don't worry: I haven't been writing, but I have been thinking. And watching lots of What Not To Wear. I am, in fact, watching it right now (shut up, it's called multitasking).

I'm the kind of person who can't really accomplish any task unless it's been written down, so here's my To Do list, style-related edition:

• check out some fashion mags to get a handle on this season's trends--I've drifted further and further out of touch since leaving school, since I no longer have to do market research for marks; the good news is, I've already picked up some magazines, so I'm one step ahead
• do a thorough evaluation and pruning of my current wardrobe
• decide what I need to buy and/or make in order to complete my wardrobe and meet my styling goals--and then make the time to find/design/sew those items
• and, last but not least, document my progress here, of course!

Check back soon for updates and maybe even (!) photos.

Back to Fall

I think my three favourite times of year--weather-related--are, in no particular order:

• the first time I go outside and it smells like winter, making me want to go home and blast holiday tunes while I craft up a pile of gifts for my family and friends;
• those few, precious summer days when the balance of heat and humidity is just perfect for a long ramble through the park, or for lying on the beach with a good book and a cold drink; and...

...autumn. Just after school starts up again, when it is just barely jacket weather during the day, before all the leaves are down--the weather is crisp and wonderful and full of possibility. I think many of us, even long after we finish our formal education, still think of this time as "Back to School" time. What this really means, of course, is "Make a New Start" time. Even more than the New Year, this is the time to resolve to get organised, to always look your best, to become a brand new version of yourself.

Fall triggers in me a profound craving for sweaters. And tweed. And leather boots. In my opinion, it is the season with the best fashion potential: it is not so hot that you're choosing items solely for ventilation purposes, not so cold that you have to look like the Michelin Man to be comfortable, not so mucky and wet that you can't afford to wear your nice shoes. It is Sexy Librarian season, a time to look ladylike and sophisticated and polished.

I know that by the time the snow falls, many of my resolutions will have fallen by the wayside. It happens every year. But for now, it's Back to Red Lipstick time.

Panty Pact

I, the undersigned, do solemnly swear, from this day forward, to respect and uphold the laws of correct undergarment maintenance, as set forth in the Care Instructions; to reassess the condition and fit of such garments at regular intervals, initiating immediate corrective measures when necessary; and, to exercise prudent discretion in assigning undergarments to wardrobe units ("outfits"), ensuring that the undercover nature of the garment(s) remains uncompromised; so help me God/other [choose one].

Mission Statement: Part Two

So, if I want to do this image consulting thing, I will need (among other, lesser, things):

a) practice; and,
b) to look the part.

With this in mind, I have decided to ruthlessly make myself over. I will be documenting the stages of this process here. Keep your eyes peeled. There may even be photos involved.

Truth be told, I think I am more than a little in need of a taste of my own medicine anyway. It's not that I don't know what looks good, or that I never make any effort--I polish up quite well, in fact; the problem is that it's so easy to get stuck in a rut, to make do with things that don't really fit right or suit me or that need fixing up. I have a really hard time justifying clothes purchases to myself, and so my wardrobe is mainly made up of very functional, very boring, very cheap garments, often picked up in multiples to take advantage of a sale: you know, x for $25. I am very petite, so it can be difficult to find clothes that fit well; many times I have been too lazy or too busy to get around to hemming a new pair of jeans, so they just get cuffed and scuffed and never look the way they're intended to.

The main thing I am starting to realize is that, right now, I do not look my age. OK, granted, since we've moved to Nova Scotia from Ontario, I've been essentially joined at the hip with my mother, because it's just the two of us for now. And, yes, I am short and I have a bit of a baby face. But, seriously, I keep getting asked what grade I'll be going into, and a number of people have recently told me they thought I was 12 or 13. I am 24 years old, with my fair share of accomplishments under my belt, and I should be kicking ass. If I want people to treat me like an intelligent, creative, serious woman, I need to (first of all) believe that that's what I really am, and start actually looking like one. A disheveled ponytail, an Old Navy basic tank with a fallen hem, a denim mini and worn-out flip-flops do not a successful artiste make. Plus, I just don't feel like me, I don't feel good about myself--is that cause or effect of my lack of effort, do you think? Could be a little of both.

I don't pretend that this will be easy. For one thing, my current small town life doesn't exactly scream for a sophisticated wardrobe, and it's hard not to feel a bit silly and self-conscious when deciding what to wear. Not to mention that I have virtually no money to spend on updating my closet, so I'll be DIYing and doing a lot of things on the cheap. But, hey--anyone can spend a load of cash to look like they spent a load of cash... it takes someone with real pizazz to do it on a budget.

Wish me luck!

Whirlwind

Good news, people! I've made a new industry contact (she works with leather) and she's going to point me to the fabric stores--I am free, FREE of the tyranny of WalMart's crafts aisle!

Very busy day, so much I want to share, but it's past time I got some sleep. I'll be back with part two of my world domination plan tomorrow.

Velcome, dahlinks...

Wow--the groundbreaking, historic first post: what shall I say?

I've decided to create a space here where I can muse about life and fashion and the ways in which they intersect. The last few months have brought many challenges, many changes, and I have struggled (am still struggling, in fact) to figure out who I am, inside, and how to express that self outwardly.

I find myself in a new place, with the opportunity to create a new, happier, more confident me. True, there are many areas of my life, not just my wardrobe, that may need a spruce (or more); trust me, I am not suggesting that a new pair of shoes or a lip gloss or any other kind of retail therapy is the secret to happiness. In fact, when I talk about "style", I'm not necessarily talking about buying into trends or buying... anything. Remember when I mentioned the intersection of life and fashion? Well, dear readers, read on to find out what I mean...

Mission Statement: Part One

I have been hopping from job to McJob for quite some time now, never quite satisfied, but too scared that I won't have what it takes to really dive into a career. Now that I have this chance to make myself over, I think it's time to kick myself in the ass and make something happen!

I have always been interested in clothing and fashion, and I have been designing and making my own stuff for as long as I can remember. (Not all of these garments were terribly successful, but live and learn, right?) After much waffling, I finally decided to study fashion "techniques and design" at George Brown College in Toronto. I didn't graduate--it's kind of a long story, though probably not as long as I like to think--but that sure doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. I am a pretty decent pattern drafter, I can identify and choose fabrics, I know colour (yes, I am Canadian) theory and the basic principles of design.

Somehow, it's just hard for me to believe that I know enough to go out there and do it for a living. When I think about designing my own line, it's hard to draw the line between a realistic assessment of the market and my skills, and outright pessimism. I want to make shoooooooooes! my heart cries; but there always seems to be something to shoot down. For one, I really don't have the money to gamble on a high-overhead venture like a clothing line.

One thing I am quite good at, if I do say so myself, is putting together whole looks. One of my loves is theatrical costuming, crafting the image that the character lives in, and making it all work together and make sense. I could, of course, pursue a career in costuming and wardrobe--and maybe down the road, I will--but I know from experience that entertainment industry jobs really require you to put it all on the line with no guarantees. I'm just really not comfortable with that right now. I need a reliable income! But... I think it would be totally possible to have a schmoe job in another sector, while building a part-time side business as--

...drumroll, please...

--an Image Consultant!

I think, for me, it is a perfect field in which to build up gradually with minimal initial investment: there are few, if any, specialized tools required; no raw materials; no storage, storefront or commercial office space is necessary... really, start-up costs would consist mostly of promotional materials and home-office supplies. I could set aside one or two weeknights and a weekend day for networking and appointments while still maintaining an income elsewhere, and step things up as the business grows.

So with this career goal in mind, one of my purposes in creating this blog is to get the creative juices flowing--to really start thinking about what style means and where it fits into our lives.