Ah September...
September is the month of song and in my mind and they are all melancholy. You know - the summer is ending, your boyfriend is going home, you are getting old, it's getting colder, blah, blah, blah. I say this only in jest - I am a sucker for September songs and all of the melancholia...
A couple of weeks ago, I did a post on my overall
Life Style Statement. I followed that up by defining my
fall colour story and what I
actually wore this past summer.
I promised to talk about my transition and about colour, so am starting some posts about both, beginning with this one.
One of the challenges I have had since leaving my job and embarking on this new life is that most of my old wardrobe does not work. Some of you may not have experienced this, but I have had several transitions in my life that required style changes - going to work, having children, gaining weight, losing weight, moving up the corporate ladder and now working from home.
I have always loved clothes and my work clothes were nice. Very corporate, very buttoned-up. I treated them kind of like one would treat a costume in that I bought very nice and expensive clothes for my job but almost none of them were "me". But they were completely appropriate for the job I had and thus, met the requirements.
Over the last year I have made quite a few mistakes. I have bought things because I thought they looked nice on someone else or in a magazine. I was buying some clothes for a big city life but guess what - I don't live in a big city!!!
I was all in a dither trying to sort out what I wanted to wear
now.
You remember the questions I decided I must ask myself before buying something:
1) does it fit?
2) is it comfortable
3) is it flattering?
4) do I love it?
5) am I actually going to wear it or have I just seen someone I like wear it or a jcrew/anthro/whatever label model wear it and think I need it to?
6) does it fit with my style statement - which in the end should be linked to #4....
And my style statement says that I am creative/nostalgic, but here is the truth: I LOVE A LOT OF THINGS so question #4 was only
so helpful...
So I need to winnow this all down so I can put together a work from home wardrobe that I love and which is me...the real me...
I turned back to my boys Jesse Garza and Joe Lupa and their wonderful book
Nothing to Wear.
I used this book quite a few years ago when sorting out my more corporate style and putting together a corporate wardrobe. The book still holds up. I know I needed to use it again to fully define my new 50-year-old-Wendy-who-now-writes-from-home-writing style.
On their website and in the book, they have a great
quiz. They also ask you to define your "arena" - are you in the working world, a stay-at-home mom, retired, do you live in the suburbs, the country, the city? I knew it was time to redo the quiz as that would help me further sort out how I want to dress - both from a style and a comfort perspective...And by comfort, I do not simply mean physically comfortable, I mean psychologically comfortable with what I am wearing.
Style Type Quiz (my answers in blue..)
1. If we opened your closet, what color palette would we mostly see?
a) black and neutrals
b) basics, such as navy, white, khaki, charcoal, or brown
c) earth tones
d) a rainbow of colors
e) black with touches of bold color
um Jesse and Joe you would see a lot of colour...D
2. How would your friends describe you?
a) playful and spirited
b) relaxed and liberal
c) sharp and direct
d) traditional and proper
e) innovative and forward-thinking
I am pretty sure they would say A.
3. Given a chance, which would you rather do?
a) throw on a pair of jeans, T-shirt with funky accessories
b) step out in a fun floral dress or bright mixed prints
c) put on a sleek V-neck top and modern-cut pant
d) grab your favorite jacket with interesting and unusual details to wear with a black pant
e) get comfortable in khakis, a collared shirt, and your cutest loafers
This changed a lot from when I was working. It is now a definite A.
4. If someone gave you $500 for clothes, how would you use it?
a) spend it on a cashmere wrap
b) buy a couple outfits at J.Crew or Banana Republic
c) add to your accessories collection with a slouchy suede bag
d) buy a dress that makes you feel smart and unique
e) splurge on anything that catches your eye
I had to think about this quite a bit. The honest answer would be E now.
5. When you walk into a crowded room, what would you prefer to do?
a) stand out
b) blend in
c) be in control, exude power
d) seem natural and easygoing
e) by zany and animated
A year ago, the answer would have been A. Now the answer would be D.
6. When you have the urge (or need) to go shopping, you are more likely to do which of the following?
a) purchase practical basics for all seasons
b) head to the flea market for some great “lived-in” and funky finds
c) get something with a splash of color to brighten your day
d) find that unusual piece to add to your wardrobe that no one else will have
e) buy high-quality, smart pieces that are sure to be in style
Again, last year it would have been A or C. Now it would be a B or C. Probably C.
7. When you flip through pages of fashion magazines, which is most likely to catch your eye?
a) that little black dress in the “special occasion” section
b) peasant blouses and denim
c) multicolored bangles for spring
d) a story on the new designers from Tokyo and Belgium
e) a Ralph Lauren lifestyle ad
Last year it would have been E. I would also be looking at B. Hmm - It would be Ralph for inside the house, B for clothing now, so I guess I will pick B.
8. Which of the following best describes the decor of your home?
a) minimalist, architectural, and sculptural (think the Jetsons)
b) comfortable and traditional (think the Cleavers)
c) fun, kitschy, and unorthodox (think
Alice in Wonderland)
d) lots of rugs, earth tone, and floral prints (think 70s)
e) streamlined, tonal, with clean surfaces (think Tom Ford)
Definitely C, with a small touch of B.
ANSWER KEY
The letter you circled reflects your dominant style identity as revealed by your answer to that question. Tally the number of times your response reflected each style type, and the high score represents your dominant style identity, your true fashion personality. The second highest score could indicate your combination style.
1. a) Chic b) Classic c) Bohemian d) Whimsical e) Avant-garde
Whimsical 2. a) Whimsical b) Bohemian c) Chic d) Classic e) Avant-garde
Whimsical 3. a) Bohemian b) Whimsical c) Chic d) Avant-garde e) Classic
Bohemian 4. a) Chic b) Classic c) Bohemian d) Avant-garde e) Whimsical
Whimsical 5. a) Avant-garde b) Classic c) Chic d) Bohemian e) Whimsical
Bohemian 6. a) Classic b) Bohemian c) Whimsical d) Avant-garde e) Chic
Whimsical 7. a) Chic b) Bohemian c) Whimsical d) Avant-garde e) Classic
Bohemian 8. a) Avant-garde b) Classic c) Whimsical d) Bohemian e) Chic
Whimsical
Total Classic: _0____
Total Chic: ___0__
Total Whimsical: ___5___
Total Bohemian: ___3___
Total Avant-garde: __0____
Oh wow - when I did this 5 years ago, I was Chic with a touch of Whimsical. How interesting! Obviously, I needed to be a Chic due to my job, but my heart was more in the Whimsical and now I am able to play with my Boho side.
The fellas describe whimsical as:
Whimsical style is playful and appears to be “thrown together” but is actually a thoughtful combination of colors and patterns. If you’re whimsical, you’re usually young at heart and you’re look is ethereal and romantic. Their style icon for whimsical is Sofia Coppola. I will take that!
The website helps with descriptions and style muses. The book itself is a gold mine - helping you sort through building YOUR wardrobe.
This explains why I didn't wear a lot of what I bought this summer - I was buying for an old life. When I was in Saint John on Friday, I bought a few things (which I will share tomorrow) that were truly me.
I am saving a very few classic/chic pieces in my wardrobe for those events that require that, but to be honest, I will not be going back to those clothes (though I reserve the right to revisit this at 60 and 70 and 80 and 90!).
I already have a lot of things that fit this style - it is now just a matter of letting that side of me come out completely. The other stuff is going to be going to the JCA exchange or consignment.
Yesterday, I wore an outfit that was quintessentially my style and I felt so comfortable and happy in it - it was very casual, but still nice:
 |
| $12 winners tshirt - how cute, huh? jeans and black kiki ballet flats from J Crew |
Not the best pictures of me, especially the top one, cause I had just spent an hour in a hot kitchen making a Vegetable Tian and this awesome blueberry pie:
It is the best blueberry pie I have ever made - held together perfectly - no goopy berries! Yay me!
I wore the outfit above out running errands with my little ivory cotton vneck cardigan from J Crew and the bag I bought yesterday, which when you see it, you will go - oooh - sooo Wendy....
This week - how Wendy will really be dressing this fall (i.e. the new and authentic uniform), colours, my trip to Saint John, a review of the new JC floral tee and floral wool scarf....
Hope you are having a great Sunday and stay safe out there! am heading out to walk off the blueberry pie!
