The Pajamafication of Style

Have you noticed that there is less and less style out there? Where are the people with style? Why is every one out there walking around in some kind of co-opted sleep or athletic wear when they are neither sleeping nor athletic? Why? My two favorite fashion snobs recently referred to it as the pajamafication of America. In other words. People are trying to make laziness and apathy seem like a style, but it's not.  

Everywhere I go everyone looks the same. No matter the weather; no matter the occasion.  The dress code in this country is: Ultra (almost shamefully) Casual.  I went to a funeral a few weeks ago and was surprised to be the only one  not just wearing black, but dressed up in any way.  I've been to a few weddings like that too.  Church? Check.  Holidays? Check.  Work? School?  A nice dinner out? Check, check, and check.  No one dresses up for anything and that stinks, because it's not an income issue; it's an effort issue.  

Not only does no one dress up, no one dresses out.  No one dresses differently from anyone else anymore either.  Where are the rockabillies, the punks, the mods and twees?  Where are the goths, steampunks, cowboys, and skaters?  Coquettes, preppies, anyone? Where are all the new fashion groups people are inventing?  Where is anyone wearing anything other than disgusting athlesiure or sloppy jeans and tees?  I'm going to say this again because it bears repeating: Finances are not the explanation.  Creativity and effort are free.  A lot of the very best fashion niches were based on having no money and still creating outfits that had maximum self expression.  

Where'd they all go?  And, not on social media, it's easy enough to fake style there.  Where are the fashion subcultures, the interesting, self expressive people in real life?  I'm beyond bored with jeans, t shirts, athleisure slop and the complete lack of effort that goes into wearing them.  (Although, I will say that it's much more physically demanding to wiggle into stretchy pants than it is to just slip on a dress, so the effort saved is mainly...mental? spiritual?)  If you see the any of the niches that used to say I am me, I'm unique, and I want to I express it, will you tell them I'm looking for them, because I really miss them.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Polka Dot Dress and Petticoat are thrifted, Bag is vintage, YeMak Sweater, B.A.I.T. Heels

Realistic Maintenence

Remember when I said that doing a major Declutter should be one and done or at most a very occasional thing?  And that all these influencers who claim to be minimalists and yet are constantly doing major declutters, cannot be true minimalists and it's all for content?  Remember that?  (click here if you don't) And then, do you remember when I did a major declutter a few years ago trying to make our lives and all of our stuff fit into this tiny house?  Well, I'm happy to report no hypocrisy here.  I am not in need of another huge declutter.

As I read back over the past...11? years of blog posts, I see myself being a little all over the place.  Sometimes I'm happy with what I have, sometimes I'm desperately wanting more, sometimes I am at peace with myself and sometimes I'm battling my nature to try to "be better."  That's because I write what I'm feeling or going through or thinking about at the moment I'm writing.  And things change; seasons in life change; priorities change.  But I am happy to report that when it comes to Decluttering, I'm holding steady.

Last year a relative passed away and she was a collector of all the vintage things I love.  Since anything unwanted was going to be donated, I decided to bring home anything I wanted and go through it later, knowing full well I wasn't going to keep all of it.  Recently, as we started completing renovations on certain rooms of the house, I've been able to take out the things I put in storage for this moment and either find a place for them, put them back to see if they'll fit in one of the other rooms once they're finished, or after taking a second look, deciding I don't really care for the item and donating it as it was going to be a year ago.  But, this has been a very small amount. 

 

Sometimes in my down time I go back through old blog posts to fix typos or correct spacing issues that escaped my notice when they were published and as I've been doing so I've also been making notes of a couple of items of clothing that I bought and they just don't look good on me; they're beautiful and I love them, but they don't love me back.  I wrote them on a to-do list I keep on my nightstand to remind myself if I ran across them in the process of searching for things for the house, to take them out right then and put them in the donate bag.  Yesterday, in fact, while I was searching for a box of lamps I wanted to test out to see which would look nicest in my library, I found all the items--3 corsets, 2 dresses, and 2 pairs of stockings--and donated them along with the lamps that didn't make the cut.  But, that's it.  I still feel really happy with the things I've let go of (for the most part, only had giveaway-remorse on a couple of things) and don't really want to part with much else.

I'm thrifting.  A lot.  And really just adding pieces that I want to be part of a permanent collection.  All my Selkies?  I don't really wear them much since I've been working full time.  My current job allows for me to wear dresses, but they have to be much more practical than anything I've ever bought from Selkie.  And, yet, I don't want to get rid of them either.  They're mine and I love them.  I'm good with what I have.  No more hauls and no more Declutters.  And when my house is done, we'll do one last declutter on everything in storage that doesn't make the cut for decorating the remaining rooms of the house, and then that's it.  I want to just enjoy my home and finally have a little breathing room around here... But, I'll probably still buy dresses. 

Decluttering shouldn't be a major regular event.  Do a major declutter and then change the habits that have led to accumulation.  Minor declutters will keep things tidy around the house, and ensure you don't get caught up in that negative loop of haul-declutter-repeat.

Outfit Info:  Anthropologie We Love Vera High Seas Dress is thrifted, American Eagle Cardigan is old, Honiara Vintage shoes are old, bag was gifted

New Bernie? Bingo!

I am so glad that Bernie Dexter has kept her business going!  It would have been such a great loss to the vintage fashion community if her dresses went away.  I had my eye on this Kelly Dress in Bingo Card print from Unique Vintage for several months, and waited for one of their amazing sales so I could bring it home.  Golly, am I ever glad I did, this bingo card print is even better in real life and the Kelly is one of my favorite styles.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Kelly Dress in Bingo Print from Unique Vintage

 

Palava, Please

If natural fibers, amazing prints, and sustainable production are all at the top of your priority list, look no further than today's post of these amazing pieces from British based company, Palava. I bought these pieces from Modern Millie, a small Massachusetts based business that stole my heart with its amazing outfit combos and commitment to carrying beautiful vintage inspired pieces.  I won't say anymore than that about these two companies, I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Outfit Info: Peggy Top in Peas and Florence Skirt in Multi Pickle Jars from Palava, Cardi by YeMak, Flats from SheIn

Roman Holiday Recreation

Travel was a very important part of my twenties and thirties.  At first I traveled for myself.  Then I traveled with my family.  Travel is an education, it's an experience that connects us with new places and makes home seem all the sweeter.  This phase in my life is more serious, less carefree.  My children's education, or at least my role in it, is complete, and travel, particularly international travel, has fallen lower on my list of priorities.  

It's been more than a couple decades at least since I was in Rome, but it was an experience I'll never forget for a multitude of reasons.  And, while I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to visit that lovely place again, I can always see the sights and feel nostalgia while watching one of my favorite classic movies, Roman Holiday.  I cannot think of a single Audrey Hepburn movie that doesn't have stunning costumes and this film is no exception.  Princess Ann's casual travel outfit is absolutely darling and thanks to black and white film, we can imagine it was any color combo we want.

Personally, it seems more fitting with the story that a Princess wanting to keep a low profile would prefer neutrals in order to blend in, such as a white top, beige skirt, brown shoes and belt, and a navy scarf as shown in these iterations below:

I'm not exactly sure why, but I decided to try to create my own, inexpensive version of this outfit and I think I made out pretty well.  I forgot to roll up my sleeve--oof!--but it was the last of about two dozen outfits that I did on that particular evening and I was rapidly losing the last rays of sunlight, so I goofed.  I always make my priority finding clothes made of natural fibers, but it's just not always possible.  So, the top is cotton, the skirt is linen, and the scarf claims to be silk but feels more like polyester, but I love the final result and the entire outfit cost me less than $75.

Outfit Info:  Top-Hotouch on Amazon, Skirt-Grae Cove Linen skirt is thrifted, similar style is Belle Poque on Amazon shown in photo below, Scarf-NaSo Perfect silk scarf on Amazon, Woven Shoes from SheIn