Monday, February 5, 2018

Who Am I?

RHYS BOWEN: When I received the news that I had been nominated for an Edgar award my first thought was not how excited I was, how pleased my family would be. Like any normal woman my first thought was “Oh Golly, what am I going to wear to the banquet.”

I read an article in Oprah magazine last week (in a particularly civilized doctor’s office that didn’t have Field and Stream and Golf Digest) written by Oprah herself and it was called “Who Am I?” It was all about how we see ourselves and how we define ourselves both internally and externally. Reading this just after the nomination and had me thinking who exactly I am and who I want to be.


I have gone through a lifetime of metamorphoses. In the sixties, right after college, I was fashionable in my Mary Quant and my Vidal Sassoon haircut.

 In the seventies I morphed into along flowery garments and long hair. After that it was the time of motherhood and my uniform was sweat pants as I drove car-pools or sat at my computer writing. It was also the time of not much money to spend on myself so new clothes came from whatever was on the sales rack, or what my mother sent me. Unfortunately she remembered my Seventies incarnation and everything she sent was long and flowery, not who I was at all.

When the kids were finally out of the house, college was paid for, and I had time and money I had to think who I wanted to be. I’d look at women I admired (Barbara Peters, now a good friend, was always someone who dressed exactly right for the occasion). I decided I looked best in a tailored look—hello Ralph Lauren!  Blazer and tailored slacks. Recently I have softened that image a little—long sweaters instead of blazer, scarves to hide a crepey neck.

But this still doesn’t answer the question as to what I should wear to the Edgars . I am told by Margery Flax that it is the realm of the little black dress. Do I want to conform or stand out? I remember one disastrous occasion when I was at a cocktail party at the Frankfurt book fair. It was a party for me to meet my European agents. I bought a bright green silk jacket and matching pajama pants. Stunning…. Only every other woman in the room was in the little black dress. I felt like a peacock who has strayed into the hen house.
So no bright green this time. But maybe a jacket over that little black dress? Or a sparkly stole? Or my silk tuxedo that looks rather good?

 I’ll let you know when I decide. And I want to know from the other Reds: when did you find out who you are? Hank has always seemed so sure of her brand, so put-together. Was that always your look, Hank? And you others? Are you still searching or are you content with your current look? And any suggestions for my Edgar banquet?



HALLIE EPHRON: Better to be a peacock who strayed into the hen house than hen who strayed into a peacock house. Wear the bright green!

When did I discover my brand? Do I have one?? What I've always known is that I look best in strong colors - hot pink, turquoise, black, red. And I prefer to wear clothes that are unfussy and loose-fitting. So I'll see you at the Edgars banquet, Rhys... probably in a little black dress with a red/turquoise/hot pink scarf draped a la Hank at the neck.

LUCY BURDETTE: Maybe I’ll find my true style when I get to my 90s! I always seem a step behind the curve. In high school, it was all about matching Villager sweater sets, with very short skirts. In graduate school I wore overalls. Yes, denim farmers overalls. When I worked as a psychologist, I was quite a bit more formal with pleated skirts and boots and sweaters. Now that I am working as a writer, it’s hard for me to want to change out of yoga clothes.Though I do have a number of black dresses and would be happy to loan you one, though any of them would be short on you Rhys!


HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What an interesting question! My clothing choices have been constrained, for the past 40 years, by what looks good on television, which means: what photographs well, what is strong and confident but not pushy, attractive but not trendy. Stylish but not too avant- garde. Something that can be worn in the governors office, as well as interviewing… Well, whoever. 
So over the years I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with that. Something black probably unfussy, no gizmos or geegaws or asymmetrical neck lines, no ruching no flounces no ruffles no lace no shiny stuff.
I have to say, this has served me well.
My mom‘s rules, as they so often do, have guided me: dress for the person you want to be. Dress respectfully, never be the most dressed up person in the room, pearls are always good, no stockings with sandals, no colors not found in nature.
A slim sleeveless black dress and a leather jacket will always work for me, high heels, pearls, and I am set.
Last year at the Edgars I risked wearing a raisin-colored very tight peplumed leather jacket and a calf length black tulle skirt and bronze heels. I loved it, loved! But  I bet not one person besides me remembers. 
So although I cannot wait to see pictures of you both, Rhys and Hallie, at the Edgars—truth is : It does not matter what you wear. Seriously, it does not matter. All you need is your big big smile. 


JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Oh, I've had a lot of transitions in my look, too, Rhys. In my late teens I was an !!actor!! and dressed like a combination of East Village beatnik and Summer of Love hippie (this was around 1980 - not exactly the going look.) As a grad student and young professional in DC, I looked like Melanie Griffith in WORKING GIRL: snappy, broad-shouldered blazers and long pencil skirts. Law school? Whatever I could grab first in the morning. Young motherhood? Whatever I could grab first in the morning that didn't have barf stains on it.

It wasn't until I was in my forties that I really developed a consistent style: classic preppy clothing, bright colors, no prints except on my fun pants. It does kind of break down when I have to go formal, since there's never any call to do so in my Maine life. Dress? Palazzo pants? The past couple of events, I've used Rent The Runway and been VERY happy with the results.

You know who is a mystery person with a great, individual style who always looks right? Marcia Talley. Super-simple pants and t-shirt/turtleneck, with a fabulous fabric-arts jacket on top. Bookstore appearance, dinner out, Agatha Awards - she's always on point.

JENN McKINLAY: When I was seven, my mother became the librarian at a private high school, meaning she left the house earlier than my brother and me. Since we walked to the school at the end of our street, this gave me fifteen minutes to change from the flouncy dresses she put out for me into my play clothes, which were woefully abused jeans, T-shirts, and flannels. I was grunge fifteen years before it was a thing! Unfortunately, my teacher felt behooved to inform my mother that I was wearing the same clothes every day, because, frankly, I had begun to smell. Mom and I had to mediate our differences in attire and after a battle royal, she bought me an array of jeans, T-shirts, and flannel shirts. This was my style at seven and it remains my style to this day. Of course, because I live in AZ the jeans and T-shirts give way to shorts and tank tops. A fashionista, I am not, but I do love a nice piece of jewelry and when I have to dress up, I always ask myself -- WWAW? What would Audrey wear? You can never go wrong dressing like Audrey Hepburn. Rhys, channel your inner Audrey for the Edgars and you'll be dazzling as always!

INGRID THOFT: When I’m traveling for work and doing events, it’s all about the dresses.  They satisfy four critical criteria: they’re comfortable, they look good, they’re easy to pack, and they allow me to eat.  The pasta looks good?  Go ahead!  The dress will expand as needed!  I don a different “uniform” for teaching:  dark washed jeans, a nice top, and a blazer.  I put a lot of stock in the motto “you look good, you feel good, you do good,” which is why you’ll never catch me wearing sweats on an airplane.  What if I need to open the emergency exit row door?  I'll need to be at the top of my game!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I, too, wore the flowery long dresses and long hair of the seventies, and even in the eighties my daughter and I had matching Laura Ashley outfits. But mostly the eighties and at least part of the nineties were "Mom" clothes and things I'd just as soon not remember, except for a couple of really cute jumpsuits.

Jenn, your story cracked me up--and reminded me that when I was about five, I had two pairs of corduroy overalls, one red and one green, that I insisted on wearing everywhere! I think that means I started as I meant to go on!

I envy people who have a "look." My mom certainly did, and so does my daughter, but the fashion gene seems to have skipped me entirely. I know what I can't wear--preppy blazers, belted waists, padded shoulders, turtlenecks, big prints. I do like leggings and long sweaters, jeans and boots, scarves, and a little bit of original jewelry as long as it's not too big or gaudy. Dresses have become a problem since I can't wear heels. I'm glad I don't have to dress for the Edgar banquet--I'd agonize over it for months--but I am sure that Hallie and Rhys will both look absolutely stunning!

And Rhys, don't wear black! It washes out your pretty fair coloring. Be the peacock!!! 

RHYS: So now it's your turn. Have you decided who you are and developed your look?

57 comments:

  1. Rhys, I’m certain that, no matter what you decide to wear, you’ll look marvelous. Go and have a wonderful time!

    I fear I have absolutely no fashion sense, no particular style that’s “me” . . . I tend toward the conservative in color and style; I like long skirts, long tops and sweaters, comfortable slacks, jeans, flat shoes. However, I do have a weakness for a bit of sparkle, so I’m likely to pick that sparkly grey sweater over a plain one . . . .

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have a look?

    Actually, I know I do. T-Shirts and Jeans even in my 40's. It's comfortable. So I go for comfort in my look.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like others, I have had many different looks through the years. In my teens and early twenties, I was either in preppy, Ralph Lauren or floral Laura Ashley mode. My professional work look during my 20s and 30s changed depending on the location. In downtown Toronto or Ottawa, it was classic blazers and wool pants, oxford dress shirts and high heels like any other female office worker. But I was lucky that my mom designed and made all my blazers and suits. Everything fit perfectly but had a unique piece/part somewhere that was her doing (like a pocket or collar). When I worked at the University of Toronto for 7 years, everyone dressed pretty casually in T-shirts and jeans. Co-workers were shocked to see me wear jeans to work for the first time in my 40s! The last workplace in Ottawa was pretty casual again since the majority of staff were engineers or field technicians so I still wore jeans but with dress shirts and cardigans. And now in retirement, I have switched to T shirts/active wear, jeans/capris, running shoes/sandals in warm weather, and long-sleeved tops/fleece/wool layers with jeans/thermal pants in winter. Comfort is the key now, not fashion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My look is easy. Jeans and T-shirts or shorts and T-shirts. Winter brings a sweatshirt to the mix. Sneakers all year long.

    Done and done. I will never be mistaken for someone who cares about fashion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wait until you get your Edgar nom... then maybe?

      Delete
    2. I appreciate the faith that something as impossible as that would ever happen. But let's pretend it did...I'd probably just buy a T-shirt with a suit front design on it. :D

      Delete
    3. You also won't be mistaken for someone who lives in the snowy northeast!

      Delete
    4. I think the regional accent will give that away. I do Pahk the Cahr after all.

      Heck, I go out of my way to get out of having to go to any event that would require me to wear "nice" clothes. Much to my mother's chagrin. She was of the belief that I should have a nice suit and all those nice collared shirts.

      I got hives just thinking about that. I own one shirt and tie that I call the death shroud because the only time I wear it is when someone dies.

      I have a few of those LL Bean collared shirts that only get worn when some fetching member of the opposite sex experiences temporary insanity and consents to going on a date. Thus, "The Date Shirts".

      Delete
  5. And here I was agonizing over what to wear to the Agatha banquet! I think that silk tux looks great, Rhys - but add a shimmery turquoise top or scarf. I guess I have a style - modest. SO glad author events are the only times I need to get out of my jeans and sweatshirt that I write in. Although, I will the the Mother of the Groom come September - must start planning that now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edith, your style is perfect for you: well-edited, and unfussy. You know how to wear "just enough" without overwhelming your small frame. I always admire what I see you wearing.

      Delete
    2. Aw, Karen, you are so sweet. Thank you! It's a struggle, I tell you.

      Delete
  6. Rhys, I say go with some glamour for the Edgars if you feel like it. If not that occasion, then when? And you can certainly pull it off. Remember it does say "Dress to Kill" on the invitation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was a jeans and t-shirts gal in college, mostly because I was generally on the backstage work crew for some show or another. Dresses and heels do not mix well with the lighting catwalk or grid in any theatre I know. After college I went all corporate and Dress for Success, with a long series of skirted suits which looked okay, but seemed to intimidate the crap out of most people I encountered. Eventually I softened that look by keeping the blazers but ditching the skirts for slacks or jeans. I also left the legal/PR/healthcare world and went back to working for arts and culture organizations. These days I've swapped the blazers for long sweaters and begun to add fabulous, sometimes over-the-top scarves, because I figure people will look at the over-the-top scarves rather than at my over the top muffintop.

    And Deb? You have no fashion sense? How can that be? I have looked to you as my fashion template for years! Okay. That might explain some things.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've gone through the overalls phase. The jumpsuits phase. The wearing-an-Indian-bedspread phase. Recently I gave away all the blazers from my prepster phase.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You gave a wat blazers? And didn't tell me? I've been looking for new ones as mine. Are now old, grubby and abut tight!

      Delete
  9. Ah Rhys, your wardrobe sounds much like mine from the 1960s through the 1970s, but then I didn't have children so my uniform became (stayed) jeans and tee shirts. Living in Florida made it much easier - work clothes, definitely Talbots/Ralph Lauren. Now that I work from home - yoga pants! I am stressing over what to wear at Bouchercon in September.

    Best of luck with the Edgar! I'm excited for you, Rhys.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Back in the early 80s I learned the value of the hundred dollar dress. I was nursing management by then, and tailored but pretty was the robe du jour. Gone was the convenience of uniforms/scrubs. Heels and panty hose. Skirts and blazers replace the dresses and pants were added gradually. I think I have a whole working wardrobe up in a cedar closet in the attic, must get up there and pitch that stuff.

    I retired and happily moved to tee shirts or sweaters, jeans or shorts, a few pairs of dressy pants and tops for, well, dressup, which I assiduously avoid. I no longer own even one pair of heels, and there is one dress, long, linen, sleeveless (talk about mistake!), that I had to buy a light flowy cardigan to go over, hide the arms doncha know.

    I have an entire wardrobe of scarves, including a Hermes, that I can't wear, feel like I'm choking. And other than gold or silver studs and a locket I got for my fifth birthday, I wear no jewelry. I do indulge myself in perfumes, and my latest love affair is Lotus Santal by Thymes.

    Today I am wearing grey corduroys with a marled grey sweater over a long sleeved red shirt and wool LLBean socks, shearling lamb slippers, which will be changed for shearling lined Merrills when I walk the dogs, all topped off by a down parka with a faux fur lined hood.

    What a sex kitten I am.

    Rhys, you are tall and slender, a very nice look in pants, so I say go with the tux and a pretty silk blouse.

    Hallie, I'm thinking you would look beautiful in a potato sack. With those eyes, no one would see anything else!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann, unless your old work clothes have enormous 80's shoulder pads, you might consider donating them to Dress for Success, or a local charity that helps disadvantaged women enter/reenter the marketplace. (Just Google "career clothing donation" + your area for options.)

      I did that with a bunch of my working girl clothing. Nothing from on top would do - why did we wear those flight-deck sized shoulder pads? - but I had quite a few good skirts in wool or linen and even a few silk blouses that hadn't been designed to double as an offensive back's jersey.

      Delete
    2. Good idea Julia, must have a look.

      Delete
  11. Am I the last person to discover Soft Surroundings? There is a new store in the mall, which I visited Saturday while waiting to get my iPhone battery changed. No kidding, these are the loveliest, softest, drapiest clothes I've ever seen. I wanted to touch everything. Maybe not for the governor's office, but I'll never go there anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, and they run about four sizes too big, so its a total ego boost too.

      Delete
    2. They were sending me catalogs every other week for awhile, until I sicced Catalog Choice on them. Their clothes are pretty, but I detest getting piles of catalogs.

      Delete
    3. I dislike catalogues too, can find anything I want to see on the internet without killing a tree. But the store was far more upscale than the catalogue. And the fabrics had a marvelous feel, good hand.

      Delete
  12. Probably the only time in my life I was truly stylish was last years of college-early working years. Some friends took me in hand and took me shopping. I remember wearing a mini skirt, fishnet hose and a short peacoat to classes. In freezing MA. In winter.(What was I thinking?) A few years later, I too had a Sassoon haircut and wore mini-skirts (suede!) and trendy earrings to work. I was deliberately fighting the dowdy librarian image. Now? Writing in gym pants most days. So comfy and easy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Triss, my oldest daughter, who is right in the middle of the period you talk about, has a definite look: Short skirts or dresses, tights or thigh high socks (knit stockings?) and small, warm cardigans. Kind of a sexy Hello Kitty librarian thing. Someday, I'm sure she'll be in Very Sensible Outfits or even writing in gym pants, but I'm glad she's taking advantage of being cute and young right now.

      Delete
  13. Rhys, what a cutie in your Carnaby Street mode! The V&A had an exhibit of that era's clothing, some years back, and I was fortunate enough to walk through it with two English sisters who both wore some of the very garments in the show. Such a fun period of clothing. I had my own Carnaby Street vibe in high school, but couldn't afford to go the whole look, complete with white go-go boots.

    So many changes over the years, but mostly sticking to a tailored look, rather than a frilly one. I could never get any of my three daughters to wear ruffles, and it finally dawned on me that they wanted to dress more like me than someone's fancy doll. So now they are all also tailored in their styles, or at least unfussy.

    I still have the shoulder pads I used to wear with everything, including oversized t-shirts. They balanced out the hips, you see. Nowadays there's no hope of that ever happening, no matter how wide the darn shoulder pads are.

    I do tend to grab a scarf to finish off a look, and love to bring back scarves from my travels. They don't take up any room in a suitcase, either.

    Rhys, when we were in New Orleans, and I sat in the lobby with you and John while you waited for someone to take you to a publisher's dinner, you looked tres elegant in your navy silk pants outfit. I think that tailored look, and the long length of one color, looks amazing on you. Add some statement jewelry or a shawl, and you'll be the belle of the ball.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't know that I have a style, but The Girl is always charged with making sure I look "professional, but not frumpy" - she says I'm not old enough for that. I know I like casual and comfortable, though.

    I say wear the color and have some fun!

    Mary/Liz

    ReplyDelete
  15. Through high school I thought that with brown hair and brown eyes I should wear browns and gold tones.
    I wasn't until college that I realized that I look best in jewel tones: ruby red, royal blue, rich purple, etc.
    For my son's wedding two weeks ago I wore a blue pants outfit with a hand-painted kimono style silk top in blues, purples, and teal.
    Libby Dodd

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rhys, black is not a good color on me with my fair colouring. When I am asked to wear black, I go for navy colors. The only time I wear black is if they are pants, which is far away from my face, or my grandmother's black dress, which I wore to the Bouchercon banquet. I wear the black dress with bright scarf. Though my grandmother and I looked a lot alike, one big difference was that she had olive skin.

    I always remember you wearing beautiful clothes. I think that you will look beautiful in anything you chose. I was surprised by your earlier photo because I cannot imagine you with dark hair. It is funny because I somehow thought you had red hair or blond hair. My advice for Edgars is to try on different frocks and see which one you feel comfortable in. Bring a wrap in case it becomes chilly. I was reminded that Queen Elizabeth II wears bright colors now.

    Hank, I remember you wearing high heels every time I see you. I am impressed that you could walk in high heels. When I was a young teenager modeling, I could wear high heels. Now I cannot wear high heels anymore.

    Lucy, I remember you wearing beautiful clothes at Bouchercon.

    Jenn, your story about clothes as a kid reminded me of something. When I was a kid, I was more interested in toys than clothes. I was not a big fan of clothes. I would wear whatever my Mom set out for me. I remember when I was 4 years old, saying that I can dress myself.

    Deborah, I remember you wearing beautiful clothes at Bouchercon. And these red eyeglasses! I loved your eyeglasses :-)

    So glad I stopped by today. I love this topic.

    Agree with the statement about dress like the person you want to be. I remember even if I was not a big fan of clothes when I was a kid, I loved dresses that made me look like a princess. I had a dress that I called "my princess dress".

    When I lived in DC, I remember many women were wearing long jackets, below the waist. I never liked jackets that were at the waist. When they had these low jeans, I would not buy new jeans until the jeans I liked came back into the shops. I once bought a pair of low jeans (you could see the underwear if you bent!) by mistake so I bought very long blouses or long t-shirts. Sometimes I would buy them from the men's department. A friend, who is a fashionista, was surprised when I told her where I got my blouse. She admired it and I told her that I bought the Oxford shirt from the men's department because it was bigger in the chest, than the blouses in the women's department.

    When my boyfriend and I went to the symphony gala, I wore this beautiful ballgown several years before Kate Middleton wore a similar style as the Duchess of Cambridge. That was one of my favorite frocks.

    I like clothes that make me look neat and put together. It does not have to be expensive. I shop at my favorite department store once a year and I always find something wonderful. I think I need to shop more than once a year because sometimes they stop selling things that I love within a year of my shopping there.

    Happy Monday,
    Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diana, sometime you must tell us about your modeling career!!

      Delete
    2. Debs, that was very brief. It's funny because I wanted to be an actress. I thought that modeling was a stepping stone to become an actress. I modeled for local clothing shops then overnight I became curvy and it was bye bye modeling career. LOL. That was before the mid 1990s when fashion had curvy models. By the time my modeling career was over, I was busy studying for my SATs and working hard in my college prep classes so that I could get into university. I also was busy with my swimming team. Though I was not interested in the Olympics, it was fun swimming with a team because I got great workouts!

      I'll post a photo in my Instagram stories.

      Diana

      Delete
    3. Debs, I just sent it to you via Instagram today.

      Delete
    4. Yes, I went through a dark hair phase, but mostly reddish, blindfish. I thought dark hair made me look mysterious and alluring!

      Delete
    5. Rhys, I thought the lady with dark hair was the British actress married to Val Kilmer.

      Delete
  17. I certainly have a "look." Or at least a combination of colors - Orange and Green. If I am not wearing one of those at a book event, please check that I am still breathing.

    For the Edgars, I'll be going a bit more tradition - with a Tux - but there will be plenty of nods to my "look." My killer Doc Martens have already debuted on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but the rest will remain a secret until April.

    Looking forward to seeing both Rhys and Hallie at the banquet. Anyone else attending? And then of course at Malice immediately afterwards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How did you land on those two colors as your look, Kristopher?

      Delete
    2. Orange has always been my favorite color. When Hank asked me recently why, I explained to her that when I was a child and the teachers would ask for our favorite colors, everyone said blue and red and purple, but no one ever said orange. So I felt bad for Orange and I adopted it as my spirit color from that moment on. Hank said if I ever write my auto-biography, I already have a title "I Felt Bad for Orange"

      My dad is a graphic designer, so he created the eyeball logo for the blog. Green is a complementary color to orange, so it was a natural choice.

      Delete
    3. I love orange, too. In our former house, we painted our dining room the most perfect tangerine color. My current office is deep navy, orange, and bright pink. Love it! Your logo is great, and Hank is spot on about your book title!

      Delete
    4. I thought Kristopher might be paying tribute to that Irish Rovers song "The Orange and The Green".

      Delete
  18. A couple of years ago, I decided that I hated wearing pants. They are uncomfortable and never fit quite right. Now I live in leggings and tights with long tops, or dresses if I am dressing up, or skirts and sweaters. I also like scarves.

    However, as my grandmother taught me, the most important item in your wardrobe is lipstick. Nothing you wear matters if you look like a corpse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ramona, I am so with you on the lipstick!!! I put on lipstick, or at least tinted lip gloss, to get the mail off the front porch:-)

      Wear do you find the long tops you wear with your leggings?

      Delete
    2. Ha, your grandmother (and mine) were right!

      Even my own children wouldn't recognize me without lipstick.

      Delete
    3. Deborah, I am on a constant mission to find long tops. I do pretty well at TJ Maxx and Marshall's, but also Boscov's. I am short, so the challenge is to find one that doesn't make me look like a fireplug!

      Delete
    4. Yes, me, too. I'm 5'2" so am usually looking for things that some in petite.

      Delete
  19. Such a fun topic! So interesting what we like and feel comfortable in. I am SO glad I don't have to wear "business" clothes! My latest fun outfit is a super soft tunic-length cowl neck sweater with camo leggings:-) Oh, with ankle boots!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I won a trip for two to NYC by describing my wardrobe --- Lands End all day and all night every day. Still true. I mix it up with a few pieces from Talbots and I have recently discovered KOHLS. I am for comfort.

    Rhys -- I see you in Lapis Blue!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Rhys, you look really nice in that suit!

    Now that I've gotten shorter, I rarely wear a dress, except at a wedding. Most dresses come down below my ankles or are a few inches above my knees. I don't know how taller women find dresses that don't look like skirted bathing suits! The dress code at work is "business casual", so I wear pants, a shirt with a print of some sort or a sweater, and a long sweater. I still have blazers but find the sweaters to be warmer in the refrigerator that we call our office.

    I love bright colors, the brighter the better! Today I'm wearing a bright red sweater and heather/ gray pants.

    I used to love turtle necks but they became uncomfortable after I started having various pain-relieving procedures done for my neck.


    DebRo

    ReplyDelete
  22. From Nancy Martin:
    I can never figure out how to commenot on JR anymore, but i am newly obsessed with the capsule wardrobe! http://youtu.be/AP9EiAFe7Pw
    It's decluttering's first cousin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I had my own "capsule wardrobe" back in the 90s when I said I was going to only wear black, or white, or black & white shirts to work for a whole year. My friend said no way could I do it and so of course it was on! I kept those 10 or so tops for at least 4 years and wore them to work all the time. Really makes getting ready early in the morning easy.

      Delete
  23. I used to love the black power suit in the 90s and wore it to political events, holiday parties, work conventions, etc with black patent high heels. Since I am a stay at home care giver now you find me wearing yoga pants, jeggings, and jeans or shorts all the time. No more high heels... I don't even own a black power suit or little black dress any more...really makes me want to go shopping!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ugh. One of my least favorite topics is clothes. The reason is my weight, which I am starting to take a few steps about changing. I look at clothes that I would love to wear, but I know I won't like how they look on me at present. So, black is my go-to color and pants and shirts/blouses to accompany. Now, that doesn't mean that I can't or don't delight in what others are wearing. And, I'll get back to enjoying some clothes again, eventually.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Rhys, you truly are going to look great whatever you wear, as long as you pick something you feel good in! The tuxedo looks great on you. I agree with the suggestion to put a jewel-tone top under it.

    Like many others here, I have gone through various phases. I was a banker for a decade or so in the mid 80's to mid 90's, and that was a particularly constricted phase. Skirt suits with those nasty little floppy silk necktie things. Shudder!

    As a mature woman working at a non-profit, I am finally pretty much at liberty to wear what I want, and I have found it challenging to determine just what that is. I still lean to somewhat tailored clothing, but I am short and even when my weight is right, I am always thick through the waistline. So that drives a lot of my clothing choices. Like someone else mentioned earlier, on my body type it is actually easier to get a flattering and comfortable fit from a dress than from pants or skirts. So I wear a lot of dresses, and in recent years, leggings and long sweaters or tunics. And I intersperse those with dress slacks paired with both pullover and cardigan sweaters, mostly. I've largely fallen out of love with blazers of all types, though I still wear one occasionally. I like scarves, but the recent style of huge infinity scarves looped twice around sometimes make me feel like I'm being eaten up by a giant scarf.

    And I am a big fan of color! Red, cobalt blue, fuschia, true yellow (not gold or mustard)... those are my favorites.

    My sister and I used to kind of laugh at our mother for how much she liked pretty clothes. She loved to get a new outfit and preen at compliments all the way to her death, a couple weeks shy of her 91st birthday. But recently I have had to admit to myself that I have at least partially inherited that trait. I DO enjoy looking nice. While I know I could streamline my wardrobe to just a few outfits and rotate them and it would be fine, I actually don't want to. Expressing a little creativity in how I mix things up and trying to look my best a lot of the time is kind of pleasurable to me. It has taken a lot for me to get comfortable admitting that.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Susan, you made me chuckle. I feel the same way about infinity scarves--I just cannot pull them off! I feel like I'm being smothered and look like a turtle!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Back from vacation! And slogging toward reality… Got home last night at 3 AM!
    I will see you all tomorrow… Love you madly! And this is such a fun blog to read, Rhys. I think you look fabulous in white, by the way…
    Xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  28. I work in a formal environment so it has been 26 years of suits for me. Back in 93-94, I and some of the other female engineers also wore ties. I had a navy one with lilac flowers that I loved.
    I am occasionally tempted into buying pretty skirt suits, but it’s the practical trouser suits I wear. I do have fun with different colors and look for interesting details, so I am jealous of Grace’s bespoke tailoring. Although I am in SoCal, I still rotate the seasonal colors as if I was still in the Midwest.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What do you wear when you are working? I think that's a good start, since this award is for your work.
    What would you wear to a family celebration (Grandma's birthday, niece's baptism, family Thanksgiving)? I think that's the next step up.
    What would you wear to the White House or to Buckingham Palace? That's the last step of modification.
    In the end, remember, the award is meant to honor you and your work. While you should not dishonor the occasion, you should appear to be YOU, as you would appear at your dignified best among family and friends whom you treasure --- nothing less, but nothing more.

    ReplyDelete