Couple things

I had a very nice conversation with someone this week who I was surprised to hear felt almost exactly like I do about collarless shirts, only for different reasons.  She was a customer in the Gallery Shop and was trying on jewelry.  She explained to me she likes to wear v-necks and boat necks to show off her fabulous collection of necklaces but also because, although petite, she felt like she was wide across the top of her shoulders.  Now, I didn't see that at all but she felt pretty strongly about it so I wasn't going to try to convince her otherwise. 

I did share with her that I also prefer collarless but because I have a short neck.  She said I did and then placed her finger on my upper chest and said "Here's your center.  Yours is a bit lower than mine, so you can wear a slightly deeper V." I just nodded like I knew what she meant. 

I don't.

But I found the conversation really interesting and I especially started to catch on to a little of what she saw that I didn't as I watched while she tried on necklaces of various sizes and lengths.  She knew exactly what she wanted and what would look right.   I asked her what she thought about the basic white shirt.  She replied she didn't know as she's never had one "I think they always mean one of those white button down collared things and I can't wear those." 

I started to question whether I need a white shirt after all and was more confused than ever.  However, I like white.  I think I need white, so I am obtaining white.  You can see a white blouse I am considering here:  http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=72302&vid=1&pid=329636&scid=329636012 

or this one http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=72302&vid=1&pid=251984&scid=251984052

I prefer the second one but am not convinced on the polyester.  These may strike you as more casual than I meant originally and they are.   Part of this process has been to figure out my style, what I feel good in. It just works better with my wardrobe;  I like the looser, "peasant" look but I am not into embroidery too much and I usually don't care for lacey.  Although, there is a blouse in a store that is ALL lace and off white.  I thought it would be a great piece to add to the mix, actually.  It does have a collar however and I haven't even tried it on. 

Part of the whole discovery of who Cindi is has been accepting that I have not always presented Cindi. So I have invested some time in seeking out items on the internet that fit into my style.  I have gone through my closet with a fine tooth comb.  It's a wonder I am able to get dressed at all, really.  As I went through pages and pages of white blouses on site after site, I thought of just getting a dang white, button down collar shirt to point at and say "This is what EVERYone must have, and I have one".  I could take people in to my closet and show them as I'm pretty sure I'd never wear it.

Point is, I have realized at this late, great age that I have shopped for years by what's on the racks and what the "office policy" or more accurately, office politics, said I should wear.  Those days are behind me! It takes a little longer to ferret out what I want, but, I'm getting good at it.  I am comfortable sharing with you who I am and clothes help write my speech.    

I ran outta time!

I have had a busy few days and am a bit behind of where I like to be in my week. That may sound like I am an organized person, but those who know, know I ain’t.


First, there is the shopping thing. I didn’t get to that because I was busy hugging on grandchildren. But, I have returned home and will get to it this weekend.

Secondly, and this is a riot if I do say so myself…I have a Fantasy Football team. It’s silliness really because some of you may know that I swore off the NFL last year. Why, then, do I have a team? It’s a long story but let’s just say family coercion and now I get to watch my son in law lead a bunch of women in the fine art of Fantasy Football. Oh, and hubs. He has a team, too, but is as clueless as I am at this point. Soon, however, he’ll be leaving me in the dust of the chalk line as he gets it far better than I. And its only week one. We did spend well over an hour last night talking strategy and that kind of unexplored thought. While I would love to say I am in the middle, I am in last place.

Finally, we have been busy at work. A First Friday shared with an opening of a new exhibit. Always fun, always energetic. Said goodbye to one of my favorite exhibits yet with the close of the paper and book show. I wish more of you had taken the opportunity to see it, but, I am not in to arm twisting and threats. Just stay tuned as there is always something good.

For now, this is my update.  But, I'll have more in a few days!

A tale of two skirts

So, I have a little confession to make.  You remember I have been going through my closet quite a bit of late and getting rid of things I will never wear again or are just in the wrong color, cut, whatever.  I’ve got a pretty nice closet.  Generous in size and not so bad in shoe space and overhead storage.  I like it.  We put wire shelves in and they curve around the corners.  Convenient.  Clothes just slide right on around those corners on plastic hangers but they can get a little bunched up there if you aren’t paying attention.

In one of those corners, on two hangers, I discovered two skirts I have never worn.  I bet I bought these two skirts 7 years ago.  One is denim and one is khaki.  I like them.  I have no idea if people wear denim skirts or not, and I don’t really care.  I will wear this one.  I see myself in it already and know where I’ll be going and maybe even what I’ll be thinking.  The khaki one, too, although it’s a bit harder imagining the accessories I’ll wear with the khaki. 

I’m not going to get in to why I never wore these skirts; it’d be a long, difficult and boring story ~ a story I rise above.  Just trust me when I say, I was unable to wear them at a point in my life. 

So, the discovery of these two skirts changes things just a bit.  I don’t feel pressure to find the pencil skirt of my dreams so much as I have this denim skirt.  I am more compelled to look for the perfect boots.  Did you know I’m going to buy boots? Yes I am.  I can’t decide between black or brown and I may even get both! I know I need the black pencil skirt; I’ll keep looking, but I am serious about boots, people. (I just realized they need to be black so I can wear them with the black pencil skirt)

Here’s something else on my list.  A red wool blazer/jacket coat thing.  Not a dressy blazer and not really a coat.  I have it in my head. I know precisely what I want.  I will wear it with my denim skirt, I swear I will.  And my boots. 

One more thing I learned this week is I needed to rethink the white blouse.  I had in my head that my white blouse was suppose to be a collared blouse with long sleeves and cuffs.  You know, a white blouse.  It dawned on me this week that the white blouse I need does not have a collar! Remember how I reported I accept my short neck? Why would I try to wear a collar? The reason why the white blouse of my past is uncomfortably stiff is because it had a stinkin’ collar! This came to me in one of those cloud opening, sun beam radiating, angel singing, kind of moments.  And Nicole Richey on QVC. But, I know what kind of white blouse to look for now and I bet I find it within a week.

Pencil shmencil

After thinking about the perfect white shirt, I decided to switch it up a bit and begin my shopping for the perfect black pencil skirt online.  I wanted to know if it could be accomplished from the comfort of my own home, as “they” say. 

I first went to a major shopping site, thefind.com, which tells at what online store you may locate a particular item.  You can filter it down once you have your first category, which for me was black pencil skirt. 

Of course, I got several thousand results.  On first glance, it looked promising.  Of course I quickly realized that my definition of pencil skirt and some designer’s definition are worlds apart.  What is with going in at the knees? Does anyone really feel like that’s a good look? Okay, maybe the Kardashian sisters but seriously.  I saw right off the bat that about 50% of the skirts could easily be eliminated. 

On to the next criteria.  Price.  There is a filter for price and even though I did say I was not going to buy cheap, I was also probably NOT going to buy the $355 version of the black pencil skirt by Versace.  I entered the filter $9 to $99 and eliminated thousands of options. 

Even though my search was “black pencil skirt” I got hits of all sorts of black…black and white, black and multi, black dot, even grey.  I selected the filter “use color” and chose “black”.  This filter also removed many stores.   I still got some black and white patterns but the results were more what I was seeking, with some patterns thrown in.  I also got vinyl and latex.  Goodness. 

I changed my low number up to $29 as I was getting some super garbage stuff and things for juniors.   Finally, I sorted the list from high to low.  While I prefer looking more on the $29 end than the $99 end, I want to see some quality things as well.  Sometimes there are sales, shipping deals, coupons or online specials that make that $99 skirt more appealing. 

Now it starts getting tricky.  One site posts the same skirt over and over by size.  Another skirt appears on several sites.  But I have gone from 22 pages of results to 5. 

Not surprising the best options appeared at around $80 and at Nordstroms, Black House White Market, Banana Republic and a Calvin Klein skirt at Zappos.  The site that posted the skirt in every size, Bon Ton, has a Chaus skirt at $59 that looks good.  In a little lower end JC Penney popped up with a Worthington version and Kohl’s, a black pinstripe by Dana Buchman at just under $40.  Those are probably both great options if the material is good, the lining is right and the shape will hold.  I’m noticing a lot of “ponte” knit, and I’ll be honest, I have no idea what that is.  I’ll find out though.

I know enough to know that I will have to try on versions of the pencil skirt  to find one best suited for me.  I wish I could just order online and many of you can.  As I plan a big city trip soon, I’ll take these suggestions and brands to shop a bit.  I plan to look white shirt then as well.  Gee, two items.  Oh, I almost forgot,  I will be ordering a skirt from JC Penney that is more of an A-line than pencil.  They offer it in both black and grey.  We’ll see.

On other business, I got my “reconciliation tax bill” last week, as did many of you.  On my list today is to visit the courthouse, because, seriously, they must be joking.

Fall/Winter Shopping Challenge

So everything I read about what should be in your wardrobe includes a basic white shirt.  I have been on this search for about a year now.  I have seen shirts, many of them, but they are never quite right.  I have a short waist, I have a stumpy neck and the basic white shirt is not tailored for my particular build. 

The design is one drawback but there’s the material as well.  I have yet to find material that isn’t so stiff it’s like putting on cardboard or so soft it won’t hold its shape.   In my head, I see the very shirt I need but I have yet to see it for purchase.   That’s my big search this fall/winter…the basic white shirt. 

Another item that appears on the list regularly, no matter the author of the “expert’s advice” is a black pencil skirt.  Well, now, for many of the same reasons above, the black pencil skirt for this round and short body type is elusive.    I am not a pencil. 

I met a lady last week who was wearing a full, swingy, batik printed, silky skirt.  She was much taller than me, not thin and close to my age.  The skirt swished and swayed as she walked.  I commented on how nicely the skirt moved.  She replied that it was one of her favorite things and has had it for years and years.  I said “I understand, looking at your skirt, what they mean by the perfect length…that skirt is the perfect length for you.” She smiled and said “I had it hemmed”.  It hit her exactly at the knee.

I began to think about the skirts in my closet that I sometimes wear.  They are all..even a black skirt I wear often…too long.  Way too long.  I can think of three skirts right now I am going to have hemmed.  It will take inches and inches off the skirts so in some cases I think they actually have to be tailored from the waist in order to preserve the shape of the skirt.  It’s complicated.  But, I realized that items that made it into the donation box as “the wardrobe that didn’t work”  was not always based on color.   I also had lots of things of the wrong length.  It’s not even about shopping in the petite section by the way, in case my tall friends are wondering ~ totally different.

So I have started my list for the Fall Shopping Challenge ~ the soft but structured basic white shirt, the perfect black pencil skirt, which will take some alteration.   (I may have to just scrap the existing items and replace them with items that can be more easily altered, but I really like the material!) That’s already a big order and sounds like a long, long Saturday.

No printed sweatshirts, please.

Last year I posted that I was only going to buy clothes in specific color groups.  I can report that I have stuck very close to that plan.  Of course this was possible only because I bought virtually nothing in the last 12 months but still, I accomplished what I said I would. Go me!

When I say I have bought virtually nothing I guess I mean, nothing controversial.  Nothing too far off center.  Oh, I've been tempted but my answer to temptation in this arena is to just not go shopping. I am too pulled by the sale racks, the new arrivals and the picked overs.  The dregs.  This was my weakness when assembling the wardrobe that didn't work.  The wardrobe that was given over to charity. 

Since I was working from home, my wardrobe didn't matter a whole lot.  I got some great basics and did my work in comfy pants and loose shirts and sweaters.  This was dangerous, folks.  The pants got more comfy and the loose shirts more loosey.  We will not talk about "foundational pieces" as they were non-existent ~ gotta love the tank top.

I then started working at the art center and needed a quick and cheap update to my wardrobe.  Fortunately I did have a few things I hung on to from the donation box but, I was still lacking.  I bought jeans, and then I bought jeans again and again.  I bought a few sweaters; I started working right at season change ~ bonus.  I bought a practical pair of shoes.  I bought in my "palette" with little waivering. 

The problem now is that it has been a year.  I look in the closet and find only those things I have worn to death and not much else. To be honest, I bought things kinda cheap and well, those things don't look great after a year of washing and wearing. What we should all know about cheap material is, well, it looks cheap.  It pills, it shrinks and it wrinkles. Sometimes, though, that's all we can do. 

I am going to be replacing a few items this year with some better quality things.  New jeans, at least three pair, and maybe a pair of black dress pants. Maybe.  New shoes but still practical.  I have already started the quest for new "foundation garments" and will post about those experiences later.  All I can say now is, pack a lunch.

In case you don't know, my palette is grey, red, turquoise and off-white or ivory; I have a ton of black and that's okay.   I did pick up a top last year in rust, and also one in a bright royal blue, which I bought for a specific event.   I do have a brown skirt and some tan dressier pants that are my stand by when I can't find anything else to wear.  I know those pants are going to pull together nicely with a top or two because, well, they have sort of a turqouise pinstripe.   It is nice to be able to pull a couple things out of the mix and put them together which, I gotta say, is much easier if you have shopped from a palette and not a clearance rack!   

I like it!

Alright. You know I really love the Olympics, right? Summer and Winter.  I just really like them a lot.  I like watching a sport I know nothing about and rooting for the players. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things I like that I have no explanation for ~ like the Olympics.  Like, Good n’ Plenty candy.  It’s not even that great but I really like it and I also REALLY like Snaps and,   lets face it, that seriously is not great stuff.

I also like cleaning at night.  Sometimes in my nightgown.  Now this is weird only because I really don’t like cleaning.  I like drinking out of glass, not plastic.  But, I will drink out of plastic if it’s the right kind, which I can’t even begin to describe. 

I use to really like reading but I am not that big of a fan anymore.  I don’t really know why and maybe someday I’ll get back to it.  We’ll see.  It seems to be one of the things that I simply have lost interest in, like cooking has been.  I’ve sort of reconciled with cooking, however, so there is hope for reading.

I’ve been known to say I don’t like cooking but I’ve recently realized I don’t like not knowing what to cook.  I don’t like deciding what to cook.  When I know, I actually do enjoy it somewhat and I’m pretty good as well.  Sometimes you may think you aren’t  any good at something but you get compliments and think “Oh, hm, maybe…” .  That’s how it is with me and cooking.  I should really just say “Why, thank you” and not “Oh, it could have been such and such” or “I should have done so and so”.   That, I acknowledge, is boring.  I don’t wish to be boring.      

Right now I am really into cooking multiple dishes out of one big ol’ portion of some meat or poultry.  I’m obsessed with it.  Buying a roast and thinking of the many dishes I could make out of the roast once it has been prepared for the first meal…the Sunday roast meal.  I have become the queen of the mid-week burrito ~ whether its beef, pork or chicken.  Even beans and rice! I am the queen.   

You may see me at the store  buying a huge pork or beef roast.  Oh my gosh, when that pork is on sale I could squeal. 

I’m lucky to be married to a guy that appreciates a good leftover and a budget.