Fall Fashion Trends to Lift My Spirits

Now that I have atoned all my sins for the Jewish year 5767...atoned all the extra shopping I did in 5767 instead of giving more to charity (I also gave a lot to charity...but I can always do more...and will in my fiftieth year...maybe a special donation for my fiftieth...will have to think about that idea further)...I'm ready to begin the new Jewish year 5768...ready to begin 5768...the year I will turn 50. It's only fitting that I get ready to dress the part...so of course I had to check out what the fashions are for the fall...and think about how my soon to be fifty-something body will fit into them...according to Saks Fifth Avenue there are "Nine Trends for Her"...let's see what I'll have to add to my wardrobe:

- Shine (Yes, I want to shine in 5768 and in 2008...funny how my birthday is on the 8th, and both the Jewish year and the calendar year both end in "8"...I think this is my lucky number...my lucky year...my year to shine...I'm glad I bought that "shiny" red patent leather belt last week...I do love it...it did make me shine when I wore it...it made me smile...made me happy...I think I'll get some additional shiny items for my fall wardrobe.)

- Textured Cardigan (I do like sweaters...maybe I'll have to go to London or Ireland for my 50th birthday and buy a nice textured cardigan...or go back to Italy...and get some exquisite Italian cardigan to keep me warm...no matronly cardigan for me...I'm going to have a beautiful textured sweater...will definitely add this to my shopping list.)

- High Heel ( Nope...nope...no high heels for my 50 year old feet...what happened to the ballerina flats...they must have been on Nordstroms' list...or in Vogue, or InStyle...I know I saw ballerina flats on someone's fall list...that's what I'll be wearing...or my favorite kitten heels in shiny patent leather...still have to get those red patent leather shoes...I want to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in her red shoes...I especially need my red patent to shine this year.)

- Cape (I don't think I want a cape...no Batman cape for me...I'll go to New York City...my favorite city in 5768 and 2008...just not in a Gotham black cape.)

- Opaque Leg (Yes...I like opaque...no see-through stockings for my spider-veins...maybe I will get a pair of interesting textured opaque stockings and a new form-fitted skirt to go with them.)

- Shoe Bootie (Not sure I'm up for booties...but will have to check them out...see if the heel is not too high...see what they look like with my new DKNY jeans...maybe I'll have to step out in new shoe booties for my special number "8" year)

- Cropped Jacket (Well...well, well, well...I tried one of these jackets on in the store the other day...actually...I tried two different jackets on...the first one looked quite cute on the hanger...but when I put it on my 5'3" body it looked like I was missing the other half of the jacket...wonder what someone 5'10" looks like in these jackets...it just about fit over my chest...it looked like someone cut off the bottom half of the jacket..so I tried another one on...a different style cropped jacket...I felt like Goldilocks...the same thing happened...only it was even shorter...think this is one fashion trend I am going to pass on.)

- Dramatic Lash (Love long dramatic lashes...if I would just get that laser eye surgery then I wouldn't have to wear glasses as much and you would see my dramatic lashes if I had some...will have to check out the beauty counter...although my eyes always get irritated from special mascaras...except for my Almay mascara...hope they have a dramatic lash variety.)

- Structured Handbag (I got it...I got it...I'm ready...I bought a beautiful fall structured handbag at my favorite crafts fair this summer. It was designed by Susy Chen...it is going to be my lucky "8" bag...and it is structured...who knew I was buying a trendy bag...thank you Susy...as Susy says on her website at www.SusyChen.com...her bags have "colors and designs that lift up your spirits"...can't wait to use my new structured Susy bag to ensure my "spirits are lifted"...I definitely need my "spirits to be in high gear" this year.)

It's fall...it's 5768...soon it will be 2008...and I'm turning 50...and I have a structured Susy bag to "lift my spirits"...and a red patent belt to make me shine...let the new season begin!

Judi

Rock Chic in my DKNY Jeans

I'm taking a little vacation...not a spa vacation...not a European trip...just a little break from the real world...off with my kids to visit a surreal world...to see a university in Florida with my son and daughter...one of the universities my son will be applying to this fall...and then I'm going to go see my mom...I need to see my mom...I need a big "mom hug!"...even at 49 going on 50...there is nothing like a big "mom hug" to make me feel better.

Sooooooooo, I'm suited up for my trip...I'm wearing my new jeans...my form-fitted jeans...just like my form-fitted skirt that I bought back in the spring...and now that I've lost a few pounds my form-fitted jeans fit me quite snuggly...they are actually old jeans...I found them in a consignment shop a few weeks ago...I don't usually shop for jeans because since I've been in my late 40s I haven't really ever found a pair of jeans that fit me properly...but these jeans stood out on the consignment rack...they had J-U-D-I written all over them (they really had D-K-N-Y written on the inside but if I had my own fashion line these are the exact type of jeans I would design for the mature woman)...there they sat...just my size...without a thick waistband or belt loops...just the style I like...they had just a little stretch...just a little flare as my daughter would say (I would have said they were bell-bottoms but that would give away my age.)

"I'll take them," I said to the saleswoman..."They are on sale," she said, "Everything in the store is half price"..."Then I'll definitely take them," I said as I gave her the $10 she asked for...yes...10 bucks...10 bucks...the best $10 investment I've spent in a long time that made me feel like a million bucks...quite a bargain.

And now I'm all set to leave on the jet plane...and I'm sure to fit in at the university for tomorrow's tour...at least my lower half will fit in...and according to the August issue of InStyle I might just fit in in Hollywood too...(will have to add Hollywood on my list of places to go next year with my form-fitted flared jeans at 50).

According to the InStyle "J is for Jeans" feature "jeans have the ability to evoke so many moods"..."rock chic...downtown cool...and picture of polish." I never knew there were so many jean moods or styles from:

- "butt boosters" (I could use a pair of "butt boosters"...will put them on my 50th birthday list) to...

- "diverse weaves" with pinstripes and herringbone jean fabrics (maybe I should get a pair of these diverse weave jeans for our jeans day at work...now that we have jeans day on Fridays...as long as I'm a "picture of polish" at work I guess it is okay to wear jeans to the office)...

- and there's "eco-friendly" jeans too...for green girls who desire pesticide-free 100 percent organically grown cotton, bamboo and recycled buttons (wonder if I could sell some of the bamboo that is infiltrating my backyard to a jeans company...will have to check this out...I could supply hundreds of thousands of bamboo buttons with all the bamboo in my backyard...and if the jean company would come and cut it down I'd give it to them for free)...
- and there are vintage jeans too (I have several pairs of vintage jeans in my closet...remember Wranglers...oh, yes...and Lee jeans...and Jordache jeans...I think I have quite a few pairs of vintage jeans somewhere buried in my closet...unless they were some of the 50 things I threw out the other day).

For now...I'm all set for college...I can walk in these DKNY jeans...I can sit in these DKNY jeans...and I feel "rock chic" in these DKNY jeans...let me board that jet plane baby...let me board that jet plane...I'm ready for take-off.

Judi

Spring Is In The Air

I get so excited when all the spring issues of my favorite magazines arrive in the mail..InStyle, Lucky, Vogue. This weekend I couldn't even wait for their arrivals. On Saturday, despite the frigid temperatures and impending snowstorm, I went out and bought myself some new spring clothes. I bought a beige suit and a black and white houndstooth knee length jacket. Now, I can't wait for spring to arrive so I can wear my new clothes.

As you know, the groundhog did not see his shadow, which means spring will be here sooner than we think...so I better be ready! (Always rationalizing when I make a purchase.)

Every year, I say I have enough clothes for the season, but I always need some new ones. Speaking of styles changing...Neiman Marcus had a cute advertisement in the paper this weekend with "Ten MUST-HAVES For the Season." Since this is the last spring I will be 40+, I may just have to purchase all 10. Here goes:

1. Something Silver (I don't wear a whole lot of silver, gold is really my color, but I'll see what I can do.)
2. Flat Shoes (yeah, I love flats. So glad they are a must have for spring 2007)
3. Eyelet (pretty and feminine, I haven't had anything eyelet since I was in grade school.)
4. Cropped Jacket (these short jackets look better on pear shaped, short people like me...more good news.)
5. Above-the-Knee Hemlines (did anyone tell them this is not appropriate for 49 year old women?)
6. Dresses (I like dresses, only can never find any dresses that fit me...will have to look harder this season.)
7. Patent (I love, love, love, black patent leather - shoes, belts, bags - you name it. I wish I had saved my black patent leather wide belt from about 10 years ago. I always tell myself NOT to through out any accessories because the fashion cycle repeats itself. Did I listen...noooooo. Now I'll just have to buy a new one.)
8. Wide Belts (Not sure these will look good on a pear shape either...but will try one on next time I'm shopping)
9. Delicate Blouses (Hum, must mean pretty fabrics, feminine, might have to get one of these too.)
10. Statement Rings (I have small, thin fingers...don't think I will want a big ring on my finger.)

Let's see...out of the 10 MUST HAVES...I can wear about FIVE maybe SIX. And I don't see any houndstooth or beige suits listed. Maybe I will have to go return them...serves me right for not first reading my fashion mags or listening to Neiman Marcus.

On second thought, at this age, I think I'm entitled to make my own fashion statement. Houndstooth it is, and the beige suit...I think I'll keep it.

Judi

Let's Be Brief

When you are approaching 50 and your body is changing into a pear, it is a challenge to find the perfect brief. I don't know about you, but I cannot wear those thongs...not sure how any woman any age wears those things. They must be sooooo uncomfortable.

A few years ago, I finally found a perfect low-rise brief that fit me and then they discontinued the style. Why do manufacturers have to change styles of underwear every few months? Don't they know that when women find an undergarment they like...it would be nice if they could continue to buy it???

I always think of Bridget Jones Diary when I think of briefs. Remember when she wore those huge pantaloons and Hugh Grant made a joke about them?

Well, I was very happy the other day when I went hunting through the racks in Macy's intimates department and found that Warner brought back my favorite style....or should I say it was pretty close to the original. They had to go add a few features. Now they call it "The End" with a tagline "Give Your Butt A Boost." There's an additional seam up the center of the underwear to enhance your shape. Whatever it is, I am just so happy that my microfiber brief is back on the rack.

Do you know that in August there is actually a National Underwear Day? It's sponsored by Freshpair.com, a leading retailer of men’s and women’s underwear. I think next time Warner takes away my favorite underwear, I'm going to complain on National Underwear Day! According to the Freshpair.com press release, it says National Underwear Day is an event where the latest trends in underwear receive more exposure—literally.

Interestingly, most of the underwear sold today is dramatically lower on the hips with an increasing number of women opting for seamless intimate apparel. According to Freshpair.com data from 125,000 customers, below is a breakdown of women's underwear style preferences:

Bikini briefs – 37%
Briefs – 23%
Thongs – 19%
Boy shorts – 17%
Other – 4%

Now that I have my underwear back, I can start hunting for a pair of jeans that fit me.

Briefly Yours,

Judi

Incredible Shrinking Feet

Why does it seem that while my hips are expanding my feet are shrinking? Gone are the days when it was simple to buy a pair of shoes. I used to be a size 8 or 7-1/2. I never had problems buying shoes. I always had a narrow foot, but now my feet are slightly smaller than a size 7-1/2 and too large for a size 7. Now I have to buy a size 7-1/2 and add two Doctor Scholl's inserts to each shoe so the size fits. I also add heel grippers to compensate for my narrow heel. Next it will be the orthopedic inserts and then I'll need to add a podiatrist to my list of doctors. Shoe shopping is not a favorite pasttime anymore...wish I was like Carrie Bradshaw from "Sex and the City" whose foot fit every pair of Manolos or Jimmy Choo...not that I could afford to buy such luxurious shoes, so I guess it's just as well that I don't have perfect feet.

While I know Easy Spirits and Naturalizer are the "mature woman's" shoe, I don't like to admit that I actually have these shoes in my closet. If I do admit this... does it mean I'm now considered a "mature woman?"

Mules...Forget about shoes with open backs...the shoes they call mules. I don't know how women walk in these shoes, let alone drive. Every time I've tried to wear a pair my feet fall out of them...I end up walking barefoot and the shoes are somewhere five steps back!

High Heels... I also can no longer wear high heels, too much pressure on the ball of my feet. Although, I did wear a pair of sandals with high heels to the wedding I recently attended. I was able to stand and walk for a few hours...very surprising...Ann Taylor to the rescue (again!)...maybe they were just the right heel height for the shape of my foot. They had stretched out a bit since I originally wore them and did require constant strap adjustments throughout the evening.

Kitten Heels...Kitten heels are about the highest I can go...love the Franco Sarto and Arturo Chiang brands. I think they were made for narrow feet.

Flats...So glad flats are back in style. They are not as sexy as heels, but way more comfortable. The Enzo brand makes my favorite brand for summer flats and are available in every color.

Patent Leather Shoes...these bring back memories of my childhood. My black patent leather Mary Janes were my favorites when I was a kid...so shiny! If you like patent leather shoes...check out the new Bloomingdales catalog or Bloomingdales.com website...there are red patent leather flats by Arturo Chiang called "Gigi" (loved that movie, maybe that's why I love the shoes)...I may have to splurge and buy these shoes.

Boots...are also not fun to shop for either. I have thin legs so most all the high top boots are too wide for my legs. I did purchase a pair of Nine West lower brown boots this year and liked them so much that I went back to the shoe store and bought the same pair in black. Now that I have wider hips and my older suit pants inch up I have to compensate with boots...that way the length of the pants don't look too short.

Maybe I'll find some neat new shoes when I go to Italy. I do love Italian shoe designers. As Michaelangelo said, "What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed."

Judi