Keep Your Pants Off!
So…big news!
Long-time readers no doubt know that I’m a huge fan of style writer Sally McGraw and her blog Already Pretty. Sally is one of my favourite people on the Internet. So imagine my glee when I was invited write for Already Pretty as part of a crack team of contributing bloggers!
People, the squeeing? Was deafening.
My first post, What Size Sexy is live over at Sally’s. Head on over, have a read (and check out the rest of the site while you’re at!)
I’m still working my way through Sally McGraw’s book, Already Pretty; thinking about the clothes I wear and their collective contribution to my overall style.
An early part of the process involves answering a long(ish) series of questions about my sartorial likes and dislikes. I won’t subject you to unabridged list of answers (no one needs to read my mini-essay on jersey knit) but here are a few select replies to the questions I enjoyed most.
What is your go to outfit?
A dress and heels.
Alternatively, a bathrobe.
What styles do you wish you could wear?
Side note: I think anyone can wear any style they want. My interpretation of this question is “Are there styles/types of clothes that attract you in general yet make you feel less than stellar when you put them on?”
Bohemian chic. I see these people dressed like updated versions of San Francisco flower children. They seem so effortlessly beautiful, comfortable and fresh. Yet whenever I’ve tried to emulate that style, I immediately feel self-conscious and fake – like an actor who’s been miscast.
I’ll continue to admire pastels and pale, floral prints on others but it isn’t a style that works for me.
What are you favourite patterns
Stripes. Polka-dots. HOUNDSTOOTH!
What styles do you think look horrendous on you?
High-heeled stilettos.
First of all, they distort my walk in a way I don’t enjoy.
Contrary to what one might assume, skinny heels that are higher than about three inches actually make my legs seem shorter. Although the shoe creates a longer overall line, the part that is my actual leg becomes proportionately smaller as the heels get higher. Which wouldn’t be a problem if I wanted my legs to look shorter than they are. But I don’t.
Is there an era of fashion you absolutely adore?
Mid-sixties mod. Geometrics and high hemlines FOR THE WIN!
What about you? Do you have a go-to outfit or a fashion era that makes you squee? Are they’re types of clothing that you hate or avoid wearing?
I’ve raved about Sally McGraw before…and I’ll do it again, damnit! Sally’s philosophies about style and body image are eminently worthy of repeat praise. And thanks to social media Sally has become one of my new Internet pals!*
Sally’s blog, Already Pretty is a daily favourite of mine. When I learned she’d written a book of the same name, you best believe I got my order in right quick.
The book!
Sally’s philosophy is all about self-acceptance and celebrating the body you have exactly the way it is. Her book helps the reader identify and craft a style all their own. I’m not looking to do a complete wardrobe overhaul – though the book would be tremendously helpful if I were – but I do feel due for a style tune-up. I’m also in for some fun. The Already Pretty process means thinking about my clothes, writing about my clothes, talking photos of my clothes, dressing up and playing with my clothes! It may not sound like fun to some of you but for me that’s a balls-out barrel of monkeys!
The first phase of the process is about defining my current style. It involves activities such as assembling photos of recent outfits and pondering questions about which clothing brands I favour and what motivates me to shop.
Fashion Friday: A retrospective in collage.
I also had to come up with a list of at least ten words to describing my style. I went into this task all hubris-like. Hel-LO?! I’m a writer! Plus I own Schoolhouse Rock on DVD and I’ve seen the one about adjectives about a million times now. I was gonna rock this out!
Immediately I wrote “colourful”, followed by “feminine”. Next was…um….
Um….
The whole assignment ground to a near-halt as I tried to convince myself that “houndstoothy” IS TOO AN ADJECTIVE and that surely there’s a word describing “clothes that aren’t slacks”.**
What I lack in ability I make up for in FONTS!
Eventually, I found ten, non-made up adjectives…but it took some doing. The last word I came up with was unfocused. This exercise made me realize while I definitely know what I like, I don’t always understand the why. My style isn’t entirely cohesive, which is fine but I’m curious to see what common elements emerge as I continue Sally’s process.
All this pondering and adjectifying*** is being documented in my style journal/iPad. I got myself a simple notebook app and bam! I can type, handwrite, sketch and paste photos into one neat, tidy, paperless place. Plus it will be super easy to take with my when I go shopping.
And I will be shopping….
Duly noted!
You can read Already Pretty, the blog, here.! You can buy Already Pretty, the book here!
*In real life friendship pending. Alls I need’s airfare to Minneapolis, yo!
** There may be but the word is definitely not “skirty”. I know because I looked it up.
*** Just let me have that one, okay?
This week I feel sexy in…
Earrings: Forever 21. Sweater: Gap Outlet. Dress: Black House White Market. Belt: Thrifted. Tights: Sock Dreams. Shoes: Pierre Michel
Black and white!
I’ve been dressing in colour for as long as I can remember. I only recently began to see how black and white ensembles can create the same sense of whimsy and drama as the bright, bold hues I favour. This first outfit was blantantly ripped off from inspired by Sally. Sometimes a gal gets to feelin’ a little derivative.
Beret: eBay. Shirt: Old Navy. Belt: Joe Fresh (thrifted). Skirt: Ann Taylor (thrifted). Boots: Old Navy (gifted from my mom).
I love outfits composed of well-matched prints. Unfortunately, when I try to execute the look I usually wind up looking like a scary patchwork clown. But black and white prints make for easy-peasy combos. I also love that although there are two small hits of yellow here, the colour really stands out.
Hat: Le Chateau (Thrifted). Earrings: Unknown (Thrifted). Dress: Zara (Thrifted) Belt: Forever 21(Thrifted). Bracelet: Gift from friend. Shoes: Gift from The Man of Mans.
I wore this outfit to the Les Prix Rideau Awards – Ottawa’s annual shout out to the best in local theatre. Every part of this ensemble was either thrifted or gifted. I nabbed the dress for a mere $8 dollars and though it was a little big up top, that left me plenty of money for alterations. I whisked my new-to-me-frock to my tailor, who made the necessary adjustments. It fit perfectly when I picked it up two weeks ago, but apparently my boobs shrank in the interim because when I put it on for the awards it was loose again. I wound up filling the gap with The Green Bean’s socks.
This is Kevin.
You may remember him from his guest post a couple of weeks ago. Kevin is my true friend and a super-kind soul who spent a good chunk of time mad-dancing with me at The PRA after-party. He looked so damn good in his vintage skinny suit that I had to post his picture here, so you could all see for yourselves!
Have a great weekend, everyone…and don’t forget I’ve got a surprise in store next Tuesday, May 1st, so be sure to check in!
.Nadine is a sexual health educator, a playwright, poet, burlesque performer, partner and parent living in Ottawa, Ontario. She enjoys candy, fashion and dreck television. She does not care for pants. Photo by Justin Van Leeuwen.
Have a question about sex and/or relationships? Dirty Laundry is my monthly column at Apartment 613. There I dispense advice on all things TMI and share steamy tips about Ottawa's sexiest places and faces. The laundry room is always open, so drop me a line at dirtylaundry613@gmail.com.
