Comments on A Dress A Day: And, shoes.

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2006-11-28T02:47:00.000-06:00

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I'm so happy I'm a winter because I absolutely lov...

2006-10-24T10:26:00.000-05:00

I'm so happy I'm a winter because I absolutely love jewel tones! I have lots of black separates (Jones New York, mostly) which I bring to life with colors like fuschia, turquoise, and purple.

The colors really come out when I wear dresses. I sew most of them because usually the "in" colors don't flatter me. The dress I made for my second wedding ceremony was fuschia lace, and I can't tell you how many compliments I got on it because the color was so *me*!

During a recent closet purge, I cut down the shoe inventory to 54 pairs of shoes, nine of them black (but all different heels), and 8 pairs of boots included. I had to finally throw out my red Mary Janes because they were so worn out. I may replace them with red ballet flats because they are easier to find this season. I'm older now (just turned 60), so I've started to factor comfort in, along with age-appropriateness. So, out went the platforms. But I will never outgrow my love for putting just the perfect shoe with an outfit.

I'm drawn to every colour under the sun bar the me...

2006-10-24T04:21:00.000-05:00

I'm drawn to every colour under the sun bar the metallics -even PEACH, which looks just hidjus on me[I keep trying to buy it, but have nearly got it out of my system ;-))) ]
Re the red shoes....with much prompting from others on PR, I finally bought what I thought was my first ever pair of red shoes about 6 weeks ago(have yet to actually WEAR them!), only to realise,after another comment here, that I had bought my first pair of Crocs last February...in red!!! When I wear them to the post office/local shop, I feel VERY conspicuous......but I don't care! I lovvvvve red!

Christina Nice to hear from someone else besides m...

2006-10-24T02:08:00.000-05:00

Christina Nice to hear from someone else besides me who likes the greyed tones. Not being dramatically colored myself means that the more muted colors work better for me. I just expanded on my comments above about combining colors at Color Compostions

Long ago, when I met the first other person who had my name, she turned out to be the most eccentric old lady one could ever wish to live up to. And she believed that as one got older, our colors should get brighter. Very much brighter.

I don't have just a few colors, but they are the ...

2006-10-24T00:10:00.000-05:00

I don't have just a few colors, but they are the same tone. Lots of gray- gray-purple, gray-green, gray-blue, you get the idea. The neutrality of all my clothing and the simple style and cut that I favour make it so much easier to dress myself. Well okay neutrals and bright orange. But really, what doesn't go with bright orange?

alison said I spent a year not long ago collecting...

2006-10-23T23:57:00.000-05:00

alison said I spent a year not long ago collecting indigo and off-white drapey fabrics in different patterns and textures intending to start some sort of vaguely Japanese-influenced layered ensemble, but realised that long loose layers were not the best way to flatter a large-busted figure. I need a waist. So I sort of stopped there.

Those fabrics sound like they would make delicious outfits. Too bad to see them abandoned.

Have you worn dresses with a fitted empire waist and long flared skirt? I have seen them look gorgeous on ladies with an ample figure — the secret is the flare in the skirt. And I think that that cut could work well for a layered ensemble; a long open vest is one of my favorite pieces. The jacket needs to be flared too, or even that short form they're calling a shrug this time around.

This is the year to try on dresses like this, since they're around (although usually not flared enough), and to look for patterns.

Anonymous new reader (3:33 PM): I love your entry....

2006-10-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

Anonymous new reader (3:33 PM): I love your entry.

I agree that getting your colors done is the way t...

2006-10-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

I agree that getting your colors done is the way to go. I wear jeans almost every day, but I have pants, skirts, and jackets in brown, gray, and blue (no black for me!) that go with any shirt in my closet, which is where all my favorite colors come in. I can be in a mood for pink, purple, green, brown, blue, red, and just wear it without worry! I can wear any dress, (they coordinate with my jackets, b/c of the color thing again) as long as I have the right style of shoe to match. Shoes - I have every favorite style in black and brown, a few white sandals thrown in for summer and some red boots for winter.

So I think I get the colors, but I am not a put together person. I can't master the handbag. I can't wear nylons. I scuff my shoes on the first wearing. Last night, after spending an hour getting dressed up and made up, I get in the car and notice part of my hem had come down, and since I had switched purses (attempting the impossible!) I didn't have my sewing kit. D'oh! Well, I tried.

Hi - new reader here.Some years ago I lost a bunch...

2006-10-23T15:33:00.000-05:00

Hi - new reader here.

Some years ago I lost a bunch of weight and had to re-wardrobe, so I decided to go the few-colors route and go with the following colors: black, navy blue, and red. Everything went together. Everything had a purpose. I didn't need as many items, so each could be of higher quality.

I was bored out of my skull.

I'm much more colorful now, and got some of that weight back too. :)

Heh. The answer is both yes, and ... no. I'm a c...

2006-10-23T14:57:00.000-05:00

Heh. The answer is both yes, and ... no. I'm a classic Winter, with black hair and white skin (no, not "brunette" hair and "pale" skin - I buy my foundation this time of year, and stock up for the entire year), and black, white, grey and red make me glow. If I were to pretend I had a capsule wardrobe, my colours would be black, red, purple, and olive (which is not my best colour, but I love it). Of course, I love virtually all colours, and love combining them, so I wind up expaaanding my wardrobe, and will buy garments because they want to be put together, even if I can't wear them. (Yes, I realize this is a sickness). My reds wind up expanding into burgundies, and my olives bring the rest of their friends, the greens, along, and can't have reds without pinks, who have brought their friends, the peachy-corals (and the occasional orange). A sneaky chocolate velvet jacket with jet-beaded black frogs slithered into my wardrobe, with a chocolate widebrimmed felt hat, so brown has slithered in unexpectedly. The colour group I buy least, oddly, is blue. I look fine in blue; it's one of the (many) colours in my eyes, and I wear lapis beads a lot, but I just ... don't buy it much.

I have described a veritable rainbow, and that's barely the tip of the rainbowberg. And what do I wind up wearing most? Heh. Black. Black is just easier on the (too many) mornings when I'm getting dressed at 4:00 in the morning. But it's not drab black, or boring black, or anonymous black. I'm prone to a lot of black silk, and black lace; black cashmere, black brocade, black gauze, black beading, black embroidery ... and if I can find it punched up with metallics, even better! Give me those shiny sparkling beads, and gold or silver or copper embroidery! I have a couple of black stretch velvet tanks (inch-straps, not spaghetti), and there's hardly a week goes by, winter or summer, when I don't wear one of them (at least once). I have a dreadful weakness for fitted jackets, and I must have ten in black wool crepe alone, all different. (It's not entirely my fault; I can bring an armload of clothes into a dressing room, and what actually fits me? The black clothes, that's what.) Part of the problem is lack of storage; I had a house, and my clothes hung on a rod in colour groups. I now am in an apartment with no closet space, and everything is living in boxes. :P I am trying to get a grip on my boxes, at least.

As far as the Shoe and Boot question is concerned, I am at a point in my life where I can't wear anything over an inch because I have broken too many toes, too many times. I have a Crayola box of ballet flats, and a collection of flat-heeled boots, which I expand at every opportunity (including red boots!). Of course, there's usually a favorite pair that get worn to death; one year it was a pair of reproduction ladies' Civil War boots; these days, it's a pair of sturdy Italian Butteros (the next best thing to engineer's boots). I have a small but growing collection of handbags, which I seldom change as often as I should, and certainly don't empty out as often as I should, and a huuuuuuuge collection of hats (chapeaux and not baseball caps!).

An updated colour-diagnosis book is: Colour me con...

2006-10-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

An updated colour-diagnosis book is: Colour me confident: change your look - change your life / Veronique Henderson and Pat Henshaw. About 18 months ago I actually booked and paid for a consultant to 'do my colours'. Horribly naff, tragic and 80s, I know, but SO worth it.

I can't say that the "expert-recommended two- or t...

2006-10-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

I can't say that the "expert-recommended two- or three-color closet" appeals to me. I love color so much. It's part of my daily joy to be around color, dress myself in color, find different ways that color can be combined and the ways that colors change in combination with each other. Yum. It's true that I've learned certain colors flatter me more than others, and my closet has more of those, but I try to find ways of including the other colors as well -- again, in combinations.

As for shoes, I was interested to read all the issues about red shoes. I love them so much that I wear them just about every day. I did a quick count and found I have 14 pairs of shoes: 8 in various reds and 6 in other colors (black, brown, flowered multi, green, etc, all worn much less frequently).

I used to have only a few colors — bluegreens espe...

2006-10-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

I used to have only a few colors — bluegreens especially — in my closet. I also used to be so pale, like someone mentioned, that black, grey, or the brights like orange made me look like a dead fish-belly, so my choices were somewhat limited.

Then I started dyeing fabric and clothes, and my choices expanded to new favorites I hadn't even known were possible. And I took color theory, and learned how to combine any colors, even previous unfavorites, in ways I liked.

A couple of things I learned:
—If your closet only has shades of one or a few colors they don't all go together! Too close shades of the same color can often fight, not enhance each other. This is true of black or grey or white too.
—Neutrals like gray have color in them too, it's just hard to see what it is. But put two greys next to each other; one might go green, the other red, and you can see what the underlying shade is. (I discovered this working in a carpet store, where a whole houseful of something that turned out to be an unexpected green-gray or pink-grey could be a disaster.)
—For those who have lots of shades of one or a few colors in your wardrobe, where it might be hard to find a cardigan or jacket that goes with them, go to a complimentary color. When I had mostly blue-greens, and started branching out, a muted purple or red-violet went with everything in the closet.
—Don't stress about not knowing the color wheel and what's a complimentary color. The color wheels are all wrong anyway. Use your eyes; choose a contrast you like the look of.
—If like me, you tend to prefer somewhat muted colors, and worry that you fade into the wallpaper… you may be very pleased with the muted-contrast combination. Choose your favorite muted color. Now go to an approximately opposite color, and choose a muted version you like. The two, being sort-of opposites, will make each other brighter to the eye, and yet not be so bright they scare you.
—A trick from quilting: choose prints which contain colors you like to wear together. Then it suggests a whole bunch of combinations, and goes with lots of your clothes. Just don't make the corollary quilter's error and get too boring by being monochrome (all shades of one color) with no contrast.
—The stategy of having neutrals in skirts, and colors in tops, like someone mentioned, can make bringing in colors easy. As a roommate & I discovered long ago, a flattering neutral can be a duller version of your hair color.
—The idea of a key piece of jewelry or garment like a patterned skirt or decorated jacket, with a collection of colors you like is a great way to tie an outfit, a wardrobe, or a suitcase-full of clothes together. (like several people mentioned.)

I love the shoes! Love them!I don't have that perf...

2006-10-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

I love the shoes! Love them!

I don't have that perfectly color-coordinated wardrobe, but I do wear a lot of separates, and most of the pieces go with at least 50% of the others. And since I don't dress fashionably at all, I will frequently skip an entire season of new stuff, simply because I don't like the colors. The "autumn" colors work best on me, but I'm not parting with my black things, and I sometimes wear other colors that aren't as flattering, just because they make me feel good. My basics tend to be black or brown, which helps with the coordinating... Most of my separates are also solid colors, which helps when I find a print something that I love.

I collect kimono, and wear them, especially the haori, but I also belt up the longer ones (especially the men's), for work and going out. There are some where this isn't practical--furisode with the really long sleeves, for example--and those get worn as wraps for evening. Which happens twice a year, tops. I frequently fall in love with a kimono, and then will find things to go with it. And sometimes I wear them with leggings. *g*

Anonymous: I haven't counted lately, but I have about 45 pairs of shoes, if you count sandals. I'm about to do another purge, which will only encourage me to buy more. :-)

I love chocolate brown and red, but I've been slow...

2006-10-23T12:49:00.000-05:00

I love chocolate brown and red, but I've been slowly adding some grays and blacks into my wardrobe. I always find myself with too many prints -- they just draw my eye. This year I made a promise to buy coordinates and then a few "special" print pieces.

LOVE the shoes. Almost bought them at Macy's a fe...

2006-10-23T12:10:00.000-05:00

LOVE the shoes. Almost bought them at Macy's a few weeks ago but they didn't have my size. Thanks for the L&T link, it seems they have my size (YAAY). Now, what color to get?? I can rule out red as, unlike Erin, I have several pair of red shoes (and a pair of red ankle boots) which I manage to hit the streets wearing (I guess there's a little bit of harlot - or is it scarlett? - in me).

On a side note: I happened to mention the other day in a group of women how many pair of shoes I have and most of them were flabbergasted. Before I reveal my secret, how about an impromptu poll? How many pair do you have? How many pair do you actually wear?

I know this is a dress blog, but everyone knows you need great shoes to help set off a great dress.

Thanks for the shoe cuteness. I'm going to buy the...

2006-10-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the shoe cuteness. I'm going to buy them during lunch. Perfect!

and hurrah for color. Although I do own a lot of black which highlights the colors even better.

And I'm mad for prints. They always make me smile.

Two-or-three-color closet? Heresy. Efficient, yes,...

2006-10-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

Two-or-three-color closet? Heresy. Efficient, yes, but come on. I have the closet space and I prefer to use it. Color, color, color!!!

And I am DYING for those shoes.

--Lydia

What fabrics did you use for your winter Duros?

2006-10-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

What fabrics did you use for your winter Duros?

I would feel utterly dead if I didn't have every c...

2006-10-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

I would feel utterly dead if I didn't have every color in my closet... But I do have a good set of basic black so I can travel with a carry-on, especially as I like Paris and NY etc. And I bought a pair of red shoes a few years back and never wore it, so all my shoes and bags are black, which works for me.
The one thing I've been trying to work with that's been helpful is the following rule: only make something if it'll go with 2 existing items in your closet. Then you don't have orphaned pieces, and you can get dressed even if the laundry isn't entirely done. That's helped me a lot, much more than the monochrome boring thing.

Lots of cream, but overall my perennial Summer war...

2006-10-23T02:17:00.000-05:00

Lots of cream, but overall my perennial Summer wardrobe theme (it's nearly Summer again here in Oz!) is simply a million fabulous vintage dresses, lots of cute belts and a white and a black cardie to throw on as appropriate. One pair slides, one pair ballet flats, one pair bright havianas, one pair heels. And a vintage Oroton handbag for every day of the week!

I have at least three pairs of red (oxblood red no...

2006-10-22T22:32:00.000-05:00

I have at least three pairs of red (oxblood red not red-red.) shoes. I treat them as a neutral.

my closet is primarily: black, brown, burgundy/red, and blue.

The concept of buying multiple pieces in different...

2006-10-22T21:47:00.000-05:00

The concept of buying multiple pieces in different colors is a shopping-haters dream. On the rare occasion I do go shopping *and* find something that is comfortable and flattering, I buy it in several colors/prints/weaves, so that I don't have to try to find another shirt/skirt/whatever that I like.

georgiana: why don't you treat yourself to a littl...

2006-10-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

georgiana: why don't you treat yourself to a little glimmer of intense colour … a pendant, perhaps? If you like.
And to build on what gen said to robinson: If you or anyone is interested in learning more about what gen was talking about, understanding whether you have cool or warm undertones as well as whether your features are flattered more by clear or muted colours, I'd recommend trying to find a copy of the 80's book "Color Me Beautiful" by Carol Jackson. I've got the original edition, but there has been at least one newer edition since. I doubt they're in print — look for them used. While Color Me Beautiful provided my favourite of several systems of colour analysis that were used when people paid to "have their colours done" (CMB still has offices in various cities, and trained colour analysts who will do yours for a fee), I couldn't afford to have mine "done" at the time. So the book itself was how I learned to see undertones. I realized that I was a "Spring" — with warm (yellow) undertones, but needing clear colours, mostly, rather than muted. Autumns like gen have warm undertones, too, but can wear richer and earthier and more saturated hues than Springs can. Gen's coral will be more bold and a smidgen more orange than mine …
While the book does tend to fall into the conventional habit of declaring certain rules for style and shape and so on more than I like to see, I find it invaluable for the colour understanding it offers. I believe that its message is not that we "should" wear certain colours or look a certain way, but rather that once we come to recognize our own undertones and learn how to work with them, then, while wearing the colours we love best, *everyone's* own natural beauty will just shine in this kind of way. I find "colour analysis" not to be about competition or promoting arbitrary fashion rules, as one might fear and as we've had so much of elsewhere, but rather to be subsversive of those concepts since it promotes the idea that everyone has beautiful colouring that can't be compared to or compete with anyone else's. It's a celebratory sort of a thing. I love it, and have done, for over 25 years.
But of course, I only recommend such an approach if it appeals! I'm sure there are other ways to learn about the effects of colour on ourselves, and then we must decide what kinds of effects we like! Which means trusting ourselves and our preferences. And only we can know what we like.

I had a perfectly coordinated wardrobe in black, w...

2006-10-22T20:05:00.000-05:00

I had a perfectly coordinated wardrobe in black, white, and gray for years.

Then I realized that I was losing out on one of the most expressive and creative activities I get to participate in all day -- dressing myself.

Now, my wardrobe is sorted by type of garment and color -- a veritable rainbow whenever I open the closet door or slide open a drawer. What joy in the morning!

Of course, there is the odd morning where this becomes paralyzing. The trick is to decide what color I'm in the mood for, then find the coordinating pieces to go with it. (Having a list of rules -- what colors I will or won't wear with others -- helps here.)

And voila! I've achieved the dual goals enjoying more color variety in my life, while remaining reasonably well-coordinated when I step out the door.