I just got off the teleseminar where I interviewed Sherrie Mathieson about midlife fashion. I'm all jazzed to begin looking better. HA! She's the author of Steal This Style: Moms and Daughters Swap Wardrobe Secrets.

So, what new wardrobe item have you bought for fall/winter?

So far, nothing. Do I anticipate I will: I hope not. Seriously. Another money-saving thing. I already spent money this spring on cycling stuff.

The last fashion thing this year I did (besides getting a hair cut), was to rediscover a brand new pair of black dress pants that I bought....2 years ago. I spent time hemming up the pants to wear for interviews. They look great. Now there's a brown wool dress pair pants I would also work on...purchase from nearly 3 yrs. ago. But way more work, since it has cuffs. Oh jeez, more work. But cheapo me will do it myself since it is not that complicated, just time-consuming.

I can be fashion wasteful...that's why I have to buy classic cut clothing styles. Otherwise things will truly look wrong if I don't alter the clothing in same year of purchase!!!

I am abit of fashion slacker..cycling has made me abit forget. I know women who are into regular fitness activities/sport that their regular daywear tends to be casual or at least mimicking fitness wear in a chic way.

Same old, same old. Black and grey trouser suits. Bought green and purple leather gloves for winter and brogue flats when I was in Rome.

Orchid, you are right in line with Mathieson's thinking. She said that women need to buy the classic cut and accessorize. These styles never go out and can be dressed up and dressed down; depending on the occasion.

So you're right in style!

I haven't bought anything for winter YET. I'm hoping I will though. I LOVE scarfs if they are soft wools and such, so I may be on the lookout for some new accessories this year.

And Lola is right on with her green and purple leather gloves!

It works for me that classic quality clothes dont go out of style.Having four seasons and Autumn now I am storing my summer clothes and my jacket/coats come out again.Good scarves Jaw Jaw..yes and I have dark red leather gloves Lola.
I have aso bought little felted brooches at craft fairs to brighten up my coats.They are simple but effective in changing the look.I always have winter coats dry cleaned ready for the chills..and each year pass on the unused that season garments to the thrift/charity shop. That way I have decluttered work wear..

Do you wear a hat in the winter time, MA? Except for the boater we were forced to wear in school, I have never bothered with headwear during the cold season. But, last year, the top of my head was always cold so, I might try some head covering this year.

Yes Lola..
a beret from Next bought three years ago.Its black angora..and a brown felt cloche with felt cut out daisies .Scotland is chilly .Only problem is hairstyle once the hat flattens my hair I am lothe to remove it if I go for coffee..so I sit there like a Jean Brodie type woman..

I love Jean Brodie. Wish I had her as a teacher.

The Creme de la Creme

Oooooooooh...I love the cloche look. Thanks, JJ. It's also low enough to keep my ears warm and not leave a line across the forehead! Must get one and a huuuuuuge cabbage rose for the side. One sometimes has this urge to be like Eliza.

I love hats period. Unfortunately, I look like a bag lady in one. I'll take a pic sometime and show you what I mean. But don't you just love them?

When I was in high school I worked in a fancy ladies retail store, the name escapes me, anyway I worked in the coat, purse, hat, scarf, gloves department and modeled different hats. Back then they were in style more than today. They had a fashion show once a month for dresses, gowns. That was a blast! I hate hats now...

I absolutely love hats, and have at least 15 knitted or crocheted varieties I've gotten from other crafters. A lot of variations on beret. It's 90 here now, so it'll be a while before I get to wear any of them again.

This summer I took 3 old shorts that I loved and had lost all the elastic in the waistband, and took them to a tailor for new elastic. That was after trying to buy shorts in the stores, and finding nothing.

I might buy leggings this fall if I can find ones with a natural waistband. Everything I saw the other day was low rise -yuk.

It must be the yoga trend look...relaxed fit...around the tummy, for that low-rise, butt-crack revealing tendencies. I too, find it dismaying. Why encourage one's belly to hang out or expand a bit? Meredith, you have to go to fitness wear shops for leggings/tights with natural waistband...but alot of the stuff there tends to be tight..for aerodynamic purposes in sports. 'Course there's the danger of athetic longjohns which are colourful, natural waistband..but um,,not exactly the right effect.

Meredith
Edinbugh International Flstival draws crafters from all over and hats...one hady had such a stunning show.Expensive yes but her work was first class.
She had bobbly yarn...they seemed based on structured hats from a different era..cloche and brimmed and trimmed.She had feathers cabbage roses and highland theme going.they were multicoloured and toned like the landscape..
cost is relative..her hats was top style but I would have to save a bit.(I may)
Also there were bead by an art lady..each bead different very large...main ones were felted with tiny bead sewn on..chunky and the mixed in were large and in your face in a nice way.Again festival prices but worth the hours spent..need to have a festival money jar...for next year.
This craft fair is a good place to find unique items.I got a jacket there way back and each wear shows me its worth buying there from art trained people.its a wool collarless olive green with matching scarf but a touch of matching velvet at edge it sits so well.These designers go on sometimes to famous houses and I recommend Lola goes when she eventually visits for the Tattoo.Listening Lola?

Loud and clear, MA. Do we go before or after tea? Haggis even. Must really consider and make time to go further up north than Liverpool.

There is a place where they serve a small portion of haggis in a splendid sauce..touch of drambeuie..with potato and swede..its more a starter...but alas festival is been and gone..
but many events for homecoming..locally a festival of light on St Andrews day 30th Nov.
Toast
"Here's tae us
Whae's like us?
Damn few
And their a' deid"

Translated....Poppie might know

I don't know what Haggis is, MA, but I do know that swede is rutabaga (to us) and I LOVE that...I also like small amounts of Drambuie. This sounds like something I would love to have. I know if it were in Scotland, I would. Sigh...how I miss that place!

JJ, maybe it's better you don't know what haggis is!! I had it once in the distant past, but now wouldn't touch it since I don't eat meat. Haggis is made from the lung, liver, and heart of the sheep, mixed with oatmeal and a few spices and stuffed into the sheep's stomach then boiled. I've heard it said that you have to drink a lot of whiskey with it or before you can 'stomach' the Haggis!

There is a vegetarian haggis...same texture but no sheep involved.
I dont eat haggis either...but the sauce I have tasted.
so how did we get from clothes style to sheep..?

Baaaaaad move? hahahaha...ahem. Who knows?

Clothes are made from wool; wool comes from sheep. TaDa!!

JJ yonuh

ewe both are funny and never pull the wool over my eyes..

Baa-aa-aaad joke.....

Whattttttttt? (She says SHEEPishly)

As usual, in the tradition of BWS...it takes very little to bleat puns in fellowsheep. One is tempted to fleece this opportunity and take it as far as one can.

wool meet again
dont know where
dont know when
wool meet again
some sunny day

Heh Lola
what do you think of Vera Lynn being in the hit parade..?

Shear delight, MA. That it topped the charts is behooving of a great song, singer and era. Quite remarkable in the current trend of ram-bunctious music.

P.S.

In the manner of the familiar phrase: "I'll be back"...as one must head for Sunday Mass in the Church with a sheeple. I shall also try not to break out in a chuckle as one proceeds to read from the Lectionary and when one catches a glimpse of the congregation in the pewes.

Well Lola
I have just come back from Harvest Thanksgiving.
The table groaned with produce...a large harvest loaf and the vestubile had a table with every thing Gods earth provides.These donations will be taken to thew wider community in need later.
Our hymns were typically seasonal..but the theme of what we should hold dear...Our daily bread..
of course bread means everything we need in my mind.
Sheep yes....somewhere I guess sheep are part of harvest..
They nibble the coarse grass that the cows leave when they pull and ruminate so sheep are in the pasture near the grain that makes the bread..and so on.

Back to ladies fashion..
Today I wore a woollen jacket

PS If you buy Quaker oats with the farmer who grows the grain on the back of the pack...thats one of our congregation

Is that picture on the box really one of your neighbors? I ran into the kitchen to check out my own box, but it wasn't the one with the pic on it.

By the way, the weather here has gone from humid and wet, wet, wet, to foggy and cool. It's very pleasant here right now with the cooler temps. I'm thinking it is almost time to move the winter things out and store the summer. Another passage...

Still 100 here - wish it were wet and cool! Though we're supposed to have a 'cold' spell late next week with highs in the high 80s.

Wednesday it is suppose to go down into the 70's and stay cool from then on. It is 102* out today. I will be sooooo happy to see fall arrive.

JJ all the grain grown on a specific farm..the farmer get to have his picture on the box (That is for Quaker oats processed locally.)
this farmer is from landed gentry...these people who were Lords...and now work the land much land may I say and care for the countryside egologiclly.His Mother is big in the countryside asscociation.Good people.but different farmers are featured.
Just that our minister on sunday showed the wee ones the box and told them about Robert.They all looked round with big eyes...no doubt the sales will rise for oats this week.Ha ha.
also we are told which farm our beef comes from and the registered number of the animal...yuk.in the butcher...
whole sides of beasts get carried in and the men carve in the back..I buy chicken there...so far they dont have names..Ha ha again.

strawberries potatoes give the farm they came from too.

Mountain, buying food closer to home is finally taking place where I live. There are a couple restaurants who will only buy their foods within a certain mile radius. WE were in a restaurant in the city and one of the boys with us bought a burger because the beef was from a farm in his neighborhood. This is new for us. How neat is that?

Orchid, I wear lycra gym pants and shorts which are tight, but I'm looking more for street wear that's not quite as spray-on. Even most of the name-brand gym clothing is low-rise which annoys me to no end.

Mountain Ash and Lola, if I ever get my passport, I'll join you on the English/Scottish craft fair & festival circuit.

My this thread is all over the place!

Let's see - I love haggis, and still do even after I know what it is. I loved having porridge in Scotland with Drambuie poured on top.

I would love to know when this craft fair is, MA. Depending on how Dennis is doing, we are thinking about London in August this year so we can spend a few days in Edinburough for the festival. If we do, we will plan on seeing you.

I wear hats in the winter, but only to and from the car. I take it off as soon as the car has heated. I got a really cute on in Ireland this summer - made with Donnegal (?)

My stupid Vista is playing tricks on me, and I got cut off.

The hat has points and beads in three corners on top. It''s terrific and I look forward to wearing it.

I did purchase multi-seasonal clothes this year in a size that will fit my new, filled out tummy and butt. I have finally admited that I have put on lots and lots of wieght. I purchased mostly grays and blacks, skirts and pants, with most white shirts. I have color, but not too much. I am going to stick to the basic colors, if not styles, this year.

Yes come when the book festival is on and the crafers are there then.there is also fireworks with music accompany
Irish fashion is great..and if you catch a new graduate they have such good stuff.

Anno, the teleseminar we did with Sherie highlighted the importance of boomers doing traditional clothing. You're with it girl!

Be comfortable and we are and we feel comfortable, we look amazing...