Q for CheryleB

Hello Cheryle, I know you've been on several cruises and I'm wondering
if you can give me some guidelines for what kinds of things to pack?
Shorts? Dresses? Are heels practical, or should I find some cute
lower heel sandals for daytime? What about maxi dresses? I've been
told that it's more casual than you would think. But that was coming
from a man...
Thanks for the help :- )
Halfpint

CheryleB:
You will need different clothes depending on whether it is a sail day or port day.

On the days we were at sea, we spent a great deal of time laying around on the deck or pools so it was mostly swimsuits and cover-ups. For port days, your clothes will be dictated by the type of tour you've selected. We did fairly active tours including the climb at Dunn's River and a cycling/snorkel tour in Cozumel. For those, I wore good hiking sandals, walking shorts and layered tanks. Had I been on a less physical tour, I would have worn a casual cotton skirt with a tee or a very casual cotton dress. Most of the ports of call were in very warm areas so you will want to be comfortable. We had a bit of weather the day we were in Grand Cayman and our tour was cancelled (swimming with the stingrays) so we stayed in the town and wandered around the shops. It was a bit cooler so a light cardi was needed. Iwould suggest you pack a few just in case. It can also be a bit breezy on deck.

Find out how many formal evenings there will be during your cruise. We were on a New Years cruise so there were two. Some have only one and some have two or even three. I wore silk gowns because I prefer to be on the slightly more formal side but a dressy cocktail dress would fit in well - especially with the great accessories and shoes you have. I packed a number of dresses for the non-formal evenings. Even though the "rules" stated that dinner was semi-formal in the main dining room, the people at the table next to ours showed up in shorts and casual sandals often.

The ships are like floating hotels so heels are not a problem. I wore heels with my formal dresses and sometimes with my less formal dresses as well. If we'd been on an all-day tour, I was a little more casual. Playing in the sun can be tiring. LOL

I expected far more formality than there was. It may have been Carnival, which was catering to families at the time.A good friend of mine was on a Royal Caribbean cruise last winter and since she rarely does formal, I invited her to shop my closet rather than buying dresses she wouldn't wear again. She took a full length gown and three cocktail dresses and wore them all. She felt right in them and it did sound like their cruise was a touch more formal than ours.

Hope that helps!

Black Sequin Tank

Recently I picked up a black, sequined tank top. No pattern to the sequins, just solid covering of the front of the tank.

I'm 41, 5'4", size 8. My style usually runs towards what I consider to be classic, in that I don't keep up with the latest cutting edge fashions.

I'd really like some suggestions on how I can wear this tank, both with a skirt and with jeans or trousers.

Thanks!
Kat




To keep the sequins look classic, and avoid limitations to dressy occasions, try a layered look. You can layer a thin (silky is thinnest) shirt in a modern pattern under (the shirt should have small collar and cuffs); and a bomber jacket (or ruched zippered sweat shirt) over. For the bottom half, try a cord pencil in aubergine and knee high boots. The sequin tank serves as an accent piece, like a sequin scarf.

Speaking of scarves, try adding a soft, not silky, scarve with fringes, worn high on the neck over your tank. A gathered tulip skirt/pencil, in any fabric, will support this look well.

For dressy occasions, your sequin tank can support a gray lacy skirt, black opaque tights and suede pumps.
Remember to consider your sequins just another (beautiful) fabric texture, and mix them up with many other fabrics, like tweeds and silks.

Opaque Tights with a Cocktail Dress 2

I was so wrong. In a previous post, I spouted off about Cheryl's shirred cocktail dress being incompatible with black tights/shoes. Here's Cheryl, rocking the look by adding a Moto jacket and slicked-back hair to the ensemble.

With Moto Jacket

Without Jacket

Ferosh!


Vava: Hey Pres, you're not alone. I thought the black would be too much with the dress, too. But, it just goes to show a person has to try and see. :-) Cheryl definitely was FEROSH in that ensemble.

Cheryleb: Thank you all so much for the kind responses. Its ironic that I really thought it could work and no one else did. Now I am not sure if it really did work and I'm again in the minority. I do love the color of the dress and in person, I think it looked great. I was inspired by Zebra to throw on the moto jacket and I think that is what made it.

Unexcited

Pres:

I have been really disappointed this fall/winter! I keep waiting to find something I can get excited about- but still nothing.

My hopes were dashed again but a style section in Redbook- this time boyfriend sweaters with thin belts over it. I think the models look ghastly. Turn the page and it shows colored jeans and thin tee shirts. Sorry- ugly, gawky and really not appropriate to my body and lifestyle.

So far, I have grabbed some tops with ruffles/corsages as was as a beautiful broach necklace.

But where are the great jackets! There is nothing particularly special in sweaters. Dresses are ho-hum. I am tired of sleeveless and half sleeved tops when I am freezing in my office and home.

So, do you sit out a season when nothing sings to you?

Thanks for listening!

DebG

Yes, Sweaters replaced Jackets this season, but this type of malaise never grips me. Sometimes, I may not like the Runway Shows, but I know that when the crazier stuff is redone for the shops instead of the runway, with linings to hide skin, and normal hems, there will be lots that I want. I had to put myself on a strict buying diet b/c of all the clothes/accessories that I wanted this season. DebG, if you have some money in search of a fashion fix, try one great classic accessory, like a bag, in a versatile shape, and sail into the next season swinging it. Cole Haan

ileana:
i had a succesful fall (though everything happened at the
same time with zara in PR) but i thought this year had different looks to satisfy every woman's style, from minimalist sheath dresses to feminine chanel-esque ruffles and necklaces with jackets and skirts,casual skinny jeans or leggings with moto boots and a tunic or studs on accesories/shoes/jackets for rocker-edgy. Fall/Winter 2009-10 has it all.
i don't know if it is because sometimes people take things literally and can't imagine themselves wearing something without 'tweaking' it or are afraid to try new things so when there's nothing familiar they don't think there's anything out there but i can't say i have seen colored jeans with thin t-shirts anywhere this fall. the trend is wayyy more sophisticated than a pant with a tee. where are the
accesories and especially the layers, the flair? there's something to be said about where you look for inspiration, if you check out'woman's world' or More magazine chances are what you find there is going to be very different than when you look at Lucky or InStyle magazine or even Vogue. if out of all those different looks nothing catches your imagination/ eye my recommendation would be then to sit this one out
and get a new haircut/haircolor, get some in season nail polish and new makeup and wait for spring clothes to arrive, maybe get a new coat and a pair of boots, gloves or scarf so no matter what you're wearing underneath the outside can bring it to Now.
.
when you're serious about fashion/wardrobe/clothes you realize you need to have a plan, and the plan comes with self examination and.. sometimes the inability to find something is that we don't have a plan. there's Always something to spend money on, you just have to know where to look and do your homework, nothing happens by chance.
people who shop for the sake of shopping and not consider what they're buying and how it works with what they have or the vibe they're going for run the highest risk for being disappointed with what they bring home. you have to study specifically what you want and to go with what, etc. i've known many women (and i used to be one) who would
just decide 'i'm going to go to the mall today and get something', nothaving a clue as to what that meant or what i wanted or needed. Can you say: Hello Orphan Pieces?

Siepres:
I agree with Ili. If you go into the season thinking that there isnothing you like, then you're not going to find anything special.It's all about attitude. The looks you say are "in" really don't seem to be the ones we're seeing. I'd advise you to buy a couple of fashion-forward magazines for inspiration. Maybe they will give the extra something that's lacking in Red Book. However, I would also advise not to overbuy anything because we're going to start seeing that transitional winter/spring items in February, so you'll want to save money for that.

If you are still unhappy with the current selection, I second Ili: Get a new haircut/color, some fresh makeup and nail polish, and wait it out. This may also be a good time to stock up on a couple of basics like turtle-necks, button-fronts, and jeans.


Judyanne:
One thing that we are having problems with this season is cardigans. But there are cardis other than Boyfriend. I know it's been a challenge to me to get them to lookgood given my softish, lumpy torso. :D

Please look for examples of outfits beyond Redbook. I find magazines frustrating for this and prefer looking online in places like
Nordstrom Head to Toe.

JCrew catalogs are accessible here (but I'm not sure beginner can always translate
the looks to work for them.) Browse JCrew

There are many others for inspiration, like Bergdorf's, too. Browsing (and learning) online can work so much better than buying magazine after magazine and finding only a few looks you like.

A Bag

Am thinking I could use a ladylike handbag on some daytime occasions. Am going to a mayoral inauguration where no one will care what bag I carry but I care.

I don't carry much in a bag for comfort's sake and I don't need much with me. Most of my daytime bags are small/medium size in neutral colors chosen partly for their ability to stay on my shoulder. They have saddle stitching. I
don't have anything dressy, what you would envision someone carrying where they once had to wear white gloves. :)

This photo of Queen Elizabeth about to board a train put me in mind.
Queen Rides Train

What are the modern considerations for such a bag, if any? I'm a thrift shopper, which I know many of you folks abhor, so I want to be on the lookout for a non-retro feel to the bag.

Vildy


I'm not sure that I would consider dear Queen Elizabeth as a fashion icon, but since you are looking for a Thrift bag, here are a few pointers:

Look over the collection of a hot bag designer, like Marc Jacobs.
Note the scale and the arrangement of the leather. Here's one that's small, has a shiny surface, and is folded (like a "parachute.")
Small Para

This one is also small, and has an animal print texture Snake

Note that a light pastel color is featured. Very ladylike in color and shape (a pouch) but the snake effect adds pizazz.

Even though you look for Thrift items, educate yourself about current trends and try to find them (or some of their major features) in the items that you choose. Make no attempt to recreate the styles of the past with your accessories. Vintage accessories require very modern outfits for support. Nothing QE would wear, I'm sure.

Good Luck!

Opaque Tights with a Cocktail Dress

CheryleB:

Are there any rules for when it works? I checked a few of the largest store websites and it seemed to be primarily with shorter cocktail dresses but there were some with black and some with colors. Also do the shoes have to be a pump? Should they be a matte suede or does it matter?

ileana:
opaque black tights have been very popular this season worn with cocktail and casual dresses. matte suede is also very big but it doesn't Have to be suede. there's also sequins and patent leather. the 'pop of color' via shoes is over~ neutral shoes are where it's at right now so i would do a black shoe to match the tights and make the
legs look 3 miles long. if it were me i would pair it with a caged
heel. . anywho, no, it does not have to be a pump:
Steve Madden
or something like this: More Steve Madden
or a bootie: Booties


these are just examples, i know they're very high-heeled, they don't have to be, i'm just going by vibe. which brings me to the most important question, what vibe do you want? princess? classic? modern?on trend? that will decide what route to take.

CheryleB:
Thanks Ili. I have looked on a few of the store like NM, Saks, and Nordstrom to get ideas on what works. I am thinking NYE and the deep aqua Tadashi silk dress I bought on e-bay last week. I don't think I have a good enough imagination to do the "vibe" decision so I'm thinking in terms of practicality and what will look nice with the
opaque tights. I want to go with this option since it will probably be about -30C on NYE and that is bloody cold for bare legs.

Here are a few that I like so far:

These got almost perfect 5 out of 5 ratings on zappos but they don't have black. They remind me of the SMs but with a lower and slightly thicker heel. One reviewer said she was 67 and they were perfect for dancing since the bottoms weren't rubber. I know what she means as it is hard on the knees to dance with shoes that don't slide at all.
Body Talk


These are just gorgeous. No ifs or buts in my book. The heel may be a bit high for a long evening though.
High

The one is very much like the first PL shoe but the t-strap detail is a bit more subtle. I do like the flowers and the ratings for comfort were very good. My moto boots are madden girl and although they run a bit big, they are very comfortable.
Obidos

This is a bit different in style and is a slingback which can often be very comfortable for me. I know Sgirl likes the slingback too as it stays on the foot better and allows you to adjust for swelling. I also like the patent. I have never tried JS shoes.

Slingback

Here is the dress for reference.
My Dress

My other option would be a metallic shoe and bare legs. What do you
think?

ileana:
i just read the first paragraph and had to stop to write this because i know me...i'll forget. i advise you don't do black with aqua, too harsh a contrast and one
says one thing and the other says another. moving on...back to finish the thread and check out your links, sorry about that. i didn't get past that first paragraph...
be back in a sec.

Siepres:
I've seen the black tights/shoes looks on a variety of dress length and with a variety of shoe style. I think you can wear it with any length/style of dress. I (personally) like the look with kick-pompi booties or caged heels. That seems to be the most "on trend" for the look. The examples Ili posted are amazing. What dress are you planning on wearing the look with? This look to me seems kind of "mod" and more edgy, so if, for example, you wanted a more romantic look, I wouldn't go this route. Like Ili said, what's the vibe you're going for?

ileana:
Cheryl babe, Yes you DOOO do the vibe thing and you do it very well, you just don't know the names for them yet because you haven'tthought about it. this past year since i've been at sos i've met serious businesswoman Cheryle, sporty Cheryle, going to the Opera looking like P. Diana Cheryle, motoboots hot chick Cheryle, vixen in a dress and heels Cheryle and sexy watch out dress, hose and high boots Cheryle. oh, and kickpompi sexy short hair Cheryle, too. Nice To Make All Your Acquaintance. :p

ok, on to your post because i have all these ideas in my head: those shoes are gorgeous. all of them~ you should indulge in a pair just to have for when you want to do the black opaque tight with black shoe thing. (the t-straps rock and say fall 2009 more than the slings, so does the suede flower ones, second link), but if i wanted to wear that tadashi dress for NYE this year and it is festive, and it is on trend
i would go the metallic and gray leg/shoe combo or (God forbid Cheryle, i'm going there), the metallic shoe and tights combo. I think visually it would be more harmonious than aqua and black together, flow like nobody's bizness and come on, it's NYE! you're wearing a tadashi dress! this would definitely say 'i'm here to celebrate NYE in style and spirit'. ;p is one of your fabulous coats part of the ensemble?

Vava:
I think the metallic combo Ili suggests would be awesome with that dress. The black does seem a bit "too contrasty" to my eye for that color dress. What sort of wrap will you be wearing? Jewelry? You could have some fun with sparkly tights/hose for NYE, and combine with a pair of gorgeous tone-on-tone pumps for a sleek, elegant look.
Where does the hem of the dress hit your leg? I think that might determine what the best sort of shoe might be........

Siepres:
Some thoughts on the shoes since I've tried on several of them. The first PL shoes are AMAZINGLY comfortable. I was going to keep them in the pink, but they were a
bit too fragile (being satin and all) for what I wanted to do with them. But, oh yeah, those babies are very, very comfy. They felt more to me like a 2" heel. Also, the second PL shoes are super, super comfortable! I was wearing them around the house cleaning for a good 1-2 hours with no pain. I was this close to keeping those too(they
even stayed on my narrow heel!!) until I found my Moto boots. Another excellent choice. I may end up buying them if they go on sale I liked them that much! The JS slingbacks are "okay." I didn't think they had as much support/padding for the heel. I do love a good sling back though!

I like Ili's idea of going metallic. Since it's NYE, you can bringout the glitz! It's the culminating holiday of the holiday season andof the year, so you can go bigger, bolder! If your dress was hot pink, I'd say go for the black tights all the way. That would be very fun, but the aqua seems like it would need something else. I'll do a little looking in a bit.....

Vava:
(I like the anthracite)
More
Grey sheers would be nice. Maybe even something with a seam up the back. And then have your "tricky item" be some awesome necklace!

Siepres:
Even More
And Another
Maybe tights like these would work with the aqua since it wouldn't be
such a contrast:
Tights

halfpint:
Beautiful dress, Cheryle! Just for reference, my co-worker has the first PL that you posted. She wears them almost every day because they are so comfortable. But, like ili, the black seems jarring for me with the aqua. If you're looking for an every day shoe, though... She wears hers with tights and pencil skirts. Yum! I like Sgirls idea of the metallic pump with a seamed sheer stocking. I think that would be soooooooo sexy!

Siepres:
I may sound slightly wishy-washy today, but the more I think about it, the more I could kind of see the black opaque look working with aqua IF the vibe of the clothing supported it. Imagine a new, longer style pencil skirt in an aqua, black turtleneck, black tights, and black suede booties. I think that could work. I'm not sure about whether it will work with your dress, but if you have the tights and a decent
pair of shoes, you could try it out and see. :) I think the problem you'll run into with your gorgeous dress (especially if you're wearing your furs) is that it feels a little vintage to me (in a good way!). It has a softer, romantic vibe like you'd expect to see in one of the movies Ili has been watching. The black tights with the black shoes seem like they'd need a more structured, architectural dress like this
one:

Dress

or

More Dress

ileana:
sgirl i know what you're sayin' and i see where you're goin'- the reason i didn't say go for it! with the black is that the fabric and feel and sleeveless of the dress is a direct contradiction to the black on black winter vibe of the accessories. if it were the (want it) dress we wouldn't be having this convo, LOLBTW, zara had a similar dress in black back in september look book ontheir website and i lost a lot of hydration looking at it with the black tights and shoes. [sigh]

Vava:

Nordies

These LP cages are great that Sgirl found. They get my top vote!

I wonder how they would look with JCrew Glimmer tights in "heather
carbon"
JC

If the dress hit above the knee, you might like some booties - I
bought these and will say they are very comfortable, and elegant - and
look great with tights.
Booties

CheryleB:
Thank you all for the advice and suggestions. Siepres, thanks too for the reviews. I may just buy the first PL shoes in black regardless given the comfort recommendation. I remember when you were considering the pink. I am surprised you resisted as I recall they looked gorgeous on you.

Vava the DV are gorgeous but I'm afraid the heel may be a touch high.
Siepres, I had seen those Classique Entrier before but couldn't find
them again. They are on my list to try on in Vegas now that I know it
was Nordies.

Here are some dresses in a similar color with the black tights. I
like some and not others.
Bloomies

Bloomies2

Bloomies3

Bloomies4


I have looked at a few pics where I wore grey tights and I don't think it is a great look for me. My legs are not heavy except for the top of the thigh so it isn't that but for some reason I'm never all that happy with the look. I am considering switching to a different dressfor NYE. I have a black silk jersey hale bob with embellishment between the girls, a deep fuschia stretch satin and a deep red with a
blue undertone with a satin top and matte skirt. I think all of them would look good with the black tights and shoes. Maybe I'll try them on with shoes later.


pres:
Wow, what a great discussion! The prob is that the aqua dress (color, diaphanous fabric, and shirred skirt) cannot support the Black Matte tights/Black Shoe look. The
lighter, bare legged metallic looks are better for this ensemble, as Cheryl surmised, right up front!

ileana:
cheryle i can see why you love the look, it's only because of the crinkle and lighter color (your examples are teal, not aqua) that i have pause about them working together. color and fabric can make a huge difference/

judyanne:
I definitely like the look better with a narrow skirt to the dress.

Siepres:
Just my personal opinion here, Cheryl, but I think black *might* work your dress if it either in a sheer or perhaps a pattern that shows more leg (like fishnets/lace); however, I thought you wanted tights because of the cold. I wouldn't worry too much about it right now though. You're going to Vegas, baby! Who knows what you'll find
there? You may come across the beyond perfect NYE dress and scrap your original idea!

Also, it was hard resisting those LPs, but I am hard on shoes, and the pink satin was already starting to show signs of wear even after the short time I wore them. If they were half price, I would have snapped them up. But, at the time they were like $120, and that was a lot to pay for shoes that didn't seem like they'd even make it to fall. The second PL shoes, though, are more sturdy. :)

halfpint:
Oops! I was mistaken, it was vava who posted these, with the suggestion of the seamed stockings. I see them with a sheer gray or silvery metallic - or is that out?

Nordies


Sheer black hose with the right shoe, maybe? I'm having a hard time feeling a stark black shoe with the delicate dress.


To Be Continued...

The Bra Discussions: 2

Ilie:
of course, i think nothing is more important than
bras; no VPL; and Spanx when one needs it!
I'd do anything to spread the word on good bras not being a luxury, but a necessity~ they're the
Mother of our garments~ 'when Mom ain't happy ain't nobody happy'. LOL
i've learned that i don't care what designer dress or shirt i have on,
nothing can save a bad bra, and wearing a non supporting bra is aging.
the reason i am now able to wear a very wide belt (even though i'm
short waisted) is that the bras are doing the work and exposing more
of my torso/waist by lifting eveything where it should be.

Joanne:
Last year a friend told me that she wears a 38C bra from La Senza. Aye.
Terrible! The girls need a boost!!! She was beginning to look matronly and it's
all due to the wrong bra size. The right size can make you look like
you lost 10 pounds!

Ilie:
..and 10 years...

Joanne: When you wear a band that is too large, it rides up in
the back and therefore slides DOWN in the front. That is what puts
the girls too low and makes one look older/fatter. Most people think
their bra is the correct size but are wrong. The band should be
completely UNDER the shoulder blades. Stand sideways at the mirror -
the back should be level with the front and not one centimeter higher
in the back!

Ilie:
And this: if you're seeing 'Back Fat'...
your band is too big for you. (resulting in what Joanne described
above).


CheryleB: Since we are citing the rules. The fullest part of the bust should be
midway between the top of the shoulder and bottom of the elbow. Bend
the arm at a 90 degree angle with the forearm across the waist to
check. Those of us with short waists and larger cup sizes have a real
challenge with this. Also the underwire should sit flat against the
chest. If it is pulling away from the chest wall at all, the cup size
is too small and/or band size is too big. The B&M store I shop at
most often keeps a thin fitted white t-shirt in the fitting room for
testing the look of bras. It is a crewneck in a very stretchy
lightweight fabric. If there is any boob overflow at the top, it will
show up with the test t and means a bigger cup size. I can tell a
woman with the wrong bra size from quite a distance. I've seen women
wearing a bra that the band is so big that it is climbing as high as
it can before the armpits stop its rise. If only they knew.