Category Archives: Fashion

10Sep/15

Fall 2015 Fashion Trends

Fashion, , ,

Watch out the 70’s are back…

fdc743551e9e2012a386995d636dca18

We are going to be surrounded by Boho, Fringes, Suede and Leather. I loved the 70’s, really I did..but not sure I can do it again. Ok, maybe some of it. I would really like to see the whole “Peace and Love” thing happen again that’s for sure. But we are here to talk of fashion for Fall 2015. And as for the men: Whether you like it or not Christmas is coming so take note..

1. Colors for Fall 2015 are: Army Green or Sage, Off White, Camel, Burnt Orange and all shades of Brown. Brown is evidently the new black!  For men they are showing lots of grey (shades of grey, maybe)

2. Handbags- Saddlebags, Crossbody bags and Clutches. I for one can never use a clutch, I can’t get all my stuff in one. Ever!!

Here is a cute Saddlebag from Nine West. I really do like these! Not sure but maybe I could get all my stuff in here…

3. Chunky heels – yes, they are back. I’m not a big fan of these however they are better for your feet if you are going to wear heels. I don’t really wear them much anymore except for special occasions. However, I don’t mind a clunky heel on a boot. And while we are talking about boots…

4. Boots, boots, boots – Ankle boots, calf high boots, knee high boots and cowboy boots. All kinds of boots. I love boots and wear them most of the time from Fall thru Spring. I would wear them in the summer if it wasn’t so hot!

My favorite pair of cowboy boots from Ariat..

5. Clothing- 70’s style, boho, fringes, suede, knits(oh no not these again), crocheted vests like this one Ladies Bohemian Beaded Crocheted Camel Color Vest and flared pants. Although they did mention a good white oxford shirt is going to be big this fall. Personally, I didn’t know it ever went out of style. Oh, and I even hesitate to put this in print..turtlenecks..yes, I said it. I really, really dislike turtlenecks.

6. Statement jewelry – Bigs earrings, Chunky necklaces and bracelets. For more beautiful jewelry please check out my website at www.mysilpada.com/renee.stambaugh

CFALL15_Catalog_MRK46

7. Lipstick – Red, Red, Red..all shades of red. Mary Kay has some beautiful ones. Check out my friend Becky’s Mary Kay page. www.mary.com/BeckyGohn

8. Nail color – Plums, blues, copper and all metallics. My favorite nail polish is Essie and here is essie Nail Color, Metallics, Good as Gold for you to check out.

9. Jeans – they are showing flares again and also high waist. Not a fan of either one. I do like a boot cut for when I am wearing boots. But really I like skinny jeans for my knee high boots. The boots fit over the jeans so much better. I am not talking about jeans so skinny they cut off your circulation. My jeans have stretch in them and they really do stretch. Believe me there are times I think they may burst after a big meal.

And last but not least..

10. I know this isn’t a fashion trend, but it is a trend and one I will definitely embrace. Wine in cans – yes you heard me. Who doesn’t love this? My favorite 2015 trend of all!

Happy Fall!!

flipflopwine-livermore-283-print

23Jul/15

“Shop Till You Drop”

Fashion, Humor, Lifestyle, , ,

Or run out of money…

Mom%20Rhonda%20and%20me_0001

As far back as I can remember I have loved to shop. It all began sometime in the early 50’s, Mom would take me and then me and my sister Rhonda downtown every Friday night. We would go to the Bon Ton Tea Room for dinner and “shop till we dropped”. Then happy and fulfilled and loaded down with shopping bags, we would head home on the bus. Thus began my love of shopping.

It still continues, this obsession with shopping. It is my therapy. My thing. Everyone has something, I have shopping. I absolutely love it. I know there are a lot of people who hate shopping, but I’m sure they have something like it in their lives. I have friends these days that get a box full of items sent to them with tops, bottoms and accessories all in the box. Bam! Everything you could possibly need in one box. But what’s the fun in that? Half the fun is in the find! You can quote me on that one.

I usually go with someone, a friend or my daughter. It’s more fun with someone, it’s a social thing. And you have someone that can either talk you out of or into buying something, We got this love of shopping from Mom, it’s her fault we spend. She didn’t  drink, smoke or play cards or anything that women from her day did, she shopped. And she loved it. She passed that love onto me, my sister Rhonda, my nieces and my daughters and now even my grand daughter. My youngest daughter isn’t as obsessed as the oldest and myself, but she does have her moments. They just aren’t as frequent as ours.

Since I am not working I don’t have the excuse of needing new outfits for work. I am trying to simplify and declutter. So the whole shopping thing is not nearly as much fun. When you don’t have an excuse and also don’t have as much money you have to look for a new way to enjoy your “therapy.” My new plan is to carry the items I find and love around the entire time I’m in the store, enjoy it, picture myself wearing it and then put them back before leaving the store. I pretend I am buying them and don’t actually spend the money. It is working so far. I’ve only tried it one time…

Buying things you don’t need or don’t really have the money for is stressful. The short term thrill isn’t worth the depression or regret later. I have been thinking about this since I recently saw an article about “why we have the need to shop”. A few clinical psychologists have done research and found that reason we shop and buy things is a need for a social connection or relationship in one form or another. Also it is known to be a form of anxiety relief. Someone going through a crisis or life transition will shop to release the tension and stressors. (at least until the bill comes due)

The same doctors or whatever they were, went on to say that shopping can be addictive.(duh) And they saw spikes in dopamine activity in the group they were testing. It is especially so when it comes to bargain hunters and events like Black Friday sales. So at least I have a reason and a good one at that, for my love of shopping. It is somewhat comforting to know I have a clinical affliction and therefore can’t help myself from buying that new purse.

It isn’t just women who love to shop, while they are probably the ones that do it the most, there are a lot of men who love to shop too. They just shop for different things…cars, tools, car parts and many kinds of collectable items, like old baseball cards. My son loves tools and would buy them every day if his wife would let him. Seriously..tools?

I also read that successful people wear the same thing every day. Einstein wore grey suits. Steve Jobs wore a black turtleneck. And Mark Zuckerberg wears a tee shirt and jeans every single day. Notice there were no women on this list, I guess it must be a “man thing.” They really have no need to shop and can easily pick items from their closets each morning without stressing about “what to wear.” Again, what’s the fun in that?

And so I’m simplifying and decluttering and not buying as much(well not quite as much). The getting rid of things part is a whole other thing and hard. How do I get rid of that leather jacket I wore to the Aerosmith concert? But, I’ll tell you one thing, I will not give up shopping. You will see me, a little old lady on my scooter, scooting around Walmart, shopping till I drop. On second thought….no, I just can’t do Walmart, no matter how old I am. It will have to be TJMaxx.

Ok, I’ll admit it… my name is Renee and I’m a “Shopaholic”….

 

01Apr/15

In Search Of….

Fashion

No this isn’t a personal ad!!

  1. As far back as I can remember I have been in search of something. It all started in grade school with the hair thing. I wanted straight hair. I slept with empty cans in my hair(well can’t say I really slept). Hair looked great, the exact straight look I wanted..that is until I walked out the door. By the way, I am still in search of this…

    Then in high school it was a coat. Not just “a” coat, a Chesterfield Coat. It took forever to find just the right one. Mom was just about done with me when we finally found it! It was black and white tweed with a black velvet collar. Success! High school was also officially the beginning of my obsession with shoes. It started with a pair of Capezio shoes. I had to have them, everyone did but me. My parents wouldn’t get them for me since the were very expensive. I had to babysit to earn the money and buy them myself. I finally did…Twin button, black leather Capezios.  I had a few other pairs after that, but none of them could compare with those very first ones I got with my own hard earned money. I still remember how they smelled and they way they conformed to my feet. I loved those shoes..they were perfect! i don’t think I have ever found a pair that I loved as much as these shoes.

    It still remains, the shoe thing, only now I have added a “boot thing” to it. Just recently I was “in search of” the perfect pair of brown boots. Not just brown, mind you, I wanted cognac. You see I already had brown ones. I also had brown cowboy boots. But neither of them were the right shade of brown I was looking for. I searched for months, online and in stores when I was in the malls for work. I finally found them! They were on sale and the last pair, the ones on the display. It was meant to be. The perfect color I had been looking for. I have yet to wear them, but I have the color I need, if I do.

    Don’t get me started on purses. I am in constant search of the perfect purse. There are things I want and need in a purse and can never find the exact one I am looking for. I need a certain amount of pockets. I need it to feel a certain way, smell a certain way(I know, I know) and hang a certain way on my arm or shoulder. Somehow I can never find all of these things wrapped up into one bag. I have been in search of a turquoise colored bag since last summer. It had to be the perfect shade of blue and I never found it. I was bound and determined to find it this year and I finally did. it just came yesterday and it is the perfect shade, just what I had been looking for. I can’t wait to start using it.

    Clothes…I wore leggings to my recent job. I was constantly bending while merchandising the cases and they seemed to work well for me. We had to wear black for work and so I was in constant search of the perfect black leggings. They were either to short, too long, too saggy, too tight…you get the picture. I was cleaning out my closet last week and counted 15 pairs of leggings..black leggings.

    So yes, “Houston, we have a problem”. I am aware of it. I know I have a problem. Clothes, purses, shoes, boots, makeup…Oh yeah, makeup. There “is” one thing I have been in search of my whole life and have yet to find… It is the perfect lipstick. Not just the right color, the right texture and consistency too! I found a few over the years but sadly they were discontinued…of course. So I am still “In search of” the perfect one.

    I am not sure what all of this says about me, as a matter of fact, I don’t even want to know..or care. I guess I will always be “in search of” something and that’s ok.

    What are you “in search of”?