Happy New Year!

Dress Codes

I love these dress code pictures! They make dressing appropriately so much easier.

Merry Christmas!

How To Wear Jeans and Tall Boots

If you don't own a pair of skinny jeans, this shows you how to fold jeans so you can wear knee high boots with them.

"The Secret of Change"

Jeans and Jacket

Adding pink accessories and a lace shell turns this simple jeans and jacket into a pretty outfit that can be worn almost anywhere.

Generations of Barbie Dolls

Barbie dolls have come a long way since 1959.

Tips for Timeless Fashion

Christian Dior - 1959

Sofia Loren

What's Important

The Prime Minister of Iceland

Get Up!

Hello December!

Vintage Barbie Doll Cases

Shop Small Businesses This Christmas

Support your local businesses. Keep your hard earned money in your community.

September 1956 Vogue

Marilyn Monroe

Lee Radziwell

I Pinned this photo of Lee Radziwill, sister of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, on my "Vintage Fashions and Accessories" Pinterest board. My account is synced to my Kentucky Fashion Twitter account so most of my Pins show up as Tweets too.  Lee Radziwill notified me that she has placed my Tweet in her "Favorites" on Twitter! I feel so honored to be noticed by such a beautiful icon of style.

Christian Dior-1958

Necklace Lengths by Name

So True

November Facebook Posts

1. My husband and I attended a fundraiser last night in a beautiful hotel ballroom. I was distracted by a young woman at a nearby table. She took a piece of bread and threw it across the table at a gentleman. She was drinking wine like Kool-Aid. She had her elbows on the table. Instead of putting her coat in the "Coat Check," she had wadded it up and thrown it on the floor. When she was ready to leave (the event was not over and someone was speaking), she put her coat on while still sitting at the table. She pulled a huge tote bag from under the table and took a fuzzy scarf out of it. She flung it over the table as she put it on. She had been flipping her long hair over the food all evening. She should have waited until she was outside of the ballroom to put on her coat. I'm sure her dining companions were glad to see her leave. If anyone would like to improve their manners or teach others about social etiquette, there are numerous YouTube videos available as well as Etiquette books in libraries, book stores and Amazon.com.

2. Occasionally I have conversations with male friends. A few of them have said that they have been embarrassed at times because their wives didn't put forth any effort to look nice when they went somewhere together. One man told me that he tried to walk a few steps ahead of his wife so no one would know she was with him. He felt very ashamed of himself for doing that. Men like to be envied by other men. Some of my gentlemen readers may not agree but it's true. Ladies, take more time for yourselves, especially when you are attending a special event with your husband or boyfriend. You are a reflection of him and it will make him feel good to have you on his arm. You are also a reflection of your business or position in the community. Looking worn out and wearing old, ill fitting clothing will make you feel bad and it will show on your face. When you look nice and put together, it increases your self-confidence. Your guy will feel that too and he will be proud to have you with him.

3. While at the dry cleaners yesterday I asked how much it would cost to have my rain coat treated to repel water. He said it was only $4.25. The water repellant will keep the rain and snow from penetrating the fibers of your coat so you will stay dryer. When you get your coat back from the cleaners put a pair of gloves in the pockets and a warm scarf over the hanger. You will be ready to go in an instant because you won't spend time looking for your gloves and scarf.

4. When you go shopping and find a garment, shoes, etc. that really fits and suits your lifestyle, consider buying more than one. If I didn't buy in "multiples" I wouldn't have a very versatile wardrobe. You probably know by now what works f...or your lifestyle and shape so if your budget will allow it always buy "one to wash and one to wear." Instead of buying something in every color it might be better for you to buy two of the two colors that are the most becoming and coordinate with other things in your wardrobe.

Job Interview Outfits

The LBD

Designer Shopping Bags

What a neat way to display designer shopping bags. A framed collection like this is perfect for a bathroom, bedroom or dressing area.

Leggings.......

Monogram and Pearls

I love this simple look. The white monogram on the white shirt is subtle but lovely. The single strand of pearls adds a touch of class. This combination can be worn with dark jeans, slacks of any color, Bermuda shorts or a sexy, black pencil skirt and heels. If this look works for you, buy another so you have "one to wash and one to wear."

Happy Halloween!

Halloween!

Vintage Cocktail Ensemble

This is from the late 1940's in Berlin, Germany.

How to Style Riding Boots

Leather Trends Blog Post

I found this via Nina Garcia on Twitter:  
http://editd.com/blog/2013/10/leather-trends-aw13/

Lipstick Etiquette

I was taught that it's impolite to put my lipstick on at the dinner table. I was told to excuse myself from the table and reapply in the restroom. I'm sorry to say that I have not followed those instructions but I will now.  I was also taught to blot off my lipstick before taking a drink from a glass.  I'm sorry to say that I don't do that either but now I will. I found these etiquette tips on a blog so I thought I would share.

•It’s bad manners to apply lipstick in public. Rather than put on your gloss at the restaurant table or at your desk in the office, it’s best to excuse yourself and touch up in the ladies room.
•One should never apply so much lipstick it comes off on the stemware. Which is kind of hard to tell when you’re applying – I mean even a little bit can come off. I see where they’re going with this though, it’s kind of nasty to see someone’s big red lipstick stains on glasses. Always blot before you drink ladies.
•Don’t leave your lipstick blotted napkins and tissues on the restaurant or dinner party table for all to see. Discreetly fold it up and put it in your pocket or purse if you’re not near a trash receptacle.
 

Read more: http://www.thegloss.com/2008/05/02/fashion/lipstick-etiquette/#ixzz2hw75qu9x

Breast Cancer and Alcohol

I found this information on the "Susan B. Komen" website. I've edited it down to just the basics then added the calorie count for 7 drinks per week.

"Drinking alcohol in moderation – Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" (March 2011)

How much is one drink of alcohol?
Different types of alcoholic beverages contain different amounts of alcohol. One drink is defined as 0.6 ounces of alcohol, or:
...•12 ounces of beer (one bottle or can)
•5 ounces of wine (one glass)
•1.5 ounces of liquor (one shot)

7 beers per week=721 calories
7 shots of liquor per week=679 calories
7 servings of liqueur per week=1155 calories
7 glasses of wine per week=875 calories
7 Martinis per week=868 calories

Alcohol and breast cancer risk:
Having even just a few alcoholic drinks each week appears to modestly increase the risk of breast cancer. And, the more a woman drinks, the higher her risk of breast cancer appears to be. A pooled analysis of data from 53 studies found for each alcoholic drink consumed per day, breast cancer risk increased by about seven percent. Women who had two to three alcoholic drinks per day had a 20 percent higher risk of breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.

Why does alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer?
There are several ways that alcohol may play a role in breast cancer. Alcohol contains a lot of calories (and few nutrients). Among adults in the U.S., alcohol ranks fifth in top sources of calories. So, many of us are getting a lot of calories from alcohol and those extra calories can lead to excess weight and weight gain. The excess weight, in turn, can increase our risk of breast cancer. Heavier women tend to have higher blood levels of estrogen and higher levels of estrogen are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

However, in studies that assessed the link between alcohol and breast cancer risk, alcohol was found to increase risk independent of (by means not related to) body weight. One reason may be that, alcohol affects the way the body processes estrogen, causing estrogen levels to rise. These different effects of alcohol on estrogen in the body explain how it increases breast cancer risk.

Does drinking alcohol affect risk of recurrence or mortality for breast cancer survivors?
As we get older, heart health becomes especially important. This is true for everyone, including breast cancer survivors. We do not yet know if drinking alcohol in moderation has health benefits for breast cancer survivors. Study results are mixed. Some studies show no increased risk of breast cancer recurrence or breast cancer mortality, while others show a slight increase in risk.

Conclusions
No one should ever drink alcohol in excess. Drinking more than one drink per day (for women) and more than two drinks per day (for men) has no health benefits and many serious health risks, including breast cancer. However, if you drink only low to moderate amounts of alcohol, there can be some health benefits, especially for your heart. If you currently drink alcohol only in moderation, weighing these risks and benefits can help you make informed choices.

Susan Hankinson, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School offers this advice. “Moderate alcohol intake is one lifestyle factor well documented to have varying health effects in women – the increase in breast cancer risk and decrease in heart disease risk are both very well confirmed. Until we learn more about the mechanism, and possible ways to limit or eliminate the small increase in breast cancer risk with alcohol use, it will be important for individual women to weigh these risks and benefits.”

So Pretty for Fall

October Is...

"Overdressed" by Elizabeth L. Cline

Copied from Amazon.com

 

"Until recently, Elizabeth Cline was a typical American consumer. She’d grown accustomed to shopping at outlet malls, discount stores like T.J. Maxx, and cheap but trendy retailers like Forever 21, Target, and H&M. She was buying a new item of clothing almost every week (the national average is sixty-four per year) but all she had to show for it was a closet and countless storage bins packed full of low-quality fads she barely wore—including the same sailor-stripe tops and fleece hoodies as a million other shoppers. When she found herself lugging home seven pairs of identical canvas flats from Kmart (a steal at $7 per pair, marked down from $15!), she realized that something was deeply wrong.

Cheap fashion has fundamentally changed the way most Americans dress. Stores ranging from discounters like Target to traditional chains like JCPenney now offer the newest trends at unprecedentedly low prices. Retailers are pro­ducing clothes at enormous volumes in order to drive prices down and profits up, and they’ve turned clothing into a disposable good. After all, we have little reason to keep wearing and repairing the clothes we already own when styles change so fast and it’s cheaper to just buy more.

But what are we doing with all these cheap clothes? And more important, what are they doing to us, our society, our environment, and our economic well-being?

In Overdressed, Cline sets out to uncover the true nature of the cheap fashion juggernaut, tracing the rise of budget clothing chains, the death of middle-market and independent retail­ers, and the roots of our obsession with deals and steals. She travels to cheap-chic factories in China, follows the fashion industry as it chases even lower costs into Bangladesh, and looks at the impact (both here and abroad) of America’s drastic increase in imports. She even explores how cheap fashion harms the charity thrift shops and textile recyclers where our masses of cloth­ing castoffs end up.

Sewing, once a life skill for American women and a pathway from poverty to the middle class for workers, is now a dead-end sweatshop job. The pressures of cheap have forced retailers to drastically reduce detail and craftsmanship, making the clothes we wear more and more uniform, basic, and low quality. Creative inde­pendent designers struggle to produce good and sustainable clothes at affordable prices.

Cline shows how consumers can break the buy-and-toss cycle by supporting innovative and stylish sustainable designers and retailers, refash­ioning clothes throughout their lifetimes, and mending and even making clothes themselves."

 

This book is available on amazon.com and on Kindle.

"Swing" Coats

I think Swing coats are perfect for layering over winter clothes.   This is a beautiful Vintage coat but there are many new styles available for purchase right now.
1960s Lilli Ann raspberry swing coat USA - http://pinterest.com/pin/272467846179446531/

Pinterest Link

Please check out my pin boards on my Pinterest account:
www.pinterest.com/kentuckyfashion

So Cute!

Crossing Your Legs

I was taught to cross my legs like Sofia Loren in this photo. I think it is much more flattering than the way most women cross their legs. You should never move the crossed leg up and down while sitting. Keep your legs together like this an...d keep them still. Sophia Loren goes a little further. She lifts her legs just a little bit. She says it keeps them from looking fat. She is photographed so much I suppose that is an issue for her.

Hosiery

I think our knees look better and slimmer when we wear hosiery. I've noticed in most of the pictures of Kate Middleton that she is wearing hose, usually in a "body match" shade. I think sheer to the waist pantyhose are the most comfortable. You can wear a control brief under or over them for tummy control if you need to. Hose also keep your shoes from rubbing the delicate skin on your feet, creating corns and callouses. Hose also make you look more "dressed." I'm weary of the bare leg look. Showing every vein, freckle and imperfection does not contribute to a cohesive look.

September Facebook Posts

You know those perfume samples that are stuck in most fashion magazine pages? Don't throw them away. Open them and put a few in your car and closet to freshen the air with a very light scent.

Buy your shoes first when shopping for a special event. Your foot comfort is very important if you have to do a lot of walking or standing. It's also important if you plan to dance the night away!

On page 56 in the October issues of "More" magazine there is an article entitled "Is Your Makeup Aging You?" by Holly Crawford. She starts with "What Ages You" then "What Turns Back Time" as the answer. There are three pages of good advice. "More" magazine is for women over 40 who want to keep up with their health and beauty as they age.

If you find a garment that fits but you don't like the fabric, you can use it as a pattern. Buy fabric that you like and take it to a seamstress or sew it yourself. I've talked to two women who have done that and they love their new creations.

Most people don't understand how celebrities manage to look so wonderful on the Red Carpet. They have "people" who take care of their appearance from head to toe. Hairdressers, manicurists, cosmetic surgeons, personal trainers, yoga instructors, dieticians, nutritionists, personal stylist with connections to high end designers, personal assistants, nannies...the list goes on. The average American woman doesn't have the resources or the ability to devote so much time and energy to looking their best.  I can give you the contact info for people who can help you with a make over or a special event.  E-mail me:  kentuckyfashion@gmail.com

Job Interview Tips

If you or someone you know will be applying for seasonal work at Walmart or other retailers, here is some advice. First go to "Google" and learn the history of the business from the beginning to today. Make sure your clothes are clean and press them with an iron to make an even better impression. Take a shower, use deodorant, wash and style your hair and brush your teeth. Wear very little make... up. Pants should not be too tight around the bottom, skirts should come to the knee if not longer. Tops should not reveal any cleavage or belly AT ALL!!!! Clean and polish your shoes. Don't wear perfume or cologne. Put your hands in your lap and keep them there. If you "talk with your hands" it could be distracting to the interviewer. Don't talk about family problems in an attempt to gain their sympathy. Look the interviewer in the eye and keep your answers to their questions brief and to the point. Don't talk about your previous employment in a negative way. They will assume you will trash their company too when you leave. If you get the job, arrive 10 minutes before time to clock in. Don't talk about the company or it's employees to co-workers. Look your customers in the eye, smile and act like you care that they have taken the time to come into "your" store. Keep your work area clean and neat even if it's "not your job." Greet your supervisors when you arrive and ask how they are doing. After they say "fine" etc., stop there and don't tell them how you are doing unless they ask. IF they ask say "very well...thank you for asking." End the conversation there and get to work. Come back from meal breaks early. Don't start looking at your watch or horrors...your phone...an hour before you get off work. It would be best to not have your phone on you while at work. Nothing is more annoying than to see someone on your time clock using their phone. Ask your supervisor if there is anything they would like for you to do before you clock out. Don't hang out after you clock out and talk to people who are still clocked in. If you see trash on the floor pick it up. Flush the toilets that need it and wipe off the basins when you use the restroom. Make people feel good by complimenting them in some way. Never have a "pity party" at work. It will prompt your coworkers to do the same then everyone will get depressed. If you are a cheerful, helpful, part-time employee you might impress the supervisor enough to recommend you for permanent work with benefits! Be the best worker you can be if for no other reason than the good feeling you will have each time you clock out.

Beauty Is...

Plus Size Jeans Fit Guide

Everything you ever wanted to know about plus size jeans.

http://thecurvyfashionista.com/2013/09/plus-size-jeans-guide-the-fit-style-guide/

Be Thankful

When I hear women criticizing their bodies it really bothers me. Not for the typical reasons but something much deeper. I've known women who have lost breasts and parts of their faces to cancer. I've seen women in the military that have lost limbs. I wish women could make peace with their bodies and invest in nice clothes that fit them properly. Stop looking at what you feel is wrong and start counting the blessings of your healthy, functioning body.

Keep a Hammer in Your Car!

I caused a bit of a ruckus today at Kroger's. When I got out of my car I noticed a beautiful Bird dog in the car next to mine. The windows were rolled up and the doors locked. As I stood there deciding what to do, a gentleman saw the look on my face and came right over saying "is that a dog in that car?" I said "yes" and then realized the car was running. He told me to call 911 but I told him I wa...s going in and ask the people at the Service Desk to make an announcement over the PA system first. He said he would stay with the dog. I went inside and saw the Kroger employee cashing a check for a woman. The man behind the counter asked to help me and I said "Someone left a dog in their car and the motor is running." The women next to me said "That's MY dog and he's FINE!" She waved the money at me and said to the person behind the counter "what........I've been in her maybe 3 minutes?" All three of us said in unison "You NEVER leave an animal in the car when it's so hot!!!!!" She got louder and more abrasive and said the AC was on and there was a bowl of water in the car. I said "I don't care...you NEVER leave an animal or child in the car like that!" She stormed off after telling me that she does it all the time and she didn't have time to take the dog back home before she ran her errands. I went to the door to see what was going on and the gentleman that had been at the car was coming in the store with a man and woman. They all had pained expressions on their faces. The gentleman said "Can you believe that woman used the F word on me and told me to stay out of her business?" The other couple said the same thing, so the woman must have cursed at all three of them. Then the gentleman said "She's mad because she knows were are right and she is wrong."

I keep a hammer in the trunk of my car. If I see an elderly or disabled person, a child, an infant or an animal locked up in a car on a hot day, I won't wait for the police if the situation is critical.

White Shirt and Jeans

This is such an easy look to put together. It can be dressed up with black heels, a black jacket and a string of pearls. It can be jazzed up with a big statement necklace, leopard print shoes and a brown leather belt with a large buckle.... If you roll up the sleeves it will always look chic and modern. Men's white shirts are usually better quality than women's. If the shirt tail is too long just tie it at your waist or tuck it in. If you want a dressier look, choose dark wash jeans instead. Add lots of small bracelets or a big cuff style bracelet after you've rolled up the sleeves. If you wear a jacket then turn back the cuffs on the shirt over the sleeves of the jacket. Medium size hoop earrings look best with this outfit if you wear glasses. Dangling style earrings are too formal so pearl or diamond stud earrings work well too.