Through K's Eyes

Crewsing Thru My 50's has a great guide to determining your personal perfect skirt length, depending on whether (and by how much) you are short-shinned or long-shinned. I measured as 16.5" upper leg and 14.5" lower leg, a 2" difference, which means that my ideal skirt length is 1 inch above my knee. I have no intention of giving up or hemming all of my skirts and shorts that don't fall perfectly proportionate, though. While 1 inch above the knee is perfectly modest for me, I also like midi-length skirts and much shorter shorts (3-5" inseam). This does explain why that one pair of too-short capris that hit just below my knee was so awkward-looking.

 I disagree with many assertions in A Pair & a Spare's Wardrobe Rehab series. Namely: mostly neutrals is boring even with punches of color, and it's wasteful to throw out unworn closet orphans unless you really can't learn to make them work (meaning, actually try to style them before ditching them). And, honestly, I'm not a fan of her style aesthetic; it's too French hipster. Bodysuits, bodycon dresses, high-waisted pants or shorts, and a leather jacket = pieces of clothing that I will happily never own in my life, in all likelihood.

Lest you think me too critical, I'd describe my own style as a schizophrenic mutant child of ultra-feminine and preppy. I like vintage and nautical in small doses (for instance, Anthro's Gull Wing Dress, but only in the solid plum colorway) and cardigans are an amazing layering tool for someone whose blood runs cold; but I've never been able to pull off a blazer, and I hate shirtdresses. My favorite Anthropologie pieces are fitted, girly tops and large watercolor florals. And half of their skirts and dresses, excepting pencil skirts and shirtdresses. Anthro shift dresses, whether structured or shapeless, are my personal form of torture... cf. Splashed Palette Dress (which appears to fit only tall hourglass/rectangle figures with large busts), Artist's Rendering Dress (even the 4 is tight on my waist and absolutely huge on my chest), Diamond Lattice Dress (which ought to work on me but didn't).

However, I do like the idea of keeping a "good" pile when culling the closet, then assessing this pile to determine what does work for your personal style. I hate pulling things off my hangers, but I'm going to do a similar mental and visual assessment:

girly patterns
cool colors (e.g. blues, purples, greens)
to be continued!

For some reason, every style guide I've ever read assumes that if a woman 1) is petite, and 2) has narrow hips, then 3) she must have a lovely, small waist just waiting to be shown off. Uh, no?

My present measurements are 28.5" waist, 34" hips. That's with "hips" verging dangerously close to the top of my thighs, rather than my actual hipbone. And on every retail size chart I've seen, including those of high-end designers, I have a size 6 waist but size 0 hips. Did I mention my (realistically) 32AA chest?

Yep, I'm pretty much cut like a pre-pubescent girl. But I'm not a tiny petite, either; recently I tried on a blouse at Ann Taylor LOFT in size XXSP, and the armholes were too tight.

What to do? For now, I'm buying more belts and bravely trying out this defined-waist look, although I've been self-conscious about my tummy pooch since before puberty (my little sister has the exact same shape, so I suspect it's inherited from my dad). I've even considered defining myself as an apple, but my ribcage and hips are just barely larger than my middle--plus, whoever heard of a 120 lb., size 2 apple figure?

EDIT: Newsflash! The beautiful and tiny Chloe of The Chloe Conspiracy recently described herself as, in fact, a size 2 apple figure! And her term, "Buddha-belly," is exactly spot-on for me. Would be so weird if we were size twins, since her blog is VERY well-read in the blogosphere and I've just ventured out of lurkdom.

I vaguely recall someone else with 27-35 measurements who described herself as straight-figured/no-waist. That was kind of depressing, since I fluctuate between 28-33 and 29-34. Chloe is literally THE only person I've met (online, obviously, since fruit shape and measurements aren't exactly dinner conversation 'round my parts) who has identified as an apple shape and not also plus-sized or even in the upper range of normal sizes.

This is my fifth and last week in rural Canada before I return to civilization. Tonight I had to attend a 50's themed dance party, and I hadn't had the chance to go shopping (i.e. thrifting, because the closest mall is 30-45 minutes away and I don't have a car) for appropriate attire. At the last minute, I took off the tights I'd worn under a navy jersey dress and layered a cream ruffle skirt underneath the dress as a mini-crinoline. Topped with my charcoal gray peacoat and a quick tie of a scarf that I'd thrifted in a previous week to the amazing Frenchy's^, I was ready to go.

^Other things I've thrifted from Frenchy's since arriving in Canada include a J.Crew Costine sweater, Ralph Lauren polo, Banana Republic striped tank, NWT Express black satin tank, and a gorgeous seafoam-green vintage silk scarf. Everything is sold in giant bins and priced by item type, no markups for brand names. There are often premium brand jeans, too, although I'm hard to fit in pants so I didn't take a look.

Being on vacation with a limited wardrobe--that wasn't particularly well-packed, as I was in a hurry--and I didn't have a good sense of the finicky, rainy spring weather in Nova Scotia--means that I've had to be creative (and, at times, just repeat super-casual outfits) with my style. For instance, I paired a mustard yellow J.Crew Costine sweater, oversized and the first yellow clothing item I can remember purchasing, with navy Aeropostale sweats. And y'know, it worked.

This time around, I love the look of this skirt as a crinoline/slip, especially since I've wanted to own a slip for a while now. (It's on the same impractical-clothing-items wishlist as a corset.) It was a random NY&Co purchase while at school--my friend owns a twin--but has proven to be quite versatile. The matching self-belt is held on by real belt loops and easily detached; it looks great as a ribbon belt over this same solid jersey dress. Plus, the skirt is fun and flirty by itself, has snap buttons down the front for interest if I decide to tuck in my top, AND is machine-washable polyester that has held its shape. And now a modern crinoline. All for $20, originally intended as a trendy way to try out ruffles. This is why I continue to shop at New York and Company: I also own a colorblock jersey skirt from several years ago that I've worn to death fabric-wise but STILL get compliments on. I often walk through NY&Co without finding anything that I like, but when pieces work, they really work.

Specs (photo pending, but under terrible lighting):
* J.Crew Drift dress in Shadow
  - currently available in teal Agate, size L (popback)
  - I own it in size XS; I also got the XXS in the same online order for fitting purposes because I am often sized out of J.Crew non-petite tops (and everything else that doesn't involve an accurate waist measurement), but it was a teensy bit smaller in the waist and had the same slightly-too-long bust to shoulder length.
* New York & Company cream ruffle skirt, size 4
* White Mountain Outfitters black leather knee-high boots, size 6
  - ordered from Amazon
  - The leather on these boots is really soft and very easily scratched, but I'm OK with that look. They are super versatile and when they die in a few years--I bought them for pretty cheap, under $30--I am definitely going to pick up another pair of flat black leather knee-high boots. I'd like to find a similar type of pair in brown, too.
* London Fog charcoal gray wool peacoat, size PXS
  - purchased in-store from Macy's, on sale with coupon
  - sleeves actually fit!
* Jones New York silk crepe moss green floral scarf
  - thrifted from Frenchy's for $1

Not pictured:
* Citizen Eco-Drive stainless steel, diamond, and mother-of-pearl watch
  - ~$300, gift from relative, purchased at Kay Jewelers
  - from last year, similar to the Silhouette Diamond but with a rectangular face
  - I adore this watch and wear it every day (though I always wear a watch every day). My skin turns green in the presence of copper, including when mixed into base metals, so the stainless steel strap was a must. It doesn't overwhelm my frame, and since it's link-based, I got it shortened for free to actually fit my 6" wrist. The surface has some scratches because I wear it every day and don't baby it, but the diamonds are all still firmly set in place and so far the no-battery-replacement claim seems to be true.
* Pink floral hair clip holding bun together, gift from relative while visiting in China