Here we Go
I am pround to report that I have made it through the first month of my pledge to stop buying new clothing. I had one tiny slip with the fleece top , but other than that all is well. I was in Ann Arbor over the weekend and it was VERY hard to avoid my favorite shops like Vintage to Vouge and couple new ones I spotted on State street. 
It has been a real introspective month on the subject of excess for me. It's not like I have a ton of overage, and don't have any clothes with tags still on hanging in the closet, but I can say that I have things that Ive never worn. When I stop to analyze the appearance aspect of dressing I have come to accept the "Age Appropriate" aspect of fashion. Case in point. While at a Pistons game recently I had a great time People Watching. It is MY favorite sport. (Bob's is basketball). What I experienced was a painful embarrassment for so many of the women I saw that I believed where my age or abouts. Too much makeup, too tight of "skinny jeans", too high of heels, blingy purses, fur vests, some wearing it all at the same time. Some of these items are fine on a stand alone basis, but too much of a good thing is sad. Trinny and Suzanna said it best with "mutton dressed as lamb". It is SO hard to accept that we are not 30yo any more and cannot wear the "new best thing", it's time to step away from the idea that we can BUY our youth.
With the help of some wonderful blogs for the over forty gals I have rediscovered skirts and dresses for casual wear. Not relying on jeans all the time and as a result I am more comfortable physically and visually. I don't have to tug at my waistline after sitting down because the rise is too low(even when we try to buy medium rise jeans they are cutting in at the waist when sitting). I actively look for low heel shoes that are stylish yet comfy(not easy), and accessories that will update my currant wardrobe.
Here is a project I have worked on this week to alter a skirt I have had for at least 5 years and as I often do bought two in different colors at the same time. So the camel one on top I altered a couple weeks ago and the black one is now also finished. They needed to be shortened, tapered down to a pencil skirt thereby raising the waist so it did not sit on my hips. I know that I am fortunate to be a sewer but you can find a tailor or seamstress in your area that will do the same for less than a new skirt or if not less at least you are not buying "new" and reusing what you already have.
In the coming weeks I will be reusing some blouses from my closet in new ways and am looking forward to the projects of sewing creativity that I have discovered on the blogs I visit. Here is a list of the new blogs I have discovered for fashion over forty.
Enjoy these, they can take you to many others, but look out before you know it a couple hours have gone by................
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