Fashionista

Entry: Would You Wear Printed Rain Boots?

posted by chasing pavements

Feb 13, 2008 1:02PM

I've gotten more compliments on the rose-print rain boots I bought for 15 euros in Venice than almost anything else I own. But for me, it's about needing to cheer myself up on rainy days.

For us snowbound girls in the Midwest, however, there's another issue altogether, and that's snow boots. Try finding something that's warm and waterproof and not clunky... harder than you think! Any suggestions, anyone?

And P.S., yes, Midwestern university girls still wear Uggs ... with their sweats or jeans tucked in ... that trend, it seems, shall never die.

Entry: "You suffering from buyer's remorse or something?" "God no, nothing like that."

posted by chasing pavements

Feb 23, 2008 5:40PM

I was going to begin this with "Sorry, but" but the fact is that I'm not sorry at all for saying that this is wrong. It doesn't matter the reason - prom, a job interview, whatever - it's not okay to buy something and wear it for an event with the intention of returning it. (And it's not "renting" - that would be if you paid a sum of money that you didn't get back. When you get a full refund, it's more like, oh, stealing.)

This practice has nothing to do with people who return clothes because they don't fit, don't match what they need, whatever. That's the reason return policies exist - for things that come up.

To everyone who thinks they're the one that takes great care of a garment they wear, be aware that retail employees have seen it before and they're not easily fooled. Formal wear is particularly suspicious (and likely to get a couple sniffs), and it's easy to tell if shoes have been worn, too. There's all kinds of signs. And then do you know what happens? It's "damaged out," which means that it's sent back and no one can purchase it, and the company doesn't just lose the money that you spent, but also the initial outlay of purchasing an item they can no longer sell.

(And I could tell you stories about how audacious people are with returning things - we would usually take them and damage them out if we thought the customer was going to put up a fuss even though they had gone beyond our 30-day policy - the worst I ever saw was lice on a returned bra. Thanks, lady.)

I'm just kind of surprised at the sense of entitlement people have about getting a suit or a dress for a special occasion. Whatever happened to saving or making do?

Entry: Would You Wear No Makeup?

posted by chasing pavements

Feb 28, 2008 9:39PM

Makeup separates at-home me from out-in-the-world me. It might only be some nude eyeshadow, a swipe of mascara, and my go-to lipstick, but it makes me feel like I'm putting energy into looking good, and when I know I look good, not only do I feel good, but I don't worry about my appearance.

Moreover, I've long since learned that people will judge you on your appearance whether you take care of yourself or not, so best to put in a little effort. I know that sounds shallow, but appearances do matter, at least as first impressions are concerned.

That said, I'm currently in academia, and looking like a china doll is far worse, appearance-wise, than going without altogether. Sometimes I notice that paying attention to my clothes, makeup and hair attracts way more attention than it would in other workplaces - and even if I'm complimented on stuff, I feel like I'm also taken less seriously because I care about these "frivolous," "feminine" things.

But enough about my job.

Entry: Mar 06, 2008 @ 4:00pm

posted by chasing pavements

Mar 07, 2008 5:29PM

guest @ 1:00 PM

Shoshanna is designed for busty women, I hear.

Entry: DIY: Paint Bucket

posted by chasing pavements

Mar 20, 2008 12:58PM

My vote is definitely for cute: these look great!

Entry: Adventures in Copyrights: Why We Still Do It

posted by chasing pavements

Aug 18, 2008 12:47PM

Here's why the tone of Adventures in Copyrights has always bothered me:

Some of us don't have a lot of choices. I used to live in New York, but now I live in a college town in the Midwest, and my shopping choices are largely limited to the typical mall stores and a handful of small boutiques. There's no sample sales, no Nordstrom's Rack, no Tokio 7, no good thrift stores, no Woodbury Common (I wish!). There's not even a Banana Republic. I know I can snag clothes online, but that's more expensive and more difficult.

The other thing is that, while I follow fashion, I don't have time to look at every slide of every collection on Style.com. (If I had my dream job in fashion, maybe ...) I read Fashionista and a couple other blogs and I buy magazines, but unlike some readers, I don't have an infinite memory for pieces I've seen. Which means that when copied things trickle down to F21, I may not have ever seen the original, or I may have forgotten I did.

And lastly: price. I'm a grad student; I'm not in the market for designer anything if I don't find it on my yearly pilgrimage to Loehmann's. I don't think I'm taking away from anyone because the fact of the matter is, I'm not in the market for a $600 skirt. Maybe one day ... but right now, I'm just not.

I would love to support small designers, but at the price points most of them have, I can't. And I understand that they can't lower their price points, either, that those high prices are necessary for survival.

In the meantime, I don't seek out knockoffs, but if I accidentally wear one, I have a hard time feeling really guilty over it.

Entry: Adventures in Copyrights: Why We Still Do It

posted by chasing pavements

Aug 18, 2008 1:57PM

#33: Yeah, it does make me the target audience. That's why I didn't say I was against the idea of Adventures in Copyright, but rather the condescending tone it sometimes takes.

And we technically don't have a big F21 where I live, but rather a Gadzooks. I've never had luck with Old Navy; most of the clothes I've gotten from there fall apart really quickly.