Hard core Normcore?

You may have figured out I am trying to open discussion on some of the fashion trends we are seeing today. I love fashion and love to read about it. I cruise all the newspapers I get at work for each morsel. I sometimes find it all shallow, sometimes very provocative and sometimes what the heck. But I like it all and hope you don't mind my sharing these thoughts with you, dear readers.

Yesterdays' conversation was really interesting and I really want to thank all who commented and the way they thoughtfully handled opposing points of view. Whenever I see conversations like that I learn so much and feel better informed. Thank you for that too.

The next fashion trend that I have been reading about a lot is "normcore". The first time I heard the term I was mystified. As I read and learned more I began to realize this is no trend and has existed for years on the American fashion landscape. I mean, how old is that picture of Jerry and the gang? 

From what I have read and seen "normcore" is , from my vista, being as unobtrusive as possible with your fashion "look". It's a blending in with the mob. And personally I think it is pretty boring.  Think Mark Zuckerberg and his never absent hoodies, the late Steve Jobs and the black  turtlenecks. It's people in old jeans, old sneakers, hoodies, and what I would even go so far as to call Dad Jeans. There is lots of grey so the clothes just sort of fade into the woodwork.  They are don't notice me clothes. This is a trend? Maybe for the rich and famous who traditionally leaned more toward couture level garments.  For them this could be a change of style but for the rest of us plebes this style of dress has been around a  loooooooong  time. Think of any college campus you have been to in the last, yikes, fifty plus years. Heck, those campuses were the embryos of the normcore look. 

Vogue News has a great article about normcore which really sums it up like this, "in fashion terms, normcore is all about anonymous, detail free design".  Doesn't sound like much fun sewing that! Actually, this is a real non sewing look, unless you make your own sweatshirts, white tees, and faded  baggy jeans. Where are the bound buttonholes, the bright digital prints, the 20 piece sheath patterns, the stuff sewing addicts enjoy? 

True, an anorak like the jacket above can be a real challenge to make but give me some color, embellishment, or pattern to wake the dang thing up. I guess we get to match plaids in flannel shirts too. That requires skill but wear a neat scarf, hike up that collar, give that shirt some panache. It can be done. But then it wouldn't be normcore. 

What I like about normcore: it is comfy if nothing else. It appears to use tried and true quality garments, those backbone pieces that we just have to own. Take the normcore out of our closets and they will probably be half empty. I think we all have a sub wardrobe of normcore garments. We just accessorize them and give them less ambiguity but they are there. 

What I don't like about normcore: It's been done forever and really not a trend for most of us. It's BORING. I really don't like boring clothes. I don't like sewing them or wearing them. And to be a true normcorist these basics are out of cashmere, fine woolens, Japanese denims, all top quality textiles. Hmmmm, maybe I should put that one into the What I like paragraph. 

Even those Olsen girls are going Normcore. I do love the shoes and white socks. That took a lot of courage or some very cold feet. Nah, still not for me......except maybe on Fridays when I put the trash out. 

Do you agree with me that this is nothing new, pretty boring, and will probably be around forever? That this may just be  a new look for those who could dress much more expensively and with more style? My tired inquisitive mind wants to know........Bunny

Twee and Trending

I have discovered Twee. I am probably behind the eight ball on this trend but thought I would share with you. What is Twee?

Per Miriam Webster Dictionary:   ":  affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint"
                                            Origin: baby-talk alteration of sweet

                                             First Known Use: 1905

So the word is not new and you can whip it out at the next round of Scrabble play. From my research, and I am not working on my thesis, Twee is a cultural phenomenon as well as a fashion trend. You can read all about the cultural side of  Twee with a Google search that will bring articles from Salon and Harper's and others. You can also google Twee fashion images and get an idea of the trend. I've seen this trend on numerous sewing blogs. What I see repeating are defined waistlines (love), short gathered skirts (that ship has sailed), oversized Peter Pan collars ( like a lot), round toed Mary Jane shoes (comfy). Hair is almost always adorned with a flower, bow, or hat, the more three year old cutesy the better (too much). Skirts are short (fine), lots of hose (warm) and a specific posture. No, you don't stand a certain way if you are Twee, that is unless you are a Twee blogger. 

Twee Bloggers are an interesting bunch and they love to take pics, lots of pics, of their Twee outfits. The poses are quite reminiscent of a very young girl child showing off her new Sunday best. Hands hold out the gathered skirts so you can see the full twirl potential. Toes are pointed in the way someone who is wearing high heels for the first time might and heads are tilted to best display the aforementioned hair ornament.  Accessories and jewelry are very Hello Kitty. It is all very cute, very second grade cute.   

This trend is clearly not for those with a treasure of life experience in their personal bank. Not because we can't pull off the look, which I am pretty sure we can't, but because we were the ones who wore those navy blue suits fighting against and alongside the men we worked with to get equal consideration, respect, and opportunity. We needed  to look grown up, and equal to anyone we were dealing with in our careers. Looking like cute little girls going on a playdate did not equal dressing for successing. While we all know this country is pretty doggone sloppily dressed today, are we moving into a era when being taken seriously in the workplace isn't a goal anymore? Are we still trying to convince ourselves that appearance or first impression  makes no difference in the workplace or anywhere else? We all know otherwise. Can you picture Sheryl Sandberg, Martha Stewart, Meg Whitman, and Carly Fiorina being interviewed on Bloomberg with their bows and silk flowers in their hair? Who needs a good strong handshake when  you can twirl your skirts for an introduction? It just all seems such a dichotomy. I just had to get this off my chest. 

Here's what I think. Lots of this Twee is really pretty. Some of it is just too far gone childish, sort of like baby talk fashion. I dislike how it is stylized in photos, almost making models look like girlish victims. That's not good for any and all women. 

Here are some links to Twee type bloggers. Check them out and please let me know what you think of the fashion trend. This post is about the trend and the fashion, not the blogger.  

This first blogger has a style blog in Nashville. I think she is gorgeous and I like her version of twee, not so childish. Twee in the Garden

Twee does have a retro undercurrent as these two blogs and many others show. Scathingly Brilliant and Finch and Fawn

A tongue in cheek post on how to be Twee. How to be Twee

You can find much more by googling images of Twee or searching Twee on Pinterest. You will stumble across the look in some sewing blogs like See Kate Sew

My tongue is a bit in my cheek for this blogpost as well. I would love to hear your thoughts. This is just one trend out in the fashion world right now. There are numerous others. Be kind and tell everyone what  you think. Oh, and get ready for "Normcore" ;).....Bunny

I gave up!

I have been working very hard on Danny's Project and the end is looming. I need to have it complete to deliver to his parents when I attend a wedding out of state in two weeks so that has been the total focus of my sewing lately. It is not so interesting posting about something that evolves in ways I hadn't planned. As it is being completed I am getting pleased with what it will look like, I hope. I want this to be so special for his parents.

Oh, that dress I was making for the wedding taking place in two weeks? Fugetabotit! It just isn't going to happen and I so wanted to make it but it's definitely not the priority right now. Once I officially decided I couldn't pull it off I made plans to go shopping for a dress instead.

I live in the boondocks, the land of plaid and denim, cowboy weddings, and Kmart Couture. I am attending a wedding that will be just the opposite out of state. Oh, what to wear?

If you are a sewist, and I know you are, you have to do what I did yesterday, even if you don't need a dress for a wedding. It was enlightening to say the least and I think will greatly contribute to the success of your sewing endeavors. Hear me, Newbies?

I went to the big city yesterday, pop. 15,000,  and hit our gold standard of retail, TJMaxx and JC Penneys. Ok, you can stop laughing now, but it's true. It's also the only two places where I can pick up petite clothing. At Penney's I struck out dress wise, just mostly too old lady-ish or street chic looking. I needed something more in between. It was off to TJ's.  I had no plan in mind for my outfit. I went to the racks and pulled out every dress that would fit, no matter what the style,  a la Stacy and Clinton. Then I took my heap and started trying on in front of the the 360º  mirror. Very, very informative experience, vacillating between near tears of disappointment  and wow, that really looks pretty good. This went on for 2 1/2 hours! There were dresses that were totally wrong on me like the very full horizontal stripe number with long puffy sleeves. I did figure out that my arms weren't that bad since I lost a few pounds the past few months so decided to give sleeveless a go. That helped broaden the offerings. Here's a few things I figured out:

* Try on everything in your size, even if ugly or you think it won't work.  You will be totally surprised by what does and doesn't look good.  If I made my judgements on the rack I never would have ended up with my final choice or the bit of education I got.

* I can get away with a short skirt and it actually looks much better proportionwise than the longer length this aging hippie tends to favor. Try the short skirts. It will look much more youthful and your legs don't have to be long and perfect. Mine sure aren't.  Five years taken off there!

* Be amazed by color. This was the most enlightening aspect of the whole game. I tried on a dress that stylewise was totally inappropriate for my body. Think of Carmen and the cigarette girls in Verdi's opera. But man, the colors made my face literally light up. My hair coloring is different now so this refresher course needed to happen.  I have learned that a combo of turquoise, pale grey and white is probably better with my hair and skin coloring than anything any seasonal swatch has ever told me. If I were doing a SWAP, and I won't be, those would be the colors. I didn't know this before my try on binge.

* Lace is good. The sweet little lacy dresses with the gathered skirts looked cute and worked great style wise for a petite,  but alas, the scoop necks nearly guaranteed an accurate belly button measurement. That happens when you are five feet tall.

* I found great dresses that in a former life I would have bought in a heartbeat. They weren't formal enough for this wedding however. You have to get what you need, not what you want. Isn't that the problem with a lot of society today? People get what they want, not what they need. So this was an exercise in self restraint as well.

* Bring an admirer. The little teen leaning on the dressing room door helping her mom pick out a swim suit will be of no use to you if you are alone. She could care. Now that admirer must be someone who will totally tell you if it is a go or no go. I almost always shop alone but felt like my bff  Jocelyn would have been a great help. I told her so last night.

My final choice was a sleeveless red knit with this great draping thing off the deep v neck back, rather plain as seen head on. It made my butt shrink and the scoop neck would have been Pope approved. So now it is time to find some great jewelry to jazz it up a bit.

Treat yourself to a day of fun and enlightenment. Bring a good friend. Try on everything that fits, not just what you like. The next time you pick out a pattern or fabric you will be much more educated. Going on line to fashion sites help but nothing works like actually trying on clothing. Make no judgements. No diet or weight thoughts are allowed, spoken or thought. Just look at what is working on you. Have a ball...Bunny