Are We A Nation of . . . Slobs?

Gorgeous friend Joni sent me this entertaining video about a professor who teaches that we've become a "Nation of Slobs" (that's the course title!)



Professor Linda Przybyszewski teaches a class called "A Nation of Slobs" at the University of Notre Dame.

She says her students are amazed at the way Americans dressed in the 30's, 40's and 50's. "My students very often are floored by the beauty of some of the vintage pictures that I show them," she says.

We dressed up for more than just the theater back then - we put on gloves and hose and heels for going out to dinner and church. Men wore hats and suit coats to go to the ball game. And remember (well, we saw it in movies) when people dressed nicely to travel on a airplane?

What caused the "descent" into ultra-casual, some say sloppy, attire? The professor cites the social changes of the 60's and migration to the suburbs, where more casual wear was the norm. Then came a growing desire for simpler, less expensive clothing and a sportier lifestyle.

Dr. Przybyszewski makes all her own clothing, because she can't find pieces with the details she wants. She's wearing a lovely retro style print dress in the video, with lots of buttons at the sleeve. Many of my blogger friends also enjoy a return to dressing up for everyday and I love their styles.

Beautiful Gabriala of Style Higher dresses to perfection

Susan of Fifty, Not Frumpy is impeccable

I'd like to take Dr. Przybyszewski's class and learn more about the economic/social/racial issues that influenced how Americans dressed. In the movies we usually see upper-class white women with gloves and hats; did the blue collar women also dress up?

I am an in-betweener in modern style as I like to look put together, but rarely could I be called "dressed-up." But I am enchanted by vintage clothing, used to dress in it more often, and have a small collection of dresses from the 40's.

Have we progressed, to more casual, easy-to-move-in, easy-care clothing? Or regressed to a nation of . . . slobs? Love to hear your thoughts, as always.

Visible Monday #98: All-White Before Memorial Day, I'm Doing It

Welcome to Visible Monday #98! If you want to participate, it's so easy: just go to the bottom of this post for the easy how-to.

I don't follow the colors-for-seasons rules. I love ivory in the winter and black in summer. But in Florida, we start summer in April anyway, so - exempt! ☺

This outfit shows we can do all-white without looking the least bit bridal, or Good Humor man. The knife pleated skirt is Banana Republic, thrifted for a few dollars (similar on Etsy). It's very rustle-y, love that. I replace my white tees a lot, and this is a new one from Target. Thrifted pink sash, green bangle, and my Anne Klein platform sandals (similar) finish off the look. I don't own any white shoes yet, do you?

 

Crochet sweater from JCP for the icy cold office, and for modesty with clients.
Happy to report there were no coffee mishaps today.

Now, let's see what you're wearing, Visible Women!!

The guidelines to participate in the Visible Monday Link-Up are so simple!

1. Whoever wants to can join in! Just compose a post that includes any outfit, accessory, piece of jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetic or other adornment that makes you feel more confident, alive and visible that day.
2. Include a link to Not Dead Yet Style somewhere in your post.
3. Go to the bottom of this post and click on this cute little link:

In the "Next Step", you crop the pic (easy tool) you want to display, and you're done!


Oh hey! Not Dead Yet Style has a Facebook page now! Please check it out when you have a moment: Facebook Page.

A New Way To Thrift? And A Rant

A couple of thoughts crossing my mind today . . .

I shopped at an online consignment store recently, ThredUp. They offer a ton of gently used clothing, mostly casual stuff from the likes of GAP, Loft and Target. The prices are a little high, imo, but I got a 25% discount and free shipping on my first order.

My package arrived today, and I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the clothing. I got this very cute Ideology skirt for under $10:

This Old Navy blouse:

Old Navy sweater:

And a couple of pretty summer scarves. Grand total for all the pieces was just over $30! Good deal. Now the flip side: ThredUp invites you to send in your gently loved clothing to sell on their site. They offer to pay you up-front, before it sells, up to 40% of the determined sales price.

But the Internets are full of complaints about this side of ThredUp's operations. Most complaints revolve around being "cheated" out of perfectly good clothing, and getting only "pennies" for nearly-new items. I have not done the sell-end yet, so I have no personal testimony. I plan to send in a few pieces as my experiment (the company pays for shipping) and I'll let you know.

Any of you have experience with reselling through this company? Love to hear about it. I can say the shopping experience at ThredUp was very satisfactory!

Top of my head blowing off department: Did you read this story about televangelist Pat Robertson today? In response to a woman whose husband had an affair, Robertson said that the woman should focus on making "the home as wonderful as possible" so that her husband "doesn't want to wander."

“Give him honor instead of trying to worry about it,” he continued. “But recognize also, like it or not, males have a tendency to wander a little bit."

No messy Seventh Commandment issues for Robertson. And naturally, it's our fault if our men-folk "wander." Grrrrrr. Does anyone still pay attention to this guy?

As Pat Robertson said, should we make our homes "more wonderful" so our husbands won't wander?

On a brighter, more life-affirming note, Visible Monday starts early, on Sunday! Everyone is welcome to participate ☺. Have a wonderful weekend, all.

What I Wore: Scruffy Knees, a Bag of My Own, and a Giveaway!

I just wrote about having a Bag Of One's Own, you know, like the Hermes Birkin or Kelly. Now I have one, the "Not Dead Yet Style" tote, courtesy of Cafe Press and brilliant artist Anne Bray. More details below on how you can get your own custom tote, and even win one!

Here's a casual Spring look, not very trendy but colorful and cool enough to make me happy. The dark floral dress is thrifted from Molly Mutt, as is the skinny patent belt. The coral cardigan is from J.C. Penney - yes, I ventured back in there after a year's absence and found a couple of keepers, like this MANGO piece.

I've worn my yellow bangle to the nubs, and I'm looking at Etsy for an additional one (I like these). The simple black pendant was thrifted for under $5; I think it's vintage 70's and I think I owned it before ☺. Floral sandals by Kenneth Cole complete the look.

Cute look. Knees not ready for Prime Time! Must spa.

My own "It" bag, I has it.

Closer look at Anne's fabulous artwork. It's a nice canvas bag too; I used it on an overnight
trip and it's perfectly sized.

I "designed" my own tote at Cafe Press. You just go to this page and upload the graphics you want. It's so easy, and as you can see, the results are pretty fab. It's a cool site for ordering custom tee shirts, statement sweatshirts, mugs and pajamas, too.

Cafe Press is offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky reader. All you have to do is:

• Be a follower of Not Dead Yet Style, via Google, Bloglovin' or Facebook
• Leave a comment below with your email address 
• That's it!

I'll draw the winning entry randomly on May 23rd and Cafe Press will send the winner a gift certificate for her own personalized treat. Good luck!

What Five Items Would You Buy If You Had Unlimited Cash?

You know I thrive on hypotheticals, analysis, lists, and staring at my navel, right? I went into exactly the right profession when I became a psychotherapist at age 40. Even one of my Psych professors told me I didn't have to analyze everything.

I analyze all the things. Source.

So, agreed. But I have been devouring a wardrobe series by London blogger Anuschka Rees, from her blog Into Mind. Her personal style is more minimalistic than my own, but I love her articles on revamping and refining one's wardrobe.

I'm working my way through Anuschka's Ten Step Wardrobe Revamp now, reading and jotting down ideas. I'm not a de-cluttering rookie, nor a toss-it-out fanatic. I do enjoy picking up tips here and there and this young woman's got some great strategies.

I found the following thought exercise and I'm having fun with it. (Her suggested exercises are meant to help us define our style signature/s). Here's the question, wish I'd thought of it:

What five items would you buy if you had unlimited funds? I pared it down to four for this post, but hey, pick six or eight, go crazy. The idea is to choose "dream" pieces we think would enhance our style. Our picks tell us what we'd like to see in our real-life closets, and how we like to see ourselves. It doesn't mean we'd actually buy all these pieces even if we were flush, because money is for lots of things more important than wardrobes. This is for imagining.

Here are my money-is-no-object choices, and what they say about my style:

• A tuxedo, YSL if I can find the right one. I'd want looser trousers and a slim jacket, Le Smoking would be best. I'm not an androgynous dresser but I love this look, made feminine with a ruffled blouse and red lipstick. This expresses the part of me that wants to stand out, bend the rules, and be visible, in elegance.

• A personalized necklace by Wendy Brandes. I have been watching this Boleyn necklace by Wendy for two years (I have to get the silver version in real life, still fabulous). It represents what I love in jewelry. The initial "G" will make it mine, it's bold and artistic, and I could wear it any day, with anything. It's the part of me that loves unique jewelry, not Mall stuff.

Wendy Brandes necklace. I'd get the "G", of course.

• A Cartier tank watch. The classic, with the leather strap. This piece has the masculine vibe again (a pattern emerges!). I like a simple watch, and I'm perfectly happy with my Seiko. But with cash to burn, I'd wear this one every day. Beauty in simplicity. Masculine (this watch) plus feminine (Wendy's necklace).

The classic.

• Diane von Furstenburg wrap dresses, many (multiples count as one item ☺). The real ones. In fabulous prints. Say no more.

Source

Over to you, stylish readers. What dream items would you add to your closet? Do they reflect some aspect of your personal style?

Visible Monday #97: 70's Hippie Skirt, All Grown Up

Welcome to Visible Monday #97! If you want to participate, it's so easy: just go to the bottom of this post for the easy how-to.

All of a sudden I have a renewed craving for these 70's wrap skirts. I had a great collection about ten years ago, then sold them off, for some strange closet-clearing reason. I did save a couple (and I plan to add back a couple more, like this, this, and this.).

This graphic pink and black wrap skirt is one of my favorites; I love the vertical black design in front. I can wear it dressed down with a tee for running around town. Here, for work, it's more polished with a black button-down (thrifted) by Lafayette 148.

The vintage bracelet has pink stones (matchy!) and the nude sandals step up from my Saturday  Birkenstocks. I think the skirt handles the transition well. To stay in true aging hippie form, though, I skipped makeup except for some pink lip gloss. I wish I still had my Yardley Slickers!

I think these skirts have become a classic now, for a certain subset of
women, and not subject to trend. That's my story!

Sassy old hippie has sass.

Now, let's see what you're wearing, Visible Women!!

The guidelines to participate in the Visible Monday Link-Up are so simple!

1. Whoever wants to can join in! Just compose a post that includes any outfit, accessory, piece of jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetic or other adornment that makes you feel more confident, alive and visible that day.
2. Include a link to Not Dead Yet Style somewhere in your post.
3. Go to the bottom of this post and click on this cute little link:

In the "Next Step", you crop the pic (easy tool) you want to display, and you're done!


Oh hey! Not Dead Yet Style has a Facebook page now! Please check it out when you have a moment: Facebook Page.

Florals and an Unexpected Sparkle

Florals are huge again, and I like mixing them into my wardrobe. Five years ago, B.B. (before blogs), I would have worn this khaki skirt and cropped floral blazer with a nice, matching top in ivory or soft pink. Nothing illegal about that.

But since I am now a ladylike woman with a Tiger inside, I shook things up with a black sequined tank instead. A little odd, but it somehow feels great. I went back to basics with my nude sandals and simple yellow cuff.

Floral blazer: thrifted; Skirt: Ideeli; Tank: eBay; Platform sandals: Anne Klein

Look-smart reading glasses, c/o Scojo New York

The retro reading glasses are courtesy of Scojo New York. These are from their Birthstone Collection; I chose Emerald for my May birthday. Scojo offers hundreds of modern/retro designs and a great search engine, so check them out when you have a moment.

Visible Monday starts tomorrow! Be there, be seen. All are welcome. ☺