Thoughts From the Dirty City

So, I’ve signed up on for some Spring Wardrobe Therapy. Consider yourself warned.

Phase one, filing out the questionnaire.

1. Thinking primarily (but not necessarily exclusively) about looks, who’s your favorite performer of your own gender and species? Why?

Dita Von Teese (street wear, not stage wear)
She has such a defined style and always looks perfectly put together and comfortable in her own skin…not to mention the pencil skirts and insanely tall footwear. She just seems so classy. Considering she pulls this off while being a stripper impresses the hell out of me.

2. If you could live in any historic era with a really good clothing budget (as well as soap, toothpaste, and delicing as needed), when would you choose?

The 40’s or the early 70’s / late 60’s hippie rock wear
I know. Could there be any two styles more different? And yet I love them both, for opposite reasons. The 40’s style is so clean and put together. Grown up and classy. The 70’s were just so laid back and comfortable. Easy and fun. No rules or inhibitions.

3. What’s your favorite painting or other form of visual art? Why?

Can I just be vague and say graphic design, especially that of the Swiss school of thought?
If forced to name a few fine artist: Bernini, Mondrian, early Picaso and Monet

4. What is your first memory in which clothes are important?

The first time I remember going shopping for new school clothes and actually getting a say in the clothes I came home with was the year before junior high. I vaguely remember some Forenza sweatshirts and County Seat. (see question #8 for visuals)

5. What is your favorite garment ever? Why?

I had a black summer dress in high school that I wore everywhere. If it was cold I threw a sweater over it. in the summers it usually got paired with a t-shirt and combat boots to “keep it real” or a pair of flats to make it appropriate. It just suited me, and the way I lived at that time perfectly. Around that same time I had a blue skirt with apples and cherries on it that I made from an old house dress purchased from the thrift store. I think I wore it just as often.

6. What is your favorite garment in your wardrobe right now?

My Pirates Cove hoodie. It is more wearable woobie than article of clothing at this point and I practically live in it. It’s not the prettiest thing I own, or even the article I think looks best on me. It’s just really comfortable and easy.

7. What is the worst clothing purchase you can remember making?

A really expensive lingerie set. It was beautiful and decadent in every way. It was also incredibly uncomfortable and looked like shit under clothing. Hence, it never got worn, and because of the nature of the garment could not be returned. I still have it and occasionally try to make it work to no avail.

8. What’s your most embarrassing clothing-related memory other than a bad purchase?

Forenza and County Seat. For an entire year (7th grade) everything I owned came from one of those two store. Pleated pants, oversized sweaters and leggings never equaled hawt on my body.

9. What body part (no more than three!) are you proud of and expect compliments on?

I would say my nails. I have long nail beds and my nails are fairly strong and solid so they don’t chip or break often. Though I do keep them on the short side. It is rare that I leave the house without a proper manicure.

10. What body part (again, no more than three!) seems to require management, if not coaxing, cajoling, and sometimes outright begging if it’s to please you?

My entire mid section, specifically my stomach. But more than that, the girls and I tend to be more foe than friend. No matter what support I give them they either rise to my chin, or seem to wilt. They make shopping for undergarments beyond challenging, and cause me some back pain. I hate that I can’t wear shirts with buttons. They never fit. They are either way to big to compensate for the girls, or are busting at the seems.

11. If you could dress however you wanted all the time, what might you include?

In my head I would love to look totally put together in a smart skirt or dress everyday.
In reality, I’m a jeans and tshirt kinda girl and given the opportunity that is probably what you would find me in.
Though I think that is mostly laziness rather than preference.

12. If you could shop at any store (or from any designer), which would you choose?

More than anything I would love to find a line of clothing that seems built for my body. It would be so nice to have a/any go to store or label and know that chances were good the clothes would fit.

But I love Rodarte and McQueen (but could never pay that kind of money for clothes and be able to live with myself)

13. Where do you ordinarily shop now?

Sadly, most of my current wardrobe is from TJMaxx and Target. Though I have a lot of thrift store finds and love digging for buried treasures in thrift and vintage shops.

14. What clothing, accessory, or prettifying need (if any) do you enjoy shopping for?

I love shopping for makeup and shoes. There is never any moment of self doubt or body loathing. Two things that I spend way more time dwelling on than I am proud of and am working on changing.
With makeup, it’s just so easy to change things up and create a whole new look that doesn’t take a whole lot of money or commitment.

15. Which one do you most loathe shopping for?
Bras. Without question. (see #7) Followed closely by pants.

16. Do you consider yourself low-, medium-, or high-maintenance?

When it comes to my clothes I am super low maintenance. More so than I would like to be.
In regards to makeup and hair I would say I am medium. I wear makeup and straighten my hair pretty much everyday.

17. What are the two most frequent occasions that you dress for and how would you describe them?

I think like most people, I have a work wardrobe and a non-work wardrobe.
My work clothes are fairly nondescript business casual. I’m not a conservative person, but the environment I work in is very conservative. I try to incorporate pieces that are a little more me but more often than not I am shooting for appropriate and comfortable more than anything.
At home I tend to lean towards jeans and tshirts. But I love color and mixing textures and styles. If I’m really trying to look nice I would say my personal non-work clothes tend to be more eclectic and funky.

18. What was your favorite Hallowe’en costume ever?

The witch costume my dad made for me when I was little. But it had way more to do with the makeup than the black sack tied at the waist with a rope. The makeup was really intricate with lots of little lines and smudges made with burned corks. By the end it looked more like I was wearing a mask than makeup.

19. What do you see as the current problem(s) with your wardrobe and/or look?

Honestly, for the past few years my weight has been shifting a lot. There hasn’t been any long periods of time when I was a consistent weight. The result is a closet full of clothes that don’t quite fit. Everything is either a little too big, too small, too short too long…you get the idea. It’s so frustrating. And it’s hard to go out shopping when I am working on changing my daily habits to be healthier and feel better about myself, and also yes, to be thinner. But there comes a point when you have to address where you are before considering where you would like to be.

20. At the end of WT, what lovely compliments do you want onlookers to give you?

More than anything I would like to feel comfortable and confident in what I am wearing and with myself in general. I guess for now, I’m more interested in being able to give myself an honest compliment than I am in getting one from onlookers.