F is For Fashion

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1997 Journal Entry:

"When I'm married, I will never wear the same dress twice. I will probably have the biggest wardrobe in the world. I will spend millions of dollars on JUST clothes." -Heidi Kohler age 13

Today's theme is fashion. Something, I have always loved. And while I do not spend millions of dollars on clothes, and certainly do not have the biggest wardrobe in the world, I do have a great fashion tip for your wardrobe today. I call it the rule of three, and it works like this.

If I have one pair of pants, I will only keep it in my closet if it coordinates with at least three shirts.

For instance:

 One pair of adorable cut offs in salmon pink, definitely a keeper in my closet because it pairs up with 3 or more shirts. 

In fact, these pants are not only adorable with three of my shirts, but six so they really pull their weight. The rule of three is fun, because it only allows colors and styles you really love to remain in your closet. I apply this rule to all of my tops, bottoms AND accessories.  You never have to wonder what to do with that impulse buy that doesn't go with ANYTHING else you own. The magic in this rule is that pretty soon, your wardrobe is focused in such a way that you only need two or three pairs of shoes because they are so versatile, without spending all your money on 50 pairs of shoes to go with a kaleidoscopic of color in your closet, you can splurge on a nice purse instead, because one color goes with the majority of your ensembles.

 Another delightful result of this practice is that your closet is not over crowded. This is especially important to me as I do NOT have room for a huge wardrobe. However, everything in my closet is something I LOVE to wear. I periodically try on all of my outfits and move along anything I feel no longer tickles me pink. (Which, as you can tell, happens to be one of my favorite colors to wear!) You will also find when you shop that you exercise a lot more judgment in deciding if something should come home with you. Your wardrobe will express a very clear style, and it will be obvious when something belongs there or not, regardless of the current fad.

So, as you jump into your spring cleaning, try applying this rule of three and see the wonderful results you get!

What is your favorite color to wear?

What are your best secrets for keeping your

 wardrobe under control and filled only with things you LOVE to wear?

-Domestic Diva

Practicality versus passion, why I wear white pants.

Because, they are gorgeous. White pants are beautiful and that's all there is to it. It doesn't matter who you are, you wear a pair of well fitted white pants, and cream lacy top, maybe some pearls and suddenly you are a star. Nothing shines brighter than that glowing, radiant aura of crisp white light. Reflecting every most flattering feminine curve in all it's God given glory. White is just beautiful.

But, you pick up your toddler with muddy shoes, while sporting a pair of white pants and then what? Is that spotlight of dirt worth the joy of stardom? Or say you've been chasing that little boy of yours around the park for two hours and he's finally ready to sit down on a park bench...dare you risk resting your lily white back pockets on a public seat, potentially hiding a layer of dirt atop it's sheen black finish? No. You wear jeans. You wear jeans because it's practical, and the mother of a two year old can't be wasting time fussing over dirt when she's got grass to roll on, slides to slide down, pea gravel to tromp through and spilled juice to clean up.

Point taken...however, if you were to open my closet doors right now, I think you'd be shocked to see that I have two pairs of trusty jeans and five pairs of white pants. Not to mention about 30 tops in whip cream, off white, linen white, pearl and eggshell. It's true, and I just can't help it. Despite all the practical voices in my head that tell me to wear brown, because brown hides the melted chocolate all over my son's little hands, I love to wear white.

So here's my happy medium, bleach. You know, when it comes right down to it, sometimes practicality must rule out, park days I wear jeans. But if I'm just doing a bit of light housework, running errands or visiting a friend for a play date on a rainy day, I pull passion out of my closet and wear white. When life happens, all I need is a dab of bleach, but I've still been true to that part of me that just must wear white pants. So yes, balance is always important but I'm just saying don't let the pendulum swing too far to the jeans side of your closet and forget the pants that really make your style diva sing.

So my divas, you want to go back to school but feel money or day-care have put it on the back burner for a few years, maybe you should just throw on that pair of white pants and take the leap...

You really feel the creative urge to scrapbook but haven't started dinner? Toss some noodles in a pot of boiling water, a few sliced oranges on the side and call it good. Go scrapbook.

You're tired and overwhelmed with an endless to do list? Book a massage for yourself, go ahead-it's okay to spend 60 dollars on yourself-60 dollars will come again.

Yeah, there will be spills and splashes on your white pants. You will likely brush up against a dirty car door or get sticky fingerprints on your knees-but that's okay. You can always get those pants clean, the important thing is you were brave enough to let yourself wear them. You let passion take precedence over practicality and sometimes, just sometimes we need to do that.

Here's to white pants, jeans and washing machines,
(Just not in the same load)

The Domestic Diva