Welcome back for this week’s edition of the Fashion Files, hosted by Amy and me! If you don’t know Amy, her blog is Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. I have noticed many fashion bloggers are disappearing. Some are going to Substack; some are posting only on Instagram; and some are just plain ending their blogs. In any event, I asked Amy if she would co-host. Then, I checked with Jill and Kellyann to see if they would be OK with Fashion Files continuing. They were gracious and agreed! So, here we are. Yes, I know this is repetitious, but maybe someone new is reading this! And, it contains our (meaning Amy and I) history such as it is!
Last weeks looks…
Hmmm…well, this past week, my friends, was a case of lather, rinse, repeat. Truly, it was not the week I thought I’d be having. Please bear with me while I whine just a bit. I am so freakin tired…mentally, physically, and emotionally. As y’all know, Nigel had his surgery last Monday (May 18). Due to his blood pressure and a couple other little problems, we stayed there until Wednesday afternoon. Luckily, I had planned on an extra day acclimating at home and boarded Jack until Thursday. One of the problems he had in the hospital was going to the bathroom (and I don’t mean constipation). Now, if you knew Nigel, you would know that is never a problem for the man. But, for some reason, it has been the last three surgeries he’s had. I know this is so TMI, but it plays into the story. So, the hospitalist (still not sure how they operate…no pun intended…in the hospital universe) prescribed a pill to make him pee. He.Did.Every.Hour.On.The.Hour.Wednesday.Night! I couldn’t believe how tired I was. See, even with the new hip, there’s still the problem of it dislocating, especially as it was a posterior incision. That just means it’s on the back-ish side of his right hip. That also means he can’t cross the midline with his right leg. When you get out of bed, sometimes, you do that. Pay attention the next time you get out of bed. See if your top leg (whichever one that is) doesn’t sorta cross over the bottom leg on your way out of bed. So, if he needs to get out of the bed, I have to get up and help him to make sure he doesn’t cross the midline.
A little more…
Thursday, we took naps a couple of times, but I had to get Jack and cuddle him for a long time. I missed the little brute, and he missed me. He is truly my dog. Anyway, he will nap on the bed for a little minute, but he usually will jump down and crawl under the bed. Remember, this is the dog that will eat anything that won’t eat him. I have pretty much dog-proofed the room, but you never know. Thursday night was a good sleeping night for both of us. I still have to wake Nigel at 6:00 am for meds and can usually get back to sleep relatively quickly. Friday night, he was convinced something was going on with his feet. I had to get up, turn on the light, and show him his feet were fine. He insisted I cover them with a couple of extra pillows just to make sure. Oy vey!
Still more…
Saturday night was…well, to be honest, it was a blur. I did work on the blog for Monday’s two posts. I think we slept OK that night and took some naps during the day. Well, Nigel takes naps, as in plural. I take a cat nap because I’m not one to just drop off to sleep unless I’m dog tired, at least during the day. Sunday night…well, Sunday night was just weird. Nigel wears what physical therapists call a guard belt. It’s one of those really heavy (they look like seatbelt material) belts that have a ratchet type closure. I had asked for one the last time he was in the hospital and got the spacer. It gives both of us peace of mind because I’ve constantly got that pressure on him. And, you should see my biceps! Anyway, he wears it to bed because he’s very loopy if he gets up in the middle of the night. It’s loose so it’s not constricting or anything. He sleeps on his back because he can’t turn over on either side. He had a nightmare or something and woke me up growling and yanking at that belt. By the time I was up and on his side of the bed with the light on, he’d gotten it partially undone. He was convinced it was preventing him from sleeping. Anyone who knows Nigel knows he’s as stubborn as the day is long. Once he has an idea in his head, no matter how ridiculous or impossible, he’s not going to change it. So, I took the belt off and left it off until late in the day on Monday.
Emotions…
Y’all, I know this is supposed to be about fashion, and I promise we’re getting there. But, we are both at the ends of our emotional ropes. I am constantly worried about him falling and having to go through this again. I’m also, in the way back of my mind, worried this isn’t going to be the answer to our problem. His right leg is now noticeably longer than his left (which is the opposite of what it had been). The surgeon indicated we might be looking at a revision on the left leg in the next year. Today (Monday), he was very emotional because he feels he’s a huge burden on me. I’ll admit it…he is. But, that’s what I signed up for almost 50 years ago. I just wouldn’t call it a burden…more a taking care of him. Anyway, I tend to get really loud and vociferous when I’m upset, and I’ve been very upset with him at a couple of chances he’s taken. So, yeah…our emotions are stretched thin.
The fashion…
I didn’t take any photos of any outfits because, many days, I didn’t even get out of my pajamas. They’re very nice pajamas, but they’re still pajamas. I did get dressed up (forgot to take a photo) for a lecture Friday night at the museum. My youngest son came and dad sat. But, I do have photos to share with you. Since the tirzepatide takes away my appetite, I don’t eat emotionally. But, I have been emotion shopping. That doesn’t sound right. I have all the emotions I need. I guess I should call it stress shopping! So, without further ado, here are just a handful of the things I bought this week. Some things were ordered online and haven’t come in. Some were ordered before and came last week. Anyway, here’s the fashion!
In no particular order…
My Instagram and Facebook have been featuring this Keaton Stripe Skirt by Ink + Alloy. Now, I am not one to generally order from either Instagram or Facebook (Nancy, I’m staying off TikTok) because you never know about the quality, right? Well, at a European Core meeting at the museum the other day, one of the docents was wearing the skirt! I asked who made it, and she had me check the tag! Sure enough, it was Ink + Alloy! Hers was in a blue or green stripe. Of course, I didn’t want to buy the same one she had. I was drawn to this version (Rust & Lilac), and I figured I wear lots of those colors so I would have lots to wear with it. She (the docent) is maybe a skosh shorter than I am. These skirts are One Size which means they are meant to fit a wide range of sizes, but I was concerned about the length. I didn’t need to be! I love it! I’m going to have to wear it soon for a blog shoot!
I really need to stay out of WalMart now that I’ve discovered they have the “good” fashion labels in ours. I can never resist a white shirt nor can I resist eyelet. Give it to me for under $30, and you’ve sold a new white shirt! It’s so well made and just the perfect length for me. I may experiment with funky buttoning, or I may not! I wore it with the Ink + Alloy skirt, and Nigel loved it! He’s a sucker for stripes just like me!
OK, this next dress has a story behind it. I had tried it on in black at Nordstrom a few weeks ago. My granddaughter and the sales associate convinced me to buy a different one in a coral color. The other dress also came in a light blue which I didn’t try on at the time. I got home and realized there were two problems with the dress I’d bought. The first was it opened and closed with little loops and buttons down the front. When I say little, I mean little. It was a real struggle just to get them done up. The second was I really didn’t like the color even though both my granddaughter and the sales associate thought it was a good color for me. So, I did what every self-respecting shopaholic does. I hopped online and ordered the other dress in a light blue! Now, here’s when that little voice I try to keep muffled popped off. She whispered, “Don’t you think you’re just a wee big old for that dress?” Then, I remembered I’m not listening to things like that anymore. If I like it, I buy it, and I wear it! End of story, little voice!
Now, y’all know my love of Gudrun Sjödén! She had a new collection come out, filled with beautiful confections of embroidered fabric and pointelle! I just had to place an order. Many of the things I ordered are on backorder, but this beautiful tiered dress came in. It’s an asymmetrically tiered dress, and each tier has a little bit different embroidery. I can’t help but love it!
Recently, I featured Tulip Clothing (here). Debbie reached out to me again and asked me to select some more pieces. I decided to order some extras for myself! I also have a code for you…MARSHA20 will get you 20% off your order. The quality is stellar. One of the things I really like is that key measurements are given for each item. I ordered this really cute white top, the Gwyneth Pullover. It has these tapes at the sides that you can slide up or down to ruch the top as you want. It’s like the way toddlers’ jeans used to be. It’s also how Gudrun Sjödén helps you to size slips and skirts to your waist. I think it’s such a cool idea and kinda edgy!
I also bought this adorable Bree dress in Sand Dollar! It’s got the coolest silhouette. If you take the sides and hold them out, they look like those panniers Marie Antoinette used to wear. Left to themselves, the dress just drapes down in a bit of an asymmetrical way. It also has pockets!
I haven’t been able to find a pair of Mary Janes that appeal to me. I didn’t see anything that even tempted me. But, then Miz Mooz had a sale. I’m not sure how often they do that, but I jumped on the chance to order these Farrah flats! I had been looking at them and had decided I was just going to buy them. The next thing I know, there’s a sale for Memorial Day! Just look at how cute they are! Aren’t they just perfectly me? I can wear them with so many things. I will need some inserts. Please let me know your favorites that work in a shoe like this one. I think I have some in my closet that might work…just occurred to me as I was typing this!
That was the good. Ready for the ugly? I have a huge closet; I don’t deny it. The one problem I have is where to put shoes. My funky boots are on a shelf over my dresses and easily seen and accessible. My shoes I rarely wear but don’t want to get rid of are on the shelf over my tops. Then, there’s another shelf over the second rod where my skirts and jackets hang. That one isn’t great because I can’t see them. I do, however, know exactly what’s there and where. Under my dresses are my tall boots which I rarely wear. And, then there are my Miz Mooz boots and sandals as well as my beloved Adidas Sambas. I just don’t know where to put them. I’m thinking about adding a narrow IKEA Billy bookcase right at the end of my dress rod and add several shelves to it. My shoes would then be readily seen and not be the mess they currently are. Seriously, I don’t usually leave them looking like this, but this week has not been a usual week! My goal is to get things organized in there and soon!
What to link up…
Please link up your favorite fashion posts, old and new. Please take the time to visit some of the other bloggers. I’m sure they would appreciate it, and please let them know you are visiting from our link up! A huge thanks to Jill and Kellyann for agreeing to let us host this new “old” link party. And, an even bigger thanks to Amy for being my co-host! In case you’re not sure about what to post, I’ve actually stolen some of Amy’s Monday post (thanks, Amy): “You can show one outfit you’ve worn or multiple outfits you’ve worn. You can talk about clothing, shoes, accessories, undergarments, swimwear, brands you stand by, thrifting, online shopping, in person shopping – whatever you want to talk about that involves fashion. I have had a few comment that they aren’t fashionable and I say to that “pish posh”. Just show us what you’ve worn!” I love that…you don’t have to be dressed to the nines (look at what I’ve worn) to link up! WordPress has had an update, and the Link Party button usually doesn’t show up on my draft, but here it is! Hopefully, it will show up on the blog when it’s published! As always, if it doesn’t work, please link up through Amy’s blog!
Oh blimey you’ve been through it. I hope you can get a little release soon. I’ll pop back for the link up. (I’m too early) 🤭 x Jacqui