Well, let’s get the weather report out of the way, shall we? I don’t know why I start these out with weather reports, but I always seem to do it. It seems Mother Nature just had to have the last say on weather. We were headed quite nicely down the road to Autumn Town when she decided to take a little detour! Yesterday (Tuesday) it was 90 (32C)! It’s a little cooler today, but the humidity has been higher than usual. This weekend, we could have frost! Today, though, is the third Thursday of the month which means it’s time for another Ageless Style challenge. This month, we are styling “Jeans” chosen by Jodie, which makes me think she’s got a trick or two up her sleeve (or would it be leg). Last month, Joanne selected “Pops of Color.” In the past we have worn Skirts or Shorts, Summer Layers, Polka Dots, and Stripes, and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Next month’s prompt is wearing two colors together you shouldn’t, wouldn’t, or have been told not to! if you’d like to join us! Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites!
So, jeans…
I’m really not sure what to write about jeans. I’ve worn them since I was a kid. Well, let me quantify that by saying the first true recollection I have of wearing jeans is when I was in sixth grade. Before that, I’m not really sure what kind of “pants” I wore. I do remember we couldn’t wear pants of any kind to school until I was in the sixth grade. We could bring pants to school to slip on for recess because we went out in all kinds of weather (except rain). But, they had to be removed as soon as we came back into the school building. By sixth grade, the principal had finally decided to let us wear jeans. I wonder if his daughter who was a year older than me had anything to do with that decision. She didn’t attend our school.
Jeans in the 70s…
When I started wearing jeans, I wore Wranglers because the big Blue Bell factory was in my hometown. They had an outlet store where we could buy seconds. I also remembering buying a pair of striped boys jeans and couldn’t figure out why they didn’t fit my seventh grade body…duh! Seventh grade girls have curves where seventh grade boys don’t! But, by the time I got to high school, I had learned a thing or two! I don’t care what anyone says,! The jeans in the 70s were the absolute coolest on record! We wore them low cut, and I do mean low cut. They were bell bottoms, not wide legs. The bells would start around your knees and flare out. As the whole jeans thing took off, the bells got bigger and bigger. I swear I could have made two skirts from the bells of one pair of jeans!
And, now…
What I’ve recently discovered or realized is I’ve been searching for those jeans for the last several years. And, y’all, they don’t make ’em that way anymore! That’s why, no matter how many pairs of wide leg jeans I buy, they’re never quite right! The wide leg jeans start at the hip and just get wider from there! Flares don’t work because they’re bell wannabes! And, the flare starts too close to the ankle. I suppose, if I really wanted a pair of 70s jeans, I should shop the resale sites or go vintage shopping. The problem is my body from the 70s does not match my body that’s almost 70! It sags in places too many to record. it has stretch marks that begin above my belly button and end on my thighs. It has places that swing in the wind and dangle in the quiet. And, that’s perfectly fine! This body has given birth three times to humongous babies. It’s walked thousands of miles. It’s grieved the loss of parents, a grandbaby, aunts, uncles, and students. This body is amazing, but it will never be that 70s body that wore those super cool bell bottoms!
What to do…
As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I think the wide leg jeans are maybe just not for me. I’m going to keep wearing them because they’re still perfectly fine. I’m just going to work harder at what I’m wearing with them. So, in the meantime, I’m going to wear the heck out of my barrel jeans because they seem to be the silhouette that works best on my short, well-lived-in body. I have two pairs of them, and I think that’s plenty. I also have some wider straight leg jeans that work nicely with my wardrobe. Don’t despair. I’ll still wear my horseshoe jeans because they’re just so much fun! And, if someone has a problem with the fit, well, that’s on them!
The outfit…
I decided to try the Instagram hack that’s showing up over and over on my feed. You button the first three or so buttons of a button up. Then, you take one side. I don’t know if it matters which side. I used the side with the buttons. Grab the bottom corner and push that through the last two buttons you buttoned. Pull the fabric through and give it a little zhuzh. Today, I wore the twins, Polly and Esther. This is an old, old blouse from Banana Republic so it’s very silky and doesn’t have a lot of body to it. The examples I saw on Instagram were more cotton than polyester. I think that made a bit difference because my tip just kinda hangs there. But, it’s a cool take on the half tuck. I wore a pair of Old Navy barrel jeans. I wonder if I should use some of my points and buy a back up pair because they’re on sale today. OK, when are jeans not on sale at ON? Well, when I want a new pair!
The Lewk!
I know people say one of the keys to wearing barrel jeans is to have a little skin showing between the hem and your shoe or sandal. I don’t necessarily believe that. I honestly wear whatever I feel like wearing…but, then I guess y’all know that by now! These are an old pair of Born sandals I bought during the NSAle many, many years ago. They haven’t ever been all that comfortable because they seemed a little short on my feet. But, I’ve been wearing them more and more, and the leather is stretching. They’re actually quite comfortable. The earrings are from my long ago eBay jewelry phase. The bracelet is this year’s birthday gift from Nigel. It’s a John Hardy with London Blue topaz. I have several of this kind of bracelets so I’ll soon have an arm party going on!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I waited and waited for inspiration to strike for this post. Then, last night (Tuesday), right before drifting off to sleep, it came to me! Write about 70s jeans! And, that’s exactly what I tried to do! So, can we talk? What kind of jeans did you wear in high school? What style was the first pair of jeans you wore? Do you think I should give up the wide leg jeans? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Is This Mutton, and Shelbee on the Edge. I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
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Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts about denim, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!