Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Inspiration - Cameron Diaz and Some Fun advice from 1963

Today, I tried to put together a look reminiscent of one I saw on Cameron Diaz on InStyle.com.

Russian Look/ZUMAPRESS.com via
Of course, her jacket was Chanel and mine was Chico's and I am fairly certain she is half my size, but I think it came out fairly well.  I know my whole outfit cost less than her jeggings.
Jacket: Chico's - it has silver threads woven in it which look really pretty in the sunlight
Top: Chico's
Jeans: Faded Glory Walmart
Shoes: Think Sandals

Cameron also didn't have two Airedales who wanted to help with the photos.

Harry on the left and Jada on the right. Both thought something smelled really good on me.
Probably smelled scents from TJ's Burger House where I ate a salad for lunch,
but no doubt some burger smells landed on my jeans.
After looking at these pictures, I realized that I have gotten used to seeing myself in jeggings which make my legs look much smaller. These wider leg jeans look quite different, but they were the only ones I had that were a similar color to Cameron's. 
 
Yesterday, I went to the Salvation Army Thrift Store and bought a "McCall's Sewing Book."  It was from 1963 and as I started reading it, I realized just how much things have changed since then. Perhaps not the basics in how to sew, but definitely on fashion in general.  I plan to write a few more posts about some of the information in it but today I would like to share a couple of things.
 
In the first part of the book, there is a section called "Building A New You."  The "Figure Check" section asks you to "First study the general effect you present to the world." As in whether you are tall, short, fat, thin, droopy shoulders, and general posture. The statements that made me laugh are: 
"Are you well proportioned, or do you bulge in all the wrong places? Are you tall enough for your width?" 
I don't recall ever hearing any advice like this before. How do you figure out if you are tall enough for your width? Is there some magic mathematical formula? They didn't share that, but I am guessing I need to be a couple of feet taller.
 
One bit of advice they had in analyzing your appearance was this:
Because it is difficult to see oneself as one really is, don't rely on a mirror. A snapshot or two ... will give you a better answer. Flaws never seem quite so realistic in a mirror as they do in a picture."
I am not sure that I would agree that you should look for flaws, but I do know that a number of bloggers have said that a picture gives a much different view of an outfit that does looking in a mirror.
 
There were several other funny bits of advice as well as some interesting sizing charts in the book that I will share in the coming days.
 
I am planning on updating my blog list soon. If I don't have your blog listed in my "Interesting Blog" list, please let me know and I will add the link to your blog.
 

10 comments:

  1. Another jarring thing to do is to go back and look at pictures of your family. Who's sitting next to who and how does everybody look. Some will always stand just a bit apart from others. It's telling.

    Cameron doesn't have a thing on you! Would you consider rolling the sleeves up? I have the same problem that I have short arms and everything is always flopping around over my hands. Drives me nuts!

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  2. I love your jacket!!! It's super cute. Jackets are some of my favorite things to buy because you can wear them so many different ways with so many different outfits. You look really good! :)

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  3. It's good to see the doggies again! I love your interpretation of the CD look, esp your creamy jacket.

    I can't wait to hear more from the 1963 sewing book. I have collected a few vintage "etiquette" books and the sexism in them is so casual! ("Make sure you have a fresh apron on when hubby comes home from work", etc.)

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  4. You know the first thing I noticed? In her photo, Diaz is smiling with just her mouth. In yours, you're smiling with your eyes as well as your mouth. (I bet those pointy-toed shoes were killing her feet.)

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  5. Hi Debbie, thank you so much dropping in for a visit. I just copied that same photo to my blog from another person's blog to remind me to try it. I like that you tried this look, very nice on you...great jacket. Have a great night. Dawn Suitcase Vignettes waiting to hear more about your book too!

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  6. I agree, you're definitely smiling with your whole face - which is beautiful if you ask me. And hey - Cameron missed out, you got some good deals. I also like the full sleeve on your jacket. Also she totally missed out on adorable puppy-photobombing.

    I love the idea of picking up old books, but wow! That sounds so body-negative. I do agree that taking a photo of yourself can really show a big difference than a mirror will. But really? Your outfit probably looks neither exactly like the picture or the mirror. Since both are two dimensional images that are giving skewed perception of a three dimensional person.

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  7. I'm determined to make this link up happen. for us the older fashionistas...........Find something with dots and do it!
    I always appreciate your comments and love your accessories........Give it a shot.

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  8. I am not short, but under tall, I am not fat, but over thin. I have what I like to call a Rubenesque body and it would have totally rocked during the renassance period! Now, not so much, but it's the only body I have.

    I think the darker jeggings would have been fine with this look.

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  9. Those are quite possibly the most adorable dogs ever! I think this look turned out really well and I like the jeans you have on but I think you could wear your jeggings with it if you prefer them!
    -Meagan
    http://spunkychateau.blogspot.com

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  10. I always liked the look of jackets with jeans... and I get the occasional shock in my photos. Like I'm better-looking in my head....

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