jeanofalltrades

February 19, 2012 · 11:47 am

Red Dress Two Ways

My mom and I have similar tastes in clothing (sometimes). We have our own styles too (as I so delicately told her when I was five years old). Because there’s overlap in the things we like, we sometimes end up buying the same things. We found these dresses at a street market in Florida. They have a soft, almost terry feel with a nice stretch and a retro neckline.

There are a lot of different ways we plan to style these dresses. My mom already paired it with leggings for her birthday dinner. This time, she wore tights and boots.

I decided to try gray instead of black as my accent color. I removed the belt that came with the dress to see how it would change the shape.

I’ll try it with boots next and later with nude heels and bare legs.

I’m including this dress is my Ethical Fashion Blogger Roundup because it was reasonably priced ($20), included a faux leather belt (animal-friendly), and is made in the USA. It’s hard to find clothing made domestically and I like buying American when I can.

Oh, one more thing: My mom perfected her flat iron technique. The Hana Flat Iron I wrote about recently worked well for her smooth-haired look.

10 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion

February 17, 2012 · 1:49 pm

Product Review: The Hana Flat Iron

I was recently offered the chance to test out a Hana Titanium 1.5″ Flat Iron and I jumped at the opportunity. This flat iron makes the list of the best flat irons and I was curious to know why. I don’t often splurge on beauty products. My current flat iron is a budget model from the drug store. Is there a difference? Yes! As I quickly found out.

I was promised I’d be wowed when I saw the product. As soon as I opened the packaging, I actually said, “Wow!” The presentation was amazing. The flat iron came in a metal container and included a heatproof mat, a carrying case, and a little bottle of Shineshield, a leave-in serum designed to protect hair from heat and add shine.

My hair is short and I didn’t know if I’d see a difference so I recruited my mom and sister-in-law to be models too. We really liked this product. The Hana Flat Iron smoothed my fine hair and made it shine, it straightened Sadie’s wavy strands, and it made a huge different in my mom’s frizzy locks.

BEFORE: My mom has to fight her frizzy hair

AFTER: She’s a smooth operator

AFTER: Hana smoothed her locks

I liked how quickly it heats up. In a few seconds it had reached the temperature I’d set it at. Having a choice of heat settings was great too. I could protect my hair by not overheating it. My mom’s thicker, coarse hair straightened nicely on a higher setting without the need to run the iron over strands repeatedly. Additionally, the flat iron’s negative ions repair hair follicles and seals in natural oils, unlike lesser devices.

BEFORE: Sadie’s hair is wavy if she doesn’t iron it

AFTER: Unlocking smooth hair

AFTER: Sleek hair after ironing

The Hana can be used on dry or damp hair so it saved us from having to blow dry and straighten. The ceramic plates are so smooth and never catch. They slid over my hair without pulling and snagging it like my drug store model does. The curved edges of the plate allowed me to curl, flip, or straighten.

BEFORE and AFTER: Smoother and shinier

AFTER: Lots of shine

I’m looking forward to using the Hana Flat Iron as my hair gets longer so I can experiment with different looks without damaging my hair. Needless to say, I won’t be using my old iron anymore.

Hana also makes blow dryers. I’ll be buying one of them soon too. Instead of being damaging, these dryers have ceramic heaters that negatively charge ions to break down water molecules in less time, which preserves hair structure and adds shine.

Note: Although I was given this product to test and review, the opinions are my own. I really like this product and I (along with my mom and Sadie) highly recommend it.

Remembering Zelda Kaplan

The world lost a fashion icon last night. Zela Kaplan died as she lived: enjoying the nightlife and being part of the fashion community. She was in the front row of a Joanna Mastroianni fashion show when she passed away. She was 95.

Zelda in 2011 (courtesy of Ari Seth Cohen http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com)

I never met Ms. Kaplan, but I’d seen photos of her and read about her in The Village Voice and Advanced Style. I loved her attitude and Chutzpah. I valued that she enjoyed living life to the fullest and having fun, but that she was also caring and concerned for others.

She travelled the world and was an outspoken advocate of human rights. She fought against female genital mutilation in Africa and Southeast Asia and helped educate women about birth control.

On trips abroad, Ms. Kaplan would pick up fabrics and bring them home. She designed her own clothes and was often seen around New York in tunics and hats with African prints. She slept in until mid-afternoon and was out all night. She was a regular and favorite at many exclusive nightclubs. She was always welcomed past the velvet ropes where she would rub elbows with designers and celebrities.

Most often though, she was treated as a celebrity. People wanted to be near her. She had a lust for life and an energy that people a quarter of her age couldn’t match. A lover of arts and fashion she squeezed several lives into her 95 years. She was a professional golfer and a ballroom dancer before she became the world’s oldest club kid.

She proved age is just a number and that you’re only as old as you feel. She had a life well-lived and will be missed.

4 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Feminism

Tagged as fashion, feminism, style, Zelda Kaplan

February 15, 2012 · 3:50 pm

Dress Up, Dress Down: Kimono Style

I grabbed this lovely kimono-styled top from my friend Lynn a few weeks ago because I loved the pattern and cut. It’s from Japan. I’m not sure what this type of garment is called. The craftmanship that went into this is unbelievable. It’s an amazing piece and I promised to take good care of it. I wasn’t sure how to style it, but I tried a few things and found a couple that work.

Top: Lynn’s
Tank: Old Navy
Leggings: Newport News
Belt: TJ Maxx
Boots: Qupid

I changed things around for my second look. I loved how the belt I bought on eBay has the same colors as the top. Pattern mixing is tough for me and I love when it works.

Belt: eBay
Leggings: eBay
Shoes: Bamboo

Have you seen this type of top before? What is it called? How is it typically worn?

3 Comments

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, kimono, leggings, pattern mixing, style

February 14, 2012 · 3:31 am

Pink and Red for Valentine’s Day

This month’s Everybody, Everywear challenge is pink and red. I enjoy trying new looks, but I don’t have a lot of pink. Hot pink, yes, but my bright pink tops didn’t go with the shades of my red pants and skirts. Then I remembered the craft pile.

Sweater: Izod via Goodwill
Dress as skirt: Boutique in Seattle
Shirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Two Lips
Necklace: eBay

I bought this sweater at Goodwill so I could make a pillow like the one I made before. Well, it’s getting one more chance as a garment before it becomes a household accessory. I put it on over a red dress I’ve worn before and added a leopard print shirt underneath for good measure.

I’ve never worn two pieces of animal print before, but I think this works, style-wise. It didn’t work weather-wise, unfortunately. So I ditched the dressy satin shoes and wore more practical boots. I chose striped socks for a funky, power-clash effect.

Boots: Qupid
Socks: Sockadilly

Have a look at how everyone else styled their pink and red looks today at Everybody, Everywear.

6 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as animal print, Everybody Everywear, fashion, style, thrifty fashion

February 12, 2012 · 7:54 pm

Casual Look for Running Errands

So what does Jean of all Trades wear to run errands on the weekend? Here’s what I wore recently: A fun, comfortable jacket, soft, comfy leggings, and funky (okay, and comfortable too) boots.

Coat: Thrifted at Labels
Scarf: Thrifted
Leggings: The Bay
Boots: Thrifted at Labels

It’s hard to wear this jacket. It’s a casual coat but I can’t pair it with jeans. That would be a denim overload! I usually wear it with skinny jeans in bold hues. Today I thought it would make a nice cover-up for the tights and T.

I’ve had these leggings since the 90s, when they were last fashionable. I was in college, and wore them with huge, oversize men’s shirts and 8-hole Dr Martens. Leggings were trendy in the 80s too, when I was in junior high. Back then I wore them with huge, oversize t-shirts and pointy flats.

I don’t have any tights from junior high, but I kept these ones from college because they’re warm and comfortable. Even when they weren’t “in style” I would wear them at home, to bed, or under jeans when it got cold outside.

If I’d known then how durable they would be, I’d have stocked up. From a cost-per-wear perspective, these have made me money!

Mom’s 60th Birthday Dinner was Sublime

I met up with family in Florida last month. I don’t get to see my parents often so we took the opportunity to have an early birthday celebration for my mom. Her birthday is actually today, February 11th.

On me:
Dress with belt: Annie 50
Shawl: Mary Kay (gift with purchase)
Shoes: B2

On mom:
Dress with belt: Fort Lauderdale street market
Capris: Roots Canada
Shoes: Fort Lauderdale street market
Purse: H&M via gifted (from me)

It didn’t feel like winter so it was hard to remember that we were celebrating in the right season. It was also hard to remember that she’s about to be 60. She doesn’t look it. In the words of a friend, “Did she have you before she was born?”

To celebrate such a milestone, I found what is possibly the best vegan restaurant. We made reservations at Sublime. The gourmet restaurant lives up to its name! Mom, dad, my brother, his girlfriend and I dined on brocomoli dip and flatbread, mushroom ravioli, roasted vegetables, Thai pizza, coconut cake, and apple pie.

Part way through dinner, owner Nanci Alexander stopped by to see how things were. Nanci is also the president of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, where she and others tirelessly fight for animals. She’s kind of a big deal in the animal rights community. PETA’s DC location exists to a large extent because of Nanci. It’s aptly named The Nanci Alexander Center for Animal Rights.

Bob Barker, Sir Paul McCartney, John Salley, and Pamela Anderson all dine at Sublime when they’re in town. My mom has one thing in common with these celebrities: they’re all vegan. Perhaps my mom’s healthy, plant-based diet is a contributing factor to her youthful looks and endless energy.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

11 Comments

Filed under Events, Fashion

Tagged as dress, fashion, Sublime restaurant

February 10, 2012 · 6:10 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Flamingo Skirt

You might recognize the color palette in this post. I wore this dress (as a skirt) when I visited Flamingo Gardens a few weeks ago.

I packed light for my trip to Florida and I wanted to get a lot of mileage out of my clothes. Later in the vacation, I wore the dress (as a dress) when my mom and I celebrated our birthdays.

Dress: Annie 50
Top: H&M
Shoes: B2
Pashmina: Mary Kay
Earrings: DIY

This dress was a breeze to pack. It didn’t show wrinkles because it has just a bit of lycra. The shoes are really comfortable and worked well for a walk in the park as well as out for dinner. Plus, they’re semi-waterpoof. I wore them to the beach, but not in the water. The wedge is wrapped in faux leather and I didn’t want to risk ruining them.

If you want to see how other fashion bloggers wore outfits in different ways, hop over to the Winter Remix Challenge that Jessica Quirk of What I wore put together. My photos are in the collection too. Thanks Jessica!

DIY Rug Skirt

I am not a doormat–but my skirt is! I made this awesome stretchy pencil skirt from two doormats I bought at the dollar store. The mats are made of stretchy strips of fabric (scraps from the garment industry, I believe). I have to give credit to a pair and a spare. I saw this idea on her blog.

Top: Flea market
Skirt: DIY
Necklace: Macy’s
Cuff: Claire’s
Tights: Roots Canada
Boots: Old Navy
Clutch: Victoria’s Secret

I laid the rugs on a table, placed one of my own fitted skirts over it and pinned the rugs so I knew where to sew. Twenty minutes and two dollars later, I had an awesome skirt.

I sewed the basic shape, trimmed the excess material from the edges, and then zig-zagged over the new edges so my skirt would stay together. Because the rug/skirt is stretchy I didn’t even have to add a zipper. I simply pull it on.

This project was easy and fun. I’m happy to showcase it as part of this month’s Ethical Fashion Blogger roundup.

9 Comments

Filed under Crafts, DIY, Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as DIY, ethical fashion, ethical fashion bloggers, fashion, skirt, style, tights

February 7, 2012 · 7:29 pm

Red Skinnies and Leopard

I got daring recently and paired leopard print with red-hot skinny jeans. The shirt is loose so it balances out the painted-on fit of the pants.

Top: Old Navy
Pants: Red Light Vintage
Shoes: Old Navy
Cuff: Lauren Harkness

It’s hard to believe I got this top at Old Navy. It doesn’t seem like the type of thing they’d sell. Perhaps that’s why it was in the clearance section. It’s sheer too, and since women over 40 aren’t supposed to wear this sort of scandalous attire, well, I had to! (Of course I don’t buy into notions of what women should or shouldn’t wear but I read about that sort of thing recently and wrote about it).

I wore this awesome Perry Ellis poncho over the top because it’s too cold in Seattle for sheer tops–at least in February. I picked it up at a clothing exchange recently.