I’m sad that I won’t be able to wear my favorite scarf again until my self imposed 30 day Fashion Challenge is over. Poor me! Scarves have always been an important part of my “happy outfit place” so much so that this particular scarf was gifted to me by my team who knew me so well and understood how much I would love it. They so thoughtfully picked it from one of my favorite stores, Madewell, and it has pictures of Paris and London on it because they knew that my dream was to live abroad. Now, I have never got to even go to those lovely cities yet but little did I know at the time that I would live in China one day. I cherish this scarf and it looks so damn good to boot. Score! And I WILL go to London AND Paris this year…. can’t wait to FINALLY see them.
Madewell Scarf!
I dug out my Ugg heeled booties that were so warm and cozy on a cold foggy Seattle day. I’ve had these forever and sometimes forget about them but they look good with a skirt so I’ll have to put these to good use while it’s cold. Pairing my animal print skinny belt (another Banana bargain!) with a denim shirt, I added my wrist beads from China to remind me of my great adventure and off to work I went! After getting home, my puppy Thor jumped into my arms so he could get a cuddle and be in the picture. Now, it’s off to the gym to get a little exercise after sitting all day. I do miss my long walks to/from work in Shanghai for sure. Once it gets a little warmer, I look forward to getting off the bus at a stop farther away than my close one just so I can get in a little walking.
But, for now, it’s cold and wet here in Seattle so I’ll struggle through the next couple of months until we can get back to our walking habits from China. I do miss our strolls to explore new places and look forward to walking all over Seattle…. when it gets a little warmer.
So, what do you wear when you have to catch the 6:40 a.m. shuttle for a “what the Hell were they thinking when they scheduled it this early” morning meeting? Well, first, you take time the night before to plan out your outfit so you don’t look like a fashion “don’t”. Seriously, I have been lazy and not done this in the past and ended up looking not so good and that’s being too nice. I also learned the hard way to do that all important bathroom mirror check when I get to work to avoid wearing my dress backwards (yes, for an important meeting)and, yes, that really happened. Now I am a little more aware and try to always take a moment to check for major faux pas before facing the boss. I have caught myself sporting only one earring, holes in tights, etc. and managed a quick wardrobe tweak to fix quickly before I embarrass myself AGAIN. Live and learn!
Banana Republic both classy and sassy
But this morning I had prepped the night before and purposely picked my new Banana Republic black sweater (50% off!) that was light but warm with a cutout back detail that was highlighted by the white shirt underneath. Now, this was no ordinary boring white shirt. This was my custom made, fits like a glove, French cuff cotton shirt that I designed in Shanghai, adding print details to the collar and underside of the cuffs. I love it and only wish I had bought a few more while I lived in Shanghai.
Add in the dragon cuff links that I bargained hard to get for less than $10 at the South Bund Fabric Mart in Shanghai and the bold turquoise Banana Republic necklace that always garners major compliments (bought last year on sale) and I was feeling good despite the early call.
Classy black pants from Nordstrom’s and my comfy Dansko studded heels made this a great outfit for a very long work day. Now, off to plan my outfit for Day 7 so I look decent despite another early call. Good night!
Day Five is the start of the work week after a long holiday break from the office. It actually felt good today to dress up and get out of the jeans and sweatpants. After wearing t-shirts and jeans as my “work uniform” for a few years, I love wearing fashion forward outfits with accessories galore! Today I celebrated one of my favorite brands that is not widely available here in Seattle. Desigual is a casual clothing brand based in Barcelona, Spain, one of my favorite places in the world.
Desigual prints brighten a grey Monday!
They have amazing stores in Spain and a few here in the U.S. I walked by one such store every day in Manhattan when I worked in Times Square a few years ago. Now, I never entered the store unless they had a huge sale going on and then I walked right by that store guard and entered the inner sanctum of crazy colorful prints. These wild prints and intense designs combined with flamboyant splashes of color are their trademarks on clothes for all. Of course, I am a bargain shopper and they don’t run cheap so I wait for the 50% off sales and then pounce. Today, I wore my beige/black print skirt and got a few compliments on it. Don’t you just love a cute skirt with pockets??? In addition, I tied on their wild clown print scarf inspired by Cirque Du Soleil, which I got in Las Vegas on my daughter’s 21st birthday trip when we saw the Beatles Cirq show. This show was overwhelming in it’s intensity just like the Desigual prints. And, yes, I am the coolest Mom in the world for taking my daughter to the Venetian for a weekend of light gambling and intense shopping and people watching. So. Much. Fun.
With two wild prints, the rest of my outfit needed to be a solid color but not boring. I only own one Eileen Fisher piece, which I picked up drastically reduced at Nordstrom Rack. She has great quality items that are classic in design but are grossly over priced. I love the lime green color that makes the prints “pop” and pulls out the green in the predominantly red scarf. All these colors just make me feel so positive on a rainy Monday in Seattle. Clothes DO affect your mood so dress for happiness.
P.S. The amazing Rooster print I am standing by was given to my husband when he visited a local Community Center in Shanghai to take a calligraphy lesson from the locals. When they found out he was born in the Year of the Rooster, one artist drew this while he was there and proudly presented it to him as a gift. We just got settled into our new home and framed it on our bedroom wall. It looks gorgeous and we can’t wait to send the artist an email to share with him how much we treasure it. Memories of China abound!
Sunday dawned rainy and grey…big surprise for a Seattle winter, right? So, the fashion challenge today was finding something to wear that would be appropriate for puppy cuddling AND watching lots of football. Very low impact and high comfort. Warm, cozy, loose, and simple….tomorrow will be the start of a crazy work week and the outfits will have to actually be acceptable to interact with people on a professional level. HORRORS! But today, Thor and Izaak were my constant companions and their standards are quite low as long as I could quickly transition from bed to couch to quick trips outside to do their thing and get them back in out of the rain fast to get a biscuit. Ahh…to have a dog’s life!
Wrapping me in warmness, this grey sweater cardigan has been my favorite for a few years and is always top pick for travelling on cold planes because it’s like wearing your favorite blanket but more socially acceptable. To spice it up, I added a jeweled scarf that my daughter had gotten for me (again, she IS the stylist I can always count on) plus some super cozy black pants that are perfect for pairing with my faithful UGGs to walk the dogs in the rain. People mock us UGG wearers but there is a reason that they NEVER go out of style and they cost so much–they are like walking in warm, dry pillows from heaven. Seriously, I’m a huge fan though I admit they do look clunky.
Add some simple earrings and the cross necklace that I adore from a trip to Sedona many years ago and it was the perfect Sunday outfit! Tomorrow, the Spanx goes on, the stiletto booties get dusted off and the work week begins. Let the Fashion Challenge continue on!
A grey, rainy Saturday calls for fashion to match. So, on Day Three of my fashion challenge to wear a new outfit every day this month, out came the grey tones in the form of a Merona grey balloon cozy cardigan that Hannah picked out for me awhile ago and the grey V-neck t-shirt that she also sourced for me at the Boise thrift store for a few bucks. I love having her as my personal shopper because she has such a good eye for fashion AND she loves a bargain. I taught her well–fashion isn’t about how much you spend but how you put it all together no matter the price you pay.
Day Three in grey tones rocking a bicycle scarf
Of course, no outfit is complete without a necklace and scarf so I wound my grey bicycle scarf around the gorgeous silver Chinese inspired necklace that James got me for Christmas. Done! Off we went to run errands after we borrowed my son’s car (really my old car) that is now held together with plastic tape and a prayer. We noticed another large dent and the side mirror pretty much hanging off the side, to which James replied when asked what happened, that he had a run in with a very solid pillar that got in his way. Oops! We were in China at the time of impact last year so he never thought to tell us since we had already warned him that there would be no further repairs to this 19 year old car–Infiniti makes a great car but it can’t run forever. But, for now, it got us to Ikea to buy some final home stuff we needed and to Lenscrafters for new glasses. We get around Seattle without a car most of the time using Car2Go, Zipcar, Uber, our own two feet and an Orca card but it’s nice to borrow our own wheels sometimes. Having James over to puppy sit Thor and Izaac while we ran around town was an added bonus. They love him and give him LOTS of puppy love while he was here. We bribed him to stay for dinner by promising Chinese food, which is not at all like food in China but still yummy. Good to be back in Seattle with family close by!
Already I am dreaming of the 30 outfits I will style this month so that I never wear the same clothes twice…. ahhh, the challenge of it all!
Day Two and I’m feeling Lucky
Had to work today but it was a Friday so I opted for jeans and LOTS of accessories. I felt LUCKY today so on went the Lucky jeans, Lucky earrings, Lucky necklace–seeing a trend of desperately wanting to be Lucky?? Yes, I do love me a little Lucky in my wardrobe. It makes for a fashion forward yet comfy outfit perfect for a casual Friday when I was the ONLY ONE at work. Darn I work too hard but with a new job and a busy month ahead in January, there is so much to do. Plus, of course, I needed an excuse to dress up and get out of the house.
Besides all that Lucky going on, I had on my usual Banana Republic piece, this time the classic black cardigan teamed up with an olive t-shirt and exotic patterned scarf. The best piece of the whole ensemble was a multi-jeweled stone belt buckle that I picked up at the local Goodwill for a song… such a bargain shopper I am!
Looking forward to a super casual weekend ahead enjoying our new apartment after a quick trip to Ikea to get those last items needed. Ikea on a Saturday in Seattle can’t ever be as amusing as Ikea on a Saturday in Shanghai–everyone napping in the bed displays and having picnics in the dining set displays. I miss my adventures in China so much!
2015 here I come! Blue skies dawned in Seattle and I started my 30 Day Challenge. No, I am totally NOT going on a diet. Well, unless there is a chocolate/wine diet craze I can tap into. No?? Okay, well my resolution this year then is to challenge my fashion sense and utilize my closet to the max. You see, this challenge is all about fashion not flab. No doubt I’ll be hitting my new gym as well but, while the treadmill is deadly boring, creating a new outfit every day for the next 30 days (NO repeats!) is fun and truly challenging. Though, with my passion for scarves and necklaces leading to enough inventory to start my own store today (http://decorate-your-neck.myshopify.com), I not only will not repeat any clothes but also accessories as I style it out new and different every day.
January can be oh so boring and bleak but my outfits will not be. Even I do not have 30 different pair of shoes so there will be multiple uses there–trust me, I have no room for any additions to my shoe collection. I will document my styling daily and share to keep me honest on this challenge. This whole idea came from my lovely daughter Hannah who did something similar, taking selfies daily to share her thrifty pairings. She and I both LOVE a good deal and frequent the thrift stores looking for brand names at ridiculous prices. I just shared one big find–a Elizabeth and James shirt for $12 which ended up not fitting me so Hannah got it. Score!
Along with the challenge, I’ll be denying myself all shopping privileges this month. Honestly, if I have enough clothes to do 30 different outfits in 30 days, do I really need to buy any more outfits??? NO! So, I’ll be deleting all those tempting emails screaming 50% off and more during the winter clearance events. Enough is enough and I need to create fashion greatness out of what I already have and not add to the already cramped living quarters for my clothes in my itsy bitsy closet. Glad I got in that last order to Banana Republic last week!
While I will coerce my partner in crime, Thom, to take some nice outfit photos along the way, I’ll also be doing some selfie shots on the run as I travel and work long days…just setting up the scene so as to lower expectations around photo quality. Thom is such a perfectionist on his photos, and, thus, they look stinking good compared to anything I can do. So, come along with me on my 2015 fashion adventure and let’s see if I can stay true to a fun creative outfit every day in January, no matter what the weather or where I am travelling!
DAY ONE-1/1/2015–Rocking the New Year AND these Gap boyfriend jeans (yes, I paid for the hole in the knee look) along with a classic black l/s t shirt, silver/blue beads from my Shanghai collection of necklaces and a elephant scarf that hits the right exotic note. I was dreaming of warmer weather today so put on my Cole Haan wedges to let my tootsies breathe. Soon, the toes can be exposed again!! Cheers to summer coming sooner than later!
Day One-New Year’s Day rocking the ripped jeans and some being.
“Take Thom as collateral”. Please. I offered my hubster earnestly to the scarf lady who wanted 100 RMB to ensure we would stay and wait for her to retrieve our requested 200+ scarves I wanted to buy. As Fiona interpreted, she shook her head fiercely in protest, indicating that the crazy Laowai was not a good trade–we settled on 20 RMB which tells you what Thom is really worth. Just saying, sweetie–Chinese perspective. Nothing personal.
With rolling suitcase and multiple Ikea blue bags in tow, we journeyed to the South Bund Fabric Market to bargain the day away. Now, I’ve been known to be called the “Mule” at the markets and today was no exception. No comment, those of you who know me. Note–I have also been called a “bulldog” at work but that’s another story. Funny, I never get compared to the quiet, beautiful animals like a swan or cuddly ones like the panda. Hmmm…
I started with Thom’s favorite Tibetan lady (gal in the red in the pic) with her jewelry spread out on several blankets outside the market–you get a better price if the vendor isn’t paying for stall rent. Having previously bought a few pieces, I knew the price and pieces I was looking for–no more than 25 RMB ($4 US) and lower is better. Unfortunately the Tibetan lady didn’t stock quantity in any items so on to the next blanket. The word spread fast that I was a “buyer” and the vendors put two and two together with Thom watching over our large suitcase…. this Laowai had some RMB to lay down! Let the stampede begin.
Let the negotiating (and screaming) begin!
They started rushing me with similar necklaces to the one I had picked up to check out. I finally found one gal who had some multiple units of what I was looking to buy for our accessory business that Thom/James will run in the US online plus I was buying for my friend Patti to start her own business back in the wilds of Indiana. God Bless Fiona who just laid into it with her as the bargaining began and quickly became heated. As the Mule with the RMB, I kept shaking my head and using my best Mandarin bargaining phrases that always come in handy. A couple watching it all go down (guy in blue shirt) wanted Fiona to help them too but she waved them off–she is our bulldog negotiator. I did share with the nice folks what they should be paying so they didn’t get ripped off. I’m nice like that–sharing the “Mule” tips to the world.
We got what we wanted and a few stink eye glares from the vendor (white/black check shirt gal) who still took my RMB. I was disappointed not to get all I wanted but I'[l go back to the AP market, where I have found it’s easier to find 10/20 units of the same necklace, which fits our online store concept model better. Thom’s so excited-more shopping and carrying bags. Oh Joy!
Then, it was off to the back local street to gather up 200+ scarves for 8 RMB ($1.33) each for really nice prints on large cotton-like scarves. At first overwhelmed at picking out 25 or so patterns, I quickly starting using my print radar to pick out the best on the cart. Fiona told me later that the local women were watching my selection process and, drawing a crowd, immediately started buying whatever I was choosing–the crazy Laowai lady must know her stuff, right??? Thom swears his very presence attracted the ladies but we all know better.
Scarf explosion
After refusing Thom as collateral, off the vendor went to her home to get the stock we needed–back in 30 minutes she promised. A hour and a half later, she finally showed up with LOTS of scarves in tow. While we waited for her, the vendor’s mom told us we needed to straighten the scarf display as we had messed it up with our selection frenzy. Sure, no problem, I got this. I have many, many years of retail experience. After just a few folds, the lady told Fiona to tell me to STOP! It seems that I may need some scarf display lessons as she suggested to Fiona that NO ONE WOULD BUY the scarves I was rolling up to stack on the table. Okay, message received. After I had paid for my many scarves, though, everyone was all smiles. Good day at the market for all!
Many days we have walked by a hotel and seen the beautiful (and expensive) cars decorated with flowers to celebrate a wedding. And when I say expensive, I am talking that a Porsche is the entry level with Bentleys and Rolls Royce being preferred–the bigger the car, the better the status. We walked by this lovely Porsche on a hot sunny day recently and admired it’s beauty until we saw the driver sawing logs reclined in the front seat and quietly snuck away so as not to disturb his beauty sleep–weddings will do that to you!
Wedding car is decked out with floral hood ornament
The ritual seems to be that the bride/groom lead the wedding processional in the most elaborate car with a hood floral centerpiece with the wedding party cars decorated more discreetly with flowers on the side mirrors. Not having actually been invited to attend the inner sanctum of a wedding ceremony, I can only imagine how over the top the flowers are there if their gorgeous cars are any indication.
Romeo and Juliet style for wedding photo shoot on the Bund
As in the U.S., the ceremony might be nice, the food should be good but the pictures are everything. On weekends especially, if you go to The Bund or the parks, you will surely see the brides and grooms getting their pictures taken in picturesque settings, posing with their wedding party. This occurs sometimes months before or after the wedding or for their engagement party. The dresses are elaborate and gorgeous. No expenses spared for Chinese weddings!
It seems like the river boats on the Huangpu River are rented out for weddings frequently. Typically, you will see a huge banner hanging on the side with portrait of the happy couple. Nothing like seeing yourself 12 feet tall and flapping in the breeze to celebrate the happy day. Can’t imagine what that sets back the parents paying for those parties. Yikes!
We were at the Cool Docks recently and the center restaurant among the fountains had been decked out for a wedding in the evening. We didn’t stick around but I’m sure it was just beautiful. White cut out light cylinders indicated a night wedding with the formal chairs and runners all in white and very formal. Party on!
On another night as we were going to Shook bar on the Bund, we ran into, literally, a wedding party just breaking up. The flowers were everywhere and their backdrop banner provided Thom and I with an unique opportunity to “borrow” their props. Always the newlyweds we are!
Taking advantage of wedding collateral at Shook! Bar to pose with my love
When in China, right? I had been here a whole year and never gotten custom tailored clothes but with less than 10 days left for me here, I threw caution (and a few hundred RMB) to the wind and decided I would always regret not doing it so off to the South Bund Fabric Market we went! HOT DAMN AND HOLD ME BACK-It’s time to design some fashion to remember my stay in China!
Patti getting measured for her new coatSizing me up for a French cuff shirt
Planning ahead with my favorite shirt in tow as a sample, we hit the market after negotiating for yet more jewelry from the street vendors. 10 RMB ($1.50US) for earrings! Thom made a new friend with the sales lady from Tibet and I got some cool Christmas presents. The market here is three floors consisting mostly of tailors hawking Chinese dresses, suits, outerwear, dresses, etc. so it can be very overwhelming with aggressive hawkers, “LADY, YOU NEED A SUIT???” We had gotten some tailor recommendations from our expat group but, of course, forgot the info so we wandered around. Before you start selecting fabrics and start to negotiate for “best and final friend price”, decide what you are willing to spend and then let the fun begin.
I originally went to just get a French cuff business shirt and a knock off of my favorite knit shirt from Kenneth Cole. We got all the way to the third floor before I found a knit vendor and a friendly merchant named May. She and I picked out fabrics, colors and went over the design to replicate my sample shirt with long sleeves instead of short. For only 150 RMB, I’ll be getting two knit shirts custom tailored to my specs and designed by me in the colors and fabric I picked out. I’m thinking these will quickly become my most flattering and favorite shirts-pics to come.
Thrilled to be designing again (back in the day I was a clothing buyer), I asked her to guide me to a vendor to create my cotton French cuff shirt next, knowing she would get guanxi (good will) from this referral. The next tailor was not so conversant but together we managed to design a special shirt with a different pattern for the inner collar and cuffs to spice up the classic white shirt. Picking out the collar design and the cuff style, we were done and I parted with 120 RMB($20 US) for my shirt that hopefully will fit better than any I can get off the rack at Zara.
I redesigned this dress in dark grey with long sleeves, lower neckline and longer length.
By then, Patti had gotten the designing fever and decided she just had to join in and started trying on coats with my new tailor friend, May. Opting for a classic car coat style in brown with a lining to be picked out by May, who by know we trusted explicitly, I started to try on dresses. I had been a dress buyer a long, long time ago and designed lines myself of dresses so I had a great time picking out fabrics and taking one of their sample dress as a template to lengthen, change the sleeve length, lower the neckline in a dark grey heavy knit fabric. The fact that I could shimmy my way into their sample size dress at all was a minor miracle. Can’t wait to see the finished dress!
Thom’s getting a new leather coat for Christmas
Now it was Thom’s turn to get the cool biker leather jacket he has been dreaming of with zipped gusset sleeves and soft leather that was the “good stuff”, which meant more RMB. While I shopped for dragon cuff links to go with my new shirt, he was measured by two tailors who appreciated that he was one of the few expats able to actually fit into their samples, being the tall thin dude that he is. Let’s face it, most expats here have drank a few too many steins of beer and are carrying 50+ extra pounds. Not my fit and trim hubby-he loves fashion and isn’t afraid of some style in his wardrobe. As you can see by the picture, he also isn’t afraid to make a fashion statement, rocking his Hong Kong shirt in support of the protestors.
Thom will be styling’ in Seattle with his custom made boots and custom tailored leather jacket. We went for his initial boot fitting last week and the ombre grey side stitched boots with red trim will be done before we head home. Yes, the boot model for his first fitting is pink but the final result will be a work of art, designed from several styles to incorporate an inner zipper, side accent laces (red) with toe stitching in red as well. We love our shoes and will also fondly remember our adventures in China as we stroll the streets of Seattle sipping our Americano’s from Stumptown.
Thom’s custom boot model is pink but the final product will be ombre greyThom is thrilled with the boot he designed
Travels with Melinda 