Prosaic Paradise

Campaign for the Mundane

Affront to Fashion

Filed under Self,stuff by at 1:37 pm on Jan 26 2010

Yesterday I got sidetracked in one of those internet vortexes when someone linked to a bunch of outfit-a-day blogs.

A lot of these fashion bloggers are shaped like me. This is awesome. It’s refreshing to see what clothes look like on people who look like me, because if I am shopping for clothes online, the models wearing the clothes are a size two. That item might be available in size 16, but while I have a vivid imagination, it’s not the same as seeing the garment on someone my size. I have no idea how hard it is to take pictures of the garments at different sizes on differently sized people, but it must be really, really, really hard/expensive, because no major online retailers do it.

Anyways, I was thinking today as I received the stink-eye on the elevator from a woman who looked like she stepped right out of a Banana Republic ad of what an outfit-a-day blog might look like here. The answer is that it would likely be an outright unintentional mocking of those ladies’ sites, because fashion is not really a skill I have ever had.

Today for example I’m wearing black skinny jeans (ironic for reasons which I hope are obvious) with funny navy blue marled socks with black Birk clogs. On top, we have a stunning size-too-small cream v-neck over a tricolor organic cotton baseball-sleeve t-shirt. A teal scarf from three seasons ago completes the look. The hair was worn down and naturally curly until a trip to get coffee gave me more of a windblown look than I was really needing.

It is a fashion train wreck. And I just do not care. Until the lady in the elevator gives me the total up-down what-are-you-wearing glare. But I’m working on that “stop worrying about what other people think” thing.

Incidentally, any locals get their clothes tailored? I ordered an outfit for a wedding I am in online and I need it taken in a bit, but have up til now labored under a DIY fantasy. The ZIPS dry cleaners has a tailor attached but the Yelp reviews are not encouraging. If you know a place that has a tailor you trust let me know.

19 Responses to “Affront to Fashion”

  1. 1 restaurant refugeeon 26 Jan 2010 at 3:10 pm

    I cannot vouch for them as it relates to women’s clothing, but I swear by Ackerman’s for my suits and sundries. They’re in Adams Morgan, 183? Columbia Road.

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    Kim Reply:

    Thanks for the tip! May be too far out of my way, though.

    I shall check out your blog!

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  2. 2 Moiraon 26 Jan 2010 at 5:00 pm

    I revel in the utter neutrality of my wardrobe. :)

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    Kim Reply:

    I have often vowed to just buy all grey clothing.

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  3. 3 Lorion 26 Jan 2010 at 5:28 pm

    I had a blanket resatined at the dry cleaner by me – which only works if you’re planning on being back in Bristow anytime soon. I need to take an outfit in to see how they do w/ that but they did great w/ the satin ribbon on the blanket.

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    Kim Reply:

    Yeah, my backup plan was just to go to the dry cleaner nearest me. But it looks like I am getting some recommendations!

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  4. 4 kittenscribbleon 26 Jan 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I had my wedding dresses taken in by a woman who works out of her basement in Ellicott City; she was very nice and pretty quick. I didn’t need anything too complicated but my other friend who used her said she was even able to redo some beadwork/embroidery stuff. If you want her contact info, let me know.

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    Kim Reply:

    I was about to ask for the info when Lars emailed me about someone he knows. But you might as well give me the info in case!

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  5. 5 girlvaughnon 26 Jan 2010 at 8:02 pm

    OBVIOUSLY I can’t give you alterations recommendations but I can say this…

    I work for a super huge company that is basically broken into 3 parts parts – products for girls. products for boys and products for babies. I work on boys’ products. And 90% of the people I work with on a daily basis are men. I dress comfortably and casually but not too sloppy or stained (usually). But the women who work on the girls products are SOO into fashion and I have to share hallways and bathrooms and elevators with them and they fully give each other the up and down a few times before they say hi or give fake smiles. And usually they just ignore me with no hi or fake smile. At least I can walk in my shoes.

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    Kim Reply:

    This kind of culture was a big reason I did not enjoy the time I spent in LA. I know it’s not all like that… and it’s not like here in DC we don’t have our fair share!!!

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  6. 6 Tanis Miller, RNMon 26 Jan 2010 at 9:17 pm

    My mom is a tailor so I grew up having all my clothes customed tailored for me. This no longer works for me since my mother and I don’t really talk but I do still get all my clothes tailored from a seamstress, who does work out of a local dry cleaning shop. Makes a world of difference.

    Unlike you, however, I never notice the looks I get from the well-put together women I see around me. I think I scare them with my cowboy boots and my base ball cap and tattoos. They probably think I’ll beat them if they look at me funny.

    My sense of fashion however, is in desperate need of a revival.

    Like I said, trucker caps and cowboy boots. It’s a wonder my husband allows himself be seen out in public next to me.

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    Kim Reply:

    I normally don’t notice but this lady’s stink-eye was like a flaming dog poo in a bag on my doorstep. Could not be ignored. She might have just been thinking bad thoughts about something else but I caught a big whiff!

    Cowboys boots I am down with. Trucker hats, less so, but then I have a fantastic leather cowboy hat that I bought at Carol’s Western Wear, home of the giant butt cheeks ‘n’ boots mural.

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  7. 7 Brookeon 27 Jan 2010 at 1:57 am

    Kim, if you wanted to make an outfit a day blog I think you should! Fashion is individual and I think you have good style in a way that is you! Also, I imagine it’s more of a “process” or journey for everyone than it is “look at me”. You’d probably define your style and learn things! Also inspire others. Haha, but I wouldn’t want to do it myself… Too much work!

    Everything is tailored here in Laos, makes me sad that when I get home I won’t have access to all these seamstresses!!! There’s probably something to it like the more industrialized a country is the more it loses it’s craftspeople. Oh well, I need to do more sewing myself. I’ve had fine success with local dry cleaners for the few suits I’ve had to get done.

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    Kim Reply:

    I think the “process” vs. “look at me” is in the eye of the beholder. Folks who like to see other people’s process will see that, and curmudgeons will see “look at me”. :)

    But I have no intention of trying to take a photo every day of anything! I mean, man. Who has time? Not the way I take photos, which is with lots of setup and very time consuming!

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  8. 8 Amyon 27 Jan 2010 at 5:57 pm

    I care about what I like. I love clothes. But I just do not find what I like in my size without putting a lot of time and effort into shopping and really? I have better things to do. So today’s work outfit is wide cuffed jeans with a black v-neck long sleeve knit top and, when chilly, a long brown marled hooded LL Bean sweater. If I dress up I’m usually wearing at least one thing from my dance costuming. What in the hell am I going to wear to Minibar next week?

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    Amy Reply:

    And here’s my favorite fashion blog:
    http://geekthreads.blogspot.com/

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    Kim Reply:

    Yeah, I even somewhat like shopping when in the right mood, but usually that mood runs out before the shopping is over.

    Thanks for the tip on the blog! Added to google reader.

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    Megan Reply:

    I just went and looked at the geekthreads blog. I totally am not cool enough to dress like a geek.

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  9. 9 Leahon 12 Feb 2010 at 8:09 am

    Right on! The name of the game is comfort for me. And if that means six T shirts under a giant stretched-out sweater and my favorite green pants, then that’s what I’m wearing.

    I’m trying to wear more colors, since most of my wardrobe has managed to get pretty neutral (gray, black, white, blue).

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