Well, the Shabby Apple giveaway has ended! And it’s time to announce the winner. Using a random number generator, comment number 38 is the winner, and it is … *drumroll*
Congratulations, Rachael! Thank you to all of you who participated, and thank you to Shabby Apple for making this lovely giveaway a possibility!
Last week I kicked off a new challenge series: Looking Good .. Despite the Holidays. I’m very excited about it! A little while back I emailed myself a list of smaller goals and habits that I wanted to aim for to help me along the way, and I wanted to share that list with you. As you will see, there are a variety of different types of things on my list. The exercise related goals are in red, the style related goals are in blue, and the food related goals are in gray, so there is definitely a mix.
This is certainly not a one-size-fits-all kind of list, this is just my personal list. And it’s really just a list of things I need to do better about, not everything I need to do. For instance, I thought about including “put on makeup in the morning” – but I already do that, typically, so I didn’t add it to my improvement plan. So each person’s list would look different. However, having some smaller quantifiable goals I think can help achieve a more nebulous goal, like “looking better”.
And I’m feeling especially good about it now that I’m starting to see progress. As I mentioned before, this is not a weight loss advice series … however, I personally have been needing to lose some weight, and over the last few weeks of working on my list, I’ve lost 10 pounds. WooT! I’m starting to be able to fit back into some clothes I couldn’t wear before. I still have more progress I want to make (and not just on losing weight), but I feel like I’m on a much better trajectory now – and one that I can stick to, even after the holidays. Although I definitely haven’t done perfectly on my list … I think now that I’ve shared it with you all, though, I’ll feel much more accountable to it! I’m still really bad about drinking enough water. *sigh* Some of the goals we might end up talking about in more details in other posts.
So, what do you think of the idea of having a list of mini-goals?
What might be some things on your list? Things that are the same or different than mine – I’d be curious to hear either way! Leave your thoughts and comments below. :)
I have long been a fan of Shabby Apple dresses. Their style is exactly what I love … classic vintage dress styles with a whimsical modern twist, all while keeping it modest. *swoon* So I am completely honored to be able to host a Shabby Apple giveaway .. and tickled for you to get the chance to win something from their beautiful brand.
Also, I thought this really ties in nicely with the “Looking good … despite the holidays” series I just started. What a way to kick things off, eh? (People who know me in real life know that when I get excited about something, I tend to talk very fast and enthusiastically … so I’ll probably end up writing kind of like that in this post.) Oh, and not only is this offer good for whoever wins the giveaway – but Shabby Apple is also offering a coupon that all readers of The Flourishing Abode can use this month. Yes? Oh, yes.
They have quite a range of styles – retro dresses, to lace dresses, to casual dresses – and I love how they organize them by style collections. For instance, I am in love with their Zoology collection, which is where the above dress is from … and the Mad Hatter collection? SO much my *ahem* cup of tea. (I mean, come on, I have a whole series of Wonderland prints in my shop. I love the whimsy!) And their Roamin Holiday collection very much reminds me of when we lived in Europe. *sigh* Here are a few of my favorite dresses…
Eek! I. Love. It. Plus, as I was perusing their website, I saw their handy dandy guides to fit, measurement, and body type … as well as their fast and free return policy – all of which, in my book at least, make buying clothes online SO much easier.
OK! So, on to the giveaway details…
For one winner, Shabby Apple is offering a $50 gift card to their shop.
‣‣‣ 1. To enter, visit www.ShabbyApple.com, pick out your favorite dress, then come back here and leave a comment telling what it is. (This is mandatory to be entered for the giveaway.)
You can also get additional entries in the contest with the following:
‣‣‣ 2. Tweet about this giveaway
‣‣‣ 3. Blog about this giveaway
Leave a separate comment for each entry.
Open to US addresses only, for ages 18 and older.
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm 11/26/12
And for all my lovely readers, here is the coupon code for 10% off at Shabby Apple:
theflourishingabode10off (Good until 12/12/12)
So have fun browsing around Shabby Apple! What’s your favorite dress?
Ah, the holidays. I love this time of year. Special memories with family, seasonal good cheer, laughter, delicious food … and the post-holiday surprise of extra pounds when we step on the scale. Um, yeah, not so fond of that last part. No wonder getting in shape is such a common New Years resolution! This year, I’m hoping to keep all the good parts of the holidays, but not feel the regret in the mirror. So for the next weekly Friday challenge, happy holidays can still be healthy holidays!
This challenge is actually very personal to me. It’s not that appearance is the most important thing at all!! But over the last couple years, I’ve put on some weight. And at the same time I’ve been going through a style dilemma. And I’ve not been as active or as healthy as I wish. And I don’t like the results. So this autumn, I’ve started working out again and trying to get into some healthier habits, and finally have been starting to make some headway. WooT! But I don’t want the holidays to stop (or reverse!) my progress.
This series is *not* going to be a weight loss advice series. It is going to be about my attempts to become more healthy, and to improve my appearance in the process. I definitely am not going to be giving any medical advice! I’ll be just sharing what is (or isn’t) working for me. Some of it will have to do with getting in better shape, while some of it will have to do more with style and poise. I feel like I’m muddling through some of that right now, and I intend to share my thoughts, foibles, and even perhaps some occasional successes. But I can pretty much guarantee there will be opportunities for you to laugh at me. :)
And, right as we are getting started, I’ll have an exciting announcement on Monday for a special opportunity that I think you’ll be excited about! So stay tuned for that. :)
But in the meantime, here is one thing I’m going to try to be working on this week: posture!
Posture can have a huge (and immediate!) impact on your appearance. Even if your outfit is well put together, and your hair looks great, if you are slouching, that can make you look so different. Whereas even if you’re not perfectly put together, good posture can give your appearance a boost (don’t you always stand with great posture when you’re looking at yourself in the mirror?) – plus it is healthier for your body.
I’m fairly tall (around 5’10” or 5’11”, plus I wear high heels), and I do like being tall. But I don’t always have very good posture. My grandmother was also very tall, and I remember her saying to me, “Don’t be ashamed of your height, stand up tall!” I remember being surprised to realize I wasn’t standing up straight – I didn’t feel like I was slouching. But as soon as I stood up straighter, I could feel it.
It wasn’t until I went to the chiropractor when I was older that I realized part of why I didn’t stand up very straight. When I was small, we were hit by a drunk driver, and it did some permanent damage to my neck, making it lean forward. My chiropractor urged me to work on standing up straighter and retraining those muscles, and not holding my head so far forward. He said that one of the biggest differences between how healthy and limber his older patients were was in what kind of posture they carried through their life.
I realized in talking to him, just how little I realized what good posture actually felt like! I found this interesting little info article thing that helps to define exactly what good posture is.
So! I need to work on better posture. Hm. I’m suddenly overwhelmed with how ironic it is that I’m writing this while slouched back on the bed.
Ahem. Excuse me. *adjusts position*
Much better. I think in addition to just trying to remind myself during the day to have good posture and build better habits, I want to work on stretching and doing more yoga/pilates to help practice good posture.
Plus, as a friend recently said to me, “The quickest way to look 10 pounds lighter is to stand with great posture.” So true.
How’s your posture? And what do you think of this overall idea for the new challenge? I’m excited about it – it will definitely give me some accountability during the holidays. Leave your thoughts and comments below! :)
Personally I love to wear vintage clothing. I like the classic meets whimsical aspect of it. But if you love vintage like I do, then you’re probably been here before: you discover a fabulous vintage clothing find that seems to be in your size, only to realize that you would need to remove some major body organs and perhaps some limbs in order to be able to fit into it.
Sizing: it was the single biggest problem that people voted for in a poll I did on why people don’t wear vintage. Not surprising, since no matter how much you like a garment, if you can’t get it to fit, it doesn’t do you any good. However, it doesn’t have to be an obstacle to wearing vintage! Here are some tips to help you with vintage sizing troubles, many of which pertain to Etsy (where I sell vintage clothing and accessories), though many of the tips also have broader applications….
Tip #1 – Ignore the size given.
I’m sure you’ve noticed – sizing standards have changed over the years. A size 8 skirt today is completely different than a size 8 skirt from several decades ago. And between the fact that different brands size differently, different decades size differently, and different garments just fit differently, the best idea is just to ignore the size given. Don’t let the fact that there is a larger number on the size tag deter you. Sure, you may get a little “tag shock” when something that reads 5 sizes bigger than you normally wear fits you – but realize that the sizing is completely different! It doesn’t mean you have changed sizes, and its just a number, and no one else even has to know what the tag says! In fact – (vintage shopping hint, here!!!) you can often find great vintage items in “plus” size section of used clothing stores, simply because they get put there because of the number on the tag, not because they necessarily equate to a plus size today. And whatever size you wear, it will be a larger size you need in vintage – that’s the same for all of us.
This vintage shirt is labeled 18, but fits like a modern 10/12.
Tip #2 – Try it on!
This applies, of course, if you are actually in a vintage store, and it goes hand in hand with tip #1. You may be used to shopping where you know your size and don’t really need to try it on until you get home. But because of the sizing difference, its much harder to judge, so go ahead and try it on! But what if the garment is online? On to tip #3…..
Tip #3 – Get all the measurements you can! (and know the measurements you need)
Online vintage shops can be a great place to find vintage! But you can’t try it on, and because you can’t trust the size given on a tag to be equal to the size you typically wear, your best bet is to get all the measurements you can. Shoulder, waist, chest, length, inseam, shoe width – you name it! Hopefully the vintage seller will provide these in the description of the item – I always do this for my wearable items. If not drop them a note to inquire of the measurements, or find a shop that does offer them in the listing. Make sure you understand how the garment is being measured … is the length from the neckline to hem, or from shoulder to hem? Is the waist measurement taken flat (so you need to double it) or taken all the way around? If its not clear, or if you have any questions, ask the seller. I always appreciate questions from customers, because I try to have all the information available, but sometimes you might have a question I hadn’t realized – so I appreciate it being brought up. Once you have the measurements, compare them to a similar garment you have that fits well. For instance, if you’re looking at a suit jacket, compare its measurements to the measurements of a suit jacket you own that fits you well as a way to virtually try it on.
Tip #4 – Find out if there is a return policy for items that don’t fit.
This may or may not be available from any particular seller, but you can always ask knowing the answer may be “no” – or may be “yes”! Since a vintage item usually has already had previous owners already, the seller may not mind if you buy it and return it in its same condition if it doesn’t fit you. This will vary shop to shop, and you should be sure you understand the terms of the return if it is available (for instance, shipping both ways may not be refunded, or perhaps there is a time limit, or other restrictions.) This may or may not be available, but often sellers have a policy page you can check out, or you can drop them an message to ask.
Tip #5 – Think outside the box.
Sometimes its not that an item is too small – sometimes there are other sizing problems. For instance, many women’s shirts from 40-50 years ago were made to be tucked in, so the lower half of the shirt is very large and blousy, which may be unflattering. Try cinching with a belt, sewing in simple darts, wearing a vest or cropped jacket, getting alterations, or any other number of ideas. You can repurpose many vintage items to more closely fit your needs and size. Also, there are many ways to wear vintage besides clothing items that need to be a specific size: vintage jewelry, purses, scarves and other accessories for women …. or ties, luggage bags, hats, and other items for men, where sizing is not so much of an issue.
Tip #6 – Be willing to hunt – or find sellers who are good at hunting for you.
Vintage clothing has more character and lasting style than many items you could grab off the rack today, but its not surprising that it takes more work to find the perfect pieces. Keep looking and you’ll be amazed at what you can find. Or if you find a seller who has a taste in finds you love, keep an eye on that shop for more to come and let them do the hunting. Many online vintage sellers (I know this is true of me!) have much more vintage available than is currently listed, so you might even drop a note to to a shop you love to see if there is anything like what you are looking for in stock but not listed. You can also sign up for the RSS feed of Etsy shops to be alerted to new items being listed.
I hope these tips will help you with your vintage sizing troubles!
Do you have any tips to share?
Or do you have a vintage question you would like me to answer? This is a topic I have visited before, on a previous blog, but I wanted to revisit and expand a series of posts on vintage items.
Post your thoughts and questions below – I love comments! :)