July 18, 2006 08:37 AM
Blouse Bonanza
It was one of those days. I stood in my closet, looking at all the clothing I have to choose from, and nothing seemed quite right. Then it dawned on me why I might be feeling this way: while I do have nice things to wear when I want to dress up a bit, my everyday clothing selection consists of jeans, t-shirts, and polos. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those items. But here's the thing: I am going to be 42 years old in a couple of weeks, and my closet looks an awful lot like my 16-year-old daughter's closet.
I was standing there, trying to figure out which pair of jeans and which t-shirt I would wear that day, and I thought about a couple of women I know and how they always seem to look great, even when they are casually dressed. Then it occurred to me why: they look like women--real, grown up, sophisticated women, even when they are very casually dressed. Because while they wear jeans often, like I do, they don't usually wear t-shirts: they wear blouses. Yes, that's what I need! I decided that my current disappointment in my wardrobe lies in the fact that I don't own enough cute blouses. So today I began to search the Web for blouses that won't make me look older or more conservative than I am, but will help get me out of my I'm-over-40-but-trying-to-look-younger rut. And this is what I found:
- From J. Jill: this Shell Island Tunic and Soft Breeze Silk Shirt.
- Anthropologie turned out to be the mother lode, with this Julia Tunic, Sea Level Tunic, Sabado Blouson Pullover, and this Trapeze Tee.
- White House Black Market has this very cute Laura Peasant Top.
I can't afford to buy all of these tops at once, but I just wanted to send this out there, into the world, and make a sort of cyber commitment. I want to start dressing like a grown up. And finding some cute tops on the Web is one little baby step toward that goal.
Comments
Why is it that putting something out there to the internet makes it more real? I feel the same way. Crazy, though. It isn't like anyone is going to hunt us down and hold us to our commitments.
The blouses are great!
Posted by: Pieces at July 18, 2006 11:19 AM
I have friends that wear OUTFITS, with EARRING all the time. come on. I try, it's just not me. I am making an attempt to get more OUTFITS, though. blouses, not yet.
Posted by: Karen at July 19, 2006 09:56 AM
Best of luck on the wardrobe updates. I'd love to make some myself, but finances being what they are, I'm still digging on feeding the kids and stuff. I like most of your selections, especially the tunic from J.Jill, but the tunics from Anthropologie aren't my style.
As for your closet being too similar to your daughters, I have found it very nice to borrow clothes (and mostly vice versa) with my girls. Very nice.
Posted by: Tammy at July 19, 2006 12:49 PM
But once you buy the clothes...
Does that mean you have to grow up???
Please say it is not so...
Posted by: Pendullum at July 21, 2006 02:52 PM
I've been feeling the same way a lot lately, but sadly, the t-shirts tend to fit my lifestyle better than blouses. I do love the Julia Tunic, though.
Posted by: Stacy at July 22, 2006 08:01 AM
