"FASHION WATCH"

Of all this small group, I found Miller's had the most appealing offerings.   It will be interesting to see how the stores progress into the New Year with their selections.   Keep tuned for our next "Fashion Watch" here in Australia, particularly those that are affordable and at the same time flattering.

THOUGHT and quote FOR THE DAY

ability is what you're capable of doing

motivation determines what you do

attitude determines how well you do it.

HOW WORDS CAN HURT!

An interesting article appeared in the Melbourne Herald Sun earlier this month dealing with "words".

And those words the article speak about apply to people of size who are given negative messages, and how those messages influence how we feel and then how we respond.

This is my own photo.

Here's the article in its entirety:

WEIGHING UP WORDS

"New research into how comments can affect health has found women 

whose loved ones criticise their weight are prone to put on even more weight.

Professor Christine Logel, from Canada's University of Waterloo, 

said women who receive a high number of what the researchers called "acceptance mssaes" 

about their weight had better weight maintenance - and even weight loss - than their counterparts who did not receive this positive mesdaging from their loved ones."

I guess both you and I could affirm this finding without needing to undertake a research study.

What this tells us is that we must be aware of how we use words, what words we use, and to think about the ramifications should those words be negative or critical.

I bet by now you're wondering what a photo of bright orange flowers has to do with this post.  Nothing really, and everything as a matter of fact.   As a blogger I am becoming even more aware of the intricacies of blogging and using photos from the internet or from other people.  It just isn't on, and it needs to be repeatedly brought to our attention that just because you can get a photo of picture/clipart that appears to be "free" on the internet, it ain't necessarily so.  

 Just like words (that can be plagiarised), photos can be considered fair game as well.  So the bright orange flowers above are my way of saying I'm original!!!!!

HOW COLOUR CAN TICKLE A MEMORY

Meryll from RAINY DAY BOOKS wrote:

(This is not the dress that is described herein)

It can take the smallest thing to unlock a long forgotten memory and recently it was the colour of a new tangerine top that had been given to me by a dear friend.

The second I saw it the remembrance flooded back.

It was a Saturday afternoon in our small family kitchen, I know it was Saturday because the chairs were up on the table which meant the floor had been washed and that meant it was Saturday. All the floors were always done on Saturday.

My Mum and Dad were dancing around the kitchen to the sound of the song “Tangerine” because Mum was wearing a sateen cotton dress in wonderful shades of tangerine and olive greens, the dress had a sweetheart neckline and a dropped waist with a gathered, knee length skirt.

Mum had a trim figure for all of her life and always wore flattering colours and clothes for her very thick dark hair and olive complexion and never missed her weekly hair appointment, to have her hair “done”.

She was probably ready to go out that evening as Saturday night was always celebrated in some way.

It was a fairly rocky marriage but this day was pure romance. They swooped and dipped in this confined space and laughter echoed down the hall to book worm Meryll and I came out to see what was happening.

I am thrilled to have this picture of the happiness of that day to counteract the problems that arose in the future and to know that at least they WERE happy then.

There's another song called "Memories are made of this" and we are sure that Meryll has many happy memories not only about books (one of her first loves) but also colours.

Isn't it interesting how colours can have such an influence on our lives, even when we are not aware of it?

 

IT COMES BACK TO SIMPLICITY

We've been following Emme's story for many years now.  Emme is one of those woman who is growing a little older, but certainly as is graceful as when she first graced the women's magazines (if not even more so).  Emme was born in 1963 so you'll readily see that she has turned 50 and she makes that number seem oh so irrelevant.  

The latest photo of Emme does her justice as always.   It's obvious however that Emme has taken her own advice and dresses appropriately to her age and her shape.   We here at RoseMary's NoteBook© are reminded again, that frillery and frippery are aimed at the young and trendy and they wear it with great aplomb, however .......

Elegance always starts with simplicity, 

and the design and cut of a dress can make the world of a difference 

to how a woman looks, and how she feels.

A "WISHLIST" for 2015

A small group of us were talking yesterday and came up with our first  short "wishlist" of garments that we'd like to see here in Australia this year,  (Will we see them in the stores - perhaps not but we can hope).   Quite simple wishes when you come to think of it.   As mentioned many times throughout the years, most of our team are plumply curvaceous, even to the extent that as our bodies have changed shape over the years, our needs have changed accordingly.

By that I mean quite simply - only a few of us have fantastic legs these days!  No longer able to wear four inch heels, or even leggings.  Where DID those ankles go?   Aaaah well, come on, we've got to be honest.

So let's start and as usual we start by wanting to display our good bits in a flattering manner.  We all agreed that this top is not only feminine but it can be even more enhanced when worn with a simple black slinky or cami and pants.  It can be a statement of its own.   it could also be worn with a slimline long skirt.

Then we chose a top that would always be the subject of conversation!     Needless to say those in the team with great legs would get away with this, but it was also agreed that slimline pants instead of leggings would fit the bill too.   Chevrons are not used enough within fashion, whereas we always come across stripes which many of us delightfully fuller figured woman steer away from when we see them in the stores.

Wrap around dresses again came close to the top of the wishlists, and again slim line pants were suggested to be worn should the length of the dress be such as to prevent or dissuade us from buying or even from wearing out (we're proud or vain creatures at times - we always want to look our best, whatever our age, shape or size!)

I personally love red as a statement colour, and I've added this to the short list.  Sweetheart necklines are acceptable, and flattering, at any time.

What we'd like to see are staight slimline pants that can be worn under garments such as this, that will compliment the look for those of us who are a little older.   We're not asking for patio or flared pants but nicely shaped straight slim-line pants that taper in very slightly at the ankle giving the illusion of a thinner leg.  Most importantly in a fabric that will breathe and which will always look good whether worn as "part" of an outfit or as pants in their own right.

A LITTLE HINT OF AFRICA, and a BURST OF COLOUR

It looks like the "animal print" continues to hold sway, especially in Europe.  This augers well for those of us here in Australia who purchased a few items that came out late last year.  We'll be in a postion to add to our wardrobe with only a few more items, thus making a complete mix 'n match selection.

Apart from the basic black and white, the contrast colours seem to be bright orange, a lovely coral, and lime yellow.

As far as jackets are concerted. watch out for the season's colours of striking, bright pinks and a solid red.

FEELINGS ABOUT YOUR SELF-WORTH!

Most of us in this team read a lot.   Our preferred choices of books range from the sublime to the ridiculous and most things in between.

However, the gaining of self esteem and confidence remains high on the list of books that we all enjoy.

At the present time I'm reading a novel written by Johanna Verweerd - "The Winter Garden".   This is a story of painful memories and the realisation that life is passing by.  Ika designs beautiful gardens and one day a letter arrives from her sister, "you'll have to come soon .... Mother won't last much longer."   To think this story dwells on sadness is wrong.  This delightful book takes the reader from the present to the past and back to the present in a beautiful flowing manner, allowing us to be with Ika as she confronts past issues and learns about herself and her own strengths.

I quote the following paragraph from the book:

"Ika would love to have been cheerful, but she didn't know how to go about it.  

Cheerfulness had to begin inside.  The same with laughter.  

Like being afraid, which also started inside a person.  ...........  

So how could she become cheerful?  

Bart said that being afraid evoked the threat of danger.  

Would thinking more about happiness, then, 

help her to experience what it was like to be cheerful?"

I guess there's something to be said for "thinking about happiness" because as many psychologists would agree, "thinking" happy or sad, will tultimately make a person BE happy or sad if they put their mind to it.

A thought for the New Year.

A NEW YEAR CHALLENGE!

Have you made New Year resolutions?   Do you bother?   Do you, as I do, set myself attainable goals. Even if I don't meet them in the long run, I sure have plenty of fun in trying.

How about a New Year Challenge?   With readers from all around the world, how better to share opinions, observations and fashion notes than through the NoteBook?

So here's the challenge for January.   Taking into account there are readers who are presently in the middle of summer, the depths of winter and some in between, why not tell us how you see yourself in January 2015, and what your wishes might be as far as life acceptances and changes and most of all fashion (as it applies to the naturally thin, the naturally curvaceous, the plump, the young, the adult and the more mature woman).

I await your comments, suggestions and thoughts.  Let's start this New Year off with a bang!

'til next time

THINGS THAT WILL DO YOU GOOD ....

AND MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD .......

You may find you need to TRIM RELATIONSHIPS.   If you find you are surrounded with negative people who cannot ee the value of your friendship or who treat you as a door-met, let go and move on.

If you don't want to lose the relationship entirely, at least limit the amount of time you spend with that person.

Don't let your garden become entangled with weeds,
 let your self-esteem bloom.