Getting Down to Basics!

Autumn has arrived, although it may not seem so in some ways.   The mornings are a little darker, and certainly on the chilly side, but we're experiencing some lovely sunny days after the morning coolness.  This is a lovely time of the year, and especially as the trees and gardens around us begin to show their colours.

It's good seeing many plus size garments (and when will we be able to dispense with this word "plus-size" - got any ideas?) in florals and pastels.   Solid colours too are appearing in the shops and the possibility of mixing and matching, especially when including some of our favourite clothes already in the wardrobe makes for an exciting Autumn time.

There are also some great "basics" (as in colours as well as styles) appearing in the stores.  Millers is a store that I hadn't visited for some years.  The reason is that I formed the opinion (without even checking) that their sizes only went up to around 16 to 18.  This opinion was based on the fact that Millers staff had told me this very thing.  Mind you, this was a few years back so I had continued to walk past the stores without even bothering going in.  My mistake.

Fastforward to a week or so ago, when I just ambled in to the local store at the Glen (Glen Waverley), and saw to my delight smart pants in short and regular length in a variety of colours - black, navy, grey, brown and beige.   And the price certainly allowed me to buy more than one pair without even denting my weekly budget.   I also bought a particularly attractive white top with lace trim for the same price as a cup of coffee.   (Again, we realise that these garments are made off-shore, and what that implies, but budget constraints dictate what we can afford to buy, as opposed to what we would like to buy).

I see on the website today a very nice cardi/dress which took my eye.   Of course I tend to be a little biased about black and white - certainly my personal favourite combination.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Sometimes it gets a little confusing.   There are stores that describe a garment as a tunic and then there are those that describe a similar garment as being a kimono.   It's all in the interpretation.   For quite honestly the names can be interchangeable.

Let's face it.  Quite often a tunic is merely a garment that is meant to "cover up" or be worn as a jacket or coat would, especially in the cooler months.   In the warmer months, a tunic can be a frothy, chiffony, satiny, all-kind-of fabric garment that compliments smart pants, whether long, short or capri length.  It can be a day-time, night-time garment and will fit in for any occasion.

There are times however when tunics can be somewhat disappointing in the variety of fabrics and the sewmanship.  But then suppliers like Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com) will bring out something fresh that inspires you to add it to your wardrobe.   Notice how the design on the fabric has the effect of creating a border or frame around the main design.   Enough to make this a "must-have" garment for any plus size girl.

STYLE? JUST WHAT IS "STYLE" TODAY

If you care to look up your dictionary or thesaurus, you'll find many words that describe the word "style".   Those readers who are a little older (by a decade or two) know that "style" is something that a woman aims for in seeking and then finding that "style" which suits her, and makes her look good as well as feel good.  If you ask your Mum or grandmother, they'lll mention Judy Anne Ford, June Dally -Watkins; Sheila Scotter;  even Maggie T as having "style".

Here are a few of the descriptive words in today's thesaurus:  distinctive appearance;  a particular design of clothing;  elegance and sophistication; impressive and good taste (not as in food).

In today's Melbourne Herald Sun I found a challenging photograph depicting "street style" worn on Melbourne streets last week.   I say "challenging" because none of the above descriptive words can be used with the outfits photographed.  I am NOT challenging the wearers of the outfits, but rather the outfits themselves.

Copyright 2014 Melbourne SunHerald, Sunday March 9, 2014.

Of the four people photographed, only one (the young 20 year old with a striped dress showed any "style" a young and fresh and feminine look).   Of the other three, one could have just come in from doing the laundry;   another from walking the dog and wearing those ubiquitious "distressed" jeans with holes (do these people pay extra for the holes?), and the other grabbing the nearest thing to wear that looked relatively OK but surely couldn't in a fit, be classified as "style".

Has something happened to the English language without my noticing it?   Has someone been changing our every-day words to such an extent that they no longer mean what they say, or say what they mean?

Or have I lost sight of what is "style"?