Springtime

Springtime officially began here in the eastern states of Australia on the 1st September.

Well!  You could have been mistaken about that, for the weather has been somewhat contradictory.  The cold spell we've had reminds us of mid-winter and this of course has reflected in what we are wearing.   It's almost as though we're asking ourselves "when will we be able to wear some of our lovely summer clothes".

But it's merely a matter of being patient, and making sure that our summer clothes are in readiness for us.  

For the more curvaceous woman, the ranges from Maggie T as well as Autograph meet our young-at-heart feelings - whatever age we are!   For the more budget conscious, then the ranges from Victoria Hill and Danart neet that need as well.   Visit both their websites and view their latest catalogues and then get along to a store or purchase from on-line.

Cotton and linen are favourites this year as well as a lot of stretch fabrics, particularly in pants and crops.   The casual but dressy look is one that will carry you from the home, or business, to an early evening get-together with friends.

LATEST VIEWS AND OPINIONS!

There are still a number of stores that well clothing up to and including size 18 and sometimes 20.  Anything higher then you have to look around to find what’s there, and more importantly what looks good.  For as you and I know full well, many of the clothes are so mass produced that they begin to look like just plain olf “stuff”.  We know that most, if not all, clothing these days is made in China.

But I’m not complaining.  Ha, you say.  Rosemary’s not complaining?   Well I suppose I am in a small sweet way, but what I’m doing is stating fact. 

    

There are some good companies overseas, including Making It Big (which now comes under the title of “On the Plus Side by Making It Big” (mib@makingitbig.com).  Monif C (monifc.com) info@news.monifc.com) and Igigi (igigi.com)  who cater for the more curvaceous woman.   

These are very sexy garments and if I were “brave” I might be tempted!

While I’m not suggesting in any way that any garments from these suppliers are anything but top quality, a lot of women are now coming back to the old-fashioned idea of being able to “see” a garment, “feel a garment” and to look at how it is made (sewn) before buying.  Some are perfectly happy buying on-line and have never been disappointed.  I had a couple of experiences and was extremely disappointed, so ……   (Let's be honest here, my purchases DID NOT come from any of these three USA suppliers!)

Now we come to what is available in the stores here.  Autograph has some lovely garments, including underwear/lingerie did you know?   It’s always worth your while to visit an Autograph store because they do have some great bargains occasionally.   Taking Shape - well I’m on their email list but for some reason nothing seems to take my eye.  But then, as most of you will be aware, I’m not longer “young” (even though I'm still seen as young at heart) and I’ve come to the stage where I have worked out my wardrobe and what suits me, and I stick with the guidelines I’ve set myself from years experience.   So a number of Australian stores that supposedly stock and sell clothing for curvaceous women have a focus on the younger woman most of the time.

I even find (here I go - am I in fact complaining?  Probably).   I find Maggie T garments are attractive but so pricey that I can no longer do more than look at their catalogue (on-line) and drool.  That’s where I’ve gotten to, girls.

I’m also on the mailing list for “In Fashion”, the catalogue that includes Damart and Victoria Hill.  While Damart,garments go up to size 24, many of Victoria Hill garments go up to size 30.   This latest catalogue for Spring 2016 has some really attractive items.   Let me say at the outset that the prices are comparable to those in the stores, but it’s a matter of sensibly working out a mix-n-match outfit and then being able to add items at a later date that will in effect create YOUR own profile outfit.   Let this be the start of something BIG!

Victoria Hill has Jeans, regular lengths as well as Crop,  Tunic Tops, Lightweight Cardigans, Knee Length Crinkle Shorts, a dress or two, tee shirts, sweatshirts, plain and printed polos, skirts, and a selection of jeans, shirt, cami and skirt in Lyocell (which in the catalogue looks very much like Tencel - remember that fabric)  

Their catalogue also has a range of swimwear, shoes, handbags, hats (including floppy hats for the sun!), and jewellery.   Not to mention nightwear and lingerie.

This catalogue is 100 pages, and well worth having a look at the hard-copy.   Again, I’m old-fashioned and like leafing through the catalogue and making my mind up slowly rather than going mad on-line and ordering half a dozen items that I may not like in the long run.

So there, has this given you any ideas?   Perhaps you’ve got ideas of our own that you could share with me, and the other readers of RoseMary’s NoteBook©  Then we’ll all be the Gold Medal Winners.

'Til next time

Rosemary

PUT A LITTLE ZING INTO YOUR STEP!

When it comes to being flambouyant, there’s nothing quite like a full-circle skirt.  Especially a long full-circle skirt. 

There’s something quite sensual about the skirt flowing freely around your legs and with Springtime not too far off, why not look into adding this type of garment to your wardrobe.

For those of us who are “growing older”, it can quite often become a matter of “I’m too old for something like that”.   Well more to the point what’s growing older got to do with wearing something that makes you feel good?   

So get out there and let your hair down, as the old saying goes, and even if you only wear it indoors, make it your goal to start looking at yourself as a unique, one-off individual.   Age, size, colour have nothing to do with being a woman and enjoying life as a woman should do.   

Our younger women are experimenting with all sorts of variations and trends all the time.  Don’t put off doing something really nice for yourself.

It’s your time you know,  Right now,   Let’s know what you’ve added to your wardrobe recently and what you intend to add in the short term.

'til next time

Rosemary

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Well, as you’ll see it’s been a long while since I “posted” on my blog.   Some people have asked the reasons why, while others haven’t said a word.  Does that mean not many of my regulars have been following me after all?

However, ever the inveterate optimist, that’s me.  So I’m starting the New Year off with a reminder to everyone to please keep this blog current and to “follow me” on your computer.  Perhaps you’ll learn a thing or two, perhaps you’ll be entertained, informed and/or educated.  Perhaps you won’t learn a thing, but hey, let’s keep in contact one way or another.

Many of my friends have gathered up the courage to try out FaceBook.  Well, my friends, believe it or not, I’m trying to grasp the ins and outs of FaceBook myself.  But it’s not as easy as it sounds.  Oh yes, young people seem to be able to navigate it quite smoothly and even to make it work for them.  Me, I stumble and I stagger around, but at least I’m trying.  Yes, I hear many of my friends say, you definitely are “trying”, Rosemary!

But with that, I’d like to start off by stating, the obvious.  I don’t know where “fashion” is here in Australia - has it gone to sleep, is it hiding, or does it only come out at night?  As all my loyal readers know I am a great “observer” of people, particularly women, and I can’t see where there is anything exciting being worn by the majority of women who visit our shopping malls and larger centres during daylight hours.  Once again, and please don’t blame me, but it seems to be to be “same all, same all”.   Where’s the flare, where’s the fun, where’s the flounces, where’s the feminity, where’s the feisiness?

Dull, boring, cut off pants and tee shirts.  Jeans and tee shirts.   “Hippy” style long skirts with tee shirts.   Slip slop thongs (I mean the footwear not the undies).   Bra straps showing and for those who don’t wear bras, a lot of “other” showing.   

Let’s start 2016 off with an understanding of what we can wear, how we can wear it and how we can embrace our femininity with style.   It’s a matter of experiment, experiment, experiment.  Experiment with colours, with textures, with fabrics, with designs and what ever else you can think of.

Layering brings with it a whole kaleadiscope of possibilities.  You can put together colours that you may not usually wear, but take the plunge.  You’ll enjoy the experience.

'til next time

Rosemary