Day 222 - Fashion

 FASHION 

Prompt - Fashion : Go through a fashion magazine or browse fashion websites online and write about a style you love.

A style I love?  Is there such a thing?  I've looked through so many photos, so many looks, today, without finding one that really shouted "wear ME" to my desires.  But I did notice a strong theme running through all those that drew my eye in a positive manner, and equally a thread to the ones I immediately rebelled against.

Many years of wearing suit, collar and tie turned me against that formal form of dress as soon as I retired.  In the eleven years since I have worn that same outfit about four times, for weddings and funerals.  Plus once I wore a tie to a formal party, with a tartan jacket.  Finally, the cream coloured suit has come out a few times in summer with tee and sneakers, a take on formality I find acceptable.  Maybe I should wear it again soon.  But most telling has been the steady reduction in the formal part of my wardrobe.  From thirteen suits on the day I left work, to two now (1 funeral, 1 wedding!).  My tie rack was thinned out, and still has far too many.  And the formal shirts are down to about five or six - why, I do not know.  My substantial collection of cufflinks sits there neglected.

For I liked making my suited look a bit distinctive.  I shied away from the plain blacks and greys and blues of most cloth, and tried to find things that were a little different.  My socks would flash a bit of colour, my ties some pattern, and my links some individuality.  And there is still a hankering in my system to wear things that show some small spark of difference.  But with a far greater emphasis on simplicity.  Tee shirt and jeans was the mantra all that time ago, and it's one I have, by and large, stuck to.  But there are so many possible variations and embellishments, especially once the weather is a bit cooler than it is now.

And there was one outfit I came across, on a blog, that seemed to embrace that philosophy.  The model was young, of course, so the outfit itself probably wouldn't work for me.  A grey and white striped, long sleeved tee worn with white deck trousers, white socks and sneakers, and topped with a pale jade zip up up jacket.  Not a lot of colour in that look, yet the combination of the simple blocks of colour with the stripes is one that appeals.  And reminded me of a look I'm trying to create.

Summer here has either been hot and sunny, meaning no need for a top beyond the tee, or cool and damp, or even soaking, requiring something at least shower proof be worn on top.  But there were days in Spring, and I hope there will be again as Summer ends, where it has been perfectly clear and dry, but with a cool breeze that mitigates against bare arms, needs another lightweight layer on the body.  To that end I received a Breton cotton jacket, by Armor Lux, in a darkish orange colour, which perfect when the temperature drops a few degrees.  It is clearly more jacket than short though.  I have since added two other pieces to that section of my wardrobe, both with a foot on each side of the jacket/overshirt border (and no, I will NOT be using the hideous portmanteau word invented to cover this type of garment...).  In doing so I found myself doing some research into the background of these items, and much leads back to the simple French workman's jacket - the chore jacket, usually in blue with three patch pockets and roomy enough to be used with layers.  That led me to a modern interpretation from Uskees, in that same jade I mentioned from the photo, and an original, vintage, but unworn, French jacket from the sixties or thereabout.  Both perfect for the days where the temperature is around fifteen or so.  

I do not have a striped shirt to wear with them, but I was already contemplating getting some, and this photo has convinced me to do so.  Red and white to go with the blue, black and white for the jade, and blue and white for the orange.  There may or may not be light coloured jeans worn with them (I don't have white, but cream is available...).  And the sneakers and socks with bring further colour (although I was looking at some white sneakers in TK Maxx today, and could be tempted back, and if there were any white jeans...).

There was no photo of this style I (hope I will) love, but the one I found was close enough to provide the inspiration to chase the look I'd already envisaged, perhaps with that snowy addition...