<p>I agree that skinny jeans don’t look good on everyone, but I think everyone should have a pair of jeans that have a thinner cut, to wear with tops that are cut wider at the bottom. Generally, a top that is full shouldn’t be worn with pants that are also full.</p>
<p>MOWC…sure do know what you’re saying, but bike shorts (and pants) caused more problems than they were worth…for me at least. (please no tips from anyone…I tried them). I do just fine without them. But I do like bright sleeveless bike tops. 
</p>
<p>BB…I would trade 3 lbs and some overgrown weeds for a trip to Hawaii any day.</p>
<p>Welcome back, BB. I, too, am in need of a vacation that involves a large body of water and some umbrellas in drinks.</p>
<p>Has this ever happen to you - I would put on an outfit that I thought looked good on me, I would go out (shopping) and then looked in a mirror, “wow, what was I thinking of? Am I really that short and over weight?” It’s because when I first put a pair of pants on they wouldn’t be wrinkled or too tight, then as day wore on, my image of what I look like has nothing to do with the reality.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Yes, I have had that happen. Not usually the “short” part (I’m 5’7"), but the “what was I thinking”, oh yeah.</p>
<p>^ not from clothes, but from a) wearing my glasses b) getting close to a magnifying mirror c) looking at my neck up close…</p>
<p>I wore some recent purchases from Garnet Hill to a pool party (as in we stood around the pool eating and drinking but no one ventured into the water except the Golden Retriever) last evening and felt just right - casual but stylish and very comfortable. Wore the shorts in black with the green top. The shorts are wonderful, extremely flattering - I would think on most shapes:</p>
<p>[Pleated</a> Linen Shorts - Garnet Hill](<a href=“http://www.garnethill.com/pleated-linen-shorts/womens-fashion/apparel-accessories/pants-shorts/144458]Pleated”>http://www.garnethill.com/pleated-linen-shorts/womens-fashion/apparel-accessories/pants-shorts/144458)</p>
<p>[Ruched</a> Three-Quarter-Sleeve Tee - Garnet Hill](<a href=“http://www.garnethill.com/ruched-three-quarter-sleeve-tee/womens-fashion/apparel-accessories/knit-tops-tees/121676]Ruched”>http://www.garnethill.com/ruched-three-quarter-sleeve-tee/womens-fashion/apparel-accessories/knit-tops-tees/121676)</p>
<p>Nearsightedness is a blessing as we age</p>
<p>sewhappy - that is a very cute tee. Nice. I like the shorts, too, but I cannot wear anything linen - I’m “allergic” to wrinkles (I get the burning itch to pull out my ironing board and iron the heck out of them!), and it is impossible to keep a linen item wrinkle-free.</p>
<p>My new Kooba wallet-on-a-string bag is now a permanent NE resident 
DD begged me to give it up, and I caved in. Sigh… Those d@rn kids!!!</p>
<p>I scored big in HI - Saks Off-5th had my favorite Tommy Bahama swim suits on clearance, and I got some nice tops and bottoms, $9-15 apiece (regularly $50-80 each :eek:). DH bought me a dress - light blue with white flowers, really cute, but too short for my tastes, about 3-4 inches above the knee! I did not want to disappoint DH by returning his gift, so I quietly texted my dress-obsessed DD that she would be getting it soon. Turns out, she has been pining for this dress ever since she saw it at our local Macy’s in March! LOL!</p>
<p>I like linen precisely because it is suppose to be somewhat “rumpled”. Takes the pressure off.</p>
<p>The shorts do very well if hung from the cuffs - the weight of the belt pretty much get’s them smoothed out on their own.</p>
<p>I wore the green “lilly pad” version of the shirt and really enjoyed the color. Had not worn green in a long time. It’s a honey of a shirt. I want another and wish I’d ordered two for the discount.</p>
<p>Noticed several long dresses and skirts at the poolside party. They worked pretty well on tall, medium or short women. Most just skimmed the ankles and drew nice attention to the shoes and pedicure. I find the casual interpretation of the long hem line really fun.</p>
<p>My next investment is something long.</p>
<p>The shorts are adorable. I also shy away from linen, but a dear friend recently suggested spritzing a little and hanging from the cuff.</p>
<p>I have inherited my mother’s ironing gene. It did mutate somewhat as I don’t iron nearly as much as she does - but I have to admit the gene is there. DD on the other hand probably doesn’t know that you have to plug the iron into a socket before use. </p>
<p>I just told her that my gift to her this summer is to pay for laundering for her blouses while she is doing an internship away from home. Yes, yes, I know she will eventually have to learn, but I also know she has a long schedule, is using public transportation for work, and cooking her own meals. I thought it would be a nice help for her while she is gone.</p>
<p>I love linen. I like the shorts but I am scared of pleats. Do you have to wear them with the belt?</p>
<p>wnp, I also inherited my mom’s ironing gene - my mother still irons everything, from cotton undies to kitchen towels to bed sheets! I’m not as bad, because my dad’s anti-ironing gene balances it out. :)</p>
<p>mom60 - the belt makes it work, it sort of sits on the hip bone and makes you look good. </p>
<p>As for ironing, I love my $15 steamer from Kohl’s. That and the big revelation from a Saks guy who sold DH his last suit that . . . duh . . . hang pants from the cuff. Has been a revelation.</p>
<p>BB - our mothers were separated as children.</p>
<p>Mine use to iron my bras!</p>
<p>My Mom would not let us buy anything that was not Permanent Press. No iron in my house growing up. When I was in HS and wanted to buy cotton my Mom would make me pay with my own money.
I am not a good “ironer”.
Sewhappy- I have one hip that is slightly higher. I try to avoid belts since they tend to not sit well. I also find the most comfortable waistline with my hip issues is a few inches below the belly button. Due to the hip I also tend to not like to wear anything that needs to have something tucked in.</p>
<p>Mom60 - I’m a bit asymmetrical, also. I think loose waists and belts are the way to go for that. But definitely everyone needs to dress for their own comfort and well-being first.</p>
<p>We have a travel steamer and a serious home steamer and since acquiring them I don’t iron anything except my DH’s dress shirts. I think steamers are brilliant.</p>
<p>sewhappy, would you recommend your serious steamer? If so, what is the brand?</p>
<p>I have a Rowenta steamer which works very well. Great for touch ups and also good for items that may become “shiny” after pressing. In my family, the pressing gene may skip a generation; my mom never pressed, but I iron everything. I love linen, but I like it to start out crisp.</p>
<p>Would someone post a link to a jean that they consider skinny? One woman’s skinny may be another’s straight leg. I wonder if we’re all talking about the same jean here, because I don’t know anyone my age who wears a truly skinny jean.</p>
<p>Workn, your comment about ironing your bras reminded me of my grandmother. Thought she was the only one who ironed such things! What a fantastic seamstress!. She couldn’t stand the fact that my Barbies lived their lives braless…so she made Barbie her very own bra and panties sets…If you think that’s over the top–she also made Barbie lined wool coats—every garment she made had bound button holes. How I wish I’d kept some of those clothes!! Sorry, I digress~</p>