in which I sort of capitulate on tumblr, but not really

[chelseagirl]

I stand fast in my belief that Tumblr is hard to navigate as a blogging platform for conversation, though it's nice for visuals.

I have long *had* a Tumblr I only used for occasional reading (once or twice a week) -- chelseagirl47 (my old LJ handle, before chelseagirl became available) aka Chelseagirl's Edwardian Fashion. I have now begun to post to it -- largely repins from my Pinterest board on the same topic, and some reblogs from other historical fashion or history tumblrs.

I have also started a new one, to reflect my fascination with Japanese mori girl style, as well as my thoughts on adapting the style to something a middle-aged woman can wear without looking silly. It's called Midlife Mori (subtitle: Older than You. Adapting the Aesthetic). [The answer, by the way, is probably this: Gudrun Sjogren. Eileen Fisher. Ivey Abitz. Cardis over dresses with tights and boots like mori girls wear, only without anything too "cute" or too fairy princess-y.)

I do not plan on fannish or personal blogging over there, but I think I'll be reading more frequently than I have been, so if you have a Tumblr and I'm not already following you, do let me know, so I can add you to my feed. If you have no interest in looking at clothes from the 1910s or from a Japanese fashion subculture, no need to follow me back.

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

I like Gudrun Sjödén, but their prices are too high for me nowadays. (When I go into London next month, I might stop by the actual shop there and see if there are sales happening.) I also wish they'd make longer length trousers. I do own two GS skirts, a dress and a top, though. However, I rather like that they use older models fairly frequently.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm so distrustful of fast fashion these days that I'm ok with paying more if the quality and not just some fake status comes with it -- but she's definitely more of a "for future reference" for me at the moment . . . I've been lucky with Eileen Fisher (who is crazy expensive, too) having an outlet shop in my neighborhood, though. (It was her original shop from before she was a big corporation.)

[silme.livejournal.com]

I simply can't afford quality goods unless it's a really good sale or I find it at a charity shop. For example, I recently found a lovely Monsoon dress at a charity shop for £7.99. I remember seeing it in a Monsoon shop a couple of years ago for £60! One reason why I've started sewing again is that sometimes I'll see a simple top in a good shop going for £30 or more. I'll like the fabric, but then I'll realise there's maybe 1.5 meters of fabric in a top that I could make for far less money. I found some lovely 100% cotton sateen fabric on sale today -- gorgeous Indian-style print, really soft fabric -- kind of like a Liberty poplin. I bought enough to make a simple top. So, it's my next 'mundane' sewing project after the top I'm already making.

(I also have a steampunk alteration to do -- a jacket I found that's too small for me, so I want to cut in half, in the back, and add fabric to it. Then there's an SCA Viking apron dress I'm working on. And there's that vintage jumper (US meaning) that I need alter also -- the one that's too small in the shoulders. I've been sewing here and there in little bits.)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

But you have mad sewing skills, which I don't. I did go to Joann's yesterday and buy fabric for my first three projects (pajama pants and a wrap skirt from the SEW Everything Handbook and then a more constructed skirt from Sewaholic patterns that's gotten a lot of raves as being a good beginner project); last year I bought fabric for two patterns I realized are beyond my skill level, after I cut out the dress. I am too intimidated to shop at Mood or other fashion insider places as a rank beginner, so I tend to run to Joann's when I'm in WNY.

I've had especially heavy teaching loads this year so I've been splurging a bit figuring if things go differently next year, I'm set for awhile. I do need to stop that, though. I have things I love now, and should only do serious sales or replacing worn-out things. I need a new winter coat next fall and I figure that's my shopping budget for the semester right there . . .

[silme.livejournal.com]

PS Here's a link to the fabric I found today. It's high quality stuff and it was reduced to half price. It's 59" wide, so I could get away with only buying 1.5 meters for a top. http://www.fancifulfabrics.com/shop/by-Color/Greens-Chartreuses-Turquoises/p/Amy-Butler-Alchemy-Studio-CollectionSateen-BlissFloraBamboo-x2317819.htm

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

That is just amazingly pretty. What style top are you making from it?

[silme.livejournal.com]

I'm still deciding. I only have 1.5 meters, which isn't a lot. I'm thinking of something very simple, such as http://kwiksew.mccall.com/k3895-products-20428.php?page_id=3038 or https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/161202727/instant-download-the-julia-top-shirt?ref=shop_home_active_16.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

A basic tunic. I wonder if a slit neckline would look nicer, but otherwise, yeah.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I have enough fabric for something like this, unless I can find a contrast fabric for parts of the sleeve and the facing. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/29557115/sis-boom-patricia-tunic-with-scientific?ref=related-7

But I kind of like this one also, and I have enough fabric for the shirt.
http://www.sewlisette.com/patterns/souvenir

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Both of those seem a bit more flattering? than the other patterns.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I have enough fabric for something like this, unless I can find a contrast fabric for parts of the sleeve and the facing. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/29557115/sis-boom-patricia-tunic-with-scientific?ref=related-7

But I kind of like this one also, and I have enough fabric for the shirt.
http://www.sewlisette.com/patterns/souvenir

Hmmm. It wouldn't work for this piece, but for future reference, I kind of like this one -- maybe for the dress also. http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-79735239299518_2272_121471934

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I like the shape a lot; I like the all-one-fabric and the one-contrast fabric. I'm not as crazy about the many-fabrics one, but that could be more your thing than mine -- I am somewhat of the "ooh, grey, it goes so well with black!" school of dressing. ;-)

[silme.livejournal.com]

I'm currently (slowly, as I'm hand-sewing, as everything is French seamed) working on the top in this link (the brown one), using four different fabrics.

http://kwiksew.mccall.com/k4016-products-47744.php?page_id=3038

However, I prefer the fabrics I'm using to the ones in the photo. Those fabrics make me think of early '70s polyester. :)

I hate fitting zippers, but this pattern might make me want to do it:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/179714329/the-torii-tunic-pattern-sdg-105

[jadegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm really liking the "dark mori" look for myself, so I'll be looking forward to seeing what you post! I'm museswell, of course - but that's business. My personal blog is "thetoweratcharm", and is perhaps somewhat odd.

I totally agree with you regarding Tumblr and conversations - it was never meant to share text-based info, and it *really* shows.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Found it -- lots of Morticia & Gomez awesomeness!

Yes! I could totally see you in that look. I like both dark and regular, and what's wonderful is realizing that it's to a large degree the way I already dress, just somewhat more stylized. Not the jeans and sweaters me, but definitely the dresses, tights, and cardis me, which is what I've been more into for awhile now, anyway. I have been developing an unhealthy interest in white on white embroidery, but that was always there, anyway.

[anicca-anicca2.livejournal.com]

I'm very interested in collecting ideas about how to dress really well at our age, (and just a little obsessed with the whole "going grey or dyeing" topic, too...).
And I think we share similar tastes, I had bookmarked Eileen Fisher (which is not on sale here in Germany).
I found your chelseagirl tumblr and will see if I can follow it without having to open a tumblr myself, but I can't find your Midlife Mori tumblr, do you have a link?

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/midlifemori You can definitely visit tumblr without having one; or set one up just to follow accounts you like without posting, like I did.

Honestly, right now I'm mostly repinning from my Pinterest or other tumblrs, and there's not so much age-specific yet, but I do plan on doing more with it in the future.

I'm weirdly still naturally light/medium blonde at 52, and my only grey is a bit in my eyebrows. Definitely helps me pass for younger. I expect I'll turn white one day, though. I think grey is beautiful but they do say if you are job hunting or dating it can get in your way; my friends seem to be half and half. I love that the musician St. Vincent, who is like 31, is dyeing hers grey now.

Eileen Fisher outlet on East 9th street -- only way I can afford her! A lot of her stuff is listed on eBay and many US eBay sellers ship internationally. (I still owe you for the glove-mittens, too . . . I finally wore through a couple of the fingers!)

[anicca-anicca2.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about my bank-of-chelseagirl-credit, unless it's a burden on you.

I wouldn't dare buy any clothing online, either, never have, except a pair of shoes that I tried on in a shop a size too small and could only find my size online.
I need to try stuff on and see how it fits and suits me.

But I love getting inspiration, and hacking my way into looks, as it were.
The Mori girl stuff is very much what Noa Noa (Danish brand) were doing a couple of years ago. I was in love with the looks but, as with Mori girl style, a waif-like (or at least flat-chested) figure is a must, otherwise you (I) run the risk of looking like my late grandmother waking up from a nightmare or something. At some point, I actually tried on *everything* I could find in my size in the nearby Noa Noa store, just to find out that not one piece was looking good on me.
It's a fine line between pulling the strega look and actually looking like a witch, alas.

So right now, for myself, I like the Eileen Fisher range best.

Grey/greying hair: (I actually think way to much and too hard about this but anyway... St.Vincent actually highlights my whole dilemma.
You're lucky in that you'll just have to transition from one light colour to another. My natural colour is dark brown, and going grey will change the hues that suit my face, too, if that makes sense.
I want to look my personal best for my age - with minimal effort (I don't even blow-dry my hair, and I rarely wear makeup) and I'm trying not to miss the point where long hair looks ridiculous, and dark hair to harsh. Right now, my shade of pewter would seem to make my whole head look washed out, but I'm always keeping an eye on things...
St. Vincent, on the other hand, is young and gorgeous, and she gets away with murder. Grey is just another shade of dye to her, the grey hair pics are all very glamourous and made-up for a big stage. It's a statement, it doesn't actually enhance her naturally good looks, just makes them stand out in contrast - I think. And that's the point with grey hair: it's really dominant, never goes unnoticed, and is most interesting as a contrast - on somebody very young, on somebody very attractive anyway. It's very unforgiving if it's not given the proper frame. But that's the whole middle-age styling dilemma in a nutshell.
I'm sorry, I never seem to be able to leave concise comments.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I've mostly had good luck buying online, especially after I know a line. You'll just have to come to the US and try on Eileen Fisher . . .

I'm definitely seeing European and also US designers with the same aesthetic as mori. I haven't been wearing so many loose dresses, but otherwise, it seems like a stylization of the way I dress already. I think my biggest temptation is the lace/eyelet petticoats underneath -- they could look silly on me, but they're so adorable. I'd like to try Gudrun Sjoden, but they do have a shop in town here; in any case, my clothing budget is spent for the time being . . . There's an American line called Magnolia Pearl that a lot of people associate with the aesthetic, but to me it looks a little . . . insane?

Some of my friends are going grey really attractively, but it's true that it's an embracing of the stage they're at, and that's something difficult in our culture. Others are dyeing, but then a lot of my younger friends dye too. I feel like an oddball sometimes that I've only ever had my natural color. (I did have a few "body perms" in the late 70s and the first one was cute and the second one destroyed my hair . . . ) You're right, that as I've always had light hair, it's not like it will be such a big change when it comes. I'm the same way, by the way -- I mostly air dry my hair, and the only makeup I generally wear is mascara and eyeliner (mostly because of my glasses and how they could make my eyes disappear) and lipstick, and that usually comes off anyway . . .

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I'm teensytardis, which is where all of my TeenyTinyTARDIS pics are going, as I'm trying to avoid posting them to LJ, unless I have nothing else.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Cool!

[anicca-anicca2.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot to say that I hadn't heard of Ivey Abitz, but I absolutely adore their site. Wonderful wonderful fabrics, and really great combinations and outfits. I can imagine spending an absolute fortune at their shop.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I have a linen dress and a sleeveless top which I got at their sample sale, at which they were what I might have paid full price anywhere else. I'll wear the dress alone this summer, and I'm kind of thinking I'll spend all my Christmas/birthday gifts next year towards one of the overfrocks.