Monday, April 9, 2018

On teapots and style


I will, I suppose, always love those sweaters with teapots or teacups on them. I've had a few, but I haven't had this one from Talbots, and when I saw it for $5.99 at a Goodwill store recently, I immediately knew I would be working it into next fall's wardrobe. For about a half second, I thought, "But is a sweater like this even in style anymore?" Immediately, my more sensible self answered, "Who cares if it's in style? You like it, and you'll actually wear it, so get it."


And so I did. I'm picturing it with jeans and a white or navy three-quarter-sleeve T-shirt, perfect for junking in the fall. But who knows? Maybe I'll find some pretty new navy slacks and dress it up with a blouse and some nice jewelry. Or maybe I'll find a navy dress and wear this to church. The point is, whether it's "fashionable" or not, it's going to be "my" fashion, and here in my almost mid fifties, I'm finally comfortable enough with who I am to not give much thought to whether what I wear has the approval of others.


Yet I am still curious where you all stand on fashion, since most of you readers, from what I can gather, range from perhaps the late thirties/early forties to the sixties and seventies. I can't see a forty-something wearing this. A fifty-something, maybe. Sixties and seventies? Depends on the person, I guess. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to hear lifestyle expert Alexandra Stoddard when she was speaking in Atlanta. She wore a gorgeous suit with a colorful, all-over floral print and, if memory services, fuchsia shoes and blue tights. She even commented on her colorful fashion choices, noting that a friend once told her that her clothes made them smile. She thanked them and said she appreciated the compliment but that she would wear such clothes even if others didn't much care for them because they made her happy. I thought that was a lovely way to think about fashion.

So I consider that philosophy as I look into my closet and see about a half dozen rose-print dresses, multiple aqua and turquoise knit tops, and simple sweaters that I wear year after year because I like them so much. Do you have a "style" philosophy? Has it changed over the years?

17 comments:

  1. I am 43, and I would probably not wear that sweater, but not for the reason you might expect. I'm tall, and I just can't wear a sweater that isn't tunic length and be comfortable.

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    1. Good point! I'm 5'2" and wouldn't have thought of that, Melanie!

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  2. I have at least 3 of these old Talbot sweaters and love wearing them I would wear one like yours often! Mine are: 1 with birdhouses, 1 with mushrooms - yes that's right and one with fall assorted colored leaves. Your's is even better!

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  3. I love that sweater! (especially at that price.) I'm in my early 60's (about to turn 62) and I'd wear one like that. My "style" is comfortable, in colors I like. Pink and rose tones, blues, grays, anything but yellow and orange. Wear what you like and don't worry about it!

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  4. Perfect sweater for you! What a wonderful find, how do you do it? I am 5’10, maybe a little short for me. I would buy it anyway, and give it to a tea friend. Enjoy it!!

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  5. Love the sweater and I would happily wear it. My fashion guidelines: 1. I like/love the item. 2. Item is clean, neat, fits properly and comfortably, and doesn't scare small children. 3. There is a hat for every outfit and occasion. I'm gaining fast on 67 and I've been losing height over the years to my current 5'6". I will say it has taken many years to become comfortable in my own skin and once accomplished my fashion philosophy developed easily for me.

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  6. Any tea aficionado worth their grain of salt would certainly wear this sweater!

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  7. It is beautiful and what a great price. Wear it and have fun wearing it . . . it is a treasure :)

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  8. I tend to dress traditionally with a hint of current - kinda like how I decorate our home - classically tradition with a hint of contemporary....transitional, as it were.

    However, I am completely allergic to color or whimsy in my decorating style, I do wear color because I have blondish white hair and pale skin. If I dressed TOO neutral I would disappear. I am also heavy and short so feel limited to wardrobe options.

    I was just cleaning out my closet and there are many many bags going to GW this week. MY dreams of losing 50 pounds isn't happening, and by golly if it does then I deserve cuter more current styles, right? LOL.

    I daresay that teapot sweater is absolutely cute. It's perfect for you and your tea-loving lifestyle.

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  9. I like your new teapot sweater! And I always say, "If YOU like an item of clothing, then wear it. Don't worry about what other people think." Since I'm 69 years old and retired, I don't have to worry about office attire anymore, so I'm most often wearing jeans and t-shirts from my baseball or hockey team, and flannel shirts in winter. For more dressy occasions, I tend to wear nice slacks and a pretty top, often nature-inspired, and a sweater. I have never been a fashionable person and am even less so now. I like clothes that are comfortable, well-made, a pretty color (most often red) and not too expensive. I don't mind second-hand as long as they're good clothes, so I have found some very nice things at thrift shops.

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  10. I forgot to add my name to my comment above (the one that starts out "I like your new sweater!") I also would add that I am lucky enough to have a sister who likes to sew, and who knows my style ,so she often makes me shirts from interesting print fabric that we have found. So I end up with one-of-a kind beautiful tops. My other two sisters have good taste in clothes and sometimes buy me things to wear. So although I hate to shop for clothes, I end up with comfy clothes that I like.
    --from Vernona in DC

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  11. My style philosophy has changed as I’ve gone through different phases of my life. If we find something to wear that makes us happy then I think we should wear it. Enjoy your new sweater.

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  12. I love your sweater and anything tea. Enjoy wearing it. I'll have to go and check out resale shops near me.
    Sandy G

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  13. WOW! Awesome find! That sweater would have come home with me too had I found it in any shop. Why? Because I know I'd of kicked myself for years to come if I didn't buy it. I think you would have too. I've never really worried much about what's in style as I tend to go with classics when dressing up. Classics never go out of style like the trendy stuff does. I would include your sweater in the classic, or maybe classy, category even though others might not. Definitely wear what makes you happy and what you're comfortable wearing. I bet you could find a navy hat to go with it too:-).

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  14. I love it, so glad you found it. It will bring a smile to you face every time you wear it.

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  15. When I went to design school I discovered Black. Ha! Everything black in the closet. This past fall I divided my clothes into fall/winter and spring/summer. I noticed fall/winter was still black and grey, but somehow flowers and colors have appeared in the closet for spring/summer. Working in the apparel world I would say this sweater was for an older than you customer, but it is done with taste and being a tea lady definitely wear it. It would look lovely even with blue jeans.

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