Too Special

Oh the dungeon (or treasure trove!) that is many of our closets…the never or once-worn garments, the oft-worn and threadbare, the holey and pilled. And then there are the garments that are what we have called since childhood, “too special.” This term encompasses all host of meaning: gifts from grama that smell of her perfume, shirts that were awesome in the store fitting room but not so much out in the world, sweaters that are a long sought color but feel icky on. So why do we keep them, guard them almost by hiding them in the depths and behind the others, when they’re only taking up space? We use the excuse that they are just too special – can’t wear ‘em, can’t get rid of ‘em.

For many women, ourselves included, the contents of our closets are a study in history – a sort of archive if you will. Silly as it sounds, our closets tell a story and to get rid of things that we don’t wear anymore can feel like a betrayal of memory. Yep, clothes are inanimate but the memories certainly are not…

There are also garments purchased on a whim or with good intentions, tags still attached, that never saw the light of day. Clothes that we hope will fit again, clothes that we hope will cycle back into style. In the meantime, however, they are cluttering and distracting us from what we actually have and wear, and also what we might need for where we are at this particular time in our lives. It can be tremendously cathartic to clear out our closets – it’s really quite liberating! If the prospect is overwhelming, start one section at a time and see how you do. We’ve found that with each successful purge momentum builds, and before we know it our closets have been rid of the unnecessary. And when it’s time to do it again, the task is not nearly as daunting! Also, it’s okay to hang onto a few items that are soaked with happy memories – we’re big on sentiment, so yeah, we’ll give you permission. :)

So if you’re feeling inspired to thin the clothing herd of those items that are just “too special,” keep in mind that re•volve would love to partner with you to sell the clothing, shoes, and accessories that are in excellent condition but didn’t make the cut. We’re now accepting Spring items – think lightweight cardigans, garments that look great layered, colors and prints. We’re trying to go by the unpredictable Willamette Valley seasons while looking forward to the styles that suit the warmth and sun to come, so keep transitional pieces in mind in case that doesn’t happen until June (as we all know is often the case!). Happy purging!

Tricks of the Trade: Dress For Your Shape

We didn’t want to leave you hanging after the last post on women’s clothing sizing madness, so below are links to an amazing resource to learn how to dress for your particular body type and shape (yep, there’s a difference!). Three of the ladies who work at the shop are the same “size,” but when they all try on the same garment it typically only works on one of them. Now we know the how and why, phew!

The author breaks body types into four broad categories – standard, fuller, petite, and tall – and within the four further categorizes by identifying five shapes – slender, top heavy, curvaceous, apple, and pear. The clickable links below will take you to the main category pages and once you’ve found the closest approximation to your type and shape, click the corresponding ebook cover to view its contents.

Standard: If you’re of average height and weight, these ebooks will help you learn how to balance your body shape by understanding your symmetry, using prints and patterns to your advantage, and knowing which styles and cuts will flatter and which to avoid.

Fuller: If you’re fuller-figured, find your shape to find out how the right clothes can streamline your silhouette, learn the visual features of clothes that can enhance your strengths, and take away tips to help disguise lumps and bumps.

Petite: If you’re of shorter stature, read up on which prints and patterns work best for your smaller frame, discover ways to create the illusion of height and how to avoid clothes that foreshorten your body.

Tall: If you’re taller, learn how to enjoy your height and show off your body to its best advantage. If you’ve always dreamed of being shorter, understand how to create a foreshortening effect with color, styles and proportions.

Voila! It’s kinda like having a pro stylist whispering tips and tricks in your ear to help increase your odds of success in the fitting room. Cheers to that!

It’s Not You, It’s the Clothes…No, Really!!!

We’ve all, at one time or another, gone into a fitting room with an armload of clothes in our “size” and sulked out with nothing that fit right. And for some it starts a nasty spiral of self-loathing and bitter frustration… Well, it turns out that the madness of women’s clothing sizing is what we ought to be directing our loathsome feelings toward, not our bodies! Click here for a great article that takes on the history of and failed efforts at standardizing women’s clothing sizes as well as the wacky world of vanity sizing.

re•volve is a smed and marge friendly shop – we take the time to put the size that is on the garment’s tag and what that might actually translate to on our sales tag to help take some of the guesswork and frustration out of clothes shopping. See? It truly IS the clothes, not your body!