All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go (A Review of "Lessons From Madame Chic")

I've already mentioned that my wardrobe's been in a state of chaos lately. To tell the truth, I've been enjoying the process of overhauling my closet. I've basically gotten to start all over because so many of my clothes were worn out, impractical for a nursing mom, or just no longer my style. This time around, I was determined to create a wardrobe with fewer items, more function, and less "I have nothing to wear!"

It was while I was exploring the concept of a capsule wardrobe that I came across Jennifer Scott's blog, The Daily Connoisseur. I was instantly hooked! Her "Ten-Item Wardrobe" was an inspiration. And don't worry, it's not quite as drastic as it sounds. The idea is to have ten core items in your wardrobe each season, but it doesn't count staples like camisoles, tees, blazers, formal dresses, etc (though going overboard on "extras" will, of course, be counterproductive). Overall, the point is to have a small wardrobe of items that work together. That way, you're not overwhelmed by the choices (and possibly guilt) of an overstuffed closet, and every day it's simple to pick an outfit you love. If ten is too few, Jennifer suggests trying for fifteen or twenty core items. I won't go into too much detail here, because Jennifer says it much better on her blog! Here's a helpful post: Ten-Item Wardrobe: Getting Started. And here are all of her posts labeled "Ten-Item Wardrobe".

As I worked my way through Jennifer's archives, I became more and more determined to get my hands on a copy of her book, "Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris." I ordered it through inter-library loan, and once it arrived I polished it off in a few short days.

Image taken from the author's website

While I'm usually not attracted to this kind of "self-help" reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this particular volume! Jennifer's style is delightful, and her encouragement to savor the everyday things in life is certainly worth noting. I especially appreciated her challenges regarding why we use our nice things only on special occasions. Why save them, when we could enjoy them daily?

As a note, my philosophy is a bit different from Jennifer's because of the Biblical principles that I value -- for instance, I don't want to dress nicely because I think I deserve it or I'm worth it. I want to dress well as a reflection of my Creator's beauty, and as a way to bless my family and those around me (though I will, of course, get some personal satisfaction out of it). But overall, I was able to apply a Christian perspective to just about everything she presented. 

[10/2018 Update: Since writing this post originally, Jennifer has become a bit more transparent about her beliefs on her blog and it is quite obvious that she is a Christian. I thought back to this review, and hope that my comment about a "Christian perspective" did not imply that I was assuming she wasn't a Christian, or that her book was lacking in any way simply because I disagreed with some of her perspectives -- hopefully my overwhelmingly positive reaction to her book (and the two which succeeded it, which I've also enjoyed very much!) made that clear. But just in case, I thought I'd clarify it here!] 

Look Presentable Always

One of her suggestions is to "look presentable always." I love that! Do I want my children to remember me as someone who only dressed up if I had somewhere "special" to go, and spent the rest of my time in yoga pants and a messy ponytail? This is not a new concept to me, as evidenced by the lack of "loungewear" in my closet. I'm used to cleaning and cooking and cuddling in clothes that most people would consider too nice for "around the house." After all, at my local thrift shop, a nice top is the same price as a dingy tee shirt, so why not?! But being a momma to two littles can be exhausting (I know those of you with four or more are probably laughing dryly at that comment...), and I've found myself slipping a bit in that area lately.

Jennifer suggests wearing aprons during messy tasks, in order to protect your clothes. It's a little easier to wear your "nice" clothes when you're not worried about splatters of spaghetti sauce! I'm notoriously bad about remembering to wear aprons, but I've turned over a new leaf. Making a new apron that I love to wear has certainly helped!

Another positive about Lessons From Madame Chic is that it does not encourage some kind of artificial, high-maintenance beauty routine. Instead, Jennifer suggests that you find a low-maintenance look -- something that's feasible for every day (that's the point!). She encourages what she calls "le no makeup look," which are a few minimalist looks designed to enhance one's natural beauty. 

Counting the Cost

I quickly realized that Jennifer's suggestions of brands and retailers would not work for me. I simply cannot afford most of the labels she buys. I think one season of her ten-item wardrobe would be about what I'd spend on my whole wardrobe for at least five seasons! Also, some of the fabrics she prefers (like silk and cashmere) require dry cleaning; I don't think I've stepped into a dry cleaner's since I got married 3 1/2 years ago... But that's okay! I have a different style and budget. The principles of the book aren't ultimately dependent on having a huge income, or on buying specific items or brands; Jennifer points out that you can make the ten-item wardrobe work on any budget. 

While we're on the topic of cost, I was pleased to find that Jennifer promotes less consumption, rather than more. I expected a certain amount of materialism from a book about living well. But according to Jennifer, the Parisians she met were not interested in obtaining the newest, latest, greatest "thing." They valued quality over abundance -- which makes sense when you consider the ten-item wardrobe. 

I've also been able to implement some of the book's principles by finding cheaper (and more natural) alternatives to some of the beauty products she recommends. I'm very much a minimalist when it comes to makeup, but I've realized lately that I'd like to experiment a bit. Lessons From Madame Chic has helped me realize I can do that without looking artificial (via le no makeup look). Now that I have the materials I need, it's time to experiment and come up with a skin care and makeup regimen that works for me!

What This Looks Like For Me

Much of what Jennifer proposed was not new to me, but her presentation helped me realize that I want to make more of an effort to incorporate those ideas into my day to day life. I'm thinking specifically here about music, the arts, and reading. Like Jennifer, I've been blessed to live in and visit certain places where the museums are free, the art galleries are abundant, and even the buildings lining the streets were designed by masterful architects. My current locale is not one of those places. But that's hardly an excuse to throw in the towel. While I hope life in the military will take us to many places rich with culture, it will almost certainly also take us to "ordinary" places, too. I'll need to be creative in finding ways to incorporate culture into our lives.

On a different note, reading this book also made me realize that it's high time I paid more attention to my skin. That's something you only have one shot at preserving, and I'd rather put in some effort now than regret having neglected it when I'm 40. I can't afford the professional massages, facials, and mani-pedis that Jennifer recommends (that lifestyle seems very foreign to me, since I've had a total of one mani-pedi in my entire life!), but I can certainly do my own versions at home! French clay for facials is inexpensive, and the oil cleansing that I've started implementing recently has already improved my complexion. I've been more self-conscious about my skin recently, so Jennifer's suggestions were perfectly timed.

As for my closet? As a teenager, my walk-in closet bore painful witness to my thrift shop "addiction." I had about three feet of rod devoted to tops, skirts, and dresses -- each (though my dress section did include my then-substantial costume collection). Granted, I paid less for all of my clothes than I would have spent on just one high-end designer dress. Nonetheless, I had far too many clothes, and I still had difficulty creating outfits! I let my fondness for shoes run rampant, as well. I had no plan, and just purchased whatever appealed to me and fit into my budget. As a result, I had so many clothes that nothing I owned wore out, and I became bored with seeing the same items over and over again.

I've been slowly reigning myself in over the past few years -- two years ago I enacted a self-imposed shoe fast, and decided to not buy any new shoes until I wore out the pairs I already had. I had multiple pairs for each "style" (flats, heels, sandals, etc.), so when my last pair of a specific color and style wore out, I allowed myself to re-purchase equivalent shoes. I was tired of buying shoes (either new/clearance or thrifted), only to have them sit in my closet for years without showing the slightest signs of wear! As much as I enjoy shoes, I don't need to have two or three dozen pairs.  

Similarly, my wardrobe has shrunk dramatically over the past few years, thanks to pregnancy and a little more self control on my part. Jennifer's observations gave me the last little push I needed, and I'm almost to where I want to be. My summer wardrobe consists of about two dozen tops (that includes tanks, cardigans, etc.), five dresses, eight skirts (one of which I haven't actually made yet), and ten pairs of shoes (which will be five pairs in the fall, when my four pairs of sandals are put away). My maternity clothing fits in one large tub, and my winter wardrobe fits in a single under-the-bed bin. 

I don't technically have a capsule wardrobe, because not all of my tops go with all of my skirts. But I don't have anything in my closet that doesn't go with something else! That's a first for me. I've been picky this go around, and I really like everything in my closet. Part of Jennifer's inspiration was that French women have just a few quality items, and are not at all embarrassed to wear them repeatedly. While it sounds boring to 21st century Americans, I'm finding that when I love what I have, I'm excited to wear it again (though I'm still having trouble convincing myself to go ahead and wear a favorite outfit, rather than "save it"). And though I was skeptical of Jennifer's claims that she doesn't feel the urge to shop now that her closet is minimal, I've found it to be true! I'm reluctant to risk adding unneeded items to my closet (which I'll inevitably end up regretting), and find that I'd rather just skip the shopping and stick with what I have. I'll get to shop (and/or sew) when the season changes, or when one of my staple items wears out. It's a blissful feeling to be (mostly) free from the "want." 

In Conclusion

I think I'll post about my wardrobe in more detail soon, so I'll leave it at that for now! Suffice it to say, Lessons From Madame Chic was well worth the read. Jennifer covers a multitude of topics, from music to manners to how casual our culture has become. There are so many ideas for incorporating beauty and joy into everyday life! And I could always use a little encouragement to develop good habits.

I'd highly recommend The Daily Connoisseur if you're interested in reading more first-hand. Jennifer's taking a summer break, which is giving me the opportunity to work my way through the archives and take mental notes. It's been a refreshing and inspiring journey so far! 

Guilt-Free Summertime

When the summer heat gets intense (and in Florida, when is it ever not intense?), I find myself craving something cold. And something sweet -- but that's not really limited to summer! However, I don't want to indulge in refined sugars too often.

Banana ice cream to the rescue! It has the consistency of soft serve, it's sweet and creamy, and it has only two ingredients -- neither of which are sugar. Yes, I realize that bananas are sugary fruits, but I really don't mind that.

I've been raving about it to friends and family, but they've all seemed unimpressed -- until they try it! Little Man asks for it frequently, and I love having a nutritious "treat" to serve him. Even Rosa has seemed pleased with the little nibbles she's gotten (when I'm feeling generous enough to share with her!). 

Fresh banana ice cream topped with cream and sprinkles --

You can find various versions of this on the web, but here's how I do it:

Ingredients:

• Bananas
• Milk

Insructions:

1. Cut a ripe banana into slices and lay on a baking sheet (I line mine with wax paper for easy cleanup).
2. Pop into the freezer for a few hours -- they store well for several weeks, so there's no need to use them right away (though I'd recommend transferring them to a closed container if you plan to store them)
3. Place banana "coins" into a food processor (or blender) and add a dash of milk -- we use whole raw milk, but any milk should do. You might even be able to use water if you need it to be dairy free, but I'm not sure what that would do to the consistency and taste.
4. Pulse your food processor until the banana starts to break up. Add more milk as needed until the consistency is smooth and creamy. Adding too much milk will make it soupy, though, so be conservative!
5. Serve with desired toppings. I usually add just a dash of Reddi Whip and a few jimmies (yes, I realize that both of those contain sugar! *wink*), but I've also tried chocolate chips, pecans, shredded coconut -- the sky's the limit!

Notes:

• The texture is quite thick, so I use my food processor -- I've done it in a blender, but it involved lots of stopping to smash banana chunks down into the blade area.  
• You could combine other fruits with the banana if you want to add other flavors -- strawberries and raspberries are both good candidates, but I wouldn't recommend watery fruits like watermelon or citrus.

Vintage Vintage

Being the granddaughter and daughter of seamstresses has its perks. Perks like learning to sew at a young age and inheriting my grandmother's vintage machine. And perks like vintage patterns and vintage fabrics! 

As it happens, this little ensemble for Rosa was sort-of handed down from her great-grandmother and her grandmother. The pattern is a vintage McCalls from my dad's mom, and the fabric is a dotted poly that my mom picked up in the 70's. And the sewing is mine! 

I scan all of my vintage pattern envelopes into the computer, so I can see at a glance
what I have in my collection without having to handle the delicate patterns. 

I made this long before I knew I'd ever have a girl! Sometimes I like a bit of baby sewing as a contrast to my usual fare (though I suppose now baby sewing has become my "usual fare").

I did modify the pattern a bit by adding a facing. The gathering instructions were a bit complicated, and my fabric was a tad thick for this project, so a facing helped keep everything in line. The polyester would NOT hold a crease, but fortunately it's not apparent when the dress is actually being worn.

A bit of cluny lace on the bodice and hem was the only trimming needed. Limited fabric eliminated the possibility of sleeves or the scalloped hem. But I think I like it this way.

I'm going to have to try this pattern again -- those scalloped hems are just too darling to pass up! But in the meantime, Rosa's enjoying her summery "vintage" dress, three generations in the making.

Summer in the Garden

Despite Rosa's small size, she has expanded my sewing horizons until they seem nearly limitless. She's been here less than a year, and yet I have already found ample reason to sit down at the machine and create. 

Summer is merciless in Florida, and since I'm rather sensitive to heat and sun, we spend most of our time indoors (poor Little Man!). But in this little sundress, at least Rosa can pretend she's in a garden! And the print is particularly appropriate considering her Internet nom de plume, no?

A simple little sundress, which was formerly a maternity top that I made during my pregnancy with Little Man. No pattern needed; just a quickly drafted bodice, a rectangular skirt with little "J"s cut out for the armholes, and a bit of sewing and hemming. The binding was salvaged from an apron, so it's not on the bias -- but it doesn't seem to matter.

I added a bit of Cluny lace to the hem, partly because I wanted the dress to be a bit longer. I do have to double-tie the shoulder bows, though, as Rosa is quite fond of tugging on them (with the intent of putting them in her mouth). 

This is such an easy, forgiving style -- it will fit Rosa all summer, I believe! I do so love dresses on my little baby girl. And even though she's mobile now (hurrah!), her little skirts and dresses don't seem to impede her movements in the least. But then again, she's a determined little thing.

Here's hoping the rain will stop, and we'll be able to have a proper romp in the garden soon!

My Cup of Tea

At long last, it was time. For quite a while now, my pincushion has been an embarrassment and a hassle. I loved it for many years, but it was quite worn out (and my tastes have changed significantly over the past 8 or 9 years!). Really, I couldn't even bring myself to take a picture of it. 

And thus, it was time to begin anew. Yet another saucerless teacup, finding new usefulness in my sewing room. It's quite a large teacup, too, which is perfect for the abundance of pins I seem to need for any given project. How do I use so many pins, especially when I often forego pinning my seams?

 

You can find my method in my Teacup Pincushion Tutorial -- it's quite simple! Though I did have to peel my hot glue out with a box cutter, after discovering that I'd glued it in a bit lopsided. Oops.

Granted, this pincushion doesn't have a specific place for needles, as my old one did (or rather, as I had improvised), so I think a small little needle pincushion is also in order. I'm thinking a mouse or a hedgehog. But knowing me, it will probably be a hedgehog!

Of course, these pictures are deceptively decorative. As soon as I put my camera away, I transformed it into a spiky, yellow-headed forest of pins. So far, it's been a vast improvement over my old cushion, and it's nice to have something that matches my taste. Now to see how long this one will last!

Stripes to the Max

A few weeks ago, a long-awaited package arrived on my doorstep -- an enormous bundle of knits from Girl Charlee! In case you didn't know, Girl Charlee sells gorgeous knits in various weights, colors, and patterns. Oh, and did I mention that their prices are amazing? At an average of $5-$6 per yard, I consider them extremely affordable! And I'm totally satisfied with each fabric I received (their cotton knit with spandex is a dream). At any rate, I now have stacks of knit in my sewing room, ready to be made into garments of various types. So prepare for a knit invasion on my blog over the next few weeks! Starting with...

Thumbs up for dorky smiles!

Remember when I mentioned that my closet has been in serious trouble lately? Well, this skirt is a major step in my closet rehab! The fabric is a lovely lightweight jersey, which will be perfect this summer. 

The pink shirt was a thrift store find, but I did take it in on the sides. Someone needs
to tell Jones New York that women aren't shaped like cylinders! *wink*

Notice how closely matched those stripes are on the side seam? They're not perfect, but they're pretty close! And I have to give my husband a quick shout-out for his stellar job marking the hem -- it actually looks a little uneven in that second picture, but I can assure that it's perfectly level in real life.

I looked at a couple of maxi skirt tutorials (which you can find on my "Sewing for Mama" pinboard), and ended up going with the tutorial from Mad Mim's blog. Overall, I was very satisfied with it! I misread the instructions, which resulted in way too much fabric at the hem, but fortunately I was able to take it in easily enough.

This project was fast, easy, and gratifying -- and every time I sew with knits, I gain a little more confidence! Poor little Rosa is in need of some new dresses, but after a bit of a hiatus sewing for myself, I'm having a hard time resisting all the opportunities in my new stash.

Crafting in the Nursery

I've never been quite happy with the wall decor in the nursery; there were large bare patches that looked odd (to me), but I wasn't keen on overdoing it with art, pictures, etc. So far, all of the wall art has been framed Classic Pooh prints (and an enormous framed Classic Pooh alphabet that I recently found at our local thrift store for $10. Score!). But while I love Pooh, I don't really want a room with such a specific theme. 

After seeing the currently popular embroidery hoop art, I decided to have a go at it myself.

I love the woodland theme, and fortunately I had all of the necessary scraps in my stash!

The birds are all cut from felted thrift store sweaters, and the branch is just a piece of felt. I used Wonder-Under for these pieces, but the rest of the designs were applied with craft glue. It's really not difficult!

I had to include a hedgehog; I do love them so! And this is not the only hedgehog in the nursery now, as you'll see in my next post. This little fellow is cut from thrifted leather (the dark brown was a skirt, and the light brown was a vest. Oh, and the little eye was a jacket!), and is sitting atop a bit of yarn "grass." My husband was quite distressed that the hedgehog was off-center, but I assured him that it was intentional.

An acorn made of more felted sweaters, and two leaves from yet another thrifted leather jacket (the veins are just brown Sharpie. Don't tell.).

The toadstool is one of my favorites! The stem is white faux suede, the upper cap is red leather from a jacket (yes, I have a leather collecting problem), and the underside of the cap is the reverse side of the same red leather. I love how the lighter color adds some dimension.

 Gender neutral, woodsy, and decidedly fun to create. This one's a winner.

Tea and Crumpets

Lately I've been inspired to dress up more. I'll have more to share on that later, but for now, suffice it to say that wearing nicer clothes in daily life necessitates some sort of protection.

Otherwise known as an apron.

I've made plenty of aprons in my time, but none of my previous designs were really whetting my appetite.

And then I saw the Tea-And-Crumpets Apron from Anthropologie!

I started on my own slightly modified version the very same day, and here's the result:

The skirt fabric was a nightmare. It frayed like crazy, and was also very slippery (the backside is quite shiny). But it was free to me, and it really is a lovely color. 

A big sash in the back was a must! And I carried the white ruffle all the way up the sides of the skirt.

I couldn't resist some contrast piping in a lovely brown corduroy I had lying about. I was afraid it might look a bit odd, since there's no other brown on the apron, but I'm quite pleased with the look.

Ruching the strips for the bib was quite tedious, as the fabric is a thick brushed twill. But I wanted something sturdy, and it did the trick.

I couldn't resist a little floral detail, though my flower is rather less rambunctious than the Anthro version!

 

This apron was really quite simple, and I think it will be nice to have something fabulous to wear over my clothes! Now let's see if I'll actually wear it; I don't have the best track record in that department...