How does the weather affect the way you dress? It may be a stupid question… but I really want to know, is it emotions, expressions, or practicality?
The depressing cold rain is hitting us. I mean, fair enough right? After all, it IS winter (almost) and it would be rather freakish if we had tropical weather in the middle of November. In addition, all my family members live in warm places, I could easily live there too… so there is no room to complain about the cold, dark, rainy weather. In times like these I like to dress rather cheekily in response to the weather. Today I’m dressing as though I’m waterproof. Like a garbage bag, or a wetsuit…. or a garbage bag AND a wetsuit. And I’m still turning my clothes upside down, a grey cashmere sweater dress turns into a cowl neck crop top which is great for a shiny black bubble dress.
How does the weather affect the way you dress? It may be a stupid question… but I really want to know, is it emotions, expressions, or practicality?
UPDATE: Later today, I’ve been noticing that I’ve been wearing my sweater dress as a hoodie. Sorry about the glasses, it’s not that I wore them, but I just woke up from a nap, and well, my eyes were super puffy. Hence the red lippy to make me look less tired. I guess I better start using tea bags and cucumber more often.
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I’m a total convert of the Upside Down look now. I tried that with my two cardis and I’m totally thrilled. Thank you, J.
it’s like monkey see monkey do really. I will now have to look for a wool dress!
oh I love this question! For me emotions, expressiveness, and practicality all get rolled into one in the winter. This year, I have promised myself NOT to let the weather make me forego my good fashion sense. If I dress to the weather, I feel frumpy, covered in baggy layers of shapeless warmth. but since the weather affects my emotions, by about january I’m feeling like, “I know I’ve worn these wool pants three days in a row, but nothing else will protect me from the cold, and who cares anyways since everyone is wearing 15 layers of garbage just to keep warm?!” (it gets *really* cold and *really* snowy here. i actually saw a pair of snow shoes in a store yesterday and thought, “i think I could make those work!”). But this year I’ve prepared by buying myself good-quality, fashionable, and (hopefully) warm boots. and I think that’s a great start towards keeping my frump to a minimum.
Who is getting dressed? I’m hiding in bed.
@songy! wow! that’s great! i’m really glad to hear you were able to use the idea!
@violetville, oh man, midwest winters are brutal. but i just can’t help but to think how cute you would be in snowshoes! so awesome!
@wendy, getting dressed was probably the hardest thing i did all day. not that getting dressed is hard, but getting out of bed… dude.
I’m thinking (as violetville mentioned) that a really good, warm yet stylish boots need to be purchased. I’m hoping with a couple of layers of wool socks my new burgundy docs will come in handy as well, but they might also become super stiff. It’s soooo cold in Montreal, but not even close to the ridiculous coldness of where I grew up (Winnipeg) so I really shouldn’t complain. Montreal doesn’t even have any snow yet, Winnipeg is already totally covered. Ugh, I hate winter!
i love cold-weather clothes, but i also share violetville’s concern w/ “keeping frump to a minimum.” i can only do lightweight, think sweaters. anything else looks too bulky on me. Sweaters aside, I really love dresses the most. Wearing a dress and a showy necklace helps me express an upbeat mood — or lift a bad one.
I’ve said it before, but I adore those sunglasses so much!! Where I live (Vancouver) there’s no getting away from the weather. Rain. A lot of it. I’ve noticed every girl in the city has a pair of rubber boots these days.
When it comes to extreme weather, and having to brave them, I’m all for Wendy’s idea of staying in bed!
However, I sometimes *have* to leave the house when it’s snowing an 0F out. And during these times, I can’t help but think that warmth has to come a bit before my personal style. When everyone’s hair is damp from snow, they have flushed cheeks and hat hair, I can’t imagine anyone is holding style points against another…
that sweater looks amazing. here it is non-stop soggy. for 6 months. and dark! i am moving though and will have to deal with snow instead. but here, honestly, i try to ignore the weather. i get really good soles on my shoes instead of wearing ugh rubber boots! i just can’t. and sometimes i’ll just be cold instead of “appropriately” dressed. i don’t care! maybe ignoring what you are “supposed” to wear weatherwise is a good way of not giving into the blahs. anyhoo. xo.
Practicality is a lot of it for me personally. iF IT IS COLD I WEAR SLEEVES, IF I AM HEADING TO WORK I WEAR A SUIT, IF I AM GOIGN OT A CLUB I WEAR A LOW CUT TOP. I GUESS IT DEPENDS IN PART ON WHERE I AM GOING. THE GLASSES BTW ARE FAB!
The upside down look reminds me of the rap group Kris Kross. But you do it a lot better than they ever did.
ok, i’m into double comments today i guess. but that vintage mermaid dress!! that is incredible.
@angie.. oh my, mtl sounds tropical compared to winnepeg!
@kezia… yeah, me too, i have a few heavy sweaters, but i don’t know what to do with them.
@ashe…0F? holy crap… i’d die. in fact, i’m starting to feel like a grade A wimp here.
@swan…oh yeah, me too… but i’ve made the mistake of wearing leather sole shoes in the snow, it’s a really bad idea. that said, i don’t think i could wear rubber boots.
@red head, yeah, i think practicality has more to do with attire than anything… but i thought i was just being boring, instead of appropriate.
@swan, i don’t mind! i love the dress too… it nice to see these mermaid dresses showing up, i really like them.
oooh. Kriss Kross. i’m going to go listen to them right now…
girl, you look thunder proof in this getup! awesome♥
I wear my black ankle boots every day it rains (pretty much) since they are waterproof. You have to alter what you are wearing for the weather sometimes, unfortunately.
You are so funny and clever. The things you think of….
I hardly rains in CA so we get confused sometimes. Today I wore a plaid pencil skirt with tights and ankle boots and on top? A tank top…
Cold or hot? One never knows.
It* hardly rains…
Well I don’t think it’s a silly question at all:) It’s gotten cold here (NC) earlier than last year. I remember shopping for a Christmas tree last year in a t-shirt and jeans. I like the cold (minus the super dry skin issues). It always seems like a good time to just be comfy. And a rainy day is the perfect excuse to wear a hat that doesn’t go with anything else you have on. I love your dress as top stroke of genius:)
I gasped and when I gasp that’s when I’m really impressed. The chicness of it all! That cowlneck hood is perfect!
I don’t really dress for the weather except for shoes and jackets-practicality.
love this question! my clothes becomes totally lazy when it rains. I just want to put on a hoodie and my vans and call it a day. If its just a cold day, I love to pull out my pretty winter clothes and get fun with it.
@cass and swan, i LOVE kriss cross, it makes me jump jump
@meli thunder proof eh?
@eliya, oh dear, i’ve had tons of weather mishaps, like today, my hands froze. not a good thing.
@shoe…oh man, i grew up in socal, and i don’t think i ever used my umbrella… did i have one?
@adah…hahah i love that, wearing whatever because of a rainy day. the cold weather is killing my skin, i want to take a bath in lotion.
@annie, i wish i could find practical shoes, the ones i have i treat like a red headed step child.
@huong rain doesn’t always inspire chicness… but i tell you, i grew up in warm climates, and i moved to cold ones, just for the winter accessories. love them.
That last picture with the sunglasses… there are no words! Well, apart from stunning.
I wish my response to wet weather was so imaginative - I suppose the novelty wears off living in London. I tend to reach for my waterproof jacket and cords tucked into the same worn out boots. FuN!
PS - have you stopped your coveted shoppe??
this idea of the sweater is just perfection! when it’s raining..well, i take my umbrella, a longer coat, and boots..really don’t like having my feet wet..
Lady, I kid you not! And that’s not even as cold as some of the neighboring areas around here!
I remember last New Year’s Day, the goth night had a “Black Tie Event” for their theme…I thought I was going to die! It was… I kid you not… between 2 and 4 degrees out that night, with a layer of snow on the ground and major wind.
I wore a silk dress, my Trashy Diva Garbo coat, sweats in the car, along with pink docs. I took of the sweats, ran to the bar, and then changed shoes. It was disgusting and miserable!
Upside down, inside out, J you can work anything and still look Tyra-Fierce! The Lady Ga Ga glasses are added bonus!
Great post, love the outfit you look stunning!
The weather here in NYC gets pretty freakin cold especially when you’re commuting on foot. So since it so dreary, cold and depressing a few years ago I came up with this plan. I started buying all my winter clothes especially staples like jeans one size bigger. So when it starts getting cooler I can at least look forward to enjoying junk food, heavy carb laden meals, chili, holiday cooking, hot chocolate etc… to my heart’s content because I HAVE to, in order to fit into my winter clothes!! It’s a lot of fun and I end up easily burning it off in spring.
I just loved the idea of the upside down clothes and tried it with a H&M dress today
http://summershoegal.livejournal.com/61201.html
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