I so love and appreciate all of your comments - thank you! I corrected the date of last post's vintage-Amber-photos to 1985 - and I am way long overdue for an intensive round of visiting you! I've been taking outfit photos but not managing time to post, as my major non-work writing project has also been at a peak this week. Here is me catching up to Wednesday, when I had to dress for 2+ hours of car travel and 3+ hours of meeting - I'm telling you, it was definitely time for Giant Pants.
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| scarf: from among my grandmother's belongings, worn here amber necklace: a gift from my mother grey pleather motorcycle jacket: Coffee Shop, My Habit, worn here, here, and here shirt / blouse: Fred David, Giant Tiger grey belt: thrifted, worn here giant burgundy-rust striped pants: tag long gone, a shop in College Park, Toronto (1995) bag: Charming Charlie, shown here (with same jacket) grey motorcycle boots: Zodiac, Dillard's (75% off sale, a.k.a. Shoepocalypse) |
I picked up these super-comfy elastic + drawstring-waisted Enormous Pants of Stripey Goodness (and, incidentally, colour-of-sudden-trendiness-beginning-with-"o", though they have been this same colour for the almost 20 years I've been wearing them) during my first year of graduate studies - around the time I also acquired these here other Stupendous Pants.
They have faded ever so slightly and the hem needs repair now and then, but otherwise they show nary a sign of the usual imminent, extremely awkward and absolutely catastrophic public disintegration. But just watch - now that I had to go and say something, right?
What makes the difference for you between whether you refer to a garment as a blouse or a shirt? My best guess has to do with gathers & ruffles = blouse, and menswear styling & not much more than the odd dart or bit of seaming for fit = shirt.
I am wearing one of these thingys which is mostly shirt but has a gathered under-bust seam, edging it toward the blouse end of the spectrum. Seems we are forever at the mercy of dichotomous language.
Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. Are you looking forward to Patti's Visible Monday and Ally's Halloween Party too? I'm excited to see you there!
Love these groovy pants Amber. They look great with the classic moto boots. I'm lusting after that delicious necklace too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joni! I felt pretty groovy!
DeleteGoliath pants are in order for that kind of day, definitely. Blouse vs shirt - I use blouse for something that's button-down with button or snap cuffs, usually in a non-knit fabric. But I detour from this at whim. You look fantastic! I love that wide belt with those flapping pants. The non-work writing project sounds soul-satisfying - I hope it is.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melanie - ambiguity and in-the-moment whim FTW!
DeleteThose pants do look gorgeous on you. Loving your boots and belt.
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Thank you, Sacramento! xo
DeleteSuch fabulousness in large pants! I was just looking at my wide pants (scheduled for December's capsule) and musing about how I wished to wear them.
ReplyDeleteLove the shoes and your lovely accessories. Such a pretty scarf.
Can't wait to see your giant pants outfits, Sheila! Thanks!
DeleteYou wear these gigantic pants so well! I have a pair laying around, unused because I don't know how to style them. Well, now I have some great inspiration! I love how the scarf echoes the stripes on the pants.
ReplyDeleteAw, I am so happy to hear that - can't wait to check out your gigantic-pants stylins!
DeleteGreat scarf, worn well. And those pants stretch from CA to NY!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ally!
DeleteThese giant pants must have gotten you through the day in comfort! And it sounds like they've gotten you through the years as well. Well loved and stylish!
ReplyDeleteI notice that you wear gifts from your mother, who appears to have exquisite taste. The amber necklace is a piece of art!
They sure did and have, Judith!
DeleteIt seemed I was always saying, "Thanks - it was a gift from my mother!" and it turns out "always" is a pretty accurate description! I'm realizing just how many beautiful and cherished favourite things are from her.
I too am declining to use the "O" word for the newest/greatest color! Love these trousers and the way they just flow around you. I wonder if they swoosh? Agree with the Style Crone that your necklace is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteHa! I know, eh? I find myself proportionately resisting nything which gets overexposed / overplayed / overhyped. Thanks, Patti!
DeleteHooray for giant pants! For me the difference between blouse and shirt is purpose / how dressy it is / what it is made of / buttons. I think anything with buttons but made for a lady (even menswear styled) is a blouse. A T-shirt is a shirt. Anything slightly frouffy, even without buttons, and anything made of silk or billowly fabrics (like a really top-quality cotton) or polyester (and its variations with fancy names, which basically come down to polyester or nylon or some other synthetic) is a blouse. If the fabric is woven, not knit, it's a blouse. And vice versa - knits are shirts, no matter how frouffy (like some of those asymmetrical getups from Anthropologie that I love so much) (unless, of course, they're made to be loose, in which case, they might be a blouse anyway). Tough to define, but you know it when you see it, right?
ReplyDeleteI seriously appreciate your thoughts! Thanks so much, very helpful!
DeleteP.S. "frouffy" :)
DeleteYou know what I like about your blog Amber? I always learn a new word. Today's word is "dichotomous". I had to research that one.
ReplyDeleteGood question about the shirt vs. blouse thing. I tend to use the two words interchangeably when referring to any shirt a woman is wearing but the frilly it is, the more I'd tend to call it a blouse. I would not however, refer to a man's shirt a blouse, no matter how frilly it is.
Giant pants are a must for long trips and especially for eating good meals at restaurants.
Much appreciated, Sheila!
DeleteIt's true, giant pants = happy big eating wear too!
You look so chic. Those wonderful pants are funky, yet classic, and wow, holding up great!
ReplyDeleteI've been puzzling about your age all weekend since I saw the 1995 date for those pics. I thought we were more of an era, but then you look so young, I totally thought I must have been mistaken.
Hmmmm, and I struggle all the time whether to use "top" or "shirt"...lol.
Glad I cleared things up!
DeleteIt freaks me out how actually old some of the things I wear are, now that I'm blogging and thinking about it. They don't make 'em like they used to (applies to many, many things!).
you always nail the silhouette - I like everything about his look and the little pleather jacket is fabulous :))
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeane! I hope your move is going well.
DeleteOh, shirt, blouse, who cares? You look lovely in your whatever-it's-called and your giant pants! They are a beautiful colour and suit you so well. You look 7 feet tall, which surely you aren't?! Gorgeous jacket and scarf, and that necklace is exquisite. xxxx
ReplyDeleteHa! "Who cares?" is also perfect. LOVE. xoxo
DeleteI tend to agree with your shirt/blouse definition, but when tagging anything non-tshirt goes under 'blouse'. And if I can't place it anywhere, I'll use Lynne's word "top". I personally like antiquated words, I think it makes vocabulary more exciting.
ReplyDeleteThough when fashion rears its head and starts labeling everything under a code word: Breton Stripes, Oxblood, colorblocking - I think those words start to lose their meaning. I personally adore oxblood, the word and the color. But the word has been used to describe every shade of burgundy under the sun. Ah well, marketing for you.
I do love your trousers. The color, the stripes, the amazing shape.
Thanks, Megan - always so thoughtful. It's the overuse that gets me too!
DeleteEnormous pants of stripey goodness they are INDEED!
ReplyDeleteThey look perfectly comfortable and usper styley, especially with the "biker" boot detailing.The colours too are wonderful.I never wear pants,but I could be tempted to wear a pair such as these;they're pyjamaish and circusy all at once!
The scarf and necklace make a splendid neck decoration,burgundy rules!
XXX
"Circusy" makes me happy! Thanks, Helga, thats awesome!
DeleteThank you helping to bring back the Baggy Pants! if I see another pair of jeggings I will scream. Augh! As always, you are super gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteConnie*
Thank you, Connie - I wish they were easier to find!
DeleteJust discovered you through Dross into Gold. Great outfit. Love the wide red pants and all the other red elements in your outfit!
ReplyDeleteHello Sylvia - thank you so much for coming by and leaving this kind comment!
DeleteStupendous pants!! That's a great idea to anchor their giant floaty-ness with biker boots. YOu always have such beautiful and funky jewellery - you obviously inherited your mom's excellent taste.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shelley - The more tailored top and square-edged boots helped keep it from being over-flowy! Yes, my mom has truly excellent taste. <3
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