Jean and Jeans, pant and pants

 Today I received the February 2023 Talbots catalog.  I shop there at a sale, or when exchanging a gift.  Jeans and pants are a mystery to me, and since I saw only 2 dresses in the catalog, I noted the variety of styles, waists, leg length, hems, and "wash" for the pants.

First I noticed some are called jean and others jeans; some are called pant and others pants.  Not sure of the differences.

Slim ankle jean, with slimming panel

Chic wide leg pant

Wide leg jeans

High waist jeans above waist

High waist relaxed jean in various "wash" colors

Everyday relaxed jeans

Tie waist slim ankle pant

Chino straight leg

Slim ankle jeans with stripe on side

Jegging, button front

Jegging frayed hem

Bristol pant with elastic back waist, pleated front

Chatham ankle pants, side zipper

Soho leggings

Montauk pant flare, pull on elastic waist

Hampshire ankle pant

Everyday stretch straight leg

Switching to summer clothes

We had some warm weather last week and I guess I got excited. I took my white LL Bean 100% cotton jeans out of storage, and found a huge black stain on one leg. Not sure where it came from--maybe from hanging in the car. So I tried about 4 things to get it out, finally resorting to Clorox right out of the bottle when there was just a faint blue 2" spot. That did it. But they've been washed so many times now I can barely get them zipped. I'm breathing, almost. . .

It would not be a big sacrifice if I had to give them up.  I think they cost me $1.00 at Volunteers of America.  Very nice quality.

Velveteen jeans from Talbot's

If those terrific jeans you got at the resale shop are a little snug, put them on while they're still damp (always wash those bargains) so they can stretch a bit. Loving these velveteen jeans I bought yesterday at Volunteers of America on Henderson Road. Talbot's, $1.50.   I checked on line.  A 5 pocket straight leg fit below waist velveteen pants is about $90 new, on sale $47. I love a bargain.

I think the color is "indigo." I called them navy.

Ratty jeans

When loading some of my husband's jeans and cotton casual slacks into the washer today, it occurred to me that the jeans were well past their prime and I decided to look for some new ones when I went to Kohl's to buy a watch battery. The "new" jeans are so awful, so distressed, so ripped, so wrinkled and faded, I decided we'd stay with what we have.

Neither of these were brands at Kohl's, nor did I actually see any this awful (bottom one is $350), but you get the idea.

I'm happy for her, but. . .

My daughter stopped by last night to drop off some magazines. I'm thrilled that she's dropped 4 dress sizes because she was dangerously close to being a diabetic and has a full range of other endocrine problems including thyroid cancer, Hashimoto's and metabolic syndrome. We can't do much with the genes we were given, and the endocrine system can get out of whack causing severe problems. She was always beautiful at any size, but I'm thrilled she's healthier--the labs are all back to normal. And it's all been through a very disciplined exercise program. Thyroid medication and diets did nothing for her. Exercise did. She's switched to an exercycle (mine, since I wasn't using it) after an injury, but is ready to return to the treadmill in her basement. For some people it's diet, some it's exercise, some it's both. The point is to get healthy and hit a balance.

However, when she told me she thought she'd need a size 8 pair of jeans next, I had flash backs to 23 years ago when she used to borrow my clothes. In her senior pictures she's wearing one of my dresses and one of my suits. I don't think kids dress up for school photos anymore, but in the 80s they still did that.

This morning I took my closet apart, rearranging summer and winter clothes, hanging by color, storing some, pitching others, but was really looking for a size 8 Tall pair of Bill Blass jeans that I'd never shortened, and then "outgrew" so they'd been hanging around feeling blue. After an hour and not finding them, I decided I'd given them away. Then moved my hand to the back of the closet and found them--still with the tags. I have on the other pair (shortened, Easy Fit, "antiqued"), but I'm more than happy to donate to the cause of good health.

Floor lamp update

New Year's Resolution number 5 was to buy a floor lamp. I've now visited four stores, so yesterday I stopped at a large builders supply chain, which will remain nameless, because I like the store. I stopped there after my mail run to the church's suburban location, telling the return campus receptionist I'd be about 15 minutes late. After browsing the shelves, I settled on one not-as-ugly-as-the-others, which had two lights--a 100 watt that reflected on the ceiling and a movable arm with a squirrely, low energy bulb that was supposed to be "full spectrum" to help with reading. The box in 3 languages was explicit about that low energy bulb--13 watts. All I could find on the shelf was a 15, so I lugged the box, now getting a bit heavy, to the service desk. Two handsome young people looked quite blank when I told them the problem, and the young woman got on her cell phone and called someone. Many older people think sales staff are being rude or ageist, but I suspect they just know nothing or aren't trained. Then the woman-child said, "He first has to cut some wire for another customer than he can help you." I stood in the light bulb aisle about 10 minutes, then returned the box to the shelf. No one came.

Usually, the only people in these warehouse supply places who know anything are the gray haired part-timers who have retired from something else, got tired of golf and want to get away from their wives' honey-do list. Also, I suspect there has been a serious staff cut back, because I've never had a problem at this store getting help.

All was not lost, however. I stopped at the Discovery Shop (cancer donations) because occasionally entire rooms of furniture are donated (a truck was there). No floor lamps, and the clerk said they go fast. She knew exactly what I was looking for. But I did find a beautiful pair of navy blue velvet jeans which look unworn for $5. Not a lamp, but they are a reminder that I need to stay with my exercise program (was a size 8 last year, these are size 10), New Year's Resolution 6.

I will try to resist

Today is my turn to volunteer at the lunch room at the UA Senior Center. They have great food, deliciously prepared, lovingly dispensed (by me and Harold), and quite tempting. I'm going to keep that picture of my turnip greens in my mind's eye, and try to resist the corn chips and desserts. My goal--my red jeans will fit again.
If not by Christmas, maybe Valentine's Day.

My new pink jeans

Actually, I sort of look like a large Easter egg. I bought them at the Discovery Shop (Cancer resale), Talbot's, and they looked like they'd never been worn or washed. Maybe some other old lady had second thoughts after she got home. But $4. For that I could garden in them. If I didn't have a brown thumb. So I googled "pink jeans" to see what would go with them, and found this really neat site. Now I know what goes with what, if I were 30.

About 10 years ago I decided I was too old for jeans--I think I got my first pair around 1949, maybe for camp. In those days, jeans zipped on the side and you folded up the cufff. And you never, never wore jeans to school. But lately I've been picking them up again. Now I have dark brown, black, mint green, olive green, moss green, khaki, red, pink and several shades of blue--2 are from the 80s so they have that nice faded look and soft feel. I've chunked out a bit since Ireland in September, so 3 pair are too tight to wear comfortably.

But pink. I thought I'd take them to Lakeside. I'd slip out of the house at dawn, walk along the lakefront about 5:30 a.m., then go to the coffee shop around 6, hurry back to the cottage by 7, and maybe no one would notice the 2-legged Easter egg frightening the squirrels and cats, walking down the street.

Lakeside at dawn, Kelly's Island in the distance

What to wear in Italy

Cannes, the site of the film festival, isn't in Italy, but it's close enough. I saw an article on what to wear in Cannes (for the festival and site seeing), so I thought it would be a good hanger for my travel wardrobe in early summer when we visit Italy.

Daytime--women
designer jeans
colorful tight top or
wrapped dress in bold print
trimmings of diamonds, flashy handbag and expensive sun glasses

Evening--women
bleached teeth
designer gown
a tan

Sight-seeing
good flats or expensive sandals (absolutely no athletic shoes)
you can also use the sunglasses, jeans, tight shirt and white teeth

Men--Daytime
tight jeans
fitted white shirt or
rocker t-shirt
expensive shoes
gold Rolex

Men--evening
Tuxedo

I'm not sure my on-sale Talbot's jeans with sparkles and flowers qualify; even so, I do hate to see women "dressed up" in jeans--especially tight jeans. Ladies, I think the gay designers are after our men, because most of us just don't look that terrific after age 16 in tight jeans. Muffin tops, saddle bags, cellulite, sausage links--you know the routine. What we look like in that 3-way mirror in the store is exactly what someone walking behind our behinds sees.

So here's my plan--black, white and taupe, with a little color thrown in for evening. I now have two new pair of black sandals, and one pair of black walking shoes--tie oxfords. I agree with the writer--athletic shoes for strolling around ancient ruins and art museums look a bit tacky. But so do tight jeans on plump or saggy Americans.

Red jeans

Who knew? I thought colored jeans (except blue denim, gray, black or ugly) were out of style except for wearing around the house to clean, or to dash to the coffee shop in the wee hours of the morning. This photo is from the Ditto site; those aren't my legs, or fold marks (shouldn't they be ironed before the photo session?). Also, mine aren't flares or low rise. These cost $158. That's outrageous. It makes me flush to think about it. Mine are Ralph Lauren and I think I paid $3 for them at the Discovery Shop. Beautiful fabric and fit. Smug attack.

Speaking of colors, I mended some cotton gloves today. I'd been trying to think of something that work like a skinny darning egg, and finally came up with a fat colored marker. It's about the size of my index finger, which is where I always poke through. I don't like heavy gloves, but the thin ones don't last long.

Speaking of thread, I used a close match from a wooden spool from my mother's sewing cabinet. When's the last time you saw one of those? These spools belonged to my husband's grandmother, Neno, so I'm guessing they are maybe 60-70 years old because I've had them almost 50.

3817

Tighty whities

Are tight, shorter length jeans back in style for all guys, or just gays? I saw a photo on the fashion page in WSJ of skinny leg, tight jeans, hitting snug in the crotch as well as the ankle just above the shoe. This wasn't the photo (from Sartorialist) but the same idea--tight and white. Quickly--hit the resale shops before all the 80s jeans are gone.