Monday 23 April 2012

Fashion Calendar: April II

This month's 2nd post is about something I was wearing two weeks ago, but the general idea behind it is one that applies for me all year round: dressing with a theme, or, even if there is no proper theme, at least wearing items that match in colour or otherwise.

On Friday the 13th (I am not superstitious, so this date has no special meaning to me), I went to work at a trade show. This particular show focuses on Fair Trade, and I worked there for the organization I mentioned here; contrary to when I work on a fair for other companies, I work without payment for them, which is my way of contributing to the whole project.

For the evening after the fair, our regular girls' night out was scheduled; this time, at my once favourite Indian restaurant (see my previous post about that, if you like).

So, it was going to be a day that had somehow Bangladeh and India as its theme, and therefore, I chose my outfit accordingly.
The green skirt is from Monsoon; I bought it in England some years ago and I have never worn it with anything else than black.
You have seen the tights before; I just love their pattern and think they match the pattern on the skirt well enough to be worn together; here is a close-up:
What you probably can not see in the first picture is what I wore for jewellery:
a set of earrings and matching bracelet of tiny silver elephants, a gift my sister brought back for me from India when she visited there several years back, and a necklace with a cut stone (don't know what the name of this stone is) of a light green that goes very well with the colour of the skirt.

Here is a picture of our booth at the fair; if you want to know more about the organization, you can look at their website.
A few days after the trade show ended, I had an email from the very kind lady who organises things at our end; she told me that this year, we sold TWICE as much as last year! Yes, we were very busy that day, and I was lucky to catch a moment without anyone at our booth for taking my picture.
The most popular items proved to be the bags you see in the centre on the back wall. These are made of cement sacks, which makes them extremely sturdy and water-proof, while at the same time making good use of what would just add to the already huge piles of waste there. Because they sport all their original writing, some of which is in what looks to our European eyes like "exotic" letters, they appeal mostly to younger people, while our elderly customers went more for the type of bag you can see on the left.

Do you dress based on a specific theme when there is such a theme to what you'll be doing on a particular day?

20 comments:

  1. Sad as it may sound, I can't think when I last had an occasion to dress with a specific theme in mind (not counting funerals!) Even when just dressing for myself though, I always think of colours. I like comfortable, but comfortable does not have to be shabby!

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    1. Same here - even if I know I am just going to spend all day at home with nobody but myself to see what I am wearing, I pick colours that I like together. You are so right, comfortable does not need to be shabby!

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  2. I never thought of dressing to a theme, this seems a very creative idea. Your outfit is lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Jenny! I just love clothes, and choosing them according to what I am going to do on that day. Must be something genetic - my Mum is the same :-)

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  3. Hello Meike:
    How very imaginative to choose your clothes in such a way and, as in this case, to complement both the place and the occasion. We love the idea of the added touch of the bracelet of tiny silver elephants.

    For ourselves we are seldom, if ever, to be seen in any colour, dressing very largely in black and white.

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    1. Hello Jane and Lance, I do not own much jewellery (nor do I particularly want more), but I like the ones I do have, and each piece means something to me, either because it reminds me of a special occasion or of the person who originally gave it to me.

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  4. I wish I could do chic the way you do, Meike. Must try harder. And GET OUT OF THOSE JEANS!

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    1. Chic and jeans do not exclude each other, so, if that is what you are most comfortable in, then why change it?

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    1. There are plenty of pictures there already, and I certainly am not interested in a tankini for a larger bust, thank you very much :-D

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  6. I love this outfit! You have great style! The colors are wonderful, at least in my eyes. I'm so glad that Tarrango did so well this year....I might have dressed more to a theme when I was younger, and might still slightly do so, but there are not that many unusually themed days in my life!

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    1. Thank you, Kristi, you almost make me blush here!
      That skirt is one of the very few green pieces in my wardrobe. And I must admit I usually prefer my skirts to be shorter (above knee), but in this case, I went for the modest look - after all, I represented a charity organization there.

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  7. Very cute, love the color of the skirt and love the patterns on the stockings! Nice touch with the jewelry too! Hope you have fun!!!! I'm going to have to check out your charity organization in a few moments!

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    1. Thanks, Mary! Yes, it was fun, and if they'll have a booth on this particular trade show again next year, I'll help once again.

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  8. I'm ashamed to say that I can't ever recall noticing a Monsoon shop although friends tell me that Monsoon is the place for quality and style (for ladies that is). Certainly your skirt would seem to demonstrate that from the photo. You certainly have style and choosing an appropriate theme for the occasion makes a lot of sense.

    When I worked I used to dress to give myself the confidence to achieve what I wanted to do. That may have meant dressing in a three piece suit to present a case in a public inquiry or dressing in overalls to go and buy car parts.

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    1. Yes, exactly! That is what theme dressing is (partly) about for me.
      I did not buy the skirt because it was Monsoon; I do not really have a preference for any brand or label. I liked the way it looked, nothing like anything else I had in my wardrobe at the time, and it came at a reduced price (summer sale), and so it travelled home with me.

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  9. Dear Meike,
    How clever you are! And what a nice outfit, I love how the trim on the skirt matches your stockings. You know, I just thought of this- Princess Diana used to wear clothing and would have very small details that would honor the country she was visiting. I really used to enjoy seeing what she would wear to each place that she went to. I saw her once and she was just as beautiful as her photos, more so probably. Of course, she had a lot more money to spend on clothes!!

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    1. Dear Kay, you are, as always, so kind!
      And while you call such attention to detail on one's outfits clever, a lot of other people call it shallow. But you know, I don't mind :-)
      I have never seen Princess Diana in real life, but I imagine it is with her as with most people; they look better in person than on pictures, with their expression animated and all that.

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  10. Love the outfit - nicely done with the matching pattern on the tights & skirt. Looks great on you!

    e

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