Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    I hate being the first one to reply to this (being a male and all)
    but here goes. 
    
    I wear jeans and a flannel shirt. My statement is, "I work for a
    living" ( more to remind myself of the roots of engineering than
    anything else).
    
                                                   
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    I wear jeans and shirts, at this time of year usually with a
    sweater over them.  Today the shirt is white with black buttons,
    the sweater is white.  I have on black loafers, but I usually
    prefer boots.  Sometimes I add a scarf or some jewelry.  Always
    the beautiful gold-and-black watch my honey got me. 
    
    I dress this way because I grew up dressing this way -- it's your
    basic Montana comfortable clothing suitable for everything between
    hard physical labor and selling insurance.  I've taken on a bit of
    New England flavor by wearing men's-style dress shirts instead of
    western-cut shirts, but except for similar minor modifications I
    expect to still be dressing this way until I'm 90. 
    
    --bonnie    

    In winter, I wear made-to-measure open-collar cotton shirts, good wool
    tartan pleated skirts and, until the snow rises over my feet, bare legs
    and ratty leather sandals.  Almost always the wee gold dot earrings,
    sometimes a natural-stone necklace or ethnic jewellery.  
    
    						=maggie

    Button-down shirt or sweater with jeans or cords, black Reeboks,
    my class ring, my signet ring, a gold knot ring, and an early-make
    1979 Bulova digital watch, complete with on-demand LED readout.
    
    My fashion statement is, "no fuss, no muss".
    
    I feel a poem coming on....
    
    -Jody
    

    Favorite work outfit:
    	Cherokee jeans (love the cut)
    	Any loose fitting top.
    
    Favorite non-work outfit:
    
    	Sweatshirt
    	sweatpants in the house, or old pair of cherokee jeans if running
    	errands
    	no support, if you get my drift

    Anyone else spend less than $200/year on clothes and hate to shop?
    Or have "favorite outfits" for around the house that get worn for
    months before you get sick of them (with washings in between of
    course).

    I'm wearing a man's white broadcloth dress shirt, a
    sleeveless lightweight bluish-purple sweater, a navy-blue
    pinstripe skirted suit (with a bluish-purple accent thread),
    stockings, and low-heeled black pumps.  I have black leather
    gloves and a black leather purse somewhere nearby, and a blue
    hat with a white feather on top of the coat rack.  No
    makeup (no time!), and not much jewelry.

    For work generally, I often wear suits, occasionally dresses,
    occasionally skirts and blouses.  I don't always like
    dressing that way, but do so for several reasons:  I was the
    *only* woman in engineering at my last job, and had to fight
    tooth and nail for them to believe I was competent, and suits
    rather than jeans seemed to help; I've built up a wardrobe of
    suits, which means the only clothes I have to buy anymore are
    shirts/blouses; I'm now on a residency at a customer site and
    feel I should best dress professionally, since I represent
    Digital here. 

    At home I generally wear sweats or jeans and t-shirt or big
    sloppy sweater.  For going out (most places), now that cool
    weather is here, I'll likely wear jeans, nice shirt, gray
    wool blazer, and my black hat with the red feather.  (I love
    hats!)  Some makeup.  For really fancy...maybe my black satin
    pants and blouse, heels, much makeup, much jewelry. 

    ...there's a Billy Joel song with some words about the faces
    of the stranger...The different styles I wear are like
    different "faces" I put on, depending on the occasion and my
    mood...

    -- Linda

    tonight's a special occasion, so i'm somewhat dressed up. but usually,
    i wear jeans with some combination of tee shirt, turtleneck, chamois
    shirt, corduroy shirt or vest. occasionally i wear a skirt. i almost
    always wear earrings, a ring that belonged to my grandfather, and a
    very thin gold chain. oh yeah. i tend to wear birkenstocks or running
    shoes. (and purple almost every day). 
    
    liz

re .7

	Bingo. 

	Jeans, maybe overalls, most of the time. Form follows function.

						Tom_K

    My favorite work outfit is my red wool Pendelton suit, it's a real
    statement. most of my winter wardrobe consists of Pendelton's, I
    find them comfortable, durable, and classic.  I can add to existing
    peices as far apart as three years and they all match or blend.
    I have a bit of an advantage because I work part time in a department
    store and only buy when the items have been marked down. 
    
    My favorite at home outfit is jeans and either a tee shirt or a
    sweat shirt and reeboks.

    
    
    For today, *pink* cords and a white short sleeve (still not as cool
    down here yet) shirt that buttons 1/2 way down the front. Also my
    trusty white reebok high-tops (the black one's contrasted too much
    with the shirt) pearl post earrings, and the watch that DEC gave
    me (which is NOT DIGITAL ;^))
    
    
    re.7
    
      I do not enjoy shopping much either, unless I really need that
    new pair of jeans or sneak's.

    RE: .7

    >> Anyone else spend less than $200/year on clothes and hate to shop?

    Yes!!  However, I may exceed the limit this year as it's time for a new
    down parka.

    >> Or have "favorite outfits" for around the house that get worn for
    >> months before you get sick of them (with washings in between of
    >> course).

    I think that sweatpants with pockets are the greatest boon to
    civilization since the clock radio.

    Dale

    Well, I mostly wear the BBS (boring business suit)style during the
    work week, and then there was that one Friday where I knew I just
    couldn't face the pumps, stockings and suit...so I wore jeans,
    workshirt and LL Bean sweater and orange construction boots to work.
    
    Now this may not seem to radical for you engineer types, but I work
    in Stow which is the fashion capital of DEC and I'm a manager.
    
    On my own time, it's always jeans and comfortable shirts, sweaters,
    or t-shirts.
    

        I alternate between jeans with Izod type shirts and dress pants
    with dress shirts.  I rarely tie my dress shoes though.  I love
    wearing my suit when the occasion calls for it.  I like "interesting"
    ties, and usually use my Mickey Mouse tie tack.
    
        My bigest "fashion statememt" is my hair.  I have it geled in
    little spikes standing straight up when the day starts, but as the
    day wears on the spikes separate and then it just stands straight up
    like bristles on a soft brush.
    
    ASP

    Like Tony, I'm into my hair these days, you would be too after four
    years ROTC then 4 years active duty...its getting *longer*...now
    around shoulder length.  My manager isn't crazy about it, and for
    some reason expects me to start growing a beard instead (he's fully
    bearded).
    
    But, like Linda, I'm a resident at a customer site and usually dress
    in pinstripes.  Today, its the dark blue.   I'm wearing my carved
    ivory tie pin (a leaping salmon), my father's high school ring, my
    own high school ring, and my swatch.  A black tie (but not the
    paisley black and red, just the black club).
    
    One change for tonight, I promised our *POETS* group I'd wear my
    STAR TOURS crew cap (with the suit).
    
    DougO

    
    Jeans, button down shirt, new balance sneakers, lavender sport sox,
    red thinsulate vest with a pink triangle for extra zip.
    
    am

    Days seel me in "suitable" attire, tailored shirt, silk tie and
    pumps or loafers.  After hours, it's levis and whatever polo shirt,
    or sweat shirt is clean and Nike's with heavy socks.  For going
    out, it's still jeans, etc.  But my absolute favorite attire is
    a warm robe over "nothing at all" and fuzzy slippers;-)  Now THAT'S
    comfort!!!
    
    Barb

    I probably spend more than $200 a year, but not by too much.
    I feel conspicuous and vulnerable shopping alone (Look, shopping
    and rationality are two different things.), and I feel guilty
    about wasting someone else's time by dragging a friend around
    with me.  And the price/quality ratio is frequently shameful.
    
    So I'm wearing a navy blue wool A-line skirt I made myself (fully
    lined, of course), a five year old print blouse, the first pierced
    ear earrings I ever bought, a silver chain necklace, and simple
    black flats.  And (of necessity) a bulky, formerly-white sweater.
    Drab.  (Monday it'll probably be the red plaid silk blouse.)
    
    At home, after I do my exercises, I'll put on my baggy jeans and
    a cheery T-shirt, or a plain cotton shirt.  Actually, I prefer
    most slacks to most jeans, because I buy the former fairly loose.
    
    Just a little while ago I was admiring a woman with the nerve and
    flair to wear a turquoise leather jacket.  "I could never do that,"
    I thought, as I put away my BRIGHT RED coat.
    
    						Ann B.

    For work today: red t-shirt, tan chamois shirt, stonewashed jeans,
    Nike sneaks (no, at those prices, they're "athletic shoes"!)
    
    For casual: Well, gee, a t-shirt, chamois shirt, jeans, and "athletic
    shoes" sound like just the ticket! (ain't engineering great!?!?)
    
    For semi-dress fun: (control yourselves. you know who you are.)
    Black leather slacks and vest, red shirt. Maybe red cowpoke boots.
    
    For semi-dress dull: wide-wale cords, oxford shirt, cotton sweater,
    "athletic shoes" (I detect a trend here)
    
    For grubbies: ol-l-l-ld t-shirts, sweatpants, and (you guessed it:
    "Athletic Shoes"!!)
    
    --DE
    

    Usually I like suits (skirt/jacket) or mix/match
    skirts and tops. I don't own a pair of dress pants
    (cuz from the back I can be mistaken for a barn door).
    Today I'm on my second day of a nasty cold....so I'm
    wearing worn jeans, turtleneck and sweater, red nose,
    blood-shot eyes, and hiding out in my cube!
    
    p.s. I LOVE to clothes shop! My fav's are Jordan Marsh
    and ordering from SPIEGEL.
    
    pat

    Today I'm wearing khaki pants that I inherited from my husband,
    (they got too small for him), a very shear short sleeve white 
    button down blouse with a khaki (kinda) cashmere button down 
    vest that I inherited from my deceased father-in-law.  I'm 
    wearing a pair of my husband's black socks, my black moccasin
    type shoes.  
    
    At home, when no one other than my family is around, I wear
    a tshirt, underpants, and bare feet.  
    
    And I'm always "natural" if you get my meaning.....
    
    Anna
    

    
	At work, she's the perfect picture of the relaxed engineer.
    	Notice the pleated pants topped off by the layered look -- 
    	ready on a sunny day to remove the sweater, revealing a 
    	cotton shirt, with sleeves rolled up for comfort.
    
    	At home, she relaxes in the latest fashion trend, sweat pants
    	with pockets, set off by a lovely holey sweat shirt.  For 
    	the ultimate in comfort on those cold New England nights,
    	the ensemble is completed with down booties.
    
    	All of these items available at your local REI . ..
    
    	Sharon

    Welllll, to work I usually wear a suit or some 'appropriate' skirt,
    blouse, jacket ensemble [my grown-up persona, don't you know], but
    I was out late last night.  Today, I'm wearing  my 'instant-completely-
    dressed' -- as Rick likes to call it -- long sleeved, full skirted,
    tomato red w/black slashes cotton jersey dress.  Dress fast, dress
    comfy, start-to-nod-off-and-all-that-RED-snaps-me-awake.
    
    At home, I mostly wear long cotton leggings in neutrals colors and
    big bright sweaters or flowing gauzy shirts weather permitting.
    
    For those special occasions, I try to be theatrical!
    
      Ann

    today it's jeans and cream blouse, running shoes.  Yesterday a
    shirtdress.  
    
    Color me autumn,
        
    Nancy

    
    Seriously though -- I LOVE TO SHOP!!!!  
    
    One of my very favorite things to do is to roam around selecting
    things for the victim, um, er, friend waiting in the dressing 
    room.
    
    I would love a second career as a "personal shopper"!!!
    
    SLL
    
    

    RE" .26
    
    Ooooh - me too! I love to spend other people's money!
    
    --DE
    

    
    I was recently fortunate enough to have a friend drag me all over
    Commercial Street (P-Town) and help me spend most of my money.  (at
    my request, though)  I easily spent more than $200.00 in 2 hours!
    I usually wear "preppy" type clothes:  button down shirts with Levis,
    but I'm trying to be a little less drab.  I can't remember the last
    time I wore a skirt, but I'm sure it was some family function. 
    My goal is to start wearing clothes which feel dressy but not
    restrictive.
    
    Justine

    About a year ago I realized that the reason why I hated shopping
    was that I didn't think I was worth the money or the effort of
    going out and looking for comfortable clothes that would make me
    look good.  Worn jeans and an old shirt were good enough for me,
    not because I liked them but because I thought I wasn't any better
    than they were.   
    
    After a bit of a fling with looking conventionally well-dressed, I
    settled on a style that I feel suits me and my lifestyle. It costs
    a bit more than the old style, and it takes quite a few more
    hours, but I find I feel a lot better about myself. 
    
    I'm not saying that other shopping-haters feel this way -- just a
    personal insight.
    
    --bonnie 

    Hey, that is a great idea, a shopping service!  A friend of mine
    is 28 and her mother still buys clothes for her, lucky woman.
    Do the people who love to shop, feel that they have good taste
    in clothes?  Nothing I buy ever matches anything else.
    
    I hate shopping because I don't like to stand on 
    my feet for long periods of time, it is a pain in the a** to 
    have to get undressed and dressed so many times, and it is so
    discouraging to take 6 things into the dressing room and not one
    of them looks good *and* fits.  Usually after 3 trips to the dressing
    room I have had enough.  Plus, it is so boring.  Even if I buy something
    I like the last thing I want to do when I get home is put it on.
    New clothes should age for a week or two before being worn.  ;-)

    	Linda

    Well, I'm wearing a maternity dress...and I'm getting pretty darn
    sick of it!  I'm also wearing a new scarf, purchased to fool myself
    that I had a new outfit. Jewelry--small earrings, pin on the scarf,
    watch.  Grey pumps.
    
    At home, it's directly into the sweat suit.
                         
    In "real life," (i.e,. when I'm not pregnant), I usually wear, for
    work, either a dress or a "classic" business suit in neutral colors
    (blue, grey, camel) with a blouse, sometimes the tweedy wool skirt,
    sweater, blazer look.  It's just so much easier.  I have to force 
    myself to buy some "bright" clothes as well.  Being trendy is too
    much work.
                         
    Outside of work, it's usually jeans or cords with a jersey or sweater.
                                                                          
    Oh, yes, I remember jeans...sigh.
                         
                         
    -Tracy               
                                        
                         
    P.S.  I hate to shop as a rule, too (though I love buying clothes
    for my daughter).  I probably spend more than $200/year because
    when I do need something, (a) I try to buy something that will last,
    and (b) I don't spend any more time looking (i.e., for bargains)
    than I absolutely have to.
    
              

    re: .30
    
    I found that taking someone with good taste with me -- in my case,
    as I mentioned, my daughter, who has a good eye for what will suit
    someone else -- increasted the "success rate" quite a lot.  If I
    take six pieces back, the odds are now that at least one and more
    likely two items will fit and look good. I was always pretty good
    guessing what would fit, but the look good -- no way . . .
    
    --bonnie

    Well, I have to get a fancy dress for the Lena Park Dinner dance
    (a black tie, formal dinner dance...).  Any of you leather and lace
    types willing to go shopping with me?
    
    Laura
    

    
    Ah... I'm at a trade show Monday and Tuesday, so I'll be in 
    a Givenchy suit. Unless I can get away with a sportcoat
    (LA is informal) in which case it will be black slacks,
    white oxford cloth shirt and black leather tie, and camel
    hair coat.
    
    Toady - its khaki slacks, yellow cotton dress shirt and leather
    jacket (cold - only in the 50's today)....

    I LOVE to shop!!  In fact, if I don't stop soon, I will have to
    admit myself right into the Betty Ford Shoppoholics Clinic...
    
    I'm with .18 re: robe, slippers, and nuthin else at home.
    
    Today I have on my "old pal" pants--soft clingy ones that bag/cling
    in the right places :-), my good old rose cotton sweater with the
    shoulder pads, and my ivory Naturalizers (sigh!  sez my feet). 
    At home I like the (besides the robe, etc.) smart-but-casual look
    of stretch pants, big sweaters, and sneakers/boots.  
    
    Most workdays I like bright sweaters and skirts, dramatic dresses,
    or skirt-top-jacket-wild-scarf-and-loads-of-jewelry.  Every day
    of my life I wear just about every nice piece of jewelry I own--I
    love and adore it and NEVER have enough!  I think I was Sarah Bernhardt
    in another life...
    
    ...now where can *I* find a turquoise leather coat?!?
    
    Jane

    My fashion statement tends to be the first thing I pick up
    off the floor_:-)
    
    Mary

    
    Mary, I'm with you!!!
    
    am

    I *hate* to shop for clothing- ugh!  Dawn, want a part-time job
    shopping for me??  Only problem is, I wear a 16-tall, and a size 11
    shoe.  Most of my clothes come from the Tall-Girl store near where my
    mother-in-law lives.  When we visit her, I grit my teeth and show up
    several hours early and go to that store (two hour drive from here - I
    never go there unless we are visiting) and force myself to buy whatever
    they have on sale, since the only local store that carries my size on a
    regular basis is *very* expensive so I never buy anything there even
    when they do have a sale - even if I have no immediate use for it but
    will later (such as a dress-up dress).  I got an ad from them a month
    ago saying that they now have a *shoe department* - I have real trouble
    getting shoes around here; most stores in New England stop at size 10,
    which is usually too small for my feet.  Luckily, a shoe store with a
    woder range of sizes has opened in Shopper's World (in Framingham, MA);
    I went there a couple of weeks ago and bought *three pairs* of dress-up
    shoes that *FIT* (brown, navy, and black), and tossed out two pairs I
    had owned for years that were falling apart (never had a black pair of
    dress-up shoes before).
    
    Today, I am wearing grey slacks (from store near mother-in-law's
    house), a green long-sleeve T-shirt (LL Bean -- mail-order), men's
    socks (women's ones are too small), and soled moccasins (from LL Bean,
    but I had to go there to get them - they are a men's size 9 1/2 narrow,
    or some such - LL Beans only has women's shoes to size 10, too!).
    Underwear I can get at normal stores (though I hate to shop for it).
    Jacket also from LL Bean (several years ago).
    
    
     I'd buy all my clothing mail-order if I could, but when I try it, I
    end up sending back a lot of stuff (especially shoes - took four tries
    to get a pair of winter boots that fit; they are a size 12B!).
    I'd rather *go to the dentist* that go shopping for clothing!!
    
    /Charlotte

       Today I'm wearing jeans, a turtleneck and cotton sweater.
       Sometimes I wear dresses but they are always long and worn with
       boots (I detest nylons). My jewlery is indian turquoise and
       silver,I'm partial to Zuni designs. My shoes are usually
       tennies,boots or flats. 

       My blonde hair is still 60's straight, my brain is 60's freak.

       I almost always wear natural fibers, the one big exception being
       polar fleese which I love, it's soooo cudley.

       My down coat is bright pink, 50% of my clothes are pink or have
       pink in them. The rest go with pink.

       For performances (church and pit gigs mostly) I wear a long black
       formal skirt and black silk blouse, sometimes I wear black pants
       and boots instead. My horn is a silver and nickle Conn 8D. It's
       beautiful against the black. liesl

    Well- Unfortunately I can't fit into any of my fashion statements
    right now (time to lose some weight!).  Today I am in my favorite
    jeans, a pink turtle-neck and blue sweatshirt, and my new white
    Reeboks.  Fridays have always been jean-day for me.
    
    After hours- You'll catch me in Boxer shorts, a T-shirt, my XL
    champion sweatshirt and my Nike Air running sneakers.
    
    (I am always trying to psyche myself up for exercise..)
    
    Terri

    At work, usually jeans and sweaters, sometimes worn sneakers, sometimes
    short black boots (I have four pairs).  Occasionally a full denim
    or khaki skirt with sweater and taller burgundy boots.  With customers,
    skirt/blouse/jacket combinations (well, wool slacks once in Ottawa
    in November), low black or dark blue heels.  Always my college ring,
    sometimes a silver and turquoise bracelet, rarely a delicate gold chain
    (only for customers).
    
    At home, if wearing 'customer clothes' I change into 'regular clothes.'
    Sweatpants are marvelous but I haven't replaced the ones that recently
    died (a slow and painful death, too).

    Friday's are jeans and sneakers days for me too.  The rest of the
    week I'll wear blouses/sweaters w/skirt or dresses.
    
    At home, I live in sweatpants & tee-shirts with one of Jim's flannel
    shirts so I don't get cold!!    :-)
    
    Roberta

    
    It's Saturday so I'm wearing jeans, running shoes, and a turquoise
    t-shirt.... yesterday, it was friday so I wore jean, running shoes
    and a navy blue blouse.  Thursday I wore light blue cotton dress
    pants and a white tailored blouse with running shoes that matched
    my pants...but then this week I've been working lots of OT and am
    too tired to dress.  Other weeks I have been known to wear my favorite
    dress, a raw silk purplish blue Liz Clayborne buttons up the front
    with a tan belt... I *even* have suits with skirts, and blazers
    in my closet.  But since I lost 45 pounds I need to buy some dress
    pants to go with the blazers.  My old pants can't be altered enough
    to fit my new body.
    
    I'm still not sure what my new "image" as a thin person will be
    but if I dress up I prefer tailored styles over frills and lace.
    something that works with running shoes :*)
    
    	sherry
    
    

    What did I wear Friday?  A full length pink gown, square cut low
    front, skullcap with veil (also pink), full pink cape held at the
    neck with a copper leaf pin.  If you think I'm kidding, we had a
    costume contest on Friday, and I was in Medieval garb!
    
    I don't own a pair of jeans, and I only own 2 pairs of slacks, one
    of which are jogging pants.  I just prefer dresses and skirts. 
    Today I am wearing a black knit skirt, a black sweatshirt, black
    nylons and silver jewelry.  I usually wear soft pastels (especially
    purple, and NOT yellow), but I felt a little dramatic today.
    
    K.C.

    Today I am wearing my suit...which I haven't worn in over a year.
    This grew out of a bit of kidding with a male collegue who wore
    his suit one day last week (because he had nothing else clean).
    I find the reactions quite amazing! (and flattering). I usually
    wear a skirt and blouse or a dress to work and jeans on the weekends
    and evenings.
    
    Bonnie

    I like to wear dresses, mostly knits, mostly plain, with a belt
    and with gold jewelry.
    
    Friday it was an ivory two piece knit mini dress.  Today it's sort
    of an olive/khaki colored knit one piece dress.  
    
    In bad weather, I will wear jeans and boots to work, but I prefer dresses,
    or wool suits.
    
    At home if it's hot I wear shorts and a tee.  If it's cold I wear
    sweats in vivid shades of blue or green and of course my Reeboks!       

    -Dotti.

< Note 257.0 by RAINBO::IANNUZZO "Set --- hidden!" >
                 -< =wn= lite: what's your fashion statement? >-

This topic was inspired by a recent fashion conversation, and it seems 
like a good thing for a Friday, so... what are you wearing today?  
What's your favorite outfit for work, "occasions", hanging out?

***************************************************************************

    I wore a black velour pantsuit with a while lace jabot hanging down
    my back.  Also, black patent leather low heels with black tuxedo type
    short nylons.  A pair of black fuzzy ears and a lovely fluffy black
    and white long tail completed my outfit!!!   Call me Flower!

    For a short period of time I included a set of black whiskers and a 
    neat black spongy nose!

    justme....jacqui

    ps....I didn't win!!!

    
    How I dress for work is a direct reflection of how I feel when I
    get up in the morning.
    
    On slow days - cotton draw-string pants or flannel-lined jeans,
    a sweatshirt (Mickey Mouse is a favorite for group meetings),
    and an old pair of boat shoes.
    
    On up days - tailored slacks or mid-calf length skirt, dressy blouse
    or Tee, handknit sweater or an unlined jacket, and low-heeled boots
    or pumps.
    
    Always - my class ring and 1 1/2 pairs of earrings.
    
    Today (Halloween) - a tailored suit circa 1860 consisting of a blue
    taffeta jacket with peplum and chocolate trim, a floor-length blue
    taffeta skirt, ecru blouse and lace jabot, and shoulder-length dark
    auburn wig.  
    
    					"calamity"
    

        Too bad most of you didn't get to see Charles Haynes fashion
    statement today at noon.  Nice legs Charles!
    
    ASP

    Mid-nineteenth century?  You really think Amity would live to
    be that old?
    
    						Charity

re: .50
>    Too bad most of you didn't get to see Charles Haynes fashion
>    statement today at noon.  Nice legs Charles!

    Don't leave us in suspense -- what'd we miss?


    While shopping for wedding clothes, I remembered/realized why I hate to
    shop (and perhaps why I dislike fashion/clothing so much). Nothing
    interesting is made for tall, skinny men. 

    I took m3 to a tall men's shop once for a laugh; she wanted to know why
    I didn't like to go to them. All they have in my size is a couple of
    green plaid polyester things. I don't play golf, so I don't buy that
    stuff.

    Over the years, I've settled on function well before form, in clothing
    as well as everything else. Jeans are good because I can sit on the
    floor, wipe my hands off on them, they don't need dry cleaning, and
    everyone carries them in 36" lengths. I don't know if I feel
    uncomfortable in a jacket (god forbid a suit, and *never* a tie) because
    it's really uncomfortable, or because it goes against my
    stuck-in-the-60s ideas of dress. Little bit of both, I suppose. 
    
    I don't really understand fashion, either the kind that you see in
    magazines or the "real" kind -- the kind that real people wear. It's
    good to have gotten to the point where I can be a little different and
    not only be comfortable, but enjoy it. I suppose that I've settled on a
    uniform, too, but at least it's one of my choice.

    Today is just like other fall/winter days: Blue Duofold undershirt
    under a red shirt under a grey cotton chamois shirt. (That's a lot of
    colors.) Jeans, white socks (always), my wedding Birkenstocks and my
    new gold ring (instead of my old gold ring, which was my grandfather's,
    but I can't imagine wearing two pieces of jewelry together). It's not
    hard for me to stand out, but I try to buy lots of red clothing so I
    stand out more.

    Margaret hasn't gotten me interested in "nice" clothing, but she sure
    has taught me about natural fibers and patterns and colors. Bonnie,
    you're right. It makes shopping a lot easier to have someone along who
    has an appreciation for clothing, even if "along" just means looking at
    catalogs together. Mail order shopping was made for people like me --
    low stress, and the post office is on the way to work, so returns are
    easy. 

    					-- hs 

    Gee Tony, I didn't know you were into that sort of thing...
    
    Today I wore:
    
    	Black silk underwear
    	Fishnet stockings
    	A red satin garter belt
    	A fake leather vest, loosely laced up the front
    	A black curly wig
    
    	I was also wearing bright red lipstick, black eyeliner, a very
    	light base eyeshadow with a purple highlight shadow above it,
    	a light blush, and mascara. (I didn't have time to do a REALLY
    	elaborate makeup job... :->)
    
    I won in the "outrageousness" category of our costume contest, but
    as Brian Reid (the presenter) put it, "This is really more of a
    lifetime achievement award to someone who has dedicated their life
    to being outrageous."
    
    It's true...
    
    	-- Charles
    
    P.S. If anyone knows where I can find some platform shoes, men's
    10 1/2, preferably black, preferably black sequins, PLEASE LET ME
    KNOW!
    
    P.P.S. Ever seen "Rocky Horror Picture Show"? He's the hero, that's
    right the hero. :-)
    
    P.P.P.S. You should hear my rendition of "Sweet Transvestite".

    Oooo, Charles, (pant, pant), that's one of my favorites.
    
    Every guy I know who does that costume has saved/found platforms from
    the '70's. I'll see if I can drag up some costume supply place
    addresses for you.
    
    Tamzen

    Most of my friends have given up shopping with me.  It seems I'm
    a wee bit too handy with the 'but of _Course_ you're worth it' and
    'if you want it and can afford it what's to stop you?' I'm very
    supportive.
    
    Apparently it's a progressive disease, this shopping with Annie.
    First we begin with the basics: _a_ dress for a special occasion,
    a new suit for a new job,...
    
    Then it's the wardrobe for a Caribbean vacation [_I_ didn't tell
    her to take the vacation...she came up with that on her own]
    
    And _she_ went looking for the new couch and curtains to match...and
    once she had that the chairs and ottomans just didn't match anymore.
    The dining room suite wasn't even new -- we found that at a second-hand
    dealer! 
    
    I think it was the Villeroy & Bosche service for 12 that did it.

    Now they've all talked to each other and I do most of my shopping
    alone.
    
    Now mind you, I never seek _out_ things for others to buy, I'm just
    along for moral support.
    
    Despite what they say about me, I have never used deadly force. 

      Ann

>    P.S. If anyone knows where I can find some platform shoes, men's
>    10 1/2, preferably black, preferably black sequins, PLEASE LET ME
>    KNOW!

<ahem> I know of a place in the Boston area that carries that sort of 
thing in large sizes.  Don't know if you can get something by mail order
from them. If you thought very hard about it, I'm sure you could find a 
similar establishment north of you on the west coast...

    Ooooh, Charles...
    
    
    I'd love to -
    
    come up to the *lab*
    and see what's on the *slab*.
    
    
    I'm just quivering with antici-
    
    SAY IT!
    
    pation....
    
    ;)
    
    -Jody

    Charles...I can just imagine!
    
    I was out Sat night with a friend dressed in drag.  He was gorgeous!
    I did his makeup and all the women who saw him said it was great!
    He wore a lacey bra stuffed with water balloons, a garter belt,
    bikini panties, fishnet hose, a black skirt, 3" heels, my red blouse,
    a silver necklace, a long curly black wig and long fake fingernails!
    
    I wore my Tina Turner/Elvira outfit!  Black lowcut leotard showing
    the lace of my black bra, a black leather minishirt, black fishnet
    hose, 2 1/2" heels, a chain for a necklace, a black belt with gold
    clasp and a bull whip hanging from the belt, a long, very long black
    and gold wig, and red fingerless fishnet gloves with long black
    fake nails, and to cover it all up, a full length black cape with
    red lining and a red standup collar!
    
    At first I got the attention, but then they saw Mark and couldn't believe
    their eyes.  Lots of men dressed in drag, but it was all exaggerated
    clothing, etc.  Mark took the time to try to imitate the best in
    women and I was very proud of his effort!  He walked around getting
    lots of double takes and I would follow him and catch the eyes of
    the people and say "yeah, doesn't he have nice legs?"  (Mark shaved
    his legs for the occasion!)

    I never realized how much fun it can be to dress *totally* out of
    character!  A year ago I might have been horrified and embarrassed 
    to be seen with a man in drag or to dress as I did.  This time I
    was comfortable enough with myself to experience it and enjoy it!
    
    	sherry (tina-vira :*)

    I love shopping for clothes.  I think it's easy to love clothes
    when you take a small size because so many clothes look cuter in
    the little sizes.  (That may sound like an awful thing to say but
    I think it's true, for me anyway.  I take a Size 3, or a Size 2P
    in "Better Dresses."  Besides, I only said the *clothes* look cuter,
    not the person in them!)  It strikes me as ironic that many women
    who make what I would consider to be a lot of money (compared to me)
    don't like clothes.  Life is full of these little cruelties. :-)
    
    What I wear to work depends on how I feel in the morning and what
    I have to do after work.  I usually wear a skirt and blouse or a
    dress to work with flat shoes and a lot of jewelry.  If I feel like
    ironing in the morning I'll pick something that requires ironing.
     If I don't feel like ironing, I'll pick something that doesn't
    require ironing.  The ones that don't require ironing get about
    twice as much wear!  If I'm not going home right after work, which
    I usually do, I wear jeans and a sweater, blouse or jersey because
    I can't *stand* spending a whole evening in pantyhose and a dress.
     I almost never wear high heels to work because it kills my feet
    to have to walk all over the Mill running errands in heels.  So,
    even though most men seem to think high heels are sexier than flats,
    I have just given up wearing them in favor of being able to walk
    without limping.
    
    When I'm not at work I almost always wear jeans with a
    sweater/blouse/jersey/t-shirt, flats and jewelry.  I only wear running
    shoes or sneakers of any type if I'm going to be walking on rocks
    or in woods because I like shoes I can slip off and on easily whenever
    I want.
    
    I like jewelry even more than I do clothes and I almost always wear
    8 antique rings, two pairs of earrings, 3 antique bracelets on one
    arm, one antique bracelet and watch on the other and some kind of
    necklace or pendant.  As a woman I know who owns a jewelry store
    in P-town always tells her customers, "Jewelry makes you feel good
    about yourself. :-)"  (She says it with a smile and I've heard her
    say it a million, well, maybe a dozen times.)
    
    Lorna
    

    I went as Elvira for Halloween too!  Everyone thought it was outragous
    since I usually dress pretty conservatively.  I did where long fake
    fingernails - I do not know how women with long nails can do anything.
    I found them impossible to work with and I was always worried about
    breaking them.  I guess I'll keep clipping those nails.
    
    Suzanne

    	My current fashion statment is "frustrated"!
    
    	3 months pregnant is too big for regular clothes but not big
    enough for maternity dresses.  
    
    	In "real life" (i.e. non-pregnant) I usually alternate bewteen "slob
    days" (jeans,tee-shirt or sweatshirt, and tennis shoes) and regular
    days (Dress, (or blouse and skirt), hose and flat shoes (or knee
    socks and boots in the winter), hair done nicely but no makeup unless
    I'm *really* dressing up).  (I tend toward oily skin to begin with
    and I haven't found any makeup that doesn't make me more liekly
    to break out.  It's also not worht the time and effort on a daily
    basis.)  (More current frustrations: even though I'm eating
    better than I probably ever have before, those raging hormones are
    making my face break out worse than it has since high school. :-( )
                                                         
    
    Oh well!  This too shall pass.
    
    tlh
    

I'm wearing my brand new ear cuff today. Now _I_ look tough! 
Thanx!!! (you know who you are...)
	Mez