Legible Tees - How to Wear with Style

A fantastic opportunity has come my way. I may soon begin working a part-time job at a really wonderful place - particularly for this mom who has been carrying too much weight in the middle (and the bottom) to be considered healthy or pleasing to my eye.

There is a fitness center in my town. This center has a babysitting service (in the way that IKEA has Småland) for children between the ages of 6 months and 12 years. Members of the center are allowed to drop their children for up to two hours while they exercise. Employees are also allowed to drop their children there (rarely more than 4 hours). There is also a pre-school attached for which I was asked to be a "substitute."


I interviewed earlier this week and (fingers crossed) I will begin working there very soon. In addition to earning some pocket money, the major perks are 1.) if I work more than 8 hours a week, I get FREE membership as do my children (my darling husband would pay about $30 per month and, 2.) I can bring my children to work with me any time and every time if I want or need to which is uh-mazing since I still don't have a proper regular babysitter nor have I family members in the area.


Great opportunity for a mother of two right? But here's the rub, there is a uniform which involves a t-shirt with writing on it. I immediately thought of Paul Fussell's Class - which I first read about 20 years ago - and his dissertation which mirrors my opinion on clothes that have writing on them. If you've never read this classic tome, I totally recommend it. Tres funny. It rather reminds me of Lisa Birnbach, et al's The Original Preppy Handbook in the way it is written. And they were published around the same time, too.


So, here I am a shortish, rubenesque lady being offered the chance of free gym membership. I'm going to have to take it. But, how can I walk in with my head held high if I feel all slovenly. I am trying to figure out how to pull off this look without looking ridiculous or like I'm trying to hard. I just want to look neat and appropriate and nice and not feel like a slob (if you'll pardon the expression).

I would feel like the female version of the guy on the far right. Ugh!

Image courtesy of Three Quarks Daily

I think it takes a certain type of woman in her forties to be able to look right in tee shirt that has writing across the chest. That type of woman would be slim and a bit less endowed bustwise. As stated, at present, I am neither. I can't wear accessories (babies, you know) nor should I wear layers (too bulky).


By the way, on the bottom, I can't make myself wear the obligatory jeans, khakis or yoga pants. My bum is just too dang big. I'm a skirt and dress wearer unless an activity (skiing, riding horses, trips to the farm, camping, etc.) demands it.


And I do understand and agree that parents, co-workers and children must be able to immediately recognize the employees of the center. I completely get that this is a uniform for work and not an article of "fashion" clothing with some random (or not so random)saying, logo or advertisement. I just need to work out how I am going to be able to do it with flair.

I'd ask Muffy at The Daily Prep; but, I'm pretty sure even she wouldn't have the answer for a fluffy gal such as I.

What about sewing on a lace peter pan (round) collar and adding small shoulder pads? What about taking it to a seamstress to change the ribbed crewneck into a ballet neckline and belting it with a Vera Bradley belt? Too much? But seriously, is it even possible for one to do this in a dignified way?

Edited on 10/21/11 to remove some details about the workplace (sorry about that -   confidentiality matters).

Vive La France

I don't know what it is about the European culture that has intrigued me for most of my life. It may stem from the stories of my parents who travelled as an Air Force family, or it may stem for the wonderful old movies that I watched as a girl where most everyone from "foreign lands" seemed exotic and interesting, or maybe the fact that, as with many youngsters, anything other that what we are may be, for the moment anyway, desirable.


For me England, France and Tunisia have been the countries to which I have been most drawn. Growning up as citizen of the Unites States of America, the introduction to England and all her glory begins nearly in utero. Follow that with an ongoing diet of British-Comedies from As You Like It to Monty Python to Keeping Up Appearances to Chef! and Coupling and sprinkle in the real life dramas and celebrations associated with the monarchies and anything associated with Jane Austen, Maggie Smith, and Dame Judi Dench (is it weird that I love the decor of the "flat" inhabited by Jean and Lionel; or, that I would wear anyone of her outfits to volunteer at the children's school?), along with the fact that language is no barrier, how could I not have developed a great affection for jolly old England. Did I mention that my bachelors degree is in English?

Frame from I Love Lucy - Lucy Meets Charles Boyer

(Image courtesy of www.cbs.com)

Then, I hear french being spoken and it sounds so lovely to the ear. Having seen the I Love Lucy in France reruns and having artful experiences with french artists, and taking semesters of french in college, and learning about the lifestyle where simplicity, authenticity and balance seem suitable for my personality, well that was all it took. I dub me - francophile. I've decorated most common areas of my house in rather a French Country motif. It is mixed with the sort of early american/colonial, too. (How could it not be? I live in a suburb in Northern Virginia so the colonial influence cannot be escaped.)

Tunisia (sometimes Morocco) beckons me. My father took home movies of his visit to Morocco back in the early 1960s. The images of the souks and markets were so exotic and exciting a little girl (moi) watching and wondering if she would ever be able to visit such a place as this. As an American of African descent, I feel a draw to visit the continent of Africa. As one hears the stories of great unrest in the largely islamic countries in North Africa, I am less likely to visit there any time soon. Still I so, enjoy visiting vicariously through others. When the Real Housewives of New York visited, I couldn't wait to record and watch it. It still looks like an amazing place to visit. Oh, and did you know that - after arabic - french is an official language.

I taught my sons a few french phrases in the interest of good manners and etiquette (okay - and to amuse myself). Call me crazy; but, I would rather my son say "I would like something to eat please" or "I would like the bathroom please" in french rather than English when we are in the company of other adults.

Resources for learning and practicing French are many. I shared in a previous posts how Madames Dariaux and Guiliano have influenced my lifestyle. Here are a few more:

Earworms Rapid French - The best method of learning useful phrases in a fun way.

Professor Toto's Watch & Learn French has been a useful tool in introducing the language to my sons.

Image courtesy of Lifestyle-Vogue.com

Belle Du Jour is my all time favorite movie to hear the language spoken and see an amazing sense of style. Catherine Deneuve is magnificently dressed from top to toe. Sadly, the subject matter is a bit offensive and disturbing so I rarely recommend it IRL. Also, may I just add, although I've seen it several times, I must confess, I still don't really get it - someday someone will have to explain it to me. I just fast forward through the less than tasteful scenes to get to the next outfit.

Priceless is one of my more recent french finds. Audrey Tautou (who also played the lead in the movie Coco Before Chanel) and Gad Elmaleh are so adorable is this fresh flick with beautiful backdrops. The music and rhythm of the movie is just right. What I didn't realize until this typing is that the story lines are comparable. Hmmm.

My Life in France is a fantastic book which has brought me the most joy in fantasizing what life in France might be like for any USAmerican. Julia's story is so remarkable in so many ways. I have said that I wish I would have read this book the day it hit bookstores as it contains some truths and wisdom that I could have really used when I made my big move from the West Coast to the East Coast. I really love Julia Child's wit and joie de vivre.

It no longer surprises me that our nation's founding fathers enjoyed time in France, or that France is that official language of the United Nations in New York, NY (USA). The fact that my husband grew up in a part of the southern US where French Huegenots settled and that he has a rather french-sounding last name is a happy coincidence. Also, it turned out that of all the languages offered, he, too, took french courses during his undergraduate studies. Another coincidence, is that when we first visited Washington DC as a family, we were invited to a party at the French Embassy where the people were lovely, the food was excellent and the artwork breathtaking. While I know I'm totally not french, I promise you the french connections do not stop there.

I have ocassionally experimented with my french language skills by trying to use it with the french canadian kids who have come into my life - the mothers always end up correcting me; and, I don't mind at all. I always apologize (for brutalizing their language) and thank them (from keeping me from looking like a buffoon).

I will continue to explore bits about France for as long as it interests me and dream of the day that I will visit.

Au revoir!

 

Bibliophile: Exhibit A - Elegance

One of my absolute favorite books is called Elegance.

It was published in 1965 by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux. I bought a wonderful old copy second hand after being introduced to Madame Dariaux via Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro published in 2004 (granted mine is an audio version -don't judge me - read by actress Elizabeth McGovern)...

...and A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions - an updated version by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux herself published in 2004.

I have to tell you. I devoured each one. I reference the 2004 Dariaux from time to time. Madame Dariaux is an absolute sage. Her writing voice and style speak to the core of all things classically and simply right. Plus she's a bit cheeky. I like that.