Dress Like a Man
By Esther Lankitus

There are advantages to growing older. For one thing you have lived long enough to have seen  many fads come and go and they always come with just enough tweaking that your old garments will not do…Never exactly the same, but very similar.

 I was once told that when the economy is good, skirts will tend to be long and when the economy is bad, skirts will tend to be shorter.  I remember laughing at the statement, but over the years, I have seen it play out. This year I have noticed that the hemline is moving upward again. It does make sense to charge the same or more for less material to make a profit. After all look at the shrinking cans of food, coffee, and ice cream packages and you get my drift. But, I digress.

Just as fads come and go some ideas remain constant.  Look at men’s fashions.  Men do not run to the store for the newest look in clothing. In fact, most seem to hate shopping and would rather send a woman, any woman to do it for them.  Truthfully, once you know a man’s size, the colors that look good on him, it is easy to shop for them.  Any man worth his salt invests, and notice I said invests, in a good suit…maybe two. He then changes his look with new shirts, ties, shoes, etc all costing much less and staples in the clothing industry for men.  If he is really an uptown kind of guy, maybe he invests in one good watch and a ring to be worn only for extremely special occasions. He is not worried about shirt height or type, which colors are in season, or if his friend has the same suit. Dressing a man is simple.
 
I have to admit, there are many catalogues arriving daily with the newest ladies fashions and colors and for the first time in a long time I actually like some of the looks. I am tempted to spend over my budget to have that cute little number on page 6, especially since it is a buy the jacket and get the shell free. But wisdom and all that learning from previous mistakes takes over and I reason I really don’t need it anyway. After all I have closets of clothes to wear with no place to go. I have outgrown many and they wait patiently hoping I will return to the old weight and they will see the light of day once more. Even if I did loose enough weight, the style would not be exactly right and certainly the colors would be wrong. I would live in fear that someone might know by the color that this is an old piece of clothing!

Many years ago I learned a secret that I use when I either don’t have the money to spend or it is a season in which I do not find the current styles attractive. The secret is this…dress like a man.  Yes, that is what I said. Let me explain.  There are a few key pieces of clothing that will take a woman anywhere she wants or needs to go. First invest, there is that word again, in a nice suit…a weekender ensemble with skirt and slacks are perfect. Alter the look with sweaters, blouses, belts, etc in the colors of the new trends.  Purchase a couple of blazers to mix and match along with a basic black dress which may be  used for any professional appointments  to a night on the town  when  paired with key pieces of jewelry. You will need sensible heeled shoes in black, brown, and grey along with a purse that coordinates well with the all three colors. Purchase some pretty but inexpensive lingerie and you are ready to meet the world.

I know it is not as much fun!  Every woman loves to see the look on another woman’s face when she walks into the room and she knows she nailed the current look and she looks gooooood!  But if you must cut back on spending, remember men have much to teach us about purchasing clothing and I suspect just as this has held true for many years, this trend will continue.