In Readiness to Return to Work

Over the next week, certain districts in North American and European countries will be allowing shops to re-open under particular guidelines. Our prairie newspaper (retrieved April 23, 2020 from Saskatoon Star Phoenix) reported: "Some of those guidelines are geared to specific businesses, including bans on trying on clothes at clothing stores, which will also be encouraged to use online purchases and adopt no-return policies." Since then guidelines have been changed and adapted to more realistic limitations. With the original guidelines, customers like me, asked, "What's the point?" Government policymakers listened to retailers and now guidelines are much more reasonable for the face to face shopper.

Although I recognize it is much easier to buy online, I do not want a world where that is my only alternative therefore if we do not support storefront businesses, they will go bankrupt and I certainly don't want that. 

As we check the days of the calendar in anticipation of hairdressers and more retail outlets re-opening between now and the middle of June as the flattening trend continues, it's time (if you haven't already) to get your wardrobe work-ready. 

Instead of saying, "I have nothing to wear", you can say "everything feels new again".

Re-organize - take out all winter wear and if you have the luxury of another closet, place everything you won't need this summer. Make sure they are clean, mended and stored properly whether in drawers, bins or closets. This is also a good opportunity to place winter things in a "donate" bin for things you know you won't wear again. You will be ready when clothing donations will be accepted.

Organize your closet by colour and category. Place all tops starting with white, followed by colours - light to dark with black ending the "tops" category. Now do the same for skirts, followed by shorts, capris, jeans and pants, and dresses.

You probably have noticed that you have a particular colour palette represented in your closet. In summer, my colour palette is what I affectionately call, "sea, sand and sky" — basically blue, beige and white. Kick it up a notch with yellow or red and you can portray variety with essentially a limited numbers of pieces. 

Summer wear also means more casual wear and after working at home or not working for two months, we may have become a little too lax, a little too informal. 

Greek Designer. PhotoSource: AngieB

Appropriate casual workwear can be characterized by 4 features:

1. Nice and simple as in this sheath dress. The design encorporates textural detailing without being over the top.

2. cover up — nothing revealed. Say "No thanks" to too short shorts, bosomy cleavage, cropped tops and sheer sheer fabrics."

2. clean up — nothing grungy, nothing sloppy. Say "No thanks" to oversized t-shirts and badly fitting denim. 

3. add to — upgrade your look with natural fabrics, simple but well tailored pieces, and  statement accessories and make it "note-worthy". In the sheath dress photo, notice the shoes — simple nude heels which don't compete with the dress. Yet summer suggests colour so play with it in your accessories.

Photo Source: Zenka

Accessorizing is where you can play with colour. Scarves, belts, shoes and jewellery express your individuality. As with all advice at this time . . . do it creatively but do it responsibly.

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.

My Life-Style Choices During COVID -19

There are times I digress from writing about clothing in one's closet and this post is one of those digressions. To quote myself, this "can be rationalized for health sake and so . . . do what it takes. Take care of yourself so that you can enjoy the clothing, the shoes, the bags, the jewellery, the accessories . . . and look great in them." 

Nice: First and foremost I am employing relative self-isolation. The extent of my excursions: a local grocery store, recently the plant and seed store and the pharmacy. I have done some food deliveries for friends but generally I have not see or spoken to anyone who wasn't at least 2 meters away from me. I wash my hands. I wear a mask. I don't touch my face while out. I have a box of those blue plastic disposable gloves for grocery shopping.Oh yes and I take my temperature twice a day.

No Thanks: To meeting with my friends for a glass of wine or dinner (this saddens me the most and is my greatest sacrifice). I am planning a strategy to meet with another couple of friends but I haven't worked out the details yet. I suppose I don't want to jeopardize anyone's safety even though I think I am healthy but we just don't know. That being said, I am a Type I diabetic and do not know how the virus will manifest in my body at this time. I care not to find out.

Note-Worthy: There are strategies I am employing during this pandemic that are not considered effective or valid. No, it's not that — I guarantee you. I am not drinking bleach or ordering holy water nor am I hoarding anything.

Essential Oils: I do use essential oils for aromatherapy and for topical application. I like them. They make me feel good. I don't wear perfume and I seldom wear make-up. And yes, I do believe they have have some therapeutic effect. So to those who are telling me that I am wasting my money because nothing works against COVID-19, all I can say is, we choose where we want to spend our money. Do I think thieves blend or eucalyptus, lemon or ravintsara oils will keep me safe from COVID-19? For the most part, NO. It is very improbable but not entirely impossible (disclaimer - no scientific evidence therefore this is not a recommendation). Do I still admit to using them? Yes, I believe they have properties that can lessen effects of normal flu bugs and I know enough about how to use them that they're not going to hurt me, so I put them in my diffuser at night and rub them on my neck and upper chest when I go out. Remember I still maintain social distancing and wear a mask but I believe I'm adding an extra layer of protection, at least, in my mind if not in reality.

Supplements: I am also taking supplements, which I have always taken in my adult life. There is nothing new in my regime, except for one that deals with helping to lower blood pressure, Quercetin. The others are the usual, which I take rotationally — not all of them all the  time: Omega 3, Vitamins C, D and E, Zinc, a Mushroom blend (I have taken this for years to boost my immune system), Magnesium and a combination including Collagen for hair, skin and nails.

Meditation: I meditate and listen to hz sleep music while I'm trying to and am falling asleep. Does it help? I believe so. It certainly does not hurt and I am falling asleep more quickly and sleeping through the night. Is it the music or the Magnesium? I don't know.

Eating and Exercising: I'm eating healthfully and exercising, not as strenuously as I was when I was going to the gym but I am maintaining my weight and I am pleased about that.

The point of this digression is simply to remind everyone who is reading about fashion and trends and other frivolous stuff, to take care of yourself and no matter what else you believe will keep you healthy, make sure you do not jeopardize your safety when going out.

I have written about oils before: 
Not a Closet and No Clothing Within: Essential Oils in a Wine Box

Cleaning Jewellery

Necessary (but something I tend to avoid)

Nice: The safest and most highly recommended jewellery cleaner - a few drops of Dawn dish detergent (I've also used baby shampoo) and lukewarm water. Let soak for a few minutes. Use a soft bristle new baby toothbrush or a cotton or linen cloth to gently cleanse away any determined dirt. Rinse in lukewarm water, approximately the same temperature of your soapy solution. Set on a towel and using the coolest setting, blow dry your pieces.

Gemstones (other than diamonds, sapphires and rubies), should be cleaned professionally since even water temperature can do damage.

No Thanks: salt, bleach, baking soda, vinegar - anything acidic can potentially damage all jewellery.

Noteworthy: Costume jewellery can literally fall apart if you use harsh acidic products. I once used a bleach solution which lifted the coating on a bracelet. To add insult to injury I thought the bracelet was real silver. It was a double "Merde - Oh Shit " moment.

Chemical cleaners can often change the colour of costume jewellery in the same way sweat, perfumes and hairsprays can (which is why you should clean your costume jewellery). Stick with the many who suggest putting your jewellery on after all your primping and spraying.

Even water itself can cause spot damage or loosen glue on costume pieces so instead of soaking a few minutes, soak a few seconds and dry quickly. Another reason to use a blow dryer.

Regarding Silver: Bob Vila suggests on his website: "Simply pull out and uncap a bottle of ketchup, then squirt a tiny amount on a paper towel. Next, gently rub the condiment along each piece of silver anywhere it appears tarnished. If it doesn’t come right off, let the ketchup sit for 15 minutes, then wipe the red away with a dishtowel and rinse your silverware clean." (Retrieved April 6, 2020 from https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-silver-polish/) 

No Thanks: Result - little noticeable removal. 

Noteworthy: Maybe the pieces were too heavily tarnished. Will try it on lightly tarnished items. After my husband watched me do this for several pieces with no discernible results, he took my jewellery and began using a commercial silver polish, which of course worked beautifully.

After all that, silver is silver and no amount of elbow grease or Dawn® liquid detergent or Ketchup is going to result in removing tarnish. Unfortunately a chemical silver polish is about the only solution I have found to do the trick. 

I have used the foil, baking soda and hot water trick which does work and can be used on cutlery but there's loads of advice out there saying it should not be used on jewellery.

Store your silver pieces in plastic or cloth bags to protect from humidity and sulfur in the air, which contributes to tarnishing along with skincare products and hairspray.

I may continue looking online for less caustic solutions but for the moment, I will use the silver polish, at least until it is finished.

NEED: Someone to comment and give me an alternate to commercial caustic silver polish.