Notes from around the internet

[ellarien]

A cake recipe whose ingredients list starts with "1 package yellow cake mix, 1 package vanilla pudding mix ..." isn't what I would call a recipe.

There are places out there that specialize in "modest apparel for women." Their offerings in skirts and dresses do look more like something I'd wear (or would have worn twenty years ago, in some cases) than most of what's currently on offer in the mainstream stores, but the fact that such a thing has to exist makes me a little sad. (On the other hand, Dillards has lots of nice longer skirts, but rather out of my price range.)

Comments

[zingerella]

Agreed about the cake "recipes."

For skirts, I really loved April Cornell, when they had stores in Canada. Their Toronto locations have all vanished, and what's on the website tends to be a bit floral for my tastes (though there are still a few skirts and dresses that I'd try on, had I not completely blown my shopping budget at an end-of-season sale last week), but a visit there may increase the scope of your choices. The prices are a bit steep, but the sale prices and the after-season prices in the April's Attic section are not bad.

I like some of what I see at the Newport News site, too. The smocked skirt comes in a lot of different colours and looks delightfully swishy. And I adore the cut of the trumpet skirt.

[ellarien]

Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, Newport News looks somewhat like my kind of place -- I was looking at some of their stuff last year, but I seem to remember the reviews weren't encouraging as to quality and service. Some of those April Cornell skirts look lovely, too.

[redbird]

Around here, the "modest clothing" places have an approach that includes not exposing the elbow or upper arm. I don't tend to wear short skirts, but I do often go for sleeveless or short-sleeved garments (weather and/or layering allowing; this time of year it's long sleeves, and a sweater over them for outdoors).

[ellarien]

I don't have strong views about exposing my elbows in principle, but I don't like to go sleeveless, and in practice I spend most of the summer in long-sleeved blazers anyway -- for sun protection outdoors and air-conditioning indoors.

Part of what triggered this was contemplating the difference between the strapless confections featured on TLC's Say Yes to the Dress and my sister's 1990 wedding dress with its puffy three-quarter sleeves and neckline a couple of inches below the collar-bone. My sister was much more fashion-conscious than I've ever been, so though her dress was home-made it can't have been that far from the norm at the time. Lately the fashion pendulum seems to be swinging back towards styles that are far shorter and more form-fitting than I'm comfortable with, but I'm sure I'll find something to wear.