Fashionista Alert!

Christine Johnson here wondering if there are any fashion-lovers on board. Whenever I go into a store, I'm drawn to the dresses, even though I have few places to wear one. As a result, my closet is bursting with pretty frocks that see daylight once or twice a year.

When I was a teenager, none of the clothes on the racks excited me. After all, it was the 70s, an era not known for its glamorous dresses. Since I didn't see what I liked, I sketched the sort of gowns I considered beautiful and embarked on a self-taught journey to learn to sew.

The effort ended badly after one skirt, one jumper and a couple blouses. I still dream of the perfect dress, though now it's for the heroines in my books. In my upcoming series, The Dressmaker's Daughters, the heroines take over the family dressmaking business. It's a dream come true!

Fashion is one reason why I love writing historical fiction. Some eras have stunning gowns. Renaissance, Georgian, Victorian...I love them all. When I watch period movies, I drool over the outfits. Eliza Doolittle's suit in the scene when she leaves Professor Higgin's townhouse in My Fair Lady is still a favorite.

Do any of you sew? What's your favorite dress from the movies? Do you wish you could hop back in time just long enough to try on a gown of any particular era?

Christine Johnson
Groom by Design - Coming July 2014, Book 1 of The Dressmaker's Daughters series
http://christineelizabethjohnson.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChristineJohnsonAuthor

THE 12 SHIRTS OF CHRISTMAS

Hello, Winnie Griggs here. Today I thought I’d post something of a light hearted nature. I’m usually fairly conservative when it comes to wardrobe choices, but the holidays bring out the child in me in a number of ways, one of them fashion. I never can resist the impulse to get a new themed shirt when the holidays roll around. Over the years I’ve amassed quite a collection, but as you know, there is only about a 3-4 week period each year when one can wear these. The down side of this is that a large bit of closet real estate is devoted to clothing that doesn’t get much usage. The up side (I think) is that these items seldom wear out.

Anyway, I’m going to share a few of my personal favorites with you, complete with photos.

There are, of course, the obligatory Santa themed shirts, such as these two.

Then, for the blatantly mercenary, there are the gift themed shirts.

More tastefully decorated are the floral themed shirts with poinsettias and holly.



And for the pet lovers we have cats and dogs sporting seasonal accessories.



There are more, but I’ll spare you the rest.

Of course, there are times where one wants to give a more subtle nod to the season, and one way to do this is to take a nice outfit and accessorize with fun bits of seasonal jewelry. I have quite a number of these pieces as well. Below is a picture of some of them I picked out for their sentimental value. Most of them are pieces that my children gave me when they were younger and for that reason I cherish them. The brooch of the Santa carrying a sack is one that belonged to my grandmother and I think of her every time I wear it.



So what about you? Do you have any fun or sentimental clothes or accessories you wear this time of year?

And, on a more serious note, I want to wish each and every one of you a very joy-filled and blessed Christmas.

Ask Elnora--about Project Runway?? Lenora Worth

Darlings, we all know Elnora loves clothes. If I didn't write books, I'd either work in retail again (which I did for many years when I was young) or I'd be a fashion designer. (If only I could sew!)But for now, I enjoy watching Project Runway. Just finished watching an episode where the designers had to create outfits for models on stilts. Yes, stilts. A tall order! The clothes were interesting--some costume-looking and some truly fashionable and fabulous.

Before I watched Project Runway, I attended a CAbi party with some friends. This is a clothes party where the representative shows the clothes (like a trunk show) and then party guests get to try them on. It's such fun. (You can see for yourself at www.cabionline.com)The clothes are always wonderful and Carol Anderson designs each season with a theme. This fall's theme is the movies! Starting with "Rear Window" and moving on to "Dangerous Liasons", "Love Story"(one of my favorite's),
"When Harry Met Sally", "The Devil Wore Prada", "Funny Face", and ending with "The Thomas Crown Affair". Clothes and my favorite movie themes--it was wonderful. And yes, I bought a few pieces. Our representative, cute and fashionable Wendy Turner, really knows her stuff. So last night was a fun night of fashion for Elnora.

That begs the question--What do you love about fashion through the ages? Do you enjoy our descriptions of our characters and what they wear? What is your favorite fashion time period--Victorian, Edwardian,Big Hair, Hippie?? Elnora loves those late fifties and early sixties clothes. Pearls, a flowing skirt and kitten heels are some of my favorites. Let's discuss style!!!!!