Do you have any particular item of clothing that makes you feel powerful, sexy, or invincible?

I have several: a bright green vintage wool coat, a pair of black suede boots, my 1930's pumps, a certain black cocktail dress, and that boring navy blue suit I bought a while back.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999

Answers

Well, no. But then, that may be a little gender-determined. Or maybe not. I gotta say, I haven't asked this question to my guy friends. Perhaps I shall. Altho, I will say that when do the monochrome suit thing (dark charcoal 1 button by CK, textured silver-gray shirt (also by CK, I think), silver tie (Perry Ellis? I don't remember), black shoes by K. Cole), I get a little Bobby Donnell (sp?) rush.

But, more importantly, I'm so happy that you've hit your fashion stride again. I LOVE it when you get like this. It's a great thing to see (hear? read?).

PS "I'm just wild about Saffron, Saffron's wild about me..."

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999

my brown corduroy cargo pants from american eagle! no, wait, my mom's old quilted black velvet jacket! no no no ... it's REALLY my four inch high velvet brocade fuck me heels. or maybe my disgustingly old purple and black flannel that was my first boyfriend's. or the even more disgusting cut off jeans that don't have a butt anymore (the patches have patches. honest).

i don't suppose the carleton college hockey jersey with my name on tha back counts, does it?

mostly i just have a few "power outfits." combinations of clothing that i know i look fabulous or cute or sexy in. and i wear them a lot. it's part of the reason all my jeans wear out in the butt. i wear them to death.

oh, wait. i know for sure.

my boyfriend's vintage leather jacket. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm i love that piece of clothing. looks better on me, too.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999

I used to wear this little bright-and-dark patterned blue dress that I called the "Power Dress". This was in high school, and even my best friend, Dan (who is gay) couldn't resist me in it. It was strechy, with a little flip skirt that barely covered my ass and an off-the- shoulder neckline that was quite alluring. But the main reason I was irrisitable in that dress is that it made my eyes GLOW this intense blue color that no item of clothing has quite matched since.

It no longer fits, of course.

I bought something similar this summer - a blue patterned sundress that fits very smoothly over my hips (ending in the flip skirt) and shows off my eyes nicely and all that. It's very sexy, but I don't * quite* fill out the bust...if I did, I'd be spilling cleavage though - it's THAT kind of dress.

Hm, what else? Anytime I dress up, I usually manage to feel sexy. I especially like the straight-skirt-with-a-slit combined with the fitted white button down shirt. It's very "I'm smart AND sophisticated AND sexy and you better approach with respect." Really. It says all that, I swear.

I have a passion for shoes that is pointless now that I wear Birks 365 days a year. I have a great pair of what I call "combat sandals" that have gigantic tread on the bottom. The heel is about 3 inches high, and it has wide straps that go over the bottoms of my toes, my instep and around my ankle. Painted toenails are mandatory (I know what you mean, Beth), though I usually opt for dark blue or pale green. You have to strut when walking in these; no cool snaps or clicks, though. I always feel sexy in these.

I have one black Betsy Johnson that I bought at Crossroads Trading Company for $15 that is so cute. Stretchy velvet empire waist top with spaghetti straps and a lace skirt with ruffles on the end. Sounds horrid, but it's cute, I swear! However, it's best worn to clothing optional type situations, as it's nowhere near long enough for me and I can't bend over at all without mooning all those behind me. Fun for special, intimate moments...romantic dinners at home....

Oh, but that's a different topic altogether..... Heather

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999

My navy blue velvet sports coat. It's old, it's cute, and it goes with everything I wear. Other than that, I'm mad about faded jeans and my leather boots and... I have a pair of shoes that my sister says are "power shoes". They're white, high heeled, slightly platformed, and make me walk standing straight up which increases my 5'7" frame to an attention-demanding 5'10" or therabouts. They're sandals and have a sexy criss cross, and a strap right on the ankle that makes my legs look long and 50's style alluring. I love those shoes. Maybe I should get them out, for old times sake.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999

Hm. Several items spring to mind. My black trenchcoat, which I originally bought perhaps eight or so years ago at some clearance sale. It's of a somewhat unusual line, the fabric is light enough to flow interestingly when I move (and billow out dramatically when I turn around at high speed, good for drama) but heavy enough to keep me somewhat warm if I wear a jacket under it. I wore it heavily during my "dress like Robert Mitchum circa 1951" era of outerwear, and still wear it quite a bit for clubbing in cool weather. For a year I traded it with my friend Zeb for her Victorian frock coat, but while both the trench and the frock are club wear, the frock is bad for, say, wearing to work, so I traded it back. Unfortunately, Zeb takes terrible care of clothes, so the sleeves are all frayed and a bunch of buttons are missing. I just need to find a bunch of really bitchin' buttons to replace them and then try to repair the frayed sleeves (maybe I'll just put bias tape over the cuffs or something) and I'll keep it for another decade or two. In the more-ephemeral category is my black Mexican bowling shirt with white trim that is one of those clothing items that has to be seen to be believed. It's great for making people reel away from me in horror.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 1999

I have a new favorite. Rather -- two of them.

Silky smooth, stretchy, supplex/lycra, princess/a-line dresses from Land's End.

I bought one in garnet red and one black.

As Sabs said when I did the little fashion show thing:

"Hooo-wah!"

Heh. Nothing like a nice dress that emphasizes all the good parts while de-emphasizing the negative to do the trick. Comfy, easy to put on and easy to take care of to boot. Yeah baby.

I also claimed a comfy pair of black strech sandals that my mom didn't want anymore, so all of a sudden I have nice clothes to wear again.

Just like that.

Other faves:

The small-heeled, round-toed (what is WITH all these square toes in fashion these days, huh?), lace-up, pseudo-victorian ankle boots I picked up in, ahem, Paris, five years ago. Perfect for going dancing or wearing to work with long skirts or even just jeans. The slight heel makes me REALLY tall instead of just, tall (I'm 5'8") and well that imparts this feeling of power that just makes me walk differently. Better not bug me when I've got my boots on -- I'll smash your toes or worse, your shins. So hah. Invincible is not the term for it;)

Black dress with rose print -- one of few dresses I currently own that a) fits b) looks nice c) is comfy. Chalk this one up to the "sexy" category.

Black oxford-type shoes from LL Bean -- nice enough to wear to work, but cozy cozy cozy to walk in. Finally shoes that I can dress up or down and still run away from potential threats in.

My hats -- they just ... make me me, I guess. I wear hats on an almost daily basis -- in summer, almost invariably, the wide-brim straw hat with the black ribbon in the band. Sometimes alternated for a little fisherman's cap with blue plaid in the band or a big ass curled brim blue straw hat I bought to go with a particular dress. I'm pale and the sun in DC is killer in the summer. Gotta have a sun hat.

In fall I like to break out my little purple velvet renaissance hat that I picked up at the Carnival in Venice (see I got lots of cool stuff when I was on my junior year abroad -- shoes, hats, shirts. Them's was the days) or the short-brim straw hat that my mom got me at Smith and Hawken ages and ages ago, with a colorful scarf tied around the crown. I've also picked up a nifty 20s cloche that I can't wait to put into action and I'm keeping my eye on ebay for the perfect Edwardian number. In winter I have an assortment of warm fuzzies to keep my ears warm -- a polarfleece roll-brim, a "medival scholar" in boiled "heather" colored wool, a grey beret and the inimitable elf hat -- green fleece body with a tassel on the end and a purple band. In spring/fall the hat is often replaced by the hood on my coat and an umbrella due to rain rain rain.

But I truly do love hats and I'm always on the look out for nifty ones to add to the growing collection.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 1999

A dress I just found at Ross for $10 (which is the icing on the cake). A perfect shade of violet, jersey, comfortably clingy (comfortable both physically and mentally), long--today was the second time I wore it to work and I stopped tallying the compliments at six. I *love* this dress. Shorts overalls, as I've said over and over and over, are not flattering on almost anyone but they are so comfy and versatile and perfect for me that it's a rare photograph that I'm wearing anything else. A lavender paisley jumper dress I bought 11 years ago. It's just a lovely fabric and buttons up the left side in what we call "dial-a- dress" style. Anything in those shades of hunter, violet, or tan that make my hazel eyes snap green. My least feminine aspect is that no pair of shoes ever, even on someone else who bought hers off the runway in Paris, has ever palpitated my heart.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 1999

okay, go look at that Land's End A-Line princess seamed dress.

Mine is like that, but knee-length, in black. I rarely wear it anymore because it is faded a little, and I don't want it to start fraying or anything because I've never found another one I like as much.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 1999

i have this brown/grey plaid short a-line skirt with these cute little pockets - with my steve madden round-toed cross-strap heels... oh it's just perfect! it's a winter skirt though so i always wear with black tights and a black turtleneck. it's very '60s looking and i just love the skirt length. i always feel ultra-sauve when i'm wearing that outfit. also i have this green dress - it's this sort of khaki colour, and it's completely plain. the sleeves are actually just the straight neck/shoulder extending down and folding to a cap sleeve. makes my shoulders look decent. a-line and goes to mid-knee. it fits like it was made for me, hids the faults and shows of the good stuff. i love it. makes me feel really good about my body and in turn makes me feel pretty damn sexy.

then there's this black satiny (short) skirt thats embroidered in chinese type flowers and characters. with a dark wine t-shirt, big chunky sandals, braids and messenger bag, it's too funky! the best part though : i bought it at gap kids. whenever i wear it's like it's cool, but i don't look like i'm trying too hard and it can go anywhere. dancing, seeing bands, dinner, drinks, whatever. i also have a black-knee length skirt that is so versatile i can't even believe it! it can be worn with something different every day for like a week and still be perfect - goes with all my shoes!

one of the favorite things in my wardrobe right now though is this black v-neck tee; it's a bit fitted, but not tight. it was about $10, goes with everything i own and makes everything look good. jeans, skirts - it can be dressy or casual - anything. i'm going to ruin it because i use it so much and it's that cheap cotton that stretches out in like two months. i should have bought two while i had the chance.

and last but not least - dark blue flared jeans. work everywhere anytime with everything. my butt looks good in them, the flare hides the HUGEness of my feet, and they're the perfect blue to go with all other colours.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 1999