Sweat Skirts Are So Frumpy

17 Replies

A reader named Sunny left the following comment about letting yourself go:

“The culture has become obsessed with comfort to the point of being sloppy. I’m sick of seeing pajamas at Walmart and sweat skirts worn out to dinner. Dressing up used to be the norm for women. My mother was part of the White Glove generation. She is disgusted by how everyone dresses now.”

Excellent points there, but the one that sticks out the most to me is the sweat skirt. Ladies, if you own one of these, throw it away immediately! It is so ridiculously frumpy, just like a long denim skirt. Even on the pin-thin model above, it doesn’t look good, especially paired with sneakers.

I’m not against sweats for sleeping or working out, provided it’s limited to those activities. Wearing sweats on a daily basis, as part of your normal wardrobe, is not stylish and will only make you feel unattractive. Clothing with an elastic waist and a drawstring is never stylish. 

It’s true that structured clothes are not the most comfortable option. Guess what, they’re not meant to be! Loungewear and Daywear are not the same thing, for obvious reasons. You wouldn’t wear a bathrobe outside, right? It’s same the principal. 

While the white gloves of the 50’s and 60’s are long gone, fashionable clothes still exist. (Yes, we’re much more casual today, and that’s fine, but we’re ladies and we should look like it.) Wearing a nice skirt that actually fits, secured by a real zipper or buttons, should not be seen as a burden. 

Frugal Luxuries: The Beauty of Simplicity

5 Replies

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that one of my mantras is “keep it simple.” Most of us have a tendency to overspend, over-complicate and overwhelm ourselves; in the process, we miss out on some of the beauty of simplicity.

Last night, I was sifting through my bookshelf and case across something I hadn’t read in years, Frugal Luxuries. To call it a good book is an understatement. Originally developed as a newsletter, Tracy McBride gathered her best tips into a single volume that makes for a delightful read. I really enjoy how she stresses the difference between being thrifty as opposed to miserly, and shows how you can pamper yourself without spending a lot of money.

There are tidbits about food, interior decorating, clothing, travel, etc. Sound advice like “buy less in general, but only the best quality you can afford” will never go out of style. 

Here are a few frugal luxuries that are within everyone’s reach (for $10.00 or less):

  • Take a hot bath
  • Take a walk at sunset or sunrise
  • Pick up a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store
  • Grab a sweet from the bakery
  • Paint your nails
  • Try a new lipstick
  • Wear soft slippers around the house
  • Drink a fancy coffee or glass of wine
  • Replace your hairbrush
  • Decant liquids into a pretty container (soap, olive oil, etc.)
  • Wear bright colors
  • Spend 2 hours by yourself
  • Write a pen-and-paper letter to a loved one
  • Buy a goldfish
  • Sit in a quiet room – no TV, no radio, no talking

Are any of these ideas revolutionary? No, but everybody needs an occasional break from the hustle and bustle. By taking a breather and cheering yourself up with a little treat, life seems a lot less scary and the simple life is the most manageable of all. 

Remind yourself to slow down, to actually enjoy the day, rather than rushing through it and crossing to-do’s off a list. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured! 

Ariel Vegosen: Radical “Hebrew Priestess” Thinks Men & Non-Binary Have Periods

6 Replies

Whenever I assume that society has reached its lowest point of delusional thinking, someone else comes along to shock me. The latest lunatic is Ariel Vegosen—a self described “Hebrew Priestess” who recently gave a talk entitled “Blood, Sex & Torah” that discussed the subject of periods and ritual purity. (FYI, there’s obviously no such thing as a Hebrew Priestess.)

According to her, “It’s important that we liberate our bodies and recognize that bleeding is beautiful….bleeding is not a gendered experience, there are multiple genders that bleed…women and trans men and gender non-binary people and genderqueer people and gender-fluid people that experience bleeding.”

Folks, only someone who is truly out of their mind thinks that men, transsexuals, and non-binary people have periods. That’s absurd. Periods are experienced by women—biological women, who possess the necessary female organs.

As for framing periods in a religious context, there is a lot of information about that in the Torah, way too much for me to cover now, but the “Priestess” obviously has no idea because everything she states is mixed up or simply wrong. (How odd that someone who claims “I’m an expert about Jewish tradition” clearly has no Jewish education.)

The article drones on, full of endless nonsense, including a revolting comment encouraging women to stop using feminine hygiene products and embrace “free bleeding.”

Of course, an individual who thinks men have periods doesn’t just stop with one off-the-wall idea. In addition to her “priestly” work, Ms. Vegosen is the founder of Gender Illumination, a group focused on “gender justice, anti-oppression, and intersectionality.” Oh, and she’s a vicious anti-Israel activist that hates Zionism, too. 

As if that much weirdness in one person wasn’t enough, her alter ego, “Trixie Lamont,” is a “sex educator and relationship coach” that’s “proud to be kinky, queer, and gender-blended.” The activities she offers to perform for money are so lewd, I won’t mention them, but it’s the most hardcore and possibly illegal activity (prostitution) imaginable.

It’s impossible to understand how anyone could become so warped. Obviously, she’s a pitiful and confused person. I have compassion for those who are ill, but I do not want her spreading that sickness to others. She is desperately in need of treatment and we can only pray she gets some very, very quickly. 

Is Letting Yourself Go Ever An Option?

5 Replies

When I hear the phrase “Letting Yourself Go,” I picture a lady that is discouraged, overwhelmed and/or unhappy with her life. Most of us know someone like that, who pays no attention to her appearance at all (maybe we are that person). Inevitably, if she used to be beautiful, people will be extra critical, talking about how she’s “failed.”

I have a relative who this describes perfectly. Growing up, she was slender and athletic and had lots of boyfriends. During her 20’s and 30’s, she lived a wild life and was heavily into drugs and partying. She also moved down South and spent a lot of time sunbathing.

We lost touch and I hadn’t seen or spoken to her for ages. My sister, who is the family yenta, recently had lunch with her. Of course, I begged for a picture and it was shocking! Even though we’re only 3 years apart—I’m 37, she’s 40—she seems so much older. Her hair is totally gray, her complexion was red as a lobster, she’s about 75lbs overweight, and she had on ratty sweats, which made her look at least 50, maybe even 55.

I don’t say this to rag on her or to be mean, but it’s truly sad when a lady just quits on herself like that. Personally, I don’t think it should even be an option.

As we age, it is definitely harder to maintain; believe me, I know. But that’s no excuse to throw in the towel and give up. We can still care about ourselves and look nice, in an age-appropriate way. The ideal hair color, moisturizer, some lipstick and mascara can make a world of difference. Staying at a reasonable weight—not scary skinny or morbidly obese—is important. Wearing clean clothes that fit; wearing shoes that aren’t scuffed; using a cute purse instead of a diaper bag—all of these things matter!

A little bit of vanity is a sign of good health—both physical and mental. As ladies, we need to feel and look attractive for our self esteem. Maybe we can’t fit into our high school jeans anymore, but we can find new ones that fit today, no matter what our current waist size may be. 

Carve out 15 minutes every morning, just for yourself. Get ready for the day by putting your best foot forward. Put on a little makeup and perfume, brush your hair, stand up straight, smile, find an outfit you feel comfortable and presentable in, worn with flattering underwear (the right bra is life-changing).

We deserve to feel good about ourselves. Embracing our inner and outer femininity is key. Be the best version of the lady that God has created you to be. It’s not selfish; it’s not superficial, it’s normal. You are worth it!