Earth Day 2011

I promise I have not forgotten about plus size and Preppy, and will have a selection of fun more casual Preppy clothes in my next post on that topic. But...shifting gears to the eco-side of my blog, tomorrow as nearly all of us know by now is Earth Day. And each year the list of stores, restaurants and companies getting in on Earth Day gets longer and longer. To wit Yahoo has an article listing all the great deals and other events here. Some are totally in the spirit of Earth Day in this blogger's view, such as those which encourage you to bring in a coffee travel mug or an empty container of makeup in exchange for a refill of coffee or a full size cleanser at Origins. But discounts on "everything"? The Refresh Your Nest sweepstakes? I love the stores that are doing these and love that they are trying to raise awareness about Earth Day. The other day I got an email from a large bookstore chain offering discounts on books about how to be more eco-conscious.

But...as I slide into Andy Rooney mode here. But. Maybe our nest is okay the way it is and maybe our TV's and other items are okay. And what about the paper that those eco-conscious books may end up generating? It all boils down to more stuff. It may be fun to pick up the books and circulate them among friends who are interested in reading them so several people are reading a single book. If you are the lucky one who wins that Refresh Your Nest sweepstakes, donate the old stuff, the kitchenware to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or if you are really lucky and have a Unique store in your area, donate to them. See if a salvage lot or shop in your area will take old ceiling fixtures, cabinetry and the like. Or move the cabinets to your basement if you get new ones in your kitchen.

Toiletries and cosmetics are a tricky area for reuse. Sometimes they DO need to be tossed and as you've probably heard by now if anything smells or looks off, it needs to go out. You don't want to harm yourself putting old creams on your body or lipsticks on your face. I never did used to care about old makeup and hung on for dear life. Then my Mom lost her life to lymphoma. Then I started wondering if ingredients metastasize. I'm not a scientist and don't know for sure but am going the better safe than sorry route now. Still though there are ways. If you are comfortable with gently used items or want to find new items, Makeupalley is a great resource. You must register and they have a "token" system that works alot like feedback on Ebay, the more positive tokens, the higher a member is rated. If you aren't as comfortable with this, try using a fragrance you aren't crazy about on you as an air freshener or leave it in your office bathroom. Shower gels can make great liquid hand soaps. I have never tried body lotion as shaving cream but have heard many vouch for it.

I would love to hear any more ideas you, my dear readers, have on reusing items. And happy Earth Day to all!

Preppy...And Plus Size? Part One

My name is Vicki and I'm a plus size Prep. There. I said it. I may be not in the size range of Lilly P or Vineyard Vines but I can still smile when I see their clothes. It's about color even if, maybe especially if, I can't really summer or winter and my last skiing lesson was a disaster. And I am sitting behind a desk much of the time instead of being outside swatting tennis balls. I know I can't be alone. Impossible. Brands like Lauren by RL are branching out and creating amazing looks for plus size preppies. So are others. When I first started looking for great looks, I wasn't sure what to expect but actually was blown away by what is out there. So this is a multi part post, starting with scenarios where you may need something in the "dressy" category. Your first scenario; you have a wedding, baby shower, or graduation to go to. Or a laid back cocktail party.

Studio Tahari, Bloomingdales ($148.00). Turquoise is a great color on nearly everyone, from the fair haired preppy to the brunette. The length of this hem is great too, just above the knee. The split neck and trim around the neck say "prep".

You have a job interview and want to look great:

The dress at left is courtesy of Studio Tahari ($108) Bloomingdales. The jacket below is by Kate Hill ($149.00) LordandTaylor.com

Now you have the job. Congratulations! But here it comes, your first meeting or presentation and you're front and center. You can pair the black sheath with the blue jacket or either cardigan below if your workplace is more casual.

Cardigan, left, Ralph Lauren ($129, "Pasha" ivory silk cardigan) Bloomingdales.

Below, cardigan from Jones New York Sport Plus $63.00 from Zappos.

This is just a start! For a casual Friday day you could pair either cardigan with jeans, the black dress can easily move to evening with great jewelry and heels. Lilly (of course!) has some wonderful shoes to pair with that turquoise and white dress here. Brooks Brothers has some great ideas both for work and for play here.

Like I say above, this is just a start. Please let me know what scenarios YOU would like sartorial ideas for and I will see what I can come up with. This may be a topic where there are endless possibilities that point to one reality; prep is for EVERYONE!

Next post is casual time!