I came across this book earlier this year – and didn’t think much about it – till I met an old friend from my childhood days. And when I saw this book again – I was reminded about him and his thinking and those of his dad. Song and his father – even his mother are from the 50s and stuck in the 50s I think. They believed that their wives or a woman’s place is in the kitchen or home. But that doesn’t mean that their wives or woman can be sloppy in their dressing for they own a small business – and supposedly doing quite well.
In this gorgeous style guide from the 50s, American fashion designer Anne Fogarty reveals the secrets of ‘wife-dressing’ – the art of looking chic on all occasions, be it at a cocktail party, on the tennis pitch or in the boudoir. Illustrated with Fogarty’s stylish drawings and 50s fashion photography from John French, this handbag-sized guide contains all the advice and inspiration you need to make you the happiest and hippest couple in town.
I met Song after 25 years and although his wife look skinny – and he has 3 kids – the wife is dressed well – still in the 70s I think but definitely respectable looking. Song seems to be doing well – his kids are teenagers – and I’m happy for him. But he still is the gentleman that I’ve known when I was a teenager – but I’m sure he must now look at me – and think – hey ! i looked and dress better than his wife and more well -traveled than he.
Life is sure funny isn’t it ! I don’t think I would have been happy if I did end up with Song – he and his family are just so old-fashioned. I doubt his wife ever traveled on her own nor his children.
Located at the South Side of King Street West – we never fail to visit Rodney’s when we are in Toronto. A dozen of oysters with a dash of Tabasco sauce and a squeeze of lemon – that is the start of our evening before we headed towards Massey Hall. And all throughout the show – I was thinking of the 12 succulent oysters that I had greedily slurped. I wanted to go back for more – but my tummy just didn’t think I could stomach it. Another time – another day – Rodney!
Retail therapy makes all woman happy but not the man – so if you are smart – never go shopping with the man or it will only dampen your spirits. Shop with a happy girlfriend and you will be one happy woman. I love shopping for jeans and dresses, perfumes, cute stuff and even at my age – I still adore cute stuff. After signing those credit card bills – I’m definitely satisfied with myself.
I used to swim 20 laps with no trouble – but now – I can’t even swim 10 ! back home swimming pools were olympic size – here in Canada even the hotels do not have olympic size pool. The only pool we have is indoor in town and it’s the YMCA – it’s not as small as the hotels but not as big as the ones back home. I could definitely use an outdoor pool about this size, I haven’t swam as much as I would like. Sometimes, I want to wake up early and go to the Y and swim 20 laps before breakfast – but I can’t find the motivation as the mornings are really cold sometimes at 0 degree Celsius.
I love Canada but don’t like the constant cold weather – I want to have a hot sunny day with hot breeze on the beach instead of having to leave for Mexico or Florida for the warm. 20 laps shouldn’t be hard to do – but it’s almost impossible unless I decide to go home for good. But with my kids here and still in school – a simple 20 laps may be a distance away. I envy the friends who just came back from Florida – the weather was good they said – the pool in the hotel was huge. Florida here I come.
The spouse had been working for the same company for about 20 years now and this year he is in charge of ordering the long service award for his subordinates. They have the 5 years award, the 10 years, the 15 years and then the 25 years. I suggested personalized coin instead of the usual acrylic award – that way the employees can just carry it with him – if he wants to show them to his families and friends – instead of leaving them at home or in the office – where no one can see it and admire it.
I would prefer the personalized coin myself – because it would be a great talking piece for company’s function or going for a company’s convention or anything business related. And if you are working for a established company like the spouse’s – the price per coin is definitely worth looking into – since you will be ordering more than just 100. It is a good idea – I hope he brings it up to his boss – and if his boss was as smart as I – I’m sure he would go for the personalized coins too.
I do not like wearing black in the winter – because it’s already such a gloomy season. I strongly believed that Christmas lights are being put up to deceive us – to make us think that this is a season to have fun – that the cold is alright. But it’s not alright – and I suspect that many wear dark colors because they can’t get enough warm – and really don’t care whatever color the clothing are – they just want to be really warm in the cold winter weather. But winter need not be about frumpy dressing – but it also means that you need to pay for color and a good kind of material of the clothing you buy. I buy the insulated T-Max brand of winter clothing – not only because they are thin – but they can really keep one warm.
I have to chuckle when my friends who are coming to see the snow think that what they got for keeping warm when they are in Canada is good enough. Let me share a secret with you – if you really want to get good winter clothing to keep you warm – make sure you buy them in Canada or in United States where it is really cold – else you can never get the right thing anywhere else. Every Winter I try to put in more color into my wardrobe and this year I’m dressing up my wardrobe again with a different color. Red perhaps this year?
I never had dry skin till I migrated to Canada and since living here, once the weather turns cold, my skin suffers big time. It gets really dry and sometimes it cracks, you should see my spouse’s hand they are worst than mine – he could literally give you a scrub with his hands. I’ve used several types of skin care products to combat my dry skin and they do help but not too much till I found that shea butter works like a charm on my skin. Not only do they work, they smell awesome and it makes my skin feels like I just bathed in something creamy and rich. I also loved that I don’t have to wear a perfume after using shea butter body cream because they worked as a perfume scent on me. But men can use shea butter too – because it smells like a nutty kinda smell – so don’t worry about recommending it to your spouses or your boyfriends. Now I can look forward to winter without worry about cracked skin or ugly looking ones.
Yes, I am but a common woman who loves to buy clothes for the spouse and dress him up even though he doesn’t like it – and sometimes he doesn’t find the stuff i buy suitable. But I can’t help it – if he doesn’t dress properly – especially when he needs to see people all the time right? for work and for pleasure as well. So I do buy good stuff for him though – like this Roots winter jacket – but of course, he prefers Mark’s which he claimed are practical. But practical needs to go with today’s fashion too right? This Trudeau Wool Duffle Coat is great for official and casual outings, so there should be no excuse why he wouldn’t use it. A small price to pay – just to make the man wear decently – for $268 + tax, I love it when I find something good for the spouse.
I don’t attend many function these days – unless it’s for charity or for the spouse’s work and the spouse and I keep a very low profile even though he runs a department in an international company. I’ve often been invited to attend functions with him – but I rather not go because I don’t want to be pretentious and pretend to be interested in his kind of work – no offense to the spouse – I know he loves his job and loves his company but I usually keep a distance with his work.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the occasional cocktail and dressing up but to travel with the whole sales team and then to close the convention with a big drinking bash – is just not for me anymore. I don’t have to show face – as his company already know and many have asked me what about the spouse drinking and with so many beautiful ladies around him – am I not afraid? do I not need to tell the world that he is taken. It’s really funny – I find when people tell me such, will it helped if I do that ? if a man wants to stray he would think of any excuse and will have all the opportunity regardless what kind of job he is in.
Having said that – it also doesn’t mean that I am not concern or do not care – of course I care but I don’t want to appear paranoid about it – and thus make the spouse thinks that I must be going crazy. I trust the spouse but that doesn’t mean that my eyes are closed – my eyes is very wide open but I don’t rant nor bitch about things – I make the best of all situation and learn to do things subtly plus I intend to look my best and keep myself up to date – in any kind of situation – be it foreign affairs or financial affairs. I never want to be taken by surprise . Socializing is great but not an event where I keep an eye on the spouse, he’s a big boy ! he can choose to be responsible or not – but he cannot have his cake and eat it too.
Trips to Vancouver usually amazes me how many new restaurants are opened – since the last time we were there – and we do go to Vancouver very often at that. Recently there – we were introduced to some fine dining around Vancouver – by some business associate of the spouse – and food was indeed awesome. With so many restaurants popping up like popcorn in Vancouver, I too want to own a restaurant supplies company in Vancouver, I bet I will make some good money.
This was a Japanese restaurant that we had gone to – I can’t remember the name – but it was at West Broadway – and it was pretty good and will try this restaurant again in the near future.
More sashimi – for us during the evening.
We had also visited a new Chinese restaurant that sold roasted pig – I haven’t had this for a long time now.
Some fried crab noodles for the table.
And for dessert – mini egg tarts. Yummy to the max. I do love going to Vancouver – they have so many nice and great restaurants there – I would love to live there when the spouse retires.
