Pillaging Isn’t Always Bad
October 5th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
You know when you riffle through the back of your mother’s closet, hoping to find certain coveted pieces from her days at Wellesley, (bell bottoms, patterned blouses, knits in brown and orange… and more brown?) We all know the drill. Much to your fashion frustration, all you end up unearthing from the depths of the walk-in is a bunch of power suits in vertigo-inducing colors, the very suits you spit up on as a baby–probably on purpose now that you think about it. Am I right? I’m right.
I’m doing you a favor here. These are the chunky heels you’re always hoping to find, the ones mom wore with her high-wasted Jordache jeans:
The Barefoot Tess ‘Halia’ by Faryl Robin.
http://➡.ws/Halia
By no means do I intend to insult the contents of your mother’s closet. You and I both know there are some real treasures in there. And not to be overlooked, grandma’s closet.
Share your stories: What’s the most amazing find you’ve ever walked away with after a session of “She won’t mind. She probably doesn’t even remember she owns this?” And while we’re on the subject, what’s the absolute most offensive piece you’ve ever reintroduced to the light of day? (Only to frantically shove it back onto the top shelf after a good laugh, I hope.)
Comment of the week wins $50. So come on, girls. Show me what you’ve got..or rather, tell me what you’ve found!
- 5 Comments »
- Posted in Shoe of the Moment, This Girl's Life
October 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
By the time I was in middle school, I was rummaging through my mom’s closet daily. After all, she has always had better fashion sense than any of her girls, and god knows she has tried time and time again to “teach” us a few things. “Oh, you can totally mix and match navy and black, you just have to accessorize correctly to make it look intentional,” she might say. Her closet is FILLED with the current chic styles of today AND of yesterday (1980s “stylish” shoulder pad suede jacket, anyone?)
However. In 10 years of rummaging, I’ve only come across ONE totally hideous, embarrassing, confusing, and altogether awful garment. It will be hard to describe, but bear with me. It is essentially an early-1980s corset, brown in color, BEADED, totally JEWELED out. Something I do not want to picture my mother wearing, but at the moment of finding it, it was hard not to. It sits above the belly button, and pushes the boobs up to an unreasonable height.
When asked, “WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU WEAR THIS?” My mom replied with a nostalgic smile, “Ohhh, I remember that… Oh, man, I loved this…” and at this point my dad chimed in from behind us, “I remember that too…”
October 6th, 2009 at 2:20 am
I can’t say that my mom had a bedazzled corset top, and I’ll be honest I’m glad I never came across one of those.
I am one for embracing the 1980s power woman shoulder pads and pantsuit, as well as the maternity wear and maternal baggy shirts with bizarre prints. Anything with an animal on it I’ll wear. So needless to say, my mom has supplied me with a fair amount of ridiculous baggy tops that she probably wore when pregnant with me and now I wear. Sporting a faded Beauty and the Beast on Ice Shirt is probably not what every girl wants to be caught seen in, but I must say it’s comfy and it keeps creepy people from approaching me. I bet Claire and her mom’s beaded brown corset would get some prime suiters!
Other than baggy shirts, my mom always loved dressing my sister and I up with a little “something extra” when we got dressed in our youth. She did so by pining clips to our shoes (and no, I don’t mean those plastic butterflies on Crocs). She had tons of half clip on earring, half broach style things that clipped onto the top of our shoes or on the straps. I must say, my small 8 year old girl flats looked mighty good with a huge bow and tassels.
Thanks mom!
October 6th, 2009 at 9:27 am
[...] of the week over at Barefoot Tess wins $50. So come on, girls. Show me what you’ve got… or rather, tell me what you’ve [...]
October 8th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I absolutely LOVE the “Halia” chunky heels! They remind me of a old pair of Ferragamos I swiped from my grandmothers closet years ago. I still have those shoes and pull them out on special occasions. I WILL be buying the “Halia” as a great everyday alternative to my vintage lovelies.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I once found the most awesome snakeskin thigh high boots in my mums closet. Couple that with a green taffeta ballgown and that’s one quite fabulous outfit.
ps – Those Halia heels make me almost weep with pleasure.