H2oPinkLabel Blog

I miss the old days of waking up in the morning just before I had to leave to school.  The familiar routine of brushing my teeth, getting dressed, and eating breakfast – I had it down to a science, doing it all in under 10 minutes.  Nowadays, leaving my house involves mentally preparing myself the night before, getting myself and my two children dressed and fed.  Provided that all of our schedules coincide smoothly we are out the door for 1-2 hours, only to head back home right after because someone is hungry or tired.

What really helped, back in the day, was that my school had very strict uniform policies.  As soon as I left school, getting dressed was a lengthy procedure, and not a pretty sight.  Sometimes I had to try on 3 outfits each morning, with half my wardrobe strewn over my bed.  (I’m almost too embarrassed to say, but still happens often )

So, I often wonder, how can schools NOT have a uniform?

The advantages:

• Time saver
• Cheaper
• Less pressure on children having to worry about how they look
• School able to ensure everyone is dressed appropriately and modestly
• Neat looking

While I strongly advocate that schools implement a uniform, children will bend the rules so they can stand out. Be it with their glasses, hair styles, or shoes. Here are some great “old school” styles that are actually weaving their way back into fashion:

Glasses, originally a source for mockery (four eyes), have become a telltale sign of a person’s fashion sense. To the extent that people include non-prescription eye-wear as part of their ensemble.

The original t-bar school shoes are always a classic, and go well with just about any outfit you can put together.

Remember to keep your hair in a tight ponytail, preferably a braid, to avoid catching lice.  A little trick: add a few drops of tea-tree oil to a water spritzer and spray your hair each morning to repel lice. It also helps with styling. Though time consuming, French braids are great for long hair. Here are step by step guidelines.

Good luck for the new school year!

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After caring for five children and a husband, basic housework and bills, and our own careers, somehow some Immas and Mommies  still manage to find time and space to work.  The rest of us simply feel guilty when we don’t actually get around to it, although its not like we don’t get our workouts running around and keeping our lives together!  Still there’s something to be said for taking the time to work out on purpose!  For me, swimming has been a constant source of stress and joint relief, as well as a refreshing and honest workout.

I grew up in an aquatic family.  My father raced windsurfers professionally and owned his own sailing business and my brother just received a number of swimming scholarships and is an Olympic hopeful, but where does that leave me?  Where does it leave our daughters?  The Gemarah teaches us that we obligated to teach our children to swim, but this is one area that most women can’t lead by example.

So what’s the solution?  Some women who are concerned about modesty have resulted in making their own swimsuits. Some Jewish Community Center’s and Ladies’ Fitness centers provide exercise equipment and space for women only, but many of us are not so lucky.

I went the commercial route and bought a swim dress. Between observant Jews and Muslim and even Evangelical Christians, there are an increasing number of options out there.  Some have bicycle short inserts, while others come with a matching hair covering. The one I chose was simpler and about half the price of some of the others I saw, but Junee’s swim dress is both simple and stylish.

Depending on the style, brand and attachments, they can cost an arm and a leg, but it may be worth it when you consider that this dress allows you to finally visit beaches and (free)  public pools.  Take your toddler to that Wet n’ Wild outdoor swim and play area!  Now if only our husbands could go with us…

Do you have other solutions or ideas about women’s swimming opportunities? Please share!

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We’ve recently dug up an old article from the New York Times (note: PDF), published June 17, 1917, in which the author discusses some of his observations regarding the significance of woman’s clothing throughout history, and the changes that occurred after 1914.

Article from the New York Times on Women's Modest Clothing, 1917

Feminine apparel marked momentous occasions in history, as pointed out in many historical records and books; The French revolution is visualized through the liberty cap, the bodice, and the full skirt.  The author of the article says: no one brought back the picture of the day so vividly, as he who writes of the clothes worn by the people who took part in overturning or establishing governments.  Feminine trends literally color our history books.

However, the most significant change occurred after World War One, when the fashion world no longer conformed to one trend at a time.  There was a sudden explosion of style and color, incorporating costumes of various ethnic groups.  The skirt continued to shrink, which some linked to economic hardship.  And then, this overexposure of skin began to tug at many women’s intrinsic ethical standards.  The call for modest attire became the norm.  Now we observe an amalgamation of the past, the present, and the future.

As the writer most sensibly concludes, dignity is the word.  We live in a society that is completely divided on the subject of female modesty.  It is the job of individuals to maintain the image they wish to create, and most importantly, preserve their self respect.  One way is to not fall prey to overexposure.

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Today sewing is more a hobby than necessity.   People choose to work a garment to add their personal touch and originality.  Majority of times the outcome is great, and it is highly unlikely to find an exact replica.  Rather than replacing the old with the new, the old is revamped.  It is the ultimate money saving hobby because it includes recycling and obliterates tailoring fees.

Working with what you already have:

Here is a sweater I found in my closet from when I was literally 12 years old (I am 24 now).  It is navy, my favorite color, but it is plain and shapeless.

I hated it then and love it now…

I simply added a belt to give it shape, replaced the missing buttons with different fun ones, and added lace to the pockets.  All of which I found in my house.  I now have a unique sweater that I am actually proud of and look forward to wearing! I especially love the fact that I now have an extra sweater in my wardrobe.  I am constantly struggling to find something to wear, now I will simply pull out my old clothing and apply some changes so I can wear them.

There are many self help books that can guide you in basic sewing and making your clothing more innovative.  Twinkle Sews has some great ideas for the more advanced sewers.  Check out some vintage clothing sites to get ideas on how to revamp old clothing, or ideally, simply tap into your physical and mental resources to produce your own masterpieces.

It has long been debated whether in fact people’s clothing reflect their interior.  Terms such as ‘classy’ and ‘chic’ have been coined to describe an individual’s style.  But how much do clothes really tell about a person?

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Various religions command specific dress codes.  Some Muslim women wear hi-jabs.  There are Jews whom follow modest dress guidelines.  However, there are different sub-groups within religious orthodoxy that dictate more stringent procedures than others.  Depending on your sect, there are still many communities that allow for more choice and expression in how one chooses to dress while still adhering to the guidelines.

People who are inspired by fashion are considered ‘fashionable’ because their wardrobe continuously evolves with the fashion.  This does not mean they are superficial, but merely suggests that they appreciate beautiful clothing and novel styles by incorporating them into their outfits.  Of course, there are some people who dress to portray what they want to be.  This would be appropriate if you are required to fit a specific job title.

“Like poetry, fashion does not state anything. It merely suggests.” – Karl Lagerfeld

I think it is fair to say that a person’s clothing can hint to various aspects about them, but definitely should not limit the way we perceive an individual.  It is unfair to judge a person according to their appearance.  Our job is to show that there is so much more to us then looks.  For this reason, laws of modesty have been set into place to emphasize that the focus is on the interior.

How have you accumulated your wardrobe? Have you been religiously inspired? Would you think it is fair to say that the way you dress tells reflects your persona, or your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments.

While the weather may not encourage us to leave our homes, it does offer us opportunities that are not available in the summer.  We can accessorize with hats, scarves, gloves, earmuffs, and furs.  Not just any accessories will do – here are some of my personal favorites:

1. Felt Hats

I absolutely love felt hats.  Here is a gorgeous gray felt one with exquisite embellishments.

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2. Berets

As opposed to beanies, berets are a better looking alternative to your knitted hat.

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3. Scarves

Have fun with your scarves, they can really add nice highlights to your outfit.  Choose a different color that will also complement your outfit.  I love pashminas.  Although they seem thin, their width compensates for them when bundled up to form a warm scarf. Pashminas are particularly fun because they come in a large variety of colors and patterns.  My favorite is this blue and gold paisley pattern in silk and cashmere.

4. Ear Muffs

Although I do think they are adorable on children, I don’t like to wear hats with ear flaps.  So what’s the alternative? Ear muffs! I never leave the house without my ear muffs.  It took me a while to find the ones I like that are both functional and look great. These black mink ear muffs are sophisticated and compliment every outfit.  Just be sure to choose a color that will go with most of your clothing.

5. Leather Gloves

I really like the look of leather gloves, especially long leather gloves when they are paired with a coat with half sleeves.

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Rather than letting the drabness of the weather affect you, take advantage of the cold by adding your favorite accessories and see what you can come up with!

What’s your favorite winter accessory? Let me know in the comments!

Maintaining a most up-to-date wardrobe will not ensure you looking your best – it is really about choosing the correct colors and styles that will enhance your appearance. People pay hundreds of dollars to have professionals analyze their skin tones, hair color, and body shape to subsequently create a personalized color palette and style guide for them.

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The colors are often chosen to draw attention to the clients’ features, such as bringing out the color of their eyes.  Rather then dulling their face, individuals can now choose colors that complement their face and features.  Likewise, there are certain styles that look better on a specific body shapes and completely unflattering on another.  For example, a person with a long torso and short legs may want to wear high-waisted skirts to extend their legs and appear more proportional.

The color system has been devised from the four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, and spring  – and further sub-categorized. Collegefashion.com, Style-makeover-hq.com, and Beauty-and-the-bath.com give free basic tutorials on choosing your colors. Colortools.com sells color analysis kits to help you determine your own palette inexpensively. If you do not feel confident doing this on your own, it may be worth a one-time expense and have a professional do it for you.

Some businesses have begun to incorporate color analysis on their online stores. Online make-up retailer Colormebeautiful.com directs you to your season of make up colors based on your hair color.

Examples of body shapes are pear shape, hour glass shape, and inverted triangle shape. Style-makeover-hq.com has a list of all the body types with links to appropriate style for each one. Stylecaster.com allows you to explore the latest looks based on body shapes.

“The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good on you!” – Coco Chanel

Nowadays, it seems like anything goes. There are no more rules. People appear to be wearing what they like, mixing and matching in novel ways, and most importantly, coming up with fabulous results.

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Initially, people who were fashionably crippled could seek advice from various resources to better inform themselves on the “nays” and “yays” of fashion. Self help sites such as about.com and ehow.com are complete with guidelines from a-z dressing techniques. Some Style Agents warn against over mixing. They have created a basic set of rules to follow in order to avoid dizziness and looking tacky.  Quite a number of conservative dressers whom are less fashionably inclined are happy to comply.

However, today’s fashion dictates no rules.

And this is no novel idea either, I recently came across a 1987 article in The New York Times titled Street Fashion; Ah, Youth: When Anything Goes. Even then the author proclaims amazement at how we can no longer predict what people will wear.  This trend is particularly prominent today. New colors and patterns are all being introduced into the one outfit!

Mixing the old and the new is another fashion lover’s favorite, especially for those who appreciate vintage clothing. Throwing in that vintage piece can set off an outfit wonderfully.

But does this laisez faire attitude mean we can simply dispose of our deep-rooted awareness of what is aesthetically correct as fashion today seems to do? As children we all knew that pink and red could not be worn together. There was a complete list of rules our mothers ingrained in us from a young age. Teenagers and adolescents today are rebelling against those doctrines, and fashion unequivocally supports them.