Eat, Dress and Be Thankful

Sharon Mosley
Mon, 18 Nov 2019 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

Every year around this time, it's good to take a break from all the holiday hubbub and focus on the blessings we have — even when it comes to our clothes. I try to do this every year and am constantly amazed at all the small fashion blessings to be thankful for. Here are a few of my favorites this year:

— Shapewear. This never changes. As I get older, however, I find myself only wearing shapewear when I really need to ... like the weekend after the big Thanksgiving feast. Spanx founder Sara Blakely has made us all feel a little better about our lumps and bumps with a host of innovative products. Her velvet leggings are a holiday hit for me, especially in the new snakeskin prints and metallic faux leather, just in time for the holidays ahead.
Updated: Tue Nov 19, 2019

Every year around this time, it's good to take a break from all the holiday hubbub and focus on the blessings we have — even when it comes to our clothes. I try to do this every year and am constantly amazed at all the small fashion blessings to be thankful for. Here are a few of my favorites this year:

— Shapewear. This never changes. As I get older, however, I find myself only wearing shapewear when I really need to ... like the weekend after the big Thanksgiving feast. Spanx founder Sara Blakely has made us all feel a little better about our lumps and bumps with a host of innovative products. Her velvet leggings are a holiday hit for me, especially in the new snakeskin prints and metallic faux leather, just in time for the holidays ahead.

— Inclusive sizing. Speaking of feeling better about ourselves, now more than ever stores and labels are catering to a wide variety of sizes. Retailers and designers are finally catching on to the fact that many American women wear a size 16 and up. The inspiring company Universal Standard, founded by Polina Veksler and Alex Waldman, offers luxurious quality at affordable prices for sizes 00 to 40. And if a piece from their core collection doesn't fit you within a year of purchase due to size fluctuation, they'll replace it with your new size ... for free! Check them out before that turkey dinner!

— Online shopping. Click, click, click ... Here comes good ol' St. Nick. There's just something about getting comfy in bed on a Sunday night and taking care of fashion business with a few clicks. Want a pair of knee-high suede boots for the party next weekend? Or a pair of dangly chandelier earrings for your date on Saturday night? Or a pompom knit beanie for a favorite niece for Christmas? It can be liberating and thrilling to discover new designers and new products that might have once been inaccessible to you where you live. With retailers offering early Black Friday promotions, expect to see more deals right at your fingertips. Curated gift guides are great ways to get new ideas.

— Gentle soles. Even though I love the ease of internet shopping, I also love perusing the boutiques and the malls at holiday time. You never know what you'll find. And that requires comfortable shoes, right? Stilettos are for special occasions and are rare in my world, but sometimes I can't pass up a sparkling pair of silver sequined high heels. The animal print slip-ons are calling this party girl's name, too. Afterward, I can always slip into my worn Frye cowboy boots with Dr. Scholl's inserts, and life is good again. I'm gellin'.

— All warm and fuzzy. The new advancements in the quality of faux fur have been dramatic in the past few years. Just in time for winter weather and the festive season ahead, these soft, cozy coats are both warm and stylish. My favorites are the faux leopard jackets. Leopard has long been a classic neutral that goes with everything from jeans and a turtleneck to a little lace dress. Fuzzy faux fur vests are another way to add an instant touch of glamour to holiday wardrobes. My feathery silver vest is ready to shine!

And remember, in this season of giving thanks, be sure to pass on the blessings. If you have gently worn clothing, especially coats that you are no longer wearing, donate them to a charity of your choice or take them to any Burlington store who works with the nonprofit Delivering Good, which provides warm clothes to families who need them. You'll receive a 10% discount on any purchase.

Shopping in pajamas! A real fashion blessing! BedHead Pajamas x Monopoly at Nordstrom.

To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.