I think it’s pretty well documented here on the blog that I am a total fashion Diva. But if you could help me to understand who this new grey sweater appeals to or WHY ON EARTH someone would cough up their hard earned money for it… I’d really like to hear your opinion. Not only are there holes in the shoulders {I will never understand this particular fashion trend} but the entire bottom of the sweater looks like it was gnawed off by rats.
When I was a kid, walking around with holes in your jeans was frowned upon. And really, the only people you’d see with torn jeans were little kids {and those holes were well earned} or someone who was doing some heavy duty yard work or something who didn’t want to damage their good clothes.
Sure I’m getting older, but I see women my age ALL THE TIME who PAID for jeans with holes {and in some cases LOTS of holes} walking around town in them. I don’t get it. Do you?
The House is Probably Haunted
Although my husband and I both adore old homes {we’re talking Colonial Williamsburg 1600-1800’s era} the man is afraid of ghosts. Seriously. Like every single time I’d show him an old home he was like, WOW, that is so cool… did you see the detail work in the …. How many people do you think died in that house? We can’t buy that house. Do you know how many people, and horses are probably buried in the backyard? It’s got to be haunted. We can’t buy it. You know in New England they can’t bury people in the ground because it’s frozen all winter and so they have to store the bodies in the basement.
Maybe You Know the Answer, Because I Sure Don’t
Why do people wait in line at the post office to specifically buy stamps? Like, as in get dressed, get in the car, drive to the post office, wait in line, and then buy a sheet of 20 stamps. Don’t they know they can buy stamps at the grocery store?
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Off Camera with Sam Jones referring to a clip in the Ethan Hawke movie The Hottest State during their interview.
“We tell people to follow their dreams and to be original and be unique and do something new … But when you say, “I have this great new idea,” people will say “well, I’ll tell you why that won’t work.”
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If you happen to own an old handwoven garden trolley, HANG ON TO IT. I spotted this one at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show and they were asking $250 for it. HOLY CANOLIES!
Hey, it’s Friday! Time to party. Enjoy the weekend everyone,
~Mavis
But please, help me to understand the whole torn clothing trend.
Barb says
I so very much do NOT understand the empty shoulder trend, I’m telling you. Having said that, I rarely have to stand in line very long, and I prefer sheets of stamps or rolls to the small books that they have at the grocery store, if that answers that questions for ya.
Sheila says
Here in the Midwest in my hometown, you really DO have to go to the post office to buy your stamps. We only have 2 grocery stores in the whole county, and they don’t sell stamps… And quite honestly when I make my monthly trip to the big city to go to Aldi’s and the big box store, buying stamps there never crosses my mind! As for the torn clothing trend, I have to restrain myself from offering to sew up the holes in people’s clothing!
UpstateNYer says
You can also buy stamps online from the US Postal Service.
Mary Ann says
You can get an order form from the post office, fill it out and include your payment, put it in your mailbox for the mailman to pick up and take back to the post office, and then in a matter of days your stamps will be in your mailbox with another order form. And the envelope you put your order and payment into doesn’t require postage.
It’s titled “Stamps Delivered to your Mailbox”.
Lea says
Our grocery stores don’t sell stamps either. But, there’s a machine in the gas station. Go figure!
I buy stamps when I’m at the post office anyway, mostly because I like the pretty ones. I can individual stamps at the information desk at work so if I’m close to out, I buy a couple there instead of running to the post office.
Jeanie says
I kind of like the bottom hem of the sweater but am not fond of rats. I hate the slit sleeve trend. Haunted houses….meh, what’s a few ghosts. Might add a little excitement to the day. I only buy stamps at the post office when I already happen to be there mailing a package.
Mary Ann says
I don’t like the bottom of the sweater, but I AM fond of rats. LOL I am the founder of the Rat & Mouse Club of America ( rmca.org ), but currently only have an Eastern Fox Squirrel and 2 cats. Hubby developed an allergy to the rats.
Cathy E says
Oh, a kindred spirit! I am a big fan of rats as well, had them for my first pets at age 10 and off and on since (I’m now 44). Was once a member of some sort of rat club but am not sure it was the exact one you mentioned. Our last girl, Alice, passed away last year and we aren’t getting another because I have also developed a worsening allergy to them. How does that happen? So we’re sticking with our cats and dogs, whom I’m also allergic to but not severely.
Julia says
We love rats! They are like little tiny dogs. They are super friend,y and curious and can learn tricks just like a dog. They are also very clean. We don’t have any right now but have really loved having them in the past.
Jannete says
I just don’t get the open shoulder trend thing at all. That sweater looks like someone went to a thrift store found an old 90s sweater and cut it up for fun. Full disclosure though – my fashion sense is horrible. I went to Catholic school as a kid and daily thanked God for our uniforms. Even now I have a makeshift uniform for work: dark slacks; blouse and a caridigan. Yup, I’m a librarian folks! Now the trendy “bell” sleeves those I like. It adds like a pretty and feminine touch to a blouse. But I’ll take fabric on my shoulders please.
And I visit the post office less frequently than I used to. Only go in to mail packages and when I do I may buy stamps. But I can pay bills online, hit an ATM, get stamps and even laundry quarters at work, so that is fewer trips to the bank and the post office. Most of my finances, my entertainment, etc are electronic, and I’m an Amazon Prime member so darn near everything can be delivered to my door. Maybe I should just send my paycheck directly to Amazon and ask Jeff Bezos to give me a bit of walking around money;-) You know whatever he thinks is fair.
FarmGirl says
I have been asking myself that question about the jeans for a few years now. Why pay for clothes that have holes?? I don’t get it. My assistant on the other hand loves them for some reason so I asked her today why. She said she just likes them. She says they are comfortable……and in style….. I said they do not look very professional and she said I can’t find jeans without holes. I replied then how can I? So I guess the answer is “what’s in style” over function and long term wear. I will never understand it. Then just now as I am finishing this comment she came into my office laughing and said I have a personal problem……my pants just split…. thus proving my point about long term wear. 🙂 Have a great day!!
Laura says
Lol! That made me literally laugh out loud! Thanks for that 🙂
Lea says
Oh my gosh – I had this happen too – and my daughter (who loves the jeans with holes) laughed her head off and said I was now in style. Um, no. That split was in a place where no hole should be, so no thank you!
I hope you find a new pair ASAP!
Lea
Ria says
I don’t like the “cold shoulder” look, either – and what, exactly is the point in a sweater, of all things, with holes in it?!
But, ghosts, OTOH, are awesome! Just make sure you get a nice ghost. We lived in my husband’s grandmother’s house for several years, and she would come and visit sometimes. She would turn the radio on, move things around, stand next to the bed at night like “You’re in my spot!” LOL I was skeptical until the day we were all sitting in the living room, reading, on the computer, just quietly enjoying the evening, and the edge of the curtain lifted, like someone was peeking out. There was no draft/breeze (no way a breeze could have lifted it like that anyway), no one else was moving or near it at all. But just exactly, although you couldn’t see the hand, like a hand lifted it to peek out.
Joanna says
I go to the post office to get stamps because they have the pretty ones (flowers, trees, hearts, people, etc). The grocery store and Costco only have the stamps with the flag on them.
Sara says
I agree, this is why I go to the post office to buy stamps. I like choosing. I’ll be going next month and getting the Mr. Rogers stamps!
Teri says
I think that sweater is ugly. I don’t understand the open shoulder/arm style at all. I don’t understand the ripped jeans either. Both are especially gros on any woman over — say 20???
Lynne says
I can’t get the torn jeans thing at all – I think they just look ratty. Same for the bottom of the sweater. On the other hand, I do like the “cold shoulder” look in summer tops. I keep my old arms covered generally, and the little peek of shoulder makes a blouse or summer sweater feel more summery. But in the winter or cooler weather, ventilation is not what I’m looking for at all, so the appeal of this heavy sweater with holes in the shoulder is a bit of a mystery to me.
Stacey says
I love the look of the shoulder holes on sweaters, but they’re much too impractical. If I’m wearing a sweater, it’s to be warm! But then, vests don’t have sleeves, so maybe it makes more sense after all. However, I’m with you – the shoulder peeks on summer clothing are pretty and practical.
Mrs. C. says
The ripped jeans is trend I just don’t understand, either. I could care less about what people are wearing, but every once in a while, something is bizarre enough to make me sit up and take notice. Guys wearing jeans below their butts was one of them. This is another.
First of all, it’s messy and ugly. Second, no one looks good in this, and I mean NO ONE. Not supermodels, not teens, and not grown women. The skinny supermodels are the only ones who come close to looking decent, but let’s be honest, folks: most of the people wearing these look like sausages about to bust out of the casing. These make normal-sized women look fat.
andrea d says
The craziest thing, in my opinion, about paying for ripped jeans isn’t so much the rips, but the cost. Maybe at a second hand store for a dollar or two, but $70 and up! No thanks. I have a couple nieces who have paid money for ‘new’ ripped jeans- I like to tease them ‘just give them to my kids for a few days, we can return them to you nice and worn’.
Stamps- Nope, I did not know you could get them at the grocery store. For large stamp purchases like Christmas-y stamps for my Christmas cards, and a roll of regular stamps for every day use, I order on line. But many times I have larger envelopes or certified mail to send, so it’s easier to drive to the post office. Then again, my post office is actually closer than my grocery store and right across the street from my bank. And since I don’t do direct deposit and still go to the bank every week, it’s no big deal to run in and just pay for the one or two stamps I need. Now that I think about it, There are 3 post offices about 5 minutes from me in different directions, but the closest grocery store is about 15 minutes- small town living 🙂
Jamie says
I have daughter’s who are 20 and 18 years old. They do not like the ripped look, and unfortunately we see a lot of young people who look like sausages stuffed in thosr jeans, not just the older folks. My 18 year old also dislikes/rants about the heavy winter looking boots that have heel and toe cut outs. Aren’t boots supposed to keep your feet and especially your toes warm and dry?
I appreciate my mom taking my girls aside when they were preteens and talking to them about how to dress. She emphasized that you should wear what looks good on you, feels comfortable, and makes you happy. Not what is in style! My girls have many beautiful teenage girlfriends who look fat, sickly, and are always criticizing themselves for their appearance, when in reality they are wearing the wrong colors, styles, and sizes for their body type and personality.
We bought school clothes for my kids in Europe this summer. They have cheap clothes over there that are actually flattering! High/normal/cover your bum waisted jeans, who knew they still existed for teengers?
Teresa D says
A can of worms, it’s what you opened! I work in a LARGE high school and have see it all as far as clothes go. I too hate the ripped jeans. Always worn TOO TIGHT and more holes then fabric!! I don’t get it either.
Terri says
I’m 10,000% with you on the holes in clothes trend! Especially the “cold shoulder” trend. It just doesn’t look good and it’s silly. I’ve always wanted one of those garden basket trolley things, but the price is just too much.
Linda says
I credit trends like purposely torn clothes being popular because teenagers know their parents won’t truly enjoy them. It’s a step towards independence. I eventually learned what is worth “my not giving into”, other things I let them know if I didn’t like their choice and often shared my reason.
Alison says
I buy stamps at Costco. It’s the only place that I’ve found to buy them at a discount (such as it is). I buy them for Christmas cards and the leftovers last the rest of the year.
Brianna says
I buy stamps at the PO, but I am already there doing other business. I’m not a fan of buying jeans with holes, but I often wear jeans with holes. I just happen to wear the tops of my thighs out very easily. Some people wear the knees or cuffs out, but my thighs like to break through. I’ve had people ask where I bought them because they get a faded worn look, but it is just how hard I am on jeans. I remember when bleach spots were trendy on jeans, I couldn’t understand that. I see many wearing the shoulderless shirts, but I’m not brave enough. I have really wide shoulders and can’t even get the seams to line up right, no way would I want to draw more attention to my oddly proportioned shoulders. Frayed, fringed, cut, shredded, distressed, etc. those terms are for recycling clothing not for wearing.
Thelma says
Totally do not relate to the design trends of ripped jeans and holes in the shoulders of any top…That sweater is terrible!
Jan says
I love that garden trolley – beautiful!
Totally with you on the ripped jeans and holes in the clothes – I think they look awful and uncomfortable.
Diane says
Jeans with “pre-ripped” holes always seem to cost more than intact jeans, too. What is THAT about? If I want holes in my jeans, all I have to do is wear them to work out in the yard for a while. Just another stupid trend that the fashion industry has managed to market to suckers as “cool,”, iffen you ask ME.
OTOH, the bare shoulder look, I like (not in that sweater; it really IS awful, and I don’t like more than one opening in the shoulder). Much of my body is getting old and flabby, but I still have nice shoulders, and I like to show them off in warmer weather. Why you’d buy a winter garment like that, even if it was attractive, I can’t quite comprehend.
Candy C. says
I order stamps. boxes (free) or whatever else I need at post office online at USPS. You can also print off postage for boxes (have a scale) and arrange a pickup for any day after you print the postage. So do it the day night before. Pickups are free if you check the box..during regular mail delivery. No more waiting in endless lines at the post office and enduring people speaking full voice into their phones..I always feel like I am eavesdropping.
Zoe says
I did not know stamps could be purchased at the grocery store until two weeks ago. MIND BLOWN.
Also, I have some jeans with purchased holes. But not huge holes. I like them for everyday where. They feel more comfy than stiff, unholey ones!
Mavis Butterfield says
You, of all people, with holes in your jeans? You are ALWAYS SEWING!
SandyF says
Re: Stamps at the Post office-there are so many wonderful stamps, it is fun to get special ones to attach to cards. I am an old fashioned real card sender.
Re: Old houses.
Old houses are the ultimate of green housing. Reuse-Recycle-restore. Less environmental impact, and footprint. No new chemically treated building products Real wood, real linoleum, real tile, real basements. Don’t tear down and build new-restore and recycle. Lath & Plaster, real iron tubs. Real linen window coverings. When you restore an old house-and put back the historic fixtures removed over the years-you are recycling. Better for the environment to preserve.
I live in a 1915 Craftsman that we have restored back to its original state. I live in a historic district that houses are sold within days of listing and often over asking. There is never many on the market. Restoration and historic districts are sought after and valuable because they keep their charm, integrity of the homes, and are well built and high quality. We just replaced the 1911 furnace with a new HVAC system-not because it didn’t work-only because we had to have air conditioning or I would have melted. We have all original windows, floors, kitchen is 100% original (except for the tiny hidden Bosch dishwasher) Electrical and plumbing have been updated. Somebody will eventually pass away in every house-new or old. It is just life. And then new life replaces it. I like to imagine the rich and wonderful lives that passed through this old house before we did. We know every persons name that every lived here. The character and charm of our house is unsurpassed.No trendy colors, countertops, fake decor-just preservation and restoration as it was meant to be in 1915. They just don’t make them like old houses anymore. No HGTV flips, fixer uppers, or “open concept” for us. I appreciate the way this house was meant to live-and I am only keeping it warm for the next generation that lives here.
Lace Faerie says
What a wonderful way to view your home ownership,” keeping it warm for the next generation that lives here”!!
Libby says
There must be lots of fashionable ladies out there with burned circles on their shoulders. I’m off to google it
Pamela says
what are stamps? 🙂 Seriously I only use MAYBE 10 per year. I like the sweater but hate the jeans. Never understood that trend.
Hazel says
I must be the only one who remembers the ripped jeans trend from the last time around?? And my parents saying exactly the same thing- why would you pay for clothes with holes in?!
I would point out the late eighties ripped jean was more jean than rip- it was mostly just one knee, I seem to remember. I’m sure it wasn’t just a British thing!
My daughters have summer tops with cut out shoulders and they look quite pretty- no different from having a keyhole back or something- but I’m with the previous commenters who said if you’re buying a winter jumper you want it to keep all of you warm! And I would worry that the hem would unravel when I washed it. But maybe that’s part of the point…my favourite pair of ripped jeans (bought in very fashionable Chelsea in London aged 17. I treasured those jeans as a girl from the middle of the countryside!) had a couple of pebbles in the coin pocket that were supposed to soften and ‘stonewash’ the denim when you laundered them. My Granny found them one day when she was ironing and threw them away 🙁
And ghosts… I’ve never seen any but my very sensible friend who lived in the old (thatched) pub in our village said there were definitely ghosts in there.
Julia says
I’ve seen lots of folks wearing sweaters with the shoulders out. I don’t get it. If it’s cold enough to wear a sweater why would I want bare shoulders? Makes me cold just to look at it!
Renee says
My husband is a plumber and one of his clients rehabs old houses. We went last week to a beautiful but badly need of remodeling over a century home. The woodwork was in amazing shape despite the house be neglected for years. We went to the basement and in one of the many root cellar types rooms was one room with 6 long, narrow tubes made out of stone blocks with a track on each side. Yep, at one time they did keep the bodies in the basement, then the new owner of the house said, “Did I mention the history of the house, it was a funeral home at one time,” I don’t think your husband would have liked this house for sure.
Mavis Butterfield says
He probably wouldn’t have even walked in that one! 😉
Colleen says
I buy my stamps at the post office because our P.O. Box is there so I’m already going there to pick up our mail. I also prefer getting commemorative, Love, nature, etc. stamps over the standard forever flag stamps.
Linda says
Can’t fathom why anyone would want to pay an exorbitant price for ripped up jeans that look foolish, though I can sympathize with Diane – as you get older, there are fewer places that you want to display, and yet my shoulders still look fine, Therefore, cold shoulder tops may be a trend in which I eventually indulge.
I feel quite certain that there are ghosts – a month or so after my husband died in 2000 I got very sick, and he came and sat down on the bed and just stayed there. I never saw him, just his presence and felt him sit. Not again since, but it was a tremendous comfort to have him there.
In the 1930s, after my mother’s real mother died (2 days after Mom was born) my eventual grandmother (who was the sister of the real mother) was doing dishes at the sink when she heard the screen door close. She turned around and her dead sister was standing there. She asked my eventual grandmother to adopt my mother. My Mom’s father had two young children at home and could not handle an infant and work, so the woman who would have been her aunt became her mother.
While I know those circumstances exist, I don’t believe in the Hollywood version – terrorizing, spiteful ghosts or those who just want to play mind games with current residents
Marcia says
47 here. Don’t get the holey jeans trend.
Diana says
I’ll be the one who likes the open shoulder trend. To me it is pretty and feminine, and provides more coverage and practicality than off-the-shoulder. I confess I don’t own any sweaters in that style though, because I’d get cold.
I’m also not horrified about the cut out sweater hem. That one is questionable, imo, but I love creativity, so I can give it a pass.
I also think torn jeans are attractive, when the tears were acquired through actual wearing and work. I’m wearing a pair right now, with both knees blown out, from hours and hours of yard work, and building an attic room and a front room enclosure with my brother’s help. Would I wear these out on the town? No. Would I buy jeans pre-torn? Heavens no. But again, I appreciate the creativity of those who design them.
Cass says
I have lived with Ghosts almost my entire life. I can’t imagine having a house without them. (Well, that may be because I can’t remember living in a house without them. LOL) Ghost add spice to your life. You spend it trying to find your keys, the flashlight, etc.
All the ghosts in my life have been jokers. My childhood bedroom closet door would never stay shut. The ghost would open the door every night and walk up and down the stairs. My mom always accused me of getting up in the middle of the night. I hadn’t.
The ghost in the home I rented for decades fixed electrical things for me. When the light in the hall stopped functioning I said “who am I going to get to fix THAT?”, out loud. 2 days later it worked again and was still working when I moved out 8 years later. (No, it wasn’t just a loose bulb. I had changed the bulb to check on that)
The ghost in the home I live in now moves my keys. Almost daily. Grrr. Again I spoke out loud….”I need to get to work on time, please leave the keys where I put them”. Now he/she just moves the key fob to the opposite side of the keyring and has taken up walking up and down the stairs at night. (sometimes he/she walks across the bedroom floor while I watch tv in the room below the bedroom)
I would feel alone if I didn’t have my ghost to share my house with me. Even if he/she can’t dial 911 in an emergency, I never feel alone in an empty house.