#because that size in that particular brand doesn’t fit

[alagaisia]

Thredup is a great site for if you care only about what brand your clothes are and not about any of their features

[godesssiri]

10 Thrifting Tips – Part ? I lost count just check my thrifting tag

1) Make friends with the staff. If you go into a particular thrift store frequently it’s well worth it to get friendly with the staff. Ask them about their day, chat with them about what you’re buying, infodump if you’ve found something exciting and unusual. When the staff get to know you and know what you buy they’ll start pointing out things in the store that have come in since the last time you were there, that fit your interests. They may even start putting things aside for you. Recently I walked into my favorite thrift store and had 2 separate staff members say ‘Oh I’ve got something for you’. Plus having the staff greet you by name and having little inside jokes with them just makes the whole experience more fun.

2) Brita jugs turn up at the thrift store frequently. If tap water in your area is safe but has A Taste, keep an eye out at the thrift store.

3) Coffee making equipment. Capsule coffee makers, the wire racks that hold the capsules, French presses, these all get donated frequently. The occasional espresso machine comes in – and goes out very quickly. Now and then you’ll find pour-over coffee equipment. If you like your bean juice you can get the equipment you need to make fancy bean juice at the thrift store.

4) Handmade pottery mugs. Story time: About 6 or 7 years ago I went into a thrift store and someone had obviously just cleaned out their mug cupboard and donated a pile of handmade pottery. I bought 4 because I thought they were cool, very tactile, nice to hold. This AWOKE something in me. Humans have used handmade pottery for thousands of years and there’s something about holding a handmade mug that sparks a genetic memory of warmth and comfort. Pottery also has much better thermal properties than mass produced ceramic, hot stays hot longer and vice versa with cold. Build up a little collection of handmade pottery mugs from the thrift store, each one has its own personality and it brings joy using them.

5) In the same vein: teaspoons. Build up a collection of fun teaspoons and take joy from using different ones depending on your mood. I have one with an owl on the end and another with a rose, a brass one with a wiggly handle in the shape of a snake, one that has the branding of an airline that now only uses wooden stirrers - probably because people kept pocketing the stainless-steel teaspoons (I always wanted to steal one as a child but never had the nerve). Whenever I need a teaspoon it’s always a little endorphin boost to open the drawer and select the perfect one for today.

6) If you need something to do a specific job, be patient, you will find the perfect thing eventually. I switched to solid shampoo and my old soap dish wasn’t big enough to hold my shampoo bar and my regular soap, so I waited and watched and found the perfect little glass tray that was exactly the right size and fits perfectly on the shelf in my shower. I could have bought a brand new made-for-that-purpose multi soap holder, but it wouldn’t have been as cool looking and when I’m done with it, it wouldn’t necessarily get another life.

7) Gift supplies. Thrift stores often have a selection of unused gift wrap, bags, bows, cards. It’s worth it to sift through what they’ve got and buy any you think you might use – even if you don’t have an immediate use for it. That stuff can get expensive so if you can create a small stash then, when you need it, you won’t have to shell out $$.

8) Look for things that can be made over – or thrift flipped as the DIY content creators like to say. There’s so much satisfaction from looking at something that was plain ugly when you bought it and you’ve turned it into something pretty. It doesn’t need to be a major transformation that requires 5 different power-tools and 100 bucks worth of supplies. It can be as simple as a lick of paint, but every time you look at you will feel good about it.

9) Sometimes it’s worth buying something that’s just really cool and figuring out a use for it later. I bought the coolest little silver plated mustard pot; it has 3 legs and at the top of each leg is a lion head. Do I eat mustard much? No. Did I know what the heck I would use it for? No. I get bad indigestion and keep antacids on hand, I hate how once you tear open the roll, they tend to spill everywhere so I like to put them in something. Guess what holds exactly one roll of antacids? If something is just freaking awesome but you don’t know what you’d use it for, you will find a use (and it will be so much cooler than anything else you might have bought for that purpose).

10) Use the fancy stuff. Don’t ever look at something in a thrift store and think: that’s too fancy, I’ll never use it. If it’s not bought and used it ends up in landfill. Save it from the landfill and use it. Today I bought the most OTT fancy silver pepper shaker to sit next to my stove and hold ground pepper for cooking with, one of my housemates never puts the damn pepper back in the cupboard when he’s finished with it, so now we have this ostentatious silver shaker next to the stove top. One of my dogs can be relied upon to get half of his food on the floor before he hoovers it up, I could have got a plastic mat to feed him on but I had a spare thrifted marble cutting/serving board (I have a problem, I own 3, I have so much trouble resisting them), and another plus - he can’t destroy it like he would a plastic mat. I keep my toothbrush in a crystal bud vase. I decant my micellar water into a bottle shaped like a seahorse. I eat off pretty vintage pink glass plates. Using the fancy stuff from thrift stores both helps you romanticize your own life and it gives these items another life. Do be sensible though, some items made before the early 1970s including glassware and dinnerware contain lead in the decoration so do your due diligence and be safe.

[flowerandthesongstress]

You would not find my country on the map.

Not because you’re an ignorant dumbass of course but simply because my country is so small that it just doesn’t fit on some paper maps for example it doesn’t fit on this particular map you own and you’ll be looking and looking trying to find my country on your map and you will squint your eyes straining them irresponsibly to almost dangerous levels and in the end you will only find a thin black line that leads away from a tiny dot to some text which says hello please be aware that the country you’re trying to find is somewhere over there but it’s just such a small country that we didn’t have enough space at our disposal to paint that country on this map yikes sorry and you’ll be like whAT what the heck is this nonsense I am feeling mildly outraged this isn’t a good way to make world maps and atlases and then you will huff and look at the corner of the map to see where it was printed and there will be a number with an annotation that says hello person who bought this beautiful map which we printed could you please be so kind as to call this number on the phone if you have any feedback for us and so you will go uh-huuuh and call the number and say uh yes hi I’m calling you about those maps you’re printing and I have feedback as requested namely my feedback is about how I think you should not print world maps in such small sizes because not everything fits into them for example I could not find my friend’s country on your map I only found an explanation for why it isn’t there and as a sidenote I also have to tell you that I needed to squint when looking at that map which can’t be good for my eyesight and so I wonder if you have considered only printing bigger maps with more readable fonts and they will tell you yes yes of course we have because after all we make big maps meant for boardrooms and classrooms and all that and actually with the deforestation problem being as dire and with all of the necessary maps being available online anyway we try not to print too many paper maps but only make them to order and I assure you that every map we make can fit everything because no one but schools and businesses is ordering paper maps of the world from us nowadays so ma’am could you please tell us which size of the map do you mean and you will tell them the size of the map and additionally inform them that the map looks glossy and brand new and they will gasp and say oh wow ma’am this particular map you’re describing has been out of print for over thirty years moreover you should know that due to it containing a misprint there was a very very limited number of copies and yet you’re saying it’s in pristine condition congratulations you basically own an antique map you should hold on to it especially if you’re a map collector and you will say whoah this is fantastic and very interesting although no I am not a collector but I could use some cash right now so I’ll sell it to a collector I suppose hello rich people troy is joining you yes I’ll hold hahaha but seriously thank you so much for this information it comes at the best time and they will tell you in amicable tones oh no problem no problem hope you have a nice day after which you will hang up the phone and give a meaningful and pensive slow nod while somewhere else in the world and likely somewhere nearby let’s be honest here someone else would not find my country on the map because he is an ignorant dumbass, yes.

[mayakern]

i'm so excited to see the concept art for the sweaters!! they look so cute! i know as a chubby girl i often have trouble fitting into sweaters because my forearms are too thick, so im curious to see how the sizes will work in regards to that. i also wanted to just say thank you for continuing to make plus size clothing! it seems like the smaller sizes tend to sell out quicker, and i'm sure alot of other companies would use that as a reason to stop carrying plus sizes. but you never do that, and i just wanted you to know how thankful i am for that. your designs are some of the only clothes that make me feel happy with my body, and i'm sure many others feel the same. so thank you, i really appreciate the work you and your team do, i look forward to supporting your business even more~

thank you! this is really sweet 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

we’re doing our best to grade the sweaters in a way that will properly fit as many bodies as we can. this doesn’t mean we can give a perfect fit to everyone (you’d have to get custom tailoring for that) but we are doing our best using the sizing data we collected from y’all as well as our own personal experience.

i think part of why the smallest sizes sold out so quickly this time is due to the new sizing. unfortunately the A and B sizes ran larger than we had hoped so we have reworked the sizing somewhat for future skirt batches. in particular, the A size will give a better fit to folks in the XS and S sizes and will essentially serve as our “straight size” selection. the reworked sizing will also have less overlap between sizes, because it was a bit excessive. i think after these changes, we may see more sales in the B and C sizes but i’m not 100%.

regardless, we always expected the D size to move slowly, in a major part because we just do not have a D size model on our crew and haven’t had the time/means to look into finding/hiring one. right now it’s just me and ariel modeling and she’s an XL on top and a 3X on bottom and i’m a 2-3X in general. and even tho compared to most companies, esp indie brands, that is more fat rep/size inclusivity than often shown, it doesn’t account for the 4-8X that the D size can fit. people need to see themselves represented to have trust that a garment will fit them and so far we just can’t provide that due to lack of resources. i’m hoping to change this someday tho.

[existentialterror]

how would you define dr. lights gender identity?

Let me give you way too many words for a boring answer. (And of course, this is how I see her, anyone is welcome to headcanon her in any damn way they please.) In short: mainstream-Light (not an O5, not a god) is cis by default. She does not have a strongly-felt gender identity and is a little skeptical that anyone does. In the same way that I (known asexual) will still hear someone say like “a good sex life is important to me in a relationship” and at first think “yeah, sure,” that’s her w/r/t anyone having much of a gender.

Her presentation wiggles a little. She used to present fairly femme. Autism, masking, even after leaving her family she found it easier to get along if she has a Role she can Perform clearly enough. People come up to her. She gets a little more flexibility. Mars comes around with her dapper aesthetic and suddenly Light has a place to fit in, a role to belong to without tying her down. She accumulates clothing with tolerable textures and figures out enough Fashion to put together outfits.

When Light's old world ends and she's recruited to the Foundation, she has to figure out who she is from scratch. The Foundation is unlike anywhere she's worked before. For all its faults, the Foundation does care less about certain things.

When she finally puts some effort into her appearance, she goes for Utility rather than any particular aesthetic. She wants to look formal and trustworthy but mostly doesn’t want to have to think about it. Her hair is long enough to get it out of the way. She doesn't wear makeup because she doesn't like things on her face, and also, who wants to bother. She orders clothing out of online catalogs and tugs at the sleeves of shirts that don’t quite fit right.

When she breaks her hand badly and can’t always get the braces through the buttons, she ignores it and fights her way through for as long as she can. It comes to a head after her breakdown when she has to replace most of her wardrobe, which she should have done months ago. In her defense, you never really get in the habit of remaking your existence.

You’re still making choices, her psychiatrist tells her. It's fine not to worry about it. You don’t have to be making a statement about everything all the time. But you can’t completely sacrifice fashion at the altar of practicality – that’s not how it works, there is no such thing as truly neutral clothing. Are you sure you don’t care what people think of you? (For other reasons, Dr. Sabourin is one of Light’s worse psychiatrists.)

Light thinks she can get pretty close to pure practicality, thank you very much. When she’s promoted to Level 4, she tries on thirty six different brands and sizes of garments, and buys a closet full of the best ones - the exact same white Oxford shirts, camisoles, and those yoga pants that look like black business pants. Throw in some synthetics for exercising and she's good. She never needs to think about it ever again.

Later she adds one detail – and if it’s a little bit to spite Sabourin, that’s fine, she’s made her peace with it by then – which is the wingtips. She falls in love with a particular Italian workshop and orders a new pair every other year. They’re custom-made, exactly like men’s shoes but smaller, because her feet are small. They are, objectively, worse than sneakers: more expensive, less comfortable, less traction. She kicks her feet against her desk, scuffing the leather, and stares at the broguing. She really likes these shoes. It’s silly, right? It’s silly.

Ten years down the line, she finally, quietly, stomachs the thought: Mars would have worn these.

Even that much later, her closet is basically identical. Her system is fucking good, thank you. The additions are a few outlier outfits for special occasions. One shirt that is A Color (green) and has some embroidery, for casual events. A few t-shirts with various animals on them received as presents, that are not accounted for by her system but get worn nonetheless. A suit, for weddings and such. Boots and cold weather gear for dayhikes and seabird-watching in Svalbard. A single clean labcoat for when she needs to appear somewhere as A Member Of Senior Staff(TM) (and she will complain to anyone nearby about that not being the point of a labcoat, because of who she is. But she sees Sabourin’s point by now, clothing is about signalling as much as comfort.)

Light doesn’t know what the wingtips mean. She doesn't need to. Mostly, what she wants to signal is “I want you to listen to me" and "I want to get back to work.”

-------------------------

That said, Light, of course, comes in different versions with their own stories going on. It doesn’t really surprise any of them that they have different gender situations, except in as far as provoking questions like “some of us sure seem to have different chromosomal situations, how does that work? If we’re not genetic clones what does that even mean for us to be the same person??”

O5-2 "The Nazarene"’s story is different. I want to do more with her but need to up my weird esoteric gnostic queer theology game before I commit to anything. But I’m tentatively thinking something like: You need to be a certain kind of person to be the son of god. To be responsible for everyone. You can present as whatever the hell you want, but for certain ploys to work, people – even just a group of people that happen, for no good reason, to be at the center of the universe for a few moments – need to believe you. It’s easiest to believe it yourself.

If you’re already serious about being responsible for everyone, for becoming an icon, you don’t even need to think about the question: do you want to become this kind of person? Of course you do. It’d be like thinking “I want to bake bread, but do I want to be the kind of person who kneads bread?” You can stress over this. It’s totally possible. No one’s stopping you.

But you can also just knead bread.

No one’s stopping you.

[thelastattempt]

"Designer brands are qualified in that they are products labelled and marketed under a prestigious umbrella, usually of a higher quality and usually named for the founder, creator or designer. 28OP fits that description" So does his merch 🤷‍♀️

Oooo, interesting.

Let’s break it down;

Designer brands are marketed and labelled under a prestigious umbrella: - I would argue that the branding concept of a designer label differs heavily from artist merch and this is what gives them that ‘prestigious’ title. What I mean here is that the marketing and accessibility around any luxury brand is going to be significantly different to the way any one artist pushes their merch (thinking concept collections, fashion events, limited collection size vs. on the spot concert purchasing en masse predominately as souvenirs).

Designer brands are usually of a higher quality: - Whilst it’s true that Louis’ merch in particular is of good and sustainable quality, this is not true of all artist merchandise. Artist merchandise has a high ticket price normally in accordance with the popularity of the artist themselves and rarely interacts with the quality, fit or design of the product itself. In this respect, Louis is an anomaly and probably shows how seriously he’s invested in this idea. Artist merch also tends to act as a walking billboard for whatever event you purchased it from - thinking hoodies with world tour all over them, thinking t-shirts with gig lists down the back. Designer labels don’t look to emulate this because they’re not riding on advertising or endorsing another product. They exist on their own merit. Of course, that’s not to say designer brands don’t plaster YSL or Prada on everything, but that’s usually an aesthetic choice and serves to advertise the collection/the T-shirt itself ect. rather than another entity.

Designer brands are usually named after the founder or creator: - I mean, I’m thinking Chanel here, Fenti, 28OP. It tracks. But it’s important to note that these brands stand-alone outside of their initial creator, on the pure quality of their products, their marketing and their offering. Artist merch doesn’t - and can’t - have this distinction. Designer brands must compete in this arena against comparative offerings, artist merch doesn’t necessarily have this competition because you’re not buying the tee for the fit, or the statement, you’re buying it as a keepsake or as a show of support for an album.

And I would probably argue that the vast majority of artist merch isn’t actually created with or by the artist themselves (and that’s not a drag, everyone has different interests and that’s what teams are for). So in the ven-diagram of merchandise vs designer label, you’ll probably find some overlap but not loads.

With Louis in particular, we know he’s fundamentally intrinsic to the design and output of 28OP. And the way it’s marketed and who it’s marketed to will make a big difference in how we see the products and how this whole scheme plays out - and should be different to how his merch is advertised and purchased.

28OP will live and die on its ability to be fashion forward, dynamic, accessible and quality. Because long term, it’s about the clothes themselves and not about the person behind it. Artist merch doesn’t have that restriction or that prestige necessarily - the artist themselves just needs to be good, and it sells itself, in theory.

[pocketvenuslux]

I’ve been interested in Edge O’ Beyond for a long time. I’ve always loved their delicate, strappy designs and even though I personally didn’t see myself wearing body chains with my lingerie, the concept of having little gold rings you can attach chains to was interesting. The brand is also notable for offering such a wide range of sizes for an independent designer. Their bra sizes run from a 30B/34AA to 34GG/38FF.

For some time, EOB was sold at Secrets For Your Sister in Toronto but they never brought in a design I truly loved and stopped carrying the brand years ago. But when EOB had a sale, including a number of their illusion tulle pieces - the designs I loved the most - I immediately decided I’d eat whatever duties I’d get slapped with and placed an order for the Charlotte Or Illusion Bra and the Marinette Illusion High Waist Brief.

The pieces are both elegant and unbelievably sexy. The tulle melts away on my skin giving the illusion of only having these dramatic black straps across my body and a hint of gold embroidery. I love the bra in particular because it looks like an open cup bra but you have the support and lift of a regular bra.

The pieces appear to be delicate but the tulle is not flimsy and doesn’t feel like it would snag easily. The stitching is very even and neat with no exposed seams. There is an extra quarter-cup  sling of tulle at the cups, giving you plenty of support. The hardware is 24 karat gold and as you can see, there are many sliders. The embroidery flowers are truly gorgeous and instead of cutting corners and using a cheaper un-embroidered tulle at the ends of the bra wings, there are flowers there as well.

The sizing is great. I am a size 4 in EOB’s chart and the fit is perfect, partly because the bra itself is so customizable. You have full control over the band size.   I experienced no dreaded quad-boob spillage which is often a concern. Yet the lift, support and shaping from this bra are all excellent, if not a tad spherical. As for the bottom, this was tricky. I’m a size 2 waist in EOB’s chart but a size 3 for hips. To be safe, I sized up to a 3 and this was probably the right pick to get the high-waist section of the brief past my hips. I would prefer a tighter fit around my midsection like the way the cups of the bra hug my breasts. But it’s not baggy or anything like that so I still consider it a good fit and think it looks very flattering.

I purchased this set from the EOB site. Each item was  on sale £40. The bra originally  retailed for £120 and the briefs, £70. Shipping to Canada was  £15 with Landmark Global. The package label was created the very day I made the order (December 9), it was processed December 12 and it arrived on January 3. So a relatively long wait! It was also shipped in a mesh lingerie bag and a flimsy bubble envelope. I appreciate reducing plastic waste but the pieces could have easily been damaged. Thankfully, the items arrived in excellent condition. I have not been charged any duties or taxes.

Overall, I really love this set. It’s so gorgeous and unique. My understanding is that EOB is a Black-owned business so I hope they are able to source a good tulle for darker skin tones in the future so more women can enjoy their beautiful illusion pieces.

Fabric: bra: 69% polyester, 31% polyamide; brief: 86% polyamide, 14% cotton

Made in UK

Photos: Edge O’ Beyond; mine

[draftmare]

3.01.23

Okay, sooooo saddle drama.

Remember that saddle that I made the post on about saying, hey, look at the flocking of this saddle? This is why we don’t store our saddles on saddle racks? Well, it got way worse than just the flocking being f-ed. The tree was also broken. Well, the head plate was. Thankfully in a super obvious way that I was able to catch just by flipping the saddle over and looking at it. I was already feeling a little sus-y of the saddle because it was being a little too flexible when I pulled it out of the box and did my usual check over. So, here is a friendly reminder that when you get your saddle out of the box, flex the tree. Listen for any weird creaks, squeaks, or if the tree is moving more than you think it should. If you aren’t sure how to flex a tree for soundness, there are tons of resources online on how to check. That said, sometimes the only way to find cracks, loose stitching, or broken screws is to have your saddle fitter take the panels off, but this is generally a good place to start.

Broken head plate:

That saddle went back into the box and back from whence it came. Except the place I got it from opened a PayPal dispute against me. I usually rant and rave against PayPal because they are a bunch of rotten bastards out to steal your money, but this one time they did the right thing and everything settled in my favor, it was just a hassle, and it took way longer than it should have for me to get my money back.

A couple of weeks ago I had her measured/traced for a WOW saddle, and she very clearly was meant for their hoop tree plate. I also got to try one of their saddles, but felt very meh about it. Their saddles are modular in that you can swap out different panels, different headplates, different seats, and different flaps, so it could have been just me needing a different combination of seat and flap, but they are also NOT cheap. I have seen a couple come up at tack shops in my price range, but the tack shops generally don’t seem to know what combination of parts they have on the saddle they are selling, so I would need to go directly through a rep, which would be a lot more expensive. Anyway, after that experience I pivoted to looking for just hoop tree saddles for her, which has been a bit of a struggle. You see, not all saddles that look like hoops are truly a hoop tree, which means a lot of asking people for serial numbers, contacting the manufacturer, and then waiting to hear back on if that model/tree is a hoop or not. 

I ended up going for a saddle...that ended up not being what it said it was...which was a bit of an awkward adventure...and unfortunately it is not going to work for us either.  They had the brand wrong, the tree size wrong, and I don’t honestly know if it is a true hoop tree or not, but the company has gone out of business, so no way of checking for sure. The pictures made it look very hoop like, so I broke my rule above of emailing companies serial numbers, because of course I did (rule was broken because this saddle was waaaay under budget).

It looked really promising to start, but once feeling around under it, there was a lot of pressure under the back of the panel, especially on the left side. I hemmed and hawed on if maybe this was something that could be fixed with flocking since the right side felt better, so I decided to completely tack her up with pad and half pad and that made things MUCH worse. Kind of totally took the wind out of my sails. I ended up not riding in this saddle, or even riding at all on this particular night, I was so bummed. For some reason in the 3 days leading up to this saddle arriving I had convinced myself that just getting a hoop tree saddle would magically fit her and fix all of our problems. 

I am starting to feel like maybe the saddle that seems like it shouldn’t fit her, and doesn’t fit me 100% (the County Fusion) is just what we should stick with. She seems fine in it (she’s been gone over with a fine tooth comb lately with her lameness) and it fits me okay-ish. Maybe I should stop trying to fix what isn’t exactly broken? Ugh. 

[jasper-dracona]

Related point of discussion because I don’t know what’s up with this but I’m curious if any one else does.

What’s up with many of the most common (and the most affordable) binders you’ll find being a slip-on sort of situation with no way to open the garment up with clasps or something similar; and then the instructions for putting it on saying you absolutely MUST put it on by stepping into it while it’s inside-out, pulling it up to your waist, and then inverting it, putting your arms through, and pulling the shoulder straps into place?

It’s a relatively rigid, compressing garment. That is being put on someone who presumably went through an estrogen-based puberty.

Like really let that sink in for a sec. Picture a hypothetical feminine body that someone with gender dysphoria might be trying to escape from. (Not that you need to have dysphoria to bind. No one come at me.)

I highly doubt that for a vast majority of binder-wearers, the circumference of their hip bones is less than or equal to the circumference of their compressed chest. For a solid percentage, I’m sure that is the case. But definitely not for all of us, and I bet not for over like 65%, surely.

I know for certain it’s not all of us because this is my experience.

Measuring right now, with my best, comfiest binder on, the circumference of my chest is 31”. Uncompressed and after taking a deep breath, it’s about 32.5”. Then measuring around the widest part of my hips, while doing my best to squish everything as much as I could with my measuring tape, to estimate the smallest rigid garment I could possibly squeeze past that part of my body, I measured a little over 37”. I literally would have to go one or more sizes up in order to get a binder that I could put on the correct way. Then, once on, it would sit on me like a really weird tank top or crop top, with insufficient to almost no compression at all. Like if I go up one size it would be the level of compression of my sports bras, and on some days that just isn’t enough to help my dysphoria.

So I’ve just been putting mine on the over-head way and then making sure to adjust a lot, then I roll my shoulders back and down and then adjust again, and just hoping that’s safe enough to last me til I can get top surgery. I have no idea if this is safe. But it’s all I’ve got in terms of binding. (I also wear compression sports bras and soft bras with baggy clothes pretty frequently so I’m not doing this super super often.)

I’m broke as all hell so I can’t get new ones, and even if I could afford it, the one queer shop in the city is always out of stock and only orders a couple varieties. You gotta like preorder over a month in advance for some of the brands I think. I’m actually not even sure if they stock any clasping ones. Also, I tried on what they did have in stock last time I went there and they all fit me horrendously and in very strange ways. So that doesn’t really bode well. Nor does it bode well for ordering online, where I can’t try on. I got lucky with ones that actually fit my chest, when I ordered my very first real binders online. But they cannot make it past my hips. And the 3 others I’ve tried on did not fit even remotely.

Idk, I just wanted to bring up how this seems like a major design flaw. To have a, likely pretty significant, portion of people who would need or want this garment, literally not be able to put it on the safest way because of a nearly-unchangeable part of their body. Even more-so a part of the body that is liable to be a major source of dysphoria. (As is the case for me)

Idk, maybe I’m projecting or being presumptive here, assuming that a bunch of other binder-users must struggle like I do with this problem in particular, especially considering I don’t recall hearing others talk about this before.

I just shouldn’t be thinking “I fucking wish I had the hip bones that this clothing expects me to have. I’d kill for the body shape it asks of me.“ while putting on a binder, of all things. I have that thought enough whenever I have to go buy new pants.

TL;DR:

1) From what I’ve seen, safely putting on non-opening binders the correct way, and then having them actually serve their function, is not possible for everyone. This is due to the combined factors of: the seemingly required properties of the garment, the way that safely putting them on works, and the body proportions of the individual.

2) I am at least one example of this being true, with my hip bones literally making safely putting on a correctly-fitting slip-on binder legitimately impossible. Hips: 37” around. Uncompressed chest: 32.5” around. Compressed chest: 31” around.

3) I think the fact in #1 is a damn shame, especially since, from what I’ve seen, they’re the most readily accessible kind of binder.

4) The fact that putting on a binder can be so dysphoria-inducing in this manner is… well, frankly speaking, horrible.

I say all of this here, because you all seem to know what you’re talking about, and I was hoping to see if anyone has a solution. (Preferably a solution that is not trans-tape or baggier clothes. My clothes are already pretty big for me and loose-fitting, and I could never deal with the sensation or like process of trans-tape.)

THINGS I NEED TO FUCKING KNOW: Why every fuckin trans man or nb person I know who binds is like “oh binders are the worst, you can’t breathe in them, I know someone who broke a rib once”,

And meanwhile over in historical costuming, we are fucking eating, sleeping, swordfighting, riding horses, and feeling great like this:

(credit: Jenny La Flamme, The Tudor Tailor, Verdaera)

Like is there NO overlap between people who want to bind and people who care about accurate 16th century clothing reconstruction techniques?

(I, okay, maybe it is kind of a niche interest, but…. REALLY? Anyone who’s made a boned binder, PLS SPEAK TO ME)

Keep reading

[1256986]

Typesetting Explained: How it Turns Good Content into Great Content!

How the written word looks is as important as what is written. From book pages, magazine content, flyer content, or website content, how text is presented influences what is read, noticed, and retained. This is where a typesetting service can be very useful.

So, what exactly is typesetting? Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What is Typesetting?

Typesetting:  The preparation of texts in a form that is beautiful on print or digital media, thus easy to read, which means "shine". The type setter decides how the text will look on the page: what style of font, what size of font, how much to spread the lines apart, how to align paragraphs, etc.

Typesetting was earlier a hand-operated process using metals and printing presses; now it is almost all digital: there are special software’s that guarantee a fine and readable text.

Why Are Typesetting Services Important?

You might think that simply typing out content is enough, but the way it’s displayed matters a lot. Here are a few reasons why typesetting services are so important:

Improved Readability proper typesetting will ensure that what you have to write is readable. If upsetting things such as font size, lines, and margins come into play, it will ensure that the reader is not overwhelmed with a block of text. This is how an enjoyable reading experience is created.

Professional Look whether the book is for reading, a magazine to read or a business report, good typesetting ensures that the outcome would make for an impressive read. This is because, after all, you would want to show how you care about how it's placed on paper and that you will take pride in a reader's experiences.

Consistency Typesetting ensures that the look of your document will be consistent. Fonts, headings, and subheadings all present according to a clear, uniform style. This helps readers navigate through your material and makes it a lot easier for them to comprehend.

Brand Identity For a business, it's no different: typesetting can be an extension of your brand identity. The particular choice of fonts, colours, and layouts convey your brand's personality and professionalism in your content.

Compatibility with Different Formats Although typesetting technically describes preparing text for printing, it is more easily applied to the content presentation on different digital forums, such as websites and eBooks, and through social media. In fact, now that smart mobile devices have come, the other big importance is that the text should be adapted according to the screen size typesetting offers.

What Does a Typesetting Service Do?

A professional typesetting service handles the technical aspects of how your content looks. Here are the key tasks involved:

Choosing Fonts: Typesetters select the right font that is compatible with your content’s tone and style. A book might use a classic serif font, a modern website a clean sans serif font.

Setting Margins and Spacing: When we provide proper margins and line spacing and paragraph spacing, text doesn’t appear cramped or un-readable.

Creating Layouts: Typesetters have the role of placing text in such a way on a page that it perfectly fits the space given, and follows easily. It involves headings, subheadings, pictures; they have to place everything in a manner that brings about that logic.

Handling Special Features: However, typesetting also means dealing with special features like footnotes, references, tables, charts or pictures. The elements discussed above have to be put in a way that will not detract from the main content itself but instead heighten the reader’s experience.

Who Needs Typesetting Services?

Anybody who wants to publish written content in a professional manner will find typesetting services useful. This includes:

Authors: Writers who want their books, novels, or eBooks to look polished and readable.

Publishers: For publishers who need to format magazine, newspaper, etc. for digital and print versions.

Business Owners: For companies wanting to churn out professional reports, brochures and marketing materials.

Designers: Graphic For use by designers who have to prepare content for printing or digital displays.

Web Developers: Typesetting is for anyone who works on websites, blogs or apps; the text should look good across devices.

Conclusion

Typesetting is a very delicate arrangement of texts to create something more than just the printing of words on a page-it's actually making a reader experience. Whether it is printed on a book or a web design, good typesetting makes readability and flow go well alongside overall presentation.

Professional typesetting service hire greatly makes a difference if you want your content to stand out and leave a more lasting impression. The small details form a big impact on how your audience relates with your material.

Need help with typesetting? Leave the technical parts to a professional so you can get to creating awesome content! Visit Eloiacs to find more about Typesetting Services.

[adagencyappplcombine]

The Role of Humor in Advertising: When to Be Funny and When Not To

In the dynamically shaped world of marketing, humor acts as the weapon of the first-class row in the pack of creatives. It is this that enlivens an especially bland campaign into a well-liked sensation. However, a debate arises on when the brand should send impulsive jokes and when it should behave in a conservative way. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of humor in advertising,

The Power of Humor in Advertising

Breaking Through the Noise

Our times are distinct, as we cannot help but notice the presence of advertisements everywhere, some embedded into our everyday lives. Today, all the way from social media feeds to bid boards, the competition for attention is very tough. This is where humor becomes a soldier. No matter what battle we are fighting, the power of laughter is always omnipotent. Advertisements that make us laugh are a wound that passes like perfect timing to a smash, literally because they cut through the clutter just like a good line.

Creating an Emotional Connection

Laughter in an ad creates a particular feeling of contact with the brand for the consumer. It is as though the advertiser is just a close friend sharing a funny inside joke. For Apppl Combine, humor serves as a powerful tool in humanizing the brand and making it sensible and social media-friendly.

Viral Success Stories

Let’s take a peek at some iconic, funny campaigns that went viral:

Dumb Ways to Die: In a bid to alleviate train accidental deaths, Metro trains in Melbourne, Australia, took a sarcastic approach, branding them as get home safe while incentivizing safety among riders. The result? YouTube videos received millions of views and earned an ad seller many awards.

Old Spice Man: Just like those oddly shifted Old Spice ads, at times, don’t we all make silly decisions when we're tempted? Through skillful merchandising, they elevated a routine product to a cultural icon that is still popular to date. The viral campaign of the Old Spice Man turned him into an Internet star and made the company modern and hip among the young generation.

The Role of Humor in Effective Advertising

Humanizing the Brand

Apppl Combine can use humor to show its playful side. Whether it’s witty social media posts or quirky video ads, a touch of humor makes the brand more relatable. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a good laugh?

Making the Mundane Memorable

Competition for complex products and services is often noiseless, attracting only minimal attention. Though humor might be someone else's tribe, Picture an engaging animated video whereby a banana with a keen interest in software (yes, dear, a banana!) illustrates why Apppl Combine's innovative program will make the world a global village. This moment is in contrast to most others—the ordinary suddenly takes on meaning.

Standing Out in the Crowd

In a sea of similar offerings, humor differentiates Apppl Combine from its competitors. When everyone else is playing it safe, a clever punchline can make the brand unforgettable. Think of it as the neon sign that beckons customers in a crowded marketplace.

Conclusion:

Humor isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy. Apppl Combine should consider the context, target audience, and brand identity. While humor can be a game-changer, it must align with the company’s values and messaging. So, go ahead, Apppl Combine—crack a joke, but do it with finesse. Are you ready to infuse your marketing with laughter? Contact us at Apppl Combine for a consultation. Let’s create campaigns that leave your audience chuckling and your competitors scratching their heads!

[emirateshearingcare2]

Why Hearing Aids Are So Expensive?

Many people ask why modern digital hearing aids are considered to be very expensive. This is, without any doubt, one of the most widespread questions buyers ask. Let us have a look at some of the reasons why hearing aids are expensive.

When purchasing new hearing aids, price is a big factor in deciding whether to purchase the right hearing aid. Following is a comparison of hearing aid prices, level of amplification required, lifestyle options, dexterity, hearing aid brands, technology, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Wearing a hearing aid is a liberating experience for both the wearers and their families. No more misunderstanding conversations or shouting! They simply improve hearing and amplify sounds.

Hearing aids instill more confidence since now the wearer can hear the world around them and feel a lot safer. They reduce social isolation, depression, anxiety, and dependence on others.

Before looking at the different reasons why hearing aids are expensive, it’s very important to remember that there is a very small group of companies that control 98% of the hearing aid market. This leaves consumers without many options and this explains the high cost of hearing aids.

The price of digital hearing aids is affected by several factors:

Research and Development

How the brain manages to sound, how the ear functions, and how we can support the brain by delivering better sound information are all key research areas that involve electrical engineers, audiologists, sound engineers, computer engineers, programmers, and more. Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent to make hearing aids more powerful, smaller, smarter, and more natural sounding. The investment in medical research helps to better understand the nature of hearing and hearing loss. The research and development costs for hearing aids are very high because:

the hearing aid chips are not reused technology like other devices. They are custom-made by the hearing aid manufacturer, and specifically designed for that line of hearing aids.

Research is made to refine the hearing aid features that are software-based.

This development is important because the company needs to remain competitive and always offer better solutions for its buyers.

Technological advancements

Premium devices provide you with top technology. They include more hearing solution features and better programs in order to personalize your experience with hearing aids. The more features you seek, the more expensive the hearing aids will be. Bluetooth, speech recognition, remote control, and many other features all add to the price of the hearing aid.

This doesn’t mean though that cheaper hearing aids are not powerful or effective. You just need to choose what you want and what your audiologist thinks your case or hearing loss needs. Sometimes, your hearing requirements are simple, so cheaper hearing aids with fewer features are what you need.

Professional services offered by audiologists

In order to benefit from the hearing aids you purchase, they must be fit by a professionally trained audiologist or a hearing aid specialist. These spend a lot of time on the hearing test, evaluation, fitting, and programming of your hearing aid. This is without mentioning the cost of maintaining the office, paying the staff, the cost of advertising and many more. Since they roll up the cost of their time and services into the price of the hearing aids, this makes the hearing aids more expensive.

Customization

As we all know by now, digital hearing aids come in different models, types, and sizes. Some of the in-the-ear hearing aids must be custom-molded to fit your particular ear. Customizing individual hearing aids takes time, skill, and effort, which are all included in the cost of the hearing aid. Each hearing aid is customized and programmed for the user’s type of hearing loss.

Optional Warranties

Many hearing aids come back with money-back return policies. If the user is unhappy with their hearing aid, they can return it for all or part of the cost of the hearing aid. These hearing aids won’t be sold to others. That is the cost of the returned hearing aid has to be counted from both the provider and the manufacturer. All this adds to the high price of all hearing aids.

Digital hearing aids are a very important investment for your health. Since they are something you wear practically all day and every day, remember that you are investing in far more than just the device itself!

[polyxersystems]

10 Things To Know Before Developing Customised Reporting Software 

Accurate reporting of business occurrences is necessary. Reporting improves the transparency of business information and helps to make informed decisions. Regardless of size and industry, every organisation should have its custom reporting software to track the organisational process toward goals and identify trends.  This blog is written to inform you about the importance of reporting in business, how custom reporting software can improve your overall organisational system, and what you should know before opting for customised reporting software.   But, do you know what custom software is and how they support organisations? If not, then Continue reading!

What is Custom Software Development?

Custom software development is the process of developing software based on an organisation’s unique needs and requirements. In contrast to off-shore and readymade software, a custom software development company develops custom software to target the specific needs of an organisation. Custom software is uniquely developed for a particular group of users or businesses. Businesses having requirements other than basic requirements choose to have custom software. Custom software development keeps the company’s management and branding distinct. Custom software developments are close to the business processes and implementation needs which packaged or off-shore software can not provide. Custom software development can be built in-house with the help of an internal team or can be outsourced from an experienced software developers team.

Benefits of Custom Software Development

Unique Solution for Your Business:

Off-shore software doesn’t fit all businesses, that’s when the custom software development company helps with custom software. As the time changes, businesses want more reliability and scalability than before. Custom software development is the only way for businesses with unusual demands. Customised software will ensure to meet the specific standards of business. Custom software can provide unique solutions for businesses following their peculiar designs.

Security & Flexibility:

Custom software is developed with high-security systems using the latest technologies. Industries like healthcare, finance, and insurance need more secure software than any other industry, custom software is more relevant to them for safeguarding their data. Custom software doesn’t come with any limitations; they’re flexible with evolving business needs.

Cost-effective:

The initial investment in custom software development may be higher, but custom software can be the most cost-effective in the long run. This is because custom software is tailored to the business’s specific needs, so you don’t need to pay for the features you don’t need. Another benefit of custom software is that it can be integrated with your existing systems, which can save you money on integration costs.

To Read Full Blog :  Customised Reporting Software

[scienceofsustainability]

'Consumption and Materialism' Reflective Journal - Part 1

October 24

The things people will buy… On social media today I saw an advertisement for a Sephora ‘advent calendar’.  It includes a gift item per day. Days of opening personal care items, probably unnecessary, the wrong color, something a person doesn’t even use as a rule. It’s like going into the store and picking up any random 12 items…and heading to the checkout to pay for them. It’s like buying items for a skin condition that you don’t have, or a replacement product for a trusted personal care item. All separately packed. This makes no sense to me at all. Why would I buy makeup and skin care items that I don’t need or use? Sephora is a popular brand, and for young men or parents wanting to make their girl happy at Christmas time, this may seem like a great purchase. Do we care if they will actually use the 12 items inside? Probably not.  Will she even use half of these items? Probably not. But we feel satisfied because we think this is a fun gift idea that she will love.  She will probably even be excited when she sees it! But the reality is that the surprise bag of goodies contains mostly useless items that end up in the trash.  The Christmas season brings with it the desire and usually the feeling of pressure to purchase things for others, most times unnecessary items, just so that we can buy ‘something’.  It’s wasteful and prompts the continuation of such trends or traditions. Commercial business capitalizes on all of this and generates even more products, marketing, and advertising. 

Credit - Sephora

October 25

I bought the bell…!  My 21 year old daughter asked me to take her to the mall about 20 minutes from our home.  At her age, the desire to have nice clothes is an important aspect of life, as going out with friends or to the gym requires looking good.  No longer do most people throw on old sweat pants and go out to the garage to workout, many people today go to local gyms, pay membership, and feel the need to wear particular brands of workout clothing and footwear:  “You can’t show up in that.” Purchased ‘Pre Workout’ powders are part of the routine too, so one can show up with a serious beverage in hand, and big name headphones waiting to blast motivating music.  So as she looks throughout the athletic clothing, I excitedly head over to look at… ahhh, Christmas decor…. It is an exciting time of the year.  For me, it is the decorations that I love.  I enjoy making the house feel cozy and beautiful. There it all is… so much to look at and choose from.  So much in the way of wreaths, blankets, cushions, little houses, signs… all different colors, sizes, styles… Looking at it all creates anticipation for the upcoming season.  Some remind me of childhood.  Some I look at and question “Who would buy this?” What a waste of hard earned money. Other stuff I love, and wonder how it would fit in my home? Do I need it? No. I have so much already… Does it make the holiday any better? No. Do I have the money to spend on it… maybe… but could that money be spent better somewhere else? Yes. I realize that I am better at talking myself out of purchases now than I was in the past.  Even though I probably have more disposable income now than I did ten years ago.  Maybe that is why I hold back more?…Maybe I am learning.  I do love those gold-colored rustic bells though... And last year when I seen them in Toronto, I felt that I had won the shopping lottery and bought two.  Here they are right in front of me, in Sydney no less… I hymn and ha over it and decide to allow myself to get one.  I think to myself, ‘some of my Christmas decor is dated, and it’s probably a good idea to add a little bit of new?’  I remind myself that I will have this for many years to come, and someday I may be able to pass decorations on to my grown children. And I resisted choosing anything else to buy… it’s only one thing. After I check out I realize that purchasing something provides a little bit of a boost, a happiness, something to look forward to when I start decorating, to set out, to look at.  I can’t wait to show it to my daughter.

Credit - Instagram

October 27

Dollar stores… where were dollar stores years ago when I was young and newly married?  We all could have saved a lot of money on things. If my mother were alive today, she would love this store so much. Everything is so cheap, and this store is filled with things that we could easily pay two or three times as much for somewhere else.  Dollar stores provide consumers with everything from personal care products, to toys, household necessities, craft supplies, and everything else you could need.  How many of us have wondered how in the world these items could be made and then sold for so little money? The materials alone. Then there is the labor, the workmanship making this basket… transportation costs, and wages? How is this only $2? But most of us dismiss that thought soon after, and keep looking for cheap treasures. Buying food here doesn’t seem like a good idea to me at all.  There is some reason why all of these items ended up here, and if there is an issue with a food item, then I don’t want it. However, I notice that some people shop the food aisle, and fill their basket with items that are much lower in price than Sobeys.  It doesn't matter if I need these right now,  but I am always looking for paint brushes so I will grab four or five, since they are only $2 each.  By the time I walk through the aisles, I have a few items in a basket.  Most of these items I would've bought somewhere else anyway.  I found myself picking out a Halloween card for my niece in Ontario…  I’ve just spent five minutes looking at the different options, then realize that it is too late to send a card, and that maybe that is not necessary, so I put the card back.  When I was young, nobody ever sent me a Halloween card.  That really is a crazy idea, probably another way for companies to sell me something.  As we purchase these cheap treasures, we are often ignorant of the natural resources that have been sacrificed, and to where these items will likely be in just a few short months.  Many of us will fill a bag with donation items this holiday season, to make room for more stuff, and drop it off in the local donation bin.  We walk away feeling satisfied believing that it will be reused.  The less consumers know, the happier they are. 

October 28

It’s the weekend and I need to start housecleaning for the winter season. There is so much stuff in this house it’s a bit overwhelming.  The storage room is full. I often can’t find particular items that I need, and I know that I sometimes re-purchase things that I already have. The girls' rooms are messy looking, as too much stuff prevents ‘tidying up’ from really making an impact. They don't think they have too much stuff. They love going to Walmart and the Dollar Store and coming home with new things. Their rooms look fine to them. But I am at the stage in my life where I like it clean, simple, organized.  Where do I start?  I want to purge so much stuff.  As I head to the storage room with bravery, and an attitude that I am going to clear it out, I soon lose my battle…It is so hard to part with things that I may ‘need’, the girls may look for, or that there is a memory attached to… I feel defeated, and these items feel heavy on me.  I really thought that I was going to make a big difference here today. I feel disappointed.  I lost the battle with our stuff.   I remind myself to stay out of the stores…

October 29

“Things you didn’t know you needed”... There is something cool about watching her put it all together. I think of how well equipped my daughter’s car is as I watch the video.  I like the idea of being prepared and organized. But do we really need all of that stuff in our car?!  Tik Tok shares ‘great Amazon finds’, and some are focused on restocking your car.  There are these sweet little car bags that have pretty little items in them, all compact and attractive, looking like you are prepared for anything. It makes you want to buy all of these items and also pack up a neat little bag to store all of your car ‘essentials’, such as lotions, lip balm, a variety of perfumes, deodorant, a migraine stick, are those face masks?...   There is a large compartmentalized bag filled with a variety of snacks, drinks, blankets, and everything you can think of.  There are more personal care products in that car than in my two home washrooms combined. This advertisement for car organization is satisfying to watch, and you have to admit that some items are cool, like the car window film, and vent sauce holders...  Who knew you needed a small diffuser in your car?  I end the video realizing that I don’t even have so much as a box of Kleenex in my car.  

October 30

She ‘can’t wait until her Shein order comes in’.  I’ve heard these words uttered many times.  Shein is a website that my girls like to use to pick out clothing.  It is easier to shop online than to find time to head to the mall and walk from store to store looking for items.  It can be done here and there in spare time. The added benefit is that you are provided with reviews and photos from other people who purchased the item.  Every few months the girls will put an order together.  While it may be good that we save gas driving to the mall, and the items are fairly inexpensive, the risk of something not fitting or them not liking and not wearing it, is likely.  But the clothes are cheap, so it’s worth the risk to them. Many people order from Shein, and also shop on other sites and at other stores such as Urban Plant, because the clothing is cheap. Cheap clothes means we can afford to buy new items, or more clothing more often.  I am aware that this is fast fashion, and that these clothes come from China.  I also know that the work conditions of those who make these clothes are probably not equitable.  I am aware that these are not quality items, so they will likely end up being donated in a few months.  I encourage the girls to go to the mall and look for better quality clothes. Things that will last, and that are basic and not trendy. I have sweaters and pants that I have had for many years.  They have served me well. If you spend a good amount of money on an item, but you wear it many times, the cost-per-wearing can be pretty low, and the item serves many years of service.  

October 31

What am I going to do with all of these treats?  Nine trick-or-treaters showed up tonight.  That is it.  Although I did not have many last year, three years ago I had about 60.  So on the way home from work, I felt that last minute concern that I should stop and get more pop and treats, and prepare more treat bags.  When my girls go out in the neighborhood at Halloween, they always come back with these amazing treat bags, with endless treats inside. I wonder how much money my neighbors actually spend on treats.  At some level, I have to keep up. When I was a child trick or treating, I would have had to go to a dozen homes to get all the treats that they get in now in one door knock… I shake my head because children really do not need all of this junk food, and I question how we got to this point where the reward is so great for dressing up and knocking on doors.  Now I have all of these bags of treats and I wish that I could return the items to the store. It’s a strange game we play trying to be sure that we have enough, worried that we may run out. Only to end up overspending, and stuck with food items that we don’t want, and certainly do not need. 

November 2

It’s all very confusing and I feel like none of them are probably safe or nutritious.  Yet, I am pushed to purchase the most expensive option, and that big price tag is supposed to help me to feel like it is the best choice.  There are so many brands of dog food, and each one claims that it meets the nutritional needs of my dog.  Each brand has many options to choose from based on the age and activity level of your pet, so it seems like you're selecting a custom formula.  There is even dog food formulated for specific breeds only, with a cute picture of a perfect happy Yorkie on the bag. How many people buy into that? Plenty I bet. What a marketing idea that is.  But of course, you should never buy your pet food from a grocery store, the place where you buy your own groceries...  That food is not good… No, if you love your pet and are a good owner, you must purchase your pet food at a Veterinarian's office or at a reputable pet store.  I’ve been made to feel guilty for not buying my dog food at the vet.  Turning them down made me feel like less of a pet parent.  Unworthy of a good dog. Our new puppy came with instructions from the breeder to only feed him Royal Canin puppy food. This brand claims that “Each formula has been created to deliver nutrition tailored to your pet’s health needs”. But really, don’t they all claim that?  Shouldn’t they all be striving to provide that?  Animal health experts often speak out about processed dog food, and claim that its nutritional value is very low because it has been cooked, altering food's chemical structure, and making it difficult for a dog to digest.  Yet, the 13 lb bag of brand name puppy food just cost me $102 with taxes paid.  As a consumer, I am not sure what else to do, as I try to provide the best for my dog, while also not being fooled into thinking that I actually am…

Theo

November 3

Instagram provides me with daily images of house decor that I love.  Simple, clean, cozy rooms with gorgeous throw pillows, lamps, throw blankets… I love it all. And of course, I wonder how I could make my house look more like this.  I even find myself snapping screenshots to put in my album ‘Home Decor Ideas’ on my phone.  I follow a few decorators on social media, and there is one in particular, I love all of her ideas.  Of course that means that I need to change my paint colors, and get a new kitchen table.  I’ve gone to local furniture stores looking for something similar to what she has, but I can’t find it.  I allow myself this to some degree because I do not spend a lot of money on clothing or anything else, home decor is what I enjoy. But it never really ends.  It is a cycle of changing up paint and decor items as the trends change.  I quickly tire of patterns, and want something else.  What I think will really spruce up a room, only satisfies me for a short time, then I grow tired of it, and want a change. Of course, with each season you need to be ready to change, if you follow social media.  They have all of these different things for each and every season.  You can’t just have one chunky throw blanket, you need 4 or 5.  Presently I am looking for a clay-based lamp and a clay vase or two.  The current decor trend is homey, simple, neutral, and organic.  I’ve been in plenty of local stores looking for such things, yet can’t find them.  Cape Breton is sure behind in the times when it comes to decor!  So I go online and find some, however they are very expensive. The sticker shock stops me, and I wonder if it is really a good idea to pay $350 for a single lamp.  I tell myself that I don’t really need it, and snap back to reality.  Yet each time I see her posts on Instagram, I am drawn in, and making mental notes of a few items that I could add to my decor list. 

Credit - Instagram

November 6

‘What do you want for Christmas?’  Now that my three daughters are grown up, I usually ask them what they want for Christmas.  I love surprising them with nice gifts, but I certainly do not want to buy anything that they won’t use or won’t like.  I have family and friends who go into debt during the holidays just so they can fill a room with endless gifts for their loved ones. I have never been in the habit of buying things just to say that I did.  I always try to get them something they’d really like and will use, as well as any new clothing items that they need for the upcoming winter season. In recent years, they don’t even know what to ask for. There is not much they need. But I have to buy them something, so I start looking for options and hope that something good comes along.  I often think of the other seasons and wonder if they could use a new lawn chair for next summer’s concert, or if I should start them on collecting necessary items for a future home. I am pretty good at avoiding a lot of the hype about the best new technology, and my goal is not to spend a ton of money.  I have always tried to make Christmas about the traditions and the family time.  For a number of years now, we have been filling a donation box of clothing and food items to donate to those in need.  It is a tradition that they now look forward to, and they put thought into the best food items to purchase to place in the donation box.  This is the best gift that I could get for Christmas, seeing them think of and care for others. 

November 7

‘It looks like a store in here’... How much camo can a guy have?  As I am housecleaning for the upcoming winter season, I walk into the room in which my husband stores all of his hiking and hunting gear.  It is overwhelming the amount of things that he has.  I can remember when times were simple, and hunters had an orange vest and a rifle.  Not anymore.  Did you know that it is necessary to have different types of camo for different seasons and animals that you are hunting? Now that we have large scale hunting and fishing stores such as Bass Pro, outdoor activities usually involve expensive gear.  No longer do most people make their own ice-fishing tents.  Stores sell quick set-up tents with convenient pouches for holding essentials, and viewing holes and windows to look through.  Things that used to involve individual creativity, recycling of materials, and people coming together on homegrown projects, have now been replaced with commercial items, and the need for significant money to be spent.   Perceived obsolescence means that a person feels pressured to buy these items, and that the old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. Hearing these outdoor adventurists talk about their hobbies usually involves them discussing items they need to acquire, and the newest item that you can get, not the actual fun that they have while out there doing it. It’s sad that these wholesome activities have been overtaken by commercialism. 

Credit - Eskimo Products

Shifting Patterns of Consumption - Part 2

In an effort to reduce my consumption, and to help the planet, there are a few things that I do, and I hope to add many more actions to the list.  The first is that I try to use online grocery shopping whenever possible.  This helps to reduce point of purchase sales, and helps me stick to the list of things that I ‘need’.  I feel that online grocery shopping is time and cost efficient, and allows me opportunity to ensure that I am only adding items to my cart that I will use.  Less impulsive purchases also means less waste, and less money spent. 

Another thing that I have changed about my habits is that I never put any plastic in the garbage.  I always put it in a recycle bag, in the hopes that it will indeed be recycled.  I used to put plastic food packaging and other types of plastic in my kitchen garbage.  Not anymore.  It pains me to see plastic takeout containers thrown in the trash.  Plastic bags may have been removed from shopping stores, but many items still come wrapped in plastic, such as wood pellets, frozen food products, some pet food, and a host of other items. If any of these items can be reused or recycled, and I sure hope they can, then I will always do my best to make sure they don’t go out with the trash. I have been encouraging my children and my students to always do what they can to help our planet. Every one person can contribute to an overall impact.

[rafeny]

Can I Tell You...about my Fall / Winter 2023 Collection.

Rafé New York Takes Us To A Dazzling Reimagining Of Studio 54

By Chelsea Sarabia for Vogue Philippines

Rafe Totengco on his Fall / Winter 2023 Campaign and the sweet homecoming of Filipino creatives that went on behind the scenes.

In setting out to design any collection, Rafe Totengco prefers to work off a feeling.

With his brand Rafé New York, the designer has carved out a niche in the clutches and evening bags sect of fashion. He attributes its global acclaim to one sentiment: anyone can carry a Rafé bag. Over an illustrious two-decade-long career, he notes a sizeable shift in the landscape that mirrors this attitude, with trends that transcend any one type of person—so long as it fits their tastes.

“With social media, we’ve become a very small world. Everyone sees everything instantaneously, and they also see what other people are wearing,” he says. “Ultimately, that’s also what I love about handbags: it’s a very democratic piece of fashion. You can be young, you can be old. It’s not size-specific, it’s not age-specific.” 

For his Fall/Winter 2023 collection, Totengco doesn’t design with a particular muse in mind but a mood; he paints a picture of a radiant hour in a bar in Bushwick, tapping into the sparkling glamour and the freeing sense of style of eras past. 

The designer expands, “I’m hoping that with one of these bags from the next season, [wearers] get a sense of confidence, independence, and strength, and a kind of boldness [that says] ‘I want to stand out from the crowd. I don’t want to be like everybody else. I’m going to walk in and turn heads. Yes, I’m going to own the space.’”

Inspired by Studio 54 and Helmut Newton’s photographs of the Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking suit, Totengco wanted to shoot in a location that captured the vibrancy of New York City at night. It seemed nearly impossible to find within the city’s cluster of crowded streets and the time demanded of shooting a full-blown campaign; that was, until his team found the perfect spot: a Brooklyn bar with the makings of what could have been a stylish speakeasy from the 1920s. 

“The bar provided us with so many vignettes that I was super happy with because it kind of gave you the feeling that ‘She’s inside…somewhere,’” he muses. “You don’t necessarily see her friends, but it doesn’t matter. It’s almost like she’s there [just arriving]. There’s this anticipation of, like, ‘Something fun is about to happen.’ And you can just imagine the rest.” 

Styled in Marcel waves and ‘70s-reminiscent jumpsuits, Rafé’s femme fatale lounges over black leather booths, carrying an array of evening bags in malleable rhinestone mesh and sequins that spill over her fingertips.

“We have [them in] magenta, gold, and silver—you know, classic rhinestone colors, [and they’re] all individually done by hand in India,” he says of the collection. “They’re fun evening bags, party bags. When you see them, they evoke that sense of frivolity and ‘Ooh, look at this sparkly thing!’ I always believe a little sparkle never hurt anybody.”

For his campaign, Totengco worked with New York City-based Filipino creatives whom he shares he met through serendipitous encounters. In New York City, it seems, most Filipinos are distanced by only “two degrees of separation.”

He met photographer Selwyn Tungol after he had taken a picture of one of his bags during a Fashion Week years ago and the multi-disciplinary creative Lorenz Namalata at the recent opening of the Silverlens Galleries in Manhattan. Following what the designer calls a “trail of connectivity,” he finds that the bar Namalata scouted for him was Filipino co-owned, too. 

“It was just funny. We had a whole crew of other people who were assisting who all came from Manila, all based here now, and it just became this thing. All of a sudden, we were talking in Tagalog in Sleepwalk, a bar in Bushwick, and we were like, oh my God, wait, where are we? What are we doing?” he laughs. “It’s also, in a way, representative of New York now. It really is a melting pot, and I love that—that a new generation of creatives is coming up.”

For Totengco, a predominantly Filipino crew was a refreshing departure from where he first started in the industry. He says, “It was kind of this moment of solidarity where it was like, ‘Well, I didn’t have this before.’ Without even realizing it, it’s happening, and, really, it’s a nice feeling. You feel at home. You feel like you’re a part of something.”

[peculiaires]

what kind of shopper is your muse? are they a slow, methodical shopper, a list-maker, or a grab the items and go kind of person? how long do they usually spend getting their groceries? how long do they spend clothes shopping? do they use changing rooms?

For any of your muses!

@the-haunted-office

in-depth headcanon questions !

Ada: She’s pretty methodical. Makes a list and checks it off kind of person. She also tries to find alternatives if she can’t find exactly what she wants. She’s actually quite efficient and can be a quick shopper! For clothes, she’s not very picky and is still snappy about it. She knows what she wants to wear and where to find it. She has simple clothing tastes. She doesn’t really use changing rooms and pretty much just eyeballs whether the clothes will fit her.

Jean: She’s not very methodical when it comes to most shopping. She grabs what she finds interesting and likes trying new things, so she can be fast or slow depending on what catches her attention. She’s pretty methodical when it comes to clothes shopping, however, as she has a particular style she likes to keep up. She uses changing rooms, but really only to see if she likes how something looks on her.

Wolfgang: He doesn’t shop much because of his social anxiety, but when he does, he’s very particular about what brands of things he gets. He refuses any alternatives. He tries to make lists, but often just keeps one in his head as best as possible. He always seems to forget something, though. He’s a pretty slow shopper, as he has to look for his exact thing. As for clothing, he spends a long time due to his size. It’s hard finding stuff that fits him! He definitely uses dressing rooms because if he doesn’t, he’d end up with clothes that would be too small most of the time. It’s safe to say he usually gets stuff tailored.