Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, fashionistas and clothes-wearing friends. It is the third Thursday of the month which means it is time for Ageless Style 08.2023. Jodie chose the theme for this month, summer denim. Last month we shared one-n-done looks and I styled an easy to wear Loft jumpsuit. Click here to revisit that post.
The third Thursday is always a busy day on the blog as I also have the Tell Us About link up for which I am co-host. This month’s post is about imagination. Was afraid I wouldn’t be able to think of anything to say…but then I let my mind run wild as I reminisced about the days of yesteryear when my imagination was quite vivid. Please check out that post, here.
Ageless Style 08.2023
Last month I commented that it was surely going to snow because I was able to get my blog to cooperate allowing me to link up with the Ageless Style gals for 2 months in a row. Well, life is back to normal because my blog is giving me fits since yesterday. If this post ever gets published, ’twill certainly be a miracle.
When Jodie announced the theme for this month’s post, I knew I had plenty of denim in the closet already…but had just seen this darling dress at Walmart online. At a price of under $15, I had to have it. If nothing else, I figured I could cut it up for rags if it just didn’t work for me as a dress. But BONUS – I loved it!! Have a look…
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Please find the places and posts where I link-up on this page.
Frenulum
A few years into my retirement, I took a job that had me working in something as close to a sweatshop as I had ever experienced. No, it wasn’t in an elementary school!! That was BEFORE retirement. This job was in a neglected building in downtown El Paso without heat and air conditioning. So, working there was comfortable maybe 2 months out of the year!! I didn’t last terribly long in their employ – maybe 8 months? And 3 of those months were in the winter. I bought a small heater to melt the ‘ice’ from my feet as did some of the other gals, but the heaters tripped the electricity and we were soon forbidden to have them.
Anyway, the reason I am sharing this story is the job I was doing at that time was describing clothing for listing on an eBay storefront, Rio Grande Trade. Interestingly enough, they seem to be no longer a thing. The store is supposedly ‘sold-out’. Ha!! I doubt it. Oh, the boxes of C-R-A-P they had. Boxes and boxes, and piles and boxes of clothes. And my job was writing up descriptive listings for each piece of clothing or pair of shoes we – they – sold. I had to include information about the textiles used, sizes, colors, style (peplum, pull-on, distressed, destroyed, frayed) designer (yeah, right), etc. Even though (q2www-Purrcival typed this) this career path is behind me, I still like to read how clothes are described by retailers online.
Here’s how Walmart describes my summer denim dress:
Simplmasygenix Mothers Day Gifts Womens Dress Clearance Summer Casual Solid Sleeveless Frenulum Denim Jacket Jean Long Dresses
[source]
Wait, what??? Frenulum denim??? What’s that??
According to Oxford Dictionary the frenulum is “a small fold or ridge of tissue that supports or checks the motion of the part to which it is attached, in particular a fold of skin beneath the tongue, or between the lip and the gum.” My granddaughters had to have theirs clipped.
How in the world does that have anything to do with this dress and summer denim??
Made me laugh.
Summer Denim
On with the show. Not sure where the frenulum is on this dress. Check the images below. Can anyone point it out??
Had planned to wear my leopard neckerchief with this dress but decided it was too much when I tried it all on. Opted instead for a couple of simple gold chains at the neck… (rather than where? as shackles around my feet??).
My belt and earrings are Amazon finds.
And my espadrilles are from Sole Society but I cannot remember where I purchased them. Super comfy. Amazon has some very similar in loads of prints and solid colors. Check out this pair in summer denim!!
My Summer Denim
I took my summer denim out for its first spin on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago. Before church, PC obliged me by going down to the park for a few photos of this dress. Because it was red hot and super sunny, and I am trying to keep the sun off my face as much as possible these days (probably WAY too late for that), I added a hat. A hat that is somehow UPF 50+. And has a free frenulum thrown in!!
Just kidding about the frenulum. You will have to buy your own. Or maybe you have one already??
Wrinkle-free Dress, Not Face
You know that I always have ironing to do, right?? Well, this dress hardly requires any ironing at all. Could probably get by with taking it right out of the dryer – if ONLY I remember to do that. Or spraying it with wrinkle releaser. But I did press it, and it stayed crisply pressed and wrinkle-free all day.
In this particular picture below, I am trying to locate the pockets. Did I mention the dress has pockets?? And a free frenulum!! Oh, and a matching fabric belt. Just missing the partridge in the pear tree. But we do have yarn tied to this wish tree. Back in the midst of Covid, I read a children’s chapter book entitled Wish Tree by Katherine Applegate then decided to make my own wish tree down at our park. I provided baskets of yarn and invited my Sandstone Ranch community to tie wishes to the branches of the tree. And boy, did they!! The wishes are still there, 3 years later. Read more here.
My Beloved (and Hot) El Paso
Our neighborhood park is so well-used and maintained. We need to get our booties back to walking down there once it cools down below 100*F. We are back to triple digits today. Have mercy. And look at our beautiful Franklin mountains in the background. Hope to hike there again this fall.
This dress buttons up the front and is true to size. I am wearing a medium. In the future, I would probably wear my minimizer bra underneath (thank you, KellyAnn for recommending this bra) as the buttons on the dress in that area are being pressed to their capacity!!
I recently purchased a Land’s End leopard cardigan on Poshmark with my credits…didn’t even know I had credits!! I’m thinking it will be perfect with this dress as we move back into double-digit weather with fall.
My phone created this fun little animation so I will wind things up with it. Thank you, always, to my PC for indulging me with photos for these Ageless Style link-ups.
Your Turn
All of the Ageless Style challenges are fun. This one was really easy, too. And I scored a great, versatile dress in the process!! I can’t wait to see what my blogging buddies have put together. Let’s go find out!!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’
Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook
Next month, it’s my turn to select the prompt and I have chosen southwestern flavor. Not to necessarily be interpretated as wearable tacos…although, that’s any idea!! Hope you will come up with something southwest flavored and join un on the 3rd Thursday of September. Mark thy calendar!!
What’s on your agenda today? As soon as I finish fighting to get this blog post published, ohhhhh, the fun, I am scrubbing the shower. More fun. Trying to 2 new products to hopefully remove the scale from our shower glass.
Thank you, sweet friends and fashionistas, for stopping by. I appreciate every visit.
Hugs and kisses,
That is such a lovely dress! But what a weird description for it!
Weird, huh? I think something got lost in the translation from Chinese!!
I always love your posts as they always make me chuckle. I love this dress, it really looks lightweight and the color is pretty. Frenulum, never heard of it either!! I have an idea already for next month, but really only have all the southwestern like accessories but not the clothe idea yet lol. Love it!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you for being so quick to embrace my theme suggestion for September. I live in the southwest so it is easy for me to find inspiration here. Wasn’t sure what everyone else would think. Was happy that Amy was excited about the theme, too.
I try not to take my blogging very seriously. Until I have tech problems. Then I get pretty frustrated FAST. Thank you for saying I make you chuckle. You made my day.
You got a great deal on that dress. Even if you only wear it a few times, you will have gotten your money’s worth! I’ve never heard of frenulum and am still chuckling!
Ridiculous adjective??? to describe the dress. But I love the dress all the same. Thank you!!
I fell in love with your blue dress at first glance! The color is marvelous, and the fabric appears to be so soft.
That dress looks GREAT on you! Love the shoes, too! That’s such a cute animation at the end of your post!
Thank you so much. It was such a bargain, I feel like I need to walk around with my price tag on to share with everyone.
This has to be one of my favorite outfits on you! A denim dress is so versatile! So cute belted and styled with the espadrille sandals and hat! The perfect warm weather look!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Gosh, I can’t imagine lasting 2 months at that job. That’s crazy Leslie.
And the description on this dress. OMG. I can see why it reminded you of that job.
Anyways, what a steal on it and it’s so perfect for this prompt. And I can totally see you wearing it with boots and sweaters when things finally cool down.
XOXO
Jodie
Thank you, Jodie. I was very bored at home, uncomfortable with being retired and not feeling like I was doing my part to pay the bills. That job was interesting, if nothing else!!
I think this dress will be a great 3-season piece. Looks like we will finally be out of triple digits NEXT week. Can’t wait!!
I knew what a frenulum was because after having gum surgery, mine had to be clipped! I was wondering if there was another meaning! Oh, I’m going to be puzzling on that one for a bit! You look spectacular in this dress! I think you should try to find a leopard print belt to go with it, your sandals, and your cardigan! I’m so glad you were able to get the post up and running! Technology is not fun when it doesn’t work!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Ha! You are one smart cookie!! Ooooo, a leopard belt with the dress. I have one!! Going to try that. Thank you for that suggestion. Stay tuned.
You always write in a way that often puts a smile on my face. Happy weekend!
What a compliment!! Thank you so much!!
First of all, do you have a link to that minimizer bra? I’d love to have one, because mine seem to keep getting larger every year. But when I look in the stores, they seem to come in only very large sizes. Second, I LOVE this dress! I just adore the style and I’m always on the look out for longer dresses. Most are too short for my taste. This one is so elegant.
I am quite jealous now that you have a dress with a frenulum and I don’t 😉 What a lovely outfit and I love that little animation at the end of the post. I will try and send some of our cooler weather your way!
I can see your blog!!!!!! I am so excited to see you back in the game and you nailed it with this outfit. You look like you could meet Julia Roberts at the horse show in Pretty Woman. I love this dress and the attention to accessories such as that oversized belt, hat and shoes. Love it all on you! Also, no ironing, sign me up!
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
You are the sweetest!! Thank you for making me smile. Would love to meet up with Julia Roberts at the horse races.
Love your summer dinem dress. Very becomming on you and looks comfty. Thanks for sharing.
Iris
Thank you, sweet Iris. Best thing about that dress was its price…and the fact that it doesn’t have to be ironed…although, I iron most everything.
Hello Leslie! You look adorable, as always. I so admire your sense of style. Thanks for sharing this denim look with us…and in such an entertaining way. Here’s to a happy, fashionable wrap up of summer!
You are such a sweetie. Thank you for this kind comment.
This dress is SO, SO pretty on you! One of my favorite looks EVER on you, Leslie. And, the accessories make it even better. I love that belt and those shoes go great with the belt too!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Aww, thank you, sweet friend. It is a very comfortable dress to wear. Glad I splurged and bought it even though I didn’t need another dress. But you can’t beat the price.
The animated photo is so cute! That job sounded awful when you had it and more so with the more in depth description.
Love your outfit. The animated gif is the bomb!
HI Leslie,
Looking very pretty in this lightweight denim dress. Kilin’ me about the frenulum!! Still not quite sure what it means, even with the dictionary meaning. LOL! Love the style, which is classic and the espadrilles for a few more months of Summer I imagine, like we have here.
Have a great week!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I am sorry to have missed this post a month ago, but I sure am glad I clicked it on now. I was laughing so hard! What a description for that pretty summer denim dress! Which looks lovely on you, by the way! I wonder if they used talk to text and “denim dress” translated to “frenulum”. Hahaha. In any event, I am happy the frenulum was free. But now I am wondering if there is a frenulum tree (right there beside your amazing wish tree)!
Shelbee