Just because my wigs have names like “Storm”, “Texana”, “Shiny” and “Windy” doesn’t mean I’m a stripper!
My hair’s name may be “Storm”–but she’s a good girl, she is! She ain’t no stripper!
I’ll leave the stripping to my youthful days of skinny dipping at the beach during the evening.
I’m no Gypsy Rose Lee either. She was the ultimate stripper!
Gypsy Rose Lee also gave us a new way to look at dots!
Or was she? See—she’s wearing stripes! It appears that perhaps Gypsy Rose Lee was a striper as well as a stripper!
I’ll be honest–this adorable striped corset ensemble would have looked MUCH better if Gypsy was wearing a padded bra. I guess she figured what the hell since the top would be coming off!
I’m a striper. I love stripes. I’ve been wearing them since I discovered that, contrary to what mother said, horizontal stripes do not make me, or anyone else, look fat!
I can’t help it. I freakin’ love stripes!
And the fashion experts are at it again. Shouting about how stripes are “in” this year. I do believe we go through this every year.
FashionMagazine.com is telling us how to wear stripes this year. Um. No. I’m NOT wearing stripes this way. I don’t care WHAT you say. I wouldn’t be smiling either if I had to wear that getup!
The fact is, stripes were never “out” of style!
Check out any one of the thousands of “How to Dress Like a French Woman” articles on the net and you’ll see stripes.
Here’s a Gallic photo from Fashion Gum’s article on Parisian Chic Street Style. Dress like a French Woman. (Here’s a secret. Most Parisian women don’t dress like the ones in the pics. I know. I’ve been there enough times)
I don’t wanna dress like a French woman unless it’s Bardot.
Wait a minute. I DO dress like Bardot!
MY iconic striped model is none other than Bonaparte’s dad, Dany Lartigue.
Dany is an artist who lives in St. Tropez. He’s been wearing striped shirts for years. Years!
His “uniform” consists of khaki cropped pants, sandals, a Breton striped shirt and a hat.
I have never seen him wear anything but.
Bonaparte and dad in St. Tropez. Dany even has a striped cross-body bag! Those Frenchmen!
He changed into a DIFFERENT striped shirt for lunch. This is his dress striped shirt!
A year later and he’s still in the same uniform with the same striped bag. This is greatness!
Oops! How did I end up in Dany’s shirt? ONLY KIDDING! We were twinning! I wore my striped shirt too!
I also dig his red striped shirt! I hope he wears the red when we visit him in June!
Just how much do I love stripes?
Let’s have a look-see, shall we?
Rugby striped maxi dress from a few years ago. I have to go back down to the garage to find this!
A striped maxi skirt! I was prompted to go back down to the garage and dig this out. I may even launder it!
Behind the red skirt. My six dollar steal from Old Navy. I love that striped skirt. Hmmm. Perhaps I will wear it tomorrow if it is cool outside!
Look! More stripes! I’m emulating Dany’s little striped bag! I love dressing like a Frenchman…
Look! From 1965! Proof that stripes are timeless and nothing new!
It’s difficult to see the stripes in this tunic–but they are there!
And year after year, the stripes are going strong!
This is probably my favorite striped shirt. I couldn’t wear it last year or the year before because it didn’t look that great due to the weight gain. I can wear this again and it is incredibly flattering. I love the loosey-goosey neckline.
Here’s another view. This really is an oldie but goodie!
I KNOW it’s so lame to post these pics from my last post–I’m sorry, but it’s bringing attention to the stripes!
There’s more–striped button down shirts. Striped shift dresses. I cannot believe I do not own striped shoes!
Stripes are nothing new–they are fun to wear. Stripes can turn a drab outfit into a very happy one. Did you ever notice that? I mean, stripes really do add a bit of happiness to an outfit. Dots and pom-poms have the same effect. Happy dressing!
I think we all need a bit of happy dressing–don’t you? Get the stripes out ladies. Wear them well and know that someone will be smiling at you when you are striped!
I can’t seem to get Gypsy Rose Lee out of my mind. Did you ever see the movie “Gypsy”? Natalie Wood played Gypsy Rose Lee and it remains one of my favorite musicals of all time (along with Flower Drum Song). “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy (too bad it wasn’t “Everything’s Coming Up Stripes”)
Interesting that Gypsy Rose Lee was actually pretty flat chested!
And you look fabulous…the weight loss is perfect.
Thanks Nelson! Isn’t it interesting? Not many women got boob jobs back then…actually I don’t even think the boob job was even created!! Thanks again on the kudos for the weight loss!!! XOXOXOxO!!!!
“Gypsy” was one of the first movies I saw in a theater, with my whole family … I was about six. (Today, Child Services would have likely taken me from my parents!).
I love stripes (also polka dots, but we are talking stripes) – I just feel like they are kind of a neutral in any wardrobe. And like you said, they are such a happy look!
Stripes for the win!!!
That’s ok Bridget. I saw Gypsy too when I was 7. My aunt took me and there was nothing risque that I could recall. I just loved the singing and the costumes!! Forget it now–the audience police would crucify any parent… We’ve regressed!
Stripes are the new neutral!! XOXOXOXOXO!
Yipes! Stripes! Yes, that’s an old phrase, but I’m old now so it’s ok! You look great, and I love stripes too. So much so, that I have to stop myself from buying more or all I’d be wearing is stripes!
Lori. I just purchased another striped shirt –I drove to J. Crew Factory after work. You can’t have enough stripes!! XXOXOXOXO!!!
I have to respectfully disagree that horizontal stripes look good on everyone — although they look great on you! I have bought more striped shirts than I care to admit and, while I love their Gallic appeal, they do make me look much wider than I am. Never a good thing!
Jane-. Try a striped shirt in a longer length–I guarantee it’ll look very good!! Anyway, you can respectfully disagree with me anytime! XOxOXOXOXO!!!
Love all the stripes, Catherine! You look so great. The pics of your FIL are lovely. I wanted to ask about what your workout routine is? Did you power walk or go to yoga? You look like you’re in really good physical shape on top of the weight loss. Or was it simply a diet change? I need to lose a few… 😛 I think we’re the same height at 5′ 6″
Hi Lisa. I’m really embarrassed about this one. I haven’t been to a gym in over two years when I lost my corporate healthcare. They paid our gym memberships. I think I’m probably in ok shape due to the many many many years of walking I did when I lived in NYC. Even as a child in Long Island we walked everywhere! I’ve definitely changed my diet. The past month has been a naughty month due to the kids visiting on different weekends and going out to dinner and eating lots of food.
I’m back on track now by cutting down on carbs and writing down everything that I eat. No in-between meals and no snacking is basically the slowest and best way that I’ve managed to lose. I am now back on the fast track.
But I’ll tell ya, I miss walking. And where you live has everything to do with it. I LOVE my house but don’t like the development I’m in. Everyone closes their doors and it isn’t really a neighborhood so I don’t like walking. Sorry to ramble!! XOXOXOXO!!!
I’m in the same boat. I never met a striped shirt or dress that I didn’t like. I hold myself back from purchasing them now. (Though, not always).
I have a parlor game for you: Ask people the name of their first dog and the street they lived on as a child. Put them together and it’s their stripper name. For me, it’s ‘Lady Fifth Avenue’. It’s pretty funny how often you get a good one.
Patricia! I love your classic stripper name! Mine is Ruby Hiawatha. Maybe I should invest in a ruby-encrusted feathered headdress!! XXOXOXOXO!!!
GRL in the striped corset… I was kind of surprised. I guess I’ve gotten used to see botox injected boobs! Her’s were real — like some of the rest of us! Interesting…
Hahhahah! Lady Calen, when I saw that pic I compared my saggy bits to Gypsy Rose Lee’s and I didn’t feel so bad!!!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!
Catherine, you weight loss is inspirational! Could you do a post on what you eat in a day? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Ok–I’m answering on my phone–so it may turn out weird!! I will start working on a post!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
Stripes yes. Of course. I love all the color ways but blue/white and black/white are my favorites. Stripes are a basic in my book. And my all time favorite way to wear stripes is to mix with a pattern in the same color combination…just saying. Love your style, Catherine. 🙂
Thanks Jeanne!!! Stripes will never go out of style!!🌟🌟❤️️❤️️
Hello there. I just don’t know exactly how are reached your blog but I am following you for some months now (you’re even on my smartphone’s feeder). Well I am french so this might make sense after all! Although younger than you, I should honestly say (you know in this so called french honest way) that your blog and style are pretty much the inspiration for me. I always said that I wanted to be an opinionated old lady because, well, being too soft is no fun! And here you are: I like your opinion, I like your passion, I like your style and the way you are open to write about a lot of topics. Not so common for americans and it is appreciated. Hey I am not here to sing your praise, remember, I am french after all…. just to say thank you for your blog. I apologize for my quite basic use of english.
Bonjour Eve! Merci for your supportive words!! I do consider this a nice testament–I’m very familiar with the ways of the French!! Bonaparte oftentimes compliments me on my abilities to complain better than any Frenchman or woman–and I’m adept at cutting ahead of people in line–I’ve made a sport of it!!😂😂😂😂😂! I’m happy that you are enjoying the blog–don’t be a stranger–keep on reading and commenting!! Encore Merci!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Agree that Parisienne women don’t look like the photo and I’m writing this wearing a grey and pink striped top! I have a French name but am actually British and have been living in Paris for several years – never seen this look out on the streets!
Hi Corrine! Right??? Unless you hang in the 16th or 7th, you will see more of the average dresser! That’s why I’m constantly telling my friends not to overpack on their first visit to Paris! You don’t need to walk around like a page out of a magazine!! Thank you for the validation!!!❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️🍾
I love stripes, they just scream summer to me – my ideal ‘walking on a beach’ outfit would be striped top, jeans, yellow jacket and canvas shoes. Probably sounds far too wrapped up for beach wear but this is old Blighty I’m talking about!!
I’m glad you dispelled the myth about making you look wider – it’s all about which part of the body you wear them on. Personally, being pear shaped, I feel a striped top helps to balance me.
Oh, and Bonaparte’s dad looks too sweet! 😊
Hi Haylee!!!! Don’t they though? I see stripes I think summer at the beach!! I have hips and I swear the stripes on top balance my child-bearing hips to a wonderful proportion!
Oh..Dany is a riot! I can’t wait to see him! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!!!
I’m back on track now by cutting down on carbs and writing down everything that I eat. Stripes are a basic in my book.
Hi Ardalio: I need to get back on track. Between the stress of living in a Trump country among other things, I need to start journaling my eating again!!!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!
I’m back on track now by cutting down on carbs and writing down everything that I eat. You don’t need to walk around like a page out of a magazine!
True dat Harold!! None of us need to look like the underfed cadavers from magazine pages!!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Personally, being pear shaped, I feel a striped top helps to balance me. !
Personally, being pear shaped, I feel a striped top helps to balance me. !