Fashion Challenged?

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I'm an Alaskan (female)....we're considered Fashion Challenged. BUT....I dress well and am conscientious about my look.

I was recently in the States (Continential US) and there is definitely a difference between Alaskan dress and those in the US. Of course, where I'm from the utmost concern is the weather. Currently the temp has been nearly minus 40 degree F so safey is priority. This is a given. But our dress may be considered...odd (and that's being nice)!

I am considered a (sort-of) dressy Alaskan female. But this would something different in the US, I am sure.

I often wear long dresses (shorter in summer and with thick stockings) and shawls, and with shoe-paks (winter boot with removable liner, ice cleats). The other day I actually wore this: Carharts (Alaskan 'gear,' tan colored canvas pants w/ hammer loop and cargo pockets). Carharts are an Alaskan staple and NOT fancy, but functional. I had a layer top with a lacey undershirt visible and (guess what)...pink pearls.

Today I wore red jeans, stockings with high heels (I changed from my boots to indoor dress shoes), a cream colored t-shirt with a lacey undershirt (visible) and tiny buttons. Then a jacquard burgundy shawl. I own a lot of shawls.

What do American women like to wear? Just curious.

Since it's getting cold here, too, (today's supposed to be 44F and rainy), I've been layering a lot more. A tank top or a babydoll tee over a bold long-sleeved shirt is very cute and trendy. Or a thin scarf over a babydoll tee could work as well. As for jeans, everyone around here is doing the skinny jeans now. Flared jeans are no longer in style. Snow boots are back once again! Uggs remain the most popular snow boots this year and the top color for them is black. And as for coats, everyone is wearing thinner, but fancier coats this year. Red, black, and olive green are the top coat colors here. Hope this helps!

tank top and jeans. funky hat. trench coat. arm warmers. and 5+ inch boots



or something nerdy and colorful
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or something classic/mysterious



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try polyvore. it is cool as a fun play fashion thing.

Oooo...I like the pics. Maybe especially the last one since I am kind of Victorian. But with an Alaskan style. Uggs were somewhat popular in Alaska but our temps are far too extreme and Uggs aren't sufficient (frostbite). Since I'm confined by extreme weather I change boots into shoes inside.

I do like jewelry, mostly Victorian style, but I just concentrate on earrings, then some basics that are more plain. I noticed in the States females just don't wear shawls. I love shawls and they're practical too. The best are of Russian influence (many Russian Alaskans).

I had a female professor who came to Alaska, first time, and said she was struck by watching women in long dresses and boots, pumping their own gas in 4 wheel drive trucks where they had to jump up into the cab. And fur ruffs. I guess it's just a dichotomy. I've lived without water or electricity and his changes the dynamics too. As in, forget dry clean only! I'm hard on my clothes.

I do wear my lab coat during the day, by necessity, so doesn't really matter what I wear. When I'm out doing errands (like shopping) just the coat is visible. In the summer I can dress, and it shows. 5+ inch boots would be really out of place (doesn't work on ice either)! I have ice cleats on my shoe-packs.

Sub-zero temps just don't work with fashion and safey wins! Thanks for the photos and what you wear in the States.

You're the best Shiggily! Thank you - I do like the sweaters. I have cable sweater tights so I can wear skirts - great 'virtual closet' look. I like anything Russian/vintage too.

The belted coat is fabulous, and not too showy for real weather either.