Monday Musings- Skirts and Overdoing
Happy Monday ladies. Our weekend seemed to zip past and it feels like I got very little accomplished. Of course, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I’m listening to Do Nothing on Audible and it’s pretty eye-opening.
I’m pretty sure if you looked up overdoing in the dictionary, you would find my name. Part of it is my job, but part of it is being female. We’ve been told we can do it all for so long, we actually try. Multitasking is second nature for me and I have a hard time doing one thing at a time, which is not healthy.
Skirts
How many of you wear them? I seldom do and wonder why because they’re infinitely more comfortable than most jeans or pants. Don’t they feel as modern as pants?
I have 2 denim skirts that get a lot of wear in the blistering weather, and the maxi skirt that I wore in Hawaii. Maxi skirts are a bit more awkward when you’re moving around a lot, but they cover leg imperfections and look great with flat shoes. Shorter skirts put your legs on display, but so do shorts and crops. Chunky shoes work with long skirts but aren’t as flattering with shorter ones.
Denim skirts are on trend for spring in all shapes and lengths. They seem more casual than other skirts, which may be why I gravitate to them. I prefer my denim skirts styled like a skirt, not like they were made out of a pair of jeans with the diagonal front seam.
More denim skirts
What are your thoughts on wearing skirts? Are they in your wardrobe and do you reach for them?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
On the subject of doing too much…I developed De Quervains tenosynovitis early last year. It’s a painful swelling of specific tendons of the thumb and wrist. My Dr called it texting thumb because it’s caused by chronic overuse of the wrist and thumb. I had a steroid shot last year which cleared it up miraculously for 10 months. I could have another steroid shot now, but I know that’s not a permanent solution so I’m back in PT and wearing a splint. Ugh…it’s likely because of how I type and use my phone.
It’s also how I drink my tea, hold my makeup brush and a pen, brush my hair and teeth, hold anything really. Opposable thumbs are pretty darn important! I did try acupuncture and he suggested I start doing much more with my left hand… which I’m amazingly clumsy with.
I’m really trying to work through my thoughts on skirts so would love your input.
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
I love wearing skirts (medium length or maxi) during the hot summers here in Utah! Love the white skirt you are wearing in the post. That would go with so many different tops. Do you remember where you found it? It seems most of the skirts I see in the stores are shorter & for younger ladies. It is hard to find skirts that hit at your knee or a little lower…
It is time to look for clothes for spring & summer!
Marcella
Sorry to hear about your wrist/thumb problem. You can learn to use the left hand for reaching for things and holding your cup/glass. It feels odd at first but it gives the right rest. I have arthritis and right- handed.
Your Mexico trip requires no additions to your extensive wardrobe. Your skirts and summer tops, beachwear, hats, and lightweight pants (don’t forget the sunny yellow ones). The only people that wear the gauzy prints and all things Mexican are the tourists. I have been to Mexico a few times and noticed the locals dress the same as in the USA.
I would be interested to see what the main city malls look like(not tourist areas) and what they have to offer.
I’m not going to a place that has malls. It’s a very tiny enclave in Loreto Bay.
I love to make skirts and dresses, but find that they don’t get worn. Last summer, I really tried to wear skirts and dresses more, but found myself wearing leggings under them to feel more comfortable. I don’t like skirts without pantyhose under them and it is difficult to find them anymore. Plus, I have the type of thighs that rub together no matter how much I weigh, so I have to wear petit-pants or another undergarment that prevents my thighs from rubbing together (TMI, sorry). It is just easier and more comfortable to wear pants or crops. I hope you have fun in Mexico. Be careful!
Jennifer, Where can I purchase a white jean skirt like yours??
This was from Chicos last summer so sadly sold out. This one is almost identical https://rstyle.me/cz-n/gau8si39zw
I have gotten away from skirts as I don’t feel they look as good as they used to on me. Part of that may simply be habit? I may feel more self conscious in a skirt now; it’s part of a younger me? Part of that is my life is more casual than it once was. So mostly habit. I do love the look however. A little more dressed up is how I associate a skirt. May have had one denim version but not truly comfortable with it.
Thank you for the book recommendation, and I wish you well with your hand recovery. Appreciate the support to simply live and enjoy life!
I LOVE LOVE SKIRTS! Denim is great for casual wear and summer coolness. Soft fabric with “flippy” hems are cooler than shorts or capris. And I feel very flippy and soft in a skirt that swishes around my knees and ankles. Thanks for bringing our love of skirts to the front of fashion.
I’m a skirt wearer too. Now that I am 65, every summer when I have to give up my tights, I wonder if I should stick to pants or long skirts, but I usually end up wearing my favorite knee length skirts to work anyway, and just ignore how my legs look. Maybe I should try the leg makeup. I don’t have good luck with the self tanners.
You don’t have to tuck in your top. My best look is a boxy or slightly a line shaped top, not too long but just long enough to hang over the waist of the skirt by about 3 inches. It’s comfortable and better looking for me, than tucking.
My best look was always a knee length straight skirt with a structured jacket, not too long. My figure looks best with the jacket length about 1/2 way between my elbow and wrist, when I have my arms at my sides. A lot of jackets are cut too long for me, even in petite sizing . And right now, I am not finding jackets to buy. They seem to be all black. It was nice in the past when jackets were available in different fabrics, with texture or prints, and with the 3/4 sleeve they were cute.
I do love cardigans — shorter with skirts, longer with pants. The v-neck or straight front edge is easier to style than a crew neck cardigan.
Lately I am getting a few jackets from thredUp. I can look for my size and the brands that fit me, and it’s fun to make a “find.”
I wear my denim skirts often & style them just as if they were jeans. I use a self-tanner on my legs so I don’t blind anybody but I also wear tights & boots in the cold weather. I have one dark denim skirt & 1 white denim. I especially love that they both have deep Jean pockets.
I love your denim skirt outfit. I am definitely a skirt wearer, but I do have to get to work on those veins.
I never wear skirts. My waist is so high (short waisted?) that skirts look horrible in me. Wish I could.
I like denim skirts, not a fan of midi or long. Chicos have some denim skirts they are great.
I loved wearing skirts for summer travels. I don’t see many skirt options that are flattering. I like a skirt that hits right at knee length.
I love the white skirt on you. I can’t remember the last time I wore a skirt as I am more likely to wear capris in warmer weather, though I would like to try a skirt like the one you are showing. I found the denim skirts with the button up can be restrictive when you are in and out of the car a lot.
I tend not to wear skirts much. I have a few for both winter and summer and find I rarely reach for them.
My mother, when in her 60’s, wore them everyday in the summer, with sneakers. Hers were a light weight, light colored, denim A-line skirt. They looked great on her!
I like them and they are more flattering for us 60 somethings than shorts are in my opinion.
In hot weather I prefer crop pants or a dress.
In colder weather, I love the look of opaque tights and high boots with a skirt, but again, it’s very rare that I wear them.
Team skirts! Put on some tanning lotion, cute little sandals…Summer time 😎
Hi Jennifer, I am sorry to hear that you are still struggling with DeQuervain’s. I had it 5 years ago as a result of lifting my then 1 1/2 year old grandson multiple times each day. Like most of us, I lifted the child with my thumbs in front of his armpits and the other fingers on his back. That strained the tendon in my left thumb. I bought an over-the-counter thumb brace that looked like yours. It didn’t work, so I saw a specialist. I had a cortisone injection and a ridiculously expensive ($400) custom brace was made. The brace was made early in the morning on a very cold January day. It ended up being way too tight. I soon chucked it and went back to the over the counter brace and my knowledge of how to manage tendinitis.
Thanks to a genetic problem that was just diagnosed 3 years ago, I have had tendinitis multiple times in 13 different joints since turning 40. (I am now 67.) Doctors were never very helpful, so I usually choose to manage the condition on my own. For whatever reason, I gave in and saw a specialist for the DeQuervain’s. When their brace ended up being so small it was hurting my thumb, I resorted to my own methods. For me, step 1 in managing tendinitis is to rest the affected joint. It has to be allowed to heal. I cannot ignore even the slightest pain. Pain is the body’s signal that one is doing something to cause injury. We ignore that signal at our own peril. I stopped lifting anything with my left hand except for my toddler grandson. Of course, he was the main source of the problem since I babysat 5 days a week, I couldn’t just not lift him. But, I changed the way I did it. I never put my thumbs on his chest anymore. All ten fingers stayed together like paddles and I lifted him with one had on his back and the other on his bottom.
I had to stop playing my violin since a little pressure is placed on the left thumb when playing. Since I am a violin and piano teacher this was a bit of a problem. I had to demonstrate passages for my students on the piano instead of the violin for a few weeks. (The reason I went to the specialist in the first place was because I had so much swelling in my left wrist that I could not straighten it with any amount of effort. That caused me to be unable to get my fingers over the lowest two violin strings. That’s a problem for a violinist!)
I knew from past experience that I would need to baby my thumb for 6 weeks. At the end of that time my wrist had straightened out and I had no pain. I learned my lesson about how not to pick up a baby and continued my new way of picking up a child. Of course, I also avoided lifting anything else heavy for quite some time. I have not had a recurrence of DeQuervain’s. Occasionally, I notice a little pain in my left thumb if I have used it repeatedly holding down the touch pad on my computer. That is my signal to cut back! As I said above, I have learned that I must not ignore small amounts of pain. If I do, I am probably going to end up with another bout of tendinitis.
May I suggest not holding your phone with your thumbs in front of the device? That’s how most people hold their phones so they can text. Texting with one’s thumbs puts a lot of strain on the tendons. Lifting anything with thumbs extended away from the other 4 fingers is dangerous. Cortisone shots give temporary relief, but can mask our bodies’ pain signals and allow us to do things that cause strain on the tendons. Doctors will tell you that 3 cortisone shots are the maximum you can have safely. More than that and you risk a rupture of the affected tendon. I have only had cortisone twice. The first time, more than 25 years ago, Iwas ignorant of the risks. The second time, which was when I had DeQuervain’s, I was hoping to get the swelling down in my wrist so I could play my violin. (It didn’t work.) For my future, I would only consider cortisone if I were in a lot of pain.
Oh, I nearly forgot, the one thing that really helps with swelling is ice massage. You can hold an ice cube or two in a washcloth and rub it over the top of your affected thumb. I would do it for 5 minutes at a time several times a day. Ice is more effective and far safer than any drug.
I hope this helps (and was not too lengthy)! I truly wish you the best in your battle with DeQuervain’s. I hope you will keep us updated.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. You have walked this walk and I’m very grateful.