At many times in life we will find ourselves as a tweener: a person considered to be between two recognized categories. Whether we are passing from a life in academia to a new job, we recently received a promotion, change of job, change of city? We find ourselves mothers and grandmothers, or are transitioning from a career to retirement. We can fall between two recognized fields with which we identify, and can come upon the proverbial fork in the road at any time in our journey. The question is, how do we respond to our new direction? We may feel lost, out of place, excited, overwhelmed, indifferent. A myriad of different feelings. And our new direction can start to influence...
Chokers seem to have arrested the fashion world's attention for good. Whether you embraced the look when it came back in 2014 or are just now hot around the collar, there is one thing to keep in mind: these chokers are not like the hip mall stretch tattoo chokers of the 90s. Photo Courtesy ebay You can get one on ebay these days for $.99, but why waste the dollar? Maybe you wore them, maybe you had kids who wore them. I remember it felt like all of my girlfriends got to wear them, but my mom wouldn't let me.They looked so hot around the neck. I can't say that I remember them that well, but I do remember thinking I...
What makes quality in clothes? Quality clothes are items that season to season measure up to expectations of wear. Made of natural fibers such as cotton, wool or silk, they have meticulous details in their design such as the stitching, the way the zippers lay- hidden or exposed, the fabric allowance, and that the fabric will retain its shape after wear, all of it made with attention to the finishing touches like the use of metal versus plastic zippers, extra buttons, and perfectly paired hook and eye closures. These quality details are ones that I have observed and learned more about since I started here at Jophiel in August. The idea of buying higher quality clothes is one that I...
Denim is more popular now, with its fresh silhouettes, vintage dyes, new lengths and surface treatment, you can style it in so many ways. But if you still think of denim as the original Levi's sold to Western laborers and gold miners, keep reading as Nancy explains the fresh take on the tried and true indigo blue. What makes quality denim? Is it the strength of the fibers, the weave, the shade of the wash, or something else? Selvedge Japanese denim, known for its premium construction and the skilled, artisanal craft required to make it, is some of the most sought after denim, but sometimes, the best isn’t the most attractive, comfortable or, as in this case, affordable. With that said,...
Growing up, we all have grand plans for our lives; maybe big dreams, ambitious goals, life-changing love. For some of us, those could all be wrapped up into one. We interviewed Jophiel president and founder Julie Clancy and learned that 32 years of retail, opening Jophiel in Fort Wayne and styling has been a pretty wild ride. But all of it has been an adventure of love, life-long learning, new levels of commitment and a dream that started small. You had worked in fashion for many years prior to Jophiel. What was the store like where you used to work? The Forgotten Woman was my first job in fashion and I started as a commission only sales team member and completed my tenure...
