Dress Of The Day with Angela

  Angela Lansbury  in rainbow dress. Photo by Trevor Sharot. Copyright.  Striped Clothes - Caution With horizontal stripes you have to stand straight.  Our first attempt was lopsided. I bought this dress in Thailand. It has no maker's label. I liked the rainbow pattern. It is jolly and can be matched with any one of the colours. I like rainbows. I always have. Everybody likes rainbows. They are now a political statement. But so are all the component colours. What might the colours symbolise to form a discussion point and win you friends? In addition to happy memories of the hopeful song, 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'? The Rainbow Colour Reminder Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet. Read out your green book in verse. Richard of York gained battle in vain.  Red Colours To Wear When  And Why? Red, white and blue are the colours of the USA and UK flags.  Red and blue are political in New Zealand. Red for the Chinese as an auspicious colour.  Red...

Packing For Cold - in hot countries  I went to France in January. The south of France. I thought it would be hot. It was not. Countries which have four seasons can be hot in summer but cold in winter. I was very glad I had packed a long pair of socks. I had to wear pyjama bottoms, night wear, as leggings. Like a Punjabi outfit. By chance I had a pair of gloves in my jacket pocket. I left London in the cold with a hooded jacket I was very glad to have it. And the gloves. On another occasion, in a hot climate, I went on a boat trip. Out at sea, there was a chill breeze. At night, when the sun went down, it was really cold. Singapore and Thailand In the hottest countries, at a restaurant, you might be sitting outisde in the heat. But if you sit indoors, there is chilly air conditioning Especially if your table is under it.  I always take a long scarf. It can be used to cover you up in a temple or conservative gathering.  Asian Temples Although some temples do not allow sleev...

  Elasticated Caftan I saw this dress in the main shop in Katathani Phuket Resort, Thailand. I had three days consider buying it. I was torn between buying a plain caftan and this elasticated version. The elasticated version was dearer. More unusual. It had a tie at the neck.  I could copy a plain caftan with two rows of stitching, even hand sewing. I did this once years ago when I first arrived in Singapore in 1993 and could not find clothes my size. To make a dress with an elasticated waist, a matching drawstring and matching tie to make a bow at the neck would take a lot more time. It was a different look. it felt a bit tight. Hot and sticky in humid Thailand. Constricting. On the other hand, eventually elastic goes loose. In cooler weather my body would get smaller. I should have bought both dresses in turquoise.  Why didn't I? Because I had already bought the rainbow dress. And a scarf. I had a small weight allowance on Scoot, the budget airline related to Singapore ...

I love the vibrant rainbow pattern of this caftan. It can coordinate with any colour of sandals, bag, or hat. Angela Lansbury in rainbow pattern dress. Photo by Trevor Sharot. Copyright. Rainbow Pattern Dress Dress bought in Thailand at Phuket from shop in the short high street.

Turquoise caftan. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. The Turquoise Caftan Colour & Pattern I considered this dress in pink or blue but the pale turquoise blue matched my hat. Another style was more shapely than the loose caftan and had an elastic waist and a tie at the v- neck. It was slightly more expensive. I decided the loose caftan was more comfortable in the heat.  The shop, in Katathani resort (Hotel), had two slightly different batik dresses in the turquoise. I initially rejected the one which had a dark splodge on the right of the V as I looked in the mirror. (This would appear to onlookers on the left.) I thought the pattern distracted from my face.  However, on second thoughts I decided that it was more interesting with the patch of darker colour than the all pale effect which was insipid. More importantly, I like  a slight pattern because otherwise when you get a stain of coffee or curry and try to remove it and with bleach get a paler patch o...

Angela Lansbury wearing a Toastmasters International tee-shirt in black, with a DIY black skirt and Indian Mirror black shoes. Photo by Trevor Sharot. I had a friend who always wore black, She found it easier to co-ordinate. I thought it was depressing. On the other hand, I travelled on short trips with a black skirt, but not with a black top. I added a black skirt to this tee-shirt and feel that I would not wear it regularly. I need colour near my face. Especially on Zoom. When I travelled as a busy travel writer, the black skirt was good, for not showing stains and in any case was being hidden under the table at dinner. I matched it with various tops. The black skirt and black shoes went with everything.  If you wear black, it could go well with black hair, or make you look monotonous. If you have white teeth and eyes, and they are your good features, you can brighten up a black tee-shirt with a white colour. On zoom you want neck interest. Fancy shoes don't get much attention un...

Angela Lansbury wearing a red caftan with a pattern of white elephants. Photo by Trevor Sharot Copyright. Elephants are the national motif in Thailand. You will find elephants on Thai silk, made into garments. I have other clothes with elephants on matt linen and the stiff, shiny silk, but synthetic, Thai silk.  About the Author Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot. Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters  speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge. Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore.  She  has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following: travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com translateforfun.blogspot.com  Please share li...