The Occasional Woman

Author Archive: Lorraine Anderson

I am a native Californian who has been based in the Philadelphia area since 1984. My first CD fashion creation was a gold lamé dress for the now esteemed editor of this publication. Since then I have made tons of fabulous frocks and other fashion apparel for the crossdressing and transgender community. Contact me for custom clothing or alterations via email: [email protected] Visit my Facebook page, @alterationsbylorraine

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The Occasional Woman: Shoes!

| Aug 30, 2021 | Reply

Ah, shoes. Some women don’t care about shoes. Their loss. For those of you who do like to prance around in footwear that makes you feel pretty and special, don’t miss Lorraine Anderson’s post on The Shoes Every Girl Needs. She highlights five styles that need to be in your closet. As long as you are a shoe loving kind of girl. If not try to find joy in your flip flops.

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Summer Fashion Trends

| Aug 2, 2021 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, owner of The Occasional Woman custom clothing and alterations operation in suburban Philadelphia investigates the “must have” summer trends. She looks at bucket hats, square toed sandals, and other fashion items deemed by the fashion cognoscenti as totally in and lets you know what she thinks of that assessment.

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Stand Up Straight!

| Jun 7, 2021 | Reply

Today Lorraine Anderson goes under the clothes and discusses the basics. No, today’s Occasional Woman blog is not about lingerie. It’s about that which we display our clothing on—our bodies. Lorraine feels that no matter how well dressed you are, if your posture is not good you won’t look good. We can sum it up in three words—stand up straight.

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Spring Fashion Trends That Work For You

| Apr 12, 2021 | Reply

Our resident fashion maven, Lorraine Anderson, says that one of the biggest trends for spring is legs, legs, and more legs. Also bold colors and wide leg trousers. Learn what to avoid and what to show off from the lady behind The Occasional Woman custom clothing service.

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The Occasional Woman: Spring into Spring Fashion

| Mar 15, 2021 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, the lady behind The Occasional Woman custom clothes service, is looking forward to spring. Here in the northeast we had a preview with several days of temperatures near seventy degrees. That made Lorraine look for new, fresher fashions, to help erase the tedium and iciness of winter.

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The Occasional Woman: Shoes!

| Feb 15, 2021 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson takes a look at the touted shoe trends for 2021. From fuzzy ugg mug outdoor slippers to cowboy boots, combat boots and sexy kitten heels, Ms. Anderson gives you her views on what the fashionable foot will be wearing in 2021.

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The Occasional Woman Fashion Trends

| Jan 18, 2021 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, the woman behind The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, keeps an eye on fashion trends. Today she talks about visible thongs, photos printed on clothing, maxi dresses, wrap skirts and the hot new color for 2021. If you want to stay in step with the latest fashion trends read The Occasional Woman and see what Lorraine thinks of them.

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The Occasional Woman: Coats!

| Dec 21, 2020 | Reply

Today our fashion expert Lorraine Anderson, seamstress at the custom clothing maker The Occasional Woman, talks about outerwear. Jackets and coats that will work for you. Enhancing your feminine image while keeping you warm in the dark day of winter.

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Fashion Icon: The Trench Coat

| Oct 26, 2020 | Reply

The ubiquitous trench coat is found in all lengths, colors, and with subtle embellishments. Lorraine Anderson, the lady behind The Occasional Woman custom clothing service praises the benefits of having at least one or two trench coats in your closet this fall. The trench coat has come a long way from its beginnings in The Great War. Then it was essential survival clothing. Now it is a classic fashion icon. See how adding a trench coat could improve your look this fall.

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The Occasional Woman: Fashion For Fall

| Sep 28, 2020 | Reply

While Lorraine Anderson, the woman behind the custom clothing service known as The Occasional Woman, loves the fashions of spring she is also happy that fall is upon us here in the eastern United States. Time to explore the joys of fall fashion. Today Lorraine looks at what’s popular and chic, and what’s supposed to be chic but isn’t really that popular.

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The Occasional Woman: Fall Fashion Trends

| Aug 3, 2020 | Reply

Our resident fashion consultant and seamstress Lorraine Anderson takes a look at the Fall Fashion Trends. It may seem strange to be talking about what to wear this fall but it’s only a few short months away. Lorraine tells you what’s big for fall, what’s supposed to be hot but is not, and how you can work elements of the trends into your wardrobe.

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The Occasional Woman: Stayin’ Alive

| Jul 6, 2020 | Reply

Today Lorraine Anderson writes about the importance of the proper fashion accessories. In this particular time in history that means masks and gloves. It’s hard to be glam when you’re no longer alive so wearing a mask and gloves helps to make sure you have years of livng it up as a lady ahead of you, and it protects others as well. And, masks and gloves don’t need to be plain and boring. Gloves especially come in all sorts of designs. Masks can be playful or mysterious, or even give you a space alien look that’s sure to take people by surprise. See what The Occasional Woman advises on stayin’ alive.

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The Occasional Woman — A Woman Needs a Plan

| Jun 8, 2020 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson isn’t wasting her time isolating at home on foolishness like baking sourdough bread or watching everything streaming on NetFlix. Nope, Miss Anderson has a plan to dump the old wardrobe items she hasn’t worn in years and refurbish the really great items. The plan has been put into place on every floor of her house and it’s yielding items that need no work and fit perfectly, so she’s gaining wardrobe items that were taking up space in the attic and dumping out the things that no longer fit or need too much work with a needle and thread. Check out her plan in today’s edition of The Occasional Woman.

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The Occasional Woman — A New Fashion Accessory?

| May 18, 2020 | Reply

This month Lorraine Anderson talks about the advantages for male to female crossdressers presented by the new rules requiring masks. Could masks become a coveted fashion accessory? Anything can happen in the world of fashion! Lorraine also discusses how to wear your mask, the difference between mask styles, and reminds you that as the owner of a custom clothing business she can sew you a mask in any pattern you like.

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The Occasional Woman — Spring Wardrobe Refresh

| Apr 13, 2020 | Reply

Time on your hands because of the lockdown? The Occasional Woman, Lorraine Anderson, says it’s now the right time to spend some effort clearing out your closet. Most of us normally switch out our closet contents at this time of year putting the winter stuff in storage while we bring out the spring and summer attire. Often we do it quickly because we are busy women with places and to go and people to see. This spring we have nowhere to go so we can take some time to do a deep clean on things that should have to go away. Evaluate whether you really need four red, sleeveless tops and get those you don’t want anymore in bags and ready to go. Lorraine has helpful hints on how to determine what to toss.

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The Occasional Woman — From the Runway to Real Life

| Mar 16, 2020 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, owner/operator of The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, took a look at a high fashion magazine’s runway looks for 2020 and had to sit down for a bit. When she recovered she filed this blog on how it might, with a little consideration of how things go together to create your personal style, you could possibly integrate some of the runway into a look suited for the real world.

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The Occasional Woman on Facebook “Fashion Experts”

| Feb 17, 2020 | Reply

Don’t believe everything word of fashion advice that you get on the internet. Today our fashion expert, Lorraine Anderson, proprietor of The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, argues that many of the internet and Facebook “fashion experts” don’t always know what they’re talking about. Especially when they’re trying to cite rules for what women over fifty can wear and look well in. Read on for Lorraine’s evaluation of short hair styles, shoulder pads, mom jeans and other fashion mistakes.

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Fashion for The Occasional Woman — Trends!

| Jan 20, 2020 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, the owner of the custom clothing service The Occasional Woman, looks ahead to the spring fashion trends and acquaints you with some of the trendy looks that are said to be coming. Big collars, hotpants, crocheted fabric dresses, and bright neon outfits could be coming to your closet. Lorraine tells you how to work the trendy fashions into your look without leaving you with a closet full of unwearable, “so last year” outfits when the next trends come along.

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Occasional Woman New Year Bonus!

| Dec 30, 2019 | Reply

The big party night, New Year’s Eve, is almost here! Whether you’re going out to a party with friends, on a date with someone special, or just planning a New Year’s Eve photo shoot at home to post in Instagram, the big question is “What to wear?” Our fashion maven in residence, Lorraine Anderson has some tips that can help you answer that question. And if you don’t have anything in your closet that will do the trick you still have Monday night and all day Tuesday to hit the after Christmas sales. Happy new year!

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Holiday Party? Highlight Your Strengths, Good Advice from 2017

| Dec 23, 2019 | Reply

Our seamstress with fashion tips, Lorraine Anderson, proprietor of The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, has some suggestions for how to dress to impress for holiday parties without buying a whole new wardrobe. Since this just before Christmas and New Year’s Eve we rerun Lorraine’s tips for a fab party outfit. You’re sure to turn heads and make an impression with Lorraine’s budget fashion tips.

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The Occasional Woman — Out Damned Spot!

| Nov 25, 2019 | Reply

Lorraine Anderson, the proprietress of The Occasional Woman custom clothing service admonishes you to be careful of your attire while you are out and about looking fabulous this holiday season. Don’t drink to excess and if you do happen to drop food or drink on to that fancy dress Lorraine has tips on how to save the garment by removing the offending droplets or splashes.

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The Occasional Woman — Dress Up Right

| Oct 28, 2019 | Reply

We all, or most of us, look forward to going to some event at which we can really, as they used to say in the good old days, “put on the dog.” Why they said that we’ll never know but they said it and it meant to get glammed up and dress in high fashion for a formal occasion. Today The Occasional Woman discusses the things you shouldn’t wear to such an event. Lorraine Anderson may have strong opinions about what is attractive but she’s right about the tackiness of VPL and dresses that look like sausage skins. Read on for her critique of other attendees at a recent formal affair.

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Accessorize Summer Outfits for Fall Wear

| Sep 30, 2019 | Reply

The Occasional Woman’s Lorraine Anderson has tips for taking your summer outfits into the fall season. Her secret? Colorful accessories that add style to a simple summer dress. Do you have a nice fitting white dress that you want to keep wearing as the leaves begin to fall? Add a colorful jacket, an orange purse, or a red belt and viola! Your summer dress fits into the new season. Read on and learn more!

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The Occasional Woman: Accessorize Summer Fashions for Fall

| Sep 2, 2019 | Reply

Summer is slipping away and with it the chance to wear sexy summer attire like flouncy floral print dresses, sleeveless tops and toe baring sandals. Lorraine Anderson has some fashion tips to allow you to slide gently into fall wearing everything you love from the summer, except the sandals. She can’t help with that. Accessories are the key! Add a denim jacket and a pretty scarf over a floral print dress and viola! Topped off with a fall style leather bag and booties you’re all set. See what other tips Lorraine has to offer in this edition of The Occasional Woman.

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The Occasional Woman: Let’s Talk About Pants, Baby

| Aug 5, 2019 | Reply

Who wears the pants in your family? Anyone who feels like it. In the early days of fashion a woman in trousers was scandalous. But then, along came World War II and many women had to go to work in the factories and mines. Wearing dresses was uncomfortable in the plant and frilly frippery could be unsafe around machinery. So women started wearing trousers. After the war trousers on ladies stuck around and today there are many different styles of pants for women to choose from. Some show a lot of leg and other kinds cover the legs completely. From shorts to loose fitting tropical prints, Lorraine Anderson writes about the pants that may be a fit for you.

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The Occasional Woman: Skirts!

| Jul 8, 2019 | Reply

Our fashion consultant, the woman responsible for The Occasional Woman custom clothing and seamstress service, Lorraine Anderson, discusses the many styles and lengths of fabulous, flirty skirts. From the micro-mini to the never-wear bubble skirt Lorraine focuses on how to wear the style and length most flattering to you. Give her column a read and be rewarded with sensible fashion advice from a cisgender seamstress and costumer.

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