Did you remember to update your readers and bookmarks? My new site has a new post!
I’m Moving!
Hi Lovely Readers!
You probably are thinking I’ve dropped the ball on you, but fear not! I’m actually in the midst of some exciting new changes – moving my blog to its very own home. As with all moves, it’s messy as I pack up and unpack everything. There’s bubble wrap and cardboard everywhere! But the new pad will allow me a lot more freedom for good things in the future so that’s very exciting.
Before you visit to find my old home and find it boarded up and the lights off I wanted to let you know to update your readers and your bookmarks.
Right now you won’t notice very many changes, as I’m still in the process of updating everything so please bear with!
Filed under Uncategorized
Saying Goodbye
Or: My Gusty Combination of Brown and Black
Sometimes you have an item of clothing that you love but finally come to the realization that it’s time to get rid of it. Over the weekend I wore a few of the things I was having a hard time deciding whether to get rid of. Problem solved.
This blush pink shirt is one of those items. I loved its classic World War II look, the button sleeves, the pin-tucks around the waist. Sadly, it’s ripped under the arm and has atrocious armpit stains. I read somewhere that aluminum deodorant can “burn” fabric and cause permanent damage. I can’t seem to find anything to back this up, but I will say that since switching to natural deodorants a few years ago, none of my clothes have had armpit stains again.
I have managed to wear this shirt a few times by covering with a cardigan but that seems really tacky. Time to bid this shirt adieu.
The skirt is another story, it’s been in my closet for a few seasons – a lovely cast off from my sister. Every time I wear it I realize that it fits very strangely around the hips (see picture) and butt and is probably the reason I wear it so infrequently. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how cute something is on a hanger, if it doesn’t fit correctly it’s wasting space! I find wearing an item all day is the best way to decide how I feel in it and make a decision about whether I want to keep something.
Silk Shirt: Casual Corner ’02??
Cardigan: Banana Republic, ’08
Skirt: Cast off from sister, Limited? ’03?
Brown Suede Shoes: TJ Maxx, ’04
Purse: Small Shop in Conque, France ’10 – the guy was making everything right there!
Rinse, Wash, Repeat
Do you sometimes wear the same outfit on the weekend and repeat it on Monday to work? I have the advantage (disadvantage?) of wearing weekend appropriate outfits to work so sometimes when I’m dragging on a Monday morning I just repeat the outfit I wore on Sunday. Lazy….
In fact I was so lazy, I didn’t even bother with a picture so you can see it here. I omitted the scarf yesterday, since it was warm and beautiful. I continued to get pestered with questions about how I was going to spend my evening. Can’t a girl just wear a long black dress for no reason?!
Filed under Didn't Get Dress
I <3 Daytime Sequins
I got this shirt from a lady at work who said that she loved it but every time she put it on she just couldn’t see herself wearing it out of the house. After seeing me bedecked in some other sequin item she brought it to me, “You’ll love this” she promised. And I do!
It’s a cashmere tank top with sequin panels on the front. It’s crazy shiny and wearing it alone might blind someone if I stand in the sun at the wrong angle, but worn as a layer it works wonderfully.
The loose weave knit of the light sweater (can’t see it in the drawing) as the top layer let’s the sequins poke through from underneath and isn’t too heavy.
I’m squeezing the last life out of my multi-print leopard flats. This may have been the last day I wore them since they’re officially falling apart. I’m sad, but at least they got some happy wearing out of them!
For some reason sequins seem very winter to me, maybe icy and a little harsh. It is probably something I’ll phase out for the summer months, but this made a great transitional outfit.
Black Sweater: TJ Maxx, ’11
Sequin Tank: c/o co-worker, BCBG Max Azria, ’11
Jeans: J Brand via Anthro, ’09
Shoes: Nine West via TJ Maxx, ’10
Elbow Patches on the East Coast
Though I don’t live on the East Coast, or consider my style very preppy, or happen to be wearing this as I tramp down an autumn leaf strewn country lane, this look really hits all those notes.
I decided to bust out this blazer one last time before I packed it away for the summer. Unlike the flat drawing, it is a purpley burgundy (like the photo) corduroy. This fabric is interesting because it almost seems to shimmer as you move because the under color is lighter orangey burgundy (like the drawing). And it has elbow patches! Elbow patches! How very professorish of me!
I wore it with the teal sweater and not finding any necklace that really worked I decided on this scarf, which happened to have almost the same color teal in it. I am secretly happy when something matches so well.
This outfit is a completely new combination of pieces and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Isn’t it funny how you can have pieces in your closet for year and never think about wearing them together?
Shirt/Light Sweater: Martin & Osa, ’09
Blazer: Express, ’05
Jeans: Guess by Marciano, ’10
Boots: Gifted, ’07
Scarf: Gifted, H&M, ’09
Avoiding the Frumpy Dumpty
A few years ago I bought this denim pencil skirt. I thought it was just about the best thing ever and added it to my frequently used basics.
Then my mom came to visit me and she put the kibosh on that. Perhaps it was that I was wearing it with a crew neck shirt and flats? (seen here) Whatever it was, she assured me I looked like a frumpy soccer mom and made me swear to leave this item alone. She took me out to buy some”sexy” clothes. “You’re young, you shouldn’t dress frumpy yet!” she said. I’ll admit that this outfit is far from “sexy” but realistically most of the time sexy isn’t my goal. Perhaps this skirt does look to “soccer mom” unless it’s paired with heels and a breezy ultra feminine top.
What do you think? Do you have clothes you wear even though they may not be “mom” approved? It’s sort of ridiculous how their opinion continues to matter even though I’m almost 30 years old. But then, I’m sure I’ll terrorize my own daughters with my opinions someday, since they’re not in short supply!
Sweater: Banana Republic, ’09 (The drawing is the same sweater just in a different color than pictured. It’s the same one I used for my February 30-30 challenge.)
Jean Skirt: Gap, ’08
Boots: Miz Mooz via Nordstroms, ’10
Necklace: Forever 21, ’10
Classics in Sunny Southern California
After wearing the same 30 pieces (and really it was more like 15) during my 30-30 challenge I feel like those pieces are old friends after such an intimate acquaintance. These are the pieces I turn to when I’m in a hurry and fresh out of ideas, and in a huge rush.
Work has been really busy lately and my usual ETA at 7:30 has been pushed back to 7am just to keep up. This means that when I roll out of bed I’m still half asleep and putting together a creative outfit has to be quick. I wish I’d added a pop of color to this outfit but it was simple and I felt classy and that’s sometimes the best you can ask for on a harried morning.
As you can see the weather today was beautiful, still cool at about 65F, but I love that.
Thanks MN for taking the pic!
Shirt: Express, ’09
Blazer: Express, ’02?
Jeans: Guess Marciano, ’10
Boots: Rockport, ’10
Rain Rain Go Away
I woke up this morning and it was incredibly dreary out. Cold and gray and having rained the night before, wet. What is this weather? The end of March and it’s still cool and gross. Okay, I’ll stop complaining as I know most of you reading this are just beginning to see the first signs of spring and here I am wanting full-blown summer.
I decided boots and jeans were in order and threw on a coat as I walked out the door. Of course the day I wear a coat it turns sunny and warm by mid afternoon.
Grey Military Coat (no drawing): H&M, ’09
Periwinkle Shirt: Limited, ’10
Cropped Jeans: J Brand, ’09
Boots: Rockport, ’10
Scarf: Pier 1 Imports (Yes, I know, it’s a strange place to buy clothes but I had a gift certificate I needed to use up.)
Back to Basics
Where did spring go? Back to something warm. Now that my closet edit is done for Spring Summer I feel safe enough to try out some of those 30-30 pieces again.
I found this scarf that I permanently borrowed from my Mom but never have gotten around to wearing. Another item that will feel too wintery in a few weeks. I loved how the color palette matched the red boots. This outfit is so basic, just the jean skirt, the plain black sweater and tights but the accessories really kept it from feeling boring (like that one did).
Pulling off the whole scarf look again, and after my sisters comments (see comments after linked post) that a scarf need not feel “stewardessy” I tried to wear it with confidence. Somewhere I read this inspiring quote, “You can change your clothes as many times as it takes to feel right, but once you walk out the door you need to rock it, because it’s confidence that really make the whole thing work.”
Sweater: Banana Republic, ’10
Jean Skirt: H&M, ’03
Boots: Miz Mooz via Nordstroms, ’10
Scarf: ??
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