apologies and conference day 2

So, way before I was recovered from the first conference I had to pack again and go to the second (and hopefully, last) conference of the semester. I was worn out and not feeling creative so I packed all outfits I've worn before on this blog and liked.

I'm hoping to get back and track and do something interesting this week. If SPRING WILL EVER GET HERE ZOMG. I may need a theme week or something.

Anyhow, here's the outfit I wore for my presentation at the first conference, which I loved.

I felt so confident with the businesslike button-down and pencil skirt but also young and pretty with the flowy cardigan and wide belt. I was inspired by this pretty outfit I saw on From Sneakers to Stilettos. Thanks Rose!

Cardigan: ebay'd by mom

Green button down: Banana Republic

Gray belt: thrifted

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Rocket Dogs, gift from mom

Earrings: street vendor on Cape Cod

airplane and day 1

Can I just say how much I love wearing jersey dresses on the airplane? You guys. Here's what no one ever tells you: jersey dresses are basically nightgowns. They are awesome for traveling.

I felt so comfy (and so posh) all day. I am pretty much going to wear this outfit on every plane trip I take from here on out. Death to pinchy waistbands!


Jersey dress: Max Studio via Loehman's

Cardigan: Costco

Leggings: Target

Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW

For the first day of the conference, I wanted to be on the more casual side, since I wasn't presenting myself and wasn't sure how formal everyone else was going to be. I figured a shirt dress would be right in the middle.

Turns out, English teachers' conference wear runs a pretty wide range from jeans and t-shirts (ok, that was just the one guy) to a lot of business casual (dress pants and sweaters, button-downs, casual blazers), with presenters often wearing full suits.

Apologies for the poor hotel room lighting!

Shirtdress: Converse via Target

Belt: hand-me-down

Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW

Tights: ancient

conference wear

Sorry for the long silence, everyone - I've been attending my first ever big academic conference, including giving my first ever academic presentation! It was a whirlwind - my mind is still reeling from all the amazing people I met, the research I heard about, and so many ideas for what to do with my life after I graduate! I am completely inspired to get after my master's paper now that I've seen what other academics do with their work.

I'll be posting last week's outfits over the next few days as I recover from this conference and gear up for the next one, which starts on Thursday!

First, here's my packing list:

Button down shirts: white short-sleeved, green long-sleeved

Cardigans: long black, drapey gray, short white

Other tops: mustard and green, plus white, purple, and black camisoles for layering

Dresses: purple jersey, denim shirtdress

Skirt: black pencil

Shoes: brown boots, gray flats, black heels

Belts: wide silver, narrow brown, narrow red

Scarves: red multicolored pashmina, purple sparkley

Also packed: pajamas, running clothes and shoes, tights and socks and undies

Here are the outfits I planned:

Airplane, to and from:

Jersey dress, long cardigan, black camisole, black leggings, brown boots

Conference day 1, an all-day workshop:

Denim shirt dress, brown boots and belt, brown tights

Conference day 2, my presentation (!):

Green button-down, black pencil skirt, gray cardigan, silver belt, either gray flats or black heels and tights depending on the weather

Conference day 3:

Green top, white cardigan, black skirt, brown belt and boots

Conference day 4:

Jeans, white button-down, black cardigan, red skinny belt, gray flats

Going out to dinner in the evening:

Jeans, gray cardigan, purple camisole, gray belt, gray flats, purple scarf

Whew! I'll post more later.

shirt dress take 2

I wanted to remix my new denim shirt dress as a shirt by layering it under a skirt a la E. from Academichic. But when I had the dark denim and black on together, it felt altogether too dark, so I brightened up with some pops of bright pink!

I think this is one of the first ever outfits that won an unsolicited compliment from the boyfriend. Something about the proportions maybe?

Or perhaps the incontestable flirtiness of the flowy scarf around the waist...

Dress (as shirt): Converse via Target

Skirt: Merona, thrifted

Scarf: ancient, I think TJMaxx

Shoes: JCPenny's, gift from mom

Earrings: street vendor on Cape Cod

more spring colors

The Easter egg colors I wore Sunday (and Monday, let's be honest) made me so happy that I wanted more. So, I grabbed the only other thing in my closet that's a true pastel - this swirly skirt dress you may remember from No Fear week.

I swapped out the black cardigan for a white one and dark red shoes for mustard ones, and felt perfectly ladylike and spring-y all day.

I also snuck in another double-tights wearing. The days of double tights are rapidly coming to a close.

Dress: London Times via TJMaxx

Cardigan: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Tights: solid gray, Famous Footwear, lacey ones, ?

Tank top: Costco

spring showers

Since I'd never been to a baby shower before, I was stumped trying to figure out what to wear to my friend's shower this weekend. I was guessing baby showers are the kind of thing you dress up for, like church. There's probably an equal number of old ladies in attendance. But then I didn't want to be too formal. This is what I came up with.

New springtime cardigan and some nice slacks and pretty flats. Unlikely to offend, I figured. I layered two white tank tops for modesty. And the belt made it feel more like me.

Turns out I hit the nail on the head - slacks and nice tops were definitely the dress code. I was glad to remember how much I like these sailor pants. The buttons are awesome.

I liked this combo so much I wore it to school today, with a gray belt this time to pick up the color of the shoes.

Cardigan: gift from mom

White tanks: lace one, thrifted, plain one ancient

Sailor pants: j.crew outlet

Belt: thrifted
Flats: Rocket Dogs, gift from mom

Earrings: street vendor in Cape Cod

Ring: tourist shop in Russia

blavy

Pulled this black top out of the back of my closet this morning. I think it's been over a year since I've worn it, which is a shame, because the cut always makes me feel cute and sassy.

I tried for a bit of black and navy blue mixing, using my top and boots as the black and the sweater and dark jeans as the navy. Kasmira says using two pieces of each color makes the mixing look intentional.

I felt pretty good about it all day (especially with my gray and black scarf on), but looking at these pictures I wonder about the jeans and the sweater...they're either too close in color or not close enough, I can't tell. What do you all think?

Black top: Old Navy

Cardigan: kersh essentials via Costco

Jeans: Banana Republic

Boots: Burlington

Earrings: Aldo outlet

Watch: Target

Ring: tourist shop in Russia

two in one

This outfit was inspired by Tina's recent pretty outfits: the colors from this one with a little dash of the shapes from some others.

I had originally planned to wear just this long sparkley scarf, a la Tina, but it was really chilly out this morning. So I paired it with a pashmina for warmth. I ended up really liking the colors and textures together!


I was glad to squeeze in one more wear of my most ladylike wool skirt before it's time to pack it away.
And a little belt sass never hurt anyone.

Sweater: Banana Republic
Skirt: United Colors of Benetton
Belt: Target
Sparkley scarf: gift from mom
Pink pashmina: unknown
Tights: Hue
Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW
Ring: market in Russia
Earrings: AK state fair

the return of the mustard

Sunny days make me want to wear yellow. That's all.


Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: Oscar via Burlington
Belt: hand-me-down
Denim skirt: Levi's via Sears
Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW
Tights: CK via Burlington
Earrings: GNW via Fred Meyer's
Watch: Target
Ring: Burlington

shirt dress!

I have been looking for a shirt dress forever. I have probably tried on about a bazillion shirt dresses in every conceivable fabric. Mostly the problem is that if they fit my top half (i.e. none of that stupid gaping between the buttons) they're too baggy on the bottom. Does anyone else have that problem?

So I was awfully excited to find this denim-ish shirt dress on the sale rack at Target this weekend. It FITS! And is COMFY! If it had pockets it would be well-nigh unstoppable.

I was really impressed with the way E. from Academichic remixed her shirt dress three different ways, so I'll be trying all three of them over the next few weeks. I started with the most basic today: tights (doubled up for warmth), brown boots, and this awesome new brown belt I inherited from a friend who was cleaning out her closet.


I liked the way the different browns played off each other, and I can't wait to wear this dress again!

Dress: Converse via Target
Belt: hand-me-down
Tights: ancient
Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW
Watch: Target
Ring: Burlington