bleah

On Friday, I was trying to work my new white button-down into an outfit, and pulled this together:

I love the detailing at the top of this blouse but the cut is really boxy, so I tried belting with a scarf. Eh. Not amazing. At least I like the scarf and shoes together.

And THEN I realized it's basically just this outfit over again. Same skirt, same shoes, same scarf, white short-sleeved blouse. Lame.

I feel like I'm in a rut. I think it's partially the heat, which restricts layering, and partially that most of my clothes, including all of my skirts, are neutral colors. All of my color is in my tops, scarves, and shoes. Bah. I don't want to spend any more money on clothes - I want to get creative with the stuff I own. Ok, that's the project for next week.

Blouse: Banana Republic outlet

Scarf: TJMaxx, ancient

Skirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: JCPenny's

copycat

This post from Tina totally inspired me to pull out my own green jersey dress.

This is a terrible picture because my usual picture-taking spot was filled with neighbors and I was way too self-conscious to take more than one. Oh well. The outfit was cuter in person, I promise!

Off to a wedding in the Midwest this weekend. The boyfriend and I will be attempting to fit all our clothes for three days into one little rolling suitcase, plus a garment bag for his suit. I am a terrible packer, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Bring it, little roll-y suitcase!

Dress: TJMaxx

Tank top: 2 pack from Costco

Cardigan: kersh essentials

Flats: Rocket Dogs

Scarf: ancient, TJMaxx

a little behind

So this is actually what I wore last Wednesday. I love this shirtdress because it basically is an outfit on its own, making getting dressed super easy.

I brightened up the dark color with my absolute favorite scarf, and threw on my new favorite wedges for height.

Fashion blogging got shoved to the side the rest of last week as I had some serious decisions to make. I am proud to announce that next year I will be living in part of the former Yugoslavia, teaching English as part of a U.S. governmental program. Though it will be hard to leave, I think this is a great opportunity and I am excited for new adventures!

Dress: Mossimo via Target
Scarf: hand-me-down
Shoes: Bandalino via TJMaxx
Earrings: ancient

Happy Memorial Day!

For Tina, who loves a good casual post:

Easy and a little bit fifties. A perfect outfit for hanging laundry on the clothesline, no?

Shirt: TJMaxx
Shorts: GAP outlet
Sandals: Chinese Laundry via TJMaxx
Scarf: hand-me-down

mixed greens

I found this super comfortable jersey dress at TJMaxx last week on a marathon shopping trip with my mom and sister. I am pretty much in love with it. I wore it under my cap and gown with black heels, and I teachered it up yesterday with a button-down.

However, I'm worried that with the puffed-sleeve blouse and the scarf-sash, the whole thing comes off a bit too kindergarten playdate. What do you all think?

Dress: Spense via TJMaxx

Blouse: TJMaxx

Scarf: hand-me-down

Flats: Rocket Dogs

Ring: gift from mom

pbbbbt

My dad and my sister are visiting for the weekend, and this morning my sister told me that gray and brown don't go together.

I have proved her wrong, no? Or at least annoyed her, which was mostly the point.

Love you, Chels!

White cardigan: kersh essentials

Blue long-sleeved t-shirt: thrifted

Skirt: j.crew outlet

Scarf: H&M, gifted

Boots: Steve Madden Girl

Socks: TJMaxx
New ring(!): gift from mom

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

blades of glory

Inspired by the Olympics, I pulled my ice skates out of the back of the closet and went to the rink on campus this morning. I skated for years when I was growing up, and it was glorious to use those muscles again, to feel that glide and the freedom of zooming around the ice.

I needed an outfit that I could tutor in that also wouldn't suffer too much from being stuffed into a skate bag for a couple hours. Sounds like a long cardigan and scarf to me.

Also, I continue to be in love with these boots. Yes, they are somewhat impractical for the warm temps and resulting mud, since they are extremely flat and suede. I do not care. They make me feel cool.

Black cardigan: kersh essentials via Costco

Tank tops: ancient

Jeans: Banana Republic

Boots: Steve Madden, ebay'd by mom

Scarf: gifted, H & M

Earrings: Burlington

Ring: Alaska state fair

the sneaky knot

So I do not own many crewneck shirts. I think they make me look short and squat and bulldozerish. I tend to stick to boatnecks and v-necks and turtlenecks. When I fall in love with a cruel, cruel crewneck, such as this lovely soft jewel-tone sweater, I tend to try to break up the neckline by layering it over or under something.

Yesterday I was substituting for another ESL teacher and wanted to stay a little on the conservative side, so once again I thought of this sweater and a pencil skirt. For a different way of camoflaging the neckline I tried the "sneaky knot" recently featured on academichic.


Results? Meh. The scarf didn't totally hide the neckline when tied this way, and the "sneaky knot" creates a lot of bulk down the front, which is kind of distracting for someone who waves her hands around as much when teaching as I do. It's also an impediment to good hugs. I do not think clothing should interfere with hugs.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Top: BR outlet
Skirt: GAP outlet
Scarf: gift from mom
Tights: street vendor in Russia
Boots: Burlington
Earrings: Fred Meyer's

escapee!

Today's outfit is a slight reworking of this outfit - easy, comfy, with a splash of bright green to keep me cheerful.

I switched to a shorter cardigan to show off more of the color of the top, and grabbed my new gray and black scarf to pick up the gray of the shoes.

Also, my nutty cat has been escaping out the back door when I come out to take my pics - today I caught him on film! Silly beast.

Here's a cuteoverload-style en-HANCE!

Shirt: TJMaxx

Cardigan: Costco

Belt: TJMaxx

Jeans: GAP

Shoes: Also outlet

Scarf: gift from mom

Earrings: hand-me-down from mom

sleeeeeeepy

Ever had one of of those mornings where you have to be somewhere at 8:30 and you roll over and look at the clock and see that it's 7:45 and you overslept and you panic and run to take the world's fastest shower and throw on some clothes and then look at the clock again and realize you read it wrong and it's only 7? Yup.

Fortunately the day got better from there - I had a good meeting with my advisor and I actually got to help folks at the writing center today, which felt great.

Nothing too creative outfit-wise - just some cozy layers in my favorite color scheme. I wish I weren't so wrinkly, but otherwise I felt pretty and comfortable.

I ganked this awesome belt from my mom's belt drawer while I was home - it's from the 80's and is stretchy and suede-y.

Girls' movie night at my house tonight! It's part 2 of Pride and Prejudice, with tea and scones.

Dress: TJMaxx

Sweater: kersh essentials via Costco

Scarf: gift, H & M

Tights: Hue via Burlington

Belt: mommed

Boots: Burlington

Earrings: Aldo outlet

sophisticated cowboy?

Inspired by today's comparatively warm sunshine, I decided to try a winter remix of this fall outfit, adding leggings, knee-high boots, and a scarf. It came out a little cowboy, but I'm ok with that.


This writing center job is going to be all about casually professional, and I think a button-down with a denim skirt fits that aesthetic well.

I loved the way the rich tones of the scarf played up the deep purple of the shirt, but since I suspected it would be warm in the writing center (I was right), I also wore a necklace.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

Shirt: j.crew

Skirt: Levis via Sears

Belt: GAP

Scarf: gift, H & M
Leggings: Target

Boots: Steven Madden Girl via DSW

Necklace: my aunt's from the 70's

Ring: Burlington

footless wonder

Ahhhhh these pants are eating my foot!

No, not really.

I'm sure you all are very relieved.

I'm starting to get to that point of winter where I'm a weensy bit bored with the colors of my winter clothes. I was tidying up my bureau the other day and this pretty teal top caught my eye. I tried to winterize it with some good solid basics and a matching scarf.

I have to say that I am still not sold on these pants. They are just so...wide. What do you all think? Keep or donate?

Sweater: kersh essentials via Costco

Teal top: street vendor in Thailand

Pants: BR outlet

Shoes: Aldo outlet

Belt: Target
Scarf: TJMaxx
Ring and earrings: Alaska state fair

more inspiration

I've recently discovered the delightful What Would A Nerd Wear (clearly the best blog title ever). I like her style, but I think even more I like how honest she is about the process of fashion blogging - some days, it's hard to be creative, or you're not thrilled with an outfit, and that's real. I like real. And when this recent outfit caught my eye, I thought I would try a hand at recreating it.

So this...is the shortest skirt I own. I've had it since, oh, late high school, when I was more comfortable with skirts above my knees than I am now. But with two pairs of thick tights for coverage and the rest of the outfit pretty demure, I actually felt appropriate for a series of meetings on campus - and surprisingly warm! Two pairs of tights + wool skirt = very happy legs, even in the biting wind.

Oh wait, did I say demure?

Hello! I freaking love this belt. I also did some more braidy goodness. (I fixed the bobby pins after the photos.)

Happy almost weekend, everybody!

Sweater: Banana Republic
Skirt: Old Navy, ancient
Belt: Target
Scarf: gift from mom
Magenta tights: Hue via TJMaxx (Black tights underneath:street vendor in Russia)
Shoes: Payless
Earrings: Target
Ring: Burlington

something that buttons

It's a rare day that I wear a button-up shirt without something over it. I know they look professional and all, but professionalism goes right out the window when the world can peer through the pucker-holes and see what color your bra is. Usually I need to buy a size or two up in order to keep the bust in check. To me, it's not really worth the effort.

I love this shirt because it fits perfectly. I'm not thrilled about the color because it can be hard to match it with stuff (a problem of saturation, usually), but I just like that it's not waving around like a flag about my waist. It's a fitted shirt that actually fits, and there's definitely something to be said for that.

So, I felt pretty happy and confident in it all day. I've had it for a couple years, but I try to only take it out once every one or two months, just so I don't get sick of it.

The problem with this outfit is the pants...gahhh they are such a problem! I like the color, and I had them hemmed so they would be just the right length, but they have wide legs, and I just think it makes my short legs look shorter. I think the two items make a good pair because the fittedness of the shirt offsets the bagginess of the pants, but there's just something about these pants that always annoys me. Thoughts on where to get better pants/what to do about pants you want to like?

Green shirt: Fashion Bug
Brown pants: Gap outlet
Scarf: appeared one day...not sure where it's from or why it's around
Shoes: Fashion Bug


P.S. I didn't actually wear the scarf all day. This was before going to work, and I was about to head out into some chilly weather. It looks cute my navy blue pea coat, I think.

LGD: little gray dress

For my first day back at work post-cold I wanted something super easy and comfortable. Jersey dress? Yes please.

This dress is probably the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. It's got great button detailing on the empire waist. The only thing I'm not sure I love is the neckline, so I usually layer it over something or add a scarf.

I'm having a hard time finding a good location for pictures inside. I'd love to be outdoors but A) it's freezing out and B) it's pitch black when I get home from work. So, some living room experiementations are in order.

Dress: Fred Meyer's

Tights: Hue via TJMaxx

Boots: Burlington Coat Factory

Scarf: gift from mom

study study study

This is mega-crunch time for the semester (two papers due this morning, two exams in the next three days - aaaack!) so I've been mostly in my pjs for the past three days. I met up with a friend for a study session yesterday afternoon and decided I needed to look cute. You know, for my mental health. Looking cute has been scientifically proven* to be good for your mental health.

So, I decided to give the belted scarf thang another go. I thought this pretty purple pashmina might be a good candidate, since it's simple and lightweight.

In retrospect I wish it were just a bit longer, so I could loop it more loosely. Oh well.

I didn't have a top in a good neutral color with a high enough neck for this look, since I tend to favor scoop or v-necks, so I ended up turning this top around (yet another trick I stole from academichic - God I love that site). The back, now the front, has this pretty crocheted bit. A tank top for modesty/warmth and I was ready to go!

Also, I finally tried pulling my boots on over my jeans! What do you think?

Blue top: Forever 21

White sweater: kersh essentials via Costco

Gray tank: three-pack at Costco

Jeans: GAP

Belt: thrifted

Scarf: gift from aunt

Boots: Madden Girl
Earrings: street vendor on Cape Cod

*By which I mean, not scientifically proven at all.