Better Basics

 

One of the surprising things I've found about doing this insane thing of taking photos of myself and posting them on the internet is that I've had to look some of my style choices and realize that how I actually looked wasn't the same as what I imagined in my head. A simple black and white basics look from last week is a good example of this. It wasn't disastrous, but I certainly didn't look my best. The biggest issue was a pair of black cropped pants that were a little too tight, a little too short, and no longer quite as black as they used to be. I'd been wearing them  regularly and pretending they were OK, but seeing photos of them up on the screen made me realize it was time for them to go. They're now sitting atop my donate pile waiting for my next trip to Goodwill.

This black and white outfit is so much better. It's a little less basic -- stripes instead of solid white on top, and the addition of a teal statement necklace -- but what really makes it better are the pants. These are the Dannie Pant from J.Crew, which is sold out in almost every size now but which I hope they will bring back this fall or winter. They fit so much better, the longer length is  much more flattering than the old ones, and they're actually black. Plus, they have a cool zipper detail in the back which, though I didn't get a photo, has gotten me more compliments than I'd like to admit (because they mean that the complimenters were definitely looking at my behind). Which is all to say, one of the lessons I'm learning from blogging is, it's all about the basics.

pants: J.Crew [yeah, pretty much totally sold out] | sweater: LOFT | necklace: Fossil [thrifted] | shoes: Banana Republic

 Oh, and the shoes have sweet zipper details too. Aren't they great! Also, are everyone's feet so veiny?

On Faking It

It happens more than I'd like to admit: the alarm goes off in the morning and I have no plan at all. No outfits picked out, no lunches made, no gym bags packed, no breakfast prepared. On those days, we usually also have piles of laundry in the bedroom, piles of dishes in the sink, and piles of junk all over the rest of the house. My first line of attack on days like these is to hit the snooze button and see if the morning goes away. When that fails, my husband is there with a plan of his own. His plan is called "faking it."

Once we have decided we're faking it, I can stop beating myself up for falling short of domestic and sartorial perfection. I can put my hair in a bun, eat a handful of nuts for breakfast, wear jeans to work, and buy lunch once I'm there. (As my wonderful husband regularly reminds me, money can be exchanged for goods and services.) I wouldn't want to fake it every day, but every once in a while it can save my sanity and turn a horrible day into something pretty good. Especially when I manage to scrounge up an outfit that doesn't look half bad. A striped drapey cardigan helps: looks like effort, feels like a bathrobe!

cardigan: boutique in Stellenbosch, SA [similar, similar on sale]  | tank: Old Navy [exact] | jeans: Gap | belt: Old Navy | bag: Francesca's | sandals: Franco Sarto

Woah, you can see how dinged up my bag is in this close-up... as I said, we're faking it...

Thrifting!

The point of this whole blogging enterprise is to help me build a wardrobe that makes sense, so that I can get dressed, even look professional and put together, without tearing my hair out every morning. A big part of that is getting rid of stuff that is hindering rather than helping. Stuff that doesn't fit right, stuff that I can't quite make work, stuff that doesn't make me feel like me. So I recently sold some clothes at the local consignment shop and donated what they wouldn't take. I got rid of shirts, sweaters, and dresses that are in colors I don't wear very often -- blues & purples -- as well as some duplicates -- I probably don't need three navy wrap dresses. 

In order to reward myself for this heroic closet cleaning exercise, I got some new clothes! They were from the shop where I consigned my stuff, so the net cost was about eleven bucks. And I'm thrilled with what I got in exchange, especially these tomato red pants that are a cotton replica of my tomato red wool pants. I love the wool version for winter, and I can always find some way to wear them, so I have no doubts that the cotton version will get lots of play this spring and summer.

I wore this out to lunch with my husband and his mom and then parking myself on the couch to work on revisions.

jean jacket: Target [same] | tee: Banana Republic | belt: Gap | pants: JC Penny [thrifted] | scarf: who knows! [thrifted] | bag: Gap | shoes: Clarks

A Few of My Favorite Things

I adore every single piece of clothing I am wearing today. I love the stripey sweater. I love the lime shorts, even if they're rumpled. I love the green-and-yellow necklace. I love the gold shoes and belt. I love the Russian sage, which though it is not a piece of clothing inspired this outfit. I noticed the purple flowers yesterday and immediately knew, first of all, that I wanted to use them as a background for an outfit photo and second, that they would look great with my lime green shorts. And I was right! I'm phenomenally pleased with myself.

I wore this for a day of writing, writing, writing.

sweater: LOFT | shorts: Banana Republic factory | necklace: Target | belt: J.Crew factory | shoes: Lindsay Phillips | shades: LOFT

Look Familiar?

I started reading fashion blogs one marvelously lazy weekend a few months ago, and after wasting spending more time than I'd like to admit stalking following some of my favorites I thought I'd try my hand. Apparently, it is more difficult than it looks. That is why my car, rather than a beautiful blossoming tree, is the backdrop of this picture. It is also why I'm wearing a grand total of four and a half different pieces of clothing in the three posts I've managed so far. But let's just say it's because I'm crafting a distinctive personal style.

I wore this for a morning of writing and an afternoon of purging my closet. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.

jean jacket: Target [exact, but mine's normal, not acid wash] | sweater: Loft | pants: J.Crew [exact] | scarf: Loft | shoes: Nine West | purse: Gap [in an awesome print]

Flight

I wore the outfit on a cross-country flight to a conference. I wanted to look pulled together on the flight but I also wanted to be comfortable. This blazer, striped shirt, and red scarf did the trick. This new Fossil bag carried all my gear.

blazer: J.Crew [exact] | sweater: Loft | scarf: Loft | jeans: J.Crew Factory | bag: Fossil [in other colors] | loafers: Clarks