Give Pants a Chance

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I rarely wear dress pants. The fact of the matter is, they I hate me and I hate them. Try as I might to find a suitable pair that fits and flatters, I always come out worse for wear in the experience and predictably empty-handed. But a basic dress pant is a wardrobe staple, right? I mean, as much as I love the skirt thing, sometimes you just want to put on some damn pants and call it a day, amirite? Happily, though somewhat frustratingly, I was able to find a basic black trouser that fit all my pant requirements: no muffin top (a somewhat higher rise is therefore my preference), no camel toe (DUH), longer length for heels (I'll never wear them with flats), and a leg opening on the wider end of things. Thank you, Lane Bryant, for having this pair not only in my size but also length in store so I could spend about an hour trying to figure out if they were worth it or not try and actually buy (with a coupon, of course.) But seriously, as basic black trousers go, these fit the bill nicely. So much so that I was finally, really, actually, able to give pants a chance...

Bolstered by this success, I decided to try Gap's Perfect Trousers a few weeks ago. They truly might have been "perfect" if not for my current size/weight/shape. Great colors/textures, ideal length, slimmer through the thigh, wide-but-not-excessively-so leg opening. YES! But, no. I couldn't keep the camel toe away long enough to convince me they were a good idea. I even went up a size, but then everything else I loved about the fit went away. And I just don't have the patience for a tailor. I may return to them when I shed a few pounds, but until then, black pants is alls I got. And if I'm being honest, maybe alls I need.

Smocked Waist Blouse In Chevron - TBags Los Angeles (via Gwynnie Bee) /
T3 Classic Trousers - Lane Bryant / Half-cami - Coobie (via HerRoom.com)

But the real victory of this outfit, and probably therefore of the pants, is the top. It just might be the nicest, comfiest, flatteringiest thing in my closet, and I don't even own it. That's right, Gwynnie Bee to the rescue once again for nice things that I could never own even if I wanted to. (Have you tried Gwynnie Bee yet???) I would LOVE to purchase this top - every time I peruse these pictures I sigh happily - but it's well over $100 even discounted though GB, and if I'm being honest with myself, I can only see myself wearing it like this or with my favorite jeans (which I've done a few times now as a great date-night get up - take away the cami and HELLO LOVELY CLEAVAGE!) No, I think I'll just continue to hoard this one a little while longer...

Ah, but the chevrons. And cobalt blue. And silky smooth fabric. And belly coverage. And cleavage (when appropriate)...

Handbag - Furla / Sandals - Nine West / Ring - H&M / Earrings - Lane Bryant (?) / 

And, oh yeah, pants.

A Floral Affair

The cleaning out of unblogged outfits continues! I wore this outfit numerous times in the waning summer days. It became the perfect go-to outfit for all those body-conscious days and then some - it was concealing, to be sure, but it was also feminine, flattering, and on-trend. It began an obsession for all things floral, in fact.

Ring - Pim + Larkin (via Piperlime) / Earrings - Ruche / Nails - Stylenomics by Essie (via Ulta)

This Kiyonna top, and I realize I'm sounding like a broken record here, is yet another Gwynnie Bee rental. (However, after wearing it so many times, I found I couldn't part with it and finally just bought it!) When I first received it, I was a bit concerned it skewed too matronly, but pairing it with skinny jeans was really the best way to offset that concern. I think you could wear it with trousers or a skirt and accessorize accordingly, but I loved how fresh skinnies made the print look. (For what it's worth, I also tried the emerald version, but I didn't like it nearly as much. The print really is part of its charm!) Plus, its billowy sleeves and longer length were, as I always say, the perfect complement for close-fitting bottoms.

Chantal Chiffon Blouse In Black Floral - Kiyonna (via Gwynnie Bee) /
Skinnies - Lane Bryant (old) / Sandals - Nine West

The great thing about the print is its numerous colors, too. I like the black background as a "winter" floral option, but you can really pull out any color you want to make it seasonally appropriate. Fuschia and kelly green were my pop-of-color du jour for warmer days, but I can absolutely see mustard yellow and darker green options to come.

Handbag - Gustto "Pavia"

You know, I've been in the market for new skinnies, but I can't get over how good this older LB pair still looks on me. When I first started wearing skinnies, I swore by Gap's Always Skinny Jean, but no matter how many times I give them a try these days, they don't seem to work as well on me. I blame their uncomfortably low rise (and the ensuing muffin top), so I've just decided to stick to these trusty LB skinnies until I absolutely wear them into the ground (and possibly even shed some weight). Do you guys have any favorite brands for skinnies to recommend?

Galaxies Away

So in efforts to clean out my picture albums and to get on a more regular blogging schedule, I'm pulling out a few unblogged outfits from the summer that I simply have to post. It's so odd to see the freshly clipped bright green grass rather than the piles of golden leaves everywhere, but it's actually a nice reminder of the joys of changing seasons!

This outfit was fondly worn for a weekend outing to our favorite downtown bars during a wonderful summer visit with my sister and brother-in-law. I love when they come to visit - I wish they did more often! - but it's a great way to rejuvenate our love for our town by experiencing their own enjoyment of it!

Wrap Top in Galaxy Print - ASOS (via Gwynnie Bee) / Ankle pants - Lane Bryant /
Instant Sleeves in Black - LucieLu / Sandals - Nine West

The top is, you guessed it, another rental from Gwynnie Bee. Yet again, it's definitely a top that I would never have purchased for myself, especially considering its potential cray-cray involving an exaggerated shape at the hip. But it is exactly its silhouette that makes it so unique and worth trying, and it just so happens that the same hip exaggeration makes a perfect balance for skinny ankle pants and killer heels. The print itself is fabulous too, and it was lots of fun pulling out various colors from it - coral, cornflower blue, purple - some of my favorite hues, to be sure.

Ring - The Limited (old) / Necklace - Banana Republic (old) / Earrings - Lane Bryant (old) /
Clutch - Lane Bryant (old) / Nails - Suzi Says Feng Shui by OPI (via Ulta)

Bottom line, it was kind of perfect night-out ensemble - attention-getting, comfortable, and just plain fun. Much like the margaritas and fabulous company. =)

Eye of the Tiger Lily

Having only two real "working" days these days, I find myself in much more need of casual outfits. When I'm not in the classroom, I'm either in my home office or coffee shop "office," both of which provide some real sartorial challenges. While I've actually grown to love my home office (especially with my precious La Perla de Oaxaca a la French Press), it doesn't really encourage me to get dressed for the day. (Yoga pants and old college sweatshirt does not a bloggiful [totes just made up that word] ensemble make.) And the coffee shop certainly doesn't require pencils skirts and heels! (Not that that has stopped me.) So what to wear, what to wear... Alls I can say is, thank goodness for denim in its many varieties!

Top - Lucky Brand via Gwynnie Bee / Skinnies - Lane Bryant (old)
Sandals - Christain Siriano for Payless (old)

I've honestly loved wearing my skinnies with some kind of voluminous top lately. It's not only a chic way to do casual, it's comfortable and, better yet, a great way to dress for the hotter fall days we've been having in the Midwest. (86° in October? C'mon now...) And once again, Gwynnie Bee comes to the rescue with yet another cute top to don for just such an "occasion." I know I wore this exact outfit at least 5 times before finally sending the top back!

Ring and necklace (old) - Ruche

I loved pulling out the pink in the top with a few choice accessories. The orange and pink made for an unexpectedly fabulous color combo! In fact, I think the accessories pretty much made the outfit.

The other thing about heading downtown to my fave coffee shop is the need to lug more than a few books with me. Sure, I have a backpack, but what fun is that? This is where my many oversized bags come into more "functional" play...not that such function has ever been a consideration for me before - the bigger the better, I say! Happily, and pretty much outta nowhere, the kind folks over at Gustto - after seeing my blog header with one of my favorite handbags ever (my fuchsia Gustto Pavia, worn OFTEN) - offered to send me a bag from their eye-popping, budget-friendly handbag line, Miss Gustto. Was I going to jump on a chance for a free handbag from a designer I know and love? HELLZ YES. The difficult thing was only which to choose! I settled on this goes-with-everything taupe number (The "Katie") both for its fabulous size and delicious hardware. The unexpected surprise was that it not only fit a number of books, but also my laptop! All while able to sit comfortably over my shoulder for all those now easy jaunts downtown. I was also really impressed with the quality of the bag itself. It's a vegan/budget bag-lover's DREAM - smooth faux leather, good construction and really fun details. I tend to think this brand nails the oversized trend, too. Pretty sure I'm officially in the market for a few more...

"Katie" Handbag - c/o Miss Gustto

And you know what, Miss Gustto is offering my readers a chance to win one of their bags! Stay tuned for details regarding the giveaway in the next few days!

Earrings - LOFT (old)

Hmmm...that fuchsia Pavia would have been a perfect choice for this outfit, too, eh?

Rotational Pull

So my new favorite thing to wear on slightly cooler days has involved variations on the following combination: cardigan, blousey patterned top, belt, favorite denim, wedge sandals. It's seriously the perfect combination of feminine meets comfortable. And with my midsection being what it is these says, I'm grateful for the the stylish camouflage!

Cardigan - LOFT / Top - Land's End via Gwynnie Bee / Denim - Lane Bryant
Sandals - Nine West / Handbag - Ruche

Necklace - Old Navy (?) / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - LOFT / Belt - Eloquii (part of different top)

The top, of course, is yet another "rental" from Gwynnie Bee. I don't think I would have purchased the top online on its own, and probably would not have bothered even trying it on in the store if I had come upon it. But it's a sweet little piece that I was glad to put in my closet rotation for a while! Reason #17215679 why I don't think I could live without my Gwynnie Bee subscription! The offer still stands for you to try out a month for free yourself!

In other news, a month has FLOWN by in my new-old life as a PhD student. It's been great to get back into the classroom, actually. It feels so natural and comfortable that I couldn't help but notice that my stress levels have diminished significantly. In some ways I've been having an identity crisis, however. Going from a titled position of relative "power" (not to mention a bigger paycheck and better benefits - boy do I miss my FSA) to the somewhat heedless life of a grad student and teaching assistant? Gah, I feel lost. But it's a means to an end, as I keep telling myself. Get this dissertation written so I can move on with my life and really make a dent in my career aspirations. And maybe, finally, settle down with a wedding and (gasp) kids! But having time (read: evenings and weekends) to myself again has been wonderful. I've even found my way back to the gym, and we're eating much healthier meals on a much more regular basis. Change really is good...

High and Low

I'm pretty sure I wore this outfit over 5 times before I sent the top back to Gwynnie Bee - basically any time I wanted to leave the apartment and actually do something with myself. (My maxi dresses got a nice little break during those days.) I even contemplated purchasing the top with their new Try Then Buy program, but decided against it. If one top is able to single-handedly convince me to jump aboard the hi-lo bandwagon, however, this one did the trick.

Hi-Lo Top - Eloquii via Gwynnie Bee / Skinny jeans - Lane Bryant / Sandals - Nine West (n/a)

It's a delightfully colorful top, as you can see, and so darn comfortable (read: concealing) that I was reluctant to acknowledge its faults. For instance, I wish the neckline were more open or the sleeves a little longer, or that it didn't make me look like a gigantic tent from the side (not pictured, obvi). But it was the perfect complement for skinny jeans and my current favorite (and equally colorful) handbag pulled out one of its many hues. I was at least happy that a long pendant necklace helped break up the neckline and redefine the bust area. Uni-boob is no joke, my friends.

Necklace - Hive & Honey (via Piperlime) / Ring - Ruche (n/a) / Earrings - The Limited /
Nails - OPI Espresso Your Style (via Ulta)

The back of the top is undeniably fun, and its v-shaped (back) neckline is another one of my favorite features of the top. I can understand the complaint that many such hi-lo garments make a person look like one has a tail, but I say whatevs. Work it! It's a trend I've been extremely picky about, but it's one I don't mind participating in while it lasts. I definitely prefer hi-lo tops over dresses at the moment. It's rare that I find a dress with a "hi" hem that's long enough for me, but tops are mostly fool-proof, and they really are the perfect topper for skinnies.

In other life news, I had an interview this morning and I think it went reasonably well! I didn't knock it out of the park (I'm much less eloquent than I used to be), but I'm cautiously optimistic. I have another first-round interview Friday morning (followed by a much-need hair appointment...whew!), so it's just good to even get to that phase! Not all hope is lost for my future. =D I sure do hate writing cover letters, though...

Handbag - Steve Madden (via TJ Maxx)

P.S. The offer still stands to give Gwynnie Bee a try for free for one month! Read about my first experiences with the clothing service here!

Origami

I've been extremely moved by the outpouring of love and support from all of you since my post last week. There aren't enough words to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your stories, advice and thoughtfulness. You are all tremendously kind souls, and I’m so grateful this blog has allowed me to connect with you!

A return to blogging has led to digging through the mountain of old, unposted outfit pictures in Picasa still waiting to be shared. I don't want to let all those perfectly good outfits go to waste, but I know there will be something depressing about reliving sweaters and jackets while I’m actually fighting off 90 degree heat and humidity in an oft-worn maxi dress, sandals and minimal make-up. However, summer dressing has always been traditionally boring as HECK in my current/soon-to-be-former job, so I thought it would be a good time to revisit those out-of-season but perfectly good photo sessions and rejuvenate the content on this ol’ blog. I’m also thinking about how I can take advantage of my upcoming “vacation” and shake things up a bit sartorially. It might just take my mind off all the what-the-hell-comes-next stress I’m experiencing!

In the meantime, I thought I'd first feature a more recent outfit thanks to the glory that is Gwynnie Bee. Like so much of the blogosphere and its environs (or so I must assume), I finally joined Gwynnie Bee. I'm sure many of you have already read another blogger's experience about it and know how it works, or you might already be a member yourself, so I'll simply link to the mechanics of it for now. As for me, I can’t seem to shut up about it – mostly to my sister (who I finally convinced to join) or poor Bob who witnesses my package arrivals and the squeals of glee that come from the amazement of getting to try something from Anna Scholtz or Igigi for fractions of the cost. And not only do I get to try it on, I get to wear it out, take the tags off, wrinkle it, put perfume on. AND THEN RETURN IT. No guilt! No buyer's remorse! It's a genius concept, really. Netflix for clothing, indeed! So much of my shopping addiction comes from that unadulterated bliss of getting something NEW, despite how often it does or does not get worn in the future. Gwynnie Bee has released me from being tied-down, committed, invested in certain items of clothing. (Friends, I think I just admitted that I'm a clothing slut...)  It's also the perfect answer to the lack of modern, high-quality plus-sized clothing available in brick and mortar stores, and the age-old pain of having to try things on in the store even if you DO find them. And then spending sometimes stupid amounts of money on not only the clothing but often shipping. And then facing a possible return... ugh, don't get me started. Gwynnie Bee has single-handedly confronted and solved all of that, not to mention the fact that I can finally sustain an acceptable clothing budget (something I've never been able to say before). If you happen to not have joined yet, DO IT. You even get to try your first month for free! (If you join via my personal link and/or mention my name or blog, I’ll get a free month!) And then tell all your friends and family to do it, too. (Then YOU’LL get a free month.) This is not a sponsored post, my friends. As a bonafide clothes slut horse, I'm just over the moon that a service like this exists for plus sizes.

Earrings - Ruche (last year) / Ring - Trina Turk for Banana Republic (n/a) /
Belt - The Limited (old) / Nails - Where's My Chauffeur? (Essie via Ulta)

I joined GB in January, so I hadn't been in blogging mode for most of the GB pieces that have already come and gone from of my closet, but this origami top from ASOS CURVE became an instant favorite (worn 3 times in one week!) and I knew I had to blog it at some point. It's a finicky top, to be sure, but I'm happy to say that I've made it work. I mean, it is HUGE. Indeed, most of the reviews on Gwynnie Bee will tell you how big and unflattering it is and to not even bother. But I've found this to be the case for most of the tops in the ASOS CURVE line. Do a quick browse of their tops and you'll easily see that those Brits seem to favor their oversized, flowy styles. Between the fabulous models they have WERQing their pieces, and their often perfect styling of them, there is definitely inspiration to be found, however. The trick to this particular top is to belt it as featured on the model. It's still somewhat fussy, yes, but if you accept that it should fit more like a tunic (as, oddly, the straight-sized version is called), and that the origami folds are actually a really great feature of the top that you can exploit, it can be a fabulous piece. Skinnies are practically a necessity, of course. In fact, I liked how big it was because it magically covered up all the bulges of my midsection while still making me look shapely, modern and fun. I do still wish it was one size smaller (the smallest size GB or ASOS offered in this top was a 16), but I improved the fit by securing it at my shoulders so it could still hang loosely without sagging in the front. I liked this outfit so much that I thought briefly of buying the top, but I couldn't really justify it as the one hit wonder it seems to be - even if I play that hit over and over again. I may request it from GB again in the future, though! Hell, I might be the only one who likes it anyway. =)

Cardigan - LOFT (old) / Origami top - ASOS via Gwynnie Bee / Black skinnies - Old Navy /
Handbag - Coach (gifted) / Wedges - LOFT (old)

I should mention that, as I attempt to get back into the blogging grove and deal with my departure from my job (and everything else that means), posting may be a bit spotty. Please bear with me! I really am back. =)