Sick Day

First of all, I apologize for the previous ghost post that might have popped up in your Google Reader. I was experimenting with some new settings on Polyvore and they got the best of me!

Second of all, I'm still sick. Still. After a week of feeling miserable with no end in sight, I finally decided to go to the doctor so they could hook me up with the good drugs. We'll see if I actually sleep through the night without coughing every 10 minutes... I've been in and out of work all week, but I simply had to go in today. I even did my hair! But, once I got home I was so beat that I just couldn't fathom outfit pictures and the subsequent blog post. On the plus side, I'll get to wear today's outfit (and actually post it) again sooner than later!

But since I've been absent yet again for longer than I'd like, I wanted to share a few wishlist/outfit ideas in lieu of the outfit of the day. Birthday dinner, Christmas dinner and New Year's Eve are all approaching rapidly, and a girl's gotta find some new duds! Bonus: Boyfriend is taking me to Anthropologie in Chicago for a birthday shopping trip (hurray for 15% off birthday discount!), so you better believe I've got a growing wish list to share...

The first set is based around skinny jeans/jeggings. I just love the look lately, especially with those darn hot boots of mine. I love this pieced-together-looking Anthropologie sweater wrap, layered over a comfy but colorful tee.

These next few outfits are based again on skinnies, one with this fantastic plaid capelet from Anthropologie that I simply must have, and a similarly shaped neutral belted jacket (also from Anthropologie), each layered with a comfy neutral tee, perhaps in grey or cream. Add some statement jewelry (Banana Republic of course!), and you've got an easy, chic ensemble.

But really, this is where it's all at: New Year's! New Year's is also my anniversary with boyfriend - this year it's 6 years! I'm not yet sure what I'm going to wear at all. I had toyed with revisiting this outfit from last weekend, considering how fabulous I felt in it. But the Anthropologie dress featured below, now that it's gone on sale, is something I keep coming back to. Add some dusty blue tights, navy suede pumps and I think It would be the perfect winter/celebratory outfit! I'd feel like a sonsy little snow bunny! Another option is, you bet, a grey pencil skirt with this amazing printed wool cardigan, again with fantastic navy suede shoes. (Hmm, it seems blue might be a theme..) Decisions, decisions!

What's on your wishlist this holiday? More importantly, what are you going to WEAR to all these fantastic holiday celebrations coming up!?!

Hunker Down

I'm not sure I have much to say today, which might be just as well. I'm still sick, boyfriend is out getting dinner (best Chinese in town!), and then we're hunkering down for one heck of winter's storm coming overnight and through tomorrow. In order to make sure we wouldn't need to step foot outside tomorrow for anything, we made a point of getting our errands done tonight. I'm actually looking forward to being holed up with the boyfriend tomorrow. Besides a good football game, I'm especially excited about spiced French toast for brunch (a favorite), with sausage, strawberries, orange juice, and tea, or maybe even French press coffee. Brunch is hands-down my favorite meal of the day. Point me to to a good brunch place, and I'm there. I'm not looking forward to all the laundry we'll be doing tomorrow, however...

Grey cardigan - LOFT / Mauve tank - LOFT / Beige wide-leg pants - NY&Co. /
Yellow skinny belt - NY&Co. / Taupe boots - Laundry by Chinese Laundry

So why did I get all dressed up today? Well, work of course. The outfit was built around my new scarf, which has tons of colors to pull out - hence the grey cardigan, mauve tank, yellow belt, and blue handbag. I have a similar one, but I had been waiting for awhile for this particular color to come back in stock. The minute it did, it was mine! And I know I've said it before, but I just love loops scarves. I'll never have enough! It's definitely incited a love for scarves in general, and slowly but surely I'm learning how to tie them when they're not foolproof loops. Inspired by Tania at What Would a Nerd Wear and Sydney at The Daybook, now I want a big cozy cowl scarf to help me get through the rest of the winter - maybe like this one.

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

Reversible Loop Scarf - Affordable Scarves / Earrings - LOFT

Happy ice storm, everyone!

Easy Does It

Well, like most of the population right now, I'm sick. Boyfriend was sick for over a week and I was fine. In fact, I believed I was immune. Then, BAM. Sick. Knocked me out of two days of work, and maybe more if I could have gotten away with it. But, I needed to go into work today to prepare for a big event tomorrow. I'm feeling a little bit better - still a little congested in the chest and sinuses, though. I seem to get a cold of some sort at least once a season, so I think I was overdue. Times like these I'm grateful for my electric kettle, seeing how much tea I've been drinking. Tea, Emergen-C, a few essential oils, and maybe some Advil Cold and Sinus. Who needs a doctor?

That said, I'm impressed I even took pictures today. More importantly, I'm impressed that I've managed not to look like I've been hacking up a lung and blowing my nose for the past 3 days. Actually, I think taking a hot shower and just getting dressed does help that sort of thing. And make-up. =)

Blue plaid flannel tunic - Lane Bryant / White scoop neck tee - LOFT /
Woven Denim Pull-on Jeggings - Lane Bryant / Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW) /
Sterling Silver Jewelry - Kohl's

A flannel tunic, jeggings, basic jewelry, and flat boots are just the thing for sick days that you can't spend at home in bed.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

As I hinted in my last post, I had a hard time picking out an outfit yesterday. I'm not sure why I left the chore until the last minute - maybe because I had gone an entire weekend knowing exactly what I was wearing each day, and I took for granted that would continue. (I just don't typically plan ahead, even though it's clear I need to.) I think I also forgot about the fact that I would have to work an event in the evening, so I couldn't rely on a casual denim ensemble to take me through the body frustration issues I was experiencing. (Thank you, PMS.) Instead, I needed to find a comfortable, forgiving, yet dressy outfit - wouldn't you know it, those are pretty much the hardest to put together when you need it! Murphy's Law. As a result, I stayed up much later than I should have, tearing up my closet and hating on my body in the most fierce way. I eventually gave up and went to bed, with barely an idea of what I would wear, and the remains of my closet still splattered all over the floor.

Blazer - NY&Co. / Printed top - Anthropologie (via eBay) / Brown wide-leg pants - NY&Co. / Brown faux-croc heels - Nine West /
Maroon skinny belt - NY&Co.

But it's amazing what a new day can do. Not that I had any revelations or anything, just that I knew I needed to wear a jacket (structure + camouflage = perfect PMS clothing cure) and I preferred wearing pants. Looking through my closet at the few things still hanging there, I kept coming back to this Anthropologie top I had won on eBay. I wasn't excited to ever wear it because, though it was a rather flattering top, it wasn't terribly interesting or even colorful - just kind of blah - and I hadn't yet found away to punch it up with needed color. Well, add the light color dressy blazer I knew I had (requirement #1), a maroon belt to pick up more color in the top, all worn with easy wide-leg pants (requirement #2!) - and I had my outfit!

Looking back, I can't believe how easily this outfit came to me the next day. Nor can I believe the severity with which I hated my body while still recognizing that the feeling was a monthly phenomenon that would eventually dissipate. It's made me more thoughtful about my body image during that finicky time of month, and to consider how much it affects me. And you know what? Documenting that here I hope will help me work through that more productively. Or, at least know that that there is always light at the end of the tunnel...

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

The icing on the cake? A number of people at work complimented me on this outfit, and it really felt good. =)

How do you guys get dressed during difficult body issue moments?

What a Pair

Okay, so I didn't get up this post last night like I had hoped. I was soooo close, but then boyfriend came home and distracted me. (Er, that sounds saucier than I meant it to... =7) And then I realized that I still had to figure out what the H I was going to wear the next day. Remembering that I would have to work in the evening, I was thrown for a loop to put together a comfortable (read: PMS friendly) outfit not involving jeans. Nearly the entire contents of my closet is now on the floor. Anyway, that's my excuse. I'm sure I'll touch on that again in today's actual outfit post - which I have EVERY intention of doing when I get home tonight!

But for now, we return to Saturday. Saturday promised to be a busy but delightful day of more holiday performances - two performances of Nutcracker, a kagillion performances of School of Music jazz ensembles, etc. etc. As I said in the post for Friday, I was committed to wearing some of my best wardrobe items for such a big day. What does this mean for Jessica's closet? Pencil skirt (of course), a great top, a statement necklace, and shoes in a great punch of color. Bam.

Puffy face c/o Boyfriend's spicy fried rice with jalapeños that smoked up the apartment
just before these pictures were taken.

I. love. this. outfit. Perhaps as much as, if not more than, the outfit I wore on Sunday. It really boils down to the top and the necklace. The top was a boutique find last fall, and I've worn it only a handful of times since. Actually, I wore a very similar version of this during last year's Nutcracker weekend, but with pants, and again on New Years, but with a black skirt. When worn with a skirt, however, I've found that, because of how short the top is, I need to belt it, otherwise its gets too boxy and my shape gets lost.

Like an idiot, I forgot to take close-ups when I was still wearing everything, so here are some individual close-ups:

Top - Elm Design (via local boutique)

The top is an architectural gem. The tied/bunched folds are totally customizable (it also continues in the back) and really make the neckline all the way around so eye-catching. It's also probably the most expensive item of clothing I own, but I believe it's been worth every penny. I've come to realize that I would much rather put down money for one piece of truly special clothing than ten pieces of average, ordinary clothing, I already have enough basics, of course, but when it comes to adding new things to my wardrobe, this principle has been my guiding light...(even if I don't always follow it....)

Necklace, ring and earrings - Banana Republic

This amazing necklace (and ring and earrings) is a Banana Republic piece (shocking). I had found it last winter after I purchased the shirt (a similar one is available now), but I think they are made for each other. I actually don't have many other tops that I can wear this necklace with - given how short the necklace is, I really need to have a portrait collar or boat neck in order to fill the neckline properly, and I just don't have many of them in the right color palette. So, these two pieces have become a duo.

This is the first time I've worn the top with a light colored pencil skirt, however, mostly because it's the first time I've had one in my closet! I really love the balance of colors as a result - neutrals, yes, but add the pops of burgundy in the belt, shoes and necklace, and it all comes together so nicely.

Skirt - NY&Co. / Double wrap belt - LOFT / Burgundy pumps - Charles by Charles David (via Zappos) /
Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

Le sigh. What a great weekend - working and all. Any day that I can feel good in my skin is a good day all around, regardless of what I'm doing. Period.

Let It Snow!

I already blogged about last Thursday - on time, no less! So, now we're up to Friday. Almost caught up! This might actually happen tonight...

Rippled and Ribboned Wrap - Anthropologie / Lilac tank - LOFT / Brown wide-leg pants - NY&Co. /
Necklace - LOFT / Brown faux-croc heels - Nine West

Friday was the opening night of the long Nutcracker weekend (from which I am currently recovering), and since it was going to be a non-stop flurry (no pun intended) of weekend performances, I wanted to be sure that 1) I knew what I was wearing ahead of time and 2) they were some of my best pieces. As you saw from yesterday's post, my aim was true! Just wait until you see the post for Saturday...

But, wow, getting ahead of myself! This sweater is new - a random surprise wishlist gift from Boyfriend, purchased at our Anthropologie visit during Thanksgiving break. I'm in love with this sweater (I even posted a review on the Anthro website), so you can be sure I'll be wearing it a few ways. And actually, this is my third wearing...I wore it Thanksgiving day and again over the weekend when we returned home. But, I didn't get pictures of the Thanksgiving ensemble, and the picture quality of the second wearing is just too poor to post. All that means is that I'll just get to wear it again sooner than later. =) You better believe you'll see it again in the next week or two.

For this version, I dressed it up with nice pants and a little more colorful tank to offset the otherwise dark tones of the ensemble. You might think me crazy for baring my arms during a cold December, but I knew I could get away with it given the fact that lobby would be swarming with patrons all night. Besides, I think I like it slightly better this way - as little extra bulk as possible, and the flesh color also helps break up the dark colors.

And yes, picture quality is still not what I want, though it's closer. I just can't go without flash given how late I take pictures these days. I continue to experiment...

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

But here's the REAL gem of this post. It SNOWED that night - like 6 inches!!! It's been such an odd autumn that I had no idea when we'd see real snow. It typically doesn't snow like this until January, but here it was! Normally, I might have stressed about roads and whatnot, but I honestly was just so overcome with its beauty that none of that bothered me. Once I got home, I even tried to capture our view with pictures to share...

A blanket of snow that quiets the earth and brightens the night sky brings only the warmest thoughts.. =)

Even-Handed

I'm just gonna keep on trucking. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my team is kickin' some butt on Monday Night football. (Go Pats!) I think Boyfriend would be proud that, not only am I hootin' and hollerin' at the TV in his absence, but I'm doing so while writing about clothes... I'm so well-rounded. =P

I take you back to last Wednesday with this post. I'm not terribly happy with the picture quality of my face (my camera has been really uncooperative lately - in the next few posts you'll see the fruits of some different settings), but I was having a good hair day and I like how this look came together. I don't feel like I knocked it out of the park or anything, but I like this particular combination of color, pattern and accessories. It's a nice, even-handed use of them, methinks.

I gotta do something about this belt though. It's one of those that are adjustable in the back, but after a day of sitting and standing and walking around, this one never stays put at the length that I need it to. So, I clearly need to poke some additional holes in it in order to wear it only at its longest. Fortunately, I do have a belt puncher (no idea what it's actually called) - but only because I once borrowed it from a friend and completely forgot to return it to her before she moved away. Whoops. It's definitely the most unlikely tool I (now) own, but it sure has come in handy!

Printed cardigan - LOFT / Burgundy scoop neck tee - LOFT / Brown wide-leg pants - NY&Co / Nude heels - Nine West (via Endless.com) / Ring - Banana Republic / Handbag - Steve Madden (via Endless.com)

Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - NY&Co.

A Great Pair of Jeans

Remember that thing I said about a day of catch-up? Yeah, it's already 8pm and I'm just now starting to blog. Oy. Oh well! Boyfriend is working late tonight, so I've got Monday night football and my blog to keep my company. And a headache, but I hope that passes sooner than later.

So I'm taking you back to last Tuesday with this post! Is that cheating? Naw. It would be cheating (and lying) if I told you I wore this today! Especially since I'm just in yoga pants and a hoodie...

Brown elbow-length cardigan - Banana Republic / Teal scoop neck tee - LOFT / Flare-leg jeans - Lane Bryant / Taupe ankle boots - Laundry by Chinese Laundry

I actually really loved this outfit last week. It's a variation on one from over a month ago; yep, I sure do have this sweater in two colors. I think I said it in the first post, but that's how much I loved it. And given how popular it was, I seemingly wanted to be the envy of all x2.

I was up late that night, probably having watched The Holiday a few times, and just sitting in my living room with nothing but Christmas lights on. The night before, Monday, I also had off following the long Thanksgiving break, so I was clearly still vacationing in my head. I had also just finished getting the last of the Christmas decor up, too, so you better believe I wanted to savor every minute.

When I finally decided that it was time to put together the next day's outfit - which I really did want to be blog-worthy - I was quietly piecing it all together on the floor of my closet while boyfriend slept soundly nearby. Believe it or not, I've never worn this particular combination before! If I wear a long-sleeve tee under this sweater, I usually do so in a cream or ivory. Can I call it a remix? Whatever the case, I'm glad I did. The necklace is one of those pieces I've had for awhile, too, but one I rarely (if ever) wear, so I'm glad it all came together as nicely as it did on the floor that night.

Bead necklace - Banana Republic / Ring - Banana Republic /
Handbag - Steve Madden (via Endless.com)

And can I just tell you how much I love these jeans? I wore them for the first time prior to my Thanksgiving hiatus - in fact, on the day I was travelling, no less. They are the new Flare from Lane Brant, and I couldn't be more pleased with how they've revamped (again) their denim line. I used to LOVE their denim - we're talking 5 or so years ago - but then they changed everything with their Right Fit line, which I just did not like. It seems a lot of women were of the same mind, because they've changed things up yet again. Whatever they've done this time around, it's working. This is a modern, great-fitting pair of jeans in a great wash and a perfect length. (I always get a Tall so I can wear heels/boots with my jeans. I'm 5'8" ish.) I normally don't like all that fading on the thigh, but these are just really flattering, without looking too young. I guess you can only get the Flare in the Right Fit Red, but I hardly even care what that means. When I ordered them, I couldn't believe how great they fit, and how fantastic they made my legs and butt look. I felt so damn, well, sonsy! I mean, that's what jeans are about, you know??

So here's to a great pair of jeans, and a good post-vacation back-to-work/back-to-blog outfit!

Featherweight

Shocking - I'm behind again! Tis the season, right? (I hope?) As always, I'll blame work - though, ironically work is the reason I dress half as well as I do. I'm not behind on pictures, though! Boyfriend has been working with me to diligently take pictures every day, which means I do have lots to blog about. So, I thought I'd post this real-time entry tonight, then tomorrow - since I'm off (and after working all weekend you better believe I'm taking off), I plan to play some bloggerific catch-up.

I love this outfit. I love how I feel in it. If you've been following this outfit diary of mine at all, you know my penchant for pencil skirts. I'll take any opportunity I can get to turn myself into a 40s bombshell. =) 

Top - Anthropologie / Blue pinstripe pencil skirt - Simply Be / Faux suede pumps - Payless

The top is actually the first item I've ever purchased from Anthropologie. A sale item, I found it in a size too small, but it was insta-clothing-love. This top has everything I look for in an article of clothing (hm, have I said that before?) - architectural but feminine detail, good color palette, interesting but simple print. Special. As my first Anthropologie purchase, too, it made me fall deeply in love with the store, and I've been mildly obsessed ever since.

This was in March, by the way - and today was actually my first wearing of the top. Why wait so long for its debut, you ask? Well, I really wanted to wear it with a pinstripe blue pencil skirt - and they are actually pretty hard to find! Thank you, Simply Be, for having one not only in my size and desired color, but having one that hits below my knees! Seriously, why is a pencil skirt of that length so hard to find!?!?  I honestly believe it's not only the most flattering length for my body, but that it tends to look fabulous on most women. When properly fitted, there's just something about the silhouette that highlights every inch of a woman's curves in the most wonderful way.

The occasion? A HUGE day of nonstop holiday festivities at work. Indeed, I'd been dying for the right time to debut this outfit, and I felt this was, but now that I have (and that I'm rockin' it so), I feel badly that I didn't wait to debut it for New Years. New Years also also happens to be our anniversary... Who knows, I may still wear it then, but the blog might not get to take part in the festivities. =) And, of course, the thrill of getting to wear it for the first time will have also worn off. (Er, hence my clothing addiction, eh...?)

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

But, oh, this outfit also marks the homestretch for the holiday season in the performing arts. What a busy, busy weekend, but it was festive and exciting and joyful, and it's only downhill (on a sled) from here.

"Blog" is for Backlog

Dear friends! I'm so sorry for disappearing into the blogiverse for so long. Thanksgiving vacation was a welcomed and glorious time, and I spent so much time unplugged (well, except for online gift shopping) that I've found it hard to get back into the blogger groove! But, I'm back, more or less - a few (or more) pounds heavier but a whole lot more relaxed. And guess what? I'm just 5 heavy performance days and 2 crazy commencements (in one day) away from an even more wonderful trifecta of celebrations at the end of the month (birthday, Christmas, New Years/6 year anniversary). But, I've a lot of catching up to do in the meantime!

Today was an early day, but one that went super fast thanks to back-to-back children's performances. And you know what finished off this relatively easy-going day? I got to meet the super sweet, lovely and stylish Tania from What Would a Nerd Wear. This blogiverse is a small one, friends! It was great not to only meet a fellow grad student (if I in some way still consider myself one), a fellow blogger (even if she is off-the-charts more established), and a fellow clothing-lover (period), it was wonderful just to befriend yet another amazing lady. I do hope we become fast friends!

Sadly, I was an idiot and didn't even think to bring my camera to capture the visit (see how out of the blogging habit I am?), but she did (looking terribly cute in one of her 30-for-30 outfits), so maybe I'll try to finagle the picture from her. In the meantime, the usual outfit pictures shall follow!

An early morning means the hair goes up. I fell back on this comfy and generally forgiving sweater dress that I haven't yet worn this season, paired with taupe boots and big, long jewelry. I'd been looking for ages for a good sweater dress - that is, one that isn't super short and horribly bulky - so this was a great find from Kohl's last winter. Scoop neck, three-quarter length sleeves, and hits just below the knee. Score!! I still want one in a cozy winter white or beige, but navy blue will do too  - especially if it's any indication that it's my most worn color label...

Blue sweater dress - Kohl's / Taupe boots - Impo (via DSW)  /
Necklaces (yes, 2!) - Lane Bryant and The Limited (I think) 

And the Christmas decor is up! I LOVE the holidays - the colors, the music, parties with family and friends, the warmth inside in contrast to the cold outside... I find myself staying up much later than normal these days, just to sit in my living room with nothing but the Christmas lights on. And to watch The Holiday, which I might watch every day until the new year.

Tan pleated handbag - Steve Madden (via Endless.com)

Earrings - New York & Co. (I think)

Well, thanks for sticking with me, friends! Get ready for a holiday-packed weekend of outfits and Nutcracker galore. And maybe even some catch up from the last few days...