True Blue

Holy crap! It's November!!

You guys... I'm giving my first lecture in three years tomorrow (or today, depending on when you're reading this). I've been asked to give a guest lecture for an intro course for music majors while pretty much the entire department is at a conference, and I agreed - mostly to challenge myself. I've been out of the whole academic circle (I've been a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology since 2009...) while working in my current position, necessitated of course by the job's hours, stress level, duties... I confess I've felt uber rusty with both the teaching material and the act of teaching itself, but after a few days review and preparation, I think I'm ready to go - I know I can do this just as well as I used to! Oh I'm still terrified, but it's also a wonderfully rejuvenating feeling to get back in the saddle again.

Wrap dress - Gap / Half-camisole - Coobie (via Her Room) /
Handbag - Banana Republic / Shoes - RSVP (via Zappos)

This makes me wonder...if I ever get back into academia, how would my sartorial choices change? Even as I put together my "teaching" outfit tonight, which incidentally also has to be an evening "boss lady" outfit (I get to wear both hats all in one day), I became painfully aware how they're not the same thing, that they don't really serve the same function. I think they could, but the line just becomes a little finer between them.

Case in point: I contemplated wearing a notice-me printed wrap dress in splashes of pinks for my lecture, but I convinced myself that it was a bit much to be in front of a classroom, at least this time around. I think that was more about the print (neither seasonal nor subtle) than the silhouette, however, because I generally think a wrap dress can do no wrong. This dress? I love it so much that I have it in a dark pink and a blue-green dot pattern as well. And I think I'd wear any of them in a (college) classroom.

How 'bout you guys? Do think it's necessary to keep a role (perceived or real) in mind when dressing ourselves? If so, how do you go about it? If not, what guides you instead?

Summer's Bloom

I've decided that wearing pink makes me happy. My mood and self-esteem is significantly higher when I'm wearing it - the glow on my face in these (and other) outfit pictures attests to this. Oddly enough, I've never really been drawn to pink before. Conclusion? Wear more pink. Buy more pink.

Wrap dress - Gap / Camisole - Anthropologie / Shoes - Nine West

This wrap dress is the same style as the dotted one I wore a few weeks ago. I was so happy with the fit that I was thrilled to find they made the dress is this infectiously cheery pink version as well. "Summer Azalea" is the name of the color - beyond perfect. Even just the sound of the name evokes a state of summery bliss.

Azaleas (image via)

I thought I could wear the dress without a camisole, and for evenings out, I perhaps still could. But for daytime, I totes still need one. (I attempted to go the first half of the day without. Uffda.) This is a bummer since the camisole creates unflattering bunching underneath the otherwise clean lines of the dress. A print might conceal this; a light-colored solid cannot. I keep hearing ladies tell me about those mock camisoles (aka "cami secret" or winkee) that attach to your bra; I might have to break down and try them myself!

In other news, I'm recommitting myself to Weight Watchers. For real, this (umpteenth) time. I've gained a lot of weight this year, and possibly even more the last few weeks. Thanks to thoughtful dressing (which I'd do no matter what my size) and careful posing, perhaps this hasn't always been noticeable in my pictures. But it's gotten to a point that it's become difficult to revel in the kind of silhouettes I so love to wear. The crazy thing is that I've been a WW member this whole time, neither going to meetings nor even really visiting the website, but I haven't brought myself to cancel (again) because I really didn't want to admit defeat - even though I've clearly been defeated. We eat well overall - local, fresh produce and grass-feed meats, and a near avoidance of any processed foods, but we just eat too much. And exercise? Non-existent. However much I want to practice the curvy-girl mantra of embracing the size I am, I can't deny that, especially as I approach my mid-thirties, I know my heath is at risk. I'm simply not as healthy (or happy) as I need to be...

Handbag - Coach (gifted)

So, I'm hoping this public declaration of my intentions (and reasons) will help me forge ahead. I've already tracked both today AND yesterday, and despite the scary total number of points I've accumulated in only two days, I know that I'm regaining control. So here we go!

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - Ruche

Stay tuned for the winner of the $50 Kiyonna gift card tomorrow!

To the Max

You may remember a certain fabulous dotted wrap dress, which was a surprising fitting-room winner over a similarly dotted maxi dress I really wanted but whose fit was off. Well, fate would have it that, on a recent return trip to Gap, a size smaller was available in said maxi AND it was on sale. And it turns out that all I needed to solve said fit issues was a smaller size... Who knew!?

Maxi dress - Gap / Blue cami - LOFT / Instant Sleeves in Dove - LucieLu / Wedges - LOFT

I have to work up the courage to wear it with bare arms, it seems. Cue instant sleeves! I really wish they'd come in a blue, ivory or white, though. Then I could, like, wear them with anything. I guess light grey will do. Maybe a denim jacket for next time. Or a cute little scoop neck tee in some color?

Ah, the best part of a maxi dress - the twirling!

But hey, guys, I've reached 200 followers! Yippee! I'm planning to host a giveaway in the next week or so to celebrate, so stay tuned! And thanks to all my readers, old and new, and however you "follow" this sonsy blog o' mine. This little corner of the interwebs has become a cherished placed to share ideas, obsessions, mistakes, successes - myself. So, thanks. =)

Ring - Ruche (gifted) / Earrings - Ruche / Necklace - Banana Republic /
Nailpolish - Tart Deco (Essie)

Think Pink

I can't decide if this pencil skirt is too big or if it's just right. When I had the size smaller, I felt it fit too closely 'round my (round) belly, but it seemed to sit nicely on my waist and hips. This one, a size up, lays nicely over the belly (even if it wrikles constantly), but it sits a littler lower on waist than I would like. (Oh, what's that? Get it tailored? Oh sure, I'll get right on it...) I have to say, though, that it feels pretty great when I wear it, so that might answer my question.

Boatneck top - Gap / Pencil skirt - Macy's / Belt - Dorothy Perkins

The color palette for this outfit was reworked from this one. I simply love this boat neck top - so soft, comfy and feminine...a pretty pink I want to wear all the time. Since I wear pencil skirts all the time, I thought this outfit was a good solution.

The blue belt replaced the blue of the denim; the light tan skirt replaced the jacket; the pink top, of course, got to stay and even gets to show off a little more. My delightfully green alligator-print handbag brought a bit more color to the mix. I love this bag.

Handbag - Banana Republic / Peep-toes - Banana Republic

Alright, dears. I now sign off for my weekend of graduation frenzy. See you on the other side!

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - The Limited

Broken Record

Nope, nothing revolutionary here. Stripes, pencil skirt, statement necklace. Never fails.

Striped top - Gap / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Wedges - LOFT

I had been itching to wear this particular statement necklace, however. I bought it the same time I bought its blue-hued sister, but have never really had the right outfit for it. Pink, green and gold all in one necklace make for a difficult pairing, methinks. I thought neutrals would best serve as its backdrop on its first wearing, and even better this particular outfit formula of mine.

Necklace - Anthropologie / Belt - Talbots / Ring - Ruche

Now that I've gotten its first wearing out of the way, perhaps future outfits will come easier?

Handbag - DKNY (via TJMaxx)

And maybe I'll remember to check all the zippers on my handbags next time, too...

Pink Lady

Spring has arrived in these parts. That it to say that the 80 degree weather has been postponed (for now) in lieu of much more seasonal 60 degree days. While something of a shock to the system, it's nice to be able to go back to transitional layers for a minute.

It's been a refreshingly quiet week in my world, too, but it's really only the calm before the storm that is the end of season rush. This means my daily work wear can ease up with more casual styles, and even my ubiquitous ponte pencil skirts get a break. For some reason, though, my favorite pair of jeans has been a last resort when it comes to casual dressing lately. I guess it's been a bit of challenge to keep it transitional and yet polished at the same time. So I took the opportunity of a 50 degree day to layer a brightly colored long-sleeve tee under some neutral layers (khaki can be so drab and lifeless if you're not careful) and take my jeans up a notch.

Jacket - LOFT / Tee - Gap / Jeans - Lane Bryant / Belt - The Limited /
Sandals - Nine West / Handbag - Coach (gifted)

Such a bright, cheery pink can take anything up a notch, methinks.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Banana Republic (ebayed) / Earrings - Lane Bryant /
Nails - Cartwheels on the Catwalk (Sephora by OPI)

Happy Feet

It seems a lot of my posts have been about shoes lately. And now that I think about it, they've all been about these shoes! For good reason, my friends. For good reason. I mean, when you can walk home 6+ blocks in such relatively high platforms, still looking good and feeling spunky? And when they are simply the perfect color for the season and can be worn with about a zillion outfits? My feet have never been happier.

Cardigan - LOFT / Top - Gap / Skinnes - Gap / Belt - LOFT
Handbag - Banana Republic / Sandals - Nine West

The top is my final (for now) Gap sale rack find from last week. I'm so glad I snagged it because it was one that I had been quietly lusting after when it first came out and, like a good little girl, refused to pay full price for it. It's quite a flattering little top. Feminine, fitted, pretty. All good things. I may even wear it without a cardigan in the summer months, and I rarely meet a sleeveless top that'd make me consider such a thing.

It's one of those fluttery tops that lend themselves well to skinny bottoms, and I simply love navy and coral these days - hence the shoes. I'm also considering my coral skinnies for a future outfit! And my teal pencil skirt, and...

Ring - H&M / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - The Limited /
Nails - "Love & Acceptance" (Essie)

Spring for Dots

My one non-sale rack find that was still on sale. (What, now?)

I tried to contain myself only to those additional 25% off sale sections during my recent shopping trip to the Gap, especially since I was only supposed to be there to return something. But what should jump out at me but (practically) a flashing sign for 30% off dresses, and even more so, their amazingly vibrant colors and prints for spring and summer. A dotted maxi dress, just like this wrap dress but in burgundy and orange (which doesn't seem to be available online at the moment), was fitting room priority #1. I loved the colors, but the fit was off, and I knew that wearing the right bra would be problematic. Still loving the dots in green and blue (a combination I'm really loving lately), I eagerly tried the wrap. I was floored by this one! I'm always a lover of wrap dresses, and the fact that this one even fit my bust well shocked me - not to mention that it had longer sleeves AND a longer hemline. AT THE GAP. I'll not lie, either, that the fact I could still wear the large made me feel good too.

Dress - Gap / Cami (not that it was really needed) - Anthropologie / Sandals - Payless

Naturally, I thought my coral sandals would be fabulous with these colors (as it did with this outfit), but sadly, the shape of the sandal was not quite right with the dress. So I went with my trusty neutral caged sandals (I call them the "Kendi" since she rocked them practically all last summer) and punched up more color with other accessories and my pedicure. Gotta get those corals in there somewhere...

Handbag - Steve Madden

Also, please note the even awesomer (if I do say so myself) coif today. I'm learning to wield the full power of the round brush, and hot damn! It looks JUST like it does after my hairstylist has had his way with me (er, my hair) in his chair, which I've never been able to replicate at home. A $40 blowout for only $17? Yep, this means I will certainly be wearing my hair down waaaaaay more often.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Earrings - Lane Bryant

Rack It Up

It's early mornings all this week for me. My schedule is usually a second shift kind of thing, but this week I join the ranks of most office folk and actually have to get up early. Blech. This also means I have to go to bed early; a nice idea, but rarely realized. I'm hoping pure exhaustion will force it upon me. Biggest question? Do I get up 30 minutes earlier to do my hair or just throw it up in my usual bouffant 'do? (So far, so good.)

Printed tee - Gap / Denim pencil skirt - Dorothy Perkins / Belt - Kohls / Sandals - Nine West

Ironically, thanks to a serious haul from the Gap sale racks on Monday, the easiest question is what I'm wearing this week. (Yep, all week.)

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Ruche / Nails - "Cartwheels on the Catwalk" (Sephora by OPI)

To a Tee

After a busy work weekend, I often take Mondays off. Such was the case yesterday. I typically don't wear anything blog-worthy on those days, and the world is I'm lucky if I get dressed at all. I also think my biggest style handicap is casual wear, i.e. anything without heels. It's one of the reasons you don't see much of these sorts of outfits on here! But I've really been loving the casual coolness of cuffed skinnies lately, and even more so with a vibrant colored henley tee.

Tee - Gap / Skinnies - Gap / Handbag - DKNY (via TJ Maxx) /
Sandals - Bandolino (via Endless) / Earrings - Lane Bryant / Ring - Ruche

Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised by this basic $7 Gap tee. All I had to do was add a few choice accessories - a statement bag, big jewelery, and strappy wedges - and I could actually be seen outside of the house.

Shoe-In

Sometimes it's just about the shoes. Alright, more often than not it's about the shoes, but this one really was about the shoes. I mean, how else does one celebrate prematurely warm (albeit windy) spring days than with bright-colored open-toed amazingness? Sheesh, what am I doing to do when it's officially spring? (Stay tuned, I guess...)

Blazer - NY&Co. / Striped top - Banana Republic / Skinnies - Gap / Sandals - Nine West

Skinny jeans had to play somewhat of an equal part too, though, since I knew they would best showcase these hot pink babies. But what next? Oh, stripes, you say? Stripes that just so happen to echo the pink of the shoes? Oh, yes! But what to do for another layer? Something neutral, something structured. My love-hate relationship with blazers was to continue with this simple, basic beige version that gave just enough shape to the waist, and just enough (casual) work-appropriate balance to the outfit.

This is actually one of the few, rare times I didn't cuff my skinnies, either. I tend to prefer them cuffed when I'm wearing heels - the proportions seem a bit better on me. But I confess I like the bunched-up-ankle look here. They give my leg a longer line (which I need) and, more importantly, they seem to bring more attention to the fabulosity of the shoes.

Snakeskin clutch - eloquii

Here's the real kicker (no pun intended): the shoes are comfortable, too!

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - ? 

Now I just need a pedicure...