Multi-layered

Another wrap, with a totally different feel...

Orange print wrap dress - Yellowfield 8 (via local boutique) / Military green cropped jacket - Maurice's / Seafoam lace tank - Banana Republic / Beige long-sleeve cropped tee - LOFT /
Boots - Guess (via DSW)

This outfit went through a few iterations today, even after I got to work. On its own, it's a great little wrap (even with all the fussing they come with) in a playful pattern that works well in the summer or fall, with boots or with sandals.

Sporting bangs in the wrap dress as-is (with cami) on a beach in Santa Monica, CA two summers ago

For today's wearing, I had first just planned to wear it on its own, layered with a long-sleeved tee underneath (the time for short sleeves is over), a long necklace, and boots. This seemed normal for me, and I loved how slim my waist looked (!), but all in all it was kind of uninspired. Then I remembered this cropped jacket I had in military green, which picked up the olive tones in the dress. That was fun! For added dimension, I tried this lacy seafoam-colored tank underneath, picking up the blues in the dress, too. Lace and military! And it's a trend this season! Double fun!

Long orange beaded necklace (doubled) - local boutique

I went back and forth with the under-layers, though. The jacket was a definite, but should I wear the long-sleeve tee AND the tank? Just the tank? Just the long sleeve tee? Which necklace to wear in either case? Oh the decisions!  The BF recommended I wear the long-sleeve tee since it was definitely weather-appropriate, and he liked the lacy tank with it, as well. So, I went with both, and we snapped these shots before we left for work.

After seeing the pictures, though (I brought the camera to work with me), I began to think this outfit was kind of weird. It's definitely NOT my usual style, especially since I would just normally wear the dress as-is. But this was kind of the point. (The BF said it was "funky." I asked, "Funky good or funky bad?" He shrugged. He's not one for "funk" in either form, but he seemed to support the attempt.) Later at work I decided to de-layer the tee, rationalized by the fact that there would be 500+ people in the lobby for the evening's casual wine-tasting event, and it would get pretty warm pretty quick. I also thought it might lessen the suspected weirdness of the outfit...

(I can't believe I managed to snap a few more pictures! I kind of love the brick background - maybe I should try to take more outfit pictures at work? Now, THAT'S weird.*)

Looking at this last picture makes me wish I would have worn either a more obvious/colorful tight or none at all - my legs just look pasty here! I do think the overall look is the most successful, however. The long-sleeved tee seemed to add unnecessary bulk to my upper half, and lord-knows I don't need additional bulk there! It all just looks more...purposeful? I'm still not quite sure about the ensemble, but I worked it nevertheless.

You know, if it wasn't for this blog, and the fact that I'm consciously trying to take a few more fashion risks, I wouldn't have considered any of this, and I would have walked out of the house (mostly) content in the wrap layered with the tee. I find this all...interesting...

*Every time I wrote/thought/said "weird" in post, I thought of this comic. Thank you, Oatmeal, for making me as conscious of my grammar as I am of my outfits.

Pencil Me In

Working on a Sunday night wasn't so bad. T'was a big performance, but I like it better that way. Front-of-house-wise, things are getting a little better, going a little smoother. We're not totally there yet, but we're getting there. I've been reminded that, even if I'm going bonkers on the inside, I need to keep completely composed on the outside. All is calm; all is perfect. Probably a good rule to live by in any kind of customer service setting: never let them see you sweat. It's also good for the staff to see, I think. If you're calm, they can remain calm and just concentrate on doing their jobs better.

I knew today needed to be another skirt or dress day, even though I had a moment of just wanting to wear pants and a sweater. I had originally planned to wear yet another outfit involving purple (#1-3), but in an attempt to branch out a bit (and because I feared it looked too springy), I kept trying. I then proceeded to cycle through a few options that, believe it or not, still involved purple somewhere...  I really do gravitate toward the color, it seems. Instead, though, I pulled out a great dusty blue cardigan with a little bow detail - one I hadn't worn in a while. I now own 4 different cardigans with this kind of detail near the neckline. It's becoming clear to me that I'm always drawn to textural/architectural details, and often in lieu of patterns or even color...

Blue cardigan with bow detail - LOFT / Navy camisole - LOFT / Beige pencil skirt - NY&Co /
Ostrich-embossed belt - Banana Republic

Bow-detail close-up / Necklace (single strand doubled) - Banana Republic

And of course, the pencil skirt. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have pencil skirts back in my wardrobe rotation. There's nothing I love better than a belted cardigan and pencil skirt. My BF told me I could be his secretary any day... =7 He then inquired if I'm purposely going after the Mad Men look. Yes, and no.  I've dressed like this for years; it really is in many ways a signature of my style. But, I thank Christina Hendricks for all she does for retro-inclined curvy girls everywhere.

Green Croc-embossed "Flatiron" Leather Bag / Banana Republic

But, oh, the bag. I love this bag. This bag hurled me headlong into a love affair with handbags. This bag did me in; this bag was my gateway drug to my handbag addiction. I will say that this addiction never got TOO out of control, and it was also a very specific addition - one that never involved bags with "signatures" all over them (just not my style), but I'm also happy to report that this addiction has, more or less, ended. But, oh, this bag! Such a gorgeous green crocodile exterior, snappy contrasting blue trim, substantial structure and appealing shape... HANDBAG-LOVE. The bag, truth be told, was an afterthought to the outfit itself, but once I pulled it out, I squealed with glee at the pairing-made-in-heaven, and I made my BF take one last picture before we got into the car. This picture is, in fact, my favorite. Perhaps ever.

Accessories? Of course!

Navy heels - Gabriella Rocha (via Zappos.com)

Shades of blue enamel bracelet - Banana Republic / Gold angel/flower earrings (depending on how you look at it) -
Banana Republic / Ring - Banana Republic

If you haven't noticed, most of my favorite jewelry is from BR. I love what they do with jewelry, especially statement necklaces and cocktail rings. I don't particularly love their clothes these days, but I never pass up a chance to peer through their glass cases of fantastic baubles.

In summary: a good day and a good outfit. A good weekend, in fact, even if I did have to work. Gonna be a looooong week, though...

It's a Wrap!

Ah, the wrap dress. What an ingenious invention! Thank you, Diane von Furstenberg....

This outfit is apparently almost entirely brought to you by Banana Republic. (I had just realized this when I was writing the outfit descriptions.)  This is kind of a faux-wrap, since the skirt is fully enclosed, but the bodice is still adjustable at the waist, which is where you want it adjustable anyway.  So, no fears of the skirt blowing open to reveal my ladyparts! Hurray for hassle-free! Well, except for the neckline. Thanks to the girls, I fussed with covering my cleavage most of the day.  I had used clothing tape at first, but that wasn't holding very well.  And I didn't want to wear a camisole because it would add extra bulk underneath and ruin the line of the dress. In the end I pinned it, which solved most of the problems. I don't love pinning clothes, however - I hate to make unnecessary holes, and you can just tell that it's pinned by the weird pulling that results.  But, it was the best option in this case.

Grey 3/4 sleeve faux-wrap dress - Banana Republic

I'm still playing with difference between inside/outside pictures, and hopefully trying to improve the ones I take indoors...

It's a great dress though - fantastic material, lays beautifully, great length, great details in the neck (a somewhat mandarin collar) and the shoulders (a slightly gathered sleeve).  It's one of the BR staples, and they've added it in purple for the fall.  I highly recommend it if you're looking for an all-occasions dress!

I kept my accessories and the overall ensemble rather minimalistic since Friday's event was a very conservative one - not the time to be making fashion statements. I wrestled with adding a pop of color somewhere, whether in accessories/shoes/camisole, but I decided to keep things subtle, choosing gold/ivory accessories to add a twist to the grey, rather than silver - which might have been a propensity.  I LOVE browns/tans with greys.  I was inspired by the combination from an old What Not to Wear episode, and I've loved it ever since.  I really do feel its a sophisticated pairing of neutrals.

Nude heels - Nine West (via Endless.com)

Gold polygon necklace - Banana Republic /
Smokey quartz earrings and bracelet - Banana Republic

What it probably actually came down to was the fact that I really wanted to wear this bracelet. It's one of my favorites, but I don't get to wear it that often because I always have trouble pairing a necklace with it.  Once I put it on, I knew I must wear it with this dress, so it won out.  I even thought I might go without a necklace, since the neckline could speak for itself, but I did want something to fill the space in the end. The necklace is actually a single strand that I doubled up. I thought it played well with the bracelet/earrings without overwhelming them.

Yes, this was Friday. Today is Sunday.  I am, once again, behind.  I'm about to get ready for work in a minute - yep, Sunday night - so I'll have another post for you later (or tomorrow, at this rate!)

Thanks for reading! =)

Dressed-Up Denim, Part 3

Fall really is here, and for that I am thankful. Rather than taking my lunch back to my office, I've allowed myself to sit outside for a bit at the cafe's outdoor veranda, just me and my thoughts (nope, not even my phone). It's only 15 minutes or so, but it is so...lovely... I used to work pretty regularly at this cafe when I was a grad student. I have vivid memories of working on Russian homework here, reading various musicology articles here, even working on an early (and crappy) version of my master's thesis here. (Where did all this nostalgia come from all of a sudden?)  I guess I miss some aspects of being a student, but don't most people in the "real world" at some point? Especially in the fall? The question of whether or not I'll ever go back to my dissertation still lingers over my head on days like these though...

Hmm, all this moodiness is much like the color I'm wearing today...purple (not blue, but not rosy, either =7). Again. I had planned this outfit a few days ago, even before I became conscious of the purple-ness of all my outfits, too. Ah, purple. I'll swear to think outside the color box for the next few days...

Military green tie jacket - LOFT / Wide-leg jeans - Gap / Purple tank - NY&Co

I didn't feel as fabulous in today's outfit (though I think today was just an all-around blah day for me). I don't think it was as successful in the "dressed-up denim" theme as I would have liked, which I primarily attribute to the lighter wash of the jeans. The flats here are pretty dressy - metallic, buckle, open-toe - so I did about as good I could there for a flat, methinks.

Metallic open-toe flats - LOFT

This is also one of the few outfits you'll see me pair with scarf. I wish I were a scarf person, I really do, but I can't ever get them to work with as many outfits as I'd like. I blame my bosoms for that one - I really don't need extra bulk there! Still, this is one of my favorites...

Purple print scarf - Banana Republic

Earrings - NY&Co

Still diggin' the outside pictures, at least! I'm pretty sure I overheard my neighbors puzzling over why some chick was posing in front of a camera out in the courtyard, though...

Dressed-Up Denim, Part 2

I first want to apologize for the crap-ton of pictures in this post (and that it's so long). I experimented with taking pictures outside today and I canNOT believe I haven't tried this before. What am I going to do when winter rolls around?! Illinois winters are terrible, especially come January! And how do you experienced out-of-doors photo-takers handle any self-consciousness caused by passers-by wondering what the hell you're doing? Cuz I'm pretty sure my neighbors are gonna start to wonder... Anyway, for comparison's sake, I'm posting both sets of pics - those taken outside and those taken inside. I apologize for the lack of variety in my poses, too. I'm not at supermodel level yet...

Man, the color is just so much truer outdoors, and there is just more definition in general... without even trying too hard... (I know this might be a big DUH to some of you, but it just caught me by surprise!)

Exposed seam boyfriend cardigan - Banana Republic / Striped scoop-neck tee - The Limited / Dark skinny jeans - Gap /
Purple adjustable belt - The Limited /Multi colored/layered necklace - The Limited

Can I just say, though, that I LOVE this outfit? (This is probably the real reason why I posted so many damn pictures.) I put this wardrobe remix together last night (it's becoming painfully obvious to me that I MUST plan my outfit at LEAST the night before - otherwise too much time and stress is wasted if I wait until the morning). And yet AGAIN it's a remix involving my skinny jeans. I've really come out of the closet, so to speak (and puns intended), with these skinny jeans. They have totally opened up my wardrobe horizons, and I cannot believe it took my so long to get on board. Well, no, yes I can - curvy girls wearing skinny jeans was a non-acceptable thing at first. But, so many of us have come out of the woodwork, proving once and for all we CAN rock them. This observation actually reminds me of a recent post by Sal at Already Pretty about this very phenomenon: the more women wear previously non-accepted styles (whether based on body type, trends, etc.), the more accepted they will become. Isn't that a marketing technique, really?

If I'm not wearing them tucked into boots, I definitely prefer my skinnies cuffed, and preferably with a heel of some sort (to prevent the stumpage that Tania at What Would a Nerd Wearpondered yesterday); these wedges are perfect. (Good thing I have 3 pairs!) When I was considering my self-imposed challenge to dress up denim for the next 2 days, I was actually fraught with a conundrum. The initial version of this outfit included flats, the light tan color and faux-croc texture of which I loved with the overall outfit, giving off a polished, yet casual vibe. However, I didn't feel it was "dressed up" enough for the sake of this post. I piled on pretty much ALL of my gold-toned necklaces in an attempt to dress it up a bit more, but that just looked ridiculous. So I pared down to one and tried a pair of wedges, thinking a heel would provide the dressier look I was aiming for. I went back and forth, not sure which overall look I liked best, but in the interest of this post - and in the end because I do think it made a more memorable outfit - I stuck with the wedges.

I mostly love how the colors work together - the bluey-purple (periwinkle?) and the ivory and stripes. It's a playful combination that even my BF complimented (and he rarely compliments my outfits). It's funny, because I was just telling my sister the other day that purple is one of those colors I always like, but never think looks good on me. How ironic that nearly every post in the past week has had some shade of purple in it... I do think that it's this particular shade of purple that works best for me. True purples don't really work - they tend to wash me out. The strong blue undertones in this shade picks up all those undertones in my fair, rosy skin. The combination also made me think of Bombshell Beauty's recent outfits incorporating stripes as her under-layers. I don't own a lot of stripes, actually, but I'm thrilled with the result.

Here's my one whimsical supermodel shot - sorta...

Finally (whew!), the accessories. You'll notice I utilized a skinny belt to help define my waist (something I've been doing forever, but now it's so on trend it's almost laughable) - I kept it in the purple color family so it still blended with the overall look. You already know about the necklace, but the earrings and ring I also kept in the gold family, mimicking the ivory of the shirt, but with a antique-y feel to them.

Earrings - Maurice's / Ring - Banana Republic

So what does everyone think - inside or outside photo shoots from now on (or at least until sub-zero temperatures hit)?

Dressed-Up Denim, Part 1

I've been thinking about how causal my workplace is during the day. We're talkin' a jeans and t-shirt kind of place (for the most part). Truth be told, a casual vibe emanates from the top, and it's felt in more than the way we dress. I don't mean to suggest that I have a problem with any of it - in fact, I love it; it's one of the things that makes the place so unique and vibrant - but I do get dressed lately (i.e. with my blog in mind) knowing that I'm probably going to stand out. But who are we kidding, here - I love that too. =D

This week, there are fewer performances; nothing, in fact, until Sunday night. (That's not entirely true - there's a big non-performance event on Friday, but that affects EVERYONE for once.) As a result, my week looks a little more like everyone else's, and my wardrobe choices are tamed down quite a bit, too - I'm simply not going to wear a dress or pencil skirt on the days there aren't performances. Some of you might reply with a "Why not?" and that does give me pause, but I guess I've noticed that I save my "best" outfits for performance nights. I mean, not every day can be a pencil skirt day (I just don't have THAT many!), especially in this casual work environment of mine. However, it does give me license to expand my dressy-casual wardrobe vocabulary, especially when I would usually just use the opportunity of a non-performance day to dress in flip flops, crops and a tee. No, even though that was short-lived, I don't want to continue that habit. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I have far too many clothes to wear that sort of uniform ever day! More importantly, a girl doesn't have to wear a pencil skirt to look her best every day, even if the girl does rock them... =)

All this brings me to today's outfit - dressed-up jeans.

 (Why do my cutest poses always come out so blurry?)

Beige suiting jacket - NY&Co / Eggplant sequin bib tee - LOFT / Boot-cut jeans - Lane Bryant /
Camel peep-toes - Banana Republic

While it would have been easy to go into work in jeans, tennies and a sweatshirt (especially after the weekend I had), I pulled together this number instead.  It's a pretty classic ensemble - suiting jacket worn as separates, jeans, and embellished tee. I feel pretty pulled together, yet totally comfortable at the same time. I do have to admit, though, that this seems a little too conservative for my usual style, even with the sequined bibbing on the front of the shirt. It's definitely the jacket that makes me feel more buttoned up than usual (and I preferred to keep it buttoned to define my waist), and since the top is plainly the focal piece, I was just somewhat at a loss (and with little time this morning) to experiment with other layering option that allowed it to be so. (Any suggestions?)  But, I went with it anyway - and I was even complimented on the look in line at a cafe!

It was chilly out this morning, which is another reason I required more substantial layering options. Yes, fall has definitely arrived! I even almost wore boots! But no, I'm not QUITE ready for socks yet...  I went with these comfy peep toes instead, even if I was reminded that it's time for a pedicure...

Because of the tee's embellishment as the neckline, I went without a necklace, but I took the opportunity to wear more playful earrings. I kept my ring toned down, too.

Earrings  - LOFT / Gold and enamel ring - Banana Republic

I think the rest of this week (until Friday, anyway) is officially dressed-up denim week for me. Stay tuned for what I pull together tomorrow!

Is It Still the Weekend?

What a day this has been. Since I worked on Saturday, I took off today, but somehow taking off days during the week, even to make up for a lost weekend, is always less satisfying.  I still get work emails with questions and issues and problems, and I can't seem to turn myself off from those.  The nice thing about true weekends is that the rest of the place is probably not at work either, so there is less - if anything - to respond to.  Performances, when they happen, are in-the-moment affairs, and any follow-up will usually take place on the next "business" day.  So, today, when the rest of the place is back in "business" mode and is following-up from a weekend of crazy performances, I'm still trying to recuperate from said weekend performances, and not-so-successfully trying to ignore said follow-up so that I can attempt to enjoy the rest of my "weekend."

All this is to say that today has been less relaxing than I would have liked.

So here I plunge into this blog post (which I had wanted to do much earlier today), not only to take my mind off of work once and for all, but also because it's overdue! Gah!

Since I'm "off" today (in more ways than one...), I'm comfortably lounging with a cup of French press-brewed coffee (Oaxaca!) in grey yoga pants, a white tank, and a soft pink hoodie; even though I showered, I'm not taking pictures. =P Yesterday, Sunday, the BF and I went out to watch the football game (we're Patriots fans, so the game is hardly ever broadcast on regular TV in IL), so I donned my women's cut Brady jersey, white long-sleeved tee layered underneath (it was chilly!), jeans and tennies. While I would never typically venture out past the bar/restaurant like this, I thought I was looking sporty and cute in my jersey, so I kept this outfit on even while out shopping for my sister's birthday presents. NOT my usual style AT ALL, but I'm okay with that. =)

Rewind back to Saturday, however, the day that has sent my whole weekend askew.  There's not much else I want to say about the day's activities itself anymore (especially since I just decided to cut it all out), except that, if I may say so myself, I looked smokin'... ; )

A good hair day, too!

Lilac bow cardigan - LOFT / white camisole - The Limited / Leopard print ponte knit skirt - Lane Bryant / Purple faux-croc pumps - Nine West

You might recall the Polyvore version of this outfit I suggested a few days ago after my recent shopping trip. I love this look.  I paired it with a low-heeled pump in a rich bordeaux color that nicely complemented the lighter purple of the cardigan. The print in the skirt, while not terribly noticeable from far away, injected a little more fun into the outfit. The bow detail at the top of the cardigan is just super cute, too, adding a nice amount of textural detail that does all the work for you.

Purple faux-croc low-heeled pumps - Nine West

Necklace - Lane Bryant or Limited (??)

I kept the jewerly more muted. The necklace is a double layer in pewter, silver and clear.  I thought it picked up the greys in  the skirt nicely. I wanted a bit more color in my accessories, but nothing too overwhelming, so I choose these funky chunky earrings in a light purple/clear, which I love. If you have a Ten Thousand Villages near you, GO. In addition to fun/funky/beautiful fair trade items sourced from various parts of the world, they have the BEST jewely (also fair-trade).  When I'm looking for something just a bit out of the norm but still stylish - especially for gifts - I go there.

Purple bulb earrings - Ten Thousand Villages

I did break down and wear nylons for this outfit though (I always wear the Spanx version so I don't have worry about a muffin top). Since I was wearing a closed-toe heel, and since it was going to be the first chilly day of the season (yay!), I thought it was time to break 'em out. Because of my wide feet, too, most shoes rub against my skin so uncomfortably that I have to take precautionary measures.  In the warmer months, I can usually rely on blister block for that, though.

My BF (who also worked that night) said that I was wearing a black cloud over my head as an additional accessory, which did slightly detract from the overall fabulousness of this look. I'm sure he was right.

Thanks to this blog, though, I'm slowly regaining my full sonsy self.  =)

It's Not Easy Being Green

The catch-up continues!

I only worked a half-day on Friday, though that still seemed too long. I wanted to be cute but comfortable, so I pulled out an old favorite. And, I still got to wear green!

Green Grecian maxi-dress - Banana Repubic (via eBay) / Cropped denim jacket - Theory (via eBay) / 

White scoop neck tee - Old Navy / Gold t-strap sandals - Moda Spana (Endless.com)

I've had this fabulously Grecian green maxi dress from Banana Republic since last summer (purchased for a steal through eBay).  I happily wore it a few times, but soon realized that the dress was going to need a few alterations in the straps and the length.  I put it away for the fall, thinking that I'd take it to a tailor in the off-season.  Not surprisingly, I didn't.  This year's warmer months kept reminding me about this dress - a closet favorite that I had relegated to a distant memory as a result of my procrastination.  Well, I finally took it to a tailor a few weeks ago, just in time to wear one more time before putting it away again.

I love this dress. The empire waist, the wrapped spaghetti straps, the vibrant green color, the scoop neck, and its pleated neckline make it such a unique piece that flatters my body well.  I tend to wear this cropped jean jacket with the dress, but I've also layered a short-sleeved white scoop tee underneath the dress to wear it sans jacket if I want.  The material is an ever-so-soft modal cotton that drapes nicely over my curves and feels like pajamas.

Jewelry: Earrings - The Limited / Sterling silver necklace - Kohl's

That evening we went out with good friends of ours, who will soon be leaving our humble little land of Chambana. I felt this outfit was just a wee too daytime, so I changed it up for a rocker Friday night look - black jacket, an embellished tee, skinny jeans (woot!) and smokin' wedges. (Sorry, no outfit pics for this one, though!)

It's not all Black and White - or Is It?

I'm so behind! Here I go and send invites to friends to check out this little blog of mine, and then...nothing...for three days. Oops!  My apologies! As you can probably guess, work has been keeping me busy - especially Thursday night. (I have to watch Project Runway yet!) Last night (Friday) we went out with friends, one of whom is leaving for Turkey on a Fulbright - whenever his visa arrives, anyway.  More on that later, though...

I DID manage to take pictures at least, so once again I get to play the game of catch-up.  I'll have to work later (yes, another Saturday night), but in the meantime I'll kick back and relax with a little blogging, maybe with a little must-see-TV in the background.

Thursday was a long day.  At work by 9am (via bus, mind you), home around 11:30pm. Ugh. Long day. Though I didn't get much sleep, I was surprisingly perky that morning, even allowing myself enough time for a 30 minute phone shoot! I know - impressive, right? But, I was toast by around 7pm, and the evening show had not even gone up yet. By 8pm or so I became downright loopy, especially with my staff. Probably borderline inappropriate, too.

Black & white wrap skirt - Lane Bryant / White ruffle trim tank - Banana Republic / Black open cardigan - Maurices / Black open-toed shoes - Banana Republic / Long silver necklace - Anthropologie via eBay

This outfit is the second black and white combo I've worn this week. (The first was the screen tee/print skirt combo from Tuesday.) Wearing so little color is unlike me.  Not that I try to wear the rainbow every day, but I generally try to incorporate a decent amount of color - maybe 3 shades or so - in every outfit.  You'll notice, too, that red is the accent in both black and white outfits! I tried other accent colors, but they just didn't stand up to the strong contrast of black and white.

The skirt is a true wrap skirt - as in, completely open flappage if I'm not careful. And it was super windy that day, so, yeah... Sure, you can use clothing tape or a pin, but that only works when standing.  When sitting, forget about it. I just kept my legs under my desk all day in order not to flash my whole office. I'm not really sure how successful that was...

I also have this skirt in a green print - a lovely springy shade of green. Considering the fact that it was still so warm this week (90s!!), I wanted to wear the green one more time since I knew it would soon be blatantly out of season - and because I just wanted more color. But, I opted for black, in part because I hadn't worn this one yet and in part because that's what the BF insisted upon.  (This is itself odd, because I rarely listen to him.)  Needing SOME color, I added the red belt.  I should have known better, though, because I ended up fussing with it all day and eventually just took it off - so there went my pop of color! I also added some cute little red earrings, and I kept the rest of my accessories silver.

Red earrings - LOFT / Silver bangles - NY&Co / Sterling silver flower ring - TJ Maxx

All complaints aside, tough, I liked how I looked!  Will try to avoid black and whites for awhile though...

Adventures in Remixing

I slept in today. And I "worked from home." No, actually, I did work a little from home. There's nothing better than answering work email in pajamas. (Besides NOT working, of course.) And I finished that darned schedule (yay!) while sitting at my kitchen table with a southern exposure. I did have to go in later this afternoon for a few meetings, so I attempted a little wardrobe remix for a more adventurous look that I probably would not have done otherwise. I figured - hey, if this doesn't work, people only have to see me for a few hours!

I can't tell you lovely it was to get a little more sleep.  I'm not quite caught up - and tomorrow's going to be a looooooooooong day - but I'm thankful for what I got. Tonight I have a volleyball game. As in, I'm playing in a volleyball game!  What-what?  On one hand I'd rather stay home and pretend that I am going to to bed early (it's a late game at 9:30pm!), but on the other, I think it will be good to get out and move around. I just might even sleep better!

The team, called the Boomslangs, is made up of a bunch of folks from work for a park district volleyball league.  Aside from being crazy tired, I am pretty stoked about playing tonight, and this league in general. I've fooled my teammates into thinking I'm a volleyball goddess, but just wait until they learn I'm all talk.  Muahahaha.   It's just nice to feel part of something. I'm more often than not pretty anti-social in my personal life. (In my public life - as patron services director, mind you - I'm actually really friendly and outgoing. I have a split personality, I guess.)  It takes a lot for me to get to know other people and, in turn, let them get to know me.  I don't really know where that came from, or when it started.  I think I became more anti-social in grad school, actually, and even more so since I started dating my BF 5 years ago.  But, I figure this is a good step forward - especially since it involves physical activity.  The last group physical activity I did was, hrmm, being manager of my HS varsity soccer team? I did a few yoga classes for while too, but I think that counts even less than than a soccer manager - in terms of group activities, anyway.

Does this blog count as a group activity? The cool thing about blogs is you feel like you are writing in a private journal, or something of the sort, when in reality everything you write becomes, literally, an open book.  It is, however, one of the reasons I started this blog. I really do want to connect with people, and I figured sharing my personal style with like-minded clothing-obsessed bloggers was a good place to start.

So on to the outfit!

As I said above, this is totally a wardrobe remix. These are all pieces I've had in my closet forever, but have never worn them together before.  No, that's a lie; I wear the jacket with the top together all the time... just not like this!

Beige stand-up collar jacket - Dress Barn / Green graphic tee - General Eccentric / silky grey cargo pants - Lane Bryant / dark purple skinny bely - NY&C / Brown wedges - LOFT

I knew I wanted to wear this fun graphic top and these silky grey cuffed cargo pants when I was picking out my outfit last night. I just really liked the combination of that bright kelly green with the steely neutral of the pants. Though it was going to be mid-80s today, I still wanted to layer, so I decided to try this great casual jacket with a stand-up collar, but with sleeves rolled up.  I needed more definition at the waist, so I added this deep purple belt.

I played around with various shoe options.  What I really wanted to wear was a comfy flip flop, but I knew that wouldn't be sophisticated enough and would pretty much defeat the intended vibe of the outfit - though I can't say for sure exactly what that is...  When I decided to try this wedge, I thought it looked the best - especially with the cuffed cargo pants. They make my legs look a mile long! I wish they were all that natural wood color, though, because I don't know if the darker brown completely works - even though I'm all for pairing browns and greys together. (I actually think it's a wonderfully sophisticated combination of neutrals.)

I think it still makes me a look a little boxy, but I like the rugged combination of the almost military-looking jacket and skinny belt. I think the purple in the belt is the perfect accent to the green top, too. The thing about skinny belts, though, is that they move around and get all wonky, especially over chunkier jackets like this.  I fussed with this issue all day, so I'm not sure I'd wear this combo again.

As for my accessories, I kept them simple.  This ring is my go-to casual ring. I can't NOT wear a ring, so this is what I put on when I don't want anything extravagant. The earrings are just a nice little double layered loop that I felt mimicked the ruggedly refined vibe (There! I found it!) of the whole outfit.

Sterling silver ring - Kohl's / Earrings - LOFT

Well, off to volleyball. Go Boomslangs!