Skirtember #4

Busy, busy weekend at our household!  On Saturday, we were lucky enough to attend TWO weddings.  Friends from church got married in the Chicago suburbs; they had a late morning/early reception wedding, so we were able to leave their reception early, drive back to Milwaukee, and catch our other friends' reception.  It was just perfect the way it worked out!  Our friends from the first wedding are Indian (groom) and Chinese-American (bride), so there were lots of cultural traditions and traditional dress.  (So many gorgeous saris.)  And our friends from the second wedding had a 14 piece band for the reception!  A lovely time was had by all.

Here is my double duty wedding attire...

Shirt:  Clothing swap

Skirt/shoes:  Goodwill

Hair clip (can't see it):  Kohls

How could I pass up on these $5 red pumps from Goodwill?!  I'm not used to wearing high heels though, so these were a challenge to wear throughout the day.  I brought flats to change into for dancing at the second reception!

My Sunday outfit was for church, grocery shopping and a low key lunch at Jordan's parents house.

Everything's a hand-me-down!  I found the boots (which are brown... I didn't realize the camera setting was still in black and white) in the costume bucket at my parent's house.  They could have been my mom's... or maybe my grandma's,  I really don't know.  But they don't seem quite that old.  

Skirtember is done?!  Whaaaaat?

... Or is it???

Skirtember #2

I'm back, with two more skirt/dress posts for everyone!  (And there was much rejoicing.)  This week in Wisconsin, temperatures plummeted for a few days.  High 40's, windy, cloudy, bleeecchh.  Luckily, it popped back up into the 60's over the weekend.  Not only did it make playing outside enjoyable, it made it much easier to consider wearing skirts!

On Saturday, I went geocaching with a friend.  It was tempting to wear jeans, considering the amount of outdoor exploring we'd be doing, but it stuck to my guns and tried to pick functional dress wear.

Dress & tights:  hand-me-downs

Jacket:  Forever 21

Boots:  Merrell from REI

Even though the dress and tights look fancy-ish, I didn't mind if they got mucked up, since they're hand-me-downs.

There were parts of this outfit I ended up liking more than I thought - the jacket with the dress, for instance.  It also looked cool if the jacket was buttoned up, which I've never tried before.  I didn't really like the boots and tights with the dress though.  I don't know if it's because I'm not a huge fan of black tights - they often look dowdy or formal - or if the dress hit my legs in a spot where it would look better with flats.  Anyway, this outfit got the job done - we found four geocaches!  Whee!

On Sunday, I went to a Packers party.  Jordan and I don't like watching football, but I thought I could dress in one of the team's colors as support anyway.

Sweater & scarf:  hand-me-downs

Dress:  Goodwill

Leggings:  Forever 21

Shoes:  Target

Does anyone else prefer leggings over tights?  I don't know why I find them much more comfortable.  Maybe it's the thicker fabric?  Anyway, I love these long leggings from Forever 21.  My other pairs are mid-calf and thin, which isn't ideal for most outfits.

Two down, two to go!

Skirtember #1

Last year, I participated in Skirtember on my regular blog space, The Daily Snapshot.  I got all amped up to do it again this year... only I find that no one else seems to be participating.  (Except Bombasine.  Howdy!)  Well, if I make a plan, I like to stick with it, so I'm going to venture on my own skirt/dress adventure throughout the month!

For various reasons, I can't wear skirts or dresses to work, so I made it my goal to wear them on the weekends, though I've already gotten off on a shaky start.  I ended up in jeans all Saturday, even though I had plans to dress up to go out with friends in the evening.  But after a long bike ride late into the day, and an unplanned stop or two (*cough* distillery tour *cough*), I couldn't muster up the energy to go out (sorry Ali!).

I still squeezed in two Skirtember outfits though!

An unintentional shot!

I really was typing a note into my phone, and my husband snapped the picture.

I wore this outfit out for drinks with my husband on Friday night, and then to church on Sunday.  (It was the one I was going to wear if I went out on Saturday.)

It's still a little too hot during the day to wear tights; it's more needed in the evenings.

Dress:  gift from my husband

Tights:  Target

Boots:  hand-me-down

Bracelet:  Amazon

Trying to get a detailed shot of my boots, tights and bracelet...

The bracelet is hard to see, but it's Harry Potter themed!

It has owls, a Snitch and the Deathly Hallows on it.

Details of the dress.

It was a perfect gift from my husband, who works in the cycling industry.

 I wore this more casual outfit on Sunday for hanging out at the house, taking the dog to the dog park, etc.

T-shirt and tank top:  hand-me-downs

Skirt:  Forever 21

Shoes:  Goodwill

Wanna join in Skirtember?  Make a girl feel not so lonely?

Open mouth, insert foot

I remember when I first saw them.

Jordan and I were on our honeymoon in Scotland.  We had some time to kill at a bus station in Edinburgh.  Thankfully, the station was next to a coffee shop, which lent itself perfectly for people-watching, one of our favorite activities.  Jordan and I snorted into our lattes at the fashion-forward girls, in their loose blouses and leggings.

"Don't they know leggings aren't pants?  That they're meant to be worn underneath dresses and skirts?" we whispered to each others.  I would never be so foolish as to make such a ridiculous fashion choice!

Well, laugh it up, me from the past.  Because this summer, I've joined their ranks.

Shirt:  Goodwill

Belt:  H&M

Leggings:  Kohl's

Sandals:  Hand-me-downs

Now, in my defense, this shirt is long enough to cover my butt.  And while this style choice may be six years behind, it's so darn comfy!  I mean, the shirt is like a big, loose night-shirt!  And leggings have so much stretch.

So, my apologies to the girls of Edinburgh.  I'm sorry it's taken me so long to see the light.  (Though I still would never wear a short shirt with leggings!)

Have you ever worn an item of clothing you swore you wouldn't?

Summer wardrobe

Whew, it's been awhile!  I've backed away from blogging for a bit, and unfortunately, my fashion posts fell by the wayside.  But I wanted to pop back in to share one of my typical summer outfits.  This post was thought of on the fly, so it's complete with segmented I-phone pictures.  You're welcome.

Items Necessary for a Perfect Summer Outfit:

Beanie (a gift):  Summer in Wisconsin means humidity.  Curly hair with humidity means frizz.  To control the masses, and allow you to be in public without taking a shower - a beanie to the rescue!  Cuter than a baseball cap, and less obnoxious than a sunhat, it's an ideal all-season accessory.  

T-shirt (purchased at a concert):  The perfect summer t-shirt is more of a challenge than it appears.  The fabric needs to be lightweight.  It can't be too tight, causing it to cling, but too loose leans towards looking disheveled.  Once found, the perfect summer t-shirt should be treated with the upmost respect and care.

Jean shorts (Goodwill):  Skirts are cuter, but shorts are safer.  No wardrobe mishaps here!

(Iced coffee is always a welcome accessory.)

Shoes (Wal-Mart):  I prefer closed toed shoes.  I've gotten used to them, since I have to wear them for work, but I wear them more frequently outside of work as well.  There's less risk of them slipping off your foot, and typically more support for your sole as well.

What are go-to items in your summer wardrobe?

A Month of Sundays, #4

Shirt:  Old Navy

Skirt/dress:  Goodwill

Tights:  JC Penney

Boots:  Merrell, from REI

Despite the title of this post, I actually wore this outfit on a Saturday, for dinner with friends.  I wanted to experiment with the shirt-over-a-dress style.  When I usually try this out, it looks awkward.  Either my shirt is too long, or too short, or the dress underneath looks lumpy.  But I liked how this turned out! I think this dress could work with a shorter shirt as well, so I'm going to keep trying.  Call me inspired.

Have you tried any new-to-you styles recently?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

A Month of Sundays, #3

In Wisconsin, you often have to choose outfits that are strategically warm.

For example, I was initially going to wear heels with this outfit.  But with temperatures dipping into the teens, and my decision to wear a shorter-sleeved sweater, I knew I'd be shivering throughout church.  I love being warm.  The only bad part about the hot, muggy heat of summer is that I can't drink hot coffee or eat soup.  (Well that, and it's hard to sleep when it's so hot.)  Maybe my blood doesn't circulate as well as other people's, I don't know, but I find myself needing to wear layers, even when I'm in a heated place.  I knew that tights, wool socks and these boots would keep me toasty warm.

Thank goodness I changed my mind, because Jordan and I accidentally got locked out of our house when we were done taking these photos.  We only had to wait 10 minutes for my mother in law to drop off a spare key, and we were in direct sunlight (as evidenced by these pictures), so we were actually quite warm.

Dress:  thrifted

Sweater:  Goodwill

Tights & boots:  hand-me-downs

Earrings:  a gift

What about you?

Are you a warm or cold blooded person?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

A Month of Sundays, #1

I'm not one of those skirt-and-blouse type teachers.  Maybe if I taught high school, but as an elementary special education teacher, it's just not worth the risk.  Besides, I'd feel as thought I couldn't get down on the ground and play with my students, or create art projects.

Since my work wardrobe is fairly functional, I break out my skirts and heels whenever I can on the weekends.

Wearing stripes is also not common for me.  I find that you're either a stripes or a polka-dot girl, and you typically don't stray into foreign territory.  Stripes usually seem blocky or sailor-y to me; polka dots mean fun!

Since this shirt was a hand-me-down, I felt braver about venturing into stripes territory, since I wouldn't feel like I "wasted money" if it didn't work out.  Though I have purchased two other striped shirts recently, so we'll see if I can mosey into new territory.

Shirt & shoes:  hand-me-downs

Pants:  Goodwill

Hat & bracelet:  gifts

Yeah, I probably spent a total of five dollars on this outfit.
I have very generous sisters.
Speaking of sisters, my sister took these photos for me.
Thanks, Lyn!

Are you a stripes or a polka-dot girl?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Getting there

Shirt:  Kohls

Sweater:  Forever 21

Pants:  Goodwill

Shoes:  K-mart

Scarf:  a gift

I generally don't make New Year's resolutions.  For all the effort I could put in, it just feels like I'm spinning my wheels, making half-hearted attempts at insignificant changes.

That being sad, one of my goals from last year was to put more effort into my appearance.  I asked for beauty tips on my blog, and my reader came through generously.  I've bought some mascara and lip products, and truth be told, I've had fun playing with them.  

I'm wearing make-up in the above picture - you can hardly tell, which is perfect for me.  

I haven't figured out why it's important for me to take this step.  Why is make-up something that signifies being an adult?  I've gone this long without it, so why start now?  Partially, I get annoyed when people mistake me for being a teenager, but that's hardly a major influence.  Applying make-up also feels like something I should know, a piece of knowledge I should have gained a long time ago, but that's not entirely it either.

Ah well.  I'm making a mountain out of nothing more than tinted chapstick.  If it's something that makes me feel more confident, I should just go ahead and do it!

What I've Been Wearing: Fall

Shirt & leggings: Kohls

Skirt:  Goodwill

Scarf & hat:  gifts

Shoes (not pictured):  TOMS

On the cusp of winter, I've been looking back, at my outfits from this fall.

These past few months, I've been gravitating towards:

* Not pants.  At some point in October, I decided I was so over pants.  I still wear them to work, and occasionally when tights seem like a feat, but I really made an effort to wear skirts.  They're just more comfortable, less restricting.  Jeans, especially non-stretchy ones, end up bunching up uncomfortably when you're trying to be cozy.  No thanks.

* Neutrals.  I've enjoyed pairing neutrals with a pop of color, or an overall subdued color palette.  In the past, I've written this off as boring.  But, it's more like a challenge.  How can I make this modern?  What will elevate this from boring to classic?  I like adding layers, tights, boots or patterns to make it fresh.

*  These boots, with these leggings.

* Digging deeper into my closet, a.ka. "waiting a really long time to do laundry".  I like watching my favorite items go into the basket, leaving me with my more un-used items.  It's a puzzle, trying to pair items, and mix-and-match things.  It's more of a success when you've pieced together a fun outfits with items you don't normally wear.

What has your fashion looked like this fall?

Confidence

A few weeks ago, I was playing "truth or dare" poker with Jordan and some friends.  I don't remember exactly how the question was phrased, but one of my friends basically asked me to describe the outfit that make me feel the most confident.

T-shirt & scarf:  gifts

Jacket & skirt:  Goodwill

Tights:  Target

Boots:  Charlotte Russe

I love stepping out in this outfit.  I draw from the bravado of the character it's inspired by.  I hold my head high.  Self-confidence is a self-fulfilling prophecy:  feeling like you look good makes you look better.  Isn't that a beautiful thing?

Also, as I was thinking of my answer, Jordan (my husband) quickly chimed in with, "high heels!"  So, apparently I give off a certain confidence when I'm a few inches taller as well!

Share what outfit - or pieces of an outfit - you feel most confident in.

[re]peat

Almost a month ago, Ronnie posted about how she wears an outfit for 1-2 weeks at a time.

This blew me away.  Which got me thinking... why?  Why does this surprise me?  Where did I get the idea that I need to change my clothes everyday?  Would I feel awkward if people saw me in the same outfit?
I took Ronnie's habit and made it my challenge:  how long could I wear the same outfit?  (Excluding undershirts and such things.)

I made it about two and a half days.

Partially, I was limited to weekends, since I don't feel comfortable wearing the same outfit to work several days in a row.  But also, it just got to a point where it felt uncomfortable.  I felt like I smelled iffy.  The clothes got stretched out and didn't fit quite right.  The issue wasn't that my friends would see me in the same outfit - I doubt they would care - but that I felt like I needed to change.

One of my repeated outfits:

Dress:  thrifted

T-shirt & leggings:  Kohl's

Sweater:  Goodwill

Boots:  Merrell, from REI

I don't think the challenge was a failure, as I learned more about my fashion choices.  It's made me more conscious of what I wear, and I'm further challenged to wear repeat outfits, especially if I find an especially cute outfit!

What about you?

How often do you typically repeat your outfits?