Big Brother Made Me Do It

Monday started like any other day.  I really had no intentions of buying yet another striped dress.        However, Amazon.com had different plans for my day.  Somehow their stalking technology keyed into the fact that 1. I wear a lot of striped dresses 2. I love a bargain and 3. I have a unused GC.   They put this dress on my homepage and well the rest is pretty obvious.

If you have $22 to spare I recommend checking out this dress.  I was worried that the lighter colored stripe at the waist would be unflattering but somehow it manages to give the illusion that I have a waist.  If you are between sizes - size up.   

Dress: D.E.P.T. via Amazon
Shoes: Payless

Classic

Although the brilliant Tim Gunn keeps trying to assure me that a classic white shirt is an essential wardrobe item, , I have never felt comfortable in them.  Maybe I just haven't found the right one.

Shirt: Bass
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: J. Crew

My necklaces went into hiding in the above photo but I am wearing these as well.

Pintrest Comes Through

Remember when I bought a scanner and started to scan/pin all my old fashion magazine ideas?  Me neither.  But I did and yesterday I saw my pin on how to wear a midi-skirt.  So here is my replica.  I think this look may work better on a tall leggy model but I suppose that is true of everything I wear.

T-shirt and boots: Old Navy
Shirt: J. Crew via Goodwill
Skirt: Asos 
Cuff: Trina Turk
Ring: Gift

A Girl Walks Into a Target . . .

and walks out with a pair of leopard print pumps, a box of straws, some garbage bags, and a container of popcorn.  I'm pretty sure leopard print pumps will be the punchline of any joke in which I am featured.  What can I say, comfortable cute shoes are my  Kryptonite.  

Blouse: J. Crew
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Target

Also check out my lovely new ring, a birthday present from mr. deathstar

DIY iPhone Case

I have wanted to do this for some time now but I kept putting it off.  This morning I found this lovely wallpaper scrap and decided to get started.  If it is not obvious - I cut the paper to fit my clear iPhone case and placed it underneath.  Easy and cheap and you can change it out as often as you want.  You could use fabric or photos or any pretty paper you have on hand.  

Materials:

• Clear phone case (my is by Incipio but if you don't need a lot of protection you can get them for less than $5 on Amazon)
• Paper, photo, thin fabric of your choice
• Exacto knife or scissors
• Pencil to trace the case onto paper
• Hole punch (if you want to make fancy curves for the camera cut out.  I didn't bother here but I might with my next one).

Lunch Date

I am having lunch today with three of my favorite women in the world; my aunt, my cousin, and my "niece" (technically my first cousin once removed if you are working on my biography).  The only things keeping today from being perfect are: my need to be at work before and after lunch and the fact that this dress is going to be VERY tight once I get done eating a few pounds of cheesecake.

Dress: Banana Republic
Shoes: Payless
Sweater: Old Navy

Make Your Own Coffee

I suspect I would be a very bad secretary.  But I do loves me a secretary skirt.  Especially a "vintage"* one like this baby from the Goodwill.  The only downside is that I will not be able to eat anything today so that I can keep breathing.  Considering I spent the last few days consuming nothing but birthday cake, fried food, and beer - this may be for the best.

Blouse: ? via TJ Maxx
Skirt: ? via Goodwill
Shoes: Max Studio 
Cuff: Hayden Harnett Ramone

* Considering I was probably in high school when this was made I hesitate to consider it vintage but I think technically most people would say it is.

No Tricks In My Pockets

I learned yesterday that posing with one hand on your hip is a sorority girl trick designed to make your arm look skinny.  Although 75% of my photos have me standing with one hand on my hip I promise that I was not trying to defraud you all into thinking I have skinny arms.   I just have no imagination.  

Dress: Target
Shoes: Payless

Lump Day

I realized after I took this photo that this dress requires some stronger foundation garments than  I usually wear.  But rather than go find some I decided to just be lumpy.  

Dress: DVF via eBay
Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Grimace is a Klutz

I like everything about this dress except for the fact that I feel a bit like Grimace in head to toe purple.  Enhancing the effect is the large bruise forming on my left shin from where I slammed my car door against it.  

Dress: Michael Stars
Shoes: Kork Ease
Belt: Lina Pelle



P.S.  If you don't know who Grimace is, this blog post will give you some awesome enlightenment.  

Inspiration

It is very rare that I take my styling cues from stores or catalogs.  But when I saw how Banana Republic styled this skirt I had to try to recreate it.    My only complaint is that the blazer hides the cute side zipper.  

Skirt: Banana Republic
Shirt: Target
Blazer H&M
Shoes: Dr. Martens
Bracelet: J. Crew

Questions to Answers You Didn't Ask

Today's outfit is a little dull so I thought I'd play Jeopardy with myself

82.7 degrees and rising:  What is the temperature in my office right now?
Leo with Scorpio rising and moon in Libra:  What is my sun sign?
969:  What is the approximate number of days since I have had a vacation that involved leaving the state for more than three days?
Kermit the Frog:  Who is my favorite Muppet?
48:  What is the number of purses I have sold/re-homed since starting my stuff fast resolution?
Don't ask:  What is the number  of purses left to me sold/re-homed?


Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Target via Goodwill
Blazer: H&M
Shoes: Aerosoles

I'm a Little Glowing Friend

I resisted the neon trend when it appeared last year, mostly because I already lived through the first incarnation back in the '80s.  However, when I saw this skirt on sale I couldn't resist.  I think it will look really cute with grey tights and boots this fall.  

Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: Asos
Shoes: Very Volatile

1987 Called and Asked What's with the Shoes

I am pretty sure if you checked my closet in 1987 you'd find an outfit nearly identical to this one (albeit 3 sizes smaller). The big difference is that my 1987 self would never have mixed stripes and animal prints. 

T-shirt: ? via Burlington Coat Factory
Pants and shoes: Gap
Cardigan: Lands End Canvas

Time Management

This morning I ran 5 miles, went to the post office, and bought half a dozen cupcakes. All before 8:30am.   

My time management was greatly improved by this dress.  One step dressing at its finest.  I don't know why corporations spend millions of dollars on time management seminars for employees.  They should just buy them all simple dresses to wear.  

Dress:  Banana Republic
Shoes: Nine West
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Luxe

Mark Zuckerberg Owes Me One

I wish I could say that I am just too cool or too busy to spend a lot of time on Facebook.  But the truth is - I really don't understand it.  Facebook appears to be under the misapprehension that I am a wrinkled stay at home mother who needs a face-lift.   


However,  I did add to Facebook's coffers when it told me about this new studio line at Old Navy.  It was hard to decide between the brown and grey versions of this dress but in the end I went with the brown. Although I am not a fan of chiffon, the dress is comfortable and cute.  It is too short on me to be belted (unless you have better legs than I do) but I think it will look cute tucked into jeans or worn with tights and boots.  




Dress: Old Navy
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Luxe
Shoes: Dr. Martens
Cuff: Trina Turk


Close-up

Too Late

I realized too late this morning that I have an olive colored blazer that would have been a better choice than this predictable one. At least with the navy if you squint you can pretend I'm wearing a suit.  


Blazer:  Banana Republic via consignment store
Top and jeans: Old Navy
Necklace: J. Crew
Shoes: Kork Ease

disappointment

This dress remains a bit of a disappointment.  When I purchased it I was positive it was going to solve all of my wardrobe problems.  After all many of wardrobe successes involve wrap dresses or stripes.  So a combination of the two seemed like a no-brainer.  And yet something remains "off".  


Dress: Banana Republic
Shoes: Max Studio
Cuff: Trina Turk

Marie Curie Better Watch Out

Today's experiment - switching my usual cardigan for a button down shirt.  I think I am on to something.  Do they give nobel prizes for sartorial awesomeness?


Dress:  J. Crew
Shirt: Target
Shoes: Aerosoles
Belt: Old Navy