Trust me

This outfit is much cuter in person.

Dress: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes: Kork Ease

Consequences

Dear Boss:  If you are going to make me work 60 hours a week, you cannot expect me to be very sartorially creative by the end of the week.  Love, your very tired employee.

Top: H&M 
Sweater: Lord & Taylor
Pants and Shoes: Target

How Do You Identify Yourself

I am going to court to meet some new clients.  Because we have not met we all tried to give some description of ourselves. Attorney A described himself as having grey hair and glasses.  Attorney B described himself as having a shiny bald head.  

I didn't know what to say.  My first instinct was physical characteristics but as I am of average height and build, that seemed unhelpful and open to a lot of interpretation.  I considered hair color but I'm wasn't sure that these men would readily identify "messy dark hair, sprinkled with grey, in haphazard chignon".  I toyed some really obscure things such as - look for the woman with scars on her knees and marks on her calves from her running socks - or - imagine Celine Dion* if she gained 40 pounds and was half Indian.    In the end I resorted to clothing.  Although black suits are pretty much the uniform for many attorneys - I have a bright green coat that should make me stand out in a crowd.  

So how do you identify yourself to others?  

Dress and Blazer:  Banana Republic
Shoes: Jessica Simpson.  



* A long time ago a strange woman in accosted me in a bathroom and told me I looked exactly like Celine Dion.  When I told the story to my staff, expecting them to confirm that there was no resemblance, they all started to agree with the strange woman.  Needless to say, I did not give them bonuses that year.  

Must Be the Season of the Witch

I did not intend to wear black yet again this week, but the colorful skirt I planned to wear was a bit too tight this morning.  So instead I grabbed this adorable skirt that I got for $19 at Forever 21 a few weeks ago.  I have no idea what is wrong with my posture/torso in this photo but I was too lazy to take another picture.


Sweater: J. Crew
Skirt: F21
Shoes: Rockport 

Happy Halloween

Do you like my costume?  I call it - woman who owns too many black dresses and leopard print shoes.

Dress: Forever 21
Shoes: Target

Black and Cat

I really like this outfit although it seems to make me appear shorter than I am.  I suppose a higher heeled boot is order next time I wear this combination.  Or maybe I'll finally have that growth spurt I've been wanting since I was 12 years old.  

Sweater and Skirt: J. Crew
Scarf:  Came with This vintage dress
Boots: Palladium

Cagney and Lacey

In honor of my lace jacket, and to distract from the fact that this outfit is a near replica of what I wore here, I was was going to make a bunch of random Cagney and Lacey references in this post.  But I ran short of time so you will just have to make them yourselves.  

Jacket: ? via Marshalls
Skirt: Banana Republic
Shoes: Tahari

Ode to Skirt

Many years ago I owned the best skirt in the world (bsitw).   bsitw  was from J. Crew and did remarkable things for my figure and my wardrobe.  She went with everything and was neutral enough that I could wear her once a week and not feel bored.  It was a sad day when I realized I had literally outgrown her and the chances of me being a size 2 again were pretty much non-existent.  I can only hope that bsitw has found a new owner who loves her as much as I did.

Like bsitw, today's skirt is black wool and from J. Crew (albeit factory).  While not quite as versatile and flattering, it is comfortable and pretty cute.  And that will do.

Blouse: Jones NY via Goodwill
Skirt: J. Crew Factory
Boots:  Dr. Martens

Dress Code Violation

If my office had a dress code, I am pretty sure this dress might violate it.  I forgot that I had a client meeting and wore this because I am going out tonight.  I have a blazer with me (and, if I lose 10lbs in the next hour, matching pants) so I will not completely shame my profession.  One good thing about being a lawyer - the bar is pretty low.




Dress: Old Navy
Shoes:  Payless
Cuff: Hayden Harnett "Ramone"

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

My co-worker told me I looked amazing in this dress.  Which is especially flattering because I feel awful.  I don't know if it because I tried running this morning in 80 degree heat (BAD idea) or if it is because I haven't slept in a week or because I have a stressful trial coming up - but whatever the cause my insides do not match my outsides today.


Dress: Old Navy
Shoes: Kork Ease
Earrings: Banana Republic

Gateway Bag

You may not believe this but there was a time that I only owned one or two handbags at a time and never spent more than $50 on a bag.  Then one day I was browsing through Amazon.com and I saw this $500 bag marked down to $100.  I decided to splurge and the next thing you know I have 50 + handbags and I start a blog to track my attempts to reform my habits.  


Dress: Target
Sweater: Target via Goodwill
Belt and necklace: ?
Shoes: Jessica Simpson via TJ Maxx
Bag: Treesje 

Built for Comfort Not for Speed

After a long absence this dress has made a return to regular rotation.  I purchased this more than 10 years ago and last wore it at my law school graduation.   Because it is mesh it stretches to a variety of sizes which makes it both practical and comfortable.  


Dress: Anthropologie (old)
Shoes: DV for Target (last year)
Cardigan: J. Crew

House Dress

I've been wearing a variation of this outfit all weekend - cotton dress, bangle, comfortable shoes.   When something works you might as well stick with it.


Dress: Boden
Shoes: Kork-Ease

Back in Black

Black pants used to be an  essential  part of my wardrobe.  Recently, I've found myself relying on them less and less and turning more to color.  But today I tuned back the clock and returned to my sartorial traditions - black pants, simple blouse, black shoes = out the door in less than 5 minutes.

Blouse: Tucker for Target
Pants: Chadwicks
Shoes: Tahari 

The Jury Is Out

There is quite a bit of circumstantial evidence that this dress may, in fact, be a nightgown. Exhibit A: It was purchased at Soma Intimates a store that, as the name implies, primarily sells intimates. Exhibit B: It was hanging on a rack next to snowflake pajama pants. Exhibit C: The fabric is exactly the same as in the pair of Winnie the Pooh pajamas I had in 1977 (sans, of course, pictures of Kanga and Pooh).

In spite of the mounting evidence that this dress was not intended for the office, I am wearing it because it was the first thing I saw this morning and it is absurdly comfortable. Although I find baby-doll/empire waist dresses unflattering on me, the use of industrial strength control top tights helps keep everything in check. I should have put on an accessory or two, but I was running late.

Dress: Soma Intimates

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Short Week, Short Pants

I swear that when I put on these pants this morning I gave no consideration to the fact that they would be a continuation of yesterday's short theme. I had actually planned to discuss* Gwen Stefani and how she inspired me to try wearing cropped pants with heels. But since I don't have much more to say than that, I ended up piggybacking on yesterday's silly theme. Two more sleeps until my mini-break!

Shirt: Old Navy
Jacket: ? via Amazon
Pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Missoni for Target
Necklace: gift from mr. deathstar

* where discuss=reference a picture I saw in People magazine while sitting in the doctor's office.

Is the Dress Black or Are the Windows Painted?

Today marks the first day this week where I do not have to go to the doctor's office and I am celebrating by wearing a dress.  I snagged this dress on super sale at J. Crew and I'm happy I did.  Although I certainly have plenty of black dresses, I liked the military details and casual vibe of this one.  Plus the long sleeves hide the bruises on my arms from all the bloodwork I've had. 

 

Dress: J. Crew "Shutterbug"  (let's ignore any irony in that given the poor photo quality)

Boots: Paladium

Cuff: Hayden Harnett "Ramone"

Back to Basics

Some days you just don't want to bother with anything more than a simple black dress and some cute sandals. Eagle-eyed readers may notice that this is practically the same outfit as seen here. Just in black. Hey if it works it works, and even if it doesn't I'll probably wear it anyway.

Dress and shoes: Target
Belt: Urban Outfitters