July 20 2009

Forgive the frizz, it’s been raining on my way to and from work.

I am wearing: black slacks from NY&Company, w plain white tee from H&M, a cardigan from Express and… my slippers. Sorry. My shoes were wet.

This is a completely boring outfit. Entirely unexciting. But that is okay. I am still feeling blah, and it turns out black and white are the most chic of colors, especially when those are the only two worn. I tried to spruce it up with a cool new necklace, but I did not take a picture for you all to see it up close. Sorry. It is a double strand, one of which has an antique look bow and the other has a few pearls. I matched it with a wristful of bracelets with faux pearls to match as well as an antique look flower on one of them. Suffice to say tomorrow shall be as dull as today if I am lucky.

I think I am trying to work up the courage to think of an outfit that I might submit to weardrobe for their contest. But even that is making me nervous. And more ill. Bleh.

July 18 2009

I am wearing: black slacks from NY&Company (which I just got tailored), a former dress/tunic from JCPenney, a black patent belt from Anne Taylor Loft and the ugliest work shoes on earth.

I wore this to work today because I felt so lazy I might explode. So I just threw on these pants and this shirt. They both were just tailored and they felt like new clothes that needed wearing. The shirt was once a dress/tunic. It has this half-foot ruched banner on the bottom which made it leggings-ready, for the trendster with bad taste. I decided the bow on the back made it wonderfully cool.  So I chopped off the bottom half and hemmed it at a normal length. (By “I”, I mean my tailor, who is the church lady – they are always the best to go to because of their low-low non-competitive prices and talent) It also has discreet black horizontal stripes. It’s not fattenign because the stripes are as thin as pinstripes, and blend so well with the blue, and that leads it to be not enlarging. I don’t know why I belted it. I just felt accessory insane because I was wearing a plain outfit.

Tonight, I then went out to dinner at my grandmother’s house. Thus, for the oldsters, I dressed awesomely:

I am wearing: a royal blue strapless dress from Express, a thick black leather belt from Bebe and peeptoe sandals from Bandalino.

I should stress the fact that there is nothing more essential than a thick black belt in one’s closet. It can look anywhere from s/m, to biker tough, to just plain cool. And, it’s slimming. It always feels really neat with the strappy hardware wedge sandals. And what I feel is a retro-looking high hairdo makes this just a funky thing to wear. Which worked out perfectly for celebrating someone’s 70th birthday. Thus, I decided to wear something cool, because I knew they’d be too drunk to say anything negative.

This necklace is new; I got it at JCPenney. I really like it because I think it’s part of the new “mature person” look that I’m working on. It’s shiny, but not ostentatious; it’s black, but not childish. I think it will work with other outfits too.

July 14 2009 – Bastille Day!

As you can see, I did not dress patriotically at all – I went to see a very American movie with my mother today, and had a very American lunch, including American beer!

I am wearing: a pink cropped rain pea coat from JCPenney (their American Living line is designed by Ralph Lauren, and really great!), some jean capris from JCPenney, a black tank you cannot see from H&M, orange sandals from Younkers and a coach shoulder bag (oh and cheap red sunglasses from JCPenney).

I wore this outfit, thinking it might rain later on in the morning, and instead, as we were in the theater, it just got hotter and hotter and hotter. But the outfit was still alright; I jettisoned the coat in the car and walked around in the tank top. I love those sandals, by the way. They are not particularly comfy, probably won’t outlast the summer, but they were only $15 and they make me ever so tall. Indeed, I tower over everyone, making me stand up straighter, and thus boosts my confidence. No heel is too high, no pain too great, in exchange for confidence! Except maybe some.  I was wondering what to wear this coat with when I bought it: it’s rainproof, but has no hood; it’s a pea coat, but it’s cropped, and its sleeves are 3/4 length. But it works well with jeans,  and I imagine it would actually look fairly good with a full skirt, or even a pencil skirt, for a slightly more serious look. It will really make any casual outfit seem more put-together, even if it is not necessarily serious. It’s a flirty take on a conventional piece. I can’t wait for fall; pairing it will all matter of outfits will be my delight!

July 12 2009

I am wearing: an argyle sweater shirt from JCPenney, black slacks from C&A (a store in France) and green pointy toe flats.

This is a thoroughly unexciting outfit, fit for a thoroughly unexciting day: I have to buy a few things before going to work. Great. What actually makes this outfit is the accessories. I am wearing a leopard print scarf around my neck, layered with a gold star necklace. I really like the idea of combining two neck accessories, especially with one being a neckscarf: the way the necklace hangs underneath it really makes it have a romantic look.

Plus, I matched the leopard print scarf with a leopard print purse (animal print drives me wild!!!). So even though we have a thoroughly clashing brown tone leopard print with a blue, green and off-shite argyle print; it can be pulled together with neutrals (the black slacks) and having some matching item in the outfit (purse + neckscarf; argyle + shoes).

And that is how you clash patterns and still look sane.

July 7 2009

I am wearing: my hair in the same style as yesterday. Yes I know. But it is only because I feel pretty, and cool, and awesome. So awesome in fact that I bought new sunglasses today to match the style. It just might become recurrent.

But also: black shorts from Dillard’s, a black lacey tank top from Express, a white lacy sleeveless shirt from JCPenney, the green pointy toe flats from yesterday and holding a coach handbag.

This outfit came to me unexpectedly this morning. I usually hate it when people just pile on the tank tops and wife beaters. However, this white shirt is now very very low cut, and I think it would look ridiculous to wear a white tank top underneath it. Thus, I figured I would match up the lace with more lace. Turns out, it works. It is pretty boring: black and white and black. So the most I could do to pep it up was pair it with the bright scarf and green accessories.

I come from old school styling, of which the motto was: “Accessories must ALWAYS MATCH”. This is the generation of matching belts, purses, shoes and earrings. Hence, I sometimes revert back to it, matching shoes to purse. In fact, it is only recently that I have departed from that ever haunting pattern of behavior. Also, my mother wears exclusively black, white and sometimes red, so I guess I really went old school in a way today.

[I can tell my mother is horrified by the fact that the collection of furniture/artwork I have for my future apartment does not match at all. And it's great; while it will look eclectically cheap and student-y, I will look fabulous - I hope.]

July 3 2009

I am wearing: a brightly colored tunic from JCPenney (the belt came with it), black pants from JCP and some really boring work shoes.
Now I felt like I hadn’t worn this tunic in forever, and it deserved an outing today, especially considering the rainy atmosphere. I guess I really don’t have much to say about this outfit other than the belt at the waist makes me look thinner (it’s all about accentuating the thinnest part of you!) and you pretty much can’t go wrong with black slacks. I mean they would have to be the wrong size and dramatically so for them to be a bad choice (or for them to be gauchos – which I have to say, I really can’t approve of). Wearing this tunic made me think about a general rule one should have about their closet:
“If it has not been worn these past 6 months, truly you need not keep it.”
[fine print: exceptions include: seasonal-only wear (i.e. swimsuits, or other specific holiday clothes), gowns (you really only need one, just in case), that favorite item that's just a tad bit tight but you're actually, SERIOUSLY losing the weight]
With the tunic I really wanted to wear a longer necklace. And to be honest, my choices were a little limited, since a lot clashed with the bright colors. So I settled for this fun strand of pearls from Forever 21, which was long enough to loop twice around my neck while still having enough give to rest on or lower than the vee neck.
I am also wearing this awesome (and old) cuff from Forever 21. Now it’s a little rusted, because it’s just a base metal, but it’s great. I love it because it’s adjustable (I have crazy thin wrists for some reason) and it’s a huge honking piece of gold on your wrist. It’s half WonderWoman, half shackle. Love it. I think it’s really interesting to have a piece that can be understated (as in today’s outfit) or really bold depending on the outfit (I would wear the cuff with large earrings and a strapless something to really make it pop).
And last but not least, I am wearing one of these fun hair barettes which I’m crazy about from H&M. They really have one of the best selections of hair barettes in terms of flowers and random bling. This little number is too fun, and helps me keep those stray hairs from going haywire and poufing on top (as they are wont to do).