Try-it-out Tuesday: kimono with dress

dress, Old Navy

kimono, DIY

necklace, Haitian Beads

    So far, I've stuck to styling this kimono top pretty simply, usually knotted in front with a plain tee and jeans. Last week, I decided to see how it would look worn full length and with a dress. I think I might prefer it with a solid black dress, but I did feel pretty in it - I enjoyed feeling the chiffon fluttering around me when I walked. I also got a few compliments from co-workers.

      I like this dress, but I've realized that from now on, I will probably avoid dresses constructed with a seam running across my midsection. I find the seam itchy and irritating, not to mention that it makes me feel a little self-conscious about my middle.
      What clothing features are deal-breakers for you? 
    What clothing features are deal-breakers for you?

Try-it-out Tuesday: crop top

crop top, Savers

camisole, Forever 21

petite trouser jeans, Macy's

necklace, eBay

      I never thought I'd buy a crop top,  but I couldn't resist the abstract print and blue and gray palette - and isn't thrift-store shopping about taking a risk, anyhow?  I guess you could say this is a cop-out way of styling a crop top, but it meant I could wear my fun shirt to work and not worry about flashing anyone with glimpses of my midriff.

      I can't seem to take this necklace off lately, but that's fine with me. I've always liked it, but been unsure how to style it. (Who knew that the simple answer was to wear it with _everything_?)

      I've been listening to an audiobook of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" on my daily commute, and it has been a nice change from listening to the radio. However, I had to audibly "hrmph" at the part where Father Christmas says something about battles being ugly when women are involved. It's interesting to revisit something you read as a child and have certain attitudes or ideas forcibly jump out at you. 

Try-it-out Tuesday: trilby*

BLACK Saks Fifth Avenue top, Off Fifth

trousers, Banana Republic

Scala Pronto hat, Ross

        I don't consider myself a hat person, but the culminating day of Spirit Week at school - Hats  & Shades Day - was the perfect occasion to try one on. It was fun to build the outfit around an accessory I don't usually wear! I initially considered doing a little pattern mixing, but decided to go with solids to let the hat stand out.
      * This post originally went live titled "fedora." Thankfully, hat connoiseur Aya of Couturgatory (go check her out, she rocks a genuine fedora here and a beautiful fall-hued bow-adorned beauty here) stopped by and enlightened me - this hat is actually a trilby.  I stand corrected.
      While I've been taking blog photos for years, I'm still surprised by how revealing a photo can be. For instance, while I like the top half of this outfit, I've realized that these pants need to go! I think they look so schlumpy here partly because I'm not wearing shoes (I wore this flat menswear-ish sneaker) but I can't deny that the fit is off -- they are still snug around the waist despite my losing some weight over the summer. I really need to shop for new pants, especially since one pair of my beloved Salt Works jeans has lost its stretch and I sadly had to add it to my donation pile. Searching for a decent pair of pants is such an ordeal! I'm wondering whether I can put off shopping and get through the rainy season with what I have. Maybe I can look at my pared-down bottoms collection as a capsule wardrobe vs. depleted?

        But back to the hat: We've established that I'm not well versed in millinery, but I was puzzled that Old Navy sent me an ad recently touting this hat as a fedora: 

  

       That looks much more like a generic "floppy hat" to me. 

       I'm not quite sold on this trilby - I feel like a hat with a slightly bigger brim (see above) would be more flattering on me. However, I'd like to style my new hat a few more times. I picked up a black shirtdress with a fuller skirt on my last trip to Savers and I think they might go together. I'm also wondering how it would get along with a black pencil skirt.  How would you wear this hat? Suggestions welcome!

Try-it-out Tuesday: layering with a dress

dress, Gap

buttondown, from Mom

Cutie bracelet, won in giveaway

Amrita Singh earrings, HauteLook

suede belt, Old Navy

     I decided to kick off last week's four-day work week and my triumphant, healthy return to work with a little pattern mixing. This buttondown was in my donations pile for a bit, mostly because it is short, boxy, and the buttons start so low down that I need to wear a camisole. All of which are non-problems when using it as a layering piece! At first I wasn't sure about layering with a boatneck dress but after looking at the pictures it doesn't bother me so much. My climate means the opportunities for layering are limited, so I'm pleased that I found a new way to wear this knit dress.

       The belt was a fortuitous, $5.99 find at Old Navy when I popped in to make a return over the weekend. It was an impulse purchase, I admit, but I do like that it is a nice deep red as well as genuine suede. I also picked up this dress for a very reasonable $12.94. I took home both the cream and navy, but am planning to only keep one. The cream one is particularly nice because it is fully lined (with cotton!) and I think that makes it a great value. I also don't own any light-colored dresses, so it would really add some versatility to my wardrobe.

   My one gripe with most women's buttondowns: this shirt fits me overall, but the sleeves are so fitted that it is a tight squeeze to roll them up. I don't think that my arms are disproportionate to my size, but I'm tired of feeling like the Hulk when I just want to breezily cuff my sleeves!

Try-it-out Tuesday: being Olivia

dress, Forever 21

belt, from dress

ears, DIY

     For the last day of school before winter break, my class celebrated "Bringing Books to Life" by dressing up. This is my take on Olivia, the very stylish and assertive piglet who stars in Ian Falconer's picture books. (And yes, this is my second consecutive post in January with Christmas earrings. Don't ask whether my Christmas tree is still up ...)

    While assembling my costume, I had big hopes for this Old Navy dress, as it seemed to be very similar in cut to the iconic red dress Olivia wears on the cover of her first book. However, those hopes were dashed when the dress (in both petite and regular sizing) arrived and turned out to be very, very clingy. As in, even-when-I-sucked-in-my-stomach-I-still-had-an-unsightly-bulge clingy. And life is too short to wear things that require me to suck in my stomach. Luckily, I had this striped dress hanging in my closet, so I went with that. I also decided to forgo the striped stockings/tights because we had an outdoor evacuation drill that morning, which entailed a pretty good walk. So overall, this outfit is more inspired by instead of a faithful replica of Olivia's outfit, but that's OK. Next Halloween I'll keep my eyes open for some horizontally striped black-and-white tights.

    I was a bit baffled by people's response to the ears - one teacher asked whether I was some kind of "Christmas bunny" (uh, no). I know that conventional pig ears would be smaller and more triangular vs. elongated, but I was trying to be faithful to the illustrations. So I hooked my mini Olivia to my lanyard and had her at hand whenever people wondered about my costume.

      It's one thing to wear a costume when everyone else is, such as Halloween; it's another thing to wear a costume on a regular day. I did have a moment of self-consciousness before donning my ears in the morning, but overcame that. And you know what? I had fun being dressed up. At 36 (finally!), I think I've learned to care a little less about what others think and have fun standing out. 

Try-it-out Tuesday: iris and gold

silk top, thrifted

cardigan, Gap Outlet

bead necklace, Haitian Bead Project

     I bought this beautiful bead necklace from Haitian Bead Project, and it inspired this outfit. I like purple with .... well, just about any color, really!

 
     One of my favorite things about this necklace is the beautiful variations of color. It includes "true" purple as well as more reddish shades and the small yellow beads really make it pop.
     Whew, it's been a while since I put together a Try-it-out Tuesday post, but what's different about this outfit is that I built it around the necklace, and experimented with a punchy color combo.

  
      Friday is the last day of school before winter break, and one of the fun things we'll be doing that day is "Bringing Books to Life." I'm allowing the kids to dress up as a favorite book character, and I've already gotten wind that I may have several versions of Katniss and Rick Riordan characters in the house. I did have to tell one Katniss that she'll have to leave the bow and arrows at home and figure out a creative way to help people figure out who she is. 
      I'm putting my own costume (based on a picture book) together, although a lot is riding on my Old Navy online purchase arriving in time and fitting correctly! I also have to craft a few simple components, such as a pair of ears. :)

Try-it-out Tuesday: slightly Goth

Zara silk buttondown, thrifted

Style and Co. petite dress, Macy's

necklace (shortened with a bracelet), Forever 21

         This outfit has a bit of a Goth feel to it - I think it's because of the sheen of the silk and the puffed sleeve. I like the simplicity of black and white but I'm not sure this is 100% my style. Still, it was a fun outfit to wear to take my friend out for drinks and dinner. Somehow I end up being the friend who drives ... and gets to drink an ounce of wine as a result. I usually don't mind, since I'm much more interested in the food! 
         I found this buttondown at Goodwill and decided to take it home, despite it being an XL. It's obviously too big worn as is, but can be knotted, or layered under something.

          Whenever I look at my photos lately, all I notice is my massively overgrown haircut. I enjoy having long hair, but in reality I keep it in a messy bun all day to keep it off my neck. I need a haircut soon because it's getting so heavy that it's uncomfortable. The crazy curls and waves in the first photo are what happens when I first take my hair out of the bun. And then it gets scraped into a ponytail for going out ... I know, it doesn't make any sense.

Try-it-out Tuesday: the adjective-generating outfit

        Punky. Obnoxious. Zesty. Zingy. These are some adjectives that this outfit brings to mind. This houndstooth skirt has been styled very demurely until now, but I think this is my favorite outfit with it so far. Perhaps my new motto should be, "Speak softly and wear a loud outfit"? 

essential tee, Gap, $4.19

Halogen skirt, Nordstrom Rack

necklace, craft fair in Seattle

      My friend described my tee as "va-va voom" yellow, which is, admittedly, more fun to say than neon yellow.

  
      I'll admit to not thinking much about which pair of glasses best complements an outfit (I go with the old brown ones most of the time), but the bold black frames seemed like the only choice for this outfit.

           Three ways I've worn my houndstooth skirt: with jade accessories, with lace, and with an embellished tank and red cardigan.

Try-it-out Tuesday: Grecian

 

American City Wear maxi dress, Ross

brooches at shoulders, eBay

    I have a strange attraction to maxi dresses yet once I buy them, they end up hanging sad and lonely in my closet. I've resolved to wear them more this summer, regardless of what I'm doing (I think I feel that they're too dressy for everyday use.) Last week, I wore this to buy some crafting supplies. Using the brooches to gather the shoulders pushes this dress out of the casual zone, but I enjoyed wearing it anyhow. I felt comfortable and pretty, which is a great combination. :)

     The brooches aren't exactly the same, but I thought the fact that they were both gold-tone and had faux pearls made them similar enough.

     This is what happens when I try a different pose ... can you say awkward?!
      I think Try-it-out Tuesday is my favorite feature, but I've decided to make it an intermittent one so I can focus on featuring looks or styles that are really out of the norm for me. I'm also hoping to make my book-inspired "from the pages of" feature more than just a one-shot deal ...

Try-it-out Tuesday: prodigal jackets

       

jacket, Banana Republic Factory Store

stripedshirt.com tee, won in giveaway

scarf and jeans, Ross

      

           The hubby and I have been making good progress in getting me settled into our humble abode, including purchasing a leather office chair from Office Depot for less than $50 (score!) and doing some cleaning and rearranging. This little knit jacket emerged during the latter task - it had fallen behind a chest of drawers. I had forgotten I owned a short-sleeve jacket. I was quite pleased at its reappearance, as it will make a nice topper for days when it's too warm for long sleeves. One thing that surprised me is how tight the sleeves are. I really don't remember them being so snug. I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised, however, since that's a common fit problem for me ... a shirt will fit great everywhere else but be dangerously tight around my arms. I wish designers would take into account that the average woman doesn't have stick-person arms ...

            Stripes are one of my favorite patterns, but I've always been a little bit baffled by how to style this particular top. It just doesn't seem to match any of my necklaces - it seems like it would go well with a bold necklace like a bubble necklace. I'm pleased that it pairs well with this scarf, which doesn't get worn enough.
   

   

      I tried wearing the scarf untied to see whether it made me look long and lean, but no luck ... so I kept it as a loop.

      P.S. - I'm linking up with two birds' Inspiration Monday, because how can I sit out a stripey inspiration? See the other ladies' fun looks here: 

The inspiration: Selma Blair

 

 

Try-it-out Tuesday: rockin' the socks?

knee socks, Wal-Mart

dress, Macy's

      I am pretty sure that 35-year-olds are not supposed to be wearing knee socks. But then I spotted this pair for less than $3 at Wal-Mart, and figured, why not? This outfit kept mutating (red cardigan or linen buttondown knotted at waist? chunky pumps or sneakers? pink belt or no belt?)
     This post could also be titled, "for want of a shoe." I was excited to thrift these Dansko pumps, but like just about every pump I've met, I cannot keep them on my feet. Even with heel inserts and the socks, I feel like I'm about to walk out of them. I've heard that some folks put double-stick tape under their heel, and I'll try that before I send them back to the thrift store. So for practicality I went with the sneakers, which definitely don't go as well with the knee socks, but oh well.

      Does anyone else get blog fatigue? I've noticed that for the last week or so, I haven't been really excited about reading my bloglovin or Google Reader feed. Never thought the day would come ... but I guess the good thing is that it frees up some time to read books!  : D I'm looking forward to diving into Nova Ren Suma's "Imaginary Girls" next.

Try-it-out Tuesday: take one, pass it on: day 2

Lucky Brand linen buttondown, Macy's, old

striped dress, Gap

belt in neon azalea, J. Crew Factory, $6.99

       
       My "pass it on" item is this dress, which I wore yesterday with a scarf.

      One of the great lessons I've learned from blogging so far is to look at my clothes from a playful and experimental viewpoint. I would have never bought a bright pink belt before (in fact, I hated belts in general!) and I would have never considered that a buttondown could be worn any other way than as is. Knotting the ends makes it look like a cropped jacket, which is exciting because I feel like I've added to my closet without buying anything new. 
     So far, we've learned that J. Crew Factory's neon coral translates to "traffic cone orange," and neon azalea translates to "Pepto-Bismol pink." These are colors I definitely wouldn't have chosen in the first place, but I think they will add some diversity to my closet, which is always welcome.

      Random news: something's in the air ... and while, based on the calendar, it would be fitting for me to say it's love, it's sadly an irritant of the plant-based variety.  All Monday I suffered from a perpetually itchy nose, slightly achy ear and throat, and propulsive sneezes. Fuuuun. I've been coddling my allergy with cups of chai tea with almond milk and sugar, extra doses of brownie double deckers, and dress-up time.  (Can I say that I'm already excited about next week's Try-it-out Tuesday's post? It may be completely age-inappropriate, but I enjoyed it anyhow.)

Try-it-out Tuesday: Dynastic

silk top, thrifted

skirt, Forever 21

 Volcom "Day Dreamers" linen-cotton shirt jacket, Macy's

bracelet as necklace, GroopDealz

     I have come to the conclusion that while I will never be "cool," I can at least dress like I am. ;)
     While I love this shirt jacket, the Mr. doesn't agree. He complains that it's too big for me. But a lot of times I like that it's lightweight and kind of slouchy. To me, the jacket is essential to this look. Without the jacket, the outfit feels a little "Dynasty" (purple silk! leopard print! blingy gold necklace!) to me. I'm not sure what exactly they wore on "Dynasty" - we were "Dallas" watchers in my family - but this seems like their brand of over-the-top.

     Groopdealz was offering this bracelet for free (if you paid a few bucks for shipping), and of course I didn't think about how huge the bracelet was going to be. I wore it once and it kept sliding off my wrist. So I linked it up with another bracelet and repurposed it as a necklace. That refashioning and my wearing this underused skirt qualify this outfit for Try-it-out Tuesday.
 

    I've realized that all the leopard prints I own are in nontraditional leopard-print colorways: a yellow and gray short-sleeved sweater and this skirt, which has hints of purple and green. Thus, I'm adding a conventional leopard-print top to my thrift wish list.
    Random news #1: My two-month shopping ban starts on Feb. 1, and the weird thing is, I've been having a lot of dreams about clothes-shopping ... obviously, my dream wallet is fatter than my real-life wallet.
    Random news #2: I'm chaperoning a field trip today! It's a walking field trip, and the weather has been rainy and wet for the past few days, so fingers crossed that it's sunny and dry today ... 

Try-it-out Tuesday: lace {at last}

JJ Basics cardigan, hand-me-down

Hollister "Pacific" lace tee, $15.90  (here)

denim pencil skirt, Old Navy

necklace, Forever 21

      Let it be officially noted that I usually dread entering stores like Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch. The overwhelming miasma of perfume/cologne, the dim lighting, the weird store layout so there's dead ends everywhere you go, the masses of tourists dropping $200 at a time on piles of logo tees ... ugh. 

     But, I did brave the store to get the Mr. two buttondowns, one of which I gave him for Christmas. They were too small, so I headed back into the store to return them. Since I had to squeeze past the tourists anyways, I decided to take a look at the sale section. And lo and behold, there were two cute tops in the sale section. I've been wanting something with lace for a long time, so I was excited to find this.

 

Deep thoughts? Or wondering how much candy I ate today?

     While I love both denim and pencil skirts, I have hardly worn this skirt. When I bought it, I was concerned that it was too fitted in the back for work (because who wants a bunch of fourth-graders ogling their rear? Not me.) But I decided to take a few side shots to see how it looked, and I think that while you can see my shape, it's not distracting (ha!) or inappropriate.

 

  One thing I don't like about this top is that it has a ruffle at the front hem. But I do like that its cut accommodates layering a very light cap-sleeve tee underneath (below).

 Stem turquoise tee, Nordstrom Rack

Beach by INC linen shorts, Macy's

 

That dratted ruffle in the front

     Do you have a lot of lace in your closet? (I'll confess that I've always found lace itchy and thus avoided it, but this top is comfy).  And how would you style this top? 

Try-it-out (Wednesday): double stripes

Gap supersoft tee, Gap Factory Store, $2.97

Linda Allard Ellen Tracy silk wrap skirt, Goodwill

necklace, Forever 21

     This tee combines two things I cannot resist: stripes and a bargain. As much as I love stripes, I haven't doubled up on them yet, so this skirt was a fun pairing.

      One puzzling thing about this skirt is its construction. When I put it on so the flap is in front and the tie is at my right hip, there's a seam running down the center of the front flap. But when I tie it on the left, the flap is in the back and the front is seam-free. Every wrap skirt I've seen has the flap in the front, so I wear it that way. But it strikes me as strange that it'd be sewn with a seam running down the middle of the front ... although the pattern is matched up neatly, it's still an odd choice.
      Hope you had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate the holiday! We enjoyed a lazy, quiet day at home and did some cooking. My sister always leaves before New Year's Day and misses out on the Japanese food we make for New Year's, so this year we had our New Year's chow early. We enjoyed nishime (a kind of stew or soup with chicken, bamboo shoots, carrots, seaweed, and more) and also made apple blondies for dessert.