Try-it-out Tuesday: walking in rainbows

     I find that some clothes make me smile when I look at them. This boys' buttondown is one of those items. I always think of it as my "painter's shirt," probably because of the multi-colored stripes.

Old Navy sweater

Kenneth Cole Reaction boys' buttondown (Ross, old)

Banana Republic Factory store petite trousers

 
     I decided to increase the color fun and wear my new sweater. I love the cheery green hue and that it is made up of different stitches. The one thing I'm a little iffy about is the fit -- I'm considering introducing it to my dryer for a little shrinkage. I feel the torso is a bit baggy, and the sleeves a little too long.
    I've been on a green and red kick lately (despite the strange look I got the last time I wore the combination), so I added red jewelry to top off the look.

Amrita Singh "Marion" earrings (HauteLook)

        While I've always enjoyed color, I usually don't pile it on -- so this was wonderful fun. I felt a little like a mad scientist in the color lab!! I do think the striped shirt pulled the look together. Although it doesn't have green stripes, it includes red, and I think that made this outfit look a bit more cohesive.
        Do you agree with my rationale? What rules do you follow when you play with color?

Try-it-out Wednesday: my new clutch, or, superpowers I don't possess

     For Christmas, my friend R gave me this clutch. Which is kind of amazing considering that we had discussed my lack of such a bag months and months ago. The fact that she remembered this, and hunted down one for me as a present, proves she possesses that female gifting superpower. Sadly, this is a superpower that I do not possess.

   
One of my blog goals for this year is to post one outfit a month that incorporates a bag. The right bag and right pair of shoes can elevate a look from ho-hum nice to unforgettable. This bag and shoe combining is another superpower I don't possess (yet!)

     Old Navy's clearance rack is irresistible. I liked the colors of this shirt's floral print, but wasn't sure if the very exaggerated ruffle (front and back) was going to work.  However, it is surprisingly feminine and flattering. I couldn't find this in XS, so I settled for a small, which means the bottom is rather long. A partial tuck took care of the excess fabric.

   While my closet is overflowing with certain items, it is oddly devoid of some classics. This year, I'm on the hunt for classic items, such as a little black dress and a good blazer. I think I found the latter (sneak peek in the photo above), and at a place I don't usually shop! :) I'll be posting a review soon.
    Getting back to superpowers, what's yours? For me, it's a toss-up between my amazing appetite for chocolate (the Mr. finds it appalling that I can drink a cup of cocoa and eat chocolate at the same time), or my ability to read quickly (a skill honed by my former career).

Clutches by Jessica Simpson

Try-it-out Tuesday: more, or less

    I've hit the midterm doldrums. The evidence? I woke up this morning with no clue about Try-it-out Tuesday.
    I opened my drawer, noticed this tunic I've never worn, and decided to start there.
    About a year ago, the Mr. helped me pick out some work clothes, and this was one of the pieces. While I liked it,  I was never sure how to wear it, so it got tossed into my drawer.

Alfani tunic; Beau jeggings

       While you know I love big prints, this fell into the "overwhelming" category. I added my Volcom jacket to make the print less overbearing.

Volcom Day Dreamers shirt jacket

     I liked that I still got a healthy dose of print down the center and that the shirt hem let the patterned edge peek out.
    So that covers the "less" part mentioned in the title ... now, on to more.
    My Amrita Singh earrings arrived Friday, so I decided they might add a great touch of color.

Red bangles, India; silver bangles, Amrita Singh

   And just for fun, I added red and silver bangles. I normally wouldn't wear big print + fancy earrings + bangles, but Try-it-out Tuesday is supposed to help me stretch my style a little, right?

  

size it up: Year of the Snake

One of my goals with this blog is to focus on how clothes fit. Cameras don't lie, so I'm going to use photos to help me decide whether to keep or return this item. I couldn't find this in a petite to compare the fit, and I don't think there were any size 0s, either. Can you tell I like to prowl the bargain racks?

I really like the color and print of this item. Being born in the Year of the Snake, I have an affinity for things that remind me of my Chinese zodiac year. I find it interesting that while the zodiac is officially Chinese, just about everyone in Hawaii could easily tell you their year.
However, there are some things I don't like about this dress. The bodice looks a bit baggy, and the sleeves are puffy and look too big. I will have to try it on again, review the photos, and make a decision.

I got these bangles on my trip to India a few years ago, and I regularly wish I had picked up heaps more in different colors. Hard to resist when they come in different sizes and in a dazzling array of colors and designs.
One of the things I like about this dress is the full skirt. Couldn't resist taking a twirl and doing my best supermodel impression. Hope you don't laugh too hard!

Dress: INC from Macy's; bangles: India; flower ring: Forever 21.