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: tassels and midis and stripes, oh my!

     Sunday is the most-anticipated day in our house -- it's the day when Mom and I head out to run errands (and do a little shopping as well). I tried out an armload of stuff at Nordstrom Rack, but nothing looked good. I met up with Mom in the clearance section and while idly flipping through the rack, came across this lovely midi skirt -- heavily marked down to $5.40!!

     That night, I checked out Clothed Much's Rule Breaking Monday midi skirt challenge for some styling tips and ideas. I learned that: 1) heels are a must for short people like me, and 2) a belt was a nice complement to the fullness of the skirt. I've always admired how Dotty of dash dot dotty sets her belt so artfully askew, so that's who I'm copying inspired by in regards to the off-center belt.
     On Monday, my first eBay purchase came in the mail. I just had to try on all of my new stuff together, although now I'm wondering whether the necklace and the stripes are a little too much?

     On Monday afternoon, I put together this outfit and reached for the camera, only to find that the battery was completely dead. Somebody needs to check her battery before getting dressed for a photo shoot.
    Anyhow, I soldiered on with the MacBook Photo Booth, and had fun with it. There's something about this skirt that makes me want to do goofy things, like spin around and watch how it flares out, or pretend I'm meeting the queen and doing my very best curtsy, or take silly self-portraits. I suppose a good outfit sets your imagination free ...

    

Hello, blog world! See, I do have a face ...