picky

Tommy Hilfiger top, Macy's

same ol' jeans, Ross

JJ Basics cardigan, hand-me-down

        I really like the straight fit of this top - it reminds me of a pillowcase top, although it's doubtful that I could get a real pillowcase to fit over my hips. ;)  Worn with the jeans, it was a little dark overall, but the red cardigan really livened things up without being too matchy. I think a white cardigan would also work, but I don't own one ... adding that to my wishlist.

          My mom and I went to a craft fair this weekend, and it really pointed out to me how my tastes have changed. I looked at a lot of the jewelry and thought, "eh, nothing special." I suppose browsing etsy has increased my expectations of handmade items. Not to mention, the place was awash with Hello Kitty stuff ... I have never been a fan of Hello Kitty, although an obsession with that mouthless, bow-wearing cat is almost par for the course for most women who grow up here.
         This isn't to say that we didn't buy anything -- I picked up a cute pair of earrings that look like tiny rainclouds and a simple suede-and-gold bracelet.
           One thing that bugged me about the craft fair: why don't vendors tag each item, or, post signs that let you know how much things cost? If I need to ask someone about the price of each item, I'm just as likely to move on as to ask, particularly if they haven't even said "hello" or glanced up.

February Freeze: red + purple

JJ Basics cardigan, hand-me-down

shirt, India

Grane flare jeans, Ross

Carole quartz necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance

Dansko sandals, Nordstrom Rack

      I used to send this shirt to the dry cleaners, until one day it occurred to me that probably
very few people in India dry clean stuff and I should chance hand-washing it instead. Now the bottom part is horribly wrinkly. It's almost as if those little red threads don't like water and shriveled up. Anyhow, the shirt counts as a February Freeze item but every time I do wear it I remember how much I like the color scheme. The flares are also a February Freeze item and I think this is my favorite outfit with them so far. 

 

     Totally gratuitous peek at my wedding shoes. I knew right away that I didn't want white or neutral shoes, and was excited to find these for $45 at 6pm.com. I'm already looking forward to adding them to my regular-shoe rotation after the wedding ...

February Freeze: life's little mysteries and a big bow

Zinc top, gift

camisole and pearl and chain necklace, Forever 21

JJ Basics cardigan, hand-me-down

trouser jeans, Macy's

Seiko watch, gifted 
 

        Welcome, February! I'm kicking off February Freeze 2013 with this outfit. Last year's February Freeze (roundup here) gave me the opportunity to: a) save money by not shopping, and b) wear many of my closet orphans. I'm looking forward to getting creative with my closet as well as participating in Sarah's Real Life Take One, Pass It On Outfit Remix for a week.
       My first February Freeze pick is this top. I don't wear it much, just because the neckline is ridiculously large, but I do like the bow detail. 
       I wore this (plus sensible black sneakers) to chaperone a field trip to the symphony. The students enjoyed it and it amused me to see many of them start waving their arms in imitation of the conductor! What I particularly appreciated was that the program featured the youth symphony. I think it makes a huge difference to have kids who could be the audience members' big brothers, sisters or older cousins up on stage as musicians - I think it helps the kids in the audience realize that they can pursue their interest in music. Sadly, with the testing craze, music is not a regular offering at school, but more kids need the opportunity to create, not just listen to, music ....

Put a big ol' bow on it!

Life's little mysteries (a.k.a., things I just don't get):

• Why is it that elementary students, if left to their own devices, will hurtle down the hall when the recess bell rings ... yet, on a walking field trip, will dawdle through the crosswalk. I lost track of how many times I said, "Walk faster!" or "Keep up.
•  Why do clothing manufacturers use the most itchy, uncomfortable plastic thread to sew their labels into clothes?  
• Why do clothing manufacturers seem to love making tops with crazily low necklines and/or semi-sheer fabric? I am not a prude by any means, and I do acknowledge that being smaller than average means most things are not cut to fit me, but given the warm weather here, I don't want to layer a camisole under every shirt I own. 

Do you have a little mystery to share? Leave it in the comments!  :)

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? 

new classic and conversation closers

Halogen petite ponte skirt, Nordstrom Rack, gift

embellished tank, Macy's

JJ Basics cardigan, passed down

     I've been having fun getting dressed lately - maybe it's because I feel so much more relaxed with nothing to do but enjoy winter break. Evidence: I wore my houndstooth skirt for the first time to get dinner with sis and a cousin last week. Since it's the holidays, I added a sparkly tank, pearl accessories, and red cardigan - but knotted the tank at the hip so it looks laid-back vs. stuffy.
      Random news: I've realized that telling people that I'm studying library sciences is a conversation closer. The average person just has no conception of what librarians really do (and no, I don't take classes in Advanced Shushing and Reshelving). At the most, I get a blank but pleasant look and an "Oh, that's nice." I need to think up a 10-second soundbite that makes my future profession accessible and interesting without sounding pedantic or snooty.

*pop*

 From just OK ...

... to pulled together!

Kahala silk-linen top and petite trouser jeans, Macy's
JJ Basics cardigan, passed down from E.I.
bracelets: Iolani Palace door hinge; DIY

      Did you ever notice how many good things have names that start with pop? Popcorn, Pop-Tarts, Pop Rocks ... and pop of color. (OK, I just thought of one that isn't so fun - pop quiz - but you get my drift.)
     It was so much fun to take an old favorite (this top) and add a transformative pop of color. I don't know why it never occurred to me to wear it with a red cardigan, but it takes this look from blah to fantastic. The blue and red together make me happy; this hardly-any-ironed-clothes situation is resulting in some great outfits. 
   The idea of limitations being freeing reminds me of "A Wrinkle in Time," and the discussion at the end of how life is like a sonnet -- within a strictly bound form, freedom blooms. I just finished the audiotape, and loved revisiting a childhood favorite. Returning to it so many years later made me realize that the book is a beautiful reflection on growing up and the duty and pleasures of responsibility. I've just started listening to Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising." This was another book that I read and reread as a child, and it's hard to believe, but Cooper's prose is even more gorgeous when read aloud.  

     P.S. - These pictures really don't do this outfit justice - guess I'll just have to wear this outfit again sometime soon, right? :)