February Freeze, vol. 6: a nice discovery

   Happiness is figuring out that a skirt you've had for a while, but never wear, has POCKETS. :)
   Brown is a color that baffles me. I feel comfortable pairing black with just about anything, but brown??? I'm just not sure what colors go best with it. I've never paired it with blue before, but I like the look.

Top, Forever 21

petite skirt, Banana Republic

shell earrings, New Zealand

   I got this skirt from Banana Republic's sale section a while back for about $17. I've always wondered if the front detail -- gathering below the waistband and resulting pleats -- looks weird. However, it looks fine in the photos.

   Help me out, please -- What are your favorite colors to pair with brown?

Try-it-out Tuesday: white jeans & February Freeze, vol. 4

     I've been in the style doldrums lately, so I decided to wear these jeans as simply as possible. Red, navy and white are a classic color combination. I actually bought this cardigan to wear with the red tank, but this is the first time I've paired them together! Three of these items don't get worn much (jeans, tank, gold sandals), so it was nice to put them together. February Freeze trifecta! :)

DKNY red tank with navy chiffon and gold chain trim, Off 5th

navy cardigan, F21

DKNY white jeans, Macy's

gold sandals, Target

     

The Mr. grumbles that I always walk around with my hands in my pockets (SO not true). ; )

     Obviously, 12 seconds is not enough time for me to cross the room, put my shoes on, and be ready for the camera ...
     Happy Hearts Day! <3

the Good Ship Stripey

   The navy blue, stripes, and vaguely flag-shaped enamel pendants made me feel just a bit nautical in this outfit.

     I've been wearing this necklace with pretty simple outfits, just because I think the turquoise, mustard and purple are pretty on their own. However, I'm going to eventually challenge myself to mix it with something other than a neutral to see whether I like the look.

3-ring circus, or, fashion fail?

   I think I got overambitious with this outfit. Fun graphic tee + stripes! Layering! Tights + sneakers!  And make the sneakers not an unobtrusive neutral, but bright pink!

 Rebecca Beeson long-sleeve tee (Costco, old)

   "The Day the Fire Brigade Went on Strike" tee (Threadless)

   striped skirt and tights (F21)

   Puma sneakers

    After examining my tights + sneakers pins more closely, I realized that I COMPLETELY missed how simplicity made the look work. Solid tops and bottoms and a restrained color palette, by and large, kept things simple and fresh. My favorite is the third: I think the drapey pink dress is so cute!

                                                                                          Source: chictopia.com via Carrie on Pinterest

  

  

  

                                                                                       Source: teenvogue.com via Carrie on Pinterest

                                                                                           Source: chictopia.com via Carrie on Pinterest

I did marginally better reproducing this cute, cozy and simple look from What Would a Nerd Wear.

                                                                                         Source: bloglovin.com via Carrie on Pinterest

  

   

DKNY cable sweater hoodie (Macy's, old)

    I think this outfit would have worked better with a plain black shirt -- it would have made the outfit less busy and accented the pink sneakers. In the meantime, I'm adding a pair of simple black sneakers to my wish list ...

eau de omelet

   My cherished cold weather has vanished, leaving behind ultra-humid, sticky weather and dour gray skies. :( It was so hot Tuesday morning that I needed to sit in front of the fan to finish my bowl of oatmeal without overheating. It's definitely not as bad as the humidity I experienced when visiting India a few years ago, but nevertheless an unwelcome change from the cool tradewinds we usually enjoy.
    My teacher friend invited me to assist with her reading class on Tuesday -- they had read a story about dinosaurs having a brunch, and they were making omelets to extend the activity in a fun way (and squeeze in some procedural writing). I read two of the groups a related story while my friend and her co-teacher presided over the butane burners and helped the other students make omelets. The warm weather made the skirt a smart choice, and I couldn't resist the cheerful red to brighten up a glum-looking day. The kids were polite and enthusiastic, and I had fun. The only problem? My clothes and I smelled like omelet after that.

 Ralph Lauren buttondown (Macy's)

CK pencil skirt (from outlet)

Forever 21 leatherette navy & green belt

 
    My favorite part of this outfit is the green belt. I saw my friend take a good look at it, then she didn't say anything. She was either thinking, weird -- doesn't Carrie know red and green is only for Christmas?!??, or, she was awed by my fun sense of color and temporarily speechless. :D
   The long weekend has thrown off my schedule, but I'm planning the usual Try-it-out post for this week. One of my (as yet unstated) goals for this blog in 2012 is to bump up the accessorizing by taking more outfit photos that feature purses. (Only happened once in 2011, so things can only improve!) This week I'll be building an outfit around a purse I received as a Christmas gift from my friend R. I love having friends who remember what you need (in this case, a clutch purse), then get it for you for Christmas ... I don't have that talent, but I do admire it in others!  ; )

Try-it-out Tuesday: stripes + boots + tights

    Forever 21 was offering free shipping last week, so I caved in and bought the striped skirt I had been eyeing all throughout my shopping ban, a pair of black tights, and a navy and green colorblocked belt. It amuses me that the tights cost just a bit more than the skirt.

F21 bodycon skirt with foldover waist, $6.50

    I got this skirt in a large, hoping that would make it less clingy in the back. However, while the waist is a little big, it's still much too snug in the rear for work. I will need to wear  a flowy, longer top or a longer jacket/cardigan to make it work-appropriate.
   I tried the tights on with my new boots, in the hopes that the all-black look might neutralize the boots' stump-ifying powers. Wishful thinking, anyone?

F21 textured striped tights, $6.80

     I'm excited about owning my first pair of tights! It will allow me to wear dresses and skirts to class and not freeze to death.

Inspired by: Mae of thereafter-ish

   A big thank you to Mae of thereafter-ish, whose travel outfits inspired this one. I like that she puts her own stylish stamp on a comfortable, practical outfit through the mixing of patterns and the inclusion of playful accessories. Click here to see her latest outfit that mixes an interestingly cut top, animal print and stripes.
   I started with some old favorites: a loose-fitting linen buttondown and jeans.  Then I added a camisole and left the shirt partially open to highlight my drapey necklace. The finishing touch was an arm party to add some intricacy, color and sparkle.

  
     Long gone are the days of wearing one bracelet at a time! I am an official arm-party addict. Even my students noticed one day and admired the pile-up. :)

'Iolani Palace door hinge bracelet (rhodium plated)

     One of my favorite landmarks is 'Iolani Palace. I still remember our fourth-grade field trip -- we had to put covers on our shoes to protect the gorgeous wooden floors and our admission tickets looked like old-fashioned dance cards. Definitely a place to check out if you are ever in beautiful Honolulu! :)

Try-it-out (Wednesday): doubling up

    Classes are still keeping me busy, but one final project is completed, two more to go! :)
    T+J Designs is running a style challenge about statement jewelry, so I thought it'd be a fun idea for a belated Try-it-out post.
    I've mentioned my love of whimsical/cute tees before. A tee and jeans is the ultimate in comfortable and simple, but I decided to see whether this Jedidiah tee could be dressed up a little. Enter this Forever 21 pearl-and-chain necklace:

  I also added a light blue cardigan (previously loved by E.I.):

    (Click here for a good look at the tee shirt's design.)
    I'm not a fan of pastels, but I'm surprised at how much I like the soft blue and pink together.

    Pairing a printed tee with a bold necklace is a little out of my comfort zone, but I think the necklace and cardigan add polish to an otherwise basic outfit.

double florals & next time, I'll just stand

    Next week's rule-breaking challenge over at Clothed Much is double florals. I pondered my options quite a bit before settling on this combination. I don't own many florals, and what I do own is more on the abstract side.

   I tweaked something on my camera settings, and while I like the effect, it's not very good for showing the outfit's actual details (see second photo). I didn't have time to figure out how to untweak the settings, so here I am using the unsophisticated stretch-your-arm-out photographic method.
   Speaking of unsophisticated, I was such a klutzoid when I met my adviser to plan my spring class schedule.  First, I accidentally banged the metal chair into the metal desk, which made a sound so loud that people on the fifth floor probably heard it. Then at the end of the meeting, I put the chair back very awkwardly as I juggled my notebook and backpack. I felt like I was doing a comedy routine, except that implies planning and an intention to entertain. Me? I was just trying to deal with a chair. Oh well. At least I looked good.

         The Mr. does not understand this sweater -- he thinks it looks weird. My cousin, however, complimented me on it. Given that my cousin has possessed distinct opinions and preferences regarding her clothing since the age of 3, I'm more inclined to trust her opinion.
     What item of clothing do you love that baffles the men in your life?

viva la arm party!

     Signs that you probably watch too much "South Park": when your Traditional Literature and Oral Narration class reminds you of a specific episode. The teacher shared with us a snippet of Robert Bly's "Sibling Society," which posits that society has moved from a parent-in-charge view to the child-makes-her-own-decisions mindset. And then the teacher even referred to "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan! (The episode I'm thinking about is the one where Cartman's mom, fed up with his running the show, calls in Cesar Millan to help her take charge.) 

       For this outfit I wanted to play with shades of blue and also try out the arm party idea. I originally didn't include the two jade bracelets, but then I decided, the more the merrier.

      I'd be embarrassed to admit just how much time I spent admiring my arm party during class. I truly hope everyone else was too absorbed in the classwork to notice me. I can hope, right?

lazy-woman chic

I'm figuring out that a great necklace is the lazy woman's chic accessory. Can I confess that I even threw one on this weekend to hide an itty-bitty stain on my black T? I figured the gleam of the pearls and glitter of the chains would cover things up nicely. (Does that sound really really slobby? Are you now going to be scrutinizing every outfit photo for covered-up stains?) I think I wore this outfit 3 times this weekend: plain black T/tank, jeans, Forever 21 pearl and chain necklace.

Petite Jeans by Calvin Klein Jeans

I wanted to snap a photo, but it turns out a balky battery charger is behind my camera troubles. I have to think about whether I want to even attempt to take Try-it-out Tuesday outfit photos with my MacBook's Photo Booth.

camera blues

     Good news: my camera tripod came in this week! No more balancing acts involving the laundry hamper and a box!

     Bad news: something's amiss with the camera battery and/or charger, so I don't have enough juice to take photos. 

     Bad news #2: the point-and-shoot is having the same problems.

     Sigh.  

     So, these photos are even blurrier than usual. My apologies.

    Anyhow, on to the outfit ... 

    I am shaped like a Snickers bar (translation: not much of a waist) and short-waisted as well, so I was excited to find Kelly's guide to successful tucking-in for short-waisted petites.

   

   

     I didn't have a belt to match my top, so I chose one that went with my necklace. The ruffled top + the long sparkly necklace is a little out of my comfort zone. In my pre-style-blog-reading days, it would have seemed like way too much. But after I got used to it I kind of liked it. 

    I wore this to class with the cardigan open. However, after reviewing Kelly's directions I decided to belt over the cardigan. This cardigan is too slouchy to produce the coveted X-shape via buttoning.

    

      I think this would look better with a different cardigan and belt, but it's not bad for a first try! I'm looking forward to experimenting more with this idea. 

outfit tweak: adding purple and sparkle

I wore this outfit last week, except I put a gray T underneath.

I know I need some new poses, but this isn't it. While I liked last week's outfit, I thought it would be fun to add some unexpected color. Enter these really cute Bandolino flats, which I love but haven't worn much.

The color purple completely baffles my camera, so I've done some heavy-handed tweaking via Picnik to better represent the color. I thought the yellow and purple would play well together. And then, I found my favorite long necklace, so I decided to throw that into the mix as well. (Rumors of me being supremely organized are untrue. For months I've believed this necklace to be lost, only to find it hanging off the knob on the back of my bedroom door.)

I think this outfit tweak was a success, and I can't wait to wear it. It was also lots of fun ... can't you tell by my smile?

While I'm not buying new clothing, I haven't ruled out picking up a few versatile accessories (specifically, jewelry and belts). These earrings are affordable and the colors are so pretty! I don't really have colored earrings so this would be an easy way to experiment.