navy and green and fun all over

dress, Old Navy

belt, Forever 21

earrings, etsy

   Some days, it's the little things ... like a dress in my favorite color, a fun belt, and a pair of bunny earrings (this outfit is from the week before Easter).

   

     What I think of as the Season of Holiday Earrings is over. It starts with Halloween, rolls through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, then ends with Easter. I find that my seasonal earrings make people smile and add a little fun to a work outfit. I need to find more fun occasions to commemorate with earrings! And by fun, I mean food-related. A little idle Google searching has already turned up National Cookie Day (December 4th) and National Doughnut Day (the first Friday in June).

bouncing back to brights

Threads 4 Thought dress, Off Fifth

cardigan, Gap Outlet 

 I've been wearing a lot of neutrals lately. January's purchases so far include a black-and-white print top and a gray-and-white striped tunic, which means the neutrals streak is not over yet. However, in the middle of a short but jam-packed week, it was nice to revert to my comfort colors of blue and green.

     On my annual December pilgrimage to the outlet mall, I found this new addition to my collection of cotton dresses. It was a steal at 40% off! The fabric is soft, the print reminds me of India, and the cut is work-appropriate. I know it's hard to see in the photos, but the back hem is slightly longer and curved, which adds interest.

*   *  *  *  *

     A few weeks ago, my local craft store sent me a 40% off coupon. I decided to get a book that would teach me something new. I considered getting a jewelry-making book, but I wanted to take up something that wouldn't require a lot of tools. So I ended up getting a book on Zentangles, since all it requires is a pen and paper. It's been a fun, simple way to fit more creativity into my life. My hectic work schedule inspired this piece:

Try-it-out Tuesday: J. Crew sleeve roll and just loved it

Before we talk about the frivolous stuff, just a friendly reminder for those in the U.S. ...

Source: dribbble.com via Sandi Devenny on Pinterest

Now, back to the clothes ...

Lauren Ralph Lauren buttondown, thrifted

navy and green leatherette colorblock belt, Forever 21

petite pencil skirt, CK Outlet

 
      I have to admit that there's nothing particularly innovative or new about this outfit, but I really loved it. That should count as something for Try-it-out Tuesday, right? I did try out the J. Crew sleeve roll (next time I'd like it to be a bit messier). Most of my shirtsleeves are too slim-fitting to pull off this kind of roll, but this worked out great.
      This shirt is a medium, and I'm liking the slouchy fit.  It's long enough that I think I could wear it with skinny jeans, my turquoise jeggings, or maybe even leggings.

        I found this shirt misplaced (or hidden) in Goodwill's men's section, while I was browsing for a men's shirt to attempt refashioning. The cash registers weren't working right that day (they weren't taking credit cards), so maybe someone stashed this with plans to come back later with cash. But all's fair in love, war, and thrifting, right? So I have no guilt about snatching it up. ;)
      Speaking of thrifting - one of my goals for winter break is to purge my closet. I've added quite a few pretty things thanks to Goodwill, so I need to go through my closet carefully, and be ruthless about purging items that don't fit well or just aren't my style. Any tips on making purging less painful, particularly for packrats like me? 

Try-it-out Tuesday: up or down?

    Perhaps one of the secrets to a flexible, well-used wardrobe is knowing how to dress items up or down?

  Yoshitomo Nara 2K men's tee

petite pencil skirt, CK outlet

navy and green colorblock belt, Forever 21

     On Friday I paired a graphic tee with a pencil skirt and a belt. It could be viewed both ways: dressing down a pencil skirt or dressing up a tee.
     Happy Tuesday! What's your favorite item to dress up (or down)? :)

February Freeze, vol. 7: (dress)ed down

     I've been procrastinating on wearing the really difficult items in my closet. I felt like this dress would be just too much for work or class. However, when my friend and I decided to go out for an early dinner on Saturday, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to wear this.

 Calvin Klein strapless dress, (Ross, old)

chambray pullover (passed down from Mom)

navy-and-green leatherette colorblock belt (Forever 21)

      I'm not very comfortable wearing strapless dresses or tops, so I layered on a chambray pullover. (What on earth possessed me to buy a strapless dress? Can we say, impractical?) It also gives the dress a more casual feel. I added a belt to balance out the full skirt with a well-defined waist.

   The very full skirt is a different look and feel for me, but I love the print, color (the tag says it's "electric pink") and the length actually makes it suitable for work. I think it would look really cute with a buttondown tied at the waist, a red cardigan, or even a different belt.
    My friend and I went to an Italian restaurant, and there was a basket of warm, crusty-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside bread. Empty carbs with a slathering of butter=<3. I was reminded of comedian Jim Gaffigan's discussion of bread, especially when we ended up chomping our way through most of a second basket. Let's just say I needed to loosen the belt a bit on my way home ...

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!  ; )