inspiration Monday: A-line skirt fail

 The inspiration: Gwen Stefani

My take: 

 New York and Company chambray shirt, thrifted

Banana Republic A-line skirt, hand-me-down

earrings, gift from M

bracelets from third-grade Market Day

        On a whim I decided to stop at Goodwill during a weekday afternoon, and that's when I found this perfect chambray shirt. It fits well and the short sleeves mean I can wear it year-round. It was priced at $8.99, which is more than I'm usually willing to spend at Goodwill. However, I had tried on several chambray shirts from Old Navy and Ross and they didn't fit as well as this one (they were also all long-sleeved), so I decided to get it.

         I wanted this skirt to work on me, but my first foray into A-line skirts has left me unimpressed. The pocket placement is weird to me, and it keeps riding up and creasing across the hips. It could be that the skirt is just too small. I considered not posting the photo below, but I think it's a good reminder for me about what I don't want in a skirt.

 The ugly truth - yikes

    Anyhow, despite the bad fit of the skirt, I had fun wearing this. My friend treated me to breakfast - an omelet with the local requisite side dish, two scoops of rice liberally drizzled with shoyu. Then we topped things off with chocolate pudding crowned with dollops of whipped cream ... because it's really never too early for dessert. ;)

       Linking up with two birds' inspiration Monday! Click here to see the other participants' creative interpretations!

inspiration Monday: layers of pretty

The inspiration: Emmy Rossum

My take:

"Pacific" lace tee, Hollister

embellished camisole, Charlotte Russe

denim skirt, Old Navy

bracelets: gifted, DIY, HauteLook

            I was forced to get creative because a) I don't own a denim jacket (although I've been eyeing the ones on sale at Macy's!) b) I don't own a bright bag and c) I don't own a lace dress.  
     Lace and delicate sparklies in the same outfit - hmm, am I turning into a girly-girl? This is the camisole I wore under my wedding dress, and I was inspired to use it as an underlayer here. I usually wear this top buttoned, but I unbuttoned it to let the beads and sparklies peep through. Yay for real buttons with real button loops vs. the fake buttons I find so irksome on many items of clothing.

      For some reason this outfit feels really beachy to me - I think it's the light blue of the camisole.

         I haven't ever seen anyone wear a camisole under  her wedding dress, but I decided that I'd be more comfortable with one, as my wedding dress had a low neckline. When I started hunting for the camisole I expected that I'd end up with something classically pretty, made out of ivory silk with lace edging, the kind of thing you'd find at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom's. But on a whim I popped into a Charlotte Russe store (not a store I usually frequent) and this looked perfect. I had a large round sequin pop off when I first tried it on with my dress, but other than that the beading has stayed in place, although it doesn't appear to be securely stitched.

Random wedding photo! 

Photo by Nicole Seu of Studio 3511

       Two more ways I've worn this lace top:

                                                     houndstooth             red, lace, and blue

        I'm linking up with two birds - click here to see the other interpretations of the inspiration!

inspiration Monday: floral silhouettes

The inspiration: Emmy Rossum

My take:

     

Kahala silk-linen top, Macy's

necklace, Forever 21

camisole, Nordstrom Rack

cardigan, Gap Outlet

      I don't own anything similar to either the top or skirt Emmy's wearing,but her skirt's print reminded me of one of my favorite shirts. I've just realized that while I've worn this shirt quite often, I've never worn it with a skirt before! Adding that to my outfits-to-wear list. :)

       It's with great surprise that I start my last week of work as a math tutor. I really enjoy working with kids one-to-one, so I'm sad to see it end. 

       I have a job interview for the upcoming school year set for Saturday, bright and early at 8 a.m. This particular position has so many applicants that they actually asked us to staple a photo to our resume(!) As a teacher with a mere two years of classroom experience (a.k.a. total newbie), I know it's not likely that I'll be chosen, but I'm going to give it my best shot anyhow. I'm still determinedly hoping to find my dream job as an elementary school librarian, but nothing's materialized yet.

        I'm linking up with two birds' Inspiration Monday - see the other creative looks here. :)

inspiration Monday: sizing woes and happy dots

The inspiration: Hilary Duff

My take: 

BCBG Max Azria top, gift from little tin soldier

trousers, Banana Republic Factory Store

Semantics cardigan, Nordstrom Rack

bracelets, gifted and DIY

      I usually take outfit photos before leaving the house, but I'm still adjusting to my work schedule (although I must confess that on Friday, I got to come in two hours later than usual). Anyhow, imagine my horror when I came home, took photos, and realized how poorly these pants fit. I have a few BR Factory pants that fit great, but they seem the change the fabric all the time (my favorite pair is made of a rather thick, stretchy material that skims my curves without being clingy). Add in the fact that I never really know what size I wear there -- I think every pair of BR pants I own is a different size! -- and this is the result. *Sigh.*  I'll take these photos as validation of my decision to stop buying work pants from BR Factory and seek out a new brand. Anyone have a reasonably priced brand that offers petite sizes that they love? 

     On the bright side, I got to wear this beautiful top that Linda of little tin soldier so kindly thrifted for me. I love the colors and interesting neckline! And I think this swingy little top would look so cute with that pair of black skinny jeans that I've been craving lately. :)

       Linking up with two birds inspiration Monday! Check out the other looks here. :)

inspiration Monday: bubbly

The inspiration: Elizabeth Olsen

My take:  

 Lily petite dress, thrifted

White House Black Market blazer, thrifted

leggings, Macy's

necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance

bracelets, InPink and Macy's

Dr. Scholls Allycats booties, HauteLook

     This dress has been hanging on the "possibly donate" side of my closet, but I think it will be getting off death row. I just like the colors too much.
 

     Linking up with two birds inspiration Monday! Check out the other participants' creative intepretations here! :)

inspiration Monday: 3 brights

     Do you have names for favorite items of clothing? When my friend K gave me this yellow glass pendant, she referred to it as a "fish pendant." The Mr. calls these pants, which he abhors, my "'80s pants." I'll admit to having names for some of my favorite clothing items ...

The inspiration: Kristin Cavalleri

     I decided to take this elegantly simple striped tee and colored pants look in a new direction by introducing a red cardigan and yellow pendant. (I'll admit I was swayed by Katie's dazzling pairing of red with turquoise).

tee, J. Crew

Velvet Heart pants, Ross

J.J. Basics cardigan, hand-me-down

glass pendant and red beaded bracelet, gifted

Cutey "Hemera" charm bracelet, giveaway win from Bonjour Gazel

    
     I was thrilled to win this Cutey bracelet from Bonjour Gazel. I chose this one just because of the dangling key charm. I'm surprised at how well it fits -- it doesn't slide off my wrist like many bracelets do.

  

inspiration monday: (yet another) printed maxi

     I think I mentioned a while back that I temporarily broke my shopping ban to pick up a third patterned maxi dress. I decided to showcase the offender for Two Birds' Inspiration Monday:

This is my "it's-blazing-hot-and-I-
need-a-popsicle" face

Trina Turk maxi dress, Nordstrom Rack ($30)

Love Change tank, Macy's juniors department 

The inspiration: Michelle Trachtenberg

     There were a number of things that drew me to this dress: the splashy black, white and pink print, the airy silk-cotton blend, and the fact that I can wear this when occasions call for aloha wear. Oh, and let's not forget the price, which is a 91% markdown (according to the tag).

Can't decide whether the tank looks better like this ...

          

To make this dress really worth my $$, however, I needed to find a way to make it work-appropriate -- it's pretty skimpy up top, with string ties at the shoulders. Adding a plain black tank kept the look summery while offering some coverage.

February Freeze, vol. 8: things girls like

    I wore this necklace yesterday with a charcoal gray tee and jeans, and the necklace was a big hit with the first-graders I worked with after school. I had a few girls come up close and reach out to touch and admire the strands. The funny thing is, none of the girls said, "nice necklace" or anything like that. ... but those curious hands and eyes said it all. :)

     turquoise and pewter seed bead necklace (Macy's)

"Let Go" tee by Lim Heng Swee (Threadless)

cardigan (Forever 21)

Drew Barrymore

    I was belatedly inspired by two birds' inspiration monday post featuring Drew Barrymore. I have an absurd affection for graphic tees, and add in jeans? Um, this is what I wear just about everyday. I liked how the addition of a statement necklace can bump this outfit up a notch, from "this is what was cleaned and ironed" to something slightly more intentional.

    I thought the different shades of blue would be harmonious, but the necklace kind of gets lost against the graphic tee, so next time I'd try it with a different shirt. I considered sneaking this in as a belated Try-it-out Tuesday post for this week, but since a tee and jeans is what I just about live in, I'll be posting a more challenging outfit this week. :)