Sweater vest

After wearing leggings for the last three days, I decided it was time to put some real pants on.  Not that I don't consider leggings real pants, because I actually do and I wear them as such often.  I just thought maybe I'd dress up a bit.  You know, to jeans. We had some friends over to play this morning and I thought they deserved more than just leggings. 

This vest is actually a dress but everytime I try it on as such it just doesn't look right.  The buttons at the top are spaced oddly and it looks like my bust is literally going to bust right out.  Not quite the look I go for on a daily basis.

Oh, and in case you are wondering what hairstyle I went for today.  That is called bedhead.  It's really quite complicated and involves a lot of tossing, turning and sleep to get it to look just right.  Perhaps I will post instructions on Pinterest soon.

Daily Style File
Turtleneck:  Old Navy (Fall 2011)
Vest:  MA Los Angeles (old)
Jeans:  Madewell via the JCrew Warehouse Sale (Fall 2011)
Belt:  Gap (old)
Boots:  Schuler & Sons Philadelphia via Anthropologie (Holiday 2011)

I Wore It Where?
playdate, pediatrician's office 

Feelin' blue

Today I wanted to make sure I looked nice because I had an appointment to consign some of my kid's old clothes and toys.  In my mind, if I looked half-way put together they would want to pay me top dollar for all of the things I brought to them.  Because the obsessively ironed, folded and organized bins I dropped off didn't speak enough for themselves.

What I forgot to take into account was the fact that I have zero sense of direction and it would take me four phone calls to them to find the drop-off entrance at their new location.  By the time I actually pulled up, I looked like a crazed woman with no flippin' sense of direction (or sense, period).  Oh, and it was lunch time and the kids were hungry.  My plan of strolling on in early, dropping off my items with a little skip in my step, gliding out of the store to go to lunch with my two perfectly mannered children all while looking like I have this whole mother thing down pat went totally out the window. 

Did I mention it was pajama day at preschool too?  To top it off, my almost 4-year old was wearing her pj's and looking like I just didn't care enough to put her in real clothes. You know, like the ones I was trying to sell them.

P.S.  See? I wasn't joking when I said everyone needs to add some navy to their closets this winter.

P.P.S. Don't look too closely at my boots.  They need to be shined.  What used to be "character" is now making them look like they are going to fall apart at any moment.  I'm on it.

P.P.P.S. Did anyone watch the Critics' Choice Awards?  I didn't either.  But, I did check out all the red carpet looks and picked up this little legs crossed, hand on hip move.  You like?

Daily Style File
Dress:  Lush via Nordstrom (Spring 2010)
Jacket:  Carole Little via Marshalls (Fall 2009)
Leggings:  Old Navy (Summer 2011)
Belt:  Anthropologie (Winter 2011)
Boots:  Steven by Steve Madden (Fall 2008)

I Wore It Where?
preschool, errands 

Blazin'

I love a good blazer.  Especially when it is girly, pink and adorned with bows.  Just to make sure I wasn't too sugary sweet today, I paired it with my boyfriend jeans and some wingtips.  And a metallic pink bow belt.  Okay, that is in the sugary sweet category too, but who can resist?

Oh, and a good white t-shirt goes a long long way.  Invest.  It doesn't even need to be a good one.  It just needs to fit well and not show your upper lady bits (you know what I am talking about, right?).  No one wants a see-through white t-shirt, unless you are at a wet t-shirt contest and I imagine those days are long over for most.  If they aren't, they should be.

Daily Style File
T-shirt:  Old Navy (Spring 2011)
Blazer:  Intuitions (2004-ish)
Jeans:  True Religion (2005-ish)
Belt:  Gap (2010)
Shoes:  JBrand Shoes via Anthropologie (Winter 2011)

I Wore It Where?
preschool, playdate, errands, dr. office  

12 things I learned today

1.  Long pants on a wet day = wet pants all day long.

2.  My days of wearing low-rise pants are over.  for real.

3.  My almost 4 year old wants blue hair so I tied a blue scarf to her head and that satisfied her.  I wonder if that will still work when she is 15.

4.  Old women don't like when you offer them money.  After watching an elderly woman in line spend many minutes searching for her wallet and saying, "You can never find it when you need it," I offered to pay for her purchases.  She snapped her head at me, told me she had plenty of money and didn't need mine and then proceeded to pay.  I, of course, felt horrible that I had a. offended her by implying she didn't have money and/or b. rushed her.  Despite the gesture gone awry, I'd do it again.

5.  Little boys like to push stuffed animals and dollies in baby doll strollers just as much as little girls.  I think it is totally awesome.

6.  My kids like the idea of Lunchables much more than they like eating the actual Lunchable.

7.  I really like Target's clearance sales, even if I am not buying, because seeing what a good deal people will get makes me giddy. FYI -  Toys and baby items will go 75% off this month and a lot has been marked to 30-50% already.

8.  Even grown men who wear hunting jackets and drive big SUV's get visibly shaken when they run their car off the road, through a ditch, and into a tree.  People are more fragile than you may think so take the 10 seconds to check and make sure they are okay (if it is safe to do so), even if you didn't witness it (man = okay, SUV = totaled).

9.  I wish I could sing like Adele but I really can't sing.  at all.

10.  I purposely drive by construction sites because I love the high pitched squealing sounds my 16 month old son makes whenever he sees a piece of heavy machinery or anything with wheels.

11.  Watching hair videos hasn't improved my hair styling abilities.  yet. 

12.  Wearing pants like Heidi Klum doesn't give you legs like Heidi Klum.

Daily Style File
Dress (worn as shirt): Xhilaration by Target (Summer 2011)
Sweater:  Trina Turk via Nordstrom (Fall 2008)
Pants: Miss Sixty (2004-ish)
Necklace: Anthropologie (Winter 2010)
Shoes:  Corso Como

I Wore It Where?
preschool, errands 

Navy

I have a lot of black basics in my closet.  It goes with everything.  But, you know what?  So does navy.   It's less harsh looking than black.  Equally as neutral.  Strikingly fresh.  And sadly often forgotten. I think we should all make it a point to add a little navy into our ensembles this winter.

My leggings are actually long johns.  Yup, like the ones I used to wear skiing as a child.  Except they are from J.Crew and not some outdoor store that supports winter activities.  So, maybe they are a little hipper than skiing long johns.  I found them at the bottom of a box at the J.Crew Warehouse sale.  Actually, a man found them and proceeded to study them and some other items for at least 10 minutes.  Whenever anyone takes that much time to consider a purchase of an $8 pair of pants, I take note.  So, I casually digged through boxes right next to him and even more casually picked up any items he discarded so I could peruse myself.  These were in his discarded pile.  I have no idea if they are mens or womens and really don't care.  I find the navy color to be fresh and the fact they are thermal underwear makes them hip.  Right?

Daily Style File
Turtleneck:  Forever 21 (Holiday 2011)
Skirt:  Forever 21 (Fall 2011)
Necklace: Source unknown
Boots:  One of 2 via Nordstrom (Fall 2008)


I Wore It Where?
preschool, errands    

Just peachy

We changed up our normal Sunday routine a bit (if you call doing nothing a routine) and had a family playdate with some friends.  It was so nice that the adults kids had a playmate.  That meant I had to get dressed, since it is not exactly welcoming to have people over when you are in your pajamas; unless you are sick, just gave birth or it is a pajama party. None of which applied here.

The weather is more Spring than Winter these past couple of days and I am embracing it.  So, yes, you are seeing bare arms and legs.  It's that nice out.  I find this weather to be just peachy - kind of like my top.

Daily Style File
Dress:  Xhilaration by Target (Spring 2011)
Shirt: Eyeshadow via T.J.Maxx (Spring 2011) last worn here
Leggings:  Old Navy (Spring 2011)
Necklace:  Arden B (Winter 2010)
Shoes: All Black via Anthropologie (Spring 2011)

I Wore It Where?
playdate, errands, playground

Bohemian sparkle

I'll be the first to admit my outfit today is a bit frumpy.  I'm going to call it Bohemian instead.  I think that has a much nicer ring to it.  I spent so much time ironing my hair this morning that I didn't have time to iron my clothes.

The number one rule for wearing harem pants is they need to be ironed or else they look like pajamas.  The first thing I did this morning was break that rule.  Whoops.

So, instead of focusing on the wrinkles on my pants, let's focus on my stick straight hair.  Nary a wrinkle in sight.  Or my metallic plated scarf.  Because what else is a girl to do when she wants to cover up her unironed clothes?  Layer a huge, beautiful, sparkly scarf and hope that takes the attention away from things that were neglected.

Let's marvel at the scarf, shall we?

Daily Style File
Cami: Free People via Belk (Spring 2011)
Cardigan:  Gap (Summer 2011)
Pants:  Aftershowershop on Etsy (Spring 2011) last worn here
Scarf:  Nordstrom (Fall 2009)
Boots:  Nine West Vintage America via Belk (Fall 2011) last worn here 

I Wore It Where?
breakfast playdate, mall, errands