Outfit: April 15, 2011

It's been rainy most of this week, so when I saw that today was forecast to be bright and sunny, my mind (and outfit planning) leaped ahead to spring. Notice that I didn't check the actual temperature forecast... turns out that yes, it was bright and sunny - but I could see my breath this morning. Still, I plowed ahead. If anything, I even made my outfit more springy by swapping out my intended brown cardigan for this cropped white one. (First time wearing it; it's a little sheer but I think it will be perfect over my sundresses this summer.)
I got this maxi dress last summer and then waited until fall to get it altered... which means this is only its first or second outing. Way to plan ahead, self.

Butterfly-print maxi dress: Old Navy
Cropped white cardigan: Old Navy
Harness boots: White Mountain
Aqua bubble ring: Baked Beads
Turquoise necklace: from a roadside jewelry vendor in Navajo country

Where: baking a test run of our Easter cake, bank, mall errands, impromptu lunch out with my son, mini golf on the front lawn, work at home, evening TBD.

Outfit: April 14, 2011

I'm a little overdressed for my actual agenda today. But I wanted to give this sweater-cape one more outing, and I've always wanted to pair it with these shoes... so voila.
Speaking of these shoes... do you ever have an item in your wardrobe that you love so much, you want to buy two of them, just for the future in case the first one wears out? That's these shoes. Today I found myself analyzing them for signs of wear on the toes and plotting an elaborate Sharpie disguise scheme.
I've been trying to stay away from wearing all black, even though once upon a time that was a major fashion staple for me. Mostly because it's my lazy option; put on all black and you're sure to match! But I rationalized that wearing both plaid and animal print with the black is enough of a departure to make it okay.

Plaid sweater-cape: Bonton
Tank: Kohl's
Black jeans: Calvin Klein bootcut
Animal-print flats: Bandolino
Big black ring: Overstock.com

Where: Vet's office, work at home, rug delivery, more work at home, baking & pajama night with my son. We're overdue for some laziness around here.

Outfit: April 13, 2011

Now that spring is truly here but it hasn't quite warmed up yet, I'm continuing on my quest of giving some of my winter items one more outing before they get shuffled to the back of the closet. I really do like this sweater dress (even though it makes me kind of hippy) but I didn't wear it all that much this winter. It's a little too short to wear as an actual dress but for some reason the idea of wearing it over leggings or jeans didn't occur to me until recently.

If I'm being honest, this is how I really wore my outfit today: with my favorite grey military jacket layered over it, indoors and out. I'm cold today. And I'm also, apparently, a symphony in grey.

Striped sweater dress: Old Navy
Grey military jacket: Target
Grey skinny jeans: Old Navy
Grey buckle boots: White Mountain
Circle loop necklace: Kohl's

Where: Cleaning, pediatric dentist, surprise visit to my aunt at work, junk food lunch and playground as a treat for my son, work at home, making a cake, and then dinner playdate at a friend's.

Outfit #2: April 12, 2011

I had a really hard time getting a good photo of this outfit. It looked great in the mirror, but for some reason it looked all rumply in every photo. I swear it didn't look like this in person! I guess that's what I get for taking a photo at the end of an evening and not the beginning...
I got this skirt on a trip to the thrift store with a girlfriend last week. It's not a length I normally would wear, but I like the way it swirls at this length so I'm hesitant to hem it... The shoes were a birthday present to myself. It's the first time I've worn them and I'm smitten.

Tan sweater: Old Navy
Wool circle skirt: thrifted
Silver belt: TJ Maxx
Silver and brown platform wedges: Mossimo/Target
Pastel shell ring: TJ Maxx

Where: Meeting.

Outfit #1: April 12, 2011

Another day, another alarming level of frump. I'm just really not having a good week. I'm attributing most of that to exhaustion; it's been a singularly bad week for sleeping and it's hard to look good when you're so tired. But I'm going out (briefly) tonight so I have a chance to redeem myself with a second outfit later!
I bought these bootcut jeans (two pairs, actually) in a moment of "they're good enough" desperation. When I look at the photos I am realizing that they're not particularly flattering. They're actually adding thickness to my thighs. Ugh. I've really been struggling with jeans lately. My beloved Calvin Klein bootcuts are nowhere to be found, otherwise I'd just buy ten pairs of those.

T-shirt: Kohl's
Gingham shirt: Old Navy (and quite a bit more sheer than I'd realized, huh, I don't like how my t-shirt looks underneath! I'd better stick to tank tops)
Jeans: Levi's Curve ID bootcut
Checkered sequin flats: Keds (I'll have to post a close-up of these one day soon!)
Ribbon-and-"pearl" necklace: Baked Beads
Multi-tone bracelet: gift
Curious onlooker: rescue

Where: Park and picnic, mechanic, work at home.

Outfit: April 12, 2011

Allow me to let you in on a little secret. Come in. Closer. If you have the choice of searching around to find your regular padded bra with lifting powers and wearing your nursing bra because you are too tired to search for a good bra, search for your real bra. Although this bra is comfy cozy, it is too big and doesn't do anything for me. Oh well. Lesson learned.

I love layers. It might be due to the fact that I grew up in the icy tundras of Vermont but I find layers to be pleasing and you can do a lot to make them more interesting. Here I matched my camisole with my sweater and allowed the lacy bottom to peak out from under tee. It makes me happy. How about you?

The Outfit
Cardigan (remixed): Merona
Tissue tee: J. Crew
Camisole: Elle from Kohls
Trousers: Banana Republic
Shoes: xhiliration

Where: work, Lowes, home.

Outfit: April 11, 2011

Oh, look! I'm dressed for spring!! Except I think the temperature is dropping and AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF MY CAR, it started to rain. No. Make that torrential downpour. But that's okay as I have been inside all day in my office. I'm in a cranky mood today for no apparent reason other than I convinced myself I should have slept until ten this morning. It's pretty damn disappointing when you have to tell yourself that sleeping until ten will not be happening.

The Oufit:
Cropped jean jacket: Banana Republic
Shirt: Target
Skirt: TJ Maxx (remixed - oh look how I used a fashion blogging term!)
Shoes: mossimo

Where: work, Lowes (maybe?)

Outfit: April 11, 2011

So, I broke my cardinal rule last night. Ever since starting this blog, I've made it a point to pick out my outfit for the next day each evening before I go to sleep. Last night, I skipped it. I had an outfit in my head, and I was lulled into complacency by the promise of 80-degree weather today. I think we can all see where this is going.
I woke to torrential thunderstorms and sub-50-degree temperatures. I tried to put on half of the outfit I had in my head, and it was a disaster. I was freezing and grumpy. So I reached for things close at hand. I call this look Suburban Lumberjack. I'm still grumpy, but at least I'm warm.

Plaid tunic: Kohl's
Vest: Old Navy
Jeans: Levi's Curve ID bootcut
Harness boots: Target
Purple leather bracelet: can't remember

Where: mechanic, work at home, tons of laundry, epic toddler meltdowns, naptime, then dinner playdate.