You all may not realize it, but there are some things that are just more important than this blog. Things like preparing for my Woodleaf talk, recovering from an exhausting (but awesome!) Woodleaf weekend, and, of course, grading (you know, that thing I'm actually paid to do as part of my job?). So... yeah. Sorry about the absence.
The good news is that my Woodleaf talk went well, I managed not to catch the dreaded post-Woodleaf cold, and I'm still doing well keeping up with our new mandated grading deadlines. So I hope you all understand that sometimes the blog fades to the background.
For now, some pictures!
Pre-Woodleaf Week:
Wednesday's outfit was definitely the least good of this set, but it worked fine. Tuesday's outfit starred an argyle sweater vest because the English department has started themed dress days on the days of our English department meetings, and the first one was argyle!
I also like the sassy head sash on Thursday. SASS.
Post-Woodleaf Week:
Sadly, I was so rushed Friday morning that I forgot to take photos before I left the house, and I forgot to take photos when I got back at the end of the day too. That's okay, there's plenty here already.
I really liked Tuesday's dress with the ankle boots and leggings. It just... worked really well. The Wednesday outfit was less great, but it still worked just fine. Thursday's outfit is a great example of how simplicity can still work great. Just a white shirt and black ankle pants, but the leopard flats and red scarf add just enough to keep it from being plain.
So there you go - that's what I've been up to lately. How about you?
This week, for any number of reasons, felt VERY long. I kept hearing a voice in my brain saying, "Life is very long..." and then I would wonder if the week would ever come to an end. Eventually it did, and when it did, I slept for about 15 hours straight. Not with a bang, but a whimper.
So I apologize for not being able to get a post up during the week, but now you get SEVEN outfits all at once! Yes, that's right, I don't just have my work outfits from this week, but also what I wore on the weekend. So let's get started...
Monday:
This wasn't terribly exciting, but it also wasn't terrible. The trio of necklaces did a lot to spice up the look, and as I always say, there's nothing wrong with a simple outfit once in a while. I do wish the cropped pants fit a bit better, though.
Tuesday:
Looking at this now, I kind of wish I'd been bolder and popped the collar. I think it would have worked. Otherwise, I liked this. The shirt has a flattering tailored cut to it, with small white print, and the white pants are a nice neutral with it. The headband with the side ponytail was cute and fresh.
Wednesday:
Let's be honest - I just gave up here. It was overly warm in the morning, I was tired and running late, so I just threw on a fitted tee and skinny pants. Now, there's nothing so bad about this outfit, but it's not exactly engaging. I was just too tired to care, though.
Thursday:
This was a nice pairing - tailored "faux-denim" trousers, ruffled shirt, gray Mary-Jane pumps. The ruffle got a little annoying after a while, but otherwise, I liked this one. I also finally wore the teal banded watch I bought last spring, which had previously not come out of its box. (Why? I have no idea.)
Friday:
First blue-and-gold (aka "JEANS") day of the year - hooray! It had been such a long week by this point that I just wanted something soft and comfy, so I paired my skinny jeans with a casual top from Target and my most cushioned flip flops.
Saturday:
Saturday was a lazy day, and I got dressed to go sit at a coffee shop and finish the book I'd been reading (Silver Linings Playbook), not to actually be productive in any real way. It was hot enough to merit the shorts, but only with a somewhat more covered top, so I picked a long sleeved floral top and pushed the sleeves up. The low scooped neck is balanced by a necklace, and with my hair up I decided on dangly earrings.
Sunday:
I was filling in for someone in the nursery, so I planned to wear a longer top so that I could sit comfortably without worrying about whether I was showing skin unintentionally. (Plan ahead!) I wore my sorority flip flops (go Chi O!) because the burgundy straps matched my shorts, which are hand-me-downs from my mom. Again, the lower neck of the camisole under my tunic is offset by a small silver necklace, and with my hair down I kept my earrings to plain diamond studs.
So there you go: One full week of outfits in the life of Miss Doyle. Let's pick our best and worsts...
Best? I'm going to go with Tuesday.
Worst? I'm picking Wednesday.
You?
Well, I survived the first week, y'all. But not only did I survive, I'd say I thrived! It has been a great year so far, and I have high hopes that it will remain a great year throughout. Positivity, FTW!
Let's look at my outfits for Thursday and Friday:
After three days of very professional looking outfits, it was time to dress down just a little bit. There is certainly nothing unprofessional here - and, in fact, I wore this to speak to parents at the New Parent Orientation Thursday night. But the general look here is a little less structured and formal than the earlier skirt/dress outfits. I love these new shoes, purchased about a month ago from Zappos (on sale now!), both in appearance and in comfortability. (Note: I just made that word up.) I liked the whole effect here in this outfit.
And then we had our first Maxi Dress Friday! This is a new maxi dress I bought from the same boutique as Wednesday's wrap dress, and it is incredibly soft and comfortable. I love the rich teal-y color, and the small details at the waistline. The low v-neck necessitates a camisole, not just for the dress code, but for general modesty; plus adding a second color with the white camisole breaks up the block a bit.
So, readers: How did I do on week one? If this week's outfits were my first assignment of the year, what grade did I get?
(P.S. The first two pics were taken with an additional lamp; is it better or worse than the single lamp in the other pictures?)
Let's look at some non-work clothes, okay? (Like you have a choice.)
March 2:
This is actually an outfit I wore to Mrs. Toth's baby shower, but I could have worn it to work I guess. I liked the light colors for a spring party, especially the green for a "new life" kind of feel.
May 11:
And this I wore to the now-Mrs. Joslyn's bridal shower. When I arrived, I discovered that Mrs. Toth and I somewhat matched:
When we're both wearing navy polka dots, you KNOW it's totally fashionable. (Disclaimer: Actually, we're not that fashionable. And we're really weird. And nerdy.)
May 27:
This I wore to the review session with my English 11 Honors students on Memorial Day. Technically, not a work outfit, because it was just an optional review day, but it probably could have worked. The top is one of my Target Maternity purchases. I hope no pregnant women get mad at me for shopping in their section...
May 31:
This is what I wore to the staff meeting we had the day after finals ended. That day is always a bit more casual than other work days, but I still like making sure I look nice. The collared shirt, cuffed pants, bright necklace, and closed flats are all pieces that contribute to a professional look, but with a sleeveless top and denim it's a bit more casual.
Also, DANG. That mirror was STREAKY.
June 4:
I assume I was going in to finish up some school work on this day, but it wasn't actually a "work" day, so again, I'm pretty casual.
Okay, that's enough for now - let's take some polls:
Do you want me to finish last year's work clothes or move on to this year's without finishing last year's?
A) Finish last year's!
B) Just move on.
C) Who cares?
Do you want me to write about the remaining casual outfits I wore during the summer?
A) Yes, I want to see more casual outfits!
B) Nah, just get to this year's work clothes.
C) Who cares?
Do you want me to do any more retrospectives (i.e. looking at outfits from 2008-2012)?
A) Yes, retrospectives are fun!
B) No, you've come too far to look back.
C) Who cares?
[Note: If you answered (C) to any of the above, why are you reading this?]
