Self-Improvement

Well, many of you who chat with me on a regular basis know that I've been on a self-improvement kick lately, and it's going quite well. I've been adding to the self-improvement piece by piece since the beginning of January: First, I started reading at least one chapter of the Bible every night. No mandatory order in which to read, so whatever I want/need that night is fine. I haven't missed a night since I started.

The next step was to brush and floss my teeth every single night. I've missed only one night since I started that one.

Then I started a new food plan. I bought 28 days' worth of lunches and dinners in one bulk shipment from Personal Trainer Food; each lunch/dinner is one kind of protein and one kind of vegetable, and I can supplement with some healthy carbs (in moderation) as I want. I have to say, the food is honestly REALLY tasty, so it is totally not a hardship to be eating it. It's also SO easy, because I just grab a protein (like teriyaki chicken, angus burger patty, or meatballs), a veggie (like broccoli florets, green beans, asparagus, of any number of veggie blends), and maybe some type of carb (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, or these awesome low-carb whole wheat tortillas I found) and toss it in my lunchbox to take to school. It microwaves in less than five minutes and I am good to go. Same thing for dinner. And since it's frozen, it stays good if I decide to eat something different, like if I want to go out with friends or something. This plan has me eating SO MUCH HEALTHIER than I was before (when I pretty much lived on fast food), and that has me doing a lot of healthier things. I went for a walk to the grocery store instead of driving last weekend, I snack less, I drink more water, etc. It's awesome.

[EDITED TO ADD: If you are interested in maybe trying out this plan (and I really do highly recommend it), please let me know! I can give you a link to use that will give YOU a discount and ME a referral bonus!]

Then I started using actual dishes instead of disposable ones at my house, and I made a promise not to let them pile up but to actually wash them on a regular basis. And my sink currently has not a dish in it; there are clean ones drying in the drainer.

And from the beginning of the semester I've been working on forcing myself to work diligently so as not to fall behind on planning and grading. As of today, I am ahead of the grading schedule I set for myself.

So now, I'm gonna see if I can start improving myself as a blogger. Because let's be honest, this blogger needs improving. One of the big improvements I'd like to do is not to do huge catch-up posts anymore. Especially now, looking back to previous posts, I don't like having to look at 8 different outfits in one post if I'm looking for one piece or look that I remember. I don't like that the tags don't really help with anything since one post might have tags for 8 different outfits in one. I also don't like having to see the failed outfit choices mixed in with the good ones; I'd rather look at the bad ones when I want to critique or learn from my mistakes, and look at the good ones when I want to feel good about my fashion sense. So one at a time.

Of course, doing just one at a time means I have to keep up well enough that I won't need to catch up all at once. But I can do it if I set my mind to it: Look at everything I've already done.

So for today, let's choose arbitrarily from the myriad outfits I've worn since the last post and see what we have:

I bought this skirt at a second-hand store in Los Gatos and I love it. I decided since it was winter (and therefore more appropriate for darker colors) and since I wanted to highlight the pretty sage color that I would wear simple black pieces with it. A classic black cardigan (with a white camisole), black patterned tights, and black boots gave a nice backdrop for the skirt, and a multi-strand necklace and small cuff bracelet finished off the look.

So what do you think? Self-improvement blogging: Yay or Nay?

Sartorial Panache

Everything I wear, I wear with sartorial panache. I know no other way.

 

Actually, I'm not sure my Monday/Tuesday outfits have all that much panache. They're fine, but a little plain. I love this dress - cut and pattern - but admittedly there isn't much happening in this outfit other than the cute dress. When I was getting dressed in the morning, I knew some kind of pumps would be the better choice for shoes, but it has been just way too hot lately, so I felt like I needed sandals.

Still way too hot, so still wearing sandals. This was another very simple outfit, and looking at these two outfits next to each other, I wish I'd worn some color in here somewhere. The skirt is a Mrs. Toth hand-me-down (thanks, Mrs. Toth!), and the shirt is pretty much the softest black tee you can imagine. The whole thing was, as I said, simple, but I liked it.

So, what do you think? Do I have sartorial panache or not?

First Days of School

Let's take a walk down memory lane and examine my "First Day of School" outfits through the years:

 2008

2009

2010

 2011

 2012

So, a couple things immediately stand out. First, I have always worn a dress or skirt on the first day of school. Second, other than 2012, I've always stuck to neutral colors (browns, grays, black and white, etc.). Third, I've always worn heels of some kind, but only once were they heeled boots.

If I had to rank them in order of which I like best, I would probably say I like 2012 the most, 2008 the least, and exactly in order in between - basically, the more recent, the more I like it. And really, that's the way it should be, right? Getting better through the years?

So the question, of course, is what I should wear this year. I turn to you, loyal readers, to give me your thoughts. What elements do you see in these outfits that you like (and therefore think I should aim to repeat)? What should I avoid? Are there any particular pieces you've loved seeing in past posts that you think I should incorporate into my first-day outfit? 

Give me ideas, people!

[P.S. My hair changes a LOT, right?]

Let's Not Skirt the Issue

I can only hope you like puns, because otherwise this post's title is terrible. Let's look at some skirts!

February 20:

I was very excited about this sweater, which I found on sale at Target. They only had it in a size small, which surprisingly fit me! I like the polka dots in neutral colors, which goes great with fun solid colors like this teal skirt. I also really like the larger polka dots in the torso as compared to the smaller dots on the arms - makes it seem more unique. (Though let's be honest: This is a sweater from Target, so "unique" cannot truly be applied here.)

April 10:

Sigh - back to the terrible mirror photos. (Made even worse by how streaky the mirror is.) I liked this outfit a lot, but the skirt was terribly made. It was a Target purchase, and I understand the "You get what you pay for" arguments, but usually I like my Target clothes so much and they work much better for me than this did. It just did not fit right, it tugged in weird ways at the seams, and eventually it actually ripped along one seam without my even noticing. Fortunately, I was spared total embarrassment because the tear was only on the outer layer of the skirt, but the lining was still intact.

Anyway, I feel like a necklace of some kind would have made this outfit better, but it was still good as it was.

April 18:

I am actually quite shocked that I didn't wear this skirt earlier in the year.  I went back into my files and discovered I also wore this skirt on September 20, 2010; February 4, 2011; and August 31, 2011. All of those were accessorized pretty differently, though, so we're all good with not repeating outfits.

April 23:

Here we have a straight black jersey skirt, which is super comfortable and goes with everything. In this case, it was still a little chilly, so I opted for slightly longer sleeves and mid-calf leggings.

May 1:

This is that same skirt, but this time without the leggings. Because of the straight cut of the skirt, I felt like I could wear a blousier top - if the skirt flared out in an A-line, I would have kept the top more fitted.

May 28:

I actually pinned this skirt to my top to keep it at the empire-waist height, since size-wise it would normally fall at my natural waist. I loved the look created by placing it higher, though - it made the skirt+top almost look like a dress, in fact. The bow on the blouse is a nice detail, but because it is over on the side of the neckline, I still wanted to wear a longer necklace (in this case, two different necklaces, in fact).

That all said, it was more trouble than it was worth putting this look together, so I've already given the skirt away since then.

May 29:

This is another look that I really enjoyed but that was not fun to wear. The shirt tugs uncomfortably and really is slightly too small for me, so I gave it away after wearing it this day. That said, I like the way it looks with the pencil skirt. The pastel blue with the gray and nude pumps is a great light colored palette for spring, and the pearls keep it classy.

Hope you've enjoyed the skirty goodness of this post! Next time: DRESSES.

Brown and Black

Before I get to answering the reader-submitted question from the last post, I'll show Monday's outfit:

The skirt is another Mrs. Toth hand-me-down, and I got tons of compliments on it through the day. I like that it is fitted around the waist and flares nicely at the ends. It could be worn with all sorts of different color combos, but for the debut, I kept it with simple black. For the chilly weather, I added a denim jacket:

We like?
________________________________________

Okay, on the last post, an anonymous commenter asked the following question:

"When is it ok to wear black and brown and when is it not ok?"

The answer, honestly, is that there is no real answer. But I understand that that isn't really helpful. So here is the general rule by which I dress myself:

If it looks good, wear it.

Isn't that a horrifically annoying answer? But it's the accurate answer. If it works, then go with it - don't worry about what rules you might or might not be breaking. Generally, you're better off choosing browns that are on the lighter side, because if the colors are too close together, they're more likely to clash. Note the light brown sweater I wore Tuesday with black pants:

If the sweater were a darker brown, it would be too similar to the black in the pants. Same with the boots I wore in last week's "trendy" outfit - a nice tan color, rather than dark brown.

So there's your answer! And for good measure, here are some more pics from Tuesday, showcasing my brand new leopard-print flats, which had been on my wish list for a while now:

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! For right now, I am thankful for all of you, my readers, who keep making me feel like maybe my clothes are interesting to someone besides me. :)

Hand-Me-Downs

I think many of us who have older siblings of the same gender (I have an older sister about three years older than I) grew up hating the concept of hand-me-downs. Like, really? I get her old unwanted clothes? Wow! That's so great! I really feel like a valued member of this family getting only what she doesn't fit into anymore. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

However, I'm pretty sure this is an unfair response. First, it negates how hard our parents are working to keep us clothed at all, which is kind of a lot of work when you think about it. Second, I think the vast majority of us were getting hand-me-downs that were still in good condition, so it's not like we were walking around with holes or huge mustard stains or anything. And third, it ignores how exciting clothes are when they're new to the person wearing them, even if they aren't new to the world as a whole.

My great and wonderful friend Miss Heaton I mean, Mrs. Toth recently cleaned out her closet and gave me some of her hand-me-downs. I love when she does that, because she's always got super cute stuff that's still in great condition, and I suddenly get new (FREE) clothes, like the skirt I wore today:

It fits well, and the color is a nice soft mix of light green and light blue. I decided to pair it with a long-sleeved black top with a square cowl neck. With the top and skirt both solid colors, I added some print in my charcoal gray tights, then finished off the outfit with ankle boots:

So do you have any friends who might be able to give you her (or his) hand-me-downs? If it starts to feel too unfair - like one of you is always giving and one is always receiving - you could arrange a clothing swap. Nothing like a quid pro quo to keep the friendship balanced. :)

Back in Black and Ponytails

I have been having a rough week for a variety of personal reasons, and I realize that is probably becoming clear through the amount of black I've been wearing and the fact that I keep giving up on my hair in the morning and throwing it into a ponytail. Still, I think I'm managing to do okay with my outfits in spite of that.

Yesterday's outfit starred a new emerald green top from New York and Company, and I mostly chose to surround it with black so that the vibrant color would have the attention all to itself. I adore jewel tones - that's what we use to refer to the really rich colors we associate with various gemstones, like sapphires, emeralds, rubies, etc. - and I think most women look amazing in at least one of the jewel tones. For me, because of the green tints in my hazel eyes, I look good in rich emerald greens like this one that draw attention to my eyes.

The shirt has a great twist of the fabric in the front, pulling nicely at the waist to create a good shape. A keyhole opening near the neckline keeps it from feeling too severely conservative while still maintaining modesty because it buttons at the top. Since it's a sleeveless top, I paired it with a cropped short-sleeved cardigan at school, which also hits at the perfect spot at the waist to establish the hourglass figure. I added a comfy pair of skinny black pants and my rolled slouchy boots,and jewelry was simple black and silver, keeping all the focus on the green top.

Get the look for yourself:
Shirt - New York and Company, available here.
Cardigan - Target; similar here.
Pants - Gap, available here.
Boots - Cathy Jean; similar here.
Necklace - Target, available here.
Ring - Old Navy; similar here.
__________________________________________________

Today's outfit, similar to yesterday's, featured a colored top from New York and Company surrounded by black, and if I'd realized that similarity earlier, I probably would have avoided the repetition. (Especially since I wore a ponytail on both days, too.)

Originally, I hadn't planned on the leggings, but it was chillier this morning than I had anticipated, and eventually I was very glad I chose not to go with the bare legs. Still, wearing the capri leggings instead of full leggings kept the outfit looking fun and fresh, rather than overly morose and heavy. I also paired them with flats rather than boots, also in the hopes of keeping the whole look a little lighter.

Looking at these pics, I am determined to wear something non-black tomorrow. Of course, I might wake up and send all of that straight to the toilet with an LBD ("little black dress") and another pair of black boots. That's the joyous mystery of this blog! Stay tuned to find out what I decide.

Get the look for yourself:
Shirt - New York and Company; similar here.
Skirt - Target; similar here.
Belt - Target; similar here.
Leggings - Target, available here.
Shoes - Payless; similar here.
Necklace and earrings - Target, available here.

Two-Trick Ponies Are No Good Either

Well, as I mentioned when discussing my Day 2 outfit, I don’t like the idea of being a one-trick pony. At the time, I was talking about switching it up between a skirt-blouse combo and a pants-shirt combo. Within those two categories, however, there remains a HUGE spectrum of possibilities, and so it is important to keep in mind the myriad ways to vary your clothing options even within a given type of outfit.

For the third day of school, I returned to the skirt-blouse world, but somewhat reversed from the outfit I chose for the first day:

Whereas on the first day I paired a loose colored top with a fitted neutral skirt, this day I paired a loose colored skirt with a fitted neutral top. (In these particular examples, the “neutral” in question was black both times, and even that similarity makes me a little uneasy about seeming too repetitive. This could be because I’m mildly obsessive about my fashion choices. But only mildly.)

Far too many people, in my opinion, forget the fashion rule about balancing loose items with fitted items – something I talked about in that first-day post. Combining loose tops with loose skirts makes the entire outfit seem like baggy and – let’s be honest – a little bit like you’re wearing a discarded circus tent. And combining fitted tops with fitted bottoms will, in most cases, just look cheap and trashy. Finding the right balance is important.

The top of this outfit is actually a loose blouse with a tie-front, but over it I’ve put a structured, fitted faux blazer. The jacket is made of thin cotton, which makes it a perfect cover-up for this time of year, when you want to wear a jacket, but don’t want to overheat. With the blouse tucked into the skirt and the jacket over it, the looseness of the fabric doesn’t unbalance the outfit.

Since the skirt has a little bit of a retro feel – it makes me think of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday – I paired it with feminine kitten heels that have a similar 1950’s vibe. The little floral detail at the front is fun, but not too distracting.

Jewelry for this outfit was a little tricky, and trying to decide what to wear helped me to realize a hole in my jewelry options. I adored the pearl necklace with this – again, keeping that vintage feel – and the pearlescent cocktail ring matched the necklace perfectly. The problem came in picking a bracelet, when I realized I have no pearl bracelets; this is a problem that must be remedied as soon as possible. Without a ready option at hand, I settled for a silver hinged cuff bracelet and felt only slightly disappointed through the day.

AND THEN…

Later in the evening, I was going to be attending a small going-away party for a former student. Since I was busy and running late, I swapped the skirt for my comfy skinny jeans and the kitten heels for my sandals, and voila! An entirely new ensemble.

Honestly, even though it was thrown together at the last second, I actually liked the way this outfit came together. I love when a top serves such perfect double-duty, complementing skirts and jeans equally well.

So now, time to vote: Which outfit do you like better? The professional day outfit? Or the casual evening outfit? Vote in the comments!

Get the look(s) for yourself:

Blouse – New York and Company, available here.

Jacket – Can’t remember (I bought it a long time ago), and I haven’t found anything like it in my searching. If you find a good similar one, post it in the comments!

Skirt – Target, available here.

Shoes – Payless; similar here.

Bracelet – New York and Company, available here.

Necklace – Target, available here.

Jeans – Target, available here.

Sandals – Payless; similar here.