Au revoir

Necklace: Anthropologie
Cardigan: Target
Top: Target
Pants: JCPenney
Socks: parts unknown
Wedges: Shoe Carnival

One final outfit comprised of 30 for 30 leftovers. Everything but the necklace and socks! Oh, and the dog.



This top seems to be ultrapopular in the blogging world; E. from Academichic, Tania from What Would a Nerd Wear and Kendi of Kendi Everyday all own it. That makes it a winner in my book, and it's surprisingly flattering for having horizontal stripes. Sometimes I wear this top with my black sailor pants and I feel like Coco Chanel.



Hello there majorly overexposed photograph!



It was cold, y'all.

So with today's outfit I say goodbye to most of my closet, most of my clothing and probably all of my wit and charm by day 16. Here is my promised comically stitched photo of my closet:



And yes, that is an Andy Warhol inspired portrait of Justin Bieber. Shame me if you must but take solace in the fact that I did not make it myself, it was a gift from this gal. Tomorrow: day one.

It's official: my 30 for 30 pieces

Here we go, a day late and a dollar short:


Target | Target | parts unknown


Kohl's | JCPenney | American Eagle


JCPenney | JCPenney


Anthropologie | Target | JCPenney


TJ Maxx | Anthropologie


JCPenney


Boden


American Apparel | JCPenney | JCPenney | JCPenney


JCPenney | Target | JCPenney | Target | Target


American Eagle | Walmart


Banana Republic | Target | Target | Target

Clearly I love Target and JCPenney! I'm still waffling about the inclusion of those silver wedges--they have some dings and dents and one heel is starting to come a little loose so I'm not sure how long they'll last. I think if they break I can use an emergency swap, right? I am no longer using those metallic wedges. Now using ANOTHER pair of shoes from Target.

Not included in my list:

5 belts
2 pairs of glasses
25 necklaces
2 Rings
14 scarves
18 pairs of tights (yeah I have a problem)
5 pairs of knee socks
5 headbands
Innumerable supportive friends and family

Stay tuned for tonight's fairwell to my closet outfit post as well as a picture of my closet!

Good

Cardigan: Target
Top: Target
Cords: LL Bean
Socks: Walmart
Flats: Walmart

First of all, I want to say that I am SO EXCITED to be included in Fab finds Under $50's Outfit Inspiration Calendar! There are some awesome outfit ideas and as I delve into Kendi's 30 for 30 I'm going to need all the inspiration I can get.

Second, the AT&T guy came and fixed my internet. YAY



This is another outfit made of 30 for 30 castoffs. I reaaaaaaally wanted to include this top but it didn't really match the colour scheme I had rolling, so I wore in in remembrance of all the good times we've had together (not really). I really like the colours in this outfit, I think they work really well together. Ignore the face I'm making, I couldn't get the camera balanced right on the roof of my car.



Yesterday was my dad's birthday (happy birthday Ed!) and tonight we're going out for dinner to celebrate. Special going out semi-fancy dress blog post? Maybe. I'll think about it.



Other than that, tomorrow I plan on posting my 30 for 30 picks and watching the Pro Bowl. What are you up to this weekend?

Nerdy

Vest: Boden
Tee: Target
Pants: American Eagle
Boots: Target

Yesterday my boss told me my favourite author was coming to speak at work (true story! I can't wait) today (but that was a lie) and the first thing out of my mouth was "I CAN'T MEET JONATHAN TROPPER IN A SWEATER VEST! DO YOU KNOW HOW NERDY I LOOK?!"

And it was true.



Fortunately I could have peeled off the sweater vest and looked like a boring but normal gal, but who wants to look normal when meeting their favourite author? So I have to admit the sweater vest would have stayed.

The next few outfits (posted late because AT&T is a horrible ISP) are combinations of various 30 for 30 castoff items. I've selected my items and will post a full list this weekend if my internet behaves. But for now, sweater vest, I bid you adieu. I'll never forget you!

Happy refrain

Cardigan: Target
Tank: Anthropologie
Skirt: Walmart
Tights: Target
Heels: Sofft
Nail polish: Zoya Jo

It's rainy and dreary today and I said no! It's not allowed to be dreary! Time to burst out the floral skirt.



I attempted something different with my day two hair today. I think it looks...more androgynous than usual. You can't tell but I also have three buns on the back of my head. I used those Goody Hair Pins you've either heard a lot or nothing about; I bought them back in May and can't get enough. I personally need four for a bun because I have extremely thick hair but they're amazing--they hold a bun in place better than a hair tie and they're really easy to use.



Here are my shoes! I've wanted a pair of shoes with a wide strap over the top of the foot, much like E. of Academichic and Kim from Anthroholic. And now I do! Yay.

And lastly, here is me looking miserable in the rain because it was cold. I was singing on the inside, I swear.

Bittersweet

Necklace: wapa on Etsy
Top: Anthropologie
Dress: Anthropologie
Tights: Target
Wedges: Show Carnival

I'm currently brainstorming for my 30 for 30. I think sitting down and actually pulling stuff out of my closet nad picking what I want is going to be more effort than I currently believe it will be, but I'll do it.



Originally I was going to slug a cardigan over this dress, but I couldn't make myself do it. Instead I grabbed this tee I bought from Anthro on supersale, which is just different enough from the orange of the dress to make it all work.



Work today was pretty awesome. I'm lucky enough to share duties running the book discussion group, and I selected tonight's book, the amazing and venerable Middlesex. The discussion was fantastic, which really pleases me. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it--the writing is very intricate but beautifully sculpted, and HBO is planning a drama series based on it.



What are you reading right now?

Skip

Blue top: Walmart
Mustard tank: Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Flats: Target
Necklace: gift from parents
Truck: big old Chevy

This is a prime errand running and chore doing outfit, which is good because that's exactly what I did all day. I also made sure it carried over into curling by swapping my jeans for yoga/curling pants. I've been curling for almost a year and last night I skipped my very first game. In most clubs it would take me about 5 years to work my way from lead to skip but a dearth of experienced skips last night left me in charge of my own team. We may have lost by two but the game was really close and I had an absolute blast. I feel really lucky that I had the chance to try skipping a year in!



Beyond curling, I've been tucked into the house for the most part, trying to stay warm. Cardiganland is very cold right now and we are expecting another weather system on Tuesday. I'm hopeful it won't shut us down like the last storm did because I broke my boot laces and all I have right now is my flats!



Finally, one bit of news: I have signed up for Kendi's upcoming 30 for 30 challenge. 30 for 30 is a commitment to select 30 pieces from your wardrobe (including shoes) and wear them for 30 days. You also commit to not shopping for clothing for that period. It's something I've wanted to do since I started reading style blogs and now I'm ready! February is a good month for me to do this because I need to invest in a set of tires for my car and I'm travelling to Virginia so any excuse not to shop is fine by me!

Interested in signing up for 30 for 30 or want to find out more? Read Kendi's post to find answers to your questions and add your name to the list!

Secondaries

Cardigan: J. Crew
Dress: Ann Taylor
Belt: Target
Tights: Target
Heels: Madden Girl via...maybe Ross?
Hair clip: Anthropologie

How do you take a plain (mostly plain) black dress and inject colour into it? I was lucky to pull together a triad of secondary colours to shake this dress up a bit. I'm likely to stick with grays and black when I wear this dress and it's time to stop that.



This cardigan, of course, somehow snuck into the dryer and shrunk so I wasn't sure about wearing it. I tried about five different wearing options--open, closed, belt, no belt, different belt--before landing on this one. I of course futzed around with it all night at work.



I also wore different glasses! And I can still see.



See the hair bow, be the hair bow. I actually don't wear this hair clip a lot because the bobby pin on it is too tight and usually ends up pulling on my hair, but I was able to finagle it this time and get it work. And check out that mole! I didn't even know that was there. Amazing.

High

Cardigan: TJMaxx
Top: American Eagle
Skirt: Boden
Tights: Target
Heels: Nine West
Nail polish: China Glaze, Fly

As a person of rather Amazonian proportions, I've received complaints/suggestions over the years that I should reconsider my ideas on footwear and what is acceptable for a woman who is 5'10.

To which I laugh and say it's my feet and I'll wear whatever I want.



It certainly discomforts some men, my short friends, and sometimes random people in the world when I wear heels. Some people consider it a point of shame for a woman my size to highlight her height, even in a tasteful way. I'm always surprised by this--these heels are 4 1/4 inches but most of the time the heels I wear put me at 6' or 6'1. I've had people come up to me and say that it's not fair that I can make myself even taller, I'm tall enough already, that I'm not some sort of model, that I shouldn't draw attention to myself this way.

Growing up horseback riding taught me a couple things about style, surprisingly enough. When buying a horse, colour is the least important thing to take into account (skin colour can be important but coat colour is superficial), and I extend this to the rest of my life. Colour, much though I love it, normally falls to the bottom of my list of priorities when it comes to buying clothes, shoes, cars, horses (still) and many other things. Another thing I learned is that past a certain point, height doesn't matter. A pony named Theodore O'Connor was ridden by Karen O'Connor in the Rolex 4 Star (think jumps the size of your car or bigger) and was short listed for the 2008 Olympic team before his very untimely death. In college I rode a number of ponies varying in pony sizes, including one who hauled me around courses of jumps like I was a fly on his back.



I wish more people understood that height doesn't matter beyond the point where health is a concern. Sure, I'm tall...and so what? There's a lot put into a person's height; sweeping generalizations abound that women won't date men shorter than them and if you reach a certain spot on the ruler it's assumed that you're an excellent basketball player. Well, I'm sick of it. I'll date a guy shorter than me! I suck at basketball! I don't mind being a giant and you shouldn't either!

Much like many other things, my height is really no one's business but my own. So I'll go on wearing my high heels. When people ask how the weather is up here, I'll ask if they know how big the atmosphere actually is. And, above all (ha ha), I won't be ashamed.

Floral

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Tank: Anthropologie
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: Target
Wedges: Shoe Carnival
Nametag: Courtesy of work

Superbusy at work again today! I bought this cardigan from Anthropologie (on sale of course) in the fall and have not had the easiest time styling it. I think I did okay this time. I have flowers in my armpits!



I like this skirt a lot. It's comfortable, easy and matches a lot of different things. The tights look black in the first picture but they're blue I swear! Here is a view of the top of my head:



I am considering investing in a couple pairs of tights. I have red, purple, green and blue tights--perhaps gold and light blue? Maroon? White? There are too many options. Suggestions please!

Coffee

Cardigan: TJMaxx
Top: TJMaxx
Belt: Target
Pants: JCPenney
Socks: Walmart
Flats: Target
Nail polish: China Glaze, Prize Winning Mare

My outfit resembles a bowl of coffee ice cream. With polka dots.



I really like this outfit and I'm glad I wore it to work today. There were points where I wanted to a) throw a projector against a wall, b) shut down early and c) drown myself in a sea of chocolate, but I persevered knowing that at least if I went down, I'd be wearing something cute.



Detail shot! I painted my nails last night but didn't really plan to match it so well with my outfit. I like the colour, it's not a standard tan but there's some gold and a hint of red shimmer which is really pretty.



And then I tore the building down in a fit of insanity.

Time for a show

Vest: Target
Shirt: Target
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target

Target love again.

Today was the beginning of the North Carolina Piedmont Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale (long title!), which runs through Sunday. Since I'm working all weekend, my mom and I drove to the show today for some picture taking and flower smelling.



I wore something comfortable and warm, and the warm ended up being not very necessary because orchids thrive in tropical settings. On the bright side, when we were outside, the vest and tights came in handy!

Finally, here is a rare photograph of me in motion. It happens sometimes I swear!



What fun is going on for you this weekend?