Swirly Skirt

Red wrap shirt and brown tweedy skirt, Newport News. Beige lace camisole, Moda International. Brown boots, Nine West. Drop earrings with brown crystals, Express.

Woo-hoo. I had fun spinning and taking pictures this morning. It’s difficult to time the spin just right. This was the best photo, but some trick of light gave me scary dark circles under my eyes. (I swear I got 8 hours of sleep last night!) A little photoshopping took care of that, though!

Please, No Cameras

Green satin shirt and gray wool pants, Express. Pink obi belt, Sugadaminka (via Ebay). Black angora hat and pink chandelier earrings, Claire’s Boutique.

I’m loving the green shirt with the pink belt. I’m not loving my saggy butt pants, but they are really warm. Just the thing to wear on a breezy, winter day.

These pants were baggy on me 10 lbs ago. Now they really look like crap, but buying smaller clothes will probably jinx my diet.

Plaid Mad

White, button-down bodysuit, Moda International. Blue plaid skirt with tulle trim, Tulle. Black tights, Danskin. Black boots, Colin Stuart. Black and silver necklace, Target. Earrings with black beads, World Market.

I don’t normally jump on the trend bandwagon, but I seem to have lost my mind when it comes to plaid. I started 2007 with not a single tartan item, and I now own four plaid skirts. (In my fiscal defense, three of them were thrifted.) I’ve actually wanted a plaid skirt since last winter, and it never really seems to go out of style, so I tell myself that I am not being a silly trend slave.

Last night, I dreamt that I found the perfect pair of plaid pumps and I’d love a tartan jumper. Can you really have too much plaid?

Spot of Color

Navy blue sweater, Target. Cranberry, long-sleeved T, Target. Green scarf, Ramayana. Denim mini, Tyte. Black leggings, Target. Black boots, Jennifer Moore. Golden apple watch necklace, Forever 21. Kitty, Mr. Tibbs.

Nothing really special planned for the day. I just felt like dressing in vibrant colors to match my just-touched-up hair (bye-bye grays!)

Mr. Tibbs is our most favorite cat. He has a sweet little stubby tail and a laid back personality. He even lets us vacuum him with the upholstery attachment.

Friday Jeans and Fur

Black, rabbit fur poncho, Christopher & Banks. Red turtleneck, Banana Republic. Dark Jeans, Express. Ugly black boots, Life Strides. Hoop earrings with multicolored beads, World Market.

I seem to be making a habit of jeans on Fridays. Today it was not the result of a desire to be casual, but a lack of any slim bottoms to pair with the poncho. I’ve lost some weight, and all my work pants are slouchy.

Fracas, again

Black wrap sweater, Bloch. Pink silk, button-down shirt with ruffles, Bebe. Black, lace overlay tank, Halogen. Pinstriped pants, Forever 21. Black and white tweed headband, New York & Company. Double strand necklace, Target. Ugly black boots, Life Stride.

I’m dressing like my Fracas bottle again. I just really like black and pink. So far, I’ve worn a black/pink outfit twice in January, three times in December, and once in November. Don’t even get me started on how many times I’ve won black and red. I may claim to be an adventuresome dresser, but I never stray far from my basic color schemes.

Movie Belt, Theater Rehearsal

Black cardigan, Calvin Klein. Cranberry, long-sleeved T, Target. Black A-shirt, Target. Jeans, Mossimo for Target. “Mira” necklace. Silver-tone headband. Movie belt. Ugliest black boots in the world, Life Stride.

I stayed home sick today and wore my pajamas until about 5 p.m. Then, I changed into something a bit more presentable for rehearsal.

I love this belt and don’t wear it enough. It has little movie-inspired vignettes around its length.

Toasty

Gray cardigan with faux fur collar, New York and Company. Wine velvet dress, New York and Company. Black, lace-topped shirt, Moda International. Red beads, George ME. Black boots, Colin Stuart. Black hat with flower, Pangaea.

Today’s outfit was inspired by a spread in the December issue of Lucky. (Which I just got around to reading at the gym.) The monthly article that pictures four or five women wearing an “of-the-moment” item in an outfit of their own creation, featured a very similar dress. One woman paired her red, wrap dress with an oversized cardigan, and I loved the mix of luxe and casual, so I copied it. I felt a little swallowed up in all the layers, but I was very warm.

Mixing Black and Brown

Short-sleeved black velvet jacket, Forever 21. Black lace blouse, Newport News. Brown strapless dress, Newport News. Herringbone tights, Forever 21. Brown boots, Nine West. Drop earrings with brown crystals, Express.

I used to be afraid to mix black and brown, but no longer! The two colors can work very well together. I’ll admit, though, I wish I had a brightly colored accessory, like a teal shoe, to add a bit of “pop.” I had to settle for the red of my hair and lips to brighten up my ensemble.

Winter White Jeans

Cranberry turtleneck sweater, Express. White jeans, Gap. Gold and green scarf, gifted. Golden apple watch necklace, Forever 21. Black boots, Life Stride (?)

Today, I took Lucky’s advice instead of disregarding it. I tried wearing white jeans in the winter, as suggested by The Lucky Shopping Manual. After convincing myself that it wasn’t a fashion faux pas, I quite enjoyed the look. I didn’t enjoy the jean’s summer weight, though. My legs were freezing!

Someday I’ll get a picture of these short black boots without a pant leg hiding the top. They are literally the ugliest shoes I own. They were only $20, and they aren’t so hideous when all you can see is the toe and heel. Trust me, though, they’re dogs.

Vanities Call-Backs

Brown sweater, Express. Turquoise/green/brown dress, Forever 21. Brown tank (beneath dress), Forever 21. Dark jeans, Express. Brown booties, Style & Co. Necklace of stone and silver, Bellis Fair mall. Brown headband, Claire's Boutique.

I was called back to read again for Vanities (the play I was trying to look 25 for). I thought to myself, “What could look younger than a dress over jeans?” I must have succeeded in convincing the director of my youth because I was cast, as Joanne

Breaking Lucky's Rules

Multicolored tweed jacket, The Limited. Pink camisole, Deep Los Angeles. Long, beige skirt, Casual Corner. Brown boots, Nine West. Pink beads and brown headband, Claire’s Boutique.

Here I am breaking two of the rules in The Lucky Shopping Manual. First, I haven’t buttoned the top button of my blazer. I almost never button the top because the result just isn’t flattering on my body type. I fasten the button nearest my waist to define it and then leave the upper button unfastened so that the jacket bows out a bit, giving me the illusion of a larger chest. The result is curvy silhouette. If I buttoned the entire jacket, I’d be shapeless. The second rule I’ve broken is wearing heels with a long skirt. Lucky advises flats. I’m stumped as to why (ha, ha, unintentional pun!) I don’t think I have ever worn flats to work; I need all the height I can get. Generally, I enjoyed the Manual, and found the advice on proportions to be very good. I just happened to dress defiantly today.

Harvest Colors

Black mini-poncho, INC. Green, long-sleeved T, Target. Rusty red cords, J Crew. Golden apple watch necklace, Forever 21.

I had a rare night off tonight – no rehearsals, no auditions and no tech meetings – so we went to dinner and a movie! We ate at Rondo’s in Cheviot/Westwood, which had good food, but a grumpy hostess, and saw Children of Men at the nearby cinema. I cried through most of the movie. (I’m a weeper. For goodness sake, I even cried during Uptown Girls and War of the Worlds.) My turtleneck was full of tears by the end and my husband was thoroughly annoyed. Or maybe he was more annoyed by me constantly offering to tell him the time from my “apple watch!”

Red Pants, Orange Scarf, Auburn Mane

Brown velvet jacket with brooch, FANG. Red and orange tweed pants, Moda International. White lace tank, George ME. Orange scarf with embroidery, beading, and paillettes, India. Brown booties, Style & Co. Topaz-colored drop earrings and necklace, gifted.

I used to wear these pants a lot in the winter, but this season has been so mild that I’ve only worn them a little more than once a month so far (November, December, and twice in January). I usually pair them with red or neutrals. This time, I’ve picked up the orange in the tweed by accessorizing with this gorgeous, Indian scarf (dupatha).

In high school, one of my best friends had red hair. (At that time, I was a blond.) She swore up and down that redheads could absolutely not wear pink, red, or orange because it would clash with their tresses. I respectfully disagree. I wear lots of pink and red (and a little orange) and I love the way it looks with my hair. But perhaps that’s because I don’t have a true, carroty color. I happily wore red and orange today, and will be wearing pink tomorrow.

You’ll rarely catch me in gray, yellow, or purple, though.

Sexy New Boots

Burgundy chenille sweater, INC. Dark blue skirt with black pinstripes and black lace edging, Moda International. Black tights, Danskin. Sexy black boots, Colin Stuart. Black and silver, multi-tier necklace, Target.

I did it. I bought myself a pair of point-toed, stiletto-heeled, shiny, black boots. I figure that if I buy one pair of boots a year, I haven’t been too extravagant. They are a mixture of patent and suede, with an awesome buckle detail. Even though the toe is very pointy and the heel is very thin, the boots are quite comfortable. Mike gasped and called them “whore boots,” but I think they are super cool!

I also really like this skirt. It is navy, with black details. I like the color combo, because navy and black are often so hard to mix. It has a wide, low waistband that makes the skirt very comfortable to wear. I have a matching jacket (with the sweetest, lace-edged pockets), but the last time I wore the entire ensemble, I was mistaken for a member of the hotel staff at our business event. I doubt that would have happened had I been wearing these boots!

Trying for 5 Years Younger

Pale yellow, mini-cord blazer, Calvin Klein Jeans. Green and gold paisley scarf, gifted. Green, long-sleeved T, Target. Dark jeans, Express. Brown booties, Style & Co.

Off to an audition for a play in which I need to portray teens, twenties, and thirties. I’ve got the last one covered, but I’m hoping to at least look like I’m in my mid-twenties. I’m afraid my wrinkles give me away!

Striped Blue Corset

Blue velvet blazer, New York & Company. Striped corset in shades of blue, Charlotte Russe. White lacy blouse, Newport News. Brown pants, Moda International. Brown booties, Style & Co. Earrings, Claire’s Boutique.

I’ve been eyeing the stacks of corsets in Charlotte Russe since December. I imagined that a corset would look so cute over a white, button-down shirt. However, fitting a corset that comes in (junior sizes) S, M, or L to my adult-sized body was a little tricky. The small wouldn’t fasten at the top, and the medium is too large all over. (It seems oxymoronic to sell a corset that doesn’t fit curves!) I bought the medium. Because I plan on wearing it over shirts, a roomy fit is okay, and the friction between the two layers should help the corset stay up.

Buying the corset was one trial, wearing it was another. I didn’t anticipate the boning getting in the way whenever I sat down. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a short torso, so the bottom of the corset extends almost to my crotch. When I sit down, the corset hits my lap and the boning is eventually bent out of whack, so that it fans away from my body. Thankfully, my blazer obscured my boning’s boner.

Except for the blazer (and a NEW pair of brown pants!), this is the exact outfit I wore on October 13.

Sleek as a Cat

Black wrap sweater, Bloch. Cranberry long-sleeved T, Target. Long, corduroy skirt, Delia*s. Black leggings, Target. Leopard print ballet flats, Charlotte Russe. Coin earrings, Urban Nomad.

This outfit is kind of “meh.” BUT LOOK AT MY HAIR! This might be my best hair day ever in Ohio. After 2.5 years, I think I’ve finally found the perfect combination of products to produce sleek, shiny, wavy hair, despite this area’s near constant humidity.

Stumpy Cowgirl

Brown sweater, Express. Turquoise tunic, Ann Taylor? Denim skirt, Gap. Boot, Playhouse. Brown belt with rhinestone buckle. Earrings, Delia*s.

This is not my favorite outfit. I wore it all day, to see if I liked it better with time, but I didn’t. The problem is the proportions. I have a short torso and long legs. I try to correct this by wearing long tops over lean bottoms. Here, the long top over the A-line skirt just makes me look like I have a huge, bottom-heavy torso and short, stumpy legs. I look fine from the side, but extremely pear-shaped from every other angle.

I Am Ginger

White gown, thrifted.

I was invited to the Tri-County Player’s annual winter party. We were directed to dress as our favorite “character.” I wasn’t sure whether the character should be from a book, movie, television, or theater, but I figured I covered at least the last three by dressing as Ginger from Gilligan’s Island (because the series not only spawned a movie, but also a musical!) This costume was really easy. All I needed was a gown ($4) and fake eyelashes ($3). Amazingly, despite drinking red wine and eating chocolate cheesecake, I didn’t spill a single thing on my white dress.

Rainy Day, Peep toes

Gray cardigan with faux fur trim, New York and Company. Red twin set (beneath cardigan), Moda International. Denim mini, American Standard Tyte. Black leggings, Target. Red patent, peep-toe shoes, New York and Company. Headband, New York and Company. Silver acorn necklace with rhinestones, Express.

I was determined not to let a little rain keep me from wearing my fun new shoes! Yes, this is very nearly the same outfit I wore last Sunday. I guess I just like the shape and colors.

White Blazer over Casual

White blazer with velvet trim and asian knot closure, Apostrophe. Turquoise blue long-sleeved T and sweater, Target. Dark jeans, Express. Brown booties, Style & Co. Gold-tone necklace, Body Central.

Another audition today. I was directed to dress “every day casual, real.” Unfortunately, that is a little too dressed down for my regular job. I topped my casual attire with this white blazer that seems to make everything look dressy. I’ll leave it behind when I go to the audition and, “ta-da!” I’m casual.

Obi-Wa

Black shirt with white collar and cuffs, Forever 21. Silvery pants, The Limited. Pink, cherry blossom obi belt, Sugadaminka (via EBay). Black pumps, Michelle D. Chandelier earrings with pink beads, Claire’s Boutique.

I love love love my new belt! However, it just makes me wish even harder for a hot pink pair of heels.

Lacy Blue

Turquoise cardigan, Gap. White lace shirt with center ruffle, Newport News. Buff silk cami (underneath lace shirt), Mossimo for Target. Brown suede skirt with cutouts at the hem, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Brown suede belt, from the skirt. Turquoise lace tights, Forever 21, over brown tights. Brown pumps, Mossimo for Target. Silver earrings with blue beads, World Market. Turquoise hair stick, Claire’s Boutique.

I’ve been dying to wear these tights ever since I bought them on New Year’s Eve. They are actually footless, but large enough (one size fits most!) that I could still pull the ends over my toes and create a “footed” look with pumps.

I am a little worried that this outfit is too “busy,” with all the lacy details (shirt, skirt hem, tights). What do you think?

Schoolgirl

Red turtleneck sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted). Plaid skirt, Lloyd (thrifted). Black tights, Danskin. Black belt, Xhilaration. Silver hoops with jet beads, Liz Claiborne. Black boots, Jennifer Moore.

I’m pretty sure that this skirt was originally a school uniform item. I bought it, with four other skirts, at a thrift store (Village Discount Outlet) on Saturday. The skirts were something of a gamble because the store has no dressing rooms and takes no returns or exchanges. Four out of the five skirts fit. I count this skirt as a “fit,” but, honestly, I don’t have it zipped up all the way or buttoned in the back! Zipped or not, I received lots of compliments today.

Frumpy

Black cardigan with sequin and ribbon embellishment, It’s Our Time (could there BE a cheesier brand name?) Pale blue shirt, Bebe. Plaid skirt, Petite Sophisticate (thrifted). Black tights, Danskin. Black pumps, Etienne Aigner. Cameo choker, vintage.

I feel frumpy in this outfit. I think it’s the shoes. I wish I had stiletto-heeled, pointy-toe, shiny black boots. I will have to hit the end-of-season sales for those. I’ve wanted a pair for over a year now. It seems shamefully decadent to own TWO pairs of black boots, but my current black boots (matte, rectangular toe, chunky heel) are too heavy for many of my outfits. When dressing this morning, I figured these black pumps and tights were the lesser of two evils.

I’ve had this Bebe shirt since early 2000. Bebe used to be chock full of these empire-waisted, cap-sleeved, microfiber shirts (without the obnoxious logo). Then, they disappeared. Will they ever come back? I haven’t checked the local Bebe in over a year, so maybe they already did. I’d love some more.

No head today because my eyes looked psycho.

Leggy

Black wrap sweater, Bloch. Red T-shirt, Banana Republic. Denim mini, American Standard Tyte (thrifted). Black fish-net leggings, Forever 21, over black tights. Red, peep-toe flats, New York and Company. Golden apple watch necklace, Forever 21.

I really wanted to wear these neato leggings and spiffy shoes, so I built the rest of the outfit around the two pieces. My husband was aghast at the short skirt, but I explained that with the layered tights and leggings beneath, it was almost like wearing pants. He disagreed, but I wear want I want to wear! I couldn’t bear to cover up the best part of the outfit.

The ensemble seems rather dancer-ish to me, so I thought a ballet pose would be appropriate.

Drama Day

Pink corduroy jacket, Forever 12. Brown shrug, Express. Pink T-shirt, Gap. Tan corduroy mini skirt, London Jeans. Brown, ribbed leggings, Target. Brown boots, Nine West. Purse, Nine West. Brown belt with jeweled buckle. Earrings, vintage. Fluffy kitty butt, Bear.

Saturday was crazy drama day. I had a costume fitting, an audition, and a performance – all for different productions. I did manage to squeeze in a trip to the thrift store between the fitting and the audition and then drinks with the cast following our 8:30 p.m. performance. (And although I totally sucked at the audition, I have a call-back on Tuesday!)

Fracas

Short-sleeved, black velvet blazer, Forever 21. Black tank with pink trim, Delia*s. Black and white tweed skirt, Moda International. Black tights, Danskin. Black pumps, Michelle D. Pink bead necklace (doubled), Claire’s Boutique. Fluffy cat tail, Bear.

After dressing myself and going upstairs to apply perfume, I realized that I am wearing the colors of my Fracas bottle. Naturally, that’s what I sprayed on.

I apologize for the poor picture quality. This location isn’t working out well. The light is too low.

Librarian

White, collared shirt, Gap. Wine velvet dress, New York and Company. Brown pumps, Target. Brown headband with bow, Claire’s Boutique. Golden apple watch necklace, Forever 21.

I call this my “librarian look.” It’s quite conservative for me. Mikey REALLY liked it.

Upscale Casual

Green, silk-blend faux wrap sweater, Laura Leigh Ltd. White, mandarin-collar shirt, Mossimo for Target. Khaki skirt, Ann Taylor Loft. Brown fishnets, No Boundaries, layered over brown tights. Brown boots, Nine West. Short, golden hoop necklace, Body Central. Medium, beaded necklace, Urban Nomad. Long golden paillette necklace, Body Central.

I had an audition today and was directed to dress “upscale casual.” This was my interpretation. I wanted to wear khaki pants, but I can’t currently squeeze into mine, so I settled for the skirt. I suppose this outfit is cute enough, but it is too preppy for my tastes.

I did have fun layering my tights. The fishnets alone were too sexy and the brown tights have an odd, orange-red sheen. Together, they were perfect. The orange glare was muted and the fishnet pattern became subtle texture. I can’t wait to try layering tights again.

Paisley Scarf

Black silk knit shrug, INC. Black silk blend, cowl-neck tank, Apt 9. Red and orange tweed pants, Moda International. Red beaded necklace with ribbon closure, George ME. Metallic paisley scarf, Japan.

Over the holidays, I went through my huge collection of scarves. There are quite a few I’ve never worn, or haven’t worn in years. This paisley scarf has been collecting dust since 2002, when I wore it as Perkins in Annie. It is itchy, so I don’t wear it around my neck, and it is square, so it makes a fat belt that is difficult to thread through belt loops. However, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to either wear my scarf collection, or get rid of it. I think the colors in this scarf look great with these pants, and the thickness is not an issue when I don’t have to deal with belt loops. Goodwill isn’t getting this one!

Hung the Hell Over

Gray cardigan with button-in faux fur collar, New York and Company. Black A-shirt, Target. Jeans, Lucky. Tweed headband, New York and Company.

I spent the first few hours of 2007 vomiting so violently that I burst capillaries all around my eyes. Needless to say, I am not feeling well today. But I look cute!