Near Miss: Limited Tweed Blazer

When I saw this jacket in the window of The Limited in the (early) fall of 2004, it was lust at first sight. I had just started working in the civilian world and was still building up a business casual wardrobe. I was also totally broke. I was working as an office receptionist for $10/hour at less than full time. I could barely cover rent, food, and gas, but I put the $100 blazer on my credit card.

Not long after, I landed a full-time job with better pay. I started in October and that blazer was put in steady rotation at the office. I wore it at least once a week with brown trousers or a brown skirt and a pink or green tank. I was still wearing it when I started the blog in 2006. And I was still styling in that same boring manner


As long time readers have observed, my style became much bolder and more experimental in the first year of blogging. I also grew my wardrobe, inexpensively, through swaps, thrifting, and sales. I started passing over the staid blazer in favor of more exciting pieces. The next fall, tried the blazer with jeans, but still found it boring:


I tried again, in 2009, but I felt like a linebacker in the jacket:


I stuck the blazer in the back of the closet and pulled it out again in 2010. I thought a little pattern mixing might do the trick.


I was starting to figure out how to incorporate such a classic piece into my new style, but I still didn’t wear it for all of 2011. Maybe 2012 will be the year this tweedy blazer makes it back into current rotation. After all, I’ve worn it seven times in 3 months.


Because this is such a conservative piece, I'm finding that I like it best when paired with something playful. It's turned out to be a piece that suits both my old, vanilla and my evolving, spumoni style.

Near Miss: Thai Skirt

I used to really struggle with this skirt.

My style, when I started the blog, has been classified as “vanilla.” I won’t argue. I’d say my style has been pretty plain for most of my life. But I always had an attraction to the unusual and exotic. This would occasionally manifest itself in an actual purchase, usually while traveling. Then, I’d get home, and find myself unable to incorporate the new and exciting element into my everyday wardrobe. I spent $100 on a velvet scarf in Holland and it languished in my closet. A skirt made from a sari, purchased at a flea market, went unworn for years. While in Thailand, I was mesmerized by the traditional, ankle-length, silk wrap skirts. I bought one in bright red with gold embroidery and promptly tucked it away.

I tried wearing it to work a few times, but couldn’t fathom pairing it with anything other than solid black or white. I felt overwhelmed by the bright color, flashy embroidery, and yards of fabric. (Observe my discomfort to the left!) The paperbag waist confounded my nascent layering skills. I put it “on trial” and asked my readers what I should do with it.



Most favored altering it. I’m glad I didn’t, though, because, once I learned to style this beauty, I was thankful that all of its drama was intact.

Seventeen months after the poll, I got brave enough to wear it with a khaki blazer (and a bunch of feather in my hair!) Apparently, that feat of derring-do left me exhausted. The skirt was neglected, again, until almost two years later, when my pattern mixing really took off. Suddenly, I could think of dozens of ways to style this skirt – both with contrasting patterns and unusual colors.


I haven’t had the opportunity, yet, to execute all of my outfit ideas, but I’m glad that I’ll have the chance to do so. This skirt isn’t one that got away!

P.S. Check out how Fab Gab styles her similar skirts.

Near Miss: NY & Co Velveteen Dress

I only still have this dress because no one else wanted it. But let’s start the story at the beginning.

I purchased it on New Year’s Eve, 2006. The mall was insane. At New York & Company, I tried a velveteen dress on over my clothes rather than wait in line for a dressing room. That may be why I didn’t notice how low the neckline dipped until I attempted to wear it for the first time. Like the wrap sweater I profiled in December, I didn’t get much use out of the dress until I learned to layer under or over it. (I have a no-cleavage-at-work rule.)


Lisalisa (once an avid reader and prolific commenter), upon viewing the last outfit, suggested that I shorten the dress. I agreed and removed over six inches from the hem.


The final three times I wore the dress, I received some negative comments. I try not to let criticism affect my sartorial tastes, but, this time, they poisoned me on the frock. I stopped wearing it. A few months later, I put it in my swap pile. And it sat. And sat. And sat. No one wanted my dress. No one liked my dress.

But every once in a while, I would sneak it back out and wear it to work.


So, I asked you guys what I should do. And 72% of you said I should keep it. And I’m so glad I listened!


The dress and I thank you for saving our relationship. It’s been a rocky few years, but I think we’ll stay together till the dress falls apart.

Near Miss: Laura Leigh Sweater

Despite my large wardrobe, I wouldn’t classify myself as a clothes hoarder. In fact, I regularly cull my collection. In November, I sent two 30 gallon trash bags of clothes, shoes, and handbags to charity. My general strategy is to consider each item, recall the last time I wore it, and send it packing if it’s gone unworn for a year or more.

There are some exceptions. Difficult to style garments, even if recently worn, are ejected after I tire of fighting them. Special occasion or sentimental items don’t have to pass the once-a-year test. And, of course, I have a “hopeful” garment or two. You know…like the jeans that are really cute but one size too small but just might fit again, someday?

Generally, though, I keep a lean, mean closet. This occasionally results in donator’s regret. Sometimes, I can get it back. Usually, it’s gone for good.

Which makes it all the more sweet when a garment that almost made it into the trash bag, turns out to be a closet staple. Since I love an underdog, I’d like to start a new tradition of celebrating the near misses. Let’s start with this olive green, silk blend, faux wrap sweater.

I bought it at the PX in Okinawa, circa 2003. I liked the color, fit, and fiber content, but didn’t wear it much because I found the deep v-neck challenging. (This is before I learned to layer.) Still, it made the move back to the States with me. I tried wearing it a few times, layered, but the front hem wouldn’t lie flat and that drove me bonkers.


Worn twice in the first year of the blog and then abandoned.
I probably kept it around because I didn’t have many sweaters. Moving from Okinawa to Ohio and the USMC to civilian life required a whole new wardrobe. And, it turns out, a whole new attitude. A few years later, I seemed to have both mastered layering and acquired a tolerance for clothing that doesn’t drape with military precision.


After a 2 year break, I began wearing this sweater with increasing frequency. Since "olive is the new black," I find it goes with everything. The silk blend makes it a 3-season layering piece. The wrap is super flattering. And I'll bet you didn't even notice the wonky hem. Each time it comes out to play, I am thankful that I didn’t lose it in a closet purge.