Almost on Trial

Cropped blue wrap, Moda International. White oxford shirt, Gap. Dark denim, Express (overdyed by me). Silver peep-toe pumps, BCBG Girls. Gray hat, Nine West. Dangly stars earrings, The Limited Too. Silver-tone watch, Gucci.

This blue wrap almost went on trial today. I’ve always disliked the way it tied in front. The long, pendulous ends seemed sloppy and at odds with the delicate knit. I was going to put it on trial, and suggest that I sew ribbons to the ends so that I could wrap the ends around my ribcage and tie it in back. I discovered this morning that knotting it in back is possible even without adding length. I don’t want you to miss out on a poll, though. So let me know how you like it best, wrapped around to the back or tied in front.

How do you like the wrap worn best?
	Tied in front - let those ends swing, baby!
	Wrapped around and tied in back - a much cleaner look
	Other - I'll tell you in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Corny

Yellow sweater, Mossimo. Navy tank, Merona. Gray tulip skirt, Moda International. Yellow pumps, Victoria Spenser. Golden paillette necklace, Body Central. Gold watch, Raymond Weil. Yellow “corn” bracelet, (Into) the Fray.

I’ve had this skirt in the closet for weeks and weeks, waiting for more Fall-like weather. I gave up on waiting. Today’s temperature is supposed to reach 88 degrees.










This bracelet is my first Etsy purchase! I ordered it from Ambika’s (Into) the Fray shop. It is composed of yellow “Freshwater pearls, yellow bicone crystals and yellow seed beads.” I think the pearls look like corn. Every time I look at my wrist I get a powerful hankering for buttered corn, Corn Nuts, and fresh popcorn. (This picture is from Ambika’s shop and taken, I assume, by her.)

Mail Bag: Accessorizing a Wrap Dress

Hi Kasmira! I love your blog!!! I wish you would update it every day.

I applaud your color choices and I just love how you put things together. Especially green. You have a really cool, funky style and seem to love fashion.

My question is pretty specific. I have a cool $10.00 wrap dress and I love how it looks on me, but can't for the life of me figure out how to accessorize. I want to wear it to my 20th high school reunion because I refuse to wear black dresses anymore even though I have one that is cute and looks really nice on me!

The dress is a bright kelly green with a medium sized flower pattern in WHITE. Part of the pattern looks paisley-ish and there are some tiny polka dots too. Just green and white. Don't ask me why I love it, but I do. I'm 5'5" and I love wearing high heels. I have very light blonde hair, cut in a layered, tapered bob so the ends by my chin are longer than the back.

I have some black heels with an ankle strap that look okay, but I don't know what else to do with the dress and I'm not into large bead necklaces. There is a strip of fabric belt, but I plan to leave it off. My waist never falls where the dress says it should be and I don't have a long enough neck to wrap it around like a skinny scarf although that looks kind of cute!

The dress was quite long, about to my mid-shin, so I'm having it hemmed to just below my knee.

Can you help me?

- KB

Dear KB,

Wow, I am tickled to get real reader mail asking for my advice!

It sounds as if you are going with a black/white/green color scheme and just need help accessorizing your wrap dress. I have a navy/white wrap dress that I have had fun wearing different ways.

The Belt. I am with you on the misplaced fabric belt! I know the belt on my dress actually wraps around the lower part of my ribcage, making me look like I have the longest arse in the world. My belt is not removable, but it sounds like yours is (lucky girl!) Have you considered wrapping a wide belt around your waist instead of using the self belt? I suggest a wide belt because the width may hide any belt loops while still hitting your waist in the desired spot. If you have no belt loops (and hate wide belts), a thin belt can also define a waist nicely.

Neckline. Are you comfortable with the neckline on your dress? In my experience, wrap dresses can show quite a bit of cleavage. If you’d like to be more concealed, consider a pretty camisole or even a full slip underneath. I think a black cami would pop against your dress and also tie in with your black heels.

Jewelry. While I like long bead necklaces, they often don’t look right with a wrap dress. They compete with the neckline and can get tucked into the dress’ folds. Because this is a somewhat formal event and you have such a cute haircut, I suggest shoulder duster earrings. You could go with black, green, or metallic earrings that hang below your hair and sweep or almost sweep your shoulders. Long earrings look very dramatic with a bare neckline.

Bag. Have you thought about your handbag? My favorite solution is to force my husband to carry my lipstick and cash in his pockets, but that doesn’t always work out. A black bag is a safe choice, but what about one in bright yellow? I think it would look fabulous against your kelly green.

Topper. I’m not sure of your climate or the length your dress sleeves, but you may want to consider topping the dress with a cute, black jacket. I like short-sleeved jackets over 3/4 sleeve tops, so that you can see the sleeve peeking out. I wear a jacket that nips in at the waist with my wrap dress. I’ve paired it with a trapeze jacket once and it was horrible, so I wouldn’t recommend anything boxy on top. If you decide to wear a jacket as a part of your ensemble (i.e. not just outside), you’ll probably want to eliminate the belt and earrings and just wear a short, clavicle-framing, necklace instead. (I’m not a fan of big earrings + big necklaces.)

Makeup. With nothing to work with, other than my imagination, I think you’d look just stunning in black liner and mascara and a bright red lipstick, with the rest of your face relatively bare. You’d have people from across the room staring when you walked in with your red lips, white-blond hair, green dress, and yellow bag.

Tailoring. I whole-heartedly agree with you plan to have the hemline shortened on your dress. I’m also 5’5” and, although I have long legs, I find many skirts and dresses overwhelm me with length. The shorter hemline will make you look taller and offset any potential shortening effects of your shoes’ ankle straps.

Whatever decision you make with your clothing choices, I hope you have a fabulous time at your reunion! I missed my 10-year event because I was overseas, but I hope to attend the 20 (or 15, if we have one next summer).

(By the way, if you’ve sent in reader mail and I never answered, I apologize. I probably deleted it as spam. In fact, it was only chance that I opened KB’s message. If you have a question for me, you might want to put “WhatIWore2Day” in the title of your message so that I know you are a reader and not a spammer.)

Shirt plus Dress equals Shirtdress

Plum shirt, New York & Co. Strapless dress, Newport News. Brown pumps, Mossimo. Brown disk earrings, Claire’s Boutique. Headband, Scunci.

I like shirtdresses, but I haven’t found any I liked enough to buy. (Does my camp dress count as a “shirtdress”?) I think a shirt over a strapless dress looks pretty close to an actual shirtdress.

Lengthening a Short Torso

Greenish sweater and striped tank, Mossimo. Denim mini, American Standard Tyte (thrifted). Flip-flops, American Eagle. Jeweled belt (worn as necklace). “K” pendant, gifted.

Gina asked about my weekend/casual style. My uniform for the past few weeks has consisted of long, lean, layered tops over a mini or jeans. I have a short torso and I like the way the lengthy tops elongate my upper half. A dangling scarf or long necklace further emphasizes the long lines. I will say that getting this look right requires a good fit of your jeans or skirt. If your bottoms are too large in the waist or hips, you’ll create excess bulk. If it is too small, your muffin top will be clearly visible through the fitted shirt(s). I don’t think you have to be thin to wear this silhouette, but your clothes must fit the body you have!

China Doll

Asian print dress, Forever 21 (swapped). Black tights, Gap. Patent mary janes, Xhilaration. Triple strand, faux pearl necklace, JC Penney. Red bead necklace, Xhilaration

I remember Forever 21 carrying this dress early last spring. The collection at that time (Feb/March) was so bright and jumbled that I barely set foot in the store before fleeing from overstimulation. As a result, I missed out on buying this dress. I was thrilled when it surfaced in the Flickr Wardrobe Swap Shop group.

Mike actually begged me not to wear this to the office. He said it was only appropriate for work if I were serving sushi. Thbbbbpt! His opinion was definitely in the minority because I received many, many compliments today. Even perfect strangers (on the street) told me how pretty the dress was. So there, Mike.

The Right Colors

Black top, Merona. Khaki corduroy skirt, London Jean. Open weave tights, Forever 21. Black loafers, American Eagle.

I’m wearing black and borrowing the orange from the wall to make a Bengals’ appropriate combination. Actually, I threw on a black shirt because we’re having headshots taken at rehearsal and I just happened to lean against an orange wall for my photo. I must have had some subliminal guilt about wearing the wrong colors earlier today.

The Wrong Colors

Cropped green jacket, Moda International. Cream lace blouse, H&M (swapped). Pink tank, Banana Republic (thrifted). Khaki skirt, B. Moss (thrifted). Green peeptoe pumps, Wet Seal. Earrings with shell paillettes, Claire’s Boutique.

I forgot that we were supposed to wear Bengals' colors (orange and black) and bring food to work today because of some big game. Oops. I’m pretty sure the opposing team (whoever it may be) doesn’t sport pink and green, so my faux pas is minimized.

Black Black

Black wrap sweater, Bloch. Black lace top, Newport News. Black strapless dress, Moda International. Silver acorn necklace, Express. Black pumps, Michelle D.

Looking at today’s photo, you might think you have the wrong blog. I don’t think I’ve ever worn all black (at least, not in the last year). The closest I’ve come is a black and gray outfit last November. (I was going to link to the entry from last November, but it is a truly horrible picture.)

I was instructed to dress in black for an audition I have this evening. I wanted to at least wear brightly colored shoes, but I don’t want to be labeled “that person who can’t follow simple instructions.”

Speaking of “Black Black,” that is the name of my favorite gum. I used to chew it when I lived in Japan. It had a mint and menthol taste and was rumored to contain both caffeine and nicotine. It was great to clear the sinuses and wake one up. I should look for it next time I visit Jungle Jim’s. I could use a piece today, after a late night at the thee-ay-tah.

(All black outfits are difficult to photograph. If you want to see the details, I think you can pick most of them out by clicking on the photo to see a larger view.)

My Fair Lady

Short-sleeved linen blazer, Forever 21. Orange dress, The Limited. Brown pumps, Antonio Melani. Necklaces, Body Central. Bag, Caprice (vintage).

I love “theater people.” When I moved to Cincinnati, just over three years ago, I knew no one but my husband. I got involved in local theater to make new friends. While some groups are admittedly clique-ish, others welcomed me with open arms. It was such a relief to be my real, goofy self, after having to maintain a military demeanor for almost four years. I consider myself fortunate to have collected a large circle of friends who are as screwy as I am. One of my very sweet cohorts is taking me to see My Fair Lady tonight, at the Aronoff. Yeah for theater dorks!

I’ve included a close-up of this Caprice purse so that my readers might be able to help me name the types of skins used. I’ve identified most of it as snake. I think the wavy bands may be ostrich (and the circular marks are where the feathers used to be). I’m at a loss on the pebbly skin to the bottom left and the other textured skin on the bottom right. Are there any exotic skin experts out there?

On Trial: Striped Shirt

Sheer black tank, Mossimo. Striped shirt, Forever 21. Black slacks, Nine & Co. Black pumps, Michelle D.

The second item from my wardrobe on trial is this striped shirt from Forever 21. What I love about it: the colors. The stripes are pink, burgundy, khaki, chocolate, cream, and black. What I don’t like about it: the colors, fabric, the length. I know I just said that I love the colors, but at the same time, I hate them. While I like the individual shades, the overall effect is sort of muddy. I feel like this shirt is always dirty looking. The fabric doesn’t help. The sheer, wrinkle-prone material looks as if I scrounged the shirt from under the bed, even when it’s freshly washed and ironed. I might be able to forgive these faults if it also weren’t so short; I can barely tuck it in. (You can see the shirt untucked here).

So why have I kept it? Nostalgia, I suppose. It was the first thing I ever purchased from Forever 21. I first visited the chain at the Pearl Ridge Center in Honolulu. I was in Hawaii to inspect the Classified Materials Control Center for one of our units and managed to take a few days of leave in conjunction with the trip. My mom and sisters flew out from Washington State to see me. We didn’t spend ALL our time in malls (although, after being shopping deprived in Okinawa, malls held incredible allure for me), but I did manage to begin an on-again, off-again affair with Forever 21.

What should I do with the striped shirt?
	Keep it
	Swap it
	Alter it
	Give it to charity
	Other - I'll tell you in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Service Skirt

Black top with lace overlay, Moda International. Green skirt, from my USMC service uniform (and embellished by me). Black slingbacks, Audrey Brooke. Cameo choker, thrifted.

Mike said I might be court-martialed for desecrating my service uniform skirt. I added black lace at the hem and a lacey trim at the waistband (hidden by the shirt today). I don’t have anything to fear. My obligated service, both active and inactive, has long since expired and I can do what I will with my old uniforms. I’m planning on making a skirt and a purse out of some old camo trousers.

Navy and Coral

Navy tank, Merona. Coral blouse, Worthington. Navy skirt with white polka-dots, Side x Side (thrifted and altered by me). Brown, peep-toe pumps, Antonio Melani. Faux pearls with medallion, Newport News. Snakeskin purse, Caprice (vintage).

No fun backstory today. I’m just digging navy and coral together.

Snake-print Dress

Black wrap sweater, Bloch. Snake-print halter dress, Charlotte Russe. Dark jeans, Express. Yellow pumps Victoria Spenser. Red bag, Target. Black hoop earrings, Wet Seal.

This dress has such history! I bought it in early 1999 to wear out dancing in Phoenix. It was on steady rotation through my club wear until I went into the military that fall, and then it was retired to a storage bin. I’m glad I hung on to it because it was perfect on stage, playing Jessica Hahn in The Gospel According to Tammy Faye last June. On Saturday night, I went to see one of my Gospel castmates in The Fully Monty, along with two other Gospel-ites, so it was only appropriate to resurrect the dress once again, but I toned down the trashiness with jeans and a sweater. On Sunday, I washed it and hung the dress in the back of the closet, where it awaits its next great role.

Famous Dress

What’s a bored girl to do, all alone on a Friday night, after drinking two glasses of Vendage a Trois? Twirl, twirl, twirl (and document with photos).

Denim jacket, brown cami, and printed dress, Forever 21. Moth medallion necklace, Anthropologie. Embellished flip-flops, American Eagle.

Perhaps it means I’m a total dork, but I get really excited when I see an item of clothing I own featured in a magazine spread or a movie. Like when I was watching Season I of Heroes last week and (in the episode where she meets her mother) Claire was wearing my Takeout sweater! I had to pause the DVD, run up stairs, and wear the cardigan for the rest of the night, despite the fact that the house was near 80 degrees. I was similarly thrilled when this dress was pictures in a NY Times article about inexpensive dresses. However, I wouldn’t dare wear mine without a cami underneath!

(Picture from the NY Times article - just in case you couldn't access the page.)

September Brights Mix

Turquoise top, A Byer (thrifted). Black, lace-edged cami, New York & Company. Red rose-print scarf, flea market in California. Black skirt, Moda International (bottom half of a skirt suit, goes with this jacket). Yellow pumps, Victoria Spenser. Gold-tone necklace, Body Central.

I haven’t worn a brights mix since February. I thought it was time, once again, to wear a bunch of random colors.

I read in Lucky and then on You Look Fab that one can remove marks from patent leather with nail polish remover. I was a bit skeptical, but thought I’d try it on my yellow patent shoes. The second time I wore them, I stepped on my own foot, leaving a black streak on the yellow patent. I tried removing the mark with soap and water, windex, patent leather conditioner, and my fingernails. None of them budged the streak. A cotton swap dipped in nail polish remover was the most effective, but it didn’t completely remove the mark. However, it didn’t damage the shoe’s finish, either, so I’m mostly satisfied. (I wonder if I would have had better results with a nail polish remover that had a higher percentage of acetone.)


Before, Me and My Arsenal, After

Strawberry Shortcake

White, cropped eyelet jacket, Forever 21. Pink cami, Deep Los Angeles. Khaki slacks, Moda International. Pink crescent earrings, Girlshop.com. Khaki slingbacks, Linea Paolo

Growing up with a name like “Kasmira,” I had to endure more than my fair share of nicknames. Either no one wants to spit out the three syllables or they want to call me something more fanciful (as if my given name isn’t unusual enough). My latest moniker is “Strawberry Shortcake,” due to (I assume) my small stature and red hair. Today, I’m dressing and smelling (in Petite Cherie, by Annick Goutal) the part.

On Trial: Thai Skirt

Black sweater with flutter sleeves, Ann Taylor Loft. Red Thai silk skirt with gold embroidery, Thailand. Red patent flats, New York and Company. Red and gold bangles, Ramayana. Gold coin earrings, Urban Nomad.

You’ve seen my closet and I’ve confessed to having 30 skirts. Although only seven (9%) of you said it was time to make some donations to charity, I took your feedback to heart. I need to do a better job cleaning out my closet!

Each week, I will wear something that doesn’t often see the light of day and ask for your opinion. Should I keep it? Swap it? Alter it? Or give it to charity?

The first item up for trial is this Thai wrap skirt. What I love about it: the fabric. It’s genuine Thai silk, dyed a rich red and woven with metallic thread. What I don’t like about it: the length, the style (wrap), the fit. I’m afraid the floor-length skirt overwhelms my (almost) 5’5” frame. This morning, getting on the bus, the uncouth person behind me stepped on my hem and nearly sent me toppling back down the stairs. I dislike wrap skirts. This style always looks awkward at the waistline, creating a paper-bag waist effect. I struggle between concealing the waist with a long shirt or baring it with a tucked in blouse and then adjusting the ties each time I stand up. While it seems that a wrap skirt would fit anyone, that isn’t the case. The skirt looks terrible unless it falls in an uninterrupted column. It does not accommodate curves well. Finally, try walking in a floor-length column. I’m reduced to mincing geisha steps.

What should I do with the Thai skirt?
	Keep it
	Swap it
	Alter it
	Give it to charity
	Other - I'll tell you in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossom pink, cropped cardigan, Moda International. Missoni-esque dress, Lipstick. Khaki slingbacks, Linea Paolo. Bead cluster earrings, World Market. Black bag, George ($5 at WalMart!)

I ordered this little sweater online last fall and the color was described as “cherry blossom.” It looked red in the Victoria’s Secret photographs but much more pink at home. Still it isn’t quite pink, either. It has a bit of orange in it, but it isn’t coral. The color defies description. “Cherry blossom” is probably as close as I can get.

Mail Bag: Shopping Frequency

I swear – I am not making this up. This is REAL reader mail!

Question: how often do you shop? You seem to have so many clothing items to coordinate, that fit, that aren't outdated. My closet has about 10 outfits in it (leftover from school where wearing the same outfit more than once every two weeks was a faux pas). I never seem to have time to go shopping, so I never have new items. So my question is, how often do you have to shop to keep your closet interesting?

-Jnett

How often do I shop? That’s a difficult question to answer. I plan on shopping about once a month or so, and that’s usually a trip to the thrift store, to Target to see the new GO designer collection, or to find something I “need” (like silver shoes). I actually end up shopping about three times a month, give or take. I do a lot of spur of the moment purchasing – falling in love with a skirt as I browse the Victoria’s Secret catalog, entertaining myself at the mall while Mike looks for the latest UFC release, becoming sidetracked during a trip to Target to (ostensibly) get cat litter, or popping over to TJ Maxx on my lunch break. I have a very full schedule, so I take advantage of shopping opportunities as they appear.

Regarding your observation that I “have so many clothing items to coordinate, that fit, that aren't outdated:”

• They coordinate because I gravitate to the same colors and shapes. When I look at something new, I try to imagine how it will fit with existing items in my wardrobe before I buy. I have a pretty good idea of what will look good with my coloring and shape and try not to stray, even when tight, purple jeans are all the rage.
• Everything fits because I’ve been the same size for over 15 years (since my junior year of high school). That’s plenty of time to collect a hell of a lot of clothes.
• I consider most of my purchases “classics” or at least classic to my sense of style. When I do buy trend items, I wear and wear and wear them while they’re in style so that I don’t feel bad ditching them in a year or two. For the most part, though, I shy away from extreme fads that will look outdated quickly. (Or I learn to conceal their faddishness with layers!)

The only shopping I NEED to do is to replace items or to update with trends. I think once a month is often enough to accomplish both. The "need" shopping usually takes me to the internet or a large chain store because I'm looking for a specific item and a reputable retailer. For WANT shopping, I try to stick with thrift stores, swapping, or super duper sales. I engage in "want" shopping on whim (but, dear God, I need to rein in the thrifting). Whether it’s “need” or “want” shopping, I’m not the sort to spend an entire day at the mall. I’d rather just visit a store or two as the mood strikes and then go do something else.

It sounds like you are interested in updating your wardrobe but feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect. It may sound overly obvious, but making a list can help. I keep a mental list of the things I need for the upcoming season:

1. long gloves (nabbed a ruched, velvet pair today at TJ Maxx for $12)
2. more long-sleeved t-shirts
3. tights
4. black socks (that look different from my husband’s or else he STEALS them)
5. new black boots (but not till the January sales!)
6. a down jacket

Then, when a shopping opportunity appears, I not only browse for what catches my fancy, but also for what is on The List.

Planning a shopping trip once every four weeks or so works for me, and I keep an open mind (and eye) the rest of the month.