Michelle Said

I wasn’t planning on even photographing this outfit, but Michelle, our server for Last Call Trivia at Champions, said it was blogworthy. I did really like how the cardigan paired with this jacket. It adds warmth and interest to one of my favorite coats.

Jacket, Dex (swap). Cardi, Silence + Noise. Dress, No Boundaries. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Diba. Owl brooch, swap. Slave bracelet, G&S.

I’m very sad that Champions is closing.

Fake a Waist

As a short-waisted, small-busted gal, I’m a fan of the empire waist. However, I’ve found that a wide, fitted band below the bust (but above the natural waist) works best to elongate my frame without losing shape. This dress lacks definition below the bust, but I can add it with a wide belt.

Cream dress, vintage, thrifted, and shortened. Turquoise dress, Moth. Tights, We Love Colors. Peeptoes, Steven. Belt, some department store. Brooch, The Beaded Garden. Ring, Jan Michaels San Francisco. Bag, Nicole Lee. Binder clip, work. Coat (below), vintage.

I took inspiration from two prior outfits to create today’s ensemble.




Part of my deck (the overhang) collapsed under this winter’s snow.

Hit and Miss

I have a couple of style mottos. The first is: “wear what you like.” The second is: “today only happens once.” Why not take a risk with your outfit today? It’s only one day of the many you’ll have in life. Tomorrow, you can wear something different.

Jacket, Odds ‘n Evens (thrifted). Dress, thrifted. Sweater vest, Karen Scott. Green scarf, import store. Printed scarf, Target. Faux pearl necklace with medallion, Newport News. Single faux pearl strand, thrifted. Lace tights, Apostrophe. High-heel oxfords, Isaac Mizrahi for Target.


I’ll definitely be wearing something else tomorrow.

Misbehavin

I was a good girl in school – no smoking behind the gym for me! I only recall two incidents that resulted in major disciplinary action. The first was when I cheated on the solar system test in 4th grade. I think I did it because I wanted to impress the teacher with a high score. (He was one of my favorites.) The second infraction was more puzzling. In 6th grade, I took a strong dislike to our choir director and simply refused to sing in class. She kicked me out and I ended up in metal shop instead. The result of my misbehavior: I don’t know much about the other planets, I sing badly, and I love molten metal.

Sweater, The Limited. Blouse, Forever 21. Skirt, Rafaella (thrifted). Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, BCBGeneration.


The neck bow is actually the blouse’s self-belt. I never wear it as it was intended to be worn. How downright rebellious of me.


What mischief did you get up to during your school days?

Dirty

I suppose these muddy colors are better suited for fall than spring, but March has been pretty soggy so far, so maybe they’re appropriate after all. The snow is almost melted and my backyard is a quagmire. Next up: four days of rain!


Dress, London Times (handed-down and shortened). Sweater, Body Central. Vest, Forever 21. Boots, Nine West. Earrings, self-made.

I’m singing a soggy spring song with my ukulele. (Ok, not really. I can’t play the thing at all.)


The first try at this ensemble did not include the vest. However, as mentioned before, I have a hard time wearing mustard yellow with my blond hair. I become a yellow blob. The olive vest saved the outfit.

Jungle Fever

Would you buy a dress that was leopard print on top and zebra on the bottom? I certainly would, so this outfit passes my pattern mixing test.

Sweater, INC (one of my February purchases). Dress, Jones New York. Tights, Danskin. Oxford pumps, Isaac Mizrahi for Target.

A pattern mix like this isn’t to everyone’s taste and pushes the limits of acceptance in a professional workplace. A classic silhouette, though, ensures that the pattern mix is the only (!) wild element. Imagine how office-inappropriate it would be if the top were a bustier and the skirt a mini.


Yeah, this is my favorite pose.


With all the pattern and an embellished neckline, I didn’t need any jewelry.

Under Where

I bought these booties to wear under pants, back when I wore pants, and back when you wore your booties with only pants (not with skirts or dresses). This is their first pants-free outing.

Here they are with pants-------->

Jacket, Forever 21 (embellished by me). Zigzag dress, Lipstick. Navy dress, To The Max. Tights, We Love Colors. Booties, Style & Co. Necklace, Anthropologie (it broke and I fixed it.)


This is the second time I’ve worn the zigzag dress under another. The frock’s cut and length work well under a shorter, looser dress.


These two photos well illustrate white balance correction! The white balance is set for flash in the first photo and for incandescent (+3) in the second.
I went back and forth on the jacket today. The addition of the blazer seemed like too much brown (and I didn’t have time to change the tights/booties), but the outfit was unstructured without it. What do you think?

It's better...
	with the jacket
	without the jacket
pollcode.com free polls

One of my favorite jokes is to ask someone, during a meal, “What are you eating under there?”

They respond, “Under where?”

Then, I laugh like a hyena and shriek, “Underwear?! You’re eating underwear? Gross!”

I have an unsophisticated sense of humor.

Inside Out

I think I’ve become pretty adept at photographing my outfits indoors. But even with a nice camera and fake flowers, the photos never quite measure up to those taken out of doors.

Jacket, NY & Co. Dress and headband, Forever 21. Tights, Apostrophe. Booties, Madden Girl. Brooch, Burlington Coat Factory.

Below: Scarf, Target. Gloves, Walmart. Bag, Nicole Lee.



The outdoor photos were taken at Lytle Park at about 7:15 a.m. I’m cracking up at my own audacity. This isn’t NYC. People don’t model for pictures on the sidewalks in downtown Cincinnati. I’m sure the man behind me in the last photo thought I was a nutjob.


Indoor photo by me (Nikon D40). Outdoor photos by BM (Cannon Powershot SD780 IS).

Sit, Nursie!

The Sunday matinee was our third Comic Potential performance and our first during daylight hours. I got ready early and slipped outside for a few photos of my nurse costume.


Ack! It looks like I’ve gotten custard on my skirt. I’ll be washing my costume before Thursday’s performance.
The dress came from TDW’s costume closet. (Some embellishments were removed and I shortened it about 2.5 inches.) The belt and shoes were thrifted. The syringe is from my vet.

Photos by Beefy Muchacho

A few pictures from our dress rehearsal:

Production photos by Vicky Dunn