Day Twenty-Nine: In Which I Feel Rather Ordinary and Wear Old Shoes

I'm here in Indianapolis this week for Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention. It's a thrill to have the con back in the Midwest again. My first Bouchercon was in Madison, Wisconsin, back in 2006. I was just an observer then. My book wasn't to come out for months--and in fact was pushed back so that it ended up being a full year later. Bouchercon Alaska was the following year, and I missed Baltimore last year.

Bouchercon Madison was the start of my Author Girl Wardrobe. I dressed very, very carefully. After a month of wearing entire outfits that cost an average of fifty or sixty dollars, it's a little shocking to realize that I once spent about $2000 on clothes to wear over four days of a convention. Plus, I spent one afternoon in Madison shopping and ended up replacing the awards night outfit I'd packed with a new skirt, shoes, a $70 cami and a sheer top to wear over it. (Let's not even discuss what I spent before each of my month-long book tours.)

I still have all of those clothes. I buy good clothes and keep them a long time. That's one of the advantages of buying clothes that are flattering and enhance one's personal style, rather than clothes that are wedded to a particular trend.

It's a little weird to be here at Bouchercon again with hangers and drawers loaded with new clothes from a discount store--the most expensive piece with me is the $80 leather jacket I bought at Sam's Club. Next in line is the $30 pleather bomber I'm wearing below. But if you knock off the leather jacket, the average piece I brought with me cost $15. Including shoes. Less if you count jewelry.

I find discussing the cost of things kind of awkward. It just occurred to me that you might be curious. Me, I'm still adjusting. But in a positive way, I think.



So, my dears. Here's the jacket you voted in. You have good taste! (Even my daughter covets it. I told her to get her own. She can afford the $30.)

Please ignore the shapeless eggplant shirt. I dislike it. I made a huge pile of clothes that I need to return and my closet is suddenly emptier. Also, we might call the shoes a kind of a fudge. Both Walmart and Kohl's had these brown mules last year. Same manufacturer, same style. I bought them at Kohl's last fall, then was reminded of them when I saw a last, super-discounted, identical pair at Walmart a couple of weeks ago. (It seemed way too stupid to buy identical shoes. Judge says the fit the spirit of the law, if not the letter.)

Faded Glory pleather bomber: $30; Faded Glory jeans: $15; White Stag Eggplant cotton 3/4 sleeve shirt: $10; That Damn Necklace: $7; Earrings: $7; Shoes: $24   Total: $93

Still hate the shirt.

Here I thought I was being brave....This woman wore the same dress for a month. Wow! I agree with many of her points, but the piece is way too short, leaving me to want more.

Have a great Thursday. TTFN!