Day Nineteen: Oh, Happy Day, a Leather Jacket I Can Love!

Do you ever have those days when you just feel totally and completely fabulous? Your hair has submitted to your will, your clothes are clean, pressed and fit just right? You know that your smile will get you an extra piece of bacon on your blt at Subway--not to mention that a man at the garden center will cheerfully offer to tote your posies and dirt out to the car and seem to mean it?

Ah. I love those days. They sure don't happen very often--and I'm not having one today, darn it. In fact, they happen for me around twelve days a year. Usually on the days when I'd pass the smiley-face test with one of these:

Don't tell me if those days disappear when the whole menopause thing starts, because I'll just kill myself now!

I was delighted with everything on Saturday, hormones or no. Speaking of babies, I attended a baby shower in the late morning. Our hostess made this fabulous diaper cake (made of diapers, not cake):

I also went to a Boy Scout Car Wash, a men's clothing store, the bank, and out to lunch with my guys.

I didn't spend a lot of time planning my ensemble because I knew I wanted to wear my brand new Norma Kamali Snow Trees shirt and my new black leather jacket. VERY excited about the jacket. Butter-soft and fits well.

Do I look grumpy? I wasn't. I think this was about the 50th pic that P took of me. He's soooo patient. But he did a great job. (Thanks, honey!)

Something to notice: Style wisdom says that you should be able to measure your front look in three fairly equal sections. I did okay here. The short-waisted thing makes it awkward. And after seeing many of the other pictures, I think I would like the jeans to be an inch longer and the shoes correspondingly higher (though these were clogs--a nice, tall book would've been fab). So many things to think about.

Over the course of this blog, I'll point you in some directions for figuring out what looks good on YOU! Your first assignment--should you choose to accept it--is to watch the first couple seasons of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. You'll learn plenty. I promise.

Kenneth Cole Black Leather Jacket: (Sam's Club) $60; Norma Kamali Snow Trees Shirt:  $12; Faded Glory Jeans: $15: George cami: $8; Earth Spirit Black Clogs: $30; Jewelry: That Damn Necklace Again (in black and silver)--$7: Earrings: $7    Total: $139

Oh, and here are the shoes. Don't know that I've posted them yet.

Very comfortable. Leather.

Hope you have a great week! Tomorrow: Bad news comes in orange.

Day Eighteen: Throbbing Amygdalae and Cold Feet

Day Eighteen. Let me think....

Discovered drips of something or other on the garage floor, right beneath the front passenger side of my car. Had to take it to our favorite mechanics first thing. But I got cleaned up before I left. That really helps me to get my day on track. My favorite online lifestyle coach, Marla Cilley at Flylady.net, recommends doing this every day as part of one's routine. Unfortunately, I get all bollixed up about wanting to exercise first, and then I procrastinate, and end up showering at 3:00, just before I have to pick up my son at school. The inside of my head is chaos, I tell you! And now that I need to photograph each outfit before I dress--well, let's just say I need fewer workouts because I'm running, running up and down the middle of my house all the time.

I did get to travel to our local Sam's Club in the afternoon for a little sweater/outerwear shopping. I've been fearful in a throbbing amygdala way about the coming cold weather. A long, gray Norma Kamali sweater arrived on Thursday by mail, but that's the only thing I had that promised me indoor warmth. (Well, there is the Fuzzy White Sweater of Doom, but it's not cheer-inspiring, or even particularly warm.

I love to be warm! I have shelves and shelves of sweaters of all types. Wool Nordic sweaters like this one are my favorites.

I dislike acrylics, do not insist on cashmere, and have a fondness for folkloric patterns or very delicate flowers. Most of all, though, I want to be warm! (This reminds me that I only have workout socks--I don't like to wear socks, but sometimes one must. I wear Ugg boots without socks for much of the year. How I will miss them.)

Will post photos of the things I bought as I wear them: Micro fleece casual jacket, two hoodies--one of sweatshirt material, one a knitted sweater; both have sheared fleece interiors (Soft like bunny fur. Paid $120 for one at Dillard's last year. It's way cooler, of course.); two patterned sweaters w/ faux crystal buttons (faux vintage), two Ralph Lauren (bought for warmth, not label) cotton ski-style sweaters; one grey acrylic sweater delicate scalloping on the edges. Will probably need two or three more, but it's a good start.

Enjoyed wearing this outfit--particularly after it warmed up in the afternoon. I felt like a rebellious 15 yr-old boy in my thong sandals and shorts in the morning when it was only about 55 degrees outside. (I did know a girl in high school who was suspended several times because she refused to wear shoes. When it snowed, she wore socks. Poor thing. Must have really needed the attention.) Best part of the outfit was the color mix, I think. Brown, pomegranate, ivory.

You can tell I was up early because of the blazing sun coming in the window.

First clothing defect: One of the snaps on the hoodie unattached from the shirt when I tried to take it off the hanger.

Faded Glory hoodie: $10; Miley Cyrus/Max Azria tank: $8 (or was it $6); L.E.I. Shorts $7 (clearance from $13 or so); Earrings: $7; Shoes: $7   Total est: $39

Tomorrow: Something orange. (And not in a good way.)

Welcome, Karen, Patty, and Jody--and many hugs to my early faithful friends. Have a great week!

Day Seventeen: Passing the Stylist Test and the Smiles or Frowns Game

Michelle, the young woman who cuts my hair, is very cool. She's not quite young enough to be my daughter, but she's refreshingly stylish for the neighborhood--no surprise that she was raised in the Chicago area. But when I visit her, I feel like such a mom. Fortunately, she reads everything, so we can talk books and say nice things about the people we know in common. We talk about other things, too, but I trust her implicitly. And, no, I don't think she'd spill on me for cash!

I'm insanely loyal to the person who cuts my hair. I like to find stylists who aren't worried about trying new styles, and aren't afraid to say, "No, Laura. You don't really want a Page Boy/purple highlights/Cruella Deville streaks/extensions/red hair." (Though Michelle might go for the red hair thing. She has gorgeous, tasteful tattoos. Not risk-averse, she!) I expect this explains one of the reasons why I will not be getting my hair cut and blondied at Walmart in the next 49.5 weeks. (Who's counting?)

When I showed up on Thursday for my appointment, I was feeling very good about this outfit. (I had to lighten the pic considerably so you could see the blouse/sweater. I know it looks washed-out. I'm working on the picture-taking. Promise.)

Don't know why I was so delighted. Maybe it was the black sweater tossed over my shoulders, or the red accent bangle, or the fact that I got to wear these shoes again:

The skirt hits just above the knee, just right. And it was windy and cool enough that I later had to put on the v-neck as well. That's why I had it with me.

I don't know. Michelle seemed to like the outfit fine. I know it's very much of a style that I might usually wear. Or at least might have, a year or two ago.

It just didn't seem...modern. It was a tad too classic. But I did feel confident and comfortable and put-together. In fact, that's been one of the saving graces of this project. I try to carefully plan my outfits in a way I didn't before, except when it came to conventions and appearances. I don't want to disappoint anyone who might be peeking in here, or myself. (Though everyone loves a train wreck and the occasional hot mess--I know I do!)

Much of the clothing sold by Walmart and Sam's is either boringly classic or too trendy in that cheesy way. So the big challenge for me has been to find things that are modern, but not too self-conscious.

The outfit's a fall/transitional keeper. I just won't be wearing it every week, I think.

George blouse $3 (clearance from $12); George cotton v-neck $3 (Clearance from $12); Faded Glory Skirt $5 (clearance from $12?); No Boundaries belt: $7 (I think); NormaKamali flats: $20; Bracelet: $7; Earrings: $7

Total: $52

Let's play "Smiles or Frowns." (I went w/ "Hot or Not" at first. But WM has that smiley face thing. Or does Smile or Frowns sound too dorky?) One the chopping block today is a pleather Faded Glory brown bomber jacket I got through Walmart.com for $30. (I sent the pleather black stroller jacket back. Toooooo shiny.)

Pros: $30, Actually looks distressed in a good way, cute style. Nice and neutral on blue jeans days.

Cons: Softish, but still not leathery. A tad shiny. Hits above the hip and that style tends to cut me off b/c of my short waist. Could use the $30 to get something different.

Does it make you Smile or Frown? Let me know what you think by end-of-day Monday, so I can wear it next week or take the $30 to Nashville with me to see if they have something better there.

You all are the best! Blessings--L.

Day Sixteen: Norma in Black

Wednesday was one of those days where I wrote in--well, I don't know what random pj-like clothes I was writing in. But I had lots to do at the end of the day and so slipped into the black version of this outfit (which I loved):

I think this outfit is just as cute, but a tad more sophisticated since it's all black:

Okay, I expect the unzipped dress looks a tad frowsy and large here. Again, I wear the dress zipped up to mid-torso. And, yes, the graphic says "I Love My Dog." I think the Kamali folks were going for whimsy. It kind of works. It's a change, anyway.

This time, I did wear the black Dr Scholl's sandals:

Added small silver earrings, too. A simple, fast look all together.

NKAthletic Dress $18; NK Leggings $10; NK Tee $8;  Shoes $13; Earrings $5  (?) Together: $54

Wish I could wear these outfits all winter. But it's already getting very chilly.

What I'm Sending Back:

Ordered these shoes from Walmart.com. They're called "Special Occasion Shoes." The acronym S.O.S. is especially significant here. These shoes made me feel like I needed rescuing! Like the striking 4" heels, and the color isn't bad. But they are way too small. And don't get me started about trying to return them. The company will send me a return authorization in about a week.

There just are no words for the tacky impression these deceptively simple pumps make.

NOTE: Why are the people on "What Not to Wear" so grumpy with their makeover subjects?

Thanks for reading!

Day Fifteen: Get Your Sack Lunch, It's a Field Trip!

There were no rides at the Conservation Fair, but there was plenty of cold, cold wind. Fall arrived on Tuesday without any sort of foreplay at all.

I was stuck.  Cute LLBean barn jacket to wear with my Hunter Wellies? No on both counts. Yummy woven scarf to keep me warm up to my sunglasses? Nope. Faded DKNY jeans to wear with a cozy, chunky, cotton fisherman's sweater? No way. These things are all in my closet, but they're not allowed under The Completely Arbitrary Rules of the game.

I had two choices: Athletic shoes, jeans, and the three tees layered beneath the $3 Fuzzy White Jacket of Doom, or something more fashionable, but not very warm. (I never wear athletic shoes unless I'm hiking or working out. I just feel sloppy. I know I'm in the minority about that....)

Comfort junkie that I am, of course I tried for the fashion save....

How cute is this jacket?! I was delighted to find it on the clearance rack. Like the stitched detail.  It's meant to match with the skirt I wore on Sunday, I think. But the skirt is a little too feminine for it. The jacket looks better with more tailored pieces. Thus the crisp white blouse and dark blue jeans. They had the same jacket in navy. Kind of wish I'd bought it, too.

 

Drawbacks of the jacket: about an inch too short for my taste. Also, because I'm short-waisted, the belt sits way too high. It's saved only by the fact that it blends in well with the rest of the jacket.

 Shoes? This was hard. I have a pair of clog-style leather shoes I bought a week or two ago, but I thought they looked clunky. I went with these:

You couldn't see any of the sandal, except for the toes. They worked, given that the jacket is cotton. But my feet were very cold. Should have worn the leather shoes.

Wore my ever-present bronze disk necklace, though I wanted something smaller because of the jacket's detail. Simple pearl posts with a brownish cast for earrings.

Ensemble: George Safari Jacket: $17 (clearance $25); Faded Glory jeans: $15; George white blouse: $12; Sandals: $11(I think) Jewelry: $14 total   For all: $69 

Extra added bonus:

Got two pieces of candy from this cute presenter because I gave two answers he was looking for from the group--herpetology and ichthyology. Go, me!

 

And I'm trying to improve my photography skills--Did I mention we live on the Mississippi Flyway?

Love all the birds we get to see as they migrate. Here are some geese I followed as they crossed the sun.

Have a fabulous day!