I did it!

I bought Real Clothes.

BlueSuitGirl and I shopped - rapid fire - last Tuesday night. We took advantage of a Banana Republic one-night sale (25% the whole store) and hit up Lord and Taylor. We wanted to use a foursquare deal at Gap, but never made it there. So...

Yeah. Black and white - and not re(a)d all over. Ok, a little pink. That sweater's an amazing, vibrant color. Wore the suit (pants version) with the pink sweater and the shoes on Thursday for some Big Meetings, and got compliments all. day. long. Especially on the shoes.

The key piece though? They fit. The pieces all fit. While I'm not at my best right now (and am even less so after the Papa John's that sits scattered around me right now), a well-fitting piece does so much.

Now...to find a few more sweaters or blouses. That's the next trip.

Kassie, this one's for you

Slate grey trousers, Old Navy
Pink/grey striped oxford, Havré Bernard

Putty patent peeptoes, lillybee

Chipped red polish, Spa Toccare, The Borgata, more than a month ago

Gone Shopping!

At least that will be the sign hung on my condo door tonight. Leaving The Beans at home with H and the laundry (and rumors that he's having a friend over to smoke stogies), hooking up with BlueSuitGirl, and heading to The Mall.

Yes.

The Mall.

Before you jump all over me for it, here's my rationale:

• Need affordable (but not cheap) work clothes
• Need clothes that fit
• Need to do it in one evening

 And Banana's having a one-night 25% off $100 or more sale.

I've long been a proponent of their suiting pieces. They generally fit me well (or used to, we'll see), are made well (only reason I'm about to retire my grey pinstriped suit is because I wore it with flats one too many times and have frayed the hem), and won't break the bank entirely. Their wool-blend pieces fit right into the "you get what you pay for" range of quality over cost.

So. We'll just have to see whether Banana or any of the other standbys (I've been known to find fun pieces even at places like Ann Taylor or Express) come through.

They'd better. I meet my new Big Boss on Thursday.

 

Here's thinking...

A navy suit with cute puffy sleeves? (Banana)

Ruffled sweater(s). Love the doubled up look here, but doubt I can pull it off on this post-baby bosom. (Banana)

Cropped, boxy tweed jacket. I'm a sucker for a bracelet or 3/4 sleeve. Ever so ladylike. (Ann)

More navy, in a fitted yet comfy sweater that will be waaaay too hot for the office, but I'll wear anyway because somehow it's sculptured bulk is flattering (Ann)

Part of my sought-after pieces - cute jackets. As a broad-shouldered girl, it's hard for me to find ones that fit well, but maybe, just maybe, these ruffles and rosettes will work (Nick & Mo, Nordstrom)

And not anywhere on the range of "work," "value," or "practical," this adorable mini. A girl has to have something to wear to the DSS, right? (Tory Burch, Nordstrom)

If you could name one, and only one...

...favorite designer, who would it be?


and, oh yeah...why?

To-Do List Update

Shower? Check.

Lavender-cammomile bubble bath with The Bean? Check.

Money saved by shampoo not yet used on hair? Priceless.

You Didn't.........? Really?

We all do it. There is no one on earth, not even the most stylish, put-together man or woman to whom we all aspire, that doesn't commit a fashion faux pas once in a while. They may not let it show, but it happens.

And lately, I feel like I'm a walking faux pas. Ill-fitting, untailored duds. Bikini briefs. Which in most ill-fitting clothes, don't matter, but in those 2 pair of pants that actually do fit, yield VPL. Yes. You read that right. Days without makeup of any kind (this damn heat and humidity make wearing anything but the sheerest powder a bear). Bras that don't fit, which let the girls slump. Boring color combinations of black and black. Clothes that should've been retired a long time ago for being just plain old tired. You name it, I've done it.

In solidarity, it turns out that most of you are willing to share. A few weeks back, I asked. You answered:

• Not getting my hair cut for three years
• Sometimes get too matchy-matchy with shoes, belt, bag. Gasp!
• Pantyhose in Atlanta in July. My feet would be all blisters without em.
• hmmm...i suppose my inability to accessorize is considered a fashion faux pas :)

Like my own, all of these could be chalked up to some sort of style-laziness. Yup. I said it. I'm lazy. And so are you. It's what all 25 style reality shows have taught us. We suck, and everyone should be able to put together a reasonably stylish outfit for every. single. occasion.

But reality sets in.

Real reality.

3 of the 4 women who answered are mamas, but I know that even as non-mamas, it's a daily struggle. We'd be remiss and dismissive if we didn't acknowledge everyone's challenges. It's really not that easy to get it together, and we're all envious of the woman (or man) who seems to never have a hair out of place, never forgets to zipper her skirt.

I suppose they're out there, but they probably drink blood.

Updated: To-Do List

See? I'm even forgetting things. Which is why I need a list.

Note to self: add...

See Erwin. Very soon. Brows are gross.
Pedicure. Now.
Manicure - optional, but at least remove old polish and cut.

Yes, these are things that should be done regularly. And I haven't done them. So sue me.

PS - no, I haven't washed my hair yet.
PPS - this post and its predecessor are designed to give you the freedom to relax. It's a public service. Yup, that's what it is.

The Teenager Me - Recycled

It took me years, literally, to find a pair of "riding boots" that I loved - and that fit my muscular calves (I have dainty ankles, but inherited my Pop's calves, which are great, but not good for tall boot wearing). Finally, Ginger came through at the DSS, and I scored a perfect Modern Vintage pair (thanks, in part, to a lovely lady who didn't play the mean evil shopper and let me go first). I wear them constantly in cooler weather.

Then, today, my facebook feed displayed these beauties.

Boden, a funny, sophisticated British venture that started out with 8 menswear items, had posted these. I think they did it just for me. While a small fortune at 179 pounds, they might just be worth it. There's something to be said for the English fashion aesthetic - at least the one that's not all tweed and jodphurs. In your face, snarky, and always a little twisted, the Brits have a way of saying it all - louder than you'd expect them to do in a quiet demure tearoom, of course.

I adore, and always have a soft spot in my heart for lace and bodices and refined, soft colors (yes, I devour historical novels). That's one Teenager Me, dreaming of her Gilbert (yes, yes, I know that's a Canadian story, but you get the picture). The other Teenager Me stomped around in what she thought was cool and not-like-anyone-else in her daddy's plaid blazer, her mother's "paint" jeans, and vests and blouses that should've stayed at the thrift store. That same Teenager Me hung with the theater crowd, which in our school was an odd mix of punk and hippie. (The same dear friends who post their kids' pics on fb one minute, and announce their attendance at a Depeche Mode concert the next, and incidentally, just gathered for a mini-reunion I missed at a local winery owned by the parents of one said friend. I raise a glass, my dears.)

Four years ago The Met had an amazing exhibit on British fashion - in which McQueen, Westwood, and the Royals all played a part. And I fell in love again. I should've done it then, and hopefully I'll do it now, but it's time to bring a little Brit punk to the world - if I can swing a 179 pound pair of boots into the budget.

To-Do List

Wash hair
See Jae for desperately needed haircut
Get new makeup to replace ancient stuff (eyeshadow already replaced with urban decay and smashbox)
Start working out
Get new clothes to replace boring ones

Yes. Wash hair. I promise I'll do it soon. Maybe even tonight. Or maybe tomorrow.

Shop in Style: DSS Tix Going Fast

If you haven't made it there since it's inception a few years back, make this the year - and tix are going fast. Get thee to a keyboard, and buy!

http://www.districtsamplesale.com/

See you there!

Stealing Mary's Idea

She's taken a lot of flack for it, but maybe Ms. Amons has it right: if you've got a good closet, go to any length to protect it from sticky little fingers (in all senses of the word).

While I have high hopes for my recently purchased Anns to jumpstart me out of my style slump, I think The Bean has other designs for them. I had them out, ready to wear this morning, and, well...you vote on who's wearing it better...

And yes, that's a dragonfly sticker in her hair.

Shop in Style: Breaking Shop News

A little bee told me this morning that local entrepeneur and designer simplysoles will be at the DSS. For this shoe-a-holic, that's reason enough to cough up the dough for a ticket. The discounts she offers on both her own lillybee line and the other amazing lables (from indies like Butter to standbys like Bruno Magli) are usually worth even the VIP entry. My own hopes for size 9-ish availability?

lillybee Victoria

Bruno Magli Jodi

Chie Mihara Fraidei

Shop in Style: DSS Fall 2010

While I strongly suspect I'll be buying accessories only (last time I found my beloved Modern Vintage riding boots at Ginger and my Stitches jeans), as I'm not quiiiiiite where I'd like to be, size-wize, maybe this fall's DSS will be my re-launch into StyleLand. We hope.