Favorite Post: Once a FallGirl, Always a Fall Girl

Still behind on posts. So either to joyfully relish the fall with you - or to torture you, if you're one of those summer types - I thought I'd re-share some of my happy autumnal and wintery posts and Pinterest boards.

Yes, I like the chill in the air.

Here is a post I wrote a little more than a year ago. I bought the turtlenck poncho. It didn't fit. It looked terrible. And I never returned it (much to H's chagrin). Turns out? It's perfect now! Cannot wait to don its glorious coziness.

I love fall (have I mentioned that?), so tweeds and velvets make me happy. See?

My velvet Daslu boots still make me crazy happy. I've already worn them once this year.

Then there's my Winter Girl Pinterest board, which is also good for fall. Or try my Weekends Around Town board, which, right now, seems to have lots o' autumnal inspiration. Then there's my boot obsession showing up on Bells on My Toes.

Finding Mojo - Thwarted!

As I emerge from the anti-style world of not being able to wash and dry my hair, pick out my clothes without a little diva hanging on my leg, and take more than 2 seconds to "do my face,"* I'm trying to push the envelope. Granted, my closet isn't in the best of shape right now, but it's a little better than it was, so as I get ready each morning, I'm trying, trying, trying to not do the Washington Frump. Don't always succeed, but I try.


My memory's not long enough to go all the way back to Monday, but yesterday I managed to update my LBD a la the 500 style mags proclaiming "redo your closet with no money" (so nice of them to be cost conscious in these difficult economic times. gimme a break): black wool knit shift with a black ribbed turtleneck...and my beloved Daslu boots.** I was a very happy camper.


Today's another day of Very Important Meetings (ok, not so, but everyone generally tries to dress as if they are), and I was all excited. I decided yesterday I'd do some take on what I consider the Real J's*** signature look: a buttoned up suit paired with a fun printed T. I've yet to attempt it, but figured my newfound love of a Metallica Death Magnetic concert T would work perfectly.


So I tried it with black pants and a tweed jacket. Eh. Alright, but not finished enough. Jacket is a little too bulky. Next attempt: grey pinstripe pantssuit.


Perfect.


All proud, I meander over to the bathroom to show off to H.


"Whaddaya think?"


"Great, but too much." He thought it would be just too much for my colonels to bear, so he convinced me to tone it down.


"Friday," he consoled.


So off came my tribute to Lars and James, and on went the (alright not so, but still) staid teal sweater. I did throw on my mommy's gift of topaz earrings with my grandmother's topaz ring and her 70s-style medallion to make myself feel better. And my new(er) peep-toes help too (a little hardware goes a long way for this girl).


Friday, here we come.


*We were a little cramped in our lovely home, and The Bean was sleeping in our bedroom, so I couldn't get ready until she was up. Ditto for the shower/blowdry thing.


**I have some retired colonels who love my boots, and they're in town this week, so, well, flaunt what ya got, I say.


***Yup, she's still out there, allbeit far away...she's rockin' Addis Ababa style right now.

The Mojo's Coming Back...Slowly

When life gets crazy with sick Beans,* too little space for too many people, Big Important Projects at work, well, the last thing on my mind is clothes.

A long time ago, in a land far away called College, I subscribed to the idea of "dressing comfortably," especially after having been up all night cramming for exams - or talking with a new boyfriend all night (yes! just talking - we thought we were very enlightened). I'd wear my lucky wool socks, old holey jeans, and a sweatshirt.

Then I went to Germany, spent my junior year in Bremen, and along the way met a wonderful Italian man by the name of Luca. There's a lot more to the story than what I'll share here, but I will say that when we met, I was not in the best state of mind (never, ever date a British man - apologies to my British friends). I was very much in "comfortable clothes," both literally and emotionally.

Somehow, along the way, he managed to teach me that when I go out the door, I should be put together. He managed to pull the nicer clothes out of my teeny dorm room closet and get me to wear them. He managed to get me to realize that I am, in fact, a beautiful woman, and, well, maybe others might think so, too.

Many, many years later, I'm blessed with a husband who agrees.

But sometimes, like over the past few months, I just haven't been able to pull it together, style-wise. I have clothes in my closet I like, but I just don't even have time to put them together. I'd much rather focus on my Bean. It's a rare week when I get to blowdry my hair instead of going to sleep with it wet. Mornings I put on my make up and brush my hair at my desk. I just don't have the spirit to bother.

But with Fall here, I can pull out a couple of old standbys in which I always feel good. I waited until a week full of Big Meetings at work, when I know some of my Old Retired Colonels will compliment me in a way that's probably inappropriate. So out came the black merino cowl neck sweater and the Daslu boots, and paired them with a retro below-the-knee flared skirt for a little prim but not entirely proper flash. It was just too hot for the sweater, but I suffered for style. I brushed out my hair at my desk, and wore it down to choruses of "Your hair's different today." The boots elicited a couple of "Niiiice boots," and a couple of Old Guys trying to Be Good. Amusing, and appreciated, as wrong as it might be.

A girl's gotta use what she's got when she's got it.

*She's fine - it was just her first Big Cold. She survived just fine. We, however, are still recovering.

Shop in Style: Hitting the Seasonal Sales

Last week I had a flashback. Two years ago, the new H and I jumped on a train and travelled north to NYC for our honeymoon. Time together as a newly married couple, art, culture, dining, music, blah, blah, blah. It was the perfect time for shopping. At the end of July/ beginning of August, stores are clearing out their summer stock to make room for the winter (fall's already been on the racks forever, so even some of that's on sale). Among other things, I scored my still-favorite Chie Mihara pumps, a bluest blue cashmere sweater from Henri Bendel, and my Daslu boots.

I can't make it north this year, or probably even next - The Bean's probably not ready for all-day shopping - and I can barely even make it to the brick and mortar stores here. But I can shop online - and the sales online are at their best right now - sizes might be scant, but if you can find your size - or shop for sizeless items - you can score some amazing deals. Here are just a few I've stumbled across while working very very hard at my day job.

Freshwater pearl earrings at Banana. Every girl, even the edgiest, has to have a pair. If you don't own any, spring the $16.80 for these. Their sale jewelry boxes in-store are always great - I've found some of my most complimented pieces there - especially their enamel costume jewelry, like the turuqoise ring at left. Wait a little longer, then check the store, and you can probably get it for less than $15.

Never too many t-shirts in a drawer, she says. Well, actually, that's possible, but pretty, fitted, long (aren't we always looking for long ones?) versions fly to the top of the list. bluefly.com has this Rebecca Beeson top for $24.99. Not an amazing deal, but good enough to bother for something that fits - and in a couple of colors, too.

Easy to take in any style direction - classic, sporty, funky - with the right accessories, and definitely all-season, in my book, a great deal at $84 (from $240), this Rebecca & Drew shirt-dress is to be had online at Nieman Marcus. Nieman sales are great, percentage-wise, but if you're a gal really on a budget, you have to go to the end of the price-sort list for stuff that makes it in the range. $1000 from $4000 is absolutely a deal, but really.

Here's to brilliant sale shopping - online or in-store...and if you find a great deal, email me - with pics, if you can, and tell us about your find & how you plan on wearing it.

Don't forget the cardinal rule of sale shopping - if you can't picture an immediate way to incorporate it into your wardrobe, don't bother. It's still not worth the money, sale or no sale.

Style Dilemma Solved: Daslus to the Rescue

I took LatinaTerp & Jeff's advice.

Conservative, well-fitted suit.

Kick-@## velvet boots.

Almost Out of the Rut

So part of the non-posting has been plain ol' busy. And part has been practically sheer embarassment. I'm incredibly non-stylish at the moment. Presentable? I'd say barely, but not even remotely "ooh, great [insert item of clothing here]"-inducing from colleagues or people on the street. I'd forgotten about all of my Thanksgiving-AC-purchases, and so desperately need to wash my tights and reheel my shoes that my wardrobe options are limited.

Then, last night, I remembered my boots.

Thank goodness.

They're enough to pull me up out of the rut - at least a little. A few compliments (so good when you get one before 8:30am) might just help me get there.

Next time I announce I'm in a rut, remind me that I should pull out the boots. They'll work like a charm.

The Pain We Endure

...in the name of style.

I eagerly put my tootsies into my new caramel Marshall Fields pumps on Monday morning. With black slacks and a chocolate merino v-neck, they added a little splash of color, a la the Real J.

H drove me part way to work (I love him, I really do), and then I was sitting at my desk all day.

Then I got up to go home. And let's just say that walking was slow. Really, really slow. Somehow, in the couple of hours I was at my desk, my lovely new shoes had shrunk about 4 sizes and I felt like a geisha with bound feet. Getting to the metro was ok (not even a block), as was changing cars at Metro Center. But the long walk up my infuriatingly uphill street, lugging a heavy rolling computer bag? Not pleasant. I had to stop several times. I found myself praying that the light would change to red so I could stand still and rest at the intersections. It's only a 4 block walk, maybe 5, but my feet were literally shaking, and barely holding me up. I've never experienced anything like it. No blisters, so no amount of Bodyglide was going to help. Only taking them off. Which I did. As soon as I hit my elevator.

I was sorely (no pun intended, honest) disappointed. They were really so comfortable on Sunday night in the store. Maybe a teeny blister, by way of the peep toe, but manageable. I had no idea. Especially since they're Brasilian-made. We checked before we bought them (yes, we're shoe manufacturing snobs). Brasilian shoes seem to fit my feet, as proven by my Daslu boots and Chie Mihara pumps.

So it's socks and clomping around the house for a little while, in the hopes of breaking these suckers in. Granted, I'm only "out" 34 bucks if they don't break in, but still, I have such high hopes for them.

Seriously. I'm Wearing Them Every Day.

The previous two posts were mobile. I jus thad to share from the road. And as it turns out, I got a total of 6 serious compliments inside of 2 hours. And I have to say that it was a little bit gratifying to answer, "New York," when asked where I got them. "Oh," was usually the reply, and I could tell they were disappointed they couldn't get them here.

They're mine. All mine.

And they're fabulous.

Which, in turn, makes me fabulous, especially when I wear them.

I'm wearing them evry day.

I'm wearing them evry day. out 4 less than an hour, and have 3 huge compliments!

These boots were made 4

These boots were made 4 walkin! my daslus r on 4 1st time. i rock!

Well Done: New Cycling Fashion

Spring's not quite here (I don't trust it yet), but everyone's dusting off the sandals and the shorts to relish the sunshine.

Happy lady today - saw an adorable outfit today on Connecticut Avenue. Black & white flower print a-line skirt, black boatneck, 3/4 sleeve T, and white ankle tie espadrille wedges. She topped it off with a gutsy white & black hat - a bike helmet.

She was cycling to work on an old-school road bike. The only thing missing was the basket on the front.