Style Dilemma: Reunion Advance Work, Part I

So. My 20th high school reunion is coming up (yes, yes, dating myself, blah blah blah). And yes, I'm going. In fact, can't wait. Not that facebook and such haven't changed the concept of a reunion, but I am still looking forward to seeing people. Rather than knowing what people are up to (which I know already), it's about seeing people in person that I've gotten oddly closer to since reconnecting online.

Yes, I realize that sounds a bit creepy.

Nevertheless, there is a major dilemma: what to wear. At the risk of my classmates seeing my machinations, I'm going to document my trials here...it seems only fair - and relevant - to a style blog, that is.

My first thoughts bounce between "is it silly to ask what the event dress will be on the reunion fb page?" Or do I just wear what I want to wear and everyone can get over it? I'd say "I didn't care then, and I don't care now," but the first part wouldn't be true. I did care then, perhaps too much, like a lot of us did in high school. That era is fraught with complexes, after all, isn't it? The second part is partially true. There is a bit of, well, look-at-me-now going on.

I used to wear-what-I-want-to. I'm not that girl who poured over fashion mags at age 5. Though I did scribble out a few designs in a short period where I thought I'd be a fashion designer, I didn't grow up wanting to meet Oscar or Karl. That didn't come until much, much later in life (that story will have to come another time). I wore ripped jeans, my dad's "vintage" high school football jersey, my grandfather's wool felt baseball shirt, and my dad's old plaid shirts. I did "thrift," but didn't have any kind of knack for picking out the good stuff - or put it together well when I did (at least not that I remember). I imagined myself hip and offbeat, and I'm sure I was - but just more in a geeky, unsureofmyself type way, rather than a "who's that girl" type way.

So I'll first get healthy (and lose, oh, about 20-30lbs I need to lose anyway, and the reunion is just a good push to get there), consider my style options carefully, and share my thoughts along the way. And in the end?

I'll have good shoes. No. Great shoes. Guaranteed.

Style Dilemma: How to do respectful and still rock it

Kate of Perpetually Nesting tweeted me last week, asking for help with what to wear to a conservative wedding in May - she can't show arms, shoulders, or legs. Hmmmph. It's an afternoon wedding, and we're not sure about the reception venue.

Eeek! This. Is. A. Challenge.

My first thoughts take me to a long, formal gown. But no. It's an afternoon wedding. Unless they're bucking convention (and isn't everyone these days?) and going black tie in the middle of the afternoon, formal in the afternoon just won't work.

Second thoughts take me to, unfortunately, an old lady pants suit. No.

Next, I'm leaping to a women's tuxedo, a la Michelle Pfeiffer or any of the Major Leading Ladies who've gone there in the past 15 years. But truth be told, as amazing as that could be, it would be leap for a Normal Person to go there at a Normal Person Event. Never mind that this is potentially a traditional crowd (Armenian Orthodox church), in which case a woman in pants is just not what you do. You'd have to have massive amounts of cojones to pull it off. PerpetuallyKate's got 'em, but I don't think that's what she had in mind.

So I'm back to some sort of long dress. Think. Think. Think. Bear with me. Let's call this post Part I. I'm convinced I can find more choices.

South Moon Under has this interesting jersey "maxi dress." I like to call it a gown. While form fitting, the black jersey could be incredibly forgiving. It is black, which is not everyone's first choice for a wedding, and it does have a scooped back. Given my own Orthodox wedding experience, it's nothing a little shawl won't handle, but still.

SMU has a number of other maxi dress choices, but they can be frumpy or too casual, as well as too open. Again, we can solve the "open" problem with a sweater, shawl, or jacket.

Now. The next look is a little tougher to pull off. It would require some very edited jewelry choices (I'd go for brass or gold, structured, geometric pieces, rather than the softer long chains. Keep it out of beachwear and in the HipCoolMamaWear. H&M (will you H&M marketing people please please please put the US merchandise online thankyouverymuch) has this breezy 70s-inspired frock.

Should we end up with a sleeveless dress of some kind, we need to cover up. If the shawl route just isn't covered enough, there's the jacket route. This won't work with all choices (really only with a solid-colored, fitted (read: not flowy) dress), but I'm in love with this bolero. Normally, "bolero" means "something my mom used to wear and I'd try to convince her otherwise," but this thing? I ran a across it on my Friday jaunt to the Atlantic City outlets (more on that later) and fell in love. Must. Find. Way. To. Wear. Or foist it on someone else, like Kate, for me to live vicariously through her fashion.

Stay tuned...I'm on the hunt...

Style Inspiration: Design on a (Relative) Dime

Thank, you Daily Candy, for helping me with my climb out of the Doldrums.

I think I might have to buy a new pair of Chucks. Saks pre-order, here I come.

However, while H is absolutely supportive of the things I need to do on the climb (when The Bean and I got home yesterday, he asked "Didn't you buy any shoes?"), I'm not sure he'd be ok with spending 200 bucks on non-workout sneakers for the Missoni version (I have a natural tendency to all things Missoni; something about that glorious, colorful stripey-ness).

On the other hand, I might be able to swing $105 for the Comme des Garcons (I'll spin a tale of them being commemorative of our Manhattan honeymoon and the afternoon we stumbled on the CdG Chelsea outpost). Or at least the delighfully graphic $80 Marimekko option.

I'm dreaming up HipMama Weekend Playground Outfits right now.