Break in Style: Please Forgive the Blogger

Clockwise, from top left: Wonder, angel chimes, and advent calendars otherwise known as Important Pieces of the Season; the gift I was most excited to give (more of what photographer Amy Carmichael Smith captured of the Beans here); NYE in my flannel and ragg; packed up and ready to go for my first workout of the year January 2; all dolled up and ready to go (from the Willard Hotel lobby to a party at the Museum of American History); fully back to work, mixing prints, colors, and textures in the hopes of getting through long days.

You've heard this from me before, but life is a little crazy at the moment. As much as I love blogging, and as much as it's a break from the day-to-day grind for me to whip up an answer to a question or a few thoughts on a stylish topic, I need to take a bit of a break. At least from regular posts. I know better than to say there won't be anything for a bit - I say that, then I somehow find the time to post three in a row.

But since you've been reading, many of you, for a Very Long Time (bows gratefully in thanks), you know I'll be back. In the meantime, I'll still tweet, Instagram, and even a bit of facebook, since those are literally at my fingertips wherever I am, in whatever line I'm waiting.

Happy New Year, and may 2013 bring you style inspiration from unexpected places.

Style Dilemma Solved: Fashion Emergency = Dresses in My Closet. Sort Of.

I packed my clothes the night before. Blush plaid shirtdress, natural sandals, toiletries, makeup, towel, and underwear. If I don’t pack the night before, the 5:30am “call” to get to the gym just doesn’t work.

I had what turned out to be a private yoga session. We did restorative. I got myself realigned. It was amazing.

I went to the gym to shower and change, then got my regular venti bold + spinach feta egg white wrap at Starbucks. I drove to work.

The coffee had gone through me, so, well, off to the restroom. The mirror was a little revealing. The light grey thong I had one was clearly visible through the blush dress. We need to do laundry, so I’d gone with the closest thing to nude in my drawer. It didn’t work.

Thank goodness there’s a Tar-ZHAY not 10 minutes from the office. Bonus points that I’ll score diapers while I’m resolving my fashion emergency.

Cart. For the diapers, you know. Beeline for the “Intimates.” Score. A couple of nude pairs right up front. In the basket.

OK. I didn’t make a beeline for the intimates. I got waylaid by The Webster collection right at the front of the store. It’s good marketing. I’d spotted them on my last Target run, and was intrigued. They had marvelous patterns, and some fun, summery silhouettes. So, root, root, root, M. Root again on a different rack. M. 3 dresses in the basket. Then I found one more Mossimo dress that had simple, fun potential. It was polka dotted. I also threw in a few camis, just for good measure.

Then, en route to the intimates, I stopped by the shoes. A girl can’t go into Memorial Day weekend without flat sandals. And, well, they had some. My favorite pair, bought 6 years ago in South Beach, died. [sad face]

Now, I didn’t try any of it on. Not a lick. I had major deadlines to get to back in the office. But I killed all the birds with my one fashion emergency stone I could. I scored the diapers, and even new swim shirts and suits for The Beans.

And my fashion emergency was solved. I changed in the car.

So while The Beans were doing a yoga video (seriously), I did a quick Instagram fashion show so I could share the pictures here with you. I’m sad, because none of the dresses really works. One might end up staying in my closet as a beach cover up (tired of the babydoll styles and can’t stand the t-shirt thing), but the rest, as adorable as they are, just don’t work for me.

The dress that first caught my eye. In love with the print, but the shape + me don't mix. The Webster at Target Easy Waist Dress Deco Print.

See? Isn't the print gorgeous. And it's Target!

Maybe I'll get the print in this shift minidress. One of my favorite silouhettes ever, and it usually is great on me. The Webster at Target Sheath Dress Deco Print.

But something about the cut doesn't work at the neckline. It pulls and gaps in strange places.

Um, no. Monoboob and I don't get along. But the polka dots are adorable. Xhilaration Sleeveless Dress, similar here.

The Mondrian-inspired "plaid" makes this bleh shape a distinct possibility to stay in my closet. As a beach cover up. The Webster at Traget Easy Waist Short Sleeve Dress Plaid Print.

 The winner? The burnished gold rope thong sandals. They're not the vintage Etienne Aigner thongs I've been seeking, but they'll work more than fine. Meron Emeline Braided Flat in Gold.

And back goes the rest.

The Webster collection at Target has some really great options - check it out! And if you end up with any of them, let me know! I'd love to see you in one of them!