Healthy Style: 5 Ways to "Make it Work" When You've Lost Your Style Mojo

"I've been struggling lately with food and activity, not to mention work-life balance. My #healthyme clothes don't fit like they did (10+ extra lbs will do that), so I find myself returning to old comforting strategies: perfect shoes, bright toes, and color. Lots of color. It may not improve my mood much right now, but every little but helps #WW #ootd #wearing @gap perfect khakis, @lillybeeshoes Ann, and pedi colors picked by the Bean"

When I put my tootsies up on Instagram this morning, I wasn't feelin' it. I haven't been feelin' it much at all lately. I've been feeling like I added an extra layer in a lot of ways - not the least of which is from extra food and increased inactivity.

I've lost my #healthyme mojo.

I'm not sure where I lost it, but I've been struggling some over the last year, starting last Easter. You see, I had a major run in with some jelly beans. That reminded me how sensitive I am to sugar, and sent me into a bit of a spiral. My activity stayed up for a while, so I was able to maintain reasonably, and even get back to my happy body place and fit into an amazing yellow dress.

But for the last few months, it's been worse. I've been eating well, cleanly, and happily. I've been eating too much. And then, after running a lot, I've stopped. As much as I love it, I haven't lifted a toe, really. So on came the pounds.

And then the clothes don't fit. Getting dressed in the morning isn't interesting right now, as much as I like my closet. When I can't wear whatever I want, it's just not.

So I'm calling "truce" with my body, and listening to my soul. I'm going to slowly return to the strategies that got me to my #healthyme goal, and adjust as needed. In the meantime, I'll reuse strategies that comfort me like I did today. These 5 things will help me "make it work" until I'm out from under the cloud.

1. Find 3 things that work. 3 things that, with other stuff in my closet, will get me through. I don't have to love them. Number 1? The power pants.
2. Reuse those 3 things to no end. We think others are keeping track, but they're not. And reusing things makes it easy, if only for a little while.
3. Get a manicure. Or a pedicure. Or both. Nothing does a lady good like pretty fingers and toes. Really. I could look at mine all day and they make me smile. Currently, these pink butterflied toes and silver sparkly fingers.
4. Pick out the one pair of shoes that makes me walk taller - whether they're heels or not. I haven't worn these old favorites in ages (um, winter), but I'm so glad I broke them out. I'll be reusing. Many times.
5. Find one item - be it clothing, shoe, or accessory - that's as bright as can be. You guessed it: reuse it. Wear it to death. Make it a "signature piece."

Only I'm not sure how many times I can wear my "power pants" before it gets a little ridiculous.

Favorite Post: Rockin' It Old Skool

I had grand plans for a lovely post on our date night at Mussel Bar Revel. I promise, it was fantastic, and I promise a post soon. But like at the end of last week, Real Life got in the way, and between a day job deadline today, the Beans' ballet & music classes & meeting Stacy London on Saturday (thanks, Allie!*), preparing traditional Romanian dishes and table for Easter No. 2 (Orthodox Easter was this weekend), a visit from my Mommy, and a long-scheduled date night to see H's hometown favorite, Blues Traveler, I just couldn't find the time to sit down and write it up.

So will you forgive me if I give you yet another Favorite Post? Way back when, when The Bean was still teeny, I posted about trying to find my style mojo again - with a Metallica T. Trust me, after last night's phenomenal concert, I considered one of my 2 remaining concert Ts ('tallica or The Wedding Present) with my pinstripes, but both shirts are Very Fitted. Give 'em a month.

So while you read about my 'tallica T, I'll knock out another proposal. If I still haven't posted a new one by the time you're done, borrow some of my inspiration from last night's concert, and go rock out to whatever is yours right now. Me? I'm missing John Popper and the boys in my collection, so I'll go country with some old school Randy. Randy Travis, that is.

*Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen invited me and The Bean to join her and her E to meet the Grande Dame of style consulting. It's not up quite yet this morning, but I'm sure she'll have it up soon.

I've got lots of thoughts brewing on this lil' ol' blog here, and while I mull them over, I thought I'd pull some of my favorite posts from the past 6+ years (yes, I'm an Old Blogger).


If you have thoughts, ideas, questions, Style Dilemmas, please do send them along! I'd love to hear what you want to read!

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.

Am I? I think so...

I think I might be back.

Thank you for your patience, and apologies in advance if I slide back into a sleep-deprivation-induced style slump. It's bound to happen again.

H and I are going out on a Date tonight. Yup, capital "D." He has a childhood friend who is the chef de cuisine at Nage downtown, and since I've only ever met him once before (on the sidewalk when he was in town with another friend for a wedding), I've pretty much begged H to take me to dinner there. Can't wait 1) for dinner, 2) to honestly meet Our Friend the Chef, and 3) for a few hours of real time with H.

Oh, yeah, and 4) to Wear My New Dress.

I have absolutely nothing in my closet suitable or that I'd want to wear on a dinner date. Everything is either "work appropriate" or I've worn it 300 times already. I love my blue & white scarf top & linen skirt ensemble, for example, but I wear it to everything since I first donned it for our wedding rehearsal - 2 years ago.

So Tuesday I cornered H and said, "You want to watch me try on dresses at lunch?" I've become quite the speed shopper, and, well, he loves to see me try things on. Probably the only husband in the world like that, but he does. Very helpful, actually.

So...the Clarendon shopping trip...(let's just say I miss All About Jane)

Free People - Bust. 20-somethings who will grow up to wear Chico's next door. A few cute tops, but I wanted a dress.

ATL - Despite recent successes, Work Appropriate.

South Moon Under - proverbial jackpot. Results below. And yes, I'm making you wait til the end to get the winner.

Molly New York Clarissa - fun print, but oh, so did not work over the Boobs.

Frenzii Sleeveless Jumper - I didn't actually try this one on, but it's the closest thing on the website I could find to one of the finalists - the scooped neck, exposed shoulder is gorgeous on me - and would be on many people. The dress I tried on had the collar in a 60s-esque large loop crochet. The swingy fullness was infinitely flattering, and not at all "are you pregnant" question inducing. Got HUGE thumbs up from H.

Ali Ro Dolman Print Dress with Belt - one I wish I'd tried on, but didn't. Not in my size. SMU had a load of short dresses with not-so-exposed tops - one of the sexiest things you can do, in my book.

Alice & Trixie Silk Print Maxi - My print bias is showing, I know, but here's another one I didn't try on - H wasn't all that excited about the maxi dress thing (what can I say, he's a Leg Man...no, wait, a...oh, forget it, he just appreciates Women). These all remind me of dresses I really need to check with my mom about - she had some great ones I used to play dress up in...

The Winner

Ali Ro Retro Pinted Shift Dress

Heavenly combination of sexy elegance and a sense of humor. I put it on and knew - more so than when searching for that elusive wedding dress. Skirt hits my thighs in just the most flattering place, the vertical print elongates, and the neon pink and orange in the retro print puts a little "I love the 80s" humor in it for me. Love the bracelet-length sleeves, too, though I probably won't bother with any jewelry. Dress doesn't need it.

I've been on the prowl - ok, prowled down the street yesterday to ShoeFly - for a shoe. First choice - black patent stiletto (thanks for the style confirmation to the lovely hip blonde - MUST find her name - working yesterday). Simple, classy, and the dress just screams for patent. For daytime, I'd do a patent flat, but we're going to Dinner. If I can't snag a pair, I'll make do with a classic Ellen Tracy black satin sandal I have - they'll work, but looses some of the wow! factor, I think.

And I have to remember to dig through the purse collection, particularly to see if I have one from Mom-Mom that'll work.

I'll see if we can take a pic or two at the restaurant or ask some nice random person on the street to snap a mobile shot...

Climbing out of the funk...

slowly, but surely.

Step #1: Wash and blowdry hair. Can't even tell you how much of a difference it makes being able to wear it down if I like.

Step #2: Shave legs. I'm fair, so can get away with much more than the average bear, but there is a limit. Shaved legs = skirts are an option.

Step #3: Pick up drycleaning.

Step #4: Pray The Bean gets up at 5am, not 4:30am. That half hour makes all the difference in her mood, which makes it oh, so much easier for me to get ready in the morning.

Step #5: Pick out decent clothes.

Today, I'm the opposite, though not horribly edgy or high-end style, of my Hot Mess Day. It's gradually been getting better. I feel better, and therefore am sure I look better. It was amusing getting dressed today.

My first choice was one of my new skirts with my new white T, which now has made it through the Coke stain only to have picked up some random pink splotch in the wash. Weekend shirt, here I come. And yes, that would be the only shirt I own that really goes with the two skirts (the one other option I wore yesterday).

Second option? Brown silk/merino shell with said new skirt. Ummmm...not sure whether that's banana or yogurt, but either way, it doesn't belong on there. Drycleaning bag.

Final choice - works! Grey pinstripe pencil skirt and pink/grey striped button down. It's actually a great French cuffed shirt I scored for practially nothing at Filene's oh, say, 100 years ago, but the buttons on the cuffs broke at some point, and I haven't sewn them back yet. So we go casual rolled up sleeves, and oila! Throw on the new(er) black peep toes, my single black belt, and done.

We just will ignore the teensy yogurt spots on the skirt.

Yeah, that's right, I'm a Hot Mess

I've posted before about losing the Style Mojo. Old news.

This time, though, I've really done it.

Never, ever, ever thought I'd use the phrase "hot mess" to describe myself. Even on my worst days, I'm at minimum passably coordinated and presentable.

Today, all I get is presentable. And that's just 'cause I work in a place that could give two patooties about style and fashion. I'm a fashion Don't all over the place.

Let's use me as a lesson.

Do: Mix patterns in complimentary colors and "weights." For example, pairing the brown plaid with a blue stripe, as I've done today, works just fine.

Presentable points = 1. Style points = .5. Attempted difficulty points = 2

Do: Make sure your clothes fit. It's difficult to do, especially when you're running around like a madwoman. Hence my "slouchy" menswear pants that aren't really slouchy, just too big.

Presentable points = 1. Style points = -1. Attempted difficulty points = .5

Do: not try to be too matchy matchy with accessories. And don't worry too much about matching your jewelry metals - gold and silver together are fine, which is part of why I love my wedding ring - yellow and white gold together gives me even more license. But don't wear a peeling gold-colored belt buckle (the only "professional" belt I own) with shoes with a hammered silver coin accent. Does. Not. Work.

Presentable points = 0. Style points = -5. Attempted difficulty points = .5

Do: wash your hair only as often as you need to. I'm a big proponent of the every couple of days wash. I hear all of you out there screaming, "but if I don't wash my hair every day, it gets so greasy!" Try this: pick a week when it doesn't matter. Don't wash it. Suck it up. And then wash, and see how it is. Try it again the next week, not necessarily going as long - it's kinda like detox for your hair. Washing adds oils from scalp stimulation - needed, but you can overdo it, and washing can dry out your scalp. Plus, everyone knows that "day 5 hair" is the Frenchwoman's answer to perfection. But when it needs washing, wash it, unlike me, who just couldn't deal with the process last night so didn't. Ponytail.

Presentable points = .5. Style points = -5. Attempted difficulty points = 0

Do: Wear the best accessories you own to cheer you up. Like the gorgeous blue topaz ring H bought you for finishing your thesis and you were mad at him for a second for spending the money then you Got Over It because now you have a Cocktail Ring.

Presentable points = 2. Style points = 2. Attempted difficulty points = -5 (c'mon - wearing gorgeous jewelry is such a no brainer no points here at all)

Total Points: -1.5

If I were to publish one of those guides to scores like in Cosmo, this would read: Anything below a 1 is a Hot Mess. You do not deserve to be walking around like this. Take care of yourself. It doesn't take that long. And you certainly shouldn't be writing a style blog. But go easy on yourself, life is hard, and sometimes you Just Can't. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again tomorrow.

*Remember, all of these scores are on a 3-point scale.