Reunion Advance Work, Take 1

Reunion Advance Work, Take 1 by dcceline

Mini party dress, $73
Layered dress, $73
Max and Cleo one shoulder sleeve dress, $128
Stiletto heel shoes, $220
Hidden platform pumps, $450
Hidden platform pumps, $450

Shopping Spree: Woulda Shoulda Coulda Bought the Skirts Back Then...

Remember the post in which I said I really really really needed denim skirts to get me through summer? Yeah. Well, I finally got around to it.

It's August.

The one I picked isn't polyvore-able (hel-LO sites, let me clip, please), and, if it were, it's not on the LOFT site any longer, but it's a cross between the first ladylike choice and the nautically inspired last choice on the set here. Wore it the first day I had it with a long, pleated-neck twist on the graphic T from DKNY Jeans (probably the most difficult thing to describe in the world) that's also not on the web any longer (bought in another shopping spree down tha shore). Loved.

In the meantime, I finally have two skirts in my wardrobe that I should've had back in June. They would've been perfect for the beach. And the rest of summer. Wearing them the last few days in this (slightly lower) heat reminds me that I should've searched harder before I left for Jersey. (Both are Ann Taylor LOFT.) And yes, they're both zippered, cargo-style. One's olive, one's a silky soft grey (not entirely sure that the one in the pic is mine - they say "twill" on the site, and if my skirt's twill, I'll be a monkey's uncle. but you get the picture.)

Oh yeah, and I found two tops, too. One LOFT, one Target. The raspberry LOFT T is my new favorite shape. "Draped," they call it. It's got an elastic waisted bottom that finishes the look ever-so-softly and elegantly - yes - in a t-shirt. It's slimming, and not nearly as sloppy as it looks in the pic.

The stripey one, well, that's not the right one, either (I hate it when the things I buy in the store aren't on line. Ugh.). But the general shape is right. It's still cream and black striped, but with a thinner stripe. No v-neck - it's a straight/boat neck. Cropped, I'd suppose they say, but the sleeves and the body are oh-so-80s. Amazingly flattering, especially from the back with anything slim-cut. Can't wait to pair it with my shorter cargo skirt and gladiator sandals. Anyone having a BBQ for me to attend looking fab?

Shopping Spree: Updated Wardrobe on a Relative Dime

We all know that "on a dime" doesn't really mean that. Even when you score the fab vintage find (or not so) at the not-so-glamorous-but-ever-so-fabulous Goodwill (you do know about DC Goodwill Fashionista, right?!), then another, then another...well, all those $10 dresses add up.

Same goes for some inspired and spur-of-the-moment wardrobe updates, even if they are at the didn't-know-I-could-find-that-here Target and Ann Taylor LOFT. A couple of days ago, I had an hour to kill (long story about the MIA phone, Verizon's network going down, and waiting around hip cool Fair Lakes for a work happy hour), so I popped into Target to see what I could find. I'd been meaning to do a few teensy updates to alleviate the "I have absolutely nothing to wear and I hate everything in my closet" syndrome. That being said, I didn't want to spend a fortune - I'm in the process of getting healthy, remember? (Never mind that I fit into nothing in boutiques at the moment, as drapey and loose as some things are right now.)

After I tore myself away from the evil dollar bins (I can always find something - like a plastic boat for the Beans' bathtub), I went rapid-fire through the women's clothing - juniors + misses + who knows what it's all called now. I threw all sorts of possibilities in my cart - why not? And while some that I adored the idea of on the hanger worked not at all on me, I did find a couple of sweet deals to update both the "going out" and the "work" areas of my closet.

First up, the dresses. This bright orange find would be that. much. better if I could figure out a way to unstitch and remove the v-neck insert. The pretty drapey V would work for night, of course, and clean up easily for day with a brooch. But given the thin jersey, I'm thinking I won't be able to remove it without serious damage. So it'll stay.

The next pic doesn't represent the actual dress - just the silhouette. It's a classic minidress shape, but I found it in a fun black & white stripe with a non-ruffle-ruffle texture stitched in that makes it that much more forgiving and interesting. So why did I buy a form-fitting mini when I'm trying to lose weight? 1) I look good in it. True to style advice, the more appropriately fitted (appropriately being key, of course), the slimmer you look. 2) I knew H would love it. He does. He's "ordered" it for our night on the town Saturday.

Lastly, I found a pretty deep blue sheath that I thought perfect for work. H thought I could wear it out. Mine was missing the belt, which suits me just fine. I can belt or no. Without, it's MaryTylerMoore-esque. With, I can add a splash of yellow or green or red or orange...you get the picture (note to self: buy fun big wide belts).

As I tweeted earlier, I'm wearing my all-LOFT outfit. Working from home today, so I can go see Bean #1 in her music camp show. I'll post the rest of my finds after I go see my diva-in-training rock the house.

Shop in Style: Proud Mama

After a much-needed cut by Jae for me (I feel human again), I took The Bean for a little mama-bean time on Bethesda Row. Before dinner at Lebanese Taverna (where we had a chicken wing/chicken finger drama of epic proportions), we browsed. My Bean loooooves to shop.

First stop? Urban Chic. In between warnings to keep her hands to herself (sticky fingers + boutique clothes = disaster), she pointed out a few of her favorites. In retrospect, I should have noted exactly which designers she liked, but the crux of it? If it sparkles, she likes it.

(And yes, she's wearing Laura Ashley. I must confess an absolute obsession when I was younger. Now? Wouldn't catch me anywhere near it, despite the current trend towards English roses. But she flaunts her roses and tulle perfectly.)

Stop #2? Sassanova. After I gushed at the Black Velvet Schiaparelli hatbox in the window display and stopped to explain to The Bean exactly who Elsa was, we shopped the prolific sale like veterans. The display of on-sale kids' shoes caught her attention, of course. Her favorite was a pair of silver maryjanes with red patent lips (the lipstick shoes, she dubbed them). Unfortunately, the pairs of the Moschino style left were too small for her even to try on. But she showed an affinity for them - pointing them out multiple times - that made me proud.

Before she gracefully transitioned to pointing out pairs for me (also with great taste - Butter, Badgley Mischka, and other sparkly designers), she also targeted a pair of Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania collaboration with Brazilian designer Melissa (racked.com posted on them, here). Perfectly flirty and fun, I was relieved (not that I can't say no) when the pair she could try on was really just. too. small. to warrant purchasing for a growing girl. Even on sale, 60% off a $100 pair of children's shoes is crazy. No matter how adorably fashionable she would've been wearing them.

In the end, we walked out with a quite reasonably priced pair of $31 white eyelet maryjanes (which, for the first time, I've banned from playground, school, or any event other than church and dinners at "Very Fancy Restaurants"). She noticed - and loved - that they matched the eyelet on her dress.

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.