You Win Some...

...and sometimes you get outfits like this one. I love this skirt (comfy, burgundy and gray plaid, long enough for work!) but for the life of me I cannot get the styling right. It hits below the knee and always makes me look stumpy--I think I would have to wear it with heels to really combat this effect. I can't wear it with boots, as they come up too high and fight with the hemline, and the waistline is just above my hips (not my favorite waistline height for a skirt).

In this case, I brought in dark wine colored tights, to bring out the burgundy and fight the purple hue it tends to suggest. I also work it with my nerdy oxford flats. Then I felt I had to bring in some black, to balance the black shoes, and in came the black shirt and blazer (it was cold, but I didn't want more gray in the form of my gray cardigan!).

I hesitated on posting this Outfit of the Day, but this blog is about Developing Style--not showing style I already have, not just documenting successes, but a record of how I change and evolve.

All in all, I think this outfit doesn't work very well. I also get this problem with my orange wool skirt--so hard to style! Length is slightly too long, cut is slightly too boxy--but I love it so, and am convinced it is vintage from the 1940s (metal zipper, wool fabric, slim A-line skirt, hand sewing techniques) so I don't want to give up. Any suggestions, or should I just admit defeat and toss them? Have you had any cases when have an item that theoretically should work great, but in reality it just never quite clicks?


Shirt: Gap via Plato's
Blazer: H&M
Skirt: Zooc via Garage Sale
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill

Four Ways To Wear Episode 6: Black Oxford Flats

I've already started wearing this particular item day to day. I was confident that it would work flawlessly in my current wardrobe, so my Four Ways To Wear came a bit later...and here it is! Let's see if you can guess what the item is!


This is a professional look with the new item!
Skirt: Zooc via Garage Sale
Shirt: Merona via Goodwill
Sweater: Express via Goodwill Outlet
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


This is a more relaxed, but still professionally-appropriate look.
Shirt: Merona via Goodwill
Dress: H&M via Plato's Closet
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Sweater: Unknown via Goodwill donation pile
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


This is a more fun outfit--I would definitely wear this to the zoo, to the park, or while exploring a new city.
Shirt: Banana Republic via BR Outlet
Pants: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


By now I'm sure you've guessed it--my new item is this pair of new shoes! Naturalizer, leather, and for $4 I took them home from the Goodwill over Labor Day weekend. I love how comfy they are, how they are made out of leather, how they go with skirts and pants, and how almost-geeky they are. Perfect for someone new in the teaching field!
Jacket: AE via Plato's Closet
Shirt: Merona via Goodwill
Jeans: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill