Reaching for Colors

Despite my love for layers and dark colors, I am growing tired of winter...here in Big City, it is always so gloomy and gray! This was my attempt at bringing in a bit of color and contrast.



Of course, due to the weather, it all had to go underneath my dark cardigan--I am too much a wimp to shuck all my layers, no matter how much I long for the spring!


Pants: Le Merlot via Plato's Closet
Cardigan: Self-made via Goodwill find
Shirt: Matty M via Plato's Closet
Scarf: Goodwill
Shoes: Champion via Goodwill donation pile

Back To School

I had several meetings at work today, so I chose a very conservative, normal look of pants and a blazer. My Naturalizer shoes were a comfy choice and my sweater added warmth (there is snow on the ground!).


Pants: Le Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
Sweater: Gap via Goodwill
Blazer: H&M

Twenty Four Hours of Light

...is certainly not here! I'm having problems getting proper lighting on my pictures, as I go to work before the sun comes up and come home after the sun goes down. Yesterday it was raining and was therefore too dark all day to take any photos at all. I will be retaking those photos at some unknown, later date, maybe when the sun will cooperate a bit more. Does anyone else have this problem? I feel like I see so many beautiful pictures in the blogosphere, but I don't know how people manage to get pictures with proper lighting in the winter, especially if they are working! Does anyone have any creative solutions?

What other weird blogging problems have you encountered?






Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
Long Sleeve Shirt: Kiabi via France
Short Sleeve Shirt: Language Los Angeles via Plato's Closet
Blazer: AE via Plato's Closet

The Clock Strikes Twelve

Whenever I wear this soft peach sweater, I always feel more feminine and pretty. I think it's the soft color, the loose fit, and the flattering neckline. I also find myself seeking out this sweater when I want to look pretty, and it ends up forming a self-sustaining loop of prettiness (the best kind of loop!). I find that I usually select my clothing as a reaction to what I'm feeling--if I'm feeling upset or nervous, I choose extremely structured clothing (to act as armour, or an exoskeleton!), if I'm feeling happy I tend to be more adventurous in wearing items that make me happy, if I'm tired I wear many soft layers in muted colors. Less often do I choose my clothing to incite the mood I am yearning for. Usually this happens when I am tired, but I choose a flirty dress for going out in the hopes that it will rejuvinate me.

I am also trying to make a conscious effort to use all of my 30 items--here I am using my black H&M blazer. I bought this blazer when I was in High School, on my first trip to France. I purchased it to wear under hoodies and zip-ups, and it has been a constant staple in my wardrobe even as the sweatshirts have given way to cardigans. It is a bit boxy, but I like that it can be both formal and casual (a decent material, nothing shiny, no exposed seams, everything is clean), and the curved hem is ever-so-slightly feminine. This is the epitome of what I strive for in my wardrobe--an item that I spent a bit more money on, but has endured in my wardrobe for SIX YEARS (!!!) now and is an everyday staple.

Do you have any staples that have stayed with you throughout style transformations?
How do your clothing choices reflect and reflect upon your mood?


You can't tell, but it's raining like crazy in this picture! This photo shoot was super quick, with my camera being protected by my umbrella balanced above it!


Coat: Jenifer via France
Jacket: H&M
Shirt: J. Crew via Goodwill
Necklace: Spotted Moth via Giveaway!
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
Camisole: Shimera (I am usually wearing a camisole, but I only list it when you can see it in the outfit--here it is adding much-needed length to this sweater!)

Roll A Six

Busting out the leopard print flats, you know I mean business! I have been wearing skirts lately and wanted a low-energy break in the form of these corduroy pants. The purple sweater underneath added warmth, the blazer added professionalism, and the flats added fun.

Do you have any items you add for a dose of fancy to your regular outfits?
What kinds of items spell low-energy for you?


Blazer: AE via Plato's Closet
Sweater: Gap via Goodwill
Pants: Le Merlot via Plato's Closet
Flats: Naturalizer

Rinse and Repeat

Nothing too exciting today! I wanted to wear comfy clothing, so I went to my cords and my bright pink cashmere scarf. Upon review, I'm not sure the boots were the best choice--the pants look like they're just not quite slim enough to be worn with boots. Oh well! :)

Ce n’est pas trop intéressant aujourd’hui! Je voulais porter des vêtements confortables, donc j’ai choisi des velours côtelé, et mon écharpe rose. Maintenant, je ne suis pas sure que les bottes étaient les meilleures choix –Je crois que les pantelons ne sont pas assez minces pour les bottes. Tant pis ! :)

Pants: Merlot via Plato's Closet
Blazer: H&M
Scarf: Target, gift
Boots: Steve Madden
Shirt (you can barely see the collar of it!): 6 degrees via a Goodwill donation pile

Armour Against A Chill...

That's right, I wore an Underarmour shirt underneath this ensemble. I get cold very easily, and I wear my Underarmour pants all the time, so when I saw an Underarmour shirt at the Goodwill (for $3!!) I snatched it up. I already have one with a mock-turtleneck, so this one I chopped off the turtleneck and sewed it into a scoop-neck for increased versatility.


Gray Shirt: Banana Republic via BR Outlet
Blazer: H&M
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Champions, free
Underarmour Shirt (not shown): Goodwill

Easy Does It

A simple work outfit. I wanted something toned down, easy to wear, and very low energy. Cue the comfy tennis shoes, pants (no worrying about sitting down properly or my skirt riding up!), a cardigan and a button down (favored by many of the staff members at my school).


Cardigan: Unknown, free
Shirt: 6 degrees, free from a Goodwill donation pile
Pants: The Merlot, Plato's Closet
Necklace: Giveaway win from Spotted Moth
Shoes: Champion, free from Goodwill donation pile (good lord, I make out well with those donation piles, don't I?!)

Four Ways To Wear Episode 3: Red Sweater

The Candidate: Red Sweater by the brand 22 (via the Rack)

The Goal: A comfy layering piece that I can wear both indoors and out

The Results:


Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Shirt: Language Los Angeles via Plato's Closet
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Merona, gift




Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Scarf: I made it out of a ridiculous poncho-type thing I found in the trash
Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Steve Madden


The same as before, just with the jacket done up differently and with a different scarf (this time via a garage sale).


Sweater: 22 via the Rack
Sweater Dress: from Ross
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Steve Madden

The Verdict: Another win! I love this sweater, especially the cozy sleeves!

Four Ways To Wear Episode 2: Purple Embroidered Shirt

The Candidate: A deep grape silk and cotton blend loose fitting shirt from Lucky Brand (via the Goodwill, of course!)

The Goal: A cute work-appropriate shirt, something that will go with pants and skirts

The Results:


Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Pants: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer


The same outfit, but with a blazer by American Eagle via Plato's layered for a more formal, professional feel.




Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Sweater: The Limited via Goodwill
Skirt: Vintage, unknown brand, via Goodwill
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Aerosoles, gift




Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Long-sleeved shirt: unknown brand, from France
Skirt: Express, via Plato's Closet
Scarf: Gift
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden


Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's
Shoes: Naturalizer
Blazer: H&M (from six years ago, and I still wear it!)

Final Verdict: Success!

Everyone Has A Stodgy Professor on the Inside

This is the last big item that I bought in my shopping spree--a houndstooth suit jacket. It called out to the stodgy old professor in me, crying out 'if you are a teacher, you MUST take me home.' The only thing it is missing is elbow patches, but I assume that those must be earned by countless hours grading papers with my elbows on a desk, slowly wearing through the chocolate brown and cream checked fabric. It is a neutral-on-neutral pattern in atypical-for-me neutral colors (i.e. not black or gray, my go-to neutrals of choice), but my only concern is the very structured feel to the jacket. Here I paired it with blue cords and a black sweater, but I think it would also look good with any of the three skirts I will be making. The unstructured black or light-neutral skirts will hopefully counterbalance the uber-structure of the jacket, while the pencil skirt will (I'm guessing) compliment the structure but tone down the formality of the blazer.

One thing I love--it is not black. I own three (!!!) black blazers, as well as a few other black blazer-type jackets, and this will be a refreshing change.





Blazer: American Eagle Outfitters via Plato's Closet
Sweater: (also from this shopping trip) Tricot Joli via Plato's Closet
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Unknown from France

(umm...yeah, the staff at Plato's definitely know me by name. I might have a problem...)

To-Do

After my (somewhat) massive shopping spree yesterday, I feel that I have nicely rounded out my school wardrobe. There are still only a few main things left to get, but they are so specific I think I will just make them and be done with it. Actually, I think mainly it is just three skirts: one jean pencil skirt (dark wash), one light neutral colored full skirt with the waistband at the natural waist, and one black full skirt with the band at the natural waist. All three should be a snap to make (I even have a pencil skirt pattern I have used before that I love, and let's face it--the other two are just a series of different sized rectangles sewn together) and I just need to get the fabric.

However, I am going to save these projects for a bit later in the summer. I have spent far too much money recently, and can keep an eye at thrift shops for material or even for the specific skirts (although it will be a miracle if I find something to fit my exacting standards).

So that this is not a post just for words, here are some photos of an item I bought yesterday!



This red sweater top was one of my last purchases, but I very much enjoy it! Originally 150$ (!!!) I snagged it for 30$ at Nordstrom Rack. It is made out of a sweatshirt type material and is going to be perfect for the fall or for layering in the winter. The sleeves are 3/4 but I may hem them up another one inch to bring the line more squarely between my wrist and my elbow, we'll see.

In this outfit I paired it with a black long-sleeved shirt from France, navy blue cords (blue, not black), and ballet flats. I think it will also be cute with my (soon to be made) dark wash denim pencil skirt.