K/A Summer Dress and jacket

I'm wearing a dress-over-jeans today, and remembered that I've been debating for a couple of years now on whether to alter the dress into a top.

First - it's kind of that awkward just-above-the-knee length. It's modest enough, but I'm not sure I like the length without something under it.

Second - it doesn't have pockets, so when worn over jeans (like here), it makes the jeans pockets hard to access without offering any alternative.

Otherwise, it's a nice summer weight performance fabric, and is comfortable to wear, and I still like the pattern.  It's a bit bunchy to tuck in (see pic #3).  Should I give it the chop?  (Or perhaps I should add pockets instead?)

Also auditioning a white summer jacket.  Does it work?

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WIW: transitioning to spring

A few outfits from the past two weeks as we transition to warmer weather - nothing too special or outstanding, except that I liked them enough to snap a picture.

#1 Navy dress over jeans, white cardigan and pearls. This was the first outing of my summer espadrilles too.

#2 a fancy date with my hubby! The black pants are wide and floaty - I don’t really know what to call them. But they move in fun and floaty ways, and for this I love them. The pearls are from our wedding nearly 20 years ago.

#3 the first day that I considered “shorts weather” (never mind that my kids have been wearing shorts since February). I noticed that both my shorts and top are a little big now, and they might get purged for this, I haven’t quite decided.

#4 Easter outfit to church this morning. It’s a comfortable repeat.

#5 was for a Friday night outing - leather jacket (the lemming one from years ago), lace, pearls and black jeans.

All comments welcome, and as the weather warms, I’m looking forward to giving my warmer weather clothes some wear!

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WIW: quiet shirt, loud shoes

I love Friday’s formula - and immediately wanted to wear it. Today was my opportunity. I opted for a classic but not really all that big white shirt with jeans and a colorful scarf. But then these shoes were begging to be let into the outfit and I had to comply. They’re silver vinyl patent Oxfords - I saw a teenager wearing then a few weeks ago, complimented him, and he said “actually, they’re getting too small and hurt my feet. Want them?” So I bought them from him for $10. I can’t say they’re very comfy, but they are attention grabbing!

Two things I noted in wearing this: First, I want a bigger solid colored shirt. But I want a good shoulder fit so that it’s intentionally large, not too big for me looking. Second: I’m over this shape of jeans - bootcut. I wore them because they were my clean pair, but they feel and look outdated for my style to me. I’m more in to straight leg and would really like to try a balloon leg jean. I’ll start watching for both!

All comments are welcome!

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Lightening up

I’m enjoying the spring sunlight and somewhat warmer weather the past two weeks. And it makes me want to wear lighter colors. So here’s a few outfits that were attempts at wearing lighter colors the past several days.

#1 Black dress over white jeans, with a grey cardigan and shoes.
#2 Sage sweater with a navy under layer and back/navy checked trousers.
#3 Cream and black striped sweater with jeans and light shoes.

All outfits are fairly sparse, but that works for me at this point in my style journey. Not complicated, easy to wear.

All comments are welcome

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WIW with rainbow hair

Like many of you, I grew out my hair during the pandemic. I don’t mind the grey most days, but I got tired of the length. However, I went to see my stylist, and she loved the length and didn’t want to cut it! So in an attempt to feel sassy, I asked for a blue stripe “peekaboo style” instead and she agreed.

I don’t normally plan my outfit around my hair, but during my closet edit, I loved the way this white and blue floral looked with my blue hair, and had to try wearing it! Here’s the results - I think the outfit turned out kinda meh (should I have tucked the shirt?). But I do still like the stripe in my hair

And umm, I must have tried a dozen times to get a picture of the side of my face! They all look weird to me! I suspect my own impression of how my face looks is rather far off...!

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WIW: Randomly generated outfits

I had fun this week asking the Random Outfit Generator to pick my outfits. I don’t have shoes in finds yet, but since I rarely wear sites working from home, it didn’t matter much.

I managed to get pics three days. And in general, I liked the outfits. I would have never paired the marled grey swing tee with the cinnamon cardigan without the suggestion, and it was fun to play with the new combination of shapes.

Pic 1: jeans, marled grey knit swing top, cinnamon cardigan

Pic 2: crazy pants, navy cashmere sweater (the ROG added a cardigan, but I was too warm with it and left it off)

Pic 3: burgundy skinny jeans, same navy cashmere sweater as in pic 2, and burgundy/grey/blue plaid jacket.

All comments and suggestions are welcome, of course

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WIW and wardrobe edit

Hi everyone! Long time no post, I know!

I spent the day yesterday doing a much needed wardrobe edit, and for the first time catalogued my wardrobe in finds too. It was fun, and I’m delighted at the current state of my wardrobe, and plan to play with the random outfit generator!

By the end of the day, I was left with 110 pieces across four seasons (not counting accessories, shoes, underwear or sleepwear). I actually like all 110 pieces and they fit properly (I think).

I don’t have a great outfit photo setup, but wore today a top and jacket that I was on the fence on for for and comfort. The top is one that I wonder if the shoulders are a bit wide. But I still like it. And the jacket is one I visually like but squeaks with certain movements and is heavy.

So today was a trial for both. In the end, the squeaking didn’t bother me at church, but at home I swapped it out for a cardigan, and I liked the floral top enough to keep.

I’d love your feedback, positive or negative, and thanks for letting me pop in to say hello! I hope to post now and then again :)

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K/R Wide Leg jeans (and style lab)

Long time no post - somehow life got busy, and I became a lurker.... perhaps this post will delurk me somewhat?

I LOVE wide-leg jeans, but so far just on everyone else.  I've also been wanting some white jeans, but not really white, just white-ish...  So two months ago, I bought the Old Navy slim wide legs in a light wash.  They arrived this week, and I immediately disliked them.  They aren't truly a solid, they have a subtle stripe, they looked huge, and well, I didn't like them...

But then I opened the package, just to try them on to confirm my dislike, and became less sure.  They're definitely widening... but I think I like the color (though maybe a little lighter would be better?), and I think they fit properly (I sized up, because my waist is quite thick, and they're high-waisted).  

#1-10 Are few of the ways I thought of to try to style them.  I'm not sure that any of them work,  what do you think?  How do you suggest styling them?  Or should I hold out to try a different pair?  I can be patient.

#1 light blue floral, navy suede "jean" jacket
#2 dark blue big shirt - this doesn't seem JFE to me.
#3 orange shirt semi-tucked
#4 light weight woven blouse, tucked in. 
#5 with black sweater.  I liked this high contrast better than I expected to.
#6 column of color (cream knit top).  I'd probably add a high-contrast topper?
#7 sideways to show fit (and, uh, my round tummy)
#8-9 with red print woven top, trying out a light sweater over it?
#10 same light blue top as in #1, different topper

#11 is WIW today - a lazy Saturday, super-casual sweatshirt and jeans.

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More specs trying on - thoughts?

Got an order of specs from Warby Parker.  I don't think I'll have time to get an eye exam and get them filled before I leave on a long trip (next week), so I'll have to just catalog which (if any) I like and try after returning.

But I thought it a useful exercise anyway.

#1 - too small (but I do kind of like the light color - it's different)
#2 - also a bit small.  Color is too warm for me, I suspect
#3 - nice 
#4  - nice 
#5 - Are the lenses are too tall (deep?) for me?  

What are your thoughts?  Please tell me if any are brilliant - I'll be sure to write down the size and style so that I can order in March after I return from my trip.

(I did find another local store that carries specs, and might even find time to visit.  We'll see).

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30x30 favorites continued

Just a couple more outfits showing my current favorites.

Pic #1-2:  I wore a denim dress over black ponte cropped pants.  It was a little chilly to wear bear ankles, so I wore my chelsea boots.  These boots have been favorites for a couple of years, but are on their last legs.  I'm debating taking them to a shop to see what a re-sole would cost, but have also bought a potential replacement (that wasn't tall enough for this outfit, go figure).  I wore them with a two-sided scarf - and showed both sides for print mixing, and a strand of black pearls.

Pic #3-4 I wore the usual WHBM jeans with a mottled dark gray sweater.  I love the shape of the sweater - dolman sleeves, a cowl neck and a circle hem.  I've already traced it off to copy it, someday when I have the time.  (Pardon the lack of make-up and combed hair - I forgot to take another one after I'd finished getting ready).  The gray brogues shown are my newest new-to-me acquisition.  I've decided that brogues are part of my signature style:  I currently have them in black suede, burgundy suede and now these in gray leather.  These are the best of the bunch and the most comfortable.

Both of these outfits are a little too colorless and too close to black to really delight me.  I want to add some warm color to them, I'm just not sure how.  I do like these (or I wouldn't have taken their pictures) - I'm just preferring more color in these gray winter days.

I welcome all of your feedback, suggestions and comments.

30 favorite pieces so far:

1. WHBM jeans
2. navy sweater 
3. blue waterlillies scarf 
4. grey sweatshirt 
5. burgundy jeans
6. red sweater 
7. plaid scarf 
9. cream fuzzy scarf
10. black boots 
11. cognac boots 
12. Gold jacket 

13. denim dress
14. black ponte pants
15. black short boots (either these or their replacement?)
16. black and white two-sided scarf
17. dark gray sweater
18. gray brogues

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