Amiable's Blog

I won this maxi dress recently, and am trying to decide whether to keep it as-is, or alter it (probably into a tube skirt, or maybe a maxi skirt?)

What do you think?

My Spiegel jacket arrived today. And I need your opinion.  

I ordered a 10.  If I'd actually read the sizing guidelines on their site, I probably would have ordered a 12. (And I suspect I could have easily gone up to a 14).  So I'm kicking myself.  I had hyped it up in my mind as gloriously drapey.  And the size I got is NOT drapey on me.  In fact, when it's snapped, it's way too tight.

I'm sorely disappointed (probably enhanced by other disappointments - my hard drive died, I'm tired from a super busy week, etc...)  The one redeeming factor is that I'd wear it open anyway - so maybe it's not a big deal that it's too tight when it's snapped.  It's currently worn over a light tee shirt.  I'd like it to fit over a sweater, but didn't try it on with one yet.  I suspect it'd be snug.
 
What do you think?  Should I try to exchange it? (Or sell this one and buy a bigger size?  Current price is a bit over $50)  Since it's leather, should I just let it stretch out a bit?

As a side note, their email said that they shipped UPS.  The tracking code they provided was FedEx, and USPS actually delivered it.  Go figure.

(And whoa - check out those reflective strips on my Keens...)

Today's the first day in ages (well, a bit over six months), that I've gotten dressed knowing that I wouldn't take a WIW picture (I left my camera at my in-laws last night, and won't have it back until tomorrow).  My first thought was "Oh, cool!  I can wear those super ugly linen shorts, because I'm not going anywhere and won't take a pic!".  And I did, and have been super comfy and cool (even though it was almost 90 in the house) all day.

Now, they're not classy, they're not pretty, and I don't feel the least bit stylish in them with my tee-shirt (I didn't even have to go sleeveless!) .  But my happiness factor is high, because I'm cool, and because I feel like I'm being sly - getting away with looking like a slob.

The whole thing makes me laugh, and makes me realize that taking those WIW photos really ups my game.  Is it silly to have an "I'll be showing this outfit to my online friends at YLF, so I'd better do it right", component to my "What shall I wear" decisions?

This is actually all very good - I have learned so much in the last six months of snapping and posting very nearly everything I've worn.  Thanks for helping me grow!

What's your relationship like with WIWs?  Does knowing that you're taking a pic (and potentially putting it online) change the way you dress? 

Here's a few recent diys - do you think they work?

#1 I picked up a second pair of white jeans, finally.  And I immediately planned to taper them (they're bootcut).  But then I saw Ornella's white jeans, with a similar cut, and loved them.  So I'm debating on whether to taper them after all.  Right now these are just basted, so it can go either way.  Would they get too dirty if I left them bootcut?  Is the shape of one better than the other (the tapered will lie a bit better when they're actually cut and finished)

#2 I painted my bronze sandals silver.  Does the new color work? I can certainly paint them again :)

#3 I shortened my green capris into shorts, after putting a hole in them trying to undo the seam to taper them.  Is the length good, or should they go shorter?

#4 I was given these red cropped pants.  They're a bright tomato red, and I like them, but wonder about the length.  What's a good length for these? 

On all of these, left is original, right is altered, or proposed alteration.

Here's a few WIWs from the past few days.  I've been having frumpiness issues - everything I try looks frumpy.  So I keep changing.  It's fun purging at least :)

#1 worn out on a date with my hubby.  I'm wearing the white jeans a bit higher than usual, and rolled.  I have a vacation-induced pot belly too.

#2 a shirt that came out of probation today to get worn - it was nice and easy breezy.  I think it'll stay for a little while longer.

#3 T-shirt and maxi-skirt. It may as well be pajamas....

#4 Same Tee as #3 but with culottes.  Somehow these culottes are so frumpy they're cool to me, and I like them.  Not to mention they're so comfy.  Perhaps I should just save them for working out or sleeping?

Last night I removed a sleeve from a gray dress.  When I originally wore it, I got comments that it was too big (and the size would agree - it's 2 sizes larger than my normal).  However, I'm not convinced that it's actually too big in the shoulders.  Rather, the sleeves are weirdly shaped, making them pop up in a bubble when I move my shoulder (see pic 2, which got the original review).

And I don't like puffy sleeves anyway, so I tried removing them (well, one).  But I'm really wavering on whether it's an improvement.  What do you think?

Removing the sleeve left a pretty big armhole, which I'll take in a bit along the side seam to make it wearable if I leave it this way.

Yay=remove the other sleeve
Nay=re-attach the first sleeve, original is better.

Ceit, in addition to sending me a jacket, sent me this fabulous twist dress, after she saw my home-made version.

So now I have two options that I think are both pretty good for this upcoming wedding (we leave in less than three days, ulp!)

Ceit's dress is a raspberry color (it doesn't seem as bright as fuschia to me, but I don't know my colors well), and my homemade one is more cranberry.  I'd wear the silver shoes and lighter necklace with either one, most likely.

Which one should come with me to California?
(Beach afternoon wedding, the dress code is "Hawaiian casual")

#1-3 Raspberry dress from Ceit.  It's Ponte, I think.

#4-6 Cranberry homemade dress, It's crinkle cotton with sequins.

(And should I try to sneak to the store to buy some shapewear?)

Sorry for hogging the forum tonight!  I'm not used to this much unscheduled time.  (And really should be doing the dishes....)

Here's what I think will be my swimsuit for the summer.  The top is padded and has underwires - giving me MUCH more support and coverage than my other options.  It's a bit lower cut than I want, but it's a swimsuit after all.  I made the bottoms by cutting apart a different, non-supportive swim top and sewing it as a very mini skirt to black swim shorts.  Does it work? 

This is the one my kids approved. 

#3 is the other one they said was "okay", but not as good as this one.  And it also doesn't have the support/padding I like in the bust.

What do you think?  Will it do?  (I'm not sure I can do anything about if if not - other than wear a tee shirt over it - at least not for our upcoming ocean visit.  But I could look for a replacement once we return).

Next week, we're taking a 12 day road trip, sight-seeing all the way from Eastern Nebraska to Los Angeles.  We're fitting eight people in an eight-passenger mini-van, so there's not lots of room to spare.  I made the following packing list for my kids:

5 undies
4 tops (three short and one long sleeved)
3 bottoms (two shorts or skirts, one long pants)
2 shoes (one sandals, one close-toed)
1 jacket

Additionally, there will be a bag with a "nice" outfit for each of us (to wear to the wedding we're going to), and a bag for PJs, and a bag for swimwear.

We are planning to do laundry at least once, probably twice.

I'm trying to adhere to the same guidelines I gave the kids (it's not easy!)

Tops:  red, blue and gray.  All ones that I don't mind if they get ruined or stained, they're comfy and breathable.  Still deciding on the long sleeved top.  I should probably go with something sweater-like for frigid A/C situations, but I want to be able to layer it over my short-sleeved ones here... Hmm...

Bottoms: gray jeans (most comfy, don't mind if they get ruined), and navy capris (also comfy, and don't mind if they get ruined).  Trying to decide on a third bottom - maybe the gray sporty capris, or the black more polished capris?  Or maybe a skirt?  Not sure.  Should I consider blue jean capris?

Jacket: I'm not sure:  I want to take my blue denim (I'll probably wear it with my swim suit), but I'm also kinda wanting either my pink sporty jacket or my orange denim jacket, to provide some color in an otherwise pretty drab capsule.

Shoes: These Dansko sandals and my runners.  I may cheat an throw in my keens (they're red), since they're good for water.  I also have these black water shoes.... decisions, decisions...

I'll be taking my black belt, so that I have something bookend my shoes, since I'm taking nothing else black...  (Maybe I should reconsider that too...)

#1 The three tops with gray jeans
#2 ditto, with navy capris
#3 potential gray capris
#4 black capris
#5 pink jacket
#6 jean jacket
#7 orange jacket

What are your thoughts?  Advice?  What's a good third "bottom"? And what's a good jacket?  Will I be terribly bored with this few clothes?  Is there an easy way to infuse something bright into this mix?

Whoa.  I wrote a book.  Kudos to you if you read this far.

ETA: See a few comments down for a striped top option with each of these bottoms....

Here's the dress.  Better lighting, accurate colors, hemmed, etc.  And sorta styled.

- I tacked the neckline up to where it at least didn't show my bra when I look down.  Does it look unnaturally high?  (I can move it - it's just a little stitch)

- I unpicked and re-sewed the front seam so it's stretchy, and it still hangs funny.  I haven't tried steaming it yet...

- Sit-down test passed.

- Back view shows that I need to wear a slip so it doesn't stick to my undies and cause weird bunching.  The hem is actually straight, for the record.  :)

- Does this necklace work to fill in the neckline? 

- These are my two best shoe options - do either work?  If not, what type of shoes should I be looking for?

- Is this dressy enough to wear to a wedding?