Amiable's Blog

In keeping the spirit of today's ensemble, I tried out my black cropped pants, with a hi-low hem top.

I have a few questions:

• Are these pants the right length?  I fear they may be too short for the look? (just measured: they're exactly four inches above the top of my ankle bone)
• Are the shoes ankle-accentuating enough?  I'm watching for the right pair of black sandals (a bit more dressy than my birkenstocks).  Haven't found them yet.
• Does the outfit work?
• New "hibiscus" Burts Bees chap stick - does the color work?

Next haircut in a week, though I did adjust my headband after this picture, so that my hair is less "square".
 

The combination of spring weather (lots of storms) and new hair is making me want to lighten and brighten up my outfits.

Here's what I've worn since the haircut :)

#1 for housework - I like the orange of the top with my hair though.
#2 out with my husband, hair back in a headband, which he liked
#3 casual working from home.

The hair still shocks me in the mirror, but it requires no styling, which I love.  I can look like I meant to do this, rather than just rolled out of bed - even when that's exactly what I did.

I just noticed that the EF Harem pants are on super clearance for a price that I think I could swing.

But can my style handle them?  I live a casual life, that sometimes needs to be business casual.  I like the idea of arty drapey pieces, and they usually flatter me, but I honestly don't wear them that often.  (Probably because I don't really have much in that style).

What are your thoughts?  Should I try them?  

I wore bright colors to set off the new hair yesterday - a new chartreuse split sweater with navy.  I added in a blue scarf for softness.  I liked the color combo, even though chartreuse has never been a great color for me.

Bonus pic of my hair with make-up :)

Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

I love everything about this post and this challenge.  This summer my body isn't what I want it to be - I haven't conquered recent weight gain, and don't really like the way my clothes look on me - even the ones that fit properly.  But the fact is, my body is this shape and size right now, and I have to dress it, so it hasn't caused me a whole lot of grief.

What is more difficult for me is hair.  I've been wanting to update my hair, and really enjoying it shoulder length, but wanted it more interesting.  My husband, though, has been asking for me to return to a pixie cut.  I haven't wanted to, because I don't like the shape of my chin (and its double), and feel like a pixie highlights that perceived imperfection.  It's silly, of course, but still an insecurity.

This challenge convinced me to go ahead and take the plunge.  I debated so long that I ended up going to the stylist (a school) with no picture, and only a vague idea of what I wanted, just before it closed yesterday.  I told the student that I wanted a pixie but wanted it to still have some length, and that I wanted her to just cut something that looked good to her.

I almost cried seeing all that hair that I worked so hard to grow out get chopped off, and with the feelings of nakedness and knowing that my chin shape would be un-hideable.  

And to be honest, I'm not sure what I think of the result either - it feels shocking, looks more hard-edge than I was ready for it to look, is very assymetrical... and just will take some getting used to all over.  It took me a half hour to convince myself to leave the house this morning.

But after washing it this afternoon and letting it air dry, I think it'll grow on me.  Hubby wishes it was shorter on top, and I've promised that when it needs a trim (it's already scheduled in June), then I'll go shorter.

I'm feeling brave tonight, so I took pictures - no make up, and my roots desperately need touching up.  But here I am, stepping out with my summer haircut.  Now I feel like I need to use my clothes to add back in a little softness, so I may be revisiting my wardrobe....

Thanks for listening!  :)  (And thanks for the challenge, Angie!)

#1 - #2 The "Before"  I realize you all haven't seen me for a while, but I still like this haircut :) (Also not a fair "before" because it includes make up and styling, which none of the "after" shots do)

#3 - Just home from the salon (I went in gardening clothes, it was so last-minute that I got up the bravery)

#4-#5 After a shower, with no styling.  

Still trying to convince myself not to hide under a rock while my hair grows back, ha.  On one hand, I think it's a lesson to not go to the salon without a picture.  On the other hand, it's remarkably similar to the pictures on my pinterest board that I would have taken to the salon - just a little longer in the front, shorter on the short side, and a little more asymmetrical than I was expecting.

I love this color palette!  Thanks for a treat of eye candy.

In an attempt to sport a similar palette, I'm wearing today a lime and white striped weirdly drapey top with deep blue (#1 and #2).

I've also been continuing to wear jackets.

#3-#4 is a batik-print style jacket.  #3 is in good light, but when I left the house, I changed from my house shoes and added pearls (#4).

#5-6 is a white and green plaid, with jeans and my suede "jean" jacket.

#7-8-9 is a striped cropped sweater, and experiments with white jackets (I went with #9 that day)

Thanks for humoring my sporadic posts and jacket experiments.  Any of these jackets that should just go?  (I think I like them all, but you know better than me....)

With the arrival of spring weather, this post made me realize that now is my perfect window for wearing jackets.  I have several, but usually prefer simpler, un-layered looks, so the jackets take a back seat most of the year.  But right now, it's too warm for cozy sweaters, and too cool for summer shirts.  But jackets are perfect.

So I pulled out my leather almost-bomber jacket that reminds me of Amelia Earhart and thus makes me smile and earns it's keep.    I tried it three days in a row.

#1 over white and blue (just reversed from the post)
#2 with blue jeans and stripes 
#3 over a print-mixed black stripe tube skirt and ditsy floral.  I liked this one the best laid out on the bed, but the picture is correcting my notion that it was really great :(

#4

Today a different jacket came out to play - a sunny orange that was asking to be combined with dark red.  Before I left home, I subbed out the clunky home-shoes for retro summer shoes in an almost-nude tan.  I'll take a picture next time I wear them, I promise.  

All feedback is welcome - I'm excited to be giving my jackets some love - thanks for the inspiration, Angie!

I love the Neutral Spring Drape ensemble, and realized that I had enough drapey topper items in my wardrobe to try it several ways and try to get back in to taking daily pictures.

So, while many of these didn't really work well, it's good for me to see that, and I figure I may as well share.

#1 skinny black jeans (rolled to show ankle), gray tunic, lemming leather jacket, ankle-strap ballet flats.  I think this one is a success.

#2 drapey stripes under drapey vest, skinny jeans and flat oxfords.  I'm not sure whether this one works.

#3 same as #2, but without vest.  Better?

#4 cream poncho over long sleeved stripes and skinny jeans.  Not working for me - not sure if I need to style the poncho differently or toss it - suggestions?

#5 I realized that a drapey topper could be a scarf, so I wore it with a cream sweater, skinny jeans and boots.  I think this one works too.

#6 black sweater with drapey gray ruffled vest.  I don't think this is my style - it felt off all day.  I think the vest needs to be purged.

#7 drapey tan vest over grey and flared jeans.  Silver shoes.  I think the shoes are too light to go well, and though I like the color mix, I don't really feel like this was a success.

Looks like it's time to step up my getting-dressed game again.  Which is perfect, because my closet needs editing :)

Which of these drapey toppers deserve a place in my closet?  I think the lemming jacket still does, and maybe the black vest in #2.  

What do you think of the stripey top?  Are any other toppers keepers? 

My plaid shirts this year haven't gotten a lot of wear - I'm pickier about fit than ever, and there's something a tad wrong with each of them.

However, I still like them, and the "plaid flannel" vibe.  So I jumped on the opportunity to sport this ensemble.

The Shirt is a creamy white with a sour green and brown woven in, so I paired it with white jeans and brown boots.  I'm hoping that my hair bookends the look well enough.  (And for extra warmth, I'm trying out layering a sweater over it).

I think this plaid shirt is a bit short in the body for me (it's a men's small, I think), right?

This year, white feels festive (particularly when combined with purple).  But pictures have been pretty difficult to get.

Here's what I wore Christmas eve to church and dessert (it was still a casual affair):  Cream-out with silver shoes and jewelry and a purple coat.  (Jewelry included both a necklace and earrings, but were added after I took the outdoor pic).

Today (for one side's extended family Christmas) I'm wearing white jeans with an eggplant sweater, gray boots and my caffeine molecule earrings that my husband gave me for Christmas.  Pardon the awkward pose in #3.  I'm too lazy to retake the pic....

All comments welcome!  I felt festive in both outfits :)