convertible

This is one of those weeks (maybe months??) where comfort is king.  Blogging does motivate me to be more creative with my wardrobe and appreciate what I have but lawdy if this weather isn't the pits.  Totally makes me want to ignore my closet (and showering) altogther and curl up on the couch with a hot chai latte and a sweater blanket.  Lucky for you guys (or maybe just my coworkers), I have been pulling clothes out of my closet to be, at the very least, publicly and socially acceptable.  Never did plan my outfits this week like I said I would.  But I do have a plan for tomorrow: jeans.  It's Friday (haalllllllelujah!).  Which means some version of school spirit and my renewed will to live for the weekend.

Annnnnyyywayyyy... enough about how much I am hating getting dressed in the morning and on to what I loved wearing today (yes, comfort is still tops):

One of my favorite tops (floral! ruffles! polka dots! Spring!) and my current favorite sweater.


The sweater is perfection because I don't even need a scarf because it has an extra large collar that becomes cowl/turtle neck when zipped to the very tippy top:


Srsly, Sam Edelman makes the bestbestBEST dressy and dressyish flats.  Could wear them every day.  In fact, I did wear these almost every single day through my last month of pregnancy if that tells you anything at all.  The only other shoes I would willingly put on were my $5 moccasin-slipper things from Target.






My main accessory of the day... drumrollllll....

The "Shannon" ring from Daughters Vintage!  More on that coming eventually... but isn't it lovely?!

Materials and Sources:

• Floral blouse: Target
• Sweater: Caslon via Nordstrom (Christmas gift)
• Pants: Larry Levine
• Shoes: Sam Edelman (2008 Christmas gift)
• Earrings: Charlotte Russe
• Vintage button ring: Daughters Vintage (Etsy boutique)

(Another new post below...)

longing... DEMANDING!

I am past the point of longing for Spring, begging for it to grace me with its sunny skies and warm-but-not-sweaty temperatures... no, I am demanding that it come now.  And because I demand with so much purpose and authority, weather.com tells me it will be in the 60's almost every day next week.  Finally, Mother Nature is getting the hint from all of the bright, Spring colors and patterns in the blog world.  Hellllooooooo, cobalt, I love you. 

Until next week, though, I will still be sporting some scarves and sweaters to keep the chill away.  Yesterday, I wore some of my favorite items of clothing... a lace blouse, a cobalt cardigan and a colorful winter scarf.  I was planning on wearing my wool dress pants with this outfit buuuut... you can see that disaster here.

My students thought this outfit was a little too much color... apparently they did not see me on Monday then, right?  Wtf, kids.



When you look at this next photo you maybe thinking, "Hmmm... that sure does look like someone's molar."  And if that's what you are thinking, you are right.  Someone's molar.  IN OUR DRIVEWAY.  Someone... anyone... please explain.





Other random things to chew on that you will no longer be able to focus on now that you've seen the molar lurking in my driveway-now-yard:

1. Thinking I might just go ahead and combine this with my personal blog.  Not sure if this is a good idea.  I kind of like them separate.  But kind of not.  Weigh in on this?

2. My 10K 'training' is coming along pretty well.  Yesterday I logged 4 miles at inclines of 1-3%.  Kept up a decent 10 minute mile but man I struggle so much on those inclines at 2+%, y'all!  Heart a'poundin!  Love those interval workouts Elena posted a week or two ago.  Intervals are tough stuff but I LOVE THEM!  My muscles start bulging and all the dudes look scurred.  I'm a beast.  Clearly.

3. The blog envy talk... where do you stand on it?  Jenloveskev weighed in on it today if you're not sure what I'm talking about.  Honestly, can't say that I've felt it.  Maybe I just don't have the stats or the numbers that other bloggers do to spur the jealousy?  I'm just in it for the fun right now.  Kinda scares me to think, though, that if the stats rose the stress would rise with it... what do you think?

shelled

Excuse us, we're not quite right.

These shoes make me happy.  Semi black/brown combo, snakeskin and they have a kitten heel that is still as comfortable (if not more) than a flat.  Professional but still kinda sassy.

• Ruffled shell: Ann Taylor LOFT (Christmas gift)
• Pants: Larry Levine
• Cardigan: frenchi via Nordstrom
• Necklace: J.Crew
• Shoes: Sam Edelman (gift from Mom)
• Handbag (on doorknob): Cole Haan
• Earrings (not shown but remixed before): Betsy Johnson

Overall, not a super flattering look for me.  Cardigan doesn't work here (or maybe anywhere... the fit is just a little strange I'm realizing).  Hate that these pants don't photograph well - they give me that large and in charge look that might be helpful if I were a booking officer in a jail somewhere on the west side of Atlanta.  Separately, though, I love everything I'm wearing.  I love this LOFT shell I got for Christmas but I got lots of double takes today.  I think because of my paleness - I look naked if you don't look closely.  Did you have to look twice? 

I love these shoes.  The piping reminds me of the surface of a coffee bean.  In my opinion, shoes are almost always worth the pretty penny when it comes to quality and general wear and tear.  I love shoes.  (A lot.)  But most of the shoes in my closet that have lasted me the longest in both durability and in style have been the most expensive.  Granted, I'm not talkin' Choos or Blahniks but when I compare them with my cardboard-constructed Target flats there is just no comparison.  I've learned this lesson the hard way.  Also... hallelujah for sales and online coups.  

Winter storm, please decide overnight what you're going to do so that I will know the status of school happening/not happening before I get ready.  Love you (long time), see ya out there.

always rushing

I am becoming an avoider when it comes to my job.  Like if I somehow take longer to get ready or take a few extra minutes to dry my hair I can somehow excuse myself from the first ten minutes of work.  Not gonna happen but I can dream, right?  And because I can't actually ignore my work obligations, I just end up rushing instead.  Go, go, go.  I spent this weekend with my friend Katie in Charlotte so I did some laundry when I got home but didn't actually lay out an outfit.  Really... I need to just get my life together and start doing this because at 5:30am in the dark I'm not at my best (or inclined to care) when it comes to choosing an outfit.

Anyway... today was another rushed day and even though this outfit really didn't photograph well at all, it was fun.  Colorful and my coworkers were really heavy on the compliments.  It's the color (hot pinkish if you can't tell. ha.)... Spring is going to come sooner or later.  (Hopefully sooner.) 

The only eyes-open picture Paul was able to get.  What a day! 


Scarf accent is actually red-orange but I desperately needed some Spring in my life, I ran with it. The purple/green/red-orange color palette is one of my favs. 


Can this count as pattern mixing?  I love the basket-weavey look of the dress fabric. 


Belt detail.  Love the tough leather.


Materials and Sources:

• Tunic/dress: French Connection (via Marshalls)
• Black pants: Target (Mossimo?)
• Belt: Gap (yearrrsss ago)
• Scarf: Echo (gift from Mom)
• Shoes: Linea Paolo
• Necklace: Francesca's Collection

I love this dress as... you know, a dress, but it's on the thin and short side for work so I belted it and wore it more like a tunic.  It was one of those "nothing fits" mornings and if I wasn't going to be cheery in spirit, I could at least be cheerful in dress code.  Got the shoes this weekend in Charlotte in continuation of building a black wardrobe - they're so comfy.  Linea Paolo used to be my absolute fav brand for shoes and I still love them comfort-wise but it's been a while since they've had something I really loved.

New 'Building Blacks' post coming later on! For now... yoga!

smells like school spirit

I know I've been a slow blogger lately.  Though I don't feel so alone because lots of my favorite bloggers have been pretty busy, too.  Just that time of year.  Think we're all just sitting on our hands until Spring comes.  Which just means that we could have some pretty numb hands a few weeks from now. 

One reason I've been so slow is that I finally picked up a book.  Haven't read a novel for fun in months.  I'm about halfway through Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes and I'm already starting to feel a smidgen like myself again.  (It is so easy to lose yourself, isn't it?  Work has ruined me, Paul and I both agree on that.)  It's a pretty intense story but so far, so good.

Fridays are spirit days at work which means we are supposed to wear a school spirit shirt.  And wiggle our best spirit fingers during class changes and give all the cool kids swirlies on the way to lunch.  Most Fridays, though, I stick with school colors (black and gold) because dang school shirts are expensive.  I am at home today so here is last Friday's school spirit look:







I've worn the cardigan and headband together like this before, I just love them both a lot.  And I will probably wear them again today when I get in the car to road trip it to Charlotte to see Katie!  The shirt and scarf here are both sparkly.  Silver shirt, gold scarf.  I'm not one to mix the two tones but since the headband has both, I ran with it.  Do you guys mix silver and gold?

• Black cardigan: Willi Smith via TJ Maxx (worn here) 
• Shirt: LOFT
• Jeans: Mossimo via Target
• Shoes: Enzo Angiolini
• Headband: LOFT (worn here)

Also, the shoes are on their last leg.  They're a little tight but I've always dealt with them but now they are falling apart at the seams and wearing crazy thin on the soles.  The second pair of flats to fall apart on me in the last few weeks.  One of my favorite pairs by Seychelles met the dumpster last week after both were leaking water through the sole when it rained.   So now I'm on the hunt for a new pair.  Fell in love with the pewter "boyshort" flat by Seychelles but they are sold out.  The plum and black are both fun so they're still in the running.  I have a few more options laid out but I've been taking my time trying to make sure they're cute and fun but also comfortable enough to stand on all day.  Any suggestions?  What's your favorite brand for comfortable, last-forever flat?

unlikely combination

Quickie.  Today's outfit was inspired (almost copied!) by i'd wear it's OOTD yesterday.  For some reason I just wouldn't have thought to pair my dark blue sweater with the brown pants I love (still ticked that they just don't photograph well... but I love them unconditionally.  I just loved the whole color combination so I did my best to rip it off. 




My mama took me shopping the other day and we picked this up at Ann Taylor LOFT.  I love it especially because the length is easy to change... it can be short or long which rules because I hate when a necklace just doesn't hit right with the shirt/dress/cardigan you're wearing.  (You can see the ends that you pull... I forgot that I'd pulled them to the front so Gray would stop trying to yank them from behind when he was playing with my hair.  Whoops!)  Plus, it gives the outfit a little bit of an Auburn vibe in the color scheme... War Eagle!  Which makes me think... why did I find this to be such an unlikely combination?  I spent my undergraduate career donning the orange and blue at least once a week with various combinations of brown, grey, blue, green... you name it.

Please excuse my hotmess-ness... there is just no hope after ridiculous, hellacious days at work.  But nothing a good workout can't fix.  Caffeinerd has been my saving grace for treadmill workouts.  Last week, Elena posted some interval workouts that I've been trying.  Kickin' my ass!  Good thing I'm starting to train for the Peachtree now because I am slow, y'all.  10-11 minute miles is all I got by 7pm on a week night.  But I'll give myself credit since they've been on at least a 3% incline. 

Anyone else in the Atlanta area doing the Peachtree in July?  How are you training?

building blacks, part 3: inspired

Now that I am on the third post of this series (part 1 here, part 2 here explanation kind of all over the place... reasoning to come), I must say that building a black wardrobe (moreso, learning how to accessorize an all-black outfit) is easier than I originally thought.  Easy like learning how to snowboard or how to land a perfect triple lutz.

Actually, once I found some good source of inspiration the outfits came pretty easily.  The first set that I created using a direct source of inspiration - casual dinner, beachside in the Springtime (or indirect since I'm not actually there which is just plain unfortunate):

building blacks - sequin tank by athenista featuring Stella McCartney tops

I chose black skinnies for comfort (I'm assuming I'd spent a long, strenuous day under an umbrella by the pool... sipping daquiries and reading a trashy romance novel.  Comfort necessary.  Need some black skinnies first.), a light dolman-sleeve cardigan (have one), and a sequin tank to break up all the black (don't have one).  From there, I went beachy with the accessories - light scarf with varying hues to mimic the tide, low light blue heels by Seychelles (LOVE their shoes - on the hunt for a new pair of flats a.s.a.p.) and then some metallic shell earrings to top it off.  Originally, I wanted to go dark teal with the earrings to create a gradient all the way down to the shoes.  But with so much space in between the scarf and the shoes... didn't make sense.

My second source of inspiration came from a scarf I found while browsing polyvore for... hmm, inspiration.  Fell in love with the color palette and went from there... and that was it!

building blacks - scarf inspiration by athenista featuring Alexander McQueen bags

Can you tell I've got Spring on my mind?

Where do you find inspiration for your outfits?

sundry saturday

Lots of odds and ends today...

1) Playing with the blog layout today.  Went back to a 'stretch' option like chailoveyou but nothing too wild & crazy because I am anything but a master of HTML.  That stuff is for the birds, y'all.  Don't get it.  I just know that because of it I now have a fun, pretty font in the date/post/sidebar titles.  Went back and changed the header font to match... not sure I'm diggin' it yet.  Looks like Athen'sista'... which... maybe I could be a 'sista' if only my students didn't remind me on a daily basis that I'm white enough to be Edward Cullen's sister.  Only time will tell... I change the look of my blog like I change my underwear... once every few weeks.  Did I get you there?  Surely I jest.  But I guess you'll jest never know.

2) Twitter... I like to tweet.  Lots of you also like to tweet and I have probably started "following" you.  And you let me... which is good because if you ran I would just chase you anyway.  I tried to put my tweets in the sidebar.  Only I forgot that I locked them up and threw away the key.  (At least until the end of May when school is out... who knew my students would be into Twitter?  Not that they probably care about my tweets buuuut... did I ever tell you about the time this kid totally convinced me he knows where I live?  And that he'd read my "online diary" ... which he said was on Myspace... whiiiiich it totally isn't because I hate Myspace.  Still.  Messed with my mind.  Freaky deaky.)  So... if you're tweeting and you want to share a nest, you can follow me here.

3) Here are the rest of my fitting room confessions from Anthro last Sunday:

Can't remember the name of the dress... I just know I was crazy for the way they styled it here:

 Unfortunately, I was not crazy about the dress itself.  The neckline was too high for it to be flattering and even though I tried it on a size smaller than I thought I would need, it was still loose and bulky in the waist.  So if you like this one, size down.  Still love it styled Anthro's way and the fabric is pretty sturdy, not to mention gorgeous.  Just not gorgeous enough to make up for the fit issues.

Next I the Fragmented Pipevine Dress.  Not on sale but the fit was great - better than the photo shows.  Only thing: it snaps all the way down so it's what some might call "easy access."  Some people are into that.  Not judging.  Just sayin'.

Finally, I tried on this grey, floral button-up sweater cardigan... don't know the name (obviously by my eloquent description).  Loved it on the hanger.  Looked a little big-ish so I grabbed a small and even the small practically swallowed me whole!  Never happens, folks.  Definitely size down if you're looking at this one (I don't think it's on the site anymore).  The armpits are saggy (I know they're meant to be) which could be cute but I felt like a bag lady - the look on my face says it all, I think.  Also, I found the fabric to be a little on the scratchy and staticy side.

After I grabbed my sale rack pieces, I browsed the front tables (naturally... anyone who manages to escape Anthropologie without browsing all the pieces they can't afford is clearly not human.  Beware of those 'people' and walk away.) and came across the Off-the-Tie-Rack blouse.  Wasn't crazy about this one online but it was so much more stunning in person.  I tried this one on first before I thought to document so no photo... but trust me that it's amazing.  Fit is a little roomy up top and maybe a little short if you have a long torso but I thought it was okay for me.  If I wanted to layer something under, I'd probably just use a yellow cami to play off the tie.  Might have to keep this one on my wishlist... you know, once it's on its fifteenth markdown. 

Has anyone tried on the Tassel Fronds Dress?  WANT.  

P.S.... so glad I used my Valentine's Day for the Starbound Dress because it's not on the site anymore.  Whew... could've been ugly.

And here is what I wore for my day of shopping and lusting:



This outfit actually felt kinda dumpy once I was out of the house but I got a handful of compliments on it so I thought I'd share after all...

• Sweater: Cillie's Clothing (in Athens)
• Eyelet tank: F21
• Skinnies: 'Sweetheart' skinny from Old Navy
• Boots: Steve Madden

WOWZA, that's a long post!  Happy Saturday, everyone!

down to a tee

Between switching intervals last night on this workout that I found via caffeinerd, I got to thinking about gym style.  Lots of people probably think about gym style.  But if you're like me, you're probably just trying to find the couple of items you don't mind using for sweat mops.  To that end, I think I have my gym style down to a tee.  Literally.  *Wink* 

Yesterday's gym style:



Even if I'm not really cool, my fellow gym goers don't know that.  Yet.  I also wore this with black C9 pants that I love... think I could make this my new go-to professional look in my future black wardrobe?  No? 

(Edit: I should note here... this was my Brussels, Belgium souvenir from our family trip to Europe in 2006.  Just so you know I'm not some Belgium fanatic... unless we're talking waffles.  Now THAT I can be fanatic about.)

And now for Paul's first style feature on the blog... what a perfect workout tee.  His motivation, maybe?



What do your tees say about you?  (Or maybe what do they not say about you?  Ha...)

i don't even like mustard

Man, there sure is a lot of mustard going on in this blog.  I don't even like mustard-the-condiment in real life. (That must be what my mad face is about.  Actually, that is just me hating static electricity with the heat of a thousand suns.)

I might be head over heels in love with this belt I picked up at Anthropologie on Valentine's Day.  Can't find it on the website but it is beautimous and a perfect cure for that frumpty dumpty feeling I had all day.  Probably gonna be seeing this one a lot from now on... don't say I didn't warn ya.  On a side note: I always try to mask my frumpy feeling with fuller dresses and skirts like this one but then I think I actually look more frumpy... what's your cure for the mornings when nothing feels right? 





Materials and Sources:

• Dress: Target
• Cardigan: one A (gift from Mom)
• Leggings: Target (I can't stop wearing them under dresses... I am decidedly hating the cold this year.), remix'd lots and lots
• Boots: 'Intyce' by Steven by Steve Madden, remix'd lots
• Necklace: Francesca's Collection
• Belt: via Anthropologie

mustard stains

Last night, Paul and I made a sacrifice of time and inches of our waistbands to eat at Abattoir for date night.  It was tough but those inches needed someone to show them what it's like to be loved.  Some fried chick peas, duck meatballs, pork shoulders and a few maple bacon beignets later... we melted into the hot tub (at my parents'... we were house sitting and it's 40 minutes closer to the big city, y'awwll).  Successful date night to be sure.

You're going to have to excuse the grainy cell phone pics.  Didn't want to fuss with a camera (the hot tub was calling).  I love this dress but it needs to be worn without tights - the "catching" drove me crazy.  Post dinner wrinkles and crazy hair... cozy is what I call it.  ;)

Date night was great.  Good food, good man... and some, err, "good" conversation at the table next to us.  A pregnant lady (7 months... I know this because she said so.  I may have an ankle biter of my own but I am certainly no winner of the game "how many weeks?") and her gal pal were catching up on life as it is, having some red wine (lots of red wine, actually... kinda freaked me out by the time we left) and talking about comfort shoes.  Specifically, something like Uggs.  And the prego kept talking about the boots and how she just had to have them but her husband won't let her wear them around the house and keeps telling her that, "Before you know it, you'll be wearing them in the grocery store with an Auburn sweatshirt with mustard stains on it."  HA!  I am an Auburn girl, if you don't know that, which puts it into perspective.  Paul and I almost died.  Because, you know, I am an Auburn girl and he is most definitely not an Auburn fan.  Of course, this reminded me of one of my favorite book quotes of all time that I think of whenever I imagine someone else or myself (usually myself) "letting go" a little...

"Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I might become if I'm not careful: Crazy Aunt Liz. The divorcee in the muumuu with the dyed orange hair who doesn't eat dairy but smokes menthols, who's always just coming back from her astrology cruise or breaking up with her aroma-therapist boyfriend, who reads the Tarot cards of kindergarteners and says things like, "Bring Aunty Liz another wine cooler, baby, and I'll let you wear my mood ring..." - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

Bootleg cell phone pics are the gateway.  Next thing you know, I'll be posting outfit pics of me in the brand new muumuu my cousin Alf snagged for me in Hong Kong. 


Materials and Sources:

• Dress: F21 (I think... probably.)
• Brown cropped cardigan: Target
• Tights: F21
• Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell (favvvvorites)

wedding style

Finally...

Little G. caught a stomach bug at the beginning of last weekend, which forced me to slow down and do very little aside from eat, sleep and cuddle.  And I think it's been one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a very long time.  G.'s tearing up the house and climbing on boxes to look out windows so I think it's safe to say he's almost 100%. 

Since Krista did a little recap featuroo on my wedding last week, I thought I'd take a post to elaborate on my wedding style.  I know a lot of you are either married, engaged or soon to be engaged and who doesn't love talking weddings?  Especially wedding gowns and shoes and flowers and... sigh, I actually wouldn't mind reliving the whole thing, is that crazy?  Well, since I planned my wedding in 30 short days, probably not.  Gotta be honest... I have no idea how you long engagement ladies do it.  I wouldn't have any hair left.  Or a husband to speak of.  Just... no, thanks.

Before we started planning our wedding, I'd watched some tv shows ("Whose Wedding is it Anyway?," anyone?) and flipped through magazines on trips to the bookstore.  Believe it or not, my dress wasn't the tough part... it was the bridesmaids and the flowers that tripped me up when it came to the style of my wedding.

Of course, a lot can be said about the style of a wedding by the dress a bride wears... but I really think it's the bridesmaid dresses (and the flowers, too) that seal the deal on the overall tone of a wedding's style.  There are usually multiple bridesmaids, all up front with you, which means that whatever cut, color or theme you choose is not going solo... it's repetitive.  So you better be prepared to either keep it simple or make sure the impact it will have is the one you're going for.  Maybe it's just me, but I can't tell you how many times I've been to a wedding and noticed almost nothing about the bride because the bridesmaids stole the show (and not in a good way, if you know what I mean).  All that to say... I probably stressed more over the bridesmaids and the flowers than any other element of style in my wedding.

With such limited time to shop (which meant ordering was out of the question), I took my 'maids with me for an entire day of searching the racks and trying on lots of dresses that just didn't work.  The wedding would be in the evening which usually means formal but, wanting the overall feel to be more relaxed, I wanted the dresses to be short.  I also wanted my ladies to be able to wear them again without actually looking like a bridesmaid again. We finally arrived at White House Black Market, of all places, and I asked the girls to try on a dress just on a whim and it ended up working.  You all already know I am a fan of black and brown together (and I've sported it twice this week alone!) so you won't be surprised at the final choice...

 In Krista's post, I noted that all of the girls were pretty different in shape so it needed to be universally flattering.  Honestly, I didn't think that dress would be but it worked.  I think, anyway.  If we didn't find a dress that looked good I was just going to have them pick out a black dress of their choice in the same length but with the overall feel of the wedding being sort of formal, I'm glad we found something. :)

Like, I said... my choice was easy.  Too easy.  I knew I wanted strapless, lots of lace, not a lot of bulk.  Fairytale look without a princess cut.  First day, first boutique where I actually tried dresses on... kazaam!

I got it, right?  Strapless, lots of lace, no big poofy skirt, sweet little train... really, really, really (!) loved my dress.  Maybe I should wear it for our Valentine's Day date.  No?  Okay, if you're sure...

Everything else pretty much went to the flowers.  Floating petals with tealights on the tables, hydrangeas and callas for the bridesmaids and then my bouquet... which, other than the dress, may have been my absolute favorite thing.  And maybe my most stressed-over element if you can believe it.  I think our florist was a little daunted by my request, ha!  But boy did she deliver.  It's still in my parents' freezer.  Which is probably gross and definitely not the real way to preserve it but by the time we really thought about it it was too late.  The bouquet kept my own ensemble from going too over the top formal and gave it a little whimsy and a garden feel which I loved.  This photo doesn't do it the justice it deserves but I still love to gaze at it from time to time...

Probably my favorite style day ever... what's your wedding style like?  Past, present, future... whatever!

black and grey and tired all over...

Anticipatory Set: It's only Monday but I am totally pooped already.  I didn't plan anything outfit-wise for this morning so I just kinda threw on some basic black and grey.  I actually have very little in the way of a neutral black wardrobe.  I'm trying to build one and I'll talk about that eventually but don't hold your breath... it could be a while.  (Justification: I still haven't published the wedding style post.  Oops.)  I have lots and lots of brown and blue neutrals but not a lot of black.  So, with some remaining gift cards to TJ Maxx and LOFT, I scooped up a couple of black pieces.  The cardigan below was my TJMaxx purchase (I paid less than $1 after the gift card! Awww yea.) and the headband was one of the LOFT goodies (I also got an embellished black tee - I heart gift cards.). 

Objective(s) Addressed: Work

Materials and Sources:

• Grey short-sleeve sweater: F21 (few years ago)
• Black drapey/ruffle/pleat cardigan: willi smith via TJMaxx
• Tie-waist dress pants: Old Navy (years ago)
• Headband: LOFT (50% off the sale price! with a gift card! joy!)
• Earrings: Charlotte Russe
• Shoes: Me Too

Input:
The pants aren't grey... they're a black and white herringbone (is that the right word for the pattern?) so they actually do "match" the grey sweater underneath, I promise.  You can see a teeny bit in one of the detail shots... that's why I included two.  Or maybe just because I love the cardigan so much - the material is thick but doesn't feel bulky and it's warm without overheating and the little detail on the open front is fun.  Work and weekend appropriate and functional.  Very much my kinda cardigan.  :)  Also, I swear I am not eating too many creampuffs... those are just some seriously intense wrinkles from sitting in the car.  Gotta love a commute... bleh.

And how fun is the headband?  It's almost a little much but I love it (I wore my hair down all day until I was in the car... ick factor by the time I get home.)  Most of my headbands echo the same theme but I love them all.  I am a hair accessory kinda gal when I want to feel a little more put together but especially right now with my hair in an awkward stage of growing out.  (LOFT had a lot of great hair accessories if you're looking for one.)

Only went for one "pop" of color... the earrings.  Sweet little coral color.  Nothing loud.  Just wasn't feeling the cheery colors in more than small doses today.

I felt pretty fantastic for most of the day.  On top of crazy tiredness no less.  Success!  

printed

Anticipatory Set: Later this week, I'll do a recap of my wedding style but in the meantime, you can get a quick glimpse of our wedding over at Unveiled today.  Krista featured our wedding for Wedding Wednesday!  Take a look!

For now... yesterday's ensemble.  This is going to be freakish, y'all.  My entire outfit, save accessories, came from Target at some point in the past few years.  Wowza.

Objective(s) Addressed: Work; Parent meetings; Personal meeting after work

  

accessories... gifted bracelet and cinch-y clasp belt

 

 

Love the extra hints pink and purple in the stripes at the bottom.  It's in the details, folks.

  

Materials and Sources:

• Printed elbow sleeve dress: Target (Mossimo)
• Leggings (just warmer than tights, can't help it): Target, remix'd all the time, even in my sleep
• Boots: Target, remix'd here and here
• Black ruffle cardigan: Target (Merona)
• Belt: Nordstrom (BP department)
• Headband: F21
• Scarf: gift from P.'s aunt (probably the warmest that I own... ohmygosh so soft)
• Bracelet: gift from Mom

Input: This was intended to be a pretty multi-tasking outfit for me and I really felt great in it though the photos don't show it much.  Ladies at work were all over the dress.  I think it was all about the print - the pattern really is striking and fun in person.  For the functional part of things, I needed something that was put together and professional for the two parent meetings I had yesterday morning but that wouldn't really wrinkle too much or leave me feeling icky since I had another 'first impression' kind of meeting after work.  But with the cold/damp temps it needed to be warm which meant leggings, boots and a cardigan outdoors.  I know I shouldn't wear leggings so much with dresses but they are just so darn warm.  And I honestly can't tell the difference in opaqueness between the tights and leggings I own.  (No matter what, though, I promise not to wear them as pants.)

The scarf was a Christmas gift from P.'s aunt and it is quite honestly the softest and warmest scarf that I own.  It has a very subtle zebra print around the border which is fun without stretching my style.  Might be workin' this one overtime.  And the dress. 

Final Notes:

P. was extra "snappy" yesterday.  Snapsnapsnapsnap, done.  Lots of these 'fixin' pics in the mix:

Also, for the awards I received from Fashion Therapist, Caffeinerd and Style Artisan... I would just be nominating my entire blogroll.  So, in the meantime, I'm going to have to come up with an alternate nomination system or you all can pass it along - spread the love!  Thanks for all of your lovely comments every day - I promise I am getting around to responding - you guys are so sunny and supportive, I love that!