A song for tomorrow

Alright, the first song to inspire an outfit for December iiiis:

Chocolate by Snow Patrol
Check it out here

I do have to work tomorrow night and am not sure I'll be able to think of a work related outfit tied to this song, but I promise at least one morning outfit themed to the song
I'm debating going for a very innocent mind meets being thrown into the real world vibe, as is the feeling I get from a few of the lines in the song. We shall see what happens.

A December challenge for myself

Since November has totally been dedicated to writing for NaNoWriMo, December will be a little more focused on fashion: I'll have my computer back so I can post photos, I'll be working on finishing my skirt, and I've had a fantastic idea for myself.
First, I thought "I want to try something new, create a brand new signature look for myself"... but the more I thought about it, the more a new idea came to light.

So, the song a day challenge for the month of December will work like this:
The night before, I set my iPod to random, and the first song that comes up will inspire the challenge (This is one like one of those stupid Myspace surveys: song skipping will be allowed, for a variety of reasons. For instance, if I really don't like the song and have no clue why it's on my iPod, or I just plain can't get inspired by it, or the only inspiration from it is for the wrong sort of occasion)
Each day, an outfit will be formed using inspiration from either the title, the lyrics, or even the artist themselves. If all I plan on wearing in any given day is work clothing, I'll either try to make the outfit work for an all black theme, or I'll just throw it on for photos only. And, in addition to being inspired by the song, it HAS to fit what I'm doing for that day (unless, of course, work gets in the way and the outfit can't be suitable for my job)
On November 30th, I will post the first song, followed by the outfit on December 1st (given ANY delays in my computer situation, the picture will be taken and the photo will be uploaded as soon as possible)

If I have a lot of fun with this challenge, it will be repeated in May or June for the skimpier, warmer weather version

Winter outfit time! Yay!

As I will still be without a computer for approximately one more day (assuming Staples legitimately meant within 48 hours -_-), and still don't want to upload photos onto my mom's computer, I'm going to do a photo free fashion suggestion post (I know, I know, ridiculous)

Layering is one of my favorite things to do, so this time of year is my favorite, fashion-wise. I've also been trying to cut back on the wearing of pants lately, and since likable skirts and dresses are tough to find for me, it means I've had to get more creative with what I already own.

A great trick I used yesterday was this: I took a dress with a straight skirt that hit a little above the knees, basic, simple cut, but slightly dressy material, and dressed it waaaay down. Leggings rather than tights, a cardigan rather than some of my more dressy top layer options, my daily use pumps, a multi colored scarf, and it definitely looked less like a party dress, and more like your basic average, day to day use dress.
I'm trying to figure out an outfit for tonight that will take me from all black at work to something stylish for making a mad dash over to the theater for Harry Potter, but am still struggling with specifics.

Soon to come: I'd like to do a post on some of my best tricks to wearing clothing when you have boobs, because I am tired of magazines telling me the WRONG advice (note to all busty girls out there: when you wear a shirt that fully covers your breasts, and is not layered with something with a different neckline, you actually bustier and saggier. More on that to come)

Halloween has come and gone

So, due to yet MORE computer difficulties, this blog has kind of taken a backseat, but I do have one charming photo of me from Halloween, doing what I do best: last minute creativity forming something cute out of desperation over what to wear

I went through every idea I had, giving up after 9 stores produced nothing, when Lara conveniently reminded me of the movie/comic Watchmen, and an idea was born. With less than 24 hours 'til our planned Halloween party, and a seriously limited supply of yellow clothing, plus me NOT having a curling iron to give my hair the necessary oomph, a Silk Spectre costume was put together, and this is the result...



It is by no means a perfect representation of the actual Silk Spectre costume, but I was pretty proud of it given the time constraints
There was a lot of layering that went on here, as well. The actual costume involves fishnet thigh highs, but I figured since it was pretty freaking cold, I could make an exception for myself. Over that went a tight cami, for two reasons... first off, the shirt was see through, second, whatever I could do to flatten my waist for this extremely fitted costume, the better...
Finally, a knee length, flared out skirt was hiked up around my rib cage to give the super short effect, and the closest shape I could possibly find to what Silk Spectre is wearing in the comic...
Yellow t-shirt, super tight belt, my favorite boots, a black choker, and black gloves, and the whole thing was as close as I was going to get without having a lot more time.
I will say this: I COULD NOT BREATHE! Between the 5 layers of tight things over my stomach and how hot the costume was, there was really no good way of catching my breath. But I was so pleased with how it turned out, and I've been inspired to make my own Silk Spectre dress for next year.

Which leads me to my next comment:
DIY dress forms: I've learned how to make one. If you google it, a method using an oversized t-shirt and duct tape should come up. This is going to be my trick to finally getting to sew some of my dream clothing. Wish me luck!

Jeggings: I am officially converted

I have avoided trying them on for some time now because I thought the concept sounded stupid, and that they wouldn't fit right, and be just like denim look stretch pants.
But... I was wrong.
In Target today, I grabbed a pair for curiosity's sake, and they fit like a dream. Looked like the first pair of skinny jeans I bought back in high school. Ya know, how skinny jeans USED to look, just with a little extra stretch and minus the zipper. My butt looked great. My waist looked properly concealed. The extra stretch helped eliminate my usual problem of "my thighs are too big for jeans that fit around my waist!". The stretch also made them easier to yank up through the legs so the length wouldn't be an issue for me. (Yeah, I LOVE buying pants... my thighs are too big for my waist size, my waist size is too big for my height... I am not in any way designed to wear pants straight off the rack)
I am actually convinced. They don't look at all legging-ish. They look AND feel like better fitting skinny jeans, and at $15 on sale, I can't complain AT ALL. Thank you, Target, for finally something I fit into.

My tremendously successful Target shopping trip also resulted in some great finds that will be featured later (a button up lace overshirt, a Converse plaid button up, and a gray cardigan with some charming details), and some pajama finds that made me immensely happy (a lovely nightgown, which I have been hoping to find one I felt good in for ages now... this one did the trick... and a Halloween themed t-shirt that my inner Rocky Horror fangirl couldn't resist, as it says "Creature of the Night" across the chest... though the picture on it is of a cat, NOT Rocky)

And the computer is baaaack!

Finally, there is a computer on my desk again...
So, some updates on outfits I happily flaunted for the camera while my laptop was off in repair-land

A couple different times, I had great fun with purple tights and my brand new black heels... check it out
Outfit #1:



I believe all of these pieces have been individually featured before, but here was one of my "nice but chilly day" looks from a couple weeks ago... really, really loving the new shoes (which were Madden Girl for $50 at Famous Footwear)

Outfit #2:


Skirt is Mossimo from Target, $20, shirt is something or other from Target, I think $13, cami is the usual... Vol. 1. This was an outfit for going out with a friend, and yes, it's a smidgen dressy for getting coffee, but sometimes it really is about feeling adorably quaint...

And another new pair of shoes just begged for their own, slightly edgier look to be created, soooo... outfit #3:





Jeans are Jolt, $25 at Nordstrom rack
T-shirt is Mossimo, $7 at Target
Boots are R2 by Report, $50 from Famous Footwear
Scarf has been featured previously
Jacket is I.N.C, $70 at Macy's... expensive, but worth every penny
This jacket is seriously the ultimate thing to own for fall... tailored like a blazer, but thick and warm like a sweatshirt... also, the collar can be buttoned back to have the blazer look, or unsnapped and zipped all the way up for warmth. I bought it last fall, and have worn it diligently ever since (well, when it's cold)

Fashion flashback

While I'm in my in between phase (haven't sent off my computer yet, still don't want to add new files to it), we're going to do a bit of a flashback period... some of my older outfits which I've got pictures of, but have never posted... they may be outdated in some regards, but I tend to go for classic looks... if I could wear it 6 years ago, I can probably still wear it today.

This outfit, however, is NOT 6 years old... it was first worn back in June of this year, on a chilly, rainy day that demanded putting on a bit more than June usually calls for. (Since my feet are not shown in these pictures, I'll just clarify that I'm wearing my black pumps from Payless with the laceup toes with this outfit)



Cardigan is Dolce by JJ Basics, from Nordstrom Rack for about $15
Purple tank is Mossimo from Target, about $7
Black cami is Vol. 1, Nordstrom rack, $12 (you guys should recognize this by now)
Skirt was DIY, and I'll actually clarify how I made that in a sec... the pants used to make it were $20 from Wet Seal
Tights are HUE from Nordstrom Rack, $5
Belt/sash is Converse, from Target, about $17
Necklace was a birthday present

I was trying to get for a fun take on a Japanese look here, hence the sash around the waist, and attempted kimono style fold of the neckline of the sweater. I had success without getting the outfit to stay put ALL NIGHT, which was a total bonus for me, who usually has my clothes going every which way.
The idea was to be a fun yet classy look, so I went for a very conservative look from the waist down, with the colorful layered look up top. I got many compliments on my outfit that night.

Wondering how I made the skirt?
Well, it was sort of a success/failure type of venture. Failure in the fact that if you saw the waist, you'd run screaming away from it. But the success comes in how nicely the shape of the skirt turned out, so if I cover up the waistband, it looks quite decent.
I had an old pair of work pants that were just not holding up anymore (holes aplenty!), so I went with a DIY project I'd been wanting to try for some time. The original plan was to pleat it, but I didn't have as much material as I thought I did. This is actually a really simply project to do at home, if you're better at sewing in a straight line than I am (the waist had mega potential... I just can't do anything in a straight line).
I cut the top of the pants off right below the zipper, and then for the skirt part, I actually took the lower, flared part of the legs, rather than the usual sort of "make it at home" skirt where you just cut open the crotch and sew together. That's why it's flared out. I can't remember how long I made it, but whatever it was, I cut a quarter inch above that for something to sew into the waist. I ripped the insides of the legs open, and sewed them together. Then, to give it a more streamlined look than random, awkwardly placed seams, I turned the skirt before sewing it to the waistband so I'd have two seams in front, two in back. Again, QUITE pleased with how the skirt turned out, and I do wear it quite frequently. Yay for creativity! One day, I'll try again, hopefully with more success.

A quick gripe

So Glamour tells me big, unplucked, and even filled in eyebrows are in this fall... SAY WHAT?
For years, magazines have been telling me the natural look is so "yuck", and that I should be plucking or waxing my eyebrows. Now, they're all the rage, and I should apparently make them look even hairier with the use of an eyebrow pencil.

Now, for the record, I have never once plucked or waxed my eyebrows. They're 100% how they grew in themselves. I make sure they're not all over the place and looking wonky, but I've never ONCE touched them with tweezers or wax. And the great fashion experts of the world have always claimed this is wrong. Now, it's "in"?
Wow... who knew it could be in to not have swollen, painful eyebrows?
Oh... that's right... me... for the full 8 years I've been into fashion. Go figure.

(That said, I'm a huge fan of Glamour...)

Tip of the week: find a perfect pair of jeans without going broke

Jeans are sort of my downfall
I can't go into a Target and grab $20 jeans, because I'm not tall and I don't have slim thighs. Every once in a great while, Target makes something short in a size I can get over my legs and button comfortably (the pair of jeans with the incorrectly sewn on waistband, and my work pants), but it's not like I can make a habit of it.
Back in the day, I could go to Wet Seal and pick between two sizes in their "short" length. Then, suddenly, I went in one day and all the same sizes I had at home, I suddenly couldn't even get over my hips, and the even the short length was too long... what happened??????
I've always loved YMI jeans, but I've never had a pair that doesn't get the hem totally ripped out because of how long they are on me.
Needless to say, me + jeans is kind of a disaster.

People say jeans should be the one thing you splurge on it, and that's true. You're going to be wearing them a lot, and usually when you wear them, it's because you want to be comfortable. But plenty of us know that $120 is not even close to an option, while some people consider that "cheap" for jeans. Ha!!!

So, what can you do to find jeans that actually fit RIGHT (as all jeans should), while keeping it in the "I can afford this without a credit card" range?

Tip #1: If you can find a size that fits, always buy your jeans in the juniors department.
This can be tricky at times, especially since I have hips and a good number of them are made straight through the waist, hips, and thighs. But you're saving about 50% if you go into a place like Nordstrom or Macy's by making this choice. And not all of them look like something only a teenager would wear.

Tip #2: Nordstrom Rack is your new best friend.
If you want to splurge by getting the very best jeans, the least you can do for yourself is find those same jeans at a much more reasonable price. Sure, not everything at Nordstrom Rack is at the same quality as what's in the real stores. But that's usually not the case. Most of what I buy from Nordstrom Rack is off season. Sure, there's plenty of stuff that's never made it to their real stores for various reasons, but I haven't found quality to be a big one. The only thing I've gotten from them that's fallen apart is tights, and to be perfectly honest, I can't find tights ANYWHERE that won't fall apart.

Tip #3: Don't limit yourself to one style.
I was extremely against skinny jeans for the longest time. One I started wearing them, I found that in spite of my curvier figure, they actually flattered me a lot more than some other jeans I'd been trying. I still go for moderate flare and bootcut when I can, but why fight jeans that fit correctly?

Tip #4: First trip to the dressing room, load up on the item limit with JUST JEANS!
Once you find your favorites, you can start pairing them with shirts, but first, try different brands, try a range of sizes, and don't settle until you're absolutely satisfied with the fit.

Tip #5: Be aware of certain fit problems that will annoy you more once you're home than they do in the dressing room.
Extremely long legs, too short legs, waist gaping in the back, waist pinching anywhere, anything digging into your hips, and tight material in the thighs. (The last one, I have discovered, actually makes your jeans more prone to sliding down in the leg, and taking the waistband with them)
Of course, if you mess up on leg length, you've got solutions later. High heels work wonders with length problems in either direction. They lift long hems off the ground, and look adorable with skinny jeans that hit right at the ankle. Hemming is always as an option for the long pairs, and boots over the legs of the short pairs will leave no one the wiser. The other problems are a bit trickier to overcome, so if you're not really the same height as your waist size in most brands, don't sweat it, that's manageable.

Ultimately, if you end up with a couple pairs that fit you perfectly, and a go to brand that you can fall back on next time, AND you can spend less than $40 per pair (ok, I'm living in a dream world, but my perfectly fitting brand is only $25 per pair at Nordstrom Rack!), you'll be fine with jeans in the future!

Sigh... it'll be a while

I have some updates in waiting, but due to a computer problem, I don't want to upload any photos right now, as I may or may not be getting this computer back.

In the meantime, though, I have some fantastic photos of my dear friend and model, Lara, looking absolutely awesome as for "what to wear to a fall party" (which, sadly, she did not wear to a party last night... but I will be expecting her to take this dress on our upcoming road trip)