Recent Wardrobe Additions (Spring/Summer 2009)
Bringing my 2009 wardrobe spending to a grand total of $474.76, I added the following entries today:
- cashmere polo, grass green tipped navy, Old Navy $10.86. Pictured below with my new - ish navy trousers and my vintage “asparagus shoes”, I bought this after Duchesse suggested that 50 and raining is cashmere.
- 2 pairs of shorts from Goodwill (the boutique side): khaki linen bermudas and short (unfortunately, as opposed to knee-length) swim shorts. Total $9.78.
- paisley cotton dress and brown crochet type cardigan, both from Value Village. $17.35. Somebody told me that was expensive, but I think not - compared to the likelihood I would throw up my hands in despair and skip somebody’s wedding because I have nothing to wear!
- another shirt like this one pictured back here, only this one is a lovely lilac color. Target, $6.24.
- “like new” Levi 505s. Salvation Army, $2.38.
- “like new” Eddie Bauer dark wash trouser jeans and Lifestride paisley pumps. Goodwill Boutique $18.47.
Critics of my simple wardrobe color system, or just proponents of a larger wardrobe than I aspire to, will be happy to see a little more color here. I am happy to see paisley! I’ve asked this before: what print defines your personality?
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A Fun Skirt and Cowboy Boots
How cute is this?
Skirt: begged from mom, who bought it for $1 at Value Village. It’s double layers of ivory cotton, with metallic looking embroidery.
Metallic-look cowboy boots: bought cheap somewhere locally (these same boots have shown up everywhere from Grocery Outlet to Goodwill). They remind us of when this child was little and had the little pink fringed cowboy boots every year. Why don’t they still make those, and in adult sizes?
Anyway, this chicadee is ultra-frugal, very sporty, and always in need of help putting outfits together. Any creative thoughts for on top?
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Monthly Scheduling
As I’ve made my way through the life of Moses this past year, something occurred to me that hadn’t before:
In addition to their regular weekly rhythm of life and annual festivals, and even the seven-year cycle (more about that another day), God’s people practiced a monthly sacrifice.
Now, I realize this is a stretch in terms of application, but the question that occurred to me is, “what in my life isn’t working because I have not developed any kind of monthly rhythm in my life?” The answer? All kinds of stuff. Like getting my bills paid. My filing done. And my wardrobe rotated.
And because I have been a slacker in terms of getting my wardrobe rotated, I’m having Sunday wardrobe trauma. So I went through my calendar and blocked out a day every month to plan some Sunday outfits. I’d like some more creative options, but until then:
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What Do You Wear to a Bridal Shower?
I don’t think this is exactly what I wore to my daughter’s bridal shower, but something like it. If I remember correctly, I wore this outfit to a baby shower around the same time period.
The pieces:
- coral blazer - last year’s birthday gift from my sister
- short-sleeve knit button-front top - $1, clearance with coupon at Gap
- navy cotton trousers - $16.30 at TJMaxx
Although I would have been a little over-dressed and out of place, I’m still intrigued with the idea of dressing up - like in a dress - for a ladies luncheon type event like a shower. In the summer, I would be more likely to wear a dress or skirt.
What do you usually wear to a shower?
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Just Get Dressed
What I have called “everyday leisure“, Jennifer and drwende have aptly renamed “just get dressed“. How many days out of the week does that describe your wardrobe needs? And what activities might those days include?
For me, “just get dressed” (for which I have the option, in my geographic region, of wearing “outdoor leisure” or “everyday leisure”) encompasses most of my Mondays and Tuesdays, and approximately half of my Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Maybe more. On any given day I could be cooking, picking up after the dog, grocery or thrift store shopping, walking for exercise, or … ? And what’s easy for me to forget is I am always representing my own level of fashion authority. 
Here’s what I’m wearing today.
- old black “bowling shoe” style flats, resurrected because they are comfortable and they blend with my jeans (too old for the cost of them to signify, they were moderately priced, purchased on sale at JCPenney)
- dark skinny jeans ($15, Shopko clearance)
- white oxford button-front shirt, which - due to the fantastic flying collar and the perfectly placed darts- is becoming such a favorite that if I can find another I will be willing to pay real money for it (hand-me-over-for-$1 from a daughter, originally Costco’s Lady Hathaway brand)
- v-neck, cable-knit, cashmere sweater in oatmeal heather ($15, TJMaxx). Worn with the white shirt this illustrates the question I asked Imogen on her post “How to Choose Your Perfect White”.
- reversible belt, worn animal print side ($5 clearance from Wilsons leather), held in place by lingerie straps pinned onto the side seams of the sweater. he hee.
Since I’m an accessory retard, please tell me if this belt works. I know one thing: if I had added a necklace to this outfit, one or the other (belt or necklace) would have had to go.
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Casually Elegant Teen Style
What’s ”text” for laughing at myself? LAS (Laughing at Self)? If there isn’t one, there should be!
I’m laughing at myself because I just don’t feel like posting today. :) Happily, I just happened to snap this photo of my dear daughter last week. Update: I wasn’t laughing when my server went down in the middle of putting together this post. Argh!
Presenting her creative outfit, Real Fashion for Real People style:
- I picked up the purple knit dress on one of my dollar day trips to Value Village. She folded the sleeves under to transform it into a tube top.
- The belt is from a shirt-dress picked up at the same thrift store.
- She had to borrow a tank from me. :) It’s what makes the outfit wearable.
The leggings? I don’t recall.Borrowed from sister?- Pink, crocheted flats: thrifted as well.
For Real Fashion for Real People we also reveal style personality and lifestyle segment (where/for what the outfit is worn). In this case we have an ultra -frugal and -functional 17 y.o. going to school for a final, then changing into a long dress for a performance before changing back into these clothes for a graduation party. At a lake house, an hour’s drive away.
But I think she could wear this outfit for alot of different functions, don’t you?
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Semi-Casual And The Personal Color Palette
I skipped posting for Teen-style Tuesday in order to spend time with my parents, who were in town to attend the annual Semi-Casual banquet (my older daughter was one of the special honorees this year). Mom took this picture.
About my outfit:
- Mom bought me the safari style jacket for Christmas.
- Same pants I wore last year.
- Same shoes I wore the year before.
At the last minute, in order to more accurately repeat the contrast in my own coloring, thereby creating a more flattering ensemble, I selected the brown gingham check camp shirt.
It’s also the humor in this outfit. What’s so funny, you ask? When I was small, back in the day when brown was the “in” color, my sister and I had gingham dresses. Mine was brown. Trouble was, I always thought that brown dress meant I was boring; which faulty thinking became known as the “brown dress syndrome”. As an adult, though, I realized that my mom always liked brown, therefore choosing to dress me in it could not be bad.
Wearing brown checks reminds me that I am way over the ”brown dress syndrome”, the whole thing was childish thinking in the first place. What about you? Have you uncovered any remnants of childish thinking in your own wardrobe choices?
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Real Fashion for Real People: Extreme Snow Day
Church was canceled. Awana canceled. Libraries closed. Even the community colleges were closed today, something my daughter was told NEVER happens. Spokane received as much as 17 inches of very wet snow over the weekend.
On an extreme January snow day, for some odd reason (my inner preppy?) nothing seems as right as a pastel fair-isle patterned sweater.
Personal Style Idiom: Functional Contemporary Classic
Lifestyle Segment: (Winter) Leisure
From the bottom up:
- My flat boots. Sorry we couldn’t light them up a little better. Suffice it to say, with having to walk through a foot or so of snow I am very happy I got these this year! (Around $80 at Macy’s this fall.)
- Very worn jeans are easier to tuck in. (So old I don’t remember when I bought them or how much I paid, but they are Gap. For sure they were not over $30.)
- The coral pink cashmere turtleneck, on its second wearing within the week. (New. $30 at Nordstrom Rack.)
- The pullover I almost biffed this fall. I’m so glad I didn’t! The colors make me happy, it’s super warm layered like this, and the length and kangaroo pockets work with my proportions. ($1 at Value Village. It looked never worn and the brand is American Eagle Outfitters.)
Thankfully, we are all safe, warm, and happy. DD with Macy’s job already had today off. Yesterday we picked up some kerosene for our emergency heater. Just to be on the safe side.
Anybody inspired to send in a Real Fashion for Real People entry? I’d love to run another series of them!
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Masculine Femininity
Here’s the outfit Vildy built after last weekend’s discussion on pairing masculine looks with feminine details and vice versa. It definitely works! 
Thanks Vildy! *APPLAUSE*
ALSO, you will want to know that Janel at Pearls is doing a fashion series and posting, Real Fashion for Real People style, “What I Wore Today”. Skirt-wearers especially will want to check it out!
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Real Fashion for Real People! Fall Business and Social
This was harder than I thought it would be.
My challenge, and yours, should you choose to accept it, was to show one business outfit for the upcoming season and one social outfit, using only items that are generally affordable. Here’s what I scrounged up, most pieces previously shown around here
:
Business
Characteristic of the individual with a strong contemporary classic style influence, most of my looks have a business edge. Unfortunately in my lifestyle I have zero need for traditional business clothing. If I did, I would wear this, but only in the fall/winter. Because of my idiom, I might also wear this for social.
- Base: black velvet skirt, thrifted for $1
- Top: white shirt, thrifted. I don’t remember the exact price, definitely under $10
- Layer: velvet paisley blazer, thrifted for $7
Social
This one can mess me up. I think I should be able to wear a sateen jacket for “smart” casual, but I just can’t - it’s too dressy, shiny.
- Base: year-round weight wool high-waisted pencil skirt, thrifted for about $6.
- Top: sequined tee, purchased on clearance several years ago for about $2
- Layer: magenta sateen blazer, thrifted for $1
See why this was hard? My business clothes looked dressy and my social clothes looked tailored. And I have no dresses, except the pink silk, my ball gown separates, and a couple of killer LBDs.
What are you wearing socially or for business this fall? Real Fashion for Real People is for everybody, I hope you’ll send in some pictures to share.
