Friday lab

Fridays I teach 2 labs back to back, both are 3 hours in length....so I need comfort. I forgot how warm that lab classroom can be with all of the computers and little ventilation.......so while I left the house looking cute, I was way too warm in class. The sweater is Ann Taylor via Goodwill ($3.79). The pants are from a suit, I think JCPenny a year or so ago. The white button down shirt is Ann Taylor via Goodwill ($3.79). the best was a recent TJ Maxx purchase while in Boston ($9.99). I did wear super comfy black loafers rather than heels.

week almost over

yesterday, my outfit was cute, but I could not get a decent picture of it to save my life. This morning was an early morning again, but did manage to snap a quick photo before heading to work. The skirt is White House Black Market and the burgundy turtleneck sweater is from Cleo.

early morning meeting

I had an 8am meeting on campus today. And since I never commute during normal commuter hours, I left the homestead a at 6:50am just to be sure and have enough time. Thus the pictures area little dark, as it was still dark outside. The early morning also dictated something easy, so a one piece wrap dress it was. The dress came from the Talbot's outlet this fall, and it was my first time wearing it. Originally $148, and I paid $9.99!

The cream cashmere sweater also made the early morning somehow seem better. Everything is better with cashmere, right?
I adore these shoes. They seem to be both ugly and cute at the same time. Pretty comfy too!

back from my travels

Last week I was traveling to a conference and a meeting, so my classes were canceled and thus no posts. Today was all about comfort as I try to get back into the swing of things.

I love nude tights!

I wasn't intending on a jacket today, but then I remembered how cold my afternoon classroom can be and made a last minute grab for the jacket. But I think it works. Both the jacket and the skirt are corduroy.....makes me feel very 70s for some reason. I am wearing nude colored tights which I just love....the look of pantyhose with the warmth of tights! This particular pair I have probably had for about 10 years.....they are some well made tights! The jacket was a JC Penny after Cristmas clearance purchase last winter...I think it was about $15.
The skirt is a Ann Taylor via Goodwill ($3.79). The sweater was a right before new year purchase....one of my last new items before my self imposed year of only "new to me". The belt was also Goodwill ($0.99) but is originally NY & Co. The necklace was a gift and came from Coldwater Creek. Boots were purchased this past fall at Marshalls. These are the boots that one of my students referred to as "hooker boots", so I chuckle every time I wear them now.

Just a close-up of the skirt pattern.

Color!

Since I have started reading blogs about other people's daily fashion choices, I am feeling inspired to break out a little from my typical fashion choices. So for Christmas, when one of my aunts asked for suggesting for me, I said some colorful and/or patterned tights. Sporting a pair she gave me today! This dress was one of the first few purchases I made when I started losing weight as it was super cheap (either $5 or $10). And even though I bought it in the middle of my weight loss journey, it still fits. Somewhat of a witch dress, but by adding color I think it doesn't seem costumey. The magenta cardigan i got this past fall at Target, and it is quickly becoming a go-to staple.

First day of Class

Yesterday was my first day of the new semester in terms of teaching. Inspiration finally struck me at the last minute and I went for a simple lined wool pants, black short and burgundy blazer. I am going to have some serious clothing issues this semester....my classroom for my 11am class is blazing hot, but my 2pm class is in a meat locker. So not sure how to dress for both. The second picture is a close up of the pants pattern.....I guess it is sort of a tweed? The pants are a size too big (I bought them before I finished losing weight), and they don't have any belt loops. I really should get rid of them or get them tailored, so that I am not pulling them up all the time. I do like the pattern, so tailoring may be the way to go.

First day of the Spring semester

I don't actually teach today, but decided I need to get back in the habit of dressing up for work.....so bye bye jeans till the weekend. These pants don't get nearly enough wear, so i am glad I thought of them today. I grabbed the jacket because my office is always freezing, so wouldn't you know it that today it feels fine and the jacket just felt restrictive, so it is on the back of my chair. The bracelet was a last minute add. It was in my stocking this past Christmas. Santa (aka my aunt) picked it up on a recent trip to Africa.....it is from Ghana. Tomorrow is the first day of class, and I have absolutely NO IDEA what to wear. I think my dilemma is that the first few classes I try to really up the "authority figure" look, which to me means a suit or blazer.....but nothing in that section of my closet is jumping out at me. Plus I also need to look approachable. Hmmm. Today's outfit was: pants from Cleo (bought last spring, I think about $20 canadian), cream cowl neck top (Kohl's for $5.60), sweater vest (Reitman's, can't remember price), blazer was Goodwill ($4.99).

calm before the storm

I love the time when students aren't on campus. Don't get me wrong, I love my students, but they can exhaust me, and thus it is nice to have these breaks. Not to mention how nice it is to wear jeans every day. I am so in love with the Ralph Lauren sweater I got at Goodwill that it is making another appearance. I did try to spice up the outfit a little with what I refer to as my "Catwoman boots". Something I discovered today, was that now that I live in a warm climate, my winter boots with narrow heels will sink when cutting across the ground/grass since the ground doesn't freeze.

cozy comfy.....so who needs style?

Today was all about being comfy and cozy in case we were without heat again at work. Still no students, so it is casual and comfy all the way for me. Sporting my long cashmere sweater again. this time I tried a bronzey scarf as the belt rather than the monochromatic one it comes with. The belt hits me at a weird spot, so i know this is not the most flattering look on me. But it feel like pure luxury.......so who cares how it looks? I did layer it with a cream long sleeved shirt because the arms are rather wide by the wrist, so I was worried about them letting in too much cold air. I am also sporting slightly above the ankle boots and knee high socks. I was very happy with how by coincidence the scarf I picked as a belt matches my nail polish, so of course I had to take a picture of my hands too.

Still casual

Classes don't start till next week, so I am still sporting casual clothes, even though I am back on campus. Jeans, a cami and sweater. The sweater was a Goodwill find a few weeks ago, but this is the first wearing. It is a Kersh sweater, which brings back memories of my days living in Canada (although I never purchased anything from Kersh before because of the typical prices). But at $3.79 how could I resist? I have recently started to enjoy the color orange on me, although this sweater is more of an orangey-brown-rust. I love the purple and green accents as well as the purple sequins on it. Who doesn't love purple sequins? (p.s. Please excuse my dirty bathroom mirror in the top photo, I was trying to get better light to show off the details on the sweater.)

Happy (belated) New Year!

Pretty casual day around here. I am trying to shake the remnants of a cold I have had for a week now. So just a layering of 2 tees and jeans today. I did get in an 8 mile run this afternoon, after which I was pretty chilled, despite the warm shower following, so I added a hand knitted Scottish wool sweater. But I am too lazy to take another picture to show the sweater.

What does 2010 have in store for me? Well, I am going to attempt my first marathon (yikes). I have also decided this year to go simply "new to me" for clothing. So thrift stores, Goodwill, consignment, and Ebay it will be. Exceptions are accessories, underwear, and athletic clothing. Another exception is giftcards.....figure since it isn't my money it's okay.

My New Year's Eve outfit wasn't very exciting. But I was just getting together with some friends for a game night, and given my sickness level at the time, I wanted comfy. Just jeans and a black cowl neck long sleeved tee. I did put a flower in my hair, but mostly because I didn't bother to blow dry or straighten my hair so it was a little "unruly".