to the max

I am short.....5ft 1in actually, so maxi dresses are a challenge for me.  But I was lucky enough to find this maxi dress, which was perfect for a night out in Vegas!

summer floral

This is a Goodwill driven outfit.  I bought this summery floral pencil skirt at a Goodwill almost 2 years ago, but never seemed to wear it as I was having problems finding the right top.  I kept trying blue tops and they weren't working.  Recently I found this lime t-shirt and it was a match made in heaven for this skirt.

These demin wedges are becoming a new summer favorite.  (Via kids section of Payless)

summer shoes

Sorry for lack of posts....but it is summer, so no teaching, plus a lot going on in my personal life.  So while I have still been wearing lots of skirts and dresses, I have been relying on old favorites.  These demin wedges are new and are becoming a summer favorite.  I have a lot of navy clothing that they are perfect with.  Actually they neutral denim makes them perfect with almost everything.  They are from Payless, but are kids sized, so sorry most of you won't be able to pick up a pair.

The top is thrifted a few years ago.  The shorts are from a spring consignment sale, bought for half price the last day of the sale.  I think they are an Anthropologie brand.

under the Harry Potter robe

Today was Commencement.  We are required to go to at least one graduation ceremony a year, but I try to go to both the winter and spring commencement because:

1. We have a close knit group of students and only 3 full time faculty, so it means a lot to them for us to come and support them.  Plus their parents love getting group shots of us with the students.
2. We typically have students graduating at both terms, and it seems wrong to only show up for some of their graduations.
3. I paid $800+ for my academic regalia, so any chance I get to wear it decreases the cost per wear.

These gowns are HOT, so underneath I wore a light summer dress.

 This dress looks like a pencil skirt and blouse, but it is in fact one single piece making it easy-peasy.

I love this dress and got it on serious clearance, but it is dry clean only and the skirt part is very prone to wrinkles.

Backlog

I found some pictures from the last few weeks that I never posted.  So here they are:

The above was worn to work one day in April.

The above dress I wore to our department banquet.

Never been to Nantucket

I have never been to Nantucket, but it seems like it would be a "nautical" sort of place.  And if I went to Nantucket on a summer day, this is what I would wear.  I LOVE madras plaid (don't judge that I may own more than one madras plaid skirt)!  I think this would be the perfect outfit for walking along piers full of sailboats.

The tee-shirt (a very pale yellow) is from Target and the skirt is Ann Taylor Loft via Goodwill.  The hard to see sticker proclaims that I voted today.  In particular I voted against Amendment One in NC.

light and flowy

I bought this skirt at the Talbot's Outlet last fall, but it was just too summery to break out until now.  I need to find a more dressy top to go with it for more formal work days.  But during finals week a t-shirt is fine.

Puppy Love

This is what I wore last Thursday.  My doggie insisted on some loving while I snapped a photo.

replacement shoes

Oh how white my legs are.  Wearing white is supposed to make people look more tan.....it just highlights how pale I am.  These shoes are replacement shoes.  I have a very similar pair that I recently wore into the ground (we are talking wore holes into the soles).  These look very similar to the pair that died, and thus I know they will integrate into my closet quite well.

Tee (Talbot's Outlet), Skirt (White House Black Market via Ebay), shoes (Ann Klein via Marshall's clearance rack).

Here is a quick comparison of old and new shoes....(old on left, new on right).  Old shoes will go out in the trash tonight.

Still alive....barely

It is that time of the semester where absolute chaos reigns.  So very few outfits are getting photographed.  Today was a random exception.

The cardigan is from the Talbots Outlet.  All the rest (shoes, skirt, belt, shirt) are from thrift stores and consignment sales.

better late then never

Thursday and Friday I did not get the chance to do a blog post....but I did manage to get out photos done.  So here is what I wore Thursday and Friday.

Exciting, eh?

awkward parts of the job

I find one of the most awkward parts of my job to be meeting students' parents.  Tonight one of my undergrads asked me to be his "faculty guest" for an awards banquet he is being honored at.  I agreed, and then he told me his parents will be there too.  I have done one of these before and the students are usually quiet because their worlds are colliding (i.e. family and school meet).  And I always feel like the parents are waiting for me to praise their students.  Awkward is the word.

 

This black sheath dress and beaded cardigan are both second hand, but I think they fit the day of teaching and awards banquet attending.   The up side.....having this awards banquet to attend tonight got me out of participating in the student fundraiser today called "Pie Your Professor" where they are selling raffle tickets for the chance to throw a pie in a professors face.

blah, blah, blah

Today's outfit is boring, and not even very flattering.  Also, my knee is still bothering me some, so no heels (note to self: 3 half marathons in a 4 week period is too much).  Not even sure why I am posting this fashion disaster, but here it is:

what's black and white and red all over?

Remember that joke from elementary school?  I think the punch line is supposed to be a zebra in a blender....but today, let's just say it is me!

I've got some pattern mixing going on with the floral cardigan over the polka dot dress.  Crazy for a Monday, eh?

easy Friday

It was a Friday, and my knee has been bothering me, so casual shoes despite the fact that we had a department speaker visiting.

I feel like this outfit looked better in person than it photographed.  Oh well, can't look like a fashion model every day.

Bring It On!

Tonight I am going to see the musical Bring It On!  I am excited, I love a good night of musical theater.  For work and the vent tonight I am wearing a new to me dress that I got off of Ebay for under $5.

Last Hurrah!

After a summer that seemed to arrive in February, we are finally having some decent spring weather with highs in the 60s today.  So it was an excuse for one last spin in some of my knee high boots before they disappear for months.

 

The shirt is a recent find at the Green Jeans consignment sale ($5).  The sweater is Ann Taylor via Goodwill ($3.79).  The skirt is Banana Republic via a consignments store.  The navy skirt was priced $18, but I had a Groupon, so I bought $65 worth of clothing with the Groupon I spent $20 on.  I must admit I own this exact skirt in khaki and dark brown (both thrifted at Goodwill).    I try not to buy things in multiples, but this a-line skirt fits me so well, and in neutral colors, it seems so practical that I can't lose.  The real question is, since I got all three colors of this skirt via second hand options.....why are so many women getting rid of a perfect skirt?

Perfectly Pastel

I used to be very anti-pastels, but in the last few years, they have been creeping into my closet.  Today for Everybody Everywear: Pastels, I had many options to chose from.  This sheath is from Talbots and was thrifted at Goodwill.  What I love about it is the cute bows on the sides of the hem, and that while it is old Talbots (not sure year, but has the red Talbots tag) it goes perfectly with my Talbots cardigan that I picked up at the outlet last year.

Dress: Talbots, thrifted for $4.99
Shoes: Payless, ~$15 in 2009
Cardigan: Talbots, $15
necklace: consignment sale, $2

Go Team!

It is a Friday, AND I have hockey tickets for tonight.....so I am showing my team spirit today.  Boring?  perhaps.  Easy and comfortable? YES!

ruffle me up

I am feeling particularly girly today.  This WHBM teired skirt is almost like ruffles, and the Talbot's tee I paired it with has ruffles too.  My outfit may be mostly black, but it is 100% girly.

This necklace was a christmas gift from my brother's mother-in-law.  It is nothing I would normally buy, but I love it and think it is a great way to add a pop of color.

I've got nothing

Nothing profound to say about this outfit or the world.  Just a Wednesday and I am trucking along.

leopard and lace

Some prints and textures are classic in my mind.  Both lace texture and leopard print are classic when worn alone, but I think the combo makes them fresh.  At least that's my story and I am sticking to it.

saturday night out

I went out last night for Indian food with a friend.  Since this friend has given me the advice that I don't show off my assets well enough, I decided to wear my new dress that is more low cut than what I typically wear. 

Funny because when I look at the picture it doesn't look nearly as low cut as it felt. 

don't mess with success

Another day, another dress and cardigan.  As easy as 1, 2, 3.  And I like it that way!

in a rut

I am in a dressing rut....pun intended.  I seem to be going with a dress and cardigan every day.  But I am okay with that.

a day late and a dollar short

Ok, not really a dollar short.  But this is what I wore on Monday.

back to black

Yesterday I got a bunch of compliments from my students on my red dress!  But despite that I am back to an old stand-by of black today.

Dress is Ann Taylor via Ebay.

tomato red? not really

The colors look funky today.  This thrifted Ann Taylor dress is actually a brick red in color.  Not sure red is a spring color, but I was wishfully thinking the cardigan and pink belt make it spring appropriate.

black, white, and pastel

In the early spring, all I seem to want to wear is black and white with a pop of pastel.  Ok, I pretty much want to wear black and white year round, but the pastel thing is definitely Spring talking to me.

 

 I got this dress at Ann Taylor Loft several years ago.  My aunt was with me, and she thought it de-emphasized my bust, where I thought it emphasized it.  Regardless we both loved this dress on me (I loved the color and pattern, my aunt loved the shape).

pink and grey

Pink and grey is one of my favorite color combinations.  I especially love it in the spring.  This skirt is a year round skirt (see it styled in winter here) because it is a light weight but a dark color palette.

This will be a busy week, so I might struggle to get some posts up.

Sunday Brunch

I enjoyed a delightful Sunday brunch with friends today.  I opted to dress somewhat like ladies who lunch, even though I was having lunch with 2 guys.

Not sure why this picture turned out so grainy, but Sundays are for taking it easy, so no re-shoot.

dressed up Friday

Normally my Fridays are pretty casual.  Lots of meetings or working in my office on a typical Friday.  But this Friday I was giving a talk off campus.

This dress is easy and comfy, so it was an easy choice.  I  bought it with gtiftcards at Target in 2010....it was about the only clothing I bought new that year, and even then it was on a clearance rack.

coral fever

This thrifted coral cardigan (J Crew) is becoming a go-to piece.  It is full on spring here, and thus a summery dress and cardigan were in order. 

I take my pictures using a timer on my camera and crop them.  Today I have out outtake of my doggie checking out what is going on.  You can see my feet in the background (I cropped this picture to highlight my doggie's cuteness).

choice for MJ

Tonight I am going to see Cirque de Soleil's Michael Jackson The Immoral World Tour.  Sorry about the pastey white legs, but it will be in the 80s here today.  This skirt looks awfully short in the pictures, but doesn't feel short.  Oh well, only a lab day teaching wise, so I am not going to worry about the length.

Shoes: Payless
Skirt: Ann Taylor via Ebay
Tee: Talbot's Outlet
Cardi: Ann Taylor via Goodwill

Spring Green

Spring is in the air...and in my outfit.  We will be in the 80s this week....Yuck!  But at least I get to pull some of my spring/summer dresses out of the back of the closet. 

This outfit works today on many levels....it is easy, it is spring-like, and it has green for Everybody, Everywear.

Guest post

Today my first ever guest post is running over on Effortless Anthropologie.  Check it out here!

butt shot

So my little doggie was trying to engage me in play while I snapped this outfit photo....so you get a nice picture of her rear end.  This Target dress was thrifted new with the tags still on.  I haven't worn it in a while, but it was a perfect fit for my mood today.

Today is the last day of spring break....so sort of depressing to realize all I didn't accomplish.  But that is par for the course when it comes to Spring Breaks.  The cardigan is from the Talbot's outlet, the belt is from a shirt, and the shoes are from Payless.

spring is in the air

It is definitely starting to feel like spring down here in the South.  Softball leagues and gardening are becoming weekend activities.  I haven't worn this dress is a long time for two reasons: 1) in needs ironing after a wash and 2) it makes a lot of noise when I walk.  But it seemed like an appropriate choice for a day in early spring.

The dress was thrifted at Goodwill, as was the pale green cashmere cardigan.

why I wear heels

I love my heels.  Snapping a casual photo of what I wore to a weekday dinner and movie with a friend reminded me why I love heels......

1. Heels make me taller.
2. Heels help me reach things (like cabinets and the chalkboard)
3. Heels make my legs look awesome
4. And as the picture illustrates, heels help me from slouching and improve my posture.

 As you can see my casual outfits are pretty boring.  They are almost always jeans, t-shirt and cardigan.  Sometimes I switch a turtleneck sweater for the cardigan.  This outfit is all second hand (except shoes which were kids size on clearance for $5).  The sweater is Ann Taylor via Goodwill, shirt is Banana Republic via Goodwill, and the Jeans are White House Black Market via Ebay.

March showers

While yesterday was sunny and in the 70s, today is rainy and in the lower 50s at best.  I actually like grey and rainy days, and I especially love dressing for grey and rainy days.

Skirt is via Goodwill ($2.99).  The tee and cardigan are from the Talbot's Outlet.  The tights were clearance at Kohls, and the boots are from GoJane.com.  Happy Rainy Friday!

length challenged

I bought this White House Black Market skirt off of Ebay, and despite the measurements being posted, I expected this skirt to be shorter than it is.  I was anticipating an a-line above the knee.  Given the pattern on this skirt, it would look funny shortened, thus I have been putting off wearing this skirt because I think the length is awkward on me.

The cardigan is Ann Taylor ($3.79 at Goodwill 2 years ago) and the t-shirt is Talbot;s (via outlet for $4.21).  There is a consignment sale near me in a few weeks that I have been using to help me clean out the closet.  Should this skirt go to the consignment sale or stay in my closet?