IF I was doing 30 for 30

So the fashion blogging world is currently all about of people taking on Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge.  (Read about the challenge here.)  I decided not to do the challenge for a couple reasons:

1. It  finally turned cold enough here for me to start wearing some of my Fall and Winter clothing.  I love fall and winter clothing more than summer clothing, and thus I want as many opportunities as possible to wear the sweaters and corduroy skirts in my closet.
2. This summer I spent the month of July living out of a suitcase (was only home for 3 nights), so I feel that was my own little 30 for 30 challenge.  Especially because I had to have clothing for everything from climbing snow covered mountains in Calgary, to attending a wedding, to attending a professional meeting, to a weekend at my parents' summer cottage. 
3. While I applaud the participants' commitments to not shop for 30 days, several of the posts I have read thus far discuss buying things specifically for the challenge.  I don't mean any offense my this, but it sort of seems like someone committing to not buy any more junk food for two weeks, so before that two weeks starts they stock up on potato chips and ice cream to get them through that two weeks.
4. I am single, and if I actually manage to have a date or  two during the next 30 days, I want my full closet at my disposal.

But despite my decision to not participate, I couldn't help thinking....what would I chose?  and why?  So I am going to show the pieces I would chose IF I was going to participate.   I could make some promise that I will post each day what the combos would have been.......but if I was going to go to all that work, I might as well actually do the challenge and go the extra step to wear the outfits, right?  So this single post is the extent of my 30 for 30.  The main things that factored into my choices:

• Mixture of solids and prints.
• Not going for the obvious....both trousers I chose have a pattern, because using plain black pants seemed too easy.
• Not limiting myself to one neutral family......would be easy to pick things that all go with black, or all go with brown.
• Mixture of textures.
• Varying necklines and shapes to garments.

So without further adieu, here is what I would have picked IF I was doing 30 for 30:

Basics: White button down shirt, black sheath dress, black knee high boots, jeans, gray cardigan, black cami, and white cami. (i.e things in every woman's closet)

Shirts: black and white polka dot, red wrap, black lace, black and white striped, blue and white striped oxford, beige cowl neck, Badgers t-shirt, mustard t-shirt:

Where is the color you ask?  Check out these colorful sweaters: lime green cardigan, red floral cardigan, purple cashmere turtleneck, orange crewneck, and royal blue with open neck.

Need more print?  How about these two dresses:

 

A few more odds and ends....chunky beige sweater,  olive green corduroy a-line skirt, brown plaid pants (that I would need to iron the cuffs of), and black and gray striped pants:

And to top it all off....or rather bottom it off, 3 pairs of shoes/boots to join the black knee-high boots as my footwear:

Well that's it...........actually it is only 29 pieces, but since I am not really doing the challenge, I don't have to play by the rules!

Who needs a neck?

I know that fashion experts are always talking about extending the neck line.....and that only people with model like necks should wear a turtle neck.  Well, I love a turtle neck, even if it makes me look like a floating head on a more-covered-than-a-nun body.  Especially on a fall day when I still have a cold.

cashmere is a girl's best friend...........

On a cold rainy day where I am sick (achy all over, sore throat, slight fever) cashmere is the only clothing item besides pajamas and yoga pants that can make me feel better.  So a cashmere sweater and jeans it was.

I really wanted to cancel my class this morning, as I was not up to lecturing.  Instead, I gave them a group assignment that they could do in class, or do before the next class.  Considering 2/3 of them had an exam later in the day, most were quite happy I wasn't lecturing.  And then I gave an exam in my afternoon class.  I wonder what my students thought, as they never see me this casual....not to mention no make-up and unwashed hair in a ponytail.  But getting to campus was effort enough feeling the way I do.  Plus they were too concerned about their test to worry about what I was wearing.

reality vs. mirror

I feel fabulous in these black pants in the mirror.

But in the picture, I feel like they are ill fitted and give me a non-flattering shape.  Oh well, they are the only basic black pants I have that I can wear with heels, and the feel great.  The sweater is Ann Taylor via Goodwill.  I have put it on several times only to take it off because it didn't seem to work, but today I thought it worked effortlessly with the white button down.  I don't teach today, but I have a meeting with the dean, so didn't want to look too casual.  You can't see it, but I am wearing these fun shoes with this outfit.

Socks and Boots?

Today I tried the knee high socks and knee high boots look that I have been seeing all over the place.

I'm not sure it is the look for me.  I was very excited to wear this "new to me" Abercrombie tan corduroy skirt I got at Goodwill.  It just feels like a Fall basic.  This is once again an almost all Goodwill outfit.  The burgundy with white polka dots Johny collar style shirt and black Banana Republic sweater also came from Goodwill. (P.S. This is what I wore yesterday, but I was on campus till after midnight, so didn't get to post till today.)

Professorial standby

I don't teach on Mondays, but I had a few advising meetings, so I needed to be on campus.  I went with an old standby look for academics: button down shirt, cashmere sweater, jeans, and a blazer.  The jeans and button down shirt are from Ebay.  My cashmere sweater is from the J Crew via the Salvation Army (only $1.99!).  The blazer is from a consignment store, as are my boots (previously worn here).  So I am 100% "new to me" today.

This picture was taken in my office.  Would you like to see my office?

 Please excuse the messy desk.  I do clean it before I leave each night.....but haven't done so yet tonight.

Casual Friday

I needed to be comfy on Friday.  I had a master's student proposal defense, followed by a faculty meeting, and then a rush to Greensville, SC to pick up my race packet for the half marathon I was running on Saturday.

Jeans a tee shirt it was!