A New New Dress

Thanks to everyone who commented on this post. I really love the ruffle dress, but I obviously had reservations about wearing it to the wedding this weekend. I guess I was looking for validation that I wouldn't be under dressed. Most of you thought it would be fine for a wedding, but there were a few who did not think it was dressy enough. Ultimately I decided that I would rather be overdressed, so I set out to look for a new dress last night.

On my way home from the dentist I decided to browse the stores in Union Station. I never think to check out White House Black Market, but as I was walking by last night, it caught my eye. There are some really nice dresses there! I tried on a bunch and ended up finding a little black dress that I can wear to a variety of events. It is currently on sale, looks really expensive, and is super slimming. I am obsessed with this dress.

I also picked up these shoes.


I cannot wait to wear this outfit! I even tried it on again last night before bed. You can't see my shoes, but I was definitely clomping around the house in them. Sorry neighbors.




I haven't decided on jewelry yet, but I like the chunky necklace idea.

I also really liked this dress, but decided against buying it in addition to the LBD and shoes. When I sent the picture to my husband and mother, they both said I should go back and buy the dress.

I may be stopping by the store again tonight!

Dress - Yay or Nay?

This morning I set out to find a dress for a wedding we are attending this Friday (Yes, we! I get to see my husband this weekend!). I decided to check out Target to see if they had any cheap options. I ended up purchasing this Ruffle Tank Dress for $20, but I am not sure if it is dressy enough for a wedding. I mean, it is from the juniors section and the top is cottony. What are your thoughts? And what about the black? Is that still a no-no?

Here is the dress without accessories:

Better with the long chain necklace?

(that white blob on the floor is Kona)

More sophisticated when looped twice with some pearls added in?


Help me decide, please!

I also tried on this Zac Posen for Target Two-Piece Ruffled Dress. It was super fun, but I didn't buy it because the only dress available in my size had a rip on one of the ruffles.

Is this dress over the top? I might go to another Target to get it.... Thoughts?

Outfit Planning

While planning my menu yesterday, I got thinking about how productive I would be if I planned everything out in advance. Obviously that isn't entirely possible, but surely there are some things I could plan....

One of the first things that came to mind was planning my outfits for the week. My alarm goes off at 6 AM and I usually leave my house by 7 AM (with my curlers still in my hair) so that does not leave me a lot of time to plan my outfit in the morning.

I pretty much always lay out an outfit for Monday on Sunday night, but that is the extent of my planning. The rest of the week I pick out my outfit in the morning, and some days I do well, but there are many days when I am too tired to find something fab. Instead I usually just throw on a cable knit sweater and khakis. I blogged about "my uniform" once before and since I still get stuck in that rut every now and then, outfit planning just might help me wear all those clothes I never wear and to be more creative with my wardrobe.

I didn't plan a week's worth of outfits yesterday because this idea was still coming to fruition in my head, but next week I am definitely going to try it. It will be a good week to begin outfit planning because I have Monday off....yay for a short week.

Does anyone already do this? Anyone want to join me in this new venture?

Here is what I put together last night for today:

Black sweater dress: 2008 Christmas gift (not sure where it is from)
Pink tights: Target
Ruffle flats: Piperlime
Bow Headband: Forever 21 (which was a gift from Ms. Mindless!)

Here's hoping I can look this fun everyday!

Fashion Editor

Have you played Fashion Editor on Polyvore yet? Click the link, create a set using one or more of fall's trendiest items, and if Rachel Zoe likes your set, you win a $250 gift card!

It is difficult only using items from Piperlime.com, but I think I found some items that work with the ruffle shirt. I know the boyfriend jeans trend is hit or miss for a lot of people, but I think the femininity of the shirt tones them down a bit. What do you think? Also, I love wearing neutrals and adding a pop of color with a bag or shoes. I would have some jewelry (maybe a triple strand of long pearls?), but there doesn't seem to be any jewelry on Piperlime. So alas, here is my submission!

Find me on Polyvore

A Natural Antidepressant

I haven't really talked about it on my blog, but I spent most of September in kind of a funk, particularly during the week, as my somberness was definitely related to work. I was having a hard time transitioning into a new district, especially a much larger, more urban district, with a generally "tougher" population of students. It was really hard to hear the terrible stories and backgrounds of the students I was working with, on top of all the difficulties I was having as a new, young person in the schools. Bottom line.....The policies, procedures, and casework were all very different, and I was not feeling comfortable and confident in my new job.

This past month I participated in Mission: Put Together, a challenge to be creative and thoughtful in my dressing each morning, as well as a way to chronicle my outfits. I decided to take part in the challenge because I thought it would give me something exciting to do on the weekdays. I generally enjoy getting all gussied up, but most days (during my funk) resorted to khakis and cable sweaters because I felt uninspired and dreaded going to work each day. Although I still love a classic khaki and cable sweater ensemble, wearing it daily was a little boring.

Following my first day of participation in M:PT, I immediately perked up and was excited to head to work in my spiffy little outfit each day. The comments and inspiration provided by the other M:PT members really helped to boost my spirits. Although I am sure getting used to my job and finally feeling as though I could handle the stress associated with working in my district were also at play, I think M:PT provided the kick in the butt I needed to feel like myself again. So thank you M:PT (including OPH and RA), the challenge and everyone's amazing comments helped improve my overall mood!

You can view my M:PT outfits here. Yes, I did wear a lot of jumpers ;)

If I Was Rich...

Back in July, my mom and brother were in DC to drop off Kona after our honeymoon. Before they headed back to NY, we ventured down Connecticut Ave. so that we could all do a little back to school shopping. We live about 5 or 6 blocks from a Brooks Brothers, but have only gone in once JUST to look around. We certainly can't afford their clothes on my intern salary, and since Alson is in law school, I get to be the sole breadwinner.

Of course, my brother wanted to go in....so we followed. Alson ended up finding a sweater on sale for $40. Not bad, considering it was originially over $100. When he paid for the sweater, he must have given the salesperson our home address because now we receive their catalogs in the mail. Today the Winter issue arrived, and I literally drooled all over the pages as I flipped through.

I. want. everything.

Men's, Women's, Children's.

I want it all!

Alson would die of sheer joy if a package arrived with their entire winter collection. Our future children (I guess they would all be boys because they don't have girls clothing) would look so adorable in their little sweaters and corduroys. Plus, I would just be the classiest women in town; all prim and proper! Granted, I would probably mix and match their clothing with some more modern pieces to make it my own look (because let's be honest, if I walked into my schools looking like the models in the catalog, I would get torn to shreds by the students...and probably the teachers too), but their preppy staples are so timeless and classic.

Maybe someday!

First Day

After reading many uplifting and kind comments (thank you all!) my spirits rose and I decided you all are right...everyone has moments of sadness, but this too shall pass.

On to a different topic.....

On the first day of school each year, my mom made a special breakfast (usually waffles) and took pictures of my brother and I in our new school clothes. It was a fun tradition that always made the first day of school extra special. Although today technically isn't the first day of school for students, it was the first day at my new school job. That counts right? I had to get up at 6 AM, an hour I haven't seen in many months, so a hearty breakfast wasn't a priority, but I still got my picture taken...this time by my husband. I think I look quite chipper for it being 7 AM.

Now for the shocker.....I bought the shirt from Express and the skirt from the Gap back in early high school. I have tons of new "school" clothes that I could have worn today, but last night as I was combing through my closet and trying on numerous outfits, I decided on this one. I have probably worn this outfit 30+ times over the past 8 years. I last wore this outfit for my thesis proposal (not to be confused with my defense) last September, so although I don't wear often, I have still worn it a lot (that makes sense right?). I remember I went through the same thing the night before my proposal, ultimating choosing this outfit. Does anyone else consistently wear the same outfits because they just work?

Anyway.... Yay for surviving the first day of orientation! While most of it was boring and predictable it was nice to have a schedule, meet some new people, and start to get acquainted with the life of a grown-up.

Mission: Put Together

So I know I’m 16 days late in joining Mission: Put Together, but I just found RA's blog today.

I saw Janet’s link to an outfit a couple weeks back, but didn’t understand what her "casual day outfit" was all about until I saw something about it again today, and started doing a little investigating. What I found was a really cool way to see what other bloggers are wearing, so I learn how to put together an outfit while getting some feedback from the other picture posters.

What a perfect time to embark on dressing nice, as I will FINALLY be starting my internship in a couple months (okay, so it's still a ways away, but no sense in waiting until the last minute to figure out how to look good for work right?). Also, since I have recently transplanted from the tobacco fields (the town I lived in literally was built in the middle of tobacco land) of Eastern North Carolina...and graduate school for that matter...where it is acceptable to wear sweats, t-shirts, and un-professional clothing on a daily basis, to DC where all the people I see on the streets are so nicely put together, I sense it's time to stop dressing like a 4 year old (at least when I am venturing out into public).

I was planning on getting ready and looking nice anyway....I am going to meet Alson downtown after (his) work so we can do a little shopping and get a drink. Now I can photograph my outfit and share it with the blog world.