Outfit Post: 5/21/13

Top: Target — Skirt: One Mango Tree — Flats: American Rag — Ring and earrings: Nervous System

It’s kind of funny how I have an easier time styling this top than I do with some of the more conventionally-silhouetted items in my closet.

I just pull it out whenever I want to play with shape or pattern, or when I want to feel dramatic. It’s a very good top for feeling dramatic, especially when the wind catches the sleeves and they get all billowy, like a romance novel hero’s.

The two patterns don’t have a lot in common with each other–the barest little hints of yellow and navy–but maybe that’s why they work.

Also, y’all have seen my Nervous System ring before, but allow me to debut…

My new Nervous System earrings! Worn together, they make me feel way cooler than I really have any right to be.

Outfit Post: 5/20/13

Top: Gift — Blazer: Thrifted — Skirt and flats: Goodwill (Target) — Medallion pin: DIY — Bracelet and earrings: Gifts

Okay, y’all, I’m a bit behind this year compared to last year, but let’s talk EUROVISION.

The winner? Not my fave, but (as my friend Tito said) if the prize had to go to a boring pop song/ballad, it might as well have been Denmark! Instead, let me share with you a few non-winning favorites from this year.

1. Greece.

Pros: High-energy, fun (Balkan ska!), not about love.

Cons: A drinking song isn’t a whole lot of use to someone who doesn’t drink.

2. The Netherlands.

Pros: Sort of weird and eerie and minor-key; it stands out from a lot of the more conventional numbers.

Cons: Dead birds falling from the sky like rain? Umm.

3. Romania.

Pros: Romania’s entry is the perfect embodiment of why I love Eurovision. You slog through a dozen sappy ballads or club dance mixes, and then you hit something balls-out weird like this.

Cons: None. ROMANIA 4 LYFE.

Are you a Eurovision fan? What entries stood out for you this year? (If you don’t like Romania, we can’t be friends.)

Loads of Links 5/20/13

+ What I Mean When I Say I’m Sex Positive.

+ “Cultural Appropriation: A conversation” is a photo series by Sanaa Hamid depicting people on either side of cultural appropriation in an attempt to create a dialogue.

+ How would Henry VIII and Elizabeth I look in the 21st century? I’m pretty into Shakespeare’s new hairdo.

+ Seema Jilani experienced some really alarming racism at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

+ For her daughter’s 5th birthday, photographer Jaime C. Moore dressed her up as five influential women from history. I’d love to see this continued with more young girls with different cultural backgrounds!

+ Yolo Akili explores the sometimes-sexist relationship between gay men and women’s bodies.

+ Yi Shun Lai writes about her experiences with racism, Asian-American stereotypes, and “well-meaning bigots.”

+ Karen at off the (meat)hook debunks ten common food and cooking myths.

+ Kiera Wilmot will not be charged with a felony, and will instead be going to space camp! Her expulsion status at school still seems to be unclear, though. As Shannon Hale said on Twitter, “Don’t punish curiosity.”

+ 25 Minority Characters That Hollywood Whitewashed.

Outfit Post: 5/16/13

Top: Swapped — Skirt: Gift — OTKs (worn as knee-highs) and earrings: Target — Boots and belt: Macy’s — Ring: Solano Stroll

You can’t tell from these sun-dappled photos, but the day started out dreary and drizzling, so out came the boots and a long-sleeved top.

For some reason I initially rejected this combination as weird (blue and navy? unthinkable!) but it works pretty well! I have a hard time navigating true blues, almost as much trouble as I have with reds–maybe primary colors just aren’t my thing? They make me feel a little superhero-y, which by all rights shouldn’t be a bad thing, but here we are. I like this top, though, so I’m workin’ on it.

How do you like to style true blues (if you do, in fact, like to style them at all)?

Outfit Post: 5/15/13

Dress: Ross — Button-front: Goodwill — Flats: 6pm.com (Frye) — Pendant: Gift from Katie! — Headband: The Faerie Market

Woof! Windy days make it hard to take non-ridiculous outfit pictures, especially when said outfit is a bit on the slouchy side.

Aaaand the wrinkly side. Lest ye forget that I put as little effort into maintaining my wardrobe as possible.

I actually forgot that we were having an all-staff luncheon the day I wore this outfit to work; normally I’m only seen around the office by a dozen people at most, so I can get away with gently skirting the “office-appropriate” line if I feel like it. I did up a few of the shirt’s buttons in an attempt to look a little more put-together for lunch, and then spent the rest of the day doing and undoing them because I couldn’t decide which way I preferred things.

At least I wore my Forest Princess headband! I really should wear it with the mushroom pendant all the time, since they’ve got such a nice theme going together.

How do you feel about maxi dresses for the office? Too casual/comfortable, just fine, other?

Outfit Post: 5/14/13

Blazer: Swapped — Skirt: Goodwill — Camisole: Van Heusen Outlet — Flats: American Rag — Earrings and bracelet: Hand-me-down

Evidently, I had the sillies while taking pictures yesterday after work. I’m pretty sure it’s no secret that I’m kind of a goofburger, but some days it’s more obvious than others.

I’ve never been a terribly dignified person, and as I think I’ve mentioned before, I sometimes feel a little disappointed in myself for not being that way. Why can’t I be cool and confident and a little mysterious?

I talk too loudly and emote too much, I’m a chronic oversharer, and I’m way too scatterbrained. Dignity isn’t really in my wheelhouse.

But, you know, fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, I gotta be me.

Whatever that means.

Outfit Post: 5/13/13

Dress: Gift — Sandals: Danskos — Necklace and earrings: Gifts from Costa Rica — Ring: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Some days, I just want to wear such as a simple dress.

This dress has seen me through a lot–beach trips, bad sunburns, Sunday laziness. I haven’t found too many ways to restyle it, what with the big sleeves and the weird waist, but I guess nobody’ll stone me for just wearing it as-is.

I did fancy it up a little with some gifts. In honor of Mother’s Day, and especially in honor of the trip my mom and stepdad are currently taking (to Greece!), I wore some jewelry Mom brought back from the last international trip they took. (Those lucky ducks, all retired and gettin’ to go places.)

I don’t know if it’s possible for Mom to bring me back anything as pretty as these hand-carved-and-painted Costa Rican hummingbird earrings, but I hope that doesn’t stop her from trying.

Outfit Post: 5/10/13

Shirt: Threadless — Pants and vest: Goodwill — Flats: Frye — Bracelet and earrings: Hand-me-down — Necklace: DIY (based on a design from Little Treasures by TG)

Hey there, gentles and ladymen! How’s this Monday doin’ ya? I’m struggling to approximate a semblance of normal-human-being-ness today, but what can you do.

Did you have a good weekend? I know Mother’s Day can be a hard and complicated holiday for lots of folks, but I hope you all got a chance to think about the families you have and the families you’ve made, and to thank the moms and mom-like people who’ve made your life better.

I had a hurried phone conversation with my own mom, who was getting ready to leave on an exciting journey (more about that tomorrow)–the words may have been rushed, but the love was there.

There have also been a bunch of moms in my life who’ve given me a place to sleep and their blessing in my bothering their children, and I appreciate that so much. (Hi, Becky!)

And, you know, for the rest of us non-moms out there, who by choice or by happenstance probably won’t become moms in our lifetimes–we’re pretty cool and valuable people too. Flat Tire didn’t get me a gift, though, which I must say was pretty rude of her. Cats, you know? So ungrateful.

Outfit Post: 5/9/13

Dress: eBay (Anthropologie) — Blazer: Goodwill — Flats: American Rag — Earrings: Gift from Katie! — Necklace: NoMoreRack — Ring: Gift

I’m not sure about this blazer. I picked it up on a thrifting venture while Tia was in town, but I’m just…not sure about it.

I like the yellow (which is more saturated IRL than in the pictures here) and I like the idea of it…but maybe it’s just that the reality doesn’t quite match up to the idea. It’s kind of wrinkly even when I iron it, and it just doesn’t feel like the quality is that great.

Maybe the problem is wearing it with this dress–I love the purples of the top half so much, and it’s a shame to cover that up.

I’ll probably hang onto it a little longer and give it another shot, but these days I have less patience for clothing that I’m on the fence about–one or two tries and if I’m not super into it, out it goes. That unsure feeling in my clothing makes me less confident, and that can color my whole day with insecurity, which is not something I enjoy so much.

How much time do you give clothing that you feel eh about? Do you put up with it because the love comes in time? Do you chuck it ASAP? Do you only buy what you really, truly love in the first place?

Outfit Post: 5/8/13

Top: Thrifted — Skirt and bracelet: Gift — Socks: Sock Dreams (Bobby Socklings in Moss) — Oxfords: Payless — Necklace: Hand-me-down — Earrings: World Market

I think this blouse is the closest thing I own to a crop-top.

The crop-top is one of those trends that’s coming back around that I can really only observe with fascination and curiosity. I’ve seen folks wear them and look amaaazing (see: 1 / 2 / 3 ), but I still feel most comfortable admiring them on other people, ya know? I’m still learning which areas of skin I feel confident in exposing and which ones make me feel shaky and anxious.

I also have extra weirdness with them because as a long-torsoed person I have historically had a hard time finding long-enough shirts anyway, and there’s that annoying diamond of lower-back skin that always and forever will become exposed when I bend over. No. Matter. What.

So, y’know, it’s a thing.

I enjoy admiring them on other people, though! I love the variety of styles I’ve seen them come up in–sweet and romantic, tough and edgy, polished and chic. Surprisingly versatile, although perhaps not office-friendly.

So how do you feel about crop-tops, huh? Tell me! Teeeeelllll meeeeeeeee.