Two things on this blustery and Pacific Northwest like Sunday:
1) I have picked out my 6 items for August. (I am following in cooler footsteps then myself, like the very cool Style Underdog. If I keep reading your blog, will get to be as edgy chic as you someday?)
I may cheat if it gets really hot (I am assuming that it won't be above 90 degrees for 3 weeks, like in July). I am already cheating because I mostly work from home, and no one sees me, and I may sometimes still wear PJ like clothing for the bulk of the day (but I do try to go out everyday), and I didn't include workout clothes (ew). I won't have to worry a
I have to cheat during the wedding I will be attending this Saturday, and during a week long trip abroad the third week of August. I will try to bring as many of these items as possible, but we're going to be touristing, flying 7 plus hours, and I'm going to be pretending to be an early English nanny to my friend's toddler, so I will have to be flexible for that.
I am going to see this as an exercise in accessorizing, as I don't do that as often as I'd like. It seems I've gone with the "summery prep" as my theme, even though I don't like to think of myself as a preppy person. (I'd prefer to be edgy and dark). I'll have to mix it up with some more rugged shoes/belts, etc. Here they are:
L-R: JCrew summer cardigan (thrifted), Rodarte for Target striped boatneck, Copper Key* black blousey top (via ma), slouchy Levi's jeans, skinnied by me and cuffed for summer
L-R: Muji military style skirt, American Apparel grey tunic**2) It seems I've developed the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Evidently, obssessively working at your computer up to 12 hours a day (OK, throw a substantive amount of blogging/reading/messing about on internet on there) ain't' great for the wrists. Neither is playing guitar, yoga, or sewing- AKA top recreational activities for me (I thought all my downdogs and attempted crow poses were supposed to strengthen my wrists?). I lost feeling in my left pinky finger on Thursday after a (low intensity) jam session with Blokey. Ouch.
Solution: go to Ikea and buy a better desk (with adjustable height and one of those great drawers for my keyboard) and then judiciously wear super sexy wrist braces. Jog more for a while instead of yoga. Make Blokey play the guitar to accompany me when I want to sing (folk and country, exclusively).
Oh, and make a conscious effort to step away from the keyboard.
*This is the junior's brand of basics at Dillards. This is what my ma likes to buy me, since she also wears junior's clothes, to accommodate her slenderness. She turns 59 in December. Brat.
**This may be cheating since I usually wear shorts/tights/leggings under this tunic. I don't mind the shortness, but I live in a neighborhood where if I walk around in something noticeably short, my path oft gets interrupted by the attention of admiring men. So I just play it safe.
Shirt: Rodarte for Target
Scarf: via eBay
Belt: off a pair of H&M pants
Jeans: Levis, from Macy's, skinnied by me
Shoes: Eastlands via Alamo (Chicago)
Wrist braces: Futuro, via Duane Reade
The scarf with this shirt is blowing my mind almost as much as the whole pretend/cheating challenge is! I'll be excited to hear more about your trip!
ReplyDeleteYou're a better (wo)man than I, Rad. I will be very interested to see how you make it through a month with six pieces. I might try to do something like a 10 for 10 when I pack for San Francisco, just to have less to lug. I'm a terrible packer.
ReplyDeleteFor wrist woes, belly dance arm and shoulder drills are awesome. If I feel any hand/wrist funk coming on I sit in meetings and do hand floreos and hand undulations under the table. Also: sit up straight and support the majority of the weight of your upper body and arms by stacking your core. That will take pressure off your wrists. It's amazing how many people forget to do this, even when they're otherwise body-aware.
Those are some great basics. I can't wait to see you B.A. accessorise these babies. I love the scarf with this striped tee.
ReplyDeleteI've also got some repetitive strain going on. No numbness but a discomfort in my whole right forearm and hand that keeps me awake. Do you work with the braces on? I've been thinking I should get some but putting it off because I am pretending it's not what it is.
Rad, there are so many cool things going on here today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out, and yes my friend, you are totally edgy chic and you wear that title well.
I really like what you choose for your 6. Oh the possibilities!!!!!!!!
Today's outfit is adorbs, but in a cool edgy chic sort of adorbs. The scarf really had me. Great choice.
So sorry about wrist. I am implementing Cynthia's advice right now. The wrist bands make you look BA. Maybe you should use that photo for the upcoming WW pose challenge (soon to be announced)
OK that's it I think, SU out
DMed, are you right handed? Make sure your mouse and mousing surface are low enough relative to your shoulder. Hand (slightly) below wrist below elbow below shoulder.
ReplyDeleteHuh. 'Great tips for ridding self of budding carpal tunnel above. Thanks, Rad, and others. I am stacking my core as we speak.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Rad and SU, you are hard core, and I love the pieces you've chosen. 'Am beginning to see how 6 pieces could actually take you through a month, even though I'm not doing the challenge (I use clothing to entice myself into the office & get work done).
And finally, I am drafting a Call for Images for the WW posing conference - but am I stealing your fire, SU? Let me know. . . Rad, obviously, your entry is this one. It's going to be next to impossible to top the wrist-brace WW!
Whoever thought wrist braces could look cool? These even go well with your six-piece ensemble, Rad. Looks like you've chosen really well--the only downside might possibly be that after wearing these 6 pieces for a month, you won't want to wear them again. And that would be too bad, because they're A++
ReplyDelete@LaHdM and DMed: Thanks. I wasn't sure about the scarf at first but now I am happy with it!
ReplyDelete@Cynthia: Great advice! Now that I'm back at the keyboard, I'm stacking as I type. I am gonna be so ripped!
@SU: The WW call is gonna be awesome! And thanks for thinking I am possibly cool and edgy. I am working on it.
@A-Dubs: I don't know if I can do it, but I will try! I have no clue what it's gonna be tomorrow yet! I use clothing to entice myself too, but more during the school year, as I like to work as messily as possible!
-Rad out!
That last picture is so great. I'm glad you're using this challenge as a chance to accessorize more! You can definitely do a lot with the pieces you've selected, although I'll still say there's no way I could ever do 6 pieces. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if only having six things to choose from would make getting dressed easier, or harder. I'm interested to see how you fare.
ReplyDeleteLove the stripey shirt. and I still lurk around the juniors dept, even though I know I probably shouldn't.
Chic on the Cheap
So, I have lots of thoughts about carpal tunnel, the first one being: SLEEP IN THE BRACES. Often, part of the problem comes from the ways that we flex out hands in our sleep. My second piece of advice is to get thee to the doctor. All of the core stacking and flexing and braces are great, unless irreparable nerve damage has set in, which is what happened in my right hand. They can do a test that will tell you how dire your situation is--if you have caught it early, you are on the right track (and listen to everything Cynthia has said). If you have not caught it early, you may need surgery. Which is what I did, in my right hand. (The pain was waking me up a lot at night, for instance, and I could no longer hold a pencil.) The surgery was totally worth it--fixed the problem and prevented further damage. (People will tell you that the symptoms can come back after surgery and I assume that they are correct, but that is also where all of the core stacking and wrist flexing comes in.)
ReplyDeleteI think that the scarf and the shirt look great together.
ReplyDeleteIt's my opinion that tights an leggings count as accessories, so wearing them isn't cheating.
@AftK: Luckily, my symptoms are largely gone and I am wearing the braces at the computer, but I will definitely keep that in mind when my schedule gets a bit less hectic.
ReplyDelete@Rebecca: Thanks! I think so too, and they are a fun accessory too.
@LyddieGal: I don't know yet either, but it will definitely blog about it!
@Anne: Thanks! I'm going to have to be reproduce it this weekend.
That last picture is so great. I'm glad you're using this challenge as a chance to accessorize more! You can definitely do a lot with the pieces you've selected, although I'll still say there's no way I could ever do 6 pieces. Ever.
ReplyDeleteSo, I have lots of thoughts about carpal tunnel, the first one being: SLEEP IN THE BRACES. Often, part of the problem comes from the ways that we flex out hands in our sleep. My second piece of advice is to get thee to the doctor. All of the core stacking and flexing and braces are great, unless irreparable nerve damage has set in, which is what happened in my right hand. They can do a test that will tell you how dire your situation is--if you have caught it early, you are on the right track (and listen to everything Cynthia has said). If you have not caught it early, you may need surgery. Which is what I did, in my right hand. (The pain was waking me up a lot at night, for instance, and I could no longer hold a pencil.) The surgery was totally worth it--fixed the problem and prevented further damage. (People will tell you that the symptoms can come back after surgery and I assume that they are correct, but that is also where all of the core stacking and wrist flexing comes in.)
ReplyDelete