Boot Envy

Happy Friday, Stylenation!  I'm back in pink today.  The real highlight of this outfit for me is the scarf (Style Underdog, did you remember your scarf today?).  I bought it at Jule, an Ohio-based accessory store that really needs to expand to Chicago, while visiting my family last fall.  They had a 2-for-1 deal going, so my mom has a very similar one (the color palette is blue), which I think is pretty cool.  And it's so pretty, even Jude can't take his eyes off of it.

I have something to confess: I have some serious boot envy.  I've been admiring all kinds of beautiful and sassy boots while walking around town and even in my office.  Just this morning I saw a nice pair of cognac leather knee-high boots with a slight heel.  And on Wednesday, when a random girl that works on my floor who I've never met or even seen before stopped me to ask about these shoes, I couldn't stop checking out her grey suede boots.  And there's no escape online.  I'm getting all kinds of boot inspiration from A-Dubs, Sal, Gina, and Sheila, to name a few.  And there's all the boot porn, like Rad's, D-Med's and KellyBean's.  This morning, I saw Kristen's new boots and just couldn't take it any more.

There's just one problem - I have a near impossible time finding boots that actually fit my calves.  The issue used to be that they were a little too pudgy for most boots, so I've been doing 3 days/week of cardio and strength training, plus a ton of walking, in hopes that my calves would get smaller.  They have, but they're evidently still too big for most boots because they might actually be getting muscular.  However, I saw these boots on sale at Piperlime, noted that they are wide-shaft and simply had to have them.  Or at least try them on.

They are pretty basic, but that's what I'm looking for.  Just something nice to wear with all of my skirts and dresses this winter.  And Naturalizer is usually pretty comfy, so that's a plus.

Knee-high boots are something that I always admire and want, but can never seem to make work for me.  Do you have anything like that?  How do you get around it?

Sweater: Loft

Scarf: Jule

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Privo

Earrings: Hazel

Headband: Enjoy, an Urban General Store

Edited to add scarf close-up

Shorts to work

I'm going into the office today not for any teaching related things, but for an informal, department research colloquium. It's Friday, which is a day when almost no one comes in, so I figured tights under shorts was OK. Folks will be wearing jeans and it's casual, and the research talks we've had have been super relaxed, so I'll just add the welcoming atmosphere. Evidently, some of my colleagues sort of like my "youthful" dressing. I may have mentioned here before, but they called me and Blokey "hipsters" once. Since I don't fit this in my mind, I've decided this is just because Blokey has David Cassidy hair and we live in not yet gentrified Brooklyn).
I had to grab this recalcitrant kitten because he has lately been fascinated with my camera strap. I had to go above my 3 pictures because he ruined 2 of them. Buster also expressed that my money should go to boots, not to neutering, because he likes his balls. While it is very generous of him, we are ignoring his preferences.
The boots have remained on my mental back burner, and I may consider them as a reward, if I can get my rewrites for this silly project off my desk today.
Have a lovely weekend!

Outside Perspectives

Happy Wednesday, Stylenation!  No wardrobe do-overs today, but I did kind of phone in my pink for Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness.  It's been a bit of a challenge to wear pink all the time, and I really started missing other colors, like green.  But there's my pink brooch (which has been getting a lot of wear lately) and there's pink in my necklace.  See?

Something odd happened at work today that I wanted to share and get your much wiser opinions on.  I think I've mentioned that my company has a casual dress code - meaning I could wear jeans everyday if I wanted to.  I choose not to because I like dressing up for work, and jeans just aren't as comfortable to me as skirts and dress pants are.  That said, I do still wear jeans on Fridays because I like the idea of Casual Friday.  No one has ever really said anything to me about it, and the only comments I usually hear about my appearance are things like "I like that necklace" or "That color looks nice on you," and so forth (with the exception of my co-worker seeking advice). Today I was in a meeting where the topic of whether or not the new company that bought is us going to re-instate our dress code.  Honestly, I think that there are more pressing matters right now - will we still have jobs, will our benefits change next year, etc. But the people in my meeting couldn't stop harping on how awful it would be if we had a dress code again, and then noted in a very snooty and resentful tone that I always dress up anyway so obviously I'd support it (honestly, I could care less).  Now I'm not one to put too much stock in what other people think about me, but for some reason this bothers me.  I wish I could describe exactly what they said and why it bugs me, but it's been a long day and a lot has happened since my meeting.  They sounded like they have a problem with my choice to dress nicely, which, frankly, isn't their business.  But I had never considered that people would react in a negative way to the way I dress.  Or at all, really.

Have other people reacted to your clothing and/or sense of style in a way you didn't expect?  Am I just thinking too much about this?

Fortunately, I came home to a playful Jude, who always knows how to make me feel better

Fella joined in the fun too, and then asked if he and Jude were ruining my pictures.  Actually, they did a good job of not obstructing my outfit too much :)

Cardigan & Tee: Loft

Pants: New York & Company

Brooch: Etsy

Necklace: New York & Company

Shoes: Loft

Fella's entire ensemble: Likely Target

Get away from me, Boot Porn

Today, my evening class is being observed by a very nice and encouraging colleague. I'm a little nervous, but I'm mostly nervous about whether I will speak too fast. Here's hoping that this won't make me speak faster. This skirt is too big in the waist, but I hiked it up with a thrifted belt and now it's at the perfect length for me (with tights, of course). I was thinking about fun tights, but maybe on a non-observation day.

Now, onto real news:
After reading the champagne tastes post of D-Med over at In Professorial Fashion, and reading the comments where by Sal directed us all down the dark path of the lace up boots section of Endless.com, I've fallen under a lustful spell.
So true.
So these Charles David Regiment boots, a mere 300 clams, are beautiful and perfect. I think. They are brown, but dark enough to wear with black and grey for me "all neutrals, all the time" ensembles. They look like they can be waterproofed. There's a 1" heel, to help me with my stumpification concerns. And there's cute detailing.
The retail gods (whom I've been silencing during GAAD, but GAAD does allow shoe purchases) were smiling when I saw the very last pair in 8 1/2 for a mere $240 at 6pm.com. Just one left, the pop up box told me. OK, I threw them in the cart, I went to check out, and boom, there weren't any left.
Amazon has them with free shipping for $300. I haven't bought a thing in about 3 months now. I could really use "go everywhere boots." In brown. I already have sporty black motorcycle-y ones, so I don't NEED the CDs, but they don't go with everything the way the sleek military ones would.
I don't really have loads of money sitting around, and poor little Buster needs to get neutered soon (why does it cost so much to do this in NYC?), so it would be a bit of a budget stretch.
What would you do, Style Nation? Is this the sort of thing best left to lusty dreams? Or, like the illustrious D-Med, should I see if my dreams can come true?

Skirt: H&M (old)
Cardigan: H&M (last fall)
Shirt: Loft (last fall)
Tights: Target
Shoes: Ecco, thrifted
Belt: Thrifted

Do-Over, or What a Difference a Belt Makes

This is what I wore to work today...

...but this is how I wish I would've worn it.  This dress has always looked a little off on me - the extremely high-waist always seems to suggest maternity wear to me (I know this style is popular and it looks very non-maternal on lots of figures, but on my shape, I think it just adds unnecessary volume).  But since it's comfortable and a basic like a LBD, I've held on to it.  Halfway to the train this morning it hit me that I should've belted the dress.  I definitely like it better with the belt.  What do you think, Stylenation?

Can you believe it's Monday night already?  Where did the weekend - let alone today - go?  I'm enjoying the quiet of my apartment while Jude and my fella are out running, and cooking dinner (grilled BBQ chicken salads, bread with honey chipotle butter and homemade pumpkin soup), so I thought I'd sit down and share a drink with you all (here's looking at you, SU).  Sure, a classier girl may have chosen wine, but what goes better with sparkly brooches than the Champagne of Beer?  I'm sure they go hand-in-hand, just like sequins and pink champagne (right Cynthia?).

Have a nice evening everyone!

Dress: Loft

Versatile Pink Cardigan: Target

Tank: New York & Company

Belt: New York & Company

Brooch: Etsy

Shoes: Tsubo

Beer: High Life

Glass: New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO

Transitioning

Transitioning, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

It seems mild weather is back for now. I am no longer shivering in my apartment and I am glad I left a few summer dresses out from Sunday switchathon. The first time I realized I liked to pay with my clothes was 2 years ago, when I put together this outfit and I was like, "Hey, this isn't too bad." Big, smocky dresses may not be in fashion (are they?), but it makes me feel young and carefree. Even if my facial expression is not.
Also, I've been feeling a bit stumpy in my outfits lately. I realized this is because I've been sticking to conservative (at or just above the knee hemlines). I know this is what is considered "profesh" but I dislike the look of my leg line without a couple inches of thigh showing. This is too short for teaching, but I will be incorporating some of my shorter hemlines a bit more, to make myself feel more comfortable.
Also, because there may be wind, I am wearing itsy bike shorts under this tunic dress.

Dress: Mojoware, via Cliche
Tights: Target
Jacket: Levis
Shirt: Copper Key
Boots: Palladium

Jeans and T-Shirts

Happy Friday, Stylenation!  I just got a super-annoying and unreasonable work email, so I'm taking this opportunity to step back, take a break and do something fun before responding in hopes that I won't come across as biting this guy's head off... too much.  I just don't understand how some people can be so clueless, yet be in positions higher than mine.  But enough work ranting.

Today I'm showing 2 outfits from this week, I suppose to make up for the lack of a post on Wednesday.  The first is what I wore while working from home yesterday.  It's really only included to showcase my yellow flats, which I'm pretty sure are the official shoe of TCC.  I'm also sure Rad pulls these off much better.  The lighting on this picture is horrible because I'm on my back stoop (which needs to be cleaned off - woops) looking directly at the sun.  I wanted to take pictures in my back yard since it was gorgeous out yesterday, but my downstairs neighbor was home and cooking, and has a clear view of the backyard in her kitchen, and I feel a little odd posing for pictures with anyone around.  I should probably get over that.

In addition to the yellow shoes, I've also got another brooch/scarf combo going on, somewhat similar to Monday's.

Top: Loft

Jeans: Gap

Pink scarf: New York & Company (remixed)

Brooch: Etsy

Earrings: The Limited

Shoes: Dr. Scholl's

It's supposed to be 80 here today (though you'd never know by the chill in the air this morning), so I decided to give my denim skirt at least one more wear before putting away with my summer clothes.  I did throw on a cardigan when I left the house, but didn't have enough time to snap another picture.  This is a pretty plain outfit, but I think the long necklace livens it up just a touch.  Although the necklace is doing some serious boob highlighting, or emboobening.  But since I sit at my desk a majority of the day, I can usually deal with it.

What both outfits have in common - hence the title - is that they're essentially jeans and t-shirts.  But accessorized so that they're not totally plain and boring.  At least I hope not.

How do you dress up jeans and t-shirts?  

Pink t-shirt: Loft

Skirt: Old Navy

Necklace: New York & Company (remixed)

Shoes: Privo

Jude's been complaining that he hasn't seen enough blog action lately (he must've seen your comment, A-Dubs), so here he is:

Jude helps with the boob problem... by trying to eat my necklace