Norway via Brooklyn

Hello Style Nation.  I've been a delinquent blogger lately.  After "ending" my No Repeats challenge, I just sort of let the stresses of my project take over, living in all black and yoga pants for a couple days.  Plus, the heat was not working since late Thursday, and this made me even less likely to crawl out from under the Slanket.  And the cold is still somewhat kicking my butt, but I think I'm going to emerge the winner of our struggle (in about 4 days).
On a funner note, I had the privilege of going thrifting with Jesse.anne.o and her friend S., both of whom were stellar thrift buddies.  I was intending to stick to accessories but I broke my GAAD goals, and ended up with about $19 worth of new sweaters (3), a new shirt, and a new professorial skirt.  All in all, I felt it was a worthwhile and economical cheat.  And maybe just what I need to continue not shopping for a little while (I may allow myself a cheat next time I visit Anne, although I will try to keep it professional shoe oriented).
The crazy thing is that I read The Waves' post on her own shopping desires during GAAD and I thought, "I'm gonna go thrifting and probably break GAAD anyway."  I did this not only because I wanted new stuff (I've now been on GAAD for about 6 months) but also because of the stress related to my uber-project (of which I am making strides, but can feel overwhelming).  I plan to do a big closet sweep, after March 18 (when my next two projects have to be done). 
Here is one of the new sweaters.  Blokey calls this "crazy but cute."  I was probably influenced by other bloggers wearing Scandinavian sweaters.  This one was quite boxy, wee short in the arms, but has awesome clasps that allowed me to close the sweater in a different way, and the arm length was remedied by a slight longer undershirt. 

Happy weekend, Style Nation.  I am actually taking a few hours off tonight to spend time with friends, but then back to the grind.

Shirt: Gap (old)
Sweater: Fjord Fashion (made in Norway), thrifted
Skirt: Urban Outfitters (about 3 1/2 years old)
Tights: Target
Boots: MIA

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

Exhibit A

I told Blokey about my self imposed goal of not buying new clothes (with some stipulations) for a year, and he was both pleased and incredulous. I told him how I have beautiful clothes that I don't even wear, and I can't justify buying more (new or thrifted) when there are clothes languishing for non use. This is Exhibit A: a SKFK (a Skunkfunk offshoot) dress, purchased over 2 years ago at Cliche (in Minneapolis). I like the cut and the color (evidently, this wide band below the bust, gathers at the bust, and the A line cut above the kneed cut flatter a long torso-ed, smaller chested woman as myself). It's also a wrap dress, and has a fun exposed zipper detail on the left side. It cost a pretty penny, but I was all "I'll support a smaller Spanish brand and a local boutique!"
Yet I don't wear this often for a couple reasons.
1) I don't know how to layer it (the kimono sleeves do not take well to a cardigan)
2) It wrinkles easily (hence I am usually a knits gal)
3) I fear there are problems with fit.
4) I didn't realize it at the time, but there is a pretty strong "World of Suzy Wong" theme to the design.
As a women who would happily drape myself exclusively in knit fabrics until I die (not knit pants exclusively, but I could go skirt/dress/leggings instead), I am awkward and uncomfortable in fitted woven, stiffer fabrics. Observe the back view:

The puckering just below the waist band makes me wonder if this is too tight.

Reverse Wonder Woman, for A-Dubs

Any ideas how to make this more wearable (tone down the Asian elements)*? How noticeable is the pulling of the fabric on the back? Should this go into the donate/swap/resale pile? (If so, any takers?) I don't know if this is teaching appropriate (I thought it was, but I measured 3" from my darn low knees) but maybe for a lunch meeting or just going into the office. Although I prefer leggings, tunics, and flat boots for those days, but I can try to expand my options, right?
For now, it will accompany me as I continue to try to write, and for my produce getting needs.
Happy Tuesday.

*For some reason, I think I should not wear very "Asian" styled clothing, for fear that the number of ethnicity oriented come-ons and annoying questions I get, here in the 21st century, may only increase.

Dress: SKFK, via Cliche
Shoes: 9 West
Cat toy in the corner, via NYCPets

Catch up

Catch up, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

This weekend, I snuck over to Chicago to be part of Anne's fella's surprise party, and I fell behind on reading and commenting on everyone's awesome blog. I really missed Blokey, the kitties, and Brooklyn, so it's nice to be back and catch up on work and play.
Wow, I am so impressed with all the great feedback from Friday's post. I agree that the 6 or fewer pieces in a month is probably undoable for many people (mom's especially), but since I don't go to work daily in a very professional environment, it won't be too hard for me. And I will break it for a wedding and some international travel in late August, but I'll do my best otherwise. Right now I am trying to figure out which 6 pieces might be the most versatile, but maybe I'll bump it up to 7 or 8 pieces.
Which brings to the question of what would be the point of documenting these outfits? Well, I could try to be creative with accessories. Although I don't have loads, I do have some. I could also chronicle the way that having only a few pieces could affect my daily planning and activities. And see whether or not I could do it.
A few folks asked why I wasn't doing the 30 for 30 challenge. I am doing that because I work from home and it wouldn't be a challenge to limit myself when only a few friends and shopkeepers see me on a daily basis (and Blokey, who probably owns about 30 articles of well chosen clothing. And maybe 50 pairs of underthings). I'd like to participate in something like a 30 for 30 during the semester, even though I only teach twice a week. That would be more of a challenge, with 90 odd students looking at me for about 3 hours a weeks.
A few awesome bloggers (Cynthia and Style Underdog) are also committing to the Great American Apparel Diet. Even though I've had my own shopping diet for a while, it hasn't been an all out ban. Jesse.anne.O has also started a several month shopping ban. Since I mostly limit my blog reader to folks who also try to remix and limit their shopping, I also want to commit to a stronger shopping ban. While the Great American Apparel Diet will be officially over soon, my last purchase was the crinoline (on July 13). So I will also try to not buy anything between now and July 12, 2011. Which I know will be very hard, but Blokey and I have really clear financial goals (in light of possibly getting kicked out of our apartment soon), and not buying clothes will very likely help.
Everyone sets up their own rules, so I will allow myself to buy spend money on repairing/tailoring things I've got (especially shoes), replenishing my underthings (I count tights, shirts that only work for layering), and swaps. I would love to do temporary/permanent swaps with anyone else who is up to this (or a similar challenge). I can also continue to sew, and I still have fabric left over from a few project to whip up a new, versatile piece every now and then.

And this brings me to a final question: what will be the point of this blog if I am not consuming? And what is the end goal for my wardrobe? I am hoping to be able to really focus on the pieces and styles in my wardrobe that really speak to me, so I can have a well edited wardrobe and a clearly defined style, with some good use of accessories. While I may never become Rev. Billy, I can maybe get a little closer to bringing my spending habits better in line with my ideals.

Boy's western Shirt: Montgomery Ward, vintage via Ebay
Shorts: Levi's cut off DIY
Shoes: via Heavenly Soles, MPLS