Country or Grunge?

When I originally bought this shirt/tunic number, I thought it was somewhat early 90s, but whenever I wear it, Blokey tells me that it looks like I'm going to the hoe-down. I don't mind the hoe-down look, but I usually style this up with combat boots and tights.  What do you think, Style Nation? 
I don't wear it tunic often because it's a pretty big departure from my usual repertoire of neutrals. I always think about adding it to donation piles, but haven't yet. Maybe I can' sneak in a few more wears before I make a final decision.

Who else is in grading purgatory? I'm in denial, but I better get cracking at making a dent in that pile. Happy Saturday to everyone!

Tunic: Brooklyn Industries
Tank dress: NY&Co (it's a beach dress!)
Tights: Target
Boots: M.I.A.

Man pants

 

As Anne travels to Ohio today, I will be traveling to a local neighborhood coffee shop (after the laundry's done) to hopefully be very productive in my manuscript editing/grading/being smart tasks.  As part of the no repeats challenge, I told Blokey that I might be sneaking over to his side of the closet.  I am inspired today by Rebecca, who often wears her husband's trousers with aplomb.  While these straight leg, lighter wash jeans aren't the most figure flattering pair of pants I could wear, they are super comfortable for my full day of sitting (with some stretching!) I have a head of me.  (Thanks to Sal for your wise words on why figure flattering isn't the end all be all).  The plaid shirt is a little boy's shirt, so today's outfit has loads of masculine influences.

Hope everyone has an awesome Friday.  Don't forget to enter the Pineapple Mint Giveaway.  You have until Sunday night.

Sweater: Jcrew (gift from ex bf)

Shirt: vintage boy's via eBay

Pants: from Blokey's side of the closet, H&M (also very old)

Shoes: Ecco

Hat: Brooklyn Industries

Country Roads, Take Me Home

No Repeats, Day 5

Happy Friday, Stylenation!  Today I'm headed to Ohio for a long weekend of holiday meals, last-minute Christmas shopping, cookie-baking with my mom and lots of catching up!  Every time I visit Ohio, I always feel like a kid again.  I'm sure sleeping in my twin canopy bed in a room that I decorated when I was 17 doesn't help with that.  But it's fitting that today I'm dressed, more or less, how I always was when I was younger and still living at home.  Jeans, concert tee and sneakers.  Although I feel like this is a slightly more polished version of my 18 year old self.

Andrew Bird was awesome last night, so like a nerd, I bought myself a concert t-shirt.  And like an even bigger nerd, I'm wearing it the very next day.  But really, jeans and a t-shirt are the perfect travel outfit.  Nice and comfy for the drive and all.

Do you ever find your wardrobe traveling back in time?

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Tee: Andrew Bird concert (by Alternative Apparel's eco-friendly Earth line, yay!)

Shoes: Converse

Earrings that you can't see: Brighton (it's these earrings, if you're wondering)

Trying

 

Here's another closet orphan, that I tried to style in a way that wouldn't seem too old or frumpy, by taking cues from the always stylish and resourceful Jentine of My Edit.  OK, so I would have to say that I've not got the hang of it yet.  I'm going to continue to wear this for my work from home day, but this seems to have crossed an invisible frump line that I'm not thrilled with.  

I've had this skirt since 2002, before I graduate college and as an attempt to build up a "Teaching assistant" wardrobe.  It's made of a thick double knit, almost sweatshirt like fabric.  It has some pilling on it, but that wouldn't stop me from wearing it.  I just don't know how to wear it without getting swallowed up by it.  You can't quite see it here, but the side seams are geared from a woman of rounder hips.  I usually deal with that by pulling a top over it.  Perhaps I should add two seams to the sides and try this again, during the challenge.

Skirt: NY &Co

Denim shirt: Gap

Black shirt: Bobbi (via Cliche)

Boots: Born

The Red & Black Wagon

No Repeats, Day 4

To show support for A-Dubs falling off the wagon, I'm sporting her favorite color combination: red and black.  Okay, I actually had this outfit planned out before I saw her post yesterday, but still, I'll be supportive of that fall.  And why not?  It's such a great combination!  

Today is my office Holiday Party.  The holiday party has definitely scaled back over the years, going from an evening at a nice local restaurant with all-you-can eat and drink to a lunch in the office.  But still, it's a free meal and an excuse to hang out with some of my more fun co-workers instead of working.  After work, Fella and I have a big date!  We're having dinner downtown, and then seeing Chicago's own Andrew Bird at Fourth Presbyterian Church.  As noted over on Sheila's blog a couple of weeks ago, churches tend to have awesome acoustics.  We saw Andrew Bird play at this church last December, and it was amazing.  Actually, he's kind of amazing on his own.  He's seriously a one-man band, playing several instruments throughout the course of his set. So being a music nerd myself (I can play several instruments too, but not very well) yeah, I'm pretty excited.

Another thing I'm excited about?  These boots!  And see, even Jude's excited!  I think you could count on several hands how many times I've complained about my problems finding a decent pair of knee-high boots.  They've been a fashion hurdle for me for years.  I had bought a pair by Naturalizer a couple months ago, but even being "extended calf," they were nowhere near big enough for my rippling, muscular calves.  I bought this pair from Eddie Bauer because they have a nifty little stretch panel in the back, and the panel actually works and the boots fit!  Woo!

Do you have any fun holiday stuff coming up?  Have you managed to get over any of your fashion hurdles?

Cardigan: New York & Company

Dress & Leggings: Target

Boots: Eddie Bauer

Necklace: New York & Company

Really Working from Home

No Repeats, Day 3

Stylenation, welcome to a typical work from home day for me.  I'm pretty excited about the 30 for 30 challenge being over just so that I can get back to being more casual at home.  Not that it wasn't good for me to get dressed and kind of care about what I'm wearing while I'm at home, but it's nice to just throw on whatever's clean and comfy sometimes.  This is a pretty typical work-from-home outfit for me.  I love this grey cardigan (which I realize looks kind of brown in the picture) because it's big, soft and cozy, perfect for lounging around and doing glamorous things like laundry and vacuuming.

Tomorrow is our holiday party at my office, so I'm baking cookies right now.  I can't do much in the kitchen without my helper following me around.  He can't have these cookies because of the chocolate, but he did get a treat after our photo shoot (he doesn't work for free).  

Caridgan: Loft

Tee: Target

Jeans: Gap

Slippers: Gift from Fella (2008)

Pan and oven mitt: Crate & Barrel

Cookies: Pillsbury and Reese's

Closet orphans

 

Yesterday, Cynthia discussed how some of her closet orphans have good reasons for being left out of regular clothes rotations, which reminded me of this dress.  When I bought this dress back in 2007 or 2008, I thought it was a perfect cold weather dress.  It's made of a thicker (but not double-knit) jersey grey.  It has adorable details (pleats in the front and back, black piping, cute cuffed half sleeves, and what K.Bean might call a "folkloric" style print around the waistband).  But these details make the dress hard to wear and restyle.  I need to layer with this dress, but the short sleeves mean I have to go with a shorter under layer, and all the lovely details make a cardigan, sweater, or a belt difficult.  I even tried a scarf, but didn't like how it covered up the cute collar.  But it is a whopping 25 degrees,* so many layers will go over this dress for the outside. Comfy dress, I shake my fist at you.

Any ideas how I can remix this dress or am I limited to wearing it as is, and being OK with it?  

I must be on my way.  Final exam number one to administer!

*weather.com says it feels like 11 degrees, just so colder weather Style Nation doesn't think I've lost my ability to withstand cold.  The windchill is harsh here.

Dress: Spice? (via Cliche, Minneapolis)
Wool blend Tights: Hue, via Daffy's

Boots: Born