A Sentimental Romp(er)

Draft:

Earlier Draft:
I wore these wedges with a pleated linen skirt that I never iron but should.  Which is ironic, because I didn't iron today's outfit either, and I should've.  These shoes must render me incapable of starching and pressing my clothing.

Composition:
chambray romper (Swell, on sale!)
assorted blues beaded necklace (Talbots, gifted)
monogrammed silver bracelets (gifted)
blue wedges (Target)

Usage:
Well, it took me all summer to locate a romper I liked at a decent price, and here 'tis.  Let it be known that I do not typically spend an entire season shopping for a single item; after a while, I either call off the search or purchase a version I don't particularly adore.  So this find is especially successful.  I like that this all-in-one outfit doesn't make me look too juvenile, and I also appreciate that the smocked elastic waist and bust prevent fabric puckering.  That's my principal beef with other rompers: many of them boast back zippers, a feature which causes the seams to lay oddly across my lower back and booty.  Earlier this summer, Katie and Liz wrote about their one-and-done look of choice: the cotton jersey dress.  My one-and-done pick?  This comfy over-/cover-all derivative. 

Good thing the temperatures will remain high for a few more weeks; this garment will have more wear time.  The weather's rewarding my unusual shopping sobriety with delayed gratification, I'm pretty sure.

Yesterday I wore this outfit to run errands, the most important of which was mailing a care package to my youngest sibling, my college freshman sister.  She began classes yesterday, and, from what I can tell, she's enjoying herself far too much to bother updating me.  This is a good thing.  Even though I'm teary-eyed that she's so suddenly grown-up, I'm excited for the growing-up experiences she'll have over the next four years.  Ten bucks and a bottle of nail polish say she's not thinking about books right now, but even so, I hope she'll catch the learning bug for a subject she loves and grow to find higher education positively delicious.  My time in graduate school, learning among talented educators, and my short months of interacting with you thoughtful blogreaders have convinced me that more than a few of my sister's professors will feel just as you do: energized by the new school year's potential.  And I'm equally confident their excitement will be contagious.

Prompts:

• Has your shopping endurance paid off this summer?  Tell us about your purchases!
• For nostalgia's sake, what's your favorite back-to-school outfit ever?  Here's mine: a floral-printed pink tunic tee, coordinating leggings, pink lace-up Keds, and a Princess Jasmine bookbag.  Topped off with a side ponytail.  Third grade, baby.