Last Day of Classes!

Draft:

Earlier Drafts: 
I debuted these boots on Tuesday, and I've worn this dress differently here and here.

Composition: 
faux turquoise beaded necklace (Kohl's)
brown and white print dress (Target)
long oatmeal cardigan (Target)
cognac faux-leather wide stretch belt (Charlotte Russe)
brown tights layered over gray tights (NY&Co)
cognac leather riding boots (Steve Madden, gifted)

Usage:
Today's the last day of classes for me this semester!  This means I'm collecting final research papers from my students, attending my final grad class of the term, and heading to our end-of-semester graduate student potluck.

I wore this outfit on Tuesday, though, for the second to last day with my students.  I know it's not too innovative to wear my new cognac boots with a brown ensemble, but a long cardigan is a step into new territory for me.  I was a big fan of this look from S. at Narrowly Tailored, so when I saw these long cardigans on sale at Target for $15, I finally picked one up and promptly ripped off her styling techniques to put together my own outfit.  I liked how the long cardi gave the outfit a bit of a "wrapped in a blanket" type feeling, and though it's a lot of brown, I liked how the cognac belt and boots complemented the chocolate brown of the dress and the tights.  I put the turquoise necklace on to serve as a pop of color, but I'm not that thrilled with what it adds to the outfit.  I kind of think I should have just embraced the brown and worn some brown beads instead.

My students are expected to evaluate their participation at several points throughout the semester, so they submitted their last self-evaluations on Tuesday.  There is a space to add "comments," and normally, if they write anything at all, they use this space to explain why they don't talk much in class, to ask if coming to office hours counts as participation, etc.  Most of them leave it blank.  Yesterday, one of my quieter male students wrote "This class taught me a lot about writing," and one of my quieter female students wrote 2 or 3 sentences telling me she really appreciated my teaching style.  Neither of them has ever complained about a grade, or asked for extra credit, or done anything to suggest they might be fishing for favoritism, so their unexpected notes were nice to read.  During my office hours, the three students who'd scheduled appointments to talk about last minute questions for the final papers stopped in, and I was so pleased with how much work they're putting in.  I am genuinely looking forward to reading their papers after chatting with them briefly yesterday.

These interactions reminded me that while it's so easy to get frustrated by the handful of students who demand a lot of attention by sending unnecessary emails, complaining about grades, etc., it's important to keep in mind that those students don't speak for everyone.  Teaching this semester has been a constant struggle to try to re-learn some of the things I first learned as a high school teacher.  I remember now that oftentimes student silence is a sign that everything is going fine.  I generally aim for my courses to be ones in which students get out of them what they put in, so it is rewarding to hear that those students who are making the effort are learning.  I tend to begin to feel like my work is futile when one or two students want to pass the blame off on me for their underperformance.  Yesterday served as an important reminder:  If the students who wanted to learn from my class feel like they did, the class has been a success.

Since many of you teach in different capacities, I wanted to share this reminder with you as you gear up to grade final assignments or final exams.  Your students probably learned a lot more than you realize.  I think we can all remember a class we took in which our instructor would have had no idea how much we loved it or how much we learned from it.  I'm hoping I can keep that in mind as I grade their final papers and as I reflect back on my first semester with undergrads.

Prompts:

• How do you wear long cardigans?  Please share links!
• If you teach, what are some ways that you work toward keeping a healthy perspective on your success as an instructor?  Any other tips for keeping those critical students from getting to you?

Student Conference Attire, Take Two

Draft:

Earlier Draft:
I wore this dress for a conference presentation in the spring.

Composition:
faux turquoise beaded necklace (Kohl's)
pale turquoise cardigan (Target)
brown printed jersey dress (Target)
brown stretch belt (Kohl's)
teal mary janes (Seychelles)
nail color (OPI You Don't Know Jacques!)

Usage:
After reading your comments on my suggestion that I was going to dress casually for my student conferences, and after reading A-Dubs's explanation of why she "feel[s] the need to bring it, sartorially" at this point in the semester, I had a change of heart.  I decided that those of you who suggested that meeting the students in the library created a neutral enough environment were right, so I decided to dress as I normally do when I teach.  It also occurred to me that I'd also be more comfortable in my regular "teaching" clothes than in a more casual outfit.  I'm still getting used to the different register of authority I'm experiencing as a graduate student instructor of undergraduates.  I'm more comfortable with the clear, distinct line drawn between "adult/authority" and "child/student" that I operated under in my high school classroom.  I realized that if I felt too casual, I might not be able to do my best work as a teacher during the conferences.

Looking back on the conferences, I feel like this was a good decision.  Most of the students seemed more at ease meeting with me in the library than they had been in my office.  When a few of the students suggested that I was too demanding or being too hard on them, it actually made me feel more comfortable to be in an open, public area than sitting in the corner of my office, too.  Those conferences were definitely the exception, though.  Most of the students came well prepared with appropriate questions to ask.  The real test, I know, will be if their next papers demonstrate an improvement.  If the conferences don't end up benefiting the students, though, I definitely benefited from them.  Having a chance to talk to each of the students individually actually reminded me of a lot of the things I really enjoy about teaching.  I think that having on my "teacher clothes" also made it easier for me to start the conference by asking how they are managing the transition into college without it seeming like I was trying to befriend them. 

An experienced high school teacher once told me, "Some days you'll find teaching exhausting, but if you find it exhilerating on most days, you know you've found the right profession."  I was worried that sitting through two hours of conferences for three straight days would wear me down, and several other instructors told me that they hate conferences.  I found my experience of holding conferences quite refreshing, actually, and I feel ready to guide them through the last few assignments with the hopes that they do better on those papers than the one I graded this week.  Because those were not good.  It's true what they say about a teacher's work never being done.

Prompts:

• If you teach, what do you find most exciting about working with students? 
• Whether you teach or not, are there any features of your job that you enjoy even though your colleagues disdain them?  What are they?  Why do you think you enjoy them more than others?
• And this is a sidebar, but how often do you theme dress?  I put on this almost-never-worn cardigan last week because, in my graduate class, we were discussing a novel in which turquoise stones figure prominently.  I figured I had to wear my turquoise necklace for this discussion, so I dug this cardigan out to complement it... and all the sudden, I had a great new way to wear this dress!

Hair Metamorphosis

Draft:

Composition:
emerald short-sleeved sweater (Merona)
marigold swing jacket (NY&Co)
grey pleated shorts (F21)
black sheer tights (?)
black suede wedges (DKNYC)
nail color (OPI "You Don't Know Jacques!")

below:
marigold suede bag (gifted)
jeweled brooch (Macy's) 

Usage:
Today's visit to the salon reminded me of the transformative power of dyed and chopped locks.  I haven't dramatically altered my hairstyle since last Thanksgiving, when I asked my stylist to hack away at my then-shoulder-length curls.  Since that fateful chop, I've hovered around Bob-cut territory, sometimes requesting near-pixie looks, and sometimes declaring "growing out" periods (which never lasted longer than a month).  When I sought her advice on remedying this hair ambivalence, my friend Caitlin of Frosting and Bows (who has known me and my hair since the second grade) suggested that I dye my blonde head red.  Auburn, really.  I wanted to heed her advice, I sincerely did, which is why I dabbled in cinnamon weeks ago.  (Didya notice?  It was subtle.)  Alas, I couldn't muster the courage for even a semi-permanent hue.

But today, without specific intention, I took the plunge back into a Bobbed 'do and full-on into auburn.  More like, I fell into auburn accidentally.  See, I snapped these photos earlier today before scooting out to what was supposed to be a "quick trim."  I had aimed to post about cold weather shorts:

I hadn't prepared for a hair transformation.  However, a few snips and a spontaneous bottle of allover color later, and I'm suddenly an inductee to both the Bangs and Redhead Clubs.  Spice o' life, I tell you.  Spice o' life.

Prompts:

• What's the boldest hairstyle you've ever tried?  The most spontaneous?
• What factors usually prompt you to change hairstyles?  Relationships, career moves, geographic moves, new exercise regimens, or something else?
• I've heard it said that older women typically model their hairstyles after those of their favorite life phases.  Do you think this theory holds water?  If so, what have been your favorite life phases, and what did your hair look like during these times?

Pants Practice

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore these pants here, and if you click the "cardigans" tab, you'll likely turn up oodles of results with this cardigan or an identical one.

Composition:
black cami (Kohl's)
red print tank (Isaac Mizrahi for Target: does anyone else miss his line there as much as I do?)
black and red beaded necklace (NY&Co)
black cardigan (NY&Co)
micro plaid trousers (Express)
black wedges (Lauren by Ralph Lauren)
"Metro Chic" polish (Sephora by OPI)

Usage:
So I've been trying to work on putting together outfits I like with pants since I wrote about my "pants prejudice" in last week's post.  I've been surfing some other blogs and looking at pants ensembles, and I've decided there is a standard pants outfit that "works."  The basic ingredients are:
1) a great pair of pants (I love all of mine, so that's not the problem)
2) a cute top (I have fewer of these)
3) a cardigan (I obviously have plenty of these)
4) at least one other item of interest (statement necklace, great earrings, belt, cute shoes, etc.)

I really liked this outfit.  I don't own a lot of prints, so this is as close to print mixing as I can come, even though I really like that styling choice.  (I actually had no idea that I don't buy prints until I started blogging.)  I like how the red top brings out the reddish/pinkish stripe in the micro plaid (I think you can make this out if you click to enlarge).  This necklace looks great up against the red top and black cardigan, and it also falls nicely with the neckline of the top.  And after what feels like a long time of deferring to neutral nail polishes, the cold weather prompted me to return to the fall hues that I fell in love with last year.

It all felt very pulled together and cohesive for me, and I ended up wishing I'd waited two days to wear it.  You can probably tell from my "I voted!" sticker that I wore this outfit on Tuesday, but it seems in retrospect like this would have been a perfect outfit to wear for the formal observation my teaching mentor is conducting in my classroom today.

Prompts:

• Can you share a list of "ingredients" for a different type of pants outfit that "works" for you?
• Can you think of anything I could add to this list of ingredients to mix it up?

Minor Miracle

Draft:

Composition:

black beaded headband (NY&Co)

white button down (SJP's Bitten for now defunct Steve and Barry's)

black cardigan (H&M)

black faux patent belt (H&M)

black dress with white embroidery, worn as skirt (Ann Taylor)

black tights (NY&Co)

black wedges (Lauren by Ralph Lauren)

Usage:

This past Thursday I stood in front of my clothes and thought "Okay, closet, all I need from you today is a minor miracle."  I hadn't been feeling well.  Grading took up a lot of my time last week, so I wasn't fully prepared for the class I had to teach that day or the one I had to attend.  I had no idea what to wear, and I felt like my creative energy was sapped, but I knew I needed something that would get my day headed in a better direction.  Then it occurred to me that I could wear this dress as a skirt, even though the top doesn't fit well anymore.  I love the look of this outfit, but the dress also has a lot of sentimental value for me, so wearing it made me smile.  And then other things started to come together, too.

I realized I was in the midst of a good hair day.  I only had one activity planned for the class I teach, but that meant I had time to sit down with each student to go over their ideas for the next paper.  A few kids got to leave very early, but I think that overall, the class turned out to be much more beneficial than I'd anticipated.  I still felt braintired for my own class, and I was disappointed that I wasn't really able to participate... but I was there.  By the time I got home from a long day, I felt much worse.  For a few hours, though, I'd felt like myself, and that had begun with the outfit.

This weekend I came across this post from Katie at Interrobangs Anonymous, in which she shared this quote: 

Sometimes, she reflected, she dressed for courage, sometimes for success, and sometimes for the consolation of knowing that whatever else went wrong, at least she liked her clothes. – Emma Bull, War for the Oaks

Katie suggests that this aligns with her own dressing philosophy, and I thought to myself: yes, that is pretty much exactly right.  I do a lot of talking and thinking about clothing, and what it means to me, and what it means to everyone else, and I think that is all important.  Most days, though, it basically boils down to this: what can I put on that will make me feel like the best version of myself for today?  Most everything I do can be boiled down to this, really.  I'm trying to be the best version of me that I can every day, and sometimes when I feel like I've dropped far below that standard, clothing helps me to reach back up.

Prompts:

• Do you ever ask for minor miracles from your closet?  Does it come through for you?
• Does the quote IA Katie shared about clothing resonate as strongly for you as it does for me?
• What are some things you do to try ratchet up your attitude or your performance on days that you're feeling a bit "off"?

Shopping Hiatus Reflections

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this skirt in one of my first blog posts, and Katie has this shirt in a different shade.

Composition: 
eyeglasses (Kate Spade)
black beaded necklace (NY&Co)
teal striped top (H&M)
charcoal pencil skirt (NY&Co)
teal leather Mary Janes (Seychelles via Endless)

Usage:
Ye proponents of colored shoes, I have finally joined your ranks!  You might recall that one of my back-to-school purchases was a great pair of pale yellow slice wedges, and while those are technically colored and were too versatile to resist, they didn't quell my desire to find a perfect "pop of color wedge."  I had scoured the malls and internet for the perfect pair of brightly colored wedges until I finally found this perfect pair of shoes.  However, the price was outside my comfort zone, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something just to satisfy the thrill of the chase. I thought it would be a good idea to take some time away from shopping to consider what my closet really needed most.  During this time, I also thought about how I might incorporate these shoes into my wardrobe. After the thirty day hiatus, I bought them with confidence because I knew that they could serve as a new staple in my wardrobe, which would make them worth the investment.  They're slightly different in appearance than a wedge, so they add a little more variety to my shoe collection than a standard wedge would have.  The placement of the heel makes them feel like a wedge, though, so it was sort of a win-win.  I also think that because they're brightly colored but closed-toe, I can wear them in all four seasons with aplomb, so that adds to their versatility.

In previous posts, I've shared my belief that a great new accessory can help you to re-think your entire wardrobe.  Before I found these shoes, which are described as "teal," I would have told you I didn't own anything teal.  I knew I wanted a pair of shoes in some hue of blue, but it wasn't until I found this specific pair online that I realized how strong my attraction is to this particular color family.

I'm looking forward to finding ways to wear these shoes with items of apparel that I already own.  While I know they'll look great with all these coordinating tops, I'm also hoping to learn to wear them as a contrasting pop of color, too.

Wardrobe Workhorse Week coincided with my shopping hiatus, and I came away from this combined experience with a new appreciation for the items currently hanging in my closet.  There were quite a few things I had on my "wants" list before I stopped shopping, but after thinking critically about my wardrobe for a month, I realized that that was definitely not a "needs" list.  The only thing I plan to purchase in the near future is another pair of skinny jeans.  As I've said, this semester calls for more casual dressing than past ones have, so a new pair of jeans will get enough wear to justify the purchase.  While the advertisers are suggesting there are new items that I "must have" this season, I don't see how any of them will fill an existing void in my wardrobe, so I'm going to pass on buying anything else until I can really conceptualize how it will benefit my closet to add it.

I also enjoyed staying away from shopping websites and stores.  I was visiting these shoes online to make sure they disappeared, but otherwise it was a complete hiatus from shopping, not just from purchasing.  This was timed nicely with the beginning of my semester and kept me from being tempted to waste precious time at online retailers.  I might try something similar at the end of the semester, too.

Prompts:

• When you want to take a break from shopping, how do you implement this strategy?  Do you limit shopping altogether or do you just limit buying?  Do you enforce a day limit like I did?  Or a dollar limit?  Or do you take a less regimented approach?  I actually broke the shopping hiatus rule one day early to snag the last pair of these shoes in my size, so I wonder if a more flexible hiatus would have been a good idea.  The hiatus had served it's purpose before the 30 days were up, I think.
• I think we've all experienced buyer's remorse, but have you ever experienced waiter's remorse? I would have hated to see these shoes go after spending a month thinking about how well they'd work in my wardrobe.
• Have you bought anything this season that is giving new life to the items you already own?  What is it?
• I love teal/turquoise with navy, so I'm looking forward to that pairing, but it's still not a "contrast."  What colors should I pair these shoes with to really make them stand out?

Facing Sartorial Critique

Draft:

Composition:
clear lucite beaded necklace (Kohl's)
white and yellow striped tee (Gap)
medium wash skinnies (American Eagle via sister's closet)
sneakers (Converse Chuck Taylor)
staring down at the ground pose (learned) : )

Usage:
My casual dressing experiment and my refusal to acknowledge the onset of fall continued on Friday, this time with the assistance of some new skinnies borrowed from my sister and a necklace that dresses up a tee and jeans ensemble and makes it feel more "me."  I noticed last week that I've been wearing bold (if not "statement") necklaces almost every day-- this seems to be a phase I go through every couple of months.  Right now, a look feels more like a "look" when I add a necklace. 

I wore this ensemble to campus for a lecture, and I barely made it inside the building without having its casual register brought to my attention.  I ran into a friend and classmate of mine, who followed up his "Hey!" with "dressed down Friday, eh?"  This reminded me that I'd agreed to address Maggie's comment on my post from last week about using "dressed up" attire as a way to assert my authority.  She wrote, "Liz--one of the unsaid things here in your post--and this blog--is the idea that you _should_ dress professionally. This is something that I struggle with because I do believe you have to dress appropriately, but I know a lot of our colleagues and even professors seem to see it as a ruse or something."  After sharing some personal experiences, Maggie concluded her thoughts by asking,  "I wonder if you--or the other bloggers--ever feel some tension with peers and/or profs who DON'T dress professionally?"  Other comments on the same post (which I encourage you all to read) also gestured toward the same line of questioning.

First, I'd like to clarify that I try to avoid thinking and speaking in "shoulds."  If my post gave the impression that I think people should dress according to societal norms of what constitutes "professional," I apologize.  I was just trying to talk about my own relationship to "professional" dressing.  Maggie certainly sensed, though, that I do wish more people were willing to acknowledge that how you dress your body matters.  In our About the Blog page, we quote Tim Gunn, who has said "I believe in the semiotics of clothes: the clothes we wear send a message about how we're perceived.  Accordingly, it's important that we each accept responsibility for how we present ourselves to the world."  I'd like to invite you all to take a look at that page, especially those of you who are newer readers of the blog, because that's where we've tried to explain what we imagine as the purpose of our blog.  I'd also like to encourage you to visit (or re-visit) my Henry James Textual Analysis post, in which I wrote a little bit more about my own conception of how and why language matters as a parallel to how and why dressing matters.

To answer the second part of Maggie's question, I have felt some tension with peers regarding my decision to dress "up" regularly.  Some of my classmates are responsive to my explanations about it, and quite a few have actually begun reading the blog and talking to me about it in real life, which is rewarding enough to make it easy to ignore the critics, even though a few of them remain.  I've been fortunate enough that I haven't (yet) felt this kind of tension with professors, but I expect that at some point, that situation will arise.  I read other academic fashion blogs regularly enough to know that in other universities, disciplines, and geographies this kind of tension is quite pervasive.  Our department is fortunate to have quite a few female professors who cultivate a professional, put-together, stylish presentation of self.   Their personal styles cover a broad range of approaches to dressing, but when I look at each of them, I can see that they've put thought into how they dressed themselves each day.  Many of these women are also doing highly influential work in their fields.  I can't help but think that these female professors have begun to carve out a space of possibility wherein someone like me, who takes an interest clothes, is still taken seriously. 

I know these misconceptions-- that dressing well is just a "ruse" and that a woman can't be interested in style and do serious, thoughtful, meaningful intellectual work, too-- still exist.  When given an opportunity to discuss these misconceptions with people who hold them, I believe I am capable of making a good argument against them.  I realize, though, that not everyone who thinks my interest in clothes is vapid will be willing to give me a chance to discuss it.  Because of this, the best way I know to break down these misconceptions is to prove them to be false every single day.  I like to think that by continuing to dress with intention while also doing good work in my studies, I am slowly convincing those skeptics with whom I interact that it is possible to be serious about academics and about clothes.  Furthermore, I hope that my participation in this community of scholarly style blogs gives confidence to those women who share my interest in clothes but do not get to share my surroundings, and thus face more criticism for how they choose to dress.  I'm regularly encouraged by reading the thoughts of others who share my opinion on the subject, and it reinforces my sense that it's important to continue working toward deconstructing these misconceptions.

Thanks for the comments, Maggie!  I hope I've answered your questions.

Prompts:

• Do you ever find yourself relying on a single type of accessory to "finish" a look?  I do this all the time with belts, as I've mentioned before, but now I'm starting to do it with necklaces, as well, so I wonder if it's a common habit.
• What are your thoughts on the similarity we draw here on our blog between the importance of using language well and the importance of dressing well?
• Have you found successful ways to manage tension you've encountered regarding your own interest in clothes?  Please share!!

Casual Dressing Experimentation

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I labeled these jeans my first wardrobe workhorse, and these shoes were one of my two "back to school" purchases.

Composition:
neon-ish pink tank (Rave)
yellow tank (via sister's closet)
colorful scarf (via sister's closet)
dark wash skinnies (American Eagle)
yellow buckle slice wedges (Nine West)

Usage:
I really appreciate your thoughtful comments on my post from Monday about dressing "professionally."  I want to address them more specifically in the future, because I appreciate that you've all (as usual) encouraged me to think in different ways.  Today, though, I wanted to write a little bit about the goal I mentioned briefly at the end-- to dress better in the casual register.

Believe it or not, I have been a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl most of my life.  I'm not talking about jeans and a cute embellished t-shirt, either; I'm talking about jeans and a t-shirt my mom bought for me at the Nike employee store during my adolescence, when she worked there.  Thankfully, she took that job around the time when they first came out with "women's fit" t-shirts (mid 90s), so the tees did actually fit me, even if they said things like "Nike Running: Choose Your Path."

One of the (unfortunate, I think) side effects of the empowerment I felt when I began dressing differently for work was that I directed all of my styling energy into work clothes and paid no attention to trying to wear casual clothes well.  I actually mentioned way back in my "intro" post that I struggle to put together cute casual ensembles, but the process of blogging has helped me to realize that this is really only due to a lack of effort.  Monday, I said that "now, these ["business" register] clothes feel more me to me than more casual ones."  I recognize, though, that they are quite literally more me because they're outfits I've actually taken care in putting together.  So I am wondering what will happen to my personal style if I put the same amount of effort into my casual wear.  Perhaps I really am more at ease in "dressed up" looks, but I don't think I'll know that for sure until I put a little more effort into my non-work looks.

This is a good semester for the casual attire experiment.  I only teach two days a week, so that leaves five other days to dress differently.  I believe I have conquered the hair straightening demons-- either my curly hair looks better every day, or I get a little more comfortable with it every day leading me to think it looks better every day-- so I'm ready to move on to the next way to challenge myself.

I thought putting on a scarf might be a good way to try something new because I literally never wear them.  IA Katie and Plummy wear them so well, though, that they encouraged me to give them a shot.  I don't own any that I don't put on exclusively for warmth, so cue my sister's closet!  When I was trying to build an outfit around this one, I was tempted to wear it with a white top because it's so colorful, but then I remembered Vickie's choice to pair color with more color during Black-Out week and the positive results it yielded, so I went in that direction.

The only reason I actually own a neon-ish pink tank from Rave is because I purchased it for an 80s party a few years back, and at that time I was more annoyed that it wasn't more neon (and going inside Rave totes took me back to middle school).  I actually tried this combination a few weeks back with a khaki skirt and my hair up, because I felt like scarf+hair was too much going on around my head, but I actually think it looks much better here, and I'm glad I gave it another try.  I also like how the yellow tank underneath plus the yellow shoes sort of ground the bright tank and (I hope) keep the ensemble from being too overpowering.  I actually wish it looked more like this IRL-- for the life of me, I cannot get items in this punchy pink color family to photograph correctly.  (You're not even reading this, are you?  You're looking at my 80s party photo.  Did you really think I was going to mention an 80s party outfit, of which I have a photo, and not show you said photo?  The most awesome part of this outfit was that, when walking through the city on Saturday night to get to the party, I got tons of compliments on this outfit from strangers who had no idea I was on my way to an 80s party.  And I didn't get the impression that they were complimenting me to make fun of me.)

Prompts:

• Thoughts on this outfit, please?  On this casual dressing experiment, which I fear may really turn out to be a project titled "Skinny jeans 100 different ways"?
• Suggestions for different casual combinations for me to try?  (Don't worry, I've been scouring all of your blogs, and plan to rip off all of your ideas anyway.)

Submission Sunday: Caitlin

During Wardrobe Workhorse Week we pared down our closets to our best-loved items, so we're thrilled to continue the scaling-back party with a post from Anne-Marie's lifelong friend (and new blogger!), Caitlin of Frosting and Bows.  Caitlin, who studied Studio Art in college, has a knack for styling only-the-best accessories into creative combinations.  Here she shares her Four Must-Have (and Budget-Conscious!)(and Versatile!) Items for Fall.

 

Caitlin Says: It's difficult to nail down my four must-have items for this season because I am absolutely in love with so many trends.  The only thing I can say for sure is that the pieces here are things that I cannot live without, period.  I like to experiment with my wardrobe and accessories.  And it gives me a sense of adventure to put something on that I think no one else in the world will have.  This is why I like to shop at thrift stores, vintage clothing lots, you name it.  Not only are these vintage trinkets a steal in cost, but they are also easily placed alongside my upcoming wardrobe for fall, and I will show you how.  Take a look!
 
Composition #1: A Chic Jacket
yellow and black houndstooth jacket (thrifted, $25)
tank (F21, $15)

pocketwatch (gifted)

chain (thrifted, $17) 

Draft:

Usage:

I have blogged about this jacket because it is so newsworthy!  I bought it two years ago at a vintage clothing store which is no longer here.  I paid $25.00 for it, and I wear it with everything.  I think it is, hands down, the best investment I have ever made in an article of clothing.  It goes with everything from jeans to black pants, and it also serves as a suit jacket if you are in the corporate career world.  It is stunning!  Like many of the things in my closet, it didn’t cost a fortune and no one would ever know it.  I am sure at one point in time it did, but not for me! My advice for anyone going "thrifting:" find pieces that echo your personality, but don’t spend over $25.00 on anything, unless it is in mint condition.  Word to the wise.

Composition #2: A Red Bag

red messenger bag (Liz Clairborne via TJ Maxx, $14)

shoes (Steve Madden on sale, $40)

scarf (Marshalls, $20)

Draft:

Usage:

This bag is my must for this season because of the intense red and the easy carrying.  It is all about comfort for me these days, and this bag fits me to a "T."  I wear it around with jeans, and, in this case, with a jersey dress and scarf.  Find one in a similar style or different color -- they are hot this fall!

Composition #3: Boyfriend Jeans
jeans (Gap, on sale)  

Draft:

Usage: 
A slight exaggeration but, these jeans are the most comfortable things I’ve ever put on.  Really!  I wear them with t-shirts, with tank tops out on the town, to the grocery store, with heels, with sandals, with ankle booties.  It is actually difficult to mess up this pair.  I purchased these at Gap on sale.  They are almost too good to be true.  When I get dressed nowadays, I try not to think so hard.  It should be about ease.  Throw on what makes you feel happy, comfortable, and powerful.  It’s all about attitude.

Composition #4: Big, Statement Jewelry
faux pearl multi-strand necklace (F21, $18)
heart necklace (gifted, Frantz Diamonds in Roanoke, Va.)

all other necklaces (F21) 

Drafts:

Usage:
Jewelry makes a statement in a big way.  It can transform your most drab frock into an exciting new discovery in your wardrobe.  I happen to love this new trend of huge pieces.  It makes choosing what to put on so much easier.  All you have to do it layer and keep layering chunky pieces.  If you are at a loss of creativity, check out any J.Crew magazine.  All the spreads include large rhinestone necklaces or pearls, or both with a wide range of outfits.  You will never have to decide between your pearls or your rhinestones ever again. One more thought, if you don't want to go out and buy several mismatching pieces, just take apart old necklaces and mix and match those.

Prompts:

• Caitlin says getting dressed "should be about ease," and should make you feel "happy, comfortable, and powerful."  How do you keep your daily styling habits effortless?
• Do you own these or similar items?  How do you style them?
• Thrifting divas, what are your strategies for finding gems like Caitlin's houndstooth jacket?  Where do you shop, and when?  How much do you spend, on average, on vintage finds?
• What are your must-have items for fall?

Back to School Not Shopping

Drafts:

Composition:
Back to School Purchases:
black shift dress with skinny faux patent belt (H&M)
mustard toned buckled slice wedges (Nine West Outlet)
You've Seen Them (almost) All Befores:
purple cardi (NY&Co)
black faux patent belt (H&M)
punchy beaded necklace (Old Navy)
sand colored swing jacket (H&M)
gray short sleeved turtleneck (via sister's closet)
silver toned ring necklace (JC Penney?)
gray cardi (NY&Co)
clear lucite bead necklace (Kohl's)
faux snake print belt (Kohl's)
white and cream circle print top (H&M)
stone colored belt (NY&Co)

Usage:
I am taking a 30 day hiatus from shopping.  I have not yet found all of the items on my "back to school shopping" list, but I've decided to stop here-- with this black shift and these mustard slice wedges.  After reading Tania's description of how liberated she felt after her 30 days without shopping, I realized that is just the sort of liberation I need.  I don't buy very much, but I engage on thoroughly exhaustive hunts for the items I've decided I need.  When shopstyle shows up as one of the "top sites" in your web browser, you have a problem.  Since my semester starts soon, I think it makes perfect sense to set aside this annoying habit of mine for a while to focus on more important tasks.

To get myself excited about this undertaking, I thought I'd see how many different ways I could style this perfect! simple shift dress.  I only stopped here because I ran out of time, not because I ran out of ideas.  The course I'm teaching this semester meets fewer than 30 times, and I am 100% sure I could style this one dress in a different way for every single session.  And these shoes?! 

Two of the items on my back-to-school list were "colored wedge" and "nude closed-toe shoe," and I actually think this pair ticks both boxes.  I wore them with all of the outfits above mostly for convenience, but the experiment also confirms my suspicion that depending on the ensemble, they can function both as a neutral and as a pop of color.

I'm also pleased that this shift fits right into the conversation Anne-Marie started yesterday about 50s and 60s style trends.  What I'll add to her post is this: I think I feel different in my shift than the real life Joans and Bettys of the past felt in theirs.  Clothing technology has made some remarkable strides in the past 50 years.  I can purchase similar silhouettes, but my options are constructed from breathable, washable fabrics that move with me.  My version of femininity might look similar, but it doesn't require me to wear undergarments that dig into my body, either.  Anne-Marie's own experience with her belt in the heat speaks to how uncomfortable our clothes can make us in certain circumstances, and it gives me sympathy for all the ladies back in the day who had to learn to walk in skirts that minimized their strides.

So while some may say that its anti-feminist to return to styles that were popular when women's bodies were inhibited in these ways, I say to them: I can do a cartwheel in this dress and these shoes.  Thank goodness for stretch fabrics!  Since new technology has allowed the physical liberation of my body in these clothes, I'll argue that I can absolutely wear them without claiming all the old ideological baggage that they carried back in 1962. 

Prompts:

• What's your favorite closet workhorse?  Have you run out of ways to wear it yet?
• Have you ever stopped shopping for a predetermined length of time?  What was your experience with it?
• In your opinion, what's the best innovation in apparel technology from the past 50 years?  Why?

Gingham Getup and Bygone Girliness

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
These versatile wedges might be my favorite purchase of the season.
This punchy clutch has accompanied me to both semi-formal and casual outings. 

Composition:
blue gingham button-down shirt (Brina & Em via Marshalls)
black or navy (?) pleated skirt (handmade via Parts & Labour)
leather belt (Anthropologie)
wedge sandals (RJ Girl via Piperlime)
yellow clutch (SR Squared by Sondra Roberts)
reading glasses (United Colors of Benetton)

Usage:
I wore a version of this outfit two weeks ago, when I tagged along with Liz to Legg Mason Tennis Classic.  It was a humid 97 degrees that day.  Note to self: belted ensembles are not bright ideas for sitting outside in sweltering temperatures.  I returned home that evening with an attractive ring of perspiration around my midsection, but I liked the outfit enough to take another crack at it.  Today's iteration is my re-do.

This skirt is a dream come true, even though it's big on me at the waist, and even though I cannot determine whether it's black or navy.  (Liz thinks it's black.  I think it's navy.  What's your assessment?)  I want to suade this pleated wonder toward the blue color family, so I've paired it with a gingham shirt in an obvious cornflower shade.  The combination of gingham with a high-waisted, short-hemlined, full-bodied skirt screams 1960s Throwback to me.  Maybe I've been watching too much Mad Men, but I'm fairly confident Peggy Olson would wear a version of this outfit on her off days.

That's why, for fun, I've accessorized with a pair of brown tortoiseshell frames.  They make me look like the spitting image of my mother, a child of the '60s herself.  On some days I'm bummed to live so far from home, but when I want to experiment with being my mom's doppelganger, it's nice to set foot in public without hearing, "Ohmygawd, you look just like Paula!"

(Love you, Mom.)

Which brings me to this thought: almost every magazine I've read this month has featured the new "ladylike" throwback silhouettes for fall.  Real Simple magazine, to which I subscribe, even went so far as to title its featured spread after a Henry James novel.  Here's the lede text:

"Portrait of a Lady: As any great literary heroine knows, being your own woman is never without a few bumps in the road.  But, thankfully, the clothes that will hit stores this fall - sophisticated instead of girlie, tasteful without being stodgy, and figure flattering without revealing it all - will at least make the getting dressed part smooth and drama-free."

The magazine's editor wrote this in the same issue: 

"Ladylike dressing is making a comeback and, as far as I'm concerned, not a minute too soon.  Whenever I've gone to any mall, anywhere in this country in the past few years, I've walked around in disbelief, looking in the store windows and thinking, Is anybody over the age of 13 actually wearing these clothes?  ... Where were the clothes for a woman who wants to look modern but appropriate?  Could I be the only one?"

I'll admit I've given these upcoming fall fashion trends a fist-pump or two.  What woman doesn't look great in a full skirt, and what woman wouldn't want to rock a jeweled brooch and simple wool shift dress like Christina Hendricks?  I wonder, though: are these revitalized trends by nature coded with the fraught femininity which characterized them in their heyday?  Should we then embrace them and their social implications cautiously?  Or have gender relationships - and apparel technologies - so evolved that women can now confidently don clothing which only decades prior symbolized female social oppression?  Liz began a discussion on this topic when she wrote about Adrienne Rich's 1980 essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence."  Essentially, Liz asked the question, "Are women wearing heels differently in 2010 than they might have in 1980?"  That is, are they rewriting old sartorial choices with new social meaning?

I hope the current fashions represent a recoding of femininity, because I, for one, do not envy Isabel Archer's "bumps in the road."

Prompts:

• How do you interpret the revival of 1950s - 60s era fashion trends?  What does such a revival mean for women in 2010?
• What do you think of the term "ladylike," an adjective which fashion gurus everywhere are already using to describe next season's throwback trends?  What does "ladylike" mean for you?  Why do you think it has so far applied to vintage designs?
• Does this skirt look black or navy to you?  Would your interpretation of its color affect the way you'd style it?

High School Lessons: Look Good, Feel Good

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this dress by itself here, and this outfit is basically a replica of this one I wore earlier in the summer.

Composition: 
eyeglasses (Kate Spade)
royal blue v-neck tee (American Eagle)
gold tone chain necklace with brown beads (H&M)
brown cotton jersey dress (Old Navy)
gold tone bangle (Ann Taylor Outlet)
tan heeled sandals (Born Concept via Marshall's)

Usage:
My favorite high school English teacher is the first person I can remember who told me that what I wear might make a difference in how I think about myself.  She did so by encouraging us to dress up on test days.  The advice, as I recall it, went something like this: "I know you kids like to wear 'comfortable' clothes when you sit down to take a test, but studies show that people who dress up on test days feel better about themselves and thus perform better on the tests."  I don't know what "studies" she was talking about, and it's entirely possible that she made that up, but I have come to adopt the principle behind her statement as truth anyway.  Most of us who blog about our style choices ascribe to some version of the "Look Good, Feel Good" mentality, and I can certainly make the connection to how dressing "up" for an exam could help one maximize one's ability to perform well on said exam.  We all dressed up for our high school teacher's exams (maybe we thought she'd grade us down or something?) but I've also been dressing up for exams ever since.

Today I was tempted to show up to class in shorts and a t-shirt (I told you, I'm getting used to this casual thing!), but instead I challenged myself to put together a new, "pulled together" ensemble because it was a test day in my German class.  I realize royal blue and brown as a color combination are not particularly modern or exciting, but since I have brown hair and blue eyes, I always think of these colors as ones which "go" with one another.  Plus, I had to wear a top dark enough and the right shape to cover up the dress underneath.  And while this isn't a very "dressed up" outfit for me in the grand scheme of my dressing history, I have been avoiding all accessories lately due to the heat, so putting on the belt, necklace, and bangle made the outfit feel polished and made me feel test-ready.  (Though the bangle came off as soon as I started trying to write.  How DO you ladies manage to get through the whole day with bracelets on?!)

And since Katie bravely acknowledged the presence of some insecurities yesterday, I want to follow her lead by talking briefly about my hair.  Another thing I liked about this ensemble is that it actually worked my hair into its cohesive look-- I think my mane of brown waves work with the brown belt and skirt on bottom to create an interesting frame for the blue tee.  I've been trying all summer to embrace these waves, even though their unruliness runs contrary to the put-together-ness I normally associate with myself.  But some days I'm just not buying it, and I want to revert to my old blow-dry-then-straighten hair frying ways.  I'd consider this a "good hair day," but some days I grow so frustrated with all this hair that I'm tempted to shear it all off and return to a chic short do a la Anne-Marie.

Prompts:

• Is there any advice you got in high school that you still follow to this day?  Why do you think it has endured?
• Do you find that you feel more on top of your game mentally and emotionally when you look "put together," or do you feel just fine in whatever you're wearing?
• Do you want to share your own hair woes?  Feel free.  I promise you that any thought you've had about your own hair, I've already had about mine.
• Have you submitted a look to the In Professorial Fashion Wonder Woman Pose Conference yet?  I'm trying to show you my best WW pose here on the left--  what blue eyed brunette doesn't sometimes want to channel her inner Lynda Carter? (When I was a kid, I used to punch out the bottom of disposable cups and slip them over my hands to make WW wristbands.)  If you haven't checked out IPF, please do-- in addition to D-Med and A-Dubs who frequently comment here (thanks ladies!) they just introduced E-Jo, who poses with her dachshund! : )

Submission Sunday: Krista

Intro:
Since we're interested in the many different kinds of wardrobe choices women make, we're thrilled to share a post from Liz's lifelong friend (and regular SSG reader), Krista, who was willing to write about her experience with maternity dressing, which none of us here at SSG have experienced ourselves.  Krista studied Political Science in undergrad and has spent several years working in the non-profit sector, and Liz would describe her style as timeless with a modern twist.  Recently, Krista has demonstrated that dressing well is still important during pregnancy, and we're excited to feature some of her tips for maternity dressing.

Draft:

Composition:
black dress with ruffle detail (Liz Lange for Target)
green sandals (BC Footwear via Nordstrom Rack)
necklace (J Crew)
metallic skinny belt (Gap)
(Photo taken at 38 weeks pregnant)

Usage:
I recently gave birth to my second daughter in as many years. That means I’ve spent a good portion of the last few years wearing maternity clothes. It’s not always easy to feel stylish when pregnant, but I’ve learned a few things along the way that I wish I’d known before I began investing in a maternity wardrobe.

Dresses: I practically lived in dresses during both my pregnancies, especially in the warmer months. They’re comfortable, versatile, and you’re unlikely to grow out of a dress. There were plenty of shirts that fit me during only part of my pregnancy, but almost all of my dresses looked great for all nine months. The dress I’m wearing in these photos was one of my favorites.
Invest in basics: It’s worth the money to purchase a few quality basics for your maternity wardrobe. I didn’t do this during my first pregnancy and I spent nine months wearing pants I hated. Never again! I wised up the second time around and bought three pairs of pants I loved and that made me feel good. Other good basics include anything that’s easily layered – tank tops, t-shirts, cardigans, etc.
Accessorize! Accessories can make an otherwise boring outfit stand out. Yes, pregnancy might sometimes make you feel fat and unattractive, but that's all the more reason to spend a little extra time on your appearance. In this outfit I added the belt to help emphasize my belly and the green shoes to add a pop of color. The necklace pulls the outfit together.
Leggings, leggings, leggings: For the pregnant body, leggings are both cute and practical. Even if you wouldn’t wear them when not pregnant (I probably wouldn’t), they make great sense during pregnancy. They’re incredibly comfortable and can be very flattering when paired with the right tunic or dress. On cooler days, I often wore them under the dress pictured here.
Fitted is often better: Some women are tempted to cover up during pregnancy. Don’t! Particularly as your belly bump grows bigger, show it off. A fitted top or dress will make you look smaller than one that’s loose and oversized. Belts under the bust line like I’m wearing here are a great way to show off the belly. Also, maternity shirts with side ruching are particularly flattering.
Size up: Maternity fashions have improved greatly even in the two years between my pregnancies. But it’s still not always possible to find the right outfit for the right occasion. Consider buying non-maternity clothes in a size larger instead of shopping in the maternity department. Or use items in your existing wardrobe that still fit, like jackets, sweaters, and empire waist tops.

Prompts:

• Do you have any other tips for maternity dressing?  Please share them!
• Pregnancy is one obvious life event that requires one to develop new dressing strategies.  What are some other life events that have forced you to find new ways to style yourself?

Brand Loyalist?

Drafts:

Composition:
Left: Mall Kiosk Aviators (also seen here and here)
Left Center: Ray-Ban 3362 Cockpit (via Zappos)
Right Center: Ray-Ban 3025 Aviators (via Zappos)
Right: Ray-Ban 2132 New Wayfarer (via Zappos)

Usage:
I have a new admission to make: I'm a brand loyalist.  I didn't even realize it until last week, when I tortured Anne-Marie with a lengthy gmail-chat session about whether or not I should keep one of the pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses I had purchased via Zappos.

I've long admired the classic styling and fairly subtle branding of Ray-Ban sunglasses, and though I normally buy myself a cheap pair of sunnies every summer, I decided that this year I would take the plunge and buy a nice pair that would last me a long time and protect my eyes.  I ordered the pair that most closely resembled my mall sunnies, the classic Ray-Ban aviators, and the other classic style I like, the Wayfarers.  I had grown so attached to the look of the mall sunnies, though, that I couldn't decide.  Plus, I was hung up on how popular these styles are with celebrities and wanted to resist buying something simply because it's worn by the rich, famous, and (un)talented.

Anne-Marie patiently worked through my neuroses with me and helped me realize that Ray-Ban is actually quite similar to the other brands I'm normally drawn to, so it was unlikely that I wanted them just because celebrities sport them.  In general, I like to own high quality, timeless staple items that will last me for years, and I periodically purchase inexpensive, on-trend items to keep my style fresh.  Ray-Ban manufactures a high quality product with classic, timeless styling.  I would consider their price point in the "luxury" category, but not in the "exorbitantly overpriced" arena.  After discussing it with AM, modeling each pair several times for my husband, looking at these photographs, and taking a cue from the Don Henley song my husband cued up, I decided on the Wayfarers.  I've been buying plastic tortoise shell frames in different variations for about ten years and I think my interest in aviators might be a passing fad.

But all this talk about Ray-Ban made me realize just how loyal I am to my favorite brands and products.  I wanted to share my brand loyalties with you all (even though I'm self conscious about some of their price points and think my dedication to them borders on neurotic) in hopes that you'll share with us some of your favorite brands and/or your own reasons for buying some brands instead of others.  So here goes--

• I've written before about my loyalty to the Express Editor trouser.  I own about 6 pairs that I've purchased both retail and via ebay, and I literally do not own or shop for any other style of trouser.
• I used to wear Abercrombie jeans exclusively because I loved their fit, but eventually the ethics (or rather, lack thereof) of the company angered me so much that I stopped purchasing them.  It was harder for me to give them up than I'd like to admit, though.
• I only run in the Nike Women's Pro Training Bra (worn inside out). The only running shorts I own are the Under Armour Escape model.  I replace my Asics Gel Kayano running shoes about twice a year.  These items are all overpriced, IMO, but the sporting goods store near my house puts the old models on clearance when the new designs come out, so if I shop one season behind, I can get great deals... but I wait for them.  I'm not interested in buying anything else.
• Two years into my relationship with my beloved black Kate Spade bag, I purchased a similar style in cream to serve as my summer month bag.  Kate Spade must sell them at a discount somewhere because authentic ones can always be found at about 50% off retail on ebay.  I also wear Kate Spade eyeglasses, and I like them so much that I had new lenses put in the same frames this year when I needed a new prescription.
• I buy from Zappos whenever possible.  I love their core values as much as I love their customer service.  I freaked out a little bit when the were essentially bought out by Amazon, but this article calmed my fears.

When Anne-Marie wrote about the way her personal style is currently evolving, Sally of Already Pretty commented that "If you decide how you want to look and never flex or grow, you'll end up looking stodgy and dated in a heartbeat."  I tend to agree with her suggestion here, but at the same time, I'm the type of person who knows what she likes and sticks with it.  It's just my personality.  While Katie would rather own several different pairs of inexpensive shoes than a single expensive pair, and I think the variety in her shoe collection is really fun, I'm happy to wear my LRL black wedge heels until they fall apart on my feet (though I anticipate this will never actually happen because they're so well made).

Prompts:

• How do you go about choosing sunglasses?  Do you own luxury sunnies or cheap ones?
• Are there any brands or items of apparel to which you are loyal?  What are they?  Why have they won your loyalty?
• Or do you think I am a little out of my mind for stalking a single kind of sports bra until it goes on clearance?
• Will someone please tell me if, a few months down the road, my style becomes woefully boring and static?  I really do believe that buying inexpensive "on-trend" pieces adds enough flavor to my classic pieces to keep my style from looking "stodgy and dated," but I could be wrong.  

(Scholar Style Guide is not sponsored by any of the companies I've mentioned in this post.)

Look Familiar?

Draft:

Earlier Draft:
I wore essentially the same outfit earlier this summer.

Composition:
eyeglasses (Kate Spade)
clear lucite beaded necklace (Kohl's)
dress (H&M)
white canvas wedges (MIA)

Usage:
I've featured this dress frequently enough this summer to convince you, I think, that it's one of my favorite items of apparel.  This time, I left the belt at home to beat the heat and I wore my new white wedges, but otherwise this look is identical to the look I posted last month.  I'm afraid I'm boring you to death, but I wanted to share this ensemble again because I'm curious how frequently others re-wear similar looks.

I read the blogs of several ladies who actively avoid repeating outfits, and I have a lot of respect for all you remix masters out there, but I personally don't have a problem with repeating an outfit.  In fact, I really enjoy re-wearing the ensembles that I feel the best in.  My general rule of thumb for re-wearing is to ask myself if I wore the item last week, and if the answer is no, I'll happily wear it again.   Most times I style the item differently, but sometimes I don't bother.  I guess it's a sort of "If it's not broken, don't fix it" approach.  I'll admit, though, I even break this rule of thumb for items I really love-- I've worn my navy striped tank at least once a week since I got it.  I think I re-wear fairly often because I only buy clothes I really like and it bothers me to have items in my closet that aren't getting worn.  I do like to buy new things, but only if I can think of several different ways and places to wear them.

Prompts:

• How frequently do you re-wear items of apparel?  Do you try to style them differently or do you repeat entire looks like I do?
• If you prefer to wear a different outfit every day, what motivates you to keep finding new ways to style your clothes?  Do you think you buy more clothes than the average person, or do you just find a greater variety of ways to wear the same items?

Lady in Red Has a Story to Tell

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this scarf as a neckerchief with Breton stripes for Dress Your Best Week.
I paired this bangle bracelet with blue and orange for my brother's graduation.

Composition:
red patterned scarf (a giveaway from La Merce in Barcelona, Spain)
silver necklace with dove charm (Ornamental Things in Austin, Texas)
red dress (Ya via Party Dress in Fells Point, Baltimore)
bracelet (thrifted)
yellow flats (Target)

Usage:
This weekend I learned something about myself:  whenever I travel, I dress in trinkets from past journeys.  For me it's instinctual.  Perhaps that's why I haven't noticed until now.  Apparently I like story pieces, garments or accessories or shoes that remind me of where I've been.  My sister recently recalled our all-time favorite set of Story Shoes: a banged-up pair of suede cowboy boots, now too ragged for use.  She wore them for a year in high school during her grand Tour de Colleges.  Then she flew to Barcelona to visit me, at which time she graciously entrusted the boots to my care.  Those trusty, well-worn, high-steppers carried me all over Spain and through much of the U.K.  They led a full existence, those booties, and they mark for my sister and me what we consider a life-changing year for both of us.

This Fourth of July weekend, I traveled with my husband to visit his family in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  We've been celebrating Independence Day at the Delaware shore for five years now, since before my husband and I married.  Five years doesn't sound like a long time now that I type it, but it has been long enough to accumulate memories and some sentimentality to boot.  Normally, once we arrive, I spend the weekend in bathing suits and his sister's hand-me-down Bethany Surf Shop T-shirts.  This holiday, however, I kicked off the occasion with a new dress, the first red frock I've ever owned.  Perhaps now, after sporting it during fireworks and the like, this fiery number will acquire significance of its own.

I paired the dress with other items that hold meaning for me.  The scarf I snagged for free during a crazy festival weekend in Barcelona.  Since headscarves have my attention this summer, I wore the red patterned fabric as a kerchief.  The necklace I purchased at Austin City Limits music festival last fall.  The dove and rose charms made me feel pretty all weekend, even though the rest of me was coated in mud from the torrential downpour.  Ah, fond memories.

The latest addition to my story piece collection is an antique brass cameo ring, which I purchased last month at a boutique in Savannah, Georgia.  I wore it last week in an easy outfit inspired by the charming city itself.

Prompts:

• Do you wear certain items of clothing specifically for the memories you associate with them?  If so, tell us about your favorite story pieces!
• Have you recently acquired un recuerdo?  Where did you find it, and how does it function as a memento for you?
• Has anyone seen the play Love, Loss, and What I Wore, now running at The Westside Theatre in NYC?  Have any of you read the book on which the play is based?  I'm dying to see the show, because, from what I can tell, it relates to women and the histories our clothes tell.  Fun!
• Anyone else feel conflicted over the associations between women and the color red?  I can't clear the mental hurdle of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.  Am I too limited in my understanding?