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?

The Boots are Back in Town

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore these boots with a wrap dress and with a strapless top.
I sported these linen shorts during dinner with Katie and Liz.
I donned this chambray top with a skirt in need of alterations.
I paired this braided belt with a neon shirtdress.

Composition:
chambray peasant top (H&M)
heart charm necklace (F21)
linen shorts (Lulu's)
braided belt (Lulu's)
boots (Steve Madden via Marshalls)

Usage:
Is it boot season yet?  Reader Michelle wants to know!  Last Wednesday, during Wardrobe Workhorse Week, she wrote:

"One of my own workhorse preferences is currently singing its autumn siren call: boots! I know WWW is happening while SSG headquarters continues to endure the mid-Atlantic heat, but what take do you lovely ladies have on what might just be my fall favorite?"

We're with you, Michelle!  Despite the lingering summer heat, Katie, Liz, and I are anxious for the reintroduction of boots.  Like you, we consider boots some of our favorite wardrobe reliables, even if they are technically out of season.  Liz values her grey, slouchy numbers for their comfort and style.  Katie's looking forward to reviving these fabulous knee-highs, which she snagged on deep discount at the end of last fall.  And I'm itching to restore these cowboy kickers to my regular shoe rotation.

That's why I paired them with linen shorts for an outing at a local farmers market.  The weather was just breezy enough to merit the boots over these woven sandals, so I took advantage of it.  For an outdoor afternoon, the outfit seemed like the ideal transition between seasons: the long sleeves and the boots welcome autumn, while the shorts and the washed-out hues hang onto summer.

It appears a few notable dressers have the same idea.  Brooklyn Decker, for instance, wore a similar ensemble while strolling Manhattan streets, pairing worn-in waders with jean shorts for a bohemian vibe.  Katy of Kansas Couture recently sported boots with gauzy dresses here and here, too.  Since others are pairing leather leg-huggers with traditional summer-wear, it seems we're not alone in our bootsache.  (Lame? Maybe? "Bootsache"?)

Personally, I think boots are workhorses precisely because they can bridge dramatic changes in temperature.  Worn thoughtfully - and perhaps a tad ironically - they function as valuable cross-season footwear.  I've worn them with tank tops in August when my pedicures have suffered and, in the same month, when I've wanted to rough up my warm-weather frocks.  I've also worn them in the thick of fall with corduroys and sweaters.  So, in many ways, boots act like blazers in my closet: they make seasonal transitions smooth and stylish.

What's your take on boots? Is it time to break 'em out?

Prompts:

• When do you reinstate boots to your closet?  On a specific calendar date?  According to certain temperatures?  Or do you wear them year-round?
• Do you think boots are cross-season workhorses, or do you think they belong only in cooler weather?
• Does a boot's height matter to you when deciding whether or not to wear it cross-season?  For example, would you say 'yes' to an ankle boot in the summer but 'no' to a knee-high version?  What other factors make a difference?

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Autumn

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this ruffled top for dinner with the girls.
These wedges became my go-to shoe this summer.

Composition:
cream "dandy" tank (Ann Taylor)
navy shorts (Marshall's)
green ruffled wedges (Steve Madden)
watch (Fossil)
green earrings (Target)
Sword of Destiny (my boyfriend's childhood relic that now lives in his office)

Usage:
For the first time in awhile, the first day of school did not involve me going to work in the office, going to class, or really anything that necessarily involved school.  I'm not teaching this semester; I'm lucky enough to just be able to focus on my classes for fall term.  So technically, I could have stayed at home, away from campus, blissfully ignoring the beginning of the new school year.  Instead, I responsibly started out the year by going to campus, reading, and settling into my new schedule that isn't all that scheduled save for sheer will and discipline on my part.  It'll take some getting used to.
(Not that I'm complaining, mind you, I'm just used to having much more of my time accounted for).

Anyways, even though I didn't have to meet with anyone or really do anything in particular, I still wanted to look put together.  Usually, I find the first day of school, as I think most people still on an academic calender do, the beginning of the fashion transition into fall.  However, on an extremely hot, sunny day, the last thing I wanted to do was think about long pants, fall colors, and boots (I'm melting!).

So I threw on my favorite summer wedges - which, side note, I recently walked over a mile in, and they passed the comfort test - slicked on a great, bright summer polish (OPI My Chihuahua Bites!), rocked a pair of (decent length) shorts and was out the door.  Now had I not been going to school, I would have worn a more casual tank top with these shorts as I did when I was traveling.  To add a little more "look" to this look, I added this feminine, ruffled top.  I like the way its ruffles go with the ruffles on the shoes and how it instantly dresses up the shorts and sandals.  I think it accomplishes a nice summery transition into the rigors of the academic year.

Prompts:

• What do you wear around campus when you're not teaching/working/in class?
• Is the beginning of the school year a fashion transition for you?  Do you think of fall as starting and/or summer ending with the beginning of the school year or do you go with traditional seasonal changes?

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.

Possible Summer Trend Overload

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I've admitted to wearing this tank (far too?) frequently this summer.

Composition:
eyeglasses (Kate Spade)
pink coral beaded necklace (Old Navy)
navy striped tank (Gap)
turquoise ribbed cardigan (Old Navy)
linen khaki colored shorts (Gap)
nude heeled sandals (Born Concept via Marshall's)

Usage:
First, let me list for you the summer trends/previous posts to which I can trace back my styling of this outfit:
1) I like stripes.  Katie likes stripes.  Anne-Marie likes stripes.  We all like stripes!
2) Anne-Marie claims nude shoes elongate your leg, and she identified one of her pairs as her "summer staple."  Plus, I think these new shoes I picked up from Marshall's look like a Liz-ish version of the other shoes she's been rocking all summer-- her chunky nude/tan platforms wedges.  (Remember when I said I couldn't find the left shoe?  I found them waiting for me at a different Marshall's!)
3) Katie has done shorts with heels.  Anne-Marie has done shorts with heels.   Once, they even inadvertently coordinated their shorts-with-heels looks.  So I finally worked up the courage to try it out.
4) My turquoise beaded necklace has become my summer statement piece, and I've been wearing it with everything, so I picked up this more-pink-than-it-looks-in-the-photo one for $3. 
5) The turquoise necklace also inspired the choice of the turquoise cardigan.  I have been loving turquoise and navy together since I wore the necklace with a navy dress, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this color combo even though I haven't seen anyone else pair turquoise with her breton stripes.

I've reached that point in the season when I normally despair about having run out of good styling ideas, and I can empathize with those of you who have shared similar sentiments on your own blogs, but that hasn't happened to me this year.  I've only been out of the office for two weeks now, so I'm still enjoying experimenting with my "casual" summer clothes and finding new ways to wear them.  It could just be that we're more familiar with one another after 5 weeks of class, but I also feel like my (mostly undergraduate) German classmates are responding to me differently now that I've been dressing a little bit more like them.  These days they joke around with me even though they think I am terribly "old."  For example, when our instructor told us the German music video she was showing us was from 1992, they said "Oh, so when Liz was in high school."  They weren't that far off, actually, and my high school teacher did show us the video, but I didn't tell them that.

The jury is still out for me on shorts plus heels.  My legs are so long, and apparently my shorts are so short, that I definitely felt like this ensemble tipped toward streetwalker territory.  I admit that I intentionally wore the glasses to mitigate this effect because-- streetwalkers have good vision?  I don't know.  I wore the cardigan to cope with our classroom's a/c, and because it was a stormy morning, but I was pretty reluctant to take it off.  This much leg plus bare shoulders felt like way too much.  Perhaps, at the very least, this pairing proves Anne-Marie's suggestions that nude-ish shoes elongate the look of your leg!

Prompts:

• Now that we're getting closer to fall, what can you look back on and identify as your favorite trends this summer?
• Do you ever endeavor to wear a lot of trends at once or is this total overkill?
• Do you find that you tend to dress more and more like your friends the longer you know them?  I've noticed this tendency with all of my friendships (maybe I'm just a huge copycat?), but the fact that the 3 of us have been blogging about our clothing choices seems to have sped the process up considerably.
• Have you been inspired to try out any new trends or styles after seeing them on our blog?  If so, which ones?  And did they work for you?

Plane Jane

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:I'm basically obsessed with these wedges.

Composition:
white tank top (Old Navy)
long navy shorts (the Limited)
coral cardigan (Target)
green ruffled t-strap wedges (Steve Madden)
silver flats (Payless)

Usage:
Oh air travel, an anxiety provoking and stylistically challenging venture.  I know that Anne Marie has tackled this topic previously, but here's my spin on it.  I'm about to head off on my last journey of the summer - a short family vacation.  I have to admit, I am a recently reformed poor plane dresser.  Meaning that I generally wore t-shirts, flip flops, and the occasional pair of sweatpants (gasp!) while flying.  However in recent times, particularly since starting this blog, I've put more thought into my travel clothes.  This trip's composition nicely encapsulates my attempts to reform and reorient my travel wardrobe.

I think that my general style philosophy of keeping it simple and classic works perfectly for travel.  Tried and true shapes and silhouettes keep things comfortable but still effortlessly composed.  Normally I wear pants on planes since I tend to be cold, but considering the oppressive heat overwhelming SSG Headquarters, I knew that I would wilt even just wearing pants on the way to the airport.  These longer shorts (do they qualify as capris?) work as a nice compromise.  The white tank will work for the airport journey, and the coral cardi adds feminine flair while providing a utilitarian service.

Now my dilemma lies in the shoes (naturally).  Flats are my airport staple.  Easy to slip on and off for security, just as comfortable as flip flops, but more put together.  But after seeing Anne Marie's bold decision to travel in heels, I really wanted to try it out.  I love the way the wedges make my legs look great while adding more color to the look.  So I might chicken out and throw on my go-to silver flats.  I'll update you all on the final decision.

Prompts:

• What kind of shoes do you travel in?
• How does your wardrobe change for different kinds of travel - car, bus, plane, train, etc.?
• What are your travel staples?

Bookworm Blues

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wear this white tank with practically everything.  Whether or not I should?  That's up for debate.
These oxfords make me feel like a bookworm while I take a break from formal studies.

Composition:
white tank (Target)
grey slouchy sweater (Target)
black shorts (Old Navy)
oxfords (Steven Madden)

Usage:
Happy Friday, folks!  I'm scooting out to run a few errands before my parents arrive for the weekend.  My first order of business?  Locate a bookshelf for housing the orphans of my beloved book collection.  We've nearly maxed out the shelf space in the rest of our house, and these libros  never made the cut since they were in constant use during my last year of graduate school.   They need a home before 9 p.m., stat.

I'm wearing these oxfords because I like them - or, I want to like them - but I haven't yet determined how to wear them.  For that matter, I haven't yet determined whether or not they suit my body.  I've tried pairing them with dresses, boyfriend jeans, leggings, skirts, and now shorts, in the hopes that I'll find a match sooner or later.  Even if they don't make me look good, they at least make me feel good.  With Liz and Katie gearing up for their teaching responsibilities, I've lately felt nostalgic for a classroom setting.  Finding a permanent home for my notebooks and school files doesn't help, for it reminds me that I'm putting my plans on hold for a bit.  As consolation, the ritual of lacing-up a pair of old school flats makes me feel like back-to-school is right around the corner.

Despite this moody little post, I assure you I'm feeling confident about my grad school decision and, especially!, proud that my house no longer looks like my college apartment got sick and threw up on a distinctly adult space.  On that note, let me introduce you to the wall behind me.  You might have known him as the formerly Confederate Blue partition of olde?  Well, he has been made-over in "Manhattan Mist," courtesy of Behr, and I must say it has been sending out some delightfully androgynous vibes ever since.

(My husband disagrees.  He interprets "Manhattan Mist" as a feminine shade and therefore misses Blue.  I'll let you be the judge.)

Prompts:

• Will someone devise a wardrobe game-plan for me and these oxfords?  I want to like them for more than sentimental reasons, I really do.
• What's your take on my mixing of grey, black, and brown?  Good attempt?  Poor attempt? Success?  OMG Never Again?
• Tell us what you'll be wearing around town this weekend! 

Dinner With the Girls!

Drafts:

Earlier Drafts:
Anne-Marie considers these shorts and these heels her summer staples.
Katie loves this purse for summer outings, and she previously paired these heels with a more subdued outfit.
Liz already professed her love for this striped tank and these rose gold sandals.

Composition:
On Anne-Marie:
pink and green patterned tunic (inherited from either mom or sister?)
linen shorts (Lulu's)
nude suede heels (Seychelles via Piperlime)
brown suitcase purse (gift from sister via Target)

On Katie:
cream "dandy" tank (Ann Taylor)
dark green shorts (JC Penney)
pink heels (Bakers)
green purse (Coach)

On Liz:
navy and white striped tank (Gap)
black pin-striped vest (H&M via sister's closet)
black beads (unknown)
black linen skirt (Forever 21)
stone colored leather bag (Kate Spade Westbury Dani via Ebay)
rose gold sandals (Old Navy)

Composition:
When we recently got together to catch up over dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, we realized it was a great chance to stage a photo shoot!  And after enduring several scrutinizing looks, we have a new respect for those of you who take your photos out in public!

Anne-Marie:
Tunics!  Until dinner with the girls, I had forgotten about tunics!  And how much I love them with shorts in the summer when my tan line is too obnoxious to wear strapless tops!  This outfit is actually the fourth I tried that night.  My closet was conspiring against me and took pleasure in showcasing the outline of my bikini with every other garment.  This light cotton number came to my rescue.  Now, the hefty brown satchel I carried is another matter.  I tote it everywhere and affectionately call it my "Mary Poppins Bag" because it holds everything.  E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.  But its container merits do not negate the fact that it is far too bulky in both color and size for this otherwise easy look.  I m on the look-out for a new, seasonal, hold-everything bag.  Maybe one like Liz s white Kate Spade would fit the bill?

Katie:
As everyone knows, I am a huge fan of frills and dramatic clothes.  I am also a recent shorts convert.  So I decided to pair them together and see how it went.  I like this cream top for the fun flounces on the neckline.  I normally wear it with a skirt or tailored pants, but I wanted to see how it would work with an incongruous bottom.  These slate green shorts provided the contrast I was looking for; it's casual summer fun meets romantic dandy wear.  To highlight the contradiction, I completed the outfit with these bold statement heels.  I like the way the little frills on the shoe match the frills on the shirt, and I thought it was a fun way to punctuate this sartorial venture.  Also, I've been wanting to try shorts and heels, and this particular evening I had the attitude of go big (tall?) or go home.  For a bag, I just went with my beloved bright green purse since I think wearing different shades of the same color can add some sense of unity to an outfit.  Looking at the pictures, though, I'm not completely sold on that decision.  Perhaps I'll try a brown bag like Anne-Marie's or another neutral next time. 


Liz:
Why did I show up to dinner with the girls wearing an outfit that paired navy with black, horizontal stripes with pinstripes, and a menswear-inspired vest with a full short skirt?  Well, where else could I go wearing such an experimental ensemble?  One of my favorite things about participating in the style blog community is how much it has encouraged me to try out styles that are outside my comfort zone, so I thought dinner with my co-bloggers was a good time to experiment.  Another thing I like about going out with these two is that I never have to worry that my outfit will look like "too much" in comparison;  I know they're also going to be wearing clothes that  say "I had fun putting this look together."  Today's post also marks the blog debut of my new Kate Spade bag, which is the summer replacement for the Kate Spade bag I blogged about earlier.  I bought the bag as my MA graduation gift to myself, and since that accomplishment is one I got to share with Anne-Marie and Katie, this post seems like the perfect place to introduce it.  My only regret about my outfit is that these two seem to be sharing some kind of color coordination ESP, and I didn't get the memo.  Look at them-- they're both wearing bright pink, cream, and slate green and they both combined shorts with heels! 

Prompts:

• What do you wear for dinner out with the girls?
• What situations or events encourage you to try more experimental styles?

Shorts and Summer

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this tank top in my first(!) post
OPI's My Chihuahua Bites! is my favorite summer polish

Composition:
blue shorts (Old Navy)
green tank top (Old Navy)
purple flower wedges (Payless)
octopus necklace (ModCloth - gift from boyfriend)
on fingers: OPI My Chihuahua Bites!
on toes: OPI Pamplona Purple

Usage:
Summer brings higher temperatures and higher heamlines.  It also provides the perfect opportunity for backyard barbeques.  These three summer standards came together for me this weekend when my house hosted a cookout.

I have not worn a non-athletic pair of shorts in maybe four or five years.  For warmer weather, I dress exclusively in skirts or dresses.  I'm not entirely sure why I've eschewed shorts for so long, but I have two theories.  Part of it stems from the fact that I tend to dress a bit conservatively due to my curvy figure filling out certain clothes a bit too much, making styles that look fine on less busty women look inappropriate one me (I discussed this issue in this post).  Thinking this way about clothing over an extended period of time has made me a bit gun-shy about all fashion choices, and I feel uncomfortable if I'm not covered up.  The second reason is that while I like my calves, I don't like my thighs at all, and wearing shorts makes me feel self-conscious.

Then, this week I bought not one, but two pairs of shorts.  I'm happy to say that SSG significantly influenced my decision to revisit shorts.  This project has really driven me to rethink and push my (self-imposed) fashion boundaries.  So I purchased and debuted this pair at our party.  Along with a simple tank top, they made a nice, casual look for outdoor festivities.

This statement necklace completes the series of sea creature necklaces (sting ray, seahorse, octopus) I received from my boyfriend for my birthday.

The octopus added a quirky kick to the outfit.  I also decided to play with non-sequiter shoes.  Nothing about them really connected to this outfit, but I thought that they would complete it nicely.  It needed a cute pair of shoes, and I love these wedges that I got for $10 at Payless, especially the flower detail and the strapes around the ankle.

My shorts experiment definitely went well.  I felt comfortable in them, and I definitely plan on incorporating shorts into my regular wardrobe for summers now.

Prompts:

• Do you wear shorts?  What kind of shorts - longer, shorter?
• Are there any articles of clothing that you do not wear, for whatever reason?
• What kind of clothes do you like to wear for summer get togethers?

Shades of Grey

Draft:

Composition:
grey-striped button down (Gap)
linen blazer (Gap)
putty-toned shorts (J.Crew)
charcoal T-strap heels (gift from Liz, Xhilaration via Target)

Usage:
Liz gave me these fabulously versatile heels at the beginning of the month as both a birthday present and a celebratory gift for completing our M.A. degrees.  I'm debuting the cuties for the first time on SSG, but I've worn them to almost every semi-formal occasion - with the exception of this wedding - so far this summer.  How did I ever survive without a pair of grey heels?  Thank you, Liz!

Today is appropriate to showcase these T-strap wonders because, since returning from my vacation in Charleston and Savannah, I'm obsessing over washed-out hues.  I normally spend the summer months in bright colors, wallowing in saturated pinks, greens, yellows, and blues.  Earlier in June, I even gave a shout-out to neons.  But you may have suspected my change of heart when I returned from my travels in a white-button down and bleached jeans.  Indeed, strolling the historic streets of these southern cities convinced me that muted has merit.  It's cooler, breezier, and, some argue, even chicer.  (Chicer is a word, right? It looks funny to me.)

I'm doing subdued today by mixing shades of grey.  The striped grey button-down is one of my favorite summer pieces, since it's gauzy and suggestively - in the confident, easy, warm weather way - see-through.  Last week I threw it on over bathing suits; this week, I'm tucking it under this light linen blazer.  The putty-toned shorts are barely a shade darker than the top.  (They also mark my second occasion of testing the waters of short-shorts on this blog!  Eek.)  And Liz's gifted heels punctuate the ensemble with the most saturated charcoal shade.

The spectrum of grey traveling down my silhouette makes me want to fist-pump the air.  It was accidental, but I like the visual line it creates, and that it highlights the ruffled T-straps.  How does the gradation  of grey resonate with you?

Prompts:

• Was I successful in compiling a muted look?  What else would you have done to emphasize the de-emphasized colors?
• How do you feel about wearing heels with shorts?  Too much like a Nair TV commercial?
• Do you think muted tones are chic-er than saturated colors?  Which hues do you prefer for summer?

Shorts and Stripes

Drafts:

Earlier Drafts:
I started wearing this jacket again when I realized I could cuff the sleeves, and I wore it again with these Chucks in an All-American look.
I showed you these walking shorts before I altered them, and I've been wearing these wedges nonstop since I bought them to re-energize my summer wardrobe.

Composition:
antiqued gold finish earrings (Charlotte Russe)
navy cotton jacket (Gap Outlet)
nautical stripe tank (Gap)
white walking length shorts (Old Navy, altered)
white short shorts (Old Navy)
white wedges (MIA)
white sneakers (Converse Chuck Taylors)

Usage:
After weeks and weeks of searching, I finally found the perfect navy and white nautical striped top-- for $4 at gap.com!  I love navy and white, and I love how crisp they look together, so when I started seeing this trend on other blogs a few months back, I fell hook line and sinker for it (too much with the nautical talk?).  I hope you guys are feeling the nautical-inspired love because I can already tell that I'm going to try to find a million different ways to wear this tank.  (Starting again on Saturday when the U.S. takes on Ghana in the World Cup!)

For my first try, I paired the tank with white short shorts and my chucks in an attempt to beat the unbearable heat when I went out to run errands with my husband.  I've already boasted about how comfortable I am with my runner's legs, so it might not be a surprise that I wear short shorts, though I completely understand why plenty of women feel ambivalent about them.  Oscar seems to be questioning my shoe choice, but I liked how the Chucks gave the look a sporty Americana-esque feel.

Then I immediately began thinking about how I could get away with wearing this tank to work.  I knew it would look great under my navy jacket, so I thought I'd go white on the bottom again.  I  pulled out these "are they cropped pants or are they walking shorts?" shorts, cut off the hem, and cuffed them over.  I've had these "shorts" for several years, and I have no idea why it never occurred to me to alter them before.  My creativity must have been inspired by my love of this tank and my frequent pilgrimage to the blogs written by ladies who regularly modify their own clothing.  I can already tell they'll get much more wear like this.

Finally, I love the nautical stripes with navy and white, but I also like them with pops of contrasting colors.  Though my favorite nail color of this summer, OPI's Mod-ern Girl, only provides a very small pop of color, I think it completes the look.  I put this orange hued jelly polish on my nails several weeks ago and have worn it nearly every day since.  It never chips!  I do think that keeping your nails short is key when you're wearing an almost-neon shade like this, though.

Prompts:

•  Have you embraced this nautical-inspired trend or are you resisting it?
• Should I hem these walking shorts or keep them cuffed?  (You can click to enlarge if you want to get a better look at the cuffs.)  I'm afraid my cuffing obsession is approaching the level of my belting obsession.  Feel free to stage an inter-cuff-tion.
• Can you wear shorts to work, or is that a no-no in your workplace?  I think these are walking shorts are suitable for working on campus during the summer, but I might not teach in this ensemble.
• Are you buying my claim that my orange nails serve as an adequate pop of color?  What apparel color should I try pairing with my nautical stripes next?

Road Trippin' Wear

Draft:

Previous Drafts:
These are my new favorite shoes.  I wore them here and here.  And a few days in between.

Composition:
plaid button-down (Target)
khaki shorts (Lulu's)
wedge heels (RJ Girl via Piperlime)
aviator sunglasses (Fells Point Surf Co.)

Usage:
This weekend I'm taking my first ever couples road trip with a girlfriend and her husband.  Have you ever vacationed with other couples?  I'm excited to travel together, and I'm especially thrilled to traipse around our quaint New England destinations (details to come!).

For our first day on the road, I'm keeping my outfit simple: shorts, button-down, and wedge heels.  Typically I'm not a short-shorts kind of girl, but I've committed to a more intense running regimen this summer, so I'm feeling bold.

I'm also happy to revive this plaid top, which I haven't worn in years.  The cap sleeves are newly adorable to me, as is the cinched waist.  They add interest and make this shirt a little special, I think.

Happy weekending!

Prompts:

• Are you road trippin' this summer?  Tell me about your outfit (and traveling) plans!
• If you wear shorts, which lengths and cuts do you prefer? 
• If you don't wear shorts, why not?  Maybe we can commiserate?  Therapy-ize each other?

Friendly Inspiration... to Revisit Barthes

Draft:

Composition:
graphic tee (Out of Print, gift from Anne-Marie)
clear beaded necklace (Kohl's)
white bermuda shorts (Old Navy)
rose gold sandals (Old Navy)
book (Moby Dick by Herman Melville)

Usage:
Anne-Marie gave me this Moby Dick Tee as a graduation gift to commemorate the end by remembering the beginning: our first grad school assignment was to read the entire book in one week.  Welcome to graduate school, ladies!  She found the tee at Out of Print, a t-shirt company that claims to "celebrate the world's greatest stories through fashion."  Or, at least, they celebrate the books which were originally published with cover designs that they consider "striking works of art."  Additionally, they work with Books For Africa to donate one book to "a community in need" for each tee that is purchased.

Earlier this week, I was talking to AM about how uncomfortable I am posing for these photos.  I was having trouble figuring it out.  I'm not uncomfortable with my body, I love my clothes, and I take the photos using a self-timer, so it shouldn't be a matter of being embarrassed about taking them.  She told me I need to think of posing for the photos as a performance, just as I think of dressing as a performance.  I gave this some thought.  What am I performing in the photos?  My identity?  I don't think so.  My personality?  Maybe.  So I tried to perform a little more personality in the photos for today's post.

I also decided to use Anne-Marie's gift to serve as the foundation for an AM-inspired casual outfit.  I think I struggle to style casual looks, but AM says she doesn't believe me.  I've been trying to embrace my natural hair texture and figure out how to feel comfortable with its unruliness, and AM says she prefers it wavy, so I didn't dry and straighten it.  She also claims that a nude shoe goes with everything.  When she showed us her white capris recently, I remember that I had these shorts in my closet.  To add a bit of theatricality to an otherwise standard outfit, I also added this recently acquired clear beaded bauble necklace (does it remind anyone else of Gaga's bubble "dress"?  Or a cluster of grapes?).  I think it came together well, and I enjoyed wearing this ensemble; thanks for the inspiration, Anne-Marie!

As I thought more about this photographic "performance" she suggested, I realized: wait, I've read this before.  In Camera Lucida, Roland Barthes addresses this.  He recognizes that when he poses for a photo that he knows is going to be taken, "I instantaneously make another body for myself, I transform myself in advance into an image" (10), and that as a result, "I feel that the Photograph creates my body or mortifies it" (11).  He also addresses the impossibility of the photograph representing what he wants it to represent,  writing, "What I want, in short, is that my (mobile) image, buffeted among a thousand shifting photographs, altering with situation and age, should always coincide with my (profound) 'self,'" but that this cannot happen because "'myself' never coincides with my image" (12).  As a result, he concludes-- and this seems to me central to my anxiety about the photographs-- "the Photograph is the advent of myself as other: a cunning dissociation of consciousness from identity" (12).

I hadn't noticed this kind of anxiety about being photographed before, I think, because I never really posed for photos by myself.  Even for these two photos, holding the book in my hands gave me a sense of comfort about the posing, like there was something there with me.  When I photograph myself by myself (and here we get into another issue that I might address another time: I'm technically the photographer and the object of the photograph) this anxiety is heightened because I know there will be nothing to look at in the photograph except me.  Why don't I think of it as a photograph of my clothes, since that is what this blog is about, rather than a photograph of me?  I don't know.  Maybe making that distinction will help.

All that to say, I think Barthes might help me think through these issues and, ultimately, to feel more comfortable with the photographic element of this blog.  But the google books preview of Camera Lucida stops at page 12, and my notes on the text in its entirety are fairly brief, so I'll have to wait until the copy I requested makes it to my library before I can return to this topic.  I do intend to return, though, because I have that exciting sense that we sometimes get as researchers-- the sense that I am heading in the right direction even though I can't put into words why I am sure of it.

Work Cited:
Barthes, Roland.  Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography.  Translated by Richard Howard.  Editions du Seuil, 1980.  Firrar, Straus, and Gireaux, 1981.  Hill and Wang, 1982. Via Google Books.

Prompts:

• Thoughts on this outfit?  
• Fellow style bloggers: I know I'm not alone in feeling anxiety about posing for the photos because I've read some of your posts on the subject.  Please feel free to throw your thoughts into conversation with mine, too!
• If you've found ways to feel more comfortable posing for photos of just yourself, please share those, too!
• What are your reactions to the section of Barthes I've tried to share here?  Do you sense this self-as-other feeling when you look at a photograph of yourself?

In the Buff (with a Side of Americana)

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
Liz channeled Americana

Composition:
red chinos, Bermuda Shorts style (Old Navy)
blue cotton peasant top (H&M)
grey blazer (Gap)
flesh-toned suede heels (Seychelles via Piperlime)
nail polish (OPI "Parlez-vous OPI?")

Usage:
Advocates of nude shoes everywhere: I am a new convert to your doctrine!

Today I had intended to riff off of Liz's post on "national" style, so I had composed what I considered an Americana color scheme - red and blue, plus the peasant top has a jean look to it - with another 'national' classic - the blazer - thrown in for interest.   On my way to a haircut appointment, I donned the flesh-toned heels as an afterthought.  Let me tell you, I am convinced of their miracle-working power.

Before purchasing these shoes several weeks ago, I had discounted the advice of style sages who recommended nude heels as a necessity for every woman's wardrobe.  A skin-toned pump will elongate the leg and, what's more, will act as a true closet workhorse, they said.  I liked my patterned kicks and colorful wedges, thank you very much, and I didn't see the need to shop around for what inevitably would be the palest skin-toned sandal ever.

Then I caved.
Almost.
These heels sat in my Piperlime shopping basket for three days.
I debated.
(They really won't make me look paler?)
And then I conceded.

Having only worn these sandals three times, I'm already pleased with my purchase.  I have officially identified my summer staple.  Now I know what nude shoe advocates mean when they say "nude equals neutral."  It means, "Yes, in fact, I can wear this with absolutely every item in my closet."

Which leads me to ask, what are your closet 'neutrals,' the items that pair well with anything and everything?

Prompts:

• Tell us about 'em!  What are your closet 'neutrals'? 
• Any other nude shoe success stories you'd like to share?  We're all ears!
• What do you think of my interpretation of the Americana color scheme?  
• I'm also wondering how the nude shoe trend acts as an extension of the nude makeup trend, which Katie alludes to here.  Does our collective fashion conscience think nude equals most beautiful?  If so, why?  Do we feel an impulse to down-play our assets or do we simply like our au naturale selves enough to gesture at them in our dressing habits?