Gifts

Draft:

Composition:
gray studded bag (Marshall's)
OPI nail polishes - from right to left: Russian Navy (matte), Jade is the New Black, Pamplona Purple, An Affair in Red Square, My Chihuahua Bites!, Japanese Rose Garden
sting ray charm necklace

Usage:
After my semester ended, I decided that I needed some serious retail therapy.  A lot of big stuff happened during spring semester 2010, including getting into a PhD program, defending my MA project, and getting my MA degree.  So, with seminar papers and my thesis behind me, I decided that I wanted to buy a present for myself.  Normally, I gift myself with shoes, but after scouring the usual sources - Zappos, Piperlime, Shoes.com, ShopItToMe, etc. - I couldn't find any pair that I really wanted.  Ahem...with the exception of these Betsey Johnson wedges (size 7) which I am utterly obsessed with and have been for some time.  However, I am a graduate student, and I'm in two weddings this summer, so I'm not in a financial situation to really indulge myself.  So, I had a splurge lite (a diet splurge?), which sounds like a contradiction, but welcome to grad school reality.

I love shopping at Marshall's because while they tend to be, in my experience, hit-or-miss, I almost always manage to find at least one or two items that I really like for low prices.  I never particularly liked the bags with a lot of hardware, but I've been looking for a non-black neutral bag, like a light beige-y brown or gray, like this one.  I was drawn to it for the color and the size - big enough to hold my essentials, plus a small notebook and/or books, essential for class going, but small enough that it's not a Bermuda Triangle bag where my lipsticks can never be found.  The metal doesn't overpower the bag; it just gives it enough interesting texture to separate it from a plain neutral purse.  And for $30, a major steal.

Since I got a great deal on the purse, I decided to get a second "self gift."  Liz and Anne-Marie always have cute manicures, and they've inspired me to pay more attention to my nails.  I consider buying several new nail polishes a splurge for me since I would never normally spend money on them - thus, making them the perfect, relatively inexpensive "Woo-got-my-MA" present.  In total, I spend less than half of the cost of the aforementioned Betsey Johnson wedges.

The necklace was not a self gift, but rather part of my (early) birthday present from my boyfriend.  I love all aquatic animals.  I jump and coo and generally act like a 5 year old when in an aquarium.  My roommates joke that I missed my calling as a marine biologist.  Of all sea creatures, I particularly adore sting rays.  I think that they are so cute and adorable (yes, I realize that I am in the minority here).  The chain of the necklace is the perfect length, and the charm is just quirky and cute and totally me.  I love it.  Normally, I'm wary about other people buying jewelry for me.  I have my signature necklace and ring and some other fun pieces, but I'm pretty particular about what I wear.  This necklace, though, is a great little piece that I'll definitely use to switch up my necklace choice.

Prompts:

• Do you buy gifts for yourself?  Do you call them gifts to justify spending money, like me?
• What style related gifts do you receive?  Do you get them from men or women?  Do you like your significant other to pick out jewelry or clothes for you?

Textual Analysis: Henry James

Draft:

Composition:
aviators (mall kiosk)
turquoise beaded necklace (Kohl's)
brown cotton jersey dress (Old Navy)
white cami (Old Navy)
brown wedge sandals (Old Navy)
dachshund as accessory (as advocated by Katie)

Usage:
When Katie and Anne-Marie and I were talking about elements we wanted to incorporate in our blog, I couldn't quite remember when I had begun thinking of dressing and composing as similar acts, but I did remember that we had been talking about the two of these as related since we had become friends.  In the "about" page for our blog, we explain accordingly, "Since we see 'composing an outfit' as an act similar to composing a written text, we've developed the 'style guide' theme to pay homage to the countless style guides, handbooks, and manuals we consult when we write."

Last week I revisited Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady, which AM and I read together in our first semester of graduate school, and I came across the passage that I believe first tied these ideas together for me.  It begins with the words of Madame Merle, who is engaged in conversation with Isabel Archer.  (So I'll let James take it from here, rather than trying to paraphrase him.)

'When you've lived as long as I you'll see that every human being has his shell and that you must take the shell into account.  By the shell I mean the whole envelope of circumstances.  There's no such thing as an isolated man or woman; we're each of us made up of some cluster of appurtenances.  What shall we call our "self"?  Where does it begin? where does it end?  It overflows into everything that belongs to us-- and then it flows back again.  I know a large part of myself is in the clothes I choose to wear.  I've got a great respect for things!  One's self-- for other people-- is one's expression of one's self; and one's house, one's furniture, one's garments, the books one reads, the company one keeps-- these things are all expressive.'
That was very metaphysical; not more so, however, than several observations Madame Merle had already made.  Isabel was fond of metaphysics, but unable to accompany her friend into this bold analysis of human personality.  'I don't agree with you.  I think just the other way.  I don't know whether I succeed in expressing myself, but I know nothing else expresses me.  Nothing that belongs to me is any measure of me; everything's on the contrary a limit, a barrier, and a perfectly arbitrary one.  Certainly the clothes which, as you say, I choose to wear, don't express me; and heaven forbid they should!'
'You dress very well,' Madame Merle lightly interposed.
'Possibly; but I don't care to be judged by that.  My clothes may express the dressmaker, but they don't express me.  To begin with it's not my own choice that I wear them; they're imposed upon me by society.'
'Should you prefer to go without them?' Madame Merle enquired in a tone which virtually terminated the discussion.

Our professor invited us to think of this passage as one in which the clothing metaphorically stands in for writing.  In his reading, Isabel's point of view suggests that what should matter in one's writing is one's ideas, and that those ideas should somehow be genuinely expressible.  Madame Merle's point of view, on the other hand, indicates that others cannot know what one is expressing except by interpreting one's modes of expression-- that, according to our professor, word choice, grammar, structure, etc. are things which carry one's expression to one's audience.  I think this analysis "works" in conjunction with my understanding of James, who I generally think of as a writer deeply invested in the expression of details because he believes the details are fundamentally important to his narratives.

I also think the passage functions very interestingly as simply an analysis of dressing choices, too.  I'm so thankful to have rediscovered this passage, which I believe has had a greater impact on the way I think about dressing myself than I had previously realized.  I tend to agree with Isabel that "expressing myself" would be nice to accomplish without having to employ the use of "things," and I wish it was possible to express myself outside society's impositions.  But I also agree with Mme. Merle that the "self" is not something that is so easy to define, and that "one's self-- for other people-- is one's expression of one's self."  I generally believe that whether we like it or not, we are judged by the way we present ourselves, and so we have a responsibility to make sure that our presentation of self (what she calls the "shell") aligns with what we think of ourselves.  And this does correspond to the act of writing, because I often tell my students that whether they like it or not, they will be judged on their use of language, because it is only through that use of language that their readers will be able to access their ideas.

So what does this outfit express about me?  I hope it indicates that I'm easy-going and approachable but also that I behave with intention and that I pay attention to details.  I think this looks is appropriate for a post on James because it is the detail of the turquoise necklace that brings the whole look together for me.  This detail, in my opinion, turns the outfit from something standard you'd see on an Old Navy mannequin into something that I styled for myself.  (And why the aviators?  Because I just got new contacts after several weeks of wearing glasses only, so I was excited to put on some sunglasses!)

And finally, this is my first look for Sal at Already Pretty's black-out week.  I wear more black than brown, but I like how brown looks better up against my bare skin than black, which creates a stark contrast.  For more info on black-out week, see here, and for a list of other participants, see here!  More on this in my next post!

Work Cited:
James, Henry.  The Portrait of a Lady.  Penguin Classics, 2003.  253.  Google Books.

Prompts:

• I'd love to hear your responses to the James passage!
• Do you think the necklace detail is enough to lay claim that this is an expressive outfit?

R-R-R-Remix

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I pulled this dress out of the closet on the first day that was warm enough for bare legs.

Composition:
eyeglasses (Kate Spade)
acrylic necklace (Kohl's)
print sheath dress (H&M)
boring, uncomfortable white wedges (Michael Shannon via DSW)

Usage:

I'm experiencing a shopping slump.  I keep going to all my favorite stores in search of a few new summer dresses to spice up my warm weather wardrobe, and I keep failing.  Everything costs too much or doesn't fit well enough.  Even when I find something that fits at an affordable price, I just can't get myself excited enough about it to actually take it to the register.  Does this happen to you?

I've identified the following as possible reasons for my shopping slump:

• I have switched my brain over to "money-saving" mode, so unless something is a steal, it seems too expensive.
• I already love my own clothes much more than I like anything I'm finding in the stores.
• I know that if I buy something I like but don't love, I probably won't wear it more than 2 or 3 times this summer.
• I'm conscious that I might be trying to buy new things just for the sake of buying new things, so I can't decide if I really want to buy anything or not.
• I've just seen SATC2 and am becoming increasingly afraid that shopping turned the interesting women I met in season 1 into the mindless consumers I just saw in the theater. (There are great conversations about the film going on at Cohabitating Closet and Fashionable Academics, btw.  My blogging buddies are helping me remain confident that loving clothes and thinking critically are not mutually exclusive.)

So I've decided to take a new approach: embrace the fact that I really do like much of what I already have in my closet, but give those items a fresh feel by adding some key accessories.  I really like the way my new-ish turquoise necklace is giving old tops a new look, and this acrylic necklace "goes" with everything.  I love this dress.  I've worn it to weddings, showers, work, and probably other places I'm forgetting.  I like the print, the fit, and I even kind of like the strange pouchy detail on the front.  (It makes a big lunch look like a conscious fashion choice.)  Can you tell it's belted?  Probably not.  The belt is totally disguised by the print, even IRL.  But we know I love a belt.

Since I am trying to focus on why accessories matter, I decided that these shoes are giving me a bad attitude toward my summer wardrobe.  They're not comfortable. They're not interesting.  Because they only have front straps, I feel like I have to use my toes to grip them as I walk.  So, they're on their way out.  I purchased a new pair of summer wedges this week to replace them, and if all goes well, I'll debut those on the blog soon.  I hope to wear them to death this summer as I experiment with remixing all the clothes I already own (but many of which you haven't seen yet)!  I've also ordered some new nail polishes in bright, summer hues that I am hoping will add some much-needed pops of color to my summer attire.

Prompts:

• What puts you in a shopping slump?  What gets you out of one?
• What role do accessories play in how you think about the clothes in your wardrobe?

(Post Script: I considered naming this post "Hot and Fresh Out the Kitchen," as in, "This is the remix to Ignition, hot and fresh out the kitchen... it's the freakin weekend baby, I'm about to have me some fun," which pops into my head every time you guys use the term "remix" in your blog posts.  But I've got you all convinced that I'm a thoughtful person (right?) so I can't very well quote the despicable R. Kelly, even though this song reminds me of fond memories of my undergrad days... can I?  Well, in the interest of full disclosure, I just did! : ))

Quick Change: Neon

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore these nude flats with a casual ensemble.
I donned the yellow wedges with a patterned frock.
I wore this bib necklace with a subdued palette.

Composition:
pink tiered skirt (Target)
white tee (H&M)
chartreuse halter top (Gap, several seasons ago)
yellow wedges (Nine West)
nude flats (Jessica Simpson)
wooden and enamel bracelets (thrifted)
turquoise bib necklace (Shopmamie.com)

Usage:
Two things are certain: first, I have failed miserably at executing the shampooing-my-hair pose, and, second, I have officially hopped aboard this season's neon bandwagon.

I bought this skirt on sale at Target, thinking it would help me ease into the neon trend.  (See Exhibit A, on the left.)  I quickly learned that, when dressing to imitate my highlighter set, there is no easing.  There is only the all-in approach.  Pairing a fabulously bright skirt with a white T-shirt?  I could not have been safer had I strapped on a seatbelt.  Womp, womp.  So, in my second attempt (Exhibit B, on the right), I embraced color, much like Katie did with her Granny Smith Apple green bag.  I feel bold in this ensemble.  I feel like I'm riding the life roller coaster with hands in the air and both eyes open.  The takeaway for me?  Do color, especially neon hues, full-on.

The fashion market has revived the brights obsession at an opportune moment for my personal life,  just as I'm stepping away from graduate school and into the world of paid labor.  Not that I'll attend job interviews in yellow pant suits.  However, on these days in between employment, when I'm struggling to find motivation, brights prompt me to go for the gusto.  Wearing neon requires courage, I think, because these hues don't allow me to blend in with a crowd.  And courage is the best salve for my current ambivalence.  Exchanging my beloved neutrals for shield-my-eyes shades of yellow, green, pink, and orange reminds me to slough off my noncommittal attitude regarding corporate America.  I gave grad school a fair shot; I owe it to myself to give Working World a fair shot, too.  I'm all in.

Prompts:

• Are you game-on r.e. the revival of brights?  Ambivalent?  Mournful?
• How have you dipped your toes in the neon waters?  Have you found successful ways to wear the shades?  Several weeks ago, I dabbled in neon nail polish and had a great time.  I like this tutorial by Emily at Cupcakes & Cashmere.
• What's your interpretation of the "neon attitude"?  Am I wrong about these hues requiring sartorial courage?

Summer Staples

Draft:

Composition:
blue dress (Target)
flip flops (Rainbow)
purse (Coach)
sunglasses (H&M)
signature items

Usage:
Fashion summer, as opposed to meteorological summer, is here, so I've been thinking about my summer staples.

1. Cotton sundress

One great thing about summer is that one and done looks are so much easier since you don't need tights, cardigans or coats since the temperature is warmer.  For me, simple dresses, like this one that I got at Target for probably around $10, are key.  They're a great way to look put together with minimal effort - plus, they're comfortable and keep you cool.  You can dress them up with accessories or high-heeled sandals, or wear them as I have here with just flip flops and minimal accessories.

2. Flip flops

These ubiquitous summer shoes have many incarnations.  From the $1 Old Navy plastic version to the $385 Gucci edition, flip flops reign during summer.  I like this pair because the black design on it adds some visual interest, making it, I think, a step up from the regular thong sandal.  Of course, no flip flop would be complete without a pedicure.  I like bright colors for my toe nails, experimenting on them far more than I would on my finger nails.  I'm currently wearing OPI's My Chihuahua Bites!, which is a coral-y orange-red - a great summery color that immediately makes me think of sunsets on the beach.

3. Bright Bag

I once wrote that I have a firm belief in bold, stylish coats because they are our opening sartorial statement.  I have similar feelings about purses.  I got this little green one deeply discounted at a Coach outlet awhile ago.  I carry it a lot in the summer because I just love the playfulness of the Granny Smith color, which always adds to my outfit.

Also, you can always accessorize with a puppy:

Prompts:

• What are your summer staples?
• Are you drawn to brighter colors in the summer like me?  Or do you wear them all year long, using them to spruce up dreary winter days?

Dressing for the In-Between

Draft:

Earlier Draft:
I wore this cardigan in my very first outfit post.  (Psst, I like today's outfit better.)

Composition:
black jersey dress (Ann Taylor Loft)
cotton cardigan (Calvin Klein)
leather wedge sandals (RJ Girl via Piperlime)
assorted jewelry (Forever 21)

Usage:
On Monday I wrapped up the coursework for my master's degree and my contract with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions officially expired.  Since I've decided not to pursue doctoral studies this year, and therefore won't renew my admissions assistantship, I'm officially unemployed.  My plan is to apply furiously for administrative jobs in higher education, work for a year or two, and then rethink my PhD ambitions.  I feel ambivalent about the decision, sort of mentally aimless.  Should I map out a reading schedule for the next six months?  Should I move forward with the edits on my master's thesis?  Should I set aside my books and instead spend a few weeks landscaping my front yard?  I don't know what to do with myself.

Since this is my first week of real, live unemployment and hardcore job-hunting, I've struggled in the motivation department.  Searching the web for work opportunities in my pajamas just doesn't feel professional enough.  So, in an effort to psych myself up for interviews and cover-letter writing, I've actually styled a semi-work appropriate outfit today.  The neutral color palette helps me feel less 'summertime playful' and more 'gametime serious.'  And the ease of the jersey dress, as Liz wrote about yesterday, encourages me focus my waning mental energy on salary requirements and healthcare options.

I say "semi-work appropriate outfit," though, because these hefty wedge sandals aren't exactly shoes I would don for a typical day at the office.  However, they are shoes that make me feel, well, me.  I hadn't recognized the magnetism between me and substantial shoes until two weeks ago, when Liz's mother (Hi, Debi!) commented that an "Anne-Marie Shoe" means a "chunky shoe."  Ever since then, I've looked critically at my footwear collection.  Why do I gravitate towards clunky, platform-y footgear?  Does it make me feel empowered?  Do I walk differently in sandals with height, stand more confidently, and present myself with more authority?  What kind of social assertion am I making, even performing? 

I'm still sorting through my apparent infatuation with dramatic shoes, and with these wedges in particular, but I figure this week - my first week of genuine, jobless insecurity - will expose the rationale behind my preference.

I'd welcome your advice on either topic: about unemployment or about shoes!

Prompts:

• What do you wear when working from home?
• How do you dress for the in-between periods in your career?
• Do you have a favorite shoe style?  Why do you gravitate toward this style?

One and Done

Draft:

Composition:
teal cami (Old Navy)
printed jersey dress (NY&Co)
gladiator heels (Vera Wang for Kohl's)

Usage:
I hope those of you here in the States enjoyed your holiday weekend!  As a scholar interested in World War 1 literature, I sometimes feel like I am always engaged in Memorial Day.  I've been studying how those who remain choose to memorialize their own experiences as well as those of the dead, so a day set aside for this kind of memorialization is of particular interest to me.  Will scholars of the future find it bizarre that a cook-out seems to have become the prototypical way to celebrate this day?  Will there be a way for them to look at an archive people's facebook statuses?  The Library of Congress is keeping an ongoing archive of everyone's activity on Twitter; is it possible to memorialize someone or something in 140 characters or less?

Anyhow, when I find myself struggling to get back into the swing of the work week, I always rely on my old one-and-done standby: the jersey dress.  Without much effort, I can put together an easy, comfortable look that's still office appropriate and that demonstrates I do care about my appearance even on days when I don't have the mental energy for styling.

It might not hurt me to wear this dress once in a while when I do have more energy, though.  Every time I put it on, I remember that I need to alter it, but it never gets done.  It's meant to be a rather streamlined silhouette, and though the top fits well, there's a lot of extra material in the skirt that would be easy to take in.  Maybe today will be the day I finally get around to this, two years after the dress was purchased.

Prompts:

• Did you celebrate Memorial Day?  What about your celebration was most meaningful to you?
• What is your standby dress or outfit that you go to when you don't feel like planning an outfit?