Happy Halloween

Draft:

Composition:
red hat (thrifted)
red trench coat (thrifted)
black gloves
black pants (Macy's)
black boots (Macy's)
black t-shirt (Old Navy)
map

Usage:
Happy Halloween!  Since Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, I figured it would only be appropriate to commemorate it in a SSG post.  Growing up, I loved dressing up for Halloween.  Getting to put on a costume and be someone else for a night was a lot of fun for young, overly dramatic me...and still is fun for older, still dramatic me. 

Growing up, my mom always made our costumes.  Now, I can't sew at all, but I still like that make-it-yourself spirit.  I never buy ready-made Halloween costumes.  I put mine together from things already in my closet/house and from thrifted items.  Last year, I went as Carmen Sandiego, everyone's favorite international thief and geography educator.  A pretty low maintence costume, as all I really needed were a red trench coat, which I found in a thrift store, and a hat, found in the same excursion.  I layered them over basic black and threw a map in my pocket as a cheeky nod to Carmen's globe hopping.  Also, I did the classic running-away Carmen pose in every photograph taken.

Here's hoping all of you have a happy (and stylish) Halloween! 

Prompts:

• Do you dress up for Halloween?  If so, what are you going as this year?
• What was your favorite Halloween costume ever - worn by you and/or seen on someone else?

Cancer Awareness

Hi all--

I don't have an outfit for you today; I have something to say from my heart.

Like many of you, my life has been profoundly impacted by cancer.  I've been touched by the number of style bloggers who have participated in October's "Breast Cancer Awareness" month. I see it as a real, visible, material manifestation of their desire to help fight cancer and reach out to those who have experienced it.

I can't help but be bothered, though, by the commodification and commercialization of the "breast cancer awareness" movement.  I appreciate the questions posed by Breast Cancer Action's "Think Before You Pink" initiative.  They suggest that before we purchase something to benefit breast cancer awareness, we ask:

How much money actually goes toward breast cancer programs and services?
Where is the money going?
What types of programs are being supported?
What is the company doing to assure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

One of my colleagues has been researching the rhetoric of various breast cancer "awareness" initiatives, and she first exposed me to Babara Ehrenreich's important 2001 essay, "Cancerland."  I'll admit that when I first read the article, I thought she was being overly cynical.  As time has progressed, though, and I've seen cancer cells refuse to respond to treatments in the bodies of those I love, I can't help but feel indebted to Dr. Ehrenreich.  I appreciate her willingness to voice an unpopular but very important perspective on the "fight against cancer," and I hope that some of you will take the time to read her thoughts on the issue.  If you or anyone you know has ever been just downright angry about cancer, you might be able to relate to her article as strongly as I do.

I wanted to write today, also, because as breast cancer awareness month comes to an end, those of us in the States are faced with a different type of opportunity to "do something" on November 2.  If you're committed to fighting cancer, I'd like to encourage you to do some extra research into which elected officials have proven their own commitment to the same.  While this is just one of the many important factors I weigh when I cast my ballot, I hope you'll agree that it's one worth considering.

With my most sincere wishes of happiness and health to all of you,
Liz

Diverse Demographics & An Interview

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
These T-strap heels accompanied me to Saturday brunch with my parents.
This leather belt cinched together a hybrid dressy/casual look.

Composition:
turquoise button-down shirt (Old Navy)
fuchsia cardigan (Loft Petites, borrowed from sister)
brown pants (Ann Taylor Petites)
leather belt (Ann Taylor)
brown metallic T-strap heels (Anne Klein)
turquoise cuff bracelet (Leighelena in Austin, Texas, purchased at half-price)
brown leather laptop bag (gifted from mom)

Usage:
Happy Friday, all!  Will you excuse my photos today?  The Mean Girls scowl on my face is courtesy of the direct sunlight, which chased me around my home's perimeter for a half-hour.  I finally found relief in a sliver of shadow on the back patio, and, welp, here are the results.  Can't win 'em all.  If only my schedule allowed for late afternoon, instead of mid-morning, outdoor photos.

Anyway, I wore this ensemble yesterday for an interview at a local private school.  It wasn't my first time meeting the administrative faculty (more on that in a moment), so I opted for a comfortable alternative to my standard blazer, this berry-hued short-sleeved cardigan.  Aren't the shirred sleeves an interesting feature?  At first I feared the girlish detailing might read too juvenile for a professional setting, but I mitigated the cutesy-ness with the collared shirt, belt, and tailored trousers.  Looking "too young" is my personal paranoia -- is it obvious yet?  What's your take on this outfit's professional register?

Also, I kind of dig this color trio.

On the having-met-the-faculty-before topic: this semester I've been serving as Assistant Ballet Teacher in the school's extracurricular program. The students and their parents are delightful, which is why I'm hoping to substitute teach during the regular school day as often as possible while I continue job hunting.  Care to share your tried-and-true strategies for successful substitute instruction?  I'd welcome them!

My latest turn in the world of arts education has me wondering about dressing to suit student demographics.  See, in addition to instructing at the aforementioned private school, I also teach ballet at a not-for-profit studio in one of the city's lower-income neighborhoods.  In fact, I teach these diverse classes back-to-back on the same day.  It makes for quite the contrast, moving from an environment of privilege to one of profound need.  Although it's true that I spend class time in a leotard and tights, I arrive in layers of street clothing.  And my students have noticed.  At the private school, they tally the number of Ralph Lauren Polo logos on my apparel; at the non-profit, they ask why I deprive my arms of bangle bracelets.  Both sets of students are acutely aware and curious of sartorial choices -- theirs and my own -- so how should I address the disparities which such choices often reveal?  What adjustments in clothing, if any, would best demonstrate social sensitivity?

Prompts:

•  Have you taught students of lower-income populations?  Of higher-income populations?  How did you dress for the classroom?  How did you discuss sartorial issues with your students?
• Any substitute teaching tips?  I'm all ears!
• What's your take on my latest interview look?

(wo)Men's Wear

Draft:

Composition:
jeans (Macys)
white short-sleeved button down (The Limited)
brown vest (Saks)
black flats (Payless)

Usage:
As much as I advocate for taking back traditionally feminine dressing as an empowering form of sartorial expression, there is something very appealing to me about androgynous clothing and adapting men's wear for women.  However, I have a lot of trouble making this Annie Hall-type style work, namely because, well, my body literally gets in the way.  As a woman who has trouble even wearing regular button downs without lots of adjustments or massive gapping problems, attempts to make vests or ties work on me usually fall flat (or rather, fail to fall flat).

Vests are one of my favorite things, and I particularly love when Anne-Marie wears them.  I've tried on many vests in stores, but the one featured here is the only one I've found that fits me.  My boyfriend doesn't like the length of it, preferring it to be cut closer to the waist, but I like it.  I would like to find one that does fit closer to the body and/or is cut higher, but as it is, I like that this vest is a little different.  Similarly, some might say that this vest would look better belted, to highlight my waist.  When I bought it, it came with a belt-like cord, but I found that it just didn't look right on me - nor did other belts help the matter much.  In keeping with the androgyny idea, I like that this vest smooths down my curves and specifically does not emphasize them.  However, my favorite thing about this vest is that I find it to be relatively versatile, as it works with trousers, jeans, sleeveless shirts, t-shirts, and blouses. 

Prompts:

• Do you incorporate men's wear looks into your wardrobe?  What are your favorite pieces to wear?  What tips do you have for androgynous dressing?
• Do you wear vests?  Have any tips for mixings curves and vests?

Pants Prejudice

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
I wore this tee with a casual look, I started wearing this jacket again when I tried cuffing the sleeves, and these shoes were an important back-to-school purchase.

Composition:
white and yellow striped tee (Gap)
navy blue jacket (Gap Outlet)
pewter toned chain necklace (H&M)
light gray trousers (Express)
yellow buckled slice wedges (Nine West)

Usage:
You guys, I'm having a pants problem.  I'm having fun experimenting with skirts for work and trying out new casual ensembles, but I can't get myself interested in wearing my trousers.  This seems stupid because I really love my collection of Express Editor pants.

For this pants look, I tried to gain inspiration from a few looks I like otherwise.  I like yellow paired with light gray and yellow paired with navy, so I tried to incorporate both of those combinations here.  I put on the chain necklace to try to draw some of the gray upward and keep the tee from reading as too casual.  I did like how the yellow top helped the yellow shoes stand out, and when my vintage copy of Katherine Anne Porter's Ship of Fools arrived on the same day, in the same color palette, I knew it had to make it into the photo.  Overall, though, this outfit still left me feeling a little "meh."

A friend of mine did tell me I "look so cute!" in this ensemble, though.  So I'm wondering-- does this outfit look as average to you as it felt for me?  Or do I need to figure out a way to banish my pants prejudice so I can properly appreciate cute, pants-anchored looks?  Is my love for my skinny jeans unfairly pitting me against my old straight leg trousers?  Help!

Prompts:

• How are you wearing pants this fall?  Do you have any theories about how to make looks that include pants feel more exciting?
• I wonder if part of the problem might be that most of the ladies whose blogs I read also favor skirts/dresses over pants.  Have you seen any pants looks lately that I could use for inspiration?  Please share links!

Slight Alterations

Draft:

Composition:
burgandy skirt (American Eagle)
brown top (Wet Seal)
boots (Dingo via Zappos)
octopus necklace (gift from boyfriend via ModCloth)
purple cardigan (Marshalls)
glasses (Jill Stuart)

Usage:
This wasn't the outfit I planned to wear today.  The outfit I composed in my head didn't work in person.  I'm curious how/where others put together their outfits.  Most often, I consider options the night before, then really put it together in my head while in the shower or while eating my cereal and reading gossip columns serious news.  Then I try the outfit on, make adjustments as need (like today, when I scrapped the whole thing and started over again), and then add accessories.  It's still relatively warm here in SSG Headquarters (note: whenever I type that, I picture a fashionable Fortress of Solitude), and I decided to take advantage of it by taking the possible/probable last chance for bare legs.

Also, this outfit made me think about the many different appearances one may have on campus during the day.  Tuesdays are "Twelve Hour Tuesdays," meaning that I usually spend twelve hours on campus.  During that time, I'll usually throw on a cardigan, take it off, repeat as necessary.  Usually by around 7:00, my hair is driving me crazy, so I put it up.  Thus, you can generally see me on campus with some slight variety in my look.

Prompts:

• How do you compose your outfits?  Do you lay them out or plan them the night before?  Do you plan them in your head first or do you need to be in front of your closet?
• How do you change your looks over a long day (or do you at all)?

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"?