Last Day of November

Black, grey and white, with a dash of red. Nice comfortable casual outfit for running errands. I've seen cuffed pants and boots on a few blogs. S. at Academichic made the biggest impression on me. It took a while for me to become accustomed to the look, but I finally tried it a few weeks ago and liked it. So I went for cuffed jeans and boots again today.

The black boots I'm wearing today are the twins of the brown ones I wore the first time I paired boots and rolled jeans. I got them on clearance at the end of winter a few years ago, for $15 each. The sale was 2 pairs of boots for $29.99.

Where:
errands, lunch at Macy's, Starbucks, Christmas shopping, library

What:
Cardigan Sweater: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret (thrifted)
T-shirt: thrifted, $2
Jeans: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret
Belt: ??
Boots: Nine West
Peace Sign Earrings: World Market
Scarf: handmade by my grandmother
Bag: thrifted, $4

Lady Gaga

Not really fashion related (except for the kooky McQueen shoes that make an appearance), but I have been absolutely fascinated with Lady Gaga's new video for the past week or two. She has a great voice, and the Bad Romance video is so creative and fun and odd.

Check it out:

If there's any doubt in your mind as to the talent of this performer with all her shock value images and skimpy costumes, check out her performance from a few years ago when she was a student at NYU's Tisch school. She sings, she plays, her hair isn't bleached, and she's using her real name. Two of her own original compositions. Check her out:

Thank you to all the other bloggers out there who've talked about Lady Gaga enough to make me aware of her (District of Chic, I'm looking at you!), and especially thank you to Corporette for posting the Bad Romance video. That was the first time I watched it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baking the pumpkin pies didn't exactly go smoothly. I got the wrong filling. I usually get enough for 2 pies, but this year I accidentally got a smaller can that only makes one pie. I went out to get more, but the first 3 grocery stores were out. When I got back home, NPR was doing a story about this year's pumpkin puree shortage due to an unusually small pumpkin harvest in southern Illinois.

So I baked one pie, and it looks funny. I picked up some store bought pumpkin pies as well. Tomorrow, I'll use the extra pie crust to bake a cherry pie. I'll be heading out to the suburbs shortly for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Where:
baking, shopping, Thanksgiving Dinner

What:
Sweater: mine from the 1990's
T-shirt: Wet Seal
Skirt: from Marshall's
Leggings: Newport News
Boots: Predictions
Earrings: Aldo
SIlver Chain Necklace: vintage
Multi-Chain Bicycle Necklace: Objects Found

Short Day

I had a short day at work today. I went to yoga this morning, then went into work for an appointment with immigration, and made a stop at Target before heading home to bake pumpkin pies.

Where:
work, Target

What:
Suit Jacket & Pants: Body by Victoria for Victoria's Secret
Blouse: Isaac Mizrahi for Target
Sweater: Wet Seal
Hat: Filippo Catarzi (thrifted)
Boots: Franco Sarto (thrifted)
Barrette: from Walgreen's
Necklace: vintage
Earrings: mine from the 1990's

4-H Project Take 2

This jacket was a 4-H sewing project from high school that I never finished. My mother was nice enough to finish the jacket and the matching sheath dress, pictured here:

Today is my last full day before the Thanksgiving holiday. I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but immigration scheduled an appointment, so I'll be coming into work just to take care of that appt, then I'll be heading home early to bake pumpkin pies.

I picked up today's hair barrette last week after I straightened my hair then got caught in the rain. It was a set of three barrettes (black, brown and olive) from Walgreen's. I like how the barrette keeps my hair back, but looks a little more adult and reserved than a ponytail in an elastic, yet it's just as easy to do. Run a brush through wet hair, part hair, insert barrette. I've been wearing this barrette a lot in the past week, rather than taking the time to dry my hair and style it.

Where:
work

What:
Jacket: made by my mother
Blouse: Express
Pants: Limited
Boots: Franco Sarto (thrifted)
Barrette: from Walgreen's
Earrings: mine from the 1990's

Red and Yellow

I love this combination of bright, primary red and yellow. It just screams "fall" to me. I tried it for the first time at the beginning of October, but I wasn't entirely happy with how it turned out, b/c of the shape of the blouse, and the olive shorts added another color which changed the effect. When I put on my coat and scarf though, I really liked it with the brighter red and yellow, with only black.

Here's what I wore back in October:

I tried the same color scheme again and I'm much happier with today's version. I love the shades of red and yellow here, with the black dress and boots.

This dress is new. I purchased it from Filene's Basement last week for $10. The sheer buttoned dress is separate from the black slip, and I thought it was worth getting the dress for the slip alone, since I've been searching for a black slip for a while. That I actually like the dress too is a bonus.

Where:
work, rehearsal

What:
Sweater: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret
Sheer Dress & Slip: from Filene's Basement (new!)
Yellow Tights: H&M, made warmer and brighter with an underlayer of white Capezio dance tights
Boots: Moda Italia (thrifted, $4)
Earrings: mine from the 1990's

Lovely Friday

The weather in Chicago was gorgeous today! The temperature was milder or I'm getting better at bundling up. Likely both today.

Here's what I wore commuting to and from work and court today:

Thigh-high socks can be great on their own, but I've worn them more as layering pieces for extra warmth, either over tights (like here and here) or under pants, which is what I did today.

Here's what I wore to court:

The suit and blouse are both from Victoria's Secret. I love buying work clothes from VS online because of the combination of price and fit. A lot of chain stores that sell work clothes tend to run a bit big for me, or just don't carry small sizes, period. Finding suits and work-appropriate adult clothes in my size can be a bit difficult. For non-work clothes, I generally shop juniors departments and stores that cater to that body type. Gorgeous suits that generally fit me and work with my body type, like BCBG by Max Azria and Theory, can be super expensive. Victoria's Secret is a great compromise on price and sizing. Express is not bad either, when shopping sales. I have more suits from Express than any other single store. Victoria's Secret and H&M are second and third.

Here's the outfit sans jacket, as worn in the office:

Fun sleeves on the blouse, and it's silk. Silk blouses are one of my newer work-clothes obsessions. Ever since I saw Secretary, I've been building a collection of silk blouses and pencil skirts.

Where:
work, dinner & drinks, movies to see Coco Before Chanel

What:
Suite Jacket & Pants: Body by Victoria for Victoria's Secret
Silk Blouse: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret
Belt: Forever XXI (came with a pencil skirt)
Thigh-high Socks: H&M
Shoes: Joan & David (thrifted, $2)
Coat: vintage from my mother
Hat: from Buffalo Exchange
Scarf: gift
Earrings: gift
Gloves: vintage from my great-aunt Marie

Judge Gina

Rain rain rain again. I judged a mock trial competition tonight. I got to sit on the judge's bench in federal court and question the participants as they presented their argument. It was fun! I was impressed with many of the law students competing in the mock trial.

I did my hair this morning, but then I forgot my umbrella so my hair got ruined on the way into work. I stopped at the drug store and picked up a new umbrella (can never have too many in Chicago) and a barette to pull my hair back (though barette was not yet applied to hair at time of picture). I also didn't get a picture with the suit jacket I wore for the mock trial, but you can see it pictured here.

Where:
work, judging a mock trial

What:
Suit Jacket & Skirt: Express
Blouse: Express
Sweater: Old Navy (thrifted)
Belt: ??
Sweater Tights: Anne Klein
Shoes: Ann Taylor LOFT (thrifted)
Silver Hoop Earrings: gift from my parents
St. Thomas More Pendant: Westminster Cathedral

Gray Day

The greys in my outfit match the gray day we had in Chicago. Overcast, rainy, not too cold though, so I'll be thankful for the small blessings.

I wore my rain boots this morning, but unlike yesterday, I actually took them off when I got to work today and put on my nice new-to-me suede shoes.

Where:
work

What:
Blouse: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret
Sweater: Mossimo for Target (thrifted)
Pants: Express
Socks: Xhileration for Target
Grey Suede Shoes: (thrifted)
Silver Hoop Earrings: gift from my parents
Beads: Anne Klein from Filene's Basement

Purple, Orange and Red

New dress. I took a walk to Filene's Basement yesterday with my boyfriend b/c he needed to pick up a few things and I ended up getting 2 dresses for myself for $10 each, plus this strand of beads and a few heavier basic-colored tights (black, brown, grey) to prepare for the cooler temperatures.

I didn't really intend to wear my rainboots at work all day, but they were just so comfy and warm and colorful that I didn't want to take them off. So I didn't.

Where:
work

What:
Dress: Alyn Paige (new!), $10 from Filene's Basement
Orange Turtleneck: Moda Int'l for Victoria's Secret
Purple Leggings: Pink Rose from Macy's
Purple Dangly Hoop Earrings: vintage from my mother
Rain Boots: Chooka from T.J.Maxx (new! I bought them almost 2 months ago, but this is the first time I'm wearing them)
Beads: Anne Klein from Filene's Basement (new!)
Celtic Cross Necklace: from St.-Martin-in-the-Fields

Blue and Brown

Okay, so I cut my shoes off in all my pictures today. If you want to see the shoes, click here.

Where:
rehearsal, shopping, errands

What:
Dress: from a beach vendor in Puerto Vallarta
Sweater: from Ragstock
Shirt: NY&Co.
Navy Hoop Earrings: mine from the early 1990's
Navy Tights: H&M
Navy Legwarmers: from a dance catalog
Boots: Nine West
Leather Coat: vintage from my mother
Scarf: handmade by my grandmother
Gloves: gift
Bag: thrifted last week

Partying with Babies Yet Again

Another Friday night, another party with babies. When did so many people with little children become a part of my life?? This is definitely a switch from the youngish singles/couples-at-the-bar-or-party kind of scene. Not a bad switch, don't get me wrong, just a change that I'm becoming aware of. Did it happen suddenly? Or was it a gradual shift that I'm only just now noticing?

Where:
dinner out with the boyfriend (trying out an Ethiopian restaurant!), party in Humbolt Park

What:
Blazer: vintage, thrifted earlier this week and carried over from my work outfit today
Johnny Cash T-shirt: Urban Outfitters, $2 on clearance
Long-Sleeved T-shirt: ??
Flower Earrings: mine from the early 1990's (boy, that decade has been showing up in my outfits a lot lately)
Skinny Jeans: Delia*s
Cowboy Boots: Frida Cuadra

Re-Working Summer Outfits for Fall

Clare at Between Laundry Days recently started re-working her summer outfits for fall. She's done it everyday this month, and I've loved watching the changes to the outfits.

Taking a page out of Clare's book, I re-worked a summery outfit with two pieces I love: this gorgeous-colored green blouse and this flattering-yet-comfy pencil skirt. I kept the basic blouse, skirt and cami from my original outfit (pictured here), then added tights, boots, scarft, belt and jacket, and changed up the jewelry. Ta-da! Ready for fall.

This wonderful leather jacket was purchased by my ex on e-bay for $5. When it arrived, it fit him, but he thought he looked like a 1970's child molester, so he offered it to me. I love it!

Where:
errands around my neighborhood, work

What:
Wool Blazer: vintage, thrifted earlier this week
Green Blouse: Express
Cami: Express
Skirt: Old Navy
Purple Leggings: from Macy's
Boots: Predictions
Belt: B. Moss, came with a pair of khakis purchased in or around 1994
Leopard Scarf: came with a 3-piece brown suit (jacket, skirt, pants) purchased in the late 1990's
Plum Dangly Hoop Earrings: vintage from my mother
Brown Knit Scarf: handmade by my mother
Leather Coat: vintage via e-bay, hand-me-down from my ex

Fall Whites

Here I am mixing gold and silver yet again, this time because the mixed metal chains are all part of the same necklace. I guess I can no longer say I don't like mixing metals. It may not be my dominant look, but I certainly do it from time to time.

This outfit was inspired by Marie McGrath from The Joy of Fashion. She's worn two outfits this month featuring white skirts, here and here. I was particularly inspired by the latter outfit, with the sleeveless sweater over the print top and the darker tights and boots. The fall colors on top and the darker bottoms are a great way to work a white skirt in the fall, so I gave it a try.

I got this skirt last summer from a little hole-in-the-wall shop in Vancouver that had crazy cheap dance costumes and miscellaneous t-shirts and tourist gear. I got a white and a light blue version of this skirt for $3 each (or maybe $5?). I haven't worn this skirt as much as I anticipated I would because the synthetic fabric and the lining are too hot and sticky for warm summer days. The extra warmth was perfect for fall weather though, and the fabric doesn't stick to my tights!

Where:
errands around downtown, work

What:
Sheer Print Blouse: thrifted in Pennsylvania for 50 cents
Sweater: Behnaz Sarafpour for Target
Skirt: from a hole-in-the-wall shop in Vancouver
Brown Tights: ??
Boots: Nine West
Belt: B. Moss, came with a pair of khakis purchased in or around 1994
Necklace: Objects Found
Silver Hoop Earrings: gift from my parents
Leather Coat: Wilson's Leather
White Scarf: handmade by my grandmother
Bag: thrifted earlier this week

November 11, 1911

Here I am mixing gold and silver again. I wanted to wear this outfit with the gold buttons and jewelry on my day off, but I always wear these dogtags on November 11 in memory of my grandfather, hence the mix of metals.

The dogtags are my grandfather's from World War II. He was born on November 11, 1911 (11-11-11!) and his birthday was later designated Armistice Day. My grandfather served in the army, and the story goes that due to his religious and personal ethical beliefs, he was put in a non-killing post in the galley of a ship in the Pacific. Years later, in the 1980's, he kept his barracks bag hanging in his garage, and when the grandkids acted up, he would threaten to hang us in the barracks bag if we didn't behave.

My grandfather passed away 20 years ago, so I never got to know him as a adult, but he had a tremendous influence on me as a child. He would spend lots of time playing with me and telling me stories of his family and childhood, and listening to me talk about anything and everything, building doll furniture, and playing dress up. Oh, how I loved to dress him in wigs and hats and skirts. When he was around, I always knew that I was loved very much. I miss my Pap.

Where:
errands around the neighborhood, book club, dinner

What:
Jacket: from a little boutique in Northern Virginia (it's the jacket that goes with the skirt worn here)
T-shirt: Mossimo for Target
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Gold Necklace: vintage
Dogtags: my grandfather's from WWII
Earrings: Aldo??
Panda Coin Ring: gift from my parents in the 1990's
Bangle (new!): won in a giveaway on My Edit

I wanted to include some pictures of my grandfather and me when I was little, but unfortunately they're all in Pennsylvania in my parents' photo albums. Here's my grandfather as a dashing young man in his service uniform. Picture courtesy of his late sister Mary, framed by my grandmother Julia.

Romantic

This outfit has a very romantic look to me, with the velvety texture and deep color of the jacket with the satiny white blouse and tie. I wore this same combo on Valentine's Day last year.

Where:
work

What:
Jacket: Ann Taylor LOFT
Tie Blouse: Lapis
Pants: Delia*s
Socks: H&M
Suede Shoes: Nine West
Earrings: 2028
Cat: Amaretto

This one is a bit blurry, but I like it anyway.

Thrifting

I took a trip to my current favorite thrift store, Unique, for the half price sale on Monday. For $18 and some change, I got two bags, two sweaters, a blazer, and a pair of heels.

Vintage Blazer


Grey Cardigan Sweater, Mossimo for Target


Cozy Grey Cardigan Sweater, Old Navy


Red Bag


Blue Bag


Grey Suede Shoes