I Hate My Closet, Part 2 (or how I found some better necklines and colors)

In my last post, I bemoaned the limited options for me in plus-size clothing, especially the dreaded fat-girl neckline. (HATE SO MUCH.) My closet was narrowed to black pants, oversized blouses or cascading cardigans, and black sneakers.

I tried to make my peace with it. I really did. I told myself that I was chic for wearing neutrals, that wearing all-black was something millions of women did intentionally, that the colors of the season (blush pink and mint) were unflattering on me anyway.

Then I lost 12 pounds and none of my clothes fit.

Even better, suddenly I could fit into the XXL and XL of the regular stores. I wasn't just limited to the plus-size stores and departments.

The first thing I did was pick up a half-dozen vintage and slub style vee-necks from Old Navy. On sale at 5 bucks a pop, suddenly I had tees to wear at the park. Baby pink, fuschia, teal, peach, striped pinks -- they were bright and fun and perfect for early summer.

Next I tripped over some cute mid-sleeve knit tees at Talbots. I happened to walk through the store after a haircut at the mall a few weeks ago, and sorted through the sale rack. Their regular prices are not in line with the value of the items, in my opinion, but at the sale price I was willing to go for it. The striped top was so adorable I actually wore it out of the store. I grabbed a white boatneck tee in a really soft cotton while I was at it.

(Mine is in a summery-color pattern, blues and pinks and greens.)

Next up I hit Lands End: their knit shorts are my go-to item every summer, and I had the spectrum of sizes that were no good anymore. I got the basic navy, black and brown, of course, and then added white, blue polka-dot and raspberry.

They were having a fantastic sale on their cotton sweaters too, and since the summer has been pretty cool, I snapped a bunch up in blush, purple, coral pink, and a great pink-and-red windowpane pattern. I get so many compliments on that one! Their sweaters are great because they keep their shape and often look sharper than a blazer.

My Kut from the Kloth boyfriend jeans from Nordstrom also made a return appearance, in both the larger and smaller sizes. Thanks to a slew of gift cards and Nordstrom notes, I also just added these in white to my collection too. They'll arrive next week.

Last was a surprise trip back to Old Navy, thanks to a tip from Corporette. There was a great boatneck stretch-cotton top with elbow-length sleeves that just work fantastic as work tops, under jackets or as stand-alones. I got it in black, hot pink, and cream-and-pink stripe.

Such a great relief after all those months of fat-girl neckline!

After all that, I didn't hate my closet anymore. There are fun colors and pieces for casual, and plenty for work too. There's a lot of pink, which is one of my favorite colors and has been missing from my closet for too long. I feel excited when I open up my closet to get ready for work; I've missed that too!

Plus Goodwill got a few bags of clothes, including many of my beloved shoes and sandals. But that's a post for another day. (Spoiler alert: I bought more shoes.) 

It was interesting to shop in a big burst instead of the steady stream of shopping I had done in the past. I liked it -- I made my decisions pretty quickly, and then incorporated it into my wardrobe. Because I hadn't even been browsing sites, everything looked fresh to me -- but I didn't get overwhelmed by choices. I knew the colors and shapes I wanted, and I found them pretty easily. 

Speaking of quick, decisive shopping, I needed a dress to wear for a night downtown yesterday -- we were celebrating a friend's birthday and my cousin's first trip to Chicago, so we did a nice dinner at an Italian tapas place, and then we watched a fireworks display on a night cruise out on Lake Michigan. I stopped at Target for some other groceries, and found the cutest sleeveless striped fit-and-flare dress (with pockets!) on the clearance rack. $19 bucks later, I had a new dress!

P.S. We had a fabulous time watching the fireworks. If you are ever in Chicago on a Saturday night in the summer, I highly recommend you go. It's magical.

Everything on is new within the last six months: Lands End purple cardigan, blue floral necklace from J Crew Outlet, black-patterned canvas wristlet from LOFT, tangerine Fitbit. :)

P.P.S I got a new hat too!

Two weeks notice

Emily, George and I have been missing you guys. It has been a busy couple of weeks!



They like to pretend to be shy sometimes.



Oh hey, do you like my new knit pants? Eddie Bauer straight legs. They work for casual office days and weekends. They're a little freaky because they're so comfortable they feel like pajamas.



Ha, see I knew George would ham it up. Emily, of course, wants no part of these shenanigans.

Let's see, what else happened?

I tried on my bridesmaid dress...





(which will get better fitted once I find a frikkin' low-back bra, which I think I have finally procured, after multiple online purchases.)

I got a haircut...





(Pretty, right? I wish I could blow it out as well as they do at the salon.)

I wore an adorable hand-me-down Kohls arygyle sweater from Jessie...





(I also did a lot of mirror shots to send to Jessie in the mornings as we compared outfits. So fun!)

I did some shopping and wore my new stuff as much as I could...





Black striped (hmm, maybe it is navy) drape neck short sleeved top from Lands End, worn dressy and casual. (Got a couple of pairs of knit shorts too, to be ready for summer.)





(Teal open cardigan from Eloquii, first worn with new Eloquii white ankle pants in a trial outfit for summer, then again to work for real with my Target bow-tie patterned top, black straight legs and animal-print flats.)

I wore the bejesus out of a couple of Gwynnie Bee tops...











(The obi is new from Eloquii too. They were having a great sale. My April purchase list is pretty big, but I think I am set for this summer. I'm excited to incorporate all the items into my regular rotations!)

I met my girlfriend A for lunch at Cheesecake Factory after we both got our hair colored...



(That was really, really delicious.)



(We could not stop laughing at the giant pile of noodles on her Chinese chicken salad.)



(Yeah, before anyone is impressed with us for ordering salads at Cheesecake, we also had vodka lemonads, fried mac&cheese balls for appetizers, and of course, cheesecake.)

I laughed pretty hard at my husband's "dress camo pants"...



(Yes, that is glen plaid and camo mixed together. In a cargo pant. I can't believe he even found these!)

Let's see what else?

Oh, right, I got a new job.

SO HAPPY.

That's been the main secret stressful thing I haven't been able to talk about here, and the reason why I have been so scarce the last few months. I was finally offered and accepted a new job -- a transfer within my company, to a totally new job and department -- earlier this week, and my new and old bosses are figuring out my end date. But it is probably going to be May 3, which is also the weekend of Shopping Friend's wedding. So I may be scarce for a few more weeks, but then I am really, really looking forward to a little stability and back to some regular routines.

Oh yeah, also looking forward to my new job.

HURRAY!!!!!

Goldilocks

You guys, I am absolutely LOVING my wardrobe these days. I had no idea that getting rid of the clutter, allowing myself to routinely weed out items that aren't working, and cutting back on the shopping would be so darned freeing. Instead of constantly trying to outdo myself in terms of being fashion-foward, I am finding it is more satisfying to find ways to wear what I already have.

Of course, they don't all work -- at least not when I look at the photos sometimes -- but that too helps further hone my closet.



I liked the idea of this -- two versions of grey with a cobalt blue tee and a scarf for visual interest -- and for the most part it worked. But it's one that when I look at the photo, I realized it didn't. I think it's finally time to concede defeat on these dark grey Gap straight legs; there is just something about the fabric or the color that makes it look frumpy and dated, like they were black and now have faded to this grey. It drives me nuts!



This I liked a little better, even though it is just a whole lot of black. I have two of these "blogger" necklaces, but this cobalt blue one gets almost no wear. (Maybe I should have gotten it in red instead.) I don't have a lot of good contrasting colors for it, so it really only work against black or white. I thought it worked pretty well here, playing on that idea with a patterned B&W tank from Target, black cascading cardigan, and my trusty black Gap modern bootcuts.

This one, from yesterday, was Goldilocks approved, as it was just right.



Also lots of black but it doesn't feel that way. The purple skirt and knit jacket are two purchases from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that I have been waiting to wear (patiently, for months!!) and it is finally cold enough to do so. See how the turquoise bloger necklace works just so much better than the cobalt one does? I think it might be just a more flattering color for me.

The top is from Gwynnie Bee, and it might just be the best one I have gotten from them yet. It's a simple INC black knit long sleeve top, but it fits and drapes PERFECTLY. It is the Holy Grail of black tops. I am taking it to Macys tomorrow to see if they still have any in stock; I need to own this to complete so many other looks. Assets tights and my Franco Sarto Deer shooties finish the look.



I had my doubts about that skirt, but now that it is cold enough to wear, I expect it is going to get lots of mileage. It's the first skirt or dress that I have had in a long while that looks good on my dupa.

Coincidentally, I got a couple of questions about that leather-trimmed tweed jacket from my last post; it was also from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (and is out of stock now, sorry). It in fact inspired the color combo of this outfit. I may try the skirt and necklace again with the jacket next time!

If you are interested in Gwynnie Bee, anytime during the month of November,  you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Leave me your email (or email it to me) and I will send you an invite. I really cannot speak more highly of this service. It's rejuvenating my closet!

More Purse Options

First, can we talk about how creepy/tempting/jarring it is to see your most-recently-viewed items from Zappos and Nordstrom appearing in ads on other sites? My usual MO for my daily internet walkaround is that I skim through my Google Reader, catching up on my fashion, news and friends' blogs and websites, opening up links in new tabs as I see something that catches my eye or that I want to comment on. Then I go through the new tabs more closely, checking out deeper links to recommended shoes/purses/whatever. If an item really interests me, I might save it to my shopping bag or wish list. Then I close up the tabs and go to my personal daily sites: Facebook, Twitter, new sites, etc.

Later that day or the next day, all of a sudden there are the shoes I had randomly linked to showing up under my Lexulous and Slingo games on FB, or on the side frame on YLF, or really, anywhere on any news sites. This last week, it has begun to feel like that Rebecca Minkoff bag is stalking me!

Now, I know it is all done with browser cookies, and the sites that have these ads need to make money to survive, but sometimes it feels very Big Brother-y. As well as extremely tempting (as all well-done ads should be); even though I decided not to go with the oxblood bag when I saw it in real life, the continued appearance of it everywhere I go on the internet has created several moments of doubt.

Dammit, the ads are working.

So I won't be surprised when the following bags appear in the corners of my non-fashion sites this next week. I am considering one of these for my new fall purse. What do you guys think?

Fossil Maddox satchel, in chestnut. I like the shape, and I can easily untie that twee-looking key from the strap. The color seems a bit off; I was hoping for something more brown and fewer yellow undertones. But the Espresso is too dark.

Fossil Maddox Bucket, in cordovan. LOVE the color, and I adore the bucket shape; I would have snapped up a Coach Legacy one if the leather had been better. I just wonder if the strap is too short and how it would look on the shoulder.

Michael Kors Uptown Astor Medium Crossbody Satchel, in Bordeaux. LOVE the way it looks as a crossbody, and as a satchel in the hand; the versatility would be ideal for work.

I need to touch this one before deciding; the feel of the leather and the width of the bag could knock it out of the running.

The Rebecca Minkoff Mac Daddy. The lure of the internet ads keeps hope alive!

Cole Haan Crosby - Woodbury bucket bag. Everything about this bag is perfection...except the color. Neither the Tango Red or the Woodbury brown are appealing to me. But I will keep my eye out in case Cole Haan does this in other colors.

Seeing them all like this, it's the Michael Kors that is highest on my preference list. I will try to track it down at the store to see it in person.

Any others I should consider?


P.S. You know I love a good bootie/shootie but I am very picky about adding new ones to my collection. My Franco Sarto Deers are still going strong in their 4th winter season, and my black Naturalizer cuffed booties are celebrating their 3rd birthday this winter. I didn't find a good new brown one to add last year, but I think I have now.

LOVE the reasonable heel, the simple cuffed style, and most of all the smooth two-tone brown leather. Amazing. I can't believe it is a Munro; that brand always looks so stodgy and orthopedic when I see their displays at Nordstrom. This is not stodgy at all, but classic and minimalist. The reviews are all very positive. Hmmmm, it's expensive but it might be worth it. Heck, maybe I should give up the bag search altogether and just get the booties!

Fall Style: Blazers and pants

I may have mentioned in my Closet Purge post that I am wearing a lot of blazers and suit-like outfits these days; mostly it's due to having so many meetings these days at work, but blazers are also an easy cop-out on weekends to having to buy more fall jackets.

This is what I wore yesterday:



Pretty much everything is from Gap or Old Navy. The cobalt blazer is this one, the pants are the modern bootcuts, and the button-down is actually this military style jersey. I've decided I like this better than a stiffer cotton button-down, which tends to square my torso off in terrible ways.

But the parts of this outfit that make it interesting, IMO, are the necklace and the shoes. The necklace is what Gracie over at Fashion for Giants teasingly (and affectionately) calls the "blogger necklace", the colorful statement style that has definitely been making the rounds on many blogs. I picked two of them up as part of a Groopz deal that Kimberly from Fab Finds under $50 linked to a while back, and I've been wearing both all summer, and getting many real-life compliments on them. Even though the turquoise is a summer color, I used the inspiration from a Nordstrom display to wear it for fall too.




(Next time, I am going to try it with my trusty striped blazer.)

The other item of note are my flats. I have been thoroughly unimpressed with the shoes out for this fall; I've bought many and returned just about all of them, only keeping one pair of black studded flats so far. But these flats have been sitting in my closet for a few years now, an impulse purchase from the Ann Taylor Factory outlet, picked up for about $10. They've been mostly unworn because their style hasn't quite fit with my dress obsession or any casual looks on the weekends. But since hurting my back last week I've been wearing mostly flats with shorter-length pants, so I pulled them out and gave them a try. Good thing I didn't purge them; they look professional and cute with my new blazers look.



All in all, I thought this worked well for the season. I was actually one of the better dressed people at my meeting!



(Our new fish doormat says hello. A birthday gift from my parents to my fisherman-husband, heehee.)