Out with the Cold, In with the New

Actually, this will mostly be dedicated to the "out with the cold" part. As in, I am not ready to share anything new today. After such a long hiatus in posting, I'm going to have to ease myself back into things. Otherwise I might get blogger-shock and not post again for another 2 months.

First on the agenda, we have what I wore 2-- possibly 3-- months ago!

Top: American Eagle Outfitters | Cardigan: Express | Pants: J.Crew | Boots: Hunter | Necklace: thrifted
The necklace is a seashell and reminds me of Ursula from Little Mermaid.

Top: made in Vietnam | Dress: J.Crew | Boots: Macy's

Here I am showing off a new star bracelet which I actually haven't taken off since the time of this photo.
Otherwise I am wearing a random assortment of Talbots, Loft, and H&M.

This was a moment of sartorial eureka for me so I am including extra photos.

Top: Urban Outfitters dress worn as a top | Cardigan: Gap | Skirt: J.Crew | Necklace: Target | Belt: F12
The shoes I got for $5 from Famous Footwear, huzzah!

  

There, I made a return to posting! In the next few days I will try to summarize my adventures from the last 2 months in visual format. If I made a preview slideshow, it would include, but not be limited to: mousse, anime, the MICU, scallops, taxes, and most importantly: new apartment!

Monochrome: the Red Version

Hey, what goes well with red? More red!

And if you think that is too much red, add a belt! 

I got this belt for something ridiculous like $2 from Forever 21.

Sweater: Ann Taylor | Skirt: Target | Flats: Ulli (?!) viz Zappos | Wedges: Target

Disclaimer: I actually wore the flats to work even though I believe the wedges are infinitely superior.  It was extremely slushy and icy that day (even in the parking garage).  If I was going to take a tumble, I would rather fall from 5'4" than 5' 6.5". Who knows, the extra 2.5" may translate into a smushed nasal bridge.

This picture is silly for 2 reasons:
1. I look like a weirdo.
2. The dwarf Christmas tree lives on...well into late January!!

Target Melinda Wedges and Sparklies

OMG, my hair has been utter ridiculousness lately. Should I list the woes that befell it? 1) In the spring of last year, literally half of my hair fell out after my thyroid died. Luckily I started out with tons of hair to begin with so it did not look obvious. It was extremely awkward when I went for my wedding hair trial appointment and my hairstylist kept having to shake my hair off his mousse-y hands...OY. 2) Then the baby hairs started to come back. By Christmastime, the baby hairs were so dense they  looked like I was attempting to have bangs but doing a really lame job (see picture to right). At least I did a somewhat nice job curling it. 3) I was forced to cut bangs deliberately, which was absolutely NOT in the plan. 4) Now in the dead of wintertime, my hair is super staticky and gets tangled like crazy. I get arm cramps trying to brush it out all the time! But conditioner makes it all greasy. What should I do??

So now, I have bangs, unruly hair, and another necklace from Forever 21! Fun, fun, fun. Necklaces are great for distracting a viewer from one's slovenly coif. 

Top: from Vietnam | Sweatshirt: J.Crew | Pants: Forever 21 | Shoes: Target

Remember when I ranted and raved about these Target wedges in teal suede and proceeded to wear them with everything I own? Turns out, the red wedges embody the same magical ability to look good with everything!

Pros: comfy, flattering, go with everything. Cons: comes in too many colors. Must. Buy. All.

Outfits to Span a Season

Oy...I just emerged from beneath a rock and realized that October and November have elapsed and December lurks dangerously close.

But look how festive our apartment has become, adorned in twinkly lights!

It goes without saying that my protracted disappearance from this blog reflects my ever-presence in the hospital and/or other locales. Ok, mostly in the hospital.

One of these "other locales" I allude to is Atlanta.  I went to Atlanta for a national scientific meeting! During my 4 days there, I rotated the same key clothing pieces in various combinations, ever-changing from day to night.  Not a soul was aware of how light I packed (I detest checking in  luggage). Here are some examples:

J.Crew (No. 1) pencil skirt (ca. 2011), Etienne Aigner boots, and Forever 21 scarf display their versatility

I love that funnel neck sweater. The funnel seems to have slouched down in that particular picture but I still love it all the same :)

Back home, I proceeded to blast through the ensuing autumnal chill while maintaining my loyalty to color (as you will see in the ensuing line up). Unfortunately, I did not emerge unscathed--I suffered a horrible cold and actually had to take the day off as the inside of my face melted and was expelled via incessant sneezing and nose blowing.

It was during this nadir of November when I discovered Downton Abbey.

J.Crew (Collection!) Midnight Trench does not insulate that well but looks and fits great!
Talbots espadrilles add some height to make a long skirt work (found amongst my mom's Toss Pile.)
First time wearing the J.Crew Clea dress (spring 2012) to work, made sillier with addition of F21 glasses necklace.

Spearmint hues with Anthro San Pedro skirt and Free People squishy sweater.
I went to the mall wearing these J.Crew Hutton Trench Trousers and everyone liked them.
Sometimes when it's cold, I don't take my hair out of  my sweater.

A Pink and Brown Milieu!
In the end, I actually chickened out on the F21 pink pants and wore black skinny pants instead.
Mixing maxi check and feather paisley was hard, but all the brown elements tied it all together  (I hope).

J.Crew Pixie Pants are becoming more and more ridiculous and NEVER go on sale! I keep entertaining the thought of obtaining them in charcoal but having 1 indestructible pair is quite is enough for now...
Thanksgiving food shopping made possible by adding and sweater and trusty J.Crew Carlin Coat (ca. fall 2009).

 Bought this lovely pink top in Madrid many moons ago. It was a EU size 8, therefore it fits??
Anthro Just Right Skirt looks good with everything in all seasons!
New thick cotton J.Crew top boasts awesome back zipper. 

 I've strangely lost the desire to label all of my outfits. So I decided to make random comments about them instead. I just recovered from several events, including interviewing for fellowship, submitting my rank list, quaking in wait for Match Day, and cooking a full Thanksgiving Dinner (post to come). But look, even in the aftermath of having people for Thanksgiving, the apartment stayed clean and nice:

Note my psychedelic drawing in the wall and our wedding album...among all the other crazies :)

Next up: Thanksgiving cooking adventure and who knows what else!

Fashion in My Pants, Ain't Afraid to Show It

I've been on something of a pink binge...allow me to demonstrate.

Tops: both J Crew Factory, Pants: Forever 21, Yellow Shoes: Target, Black shoes: Urban Outfitters

And here too.

Blazer: Forever21, T-shirt: H&M, Jeans: Lucky, Shoes: Sperry Top Sider, Bag: Aldo

I got the pink pants and pink blazer from Forever 21. I am quite impressed with some of the stuff they've got going on this fall.  I struggled until I finally settled on the pink color, but theoretically could get the blue, too.  I wish I could wear a blazer everyday! But that would mean under my white coat. And bulgy.

Zippered Peplum Blazer, Forever 21

The pants are actually too big on me and I embarked upon an elaborate hand-tailoring adventure wherein I took apart some seams, re-sewed the darts in the back, and somehow managed to decrease the waist circumference by an inch or so.

Here are some more shots. This is as close as I will get to wearing the pants with the blazer.

Top: Urban Outfitters/Benetton (I couldn't decide), Jeans: Seven, Boots: Etienne Aigner

Top: Urban Outfitters, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Target

I've been wearing these Target wedges ALL THE TIME. Should I get a back up pair? Or another color? They come in dark red patent and grey suede (and at least 6 other colors). I even wear them with purple pants...no discretion at all!!

1) Top: Vietnam, Sweater: cashmere gift from Aunt, Pants: J.Crew, Shoes: Target
2) Top: Gabe's $1, Sweater: Target, Pants: H&M, Shoes: Target

Weather Shift

Um, who turned down the thermostat on this part of the planet??  I had to wear a sweater AND a wool coat this morning. I hope I make it through this winter, because I've never endured any winter while utterly unarmed with thyroid hormone.

In the meantime, I can dream about the kind of weather that permitted these outfits:

Top and Pants: J.Crew, Shoes: Target, Belt: Gap, Necklace: H&M

Top: Marshall's, Pants: H&M,  Shoes: Target

1. Top: ?, Skirt: Target, Shoes: Banana Republic
2. Dress: Anthropologie, Boots: Etienne Aigner
3. Top: Romeo and Juliet Couture, Skirt: J.Crew, Shoes: Talbots, Belt: thrifted

A word on the Anthropologie Pieced Column Dress....I scored this from Gabe's for $20!!!

Painter Tee Versatility and My New Target Finds

Today, a purchase that topped off the sum of an online purchase to qualify for free shipping gets duly recognized for its versatility, which was initially overlooked.  (Other times, those items get returned to the store after they have served their purpose: to save me $7.95 on shipping.)

My J.Crew painter bateau tee (here in solid hues), which is striped as evident below, earned its stripes last week.  It is made of a comforting textured/slubbed cotton. It felt like an old loved favorite when it first arrived so I decided to keep it :)

Here it is, going to a friend's birthday party:

Jacket: old, I ironed studs on to spice it up--post coming soon!
Skirt: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Etienne Aigner

Going to dinner with my lady friends:

Skirt: Rue21, oldie!
Shoes: Zara

Here it is with some Target purchases (ponte skirt and suede wedges):

And with Forever 21 ponte pants:

These pants have gold zipper details on the ankle and the back.  Realistically, I will likely never tuck my shirts inside them because it evokes a time of poorer taste in fashion when stretch pants (+/- stirrups) were high-waisted and hair was big and stiff.  But the back zipper is a nice touch, reminiscent of my beloved Pixie pants from J.Crew.  And I love how the gold stands out on top of the blue. Compared to the Pixie pants, the ponte fabric is much less substantial, but still sufficient to wear as pants. If you beg to differ, please speak now or forever hold your peace when I debut these outside of the apartment. I am currently "into" this bright saturated blue. Can't wait to wear this hue head to toe!

I am very happy with my Target purchases! The ponte skirt is so soft and low maintenance. It comes in 9 colors and gets great reviews on the website. The color I purchased is "carmen red", though I could only detect a slight difference in hue between that and "deep berry."  This skirt was a topper purchase to make it to free shipping (shh, don't tell it).  But, especially when paired with the painter tee, it looks so nice and work-appropriate yet with a punch of personality (bright Rrred). Plus, it's so soft I don't want to take it off.  

The suede wedges are surprisingly comfortable and versatile. The only other pair of shoes I got from Target (yellow cutout flats) are so ridiculously worn out after one year.  I think that is a testament to their comfort and frequency worn, rather than quality. 

Last but not least, I also procured my first maxi dress from Target in this purchase (which was made possible by the back to school 20% off discount from last week).  Incidentally, it is also my first one shoulder garment.  I want to brainstorm ways to dress it up vs. down. One thing I do know...it does NOT look good under my slightly over-sized white coat.  So I guess I won't be wearing it to work :-p

Krazy Kolored Pants and My First Peplum Top

I say some pretty self-explanatory things in my blog titles, causing me to have little to say down here in the regular text portion of my blog post.  As a preamble to the colorful pants you are about to witness, I must congratulate Forever 21 for manufacturing pants to my liking. 

1 & 2. I saw these monochromatic outfits on JCrew and decided that I wanted to look like a Blue Man.  Top: Target, Pants: F21, Shoes: UO
3. Top: Ann Taylor, Pants: F21, Shoes: BR (you can't see them!), Belt: JCrew ~ I am missing this belt currently :(
4. Top and Pants: JCrew, Shoes: Steve Madden

Ok, a word about those J Crew pants. They are the Hutton Trench Trouser and, on me, they are 1. too big and 2. wrinkly. Shame. I originally tried them on in a P00 and muffin topped my way out of them unattractively.  This was the first time that J Crew sizing was too small on me. Then I exchanged them for this pair, which was a P2 (I made this choice based on how extremely tight the P00 was around my waist).  The P0 is no longer available otherwise it would seem like the logical sizing, no? Oh well, I will keep these, iron them, always stand up straight, and perhaps wear a thick sweater tucked in with them. Problem solved.

And now, my first peplum top:

1 & 2. Top: Marshall's, Skirt: J Crew No. 2 Pencil in Feather Paisley, Shoes: from Vietnam
3. Skirt: J Crew (No. 1) Pencil in double serge wool
4. Skirt: from Vietnam, Belt: J Crew, Shoes: UO

And in real life, the shirt and new F21 pants are worn to Niagara Falls!
I am wearing my mom's Danskos because it was freezing.
I am also carrying my Benetton purple nylon bag and wearing a thrifted moto jacket.

Shirt: AE, Shoes: Sears, Belt: F21

Ok, in truth, these blue pants are a little big loose around the hips.  But this can be negotiated with a belt and by striking only certain poses and...standing up straight.  I had a brief stint when I thought I would take them in at the hip by hand.  But then visions of muffin-topping deterred me from going through with that operation.

Another iteration of these awesome pants at Niagara Falls. With a UO tee.

These outfits were from BEFORE the wedding.  For that particular week (which was in April or May, I can't remember), I carried my MT bag everywhere:

1 & 2. Dress and Cardi: Ann Taylor Loft, Pants: J Crew pixie, Shoes: Sam Edelman for AE
3 & 4. Tee: UO, Jeans: Seven, Shoes: from Madrid

And that is all...up next, all about the time that we bought way too many bananas and what I baked with them.

Wanted: Pearl Necklace

Woah, blogger keeps on changing! I have been in a perpetual state of the rug being pulled from underneath me.  No, I am not falling down a lot...except for in the figurative sense. Attending: what are the 5 most common causes of brain farts? Me: uh, 1. Ingestion of too much cheese, 2. uh...Iron deficiency? 3. Infection....
Please feel free to substitute all that for actual medical terminology.
At least I dressed myself to go to work.



1. Dress from Vietnam (it randomly fits me better now!), grey tights unknown brand, booties unknown brand
2. Ann Taylor top, Loft pants, Calvin Klein shoes
3. UO dress and hat, Target cardigan and necklace*, Calvin Klein shoes

 *sad: I am mourning the breakage of this necklace.  Necklaces are not meant for brandishing. Nor for striking Mike with. Nor should I end sentences with prepositions (get out of my head, Mrs. Maloney from 10th grade English!!)



I just think its funny that I have THE SAME EXACT expression in #1 and #2! haha!
1. H&M blouse and pants. Banana Republic wedge booties. F21 necklace.
2. Dress from Vietnam, tights from Target, BR wedge booties
3. Tshirt Charlotte Russe, Aeropostale tank, Target leggings, shoes from Vietnam, thrifted necklace



1. "French" outfit: shirt from Gabes, Anthropologie San Pedro skirt, Gap belt, J Crew flats
2. Shirt from Vietnam, Old Navy skirt, Gap belt (the brown one's sister), UO tights, unknown brand oxfords
3. Target cardi and dead necklace, UO dress worn as top, Charlotte Russe earrings, JCrew double serge pencil skirt (1st generation), Calvin Klein shoes

 Sometimes, I loooove my clothes and think that they look like sheer genius (like the UO dress worn as a shirt in combination with the mustard yellow skirt).  I love playing with colors and feel elevated and giddy when colors unexpectedly complement one another.

Other times, I get frustrated and break my necklaces.  Sigh.  I was on the lookout for another one, but there is none exactly like it, with its little glass beads as spacers and accent bead with the rhinestones.  Therefore, I have been crawling on the floor gathering all the beads.  Alas, I looked everywhere around the site of the incident (the crime scene) but could not find the accent bead.  Then, yesterday, my dad picked it up under the kitchen table! Huzzah! Soon, you will meet Pearl Necklace, the Reincarnation, muahaha.