Summer Fashion - Sunday

I'm making a sad face. A sad-that-Summer-Fashion-Week-is-over face.

Fashion week has been beyond fantastic. I've had a blast putting together ensembles that go beyond my usual tunic-y top/skinny jeans/black ballet flats uniform. And - more importantly - I feel like I've "met" a bunch of wonderful bloggers!

I started the week off in basic black, so I'm ending in not-so-basic white.

I stinkin' love this dress. I find reasons to wear it. If I were getting married tomorrow, I would wear this dress. It's my go-to piece for the theater, even though theater air conditioning tends to feel like arctic wind when you're wearing a linen minidress.

Why am I standing like this?

The headband was inspired by Rachael inspired by Emery inspired by Paige. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite right to wear across the forehead.

Dress - BB Dakota, thrifted

Boots - Nine West

Headband - Goody, some drugstore

(Mirror smudge - Westley)

However, while I do find reasons to haul this dress out of my closet, it's not exactly the right thing to wear while bread-baking and house-tidying.

This is what I actually wore today.

Tank - J. Crew, thrifted

Bra (since it's showing - classy!) - Gilligan & O'Malley, Target (currently on sale!)

Jeans - Same as Saturday

Shoes - Blowfish

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We'll be back to our regularly scheduled, fashion-lite blogging 'round these parts shortly. Until then, check out the final outfits here. You might even find yourself inspired to get a little extra dressed up tomorrow morning!

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Summer Fashion - Saturday

Me: What do you think of my jeans?

Rob [furrowing his brow]: Turn around? [thinks for a minute] There's something about the waistband...

Me: They give me an ass that I don't really have.

Rob: It's kind of...elongated. It's almost too much ass. They definitely change your shape.

Me [turning back around]: Well, they're high-waisted, wide-leg jeans. They're gonna to do that.

Rob [tentatively]: It actually makes it look like you've gained a little weight.

Me: Huh. But...in an attractive way?

Rob [apologetic]: Not really.

Me: That's so funny. I really like these. I bought them because I thought they were kind of cool - I mean, I love the zipper in the pocket - and they were super-tight when I got them, and look! [does the quintessential weight-loss pants pose]

Rob: Wow.

Me: Yeah, so I've been walking around, feeling pretty sexy in them. But they're not sexy?

Rob: Not really.

Me [shrugging]: Okay, so I won't wear them when I'm trying to look sexy...for you.

So my husband doesn't care for them, but I still think the jeans rock. And not just because they're my "skinny jeans" (as in, "those jeans women keep around, hoping to fit into," not style-wise, obviously). I like them so much, I styled them two ways.

And the kitty approves.

Striped top* - MICHAEL by Michael Kors, thrifted

(not sexy) Jeans - Old Navy, thrifted

Pearl bracelet - Actually a necklace, formerly my mom's

Necklace - Phi Beta Kappa key, mine (Aww yeah, baby!),

a tiny homage to Rachael's stylish brain-scan

Floral top - Tulle, thrifted

Black flats - Target, circa 2004

Brown heels - Dr. Scholl's

*I have no business owning this top. It's a Petite size, and there is nothing petite about me. I'm just shy of 5'9", with a looong torso. Oh, and the tie on the shoulder needs to be ironed, and I don't iron. (I don't even know where my iron is.)

* * *

Your turn, fashionistas: do you have something in your closet that makes you feel fabulous, but that your life-companion-person is all "hmm, not so much" about?

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Summer Fashion - Friday

It's Casual Friday 'round these parts.

Or should I say, "cat-sual Friday"?

Hello, kitty!

I rarely go sleeveless. Insecurities about my upper arms and the ever-changing Seattle-area weather make sleeves pretty much non-optional. However! I really prefer this outfit without the cardigan.

The necklace was a Valentine's Day gift from Rob...except that I bought it. The February after Westley was born, we were still getting the hang of new parenthood and didn't have much time to shop for each other. So we bought our own presents, wrapped them, and the gift-giving "surprise" element was seeing what we'd "given" to the other person. (I'm ashamed to say I don't actually remember what I "got" Rob.)

In any case, the necklace came from one of my favorite shops in Seattle. The owner told me that it belonged to a woman who had collected owls, and that it was one of literally hundreds of different owl necklaces the woman had acquired by the time she died.

Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft, thrifted

Striped top - Gap, thrifted

Jeans - Forever 21, thrifted

Shoes - Same as Wednesday

Necklace - Vintage, gifted-ish

Kitty (Fiona) - She's a rescue!

* * *

What about you? Did you dress up or down for Friday? (Can stay-at-home moms even have Casual Friday?)

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Summer Fashion - Thursday

Okay, clearly I need to post pictures of myself wearing my thrift-store finds more often! Everyone's comments just keep making my day. You're all so lovely...and stylish!

And I can't believe it's Thursday already!

My "I can't believe it's Thursday already!" face.

I'm in love with the color of this dress. It's kind of an off-orange, if such a color exists. I've recently discovered a love I didn't know I had for oranges and yellows. (Maybe it's the hair?) Hence the yellow sandals.

This is a lunch-date-with-Rob-on-a-hot-day outfit (though it also works for running errands). A sweetheart neckline for my sweetheart, if you will.

The bracelet was a "no-reason" gift from Rob years ago, because I'd been having a rough time at work. I put it on immediately and didn't take it off for a year. (I even wore it in labor.)

Now, what am I missing? Ah, yes, my bag.

And sunglasses. Purple sunglasses. (Purple loves yellow.)

Dress - Thrifted (no idea about the brand - there were no tags on it whatsoever)

Shoes - Cynthia Vincent for Target

Bag - Kooba

Sunglasses - Isaac Mizrahi for Target, thrifted

Silver bracelet (also seen - out of focus - here) - Gifted (thanks, honey!)

* * *

I can't wait to see what everyone is wearing today. I'm getting so much inspiration from your Summer Fashion Week looks! I'm taking notes. Honestly.

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Summer Fashion - Wednesday

I tend to avoid florals when clothes-shopping. I don't know whether this is a hold-over from my heavier days (when I was really afraid of looking like upholstery), or if I'm just a little pattern-shy in general.
In any case, this dress was too cute to pass up.

I tired to do the "no make-up" make-up look, here, and I think I failed. I look a little anemic.

I especially love the buttons on this dress.

More things should have cool buttons.

I forgot to get a shot of the dress without the cardigan. It's sleeveless, and the neckline can't seem to make up it's mind about whether it's a high tank-style or a subtle boatneck. Regardless, I almost always wear this dress with some sort of cardigan or shrug, so there you go.

Charm bracelets charm me.

Yellow (is my favorite color) floral dress - GNW, thrifted

Cardigan - Target, a hojillian-skillion years ago

Charm bracelet - Vintage, gifted (thanks, Mom!)

Flats - Payless, thrifted

* * *

There is some serious style going on for Summer Fashion Week - including some great floral pieces that I would snatch up in a heartbeat! Check out the other entries at Moms are for Everyone, and leave these fashionable broads some comment-love.

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Summer Fashion - Tuesday

As much as I love wearing heels, I thought I'd give you a taste of what I look like when I have some hardcore toddler-wrangling to do.

These jeans are seriously beat up. They were one of my first full-price purchases after Westley was born. After months in maternity jeans - one lousy pair of maternity jeans, in fact - I was dying for something with a real waistband. And a zipper. And maybe even a button!

When I got (most of) the baby weight off, I walked right past the clearance racks and bought myself some brand-spankin'-new black skinnies. And wore them practically every day for a year and a half.

Ponytail? Check. Flat shoes? Check. About-to-burst diaper bag? Check.

I think I'm ready for the fruit market...and the park...and the library...and...

I picked up these sunglasses on a recent trip to Miami, when I realized that I didn't have any sunglasses with me. And I was in Miami. That's what I get for poor planning and packing in a hurry: new sunglasses!

Shirt - Old Navy, a long time ago

Jeans - BDG (Urban Outfitters)

Sandals - Target

Glasses - ICU Eyewear

"Chirp" Trucker Bag - Queen Bee Creations, Gifted (thanks, honey!)

* * *

And just in case you were wondering what Westley wears when he has some hardcore Mommy-exhausting to do...

Shirt - Old Navy, thrifted

Shorts - Target

Socks - Target

Shoes - Tsukihoshi

(Coconut - Yakima Fruit Market)

* * *

Head over to Moms are for Everyone for more fabulous Summer Fashion Week fun! And if you're not playing along (or even if you are), describe your mom-on-the-go outfit in the comments. I know I'm not the only one who wears the same pair of jeans practically every day!

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Summer Fashion - Monday

It's Summer Fashion Week! I thought I'd get dressed up for the occasion.

This is a favorite piece from my mostly-thrifted wardrobe. I get compliments every time I wear it (mostly from my husband, who has a thing for belted dresses and women in button-front anything).

It's hard to show off the dress and the shoes at the same time.

(With some luck, I'll master taking pictures of myself by the end of the week.)

Pinky-toe cleavage: side boob of the foot.

The only "problem" with this dress is the color. Tiny grey polka dots on black aren't especially summery. So here's a bit of red silk to brighten things up:

Silk and sterling silver necklace - Gifted (thanks, Mom!)

Dress - Mexx, thrifted

Shoes - Fioni (Payless), thrifted

* * *

Check out more fabulous Summer Fashion Week entries at Moms are for Everyone. And I hope some of you will play along! It's not too late to join in!

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Summer! Fashion?

On July first, I found myself indoors, wearing a sweater, cozying up to my heating pad, and drinking a cup of hot tea while Westley watched a Christmas movie. I thought summer would never get here.

But whoa, momma, is it here now!

The sunlight still streaming through the windows at 10:00 PM is one thing - that I can deal with. But I am someone who is almost always cold, and over the past few days I've been fantasizing about wearing a bikini and only a bikini, despite not possessing the body or the nerve to do so. Anything more than a few triangles of fabric and some string sounds too painfully hot to wear. (A bra and a shirt? I'm gonna die!)

My unwillingness to go around mostly nekkid means that I'm having to get creative-ish with my fashion. ("-ish" because I don't own that much with which to get creative.) I'm enjoying hauling out my sandals, though, and giving my boots and coats and knit hats a well-deserved break. As much as I'm loving my newfound uniform of dresses with leggings and knee-high, puddle-ready boots, it's nice to switch things up a bit. By, say, wearing a dress without leggings. Crazy, right?

This coming week, Emery Jo is putting on Summer Fashion Week!

The "rules" are as follows:

1. Starting Monday, July 12, post pictures of yourself on your blog showing off your summertime fabulousness.
2. Report to Emery's blog, Moms Are For Everyone, and plug your post information into a link list.
3. Repeat.

Now, I have to admit that fashion is usually a spectator sport for me. I tend to think of fashion - and, more importantly, being fashionable - as something for other people. Because I'm totally awkward, I don't know what looks good, and I have no clothing budget. But! I'm not going to let any of that stop me from throwing around the F-word all next week.

Doing my best impression of "fierce."

If nothing else, it will be a fun and interesting challenge to take my fall-/winter-/(rainy) spring-friendly wardrobe and attempt to turn out something summery...without resorting to a week of swimwear.

Not that I'd do that.

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