Happy Easter?

Here’s an outfit I wore to work last week:

It’s not my favorite outfit in the world, but on a really, really hot and really, really sunny day, I needed lightweight cotton and a sunhat. I like the idea of mixing patterns that seem like they would normally clash, though I’m not as daring with pattern mixology as many of my fashion blogging idols. Anyway, consider my pairing of pink-and-white and blue-and-white stripes to be a study in patterns that I felt was necessary for the sake of pushing the envelope a bit, even if it looked borderline silly. 

“Dapper” is definitely the first word I think of when I look at these pictures, mostly because I tucked the shirt in, which I’ve been liking more and more lately. (Influence of job interviews? Perhaps.) Anyway, I don’t know if it was the pale colors, the kind of dandy/dapper look or my mama’s floppy hat that made a certain celebrity comedian who lives in my town to say to me, as I walked past him that morning, “Happy Easter! Naw, just kidding.” I tried to laugh it off but ended up feeling very silly for the rest of the day.  In his defense, he definitely wasn’t trying to make fun of my outfit and we see each other enough around town (his kids go to school with Kai and Amélie) to make such a comment seem lighthearted and friendly. And, in my defense, I think I would have felt just as silly if some other non-famous-and-successful-star-of-television-and-film had made the same comment. So. I probably won’t be wearing this outfit again soon, though I have to say my tactic worked perfectly and I was feeling nice and cool and protected from the sun all day long.

Shirt, Gap; shorts, Forever 21 via Gabriel Brothers; hat, borrowed from Mama’s closet; sunglasses, Franco Sarto via TJ Maxx.

Playing Dress-Up: A Pretty Blue Dress

I’m gaga for dresses ever since the temperature has assumed its position above the 80 degree mark. Not only do I absolutely refuse to wear constraining clothes when it’s this hot, but dresses are one-piece outfits that require little thought or consideration for coordination (and who has energy to think about such things when it’s this hot outside?). I decided to walk to the park to read yesterday afternoon, and though I almost felt overdressed since most women there wore nothing more than bikinis (something I can’t really understand), I was ultimately happy with my choice. 

What I love most about this little blue cotton canvas number is that it has pockets and a double v-neck; what more could a girl want?

Dress, Kimchi & Blue; espadrilles, André; flower hair stick, little Japanese boutique in Bordeaux whose name I can’t remember. 

Playing Dress-Up: Reubens and Ice Cream

Last night I went out to dinner with  with my very first and longest standing best friend, Anna. We met on the playground when we were two years old, and even though we haven’t seen or heard from each other much since high school, it’s still remarkable to me that we’ve been friends for two decades… Eek! (Frequent topic of conversation? We’re getting old.) She drove into Columbus from the suburbs and we walked from my apartment over to High Street and grabbed Reubens at a tavern where they dole out potato products like they expect the famine any day now. Naturally we had to stop for ice cream afterward because it’s so warm outside, and we walked with our cones over to the park. I felt so comfortable in this little dress. (What a waste that I shoved a cardigan into my tiny purse before we left because I was positively glistening!*) I admit that I changed from heels to flip-flops when we decided to walk, but this dress transitions amazingly from casual to a bit dressier (or tonight, the opposite). And since the skirt is so billowy, I stayed nice and cool!

*Women don’t sweat. We glisten.

Dress, Silence & Noise; shoes, BCBG Paris; bracelet, gift.

Playing Dress-Up: Ready, Set, Go!

Okay, so today’s post has absolutely nothing to do with style of any kind, as clearly demonstrated by today’s bland (but practical for being on the go) outfit. What this post is really about is a wonderful new addition to Grown-Up Lessons that will make it easier than ever for me to stay on top of outfit posts. “Psh, Elizabeth! We’ve heard that before!” I know, I know, I’ve been terrible, but my excuses to not putting up outfit posts are dwindling thanks to my now being the proud owner of a tripod. Believe it or not, I’ve made it so far without one, balancing my camera on chairs, tables, fences, etc. or by coercing my little sister/photographer into following me outside into sub-zero temperatures…

Even though I woke up late this morning, sucked down two cups of coffee and threw on a pair of sunglasses to hide the dark circles under my eyes, I just had to post a photo of my I’m-not-a-morning-person-today self, so excited was I that taking this shot with my new tripod took even less time than it did for me to throw on this ratty tee shirt and jeans! 

Tee, American Apparel; jeans, JBrand; gladiators, UO; sunglasses, Fred Flare.

Playing Dress-Up: Going Sailing

Yes, I’m still nautically obsessed.

Shirt, thrifted; skirt, NAFNAF Bordeaux; sneakers, DSW; sunglasses, Fred Flare; earrings and satchel bag, Anthropologie. 

Playing Dress-Up: Brigitte

I’m back from my blogging dry spell, and I’m dreaming of Brigitte Bardot, Saint Tropez, and absolutely everything sailor-inspired.

Marinière, American Apparel; jeans, Levi; espadrilles, André; leather and gold ring, little shop near my new flat whose name has totally escaped me; earrings, Forever 21; watch, Skagen.

Playing Dress-Up: Walking On Sunshine

Today was the second day in a row with spring-like temperatures and sunshine, and rain this morning washed away all but a few lonely remnants of snow. I finally feel like I can say that spring has sprung, without having to knock on wood.

After work today I slipped out of my heavy flannel shirt, black jeans and rain boots and put on boyfriend jeans and this little silk camisole, grabbed the dog leash and wandered around campus with my dog for nearly an hour. I grabbed the hat just as I ran out the door but intentionally forgot shoes. My feet were pleasantly muddy when I got home.

Hat, camisole and earrings: Forever 21.

Playing Dress-Up: Hippie Sensibility

These are old photos, from one of the last big snows (so many this year!), but I thought I’d post them anyway since there’s been a dearth of outfit posts lately.

Jeans and camisole, Gap; sweater, Anthropologie; headband, Urban Outfitters; fringed booties, Éram.

Playing Dress-Up: Altering a Secondhand Dress

Last weekend Mama and I went thrifting on a whim. We hadn’t been in ages, and luckily we both made some really phenomenal finds!

We bickered over who would have the honor of being the new owner of this hideous vintage dress (I say “hideous” now that I look at the photo I took after winning the battle and bringing it home in my goody bag, but obviously we both saw something more that made it worth rescuing off the rack).

I decided that ditching the belt and shortening it significantly would make it really wearable. Boy, hemming polyester cut on the bias sure is tricky, but I think I did alright and I even got to use my new baby sewing machine I got for Christmas!

I ended up with something that looked like it had just been pulled off the rack at Urban Outfitters, not a dingy thrift store. Maybe it’s the sexy deep-v back, or the sweet little collar the buttons in the back, or the funky 80’s pattern? I’m still not sure what we saw in it, but I sure am glad we did!

The Oxford boots were also among my thrift store loot, and after polishing them a bit and replacing the laces, they looked super cool and were very cozy with their knit lining. The funniest thing about them? Mama says she used to own a pair exactly like them. Maybe even this exact pair. How weird/cool is that?

Dress, boots and belt, thrifted; tights, Express via Gabriel Brothers; cardigan, Gap.

Playing Dress-Up: Like Sister, Like Sister

Hannah and I are having a “romantic” night tonight. We made homemade calzones with homemade marinara to dip them in, dressed up in startling similar outfits, and are going to see a movie.

Our outfits weren’t exactly coincidentally alike. We both decided to rock a hippie headband (though it’s more her look than mine) and our fringe booties with leggings and button downs for a indian-princess-meets-indie-band-member kind of look. Yeah. Let’s call it that.

Blouse, borrowed from Mama’s closet; long-sleeve shirt, Gap; velvet leggings, Forever 21; fringe booties, Étam; headband, homemade.