Friday Miscellany

Jacket, Forever 21. Dress, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Shoes, Delicious (with shoe clips made by me). Bracelet, Urban Outfitters. Hoops, Nine West. Bag, Express.


I made these shoe clips with a couple of salon clips and faux zinnias. I used red felt to back the clips (in case the clips should touch my bare skin, instead of only shoe) and I also sandwiched a circular piece of felt between the the clip and the flower. Gluing the felt circle to the top of the clip and then the flower to the felt resulted in a more stabile attachment of the flower. I did not take pictures of the process (the project was my first and something of an experiment) but, if you like, I can make another set of clips and record the steps.

I love the view of the flower-tipped toes from the side, but they look a little bozo-the-clown-ish from straight on. Next time I wear the shoes and clips, I’ll pair them with a briefer skirt. The giant flowers plus the voluminous skirt are a little overwhelming.

(You can see the shoes with no flower clips in my Noticed entry.)

This evening, I’ll go straight from work to a Drama Workshop event (with a run sandwiched in between). Here is my day-to-night, business-to-casual transition:


Dress, No Boundaries. Peeptoe flats, New York and Company.

(And yes, this dress is a little short for a woman of 33 years, but I don't care.)

I haven’t made a big deal of it, but this was “yellow week” and I wore a little yellow each day. Yellow is one of those colors that people find difficult to wear, but it’s a popular shade this spring. The fashion columnists will tell you that if you don’t look good in yellow, you are just choosing the wrong shade. Personally, I think that is mostly bunk. These are my tips for wearing almost any shade of yellow:

1. Pair it with bright lips or eyes. I’ve found that wearing fuchsia lipstick negates any sallowing properties of yellow clothing. Bright blue eyeshadow also does the trick for me. Today, I’ve worn red lipstick and an almost naked face to compliment my canary jacket (just like Reese Witherspoon in that yellow dress at the 2007 Golden Globes). Makeup helps your features compete with the brightness of yellow.

2. Also wear one of your best colors near your face. If you look great in blue-green, pair your yellow top with turquoise beads at the throat. If red is your color, wind a cherry hued scarf around your neck. Not only will the accent color perk up your complexion, but it will add some interest to your ensemble.

3. Move the yellow away from your face and neck. Yellow shoes are the easiest way to pull off yellow, but you can also wear yellow on your upper half by just allowing the sleeves or hem of your yellow garment to show.

How do you feel about yellow clothing? Are there any shades that are definitely “off limits?”

And finally, a recap of yellow week (I'm not asking you to vote because, personally, I have begun to find those "choose your favorite outift" polls tedious):

I tend to favor either muddy (mustard) or very clear (citron) shades of yellow. This jacket is the exception.

Winn Dixie

Jacket, Forever 21 (embellished by me because I heart ball trim). Blouse, Merona. Skirt, Andre Oliver (thrifted and shortened). Peeptoes, Wild Diva. Bag, World Market. Headband, self-made. Earrings, No Boundaries. Bracelet, Pangaea.

I entitled this post “Winn Dixie” because I was going issue a plea for paper Winn Dixie grocery sacks to be used a play prop. Instead, we’re using Harris Teeter (and a coworker is shuttling them to Cincinnati), but thanks anyway! I know I can count on y’all next time I need some exotic props. (P.S. Come see Messiah on the Frigidaire. I watched a run-through on Tuesday and it is HILARIOUS.)



Jumping for joy because I have locale-appropriate grocery sacks on the way:



I think I may have dented the floor when I landed

Linebacker

Tweedy jacket, The Limited. Tank, Deep Los Anglees. Skirt, Moda International. Pumps, Delicious. Bag, No Boundaries. Necklace, World Market.

(I’m watching Smunchy as he attempts to destroy my artful window treatment. I may be smiling, but I am NOT amused.)

Today, I’m wearing a couple of style blogger favorites. Stephanie owns this jacket (although I’ve not seen her wear it on her blog) and Londyn has both this skirt and these pumps.


Obviously, since Stephanie owns it, this jacket is in good taste, but the strong shoulders can make me feel a bit like a linebacker, especially when it’s buttoned up.


In addition to the very strong shoulder, I tend to avoid the jacket because it seems a bit too staid for my style. This is how I’ve worn it in the past:


I’m sorry the pictures are so awful. I mostly wore this during the first year of my blog, before I had developed any photo or posing skills.
How would you wear it?

Yellow Crisp

Pinstriped jacket and pumps, Mossimo. Sweater and trousers, Moda International. Earrings, H&M (swap). Bag, Nicole Lee. Ring, Silpada.


This is another repeat with just a color change. But, I’ve gone a step further and changed the wall color as well. I’m nothing if not thorough.


These are the pants I was complaining about in my I Hate Pants entry. I still don’t think I like them. I read somewhere that if a pair of pants fit properly, they fall in a straight line from the apex of the butt’s curve to the hem*. (I.e. they don’t cup your cheeks.) Obviously, I’ve got some butt hugging going on here. I’m doing my best to blame the pants, not myself. It is tricky to find pants that fit well. That is why I wear skirts.

Enough about stupid pants. Funny pictures:


*I can’t find this bit of guidance anywhere online. I’m wondering if it is outdated or particular to only one style of trousers.

Dry to Wet

The “dry” me is looking awfully pouty.
Striped cardigan and patterned scarf., Old Navy. Wrap dress, Merona (shortened). Tank, Merona. Heels, Pulse. Bag, Liz Claiborne. Earrings, No Boundaries.



I think this outfit would have been right at home in the Pump Up Your Volume: Navy & White “Medium” entry. I’ve got all the right accent colors.






P.S. It's Yellow Week.