A Wedding Wardrobe Malfunction: Always Bring an Extra Dress!

Me in the dress, before it became a disaster

The dress was perfect. It survived the hour-long drive into St. Louis without falling off the hanger or getting wrinkled. My toenails were freshly painted to match the midnight purple of the dress. Unzipping the dress, before stepping into it, the zipper seemed to snag on (what I now understand as) a faulty tooth, but I persisted with a tug and stepped into the dress.

The soft silk and rich hues made me feel like I was preparing to step onto the red carpet- even though the dress was purchased final sale at a cool 75 dollars. My hair was set, my makeup was even red-carpet ready- and then something terrible happened.

As I pulled the zipper up, it became stuck on the same place as before. "I'll just tug it a bit harder," I thought as I performed the task, anticipating the zipper to properly catch on the teeth... but alas- it did not. Instead of properly catching track, the entire zipper and track became even more untracked. I was stuck. And then the zipper split. And I was still stuck. With less than 45 minutes to go until I had to be at the church.

I began to sweat and fret- undoubtedly a combination that exhausted the confidence, bounce, and height of my hair. No more bouncy curls- just beachy waves. Would I have to sew myself into the dress? I didn't bring and needles or thread- could I find a tailor to fix my dilemma within my dwindling timeline?

Panicked- I called Banana Republic, and described the situation I found myself in. The agreed to pull their most formal dresses in sizes 4 and 6 off of their sales floor for me to try on between the ceremony and the reception. Even though the dress was final sale, the agreed to take back the dress.

Miraculously,  I was able to yoga-move my way out of the dress (and I found out that my shoulder is perhaps double-jointed?) and change into a dress I brought for a graduation on Sunday. A much shorter dress, that I had worn many times- but a dress without a gaping hole on its side. Much better.

With friends from grad school in the replacement dress from White House | Black Market

The ceremony was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. The bride was one of my best friends from graduate school, the groom was a close friend from Bible study (I was the first to introduce them, during a visit to the church- our friend Jenny was the first to ignite the spark between the bride and groom), and the pastor was my pastor. It was a ceremony full of meaning- for everyone there! My stress I felt during dress malfunction seemed quite silly when I sat down in my seat and remembered the reason I was in the church that day.

Between the ceremony's end and the reception's beginning, I stopped at the mall (which was in between the ceremony and reception sites) to find a replacement dress. The search was unfruitful- there was nothing I could find that I liked as much as the original, or even as much as my replacement dress. But I'm glad that I brought an extra dress with me. So glad. Moral of the story: bring an extra so you won't have to sweat the small stuff (literally and figuratively).

So, I continued on my trek to the reception in my improvised outfit and enjoyed a wonderful night with my friends. We hit the dance floor, ate cake, and had a blast.

And, most importantly- the bride and the groom had a great time celebrating the start of their journey together as husband and wife.

With the beautiful bride and more friends from grad school. Thankfully, the bride's dress was flawless!

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Yeah!: Backtrack

Hello Readers,

Earlier this year I posted about my fitness aspirations for 2012. I am happy to announce that today I wiggled into a sheath dress that fit me before the second semester of graduate school (I still wore it a few times during second semester, but it was a bit snug).

After a January and a February of being more aware of the food I was feeding my body, swimming, and walking/ellipticalling I know that the me today (or at least when these photos were taken on February 22, 2011) is healthier than the me on December 31st, 2012. And my size 4 sheath dress is the proof.

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

Wiggle Wiggle

Yeah!

 Retail Detail:

Grey Cardigan: Banana Republic
Black Leather Belt: Banana Republic
White, Purple, and Lilac Sheath Dress: Ann Taylor
Dark Purple Cabled Tights: Anthropologie
Charcoal Leather Kitten Heels: Cole Haan
White Headband: J. Crew

Back in Black: First Week of School

Hello Readers!

Yet another semester of life is upon us at my college. Classes began on Monday and they went quite well! I still wake up around 6:30 am, but my first class isn't until 11:30 am. Last semester my first class began at 8:30 am and I found that many of my students were mostly asleep during the first 5 minutes or so of class... so I am looking forward to teaching students who are hungry instead of students who are sleepy. (Well, I hope they won't be sleepy!)

Yesterday, after my dear roomie took my outfit of the day photo, I realized that most of what I've worn over the past few days has been black or grey with the exception of a purple sweater on Tuesday. I hope my students don't think I'm gloomy or glum! It's just an easy color to match, I guess.

On Monday, I did add a punch of color with a pair of burgundy Calvin Klein pumps that I purchased from Bergner's last week at 75% off. The only mistake I found in wearing these shoes was that I wore them too much. Note to self: don't wear a new pair of heels on a day when you plan to walk a lot.

Retail Details:
Black V-Neck Cardigan: Zara
Black Elizabeth Dot Tie-Neck Blouse: Banana Republic (14 dollars!)
Black Skinny Belt: Banana Republic
Black Minnie Cropped Pants: J. Crew
Silvertone Locketwatch Necklace: American Eagle Outfitters
Bow and Glass Crystal Earrings: Juicy Couture (via Nordstrom Rack)

Do I look tired? That is because I am! First weeks are exhausting!

On Tuesday, I really wanted to wear tights. Before returning from break I came across a skirt I purchased back in November 2009 hiding in my pile of sports/activity t-shirts in my closet and since uncovering that gem I've been determined to find a way to bring it back into the light of day. And that is why I wanted to wear tights, so I could wear this skirt. Since it is black, grey, white, and gold; black tights were an easy choice. Here is the ensemble:

Retail Details:
Silver Heart Necklace: A gift from my cousin, Liz, for singing at her wedding
Black Cowl-Neck Long-Sleeve Top: Banana Republic
Black Tweed Skirt: J. Crew (Fall 2009)
Black Tights: J.Crew (also Fall 2009! Woah!)
Black Leather Boots: Anne Klein
Hair Elastic: Walgreens

My biggest regret of this outfit, besides not wearing any blush or bronzer while dressed in black, was that the skirt was a bit shorter than I remembered it being. Not inappropriate-short, but maybe a bit too short for a college professor- even an adjunct! The worst part of this skirt was that it rode up when I walked across campus and I had to pull it down every 5 steps (or so it seemed). Who knows... maybe someone will think I was dancing. Maybe soon you will see a dance move (the skirt tug) sweeping across campus. And you'll know that this girl made it up!

Demonstrating the "skirt tug": I think I'll save this skirt AND dance moves for Saturday nights.

Thanks for reading!

PS- Bergner's/Bon-Ton/Boston Store/Carson's/Younkers/etc. is still having their sale! The best deals can be found in the Yellow Dot Clearance (click "Yellow Dot Clearance" to go there. I'm not being paid/asked to say this, I just love sharing good sales with friends! Check it out! 

Color, Texture, Pattern, Shine and LEGS!: Outfit of the Day 22/01/2012

Hey Readers,

Remember how I said that my latest adventure in exercise was already yielding results? I have a picture from Sunday with the proof- my legs! Check it out!

Ow ow!

I purchased a new pair of tights on clearance at Macy's on Saturday and, while I was enthusiastic about their texture, I was nervous about how they would look. Sometimes textured tights are not as flattering as I hope they will be. Especially sheer textured tights. 

The diagonal stripes (almost like corduroys!) worked to my advantage, especially with this outfit. They showed off the tone of my legs and added just a bit more interest to an almost monochromatic outfit narrative. Going with the theme of texture, I added another neutral color with a charcoal snakeskin print as well as a grey beaded belt.

Diagonal stripes and snakeskin print- bold neutrals!

I really like how this outfit came together, as well as the progress I am already seeing in my cardio initiatives. Healthy, stylish me- here I come!

Color, Texture, Pattern, Shine: A combo Stacy and Clinton would be proud of!

Retail Details:

Beige Embroidered Pearl-Trim Sweater- Banana Republic
Tan Lingering Rays Skirt- Anthropologie
Enchanting Eyes Beaded Belt- Anthropologie
Navy Blue Diagonal Stripe Tights- Hue (via Macy's)
Charcoal Snakeskin Print Pumps- Cole Haan (via Nordstrom Rack)

Thanks for reading!

Cords and Cardio: A Continuing Trend

Hello Readers!

I love corduroys. I enjoy the texture they add to an outfit. I appreciate how flattering a pair of corduroys can be. They are everyday but anything other than ordinary!

Last week I wore corduroys twice.... okay, okay, three times. But, I only have two photographed outfits featuring cords from last week. In the fall I wore cords on a regular basis, and this trend is back! These things are slimming AND comfortable. Expect more posts featuring cords in the future!

Another trend I am reintroducing into my life is regular exercise. I was L-A-Z-Y over Christmas break. But, as of January 8th I am back on track. Elliptical. Walking. Swimming. A bit of pilates and yoga. Even... a bit of running! It's been only 2.5 weeks and I can already see a difference in my health, as well as my figure! My arms are slimmer, my legs are more toned, and my stomach is flatter than it has been in longer than I want to admit. Yes, friends, I am back on track! Not quite where I want to be, but on my way! Who knows, maybe I'll add fitness and health stories to this blog along my journey.

But, for now, I will leave you with my two cord-o-rific outfits from last week:

On my way to the coffee shop and pool!
Retail Details:
Tan Cream Confection Jacket: Idra/Anthropologie
Charcoal Scarf: Target
Plaid Wool Tote: Abercrombie & Fitch
Green and Black Swim Suit: Speedo (runs small!)
Marine Ruffled Purse: Miss Albright/Anthropologie
Olive Corduroys: AG

Friday Night, after I survived driving home in the snow
Retail Details:
Black Cowlneck Top: Banana Republic
Black Lace-Trim Tank: American Eagle Outfitters
Dark Charcoal Cords: AG
Black Leather Boots: Anne Klein ("Aloe")

Grinch: The Grossest Green

Hello Readers,


If you are familiar with this blog, you know that I tend to wear neutrals. A lot of neutrals. This doesn't mean that I don't like wearing colors... in fact, I actually love wearing colors like green, aqua, blue, pink, purple, and occasionally red. There is one color, however, that I do not enjoy. I don't like wearing it and I don't like seeing it in my favorite stores. It's a color that falls somewhere in between yellow and green. It looks good on only a handful of people.


What is this color?


dum dum dum.... GRINCH GREEN!

The lightest hues of this color family are what offend my eyes most and I was shocked to find examples from stores I frequent: Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Abercrombie & Fitch. 

Here are a few offenders:

The Orchard House Cardigan

Cute design... but the color! Oh my eyes! Avert!

Twice-Topped Cardi

This color looks like it is made of Grinch hair

Borrowed Zen Blouse

Golden Grinch Gross. Like Grinch highlights

Dantela Corset Top

Oh how I wish this was a different color. 

Banana Republic:

Jewel Button Cardigan

Lightweight Ruffle-Sleeve Cardigan

Old Navy: 

Popcorn Sweater-Knit Beret

Abercrombie & Fitch:

Breanna

I even found a possible misdemeanor in my own wardrobe:

In my defense, this is more of a grass-green IRL

So Readers... What do you think? Does Grinch Green offend you? Have you spotted it anywhere recently? Or, is there another color that offends you?

Thanks for reading!

Fitting Room Reviews: October

Hello Readers,

Nowadays I live further away from the city than I once did- a change that also increases my distance from the closest mall and perhaps an increase in the amount of money I save each month. This also means that I've been trying on less clothing than usual. . . but I finally have a few items to review! The first is from Banana Republic and the next four are from Anthropologie. Enjoy!

Black Wool Sheath Dress from Banana Republic from the Mad Men Collection

When I first heard about Banana Republic's Mad Men collection, I was elated- but when I finally saw the collection in person, I was disappointed with most of the collection with the exception of a couple of items, including this dress. It is a wool-linen blend with a fabric and fit that is true to clothing from the Mad Men era. This dress reminded me of something Joan, from Mad Men, would wear.

The fit was a bit too snug in my usual 4 at BR, but the 6 fit like a charm. What I love most about this dress is the lace that peeks out from the hem and neckline of the dress- very delightful and oh-so-feminine! This dress is hard to find- but worth the search if you are looking for the perfect Little Black Dress.

Dog Rose Pullover by Knitted & Knotted in Ivory

This sweater is adorable- the crocheted neckline and puffy sleeves are so sweet! Unfortunately, this sweater has a shorter torso than I expected and it looked absolutely ridiculous on this long-torso wearer. Otherwise, the sweater was lovely- but even a larger size wasn't long enough for me.

Trifecta Tee by Postmark in Navy

The Trifecta Tee was even more stunning in person than it was online! I tried on a small and a medium and found the small to be the best fit in length and width. This is a top, in my opinion, that you need to try on before buying (or order two sizes). If it is too small or too large the lace yolk/runner that runs down the center of the blouse looks very awkward- but if you are able to find the right fit it is divine! This is currently on my wishlist for fall.

Ruffled Shell by Lil in Red

This little lacey shell was lovely but unfortunately it was a bit too short for me. I wish Anthro carried tall sizes! This top would be really cute with a cardigan or a blazer- but not a contender for me because of its length (or lack thereof).

Renewed Folds Pullover in Brown by Odonate Epiprocta

I actually purchased this top, I was so in love with it, but a few hours after I put the shirt on I noticed a small hole in the front. The top I tried on had a loose string so I grabbed another one from the rack without inspecting it- I didn't see the hole. When I am near an Anthro store again I hope to exchange my shirt for a new one- sans the hole.

A Thousand Miles. . .

Well hello Readers!

I don't know about you all, but lately I feel like I've been constantly in a state of transition. Packing and unpacking (and then packing again), leaving my apartment and looking for a new one, and preparing for a new job. Life is exciting right now, but a bit hectic. I haven't been keeping track of the number of miles I've driven over the past month- but my best guess would be somewhere near 1,000 miles.

One day, two Sundays ago, in particular was especially busy. I went from church to a bridal shower and then to my grandparents' house. It doesn't sound like much but the time in between each of these events was long enough that I was able to go home, but too short to relax or get anything done. But, even though it was busy, I had a great time!

In my down time, I was able to capture a few of the day's highlights:

Pretending to play the piano (I'm ok in real life, but no maestro by any means)

I wore this outfit to church two Sundays ago. The white dress is one that has been in my possession for the past 2 or 3 years, and while it is super cute, I rarely wear it. I stumbled upon it again earlier this month while cleaning out my wardrobe and decided to bring it out into the sunlight again! And what a sunny day it was! Since it is a strapless dress I paired it with a lightweight cardi and dressed it up with a belt and a vintage necklace.

Robin Blue Cardigan: Zara
White and Gold Trifari Necklace: Thrifted
White Strapless Dress: Banana Republic
Brown Woven Belt: Anthropologie
Tan Patent Pointy Flats: Banana Republic

Following church, I attended the bridal shower of one of my near and dear friends (and former roommate), Kerry. She and her fiance had a black and yellow bumble bee themed shower- cute! The shower was super fun and it was great to spend time with Kerry. Also, I sat at a table with two girls who I ran with in high school and haven't seen since- so it was nice to catch up with them while enjoying the festivities!

Me and Kerry at her bridal shower

I was a part of a shower game! My partner pinned a picture of a TV wife on my back and I had to ask the audience questions about my character to help me guess who she was. My personality was Carol Brady (and I guessed it in a snap!)
Black Tee: Banana Republic
Gold and White Trifari Necklace: Thrifted
White Sateen Crops: Anthropologie
Black Satin Peep Toe Heels: Black House/White Market
Fun and Games: Courtesy of Kerry

After the shower (almost immediately after) I ate dinner and then headed out to my grandparents' house where I basked in the warmth and love that is family! I also ventured outside before sunset to capture these photos. Whew- I made it through the day!

Lettuce

Tomato

Apple

Light and Leaves

A baby robin! It will be cuter in a week or so. . . 

Thanks for reading!

Banana Republic Fitting Room Reviews: July

Dear Readers,

The other day, I realized that most (well, probably all) of my reviews are for clothing from Anthropologie.  While this is one of my favorite stores, it is not the only store where I shop.  There are other fine retailers who I frequent quite often: Banana Republic being one of those places.  Over the years I've found that their sale items are priced much lower in stores than online (as a general rule of thumb).

Earlier this month I received a few emails about a sale at Banana Republic that enticed me enough to stop by my local BR store.  Here are a few of the items I tried on.

Silk Ikat Pencil Skirt in Blue, available here

I tried this skirt on in a 6, my usual size, but I found that the skirt had an odd fit.  Upon trying on the size 8, I was relieved when I found out that it was a pencil skirt. While the skirt was silky and beautifully colored, I decided to pass on the skirt because it had no lining.  Even though the skirt was made out of silk, it was a very thin silk that (in my opinion) needed some sort of lining.

Jersey Ballerina-esque Dress in Pale Blue

This dress reminded me a lot of Degas' paintings and sculptures of ballerinas- maybe a modern interpretation? I tried this dress on in a small and found it to be an excellent fit but I decided to pass on it because I couldn't think of a place where I could wear it. It was too formal for average-every-day-wear and the jersey fabric was too casual to wear to wedding or party. Very fun. . . but a bit too whimsical for me!

Silk Floral Knotted Dress in Green Combo available here

When I first spotted this dress in an email from BR, I decided that it was something I had to try on.  Upon trying it on, I discovered that it was, indeed, a lovely dress of verdant hues but that the draping was slightly off.  From the front it was fine (as you can see in the photo) but from the side the fabric awkwardly centered in the middle of my chest.  No thanks BR!

Pink Print Silk Dress

When I looked at this dress it looked like it ran big, so I grabbed a 4 for the fitting room and found that it, in fact, did not run large.  The fabric's print was delicious and it seemed to liven up an otherwise ordinary  dress style.  I recommend this dress for those of you who want to beat the summer heat while also dressing like professionals. Good job BR!


Thanks for reading!

Inspired by The Ocean (Yesterday's Outfit)

Hello Readers!

I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday! Here in St. Louis, it's been rainy almost all day, and I think as a result of this weather I've been moving at a snail's pace all day. Oh well! According to the weatherman St. Louis is supposed to have a sunny day tomorrow! Hooray!

Anyways. . .

Yesterday I decided to pick an outfit that reflected my source of inspiration from Sunday: The Ocean. Since most of my wardrobe consists of ocean-y tones (blues, greens, and greys), this wasn't a major challenge, but I made intentional selections that reflected the aspects of the ocean that I find so inspirational (Color Palette, Movement, and Fun).

Here is what I came up with:

Color Palette: As you can see, the color palette of this outfit mimics many of the colors found in the ocean. My charcoal trousers (also featured here) and belt, and light grey cardigan are the same colors as many of the rocks and pebbles found at many of the beaches I used to frequent when I lived in Vancouver (Eagle Harbor Beach!). My two tank tops are the colors of the waves, and my gold shoes are like the color of the sun and those tiny glimmers of gold that touch the tops of waves on a sunny day.

Movement: I see this feature most prominently in the ruffles of my cardigan and the otherwise streamlined profile of the outfit. I also wore a locket with a long chain, so when I walked while wearing it it swayed to and fro.

Fun: The fun starts with the colors of this outfit. I love wearing these colors, and the confidence that comes from wearing these colors, in a way, give me an extra capacity for fun- which is essential for Mondays! The other part of the "fun" element of this outfit come from the ruffles on my shirt. They look a bit silly at times, but don't they just make you want to smile?

Do you have any ocean-inspired outfits? If you do, feel free to send a picture to me- I would love to feature your outfit on my blog!

Until next time. . . here are my Retail Details:

Light Grey Cardigan: Banana Republic

Green Laser-Cut Tank: American Eagle Outfitters

Mint-Green/Ocean-Mist Green Tank: Anthropologie (for 10 dollars last year!)

Dark Charcoal Wool Trousers: J.Crew

Gold Ballet Flats: American Eagle Outfitters

Silvertone Locket: American Eagle Outfitters

Charcoal Patent Belt: Ann Taylor (I LOVE this belt!)

Career Fair!

Greetings Readers!

Today I attended a career fair on campus. Another reminder that graduate school is nearly over and the time to start a job is drawing near. Very near.

Equipped with a resume full of experiences, a smile on my face, fancy business cards and confidence in my heart- this morning I had everything I needed to impress prospective employers except for the perfect outfit.

Here is what I came up with:

I was going to wear the pants that matched my jacket, thus completing the suit, but I decided, instead, to mix things up a bit. I think my outfit was appropriate for the occasion, but I'm not sure if my personality came through as much as I hoped it would. But, how much of your personality or style should you display at a career fair?

Whether or not this outfit had a great personality, I did stay true to some of my favorite colors to wear: pastel pink, grey, and navy blue.

Anyways, the career fair went pretty well, and I feel good about the contacts I made. Overall, a wonderful Wednesday!

Retail Details:

Navy Blue Pinstripe Suit Jacket: J. Crew

Light Pink Button Down Shirt: Banana Republic, featured here

White Lace Trim Tank: Gilly Hicks

Charcoal Patent-Leather Belt: Ann Taylor

Dark Grey Pencil Skirt: Banana Republic

Grey Tights: Macy's

Charcoal Pumps: Cole Haan

A Button Down Shirt. . . .

Greetings Readers!

This is what I wore on Monday, with shoes of course. This was not my favorite outfit, nor was it my least favorite outfit- but it is a great example of business professional and I had a really good hair day!

So what is business professional? Well, my concept of this term is borrowed from what I used to wear when I sold malpractice insurance to attorneys before graduate school. Here you will find: a sensible (but sweet) button down shirt, a cami for modesty, and wool blend dress pants. While this outfit is anything but spectacular, I do like it because of the colors. Often colors like black and beige (and even my dear friend, grey) can wash out my fair complexion, so I've learned how to wear colors that compliment my UV Ray resistant skin- like this pink button down shirt.

I purchased this shirt during one of the final days of Banana Republic's latest sale with the hope that someday this spring or summer I would be able to wear it with a suit to a job interview. Besides the color of this shirt, I appreciate the fit (fitted, but not too fitted), the price (just under 21.00 with my teacher discount, and the fact that this is a no iron shirt (hooray!). I think this shirt may be more spectacular than I originally imagined it to be. . .

With less than a semester left of graduate school remaining, job applications, hope for job interviews, and the dream of starting my career- everything related to the career process is currently on my mind. I'm searching for jobs (mostly) in two markets: (1) instructor positions at community colleges and small colleges in the field of communication and (2) internal communication/public relations jobs. There seem to be a few openings out there, but not as many as I hoped to find- but maybe more positions will open up as the year progresses. Does anyone have any advice?

Retail Details:

Gold (colored) and Grey Dangling Earrings: St. Louis Art Museum

Cool Pink No-Iron Button Down: Banana Republic

White Swiss Dot Cami: American Eagle Outfitters

White and Black Cross-hatched Wool Blend Pants: Banana Republic

Grey and Purple-Polka Dot Socks: The Gap

Sparkly Bow Ring: Banana Republic