Daily Outfit - Jen - 03/07/11

We've had some work done to our backyard. No more flowerbed, or more accurately, no more dirtbed. Now it's just dirt (not in bed form) and a work in progress, much like my wardrobe.

I'd totally planned to wear a skirt and heels today, but to what I am sure is no one's surprise - jeans again! You can't take me out of them, people.

My outfit (about) one year ago.

Blazer: Tulle

Scarf: Gift (Thanks, Kate!)

Blouse: Old Navy

Jeans: Nordstrom Rack

Boots: Target

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/23/11

Of all the days I'd like to have more than ONE CRAPPY-ASS BLURRY WAIST-UP PHOTO of my outfit, this was it.



That's my new cardigan and scarf from LLBean, and they're awesomeness incarnate, but you can't tell because it was too late and I was too tired to be bothered with decent photos.

Lesson learned. And also I think I'll repeat this exact outfit again tomorrow and take proper pictures then. Because it's goodness.

Cardi: LLBean
Turtleneck: Target
Scarf: LLBean
Skirt: LLBean
Boots: 704b via DSW
Tights: TJMaxx
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/17/11

There was a thread on my knitting forum recently about how LLBean stuff is all dowdy and old ladyish. So that was my cue to prove them wrong.



I love this dress. I've only worn it a few times so far, but do you ever get a piece and just know that you're going to adore it for years and years and years? Yeah, that's me and this dress. I'm in it for the long haul.

Dress: LLBean
Boots: LLBean
Tights: Target
Scarf: Old Navy
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/8/11

Sometimes these "I must be practical. Must wear clothes in which I can walk four miles to work and back" outfits get rather dull.



What is interesting to me, though, is that a year ago I would've been sooooo proud of this exact outfit - for combining textures and colors and working from a well-rounded color palette and resisting the urge to over- or under-accessorize.

But a "WIN!" from a year ago is a "meh" for today.

Meh.

Skirt: GAP
Tank: Target
Cardi: Target
Boots: LLBean
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/26/11

I was told yesterday by a very uninformed person that this outfit was "over the top" because I was wearing a "corset".



The perils of being surrounded by nerds, I guess. (The perils of being surrounded by one hyperactive large blonde dog musn't be discounted, either)

But despite all that, I love this waistcoat.

I also wanted to talk about that buttondown for a minute. I have had it for several years - I think I bought it during my first "must obtain a work wardrobe" shopping trips back in 2008. It doesn't do a lot for me, but it also doesn't...not do a lot for me. I rarely wear it and yes it's taking up a hanger and 1/8" of valuable closet space, but I'm not about to get rid of it. This seems to be one of those basic items that when ya need it, ya need it. Right?

I really liked this outfit. This one may appear again :-)

EVERYTHING (waistcoat, jeanskirt, buttondown): Old Navy
Boots: LLBean
Ring: Booth at Maple Leaf festival
Necklace: MOM!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/25/11

I need to invent a new word. A word which adequately conveys the idea of "comfy and nice but completely expected and thoroughly uninspired."



Any ideas? Because I'm feelin' it.

Skirt: Etsy
Tee: Target
Cardi: Target
Boots: Fluevog!
Scarf: TJMaxx
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Jen - 01/18/11

This one goes out to a special lady who loves black, brown, and grey. I gotchu on my mind, girl.

Now that we are officially 1 year old (aww), I will be linking to my outfits from 2010 and (hopefully) ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how much my style has flourished. GAG. I just noticed that this pose followed me into 2011. It's the only one I know.

My outfit one year ago.

Cardigan: Old Navy

Blouse: Urban Outfitters

Jeans: Nordstrom

Boots: Target

Daily Outfit - Jen - 01/17/11

Ancestors
Hear my plea
Help me not to make a fool of me
And to never let me dress ugly
Keep my outfits delightful

Cardigan: H&M

Top: Gift (Thanks, Thao!)

Jeans: Nordstrom Rack

Boots: Target

Necklace: Gift (Thanks, Thao!)

Daily Outfit - Jen - 01/13/11

Can you tell that I am obsessed with this H&M blouse? I practically wear it every other day. I just love it so much. I'm bummed that today was so busy that I missed all the pretty light, because this is why my pictures are... ehhhh, the way that they are.

Please be sure to visit Sandy to wish her a happy 1st blogiversary! And do not forget to check out all of the wonderful giveaways - there's something to everyone's fancy! Giveaway entries will be closed on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 11:59PM CST. Don't be a stinker. Go get some goodies ASAP.

Blouse: H&M

Vest: H&M

Skirt: Target

Tights: lalalalallalaaaaa

Boots: Aldo

Flower hairpin: Etsy seller Sandyalamode (20% off with coupon code SALM1YEAR)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/10/11

I had an extra bounce in my step yesterday, because not only was I wearing my new LLBean dress...



But I was ALSO wearing new handknitted knee socks!



Here's a blurry, yellow, non-yesterday picture of 'em:


I LOVED this outfit! So happy and perfect and LLBean-y and handknit-y and Mom's-jewelry-y. What's not to love?

Dress: LLBean
Boots: LLBean
Socks: handknit by meee! (Pattern is "Lakeside")
Earrings: mum!
Necklace: mum!

Daily Outfit - Jen - 01/08/11

So, the other day I mentioned that I wore an outfit that my husband was crazy about without my even trying. In fact, I was going for comfort (i.e. wear a dress so that I can eat like crap and not feel uncomfortable in the belly area). I tried to wear a variation of that and failed. Sometimes you can't beat the original.

My mom was raving about this outfit, also. Just going on and on about what a "fashionist" I am. I was caught off-guard considering that the praise was coming from a woman who has very assertively declared that I have "no fashion style" for the greater part of my life. I guess I did plum good. Get it?! Like the color. I am on a roll.

Sweater: Old Navy

Dress: Old Navy

Snitch Necklace: Gift (Thanks, Jess!)

Tablet Necklace: Gift (Thanks, Misti!)

Tights: Aritzia

Boots: Target

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/3/11

Man, is the first day back to work ROUGH. Especially when you've been off for 10 1/2 days. Especially when you've been in your pyjamas and husband's oversized hoodie for 10 1/2 days. Especially when it's like 15* out.



Rather than wearing cozycomfy work clothes and trying desperately to pretend I was back at home, I decided to head the opposite direction - heeled boots and more structured pieces to help me get back in the swing of things.

AND, in keeping up with my new year's resolution, I stayed dressed until 8:00 last night!

I iz a champion. Yes.

Boots: Born
Tights: umm...?
Skirt: thrifted
Cardi: GAP, 2009
Tank: Target
Scarf: somewhere in Chicago (ooh that really narrows it down!)
Earrings: Mom

Daily Outfit - Jen - 12/27/10

This is obviously not the way I typically dress, but given that I didn't have to go to work today, I thought I should experiment. For the sake of comfort during our drive to Houston yesterday, I wore a cotton dress with tights, a sweater, and boots. Apparently Jarod thought that outfit was a huge hit, so I tried to build on it today. I didn't get the same reaction that I did with yesterday's outfit, but it's fun to play!

Sweater: Martin + Osa

Tunic/dress: Target

Belt: Gap

Tights: Aritzia

Boots: Target

Necklace: Gift (Thanks, Misti!)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/18/10

Occasion: yarn crawl with a work friend (a new knitter!):



Is this like the un-macho-est way to wear plaid flannel? I hope so.

Shirt: Mossimo, Target, 2010
Tee: thrifted, originally Target
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: Target
Boots: LLBean
Necklace: Mom!
Earrings: ancient history

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/15/10

This outfit.



This outfit is the cursed thing I was wearing when I cried at work. When my lemon bars completely failed me. And when I hit an acquaintance's parked car.

I love all of these pieces individually, and none of them have failed me before.

Therefore I must figure that it's the combination - innocuous though it may seem - which is deadly.

NEVER AGAIN.

Tee: so old it doesn't matter
Cardi: Target
Skirt: GAP
Boots: Fluevog
Scarf/shawl: MEEE!!!
Earrings: Gift from Jeff, two Christmases ago :-)

Daily Outfit - Jen - 12/14/10

This is me sick on a chilly Tuesday afternoon. You may not want to give me fashion advice today, but I hope you still want to give me mint chocolate chip ice cream and Caramilks.

I need to get my hair did.

Top: H&M

Vest: H&M

Skirt: Target

Boots: Aldo

Daily Outfit - Jen - 12/13/10

This is me sick on a cold Monday morning. Aren't I pitiful? Don't you just want to send me mint chocolate chip ice cream and a box of Caramilks? Yeah, you do.

Don't you also want to give me lots of fashion advice? I know you do.

Sweater: Old Navy

Tunic: H&M

Jeans: Nordstrom

Boots: Target

Daily Outfit - Jen - 12/10/10

It's the weekend, hooray! I'm already on a roll with a birthday dinner for my sweet friend, Thao, and Black Swan. Tomorrow is The Nutcracker. Sunday is wedding dress shopping. And my barre class both days. My weekend is a bit ballet-packed, come to think of it. Busy, busy, busy. Happy, happy, happy.

Blurry, blurry, blurry.







Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: H&M

Belt: H&M

Necklace: Gift (Thanks, Misti!)

Jeans: Nordstrom

Boots: Target

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/9/10

I haz a helper.



My helper is fluffy, and deposits long orange and white hairs on my outfit.

The glare of a kitten scorned:


I'd been wanting to combine that belt with this dress since I first got it, and it has finally come to fruition!

I love this dress. It's so amazingly comfy, and versatile, and warm and happy and pretty.

::contented sigh::

::tending to my cat scratches:: (cats aren't fond of contented sighs)

Dress: LLBean
Belt: Target
Boots 704b, via DSW
Tights: Target

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/7/10

It was 17* out when I hopped on my bike yesterday morning.

Time to pull out the cold-weather gear.




No more bare legs for me for a while, that's for sure. Good thing I <3 tights :-)

But all the same, I was sweating in my windbreaker by the time I got to campus. Hills tend to do that to ya.

Cardi: Target
Tee: GAP
Skirt: thrifted, originally F21
Tights: Target
Boots: Born
Earrings: Mom
Scarf: somewhere in Chicago