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 - 2/21/11

I was told that I look very "Mad Men" today. I can only presume that means Peggy, rather than Joan. Alas.



Still, I'll take what I can get. Especially when it involves Fluevogs.



Skirt: Etsy
Tee: Target
Cardi: Target
Scarf: Marshall's
Tights: Target
Heels: Fluevog
Earrings: Mom!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/3/11

This outfit would be almost entirely unworthy of merit, as I yet again walked to work and had to dress accordingly:



UNTIL you see what I have hidden under that scarf!



TA-DAH!!! (This was all of 2 minutes old at this point)

Jen dearest sent me a SNITCH! My very own snitch!!!



It's pretty much the coolest thing I've ever seen. EVER.

But wait! There's more!



Matching earrings!

I am just absolutely floored. Wow'd. Amazed. Surprised.

I may be a bit of a Potter fan, y'know...



That's the picture they're going to use for my inclusion in the Cool People Club. Doesn't get cooler than a goofy grin and an armful of wizard stories does it?

Don't answer that.

Cardi: Old Navy
Tee: Old Navy
Jeans: Levi's
Snow boots: LLBean
Pashmina: Amazon
Snitch necklaced and earrings: JENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/23/10

In honor of the last day of work 'till 2011, today I am an elf:



And a very convincing one at that, I'd wager.

So...to make this post at least marginally outfit-y - I love this color combo! Assorted blues + whites + greys + blacks. It feels very natural and comfortable. Which makes me wonder how much of an impact color has on an outfit, in general? Do you feel energized in red and orange, calm in yellow and green, or contented in blue? Maybe that would be a good way to give myself a pick-me-up in those long dark days of January.

Oh! And also! Since we had a half-day at work today and I had the whole afternoon to kill, I decided to go and get my nose re-pierced:



It's got a tiny purple stone, and I <3 it a million.

I had my nose pierced a few years ago, but then on our wedding day in May 2007 I took it out, and that night when I tried to put it back in it had already closed up. I thought the beginning of a long break would be a good time to get it re-done, so my work people don't have to see the crusty bloody bit. It's so subtle, though, that once it heals I wonder how long it will take people to notice? :-)

Cardi: Old Navy
Tee: Old Navy
Skirt: GAP
Tights: Target
Boots: Born
Shawl-as-scarf: MEEE!!
Earrings: Mom

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/13/10

Jeff drove me to work today, because I was running late and had to proctor exams and...awww hell, it's snowy.

Guess what that means?

NO BOOTS.

(But Fluevogs. Which are so comfy they might as well be boots.)



I'm not really fuzzy and angry. Just tired and worn out from trying to navigate the Trader Joe's/Target/PetsMart parking lot in the middle of December.

I'm lucky I came out of it alive, wouldn't you say?

Oh! So...outfit-y talk!

One thing I loved about this outfit is just how many components are personalized, and/or thoughtfully made. Aside from the Target cardi and GAP/Old Navy components, everything else is either handmade, and/or consciously and mindfully constructed. I love buying from small sellers or companies, and getting free pretties from my mum. It makes the outfits that much more special, eh? :-)

Skirt: Etsy
Tee: GAP outlet
Cardi: Target
Tights: Old Navy
Shoes: Fluevog
Scarf: Scarf-Shop
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 11/17/10

Simple and comfy and happy.

Can't go wrong.



And the glasses too, of course.



Skirt: thrifted, originally Delia's
Tee: Old Navy
Cardi: Target
Boots: Born
Necklace: Mom, from thrifted elements
Earrings: Wai Sze on Etsy

Daily Outfits - Kate - 11/9/10 and 11/10/10

What do these two outfits have in common?


and


That's right, they're two perfectly nice outfits, with photos ruined by laziness-induced flash photography, flyaway hairs, and an unexplained state of frumpiness on the part of the wearer.

I'm sorry, clothes. You deserve better.

And that is why daylight savings time can KISS MY ASS.

11/9/10:
Dress: Old Navy
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts
Boots: Fluevog
Earrings: someplace in Iowa, about ten years ago

11/10/10:
Skirt: GAP
Cardi: Target
Tee: garage sale
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Shawl: handknitted by meeee!
Earrings: Kirksville farmer's market

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/27/10

Pictures were quick today, as I immediately had to turn around and go run errands (whee!).



I said "WHEE!".

Whee.

Love that bag. Not loving how the proportions of skirt + boots + top appear here in this post, but rest assured that it's better in person. Really.

Shirt: Sears, 2008
Cardi: Old Navy
Skirt: Talbot's, via TJMaxx
Boots: FLUEVOG
(bag: Fossil)
Earrings: mumsie

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/18/10

The cause of the delirium:



Nice picture, right? Mom just dyed my hair. Cute outfit. Gorgeous weather.

LOOK CLOSER.



Oh yeah.

(And also that video? OH CREEPY. HOLY HELL, '80s.)



At last I've found wuv. Twue wuv.


"Fluevog. Fluevog is what bwings us togethaw today. Fluevog, that bwessed boot, that dweam within a dweam..."

OK well tonight I'm gonna go home and watch The Princess Bride and Ferris Bueller.

Skirt: thrifted, originally The Limited
Tee: GAP
Cardi: Old Navy
Necklace: Mum
Earrings: Twisted Silver
Boots: FLUEVOG

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/5/10

I had high hopes for this outfit.

I was going for "sweet but edgy", "fall transitional", and "obscenely comfortable".



Alas, it was not meant to be. What I ended up with was "confused", "too warm" and "itchy and tights-ickiness."

FAIL.

Sweater: Old Navy
Turtleneck tee: thrifted
Scarf: thrifted
Skirt: thrifted, originally Delia*s
Tights: Target?
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Bracelet: thrifted, via Mom
Earrings: Mom

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/28/10

This is one outfit where I just know my mom is going to say "Vic! Come look at our adorable daughter!" and drag my dad in from the living room where he's sleeping with a schnauzer on his lap.

Yes, this is how it shall play out. I can tell. DSP (Daughter Sensory Perception.).

Thanks, Mom.



Do you ever have those days where you FEEL like you look supercute, and you even notice that you're carrying yourself as one who's supercute, but then you actually look at your pics and think "WTF really I thought that?".

This is one of those days. I don't know why - nothing special about the outfit - but I guess I just happened to be in exactly the right mindset.

Good thing I was actually wearing clothes and not, like, a giant slice of pizza costume or something.

Closeup of the scarf pattern:


I just picked this up at Plowsharing Crafts with my 15% birthday discount, so it was only like $12 - and real silk. I love the pattern! It's, like, maximum busy-ness. And totally bubushka :-D

Sweater: Target
Skirt: thrifted, originally Forever21
Tee: Old Navy
Shoe: Naturalizer
Tights: American Eagle
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts
Earrings: superold from parents (top pair); some jewelry shop on the loop (bottom pair)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/15/10

Today I wear black, to mourn my lost youth.



Saturday I take my lens in to the shop, to figure out why it won't focus.

I rarely do the monochrome thing. Only when I have a really great reason :-D

Cardigan: Old Navy, 2010
Tee: Old Navy
Skirt: thrifted, originally Delia's
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Scarf: ???
Earrings: mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/14/10

Oh man it feel like it has been AGES since I've been able to wear normal (read: non "businesswoman-y") clothes. But it's really only been like 5 days. But still.

Here's the thing: even though I've been in a white-collar office job for over two years now, I've thus far managed to elude the whole "button-down shirt, slacks and pumps" environment. First by hiding out with a bunch of architects, now by barricading myself in my office in a tiny corner of academia. I've never worked somewhere that frowns upon handknitted shawls or twirly skirts or even pink cowboy boots (though maybe not all three at once). I've been very lucky.

But even so, there are still occasions - forgive me for not going into more detail (I like to keep work and play decidedly separate) - where a girl's gotta look uber-professional, and neutral, and remove all potential for offense. Enter the black pumps, grey a-line skirt, and crisp blue top. I figure that also justifies the lack of outfit posts this past week ;-)

And now that I'm back to normal, I'm...back to normal :-)



I thought this picture was really cute 'till Jeff pointed out that Roxie's hiney looks like a dead turkey on the floor next to me.

Sorry, Roxie. Nothing personal.



This necklace + this cardigan + these shoes = my new most favorite thing ever.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/31/10

I had to look professional today, for work.



Seems that my idea of "professional" is most other peoples' idea of "would you like some more tea and cookies dearie?" because apparently I looked like a grandma.

A smokin' hot grandma, RIGHT?! Oh, and one with a blurry attack dog, too. Can't forget that detail.

Seems I've gotta work on this whole idea of professional + stylish + NO BLAZERS DAMMIT. (they make me look like a linebacker. Yes, even that one.)*

Cardigan: Old Navy, 2010
Tee: thrifted, originally Target
Scarf: thrifted
Skirt: Sears, 2008
Shoes: I dunno
Earrings: MUM

~~~
*LLBean tweed jacket, though, does not. <3 LLBean.

The Spoils: mostly Old Navy, and Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/29/10

EDIT - fixed the pictures!

I ran some errands yesterday. One of those errands involved Old Navy, and a 30% Friends and Family discount.

Good (read: bad) things happen when I run an errand in Old Navy. Especially with a discount in hand.

A purple wide-wale corduroy waistcoat happens, for example. As you shall see later.

Also, a new denim knee-length skirt happens:

It's so I don't have to wear the same one every day. Mix it up a bit!

And then there's an airy woven tunic thingy:



($8.99 on clearance!)

Oh, and a cute little ruffled henley:

Look at me, all explorin' outside the box! Shaddup. It's a big step. For me.

And because we can't be *too* adventurous, we end up in Grey Cardigan Land.

But it fits perfectly, and was only $7!

Why buy one cardigan, when you can buy *two*?!

This one is different, though. 'Cause it's purple. And lace. And cropped. And $11.

After leaving Old Navy, I decided to inflict some damage at the adjacent Marshall's. To the tune of $7 pumps:


Which I wore today and... ::shudder::. Glad I didn't pay more than $7 for them!

Oh, and a Talbots skirt:


It may not look like much now, but I can tell ya that it's the *perfect* length to pair with these beauties.

Ssh! Don't tell Jeff I'm already planning outfits, OK?

Goodwill was my last stop, and I tried on a *bunch* of stuff but only came away with one item:

We shall see. It's a bit tight, and it needs a slip, but that grey floral print is just so charming, and the color's so bright and cheery! Worth a shot at $2, yes?

::contented sigh::

Oh! I almost forgot! Sunday night I had a work function to attend, and it was really casual. So I test-drove a couple of my new pieces:

I felt like major hotness!


Yeah, this one will definitely be repeated at some point.

Top: Old Navy
Tank: who knows?
Skirt: Old Navy
Belt: Target, 2008
Sandals: Sofft, 2009
Necklace: super old
Earrings: Kirksville Farmer's Market, circa 2006

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/25/10

Despite the obviously fake smile, I really did like yesterday's outfit.



I usually wear this jersey skirt super-casual (like, with a tee and flip-flops), but took it a bit outside the box. All day long I felt like I was prancing around in my pyjamas...and heels. :-D


Also, this scarf is my favorite. <3.

Top: Francesca's Collections, 2009
Skirt: Target, 2008(?)
Scarf: Target, 2010
Earrings: mum
Shoes: Naturalizer, winter 2009

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/18/10

One of my favorite outfits in recent memory.



(even though I didn't remember to look at myself in a mirror before posing for photos - hence the skirt wonkiness and sweater ride-upiness.)

This was one where after I got dressed I kept going back to my full-length mirror and full-on *admiring* the look. Especially the red flowers on the cardigan buttons, and the red heels. LOVE.


Mayor McPuppy liked it, too.

(OH CRAP THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY HAIR. ::sigh:: I'm a mess.)

But like I said...was totally hot in person. I promise.

Cardigan: thrifted, from Avalon Exchange
Tee: GAP
Skirt: GAP
Heels: Kenneth Cole, via DSW
Earrings: mum
Ring: MacroSun

The Spoils: DSW (again)

Consider this a pushing of boundaries, a departure from the norm.



Just you wait and see.

(Backstory and explanation - and a challenge - available on KateOhKatie)




PS>I guess I'm supposed to disclaimer that after my last DSW post, I was contacted by a member of their marketing team and offered a gift card as a "Thank you for shopping with us and blogging about us" treat. So DSW paid for part of my new shoes. Which only makes me love them more.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 7/1/10

It's a one picture sorta day today:


I always love this pencil skirt 'till about 2pm, and then I want nothing more than to tear it off my body and retreat to the comfy world of pyjama pants. But 'till 2, it's great.

Skirt: Old Navy
Cardigan: Target, spring 2010
Tee: Old Navy, 2008ish
Shoes: Naturalizer, winter 2009
Belt: F21
Earrings: MOM!
Ring: booth at Maple Leaf

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/5/10

Saturday's plan: Craft show and errands. And happiness.



Saturday's outfit: Comfortable and happy and cool and easy.

Good day. Good outfit.



Skirt, cardigan: Target
Tee: GAP
Sandals: Sofft, summer 2009
Bracelet and earrings: Mumsiewumsie