In the Pink

Rusty and dusty! Let's start off with a picture of why I need this blog to see my outfits with a fresh eye.

Sweater tunic: American Rag Cie (thrifted)

Belt: Pelle Melle (thrifted)

Houndstooth Cabbie cap: San Diego Hat Company

Shoes: Naturalizer Defoe (Zappos, still available)

I really liked the pink shade of this sweater and the 3/4 length sleeves, but the shape just looks awful on me. Thought I could fix it with a wide belt, but it still isn't working. Time to let some other lucky young lady enjoy it.

If you can tell me why it doesn't look right on me, please do. Always seeking more information to make informed decisions.

Outfits are decided by constraints, so here are the ones I'm dealing with in my new job in Northern CA:

• I walk 1.25 mi to the train station and back each day to commute, and I have a standing desk. Comfortable shoes are not negotiable.
• Work is a relaxed dress code, but I'm trying not to wear my quirkiest stuff right out the gate.
• Evening winds in Millbrae are 15-25 mph, so my clothing needs to protect me from that.

I will probably show mostly weekend outfits, since the constraints above mean my weekday wear (black flats, slacks, a warm jacket, and a hat) is an endless string of Old Chinese Lady Couture. I'm trying to shop for unique pieces that double as work clothes, because I don't want to give into that just yet.

What I am doing is consciously trying to add more color and some prints into my wardrobe! I even bought something YELLOW. (This is huge, for me.)

I am glad to be back in the part of the state I've always felt like home, and I have a solid job at a really good company and I'm doing well, just tired each day. With the commute, I'm gone 10.5-11 hours a day, so quite often I get home, eat a little, shower, then crawl into bed. I don't know how people work crazy work weeks. I am pushed to my limit just doing 40.

I've missed my blogging friends! I would like to work in a little blog entry here and there. Hope we can catch up. <3

Repurposed

  I hate mornings.

Prairie hoodie: Prairie Underground (thrifted)

Dress: Liz Lange) maternity for Target (thrifted)

Harness: Audra Jean (Megan Mae)

Jodhpurs-as-leggings: Ariat Pro (thrifted)

Boots: Fitzwell (6pm.com, old)

  Trivia: my mother has a stuffed cat with the same facial expression I am wearing above. She was scooting through an airport in Japan to catch a flight when she saw it in a gift store window and couldn't stop laughing. She brought it home and showed me, and sometimes when I wake up with this expression while I'm visiting, she runs and gets it and holds it up next to my face.

  I'm convinced modern scheduling was invented by psychopaths who ran around changing everything while the rest of us were sleeping until a reasonable hour. I spend the first two hours of each day hating everyone on earth (not personal) and not being able to open my eyes all the way.

  Maternity wear: yes! Pregnant: no! I think it drapes very nicely as a tunic/dress.

  As much as I hate mornings, I like socializing with my friends more, so after a late night of a housewarming party and going to see my friend's band play, I got up early to go to dim sum, another housewarming party, and wushu class. It is more socializing than I've probably done in the rest of 2013.

  These pinstripe Ariat jodhpurs (mentioned in my thrifting post here) are so comfortable. They stretch very well and the pockets are reasonably roomy and accessible.

  As I was going out the door, I added this hat by San Diego hat company, since I seemed to have an overall 'riding' theme going on, with repurposed jodhpurs, riding-style boots, and a Western-inspired hoodie. Sorry I didn't get a photo of it, but I've used my brilliant photoshop skills to bring the full outfit to you:

  I'm still low on sleep, so this is a short post, but when the week slows down, I hope to have more up. Have you ever worn clothes that weren't as intended?

Investigating Vestments

  Last week I had a question about the ruching on the back of my cardigan that reminded me of an Austrian drape. This week I have another style vocabulary question.  It might even become a regular bit on this blog. I can see it now! The music plays, the camera pans over the stage and you hear the voiceover announce, "You know what time it is, folks! It's time to plaaaaay..."

*studio audience chants* "WHAT... is that thing?"

  And the curtains would part dramatically and I would come out to a burst of applause, wearing the latest weird thing I found at the thrift store.

  I got this thing at a clothing swap some years back, actually. It's a size L, which is probably part of why it is very drapey on me, but I get the impression it's just meant to be super long.  It has a random bit of pintucking and the hem material curves up in the back.
  What *is* it? Is it still technically a vest? I tried adding a wide cinch belt I thrifted in Japan over it. To stay with faded blues and purples and a few pops of black, I added my rhinestone button bracelet (another thing I don't know the correct name for!) I liked the look so much I added my favorite hoodie and a hat later:

  It's the first time I've used the double zipper, and I enjoyed how I could let the layers underneath show. I love this hoodie so much. The impression I get from my friends is they find it underwhelming but know it's my favorite color and they are happy for me. My friends are nothing if not polite lovely people. :D

  The concept of power in names, and that naming something gives you power over it shows up in several cultures throughout history. I don't know what it means that I have things I don't know the names of all over my wardrobe, but I'm not going to let not knowing what something is called stop me from wearing it. (:

Mystery vest thingie: LUX (clothing swap)

Cincher belt: unknown (Japan)

Long cloak hoodie: Prairie Underground blue suede

Rhinestone button cord bracelet: unknown (old, The CAMP)

Women's houndstooth cabbie: San Diego hat company (product link)