Lace Week...with no pics

So sorry!  Lace week has been cute...but drippy.  All week the weather has been rainy and miserable and so when it comes time to take pictures in the morning... I just can't stand how I look.  Frizzy hair, soggy shoes, you know.

I promise we'll take some pics for NON-POLKADOT PATTERN week next week.  Wow, that's a mouthful!

Stripe Week Begins

Another week, another fabulous theme.

For me, I could wear stripes for a month.  I love them any way I can get them-- thick, thin, horizontal or vertical.

Today I'm wearing a hot pink little number from Karen Millen paired with Tory Burch strappy heels.  I like these because I feel like I have stripes on my feet, too.  Kacy is sporting a spiffy skirt and short-sleeve sweater that looks great with her sandals.

Bringing the Color

Today, Kacy and I are really bringing the color to color-block week.  Check out my green/white/black/grey ensemble and her lovely red dress! 

Color-block Week

I like color-block week. Not really for the color-blocking, but because I have tons of solids.  That's me on the right, and Kacy on the left with the jaunty pose.  It's freezing this week and I would have liked to sport my black and white block-dress but, alas.  Perhaps tomorrow.

I STEP on your flowers!

Floral week-- not my finest.  Not by a longshot.  I don't have tons of prints, and finding ones with flowers on it was kind of mind-numbingly difficult.  Today has a pattern that looks *somewhat* floral, so that's my attempt.  Earlier in the week I wore a nifty Guess wide-neck top with a cinch waist but didn't get a pic.  Tomorrow should be brighter with a little black and yellow dress.  In honor of the Bruins playoff win (forthcoming tonight).

"Tossing their heads in sprightly dance"

I know, I'm terrible!  I neglected the blog yesterday.  I'll tell you all you missed was a tan skirt with white flower patterns and a short sleeve white T-shirt.  It worked with the theme, but I frankly found the skirt less than flattering.  What I really wanted to wear was my Free People dress, but the knitted top is a bit too revealing.  Even with a little cardigan, it just didn't work.  So sad.  I love that dress.

Today I'm wearing this cute little green floral patterned skirt that I picked up in a boutique down in Chatham last Spring.  I paired it with a navy blue button down, green flower patterned shoes, and a green flower necklace. 

That's Katie there beside me, and I'm loving the bold red roses on her skirt!  Katie is always sporting the most fantastic shoes and belts.  Can you see the belt on her black blouse?  I'm just happy to see both of us in bare legs.  It's too bad AG had a first period class.  One of these days we'll get a group photo. 

For now, my friends, "I will arise and go now, for always night and day/I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore".  Fare ye well.

"Nor ever bid the Spring adieu"

There's a spunk in my step today.  Perhaps it's the awareness that we have only three more days until April vacation.  I'm going to attribute it to this week's theme:  flowers.  What's not uplifting and lovely about flowers?  Today's dress is so light weight and swishy that I feel like I've lost 10 lbs in the last week.  Thank heavens those winter wears are gone away.
A couple things did worry me this morning.  First, do I go for the gold or the silver accessories?  Obviously I went with silver, but I think either would have worked.  Second, I was nervous that the elastic waistband might make be look too hippy, but I'm feeling ok in this little number.  I'm telling you folks, this lighter load I'm wearing has lifted my spirits.  Someone's feeling the "happy, happy love" of Spring!  Yes, I am going to try to quote from poetry every day this week. ;-)

Today is not worthy of a photo my friends.  It's what we in the 'biz call a "PD"--professional development day, which cries casual.  So, I'm in jeans and a T.  Of course my T is navy blue with flower print, but it's nothing ooo-la-la.  Just wait til you see what I have in store for y'all tomorrow though!  I'm lighting up Spring like I'm the almighty Sun this week.  Caution, keep your shades handy!
Happy Monday...and in honor of poetry month, I leave you with the words of Robert Herrick in "To Daffodils"

Fair daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain’d his noon.
Stay, stay
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the evensong;
And, having pray’d together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything.
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away
Like to the summer’s rain;
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,
Ne’er to be found again

Winter?

I knew I was "overdressed" when I arrived at school and saw bare legs, spring colors, and sleeve-less shirts. The idea was great to wear the last of our favorite winter clothes before we pack them up for summer, but who knew it was going to be in the 60s!

Tokyo Cool

Ok, so typically I have a few "go to" stores for my clothes.  For dressy work clothes, I shop White House Black Market.  For fun, going-out type clothes, I hit up Guess, Cache or Bebe (the more sophisticated section, because sometimes those stores can be a trashfest), but for truly unique pieces, I shop in Tokyo.

Yes, Tokyo Japan. 

The first time I went there was in '07, and I was a little in over my head.  The fashion was so extreme and so different, and most of their sizes didn't fit this size 6-8 American frame.  I only bought one or two pieces because of this deer-in-the-headlights mentality.

Then, when I returned this year, I shopped with a vengeance.  I had a gameplan, ladies.  I decided to only buy WINTER clothes.  Why?  Well, in the early fall you have cute summer clothes you can transition from, then in late fall you're actually *excited* to wear your sweaters.  Spring and summer, forget it.  Cute-fest.  But winter is the dregs of fashion.  I decided that I would only buy cool things for my winter wardrobe in Tokyo, and it worked.  I focused on fun, quirky pieces that you can't get anywhere in the US.

This outfit today is 90% Tokyo, right down to the frilly peeptoe boots. 

I thought my plan was foolproof-- I had a pretty good winter, clothing-wise, but now I'm seeing the error of my ways...

...I want cool Japanese spring clothes!  Wah!

Back in Black...and Buttons

Well, this is probably one of my favorite winter outfits, and I just *had* to fit it in this week.  Look at it, for chrissakes, it's fabulous.  Valentino Red turtleneck with gold buttons down the shoulder and up the wrists, paired with a skirt with matching gold buttons...AND my Tory Burch knee-high boots?  Killer, right?

Killer hot.  Like, as in temperature.  Yesterday was 60 degrees and I was definitely suffering for fashion.  I wore a much more sensible outfit today.  More on that later.  ;)

How to Work Winter on a 60 degree day...

Let's just say, I would have much preferred to meet the sun's vibrant rays with some splashes of color today, but my winter collection is peppered with more black and gray than anything fun and fancy.  Even more concerning than being drab is my propensity to sweat profusely.  With the weather creeping up into the mid 60's, I would pass out by 3rd period if I had to wear a wool sweater.

Here's what I came up with--

The black skirt is one of my favorites, and I realized this morn that I haven't really worn it all season.  The shorts sleeve charcoal sweater allows my arms the breathe, as does the skirt.  While I'm wearing the last of winter with the lifeless black, I'm cool enough to appreciate the warmth of the day.  Nothing says winter like a black boot, so I had to go there, though we all remember from yesterday how I am feeling about boots right now.  It's different with a skirt, though, right?  The necklace is a simple add on for a good measure of fun. 

Thank heavens this is a short week!  I am just hankering for some open toed shoes and pretty pinks!

To Boot or Not to Boot? That is today's question.

So, this morning I pulled out a pair of black winter slacks--an old favorite from my pre-pregger days--and I was disappointed to find that they are still quite snug in the tush.  I couldn't wear my gray wool skirt AGAIN, so I went with a pair of skinny cords and my purple sweater/lavender blouse combo.  Wanting to stay true to the "goodbye winter" theme, I thought, "this outfit is beggin for a pair of boots."  As I continued to primp in preparation for the day, I feared that my boots might be too warm, given that my feet were already prespiring in my warm Acorn slippers.
End result, I just couldn't do the boot, ladies.  I mean, 60 degrees is on the warmer side, and my feet sweat--it's really not ladylike but it's true.  My apologies. 

I have to say, though, my adorable black and gray Coach slip ons really pull the outfit together! 

Last of the Sweaters

New England weather is iffy.  Incomprehensible.  Unpredictable.  That being said, we think this may be the last week to wear our favorite sweaters and snugly winter wear.

But we don't know.

We could be shivering in "spring dress week" or sweating in our heavy knits on Thursday.

However, there are some items in our closets that are begging to be worn one last time.

I went through my closet last night, spying which tops had the longest sleeves and the thickest fabric.  Then I narrowed down which ones need to be in my rotation one last time, whether I had only worn it once or twice OR if I had paid too much and ought to wear it again.

Either way, fashionistas, bust out your sweaters for one last hurrah.

You never know when you'll wear it again!

Creative or cheating?

Unexpected fondness for ACCESSORY WEEK

At first I was not excited about accessory week-- I am not really an accessory person. I would always choose a new shirt over a necklace. But today is a great example of "shopping in your closet." I started the outfit selection today with a necklace that I bought a few years ago at WHBM. The outfit came together after that and I ended up wearing a jacket that I hadn't worn for a few years. Voila -- a new outfit without spending a dime!! My husband is happy!!!

Iron Chef for Fashionistas

At first, when Katie mentioned this little experiment to me, it seemed like I'd have to do an instant run to the mall.

"Let's do rainbow week," she had said.  "Red Monday, Orange Tuesday..." and so on.

"Fun!" was my response.  I really liked the idea of planning out my clothes with my friends.  I didn't think of it as an opportunity to save money.

So I went and grabbed a cheap but cute orange sweater at Marshall's, along with a nifty little yellow and grey knit top, too.

Hey, I didn't have orange and yellow!

Then, once I wore them and we talked about it, I saw that I had the idea all wrong.

This was so that we could save money, not spend it!

Since then, we've done sweater week, polka dot week, blazer week, and bold accessory week.

And I haven't spent a dime.

My outfits have been cute each day, and I'm wearing things I haven't worn in a long time!  It's a fun little game, challenging yourself to make a great outfit with limited ingredients.

It's IRON CHEF for FASHIONISTAS.

So join us on the chopping block, won't you?