OOTW and a Confession

Just a short blog drive-by to depict some outfits of the past two weeks. I'm trying to remember to whip out the camera and take (blurry) images of my outfits before I walk out the door. 

from left to right: 

- Cardi - AE; Tank - Old Navy; Pants - Ross; Flats - Payless

- Shirt - Old Navy; Tank - Sears; Pants - Target; Flats - Payless

- Dress - TJ Maxx; Cardi - Old Navy; Tights - JC Penney; Flats - Payless

- Dress - Target; Belt - F21; Cardi - Old Navy; Flats - Target

- Dress - Target; Cardi - Target; Shoes - Target (however I didn't wear those out -- I changed into the black flats of outfits 1 and 2.) 

And that leads me to confession time. 

::whispers:: I think I like pants now. 

I know. It's shocking. No, I'm not pitching my 100 dresses out my window. And I still think jeans are the devil incarnate in terms of fit and comfort. But yes, I will be acquiring more pants into my work (and maybe non-work) life. I'm evolving!

OOTD: Skirting the Issue

I swore to my friend that I'd stop with the cell phone pics, but it's just so easy to snap the pic before I leave for work instead of messing up around with camera cords and slow upload times. Sorry, readers!

Here's another of my Lands' End Canvas goodies: the Gray Lawn Skirt. In real life, the gray is more greige, but I love how high-waisted and flouncy it is. I just paired it with an old ruched scoop-neck tee from Wal-Mart and a wide coganc woven belt from Rue 21.

In other fashion news, a poster on The Nest's Fashion & Beauty board alerted me to some new boots at Target.  I'd love to see these in person, but as of now, I'm kind of in love with their latest Frye knock-off (real leather upper!). I had great success with last year's Mossimo Kady boot in Cognac. I may as well just sign over my paychecks directly to Target.  Pretty much a win every time.

Women's Mossimo Supply Co. Kachiri Leather Americana Boots - Taupe

OOTD: Tell Me About It, Stud

Okay, slightly embarrassing confession: Right after I take my blurry cell phone OOTD pics in the morning,  I immediately brainstorm a blog title.  My first idea was "tell me about it, stud" because of my rockin' new Forever 21 skinny studded belt. But fearing it would be too cheesy, I tried to think of another one.

But then... as I was walking down the aisles of my sketchy neighborhood grocery store (yeah, who grocery shops before work?!), "You're The One That I Want" from Grease came blasting over the speakers.

It's fate, I tell ya. The cosmic blog gods were telling me my original title was meant to be.

Not the biggest fan of how, um wide, I look in this OOTD. I'm going to blame the morning light and an awkward pose. I've had this cobalt blue dress for ages; it's meant to be worn trapeze style, but I thought the sweetness of the crocheted yoke would provide a cool juxtaposition for the "edginess" of the studded belt.

Dress: vintage Rue 21

Belt: Forever 21

Shoes: oops. 

OOTD: Forever Florals

Notice the daily OOTDs for five days in a row? It's one of the reasons Spring is one of my favorite fashion seasons. Throwing together outfits is so easy breezy this time of year when I can stick to my standard "uniform" of dresses and sandals.

Sadly I don't have a Forever 21 anywhere near me, but I bought this ruffled floral dress a year and a half ago when I visited one of my besties in Pittsburgh, and my very awesome and generous friend Andi (check out her fab blog here) sent me this gold F21 belt a few months ago when I mentioned my search for skinny gold belts.

Dress: Forever 21

Belt: Forever 21

Shoes: navy ON flops

OOTN: Steal from the Best

My latest fashion blog obsession, Kendi Everyday, posted this darling outfit last week, and I knew immediately I wanted to replicate it. After all, Target dress? Hello! I can never ignore a sweet little floral frock from my favorite retailer.

I already had the cognac boots and mustard cardi, so after purchasing some navy tights and a different cognac belt, I was set.

Kendi's version:

My version:

Dress: Target

Belt: Rue 21

Cardigan: Target

Tights: Hue

Boots: Target

OOTD: If It Ain't Broke

 I'm discovering one of the best things about posting OOTD pics is the opportunity for me to analyze my (poor quality) cell phone pics and get feedback from others. My readers have spoken: Friday's nautical striped dress got rave reviews and OMG made me look skinnier than what reality would have me believe!

So I bought the same dress in another color.

This time I went with all black except for my wide cognac belt. I could have worn my cognac boots with this, but decided to make the look more of a blank canvas for the belt to pop. I'm still shocked I've overcome my "don't mix brown and black" ideology. I've scolded my husband for six years on not mixing the two, so he takes great pride in repeating my words back to me every time I do it.

Dress: Old Navy

Leggings: a.n.a. JC Penney

Boots: Soda 

Belt: Fashion Bug 

p.s. Isn't my new floor mirror purty? 

OOTD: Sailor Life for Me

Stripes are supposedly another hot trend for Spring 2010. In the past I've been reluctant to wear many stripes; how many times have we been told over and over past stripes make you look wider? Well, readers, I don't need any help in looking wider these days, but after seeing the gorgeous Andi of Saltwater Dreams wear her pretty nautical stripes a few months ago, I decided to try it out.

I gained some more style inspiration from Teen Fashionista (same dress!) and Justine at Fetching Fashions.

Dress: Old Navy

Belt: Bronze bow belt I nabbed for $3 at ON

Leggings: Target

Boots: Mossimo Kady in Cognac, Target

Cardi: Target

OOTD: Rainy day neutrals

With some dreary November rain falling outside, I figured it was a good day to wear some dreary colors.

Note: The seaming of this dress didn't work with my new stretchy belt (Kohls), so I lost that and the houndstooth headband before going to work.

What I'm wearing:
black lace cami (old Rue 21)
black empire-waist elbow sleeve knit dress (old TJ Maxx)
gray leggings (Target)
black fUggs (GoJane)
black/cream houndstooth bag (Gap Outlet)