OOTD/Review: Notched. Dotted. Reminded.

Day: Sunday, April 14, 2013.

Where: Church.

Ease of Wear: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The dress is very pretty and very comfortable, but it took me a bit to get used to the gaping at the neck (my number one fit issue, btw).  I was *this* close to returning the dress for a size smaller, but in the end, the size I chose felt fine and while a bit loose in the bodice isn't anything that I can't fix here at home on my sewing machine.

It was also fairly warm that day and the linen/cotton blend was exactly right for the temperature.

Cool Factor: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)   Just a pretty dress worn to church with cute open-toe heels, a white clutch, and white dangly earrings, so not the coolest, more classic and appropriate.

Anecdote from the day:  Well, church is church.  It means I stay at church with the two oldest while Mr. Dina goes and wrangles Angus outside since Angus is now the age where he literally (not even joking here) moves 99.8% of the time.  It's a bit tiring.

On the plus side, Mr. Dina talked to our favorite priest outside and told him that he wanted to convert to Catholicism.  The priest thought he was already Catholic and had just missed his Confirmation, which is why he doesn't get Communion with the rest of us.  :)  Mr. Dina let him know that, "nope, I am the full deal--converting from Southern Baptist, thank you very much."  The priest gave me a smile when I went up for Communion, and here I was thinking it was because he was proud of me wrangling the two oldest up for Communion without any mishaps.  Instead, he was just giving our family the big high five for fully converting our holdout.  LOL.  
 

Notch Neck Shift.  I bought this in a size 8 long.  Like I mentioned above, the bodice is really loose, especially through the shoulders and neckline.  You can even see it gaping a tiny bit in the photo above (if you can tear your eyes away from the darling Angus, of course).

The skirt portion fits really well, though, and since I am a pear shape, and that is unlikely to change, I am glad my positively plump posterior fits so well in this dress.

Side View.  The tie belt is a bit of a bummer, but it did the job well enough, I suppose.  I can see swapping it out for a navy belt, I just don't know how it would look under the belt loops.

Angus, btw, is wearing the Twin Pack Rompers.  I have been buying him these for the past few seasons.  This is the version from the spring, and we also have the version from summer (which is SO precious!).  He is wearing the 12-18 months and they fit him fine.  He just turned one, but he is B-I-G so I would say that the rompers run true to size.

Back View.  (Of both of us!)  You can really see how big the bodice is here, in fact not only is the bodice too big, it is also too long for me.  My back length (neck to waist) is a mere 15 inches, so I recognize I am on the smaller end of women regarding this length, so I just have to deal.  Love the skirt length, though!


Notch Neck Shift.  The dress is selling well, but only a few sizes are completely sold out.  One of the designs is even part of the mid-season sale (the striped one), but the polka dot is not.

Alrighty, that's it.  :)

BTW, the "reminded" portion of my post's title is so I can remind you that both Boden and Lands' End are finishing up their big sales tonight.   I never ended up doing a picks post for Lands' End, but I did do a picks post for Boden, which is right here.

Below are the links for both sales, so you can easily access them. 




You all have a great night!

Mommy Style Monday #13--What Are You Putting Out There?

Hello, Monday! :)

It has been a few weeks since my last "Mommy Style Monday," and really, Mommy Style Monday #12 shouldn't count, but since I like the number 13, I am going to call today's installment #13 and be done with it.

I was inspired to write today's post because of the Mindy Cohn episode of What Not to Wear that aired on Friday night (yay, Stacey and Clinton are back!!!). In it, Stacey and Clinton REALLY laid into our dear sweet Natalie from the Facts of Life because what she was wearing sent out a message to others that Mindy didn't know that she was sending out! Mindy thought her casual, laid back look would be interpreted as such...people would see her on the street, she believed, and would immediately think, "ooh, that lady looks comfy, and cozy, and so easy-going." Instead her look read as frumpy, tired, and careless. The look that Mindy got when she realized just what Stacey and Clinton were getting at was priceless...it was like a literal light-bulb went off in the darkness and she could see the illuminated Jimmy Choos! And bless her heart, Mindy was super-stoked to change how her appearance comes across. By the end, Mindy looked exactly like she had always wanted...her fitted frocks and elegant accessories went the distance and delivered the look of ease, polish, and fun much more than her over-sized tees and baggy-crotched sweatpants (really, she had them made for her!) had done before her appearance on What Not to Wear.

I sympathize with Mindy, and with all ladies who intend one look but instead give off an entirely different look. In the past I have been in her shoes. (Even in the past two years of writing this blog--check out this ditty from my early days!) My aunt, when I was in college, took me to the side and laid into me for wearing drab, shapeless, and boring clothing (it's true--at one point I was much more at home in a long black jumper dress, long ribbed cardigan, and a tee than I was in sequins, ruffles, and pencil skirts). She basically told me that I was coming off as someone in her early 40s (eek) than as someone in her late teens. She told me, point blank, to wear more color, to wear more fitted clothing, and to wear more makeup. Because I love my aunt, and value her opinion, I listened to her. It took me about 15 years, but I have settled into the style that I believe she always knew I had in me. Now I feel like I can put together looks that express my style, fun, polished, and colorful. I also want to appear youthful, and I think most of the time I do.

So what are you putting out there? Have you had your own style intervention (a la me and Mindy)? Does your look express what you want it to? Have you asked your loved ones for an honest opinion?

And now, two of my latest outfits and how they appeared to others...one I fully intended the response to and one whose response actually shocked me.

Untitled by dinagideon featuring cami tank tops

Above is the outfit I wore on Saturday. I wanted a polished, fun, easy look that also could read "chic." In the end, I felt successful and I plan on wearing this again when the time is right (i.e. preschool run, going to lunch with the ladies, etc.).

This is the outfit with all the elements pieced together.  I was playing with proportion here, and when the proportion is accurate, the chic comes through.  One thing I have learned from other bloggers is to PLAY with proportion.  Some like Chloe of The Chloe Conspiracy, ABC of A Bigger Closet, and Slastena of About All and Nothing at All (to name three, there are dozens more) really get proportion and how elegant even jeans can be when paired with the right silhouette.

I am loving the short-sleeved jacket for the fall, and when paired with this three-quarter sleeved cardigan, hits the right note of sophisticated and casual (all at once).  Since I was doing errands that day and then getting dinner, I really did need to have both elements in my outfit.

I also love the look of chunky platform peep-toes (yummy Anticipation Heels from Anthropologie--AGAIN) with the matte jersey curator pants which have a cropped hemline.

I felt modern, yet classic, as well, with the Talbot's cream quilted bag and the beaded glass necklaces.

Pieces you see in this "proportion play" outfit:
Jacket: Maryn Jacket.
Cardigan: (In-Store Only) Beaded Placket Cardigan, Bronzed Ochre color. (I like the cardi in the polyvore as an alternate, though, would have very similar effect, I believe.)
Pants: Matte Jersey Curator Pants.
Shoes: Anticipation Heels by Miss Albright.
Necklaces: Scattered Glass Necklace and an (in-store only) glass beaded necklace.
Purse: Quilted Leather Bag.

Here I am with just the cardi on, no jacket. This changes the look up making it less sophisticated, yet still polished.

Close-up of the details of the necklaces, purse, cardigan, and tank.

I think this pic says it all. I felt good in this outfit, and with the addition of my son and my fave A.R. Trapp Troubadour sunglasses, I felt very stylish mommy. ;)

Best Outfit EVER EVER EVER... by dinagideon featuring blazers jackets

Above is the second polyvore of the outfit I wore to sub on Friday. I intended for my look to read colorful, easy, casual, and fun. Turns out some people (cough, cough, MR. DINA) thought it looked a different way entirely. Huh.

This is the outfit without the Fiona jacket, just the tee, jeans, and sneakers. Notice my hair is in pigtails.

So how did this very outfit appear to Mr. Dina? Well, after my WALK HOME, no makeup on, looking (in my mind) tired and worn out, he says to me, "THIS IS MY FAVORITE OUTFIT YOU HAVE EVER WORN. I love it. I especially love the pigtails."

Me: (Slack-jawed.) (Pause for thirty seconds.) (Compose myself.) "Are you joking?"

Him: "No! I really love it. You should wear this every. day. of. your. life. Especially the pigtails."

Me: "Umm. Okay. But what about that dress I wore the other day, with the heels, and the makeup, and the pretty hair?"

Him: "Well, it was fine, but not really my thing. You should wear this whenever we go out. I love it."

Me: (Sigh.) "I guess it's true what they say...'women really do dress for other women.'"

Him: "Well, if that's the case, we would have saved a lot of money if you only ever dressed for me exclusively. In fact, why don't you do that?"

Me: "But I LOVE my fashion blog!!!"

End.

See! My intent: Look nice enough to sub but still casual, colorful, and decent. What I put out there: THE BEST LOOK EVER EVER EVER (well, for the men of the species, anyhow). Huh.

Pieces of this unintended BEST LOOK EVER EVER EVER:
Top: Crewcuts Graphic Tee, "Don't Be So Shellfish."
Jeans: 7FAM Dojo Flip-Flop Jeans.

Here it is, with the Fiona Jacket in Pumpkin (I think?). I wore the orange Fiona simply as a nod to the month of October. I really like how the teal and the orange look together (even if Tory Burch can't stand the combo--heh, my hubby likes it, too, TORY!). LOL.

I hope that my slightly lengthy discussion on intent versus reality has helped some of you. I also urge you to ask others about your style when you can...you may expect to hear the answer or you may get an answer you weren't expecting at all. (And that's okay!)

Two Pictures from the Beloved Paris Catalog...

Aren't Vanessa and the other beautiful model (I think she is from Belgium) just darling in this picture? They always model so well together. I also loved all the images of them from my second favorite catalog, the Scotland one from November 2007.

I actually own the striped tissue turtleneck in stone. It is surprisingly versatile...although I don't think I will be doing this particular look anytime soon! ;)

Here are they are posing in very similar styles, only Vanessa is showing some leg and the Belgian model is showing some cleavage. It is all very tasteful, mind you, but for J. Crew, a bit risque!

I own the dress with the ruffles on the bottom (Vanessa's), but in black. Funny story--I recently tried the dress on and it fit beautifully and made my legs look so nice. So I run into Rex's room to show Jim, and he is like, "Ugh, what is up with those ugly ruffles?" I, being a girl and all that, got very upset and stormed out of the room. Later I realize he didn't mean me, but rather the dress. I sometimes wonder about Jim...this is such a darling dress and he hated it.

I think this dress is a contender for this Sunday's brunch because it has ruffles (and I don't own much with ruffles), but it depends on the weather. If it is warm (my hope), then there is no way I will wear it...it is 100% wool.

And do I care all that much about Jim's opinion? Sometimes, but it really depends. He HATES the cabochon necklace that I wear a lot and I still wear it...so there you go!

Tomorrow I will put two more images from this catalog up for your viewing pleasure.

BTW, don't forget I have more images from this catalog (though not as sharp--better light this time) located here: http://mysuperfluities.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-obsessionthe-paris-catalogseptember.html