Two Greens and a Tan...

Walk into a bar...

Oh, wait, no.  This is not the beginning of some off color joke. 

Rather there are three recent outfits which I wore that include two greens and a tan...jacket.

First up...The Green Herringbone Bella-esque Jacket from J. Crew Factory/Outlet (2008):

Bought from ebay, I didn't even know this jacket existed.  I don't remember seeing it in the catalogs or on-line, but there you go.  I didn't care that I hadn't seen it before, I LOVED the ruffled collar and the ruffle pockets.  Plus the color is the perfect shade of green for all seasons (although I would struggle wearing this jacket in the middle of summer--very heavy herringbone wool and all).  Size 4, from the Factory. 

The pants are the trouper pants, size 8, shadow.  I got them for 40% off recently, and although I like them, I am REALLY irritated with the fact that the upper waistband is roughly 2.5 inches bigger than my upper hip (which is where I wear it).  I should have sized down, but I had read that they ran tts.  Grr.  Anyone want to sell me a size 6 at the 40% off price?  I can't even wear a belt as the belts can't cinch it enough.  Having said all that, I wore this to a local Arbonne meeting on Monday night and it was comfortable for just sitting around and hearing people speak.  *But* had I needed to be up and walking around, these pants would have constantly needed the ole "hitch 'em up" treatment every few minutes or so.  (Oh, and by the way, I have determined I *do* have a navy pants curse--these darn pants prove it.)

The boots are the Miller Short Motorcycle Flat Boots in a size 9.5.  I love LOVE love everything about these boots.  I have now worn them with tight pants and with a frilly girly skirt (you will see that pairing  in another post) and I truly believe the sale price plus 40% makes these boots very much worth it.  I feel kind of cool and kind of chic while wearing them, and have received multiple compliments already.  I could have gone down to size 9, but they size 9.5 is only a bit big, so I will deal.


The top is from last year, and you have seen it before, in one of my all time favorite outfits ever. 

Close-up of the cute ruffle detail on the jacket.  I eventually managed to get the vintage fleur top to flatten out, but it took a lot of smoothing.  ;)

Up Next...the actual Velvet Bella in the Leaf color from J. Crew's stellar fall 2007 season:

Another ebay find...the seller didn't even know what they had.  I bought it for $40.  Seriously.  Yay!  :)  Size 4.  See it on me in purple here.

The top is a fab silk ruffled cotton sweater job that was on ridiculous sale last summer for $15 or some such nonsense.  I guess people were tired of fraying ruffles, and I get that, but I loved the top and figured that for $15 I could deal with fraying. 

The cords are the matchstick cords in glazed pecan.  I have worn these a lot this winter. 

The boots are another Miss Albright find from Anthropologie.  These Petite Chou boots seem a bit silly with the ruffles AND the shearling, but they have worked with so many of my casual outfits this winter, so the designers must have know what they were doing.  Got these in a 9.5.

CW was all about the posing this day, as well.  I think we may have been doing a preschool run this day, if memory serves.

 From the side.  You can see the detail of the Petite Chou boots better in this shot.

Buttoned up and making a stupid face.  At least CW is smiling like a normal person.

No jacket.  Love this top.  Just a bit of frilly fun for the season.  It can also transition to summer nicely (sure but that is far off based on the weather we are set to receive tonight--try 8 freaking inches of snow).

Third is the Chimera Jacket from last winter's season:

I quite liked the Chimera jacket with the tonal match of the crewcuts top I wore that day.  This is a hard color for me to wear as it is *nearly* my skin tone, but the bits of shine from the ruffle and the neon drawing of the graphic on the tee help keep me from looking oddly nude.  ;)

The Chimera is a size 4 and the tee is a size 14.  You can still find the "family tree tee" at J. Crew.

From the side.  Please don't judge the saggy britches.  I know I need a pair of better-fitting pants.  These are the awesome Madison chinos and if J. Crew were to put them out again, I would buy them up in my correct size.  (Are you listening Mickey?)

 Buttoned up.

I adore this pic of me and CW.  So freaking adorable.  Like frame-able adorable.  Yes we matched that day.  Her tee is a size 3, however. 

I think we were going out as a family that day. 

Okay, then!  Thanks for reading!  :)  I will be putting up a Boden review sometime later today.  Would you all prefer the dress review, the tunic review (there are two tunics that I will split into two review posts) or would you prefer the top review? 

Have a great afternoon!

Paisley Gust Sweater Jacket. How Appropriate.

Take a VERY windy Monday, add an outfit, and you have this post.

I had been waiting for the right day to wear the Paisley Gust Sweater Jacket (that I basically got for free--check this post out for more on that), but I just hadn't gotten around to it. Then my brother offers to come over and go with me and the kids to sushi and the mall, so I decided that was a great reason to get out this gorgeous orange conconction by Moth (Anthropologie).

"Gust"-y Day! by dinagideon featuring leather flats shoes

Winds that day? Nearing gusts of 50 MPH. This sweater jacket, combined with the Molded and Melded Tee, a pair of glazed pecan cords, a cute pair of Kerrington leather ballet flats, and a super-warm Stadium cloth Winnie coat (not shown, btw)? Totally took on the ferocious front. :)

From the side.  I figure you all must know how much I adore this sweater jacket, but just in case you don't, I have provided photographic proof.  :)

Sweater Jacket is a size small.  This is a stretchy cotton blend with just the right sort of drape that can be worn multiple ways (see below photos for more on that).  The molded and melded tee (which seems to be the #1 choice of Anthro devotees this year) is a size extra-small.  The cords are a size 30 short, and the Kerrington Ballet Flats in orange (popback score for less than 40 smackers) are a size 9.5.

Paisley Gust sweater jacket opened.  You can see the moto styling best here.  I believe this came in white, as well, but I have not seen it in that color.

Full-length front.  Wish I had added a statement necklace, but I wanted to get out and about and wasn't super concerned with accessories that day.

Sweater Jacket closed.

Up later today...a three part saga on my Christmas Eve outfit.  It actually was less dramatic than I made it out to be (tears definitely included), but since it seemed big at the time, this debacle is worthy of three separate posts.  (That night, btw, is the closest to bat-sh*t crazy as I get.  LOL.)

Sequined Out in Camel and Black...

Yes, No, Maybe So? by dinagideon featuring hoodie tops

If you are a polyvore addict like I am, you may remember seeing this set Monday that I created. I needed to know whether I should wear it or not to go out with a good friend that evening...she was taking me to an album launch (her cousin just released an album of holiday music) and I was taking her to dinner. And because I never, ever get to go out with the girls anymore (well, rarely, anyhow), I wanted to splash out a bit.

The ladies of the polyvore world liked the set, so I felt like I had chosen well...

On me, before I was about to leave.

Sizes:
Top: Cashmere Cowlneck Sweater, Size Extra Small. When I see that anything that J. Crew makes comes in a size extra-extra small, I know to order the extra-small (which is a size down from the small that used to be my normal size). Except in bottoms, where I don't know if I would want to chance ordering a small (which would be a size down from my normal medium). I love the fit...I didn't need to open the buttons at the bottom of the hem, but I like the effect of the buttons being opened. The cashmere FEELS very nice this year, and softer than last year or the year before. I also have yet to see pilling on this item (although I did only wear it for four hours). Thumbs WAY UP. I will buy another (on super-sale) in another color, maybe the blue?
Skirt: Sequin Mesh Bell Skirt, Size 8. The 6 fit fine when I tried it on way back in August, but I like how the 8 allowed me to pull the waist down a bit for length. I was exceedingly comfortable all night, and that says something when you are wearing a skirt made of sequins.
Tights: C? From a drugstore. Comfy enough. I like that they are super-opaque and black...they worked nicely with the Alecias I am wearing on my feet.
Shoes: Size 9.5. Yay, my black suede Alecia peep-toes get to come back out now that it is colder...

I also wore the black ingenue coat, which was the exact right coat for the night and the outfit. It started to rain while we were at the album launch, and the coat plus the cashmere kept me nice and toasty.

Another view. Similar, yes, I know, but I kind of liked this shot. :)

I hope I can post tomorrow, that would be quite nice. We'll see just how busy I can possibly be in one day (answer? very!).

Shorts, Shorts, and a Pair of Dina Sandals (Because It is Fridays are for Feet, Of Course)...

Hi!!! How is everyone this fab Friday? I am substituting for the first time in ages. The kids have been a bit nuts, but it is May, they are in middle school, and it is Friday. I have seen it all before...and I can handle it, so all is good.

Onto the post...

There are two outfits, one mini-review of the Bling Button cardigan in Warm Peacock and one review of the "Dina" sandals. That's right, there are a pair of sandals with my name "written all over it." Well, woo hoo! ;)


You see this outfit? I wore this to the JCA get together at the Friendship Heights store on Saturday. Always such a good time hanging with the ladies. Summerilla and Slastena both did write-ups, so I will let their write-ups stay as the go-to source for the day...but do please look at the photo of all of us at Summer's blog. In it you will see that CW is kissing me. MELT! (What a perfect thing to see right before Mother's Day. I didn't even realize that it had been captured on film--or SD card--whatever!)

Sizes:
Cardigan: Size small. This is the Bling Button Cardigan in Warm Peacock. Umm, yummy color!!! And yummy fit. Just the right thing for covering up when it is warm outside but there is lots of AC in the buildings. (We have entered that time of year here in the DC area.) I saw this cardigan most recently on Ema and she looks great. Definitely give this one a try if you want a summer cardigan in cotton. The warm peacock is selling fast at the stores, supposedly, so bear that in mind.
Top: Size small. This is the giraffe print Hayworth cami that was hugely popular in the spring of 2009. The outlets did a version over the holiday season and I definitely did right by buying it. I see very little difference from the original (this one also ties in a bow in the back). Also in silk!
Shorts: Size 10. These are from J. Crew, spring 2006?
Shoes: Size 10. Aerosoles from last summer and super comfy!!!


So I often have pics that I don't publish because they are silly or over the top...but this one, I couldn't resist. You see what is in baby's hands (also in the prior photo)? Well, those are Rex's 3D spiderman "glasses." And you bet your bottom dollar that Rex was NONE to happy about it! That's him there in the back FREAKING out and running over to get them back. And that is me rolling my eyes. The next photo would have baby crying, except we stopped the camera at that point. Sigh. Little children. :)


Okay, this is the outfit with the Dina Gladiator Wedge sandals. :)

I was off to Rex's preschool yesterday and it was warm and yet because it was "Mother's Day" at school, I wanted to wear something special, yet comfortable, but nothing that would cause me to overheat. (Tall order!)

Sizes:
Top: Size 6. I reviewed the Thicket Floral Perfect Shirt here. It appears to be selling fast on-line.
Shorts: Size 10. Same as the above shorts (which is how I justified putting these two outfits together).
Shoes: Size 10. Thanks to the wonderful AudreyBella, I discovered that there were a pair of sandals at Banana Republic with my name. Thank goodness I love the gladiator styling. (You already know that I LOVE wedge sandals--see last outfit for another example of that!) These are a bit edgy, and since most of my clothing veers towards sweet, there was an actual need for these. (Which is why I got the Alecias!) These fit TTS, in other words, they are what my size used to be (size 10). I could have gone with a 9.5, but I knew they could be adjusted, and since feet tend to swell in the summer, I knew that the 10 would make more sense overall. They also come in Brown, but I feel like I have enough brown sandals (again, going with need and not "want").

P.S. I am wearing the Colletto necklace, again. LOVE. Gigiofca did a great post on this necklace today.

P.P.S. Yes, baby is wearing a thicket bubble top, just like me. Yes, we were kind of a hit. I love doing this...and I am going to be sad when she stops wanting to do this. :(


Remember how I mentioned it was Mother's Day at preschool? It was so cute--they sang songs for us, they gave us yummy treats, and they even gave us a flower made with their cut-out hand print and decorated it with their fingerprints. So sweet!

This is a pic of me and Rex taken by his teacher. I LOVE IT! (I also love my tiara, even if it barely fit!)


And here is baby enjoying the treats. :) She even managed to keep her top clean! Awesome.

You all have a great Friday, and we will talk soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Real quick post about what I wore. I am walking home (I also walked here), so I have to get going, but I wanted to show my pride in St. Patrick's Day, and more importantly my love of the color green.

Because I walked today, I didn't do anything super-fancy, but it works as a whole. The top is a cotton sweater from Talbot's. I love this print. So pretty and chic. The pants are tan cords from Lee Riders that I have finally been able to wear again. In fact, I think I may have waited too long to wear them...they are a bit loose and may be headed for retirement if I can actually reach my weight-loss goal (still have about 3 pounds until I reach my pre-pregnancy weight before Rex and about 14 to go before I reach my ultimate goal--my weight in Summer 2005). The tennis shoes are some keds that I bought a few years ago at DSW. The headband is the only thing from J. Crew. Shocking, I know. Even the jacket I wore was from Kohl's.

I have J. Crew clothing in green...but none of them spoke to me last night when I planned this outfit.

I hope all of you enjoy your night. I am going to yoga. Maybe I will wear a green yoga top. Hmm...do I even own a green yoga top? :)

Happy Groundhog Day!

I only wrote "Happy Groundhog Day" because well, that is what today is. Supposed Mr. Phil saw his shadow, that scamp, so 6 more weeks of winter. Whatever...here in the DC area we will have sunny, warm days even in January...intermixed with the biting cold. For instance, it has been lovely these past two days...but tomorrow, maybe snow?

I chose this outfit based on two reasons: 1) the weather, and 2) I wanted to wear the Haley Foil cardigan.

The tee is the candy tee in light blade. I fell in love with this tee as soon as I saw it in December and paid FULL PRICE for it (which for me is very rare). Supposedly it was a smart decision to this, because I heard it had sold out at one point. :) The tee is super-soft, but you have to be careful because the beading is very delicate.

The cardigan is actually really warm, and twice today I had to take it off. But I love the oat color. I tried on the silver version and it looked like tinfoil on me. Horrible. I am really glad I got the oat version as it is more subtle and a lot warmer of a color.

The jacket is the double-serge wool jacket. I know a lot of people love this jacket and they are all right! It is more of outerwear for me because of our mild-ish climate, and that is how I wear it...but I could see in colder climates it being the perfect jacket for the office. I got it in a 10, perfect for me to layer sweaters underneath. The wool is also very smooth to the touch and the tan color is uber-versatile, even when paired with black pants.

I think the scarf and shoes are just a nice touch of fun sparkles (scarf) and color (shoes) to this outfit. The scarf is only worn with the jacket, but the shoes are there to say "hello, smile" to the world today!

The pants are actually a pin-stripe from Dockers, but who cares? It's close enough in the polyvore set. By the way, the link for the polyvore set is:
http://www.polyvore.com/groundhog_day/set?.mid=ecard&id=6266689


You know what I say, "All outfits look better with a little baby." And she matches me, to boot!




So the shoes look awesome, huh? The pants, not so much. They are really, really lose. They are a 14 and bought one month after CW was born. They will be retired, today. They are really comfy, but I know, my crotch is not there, so it looks real sloppy...so I will use them if and when I have more kids!