Subbing Mom Monday (in Red) and SAHM Tuesday (in Green)...

Kind of a boring post today. The first two photos are of the outfit I wore on Monday to go substitute teach. I was also walking home, which is why the pants and shoes are so. darn. practical. Plus it was "winter warm" on Monday (high was near 70), so I didn't want to be too hot on my walk home. All mindful and practical...the Sartorialist would have kicked my butt.

He wouldn't have even bothered to look at me on Tuesday, which was yesterday, and the day I decided that shades of green, grey, and black were for me. Now, I was taking Rex to preschool, and I was going to be switching into yoga pants for my yoga class, so I can't be expected to have completely brought it, right? Or am I just kidding myself, and I should have been full-on pencil skirt, heels, pretty blouse, cardigan, belt, earrings, etc.? Ha. Not a chance.

So without further discussion, I bring you...

Subbing Mommy in Red...

Sizes:
Sweater Jacket: Size Medium. This is from the September 2007 Paris Catalog, page 15 (yes, I have memorized the page). Swoon over the original catalog image here.
Tee: Size Small. Discussed here.
Pants: Size 8.
Shoes: Size 10.

Baby CW is all sleepy. We hadn't even changed here into her outfit for the day yet. Gah, babies who are sleepy-looking always do me in...especially when they rub their eyes, TOO PRECIOUS.


Outfit with just the tee. I love this tee. The abstract floral in neon is just awesome. I know some of you don't like the color, but this is just the right amount of "ping" for me. Especially when dealing with Monday morning 7th-graders, they will be drawn like moths to the brightness.

(I know all you middle-school teachers know what I am talking about. Grade school teachers also have the same experience. I think it is once you get to high school when what you wear to teach doesn't really matter--the kids are less looking at you and much more looking at each other...hormones and all. Although 8th-graders probably do the same thing...don't have much experience with them.)

SAHM in Green...

Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Small. Any styling ideas for this Talbot's cardi? I am leaning to buttoning it up and wearing it with a pencil skirt, but I am looking for other ideas. Thank you for any help you can give!!!
Top: Size X-Small (J. Crew's cotton-modal tops run HUGE).
Pants: Size 8. BTW, the other button fell off these pants. So glad I sewed the original one that fell off back on...needed that one when the second of two fell off. If I didn't love these pants as much as I do, they would so be going back.

Shoes are the same as above.

Lastly...I received the Tangled Treasure Necklace and even though it looks like it would be a HOT MESS, it is not. I love it. I plan on wearing it tonight with a sequined tank from Target and the watercolor leopard cardigan. It looked wonderful with the tank (which is black). The necklace isn't so avant-garde that people will come up to me and go, "my goodness, woman, what is that THING around your neck?" I anticipate it will be right at home with my collection of statement necklaces (which I think J. Crew does incredibly well). So you all know, almost all of my jewelry from J. Crew is bought on super-sale. If you can wait for a good price, I would say their jewelry is worth the plunge. Having said that, slight jewelry (single chain necklaces with pendants, thin bracelets, etc.) get lost on me. I do wear them, and do love the ones I own, but I find that the larger pieces that J. Crew and Banana Republic make suit my frame very nicely.

Okay, that's all. Have a fantastic afternoon.

Purple, Plaid, and Yellow...aka Wacky College Professor Day!

Purple, Plaid, and Yellow for a Crisp, Sunny Day! - by dinagideon on Polyvore.com
So this outfit seems fairly normal, maybe even a bit boring on polyvore, right? I mean the only colors are the purple and yellow and they don't seem too crazy together...

I actually own the top, the necklace, and a similar watch and sweater. The shoes, pants, and vest are all acceptable stand-ins for the real thing.

Now let's get back to the task at hand...why this post is also entitled Wacky College Professor Day...look at the craziness that ensued when I put the pieces together...


Yes, at first it seems okay...put together, professional, clean, and neat...but then you start to deconstruct it..."Wait," you say, "haven't I seen this look before?" "Didn't my 85-year old, slightly demented, greying, smelling like coffee History professor wear this outfit back in 1996?" "Why is Dina wearing the same get-up he did (well, minus the headband and necklace and bow)?"

Well, honestly...I don't hate this outfit. I am certainly laced-up and yes, a wee bit bright and jarring to look at, but I sort of enjoy the fact that I am wearing this, have worn this all day, and have yet to see anyone run down the hallway screaming "My eyes, they burn..."

That said, it is certainly not the dress I wore last night or my teal lydia blouse, snow leopard cardigan, and chambray capris, but, eh...at least it isn't a black turtleneck and a pair of jeans, either. I mean, I have a colorful reputation to uphold. :)

But if you actually like this, cool. I am not going to stop you!!! After all, I don't hate it, either!

Also, I do teach American History, so no doubt I am well on my way to old, aging, slightly crazy professor-hood one day...I am just giving the outfit an early run...

Oh, and I walked today...so really...you know I can't completely bring it every time I walk!!!

I hope you have had a great day...and hope you had a few chuckles at ole prof Dina...

Sporty Stylish in Spearmint, Black, White, and Green!

Yay! So even after that atrocity of an "outfit" yesterday (thanks to all you ladies who said it was fine, we all can have a day off), I managed to put something together that was a bit more fashion-forward.

I am walking today, so it had to be friendly to that, but I think this was an overall winner. I call it sporty stylish because it feels very "Colorado ski-woman" or something (can you tell I have never been skiing?). Link to this polyvore is here: http://www.polyvore.com/sporty_stylish_in_spearmint_green/set?id=6977713

The sweater is the lovely spearmint Eva cashmere sweater by J. Crew. Before you worry to much, I made sure to wear an undershirt to protect its fabric from my sweating. (Not the cami that is pictured, but a lightweight tee I bought from Kohl's a few years ago.) The pants are my faves, the matchstick cords in black from J. Crew this winter (2008). The vest is Kenneth Cole Reaction (bought off ebay). The shoes are Privo by Clarks (bought at TJMaxx) and are similar to the ones pictured in the polyvore set. The watch is fossil, but not the same exact one as in the set. The scarf is green, but by Benneton, and not what is in the set.

Joyce--I loved how you said in yesterday's comments that the outfit I wore wasn't too bad but that I was hard on it because I have an evolving style. I think you are right. I definitely feel that way--I just can't let myself slide in my appearance--and I don't think it is vanity. I think my desire stems out of multiple things, maybe I am a bit obsessive, maybe I need to prove my femininity (I was raised solely by my dad), or maybe I just need a project. Thank you for your astute comment.


Here it is without the vest. I am going to miss my hair being all sleek tomorrow. I have to wash it tonight, and I know I will have NO time to straighten it again for awhile. (Grades are due this week--interims, but still--PRESSURE.)


Vest on, ready to go! I have a Vera Bradley backpack I use when I walk...it is so pretty and colorful and fairly lightweight. It is the Medallion print (for those of you who care about Vera Bradley). I switch to the Petal Pink or Citrus for summer, and Peacock for spring (soon)!