OOTD: Hotchpotch, Blakeley, and a Toggle Coat.

Happy Friday night, all!

I saw that today came and went and no Spring 2013 new arrivals at Boden, but I am sure that they will be coming soon.  The new arrivals always have been dropped on Fridays in the past, but this past year or so has been a bit different overall over in Boden-land, so I am not 100% surprised that the new arrivals didn't drop today.

Anyhow, I have been trying to find my way back to normal after a nice week and a half off of school runs and errands, etc.  It's been fine, but as you all have seen here on my blog over the past five months, the dinagideon household is in constant motion.  ;)

On New Year's Day we headed out to Bethesda as a family to grab some sushi and allow Mr. Dina to grab his comics from his favorite comic shop for 20% off (they have that sale twice a year--like all of us clothing aficionados, the comic aficionados have their "OMG, must buy all my comics TODAY" moments, too). 

I needed to be warm since it was definitely frigid that day, but because I was feeling a bit lazy, I also knew I wanted something easy to put on and something easy and comfortable to wear.  I also wanted to grab something old from my closet that I hadn't worn for a while, which seems contradictory for the start of a new year, but, eh, it's been so long since I wore this dress that it *felt* new.

Dress was last seen here (way way back when).  I definitely prefer this styling to my initial styling.  I think this dress is too short for me to wear with heels, but we all learn from our past, it's trying to remember it in the future that's hard.

The Blakeley Riding Boots are so great.  I am beyond thrilled that I decided to give these lighter colored boots a chance.  I am trying to wear them as much as possible before our warm spring comes, since that usually means I put away boots in off-season storage.

This stadium cloth toggle coat is from the winter of 2007.  I didn't buy it back when it was available, since I had a few extra pounds on me from Rex's pregnancy and birth, and then when I decided I needed a navy coat, it was all gone.  So I bought the double cloth Carlin coat in navy instead.  And then I got bored of that one (plus the collar wasn't working for me), so I sold it.  Last winter I needed no new coats (warm winter plus Angus pregnancy--no thank you to outerwear), so I didn't even bother looking for a replacement navy coat.

And then I saw it--the toggle coat in navy--and for a decent price.  I bit, and haven't looked back.  It is much better on my frame than the Carlin AND it is super warm.  This is a size 6, so true to size (just in case you want to find one for yourself).  It also came in yellow as you can see on the lovely Vanessa here in this shot from the Scotland catalog.

The only thing about these toggles is that they do all have to be done up or not done up at all.  If only one or two are buttoned, it looks silly (even if you can't really tell from the previous photo).

Anyhow, that's it for the night.  Really should hit the hay asap.

Tell me, though...what old item in your closet are you looking forward to wearing?  Is it truly old (sitting in your closet for way too long) or is it "new" old (old but new to you)?

Have a great evening, all!

Bzzz-ing in a Bumble Mini.

I seriously wore yellow-hued tights with a plaid skirt and a yellow turtleneck with a black boucle blazer when I was at home, with no intentions of leaving the house simply because I wanted to.  LOL.  I think Mr. Dina thought I was crazy when he got home and saw me in the get-up, but because he is a good husband he kept his laughter being closed doors.  ;)

Bzzz.... by dinagideon featuring a yellow necklace

Above is the polyvore of the outfit that this SAHM wore that day.  I added the bees to the polyvore because the outfit nearly definitely verges on Busy Bees territory.  That said, the kids loved the outfit, especially the tights.  They kept touching my legs and exclaiming in sheer happiness over "momma's yellow legs."

So this outfit has two fairly coveted pieces from recent years, the glass beaded bee necklace and the bumble tartan mini.  The glass beaded necklace I bought from jcrew.com on sale for some small sum or another.  I felt VERY fortunate to have gotten it when I did, because a mere year or so later, dear Miss Emma Pillsbury wore it on Glee and all of a sudden, everyone wants this very necklace.  The power of media is crazy!  The bumble tartan mini is from the November 2007 J. Crew catalog (the one in Scotland) and the insanely beautiful Vanessa Lorenzo wore it while modeling near some picturesque bridge in the Highlands.  (I am sure she was plenty warm when she posed--shee-yeah, right).  I was fortunate that a lovely JCA sold me her's, in a size 8, a few months back.  I was surprised that I was the only one who wanted to buy it!

And there she is, looking all warm and toasty.  :)

I would have gone all bare-legged, too, but even with the interior temperature of our house at a relatively balmy 67 degrees, I was too wimpy to try it.  Plus, the yellow tights are too perfect with this skirt!  The shoes are from the '90s.  Yes, the freaking '90s.  I still can wear them, though, so why not keep them?  At least it doesn't make me look like Elaine Benis from Seinfeld:

This is one trend I don't need to come back, the long floral dress and lace-up flat shoes.  Elaine looks cute, but on me?  Sister-wife.  I know that for a fact as I lived during this era and I wish my dad, or anyone, would have said to me that all this look did for me was cover me up and make me look all ready welcoming wives 4 and 5 into my life.  (I need to dig those photos up and publish them.  I am willing to have a little fun at my own expense.)

It *will* come back, won't it?  I mean, all things do, yes?  We expected that the '80s love of acid-wash and oversized sweatshirts would stay there, but they didn't, did they?  I kind of shudder at the thought of welcoming 1994 back into my life, but I am hoping that I have enough self-control to just say "no" when that sartorial moment gets a fresh breath of life.

Okay, back to now (or at least 2007).  I was getting frustrated with how all my front shots were looking, so I gave up and tried to give my look a little life, yes, I actually jumped in time to the timer on my camera.  I ended up liking this shot the best.

Here is the Bumble outfit with the Penny Boucle Jacket (Fall 2008).  I recently purchased this jacket, and I did like it with this outfit, and I like it in general, but I decided that I have enough black jackets that this has already been on the JCA exchange (and still is, look for its re-appearance again tomorrow morning).

I love CW.  I don't really know why she is pretending to drink a bottle of water but it makes me smile.  ;)

You all, enjoy your Sunday.  Bzz, bzz.

New Look for My Blog...

The picture used in the header is one I took in Scotland about 4 years ago. I love, love, love Scotland and although it has very little to do with my kids, J. Crew, Northern Virginia, or mid-century modern architecture, it is my blog, so I guess I can do what I want! :) I may change it soon, or not. I never quite know when I will get sick of seeing that image or feel like a new "me."

The pic was taken on the Isle of Arran in western Scotland. The specific place is called Lochranza on the northern part of the island. We were staying at the Castlekirk B & B (which has a view of the Castle across the way--only accessible by foot when the tide is out--how cool)!

For more info on this place, go here: http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/LOCRANZA.HTM
or http://www.visitarran.net/ or http://www.castlekirkarran.co.uk/.

Enjoy!