OOTDs: Feeling Visible Where I Once Felt Invisible...

I am starting this outfits of the day post with a bit of a backstory so that I can properly explain why I chose these outfits to represent me for the Visible Monday (#130) linkup I am participating in with Not Dead Yet Style.  Basically to participate, a blogger must follow these guidelines (these are direct from Not Dead Yet Style):

1. Whoever wants to can join in! Just compose a post that includes any outfit, accessory, piece of jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetic or other adornment that makes you feel more confident, alive and visible that day.
2. Include a link to Not Dead Yet Style somewhere in your post. Please leave a comment, too, so we know you had a good time.
3. Go to the bottom of this post and click on the InLinkz button "Add Your Link". It should open a new page.
4. In the "Next Step", you crop the pic (easy tool) you want to display, and you're done!

So that is what I am going to do here, all four of the above.

But here is my backstory of "feeling visible where I once felt invisible."  I have been subbing at the school where my children go, and as many of you know, that is the same school I attended as a kid, too.  Here's the thing, I was a painfully awkward and shy young girl, due in part to who I am inherently, and due in part to the fact that I was being raised by a single dad.  I barely spoke to people, and when I did, it was to be the know-it-all who answered every single one of the teacher's questions.  I felt very uncomfortable around the kids my own age, instead preferring the company of younger kids (the kindergarteners and 1st-graders were so cute and sweet) and that of the teachers. 

I spent my days embarrassed by my circumstances...the messy uniform with not crisp pleats in the skirt...my tangled mop of wavy blonde hair that never was quite clean enough...the messy, weirdly shaped, and crooked teeth that only came out behind a smile every so often.  I dreaded being around my peers because every bit of me was up for inspection, and it always failed.  I still remember all the taunts thrown at me by every individual in the four years I was at the school.

So going back to the place where it all happened may seem highly suspect, but I assure you it is not.  As my PE teacher (she still teaches there!) said of me during my time there, "you didn't seem to care" regarding my treatment.  I corrected her later and said, "it wasn't that I didn't care, but that I couldn't care."  Regardless of my treatment by others and by myself (I hated me, too, often), I knew that the school itself fostered an environment where I became able to be the best me, in spite of all the various issues I had while there.  So I never once thought I would send my kids elsewhere.  But unlike my time there, I would make sure to ensure that my kids at least had a tiny bit of a leg up.  So I decided to not just be an alumnus, and not just a parent, but a part of the staff, too.

And since choosing that path, I have found such pleasure in the hallways and classrooms that once held both the keys to my successful future but also the skeletons of my sorry, pathetic past.  Now I walk in the school excited to be seen as me in my best form, happy to serve the needs of the students and the full-time staff, instead of being the *me* that *barely cares* because that is the most protective stance I can take.

And, yes, walking in there in a crisply pleated skirted dress feels pretty darn good, too. 

Day: Thursday, May 15, 2014.

Where: Substitute Teaching.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) The Gingham Shirt Dress (see written review of the dress here if interested) held up well, and lol, the pleats did, too.  The dress may not have a lot of stretch the way my Riviera Shirtdress does, but it did have just enough through the crosswise fabric (the weave that runs parallel to the floor) to keep me comfortable.

The shoes are so pretty, but for all the pretty, by the end of the day, I was happy to take them off.

Cool Factor: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest--for both outfits.) This is a ridiculously cool outfit for subbing.  I received a lot of compliments on the dress and the shoes.  Going to get this one washed quick so I can wear it again as soon as possible.

Anecdote from the Day:  One of the kids asked if my sandals were real snakeskin.  They are from Target, so it is faux snakeskin, or fauxskin for short.
 

Day: Friday, May 16, 2014.

Where: Substitute Teaching, with a quick walk to Harris Teeter after the school day ended.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) The Nancy dress is so comfortable, and the pencil skirt lining that I complained about in the original review (here) has stretched out a bit making the dress very comfortable.

The only thing that I had any issue with was the shoes, since my feet got wet in the monsoon-like conditions we had on the way into school, and they pinched a bit on my way back from Harris Teeter after school (my kids were in an after-school class so I had *just* enough time to walk there and back).

Cool Factor: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest--for both outfits.) One of the teachers said I looked like I was ready for the beach.  I replied, "if only."   :-)

Anecdote from the Day:  You know when you run into someone where you don't normally see them and think, "oh, how do I know them, and from where?"  Yeah.  That happened to me at Harris Teeter when I saw one of the parents from the school with one of her kids that I hadn't met yet.  So I sort of was all confused, but quickly caught myself before I appeared too much like a lost little puppy.  She had also just had a baby, but barely looks like it (some women have all the luck, I tell ya!), so that threw me too.

Okay, that's it for tonight.  If you have a post you would like to link up with Not Dead Yet Style's Visible Monday post, definitely do so, I would love to see what other people publish.  Don't know that I will do this weekly, but will definitely try to do it at least every once in awhile.

P.S. In case you missed it, Boden started a diminishing discount today and I wrote more about it at this post.  Below I have placed a direct link to the sale for those of you that need one.

OOTDs: Back to School.

So you know how I mentioned that I literally have not stopped moving for the past week?  Yeah, this kindergarten back-to-school stuff is NUTSO.  I give every single one of you who has done this before major props.  Between the forms (about 6,812 of them), pre-visits with the teachers and other school staff (58 of those), and supply purchasing (126 items and counting), I am one worn out momma.  At least I will be prepared for when CW and Angus go through this process.

Rex hasn't even started officially, that would be Wednesday, you all.  :P

And I thought setting up to teach 6th-grade history was hard.  (Laughs at former self.  Ha.)

Anyhow, I have a few moments to do a post (and polyvore and maybe even comment back on the last three posts), so here you all go. 

Let the back-to-school outfit parade begin...

I wore this getup to go to meet Rex's kindergarten teacher last Wednesday night.  Silly me forgot to bring a dressy enough outfit for the occasion.  I had planned to spend the day in the city and then head home for the afternoon, but at the last minute we changed plans where I would spend the whole day out in the city and then at my dad's.  On one hand being at my dad's was very convenient since he lives right down the road from the school (we walked to meet his teacher), but I didn't want to show up for the day all sweaty and in shorts and a tee.

Anyhow, I went ahead and ransacked the Anthropologie sale floor in DC and found these jeans (AG Stevie Polka Dot Ankle).  I had been eyeing them and hadn't realized they had gone on sale, so I decided to go for it as they are great on my "continuing to lose baby weight" bottom half and dressy enough that I wouldn't feel underdressed at the meeting.  I also grabbed a tee from Forever 21 for the occasion.  I don't normally even go in Forever 21, but the need of a non-sweaty top combined with their really good prices compelled me to take a look.  I actually quite like this top, very pretty and somehow worked with the polka dotted jeans.

I am excited to wear both pieces again, how would you all style the polka dot jeans for the fall?  I am looking for suggestions!

Wasn't actually headed to anything school-related, but wanted to show off this one because I found the skirt lingering in my basement storage (which I cleaned out this weekend and found a TON of clothing from my past to either give to Goodwill or sell).  The skirt was from when I was heavier (after Rex was born), but I didn't think I could make it work on me now.  It is a size 12 and meant to be worn as a mini, but I like it better pulled down further on the hips and made into an a-line "almost mini."  Technically it is only two inches above the top of my knee, so it is more modest than a true mini, but still very summer appropriate.
  

I liked my hair and makeup that night, but I think it looks better in this over-processed/B&W photo.  :)

Okay this only counts as Back to School because I wore it to church, which also happens to be where the school is, BUT I am okay with it if you all are.

I reviewed this dress last week here.  Let me tell you all...if Boden came out with this in another vibrant color (I have more than enough in the way of navy dresses), I would be in on that action.  This dress is so comfortable, so pretty, so conservative, and SO exactly what it needs to be for my life, that I cannot thank Johnnie Boden enough for having his designers come up with this frock.  Amazing.

BTW, not only was the dress wonderful, so was Rex's behavior in church.  I was beyond thrilled.  He even genuflected at the end.  My baby is growing up!

So since my baby is growing up and again, can't. have. enough. meetings. with. his. school., we went back to the school this morning for orientation.

So I found a way of being modestly dressed, comfortable, and dressy enough by pulling these pieces out.

I had the hardest time figuring out how to wear this skirt.  Fortunately I found that this multi-stripe dolman sleeve tee is just short enough (I bought it in the size extra small to wear it a bit closer to the body) to skim the waistband of the skirt so that the skirt doesn't look overly frumpy (although it could be frumpy if you are still young, free, and without kids, lol).  I also can't tuck in with these kind of skirts because I am so short in the torso, so this top really does help make this skirt happen.

I have another way of wearing the skirt tonight, but won't likely publish it over here for a few days.  However, I have been pretty good about updating my facebook page with the photos the day they happen, so visit there if you want to see more "real-time" outfit of the day postings.

Went a bit lighter with makeup this morning because I knew I would have to wash it all of when I went to the pool (ah, the last gasps of summer, how I will miss thee).

Back to School. by dinagideon featuring a lace skirt

Above is the polyvore of this outfit.  :)

You all have a great day.  Hopefully back to school is going well for all of you, too!

For Two Days of Summer School, I Wore the Pants...

Wooh! Let's hear it for two posts in one day. (I may not post tomorrow, I have to go to Richmond, so I may be making up for my absence early...)

So I know that when you think of summer, you don't think of pants. But I mixed it up anyhow because that is me, Miss Crazy! I have two outfits in this post and they have the whole "pants" thing in common.

If you have questions on these items, ask in the comments, and I will get to answer you...pinky swear.

Wallpaper Cardi! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of outfit #1.


And here is outfit #1 on me! I know this looks like it belongs in the fall, but honestly, as long as I took the cardi off for the walk (this is a nice, brand-spanking new one that HeidiG. personally inspected for me and it has no holes and the pattern lines up...score), this outfit isn't that oppressive for July heat. The Saturday pants are especially lightweight...very nice for the heat. The pants are a size 10 and fit very nicely. An 8 would have been too tight in the hips.

Green and Yellow! by dinagideon featuring Old Navy

Here is the polyvore of outfit #2.


And here it is on me...I think I look young in this outfit. I really, really like it! :) I wore the red and blue version of this cardigan way back when, and loved it so much that I got it in another shade.

This outfit was also summer-friendly, as long as I didn't wear the cardigan on my walk to school.
By the way, the top is not J. Crew, it is actually Ann Taylor Loft from a long time ago. The denim is Old Navy and is a bit big, but I don't mind...they still work for me (although hopefully not for much longer...come on, last ten pounds...).

You all have a great rest of this Thursday!

Orange You Glad This Only Lasted Three Days?

I usually put forethought and planning into my outfits. Seriously. I love planning, arranging, playing with colors, having a mix of serious and whimsy, etc.

Then the first week of summer school happened. I obviously was going for a pattern...two whole days of Boden, and then three days of this...

ORANGE. If you hate ORANGE, I have warned you...


Wednesday, July 8, 2009:
Top: Ann Taylor Loft (Spring 2007)--Medium Orange (like a ripe to almost too ripe pumpkin).
Pants: J. Crew Outlet (from Ebay, so no idea on when)--Light Aqua Blue with Orange Whale Critters.
Shoes: Aerosoles (Summer 2009)--Sherbet Orange (looks like a yummy dreamsicle).


Thursday, July 9, 2009:
Top: A Turkish Blouse my dad bought for me in Fall of 2007...from Turkey (he was on a study tour). BRIGHT ORANGE!
Pants: J. Crew (Spring 2009). These are the very comfy colored chambray cocktail capris. They do NOT photograph well...none of them do. It is weird. You all know what they look like so I didn't feel you all would be sad if you didn't see them...


And because it was Friday, July 10, 2009:
Top: J. Crew (Spring 2009). This is the graphic floral top I wore in green all the way back when...and yes, I bought it in a very neon orange.
Pants: J. Crew (Summer 2008). The overdyed denim capri pants. They are bright neon orange as well.
Shoes: Navy Born (way the heck back when...forever ago...I don't even think I had kids).

So my hair on Friday was all poofy. I am showing you all because you all are used to me either in a ponytail or barrettes. I think the poof happened because I slept on it funny. I still liked it, though!

Okay, everyone. I hereby promise to not wear the same color three days in a row again. This was just CRAZY! (Although it did make it easy from a posting perspective!)

Oh, and let's all pray for a 20% or 25% mickey card soon...certain items over at jcrew.com are just CALLING my name!

Summer School=Two Boden Outfits, Of Course!

In the vein of attempting to always try and make a good impression (which I admit doesn't always work--I have seen some of my outfits--and wooh--they are certainly "unique")...I approached my first two days of summer school with a couple of thoughts.

#1--I am teaching kindergarten, therefore I must be colorful and expressive (kids love both).

#2--Because I am teaching kindergarten, I must be comfortable, and above all, must wear something that can be cleaned very easily.

#3--I also walk to school, therefore I must be able to wear it for a mile's distance in the heat and sun without completely boiling and baking!

So here you go...the beginning of my series on my workwear, summer style...

Summer School Day #1 by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of Day #1.


So, yes, I did wear a Boden sundress (in white) on the first day. But I honestly could not resist. I had a suspicion that 5-year olds would love the big graphic flowers. :) They did. Mr. Dina really liked it, too, although he only saw it when he took the pic (I am a big fan of getting into yoga pants or shorts when I get home from work).

There was a lot of buzz over at the Boden site about how ill-fitting this garment was and how many people just thought it was the wrong style dress for them and everything. But I decided to try it anyhow ('cause that's me...Miss Risky...smile), and it paid off. I bought it in a UK size 12 (US size 8), which nicely fit my shape, because Boden gets my "pear" shape. God bless you, Johnnie Boden. Unlike J. Crew (whose Gladiola shift was just plain wrong on me), I have with this delightful British company a "shift" dress9 which is narrow enough on top to not make me feel like I am swimming in a pool, but wide enough in the hips to allow me to sit down like a normal person.

I have no clue if it still is for sale over at their site, but if it is I bet it is on super-sale. ;) Just a thought...

Summer School Day #2 by dinagideon featuring FOSSIL watches

Here is the polyvore for Day #2.


As you can see, I took it nice and easy on the second day...nice and bright...just like the green crayons the kids use in the classroom. This is about as simple as an outfit I will ever wear (as you all should know by now). Even though there is nary a print or piece of flair on this dress, I still loved it. Man, this is a great, simple dress. AppGal, if there are any left on the Boden website, it should be yours...I know you would love it! BTW, I bought this in UK size 10 (US size 6) and it is perfect. Therefore, AppGal, go with a UK 8. Seriously. :)

One issue I had was with the sandals...if you can believe it...the thong strap part completely came out of the footbed. HUH? These are a nice pair of Born and all...I wonder if a shoe repair place could fix it? Mr. Dina actually had to come (with babies in tow) to pick me up and drive me part-way because I needed another pair of shoes (look at the polyvore to see what I actually wore).

BTW, Summerilla, I will do the Jakarta dress post tomorrow, just for you. ;)

Ikat Short (In-Store Only) and Me from Who Knows How Long Ago!

So I still have 78 followers by some miracle. I have been absent from blogging for a long time! I apologize...sincerely.

My worst offense? Not commenting at all for the last three posts. I DO intend to comment back (I LOVE commenting back, that is why I am so irked by not being able to)...but my dear friends, please give me a few more days...

My second worst offense? No posting, either...and I have so many neat pieces to show off...like the Ikat print shorts that I alluded to in my last post (and you get to see today in this post). I also have worn the Jennifer shirtdress from Fall 2007 recently, and on my trip to NYC this weekend, I wore the rolling-ruffles tank with some fierce matchstick jeans and a grey cardi, plus I wore the same top as Heidi wore in this post and I am eagerly anticipating the time I will get to show how it looks on someone else. I also met the very pretty and sweet Marietta when I was up there...and I have an "illegal (not supposed to take pics in the Collection Store)" pic of her and I that I want to show you all. Sigh.

But here is my third worst offense...I am still NOT done with cleaning my classroom or grading. I am near the point where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but man, it is AGONIZINGLY slow-going. Probably the worst I have ever gone through. I know it is because my life is full (superfluous you might say) of other wonderful things that have distracted me...but that doesn't make these last few days of my school any easier.

Oh, and get this...I was attempting to get some stuff down from the high shelves in my room...and just like in the movies, I FELL OFF THE CHAIR. ONTO MY ANKLE AND KNEE. I feared that I had twisted or sprained my ankle, and I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Thank goodness I didn't hurt my ankle, but for a few moments I was just like in that old commercial, "I've fallen and I can't get up..." Wow. When that happened I took it as a sign from God that I needed to take a break...and what a better break than to say "howdy" to all you all!



Ikat Print Shorts (In-Store Only)!!! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore. If any of you all have the shorts and use polyvore, you can grab the shorts from my items as you please!


I was walking to school this day, so bear that in mind...not the most awesome outfit I have ever worn, but certainly no "lamest outfit of the day ever," either.

I bet some of you HATE this print. And I get you, I do. I really only like it in certain pieces and on certain people. The orange Ikat is okay, the yellow is very very hard to wear, and the navy blue Ikat (as they have on the Collection dress) is GORGEOUS. I wish they made more in the navy blue and the orange, but nope, J. Crew loves its yellow IKAT!


Here is my sweet boy. You all see CW so often that I felt I needed to show Rex off a bit more. He hams it up so much his eyes disappear because his smile is so big. :) That makes me happy. I also want to point out that HE is HUGE. He is 28 months old and weighs 38 pounds and is 38 inches tall. I think we should get him into either baby ice hockey or baby Scottish gaming! What do you all think...should my son brandish a hockey puck or a caber?

Have a great couple of days. I probably won't be back until Friday at the earliest!

Very Bright and Very Casual for School on Friday, June 12, 2009!!!

So here is the quick story about why I wore this outfit to school on Friday instead of something more formal.

On Thursday, my coworker showed up to school (and she drove--keep that in mind) in a pair of ratty orange shorts, a very oversized tee-shirt, and a pair of old shoes. I was wearing (for contrast), a pencil skirt by J. Crew (you will see the review later today), an Anthropologie top, and a pair of Linea Paolo kitten heels. So I went up to her and said, "if you can wear that today (not even a Friday!), then I am so going to wear something more casual tomorrow when I walk to school tomorrow."

And I did. I figured if no one batted an eyelash at her outfit on what should be a dressier day at our school, then I probably could plead my case on a Friday when it is not only more "casual," but I am also walking two miles to school in 85 degree heat with near 100% humidity.

(And to tell the truth, my casual outfit is still more fitted and polished than my coworker's.) I adore my coworker, and she adores me, but we have very different styles! :)

Best part of this story...people are so used to me dressing up that I was asked if I was going on a field trip! So funny...

Casual Walking Outfit!!! by dinagideon featuring Tommy Hilfiger

Here is the polyvore. This is a very busy polyvore...but I was feeling especially creative on Friday...must have been because of my relaxed outfit...


Here it is full-length. I will say this...I felt about a trillion times better wearing this on my walk than a couple of weeks ago when I walked to school and wore jeans, tennis shoes, and a blouse. It was just as hot and humid, and I nearly collapsed from how hot I was getting...

The fit-flops are fantastic. I have no idea if they work, but I will say that I have not had legs this thin since I was in my early 20s. So yay the shoes or yay me for doing enough exercise to reduce my overall size.

The shirt is just your average run of the mill polo. I like the colors, though...

The shorts are from J. Crew, Spring 2006. This is from when J. Crew was all about the bright. Which sadly they are not right now...


And of course, the ubiquitous shot of my favorite little girl. See how she matches me? Totally planned. Not. ;)

Later today, my outfit I wore to go to the zoo with the kiddies yesterday. I wore a mini-skirt. Yes, I did. And I survived.

Target "Coppelle" Pencil Skirt!!!

This is not going to be my longest post ever...suffice it to say...work has been INSANITY today. We are end-of-year testing and EVERY single one of the computers that were in my classroom failed at one point or another. Multiple kids had to restart their tests. I am about to quit over how difficult it is to do something that should be so much easier. Ugh. I need wine. Stat.

If you have specific questions relating to this outfit, comment and I should be able to add my answer directly to the post (when I get home and get that wine, of course).

A couple of things to note:
This is the skirt from Gigiofca's post about Target copying the Coppelle design. I also bought the dress. I purchased them both from a Target in Richmond (I didn't stay in Richmond for the weekend but rather stopped by Richmond on our way back from Williamsburg--note--best Target ever located at the intersection of 295, Route 1, and I-95--basically the Atlee/Elmont exit off of 95 Southbound). I LOVE these pieces. They are extremely well-made. :)

The tee is the white tee I was talking about when I did the white tee post. I know technically it is off-white, but stark white tends to look kind of bad on me. It is an Eddie Bauer tee from a few years ago.

Please ignore the bandages on my feet. They are covering some awful blisters I got when running to school on Friday (I was "running" late...haha).



Target Coppelle Paisley Skirt for a Rainy Day!!! by dinagideon featuring FOSSIL watches

This is the Polyvore.


This is the outfit with no cardigan.

I bought the skirt in a size 10. This skirt definitely fits close to the body but it seems to be made for me. The waist fits exactly at my waist and is definitely narrower than the hips. And because this skirt has a flared A-line but yet still manages to be a pencil skirt, it fits my hips nicely, too. YAY! I personally love the fabric and the lining. The fabric is substantial and the craftsmanship is very detailed. There are even pockets that are separate from the lining but in no way are bulky. Best part--the pockets are deep enough that I can use them when I want to put my hands in my pockets (which I do a lot while teaching)!

I would say this skirt is true to size, but if you have a large waist to hip ratio (the opposite of me), you probably should size up. This seems to be made more for us pear-shaped ladies.


This is the outfit with a cardigan.

This cardigan was on super-sale at J. Crew and it is awesome. The color is persimmon and is a beautiful coral-orange. And LOOK--it perfectly matches the skirt! :) I call that fate!

You all have a great day!