Forgotten Loft OOTD

I got this dress last fall from Loft and very soon after I learned I was pregnant.  As soon as I had the positive test the dress made me feel self conscious. It felt tighter around my mid-section than I wanted even though my body hadn't yet begun to change. Although I wore it to present at a conference and I wore it again to work in November, I was too worried to wear it again after that. I didn't want to generate any pregnancy speculation before I felt ready.

I recently had a student confess that she suspected I was pregnant last semester but perhaps she was clairvoyant. At minimum, I am going to tell myself that her suspicions were not due to my body broadcasting pregnancy quite so soon. Regardless, here's hoping this dress will fit me again sometime after baby number 2 arrives! It's a solid professional looking basic (and I mean basic in the good way!) and I'd hate to have it go to waste.

Details:
Ann Taylor Loft dress
Spanx tights
Sam Edelman booties
Burberry trench

Thawing OOTD

I wore this dress to campus to teach and meet with committees. Since buying the Easy Scoop tunic (size 10 L) at the Boden Sample Sale in Pittsburgh, I have worn it a bunch. But I don't think I've documented it beyond my initial purchase. Here I paired it with a fabric belt from another dress to better define the mixed prints at the waist. I like how it turned out enough to repeat this way whenever the weather has been temperate enough to avoid layering.

Details:
Boden Easy Scoop Tunic
Spanx tights
See by Chloé belt borrowed from another dress
Sam Edelman Petty boots
Amber Necklace and Jessica Kagan Cushman bracelet from Chris (in black and for a good price here)

More Birds from Boden OOTD

I wore Boden's Alicia Dress on numerous occasions recently. The first time was to host Christmas at our house and then soon after that to teach early in the semester. Chris bought it for me for Christmas, though I picked it out myself. The dress is still available in a number of color schemes, on clearance via the Boden website. I am wearing a size 10 and think the dress runs a little large. It's very forgiving so I probably could have been fine with an 8. It is very comfortable and soft but the fabric is thick and tailored enough to feel sufficiently professional. It was definitely worth the sale price, in my opinion.

Details:
Alicia Dress from Boden
Spanx tights
Belt borrowed from See by Chloé dress
Kors watch
Sam Edelman Petty Boots

Never gets old OOTD

No matter how many times I wear this dress, I still love the color combination and landscape scene. Although the shades of pink, blue, and yellow are quite cheery I've always regarded the dress to portray an ominous scene, as if to foreshadow misfortune ahead. For this reason I tend to wear it when I am screening a thriller in a film theory class or during the lead up to Halloween. It's a shapeless sack so it requires clever layers or belting in order to feel pulled together.

Details:
See by Chloé Landscape Print dress (ebay)
Cece cardigan
Grosgrain sash belt borrowed from another SbC dress
Spanx tights
Sam Edelman Petty booties

Petty Fall OOTD

I wore this to teach and for student advising meetings the other week. It was prior to the time change so it was still a bit easier to take an outdoor photo. It's very cold this week so even if I am able, I'm not sure I am willing to take a pic outside. Office pics are in this blog's future.

I highly recommend the Sam Edelmen Petty boots. I've been wearing these booties basically nonstop. They are so comfy and have just enough of a heel to feel dressy. I want to buy them in brown so that I can match more things because I didn't have to break them in at all. For size reference, I am wearing a 7.5 which is my "true" size in flat shoes. Typically I size up to an 8 in boots but it wasn't necessary with these. They also are a lot less pricey than the Madewell ones I was eying.

Outfit details:
Tucker for Target dress (old)
Cece cardigan (old)
Spanx tights
Sam Edelmen Petty Boots (now on sale!)

Slightly askew OOTD

I wore this ensemble to campus not long ago. It was test-run on a recent First Friday as blogged here. I started the day with it belted but the belt proved to be fussier than I could tolerate.

I tested out a new spot on campus by using my tiny portable tripod. This thing is very bendy (it is the generic Gorillapod) and cute but I am still getting the hang of how to use it so that photos are level. Regarding the location, the second photo in the grass taught me a lesson. The creek that runs through campus leads to very damp surrounding ground. I will not be stepping off the sidewalk in heeled booties again.

Outfit info:
Chloé Landscape Dress worn as cardigan/coat (see other landscape pieces here, here, and here)
DVF Shawnessy (similar here, here, and here)
Spanx tights (20% off with coupon code INTHEFAMILY20)
Rosegold Liz booties (similar)
Kate Spade tote (similar news-themed tote here;  similar KS here)
Kors watch and Target bracelets

If it was socially acceptable...

Sweater dress from Bluefly (similar here, here, and here)

Missoni for Target tights

Aquatalia boots (zip version here)

Kate Spade tote (this season's equiv: here, here, and on sale here)

MBMJ jacket

(If money was no object) I would swath myself in cashmere knits on every chilly day. And not just cashmere sweater dresses like the one above. If the price was right I would totally buy some lounging pants and a zip hoodie. I'd wear a soft, drapey swobe. As I get older I notice that when I'm relaxing at home or in recovery mode I just want to be comfortable. And when I wore the above outfit to campus, I chose it because I was recovering from the flu. A 24 hour bug hit me like a ton of bricks over the weekend. My immune system is usually pretty strong. I don't get sick that often. And this is a good thing.

Although there are many benefits to working as a professor, I rarely find myself willing to cancel committee meetings, classes, or (as was the case on this day) interviews unless I am so ill I cannot move. If I can get out of bed, if I have (enough of) a voice, if I am not grossly contagious, and if I can drive to campus without putting anyone in danger, I will usually power through. I was feeling pretty exhausted on this day, as I was still in recovery mode. I was confident that I wouldn't be getting anyone else ill. I kept a safe distance, used a lot of anti-bacterial gel, and opened windows to ventilate when I was in closed quarters. I simply could not reschedule my agenda for that day. So I needed to be comfortable but look passably professional. I think it worked out well enough.

Don't forget to enter the Redraven Studios giveaway! You have until tonight.

First Friday Unblurred OOTN

Chloé landscape dress worn backwards as jacket* 
(similar but costly Dries landscape print dresses here, here, and here; colorful, slightly less costly non-Dries option here)

DVF Shawnessy underneath (similar here and here)

Spanx tights

Rachel Comey boots

I wore this outfit to Unblurred to visit the galleries along Penn Avenue in Garfield and Bloomfield (just a stone's throw from my home) last Friday. In Pittsburgh (and in many other cities) on every first Friday of the month, gallery storefronts open their doors to feature new exhibits, complete with refreshments, live music, and the opportunity to mingle (or at the very least people watch). It is a fun ritual and in between last Friday night's downpours, I made a break for those spaces that were nearby.

I opted for unbelted but I think belted works too.

Although Pittsburgh's First Friday event transcends the corridor near my residence to reach various areas of the city, I love that I can walk to some of the galleries. After a week's worth of commuting I try to avoid my vehicle as much as possible on weekends. Before I had this job my car would regularly sit for days untouched. I like living in a very walkable area, also serviced by public transit. So I recognize this to be a luxury of location. Even though I'm not crazy about my commute I wouldn't trade it for the lifestyle I can live on my days off and when I can work from home.

Highlights from First Friday: The opening of the Center for Postnatural History -- a small but information-packed museum space examining the scientific, corporate, and genetic interventions made by humans over the recent and less-than-recent past toward the manipulations of crops and creatures. 

Stephen Tuomala's exhibit, "The World Made Flesh" at Modern Formations Gallery. The artist took pages from Biblical texts and fastened them together for his canvas. Although this re-purposing might be controversial among some audiences, the result of the anatomic prints is stunning and graphic in its visual display.

And on a lighter note, I really enjoyed the Irma Freeman exhibit of Cat Paintings at the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination.

Speaking of Pittsburgh art and artists, be sure to enter the Redraven Studios giveaway! 

*As an aside, I fell in love with this Chloé dress years ago and found one on ebay last year. I have struggled with finding ways to wear it because it is a bit shorter than my usual comfort length. I realized that the functional full back zipper opens up additional layering opportunities and I think it worked out well. Although for teaching I would probably wear it belted, I like the way the thicker fabric drapes when unfettered.

Profesh Professor

DVF Bilboa

J Crew silk top

Spanx tights

Rosegold booties

Redraven necklace

Kors watch and misc. bracelets

Lately, I've needed outfits that can transition from day to night, from the classroom to the colloquium, and from office hours to on campus interviews. I've been really excited about serving on a search committee this term. The process is incredibly educational but one silly downside is that I am exhausting all my professional outfits at once. More so than ever before I find myself needing ensembles that still "look like me" but also make sense across many professional scenarios. This is a pretty plain outfit but I made the slightly-too-deep-to-be-acceptable cowl of the dress manageable with a ruffly camisole.

I am starting to wonder if I should finally buy a pantsuit?

Outfit I should have steamed...

Marc by Marc Jacobs dress

Wolford tights

Doc Martens

Bracelets: Linea Pelle, MBMJ, Target

File this one under "things I wore into a dark enough bar that I promise it didn't matter that I was this wrinkled." I wore this to the Brillobox on one of the rare evenings when it actually snowed in January, 2012. I love being able to walk to the Brillobox from my home. Because of the weather, Chris and I expected it to be quiet, even on a Friday. Instead it was packed with other neighborhood dwellers and brave driving souls. I didn't notice how wrinkled this thick wool dress had become until I uploaded these photos from my point and shoot. I wore the boots because I am too clumsy to wear more fashionable knee boots when it is slick and icy. I'm glad I did! The very late walk home was beautiful and quiet (as the blanketed snow muffles the usual city sounds) but completely "slippy."

Peter Pan Prim

See by Chloe dress (similar and on sale here and here)

Spanx tights

Aquatalia boots

Kate Spade bag

amber pendent and vintage necklace

I wore this peter pan collared dress to dinner the other day. I really like it but the wool fabric is so thick that it is reserved for the coldest parts of the year. Something about it feels both witchy and nun-like. Photographs don't capture its embroidered and pleated details. But I paired it with some simple wedge boots and tights.

Cozy in Fair Isle

Fair Isle sweater now on mega sale

D'armee dress in black

Rose Gold Liz boots

Anthro belt

Hue tights

I love Fair Isle sweaters and if you visit any number of stores they seem to be inescapable. My mom bought me this drapey number from Macys for Christmas and it is so cozy. I throw it on over all sorts of casual outfits. So when I was headed out to teach last week on an especially cold day, I decided to try it with a dress. I belted it to keep the sweater in place and I think it worked out. It's definitely bulky but I was so warm that I hardly cared.

Separates Outfit

Cartonnier blazer (anthro) (similar)

Nanette Lepore top (ebay) (similar here, here, and here)

Juicy Couture skirt

Hue tights

Rosegold Liz booties

Misc. jewelry

I've been wearing this Nanette Lepore blouse frequently, with pants, with skirts, and because it has been so cold (and the blouse is pretty sheer) with layers. So far I've only taken the time to photograph the above. This was for dinner with friends downtown.

Resin and enamel bangles (most of which were gifts from family and friends) 

from MBMJ, Kenneth Jay Lane, Target, and Hiptique 

Betsy Johnson watch (similar here)

You can see the print and the jewelry a bit better in the closeup. I have a few camisoles and pretty short sleeved blouses from J. Crew but my long sleeved tops are still few and far between. I was glad to add this one to the repertoire when I found it on ebay. 

Hypothetically shopping wider widths

VivaLaDiva.com by jesspgh on polyvore.com

The quest for boots that fit well in the calves is one that has plagued me before. For some reason, calve fits morph many of us into Goldilocks, searching perpetually for the pair that is just right. Although my feet are only slightly wide, and I can wear "regular" widths, the calve dilemma makes me especially sensitive to the plight of people who need narrow or wide widths in all their footwear. Thankfully and increasingly, retailers are tapping into these specialty markets of shoppers with difficult calve or footbed widths (both wide and narrow).

When I discovered narrow and wide fitting footwear from Viva La Diva as well as boots manufactured to fit calves, I was excited. They contacted me requesting I select from my favorites within their wide width section. I was happy to oblige! While I was at it, I couldn't resist perusing their designer selections from where I found the items in the bottom row. But the top three rows are all shoes offered in varying widths. Unfortunately, they only ship with in the UK at the moment. But they are hoping to transition to an American retail market soon. I will be waiting!

An old favorite

Chloé Van Gogh print dress

BP cardigan

Belt taken from a Kate Spade dress

Spanx tights

Studded cuff and watch

Rachel Comey Barbaro boots (without studs here)

I took my new elfin boots for a spin and wore them to campus. They were comfy! What I noticed about the above two photos is how much my hair settled over the course of a day. The left was taken as soon as I got to campus and the right was after a few hours. I guess I should be using hair spray to compensate (cause I am a fan of big hair). Anyway, I've worn this dress many times before. Last Thursday was the first time I wore it this semester. Terri from Rags Against the Machine astutely pointed out via comment that one of the great things about professorial work is how every semester you have a fresh start with your wardrobe (since the majority of folks you encounter have never seen it before). Here's a shot of my weird but cool elf boots:

Weekend buys

Mrs. Roper Tory Burch maxi dress
Similar here and here

Although I've not been shopping much, there are a few things that tempted me enough to bite. Consuming strategically still poses its challenges. For deal hunters and shopaholics alike, just about any purchase can be rationalized. I admire those who have managed to abstain fully from consumerism (like The Year of Nothing New). But making do or doing without can be easier said than done!

I have been trying my best to limit the impact of sale goggles. I've avoided the kind of shopping that is basically meandering (less temptation). And I've not had time to scour my favorite websites to glimpse all the pretty fall fashions. Still, end of season clearances make now a great time to buy a bathing suit or a summer dress. Because I have a trip planned for December (that will yield the opportunity to wear summery clothes) I sniped the above maxi dress by Tory Burch on ebay and I bought a new swimsuit on clearance from figleaves.com. 

Rachel Comey Barbaro Deluxe 
Similar Comeys but with triple buckles here

I also wanted a new pair of booties for fall. I have suede ankle boots by Rosegold that I wore all the time last winter. Regular leather will be even more versatile for Pittsburgh. I tracked down a pair I loved and for a price I could swallow. The current season Rachel Comey Barbaros were out of my budget at retail, but I found these studded Deluxe booties gently used. I am really happy with these purchases!

Lusting for fall booties

Just as I didn't really need anything for back-to-school, I don't really need anything for fall. In my closet, cardigans, cords, and lightweight topcoats are plentiful. I already stocked up on my favorite tights during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (btw, yay for Nordstrom's free shipping both ways!). The only thing I am missing is a pair of cool black leather booties. I am obsessed with these. Rachel Comey, why are you so expensive?! Blogger shout outs to Sarah of Motion and Heart and Gretchen of Gretchen's Closet for introducing me such beautiful footwear on their own blogs.

Boots by Rachel Comey
Boots by Ld Tuttle

Also, there's still time to enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway!

In with the old OOTD

Banana Republic sweater (similar here)

Tibi skirt (similar here and here)

Spanx Tight End Tights

Rosegold boots

John Hardy necklace (bracelet here)

When I saw a blogger wearing this sweater from Banana Republic, I was thrilled to remember that I had it too (in black and in ivory)! I like its romantic poet sleeves and pussy bow. I unearthed both colors from the depths of my sweater dresser and planned to wear them asap. Anyone know which blogger was wearing it in ivory recently? I am having blogreader-induced amnesia. I thought it was Tien or Rosa but had no luck locating it in either place.

ETA! It was Overcaffeinated who wore the sweater and it was baby blue, not ivory! Regardless, check out how she paired it with an adorable patterned skirt here! 

In other blog-love news, I am thrilled to see that Becca (formerly of BeaisforBeautiful) is blogging again at the aptly named Best in Shop. Be sure to check out her newly launched blog!

It's always better on holiday

J. Crew blouse

Cardigan gift from my mom

Off Fifth skirt

Hue tights

Rosegold booties

This outfit is better suited for December than January. But being in Brazil for a good portion of the lead up to Christmas meant that I didn't do the whole "daughter of a schoolteacher so I love to dress the part" thing I normally do. And when I grabbed this pretty silk blouse from the final sale at J. Crew I knew it could be a holiday-specific piece. The question is does it work outside of holiday dressing?

John Hardy necklace (gift from my mother-in-law)

MBMJ snake bracelet (gift from a friend)

I almost titled this entry "Ruby Soho" because my adolescent and post-adolescent roots are firmly entrenched in punk culture. I have a deep nostalgia for wearing black and red together as a result, no matter how harsh it looks. But the cooptation of punk aesthetics makes me fear appearing too much like a Hot Topic mall punk.

My Frye "Santa" Boots (aka Paige Lug)

I picked out these Frye Boots so that they could be a Christmas present from my parents. I really liked their appearance and figured they would be very warm. When they arrived I was glad to learn that they are indeed warm. But upon sight, Chris called them "Santa boots."

Normally this wouldn't be a big deal because I often do not take to heart Chris's clothing assessments (and besides, he typically really likes how I dress) but something about this statement really stuck with me. Now I can't look at them without thinking of Santa. The furry trim and their mid calf height are indeed quite jolly. And even if they aren't the world's most stylish boots, they are by far the warmest I've worn. So although I feel a little merry wearing them, I am glad to have something so warm on the coldest of days.