dear lumpy clothes

Dear unattractive, ill fitting, misshapen clothes,*
Please don't tempt me every morning. I don't have time for you.
Love, Rory

*With many outfit options that I enjoy wearing, I vow to get rid of items that I -
1) never leave the house wearing
2) think I should keep/wear solely because they were expensive
3) fit at one point in my life but don't now

Four great go-to outfits are far better - and make life far easier - than 40 distracting ones.

socks with sandals

Today, I went for granny-librarian chic by wearing a cream turtleneck, navy blazer, tweed skirt, herringbone socks and peep toe sandals.

Hopefully it was cute and not too literal. (It helps that all of the pieces are pretty fitted).

Apologies for the weird half-photo.

rainy day chic

It was driving rain when I woke up this morning and I had to resist the urge to dress like a slob. When I dress like a slob I feel like a slob ...which makes me lethargic all day.

I forced myself to dress the opposite...chic! I'm wearing a black turtleneck & peplum skirt, grey tights, black heels and a chunky necklace.

Coincidentally, my very chic and very funny friend Amy is also wearing a black dress-grey tight combo. (Fuzzy photo at right).

I suppose the key to looking composed and professional on a rainy day is simply wearing structured clothes.

post script - I intend to acquire a better camera soon!

lesson learned

I wore my Forever 21 necklace as a crown yesterday and my friend Sara took some pictures. Unfortunately we couldn't get a good photo because I found out that it doesn't really look that good. I am glad we took the pics, or else I would have continued wearing it and looking silly. Lesson learned.

This brings me to a personal challenge: examining the way I actually look in contrast to the way I think I look. And I have to believe the pictures when it doesn't look right.

Today I am wearing the necklace - as a necklace! I love it with my red chambray tunic, wide khakis and heels. I pegged and rolled the khakis a bit - it is my interpretation of the paper-bag look. It is a very very loose interpretation of a Woody Allen heroine.

And I am taking a picture of myself to make sure it looks kosher.

old faithful and the holy grail

This morning I put on my old faithful outfit - navy party dress, orange toggle cardigan and brown riding boots - and realized it was dated. I love the pieces - and will continue to wear them in different iterations - but I was looking in the mirror at my 2006-self.

The navy dress I wore in my second engagement photos (second set of photos, first and only engagement). The orange cardigan was a J. Crew purchase - I waited for month for it to go on sale (since ad agencies don't pay much). The riding boots need a polish but will never go out of style.

My life's work is to choreograph the perfect wardrobe. To me, that means coordinating classic/stylish/modest/age appropriate outfits while avoiding unnecessary spending and disposable things. When I do buy, I will do my best to fall in love with clothes/shoes/accessories that are made in the USA. (I slipped and bought a mixed metal and pearl necklace from Forever 21. It is more fairy-godmother than 80's Madonna and also works as a lovely hair crown. And I am not sure the best shoes are made in the USA but that's another story).

The quest for the perfect wardrobe is on-going. And - when I am honest with myself - it is my holy grail.