Book Club Attire (and why you can't necessarily trust someone just because they're in a book club)

I'm going to my first book club meeting tonight. The book club is an established entity, but I'm a shiny new member this year.

 

red patent flats: Kohl's (maybe?)

b&w striped maxi skirt: eBay

coral v-neck tee: American Eagle Outfitters

denim jacket: Gap

cluster necklace: Downeast Outfitters

 

I must admit, I'm a little nervous. I don't know how many of the ladies I'll know.

 

 

For security blanket purposes, I'm wearing my comfiest knitwear. But as a nod to the societal nature of the event, I tried to accessorize appropriately.

 

 

Because nothing says "literary pundit" like a girl in pjs and a bobble necklace.

 

 

Wish me luck. And happy Thursday!

 

 

Shop similar styles below:

INC International Concepts Long Skirts · Tory Burch Flats · Splendid Tees

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a wide leg trouser by any other name...

I think I have "cuffed pants" on the brain (prob because of this post). But before you make any judgments about today's ensemble, I have an explanation and an apology and a fascinating early-morning internal dialogue documented below. So. Read on.

shoes: unionbay brand. pants & denim jacket: gap. shirt: ana brand. belt: vintage. watch: target. necklace: forever21. bracelet: open jewelry market in hawaii.

  As the weather gloomified and chilled over course of the morning, I had to modify my outfit. First: I threw on a denim jacket and struck a weird facial expression.

 Second: I unrolled the trousers. Which, frankly, I liked better anyway with these pants. 'Tweren't broken. Shouldn't've tried to fix 'em. (Allsofasudden my fingers think I'm a redneck? Awesome. Something fried and delicious for dinner, I guess...)

Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Sometimes I make odd choices. Take this morning, for instance. I pulled out these sweet wide-leg plaid trousers because it's still raining and coldish. [Editor's note: I could've worn a skirt with colored tights, but I think I temporarily burned myself out on colored tights.] Despite their (the pants') fabulous features (e.g., wide leg, front crease, great colors, classic plaid print, good fit, etc.), I thought to myself, "these pants are too ordinary. I need to do something to make them unique."

(I also thought to myself, "what's for breakfast?" And then my brain answered, "toast." And then I complained, "what? toast again?" And then my brain said, "yep. and it'll be toast tomorrow, too, if y'all don't get yo'self to the grocer sto'.") (It's good to know my brain and my fingers speak the same dialect.)

Wow. Long story short (too late): I tried to peg and cuff these pants and get away with it. Shame on me. Which is why I love doing this blog--I find out all sorts of things. Like: don't try to make a garment something into it absolutely inherently isn't. And also: stop listening to country music for a while.

Do you guys ever do stuff like that? Try too hard to get something to be different when, really, it's best just to leave it alone and let it shine for what it is?

Either way...Happy Thursday.

 Want this look? Click below, buy some stuff...then don't cuff the pants, k? Thanks.

More Tory Burch...

sometimes there's no method...it's just madness...

 shoes: steve madden. maxi dress: forever21. sash: off a shirt from kohl's. denim jacket: gap. flower clip: gift. watch: target. bracelet: don't recall.

Today I'm wearing a belt sash from off a shirt as a neck-thingy. No reason, really. I just felt like doing something crazy today. My Plan A of Craziness actually involved a baby grand piano, an old VW beetle, and 3 bottles of ketchup. Unfortunately, I only could track down 2 ketchup bottles. So. Plan B: sash as neck-thingy it is.

Is anyone getting tired of stripes? Yeah, me either. I can't really get enough of them, to be honest. Never mind the fact that, worn horizontally from neck to ankle like in this dress, they're not the most elongating and slimming pattern I could dream up for my already boxy body shape. But I just love them so that I can't help myself. Which is partly why I added the denim jacket and long neck-thingy. Well, that and the ketchup dilemma, as described above. 

I was hoping those two additions would help cut down the striped-stumpiness that my body becomes in this dress. I don't think it really worked. But I'm dressed and super comfortable and ready to roll today. Stump it up, buttercup.

Happy Tuesday.

Want this look? Super comfy. Shop below:

More Madden-Girl...

wet hair & red face, but I snapped the photos anyway. gold star.

boots: target. tights: gift. skirt: don't recall (self-modified). shirt: american eagle. belt: thrifted. jacket: gap. earrings: hawaii.

Hey.

It's Saturday, guys, and I've spent 5+ hours of this glorious weekend day in the car on the freeway. With three children. Hucking fruit snacks and capri suns back to them. Listening to KidzBop (or something) and questions about whether or not we're there yet. Both on repeat.

You'll forgive me, then, when I make this post record-short because I can't sit at my computer for another 2 seconds, as the lactic acid from my jog this morning continues to burn my legs. And my butt, but that's not ladylike to talk about. So, forgives? Pretty please? Thanks a mil.

Happy Saturday!

Want this look? Dive in...

More Gap...

Decisions...decisions...

Boots & belt: Kohls. Tights: F21. Skirt & denim jacket: Gap. White tee: Don't recall. Scarf: Smiths Marketplace. Bracelet & barrettes: gifted.

Today's jumping-off point was comparable to those synchronized divers in the Olympics. Well, kind of. Actually...not really. Here's the deal: just because one thing (i.e., diving. Specifically diving with talent. Not the will-she-cannon-ball-or-belly-flop kind of diving I tend to entertain all pool-goers with) is super cool doesn't necessarily mean that it will be twice as cool if it's doubled in exact replication and judged accordingly. Despite what those old double mint gum commercials would have you believe.

Except in the case of synchronized diving. Because, really. Kind of incredible.

Wow. Tangent. Anyway. Basically, I had two equally exciting jumping-off points, each of which held their own in this we've-all-seen-something-like-this-before kind of outfit. Guesses? No? That's probably because now you're thinking about that one time where that one synchronized diving team got robbed and it cost them a medal and you were so mad you spit your sunflower seed shells at the TV. No? Just me? Oh, okay.

Oversized salmon-colored bracelet & houndstooth
scarf. I love love love love love. [Editor's note: On the scarf, I found this sticker from the manufacturer: "Softer than cashmere?" The question mark kills me. C'mon, marketing department! Be bold! Your future in scarf sales just might depend upon it, and you've worked too hard to throw it all away with a punctuational slip of the proverbial tongue.] [Assistant Editor's note: Wha?...]

I like how the houndstooth is b&w and will go with anything. As a classic pattern itself, I decided to pair it today with another classic color/texture combo--denim & khaki. I also added a wide black pinstripe belt (that originally came with this skirt) for waist definition. And I thought the pinstripe would add a little class to the fairly casual look. I was deciding between black or red tights, and I finally decided on red because (a) they're actually more orangey than red, and (b) I therefore thought they would add a little boost, backup-singer-style, to the bracelet.

Tall black boots and a little color in the hair, and we're done here. Overall, I like it. Highly functional and comfortable. Although some people (my mother included) might wrinkle an eyebrow at the denim-to-church decision, I'm okay with it. Feel like it was upgraded a bit with a little accessorization. [Editor's note: I have GOT to stop making up words. My excuse is that I'm just too lazy to rewrite a sentence to make an actual word work... Please accept my apologizations.]

[Assistant Editor's note: That was Editor's idea of a joke. At least you don't work here. Pity me.]

Happy Sunday!