What I Wore Wednesday: I Need New Pants Edition

Wednesday - Sitting at home all day waiting for the furnace guy to show up.
It was actually a very nice excuse to just stay home and be snuggly all day, as the weather was cold, grey and rainy and I was in the mood to drink tea and cuddle Peabody by the fire, which I did!

First, though, we walked Bean to the bus stop, in our WINTER CO-O-O-OATS. (shiver)
Oy. So soon?







What I'm Wearing

Charcoal A-line coat - Macy's (Al picked it out for me for Christmas many, many years ago.)
Teal v-neck top with ruffle - Ana, J. C. Penney's
Grey wool ruffle sweater - Talbot's (Is it Talbot's, or just Talbot? I can never remember. But I'm Southern, so I'm callin' it Talbot's 'cause that's my birth right.)
Boyfriend jeans, which look terrible here, may be time to retire these! Although it could just be that I had to dramatically alter the lighting, contrast and saturation on this photo so you could actually see me. It was DARK, even by the window. - Lucky Brand
Leopard print pointed-toe pumps - Bandolino, DSW
Circles necklace - Lia Sophia
Hair - Air dried, Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion applied at roots, blow-dried at roots upside down, gathered in a half-twist in back and pinned. (Tried to get a shot of the back but didn't succeed, sorry!)


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Thursday - Cleaned (yes, in this outfit this time! Because I didn't like the outfit enough to care, true story!), school run and a few quick stops here and there


Not crazy about this one, but I guess you gotta have a serious dud every once in awhile, right? Also, taking pictures was next to impossible as it was dark and gloomy all day long. Excuses, excuses! I almost didn't even post anything at all for this day, but there's something about the concept of this outfit that I like (a longer sweater, belted, cords, boots...) that I like and want to work with again, so I'm keeping a record of it. For me. And so YOU can see one of my "Don't let this happen to you!" looks!





What I'm Wearing

Blue striped cotton sweater - Merona, men's department, Target (yep, it's Al's, which may explain the linebacker shoulders and the bunchy waist-line.
White, collared shirt - Old Navy
Tan corduroy 5-pocket jeans - Land's End
Brown boots - (Yawn.) Audrey Brooke, DSW
Bangles - Old Navy

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Friday - Hayride and crafts date with my sweet little Peabody at the Rec Center







What I'm Wearing

Orange duffle coat - Michael Kors, thrifted (Most of those pockets aren't even real pockets! They're "mockets." See, me? I think that's a little deceptive. I just felt like I needed to set the record straight.) (And while I'm confessing things I should also add this: I eat too much cheese.) (I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER NOW!)
Army green cargo pants - Merona, Target (too baggy... lost a few lbs since I bought them! Which, YAY! But also? Boo.)
Grey long-underwear shirt - Stolen from Al! Hanes (He said it looks better on me than it does on him and gave me his blessing.)
Scarf - No tag, T. J. Maxx
Ubiquitous brown boots - Audrey Brooke, DSW
Canvas bag - Land's End
Silver bunch of grapes pin - Gifted and just rediscovered in an old jewelry box I found hiding in the guest room closet ... SCORE!
Hair - Air dried, half up-do held back by a small claw-clip. (I was going for the fresh-scrubbed, natural look. Or else I was just being lazy. The world may never know.)

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Saturday - Breakfast out, watching Clemson game, thrifting at My Best Friend's Closet


This is a second attempt at the belted sweater look and I like it much better than Thursday's outfit above.
(Al has entitled this outfit, "Oh, Canada." All day long he kept bursting into song when I'd walk into the room.)
(I call it "Wears Waldo.")
(Stop rollin' your eyes!)







What I'm Wearing

Red/white striped cotton sweater - Relativity, thrifted
Cream reversible quilted/furry vest - Last seen here, worn furry side out. Weatherproof Garment Company, Costco
Leather belt - DKNY, don't know where it came from
Necklace - Is a silver chain I got when I turned 16, on which I hung a silver maple leaf pin my Mom brought me back from Canada years ago. Leaf pin is turned over in the photos, so you are looking at the back. Boo!
Light blue cotton gauze scarf - Eddie Bauer
Boots - Yeah, those again.
Hair - Air dried, hot rollers, this time I used larger sections of hair on each roller to make it more swoopy and less curly, but I still got curly. The rollers are probably too small for a swoopy look.

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Sunday - Laundry, football viewage and dinner with friends







What I'm Wearing

Light green corduroy blazer - Halston, thrifted (yesterday!)
Gray v-neck t-shirt - GAP
Jeans - Common Genes, J. C. Penney's
Floral scarf - Casual Corner (which will give you an idea of how old this baby is!)
Red purse - Kenneth Cole, T. J. Maxx
Brown suede shoes with velvet bow - Apostrophe, DSW
Silver tone chain belt worn as a necklace - No tag, thrifted
Hair - Air dried, and then I finally got my swoopiness by using some much larger velvet hot rollers I haven't used in ages.

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Monday - Cleaned out the garage and did yard work.

U CAN'T SEE!

What I Wore

(I'm too ashamed to say. Hee hee.) (Oh wait! I did actually put on a real outfit close to the end of the day so I could take Bean to her dance class without completely mortifying both of us. But it was dark and when we got home we were in a hurry to get everybody into bed, so I never took a picture. But I liked the outfit so I'll save it for next week and show you then.)

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Tuesday - More of the cleaning/yard work stuff, so I wore my rag-a-muffin suit again.

I do have BIG PLANS to actually get dressed on Wednesday. Tune in next week to see if I did!

Toodles!

I'll be linking this post tomorrow to What I Wore Wednesday which is hosted by The Pleated Poppy.







Y'all can subscribe to FriedOkra's feed here.

What I Wore Wednesday: Finally Fall Edition

Wednesday - Out to lunch with a friend, Bunco with The Girls later







Black/white animal print shirt - Old Navy
Dark green lace-embellished cami - POOF!, T. J. Maxx
Jeans - Lucky Brand
Jewelry - Old Navy
Wooden-beaded necklace - DIY
Beige leather open-toe mule - Bass
Hair - Hot rollers, finger styled

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Thursday - Cleaned (not in this outfit, again), school drop-off
(Basically after I cleaned, I took a shower and got dressed to stay home. And that's actually kinda good, because this outfit wasn't workin' for me for some reason.)







Grey floral swing tank with lace embellishments - Fun & Flirty, T. J. Maxx
(I lifted and pinned a small section of the top, from about 2/3rds of the way down on one side, up to just below the bodice with my grandmother's brooch, because otherwise the hemline hits me straight across, right at the widest part of my thigh, and that emphasizes width. Bringing it up lifted and broke up the hemline and brought the focus up to the narrowest part of my shape. Well, that was the idea, anyway. I'm not sure I accomplished that, exactly.)
Heather grey v-neck t-shirt - GAP
Skinny jeans - Land's End
Chain necklace - Charming Charlie
Heart brooch - Vintage (Grandmama FriedOkra)
Beaded grey/silver cuff bracelet - Can't remember (oops!)
Boots - Audrey Brooks, DSW
Hair - Tried sock bun curls (<----- awesome tutorial) for the first time. I loved the concept but I only kept the bun in for a few hours while I was cleaning, and then my hair got rained on while I was picking up Peabody at school.

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Friday - Errands all over the place, followed by birthday shopping for Bean.









Pink angora cable-knit shawl-collared sweater - Limited Express, thrifted
Rose rib-knit cotton cami - Target
Denim skirt - Old Navy
Sparkly rhinestone necklace - White House/Black Market
Rhinestone/pearl-look earrings - DIY from buttons, made by my Mom about a hundred years ago
Silver Structure ring - Lia Sophia
Silver chain necklace wrapped around my wrist forty times - LOFT
Brown suede pump with velvet lacing/bow embellishment - Apostrophe, DSW
Brown tweed purse with leather strap and buckle - Indeed, thrifted
Hair - Washed, air-dried (except the front gets a little blow-dry action with a big round brush) and gathered in a low, loose bun in back
On Peabody - Carter's, head to toe

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Saturday - Errands, lunch out with family
Day two of occasionally scary high winds, Al was home to take the pictures between massive gusts (he makes it seem like he's bored, but I think he secretly enjoys it because he always volunteers for the job.) We rushed through these before we got blown away. It was crazy out there! Plus I always rush through taking the pictures because I feel incredibly goofy and self-conscious about the whole thing. I'm always waiting for someone to pop out from behind something and laugh at me. True story.







Pale turquoise (is there a name for this color? And please don't say "seafoam green" or I'll croak) cowl-neck long cotton sweater - Land's End (via Sears)
Black leggings - Nike (Okay they're running tights, FINE! They look like leggings.)
Ivory quilted/faux fur reversible vest - no label, Costco
Braided leather belt - no brand, thrifted
Turquoise mock-eel clutch - DSW
Leather paddock boots - Audrey Brooke, DSW
Heart pendant, gold tone bangles - Old Navy
Hair - hot rollers, finger-styled
Lovely Black Pearl sedan growing out of my head and neck in shot #2 - Toyota Camry, vintage

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Sunday - Quick run to grocery store for birthday cupcake-making supplies, laundry. Another day of high winds. I was nearly strangled by my own scarf going from the car to the grocery store that morning! So Al took pictures inside. (Otherwise this would have been What Cousin It Wore Wednesday.)








Multi-tone grey long cardi and printed silk cami (under sweater) - GAP
Light blue v-neck sweatshirt sweater - Eddie Bauer
Scarf - Macrame, T. J. Maxx
Grey skinny jeans- jeggings - Calvin Klein, T. J. Maxx
Black suede booties - Impo, DSW
Heather grey wool socks - L. L. Bean (from Santa, last Christmas.)
Hair - Air dried and straightened with straightening iron, then finished with Bumble and Bumble Grooming Creme, which is pretty much magic in a tube for sleek styles like this one.

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Monday - Peabody's music class, one more birthday errand, cupcake-baking and after school gathering for Bean's birthday
Ohmygranny! Cah-RAZY day... I don't think I sat down all day long. The wind was still whipping like mad outside (seriously, parts of me are beginning to erode here) and I didn't have anyone to take pictures for me, so I just did what I could as quickly as possible. Don't I look so overjoyed? What is UP with these facial expressions? I actually really loved this outfit and felt quite good in it... I've always been a huge fan of the boot cut jean over the boot look. It makes me feel strong and confident and a little bit like I could kick some .... um ... well, anyway. Let's just say I needed that feeling today!







Black/white striped long sleeve cotton jersey tee - POOF EXCELLENCE, T. J. Maxx
(Same shirt worn over a black dress and under a denim jacket here.)
Camel/gold flecked cropped cardi with satin bow tie - Liz Lange Maternity, although I didn't own it for either pregnancy and I bought it fully knowing I'll never be pregnant again. I just liked it, and it's cropped! What part of it has to fit over a baby bump?
Jeans - Lucky Brand
Brown boots - Same old Audrey Brooke paddock boots from DSW
Red purse - Kenneth Cole, T. J. Maxx
Chain necklace - Charming Charlie (and it is totally making me itchy, unfortunately.)
Hair - Air dried while out walking this morning, hot curlers, finger-styled and then blown to smithereens by this insane wind!)

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Tuesday - Errands, breakfast with The Girls
Oh, it's on. Fall is officially here. When I woke up this morning it was forty-sumpm outside, and since I haven't bothered to turn the furnace on, it was in the low, low, low, low, low sixties inside. The shower experience was a bit on the shivery side! Heat is on now! So but all that means I can dig into my tights! And my sweaters! And that makes me happy. For now, anyway. Ask me how I feel about sweaters and tights in February. On second thought, don't.







Blue and grey gathered-sleeve wool/angora Fair Isle-ish sweater - Aphorism, T. J. Maxx
Denim skirt - My favorite denim skirt EVER - Old Navy
Off-white tights - DSW
Pale blue scarf (cotton, and sooooo comfy and warm and not itchy) - Eddie Bauer
Boots - Audrey Brooke, DSW
Brown quilted mandarin-collar jacket which was last worn here, with skinny jeans and a floral shirt over a tank top - Merona, Target
Hair - Air dried, hot rollers, finger-styled
Lipstick: I keep wanting to call it "Michael Jackson orange." It's a new, totally outrageously uncharacteristic color for me. I wanted something bright to pop with all my greys and blues, and I feel like it's okay to do a bit of a bolder lip color than I've done in the past since I rarely wear eyeshadow anymore. (I will say that I like this color in person way more than I do in these photos.) - L'Oreal Colour Riche Compelling Coral #402, worn here with a cocoa butter lip treatment underneath.

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I'll be linking this post tomorrow to What I Wore Wednesday which is hosted by The Pleated Poppy.



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I still feel extremely goofy about these posts! But I'm doing them because I LIKE that they make me look forward to getting dressed every day. And I TRULY LOVE seeing what other women wear, and how they put things together, and how ... just ... pretty women are, and honest, and cute, and fun and smart and candid and clever and creative and how all of that translates into their unique styles.

And I'm this woman, right? This normal woman, this perfect and flawed and real and imagined woman, like all of those women are (right?) and so ... I can work all the things that I am into a style, too. And be proud of that style.

And so I guess I'll just do this and try to stop feeling goofy, and avoid feeling compelled to justify it any other way.



Y'all can subscribe to FriedOkra's feed here.

What I Wore Wednesday: Warmer Autumn Days Edition

I seriously had to work the summer-into-fall angle pretty hard this week because WOW has it been hot here! Up in the 80s a few days and never any lower during the day than about 76! That's fairly unusual for Chicago this time of year.

So I tried pairing some typically summery things with light cotton sweaters, heavier leather belts and less summery shoes, except the one day I wore sandals. All in all I liked these looks and felt comfortable in them, and I loved that I mostly used clothes I've had for awhile, just put together differently. I guess that's a neat thing about transitional weather - you really get to pick from several sections of the closet, in combinations that wouldn't work at any other time.



Wednesday - Errands/Mom Stuff







Turquoise braided t-back sundress - Maurice's
Floral shirt - Old Navy (on sale last week in-store)
Belt - DSW
Heart pendant on leather strap/gold bangles - Old Navy
Sandals - Naturalizer, forever ago (DSW)
Green wooden beaded bracelet, Movado ESQ watch
Purse - Rosetti - (DSW)

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Thursday - Cleaning (not in this outfit!) and more errands







Grey silk ruffle top - T. J. Maxx
Yellow cardi - Old Navy
Jeans - Lucky Brand
Shoes - Brown pumps with silver-tone buckeye embellishment - Unisa (DSW)
Wooden beaded necklace and leopard print scarf around waist of top - DIY projects (ME!)
Silver chain necklace - Ann Taylor Loft
Purse - Payless

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Friday - Picnic, Apple Picking







Black polka dot silk top - Isaac Mizrahi for Target
Capri jeans - Velvet Heart (T. J. Maxx)
Gray Sneaks - Converse (DSW)
Pink scarf, finger-crocheted into a necklace (having to get creative with neck-wear as I'm allergic to EVERYTHING and it gets worse as I get older. This is also why I don't wear eye-shadow anymore... sad face!) - gift from my sister, years ago
Pink straw purse - Payless

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Saturday - Out to lunch and errands with Al and the kids, playing outside







Gray ruffled t-shirt - Talbot's
Black chunky knit sweater with stitch embellishments (cotton) - LOFT
Denim shorts - Merona (Target)
Silver flats - Chinese Laundry (DSW)
Black leather belt - Calvin Klein (T. J. Maxx)
Black onyx-look bracelet and black bangles - Old Navy
Black onyx-look necklace - New York and Co.

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Sunday - Baking apple slices (recipe tomorrow? Or Friday?), neighborhood BBQ







White peasant top with embroidery - thrifted
Gray cami underneath - Old Navy
Jeans - Lucky Brand
Black leather belt - Calvin Klein (T. J. Maxx)
Black patent loafers - Nickels (DSW)
Bangles, black bracelet - Old Navy
Pearl/silver-toned bracelet - Payless
Purse - Brook Brothers
Scarf - Ann Taylor

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Monday - Playing in the park and picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch (more pics later)







Black/white cotton twill sun dress - Maurice's
Coral/orange tee with gold embellishments - ? - T. J. Maxx
Green scarf - Target
Black sling-back espadrilles - Naturalizer - Famous Footwear
Jade necklace - gift from Al
Gold bangles - Old Navy

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Tuesday - Breakfast date with Al
(He takes a morning off the second Tuesday of each month while Peabody is in school so we get a few hours of time together during the daytime. You know, when I'm actually AWAKE.)







Turquoise jersey v-neck dress with yellow/rhinestone embellishment (not shown) - Victoria's Secret
Argyle short-sleeved cardi - New York and Co.
Dirty bucks - Bass (On sale in the boy's department at Macy's, years and years ago)
Diamond cross necklace - gift from Al
Silver-tone chain necklace - LOFT
Silver-tone, rhinestone headband - Goody (WalMart)
Purse - Brooks Brothers



So, which were your favorites?

I'll be linking this post to What I Wore Wednesday which is hosted by The Pleated Poppy. Thanks for all of the great comments on last week's WIWW post. This is actually fun and a good challenge for me, and I loved hearing that some of you found it interesting and helpful in your own quests to create great new looks from your own closets! xo








Y'all can subscribe to FriedOkra's feed here.