Brighten A Rainy Day

 

 Funny, until recently I was scared of bright colors and mostly tried to keep a low profile. Even then I liked to wear a little color on rainy days to liven up the mood. I've had these crimson tights stashed waiting for just the right moment. When Go Chic or Go Home announced Tights as their new theme, I decided it was time to break them out. Usually I don't try out new things when I'm going to the office because I'm still a bit cautious. Silly I know especially since I'm the closest thing we have to a boss there and can wear pretty much anything within reason. Still, bright tights is a big stretch for me. Just after I bought them, there they were, bright colored tights on several "don't" lists for women over 40. Well, since when have I obeyed all the rules anyway? I'm not exactly a wildly careless rebel with only a few inches showing between skirt and boots, but it was a good first run for colored tights.

What Should I wear to . . . My Office Christmas Party?

Now that I finally figured out no one under age 70 should wear loud Christmas sweaters (and maybe not even then), there's a vacuum in holiday party wear. Here's my top runner for what to wear at the office party.

I guess I should mention I work for a non-profit agency, not a fortune 500 company and that it's a casual daytime party. Those factors make a big difference!

Quick Change Artist

After a childhood spent avoiding dresses whenever possible, I'm discovering the advantages of dresses and skirts and wearing them more. I associate dresses with feeling restricted as a tomboy child. And panty hose used to be a must which meant sweat in summer and lots of discomfort. In winter they weren't really warm enough.

 Last summer I discovered airy dresses are a great way to beat the heat and now that I've discovered tights, the winter chills aren't a barrier to wearing skirts any more. And sometimes they're just plain fun. Also being a basically lazy person, I realized skirts rarely need washing. I'm sold.

Still when I'm heading out on a road trip after church, it's time for a quick change to jeans.

And here's what I wore to church today. So far I'm mainly branching out to wearing dresses to church because I can change to something ultra casual when I return home. But at least it's a start. Now that I see how slimming this is compared to some of my pants outfits, it may become a regular pattern.  

It's Me in a Jacket!

Introducing the jacket I snagged at Finders Keepers last week. And featuring my hubby's photography! He can get me to be more fun and flirty than the ol' tripod. Something you won't see everyday--me in a skirt and a structured jacket. I wore this to church without feeling pinched and uncomfortable. I didn't keep nursery this time and I'm not sure how crawling after toddlers on the floor would have gone in this getup. But for a regular day, it did great. The outfit got a thumbs up from my hubby and from me.

My Thrifty Finds

My thrifted clothes haul from last week:

 I never thought I'd say that because normally I'm afraid of thrifted clothing. It makes me think of the jeans I bought at Goodwill when I was in college and how 1,000 washes never quite got rid of that cigarette smell. At least I hope that's what it was.

But I visited Finders Keepers and hit the motherload. Apparently somebody had brought in all their old jackets because there were a boatload of size 12p jackets. I put the size because it's way smaller than I can ever wear on bottom and even usually on top. I'm still confused about whether I'm pear-shaped or have an hour glass figure. I just know if I told you my jean size, you wouldn't believe me. It means I have to buy pants to fit my butt and thighs and have the waist taken up. Or at least I should have the waist taken up. Usually I either do a sloppy job myself, try to cinch it with a belt or simply ignore the problem. However my blogging efforts have made me acutely aware recently of how badly my pants fit. Like I said, I'm a work in progress. I look at my photos and think, "How can I post this when those pants have such a severely sagging crotch?" Sorry, I couldn't solve all my wardrobe woes at once, but hopefully we'll begin to see improvement in this area.

But for the good news--rust jacket, animal print zipper sweater, brown tweed Sag Harbor skirt and grey pencil skirt. Then the $40 London Fog trench coat brings the total to $88. I've been looking for skirts to wear with my new boots and for jackets for a *slightly* more structured look. I have to be able to move my arms freely and, amazingly enough, I could in that jacket. Normally, I'm soooo finicky about anything close-fitting. Think super picky little kid with clothing issues and you get the idea.

 Be on the lookout for outfits featuring these!