"Mom, what should I wear?"

I hear this question from my children every time we are going to an event other than school or a sporting event. They have worn uniforms for most of their lives, rendering them nearly incapable of independently choosing an outfit. Over the weekend, I helped my daughter by taking photos of all the potential outfits she could wear that did not include 'play clothes'. We also took anything out of her closet that she said she would not wear, didn't fit, or was out of season.  Next, we printed the sheet below and hung it inside her closet door. Now when getting ready, all she has to do is reference this board and pick one! This is a great way to reduce the stress and anxiety for anyone trying to decide "what to wear".  Adults, you can easily store the pics on your phone - and I'm pretty sure there is an app for this - I'm researching and will report back. 

Playing Dress Up

It is finally fall here in St. Louis!! Bring out the sweaters and boots!! This is also the time of year when it is socially acceptable for adults to play dress up - Halloween. I heard somewhere that the Halloween industry gets bigger every year. It is no longer just a children's holiday. Adults my age seem to enjoy dressing up more than ever and have turned Halloween into a giant party. We have outgrown the need to use Halloween as an excuse to wear slutty clothes. Instead this is a true competition of the creatives, cultivating unique costumes sourced on Pinterest, and ordering bizarre merchandise from Amazon Prime. I had a blond wig and peter pan collar at my house in 48 hours!

I like to play dress up all year long. Sure there is an element of  personal style that is tied to your authenticity and true expression of yourself, but the other side of that coin is playing dress up, trying on different costumes, experimenting with new looks and having fun!

I played dress up this morning for church. I bought this grey skirt from Ann Taylor at the end of the season last year and couldn't wait to wear it now that is finally below 80 degrees. I started with black tights, grey skirt and a black shirt. I told Jason I thought I looked like a nun (no disrespect, just not the costume I was going for). So I added some accessories: some sassy over-the-knee boots, sparkly statement necklace, tartan plaid shawl, wool hat, and finally THE purse - the one from my first return to the blog. My parents are amazing and they surprised me with this purse.

I swore I would never wear the over-the-knee boots. I thought they made my legs look even shorter than they are. Sometimes a trend wears me down and I give in. I'm only human. I loved this costume!

Go play dress up in your closet. Challenge yourself to wear something you haven't worn in awhile or dare to differ from your normal uniform. You might be surprised to find out how much fun you have!

a new day

a new day  or and ea wy

Have you been to Target recently?  This is their new clothing brand and it is adorable, despite confusing the hell out of me with the name.  Read vertically..... see what they did there? Apparently I'm not the only one. I tried to tell my friend Lori about these cute ponte pants I thought she would like from Target and was confused about the brand.  She found the explanation on Facebook

Anyway, of course I went to Target for a 3-ring-binder and some vitamins, and just cruised by to see what was new. There was a whole new clothing line, and it is great! It is current, but not too trendy and perfect for work or play.  My only criticism is that it is not quite cut for a petite frame.

I am terrible at taking selfies. It is one of my least favorite things about trying to share my love of clothes with you. So here are some cute outfits laid out on my floor - and clearly I'm not that great at staging these shots on the floor of my closet.

I love this printed blouse - it gives you so many colors to build your outfit. I show it with the navy ponte pants. If you're not sure what those are, check out my old post: all leggings are not created equal. Gold sweater and jean jacket are super old. Metallic Gold shoes are from paperdolls - perfect way to add shine and this men's style loafer is gaining popularity.

This jade, jewel tone top is one of my favorite colors for fall. I tried it on and it made me look a bit too stocky, but I loved the style. Same pants and shoes from above.

I had to show this navy dress . Although, as I'm linking to this product, I could have just showed it on this girl. Oh well. So it is a midi dress - and that length will never be worn by me. I'm 5'2" on a good day, if I stand up really tall.  You can see it is too long for me, but I thought it was so adorable. I'm obsessed with navy - it is my black.

Target also had this adorable new fitness line called Joy Lab. So cute! By the time I made it back to this department, I was in a hurry.  Jason would know if I was at Target this long, surely I was buying more than I "needed". I quickly felt a few pieces and they seemed like great quality! I snagged this Moto jacket. You wouldn't even know by looking that it was performance fabric. It has great wearability.

There. I just did a style blog all about clothes from Target! Husbands - you're welcome.

Everyday Me

Creating is cathartic - and that is my purpose for this blog - my creative outlet, my cathartic outlet. So I was trying to think about what I could post this week, and I realized I haven't  gotten dressed in a real outfit all week. Part of my reason for sharing this blog, is to be real. I want more real-ness in the world, so I'm putting some out there. When I am out and about I often hear, "you always look so cute." This feels great to hear, but I have begun responding with. "I wear sweatpants sometimes." This I my way of saying I'm real. I don't wear this all the time. You do not have to look good or put together or do your hair and makeup all the time. I'm a working mom with 3 kids and I can't do it everyday. I marvel at the women who can, but I think to myself, that must be exhausting. If she is doing it for herself - more power to you! You do you! But don't do it for anyone else. 

As I think more about this, I get more complements from my husband when I am 'dressed down'. I look for the compliments from him when we get all dressed up to go out, but it always shocks me a bit when I'm wearing what I consider nothing special and he says, "You look cute today." What? This ? Perhaps it is because I look more like everyday me - less like someone dressed up for everyone else in the latest trends. 

Here is everyday me today in my favorite jeans and white t - telling Jason nevermind quit taking photos

Footloose

I watched the movie Footloose last weekend - the real one from 1984. I have been dreaming about Ariel's red cowboy boots ever since.  I remember wanting them as a child when I first saw this movie. I feel like they are a perfect expression of her rebellious nature and confidence. They seem to say, "Oh yeah?  Watch me!"  I mean how hot is Lori Singer in those boots!

A quick google search will help you find some. 

These look amazing from Nordstrom

We can use clothing and accessories to express our personality. You can make the outside match the inside. It can be a direct link to how you are feeling that day, or aspirational. For example, earlier this week I was completely exhausted.  I wore sweatpants - real, old fashion elastic waist and bottom sweatpants that said Truman Football - to go pick my son up from soccer practice. I was not ashamed. I was tired.  On the aspirational side of things - I often 'dressed up' in college when I had a test. It made me feel more confident if I looked put together. If I'm feeling a little down, a cute outfit can help put me in a better mood.  A little touch of leopard print always makes me feel a little feisty. I can't imagine putting on these red cowboy boots and not feeling like I could go kick a little ass!

What clothes or accessories do you have that are tied to your mood or personality?  Play around and have some fun! As always, #youdoyou.

I'm Back

I'm Back. It has been over two years since I retired as a fashion blogger. Ideas and thoughts and little nudges from the universe to return to this space have been coming at me for the last year, but it was while reading Jen Hatmaker's latest book, "Of Mess and Moxie" that put my fingers on this keyboard again....after I figured out how to log back into Blogger.

I will put her full passage about creating at the end of this post, but here are the words that hit home, "It can simply be for the love of it. .......If the only person it saves is you, that's enough."

I quit posting because of fear, because it felt frivolous and narcissistic, a cliché, because I was trying not to spend money on new clothes, and because I felt it didn't matter. But the truth is, I still love clothes and fashion! And I'm not talking New York Fashion Week fashion - although I enjoy that from an artistic point of view. I'm talking digging through the racks at Marshalls, playing in my closet to put together outfits, or helping a friend shop or clean out her closet. Clothes are my artistic expression. I can't paint or draw or decorate my house - but I love putting together a look. It brings me joy - and that's enough.

So onto the fashion.....

When I go shopping lately, I have been a bit disappointed and confused. I hate so much of what is out there right now. Hate is a strong word, but allow me to be over-dramatic for fun. I'm done with oversized flowy tops, shoulder cut outs, crop tops, high-waisted pants, lots of ruffles, baggy jeans, the list goes on. I mean there was an article in the Wall Street Journal style section last week about the return of pleated, cropped, wide-leg khakis. Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?  Where do these people work? They seriously tried to bring back overalls.

Okay the rant is over. All of this leads back to one of my core tenets  - fashion is different than style. And when it comes to style - you do you. When you shop, buy what you love, what you think looks good on you, what reflects your personality.  Do not buy something because you think it will make you look 'in style'.

I recently had a soul restoring weekend with my college roommates. Plans were loose but we knew we would go out for a nice meal and some drinks. This is a photo from our night out - and it makes me laugh because we clearly do not look like we are going to the same place. Everyone looks fabulous, and like an individual!

My sequin top was  $9.00 on clearance from Target. You have to dig to find a bargain!

My daughter and I roamed around Marshalls yesterday and I found this beautiful purse. I didn't buy it, but I wanted to. It had no recognizable brand name, but it was beautiful, and I felt it looked 'like me'. This version of me dresses in pencil skirts, silk blouses and impeccably tailored blazers when she carries this purse in the crook of her arm. It doesn't quite fit the majority of my lifestyle, but I still love it.

So when you shop some Labor Day sales or some Summer Clearance this weekend - you do you.

Here is the full passage from Jen Hatmaker's book:
"There is something courageous about acknowledging your ability and right to create, even in the midst of "a real job" or mothering or managing. Women have the innate capacity to nurture their own art without a paycheck, audience, outside permission, or charitable intentions. Do you understand what I mean by charity? You are not required to save the world, or anyone for that matter, with your art. It isn't valuable only if it rescues or raises money or makes an enormous impact. It can be simply for the love of it. That is not frivolous or selfish in the slightest. If the only person it saves is you, that's enough."    - Jen Hatmaker, "Of Mess and Moxie"