Too Much Leg?

For my first outfit post, I decided to put together a normal outfit for anyday. Well, not any day. I work at a school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and have to maintain a more professional/"covered" look. However, this was a weekend outfit and was well within the realm of the amount of leg I am comfortable showing.

Demin-Like Dress: Thrifted, Salvation Army - Medium

Grey shirt: Thrifted, Salvation Army - Medium

Belt: Thrifted, Salvation Army - Size WAY TOO BIG in the great kind of way
Knee Socks: Target
Boots: Shoes.com, but can also be found at Famous Footwear - Size 9

Scarf: Christmas gift

I love love love my boots. I got them on Shoes.com before I realized that they are sold at like every Famous Footwear in the nation (okay, okay, I only saw them at one). But I have seen these exact boots everywhere. How do I know they are the exact same boots, you may ask? Because of the kickin' red zipper down the back, of course. My besty/boyfriend think they make me look like a Russian officer, which if you knew my BF, is totally a compliment.

I am not featuring a pic of said kickin' red zipper because all of my "back" shots are terrible. And I don't mean terrible in the kind of way that says, "Please someone beg me to put up the back shots so that everyone can say they aren't so bad". No no. I mean, they are terrible in the essence that I have never been forced to look at my own backside, ass and all. With the invention of new cameras that have set it and forget it kind of settings, I had the opportunity to view my ass-end and was not pleased. From now on, there will henceforth be no ass-side pics. Capisce?

This outfit seems a little too little (too much?) for a Chicago-style winter. Fortunately, I have never been the kind of person to allow weather to dictate what I wear. Rewind roughly 6-8 years and you'll have me, in High School, wearing sandals and cloth slippers in the winter. Was that dumb? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably. I would no longer wear sandals, but those cloth/mocassin slippers were/are necessary. If only I still had them.

What articles of clothing of your youth do you regret throwing away?

My Clothing Philosophy

Here it is, let me lay it out for you. I love clothes. I breathe clothes. I sometimes even sleep in clothes. And what I can tell you is that there are no universal truths about clothes. There are some clothing rules that are great standbys, but even those are not tried and true. Here are the clothing rules of life, as I see them:

1. Clothing is one factor in being the optimal you. There are probably millions and trillions of ways to make yourself the best you. Clothes are just the outward appearance and no one should STOP at clothes when making themselves the best they can be. However, you should and could START at clothes. They are versatile, turn a frown upside down, and wonderful things that can improve a spirit and day.
2. Thou shall only wear what you want. (When did this become a commandment thing?) Okay, I'll let you in on a secret. I am like a huge liberal, feminist, all body-size accepting kind of woman. I love all people and I love all people who love themselves. Here's the thing: there are no "rules" for what you can and cannot wear. There may be "guidelines", but those should never dictate you or what you wear. For example, ever heard rules about a-lines, or boxy coats, or calf length boots? I have. Like girls with short legs shouldn't wear x. Or tall girls should only get to wear y. Okay, please don't go naked, unless you are into that kind of thing with other consenting adults. But really, wear whatever the fuck you want. Anytime you want. It's what being a fashionista is all about.
3. Wear clothes that fit, unless you aren't into that kind of thing. Why am I always harping on fit? Fit matters, seriously. I put that caveat that you might not be into that kind of thing, because maybe you aren't and that might be your take on fashion. For me, fit matters. For others, they might like things baggy or skin tight or bondage tight. Which leads me to number 4.
4. Size numbers suck. So, it is well documented that sizes vary by store. The alteration of sizes is incidentally called "Vanity Sizing". Whose vanity, if I can ask? Not mine. I'd just like it if I could wear something the same size at each store I shop at. And this isn't just reserved for women, men's sizing suffers from similar "vanity". So, look for stuff that appears to fit, then try it on. And then ignore that size, if you have to go up or down. Believe me, you didn't gain 20 lbs since the last store you visited.

So, these philosophies will be incorporated throughout my posts. I plan to wear the clothes that I always wear, with some slight improvements and maybe some more thrifting because I'll feel guilty from all the non-thrifted stuff I buy. I will also be posting sizes for my garments to really reflect that although I look no different day to day, my clothes reflect a different "size". I think this is helpful and honestly wish more style bloggers would do it.

What are your clothing philosophies?

Essential (and Unessential) clothes

Arguably, no clothes are "essential", particularily for those who live in tropical climates. But probably, no one is going to quibble with me about the appropriateness of covering ourselves. It is important that people wear clothes and thus, I think it is crucial to make the most out of what we wear.

Note: I planned to do daily outfit posts - and still have that plan. However, I really should have considered the working condition of my camera prior to setting up this blog. Nonetheless, here I am now and I'll have to forge ahead cameraless.

The Essentials

1. Pants. Seems silly, that I have to spell it out like that. But pants are more than just delighful leg coverings. Pants can give us nice butts, excentuate the positives, eliminate the negatives, warm us up... etc. I prefer pants that fit. I hate light colored jeans. LOVE dress pants with wide legs. ADORE colorful silly pants.

2. Skirts. Okay, okay. This seems too basic. Here's what I love about skirts. First, you can wear skirts on a variety of occassions. Really, like any occassion. You can dress it up for a meeting, dress it down for a day at the house, wear it short to do a little flaunting or wear it long in one of the ultra-chic long skirt looks of today. Millions and Millions of people wear skirts for their versatility, breatheability, interchangability, intergalactic ability - you get the drill. Skirts were the most vital piece of clothing for both men and women, until men got all modest and started wearing pants. If you aren't already wearing skirts for all occassions, I highly recommend it.

3. Jean JACKETS. There is nothing better than a nice jean jacket. A jean jacket does everything. It can make you look cool with the collar popped. It can keep your arms warm. It can make a less than conservative top more appropriate for work (I have this problem a lot). Jean Jackets are controversial. I can understand that. But, if you are on the jean jacket fence - get one, love it, own it, and wear it (often).

The NON-Essentials

The non-essentials are not exactly what they seem to be. I consider all clothing that you or someone else likes as essential. That Lace Tutu from the thift store for $3? COMPLETELY ESSENTIAL. Those Men's pants/that maternity shirt that are too cute to pass up. COMPLETELY ESSENTIAL. Non-Essentials, thus, are clothes that simply make no sense. I have been victim of these non-essentials many times.

1. Pants that you wish fit, but don't. If they don't fit, don't buy them (unless they are for someone else). If you aren't going to wear them, now or sometime close in the future, do not buy it. You know how many times I have been in the local warehouse-sized Salvation Army staring at clothes, salivating? More than I can count. For example, just the other day, I bought a beautiful part of vintage dress pants with ATTACHED suspenders. Seriously, they are amazing. However, they are a size 10 from the 1950's. If you know anything about fashion, which you likely do, is that a size 10 now is not the same size 10 from the 50's. Infact, they are much different sizes. I got those puppies home, thrilled for my find, slipped them up and WHOOPS, no such luck. Cue sad trombome here.

2. Things that need altering, but you aren't a good seamstress (is there a gender neutral word for this?) or you are unwilling/unable to pay a tailor. This should be obvious, but I have bought so many things that I have hoped to tailor but have been way beyond my ability. I am looking at you, ruined ModCloth dress. I can totally sew, but not exactly in the way that I believe. In my mind, I am the next contestant on Project Runway (or that terrible knockoff "The Fashion Show").

3. Bowties. Bowties don't exactly fit into the description of a non-essential item, based on the description provided above. However, I really hate bowties. They don't do anything, are merely decorative, and stupid looking. Bowties are designed to be wore by men who are attending Very Important Events (tm). That's not fashion though! Nothing that has a prescribed role can really count as fashion, so in general, I find bowties distasteful and completely non-essential. All of the above can also be applied to regular neck ties, which I also hate, but tolerate slightly more than bowties.

What clothing items do you think qualify as essential/non-essential?

Spring 2011 Trends

According to what I read on the internet, there are some new fashion trends for this Spring and since it is newly 2011, I thought that perhaps it is time to investigate these trends.

For anyone who follows any bit of fashion, it is clear that "trends" coming around about once every few years. And once something has been around for a few years, the appeal of them starts to fade. During high school, mid-drift (who uses that word?) baring tops were all the rage. I expect in one or two years, that trend will return, but I am no longer foolish enough to participate...

Trend 1: Wide Legged Pants
Thanks to whatever is holy, wide legged pants are back in. I have squeezed my ass into too many skinny jeans to count, only to realize what I always have known - I don't look good in Skinny Jeans. Wide Legged Pants, however, are exactly what my ass needs.

Trend 2: Orange
I didn't really know the color Orange went out of style. ? Did you? Although I fully support the return of Orange, I am a little suspect. Prison colors don't look good on anyone.

Trend 3: Future Militaristic?
I'm sorry, but what? Not even just modern militaristic? I had always hoped that 'Future' militaristic would be non-existant, like peace and love and hippy shit. Not this, weird white bondage look that I am seeing every where. Sorry, I'll pass.

Trend 4: Dolman Sleeves
Okay, I'll be honest, I had to look this one up. I might be hip to the fashions, but I still have a lot to learn with the lingo. According to answers.com, a dolman sleeve is a full sleeve that is very wide at the armhole and narrow at the wrist. Huh? I can see the perks of that for Spring or hell, even at a Pirate Parade in the middle of winter, but really this is what I have to expect for Spring 2011? Or maybe, we'll all be ultra-hip wearing one of these "Bajas". Check out those Dolman Sleeves!!

Welcome 2011

With 2010 out of the way and 2011 upon us - I am undertaking a new venture. One that I have dreamed about for months after discovering a variety of wonderful and inspiring fashion blogs on the internet. I meandered around AcademicChic. I absorbed MyEdit. And I indulged in OrchidGrey.

To me, Fashion is about expression and creativity and art - and I want to suck the marrow out of that shit every day.

So, here is to a journey of fashion!