Outfit #66 - Catch Ups and Old Folks

Outfit details:

Dress: Hot Options.  Cardigan: Jeanswest.  Shoes: Target (from Jeannie).  Earrings: made by me.

I'm really glad I don't work at school 4 days a week.  Not so much for the work factor, but this blog would be rather boring.  I feel like I'm copping out by doing 4 posts in a row of What I Wore.  However, this afternoon my quartet from school (along with other string groups from school) performed at the retirement village around the corner.  I chose today, then, to do some of the catch up lessons from when I was away sick. 

The earrings are really tiny, so you get one photo to see the draping of the dress at the front....

...and a close up of the actual earrings.

Jeannie passed these shoes on to me in January (or maybe December), I wore them to Summer School once, and .... and that was it.  I have trouble finding outfits that suit, mostly I think because they're cream and I have so much white.  But black and cream goes with black, no worries.  They are a little hot to wear though.

Today's photo:

The timing was just right today.  Coming home, I could see the sunset making the clouds all golden while on the train.  Once I was walking up my street, the clouds had turned to pink, and turning around I was met with this sight. 

Outfit #56 - Winter Neutrals

Outfit details:

Skirt: Portmans.  White top: Hot Options.  Blue top: Dotti.  Black top: Wool Base Layers.  Boots: Sandler.  Stockings: ??? Earrings: ? David Jones maybe.  Jacket: Sportsgirl (from Jeannie).  Hat: Portmans.  Scarf: Alta Linea.

I used to think you couldn't black and brown.  Or brown and grey.  Or navy and black.  I threw that all out the window for this outfit.

It seemed like I had oodles of time for photos this morning, but I still managed to miss the early train.  My first student was held up in traffic though so it didn't really matter.  At 7C I wasn't totally keen to go outside, but I could face it all rugged up and ready to go.

One of my grade 4 girls asked if my earrings were meant to be missing sparkly bits...  Um, no.  I guess I'll be finding some sparkly bits in a craft store or in my supplies to get some gluing happening.

These are different stockings from yesterday, truly.  These ones have a hole in the left toe, just a teensy bit annoying.

Speaking of yesterday... I didn't put up a photo of the magpie because it was a bit camera-shy.  I couldn't really see it on the camera screen, but it came through in the photo ok, hiding in the middle of the bush.

Today's photo:

There was a big assembly this morning, so I had coffee with a piano-teaching friend.  On the way back these bright yellow flowers caught my eye.

Outfit #29 - Third Time Lucky

Outfit details:
Skirt: Miss Shop (op shop).  Top: Ambra.  Leggings: ?  Shoes: Hot Options.  Earrings: David Jones.

I know this is not a very original outfit.  In fact, it's a mix of last Thursday and the Thursday before, plus leggings for warmth.  Different earrings of course (they're the silver snow flakes).

Today was the free cathedral concert.  I much prefer performing in black, and I had to go to school afterwards.  Much as I would have liked to have relaxed, the school ensemble I take on Thursday afternoons has it's first performance next week.  Now, a wrap dress I bought late last year I thought would do nicely for this concert.  It's black, it's knee-length, sleeved, wintry... Except it's a wrap dress.  I knew as soon as I took a step, way more of my legs would be on display than I find acceptable.  Next option: my standard winter gig dress.  Except it's only just come down from the attic and looks, funnily enough, like it's been stuffed in a bag in an attic for a few months.  Next option: well, the outfit I wore.  I hoped to wear another pair of autumnal shoes but they looked unmatched to the outfit.  I took along some black and cream patent stilettos, but didn't wear them in the end and stayed in the flats.  So, third time lucky for clothes and shoes.

No more detail shots or anything - by the time I got to photos I had a mega headache.  And I realised it was from dehydration so I couldn't even go for a run.  Sad face.

Outfit #28 - Autumn Business

Outfit details:
Skirt: Portmans.  Shirt: Miss Shop (from Jeannie).  Vest: Portmans.  Shoes: Pulp.  Earrings: Mombasa.  Jacket (below): Sportsgirl (from Jeannie).  Scarf (below): ?  from David Jones, anyway.

With so much black it's hard to see the details...

This skirt hasn't been worn by me for a few years.  It was one I tried on without checking the size and it turned out to be size smaller than normal, so it just didn't work for a little while.  Now it's fine though :)  The pinstripe in the skirt - as well as cute pleats - show up much more in an iPhone shot from school.

These shoes I think of as my Autumn Shoes (along with another pair that I'm thinking of wearing tomorrow).  I need to put another hole in the straps - they're just a little loose.  While I didn't lose a shoe, having them that slippy is really annoying.  That faded black/charcoal sort of colour makes them rather versatile though.

Today with the grade 3s we started holding the bow.  Now I feel like I'm really useful!  I didn't stop all morning, fixing, helping, adjusting, begging floppiness, and repeat.  No matter how many times their teacher said, over the bow, we still had fingers coming up from all angles.  The delight on their faces though when they had it right ("now, don't move!") was so rewarding.   One child I worry about though.  2 weeks ago was their first lesson after 3 weeks, and this child put her violin on her right shoulder while the teacher was helping the cellos.  She looked at me with a very concerned expression of "this doesn't feel quite right...".  I mouthed and motioned, "other shoulder" and she slowly moved it across, looking doubtful.  Once it was over there she looked so relieved.  I had a little moment of "maybe she should be doing viola...".  This week (they didn't have a lesson last week due to Anzac Day), when they were about to play after all the bow work, the same child did the same thing!  I had to laugh on the inside.  At least she's really enjoying violin and once her violin is in place properly, she's fine.  A few of the girls commented on the owl earrings - as I was passing by to rescue another bow hold, I'd hear quietly "I like your earrings" or "oh they're owls..."

Outfit #26 - Black and White Again

 Today was our first cold day.  Well, the coldest April morning for 4 years - it was 10C when I woke up.  And I had a late wake up, for a school day - 6am.

Outfit details:
Top: Ambra.  Skirt:  Capture (op shop).  Shoes: Hot Options.  Necklace: from Jeannie.  Earrings: ??? from David Jones I think.

I was going to wear slightly more exciting shoes, but I was doing a short workout at home this morning and felt my left foot go all weird.  Not wanting to exacerbate it, I opted for flats... And on the train home I was really feeling that was a mistake.  Is it odd to feel better in heels than flats?  At least they're cute.

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I have a sneaky feeling one of my grade 4 girls is a shoe girl.  Her very first lesson, and both lessons this term, I haven't had any comments - but every single other lesson she's said to me "You look really pretty today".  Last week and this week I've had boring shoes.... Coincidence?  Might have to test this.












This is possibly the first time I've worn this necklace.  It's great for playing, almost.  After a while I did have to rotate it so it wasn't symmetrical as I was getting a buzz, but I can work with that.  The earrings look like silver snowflakes.  And yes, today I was teaching in a different room. 

Outfit #24 - Guess What...

You're mad and I'm not... sorry.  Old habits die hard. 

From this term I'm at school on Thursdays as well.  The teacher who was taking the youngest string orchestra (children in grades 3 - 5) is on maternity leave for the rest of the year, and this way I get some conducting practice before next year's summer school.  Of course, these are really energetic kids.  And by energetic, I mean noisy, talkative, and in some cases, violent.  I think next week I'll push the desks further back so we can have a teensy bit more space.  Bows plus kids equals danger.


Outfit details:
Skirt: Miss Shop (op shop). Singlet: Ambra.  Top: David Lawrence.  Long sleeved top: Dotti.  Shoes: Hot Options.  Earrings: made by me.


I love wearing black.  I wouldn't normally wear all black to school though, unless I'm performing.  After conducting, I had a bit of spare time (hello coffee) and then a gig.  A great gig - corporate, a 90th birthday celebration for a company, they had speeches, they gave us drinks, they insisted we had food.  I love corporate gigs.






The skirt is one of my best buys.  It has had so many outings - I can't remember exactly how much it cost, but it was about $10-12, and with several, several gig wearings... it's definitely down to less than $1 per wear.  Woohoo! 

Outfit #17 - Please Don't Rain On Me

This morning was one of those mornings.  It's still really rainy weather, but the nights are cooler now also, so some things I hoped would dry overnight, didn't.  Slightly mad morning rush.  But I still left on time.  Just as I was arriving at the station, I was enjoying the light that comes early morning, with dark rain clouds still lingering and the remainder of a recent drenching... and I realised I had no umbrella.  I considered going back, but then I would miss the early train (which allows me to get a coffee on the way) as well as the later train.  I decided to risk it, and crossed my fingers. 








It rained several times throughout the day, and despite needing to collect little people and get to and from the office, it didn't actually rain on me.  Well, not until I went running, and then I got drenched near the city.

Outfit: 
Dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Belt: Target.  Shoes: Pulp.  Leggings: ? Earrings: Mombasa.










Today's outfit needed to be comfortable for a long day, as there was a school event in the afternoon.  It fit the bill, nice and soft but not frumpy, smart enough to meet parents.  These shoes are great for long days - the first time I wore them I had a 14 hour day, no blisters, no pain - all shoes should be like this.  They are also my 'nearly autumn' shoes, which is how the weather is these days.

Outfit #9 - Creamy Floral with Black

2 New Things in this outfit.  One to be repeated... One if necessary, but with caution.

Outfit:
Tank: Ambra.  Belt: Target.  Skirt: Jeanswest.  Shoes: Pulp.  Necklace: op shop.  Earrings: some silver shop, somewhere.

Good new thing:  a ribbon in my hair.  Just wrapped around the bun, not even in a bow, but there.  It's really hard to take a photo of my own hair.

Not so good new thing: belt around hips not with belt loops.  Really annoying.  I kept pulling it all day, and whenever I bent to help a grade 3 it landed around my waist. 

These shoes are really old.  Well, in the last few years, anyway.  But old enough that the inner sole is starting to come adrift.  Not many more wearings left in them I think.  I've been running a lot lately and wanted to keep my legs happy, but there's very little support in these flats so maybe not such a great choice. 


This is one of my new op shop necklaces from the start of this month.  I can't wear it when playing properly, but for being a Helper and for easy lessons I love the weight of it around my neck. 

Outfit #8 - Black and Red Floral

Earrings - actually sandalwood seed pods.

Outfit:
Dress: Hot Options.  Brooch: gift.  Shoes: Hot Options.  Earrings: from Kuranda.

Shoes, with wedge and Bandaid details.

Yes, I like Hot Options.  I don't often go into Target, but when I do I nearly always find something to try on.  This dress was one of 4 (yes, 4!) that I bought all at once.  2 different styles, each in a different material.  I'm not totally sold on this dress design (a twin to the circle dress, found in outfit #5) - it feels a bit baggy around the middle and I suspect I need to fill it out more for it to look really good.

This is the other brooch I was given for Christmas, which goes so well with this dress.  Someone even asked me if it came with the dress.  All the music staff looked great today - house photos.  Which also meant I had a very messy day trying to teach all my kids when mostly they were being photographed.  Or, it turns out, their teacher was being photographed and so the class went AWOL.  Super.

Outfit #7

 Outfit details:
Shirt dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Belt: Target.  Leggings: Ambra.  Shoes: from Jeannie.  Olympics earrings: gift.

I think of these earrings as Olympics earrings.  They were a birthday present I received during the last Olympics, and they are gold, silver and bronze (although it's a bit hard to see in the photo).

Today needed a bit of a fun outfit (yes, all black can be fun...) as I was helping with grade 3 strings for the first time.  I won't wear a short skirt next time - I forgot how little grade 3 kids can be, and there was a bit more 'sitting on the floor' time than I had anticipated.  For them.  This was my first group string lesson experience.  I've never taught a group of more than 2, and when they're in an ensemble they can already play.  Trying to position 18 violins/violas on little shoulders not used to this whole shoulder rest/chin rest thing, with the addition of school badges, making it not incredibly uncomfortable - it's tough.  And then all over again in the next class.  I had one boy approach me after - "can you put on badges?  Can you put mine back on for me?"  Their teacher (their real teacher, doing all the work) does such a great job.  All the kids said at the end that it was really fun.  And mostly they could count to 4 and do a little dance in the middle (interesting, in some cases, very energetic in most cases). 

Saturday January 21 - Look At Me, Rex Banner

.... I have a new hat. 

This was a bit of an emergency buy, as my regular hat was in a friend's car - and quite grubby.  The other hats I have at home were feeling just a teensy bit small.

I have worn the same style hat for at least ten years: white, floppy, even I think mostly the same brand.  They seem to be gathering in odd places at home.  One is decidedly small as someone (not me) put it in the washing machine.  Another started off with black dots which then bled pink when washed.  It's not a baking hot, sunny summer, but with my skin I need some shade on top.

In the spirit of New, I did try some other style hats - straw, small brim... Totally not me.  Maybe by the end of the year I could try to pull it off but not just yet.