Outfit #152 - Clash of the Pinks

I still wanted to wear the not-really-mine-because-it's-on-loan pink scarf.  And I figured this pink knitted top would be lovely and warm.  At least I didn't go with red or something, because this combination was just a bit too much for my eyes when I had to look at it.  Thankfully it was cold enough that the jacket stayed on for much of today, shielding the eyes.

Dress: Country Road (op shop). Top: Kookai. Scarf: David Jones (on loan). Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: Cose Belle.

I really had to wear these earrings today.  In a recent tidy-up I went from having a pair to having only a lonely one, and was so happy when I found the lost one caught up in a rug.

My first girl after school really liked this outfit.  Especially the stockings.

Outfit #151 - Colour, Step By Step

Today's outfit started out as tomorrow's outfit, and black and white. 

Top: Base Layers. Skirt: Country Road (op shop). Boots: Mina Martini (from Jeannie). Earrings: from Mombasa. Stockings: Ambra and Voodoo.

Step 1: I realised today was a good day to wear these boots (a very short day) and they would go with this outfit.  Days swapped.
Step 2: Add a pink scarf so I can get as much wear out of it before I have to return it.
Step 3: Add the maroon-ish jacket because it's the warmest option.
Step 4: Realise the stockings, being fishnets, would result in freezing legs.  Realise this would be a perfect opportunity to do some stocking layering with new colour block stockings.

Ta DA!  One black and white outfit has turned colourful.  I am really happy with the stockings result.  My legs were nice and warm and I like the look - much more effective than black and black.  This is only my second time layering stockings - and today someone found my site through search keywords 'layered stockings'.  Neat.

Outfit #150 - Apparently Crazy

A few weeks ago, I restrained myself and did not buy stockings.  Over the weekend, I took advantage of the sales and bought a ... few... pairs.  I contemplated some really crazy options.  I believe today's pair was rather conservative. 

Skirt: Gina Tricot (op shop). Top: Country Road (op shop). Jacket: Sportsgirl (from Jeannie). Scarf: David Jones (on loan). Stockings: Leona Edmiston. Boots: Sandler.  Earrings: Pandora (gift).

One member of the Fashion Police saw me and said, "I see we're wearing Crazy Lady Stockings today" - !!!  I tried to tell her they're not crazy, I'm a creative type anyway, but I was told she and I need to go shopping together.  I'm so glad that will never happen.

I also started the day (it was cold!) with a sudden agh! moment, realising I should be finding my gloves and a warm hat.  All I could find was one glove and my baker boy hat.  As it turns out, you need more hair to wear one of those.  I took a classic photo wearing it, but won't share it today. And although my envisioned outfit was the second photo, the reality for nearly the entire day (minus about 2 hours) was the top photo. 

My camera doesn't capture the colours so well so you get a close-up of the scarf/jacket/top - although the top is actually much more purple.  Right, now I'm off to find a warm hat and another glove.

Outfit #149 - Double Quartet Fun

My junior quartet performed for the first time today, in junior schooling assembly.  Which is the cutest thing, really.  And then I had a catch-up rehearsal with the continuing quartet.  Both quartets are so much fun - very different, but buckets of fun.

Skirt: Sinerji (swap). T-shirt: Ambra organic cotton. Striped top: Quick Brown Fox. Cardigan: Levi's (from Jeannie). Stockings: Razza Matazz. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: gift. Scarf: Alta Linea.

I was so proud of my junior girls.  They played better than ever!  And the grade 6 girls have got one of their new pieces (which are all a step up in difficulty for them) together in just a couple of weeks.  Not to mention, they played at the AFTAs yesterday on 2 days' notice. 

The rest of today was pretty full - some work stuff, pt, picked up my 'race pack' (ie, bib) for Sunday's race, some Myer sale shopping, some practice - oh and here we are.

Outfit #148 - Groovy Legs

Picking up a grade 2 girl from her class music lesson, their music teacher commented on my 'groovy legs'.  This afternoon, one of my very entertaining grade 7 girls also commented on the stockings...

Dress: Spicysugar (from Jeannie). Top: Dotti. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: from Mombasa, I think.

Checking the label of the dress and the earrings, I discovered today was almost a match.  But not quite.  (See the last time I wore nearly all these things together here).  And apologies for the hair.  Just - ugh.  I did wear the same scarf and jacket as that last time, too, but it wasn't cold enough for them to last very long.  Sigh.

I took this last photo while waiting for a train.  I love the totally blank floor and slightly on fire edging effects.

UPDATE: You can read the grade 7 girl's stocking quote here!

Outfit #147 - A Foggy Oggl Day

When I opened my front door at 5:45 this morning to go to the gym, there was fog in my driveway.  I don't remember seeing this before.  I had fun taking photos of the fogginess all morning.

Dress: Jeanswest (op shop). Tank: Now. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: ? Scarf: David Jones (on loan). Jacket: Sportsgirl (from Jeannie).

I was really happy with this dress.  When I bought it over summer, my arms were not quite as lean.  I tested it out on Monday as was delighted at the room in the arms now.  Yippee!

Next time, I'll try to get a better detail shot of the trim.  Meanwhile, here's one that shows the actual colour of this jacket.  Minus the top of my head.  Deal with it.

And, my favourite foggy photo from this morning.  It seems whenever I have that "maybe I should sleep in instead of going to the gym" thought, I see something wonderful that makes it all worthwhile.  Thanks, world.

Outfit #145 - Who Says You Can't?

I'm not quite breaking every rule in the fashion book here, but a few.  However, I feel the overall result isn't too bad.

Skirt: Sinerji (swap). Tank (only sometimes visible): Now. Long-sleeved top: Dotti. Dress (as shirt): Sunny Girl (op shop). Vest: Portmans. Stockings: Ambra. Boots: Sandler. Scarf (not pictured): Alta Linea. Jacket (only worn to school, not pictured): Sportsgirl (from Jeannie). Earrings: from mariachi.

I'm wearing a dress as a shirt.  Pattern with embroidery. Short sleeves over long. Black and blue.  Black and brown.  Who made these rules, anyway?!

Outfit #144 - Benefits of Baggy Clothes

Dress: Don't Ask Amanda (op shop). Top: Tokito. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Scarf: David Jones (on loan from mum). Jacket: Dotti.

1. If tops bunch up, you don't look lumpy.
2. No need to suck in mid-section (although good posture is still advisable).
3. Comfy as.
4. Stretching is easy!  Not just lower legs or arms, but quads and hip flexors and pretty much everything. 

I've also noticed that I feel more like a creative person when I'm dressing like this.  And I do appreciate that I can wear all sorts of clothing styles to work - the only no-nos are denim and shorts, and I've added 3/4 pants to my list of 'not for work' clothes.

I only took this last photo to show the colour of the top, which looks brown in the main photo.  A certain sporting event is on tonight...  And to reassure myself that my face won't always look as weird as yesterday.  Phew.

Outfit #143 - Sore Almost Everywhere

Title says it all, really.  I could go through the list, but I'll just leave it at letting you know that yesterday's PT session was thorough.  I have ow-ies in places I haven't felt since the days I did circus.  Meanwhile, next time I wear this skirt I think I'll need to do some close-up shots.  Likewise with the top.  The skirt is a dark denim-type material with large buttons, and the top is black and white but looks slightly psychedelic in photos.  Unless I make the photo really large...  And then you can get a slightly better idea.

Skirt: Country Road (op shop). Top: Limited Edition. Stockings: Target. Boots: Mina Martini (from Jeannie). Earrings: gift. Scarf: David Jones (on loan from mum). Jacket (not pictured): Dotti.

These boots were much-complimented.  I have walked around Melbourne and my own neighbourhood in them, so I thought a Tuesday would be fine.  Er - maybe not.  If I'd worn flat shoes for the walk to and from stations, or if they didn't have a narrow wedge, or if I wasn't in pain from, you know, the neck down, it might have been different... But by the time I got home my feet were complaining.  Lesson learned. 

I do like them so much though that you get 2 photos of them.

I know my face looks odd here. The purple bits around my eyes seemed to be especially weird today.  I wasn't going to go nuts with concealer, mostly because I couldn't really be bothered most of the time, and then I have days like today...

Outfit #142 - They Lied!

I checked the forecast for today.  I was promised sunshine, maybe some clouds.  They lied.  It bucketed.

Dress: Kinki Gerlinki. Cardigan: Levi's (from Jeannie). Top (not visible in photo, but present): Ambra bamboo. Stockings: Razza Matazz. Scarf: Atmosphere (gift). Shoes: Target.

Needless to say, the cardigan stayed on most of the day, and the scarf was also on for a substantial part.

Last time I wore this cardigan I promised a better close up shot.  So here I'm delivering.

Outfit #141 - Feeling Run Over

For most of today, I've been feeling run over, as Ziva would say. 

Skirt: Sinerji (via swap). Tank: Now. Top: Ambra. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: from Kuranda Markets. Stockings: ?

Yes, I love these boots.  And I see now that their colour is hardly visible, but they're royal blue.  And the tank is teal, although not visible either. 

And yes, I'm going for comfort in this week's outfits.  Although the weather is not as cold as expected, which is ruining my plans.

Outfit #140 - Come Rain and Come Shine

When I left home this morning, it was raining.  By the end of quartet rehearsal, it was blue skies and sunshine.  It alternated like that all day.  Anyone would think we were in Melbourne.

Top: Dotti. Dress: Cue (op shop). Boots: Sandler. Stockings: ?

There were several other contenders for the title today - the least horrible being "What Up, Hair?" (it's a good thing I forgot earrings today, trust me).  I had coughing fits to and from work, I was meant to be at school 12.5 hours but was given a reprieve, I had less than 5 hours sleep so felt... not good...  So right now I'm snuggled up on the sofa with a cup of chai, looking forward to an early bedtime.

Outfit #139 - Con Anima

A slightly ironic outfit name, here.  However, the continuing junior quartet (so, this year's grade 6 quartet) is named Con Anima - which means 'with spirit'.  They had their first performance for the year today, in middle schooling assembly.  I am feeling anything but spirited today.

Dress: Tengdahl (op shop). Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Scarf: Alta Linea. Jacket (not pictured): Sportsgirl (from Jeannie).

Although I feel like a million dollars in this dress, when it needs several layers underneath to make it warm and work-appropriate it bulks up quite a bit.  More experimentation required.  I did feel my outfit matched the weather today - grey and rainy and cold, for us.

Outfit #138 - Almost a Blockage

These are my colour block stockings.  And everything else was a block of colour too.  I actually wore 4 tops today, expecting to need to shed some layers during the day.  I didn't though, so I'll just list the top 2.  Non-block items were the scarf and earrings.

Skirt: Country Road (op shop). Blue top: Kookai (op shop). 'Plum' sweater: Tokito. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: Kinki Gerlinki (from Jeannie). Scarf: Atmosphere (gift).

You get a back shot today for the little bit of blue visible in the stockings.  My junior quartet girls commented on this fact (So Cool!  Oh, and your stockings are wonky).  That's all you get for photos though - I came home early from work, sick.

Outfit #137 - Snug As A Bug

I was nearly bowled over today by one of the grade 3 classes running back from PE.  Because I help out with their strings lesson, they all know me, so I had lots of smiles and waves.  One kid waved, grinned, and said I looked as snug as a bug in a rug.  Which was how I felt. 

Skirt: Gina Tricot (op shop). Tank (not really visible, but very necessary): Now. Top: Reverse (from Jeannie). Cardigan: Jeanswest. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: from Mombasa. Scarf: Atmosphere (gift).

Well, to be honest, my legs were a little cold.  Today was the first really cold day and I really enjoyed it!  Not least because I got to wear my favourite skirt.  Happy days.

I'm pretty sure this is the boldest I've been with pattern mixing.  Four - four! - in one outfit.  Striped stockings, animal earrings, floral scarf, and ...umm... something on my top.  I think of it as paisley, but it's more like stylised peacock feathers. 

Outfit #136 - Zipper Traps

I don't like zips.  I avoid them when I'm looking for running gear.  I avoid them when I'm buying dresses.  Yet, this blue dress has one up the side.  This morning was the first time I had a problem with it, of course, when I was getting dressed in about 7 minutes.  5 1/2 minutes was spent trying to extricate the delicate fabric of the blouse from the zip, while still breathing.  Makeup was rather sparse, and mascara non-existent.  But I still made the train.

Dress: Hot Options. Blouse: Witchery. Shoes: Pulp. Earrings: made by me. Scarf: Atmosphere (gift).

It's a bit hard to tell from the photo, but these shoes need some serious attention.  The sides are falling apart, so I'm trying to decide whether to give up on them, or to see if I can get them fixed.  Or even do something myself.  Any thoughts? 

As you can probably tell, today's theme was blue.

Outfit #135 - Thank You Naplan

Today was the first of the NAPLAN tests for the year.  Which meant, for me, a sleep in and a coffee with breakfast.  These little things make such a big difference in my life.

Dress: Jeanswest (op shop). Belt: Target. Shoes: Pulp. Earrings: Cose Belle. Leggings: ?

The funny thing was, if it hadn't been for a call from school yesterday to check that rehearsal wasn't on, I would have turned up to an empty room.