Day 21: Elegant and a Bit Flirty

Retrohipmama said that my patterned tights were "elegant and a bit flirty" and I thought, "That is EXACTLY the look I'm going for." I have never been able to articulate what my style was, and in just a few words she hit it on the nose!

That's one of the things I've loved most about this challenge. I feel like I have a better handle on how I want to dress. I want to be lady-like without being stuffy, to be as comfortable and stylish in a tee shirt as in stilettos. I want to put together my favorite colors in new ways, like I did here, and add some of my favorite jewelry and feel lovely all day. I need to be on the lookout for more patterns, though.



It's also done wonders for my self-esteem - all of you lovely people saying kind things have made me feel much better about my post-baby body. Thank you! I'm so excited to have made new friends, and gotten in better contact with beloved old ones. I hope you all will stick around and see what else our crazy family can come up with.

I'm sad that today is the last day. This has been so much fun! The inspiration to get ready every day has been really good for getting me in the habit. I do have to say, I may lounge around in pajamas ALL DAY tomorrow, just because I can.



Anything you think just didn't really work on me? Any favorite outfits I shouldn't miss repeating?

Plum sweater: Mervyn's
Mustard shirt: Macy's
Black skirt: Mr. Mac
Plum shoes: Primark in London
Pearl-like necklace: Thrifted
Gold necklace: Tower of London
Mayflower earrings: Plimoth

Day 20: Hello New Shoes, Bye Bye Blues!

(I did take these pictures on Saturday, I just didn't have time to put them up)

I was going for something a little more casual today. I feel like I have the dressy thing down pretty well, but I still want to feel put together and interesting when I'm just lounging around too.



I really liked the way this turned out. It was comfy and fun - we watched BYU barely beat Ole Miss with a whole group of friends, and I didn't feel overdressed at all. (Yes, the all blue was intentional. Gotta show my team spirit!) I'll admit to kicking off my heels, though, the better to jump around when BYU (finally) scored.



The only thing I won't redo is the hair. It sits at the widest part of my face and just looks really...matronly. And not in a fun school marm kind of way.

Striped shirt: Swapped from Nicole
White tank top: Shade
Jeans: Motherhood
Blue heels: Forever Young
Cream necklace: Maurice's
Rose earrings: Provo Farmers' Market

Day 19: Ahead of the Game

I really, desperately, want to wear hats. They add a certain joie de vivre to an outfit, don't you think? The only problem - My head is so big that hats NEVER fit me. It might be brains, it might be poofy hair, or it might just be a huge noggin! But even with all this, I still try on hats everywhere I go. I must just be eternally hopeful.



It paid off! I found this hat at Target and IT FIT! You better believe that I snatched it up. It's even big enough to cover Jesse when he's in the sling.



I was actually planning on wearing this today anyways - we're spending all day at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, and I'm bringing Jesse along. I look forward to this every summer!



Pink shirt: Swapped from Nicole
Blue dress: Forever 21
Floppy hat: Target
White earrings: Gift from Mom
Silver necklace: Gift from sister, Savannah
Sandals: Old Navy
Flower scarf: Target

Day 18: Kal Ho Naa Ho

Right before I graduated from high school my dad tried to get me to watch a new movie called Bride and Prejudice with the family. "You'll love it!" he said. "It's Jane Austen as a musical in India!" But I was busy with finals and dates, so they watched it without me.

Finally, just before I moved out for college, my dad and I sat down and watched it together. He was absolutely right. It was EXACTLY my style - the colors, the dancing, even just the general exuberance were all amazing. I've always been fascinated by Indian culture, so that was just a plus. I was totally hooked.



Last year, I was gushing to a friend about how much I loved this movie, and she laughed at me. "Sweetie, Bride and Prejudice BARELY counts as Bollywood. Try these." So I went home at watched Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come).

Three hours later, I was so glad Jon wasn't home. Kal Ho Naa Ho had a great love triangle, a super dramatic story, and a spectacular musical number in the streets of New York that had me laughing out loud at the craziness. All part of a typical Bollywood movie. But it also had a tragedy that left me sobbing. It was actually really cathartic - sometimes you just need to cry, even though there's no particular reason.



Ever since, I've been picking up Bollywood movies on Netflix whenever I can. I even watched one this morning, which probably inspired my outfit. I've never worn this bracelet before. My sister Nikki brought it back from her trip to India, where she taught dance for a summer. Even before I loved Bollywood, India was on my list of places to travel to. Someday she and I will go back together.

(Also, it was awesomely windy today, which was really appropriate with my flowy skirt and scarf!)

Black shirt: Shade
Black skirt: Borrowed from Laura, my sister-in-law
Gold sandals: Forever Young
Green silk scarf: Gift from parents from India
Gold earrings: Gift from Jocelyn, my sister-in-law
Bracelet: Gift from my sister, Nikki, from India

Day 17: The Fire of Vest-a

I've had this red shirt in my repair pile for almost a year, I think. I loved the lace, but the sleeves were too short, and the whole thing was just...not right (as you can see from my face). When I was looking through my repairs for today, I thought, "Hey, a little unpicking and I can turn this into a vest!" What do you think?



I saw this blue and red combo a ton during Christmas a few years ago. It's only recently that I've realized that I can use design and fabrics as color-matching inspiration. I really like the way it turns out here!



These shoes are Nicole's miracle wedges! I got them in the swap. I felt a little guilty taking these shoes that obviously wanted to go with her, but then I decided they just knew that that was the best way to get to me. I didn't have any wedges, but now I have RED ones!



Vesta is the Roman goddess of hearth, home and family. I thought it was appropriate, since this mama has a new-found fascination with vests!



Blue shirt: Costco
Red shirt: Target, made into vest by me.
Jeans: Motherhood
Red wedges: Swapped from Nicole
Gold necklace: Tower of London
Gold earrings: Forever 21

Day 16: Lime Rickey

This vest was the perfect thing to pick for a remix piece. It needed more love - it's so flattering!



These aren't new glasses, but I never wear them. Maybe I need to!

I also tried a smokey eye with my makeup. I'm not sure if it works or if I look like I got punched. What do you think?



White button-up: Macy's
Black vest: Gift from Mom (3rd remix, so 4th time wearing it)
Lime tie: Borrowed from Jon
Jeans: Motherhood
Plum shoes: My wedding shoes!
Earrings: Icing

Day 15: Modern Day Princess

I used to put necklaces on my hair like this when I was a little girl and pretend to be a medieval princess. After a few History of Britain classes, I know better - I'd rather be a strong, elegant, hardworking woman now than bleed myself to look pale, and then die really young of gum disease.



I still like the look, though. And I don't mind a little waiting-on-hand-and-foot.



This outfit is another example of what I've learned from this challenge! I chose the green dress because I wanted to evoke "princess" without being too precious. When I looked at it, I thought "This needs another texture..." I NEVER would have thought to put this lacy shirt under this dress before now.



I'm so excited to see what people come up with today! I'm always looking for new hairstyles. I tend to get into a half-back rut.



Green dress: Old Navy
Lacy shirt: Gift from Mom
Cream shirt: Halftee
Nude heels: Thrifted
Gold necklace: The Tower of London
Necklace in hair: Forever 21
Hair tutorial by Loepsie here

Day 14: Two Weeks!

When I get new clothes, I tend to be obsessive about them. I'll forget I have other clothes, because I'm too busy playing with my new stuff. As evidenced by the fact that I am wearing something from Nicole. Again. However, today I have an excuse: I needed it for my inspiration outfit!



I know it's a little silly to wear a cardigan in August, when Utah is typically hottest, but our church building is COLD! (I confess that as soon as church was over, I took off my scarf. Too hot!)



Here's my inspiration shot - it's from a Boden ad in a Real Simple magazine. I really love the idea of putting my own spin on someone else's outfit. It was really fun!



"Oh my goodness! Mom has gotten dressed EVERY DAY for two whole weeks! Wow!"



Blue striped shirt: Swapped from Nicole
Purple cardigan: Mervyns, before they went out of business
Polka dot scarf: Thrifted
Black skirt: Mr. Mac
Purple shoes: JCPenney Wedding shoes
Silver earrings: Forever 21

Day 13: Lucky 13

There have been a few outfits in this challenge that I knew immediately I would wear again. This is one of them. It feels like ME, with a little of what I've learned the past two weeks thrown in to make it more awesomer. I LOVE the patterned tights and the bright blue. Even better, Jon kept telling me how hot I was. Done and done.



Look, my wedding ring! We went to our friends' wedding today, so I thought it would be appropriate. It went on with a little struggle, and I'm not sure I can get it off. Oh well! I'd rather wear this one anyway.



Jon is now encouraging Jesse to say "Dad." Yes, he's two months old, and won't really start talking for eight or nine more months. But now Jon is trying to bribe him. "I'll buy you lots of LEGO sets* if you say 'Dad' first!" I was finding it a little (okay, a lot) ridiculous, until yesterday. "Jesse, I'll take you to London if you say 'Dad' first!" Oh, yeah? Da da da da da, Jesse! Da da da!

Black cardigan: Macy's
Black tank top: Shade
Blue skirt: Swapped from Nicole
Patterned tights: Macy's
Black heels: Forever Young
Blue earrings: Gift from Dad
Silver necklace: Thrifted
And my wedding ring!

*When I asked Jon to proofread this, we had a whole conversation about what the correct plural form of Lego was. I thought Legos. Apparently, I was wrong.

Edited to add: After a little more research, the LEGO set vs LEGOs vs Lego's is a huge debate! Who knew?

Day 12: The Swap

I actually had a totally different idea for today. I was so frustrated with my lack of patterns on the mixing patterns day that when we went to Costco and I saw a striped sweater, I swooped on it. It...didn't work. I had to return it. But I got this instead!



Nicole and I had a clothes swap! I got rid of stuff I don't wear, and got the joy of new clothes, all without spending a penny. Best idea EVER.
This shirt is one of the things I got from Nicole. It's secretly genius. Know why?



Stretchy tee shirt panels! They make the shirt all sleek on the curves and awesome and stuff.



You will ABSOLUTELY be seeing more of Nicole's clothes in future outfits.

Hot pink shirt (w/stretchy tee shirt panels!): Swapped from Nicole
White tank top: Shade
Flowery scarf: Target
Jeans: Motherhood
Grey shoes: Primark in London
White flower earrings: Gift from Mom

Day 11: 1950's Housewife

Wear a dress or a skirt? Easy. Done. I love skirts. In fact, I wore ONLY skirts and dresses for the entirety of last summer. My jeans got ruined on our trip to England last April, and I HATE jeans shopping. Since I couldn't wear jeans to work, it just wasn't worth the hassle. Finally in October, after two days of shopping with a really honest friend, I finally had a pair that I liked. Yay, I had jeans again!

The next day I found out I was pregnant.



I feel like this dress has a 1950's housewife feel to it, and I love it! Those ladies sure knew how to dress. I was hoping the black belt would help make it a little more modern - what do you think?



Also, look! Belting! Color blocking! Belt-as-headband! Man, I'm learning so much from this challenge.



Coral dress: Anthropologie
Mustard tank top: 2 Love
Mustard heels: Forever Young
Black belt: Thrifted
Mayflower earrings: Plimoth
Crane necklace: Provo Farmer's Market
Headband: From dress