Thoughts From the Dirty City

Aside from piling, the week three tasks also included the following:

Style. Make a (preliminary) definition of your overall look(s).  The issues you’re trying to define are level of formality, basic silhouette(s), balance of color and pattern, what you expect of your tops and your bottoms when they play together. Think in terms of how to put together outfits for your typical weekly routine.

After seeing a few of the other gals involved in this round of WT’s use of polyvore.com, I decided to give it a whirl myself. I have to say, the site is a dangerous place to land when you have things that need doing. It is the pinnacle of internet distraction and time suckage.
In any case, it did come in very handy for this portion of the task as it allowed me to compile images of standard types of outfits I generally wear without having to bust out the camera again.

Me, everyday. I have lovingly dubbed it my “glittery bum on the road” look.

If I’m not at work…this is pretty much what I look like.
Super casual loose fitting jeans with a few barely coordinated often contrasting layers on top. Some pattern often comes into play, but I’m not super picky as long as it isn’t a large print. Also, it tends to get a little buried under another layer so it probably shouldn’t count.
Funky flats.
Too much sparkly black eye shadow and OPI nail polish. (ore on make up as week 4 unfolds)
Also a few pieces of bold jewelry. Usually a few rings and occasionally a necklace.
As a side note, the percentage of clothing in my closet with skulls on it is a bit silly.

The “Office Conservative” look

I am not a conservative person, but the office I work in is. So I generally try to stick to basics whenever possible. Figuring I can liven them up with other funkier pieces if I need to wear them outside the office.  I wear more black than I would like, but it’s easier that way. Large pieces of jewelry still make it into the mix though. Hey, I gotta bring at least a little bit of me to the party

Slightly Funky Office Conservative

Office look part 2: cause sometimes I get bored and just NEED to jazz it up a bit.

All in all, I would say my general style is casual eclectic, with a bit of funk. I’m working on adding a bit of softened girlitude to the mix though. More and more that sort of thing has been appealing to me. We will have to see how the two combine…

The remaining tasks:

Start securing your supply lines. Shopping is easier if you have reliable sources of flattering garments. My supply lines have completely fallen apart, and many of the shapes I want are available only from thrift these days. That’s great for the wallet, not so good for the time sink required to find clothes, especially as the recession means there’s more competition for the best thrift finds.

This one is easy, as my supply lines are bound to my highly limited budget these days. I stick to the basics: Target, TJ Maxx and Gabrial Brothers. Especially Gabs.

Glance at your undergarments. Thank goodness we mostly expect less of the lower undies than we do of the upper ones! If they pinch, create bulges, fall off, are falling apart, or are not sufficient to get you to the next laundry day, this is the time to do something about it.

I have a tendancy to ratate these out fairly regularly. Socks, shoes and underwear are among my favorite things to shop for so none are ever really in desperate need of attending to. Except for shoes…there can never be enough shoes in the closet. Not to be cliche, but it’s true. Shoes have a fairly long shelf life and are an easy peasy way of mixing up your wardrobe. Though they aren’t especially nice on the budget.

Hopefully by the end of this week I will be all caught up with the rest of the gang on the WT tasks.
The tasks for week 3 are Bottoms Up:

Part 1: Pile!
I have two basic pant piles, work pants and jeans. I should preface this by saying that I have recently endeavored to change my life and get healthy and active. Also, too loose weight. All good things. The only downside is a closet full of clothes that don’t quite fit anymore. Well, mostly. I’m slowly fixing this (mostly focused on jeans so far). But as I’m not at my goal weight yet I am reluctant to replace everything in my closet only to (fingers crossed) need to do it again in short order. That said, the work pants:

Velveteen Rabbits
The brown pair in the middle bottom. The photo doesn’t really do them justice. They are a rich chocolate brown and I have loved them and worn them to the brink of death. The bottom hem and the fabric itself is starting to look a bit haggard from too many trips through the washing machine. Since neither of these are things that can really be fixed, I know I should probably toss them right now. But I wont, I love them too much. As soon as I find a suitable replacement they are gone. Promise.

Torture Devices
Middle pair second from the top. While I love the cut of these (super wide leg with a big chunky cuff) the olive green just doesn’t quite go with anything. I pull it off with black tops but that seems to be their limit. Everything else I own just looks slightly off paired with them.
Also, the gray pair bottom right. They are just slightly too short to be worn with all my heels and just slightly too long to be worn with flats. I usually end up going with flats as I prefer a bit too long as compared to a bit too short.

Superstars
The black pair in the middle. They are the closest thing I have to pants that fit.
Stalwart Staples
Both pairs on the left. They are the perfect length for my modest heels and one or the other seems to go with everything I own.

Same Time, Next Year
When I piled my bottoms I had no shorts or skirts. That’s right. Not a single one. So there really wasn’t an opportunity for any of my pants to fall into this category. For the past few years I just haven’t been feeling the whole skirt thing so I figured why force it.
These days though, I’ve been kinda itching to go girly every now and again. To that end I have gone shopping this weekend and acquired a skirt! Huzah. I know, just the one. But it’s a start!! And it’s a summery skirt, so come next round I will have at least one thing to list in this category.
As for shorts…I would prefer to stick to a skirt or jeans. I’m just not comfortable in shorts. Ever. They just feel all wrong on my body no matter the length or fabric type.

Sentimental Journeys
None. I’m not really attached to any of my pants.

Jeans:

Velveteen Rabbits
They aren’t pictured because I was wearing them at the time. They are the most comfortable pair of jeans I have ever owned. They fit just right. Granted, they are probably too loose for most people’s tastes but I love them. But the years of wear have left the bottoms frayed the pockets worn and the the fabric over the knee is nearly transparent. Again, I know I should probably just give up the ghost. Chances are I’m going to hang on to them until they are completely unwearable.

Torture Devices
Second pair from the right. They fit. I guess. I just don’t get jeans with stretch in them. I don’t like anything clinging to my hips the way that these do. I usually only wear them when all other options are dirty.
Oh, and the pair just to the left of those. They are officially too big to wear and are getting tossed. No clue why I have hung on to them as long as I have.

Superstars
The pair on the far left. They are a bit light to qualify for “nice/dressy” jeans, if there is such a thing. But the wide leg cut seem to make them a bit more appropriate when my worn down denim just wont do. Also, they have some great detailing and look really cute with a nice cardigan.
Stalwart Staples
The pair to the far right. They aren’t destroyed so I can wear them in public without feeling shame, but they still fit loose in the “boyfriend” jean style I prefer. Also, the dark wash seems to make them a bit more flexible. As a bonus they are on the long side so I can get away with a low heel if I want. Or one quick roll and they are good to go with flip flops.

Same Time, Next Year
See above. I don’t do shorts.

Sentimental Journeys
Again. None.

There was a holiday…so I was busy with family and visiting and all the standard stuff that comes with a holiday. I’m still trying to recover a bit from the whirlwind fatigue that follows. I’m looking forward to the free time of my usual weekend. One that will allow for extra sleep and some much needed catching up.

Work has been keeping me more than busy.
The planning and preparing for a big annual event has me spinning a bit. Stress and worry that everything wont get done on time has been giving me daily panic attacks.  Too many days when the list of things to do seems to be growing exponentially and the days are ticking off faster and faster. I start to fret. Okay, more like completely freak out.

Slowly but surely it’ll get there though. I just need to remember to breath and keep plugging away. Eventually it will all get done. Or the event will happen without whatever it is I am fretting over that moment. Either way, by mid May it will all be over. No reason to panic. Like everything else in life, just breath and keep moving!

Side Projects
I’ve also been spending a lot of time thinking and planning for a new side project. It involves something I have been thinking about doing for a while now. Recently I decided to just do it now rather than wait for the “perfect” time. I’m just going to do it and let the chips fall where they may.

I’ve realized it can’t happen all big and grand the way it is in my daydreams. That just isn’t realistic. I’ve also realized that doesn’t mean it can’t happen at all though. Everything has to start somewhere. I’ve got a rough idea of where to start and I’m working on making it happen.

How was that for vague?
It’s really early in the planning and thinking stages and not a whole lot has been decided yet. So there isn’t a whole lot to say specifically at the moment. But soon! Hopefully very soon. For now I’m just excited for the prospect. That initial step.  The decision to move forward. I just know in my heart that it’s time to make some changes. Shake the dust off the routine. Step outside my comfort zone and try something new.

I’m trying to enjoy the process and remember that all the work is because its something I want to be doing, not something I HAVE to be doing. That line of thinking seems to be counter to my nature. I’m a “dig your heels in and get the job done” kinda girl. And while that is great under a deadline, it can occasionally be a fun-sponge to tasks I would prefer to savor and enjoy. Hopefully this little adventure will help to curb that tendency a bit as I move forward, remembering to take my time and enjoy it.

I can’t wait for it to start to really take shape so I can share more!

Wardrobe Therapy
No worries, all my babbling and griping about clothes will return soon.

I am woefully behind on my wardrobe therapy tasks. Week 3 came and went and week 4 is here. How is that possible? Time moves in the craziest ways.

Anyway, a continuation post to the week 2 task regarding support garments (targeting sports bras) was in the works. Considering how backlogged I am though, I may just skip that and revisit it at a later date.  Cause really, as long as they keep the girls firmly in place while everything else is flying akimbo who cares. It’s the gym, style doesn’t count.

For now, I have a date with a pile of ill fitting pants and a polyvore account to create

See you all on the up side!

Very much looking forward to the McQueen show!!