Brown and Gray Milkmaid April 27, 2008

For some reason, this outfit makes me think of ye olde Renaissance faire. Maybe it’s the flowiness of the skirt (ah, the joy of a flowy A-line) or the subtle bit of “puff” on the short sleeves, but it’s an outfit that almost takes on the style sensibilities of Disney’s Snow White.

Almost. I downgraded my outfit from “princess-y” to “milkmaid-y” because of my choice in colors. The brown and gray are a bit on the dull side, but I think that the more muted color combo gives the outfit a bit of credibility for day-to-day wear and/or errand-running. I’m not sure a brighter color scheme would have really worked as well.

I did end up pairing the outfit with some sparkly blue sandals for just a little bit of pop but, alas, had to retreat back into my apartment and change when I realized that spring hadn’t yet fully sprung in my neck of the woods.

Although it may seem to be at first, rest assured that this is not just a gratuitous boob shot, but rather a close-up to illustrate the nice shirred details on this top and the tank top I wore underneath. I’m starting to really like little details.

Apple of My Eye April 26, 2008

I got this super sweet vintage apple necklace at Citizen Fox’s Etsy store. I’m usually not one to wear much jewelry, but something about a pretty, handmade necklace just sends me to the moon. I got it about two weeks ago and now I’m wearing it pretty much every day regardless of whether or not the red matches my outfit. Somehow (at least in my opinion) the necklace is so cute and charming that it just sort of “goes.”

I just ordered a beautiful monogram charm necklace from Citizen Fox and should receive it very soon. It’s kind of a custom job since I requested a modification on the piece, but the necklace is still not pricey at all. That’s what I really love about Etsy. Not only are you connected to a lot of awesome independent artists, it’s also a wonderful place to get custom items for good prices. Ever since spying the Carrie necklace on Sex and the City, I’ve wanted something that looked as if it were made just for me. While I’m not too keen on having my name hanging around my neck, I surely wouldn’t mind something like this.

Cupcake-y April 25, 2008

Today’s outfit was a big departure for me. For work, I generally wear some sort of bland t-shirt and jeans combo–thus the main purpose of this blog. At first I did dress up a little bit, but when I realized that I could actually get away with wearing jeans to work, I quickly reverted to my old ways.

Today I chose to mix it up a little as part of my new commitment to try and dress a little better. The combination of pink, brown, and pale yellow reminds me of a box of cupcakes.

Today was just a sit-around-the-office day, so I’m not quite sure how well something like this might hold up in the field when I’m doing home visits with clients. I could see it being a little annoying getting in and out of the car, getting on the floor to play with the babies, and generally doing the usual stuff.

During my lunch break, I also discovered that light, cotton-y A-line skirts like these do tend to “bloom” a little bit when a stiff breeze blows through. Generally, I’m less of a Marilyn, more of a Jackie, so I didn’t recover from this little surprise with very much grace. Suffice it to say, on breezy days I’ll be keeping hold tightly of my skirts from now on.

Torn Between Two Farmers April 25, 2008

Looks like my brother-in-law’s wedding is going to be a more casual affair than I thought, however I still have my sights set on getting a new dress from Etsy. It’s pretty much impossible for me to find a dress off the rack, so it was like a miracle to find all the custom dressmakers who have set up shop on Etsy.

As soon as the budget permits, I plan on splurging a little on a custom-made dress from the fabulous Sveta Darling. I say splurging, but handing over less than a hundred bucks for a hand-tailored dress is a pretty awesome deal (I think). Sveta Darling’s designs are really cool, though a few of them might look slightly ridiculous on me–I’m kinda short but rather busty and the high collars on some of her dresses might make my torso transform into just a giant set of boobs. Better to stay with universally flattering scoop necks and v-necks, I say.

I have narrowed down my search to two worthy candidates. Just like the competition between Clinton and Obama, this one might just be a photo-finish…

First, we have France Farmer Will Have Her Revenge, a fetching little number with a bold, sexy sillhouette…

And I just love the lace detailing. And the little green belt. One problem: I’m not sure that I have the body to pull off a dress like this. There, I said it.

Next up, we have a variation on the first dress, this one called Frances Farmer Sheds Blood. The front is pretty much the same, so here’s a view of the back.

Notice that this one has more of an A-line fit that might be a little easier for semi-shy girls like me to wear. Of course, red isn’t really my color, so I’d probably ask to have the dress made with the blue material of the original Frances Farmer dress.

Part of me wants to have a dress in my arsenal that’s good for those occasions when one really wants to dress to impress–thus the basis of France Farmer Will Have Her Revenge. But then, how often do I have those? Still, that 50’s-style silhouette is really irresistible. 

On the other hand, I think that Frances Farmer Sheds Blood (provided I can get it in the blue material) may be more useful on a semi-daily basis with a cardigan or something worn over. I’m a huge fan of the A-line skirt for daily wear.

Oh, choices.