wardrobe wednesday

Spring Pandemonium

The arrival of spring has brought with it a ramping up of kids' activities – track, golf, choir, student council, oh my! –  an increase in freelance projects for me, and a general chaos around the Dickinson house as we prepare for numerous trips over the next few weeks. Mike is traveling a lot for work, Hayden is going on a class trip to Washington DC, and we are making our annual pilgrimage to Mexico for a little quality time in the sea and sand. 

All of which has little to do with today's post, but I feel like I need to present an excuse for neglecting the blog. My new role as Uber driver for the littles (without the cool app - they merely text WHERE ARE YOU?!? when they require wheels) and all the pre-travel prep have sucked up most of my available minutes. Because nothing helps you enjoy a vacation more than spending the two weeks leading up to it packing in everything you're supposed to be doing while on said vacation. 

Last weekend was all about getting new shorts and swimsuits for the kids (um, who told them they could GROW over the winter?!?) So while re-stocking their summer staples, I snagged this new striped blazer for myself. And since pandemonium seems to be my middle name these days, it seemed fitting to throw stripes and plaid together for today's outfit. The only thing missing is the caffeine that's fueling these next few weeks. Better make a run through Starbucks on the way to my next Uber pick up!

 

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Merona Striped Tailored Blazer
Old Navy Happy Coral Plaid Shirt
Kut from the Kloth Catherine jeans
Dollhouse D'Orsay FLats (old) | similar
Wrist Soiree Amelia Bracelet
clutch (thrifted)

 

Skirting the Issue

Back in the olden days when I was working in a corporate advertising job, I avoided wearing skirts, preferring pants that didn't require the mandatory (and much dreaded) hosiery. Nowadays, as a freelancer designer, the occasion to wear skirts doesn't really present itself all that often. Yet in the past few years, I've slowly been growing the skirt contingency in my wardrobe. Even more surprising is that I'm finding I actually reach for them on a regular basis.

Maybe it's because skirts rarely remind you that you've skipped lunges for the past 163 days and your thighs are a little jiggly. Unlike those bitchy skinny jeans that not only remind you, but point and giggle, too. Or maybe it's because it's hard not to feel invincible - or at least capable of some serious to-do list ass kicking -  in a really good pencil skirt.

At any rate, I'm kinda loving the skirts lately. And the fact that I now work for employer whose dress code* allows for bare legs and boots in lieu of hosiery and heels, would make the 23-year old me pretty dang proud.

*It should be noted that my employee dress code also allows for flannel pj pants, sweaty workout gear and ragged terry cloth robes. Just not on Wednesdays.

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Old Navy jean jacket
J Crew Factory Sketched Cotton tee
Old Navy plaid pencil skirt (sold out) | on ebay
Matisse Jax boots
Cynthia Garrett leather cuff
Target rhinestone necklace (sold out) | similar, similar 
asos clutch 
Warby Parker Roosevelt glasses

The Stripe Rationale

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Tulle canvas jacket (old) | similar on ebay; in green on ebay
Gap Stripe Textural Pullover ON SALE!
Gap 1969 Always Skinny jeans (old wash) | similar
Merona plaid scarf
Matisse Butch booties (tan) ON SALE!
Madewell Arrowstacked necklace
Merona Boyfriend Watch
Rayban sunnies | on ebay

 

I took these photos a few weeks ago before Snowmaggedon and the Polar Vortex (or winter, as us old timers like to call it) rolled into Colorado. Since then, the snow and subzero temps have kept me from documenting any other outfits, as I kinda of like having all my digits remain frostbite free. I'm rational like that.

Something I'm not so rational about? The number of striped shirts one girl needs in her closet. Mine seem to be multiplying at a rapid rate. But they are just so darn versatile and pair perfectly with plaid, my other fashion passion this season. I am, however branching out from my usual navy & white stripes with this newest version in heather gray and ivory. Daring and risky, I know. This one is actually a heavier-weight fabric, more like a sweatshirt, which happens to be ideal for this whole winter thing we've got going on. And it's currently on sale at Gap for $17.99, which is why I grabbed it. Just me doing that whole rational thing again.

And just in case you missed it, I am still in the process of doing a good old-fashioned closet purge (to make room for more stripes, obvs!) and the gently-worn items are all listed for sale on the @shopwardrobewednesday Instagram page. Proceeds will go to animal charities, and I'll be listing more than 60 various items from J Crew, Anthropologie, Old Navy, and local boutiques over the next few weeks. Here's a peek at just a few of the pieces for sale:

If you're not on Instagram but are interested in something, just leave me a comment here, or shoot me an email. I'm open to offers and can bundle several items together at a discount.

Hope your Wednesday is warm, wonderful, and a little bit stripey!