OOTD Nov. 6th: Testing it out

Do you ever build an outfit in your head for a long period of time before you try it out?  I often find myself thinking about how to style certain pieces in my wardrobe.  For example, for awhile now, I knew I wanted to wear an elbow-patch sweater from H and M with a vintage scarf, but I wasn't sure how to style the two pieces.  I knew I could just throw on a pair of jeans, but that seemed like a cop-out.  Eventually, I came up with an idea, but I wasn't sure how it would look on.  Sometimes, I have great ideas for pieces, but they don't translate well on a body.  This past Sunday, I went on a little shopping excursion with my mom, then the fiance and I had dinner with my family, so it was a perfect opportunity to test out my outfit:

Cardigan: HandM, sz. small; remixed here

Brown Cami: Nordstrom (I can't remember the brand), sz. small

Scarf: Vintage

Skirt: Puddle Pleasures Skirt, Modcloth, sz. small, remixed here

Tights: Merona for Target, sz. sm/md, remixed here

Boots: Etienne Aigner, sz. 8

Earrings: Truly Vintage (a brand that takes vintage beads and makes them into jewelry)

Ring: Vintage (it was my grandmother's)



I was also pretty excited about this outfit because it remixed several pieces much differently than I normally wear them. 

It was also a great cat-walking outfit.  Yep, I said cat-walking.  I bought a leash and decided to start training one of my kitties, Sassy, to walk on it with me.  She loves being outdoors, so I figured, why not? 

The fiance is horrified that I'll turn into that weird lady down the street who walks her cat every day.  No chance of that happening...at least not yet.  :)

Elton and the elders...a real hoot

Last night, the fiance and I went with my parents and aunt and uncle to...get ready for this...an Elton John/Jerry Lee Lewis cover concert and dinner at a senior center.  Yep.  Big date night.  My uncle knows the chef  who prepared the dinner pretty well, and he felt like he needed to make an appearance, so we were coerced into going tagged along.  When we got there, my fiance and I were the youngest people in the room by at least 30 years.  "Elton" took the stage, and we were the only two singing and dancing.  In fact, most of the others there looked like they were falling asleep.  Oh well.  We laughed quite a bit, and we gained an extra hour of our lives back thanks to Daylight Savings Time, so it wasn't a complete loss. 

Just to amuse myself and make the impending pain easier to handle, I dressed thematically.  I feel like Elton would be proud of my 70s-esque outfit:

Cardigan: H&M, sz. small

Blouse: Lemon Liftoff Blouse, Girls from Savoy from Anthropologie, sz. 4

Wide-leg High-waisted Cords: High IQ Corduroys, Cartonnier from Anthropologie, sz. 4

Shoes: Lake & Land Heels, Miss Albright from Anthropologie, sz. 7.5

Earrings: Target

Belt: Merona for Target, sz. small

I bought the blouse, cords, and shoes a few weeks ago when they all appeared in an Anthro sale update, and I couldn't be happier with all three items.  The cords are super-comfy, but I had to get them hemmed about four inches, and they're still too short!  Maybe someday I'll grow ;)

The blouse and heels are still available on Anthro's website, and I'm not sure how because they're both such great items.  I know the blouse has gotten lots of blogger love, and it appeared on Emma Pillsbury on Glee a few weeks ago.  The little owls all over it added to the theme of the night, because we all had a real "hoot" making fun of "Elton's" fake British accent (ha ha ha).  So that you can share in the fun, here's a poor-quality photo:

The rest of the night was just as blurry in real life.

Hope you all have a great start to your week!  I'll be off trying to get "Benny and the Jets" out of my head. 

Oh, deer!

Source

Source

I've always loved the animals print sweaters that Lea Michele's character Rachel Berry wears on Glee, and I'm constantly on the lookout for similar pieces.  However, because I teach high school, I never want to look exactly like Rachel, since she is, after all, a high school student.  I've been on the lookout for an animal print piece that is whimsical, yet still professional enough to wear to school, and I found it at H&M for $24.99.

Isn't that print just darling?  My outdoorsman father is so proud right now.

Blouse: H&M, size 6

Shorts: Merona for Target, size 4

Bracelets: NY &Co. from a few seasons ago

Booties: Payless, size 7.5

I first wore this blouse to a bachelorette party for one of my friends a few weeks ago.  We went to a country bar, complete with a mechanical bull, and I thought this blouse fit the bill.  It's extremely comfortable and easy to wear, so I had no problems line-dancing the night away.  The blouse even made it through a go on the bull! 

As far as sizing goes, when I tried on the blouse, the 4 fit, but because the front is cropped, it was pretty short.  I thought in order to wear the blouse to school and in order to be able to tuck it into a skirt, I should probably size up to a 6. 

Sorry for the blurry quality of the next pic.  I included it to show you the longer back of the blouse.  I love the line it creates!

Blouse: H&M, size 6

Tank: Mossimo for Target, size small

Capris: NY&Co., size 4

Bracelet: Banned Books bracelet, Kards Unlimited

Earrings: NY&Co.

Booties: Payless

I loved wearing this outfit to school.  I felt very Audrey Hepburn meets my grandma meets Rachel Berry.  I think the next time I wear this blouse, I might switch out the capris for a skirt, add some tights, and wear pumps instead of booties.  I'm loving how versatile this blouse is turning out to be! 

I couldn't find this exact blouse on the H&M website, but there are plenty of other whimsical deer prints out there that still maintain an air of professionalism.  And since you shouldn't wait for Christmas to start donning Donner and Dasher, here are some of my favorites:

ModCloth Do Re Mi Fawn Dress, $47.99

Modcloth What Time Is It Deer Watch Necklace, $24.99

Forever21 Deer Pendant Necklace, $2.80

Yumi Deer print pussy-bow blouse, $46.00

Marc by Marc Jacobs Running Deer Woolen Scarf, $226.00

And for those of you who would prefer a less literal take and don't mind the mega-splurge:

Emma Cook Shirt Pleated Midi Dress in Deer Spot Print, $850.72

Do you have any favorites?  Have you seen any other animal-printed pieces that strike your fancy?