WIWW, The "My iPhone camera is my friend" Issue

Hello, fashion lovers! With much effort and a few grumbles I'm back this week for What I Wore Wednesday. Originally created to pull stay-at-home moms out of their sweatpants and t-shirt routine, it's sweeping the nation! Ok, so that might be a bit dramatic (Moi? Dramatic?), but there really are lots of women, moms and non-moms alike who are linking up with Lindsey to spice up their day to day wear. Here we go!

Thursday - Work and a Brian Regan comedy show at The Tivoli Theatre

Thank the good lord for full length mirrors in the Tivoli ladies room, because I had no time between work, therapy and a spontaneous date night with Jason to take pictures at home. Also, notice something new? A scarf! Boots! That means temperatures under seventy degrees! Hooray!

Skirt and Boots - Target

Top - Gap Outlet

Ruffled Cardigan - Forever 21

Scarf - Random airport shop in Dallas

Gorgeous Theatre - The City of Chattanooga

Friday - Work

No, you're not seeing things. Those are my white pants. On my body. After Labor Day. I posted the following status on my Facebook last Friday, "I'm wearing my white pants after Labor Day. Just thought I'd share for those of you who want to a.) judge me or b.) rejoice that I've been freed from the shackles of southern dress code tradition." The response was overwhelmingly supportive and even the southern fashion maven that I've looked up to since high school gave me her vote of confidence. Phew! So we'll be walking in freedom for a little bit longer this fall season, my white pants and I.

Pants - Ann Taylor Loft

Grey Top - Old Navy

Black Cardigan and Purple Flats - Target

Necklace - Francesca's

Curly/Wavy Hair (Well, it started out that way) - Closer and closer to my Tami Taylor goal

Monday - Work

Confession: I was really grumpy on Monday morning and this outfit was a last minute pull that I ended up being really happy with. I'm finding that I'm intentionally looking for ways to add pops of color in my outfits. Progress, y'all, progress.

Pants - Marshalls

Tank - Lands End

Cardigan - Gap Outlet

Red Flats - Old Navy

Necklace - Target

Tuesday - Work and Aradhna Concert at Covenant College

We're having our first big Chapel Department-sponsored conference of the year this week and Tuesday was a 14 hour work day. Hence, the bathroom pics once again. The goal of the week is style but mostly comfy shoes. This was my very first time to wear my new boyfriend sweater. Here's a little tip for the other...um...blessed girls out there: If you want your cardigan to stay put, three words- 3M Poster Tape. I feel like maybe this outfit could have used a belt, but it didn't feel right when I put one on. Any thoughts?

Skirt and Boots - Target

Tank Top - Lands End

Boyfriend Sweater and Necklace - Forever 21

Class Ring - UNC-Chapel Hill, Class of 2000!

If nothing else, WIWW is making much more mindful of what I put on in the morning and as I've already mentioned, I really love that I'm looking for ways to incorporate more color. But as Jason will tell you, there's still plenty of morning tantrums thrown in front of my closet because I can't figure out what to wear.

Yeah, about that...Anyone want to just buy me all the outfits I have pinned on my My Style and At the Office Chic Pinterest boards? M'kay, thanks.

WIWW #3, The "We're Making Progress" Edition

It was a fantastic week. School started- it was great. I love my job. A lot. Jason got to go to go back to Lubbock, Texas and shoot skeet with his best guys this past weekend. I got the TV and Netflix Instant Streaming controls all to myself. Throw in a week of outfits that I loved and like the good Lord above, I can step back and say, "That's good!"

Wednesday - Work

Comfy. Soft. Feminine. Me likey.

Pants - Marshalls

Pink tee - Goodwill

Ruffle Cardigan - Forever 21

Posy Pin - handmade by Meg

Necklace - Lisa Leonard

Leopard print flats - Crocs

Thursday - Work (Convocation and first day of class!)

I wanted to be confident and comfortable for this day as I knew I would be doing a lot of running around. Mission accomplished. Also, low humidity and my hair behaved. Glory be.

White pants - Ann Taylor Loft
Grey ruffle tank - Old Navy
Yellow cardigan (my faithful friend) - Gap Outlet
Necklace - Francesca's

{Sidenote: Y'all don't ever see him, but this little guy is my photography assistant. He's usually what I'm laughing at in all these pictures.}

{Lucky for him, he always look like's wearing a white ruffled shirt.}


Friday - Work and Covenant Community Picnic
I'm going to be honest with y'all. I took pictures of Friday's outfit. I did. But I should have done that before I left for work. It was bad. Just....bad. And that's really sad to me because I felt really cute all day. Basically, capri's just do not do me any favors. Throw in a sleeveless top and everything was cutting me off at all the wrong spots. Lesson learned.

Monday - Work

I found this top at Marshall's over the weekend and it was love at first sight. I have to be careful in empire tops, mind my mom's constant admonition and stand up straight. Otherwise, people are prone to whisper, "Is Leslie hiding secrets?" Oh yes ma'am, that's just what my Grandaddy asked at a family gathering when I wore one such top and didn't watch my posture. Again, lesson learned.

Pants - Marshalls
Shoes - Target, years ago
Earrings - Target
Hair - Finally long enough to pull to the side!

Tuesday - Work

I hadn't worn this skirt or necklace in ages, but knew I wanted to dress in brighter colors this week. So, on it went!

Skirt - Target
Top - Ann Taylor Outlet
Sandals - Walmart
Necklace - Trees 'N Trends in Cleveland, TN
Hair - My go-to updo, the twist and pin

Sunday's the day! Lee's coming to help me edit my closet! Here's to getting rid of what doesn't work and seeing what will. Click below to see more ladies who are linking up with Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy. 

WIWW, The "Ok, now we're onto something" Issue

Remember that moment in "Clueless" when Cher Horowitz tells Dionne, "I don't trust mirrors so I take Polaroids"?

That's how I feel after last week's What I Wore Wednesday.

Things I learned from my first week of WIWW-

1.) There are some really snazzy (Yes, snazzy. Apparently, my inner Yenta just broke through) dressers out there and I am so grateful that they are willing to share their fashion ideas. I am even more grateful to see other curvy figured women out there and I was inspired by their style.

2.) Knowing that I was going to be taking pictures to share with the whole ding dang Internet made me choose my outfit much more carefully.

3.) I need help.

Not bad for the first week. Let's see what round two holds, shall we?

Thursday - Work

Last week, Lindsey over at Pleated Poppy issued a challenge of mixing stripes and florals. I figured better late than never. I emailed Abby and said, "I'm wearing stripes with florals AND a belt. It's like I don't even know who I am anymore." It sounds insane (and more than a little trivial), but fashion-wise, this was a leap for me. I don't know that I did it "right," but I tried. Also, I wore a belt. The last time I wore a belt on purpose was...too long ago to remember.

Skirt - handmade by me
Top - Old Navy
Cardigan - Steinmart
Belt - JC Penney

Friday - Work

Friday was New Student Move In Day at Covenant and since I got to help out at one of the dorms, I was able to dress down for the day. Hooray for jeans!

Jeans - Old Navy
T-shirt - Obvs, Covenant
Footwear - Chacos

{I took pictures on Sunday, but forgot to put the memory card back in the camera. So just imagine me in my magical white pants and a really cute top from Forever 21.}

Monday - Work

Emboldened by new found freedom to embrace the waist, I tucked my shirt in, which I've never done. Like I said, it's like I don't even know who I am anymore.

Top - Ann Taylor Outlet shop (see the rosettes around the neckline? love those.)
Skirt - Old Navy
Cardigan - Old Navy
Necklace - A much longed for piece by Lisa Leonard and a gift from Mom and Allie. Love me a monogram.

Tuesday - Work

I love the eyelet at the hemline and the scallop on the bodice of this dress. I don't know that I pulled this together in the best way, but again, can we all take a moment? I am wearing a belt.

Dress - Walmart
Cardigan - Gap Outlet
Belt - from a JC Penney dress
Shoes - This fabulous outlet store in Chattanooga that used to be called Becky's.

If I had to sum up this week, it's that it was the week of The Belt and I get an A for effort. I also need and want to branch outside of cardigans. I think I'm stuck in a rut of an "I'm an elementary school teacher" mentality and I want to move into more of a business casual midset. My friend Lee has offered to come help me edit my closet (thanks for the idea, Molly!) and I'm excited to see what his fresh perspective and impecable fashion sense can do for me.

Swing by Pleated Poppy to check out what other folks are wearing, and as always, feel free to leave ideas/suggestions/tips in the comments!

Something New..." What I Wore Wednesday"

When I was in the seventh grade, one of my most treasured possessions was one of those free pocket calendars that Hallmark shops always had by the register. Mine had a special purpose. I didn't use it to keep track of my homework or youth group events or any sort of social calendar. Oh no, my little Hallmark calendar's sole purpose was to keep track of what I wore each day. That's right, my mortal fear at the age of thirteen was that I might repeat an outfit on days too close together.

My issues started early, y'all.

Each little day's block of white space was carefully filled with phrases such as, "Limited jeans, green turtleneck, peach sweater" or "Guess jeans, striped rugby, Baha hoodie" or "Khaki skirt, white long sleeve, green flannel shirt".

Can we just all agree right now that the 90's weren't so good to any of us, fashion wise? Yes? Ok, thanks.

Cut to twenty years later and I'm about to lay the 2011 version of my little Hallmark calendar wide open on this here blog in front of the whole Internet. Let's just say it's part of the "do over" I posted about yesterday, a chance to indulge my girly-girl side for all it's worth.

Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy started "What I Wore Wednesday" so that women from all over could link up their weekly outfits and perhaps be inspired by (or in my case, just copy cat) what others are wearing. My best friend in Texas, Abby, has been doing WIWW for a while now and I have definitely been inspired by her stylish, colorful, chic ensembles.

So, for better or for worse, here's my very first WIWW. Abby, you can't say I didn't try!

Thursday - Work

One thing I'm going to be honest about right from the beginning of this is I am incredibly short-waisted. And thick-waisted, if I'm being even more honest. So tucking things in usually isn't an option for me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the waistband on this skirt (scored at Target for $10!) was more attractive with my top tucked in rather than left out. Hooray for faux waist definition!

Skirt - Target

Tank top - Lands End

Puffed Sleeve Cardigan (eat your heart out, Anne Shirley) - Walmart

Necklace - Target

Friday - Work

This denim jacket has been really really good to me for ten years now. Thank goodness for pieces that never go out of style.

Dress - Old Navy (two years ago)

Denim Jacket - Old Navy

White Tube Top - Banana Republic

Necklace - Surprises Gift Shop in Abilene, TX

Hair - My new obessession with twist & pin styling, courtesy of Hair Romance

Sunday - Church

I saw this dress on Pinterest a few weeks ago and swooned. Thankfully, it was on sale and was soon making its way to our little home. I plan on making it work well into fall and winter as well.

Dress - Garnet Hill

Cardigan - Gap Outlet

Ring - Forever 21

Monday - work and Covenant All Staff & Faculty Dinner

Every winter, I wait patiently for Memorial Day so that I can bring out these white pants. I wear them as much as I can before Labor Day, when they'll be packed up once again. What can I say? I'm a southern girl and I follow the southern fashion rules. I love these pants. My mom bought them for me at Ann Taylor Loft five years ago as part of a new outfit for the wedding shower my bridesmaids gave me. They are still in fabulous condition and I think they're magic because they seem to fit me no matter what the scale says. Ladies, may you all be blessed with such a pair of pants.

Top - Forever 21
Necklace - Target

Hair - Velcro rollers & large barrel curling iron, another step in my quest for Tami Taylor hair

Tuesday - Work

So when I wear this and the overwhelming blurted out response from my coworkers is, "My goodness, you're so bright!" that's a good thing...right?
That's me, God's little ray of sunshine!

Dress - Old Navy
Cardigan - Gap Outlet
Sandals - Old Navy
Hair - Lopsided messy bun. Who knew messy would take practice?

And there's my week! Clearly, I need to add some color to my wardrobe. Good to know. Something to aspire to for next week...

Click below and head on over to The Pleated Poppy for a peek at what other folks wore this week!