Going Steady

Fall in NYC! Reading, mandatory career services workshops, mediocre coffee from the law school cafe! What an exciting time to live in such an exciting city (guys, I'm being hyperbolic. I get out. I went to a drag show and Times Square all in one night last week. City living!).

I wore this outfit last week, since the weather was arguably warm enough to get away with not wearing tights (I'm sure you can guess my feelings on tights. It's literally in the name). In an effort to counterbalance the bareness of my legs, I paired the skirt with this jacket that makes me look like a tiny high school football player/his sweetheart. That idea, wearing something that will keep my torso warm since my legs are probably going to be cold, makes absolutely no sense. I was just warm and also cold all day. Anyway, it feels weird that you haven't seen these boots before. I wore them every day for three years in college and in most non-work, autumnal situations in the four years since graduating.  My mom's friend gave them to me, but she bought them at Ann Taylor. Take that in. 

Jacket - Club Monaco

Shirt - BCBG

Skirt - (Now defunct?) Kate by Kate Spade

Boots - My mom's friend, Susan

Backpack - Herschel Supply & Co

Textbook - Amazon

Ring - Shop in Kauai near where I saw Willow and Jada Pinkett Smith this summer, story for a different day/blog

*Photographer Jackson was pretty insistent I try "posing" (see below).  I'm hoping it was a one time thing, but you know how demanding artists can be.

Pattern Mixing

Well, here we are. Brand new life stage, brand new glasses, brand new, harshly lit, backdrop.  And what a backdrop it is.  I didn't have to search for these teal(?) lockers.  They are not a fun and funny allusion to awkward, middle school days of yore; they are a part of my everyday life.  I use one of these lockers to store 1-4 very heavy law textbooks.  That's right.  Last year, I was paying into social security.  This year I have a combination lock and am already behind on my reading.

Let's set the backpack aside for now and focus, for a moment, on the outfit in a vacuum. I would say it sort of matches or, doesn't clash?  I purchased these jeans/jeggings at the height of the colored (non-blue) jeans trend but have no idea how to wear color, so I basically treat them like normal blue jeans. But guys, they're not normal blue jeans. They're too blue (the title of this post probably should have incorporated that pun, like 'true blue' but 'too blue', I'm honestly not sure. Please, if you're a punner let me know how one would pun with said phrase).  It's something I will continue to work on.  To this quasi-coordinated ensemble, I added a backpack, as I suppose I will every day for for the foreseeable future!  Hooray!  In purchasing said backpack, I felt like I was going with something relatively neutral, but navy with royal blue spots and white feathers has proven to make more of statement than anticipated.  Luckily (and unsurprisingly), I wear it on my back which means I can't see how poorly it goes with most everything I wear... until I take these pictures of course... oh well. 

Food for thought: How much Urban Outfitters is too much Urban Outfitters? 

Glasses - Oliver People's

Shirt - Urban Outfitters 

Jeans/Jeggings - Urban Outfitters

Shoes - Toms

Jewelry - Misc.

Backpack - Hershel Supply Co.

Goodbye Photographer Lizzie

Photographer Lizzie said it was unfair that I was taking her picture yesterday since I didn't warn her, but let's be honest, the ensemble may be simple, but she looks great. Anyway, this post is less about the clothes and more about the Photographer Lizzie, because we at WAAW are bidding her a fond farewell. Next year, Lizzie will also be attending grad school, but her school is all the way across the country. I'm not totally sure how to thank her, other than to say: I think you are wonderful and perfect and I am certain that you are going to have a fundamental and lasting change on this world. Or, you'll marry rich and hang out. You are one of the smartest, most capable, most caring people I've ever met, and I'm lucky to have sat a couple feet away from you every day for the last four years. Thanks for taking these silly pictures and for making sure I submitted my grad school applications and for worrying about me and all of us. We are all pretty lucky to call you a friend and I am really lucky to call you my photographer. If people write on the forum (that doesn't exist) that they want this thing to continue, the next photographer is going to have big, slightly-cracked-iphone-screen shoes to fill. Thanks, Liz.

Shirt and pants - I forgot to ask!

Shoes - Toms

(I promise that if there are future posts, they will never again be this heartfelt.)

Unemployed

Let me start by apologizing for not posting the outfit I wore on my last day of work. I fully intended to, but somehow in the craziness of cleaning out our offices and turning in our badges, Photographer Lizzie and I never found the time to take pictures. If it's any consolation, you've pretty much seen the outfit before (and even if you hadn't you could probably guess what it was: black jeans, black sweater, loafers, and some shirt). Because I was anticipating seeing a lot more people than I would on a normal work day, I decided to go with a tried and true ensemble. I saw no reason, on the last day I would see people with whom I have purely professional relationships, to try something new and end up with an accidental, see-through situation (or something of that ilk).

But anyway, that was then, this is now (or, yesterday). The picture above shows the outfit I wore out to lunch on my first day of several months, pre-grad school unemployment. You'll notice one key difference between this and outfits I would have worn to the office: the comfy pants/leggings. I love comfy pants/leggings. It can be difficult to find leggings that are not too tight around the waist, so if you find them, hold on to them (like a good man, am I right, ladies who are attracted to men/men who are attracted to men/people who don't ascribe to the gender binary but may be attracted to people who identify as male?!?!). I have a pair that my mom bought in the 80's and passed down to me. She may have worn them during her pregnancies. I can't remember. Other than the leggings, this outfit isn't actually so different from those I wore to work. When I first realized the similarity, I started to worry that this fact meant my off-duty style was merging into what had become my work style. What if all that time wearing plain blouses, cardigans, and pants did in the end fundamentally change my style? If I'm being honest with myself it probably did to some degree, but upon further reflection, I don't think that's what's going on with this outfit. When one opts to wear leggings with multi-colored triangles all over them, one should probably balance those leggings with a more conservative, not-so-colorful top (like a top one would wear to the office). I'm still not sure whether you all are interested in seeing my non-work outfits, since no one has said anything in the forum (that doesn't exist), but I thought I'd share at least one outfit to better inform your decision!

Jacket - Zara

Sweater - Madewell

Leggings - Target

Necklaces - Dandelion Jewelry/Gorjana

Sneakers - Nike

Stripes

I'm going into the backlogs and sharing this outfit that I wore earlier this week, because very soon I will have very few outfits that I actually wore to work to share. Come Monday COB, I transition from young professional to unemployed graduate student (thereby forgetting what COB means). If what I wore in college is any indication, my graduate wardrobe will consist mostly of sort of fashion hiking boots, skinny jeans, and massive sweaters. If for some reason you are not deterred by that description and you are interested in seeing more of my off-the-clock looks, please let me know in the WAAW forum (which, of course, doesn't exist)!

Anyway, I woke up an hour before these pictures were taken, which happened to be an hour and a half after I would normally get into the office and half an hour before my final performance review. Luckily we're in dress season, so I was able to get up and out of the house quickly! All I really had to do was choose a dress and find my only sweater that matches it. Although in this post-haircut world, I blow dry my hair most mornings, this was not one of those mornings. I didn't even have to pick out/find these loafers because they are one of the many pairs of shoes I keep in my office for occasions such as these. Although this morning's styling choices were dictated mostly by expediency, this dress is one of my favorites to wear the office. The neck- and hemlines are both relatively conservative and it makes very little contact with my lower torso. I'm not sure how this dress will figure into my post-working life, but, for now, I am thrilled it has had a place in my professional rotation.

Dress - Boutique in Chicago

Cardigan - Zara

Necklace - Quest to find a dragon, like maybe one of the Game of Thrones dragons

Loafers - Aldo

Casual Friday

A couple of things: first, I know I said in my last post that I was planning on wearing fewer jeans from here on out. I assure you that continues to be my intention, but I woke up this morning and the air coming through my window was a little chilly, so I went for jeans. I'm hoping that future, morning air will not be chilly but humid and/or pleasantly warm and that I feel the desire to wear dresses again. That is my hope.

Second, Photographer Lizzie is not in the office today, so I actually took these pictures myself! Selfies! It was tricky to capture the whole ensemble in a single shot, but I've included what I believe to be a fairly accurate composite below. I should note that in real life my face is visible and my thighs are not growing out of my hands, but of course you know that. But what if our selfies started changing what we actually looked like?! Did I just come up with a fantastic idea for a new dystopian, teen, paranormal romance book-turned-blockbuster trilogy?! Is this my big break?! I don't think I, the author, would also star in the movies, but maybe, just for a laugh among myself and the producers, I'd read for the lead, a strong but sometimes fragile junior in high school who falls for the bad boy, and maybe my audition would just be too good to cast anyone else. Maybe, all of a sudden I would have fame I didn't ask for and I'd go on talk shows and tell them how much I love Amy Schumer while touching the male hosts' arms. I'd be given another book deal to anthologize my own selfies that I now take every morning to market the upcoming release of the series' first installment. Or, maybe not. The neckline of this blouse isn't ideal for the office, but who cares, it's casual Friday!

Sweater - My friend Alex

Blouse - Tinley Road (purchased at a suburban vintage store)

Jeans  - Lord & Taylor

Sandals - Marshalls

Work dress and sandals

I need to start out by saying that, although totally obscured in these pictures, this dress does have some shape to it. The fabric belt (tied however loosely) does define a waist and, when my hands are not in my pockets (ALERT: DRESS WITH POCKETS), the ensemble looks far less like a solid rectangle of black and flowers.* Thank you for indulging me. We can move on to the most obvious, most glaring, most criminal (not criminal like actually-bad-things/domestic violence/ball deflating) aspect of this ensemble: the length of this dress with these completely flat sandals. Really any heel at all would have helped, but since I spend the majority of my day sitting and wanted to break in these new (sort of trendy!) sandals, I forsook style/a sense of proportion for convenience. I hope that in the future, when confronted with the same decision,  I can push myself to make a different choice, but at least for this ensemble, I chose to make it appear as if my legs had been chopped off and reattached below the knee. That is the choice I made. Anyway, dresses! Spoiler for posts to come: now that it's warm(ish), I'm going to try to wear as few pants and many dresses as possible!

Dress - Ann Taylor

Shrug - Urbane Outfitters

Sandals - Zara

*If I were of the Cher Horowitz school of visual perception, I would believe these pictures over my mirrors because, as she explains to Dionne, mirrors lie and photographs, or polariods, are a much better proxy for how the human eye perceives objects/outfits. I do not ascribe to that school. The idea that what I see when looking in a mirror isn't what others see is terrifying on an existential level and I would rather never, ever think about it.

Shorter hair

Guys, I got my yearly haircut. Like, this is the first haircut I've gotten since starting this blog last July. I cut off over 10 inches, enough to donate, which means I left my appointment and walked around the mall for ~20 minutes holding a bag of my own hair! I was told last night that there are substantive differences between the various organizations that take hair donations, so the bag is still in my apartment. Although I always get a lot taken off, I've never gone for a particularly daring look (pixie cut, half-shave, blonde, etc.). I enter with the idea that it would be fun to try something different and crazy, but invariably this initial inclination is blunted by a total lack of knowledge about hair fashion (not a thing) and by the fear that the results will end up looking like the bob + bangs I sported from ages 2 to 12 (see photo below or any childhood photo for more detail). I know it doesn't look like it, but I did try to do something a little different this time. The back is shorter than the front AND when the stylist asked whether she should even out the two sides, I told her to leave it! I'm edgy.

Shorter hair - Escape Salon Aveda

Blouse - Marshalls 

Cardigan - Zara

Necklaces - Dandelion Jewelry / Friend of a friend

Jeans - Lord & Taylor

Loafers - Aldo 

New pants

I've worn one of two pairs of pants to the office every day for the last 7 months or so. I guess I'm a hero like that male newscaster who wore the same suit for a year to show how men can wear/do whatever they want and not get criticized. Oddly, no one called me on it either, so I guess I've disproved his findings? Men and women are treated equally? Interesting? Anyway, I actually wasn't doing this to make a statement, I just don't have that many pairs of pants that are both flattering and comfortable. Figured it was time to buy another pair. These are green or brown, skinny, ankle jeans. Unfortunately, although this is their first wear, given the price point/material, they've already started to stretch out. It would be great if I was one of those bloggers that had a DIY fix for that.  I did try not to wear black, but, obviously, I was unsuccessful. Half tuck!

Cardigan - Zara

Blouse - Banana Republic

Pants - Zara

Necklaces - Dandelion Jewelry and hope (the abstract concept)

Loafers - Aldo

Work sneakers

Fashionable sneakers: VERY trendy. SUPER comfortable. NOT work appropriate (since my office has neither a ping pong table nor an open floor plan). I try not to wear them to the office more than 1 day a week, but I've certainly been wearing them in many other non-work settings. The setting where they have seen the most use: travel. I am one of those people (you know, insane people) that thinks way too much about what I am going to pack for a trip, whether I'm going for two nights or two months (I spent more time packing than studying abroad). My packing goal is to guarantee the highest probability of comfort/style regardless of weather, activity, or dress code. Until buying these babies (did I pull that off?), the comfortable/not ugly walking shoe was a major hole in my travel wear. I think I'm honestly more excited to travel since buying these shoes/I'm nuts.

Sweater - Madewell

Jeans - Gap

Necklace - Target

Sneakers - Nike

Who Wore it Better: Mani Cam Edition

Never say that WAAW (an abbreviation for this blog I've heard at least 2 people use) shrinks from a controversy! As I'm sure you're all aware, E! pulled its "mani cam" gimmick, a mini red carpet designed for female celebrities to showcase their manicured fingers for home viewers to see and judge, from its award season coverage this season. The reason? According to a February 2015 article in the Washington Post (the real Washington Post), the mani cam has become a "symbol of yet another example of gender inequality in Hollywood". This issue resonates with me for a number of reasons. I am a woman. I am a woman interested in fashion. I am a woman who firmly and fervently believes our society's obsession with reducing women and their accomplishments to the designers they are or are not pulling off is fundamentally harmful.

I am also a woman who loves all things miniaturized (candy, furniture, ketchup and alcohol bottles, etc.), except dogs. So, I'm conflicted. I suppose, all things considered, I do respect the enlightened feminism of the divine E! network and support their decision to pull this gimmick, but I implore them and other networks to think about what can be done to get doll-sized things back into the public consciousness. We got rid of this nail cam, so we've pretty much solved how women are portrayed in the media! Let's devote some of those extra resources to this very important, normal-sized-stuff-made-tiny issue!

Jackie Weaver at the 2013 Oscars:

Nails - Red

Jewelry - Expensive

*****

Alie:

Nails - Purple (because the brown and off-white options I was choosing were "not springy and really sad", according to the woman doing my manicure)

Rings - Beryllina / Vintage store on Charles St

Spring!

First of all, there are no fools in this post. I am not an April fooler. This is one of the most stressful days of the year for me.  I'll totally be fine, but I'm also very nervous and will remain so for the rest of the day.

Of course, not everything about the first day of April is stressful/perverse. The temperature has almost reached 40 degrees, green leaves are coming out of the ground, and drivers can see over the snow piles! IT'S SPRING! To celebrate nature's rebirth and the end to Boston's in-snow-venience (like inconvenience but with snow, like snowpocalypse, but not, because it obviously wasn't that bad and humanity wasn't decimated), I wore a jewel tone and orange! Although I haven't shared this particular cardi/blouse look on the blog, it is one of my go-to "I'm going to try and wear color" combinations. I am just bad at figuring out what colors complement each other (maybe because, as my mom suggests, I'm a little bit color blind), so having a couple tried and true options is really helpful. Not to say that such a concept is limited to color. I have shirts that I know will go with certain pants based on shape, with certain jackets based on material, and with certain necklaces based on whatever otherworldly, witch ritual I've dreamed up for the day. Go-to outfits can serve as helpful shorthand for a busy fashionista for any reason or occasion!

Cardigan - Gap

Blouse - Second Time Around

Jeans - Lord & Taylor

Necklace - URBAN OUTFITTERS

Loafers - Aldo

Who Wore it Better: Oscars Edition

I definitely could or probably should have posted this weeks ago. You know, around when the Oscars happened and people cared about them. I didn't. I'm posting it now.  I told you, I've been sick. I'm in season 3 of my Buffy re-watch. I've had stuff.

Anyway, for this particular day/evening at the office, ScarJo paired a stunning, everything-hugging, emerald dress with a Statement necklace and earrings of the same color. For my on-the-job look, I also took a stab at monochrome, although my navy, black, and lighter, fake-leather black do not coordinate quite as well. I accessorized with a rusting elephant pendant. Aside from all those crystals bleeding off her neck, the big news associated with ScarJo's look was the debut of a killer hair cut. I got my hair cut last June in the mall by the same woman who had cut it the year before. She didn't remember me. It is also worth noting that ScarJo looked THIS fabulous after having a baby only a few months ago and enduring John Travolta's uber-creepiness. I was getting over a sinus infection, but I had already finished the 5 days of my Z-Pak. I'd say we both exceeded expectations.

ScarJo:

Dress - Versace

Jewelry - Swarovski, Piaget, etc.

*****

Alie:

Sweater - Kate Spade Saturday

Jeans - Gap

Necklace - Target

Boots - Zappos.com (purchased for a River from Firefly halloween costume)

#TBT Fashion influences

Hey guys, thought I'd take today's post to answer the question I'm sure every one of my adoring fan is dying to know: What are my fashion influences? The short answer is I have many, and different aspects of my style have been influenced by different things. The biggest influence on my work wardrobe is probably cardboard with flecks of paint on it.  

In previous posts, I have alluded to the fact that my mom is one of my major fashion influences (that woman knows how to find a bargain and wear it well), but she is hardly the only fashionista in the family.  Pictured above are my grandparents, Zelda and Sidney (left and center), and my great aunt Shirley (right).  They are pulling off the clean lines and pattern mixing of late 1940's fashion with the ease of Russian spies. I'm not saying they were spies. That's definitely not what I'm saying. In fact, my grandfather Sidney was a traveling salesman (a profession with a lot of travel that doesn't scream spy cover story). He didn't just stumble into those could-be Warby Parker frames and hipster-approved skinny tie; he sold that shit. There's no way Nana Zelda would have referred to herself as a style maven, but she apparently perfected the origami trend decades before it's day in the trendy sun in 2014.

The off-duty model-esque duo below are my dad (age 5?) and his cousin.  For what I can only imagine was a super fun, sunny afternoon, my dad paired a gingham (SO CURRENT) short-sleeved Oxford with tailored trousers, light blue suspenders, and a red cowboy hat. Fashion. His cousin opted for a peasant top tucked into high-waisted plaid shorts. Simpler, but no less chic.

Kindergarten teacher/Vampire

It's been too long.  I went on vacation, I've been sick, yada yada yada, I'm back now, so on to the outfit! I was running late this morning (despite that fact that I live as far from my office as a sleepaway camper would from the arts and crafts building), so it was only upon reaching my office that I recognized the rather strange combination I had thrown together. The combination: a cotton, pastel-striped t-shirt with black everything else. I think I chose the shirt in an attempt to wear some spring-inspired/aspirational color.  Such an impulse isn't an issue, unless of course all of your other clothes are black. As has been made apparent in previous posts, all of my clothes are, more or less, black. The effect, in short, is jarring contrast.  Also, t-shirts don't scream professionalism.

Sweater - Zara

Shirt - H&M

Jeans - Gap

Necklace - Target

Shoes - Aldo

Snow

As you've probably heard, Boston's gotten a fair amount of snow over the last month or so.  Before I descend any further into cabin-fever madness, I thought I'd share an ensemble from this frozen hellscape (the one I've worn more or less every day for the last 3 weeks).  For this look, I paired 2 coats, a hat, a sweater, and a t-shirt with light blue, meant-to-be-worn-in-spring jeans.  The jeans are so comfortable/stretchy, they come dangerously close to fitting the description for "pajama jeans".  You'll notice that the only exposed part of my body is my face and had I been planning on staying outside for more than several minutes, this too would have been covered, by a two-foot-long, knit infinity scarf.

Long story short, any sense of proportion, shape, or style has been forsaken for warmth.  I hope once the snow finally melts and the walls of my apartment stop closing in on me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAh_8erWyQw), I will change my clothes and have a new ensemble to share with you!  Until then, if you need me, I'll be watching all of Netflix.

Outer jacket - North Face

Inner jacket - Company holiday gift

Sweater - Madewell

T-shirt - Youth soccer tournament in 2000

Hat - H&M

Gloves - Christmas 2012

Jeans - Urban Outfitters

Boots - Pajar

Socks - EMS

Birthday Suit II

Yea, I  still feel awkward about having my picture taken.  I don't know what to do about it.

Anyway, this past Saturday, Creative Consultant Tim ("CC Tim") and I had a joint birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant and then headed to a not-so-fancy bar to continue the birthday celebrations.  Here is my fancy/not-so-fancy look from the evening, documented by CC Tim in a hotel basement.  I don't want to brag but some people said I looked Parisian and at least two people said I looked like a mime.  It was a really good evening because I had sushi, ice cream cake, and a bite of a cronut.  It would've been a great evening if I had remembered to take the rest of the cronut home with me from the bar.

Jacket - Club Monaco

T-shirt - Mom

Jeans - Gap

Short necklace - Dandelion Jewelry in Ardmore, PA

Long Necklace - Just this vintage store in Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

Boots - Nine west

Birthday Suit

As some of you know, I celebrated a birthday on Sunday.  A few of those some-of-you requested I post photos of my birthday ensemble, so here they are!  I hope the outfit is as glamorous as you've come to expect of me.  I should clarify that much of my birthday was spent guzzling coffee and yellow Gatorade while driving back from New Hampshire and cooking Super Bowl chili.  I did change into something a little less mountain-drab to watch the Super Bowl (WHICH THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), but Creative Consultant Tim and I forgot to take pictures of said outfit.  Quite honestly, it was still pretty cas(ual).  

Flannel - Urban Outfitters

Pants - Gap

Socks - Lord & Taylor

Bracelets - Good & Club Monaco

Guest Post: Conor

Guys, I'm really excited about this post.  This is SOMEONE ELSE wearing work clothes in a DIFFERENT place of work.  This particular someone else is Conor, a very talented improviser who performs at ImprovBoston with the ImprovBoston Mainstage.  He is also a pretty sharp dresser. I hope you enjoy!

These are my duds for my job as "Laugh Bringer" on the ImprovBoston Mainstage. The shirt is Alfani. My Dad got it for me for Christmas. He wanted me to look fly for my shows. I bought these slacks a few years ago because I needed them for catering gigs. The only catering I do now is catering laughs on a big platter. The black tie was also for catering. I finally taught myself how to tie a tie a few months ago by Googling, "How To Tie A Tie." These shoes have no laces and are due for a serious shine. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so I can roll up the sleeves on my Alfani and enjoy a bag of Cheez-Its standing outside ImprovBoston.

Coulda been a NYE dress

A few weeks ago, my company hosted its annual lovely and lavish holiday party. It was held at the Museum of Fine Arts for the fourth year in a row and the setting was as beautiful as ever. Photographer Lizzie took a few pictures of me in front of said beautiful backdrop, and, as ever, they were great, they just didn't fit this blog's carefully curated (bland) aesthetic.  So, later on in the evening, substitute photographer Tim snapped these shots outside the bathrooms.  In this setting, with its stark, white walls and fluorescent light, I felt much more at home.

Onto the outfit: my mom has worn this dress several times over the last 15+ years (the Filene's Basement purchase paid off). Every time she wore it, younger Alie would yearn for adulthood: for the time she too would have the elegant occasion and the hips to justify its wear. That kid craving adulthood was an idiot like Tom Hanks was an idiot in Big. Still, when we went to a Fenway bar following the holiday party, a drunk college coed wouldn't stop talking about how much she loved the dress, so maybe kid Alie wasn't totally wrong.

Dress - Mom's closet (guest bedroom)

Lipstick - Mom's makeup drawer

Bracelets - Mom's jewelry drawer

Clutch - Aldo

Shoes - DSW