Adrien: Then and Now.

I don't know how many of you have been reading since the beginning, but every time I look back at my early outfits I cringe a little. Not necessarily because I don't like what I'm wearing, but mainly because my photographs completely suck. Why did I think an iPhone camera was appropriate? LORD. In particular, I'm talking about the very first outfit I ever posted, because I wore that dress/cardigan combo again yesterday.

Check the before:

And yesterday:

Uh, definitely better looking this go round, I think. The dress is one of my cheap Ross finds and I still like it for it's moody color palette. I changed it up with some boots and a different bag, but mostly it's the same look.

And it was cold yesterday, so I broke out my red coat:

 

dress: NY & Co. (similar)
cardigan: Banana Republic (similar)
boots: Camper (similar)
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier
coat: Guess (similar also, this.)

Adrien: Denim at work.

I'm not allowed to wear jeans to work, but nobody said anything about denim skirts, so I've been gradually sneaking it in. Last week I decided I wanted to wear my languishing denim pencil skirt, but I felt like I should hide the more jean-like elements. Thus, I paired it with a sweater so frumpy and boring that I almost didn't post the outfit when I saw the pictures. See, kids? I screw up all the time. That's why you love me, right? Because I'm not afraid to make you shake your heads in awe at my poor judgment.

Anyway, here you go:

Right? Snore. But, this one cracked me up:

STEALTH DENIM.

And here I am trying to class up the joint:

sweater: Banana Republic (You want one like it? Really? If you must, go here.)

skirt: Old Navy denim pencil skirt

boots: via eBay (similar)

coat: Banana Republic classic trench

scarf: Ross (similar)

bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAM

Adrien: Poseur.

I went to art school for college and I was definitely that girl - Doc Martens, leather jacket, shaved head (well, half of it) and I still gravitate towards anything that even remotely reminds me of that era, though I don't currently own a leather jacket. (DRASTIC OVERSIGHT.) Anyway, this morning I decided that leopard flats were needed and dressed up from there.

As if on cue for my mood, it was foggy and dark out:

Never mind that my entire outfit comes from Gap/Banana. Girl's gotta be work appropriate.

top: Gap Cowlneck T
pants: Banana Republic (similar)
belt: Gap (similar)
shoes: Banana Republic (similar)
jacket: Banana Republic (similar)
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier hobo

Adrien: I Am WEAK.

This afternoon I called my friend Kate because we had plans to go get a drink. She said, "We can do that, or...Gap is having another 40% everything day."

Well, really, did I have a choice here? AND, if you have a Gap or Banana Republic card, you got 45% off and OH MY GOD, that is a good deal. I didn't need much of anything, but that never stopped me before. I did buy a fair amount, but mostly just stuff like long sleeved tees and a pair of skinny cords that I may or may not keep. (Maybe you guys get to vote on those? I'll have to take pictures and see what the consensus is.) Anyway, everything was nearly free, it was so cheap, here's some of what I got:


(Questionable!)


(Wool sweater! So cheap!)


(Ass-covering and slouchy!)


 (In heathered purple. Ridiculously soft and cozy!)

See? Nothing exciting, just stocking up on basics. That wool v-neck sweater was $14! I also got it in an army green because that is a ridiculous price. Things I tried on but didn't buy:



This looked so cute on the hanger but on me was very...cheerleader. Not good. I also tried this on because it looked amazing on Kate:




But did nothing for me at all. We just can't wear the same shapes, for some reason. Like, she tried on my favorite boatneck striped shirt and it looked all wrong on her:




Oh well. Finally, I was all excited about this jacket:

Tipped Tuxedo Jacket

But when I put it on it was all, "Hi, I go to Hogwarts."

Now, I love some Harry Potter and would actually like to go to Hogwarts, but I don't want to LOOK like I want to go to Hogwarts. So, the jacket went back. Boo.

Anyway, that's this weekend's damage and that's probably it for me until after You Know What Holiday.

Adrien: Yes, I'm wearing pants.

I'm wearing my new Gap pants today and I think they're probably too big. I am TERRIBLE at buying pants for some reason. Do they look too big? Why can't I figure this out before I rip the tags off?

 

top: Banana Republic (similar)
cardigan: Talbots Charming Cardigan
pants: Gap Perfect Trouser
shoes: Clark's Indigo Sylvie
bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAM
watch: La Mer

Marianne: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

You guys all read Girls Gone Child already, right? I mean, who doesn't? I've been reading Rebecca Woolf's writing since I starting THINKING about getting pregnant, and she's inspiring in about 1700 different ways. So this is probably old news for you already, but I am pretty dang excited: I won this week's Good Wears giveaway! Meaning that I get a free pair of these sweet Minnetonka Moccasin Boots:

Meaning that the high pitched squeal you hear right now? That would be my inner 9-year-old girl. See, the second Lulu got these sweet pink moccasin boots I was reminded about how badly I wanted some when I was a wee thing. And now I'm getting some! IS THIS MAGIC I THINK SO.

Sorry, I had coffee today. Lots.

Anyway, I want to hear how you would style these fun boots! I am currently obsessed with jeggings, so I'm thinking slouchy over-knee socks, jeggings, and a cozy sweater. You know, basically my new uniform. You??

Marianne: Scout's Honor

I was so meh about today's outfit that I wasn't even going to bother taking pictures, but then my husband said "you look so cute today, do you want me to take your picture?" Who can resist that?

I guess the shades of green, brown, and khaki had me feeling like an overgrown scout leader. Plus my skirt was terribly wrinkled.

Do you have any outfits that you don't care much for, but are catnip for boys? Do tell.

dress: Lands End Canvas

sweater: French Connection

belt: anthropologie

tights: Spanx

boots: Donna Karen

necklace: Diana Warner

Adrien: Dreamy.

Hey, even more stuff added to the shop! Check it out!

Okay, yesterday I had to go to Anthropologie to get a birthday gift. I wasn't even going to LOOK at the clothes. Nope, not me. Not even going to wander into the sale room...and...huh... wait...is...this...OMG.

Y'all. I found the Dreamy Drape dress for a scandalously low price!

 

And there was only one! And  it fit me! Oops.

I know I have something I love when I want to wear it immediately, even if it's not quite a work-appropriate outfit:

But hey, that's what cardigans are for, right?

dress: Anthropologie Dreamy Drape (Plenty by Tracy Reese)
tights: Spanx patterned
shoes: Chie Mihara (similar)
bag: Marc Jacobs (similar)

Adrien: Again and again and again.

I seriously wasn't kidding about this, y'all. So much so that I wasn't going to bother photographing this outfit because it's basically the exact same damn thing I wore last week - grey/red/black color palette, pencil skirt, opaque tights, cardigan. Oh, and my favorite boots that I wear all the damn time. But hey, it perfectly illustrates my point: Find a style that works for you and you can wear it again and again (and again) with minor tweaks. You don't have to reinvent the wheel every day, people! I sure as hell don't.

 

top: Gap Vintage Tee

skirt: Banana Republic (similar)

cardigan: Banana Repubic (similar)

necklace: Banana Republic (similar)

boots: Camper (similar)

bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAM

Marianne: Jeggings Part II: THE JEGGINING

First off, in case you missed it yesterday, there is a TON of new stuff in the shop.

Now, when I last left you, I had finally jumped on the jegging train. I fought it and fought it and then I decided to just let it wash over me. And so, on Mich's advice, I went to LOFT and tried on their much better named Denim Leggings. And lo, they were good, though I did size up from my normal size (however now they have stretched and are a tad bit saggy, but not so bad). And even better, the petite version is on sale for $14. Since I planned to wear them tucked into boots anyway, I snapped them up. And proceeded to wear them all weekend.

I am not normally one for cowboy boots (though I do own a perfectly broken-in pair, as you see), but Lulu had been invited to a "Boot Party", so I had to oblige.

I covet Lu's pink moccasin boots, though.

And then I busted out the jeggings again the next day, to run some rainy day errands.

All of my flat boots are at the shoe repair shop, so I pulled these out. What do you think? I think they are a bit "Frodo of the Shire", but they are comfortable.

So yeah. I fell for the jeggings hook, line, and sinker. Already thinking about buying another pair. I am SUCH a sucker.

sweater: Target (similar here)

scarf: vintage

jacket: DKNY (similar here)

denim leggings: LOFT

boots: Born

over-knee socks: Ilux Parker from OTTE