Not as I've Done

Do as I say, not as I've done.  Buying clothes that don't fit is a bad idea.  It's demoralizing and a waste of money.  Nonetheless, I purchased this dress on a shopping trip with my sister a few years ago.  Years!  It just barely fit the day I got it.  Then, after a combination of self-consciousness and weight gain, it moved to the back of my closet until today.  Today is the first time I've ever worn it.  It would have made a lot more sense to buy a dress that fit and in which I felt confident in the first place.

 

Dress, Younkers; shoes, Younkers; necklace and earrings, handmade by me; bracelet, flea market.

 

I've (foolishly) bought a lot of clothes that don't fit over the years.  Sometimes it has been because I think I need to lose a little more weight before a style will look good on me.  Sometimes it has been because of a twisted sense of optimism... eg. "I've already lost 10 pounds, so surely I'll lose 10 more."  Oddly, it wasn't until I stopped that silliness that I actually started to fit into all those clothes.

 

I love these shoes, but they really aren't the right ones for this outfit.  I should have chosen something that extended the line of my legs instead of cutting them off.  These shoes would work better in the winter with tights.  I did get a number of compliments on the shoes...  All from male coworkers.

Almost Snow White

When I first looked at these photos I thought of Snow White.  I have the dark hair, fair skin, red lips thing going on.  Then I looked what Disney's version of Snow White actually looks like.  Never mind.  I have a bit too much of the buxom thing going on, and my color scheme is way off.  I guess it's lucky that being a Disney princess is not on my personal agenda.

 

Cardigan, I don't remember today; dress, thrifted; shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings and necklace, purchased in the Dominican Republic.

 

This dress was in the clearance section of my favorite Augusta consignment store, so it was $2.  This light blue color always cries out for red accessories, but I went with complimentary blue larimar earrings and necklace instead of continuing the red to my jewelry.

 

A Good Influence

There was a time I wouldn't have given this salmon-colored dress a second look (same goes for the shoes).  I never particularly liked the color until I came to associate it with my friend Angie.  Then I discovered that, hey!, it's a pretty nice color on me.  She's such a good influence.

 

Shrug, Victoria's Secret; dress, thrifted; shoes, Target; earrings, Christmas bazaar; necklace, handmade by me.

 

I need to fine-tune my new schedule, so I have time to take my OOTD photos before I get home from work.  Lately I look like I've melted in most of my photos.

 

I love this necklaec.  The two strands of irregularly shaped pearls are a little more fun and funky than a traditional pearl necklace.

Smooth Sailing

I had to be in early to go through formal orientation, but I still wanted to get my normal run in before work The result was this nautical-themed outfit, designed for comfort and ease of wear.  Stephen calls this my sailor dress.  Of course fishing lure earrings are the perfect addition to a nautical outfit.

 

Cardigan, Walmart; dress, thrifted; shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings, handmade by me.

 

The bun is the height of ease because I used Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins to stick it in place.  It's the perfect hair for days when a dryer just isn't happening.  The down side to this hair style is that it looks very severe from straight on.  It looks a little better from an angle.

 

*This post contains affiliate links.