The "Also Rans"

You know them from politics, athletics, and other contest of wits, strength, and popularity.  They didn't place.  They didn't do anything particularly noticeable.  They are the also-rans.

One of the happy consequences of my blogging goals this year is that I am dressing to blog many days.  That means I'm putting more thought and effort into what I wear and how I wear it, but, like any skill, it takes practice and I'm out of it.  This has created a subset of outfits that I put together and even photographed, but they didn't fill me with joy like my koi pond outfit and my fancy thrift store ruana or I just didn't have time to blog.

The also-ran oufits are important.  Without trying new things I don't know what I like, what works, and what makes me smile giddily to myself throughout the day.

Here for the Weird

I got this lovely brooch at an estate sale last weekend.  It's pretty weird.  It is made of mother of pearl, silky cord, and red stone beads.  I like thrift stores and estate sales because of the weird.  You never know what you're going to find.

Jacket, Anne Taylor Loft, thrifted; shirt, BRAND, swapped; belt, thrifted; skirt, Xhilaration, swapped; tights, Assets, Target; boots, Frye, Goody Two Shoes; brooch, thrifted; earrings, handmade by me!

My friend Natalie said the belt makes me look like Minnie Mouse- compliment, right?

This Much

You can probably tell by my smile how much I like this outfit, but, in case you can't, the second photo will tell you I like it **this** much.  I.  Love.  It.

Ruana, not tagged, Goodwill; lace tank, Blue Asphalt, thrifted; belt, gifted (thanks, Kristin!); faux leather leggings, Faded Glory, Walmart; shoes, Relativity, Younkers; earrings, Target.

I've been wanting a ruana since I started seeing them in stores last fall, but I held off because of price.  I spotted this one at Goodwill last weekend, and I knew the wait was worth it.I love that I have the kind of workplace where I can wear coated leggings to work.

I belted only the front part of the ruana with a belt my friend Kristin gave me.  Belting only one side left the outfit flow-y but also secure.  I want to make another half dozen garments like this so I can wear this outfit in a variety of seasons.

Goal for next week: wear a different pair of glasses!  I love this pair from Zenni Optical, but I have so many others to wear!

Being Koi

This outfit is more than the sum of its parts, and the parts are pretty good.  Put together, it reminds me of a koi pond with three little fish swimming serenely through.  We all need a reminder that we're little fish in the big pond of this world, amirite?

Blouse, Cinnamon Stick, swapped, skirt, George, Walmart; tights, Target; shoes, Sigerson Morrison for Target, Target; earrings and necklace, ebay.



The shirt is a vintage find that Chenille brought to my last clothing swap.  Thanks, Chenille!  The shoes would not have been my first choice to go with this outfit, but I had to throw out TWO PAIRS of blue flats this morning because one was covered in mold (ick!) and one had a completely split heel.  Luckily, the third pair was the charm- and charming.