Weekly What I Wore

So I bought this new dress this weekend at the Vanity Fair/ Wrangler outlet at the Grand River Mall.

Only $25! Reminds me a lot of my favorite Banana Republic pullover dress.  

 

I loved the graphic print and classic cut.

 

The only thing that I didn't love was the belt, which hit me a weird place.

 

But I deciced this is MY dress now and no one is going to tell me how to wear it.

So I cut off the belt loops.

 

Here is what I got.

May not look like much of a difference to you, but it makes a HUGE difference to me.

 

I paired it with my "most expensive shoes ever"  to complete the look.

 

 

Uninspired

I know this is where I usually share my Weekly What I Wore but I've been sort of unispired of late.

But you can still take a look at some of the other interesting, inspired, thrifty,  fashionistas over here at The Pleated Poppy.

I haven't really felt like shopping for new clothes in my new smaller size. The size 8 dress pants I just bought no longer fit anymore. A coworker commented, just yesterday, about them falling off of me when I walk. But I'm afraid to buy any more until I "settle". I know that I will never be a size two, but why be stuck with a closet full of clothes I can't wear? I've already had to deal with that once this quarter.

So for now, I am suspending my Weekly What I Wore Wednesdays until things level off.

 

Long Cool Woman - The Hollies (Distant Light Epic Records) 1972

~En-JOY!

Weekly What I Wore: More Side By Side Comparisons

Here is yet another side by side comparrison of my weight loss.

I have had to replace my dress slacks and skirts and tailor some pieces (as in yesterday's post), but some, like this sweater and tee combination (that I LOVE by the way) I am just doing the best with what I have.

When I create the slide of the pictures, I can lay one on top of the other to get them as close to the same size as possible. It looks a little like I'm leaning in the "after" picture,  but as you can see from the grid on the floor, I think the camera is leaning more than I am. (Stupid new phone) I tried straighting that up but can only rotate it so far with the editing software here.

This is a side by side with a photo taken in June of last year  (left) as compared this one taken this week.

Pardon my hair in the "after" picture on the right.  it's time for a haircut.

I can really tell a difference in both my face and my midsection. See how the sweater is pulling back from my tummy in the right photo. And look how slim my face is! I can also see definition in my chin, neck, and collarbones. Hard work is really paying off!

FINALLY!!

I remember that had felt pretty good about how I was looking in this photo from June. Now I feel even better!

I promise that I am going to improve on the background of all these "selfies."  This is the ladies room at my office, where there is a large, floor-length mirror by the door. The lighting is not great and sometimes is hard to guage where it is actually hitting you, hence the narly shadows. When I can snag someone to take one in the lobby, I do it.

 My next big expense in the "closet room" is a standup mirror, so I can start posting some pics from home.  Then I will put more thought into my background.

Check out the other great fashion ideas from all over at The Pleated Poppy

Have a great day getting over "the hump!"

God Bless and
~En-JOY!

Weekly What I Wore

In this weeks WWIW, I debut my new size 6 dress pants.

A major improvement over past WWIW's, in that I am actually wearing clothing that fits my body, rather than making due.  I got these at Walmart. They are the George brand. These came in several different colors and patterns, including a gray herringbone pattern, and a black with chalk-stripe. I chose my basic black and this gray.

I am, however, making due with this tisssue-weight tee, that I bought when I was a size 14. What you don't see in this picture is the binder clip, holding a wad of it behind my back....ha ha!

News on other fronts...

As I get closer to my "date," I'm starting to get really aprehensive. Yes, it's just drinks. Yes, it's not like a "real date," where he picks me up at my house or anything. But I think that I rushed into agreeing to it, which is why I think I may bail. I can't get over the feeling that I am cheating some how. I know, I know. Darling Hubby actually cheated first,  but that doesn't make me feel any better about it. It's just drinks with a nice guy that I have known for a while. He's trying to make me feel better. To smile again.

He's so nice, I'm sure he'd understand if I chicken out.
We shall see.

~En-JOY

Weekly What I Wore

In this week's Weekly What I Wore, I am still struggling to find pants that both fit my new shrinking waistline, and are long enough to fit my 5 foot 7 inch frame. I can find one but not the other. I'm also having trouble finding pants that aren't flared at the hip to accomodate a more ample backside.  The little flared bits of fabric flap out. It looks like I'm wearing jodpurs.

So I am still pinning my pants with the big safety pin, to keep them on my waist, and will head off after work to try yet another store.

I paired them today with a favorite shirt from, of all places, Tractor Supply!  I was surprised that among the animal feed and farm equipment, they carried some pretty cool clothes! The brand is called Bit and Bridle. The motif falls right in line with many of my "designer" tee shirts, at a third of the cost. Score!  The tee itself is a substantial weight. I'm sure it will face many washings and come out the other side unscathed. Wish I could say that about some of my other expensive designer tees.

I'm amazed at the difference I've seen in just four months.
Here I am in a similar outfit in November, as compared to today's photo. I can really tell a difference in my tummy area.  Yes, I realize that I'm wearing a crop sweater in the right photo, my hair was shorter,  but you can't deny that my face, neck and tummy all look thinner.

Super excited!

 

Well, thanks for reading, and a big "Hey Y'all" to all my new readers, where ever you are from.

OH and I always forget to do this! Post the link back to The Pleated Poppy, who hosts this weekly blog roll.

http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog

~En-JOY!

Football Fashion

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Football Season!


As you know, I am a HUGE Auburn fan. Here in Alabama, football is not a sport, it's a religion. And the two biggest sanctuaries are Jordan-Hare and byrantdenney.


I love sporting my team colors, as I did with the two outfits here.




Don't need a logo to to promote my team. Here I'm wearing a blue swing swearter and orange tee (Cato clearance of course) with my favorite pair of  Chico's white jeans (a thrift store purchase I happened upon while looking for a costume for an 80's themed birthday party). Another cool jewelry purchase, a handcrafted necklace that my Mom and I found in a shop on The Curve.  It's made out of recycled wine bottles!




Another cute outfit that I wore to run errands.





More cute Auburn outfits to follow!

~En-JOY!

What I Wore.....Well, Thursday

Okay, who says I can't have two fashion posts back to back? It's my blog, right?

 

Again, another dreaded bathroom pic but I just wanted to capture this great outfit I threw together on the spur of the moment this morning.

 

 

Pink Tie-Front Shrug Sweater = Cato Clearance Rack....I never buy anything at Cato full price, unless I'm desperate. I forget what I paid for it but it would be less thank $10

 

Pink/Orange Multi Colored Skirt = This one I've literally fro 10 years. I got it at Goody's in Cullman when I was there for a pageant and got caught short one outfit. I bought the pink pull-over sweater that was on the manequin with it (a good idea at the time) but it never really looked like it matched.  Because it was so long ago, I really don't know what I paid for it either, but given my frugality, it had to be $20 or less.

 

Cheap White Tank = Walmart $3.88

 

Clear/Silver kitten heels = Quite literally my favorite pair of goes-with-everything shoes. If I had known 15 years ago how much I would love them, I'd have bought both pairs they had in my size. (I revisit that poor decision often)  For acrylic princess shoes, they have been quite sturdy and I will miss them when they are gone, which is why I am piecing them back together now. I just super-glued the heel cap back on and hour before this picture. Hopefully a good shoe shop will help me keep them a little longer, but I'm too chicken to find out.

 

Pink and Orange Multi-Strand Necklace = Probably my favorite part of this whole outfit. It is actually two necklaces worn together. I have been looking for a statement necklace to wear with the original skirt outfit but never hit on anything that I felt fit the outfit.  Until I found these two necklaces (Cato Clearance, of course) at the end of the season.  They were both marked down considerably, so I figured, what the heck?!  I connected the lobster clasp of each necklace to the chain of the other necklace (that's a lobster claw claps on both sides) and connected the whole thing with a safety pin behind my neck. Nice huh?

 



 

I feel really pulled together and trendy, despite the newest piece being the cheap white tank.

 

I'm also appropriately dressed for the baby shower we are thowing today in my department (it's a girl, can you tell?)

 

~En-JOY!

What I Wore Wednesday

I really hate having to take a pic in the bathroom mirror, but no one was available to help this early.

Today's WIWW features "The Most Expensive Shoes I've Ever Bought... Ever"

Top = Haynes Outlet $5.99
Skirt = Thift store $1
Shoes = Nine West Outlet $65.00
Jewelry = Gift from my awesome boss

And I always forget to link back to The Pleated Poppy, but this morning I remembered!!

~En-JOY

What I Wore Wednesday: Sick And Tired Edition

Usually I post what I'm wearing today, whether it's boring or not. But today I am sidelined by some illness that started Sunday as a fever and a tummy ache. (Actually, I've run fever for three nights in a row but the tummy ache stopped yesterday around lunch) The dose of Nyquil last night that broke my fever, caused me to oversleep considerably. Luckily, the kids don't have to be at school until 9:00 a.m or I might have been really late.

Today, you will just have to use your imagination. After 2 mornings of having to be here at 7:00 a.m. I am lucky to be clean and dressed, much less dressed in anything that might be considered chic or stylish.  I am wearing a tee shirt and black pants. I'm not wearing make up. What's the point? All the eye-watering and nose blowing will just run it off. My hair is in a pony tail.  That was the best I could muster, given that I had 10 minutes to get showered and dressed and out the door.

But I am here, and that's all that counts

Really hard to en-JOY right now

What I Wore Wednesday

Dress = Banana Republic Outlet (clearance) Marked $70...scored it for $20 !!
Shoes = Cato (also clearance) ...$7.99
Belt = Walmart $9.99
Earrings = Cato $3.99

 

I thought that I would wear these cool little aquare silver earrings rather than my usual hoops. Here they are close up.

 

 

And I ALWAYS forget to link back to everyone else who does What I Wore Wednesday

Sorry Y'all

 

~En-JOY!

What I Wore Wednesday

So it's time for What I Wore Wednesday.  Today's outfit is THE UNIFORM that I am always harping about. 

We don't have a uniform here at work, persay, but I seem to have a closet full of single color button downs and black pants.....five pairs of the same black pants to be exact.  Well, if I'm going to get technical, I have three, plain white button downs.

It is quick and easy to throw on, and with  my favorite silver accessories, I  always look pulled together, but rather dull. 

White Shirt = Walmart clearance!! Regularly $12.88 I picked this up at end of season for just $2

(so I bought ALL they had in my size!)

Black Pants = New York & Company, Regularly $46.95 sale $29.99....more than I ever pay for pants!

Silver multichain necklace with tulle flower = New York & Company, another splurge at $19.99 (but Buy One Get One Free on jewelry that day, so it was worth it)

Black Cage Booties = Cato, $19.99....and worth every penny

That is why I'm trying to step it up a little and try out new things.

Oh, and my hair.

I let my hair grow out to the point that I can't stand it and want it cut. Then I get it cut and suddenly remember why I don't like it short.  I LIKE LOW MAINTENANCE HAIR!

After having to style it this morning, I was beginning to remember what I liked about the long hair.  While I did take the time to blow it dry properly, I didn't have enough time to flat-iron it, so it is left to "do what it do." My bangs started to bother me about 10:00am. Not having enough in the back for a pony tail, I resorted to wearing my problem bangs in a clippee. I look like a 12 year old.

It's a process....

 

Oh yeah.....I keep forgetting to link back to a whole bunch of other folks that WIWW too...

like The Pleated Poppy

~En-JOY



What I Wore Wednesday

Variation on "uniform" look....Brown and White

White Skirt (bought for last year's sales meeting...that's now a little too big!!) = New York & Co
Brown Tee = Walmart $3.88
Asst Bangles = Cato $5.99
Dangle Earrings & Long Bead Necklace = Premeir Jewelry Designs

I'd show off my "great deal" of the  whole outfit, my brown leather slide sandals that I found at a consignment shop for just $2, but the heel broke off!! Well, I guess I got my $2 out of them!

~En-JOY!

What I Wore Wednesday

Today's "What I Wore Wednesday" is kind of an example of what I'm trying to get away from doing.

 This is my "uniform" of sorts: plain tee with dress pants.  Mostly black.

Oh, for the record:

Tee-shirt = Walmart $4.88 (Can you tell I love Wallyworld?!)
Gray Dress slacks = Belk's $19.99
Jewelry = Premier Designs (gift from my friend/Boss)

Yes, I know that it's comfortable, professional, and easy, but it's, well, black.  I'm trying to remember to step it up a little. To step out of the comfort zone and wear more color. I'm fading in the background a bit in my "uniform."

 I recently wore a new a new wrap dress I had gotten from Kohl's ( under $20!). The fabric, a wrinkle-free knit,  is a mix of rich blues and greens and has a great geometric pattern.  It is hemmed just above my knee and really shows off my legs (which I feel is my best feature). It's very professional, with just the right amount of femininity and a dash of sass. I got tons of compliments and I felt like a million bucks. All the compliments made me feel really good too.  If I can remember, I will get a pic next time I wear it.

Until next time....
~En-Joy!

What I Wore Wednesday, July 11th

My first "What I Wore Wednesday" outfit

White Pants, Chico's by way of the Alabama Thrift Store = $2
Black Tank, Walmart = $3.88
Black and White "Sweater", Charming Charlie = $14

This picture makes my head look dispropotionatly large but the outfit looks good!

Trade-offs man, trade-offs

~En-JOY!