For reasons I find difficult to articulate, I have recently become enamored with this blog. She posts her outfit! Every day! With a picture! I think partially it is the voyeur in me who likes the read it, but I also dig the clothes. So I started thinking about what would happen if I did what Allie is doing. Mostly, I think you would all be very bored and possibly appalled by my clothes. Still, I'll try it today:

What you see here is a black cotton New York & Company minidress (thrifted) over a black long sleeved t-shirt from Target and a pair of New York & Company boot cut jeans. The boots are from Clarks. The silk scarf was a gift from Mark last Christmas and is from Banana Republic. The watch was a gift the same Christmas from my parents and is from Fossil.

Hmm...it's not as much fun when I do it...

I'm sure I'll get sick of this eventually. Until then, I will continue to regale you with my high-fashion ways (snort).

What you see here is a sweater dress from Liz Lange Maternity for Target, worn over dark rinse jeans from Nine West. The striped socks are from Rampage and the Mary Janes are Ulu. The camisole is Old Navy. I can't quite remember where the necklace is from, possibly a street vendor. Watch, as always, is Fossil.

But alas, I am obsessed.

It's cold here today.

The outfit you see in this horrifically frumpy picture consists of black, brown, and cream plaid trousers by Ann Taylor Loft, a brown cotton sweater by Polo Jeans by Ralph Lauren over a black cotton turtleneck with what I now see is unfortunate side rouching by New York & Company, and my trusty black and brown Clarks boots. You can't see them in this picture, but I was also wearing lovely amber earrings I bought on my first trip to Ann Arbor.

OK. I'm addicted to doing this now. I'm adding a category for it.

What you see here are tan pants by Banana Republic (but I got them at the Goodwill), a long fitted black button-down shirt from New York & Company over a black cotton camisole from Target, my Clarks boots, and a painted shell necklace I got on one of my recent trips home (made by a local Oregon artist). Not my most inventive ensemble, I'll admit. I'm feeling very depressed about my shoe options recently.

I'm sure you've noticed that one of the things I'm trying to lately is replicate some of the blogs I love. This isn't to rip off their ideas so much as it is to push myself in new directions and see what new blogging styles might work for me. With that being said, I'm taking a page out of The Windowshoppist book and pointing you, gentle reader, towards a few cute things that are on sale at Sierra Trading Post.

Do you happen to wear a size 6 or 6.5? If so, these amazing teal Frye boots are only $79.95 (regular price $190).

So it turns out I don't dress much differently on weekends, but I do, apparently, have jazz hands.

What you see here are my favorite weekend jeans (too worn out to wear to work) by Seven7. They are worn with a dark blue on light gray graphic print tee-shirt from Old Navy, which is over a tissue weight dark gray long-sleeved tee-shirt from Target. The long-sleeved tee is thrifted, the jeans are from Ross. The ensemble is completed by purple low-top Converse All-Stars.

First, the outfit I changed into before going to our friends' house for dinner last night. My standard dark-wash New York & Company jeans, red three-quarter sleeved scoop neck tee-shirt from Old Navy, Polo Jeans gray cotton sweater (yep, I have one in gray and one in brown, and looking at the pictures I now know neither one of them is attractive), black Dr. Scholls clogs (fit me better than Danskos, if you can believe that), and my red shell necklace. I also have on awesome red and white striped socks, but you can't see them.

Now that I have explained that I am going to be doing this for awhile and why, I am going to dispense with the formalities at the beginning of the posts and just tell you what I'm wearing.

Dispensing begins now.

What you see here is my amazing and fantabulous Libby Dibby skirt (received as a very generous gift for my last birthday), worn with a half-sleeved scoop neck brown tee from Old Navy (bought at the retail store). The shoes are these from Redwing (bought online). The necklace is a very old one from Nine West, purchased at Ross, I think.

Why the store info? My next post will make it clear...

Anybody who has been reading this blog for any time at all knows that I am a voracious thrift shopper (in fact, I have a whole blog archive of thrift-related posts). However, something I may have been less-than-forthcoming with here recently is that I haven't, for the last few years, thrifted much in the way of clothing for myself.

Why? Well, there is a simple reason and it's one I'm not proud of: It just got too hard. Not only did finding clothes in my size in thrift stores take forever once I passed size 14, but sifting through rack after rack of clothes too small for me made me feel bad about myself. And though there was no moment at which I decided to stop trying to find clothes for myself at thrift stores, I slowly did stop trying. I still thrift shopped as much as ever, I just bought other things.

All of this would have been fine, of course, except that it didn't translate into me not buying clothes. It translated, instead, into me buying new clothes. For the last couple of years, most of my clothes (and they are significant) have come from Ross, Target, and New York & Company. I've even ventured to Old Navy and the Gap more often than I'd like to admit.

I have kind of a moral problem with that. I've been buying clothes that were made under bad labor conditions of chemically treated fabrics, then sold for less than they would be worth under a real wage system. And I've been doing it, basically, out of laziness and inability to deal with my own body.

It needs to stop.

Do you think Clinton and Stacy have those days when getting dressed is just a hassle?

Today I'm wearing trouser jeans from New York & Company (bought at their store), a ribbed purple v-neck sweater from Old Navy (again purchased at the store), my Dr. Scholls clogs (bought online, I think from shoebuy.com), and a lovely beaded necklace made by my friend Turtle.

Today's dress is made by Candy Apple, in the U.S.A., as per the tag. However, I thrifted it and can't find a brand called Candy Apple on the web anywhere. Anyway, it's poly, but so cute and fits well, I think. I like the capped sleeves. It is worn over black tights from Target (bought at the store) and a black camisole from Old Navy (also from the store). I also have on red Clarks Mary Janes from Zappos. You can't see them in the picture, but I am also wearing some garnet drop earrings I bought online at some point. And I covered the whole ensemble when I left the house, with a tan trench from London Fog (bought at Ross), because it's not all that warm here today.

I am not feeling well. I think I am coming down with a sore-throat-fever-cough type of virus. Sometimes, wearing red makes me feel better. Not so much today.

I am wearing the new (to me) Seven7 jeans I thrifted last weekend, a red three-quarter sleeved scoop-neck tee-shirt from Old Navy (yes, I have three of these in different colors, does it look familiar from Monday?), and putty-colored new style Converse All-Stars (much more supportive and cushy than the older ones) from Ross. The ensemble is accessorized with my usual Fossil watch (gift), as well as red and white striped knee socks (Target) and a lovely red and black millefleur necklace, made for Valentine's Day last year by LilySea Designs (see all the pretties she made?). I love this necklace, wear it all the time, and get tons of compliments on it. If you are reading this, o proprietor of LilySea, consider making these again this year? I'd love another color...

First, today's togs:

Dark wash boot-cut jeans from New York & Company, bought at the retail store. Cream colored cowl-neck cotton sweater from Old Navy, bought at the retail store. Earth shoes from online, blue flowered socks by Chinese Laundry, purchased at Ross. Amber necklace made by taking apart a thrift store necklace and putting the amber on a chain from some other old necklace.

Now, the reason these photos are headless:

I am not an unattractive person. However, I am a massively non-photogenic person. In order to get a picture of me wherein my face doesn't look very very bad, and very different from the way it normally looks, you have to both be a decent photographer and have a world of patience. The pictures I am putting up here of my clothes are quick snaps taken every morning a moment before leaving the house by Mark, who is a terrible photographer. Therefore, my choices are either to share a picture of myself in which my face looks horrific every day, or not distract myself or anyone else with my face and just cut my head off and concentrate on the clothes. I choose the latter. Sorry if people are finding it creepy.

Today you see my Saturday going-to-Costco finest. Thrifted Seven7 jeans (same ones from Thursday), a thrifted screen-printed long-sleeved black tee-shirt (anybody have any idea what the design on it is?), and purple Chucks bought online.

In exciting news, our first potential kitten adopter is coming by today!

Today's agenda includes a bunch of chores (ug), meeting with a prospective cat adopter (yay!) and seeing an afternoon movie with Mark (yay!). My outfit for the day consists of the same thrifted Seven7 jeans I wore yesterday (and a couple of days ago...) and my cool Burning River Roller Girls tee-shirt, which was re-fitted to suit my shape and gifted to me by my bosom-buddy from way back and BRRG's 2007 Best Jammer Eva Lucien. My coolest tee-shirt is worn over a teal SML Sport cotton camisole, which was also a gift, and with my Fossil watch, also a gift. I am barefoot right now, but by the time we go to the movies I'll probably put on some Converse.

I gotta say, it's hard being this fashion-forward.

It's warm here today!

I am wearing a Linden Hill patterned skirt in brown, teal, and white (from Target) with a white faux-wrap short-sleeved sweater from New York & Company. Underneath I have a white cotton camisole from Old Navy. All of these things were purchased at the retail store. On my feet are my brown Earth shoes, bought online.

The special part of this outfit is the jewelry--my Superhero necklace and matching earrings (in chlorine). They were a gift from Mark a couple of years ago.

Today is a fine example of how this project is helping me and teaching me. Now that I have seen this picture, I know not to wear this combination again, lest I look like a black-out bar on a censored document. The way I do today.

The black with white embroidery tunic top is by Venezia (Lane Bryant) and was thrifted. The cropped black pants are Liz Claiborne's Audra style and came from Ross. My red Mary Janes are Clarks from Zappos. The jade necklace I'm wearing was a gift to myself from Ebay, and my Fossil watch was a gift from my parents (from Macy's, I suspect).

It turned cold here again today, so that means tights. Which I'm down with.

Today I am wearing a mid-calf length black skirt with embroidered trim, brand unknown (the tag came out long ago), from Ross. It's paired with a red silk three-quarter sleeve v-neck sweater by Eric Stewart, also from Ross. The black tights are from Target and the black Ulu Mary Janes are from Sierra Trading Post. My necklace is a silver and rhinestone locket that my aunt gave to me for my 8th grade graduation--it's my oldest piece of jewelry and I still wear it quite often. My Fossil watch, as always, was a gift.

This isn't the best picture, but I actually feel pretty good about this outfit. It's stylish enough without being trendy, I feel covered but not frumpy, everything fits well and is comfortable, and it's just a wee bit different than what other people are wearing. I like it.

For the second day in a row, I'm comfortable and feel reasonably attractive. Maybe doing this is teaching me something?

Today I'm wearing a long patched denim skirt by Venezia, purchased at Lane Bryant, with a dark gray cotton turtleneck sweater by Calvin Klein Jeans, purchased at Ross. Under the sweater is a gray cotton Mossimo camisole from Target. My socks are Ross-purchased Nine West trouser socks, and my shoes are my Clarks red Mary Janes from Zappos. I am also wearing a purple glass bead necklace I bought from a street vendor, who made it.

With some help from some of my online friends, I've been putting together a list of resources for buying clothes that are organic and/or fair trade. Thought now might be a good time to share them.

American Apparel: Probably the best known U.S. "sweatshop free" clothing manufacturer. They also have a pretty good sized line of organic cotton clothing. Unfortunately, they are also a horrifically sexist organization (as well as being union-busting?) and not one I am much into supporting.

Bamboosa: Made in America bamboo clothing and baby products. Selection is not huge, and it's really basic, but the stuff isn't terribly expensive. I like the super lightweight long-sleeved v-necks. They are available in a variety of colors, xs-xl, for $26 (regular price).

So I think I need different jeans. All my jeans give me ice cream cone legs--I need something that actually goes straight down from the hips. Anybody have a suggestion?

Today I'm wearing Nine West dark wash jeans from Ross and a green men's turtleneck sweater from The Gap (thrifted). No jewelry, Simple sneakers from Zappos. Ah, Friday.

Batton down the hatches, y'all, it is going to be a heavy posting day.

First thing first: it has come to my attention that there are folks, elsewhere (and no, I am most certainly not going to link) who are using my daily clothing posts for their own amusement. Specifically, they are reposting the pictures in order to make fun of my poor fashion sense. I think that this is understandable. It is even, maybe, part of what I had in mind when I starting posting pictures of my clothes every day. What bums me out is that they are doing it elsewhere, sneakily, and not here in the open. See, I am aware that my clothes are not all that. I want that to change. And by setting myself up for the public humiliation of sharing my outfits with the wide internets every day, I am, in part, hoping to get some advice re: that change. So be a helper and not a hater, and all that. If you've got something to say about my clothes, I'm here and I'm listening.

First, the basics:

Gaiam organic cotton black yoga pants (gift from my not-ILs for Christmas), Mossimo army green cotton tank top (Target), Old Navy brown and black flowered camisole (thrifted). No accessories, no shoes. Glasses from Lenscrafters, I think. Mark's mom is coming to visit this week and we're doing house-cleaning today. This is the type of thing I wear to do housecleaning.

Now.

On today's agenda: brunch at friends' house (just got home), watching a soccer match with Mark (Liverpool v. Chelsea), more chores that didn't get done yesterday. So, I'm wearing my thrifted Seven7 jeans (new favorites for sure), a black scoop-neck t-shirt from the Gap (sadly purchased at the retail store, but at least from the clearance rack), and my putty-colored new-style Chucks (from Ross). My hematite necklace came from an online swap.

Also, I am thinking that my posture might have something to do with how bad my jeans look in some of the other pictures, because the very same jeans don't look nearly so terrible in this one. Which is uplifting.

OK, feel free to make fun of me now.

Happy Monday, all. Sometimes, when it is Monday, it is good to dress up a bit, I think. Makes the weekend-to-week transition a bit more pronounced. Or something.

Anyway, I am wearing a thrifted black and purple geometric Venezia (Lane Bryant) skirt. I like this skirt, and in fact have another thrifted skirt much like it, but I have a complaint about these types of skirts, with the translucent tops and attached underskirts. The underskirts get bunched up. Pisses me right off. With it, I'm wearing a silk and cotton blend short-sleeved faux wrap black sweater from New York & Company, purchased at the retail store (and yes, it's the same as this sweater--if I really like something, I am so not above buying it in two colors). Under that is a purple cotton camisole from Old Navy. My shoes are Ulu Mary Janes from Sierra Trading post. My necklace was handmade by my friend Turtle.

Also, I have to show you my new purse, which I am carrying today even though it matches nothing I have on. Love.

Today we've got a teal Mossimo tunic shirt, which was thrifted on my big trip the other weekend, over my Nine West Bleeker jeans. I'm also wearing my butt-ugly Dr. Scholls clogs, my usual watch, some cool stripy socks you can't see, and a blow glass bead on a cord around my neck, which I bought from a street vendor, who made it.

I like this shirt, but it isn't quite long enough between the shoulder and the bust, so I kind of feel like it's bisecting my boobs. Which is unfortunate. I don't think I'm ever going to like these jeans.

Oh, another note about these clothing posts: one thing they are bringing to my attention is how incredibly bad my posture is. Wow. I had no idea. So I gotta work on that. I think there is some natural bad-posture that comes with being so tall so early, but it has to be somewhat correctable.

Mark got sneaky this morning and took my photo while I was making my coffee and not paying attention. Still, I think it works just fine. Probably an improvement over my usual stiff pose, actually.

Today I am wearing my Libby Dibby skirt, on the flipside of how I wore it on January 28. With it I have a chocolate brown silk sweater with v-neck and half-sleeves from Eric Stewart, purchased at Ross. It's actually exactly like the much-maligned sweater I wore on February 6, just a different color. My brown tights are by Mossimo, but I actually thrifted them last week (new in the package). My Red Wing shoes you've seen before. My necklace, which you can't really see in this picture, is a green stone (peridot, or fake peridot) and copper Y necklace, and it's thrifted.

Dear Clinton and Stacy,

I am writing this open letter because I would like to nominate myself for your program. However, you do not allow self-nomination, so I am hoping some wise soul will see this, take pity on me, and nominate me. According to your website, you are currently looking for candidates for show from my city, so now is the time.

For nearly a month, I have been cataloging my wardrobe in daily photographs, which you can see here. As you can see, I definitely have some challenges. While I recognize these challenges, however, I am dead-set against some things you always suggest (like high heels and jackets), so even though I'm asking for help and it's not being thrust at me, I'd be spitfire enough to make for a good show. And I'd present some challenges for you as well, as I am outside the normal size range which 90% or more of your participants fit into. Are you up for it?

I'll be on the lookout for hidden video cameras and people pretending to be market researchers.

Hope to see you soon.

Grace

You'll have to forgive the odd and unflattering angle of today's picture. I had to wake Mark up to take it (my camera doesn't work for taking a picture of myself) and he wouldn't get out of bed, so it's a bit weird.

I'm wearing both trousers and sweater from New York & Company today. The gray trousers were purchased at a retail store a couple of years ago, the pink cowl neck sweater was purchased at a retail store last weekend. The most interesting thing I have on is something you can't really see--a pink cotton camisole under the sweater which I bought at Lindex on my trip to Norway. How world-traveler of me! I'm also wearing black socks and my black Ulu Mary Janes (from Sierra Trading Post). You can't see them, but I also have on very cool rose quartz earrings.

Dressing gave me trouble today...and this is another from-bed picture.

I'm wearing my New York & Company West Side jeans, which I am really beginning to hate (the whiskering pisses me off). I have on a scoop neck Gap tee-shirt in red (same as this black one--I actually have three), also from the retail store, and a New York & Company gray one-button cardigan (something else I have in two colors...), also from the retail store. I have on my LilySea necklace, but you can't see it, and my Clarks boots.

I think my photographer is unhappy with his role in this project. I am noticing a distinct lack of care about things like focus in his recent shots...

Anyway, it is Saturday and I have no real plans. I am wearing my Seven7 weekend jeans, from Ross way back when, and a black Gap short-sleeved Henley type shirt over a gray Old Navy camisole, both from the retail stores. My Fossil watch. Blessed bare feet.

Seven7 jeans (same as yesterday, from Ross), brown Mossimo Henley from Target over bright striped camisole with no brand, which I think was thrifted. Green seed bead necklace my cousin made for me for Christmas, pewter All-Stars (Ross), and Fossil watch (gift).

Headed to the zoo today.

Unlike luckier souls, I had to work today.

I'm wearing a Courtney dress, which is a green, white, black, and cream pattern, over black tights. On my feet are my trusty Ulu black Mary Janes and around my neck is a cool green stone necklace that I can't for the life of me recall the origins of.

And the kitten? That is Yuel, our sole remaining baby cat. He's growing on us...we'd better find an adopter for him soon.

I realized today that I am duplicating my efforts, keeping track of what I am wearing both here and on Flickr, and it really makes very little sense. So no more outfits here. If you want to keep track of what I'm wearing and/or advise me along my journey, feel free to check out my Flickr album, What I'm Wearing Today. There is also a link to it in the sidebar.

Now back to actual blogging.

So even though I've stopped taking and posting pictures of my clothes every day, I am still thinking a lot about style, about dressing in a more put-together way, and about reducing my wardrobe to fewer pieces that I feel better about. I'm still reading Allie every day, and taking her advice. One of the best posts she's written, to my mind, was not on her daily style diary, but on Wardrobe Oxygen, where she wrote a couple of years ago about staples for every woman's wardrobe. After reading the post, along with her updates "Wardrobe hints for warmer climates" and "Updating your wardrobe for spring 2008," I made a list (word of the month!) of things I wanted in my wardrobe, especially with spring/summer approaching.