Using colorful language

I am not shy about wearing color. I believe my record speaks for itself. Red, purple, yellow, orange -- I love them all. And today I decided to wear them all at the same time. At first I thought this sweater resembled a sand art jar project.

I got several compliments on it. A couple women asked where I bought it (Macy's by way of Marshall's). A friend at work referred to my sweater as "festive." Festive? Like a pinata?

Given the many vivid colors in the sweater, I opted to wear my white skirt. To me, this skirt says: "Tennis anyone?" However, this thought may have been evoked by Day 2 of Wimbledon(which I know about only because I have no control over the TV at the gym), but I think it has more to do with the pleats. I thought about doing a brown or a nude shoe, but I chose my dark burgundy heels. I think the rich shade compliments the sweater nicely.

In case you did not know, all colors have meanings or assertions associated with them. Colors are proven to affect our mood, productivity and some experts say certain colors garner positive attention from the opposite sex. As today's public service, I will provide you with the general interpretation of certain colors.

Red is often associated with power and determination as well as passion and love. No surprise there, but I also read that red invokes hunger -- which is why so many movie theaters use it in their decor. You buy your ticket, find a seat, get comfortable and before you have time to answer the Coke Trivia question, you think: "I really want a large popcorn and some peanut M&M's." And bam! There goes another $17.50.

Purple is associated with royalty. With all the colors in the sweater that I had to work with, I chose to add a purple cami under the sweater. One can never be too royal -- just ask Prince.

Yellow is associated with happiness, intellect, and energy. Or in my case, bumble bees. It's not like anyone has said to me, "I see you are wearing your happiness outfit today." No. I wear yellow and I'm an insect. It will be years before I let that one go.

Orange is associated creativity and stimulation. However, this could just be the caffeine.

There is also a hint of brown in the pattern of my sweater. Brown is associated with stability, reliability, and approachability. What can brown do for you? And why do you want to get closer?


Not to beat a dead horse (or pinata), my point is this. What you wear says a lot about you. Clothing allows you to express yourself without words. You should not shy away from wearing bold colors. Just a little bit can make a big difference.

To draw on something I learned from the incomparable Cyndi Lauper -- who I have admired for countless years (and I have the paraphernalia to prove it). Your true colors are beautiful, like a rainbow. Don't be afraid to let them show.

Romper Room

This weekend, while visiting my family in Austin, I saw a girl wearing the cutest black, strapless short romper. It was very similar to the picture shown at the left -- but shorter. This girl was super tall, super slim and had fantastic arms and legs. She was a vision of blonde hair and tan skin as she moved gazelle-like up and down on the elliptical. Say what? You read right. The elliptical. At the gym.

Now, I must admit if anyone could pull off a strapless short romper it was this girl. She had the body for it. However, great limbs or not, I found the low cut socks and worn out Nikes a bit distracting. Couple that with the fact that she clearly was not wearing a bra and I think I have a great case for fashion negligence.

Running on the treadmill, I was so distracted by her that time flew by. I should have thanked her. It made my hamster run more interesting.

Later, my attention was diverted from romper girl to an older lady doing tai chi movements while pedaling on a stationary bike. It takes all kinds. And this my friends, is what they mean by "Keep Austin Weird."

If anyone was wondering, this is my idea of work out attire -- doggie dumbbells not included.

Nothing but "softly feminine" for this "smart girl"

I truly believe that if Donna Reed and Pat Benetar got drunk together and created an outfit, this would be it.

The full skirt and feminine button-up blouse playfully calls, "Dear, dinner's ready," whilst the skirt's funky brushstroke pattern and wide, red, double-buckle belt sings "Heartache to heartache we stand."

Unlike most of my outfits -- which are born of spontaneity -- this outfit progressed over time. I bought this skirt last year at Nordstrom's Rack. When I first wore this skirt, I paired it with a black cotton tank with a matching black shrug and sandals. I remember thinking -- eh, nothing special. The next time I wore it, I let Nick-at-Nite (a/k/a TV Land) be my inspiration.

Growing up, I watched reruns of The Donna Reed Show and Leave it to Beaver. Boy could those ladies dress. Whether they were vacuuming the house or mending socks, they always looked flawless in their full skirts, demure blouses, hostess aprons and heels. Personally, my feminist ideals are closer to Gloria Steinem's than June Cleaver, but that does not keep me from appreciating a classic silhouette and feminine details. I mean, look at the tiny little pleated pockets on my blouse...fantastic!

I just need my Bobbi-Pin Curl Perm and I'm ready for a day of baking muffins and thorough dusting:

What the...

"The devil is in the details," meaning that small things that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.

I totally get that.

Take for instance this rayon/spandex blend jacket-thingy I wore today. It is a slick material much like that of a windbreaker. There are drawstrings with toggles at the collar -- much like you would see on a hooded jacket. Only there is no hood -- those are faux drawstrings. Why are they there (and do they pose a strangulation hazard)?

When I bought this jacket, I only saw two things -- it was black and it was cropped. A prime example of how I would speed shop and not notice details. I would buy just to buy. I wanted a black cropped jacket. And I bought a black cropped jacket. Only, it wasn't really what I bargained for.

It wasn't until after the first time I wore it, did I realize that it was a swing jacket (not necessarily the most flattering cut on me since it tends to encircle) and it appears to have been modeled after a parachute (ripcords?).

Having lacked my usual attention to details, I am here today to tell you that the little things matter. I tell you this today, as I'm wearing my shiny, waterproof, psuedo windbreaker, parkaesque swing jacket counting down the days (48) until I can buy a black, cotton-blend, fitted cropped jacket. Preferably, something without a pulley system.

Details are important. Believe me.

You're getting sleeeepy

Why do zebras have stripes?

According to author Peter Apps, the stripes could act as camouflage by breaking up the zebra's outlines. However, he acknowledges that zebra's behavior does not fit what would be expected from a camouflaged animal -- zebras are noisy and active. Interesting -- I'm noisy and (somewhat) active and I'm hardly what you would call a camouflaged animal. Another suggestion is that the conglomeration of dazzling stripes in a zebra herd would make it difficult for a predator to concentrate on a particular target. That's it! Dazzling stripes makes it difficult for an onlooker to concentrate on one specific area.

This may be why stripes are one of the most popular patterns used by the fashion industry. Clearly, stripes have a way of concealing. I mean, today's dress even tricked the camera. In person, this dress is perfectly vertically striped, but in the picture, it becomes crazy wavy lines -- similar to what you see before someone in a movie has a flashback. Genius! Want to look taller and/or thinner? Wear vertical stripes. You never hear anyone say "as big as a zebra," and yet female zebras weigh 850+ pounds -- food for thought.

Another trick to make your legs appear thinner and longer is to wear a nude colored shoe with skirts/dresses. At this rate, I should look about 6' tall today.

*Author's note: A yellow belt would look really cute with this dress, but alas, I did not find such a belt before I got the genius idea to stop shopping. If any of you happen to have a dress like this and a yellow belt, I'm jealous.

Life is like an elevator -- it has its ups and downs

You may be smart, funny or an intoxicating combination of both. You may be one of the most interesting people alive (like that guy in the Dos Equios commercials). Unfortunately, a stranger -- who is only looking at you -- will not know just how amazing you are.

We all know the phrase "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Unlike other well-known sayings, such as: "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree", "Go fly a kite", or "How can you walk in those shoes?" "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" is an expression I can get behind.

Anyone who thinks what they wear does not matter is kidding themselves. Of course, there are some individuals who truly do not care what others think about them. To these people, I say "good for you." However, I'm fairly certain that even these people have dressed up for an interview and perhaps a date or two. People who care about how they are perceived by coworkers, friends, family and even strangers, recognize that outward appearances are a huge part of day-to-day life. Shallow? Perhaps. True? Definitely.

You may be thinking to yourself: "Why the hell is she writing about this? Does she have some degree in Sociology I don't know about?" Both good questions. I'm writing about this because: 1) it is true; and 2) I think people at work are on to me and have stopped saying stuff for me to make fun of.

However, when I was leaving the office this evening, a woman on the elevator with me said, "Hi, I rode up with you this morning. I recognized your really cute jacket." She did not say, "I recognized your aptitude for abscure theme songs," or "I recognized your ability to make great braciola." And why would she? She has no way of knowing that I can tenderize cube steak while singing the song from Mr. Belvedre. No, this woman spent less than 30 seconds in an elevator with me, but remembered what she saw -- my jacket.

I know we all have similar stories. Complete strangers complimenting us on our hair, our smile, our shoes, our blouse -- superficial things. Someone needs to know you on a personal level before they can compliment you on your vast knowledge about the former Soviet republics or ability to quote Atticus Finch's closing statement from "To Kill a Mockingbird" (neither of which I have by the way).

But a wise person once said, "Streaks on the china, never mattered before, who cares. When you dropped kicked your jacket, as you came through the door, no one glared. But sometimes things get turned around and no one’s spared. All hands look out below. There’s a change in the status quo. Gonna need all the help that we can get. According to our new arrival, life is more than mere survival. We just might live the good life yet."

Appearances. They are a huge part of our lives. Mr. Belvedere gets it. I get it. Do you get it?

Up in arms!

Today I wore my coral flutter sleeve blouse, tan skirt and aqua jewelry set. Doesn't the coral and aqua look lovely together? As I discussed last week, orange and blue compliment each other nicely. I liked my bright blue and orange last week, but I really love this lighter color combination. Plus, I successfully avoided anyone asking me to stow their carry on luggage--bonus!

I find this top to be comfortable, flattering and it wears well with a variety of bottoms. I have worn it with jeans, navy blue walking shorts and a shorter brown skirt (not all at once). Considering how little I paid for it, it has more than paid for itself with numerous wears. I don't want to give all my secrets away for free, but trust me The Style Within can tell you where to find the deals.

Today was the second time I wore this blouse to work. Counting those two times and the time I wore my "bumble bee outfit," today was the third time I arduously avoided our HR admin. for fear she would mistake my flutter sleeves for sleeveless, which is not "technically" allowed in our office.

I enjoy dissecting and debating fashion. On most days, I will gladly discuss why this is not a sleeveless blouse. But to quote the great Kenny Rogers: "You got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away and know when to run." Today, I chose to walk away. I walked away as fast as my BCBG heels would carry me and hid in my office until she was gone.

Now accepting hand outs

The blouse I'm wearing today is brand new. I just got it last weekend. Now before you cry foul and chastise me for violating my own 90-day shopping moratorium, let me finish. This blouse is brand new to me. My mom gave it to me. It wasn't a proper gift or anything, it was basically "here I don't like this on me, you can have it." I politely put it in my closet and silently thought, "this will go to the consignment store my next trip" (sorry Mom).

Today, I took it out of my closet and got a good look at it. It is white. It is sheer. It is one size too big. Not only does it have a dot pattern, but it has ruffles too. It is hard to see in the picture, but it has ruffles on the sleeves, at the neck and even running along the upper part of the back. Why? Not sure really, all I know is that for one blouse, it has a hell of a lot going on. Perhaps this is why Mom decided she didn't want it.

Not one to shy away from a fashion challenge, I decided to take this blouse -- with all its variety -- and wear it. I figured on a black skirt and accessories -- black and white is always modern. Unfortunately, one trip to the gym did not fix the problem with my black skirt not fitting. I tried on my pale gray skirt, but it is a very full A-line, almost a circle skirt. The volume of the blouse needs to be balanced. What's a girl to do?

I pulled this gray and white striped skirt from a suit. Breaking up a suit is a great way to economize and get maximum use out of something you already have. If (like me) you have suits, but do not wear them on daily basis, you can treat the jacket and bottoms as separates. Try wearing the skirt/pants with a blouse on Monday. Wear the jacket over jeans for a more tailored look on Friday (if you are lucky enough to wear jeans on Friday). If you have to travel for work you can get 3 outfits by wearing the suit, then the jacket and the skirt/pants separately. You get the idea.

Just remember, dry cleaning and washing fades your clothing over time. Though the fade is slight each time, you need to ensure your suit's color remains consistent so it is a perfect match when you wear the pieces together. To keep the color consistent, dry clean or wash both pieces at the same time -- even if you wore only one part of the suit. In that vein, I advise taking any free clothes that come your way because you'll need the extra money for dry cleaning.

Dear Diary, Let's take it from the top.

I first got the idea for this blog on May 4th. I know this because, not only does my blog act as a creative outlet and marketing material for The Style Within, but also as a photo diary wherein my outfits are confessed and documented. I first wore this lilac skirt on May 4th. It is less than one month into the blog -- I didn't expect to repeat this skirt so soon.

Confession: After weeks of lousy gym attendance and way too much edible indulgence, the black skirt I usually wear with this top decided it would rather stay in today. This unforeseen (not really) problem gave me the chance to try this skirt in a different combination.

I really like this top. It is a hybrid between a blouse vest and a vest -- a blest. I bought it last year on sale at Macy's. They only had one blest left in my size; however, it was missing the included skinny belt. After haggling with the saleslady, I bought the beltless blest for an additional 10% off with "no returns allowed." I agreed to buy the blest "as is," but I did not agree to wear it "as is."

Confession: On my way out of the store, I grabbed the coordinating belt off a blest that was twice the size of the one I bought. I had my husband punch extra holes in the belt and when I wear the belted blest, I simply cut a thin strip of Hollywood Fashion Tape and apply it to the end of the belt, adhering it to itself -- this way the excess material does not flap around. Also, this trick is great for when you wear belts over clothing without belt loops to secure the belt, such as dresses and blouses.

Today's outfit features my Carlos Santana "Vertigo" heels in "beluga blue" -- which translates to gray -- and some of my hematite (a/k/a gunmetal) jewelry. The necklace is three strands: one pearl, one crystal and one hematite chain. I do not normally wear pearls. I adore the way they look on most others -- refined and preppy -- but that's not me at all. I have a real (cultured) pearl necklace that I received as high school graduation gift. I believe those were memorialized in my sorority composite photo.

Confession: When I wear pearls I am reminded of a scene from Pretty In Pink. The one where Molly Ringwald's character goes to the house party and one of the drunk, mean girls says: "Nice pearls honey. This isn’t a dinner party."

Peanuts are complimentary. Compliments are not.

When I left the house this morning, I mentally prepared for it. I assumed that today's color scheme was representative of some school's colors. This assumption aside, my intention -- with today's outfit -- was to do "runway" the "real way."

I first saw bright blue and orange paired together in Vogue. It makes sense -- they are at opposite sides of the color wheel. Coral and turquoise are complimentary of each other -- why not safety orange and cobalt blue? The models I saw were swathed in vibrant colored silk. One in an electric blue pantsuit with a bright orange cami, the other in a vivid orange dress with a bright blue pattern. Not having either the pantsuit or the dress, I opted for a cotton cami from Express, a blue cardigan from Ann Taylor Loft and my gray pants. I debated whether or not to tuck, but given my ongoing belt loop drama I opted for untucked. I piled on the jewelry and headed for the office.

The second I stepped foot in the office door I hear: "You're wearing Southwest Airlines' colors today?" Huh? I was not mentally prepared for that. I proceeded to argue that SWA's colors were a bit darker than what I was wearing. But this woman insisted that she had just seen a plane that morning and I was in fact wearing the same colors. I guess I should have taken her word for it. I mean, after all, I'm sure if she saw a plane -- 5,000 feet in the air -- she would know. Instead I used Google -- close, but I see the difference.

Later today, I found out that I was in fact wearing school colors. Boise State to be exact -- GO BRONCOS!

Believe me, this was not my intent. I simply wanted to see how bright orange and blue would translate outside of a fashion magazine. And apparently it translates to: "Welcome aboard Southwest Airlines flight 1286, final destination Boise."

Head down. Thumbs up.

I tend to get random song lyrics stuck in my head (shocking, I know). On Friday, "American Boy" by Estelle (feat. Kanye West) was on a loop in my head. No real reason. It is not as if it had anything to do with anything I was doing. I mean, I was at work -- not convincing some guy to take me on a tour of America. I mean, I've been to Brooklyn. I've seen what's good.

Sometimes song lyrics get stuck in my head for no apparent reason. Other times, the situation reminds me of a song, hence that song gets stuck. Keep reading, I may eventually make a point.

I rarely venture out of my downtown office building during the work day. On occasion I may stroll down the road with a co-worker for lunch, but most days I stay in the office. I've got a cush thing. I depart from my house garage in the morning, park in the office garage, walk a few yards to the elevator and I'm in the building -- no jacket required (obscure Phil Collins reference duly noted).

However, today I ventured out at high noon. Never a good idea if, like me, you tend to get very hot if the mercury rises above 75 degrees. But, I needed to run an errand about 5 blocks down the road. I seriously debated driving, but knew that would be overkill. I set off down the sidewalk, only to find it flooded with water from a nearby sprinkler. I gingerly stepped over it, much like Elmer Fudd does when he's sneaking up on Bugs Bunny -- minus the gun and funny hat.

I cross the street to avoid the war protestor (singular). I attempt to avoid eye contact with the Neiman Marcus window display taunting me with fantastic shoes I could never afford to buy. Half a block down the sidewalk is closed for "Men at Work" (oddly enough, the lyrics to "Down Under" did not get stuck in my head until I'm typing this.) I end up walking near the street curb, wondering if the guy on the manlift above is enjoying the view. He seems to be.

Now, every email forward I have received -- regarding how to avoid becoming a serial rapist's next victim -- instructs the reader to walk with a purpose, head up and make eye contact. I usually have a purpose for walking (to get somewhere) and I keep my head high since good posture makes you appear thinner. However, when walking in downtown Dallas, I must keep my head down as to avoid getting my thin heels stuck into a sidewalk crack. I look at the ground to avoid cobblestones, decorative brick and sidewalk grates and wonder why the hell the city planners used so many different forms of concrete work.

Somewhere between the construction worker and the decorative brick, song lyrics gets stuck in my head: "...Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear. But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there. Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world." This of course is "Wild World" by Cat Stevens, currently known as Yusuf Islam (I'm sure my blog just went on the government watch list for typing that name. Great. I could use the publicity.)

To summarize, I do have a lot of great things to wear. Week 3 of no shopping and I have yet to repeat an outfit. I've repeated belts a few times, but never an outfit. See, I told you I would have a point.

American Girl -- Like the song, not the dolls

It is difficult for me to not associate certain colors with certain things, for example: When we first moved into our house I decided I was going to paint the kitchen. For some inexplicable reason I decided to paint the kitchen bright, bright yellow with accents of red (I think I was using some ethnic, Pier One, glazed plate as my inspiration). Once the walls were painted yellow, I set about the task of painting the beadboard red. I was about half way through when I realized I was making my kitchen look like an old school McDonald's. The beadboard was quickly repainted white, but the bright yellow walls remained. Eventually, I painted the kitchen cabinets a bright blue -- sort of French Provencialesque.

It was not until about a month later when it dawned on me -- not only was yellow and blue my high school colors (Go Trojans!) -- but it also happens to be on the WaMu logo.






My kitchen walls are now a very pale yellow. The cabinets are a darker shade of goldish yellow. Believe me, it looks much better and (so far) it hasn't brought to mind any fast food or banking establishments. Paint colors or not, I still associate certain colors with certain things.

Today I decided to wear my white pants and electric blue, silk blouse. I have always worn this blouse with black pants or skirt. But, since I'm all about trying to do new things with my clothes, today I opted for the white pants. I immediately wondered if I looked to "All American." I remind myself of the star-spangled part of the flag, only with a brighter blue. But, since there is no red in my outfit, it doesn't conjure up images of the entire flag. And -- unlike last week's black and yellow ensemble -- no one has commented on my "4th of July outfit" -- bonus!

I know white pants are iffy for many people. I was trepidatious to try them, but once I found the right cut and fabric I knew it would be okay. A fair share of white pants are made of paper-thin fabric and you can see right through them -- not professional at all (unless you are a "pro"). White pants with lining are a good option, but it can get too hot in the summertime to wear lined pants comfortably. After a good deal of looking for the right pair, I bought these white pants last year.

The secret about these pants is that they are actually a pair of jeans. I work at a place where jeans are not allowed, but then you know what they say about rules... These pants are trouser cut. They don't have the telltale jean hem, but they are cotton denim. Also, I have them professionally laundered to get the sharp crease.

I think the common misconception about white is that it makes you look "bigger." I don't know about all that. I do agree that black is better at hiding flaws, but let me tell you -- if you are wearing white pants, you will stay away from most things. This includes happy dogs, your car door, printer toner, highlighters without caps and food. I think I actually lost weight today since I was too nervous to eat for fear of messing up my white pants. Okay, you caught me. I actually did eat today, but I'm not lying when I say I covered myself in a blanket of paper towels before eating my lunch -- Amy's Organic Cheese Enchiladas. Those things are great, but one wrong move and it can take white to wrong.

Quick change artist

I have a love/hate relationship with fashion magazines.

I love how they arrive in the mail, fresh and new, brimming with the latest trends and ideas. I hate how you have to flip past no less than 10 pages of advertisements -- convincing you that your teeth should be whiter, you should be thinner, your makeup should last longer and you really need to wear more diamonds -- to get to the "articles." An article is usually text wrapped around photos of models who are six feet tall, 115 pounds, dressed in beautiful clothes, their hair and make-up perfect. I silently chant "airbrushing, airbrushing, airbrushing," reminding myself that everyone could look this good with a team of make-up artists, hair stylists, 20 wardrobe changes, a two day photo shoot in Maui (to capture the perfect 5 pictures that actually end up in the magazine) and endless amounts of airbrushing.

I took a Women Studies course in college. I wrote my final paper on how fashion magazines affect the self-esteem of woman. Nailed it!

Having since moved past my collegiate ideals, I now read about 5 fashion magazines a month -- "research" for my wardrobe consultation business (write off!). Now, more than ever, most fashion magazines have a section wherein they show you one piece of clothing done two ways. Unfortunately, the piece of clothing is always something like a $285 blouse. Then they match it up with a $355 pair of pants for work OR for the casual weekend, a $175 denim micro mini. Nice!

Publishing house budget aside, I get the point. You should be able to wear your clothing more than one way. Whenever you are about to buy a new skirt (for example), stop and think -- What will I wear this with? Is that skirt worth buying if you also will have to buy a new top to go with it? Before this blog, I use to answer myself with a resounding "Hell yes!" and then keep shopping. If I felt particularly thrifty, I'll buy a dress -- its the top and bottom together.

Now, I aim to show women how to create outfits using the items already in their closets. Therefore, when shopping for clothes the question becomes: "Can I add this to what I already have in my closet and create another outfit? -- not, "What do I need to buy to go with what I just bought?"

Today I wore a top that I had bought for a concert last year. It was colorful and flouncy and served its purpose. It was inexpensive and I was in a rush. I didn't stop to think what else I could do with it. I wore it to the concert with jeans and back to my closet it went. I love the mixture of colors -- pinks, grays, black, white and a touch of purple. However, since it is sleeveless and has a wide band, fitted bottom, I never considered the possibility of wearing it to the office.

This morning as I stood in front of my closet, mulling over what to wear, a light bulb when off. I grabbed the top, grabbed my gray skirt and set about pulling together my outfit. I tucked the top in and the wide band, fitted bottom actually kept the shirt from riding up. Sleeveless? No problem. My trusty light gray cardigan has seen me through a lot. I accessorized with my strappy gray heels and gray toned jewelry, letting the colorful top be the focal point.

After work, if I was meeting the girls for dinner and drinks, I would just change into jeans and be ready to go. Viola! One top worn two ways -- just like a magazine. However, since I was not meeting the girls after work the photo to your left is for illustration purposes only and does not reflect real life -- just like a magazine. Hey, I may read them, but I still think fashion magazines are glossy books of propaganda devised by ad agencies to use as vehicles to sell their client's beauty products by convincing women they are fat and ugly. As I said, its a love/hate relationship.

Shine on

Some people like animals or landscapes on their calendars. Some people have a fun facts or quote-of-the-day calendar. I have a "shoe-of-the-day" calendar. My desk calendar is 365 beauty shots of shoes spanning from 17th century to 2008. As you may have guessed (if you read Thursday's love letter to my shoes) I think my "Dignity" shoes could be on this calendar. I have considered submitting a picture of them to the publishers. I'm not sure if it works that way, but I've had the thought.

Today's calendar shoe du jour is a gold and sliver metallic leather pump circa 1930 -- proof that metallics have long been a part of fashionable footwear. Today my shoe du jour is a silver birdcage metallic leather pump circa 2007 -- proof that I will wear shoes that are 2 years old.

Metallic shoes are not just for pageants and proms. Metallics are neutral -- they go with everything. Metallics are in season -- every season. Metallics don't care what time of the day it is, they only care that you wear them and often.

Of course, all things in moderation. I'm not suggesting you wear head-to-toe metallics. Remember: "lamé" becomes "lame" without the accent. Use metallics to accent your outfits, not overpower them.

Today I wore what is undoubtedly my favorite button-up shirt. It is bright aqua blue that makes me happy. I have been searching everywhere for another shirt of the same color. Of course, I stopped looking for said shirt when I entered my 90 day moratorium on shopping. (However, if anyone reading this feels I'm owed a gift, or they like to shop for Christmas presents early, please take note.) I also wore my black wide-leg pants. These pants are fantastic because they have decorative tabs instead of belt loops -- no belt required! I accessorized with my crystal and pearl necklaces and silver shoes. The crystals are clear, but faceted so they capture the aqua blue and shine. Shiny makes me happy. I'm a shiny, happy person.

R.E.M. could have been singing about metallic accessories:

Everyone around love them, love them

Put it in your hands

Take it take it

There's no time to cry

Happy happy

Put it in your heart

Where tomorrow shines

Gold and silver shine
-- "Shiny Happy People" by REM (1991)

However, according to my good friend Mr. Wiki, the song is supposedly an ironic reference to a Chinese propaganda and the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Really? Because I could swear it was about my shoes.

Pleats me.

I knew I was wearing a skirt with some kind of pleat, but I was not sure which kind. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.* After learning the proper term for more than 10 types of pleats, I was able to deduce that the skirt I was wearing today had an "inverted box pleat." I figured this tidbit of knowledge would come in handy for when someone asked: "Hey, what kind of pleat is that?" Strangely, no one did.

I originally debated buying this skirt because to me it looked like culottes -- and I have bad memories of culottes. Does anyone -- other than me and your grandmother -- know what culottes are? I think most Texans call them "skorts." A culotte is basically a pant that look like a skirt -- or is it a skirt that looks like a pant? Food for thought.

So my skirt with the inverted box pleat is reminiscent of a culotte, which brings me to today's flashback (cut to me making waves in the air with my hands a la Wayne's World..do do do do do do do... ) The year was 1989. I was 13 years old and attending 8th grade in San Antonio, Texas. Having just been uprooted from my middle school in Austin, I was struggling to cope (on many different levels).

Texas summers are hot. If you did not know this, you would just need to spend about 2 minutes with me anytime between mid-May and late October and I will constantly remind you just how hot it is. Texas summers are hot and the further south you are the more humid it gets. You could imagine how delightful it was in San Antonio, in August.

I arrived to school, one hot summer day, wearing culottes that hit my knee. I managed to make it half way through the day before I got called into the Principal's office. Why? Oh, did I forget to mention that in 1989 San Antonio the public school system's dress code did not allow you to wear "shorts."

Girls were allowed to wear "skirts" or "pants," but apparently not any combination of the two. I was sent to the Principal's office and made to change in to some grey sweat pants from the lost and found. It was torture. I assume this is what Gitmo was like. I should have sued -- but, since I do not come from a litigious family, we did not sue. However, my parents did vehemently defend my choice of dress and blasted the stupid dress code. We moved back to Austin a year later. I like to think the two events are connected.

I don't remember much else about that school in San Antonio. I can't tell you who my teachers were or what the school mascot was. I sure as hell don't remember the pre-algebra or the Alamo, but I'll be damn if I will ever forget that fashion censorship!

*I love Wikipedia. It is great on so many levels. I think Michael Scott explains it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFBDn5PiL00

Who needs to remember where they parked? Not me.

Have you ever had the experience where you perceive a smell and suddenly remember an event that you'd forgotten for years? Or, consider certain perfume or cologne smells that remind you of people in your life (Oscar de la Renta = mom; patchouli = Jerod; Blackberry and Vanilla = Megan; moth balls = Aunt Phyllis, etc. ). These are examples of the connection between olfaction and memory. A smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people's moods and even affect their work performance. Clothing does the same thing for me.

There is a scientifically proven connection between olfaction and memory. To me there is also a connection between old fashion and memory. Get it? Olfaction. Old Fashion. Okay, moving on...

I think we can all relate to wearing something we have worn before and it reminds of other times we wore that outfit. For example, you wear a dress to a friend's wedding and then later that year (or years later), you wear the same dress out to a nice dinner. You probably think about the friend's wedding as a result of what you are wearing. I can remember specific compliments I received when wearing certain items of clothing. Likewise, I can remember anything negative said.

I may have a real problem with short-term memory. However, my old fashion memory works quite well. I can remember the outfit I wore the first day of school to the 1st grade: red cotton skirt, white cotton top with hearts all over it. I remember waking up, being so excited about school (last time that happened), getting dressed and going to the living room only to see my parents watching the news -- I had only been asleep for about 2 hours. The first day of my senior year of high school I wore a red denim skirt, white cotton top with floral print (and I'm fairly certain I rocked a braided leather belt with that outfit). Not sure why I favored red skirts, but I digress.

Today's outfit is nothing too memorable. I have worn this dress one time before, but last time it was with a black belt and my BCBG "Angel" shoes (as shown last Friday). Today I opted for my nude belt and shoes. I will say that I was about half way through my work day when it dawned on me what this belt reminded me of. Has it occurred to you yet?

I am also wearing my ginormous coral and turquoise butterfly ring. This is the very same ring that prompted a memorable (albeit lengthy) Facebook status update and several supportive comments in return (to recap, last time I wore this ring a woman commented, "Wow, that's a big ring." This mindless statement prompted a discussion about how people who state the obvious are not necessarily complimenting you so they should just keep quiet.).

Yes, my old fashion memory is very keen. I don't think I shall ever forget what this belt reminds me of.

Doing it with "Dignity"

I love my Carlos Santana "Dignity" shoes. I love them so much I would write a sonnet about them if I actually understood what a sonnet was. I think everyone should have (at least) one pair of shoes that makes them feel like a goddess and these are mine.

The box describes them as "Old Silver." I think they are more of a faint gold with bronze accents -- but then, maybe that's what "Old Silver" looks like. These shoes are leather, but shimmer. I don't know how they do it, but I like it! I always have to explain to people that that metallics are neutral. As such, these shoes have been worn with a variety of outfits. I even wore them with a pear-green bridesmaid's dress in November. Talk about getting your money's worth!

The top-knot and bow gives these shoes a bit of a party vibe, but I don't need a party to wear them.

Today I wore them with my purplish-mauve button-up blouse from Banana Republic. The blouse's buttons are gun metal. I wore my pearl and crystal 3-strand necklace that has gun metal accents and a gun metal bracelet (all Cookie Lee, of course). The skirt is also from BR. It is a great skirt with a varied, brown weave (much like Beyonce).

I'm not joking when I say that I have instructed Joe to "memorialize" me in these shoes. Now, while that may sound dirty, it really is the equivalent to saying "bury" me in these shoes. And since I have opted for cremation, a memorial is what we shall have. Talk about dying with "Dignity"!

Today's outfit causes a "buzz"

The high-waisted pencil skirt epitomizes retro glamour. I know an A-line skirt is more flattering on me, but I can't help myself. I lust after pencil skirts. I envy the women who can wear them with ease and not concern themselves with unsightly bumps and bulges. I even bought a pencil skirt last year. It fit, but I knew would fit better after I lost another 5 pounds (famous last words). I wore that skirt once to work and it has sat in my closet untouched ever since.

Fast forward to about a month ago. I'm at the mall (I can't wait until I can say that again) and I spy with my little eye something so fabulously high-waisted and straight that I had to try it on -- "just for fun," I told myself. I stood there in the dressing room, zipped into this skirdle (skirt that acts like a girdle) and examined myself closely. Can I breath? -- Define breath? Can I sit? -- Who needs to sit? I debated if I should buy it. I calculated what I had eaten that day and wondered if, on a day when I ate more, would it still fit? Throwing caution to the wind -- and my credit card to the cashier -- I left the store with the skirt that was sure to make me look like I belonged in nose art.

The skirt hung in my closet for weeks, but today was the day. I put on my exceedingly bright, highlighter yellow blouse, then I said a silent prayer and told the dogs to "cross their paws" as I zipped up the zipper that just kept going. It was on! I examined myself in the mirror. Not too shabby! I felt like a Joyce Ballantyne painting as I arrived to work, head held high, thinking "This outfit is fantastic. I love it."

Then I got to the office.

Within 10 minutes a male attorney said to me, "You're wearing your bumble bee outfit today." Okay, first of all that would imply that on other days I wear my butterfly outfit, my ladybug outfit, or perhaps a dragonfly outfit. Secondly, who the hell says something like that to a woman you work with? Who the hell says that to anyone who is not a 5-year-old at your door trick or treating in an actual bumble bee outfit?

Shortly after that, a woman said, "I haven't worn yellow since I was a kid. People just don't wear yellow that much anymore." I smiled politely, nodded my head and said "Really, I see it all over." In my head I'm screaming "Open any fashion magazine! Watch T.V.! Step outside!" Where does she get off? "People just don't wear yellow that much anymore." I mean, its the color yellow -- its not a petticoat. Later in the day, this same woman asked if Scarlett Johansson is someone famous? (Yes, she is in fact famous and oh, by the way, she wears yellow!)

What is it with people who just say what ever idiotic thing that comes out of their mouth? If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Or at least have the decency to stay quiet and blog about it later. Passive aggressiveness is highly underrated.

Despite those wildly incorrect comments, I still think this outfit is great. The skirdle wrinkles badly, not great for my desk job. Nonetheless, I know that if I was standing for long periods of time -- posing for Ballantyne or Vargas -- I would make fantastic nose art.

Author's Note: There were a few compliments paid to me today, but that doesn't really give me fodder for the blog, so I'm skipping them.

In a foul mood and out of the loop

This morning brought another dreadfully dreary day in Dallas. The kind of day when even alliteration did not improve my mood.

The smattering of raindrops and fog this morning did nothing to facilitate my creativity. Facing my clothes I remained steadfast, refusing to accept defeat. What to wear? What to wear? Only subdued colors would suit the mood I was in. Some people dress for the occasion. I dress for my temperament. This would explain why some days I show up to work in an electric blue shirt and other days I wear grey. Much like Homeland Security advises of threat levels, my outfits rely on color to relay my mood.

But instead of looking like this:

Its more like this:

I think predictability is overrated (although I'm sure most husbands would disagree).**

Today I opted for -- what I consider to be -- subtle colors. I wore a pair of navy blue trousers that have a faint, small "window pane" pattern. The large, flap-front pockets and over sized buttons are reminiscent of sailor pants. I paired it with a salmon colored, short sleeve button up with slightly puffy sleeves. While I am aware that the color salmon does not impart my feelings of apathy to the general public, to me it is a step-down from the bright aqua blue I considered wearing. After mulling over what shoes to wear I opted for my go-to nude heels. Now, for a belt. I'm not going to lie, I have 29 belts (I counted) including one with glitter (I know, what was I thinking? That is going in the trash). But even with 28 belts, I never have the "right belt." (Sisters, can I get an "Amen!"?)

I've had these pants for just a short time and have not yet found the "right belt" for them. And, since my self-imposed moratorium on shopping, I'm about 80 days away from being able to buy the "right belt" for these pants. As I stood in front of my closet (kicking myself), I considered my options. Surely one of my belts would work right? Wrong.

As I mentioned on Friday, I have a short torso. My build, coupled with the fashion industry's desire to cut trousers to hit "just below the waist," leaves me with a dilemma. Even pants designed to hit "at the waist" fall below my natural waist. Whereas I can get away with a smaller belt to encircle my waist, I need a larger belt to encircle my hips when I wear pants. I call this the Lily Rush Syndrome -- which I named after the heroine detective on "Cold Case." Unlike me, she is willowy and able to wear her uniform low-rise pants with a belt. I just can't pull that off.

I tried several belts this morning, none of which fit properly with these pants. It is this very reason that I so rarely wear shirts tucked into pants and why I am a huge fan of pants without belt loops. I considered changing clothes and then said "screw it" (but as I was saying it to my dogs, I used an expletive). I went to my jewelry drawer. I put on a long, silver chain necklace, my silver hoop earrings and a silver bangle (Cookie Lee, of course). Then I added a second necklace for good measure. Maybe the jewelry will keep the attention away from the fact I'm not wearing a belt. After all, this is Dallas -- people here are easily distracted by shiny objects (Oh, you know its true).

**I heart the Internet! You can design your own personal threat level chart at http://www.personalthreatlevel.com/ I would have done my own, but they didn't offer plum, fuchsia, pewter, chartreuse or any other colors I deem necessary.

Would I lie to you?

Would I lie to you? Perhaps. But I would call it a slight untruth. Sounds better right?

There was a time when I thought wearing inexpensive clothes was completely uncool. In junior high I was utterly ashamed that my white, canvas shoes didn't have that tiny blue "Keds" label on the back. I was the brat who always insisted on having a JanSport backpack and a Dooney and Bourke purse (even if my parents couldn't afford it). If it didn't have the name brand plastered across it, I deemed it simply no good. Looking back on that, I realize how foolish I was. I can see why my parents were so aggravated by it.

If someone asked me where I bought the skirt I was wearing, I would respond by shaking my head, flicking my hands and saying, "Oh, I just don't remember" -- hoping my wild gestures would throw them off the scent and perhaps make them forget their question. Sometimes I would lie and say I got it at Dillard's (even if it really came from Weiner's).

Now, years later, I take pride in telling people that the fantastic dress I'm wearing is from a consignment store, or the great heels you admire were bought on clearance at DSW. I have fun taking a $25 dress and building around it to create an outfit you would expect I spent more on. Of course there is a lot to be said for "investment" pieces -- clothing you will wear for years and years, clothing that is timeless and makes you feel good. For the sake of full disclosure, I will tell you that I do not own any "investment" pieces. For the amount of money I have spent on ten inexpensive, trendy tops, I could have bought a few quality, timeless blouses. But that's not me. I'm very fickle -- I like what I like when I like it.

Today's outfit is Merona dress from Target. The ad will say its berry colored and 100% cotton. I say it is a rich, vivid plum color made of luxurious sateen cotton. Sounds better right? Also, as with anything that comes "belt included," you have to switch it out. This dress came with a matching "sash" (fancy talk for "extra piece of fabric"), that did nothing for my figure. Also, I think wearing tone on tone can be boring, especially when dealing with such an unstructured dress.

Today I paired this dress with one of my (many) wide stretch belts. I think I got this particular belt at Kohl's, but I don't remember (and I'm not just saying that, I really don't remember). I wore the "Ebony Twilight" necklace and earrings and a gunmetal bangle bracelet from Cookie Lee (shocking, I know). The shoes are my Carlos Santana "Satisfaction." This is the most expensive part of the ensemble. While that little fact will probably not surprise most readers, I'm sure my husband will be less than thrilled when he sees this. Zappos has them on sale now. Unfortunately, I paid full price when I bought them last season at Macy's (I'm just sayin').

While I have learned to appreciate a bargain and relish telling people how little I paid for something, I still have not completely outgrown my desire to obtain high-priced, designer items. I want my sunglasses to say Fendi on the temples. I covet a Gucci bag that is so obviously Gucci and Christian Louboutin heels that scream "I'm Louboutin!!" with their noticeably red soles. Perhaps when my 90 day shopping moratorium is lifted, I will have saved enough money to "splurge" on a $800 pair of shoes, something I will wear for years and years. Although I'm fairly sure I'll stick to my $100 shoes. Then I can afford 28 more $25 dresses.