BBCA 4 - Belting

Shirt: Ralph Lauren, thrifted
Dress, worn as skirt: Target
Pumps: Zara
Belt worn as belt: Target
Belt worn as headband: Etsy (although the vendor is no longer around)
Earrings: Turkey

Apparently the way for me to get BBCA done is by tying stuff around my head, and I'm cool with that as long as you're cool with that. Actually, even if you're not, most of my pink is in accessory form, so this is how it's going to be.


Anyway, this outfit. I've seen a lot of midi skirts on the Internet - apparently it's the new thing this fall. I've had this dress for something like six years and it's terribly stretched out (and faded, though you can't tell in these pictures) to the point that it's a bit midi in length. I've been playing with the idea of wearing it as a skirt for a while, but I hadn't quite worked out all the kinks yet.


Anyway, it just happened to be hanging next to this top which I thrifted (for $1!) while we were back in the States in September. I keep meaning to ask my sewing teacher to help me take it in, but I'm way more interested in learning to draft patterns and make new stuff, so I haven't yet. I figure I can figure this out on my own when I'm reunited with sewing machine in December. I guess pairing two ill-fitting, loose pieces shouldn't be natural, but the color combo was hard for me to resist.


It took a bit of creative tucking, folding and belting, but I think I made it work. It's the silhouette I was hoping to recreate, and the crazy high green pumps keep me from being overwhelmed by the length of the skirt. That said, one of my students asked me why I was dressed like a pilgrim, so maybe the heels didn't mitigate the frump factor. Or the pilgrims had some hot fashion sense.


Oh, and just as long as we're on the topic of pilgrims, I think it's time for confessions of a closet nerd. When I was in second grade, I was a pilgrim for Halloween. I had a long, grey dress, an apron, and a bonnet. I thought it was the most amazing costume EVER and I may have worn it in third grade, too. I guess I've always been a fan of Puritanical dressing....


Less Puritanical, however, is the belt around my head.

Not quite awesome

Tee: Target
Dress (worn as skirt): some random store in Turkey
Boots: Steve Madden
Belt: Target
Scarf: Target
Socks: gift from sister-in-law
Earrings: Turkey

I want to like this outfit more than I do. I'm not totally sure what I don't like, I just know it's not my favorite. But my students loved it. They told me - and I quote - "You look AWESOME!" I think it's the boots.


I'm not totally sold, though. What do y'all think?

Green

Sweater: Target
Dress: Target (gift from my mom)
Belt: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden (gift from my mom)
Earrings: Turkey

Seriously? How did I end up wearing so much Target? I don't even know. But I guess that's okay because B picked this outfit out and if he'd wanted more variety in clothing sources, he'd have made it happen, right?


He loves this sweater, and I love it in theory. What I mean is that I love it when it's on, but it's not the thing that I reach for when I'm getting dressed. I don't know why because the silhouette is perfect and the color is so much fun. I should be reaching for it more often, am I right?


I'm glad B helps me to get some use out of this particular item, though. Any outfit suggestions for this sweater?


Also, I asked my mom for some flat shoes so I can keep walking to school when our car breaks down (it's at least once a month, y'all) and she sent me these and the oxfords I've already shown off. Cute, right? I'm pretty smitten.

White shirt week day 3

Tee: Target (gift from A)
Dress (worn as a skirt): Victoria's Secret (gift from my mom)
Sandals: Simply Vera via Kohl's
Belt: Target
Earrings: Kohl's
Ring: swapped
Bracelets: gifts
Drama face: ?

Truth: I spent most of the day wondering about this outfit. I kept switching from "Hate it" to "Love it" like a crazy person. In the end, I think I kinda like it. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone in terms of silhouette and jewelry, and it made me get a little creative with stuff.


I mean, the bodice of this dress has a huge flounce on it which I had to tuck under so that I could layer appropriately. Also, I spent most of the day holding the skirt up like that so I could, you know, walk. Because that's kind of important sometimes.


B really liked this, though, and my students told me that they loved the skirt and that I looked like an angel. Win, win, win.


Also winning? My hippie hair. I've got two baby French braids along the crown and five baby buns in the back.


That and a couple fistfuls of bobby pins. I have to say, this might be the easiest thing to do with freshly washed hair early in the morning. It totally dries the way I want it to and it stays out of the way. That and it takes me all of seven minutes; I didn't time it, I just like the number seven.

EBEW: Yellow and a return to my roots

Tank: Target
Cardigan: Target
Belt: Target
Dress (worn as skirt): Target
Flip flops: Ann Taylor
Earrings: Turkey
Bracelet: gift from our intern, A.

Another Everybody, Everywear post, y'all. It was hard to come up with this look - not because I don't have much yellow, but because I love yellow and I couldn't decide what to wear. Apparently it was Target day, though, so I reached for this dress. (P.S. Hey, Target, if you want to sponsor me, we can talk. If not, I accept gift cards....)


I got in touch with my roots today and visited a sugar processing plant. My maternal grandmother grew up in a town that was basically a sugar plantation / processing plant and my great-grandfather and great-uncle worked there in some capacity. I'm not sure of all the particulars, but it was cool to see this thing that was, for so many years, the driving force behind the Puerto Rican economy. And, yeah, we're in Costa Rica (two totally different countries), but it was really cool.


They also process coffee at this place - it's the oldest cooperative in Costa Rica - so we got a tour of that, too.


And yeah, I took pictures while we were on our tour and pretended that no one else could see me. Behind me are the machines that move the sugar cane and break it down into little pieces. And then they squeeze it so the juice comes out. Eventually that thickens to molasses and then they put it in the centrifuge and you get raw sugar. You guys! Sugar processing! It's so exciting!


Or maybe that's just me....

Happy birthday to me!

Dress (worn as skirt): Target
Tee: J Crew
Scarf: Covered Ladies Designs
Earrings: Turkey
Belt: Target
Booties: Aldo

Confession: B picked this outfit out, too; I'm too lazy to dress myself. Either that, or I just hired myself a stylist.


It's my birthday today.  I'm turning twenty-nine, and yes, I did just tell the internet that I am a year shy of thirty.  Y'all can go ahead and tell me how young I look; I get it all the time. Since I missed my blogiversary (bad blogger), I thought my birthday would be a good time to think about the past and future of Mad Dress Game.


For one thing, my pictures have definitely gotten better since my first post. For another, I've gotten a bit more creative in my mixes, have "met" a lot of people, and have drastically reduced my wardrobe.



I'm also going to tell myself that my poses have improved.... And that makes me think about the future. Just go with it, because we all know that was a terrible transition sentence. Anyway, as I think about the future of Mad Dress Game, I know I want to do a few things in the next year.


For one, I'd like to revamp the blog - maybe a "hire-a-professional" kind of revamp. For another, I'm thinking of doing a feature focusing on teachers who style/fashion blog (if you'd be about it, let me know and I'll email you.)  I want to really want to focus on getting the most out of my limited wardrobe while I'm here in Costa Rica - that might involve some remixing and creative layering challenges. I want to be a blog where women (and men) who can't shop - for whatever reason - can be inspired to work their closets.


Also in mind for the future of Mad Dress Game: more awkward hands and goofy faces.

B strikes again

Blouse: Ann Taylor
Cami: Target
Sweater: Target
Skirt: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Bracelet: gift from friends
Earrings: Sarchí, Costa Rica
Sunnies: Puerto Rico
Watch: Coleman via Target

B dressed me again. I was honestly skeptical about pairing this ruffly blouse with the wrap sweater, but the man's got a good eye. I mean, am I right? Isn't that a great pairing?


I love the bright shade of green of the sweater, but I've never layered it this way because I'm (a) a creature of habit and (b) not that creative. I like the way it turned out, and I might try it again.


He's getting good at this, y'all. He's still a tee shirt and jeans kind of man, but he's developing quite the eye for what works for me. Can I tell y'all how wonderful he is? So many levels of wonderful.

Not my favorite

Shirt: Gap
Dress (worn as skirt): Ann Taylor
Socks: Target
Boots: Nine West
Belt: Target
Earrings: Target

You win some, you lose some. I wanted to like this outfit more; maybe it's the hair that's throwing it off. Either that, or the fit of this shirt.


So, I'm ambivalent. But, it's done, it's worn, and it's on the Internet. Let's not do this again, Frances, okay? Okay.


The end.

Double take

Another twofer post!

First up: Friday 28 January.

All remixed except top/dress
Dress (worn as top): Vintage gift from B via Etsy (no idea which vendor)
Skirt: Gap
Belt: Ann Taylor
Cardigan: J Crew
Shoes: Target
Earrings: Kohl's

I've found that when I pretty much live, work, eat, worship, and play in the same place, it's important to dress like you're for real going to work when it's time to work. It makes me at least a million times more productive.


I was way productive in this outfit. Like, so productive that we got stuff worked out for the school, talked housing options for colleagues, worked on scheduling...


...and climbed a fence. Yes, I'm so hard core that I climb fences in pencil skirts.

On Saturday, I opted for something a little more casual.

Shoes and earrings remixed
Sweater: F21 (about five years ago)
Jeans: LOFT - gift from my sister (she got them for $5; bargain shopping runs in our blood)
Shoes: Naturalizer
Earrings: Turkey

This look is about as simple as they come. I mean, it's jeans and a sweater. Y'all have NO IDEA how hard it's been for me to style these jeans, though. I spent waaaaay too long putting this look together, and then I wasn't even sure if I liked it or not.


B liked it, though, so we took some pictures when the sun came out. Y'all: this is the view from our front door. Those are volcanoes and mountains out there, and we just came from Philly - definite culture shock.


Pretty much, I have about three pairs of shoes that are appropriate for country life, and man, do I miss my heels. This is definitely an experience that's helping me to push my stylistic boundaries and find ways to reinterpret my style in a way that works out here in the mountains.

The Update aka Outfits #11, 12, and 13

Sunday nights can only mean one thing: Blog catch up time!

Friday:

All remixed
Dress (worn as a shirt): Banana Republic
Cami: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Target?
Boots: Noble Town Vintage via Etsy
Earrings: Sonoma via Kohls - gift from my mom

I was a little torn about this outfit. I wanted it to work better than it did. As it was, the skirt's a little loose in the waist, the top of the dress is a little big, I forgot my belt, and my tights were baggy.


At least these earrings rock.

Saturday I spent most of the day lounging around in my pajamas, I will not lie. BUT! Saturday night, B. and I went salsa dancing, so I got all dressed up (but failed to iron my skirt).

All remixed except necklace
Lacy top: Turkey
Skirt: Old Navy
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: gift from my sister-in-law
Necklace: courtesy of Kimmie via a swap
Hair: Forty five minutes with a flat iron, a comb, and some hairspray

B. actually took me salsa dancing on our second date (for our first, we went to the beach) and he had NEVER DANCED BEFORE. Like, really, never. That's how I knew he was a keeper. I like salsa because it's a partner dance with steps that you wouldn't be too embarrassed to do in front of your grandmother. We're not great, but we have lots of fun.


And I get all dressed up for it. I even put on makeup - all the fancy MAC makeup I bought when I was going to do my own makeup for our wedding.
Also, I saw a similar outfit on one of the blogs I read recently and thought I should try it. Of course, I totally can't find the link now (clearly, I read too many blogs). If anyone has seen it, let me know.


That brings us to today:

All remixed
Sweater: H&M
Skirt: Gap
Belt: Target
Scarf: H&M
Tights: Target
Boots: Noble Town Vintage via Etsy
Headband: F21
Earrings: gift from my mom

B. and I talked about our move to Costa Rica at church today, so I knew I had to look nice. Of course, I also had to be warm because our church is pretty new and we're in a building that's still kind of under construction and our heating unit isn't connected yet. Yeah, it's a little chilly in there these days.


I've only ever worn these tights under other tights because they're so bright, but I was inspired by Shey over at Modesty is Pretty who absolutely rocked her pink tights with a black skirt and black booties. B pretty much hated them. Like, we got out of the car, and this guy was outside our church building doing some work and he seemed surprised to see us there. B was like, "He was scared by your pink tights." One of the ladies from my Bible study set him straight, though. She told him, and I quote, "Those are FASHION." She knows what's up.



Finally - Lyddie over at Chic on the Cheap gave me a Versatile Blogger award! Whoot! In the interest of NOT writing a novel over here today, I will be sharing seven facts about myself and tagging seven bloggers tomorrow. Y'all know you can't wait.