Pour Some Plaid on Me

Plaid.

Yes… the favorite of Russian lesbians*:

*Are the members of t.A.T.u. lesbians? A question that has kept many a teenage boy up at night listening to Running Thru my Head on repeat.  Clever girls.

Of Scottish history enthusiasts:

Strippers/Porn Producers/Bret Michales:

And Aspiring Pop Stars the world over thanks to Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless:

 

With all these awesome examples of plaid in real life acceptable fashion situations, its clearly a perfect choice for the office. WRONG.

This teaching moment is brought to you by the lady who figured a short pink plaid skirt, paired with a tight rocker tee and combat boots looked more high powered sales associate then Avril Lavine circa 1997:

(Exact outfit twin, except for the color of the plaid.)

So here’s the catch… almost everyone knows how not to wear plaid, unless you want to embody any of the above, but what about actually wearing it?

I give the lady props for trying to rock a not so overused fabric but RULE #1 DO NOT PAIR A PLAID SKIRT WITH COMBAT BOOTS UNLESS YOU LIVE IN JAPAN, SING IN A DISCOTEK, OR HANG OUT IN PIKES PLACE MARKET IN YOUR SPARE TIME SELLING ART.

Rule #2: Size does matter.  The shorter the skirt, the bigger the ho.  (A phrase usually used for the size if hoops, I find it easily able to make a cameo in this situation)

Rule #3: Do not wear just a white shirt of any kind with the skirt (collared, flowered, tight, or billowy… it doesn’t mater), if you don’t instantly want to look like you are ditching Sr. Religious Studies with Mother Nancy, 6th period to hit the mall with your fellow rule breakers.  (Ohhh Behave)

Rule #4: DO cover up on top… by nature of the skirt, you are already on a train to skank-town… CONTRAST CREATES INTEREST AND BALANCE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The goal here is to make people be pleasantly surprised by the skirt, not to confirm what they already know… Plaid is for HohoHos and the 1990s (always love a Clueless shout-out).  So go forth and plaid, just leave the patent black pumps and knee socks at home.

 

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Red Velvet Cupcake Batter with Captain Crunch

Holy Moly.  Where have I been?

Today I discovered my new crush and it has nothing to do with clothes…  www.yelp.com/biz/yogurtland-scottsdale

So this amazing blend of mash-up options, including the special Spring Training flavor, got me thinking; Spring is HERE*

*…Well Almost

Especially in warmer climates, as the stores bust out the spring colors and florals, its tempting to think oh hey time to go all spring fever up in here… its the last day of February peoples, not so fast!  Luckily one of my FroYo partners in crime was wearing a perfect blend of spring and winter, and a teaching moment was born four hefty spoonfuls into Red Velvet Cupcake Batter with Captain Crunch.

 

 

 

 

 

So the theme here is mixing the new fun and flirty prints and fabrics currently in the stores with darker, heavier, winter touches to keep them seasonally appropriate and double dip-able.

She did this with  a new fun floral Forever 21 (I know because I immediately copied it) but instead of playing the spring side with light shoes and work appropriate cover-up, she went heavier and pulled the gray from the silver piping trim.  Wearing this again in the middle of spring, maybe a sheer sleeve jacket with a belt and BOOM… you have a completely different look.

The moral here being, dont be afraid to start pulling out the spring looks if the weather supports it, but get more milage from the ‘fit by pairing it with winter touches this round.

 

…..Also, FroYo can’t be thatttt bad for you can it?

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GQ Like a Lady

Current trend crush: not just nodding to men’s fashion… but actually incorporating classic men’s pieces into your look.

Teaching Moment: This isn’t an attempt at butch, the goal is not to actually look manly… the magic is in, you guessed it, THE CONTRAST.

Daring.

Too be honest, I wouldn’t have thought of writing about this.  The formerly taboo concept of women wearing pants is so standard here that incorporating other pieces isn’t that noteworthy; except for the fact that a notorious bad dresser in the office sported this look recently and it was so striking that people commented left and right how nice she looked.  I realized that instead of wearing skin tight prostitue dresses and hooker short skirts and going more manly, she managed to look softer and sexier than when she gives it away for free on the regular.  I immediately sported my own twist.

(knowing when to imitate without being insulting or too obvious is an arrow everyone needs in their quiver)

1)

Men’s over-sized dress shirt?  check

Skinny jeans with a solid wash? check

Gladiator sandals? check.

Variations include different colored dress shirts and dress sandals… this look is NOT meant to be done with heels (too much) but riding type boots work great too.  The tight jeans balance out the loose shirt, and I would recommend a statement necklace on top to give some hint of breasts and size if you aren’t going to rock a lower belt…

a) It is hard to go wrong with Turquoise… or Coral for that matter.  Especially in the spring and summer, these native type peices can add a fun bit of flair to the loose, plain tops and dresses.

b) Real or fake, this stone brings some pop and the earthy feel provides great CONTRAST with the stuffyness of a men’s button down.

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As for me, the recent passing of my father has left at my disposal a mighty fine men’s wardrobe.  The pieces that I haven’t been able to find a good home for yet or I just plain liked have found their way into my closet, and this was a greaat opportunity to sport some OG.

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2)

Men’s silk tan-ish blazer, shoulder pads in full effect paired with a little cheeky jeggings and white v-neck number.  Men’s alligator skinned belt an riding boots; not optional.

The belt was loosely done over the shirt, riding around the hips for a color tie in, and small waist demonstration since the jacket was a tad overpowering.  The plainness of the shit was to eliminate distractions, with the whole point of the jeggings being to make sure there wasn’t any male/female confusion going on. .. I jest but again: contrast. contrast, contrast.

Curled hair, a giant ring, and my agressive black framed RayBans completed the look.

The devil being in the details of course, and this was my most successful outfit in the month of January.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so here’s to you Ms. I have no fear of my ass showing in the office…. an old dog can learn new tricks.  Thanks.

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Cheetah Girls Throwback

Cheetah, zebra, and leopards oh my! No doubt my first post involving animal print will NOT be my last.  One of the most electric ways to add flavor to any type of outfit, in any season, is with some purrrrint. (yeah I did it, so pick your next move; either leave or live with it)

The idea of adding some extra umphf can be intimidating, everyone knows the dangers of going full print… so sometimes it gets passed over as a legitimate option.  It is time to remember the art of the subtle.  So today’s teaching moment is; when you are dealing with a hi-impact item, it is possible to create a whole effect without over-coordinating or drowning in a print explosion.

(Disaster.)

Here is an example of  a recently worn fit that was kept from being too predictable and casual with the addition of some edge courtesy of some cheetah.

1. The Dress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ignore the random fut hat in this girl’s look)

H&M on sale cheap, cheap, cheap.  Light, fun, not 1990’s denim dress,with interesting detail on the front and poof in the sleeves to add interest.   By itself, pretty and flattering… but not noteworthy enough on the solo.

2. The Belt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the dress was bought on the cheap, cheap, cheap… it might have been a few sizes too wide.  Being a belt was necessary for figure defining (a sack = not attractive), this is where the choice happened.  Interesting belt?  Then the shoes better compliment.  Want to add magic with the shoe selection?  Then the belt better not try to steal the show.

Accessories are meant to compliment, not compete; either with each other orrr the look as a whole.

In this case, sturdy and structured to avoid looking sloppy but not enough to call attention.

3. The Shoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Madden ankle boots.  Its warm enough out and I didn’t want to compete with the brown and dilute the effect with tights, so tiny feet socks to avoid both blisters and looking unpolished  by having socks sticking out.

These shoes make a pretty loud statement.  Annnndd give the jean dress enough edge to make the outfit both noteworthy and ooh laLaaa.  Classic example of a more hardcore option paired with feminine fun to avoid blending in, and the use of animal print in small doses keeps it perfectly wearable for this week’s Friday Casual in the office.

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* meow.*

To Fur or Faux, that is the Question…

…Not if you should wear it or not.

The East Coast is getting snowed in, and its been “freezing” in the southwest (hey, it snowed in Scottsdale for all of 5 minutes…) so what better time to break out the fur?

Fur is one of those items that was for centuries considered not only a necessity but an important status symbol.  Now its become a somewhat touchy commodity.  But fur was prized for a reason: its very warm, very luxe, and can make you feel like a million bucks. And with some awesome faux fur out there and real fur out of favor and associated with old lonely rich white women, the whole concept is more affordable than ever.  I am not a fur connoisseur, but I am known to rock the vintage Dior coyote I snagged from my mother whenever I get the chance and it always makes a splash.  As a result this teaching moment is a loose guide to some basic fur tips for young, not as lonely, not quite so rich, any color, ladies who are bold enough to make a statement.

1. For the love of god, real or fake, if you are under 50; KEEP IT SHORT

vs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of these looks is flirty and fun, and its not the completely over done fur freaking trench coat drowning that poor model.  There is a reason that is a showroom picture, and the other one is from a real person (pardon the stripper tights).  A coat that big is impractical (in terms of wearing it anywhere at all, and care), overdone to the point of killing the look (pardon the pun), and is so in your face its almost offensive.  Keeping it short makes this type of investment piece wearable to more than just an Inaugural Ball, and trust me if its cold you are going to want to wear it.

2.  Do NOT assume adding fur accessories will amplify the effect*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*In fact… avoid this like the plague.

I think a picture is worth a thousand words so I’ll let these gems speak for themselves for the most part.

a. Matching is a horrible idea most of the time anyways, in a tricky medium it more often than not spells disaster. No exception here.

b. This is a double whammy, long in length and matching trims (not to mention 1999 heels, and not in the fun lets bring back the decade way)… this does not say young and flirty.

c. A triple whammy, a mother-load of all things to not do with your fur: Long, with a fur hood? and MATCHING YOUR DOG!!!!  Good god.  No wonder fur has a bad rap.

 

3. Fur is meant to worn when its cold, so where it Everywhere!

Limiting the use of the fur to expected places limits not only what you can wear with it, but the effect you make… The poster girl Carrie Bradshaw herself:

That is why its so important to have a manageably sized fur, besides being too much statement for one statement piece and potentially more offensive; a large fur demands a fancy outfit reminiscent of the woman in all her jewelry and fur in the local bar drinking bourbon daily.  Depending on your lifestyle, this probablyyyy is not an ideal parallel.  If it needs to be a vest or even shorter to make it wearable, then its better to invest in that than a piece that will get worn once a year, maybe.

 

 

4. Actually know what you are wearing.

If its faux, know that.  If its not… know what type of animal you are rocking.  If you actually know about your coat and can answer smart questions about fur, then 99% of the time you can avoid any potential grief.  If you are looking at buying options its worth it to look into the types of fur available and their pros and cons.  In my experience, most people just want to pet it because its pretty rare outside of Carnegie Hall and even anti-fur peeps have been impressed of my knowledge of the coat.

…This would be a fun one to explain.  (Note, I don’t recommend colored fur at all, but this I had to use)

 

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This is obviously not a post that everyone will find useful, but if you are looking to make a splash in the colder months and have an opportunity to acquire a fur (real or faux) I recommend it.  This teaching moment comes from mental notes and observations from my own personal experience and if you need to boil it down… keep it short. These coats are big and warm, you don’t want to mishandle the nice comfy, sexy fur the first time out of the gate.

This is also not a piece to wear if you don’t want attention, especially if you wear it in more casual settings.  Fur is great for all body types, but its your personaliy that matters here ladies.

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Auld Lang Syne

Asta la Vista 2010

The end of a decade, a decade filled with the defining fashion of…. other decades.  The 80’s made a comeback brighter and bolder than ever, 70’s headbands and flowy tops are still in full swing, and the power suit movement of the 90’s is coming full circle… let alone the 50’s prints and cardigans and flapper hints of sequins and feminine lace from the roaring 20’s.

I’m not sure how the 10’s are going to be remembered, its not like 40 years from now fashion will be easily identifiable from this period; unless its the acknowledgement of the recycle of the best.  I mean it is all about going green these days…

*These of course should have stayed in the 80’s with Mc Hammer… History will hopefully be kind on this subject. (and silent on crop tops and rocket dog sandals, thankfully left in the murky days of the early 10’s when no one knew where the hell this was all going, fashion wise that is.)

In honor of the ending of a decade of mishmash fashion this teaching moment post is all about avoiding New Years faux paus ie. sequin body suits:

…and all about smart looks in honor of each of the main decades we’ve leaned on the past 10 years for you to rock out in this New Years, no matter how fancy pants its going to be.

1. 1920’s – Flapperesque

Printed/patterned tights: check.  Lace/Fringe: check.  Defining Accessory/Hair Piece: check.  Signature Shoes: check.

These hodpodged little outfits are a great way to make a splash on New Years if sequins and signature New Years “looks” aren’t your thing.   These dresses are flattering, and scream Holiday without having a flashing, boring, neon sign.  Weather its a high class invite only party or a good old fashioned neighborhood get down, this look not only gets you in the door… but keeps you from blending in.

They also have a clear nod to the Roaring 20’s without being over the top costume-y, which is critical when going with they style to be taken seriously.

2. 1950’s – I Love Lucy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s all about the glam.  Bold colors, bold prints, and red lipstick.  40’s/50’s era like dresses are going to be shorter and characterized by their flirty fun.  Great for grils of all sizes, you can use the poofy ness to cover trouble areas and rely on the structure to hilite your best features.  This strong look is a great way to stand out at a black tie affair and certainly keeps you from being overdone and tired.

Word of caution, these looks are all about the dress so don’t over do it with heavy over accessorization or make up.  Red lips speak volumes on their own and often strong black pumps are all you need in the shoe department to ring in the New Year.  (Gloves excluded from this warning)

 

3. 1960’s/70’s – Woodstock with Style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not with a little irony that describing a 70’s look for New Years is a bit, elusive.  This decade was all about free spirits, loose fitting forms, and the classic mix and match.  It is no different with a modern twist on hippie for the countdown til the ball drops.  Loose hair is pretty much a must, and this is more a look for standing out at the fancy flat party you scored an invite to uptown vs. formal date necessary affairs.

Tall heels are the all important accessory with this type of look, and the more distinction the better.  This outfit is the most in danger of running too casual, and statement shoes can keep it from looking like the you are hunting around the flea market on a lazy Sunday realm.  But if you like pilling on the accessories, this is the look for you; headbands, rings, bangles, and clunky necklaces are all fair game.

 

4. 1980’s – Pretty in Pink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This isn’t your Girls Just Want to Have fun 80’s… this is the trimmed down, sexified 10’s version.  Leather dress, poofy taffeta, bold shoulder decoration, and mesh respectively are all New Year’s looks clearly born in the 1980’s but cleaned up for today.  This look has the potential for the most skanky if not monitored.  Most people live in a cold enough area this time of year so don’t ignore both the practicality of tights and the slut turn down factor.

Be careful of your shape when going for this tight of look, but the asymmetrical options form this era offer hiding options after the filling holiday season.  This look can be fancy enough for a cocktail party, but might be more applicable for the club scene if you don’t want to be the clone of every girl in her tight, satin, sparkly “new years dress”.

Again do not get lost in the accessories here, triangle earrings have not made a comeback except at themed parties for a reason.  A good part of the 80’s was down right unflattering and ugly, don’t ruin all the hard work of the 10’s by trying to be too authentic.

 

5. 1990’s – Eat your heart out Cher Horowitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhhh, the 1990’s.  So many bad ideas that its currently the least re-used decade.  Which is fantastic, if you are a risk taker.  This decade is for you on New Years.  These are pretty tame looks, and you could easily use these from a swanky cocktail party to the hotel party. However, take for example velour.  Shudder.  So many fashion flops easily lie in that direction… so major caution is stressed when attempting to embody the true 90’s for the ringing in of 2011.

As with anything not for the feint of heart, the will be a strong tendency to overkill this outfit or hide its true nature under big time accessories.  Shy away from this route, and for goodness sakes avoid an over worked updo or you wont be the only one drawing ‘You are a virgin who can’t drive ” parallels all night.

Side note: More simple than its 80’s counterparts, the 1990’s New Years approach has major potential but you have to make sure it fits or the whole effect will be ruined.

 

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot…

Win, Place, Show

I’m so excited to start out with a positive, so unlike me.

This outfit, recently worn at my uber trendy no one really knows what the dress code is and some people clearly realllllyyy don’t know what it is, office had 3 key teaching moment elements.  Each piece could stand on its own, but together the outfit was truly noteworthy so I’ll start with the best piece (win) and work my way down (show).

1. Win

So the dress was actually in cool colors (purples, blues and greens) and had pockets but this is close enough. Sweet and sassy has to be my favorite combination of elements currently. I always lustfully admired hard rock gear from afar, not possessing all the necessary traits to sport combat boots and fishnets on the regular; now it is entirely possible for the straight laced lady to put a bit of bite into her style without appearing entirely poser like in appearance.  This dress is a perfect example… how much more Stepford Wife can you get in cut and print?  And yet it goes the next step with a mesh top that has me giggling like a school girl with a first crush, that serves to keep this dress out of the boring, seen it before and utterly predictable bin.  However it should be noted that the over the top feminine approach of the dress keeps the mesh from looking like it belongs on the back of a bike, or in the local Shotgun Willies… balance here is key.

Teaching Moment: This cut of dress can be flattering on almost anyone as long as you don’t pick a pattern that overwhelms you.  The ruffle is great for minor tummy coverage, but overly hip-py woman should steer clear to avoid looking like a cupcake.  Tired of being predictable?  Add mesh. Add mesh.  ADD MESH! (even more daring? move onto studs, a leather skirt in a lady like cut, or combat boots… always paired with something overly feminine and sweet to keep everything proportionate)

 

2. Place

What made this outfit standout, is yes… we were at work.  So while the mesh dress is great; it might not be entirely work appropriate on its own especially in the middle of winter.  (I live in the desert, during the summer the line gets more blurred)

This savy fashionista paired it with an understated grey blazer that matched the cool tones of her dress without being matchy-matchy.  What a win.  Grey blazers with silk linings are the popular kid at the school dance on their own, matched with a sassafras dress was a stroke of genius.

Teaching Moment: You have to be careful mixing too many trends, and when in doubt err on the side of caution… if you think it is too much it probably is.  If you look in the mirror and don’t know where to look, images of the worst dressed in the back of trashy magazines should come to mind.  This is not a good thing.  Take a deep breath and take something off.  This is an instance where  a classic masculine piece just leveled out a still feminine outfit and made it work appropriate.   That is what mixing trends is all about, using contrast to fit a need. Bravo madame.

 

3. Show

The devil is in the details.  Too many outfits lose it with bad shoe choices or over accessorization.  The fact that she went with opaque black tights and black lace up oxford wedges sold it.  No tights would have been the wrong season and not work like, too light of tights would have worked but not made a statement, forget other colors.  The solid black into the shoes again hi-lited the feminine/masculine traits of this outfit without taking away from the character of the mesh.

Teaching Moment: The shoe was on par with the outfit, she didn’t try to oversell and thus by keeping it simple, knocked it out of the park.  It is as simple as that.

*If you are curious, she kept it balanced on top as well with light makeup, but doll like flouncy blond curls.  Boom.

I Got it at Ross?

Sooooo as it turns it out I of course finally had time to start this when I was sick.  Even though I have time to write I haven’t seen anyone except myself in the same gray on gray sweatsuit in days.

Note: Gray on gray is never a wining combination, dont get ideas.  It is just inevitably my most comfortable gear is gray… Thus the classically sexy ensamble of gray sweatshirt, tshirt, and sweats is born.  My little secret… especially since I used to rag on my roommate for the same thing.

This got me thinking.  Do I have anything useful to share that isn’t inspired by someone else’s bad decision on say a stripper heel and sweater dress combination to work?  Only the secret to my whole wardrobe.

Teaching moment: If people like it, it doesn’t matter where you bought it.

In fact it is more fun to tell people somewhere like Ross, for $5.99 when they are standing there envious in their over priced generic sweater set.  Yes , sometimes you get what you pay for.  And as hard as they try Forever 21 cant quite get some knock offs right.  But if you would rather have an ever changing, dynamic wardrobe and if you make as much as I do… it is impossible to exclusively shop at Nordstroms, J Crew, Barney’s etc.  Forget Chanel, Hermes, or Alexader McQueen (God Rest).

Yes H&M and  Forever 21 provide “acceptable” lower cost alternatives with rapid turnover to avoid total samsies outfits with your contemporaries, The Rack ran a Groupon for goodness sakes, and everyone wants to be a Maxxinista these days with TJ Maxx’s hard hitting ad campaigns explaining how they have great merchandise at acceptable prices blah blah blah but every wannabe Carrie Bradshaw has to have some tricks up her discounted sleeves if you want to consistently dress to impress.

Forever 21/H&M/The Rack/TJ Maxx just are not cheap enough on a consistent basis, for me.  I will shop anywhere.  I do not discriminate because it is true, people only scoff at where something is purchased if it looks bad.  That runs true both sides of the scale, ie I dont care you piad $595.00  big ones for this St. John heart lace shirt from Norddssstromsss, its a train-wreck:

In fact, you are an idiot.

I’d say the majority of items that I wear that without fail get the most compliments are from somewhere ridiculous.  And often these are items that I would never take a chance on at a higher price.  Vintage stores are great, but so are friend’s moms closets.  Buffalo Exchange is nice bc they control the quality, but take a chance at Goodwill/Savers.  Ross is just like TJ Maxx but cheaper, you never know. Target has some great cheap “couture lines” they have been running, but have you ever tried their 50% off Maternity Section? The trick with these stores is finding one in a good area.  They are less picked over, and often if it is a donation store, contain gems.  Just like consignment shops by Universities.  Jackpot.

I also like to mix something more expensive (ie Shoes) with cheaper items, almost to lend them credibility if I am ever unsure on a piece.

Teaching hi-lites: The key here is a focus on quality, you know when something looks cheap… don’t get it.  It will sit in your closet taking up space. Also, moderation.  Wardrobe essentials are worth spending the money on, get more use out of them by getting cheap co-horts to change up your look all the time.  And lastly, Pride.  When you make a 2 dollar top look good, be proud of it.  Who cares if it is all you can afford?  You are dressed so well no one would ever guess; they think you get it by choice when you pull it off with aplomb.

Soo here is my true fashion secret, I learned a long time ago how to fake it.

What is A Teaching Moment?

In this case a teaching moment refers to that split second when something, someone, somewhere is wearing catches my ADD fueled brain.  And makes me look again.

A teaching moment does not have to be negative, just noteworthy.

ex 1) negative

There are a lot of things wrong with this shirt.  However some people coullllddd get away with it looking flattering, if not exactly stylish.  If you are a bustier girl or have a few extra pounds on the upper half, throw that out of the window.  Two major obvious avoids to look out for, and a hidden 3rd:

1. That fabric hugs everything, and I meannn everything.

2. Cowl line and big breasts a good idea in theory (not direct cleavage if you don’t to go that road etc.) but no.  It is a trick in reality.  The gathering of fabric does nothing but draw attention to how big your front area is… which is now thanks to the fabric nicely outlined along with your undergarmets of choice.  You can easily look more inclined to fall over, which unless you were trying to look like Dolly Parton is avoidable.

and 3)  That looks to me like ruching down the side.  Unless you have a wedding dress or 1 piece swimsuit  on, the sure fire way of making something look cheap is to add ruching.  Not to mention it is wicked tricky to get it right if you are dealing with a fuller figure; it is either a blessing or a curse.  As you would already be considering this shirt with its obvious pitfalls say nothing of the studding on the collar, you would probably not qualify as the best judge on wether or not the ruching is helping or hurting at that point.

So Teaching Moment: Fabric choice is more important than you think, know your body and learn to know what fabrics to reject on site.  Cowls are not all the are cracked up to be. Annnd, Ruch at your own risk.

ex 2) positive

I wanted this first post to be as true to form as possible ie. not planned out with hours spent finding the best/worst fashion choices so I could create some credibility for myself.  Nope, too impulsive.  I did a quick google search for something to the tune of ‘plus sized fashion shirts’ to go along with the negative example.

Shudder.  There were some serious traps set there for the unwary.  Come on google.  Not helpful.

But then it happened, just like this was real life and I saw this lovely lady walk by me at work or whatnot.  A legit POSITIVE teaching moment.

Great use of a pattern!  Girls above size 2 can in fact embrace this lumberjack trend and run with it.  Notice her use of the correct size?  Straining buttons on the bust would have ruined this effect.  Also the soft hair and leggings were a great touch.  Shoe wise a low bootie would be a great compliment, nothing to chunky… let Paul Bunyun do the talking for you.

Teaching moment: Don’t let a trend or pattern scare you off on principal.

So there you have it.  These are teaching moments.

I plan to update as one walks in front of me either at work, or around town.   I will try to include pictures as close to the mark as possible, because some people are just visual learners, no?