Dress and boots

Dresses and boots have been my uniform lately. Saturday night was no exception:

Dress: Target.com
Tights: TJ Maxx (notice the run in them, I sadly had to throw them away when I got home that night)
Denim Jacket: Gap from waaaay back.
White knee socks: Gap from 16 YEARS AGO. Hands down the oldest piece of new clothing I own.
Boots: Naturalizer
Necklace: cbt's closet on etsy
Black Tank (under dress): hand-me-down from Julie

I remember the strangest things, including the fact that I bought these knee socks at the Gap in 1994, the summer before I started 8th grade. I also bought a pair of chunky Maryjane shoes and a schoolgirl plaid skirt. Remember that look from '94? Why these socks have stuck around for so long, I do not know. Perhaps white knee socks are just that much of a staple?

Workin' and wearin'

My second job is as a hostess three nights a week. Dressing for this can sometimes be tough, as I want to look nice because it's a kind of nicer casual restaurant. But also, I am on my feet constantly for over 2 hours, and I often get nasty dishwater and leftover food all over myself when busing tables. So that means comfy shoes and a hearty top.




This is pretty much my standard second job work uniform for cooler weather. Plaid shirt, tank top, jeans...
I'm pretty happy with it though, especially because I own a small arson of vintage plaid shirts.


What do you guys think of this knotted up shirt business? I've done it once before here, and I kinda dig it as a change of pace!

Plaid top: Goodwill
Tank top: American apparel
Jeans: Banana Republic
Shoes: Tsubo via eBay
Razor blade necklace: CBTs closet on etsy

PS- I kind of hate these sneakers and this photo is probably the last time I will wear them, as I think they are going back on eBay! I can't really explain it ... I just don't like 'em. Plus I have plenty of other sneakers I like way better. Like these.

My leopard retaliates

I posted this about leopard print the other day. It prompted me to dust of this leopard top from the depths of my closet and try to wear it again. Ta-da!

Leopard top: TJ Maxx
Pants: Ann Taylor Loft
Denim Jacket: Gap from way back in college
Scarf: gift
Shoes: Seychelles via Goodwill

Super amped on inspiration!

Finally, at long last, I have ventured into the world of Wardrobe Remix.

Holy shitballs it's so overwhelming. Yet fun and SO inspirational at the same time.

I like to browse for women who seem to be about the same body type as myself to see how various things look on them. And I am so impressed!

It made me decide that I will try to tuck in a shirt. Into a high waisted skirt.

I'm a bit anxious, because I am a gal with not only a thick waist*, but a high waist. But I'm going to give it a go and see what I think.

What do YOU think?

(Don't you love the term "thick waist"? That is how my mom always described me...ever since I was little, "thick waisted." It might seem a bit harsh but it's so accurate! Hey, anything sounds nicer than "spare tire," or "beer gut" or something!)

Leopard's downward spiral

So in my downtime at work today, I was perusing eBay, like I often do. I recently purchased a leopard print pashmina that has worked its way into my wardrobe's regular rotation, and thought a nice basic leopard print dress might be a nice addition as well. (still doing the Zimbabwe challenge, mind you, I have a few items for sale on eBay!)

So I innocently typed in "leopard dress" in the eBay search bar.

Oh my. I had no idea leopard was reserved for one of three kinds of women:

1. Clubbing skanks

2. Street walking trollops

3. Quite Wealthy

Most leopard dresses fit into category 1, Clubbing Skanks:

This duo of frocks best represents the general feeling of the Clubbing Skank vibe. Short, low cut, very stretchy and LEOPARD.

An alarmingly large percentage of leopard dresses fit into category two: Street walking Trollops:

"Dress" is a big stretch with this one. I'd say more "Playboy Mansion Grotto Swimsuit."

I mean, c'mon, this dress is ludicrous, I mean... OH MY GOD THEY PHOTOSHOPPED THAT DRESS ON THIS MODEL.
Take a close look. It's so true. So if I were to purchase this on eBay, would I get a real dress? Or just a printout of one? Maybe just a digital file? I could paste this dress on a photo of my own nude body?

Then finally, we have a decent option:

Ooooh nice! Cute, classy, fun print. I'm sure it would be super flattering! Oh...oh no. It's a Diane Von Furstenberg. Oh and lookie here...the price. $300.

What have we learned today, children? There is a serious gap in leopard print dresses for us middle-of-the-road ladies. Now, go do your homework and find me a cute leopard dress for under $30. OK...maybe lower middle class would be more accurate.

Grumpy day bloggin'

Last night, the people of Arkansas were promised snow. And ice. And winter weather. I was hopeful to at LEAST have a delay for work this morning. The threat was so eminent that good ole Gov. Beebe has even declared a state of emergency in the state. (I know, you Yankees are laughing so hard right now. And rightfully so.) When I awoke, I peeked out my bedroom window and ... NOTHING. Not a flake in sight. The biggest disappointment of 2010. So far.


Needless to say that started out my day on a crappy note. So because of this, I actually had to get out of bed which for me is SO...HARD...MUST...SLEEP.


See, I am convinced that my body and its bio clock does its best and deepest sleeping between the hours of 5 and 9 a.m. No matter when I go to bed or how well I sleep, I have such a hard time getting up. Especially in the winter when the temperatures are below freezing and the sun has another half hour or so before it starts a-shining.


Are you seeing the domino effect here? No snow means I had to get out of bed, which I did too late, which means I threw on an unexciting outfit and minimal makeup and stomped off to work ... WITHOUT any lunch. Grrrr.


So lucky for me, my friend Ben was free for lunch and we went to Saigon and ate warm and savory pho. Now I feel a bit better. But tomorrow is Friday and perhaps I will be inspired to don a cute outfit and feel a bit better. Though the temperatures are supposed to be in the single digits, so I might just recycle these red cords and toasty sweater.

My vainest post of 2010 ... so far.

I just downloaded my New Year's Eve outfit shots. I like my outfit.

But hate my head/face/hair. Per usual, I have beady eyes and 35 chins. Lord, I'm vain.

Hahaha. Just blurry enough.

Purple sparkly dress: Target

Boots: Vintage from etsy

Cardigan: Belk

Belt: TJ Maxx

Earrings: Burlington Coat Factory

Bracelet: Gift

Tights: TJ Maxx (same day I bought that belt, I believe)

Necklace: etsy

Woohoo ... happy freakin' New Years!

I LOVE those boots. What do you think? Too red hat lady, with the purple and the red?

My first resolution

I have never made a New Year's resolution before. I am always afraid that I will fail and then end up disappointed. What a great way to look at it!

But this year ... well this year is different.

I made a New Year's resolution.

And that resolution is to make more stuff. And then sell it!


May I direct your attention to the right of your screen for a bit. See that? it's my Etsy store, ShadesOfErin. That is where the goods will be, all for your consumption and enjoyment.


Keep checking back in the coming weeks, as I plan to add a lot of stuff: t-shirts, vintage clothes, scarves and prints.

Tell a friend!