As I've discussed before, I like to wear a uniform. Having too many clothing choices stresses me out, I spill stuff on myself all the time, and I am cheap when it comes to clothing. Having a wide and varied wardrobe of expensive clothing just isn't my thing. I like a limited selection in a few colors for not much money. This past summer I bought seven of the same $22 dress in various colors. I wore that dress in one color or another probably four times a week.
That dress is still going strong--I'm still wearing them frequently--but the weather is cooling off a bit. Its not cold here by any stretch of the imagination, but I find that even with a light cotton sweater I feel not-quite-warm in my go-to dress and sandals. I think its time to buy some heavier-weight dresses, and possibly some close-toed shoes.
This feels very weird to me, seeing as the NJ winter uniform for the past ten years has been loose sweatpants and heavy sweaters. I haaaaaate wearing jeans, or any other restrictive pants that encircle my waist. Flowy highwaisted dresses are my preferred clothing. Unfortunately its hard to wear flowy highwaisted dresses in 30 degree weather without some tights or pantyhose or leggings or some other tight item that encircles my waist--you see how this is a problem? I have high hopes that I can rock the highwaisted dress year round in California.
Sunday night I ordered this dress in 5 colors.
Its a nice heavy knit in an A-line pattern, it has 3/4 length sleeves, it wraps in the front and has a high waist. This style of dress is generally flattering on me, so I have high hopes. Over the summer I bought a few dresses in Medium, which is usually what I wear from most companies, but they were all enormous. I ordered everything in a Small, which feels very daring and dangerous because there is very little on my person that is small, so we shall see. Cross your fingers. At worst I end up returning everything, I guess.
The most exciting part is that the dress was on sale (as of Sunday night) for $40 instead of $79, and I consider $40 to be the upper end of what I will pay for a dress, so that worked out just fine.
I also bought this drape collar dress.
It did not come with a leopard print belt, but I do believe I need one. I know that this dress was $79, outside of the $40 max discussed above, but I had a coupon for 40% off one item plus free shipping, so that made it acceptable.
I also bought this dress, because holla, $17. This dress looks pretty much like the first one but cheaper.
So, that's 8 dresses and that should be plenty for daily wear, if they fit.
The other part of the uniform--I would like to find a pair of (very) low-heeled boots, and a wide belt.
I have pathologically wide feet and calves. Regular boots do not zip up over my calves, and my sensitive feet feel pinched in nearly every shoe ever made. In cold weather I wear sneakers nearly every day, and I have worn the same pair of ballet flats for seven years. I have tried for years to buy boots, one year going so far as to order seven pairs of wide-shaft boots from Zappos (the Mister loved that credit card bill) and returning every single pair.
Since I can rarely find shoes that fit well I am resigned to paying lots of money when I do. I find the the most disheartening part of the process trying on four hundred pairs of shoes only to end up with nothing, or worse, old lady shoes. I have accepted the fact that I am most comfortable in school-marm clothing but my soul yearns to wear pretty shoes.
I will try a few pairs from Zappos, although nothing is really catching my eye.
I have finally captured the elusive obi belt of my dreams.
For years, Garnet Hill seemed to put this belt on every model in their catalogue, but yet never sold the belt. I even went to the website with the intention of pulling a picture of one of the models wearing the elusive belt, and much to my surprise it was actually offered--so I bought it.
I'd like to find a leopard print belt, and maybe a shiny gold one.
Thus the winter uniform is nearly complete. I do not have much hope in finding shoes that fit, although I will try them on anyways.
P.S. In case you were wondering, I ordered directly from the Lands End website, not Sears.
What do you wear in the winter?
That dress is still going strong--I'm still wearing them frequently--but the weather is cooling off a bit. Its not cold here by any stretch of the imagination, but I find that even with a light cotton sweater I feel not-quite-warm in my go-to dress and sandals. I think its time to buy some heavier-weight dresses, and possibly some close-toed shoes.
This feels very weird to me, seeing as the NJ winter uniform for the past ten years has been loose sweatpants and heavy sweaters. I haaaaaate wearing jeans, or any other restrictive pants that encircle my waist. Flowy highwaisted dresses are my preferred clothing. Unfortunately its hard to wear flowy highwaisted dresses in 30 degree weather without some tights or pantyhose or leggings or some other tight item that encircles my waist--you see how this is a problem? I have high hopes that I can rock the highwaisted dress year round in California.
Sunday night I ordered this dress in 5 colors.
Its a nice heavy knit in an A-line pattern, it has 3/4 length sleeves, it wraps in the front and has a high waist. This style of dress is generally flattering on me, so I have high hopes. Over the summer I bought a few dresses in Medium, which is usually what I wear from most companies, but they were all enormous. I ordered everything in a Small, which feels very daring and dangerous because there is very little on my person that is small, so we shall see. Cross your fingers. At worst I end up returning everything, I guess.
The most exciting part is that the dress was on sale (as of Sunday night) for $40 instead of $79, and I consider $40 to be the upper end of what I will pay for a dress, so that worked out just fine.
I also bought this drape collar dress.
It did not come with a leopard print belt, but I do believe I need one. I know that this dress was $79, outside of the $40 max discussed above, but I had a coupon for 40% off one item plus free shipping, so that made it acceptable.
I also bought this dress, because holla, $17. This dress looks pretty much like the first one but cheaper.
So, that's 8 dresses and that should be plenty for daily wear, if they fit.
The other part of the uniform--I would like to find a pair of (very) low-heeled boots, and a wide belt.
I have pathologically wide feet and calves. Regular boots do not zip up over my calves, and my sensitive feet feel pinched in nearly every shoe ever made. In cold weather I wear sneakers nearly every day, and I have worn the same pair of ballet flats for seven years. I have tried for years to buy boots, one year going so far as to order seven pairs of wide-shaft boots from Zappos (the Mister loved that credit card bill) and returning every single pair.
Since I can rarely find shoes that fit well I am resigned to paying lots of money when I do. I find the the most disheartening part of the process trying on four hundred pairs of shoes only to end up with nothing, or worse, old lady shoes. I have accepted the fact that I am most comfortable in school-marm clothing but my soul yearns to wear pretty shoes.
I will try a few pairs from Zappos, although nothing is really catching my eye.
I have finally captured the elusive obi belt of my dreams.
For years, Garnet Hill seemed to put this belt on every model in their catalogue, but yet never sold the belt. I even went to the website with the intention of pulling a picture of one of the models wearing the elusive belt, and much to my surprise it was actually offered--so I bought it.
I'd like to find a leopard print belt, and maybe a shiny gold one.
Thus the winter uniform is nearly complete. I do not have much hope in finding shoes that fit, although I will try them on anyways.
P.S. In case you were wondering, I ordered directly from the Lands End website, not Sears.
What do you wear in the winter?
Well, I love a good uniform, too. Mine never consists of a dress. Since it is freezing here, I love Mucklucks. Do you know what they are? My daughter is embarrassed to be seen with me when I wear them...an added bonus ;)
ReplyDeleteOkay ... these are soooo better than my uniform of jeans and black turtlenecks!! I do wear cute boots though ... does that count??? Happy Thanksgiving week! xo
ReplyDeleteLove a dress and boots. With your weather, you could get away with not wearing tights. Just find some cute boot socks and call it good. Don't know if you have a Nordstrom's near you, but my advice is to go there and try on boots until you find something that fits. They have a million sizes and (should have) impeccable customer service. If you're only buying 1, you can afford to spend more. (That's my motto, anyway.)
ReplyDeleteI'm a uniform girl, too. And I feel your pain on the no-binding issue. Makes dressing more challenging in winter.
Love a dress and boots. With your weather, you could get away with not wearing tights. Just find some cute boot socks and call it good. Don't know if you have a Nordstrom's near you, but my advice is to go there and try on boots until you find something that fits. They have a million sizes and (should have) impeccable customer service. If you're only buying 1, you can afford to spend more. (That's my motto, anyway.)
ReplyDeleteI'm a uniform girl, too. And I feel your pain on the no-binding issue. Makes dressing more challenging in winter.
I too want to be able to just throw a dress over my head and head out the door, but I am on dresses #3 and 4 from Lands' End and so far they've been pretty wretched. However I have two of the ones you linked to on their way to me as we speak so cross your fingers!
ReplyDeleteI really like my Bandolino wide calf boots, but I also just ordered myself these and I plan on wearing the crap out of them. http://www.zappos.com/ugg-brooks-tall-black
This will sound weird. I've found I can buy a smaller size dress(es) with loose waist. (Empire on me.) I wear the 'dress' as a long top over leggings. Add some flats and a necklace or scarf and I'm set. My 'uniform' is very comfortable and always looks cute.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh I love a good uniform. I've branched out since then, but in 6th grade I wore nothing but LL Bean polo shirts (buttoned all the way up because I was a nerd like that). I FULLY approve of your dress & boots uniform and I can't wait to hear what fits! Cute choices!
ReplyDeleteMy winter uniform for work is black dress pants and a cashmere sweater. So easy!
ReplyDeleteIn the winter I wear jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. If it needs to be dressy then it's a v-neck. My favorite is a thermal black shirt with slits in the edge of the sleeve to put my thumbs through. I wear them with Converse. For super dressy I wear one of my Catholic school skirts, still with a black shirt, but if at my boyfriend's parents' house, a black sweater.
ReplyDeleteI need to get a uniform going for work. I like your top dress, but shorter.
I know I am tardy to the party on this post, but I just recently discovered Land's End dresses, and I love the low sale prices! But, I bought that purple dress (in blue), and it's an odd fit - sort of poofy in the bust, and loose in the arms (I bought a petite medium). I'm keeping it because it was inexpensive, and I can wear it with a sweater or denim jacket & it will be fine. All of those are cute! And I second the Nordstrom recommend.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ordered from Lands End in Years and just popped over to check them out.. Great prices and I ordered the flower one for $17! Thanks, I love a uniform too!
ReplyDelete