Pumpkins, Leaves, etc.

Hello, and let me be the first person to wish you a happy October! If anyone else already wished you a happy October, please forget you ever knew them.

I’m not sure if I’ll be dressing up for Halloween this year. If I don’t, maybe I should just put this outfit back on. It has a certain fall festive-ness, doesn’t it? Pumpkin on the top, inmate on the bottom. Actually, this could be an Orange is the New Black-inspired costume. OK, looks like I am dressing up for Halloween this year!

When it’s not Halloween, this outfit also makes a great ensemble for going to a dinner party. In my experience, anyway.

Sweater (under $20) // similar Skirt (under $20) // Shoes // similar Clutch // Bracelet // Watch // Sunglasses // Lips “Orange de Chine”

Repetitive

You might have noticed I’m kind of a shopping fiend, so I’m always proud of myself when I can create an outfit made entirely of things I’ve worn multiple times but that still feels “new.” This was one of those outfits. I wore it to take myself out to coffee (the company was excellent), and then later to go to a local blogger meet-and-greet (the company was still pretty good). I felt sort of nautical and fall-ish all at the same time – like I was sailing a boat under falling leaves. Man, that sounds like even more fun than going to coffee with me.

similar Shirt (under $10) // similar Jacket* (under $50) // Jeans // similar Shoes // Clutch // Sunglasses (under $15) // Necklace* // Lips “Whimsical”

Need proof of my repetition? See below. It’s the Real Life Remix…

*Jacket purchased with gift card provided courtesy of H&M; necklace provided courtesy of Loopsway.

Passed

I have this weird knack for remembering what I wore on certain occasions, even when the occasions aren’t memorable. (Like: Remember that day it rained and I had to mail a letter? That was the last time I wore X dress, and I wore it with Y shoes.)

But I’ll have a good reason for remembering this outfit, because it’s what I wore the day I found out I passed the Bar! Yep, it’s true. I know because I read the notice slowly, multiple times and out loud, just to make sure I understood it correctly. I had fully prepared myself for the worst, and I like to think I would have handled my failure gracefully, but now we’ll never know because (did you hear the news?) I PASSED!

Also, technically I was wearing pajamas when I got the spectacular news. But this is what I wore earlier in the day, and what I put back on to go out and celebrate with Kristin, who was my sanity-saver, laundry-doer, dinner-maker, and flash card-assembler all summer long. She’s probably just as happy as I am that all that work was worth it. Let’s all take a nice, big exhale of relief together: AAAHHHHHHHHHHH. Have a great week!

Top (on sale) // Pants (under $30) // Bag // similar Shoes (exact may be avail. in DSW stores) // Earrings* // similar Bracelet // Lips

*Earrings purchased with gift card provided courtesy of Shopbop.

Unsocial Network

I love it when we get a picture where the wind catches my hair.

Makes me feel like a white, talentless Beyonce.

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This business casual outfit almost makes it look like I have a job, doesn’t it?! I appreciate your optimism, but sadly…still no job. This was actually an outfit I wore while I met with someone who does have a job and who gave me some advice on how to find one of my own. Yes, I’m networking. But I hate calling it “networking” because that word strikes fear in the hearts of introverts like myself. Luckily, this meeting was quite enjoyable and productive. Plus, I was having a great hair day, so…bonus points.

On another note, we took these photos in front of a WWII memorial. There wasn’t any special meaning behind my choice of background; it was just near where we had lunch and it blocked the harsh light. But my grandpa is a WWII vet, and his 95th birthday is this weekend, so I think it’s fitting. It’s not likely that he’ll spend his birthday reading my blog, but he’ll probably be hanging out, gardening, and being (somehow) healthier than I am.

Top via Le Tote (buy similar on sale) // similar Pants // Shoes (on sale) // Watch* // Ring // similar Bag (on sale) // similar Sunglasses (on sale)

*Watch provided courtesy of Dainty Wrist Jewelry.

T-Shirt & Sneakers

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You know those people who can throw on a t-shirt and sneakers and still look chic? Yeah. They’re called models. But don’t worry; you can achieve the look too. It’s simple:

First, get in your time machine. Go to a time in the future where medical technology has advanced to the point that you can choose all the physical attributes of a new baby. Now take that technology, get back in your time machine, and go back to the point in time when you were conceived. (This part may be awkward, but hang in there.) Then just make sure you create a version of yourself that will grow to be 6 feet tall and 120 pounds, with perfectly symmetrical features, great bone structure, and never-frizzy hair. Congratulations – you can now wear anything you want and look amazing!

If your time machine is in the shop right now, there is one slightly less effective alternative. You’re probably not interested, but just in case…

The other option is to look for more “unique” basics, like this scalloped stripe tee and floral sneakers. That way when you casually throw on a t-shirt and sneakers, you’ll still look pretty awesome, even if you’re just doing laundry and going for a walk in the park (which is in fact what I did in this outfit).

similar Tee (on sale) // Shoes (under $15) // Jeans (on sale) // Sunglasses // Bag // similar Bracelet (on sale)

Funcie

On Saturday we found ourselves in Muncie (you know, that town they make fun of on Parks & Recreation, the greatest show ever). I didn’t really want to be there, but I had important lawyer things to do. Or something. Actually, if I were really an important lawyer, I wouldn’t have been staying in a Days Inn that hadn’t been remodeled since 1992.

But we made the best of it. After bidding adieu to the butterfly wallpaper (yes, really), we hit up a local farmers’ market and a winery. At that point, we figured we had seen the best Muncie had to offer, so we headed home and then went out with friends to celebrate someone’s completed Bar Exam and upcoming birthday. Oh, right, that someone is me!

This is what I wore for my strange but eventful day. I wore the same top and skirt in Muncie, then amped it up with pumps and a fancy clutch for the evening back in Indy. Had I stayed in Muncie for a night out, I probably could’ve gotten fancy (or, in this case, funcie) by adding a scrunchie. Ooooh, snap! If you’re a Muncie native, I’m just kidding. Mostly.

Shirt // similar Skirt (on sale) // similar Shoes (on sale) // similar Clutch // Bracelet* // similar Sunglasses (on sale) // Lips “Orange de Chine”

*Bracelet provided courtesy of Dainty Wrist Jewelry.

Never Too Many Stripes

Can one ever really have too many striped shirts? I think one cannot. But can one sound like a douche bag when one uses the word “one” too much? Yes, one can.

Top // Jeans // similar Shoes (on sale) // similar Earrings (under $6) // similar Clutch (on sale) // Watch* // similar Sunglasses // Lips “Whimsical”

*Watch provided courtesy of Dainty Wrist Jewelry.

Planning Ahead

I just got this dress a few days ago. I’d been eyeing it in Target over and over and I decided it would be a great option for Test Day! Both test days, actually (yep, the Bar Exam takes 2 whole days – joy). I really don’t like to wear jeans for long periods of sitting because the waist band can get uncomfortable and make me very conscious of how much I have to pee. I don’t have any medical evidence to prove it, but I think my bladder is the size of a lima bean. Point is: Dresses are way more comfortable and convenient.  More reasons this dress is perfect: (1) It feels like a nightgown but looks stylish, (2) it has stripes – my favorite print, (3) the maxi length will keep my legs from getting goosebumps if it’s drafty in the testing room, and (4) it was only $30. As you can see, I thought this purchase through. Here’s hoping I can use this same logical brain power on July 29 and 30!

Dress // similar Bag // similar Hat (on sale) // Sunglasses // similar Belt* // Shoes (on sale) // Lips “Plushest Punch”

*Belt provided courtesy of H&M.

All of the Stripes

I have this theory that there is no food that cannot be improved by adding either chocolate or garlic. Even if it already has chocolate or garlic in it. Chocolate ice cream? Even better with hot fudge. Garlic bread? Even better with garlic butter sauce.

I’m starting to expand this idea to fashion…Like maybe every outfit can be improved by adding stripes, even if it already has stripes. I haven’t done any extensive scientific studies to prove this yet, but I’m working on it. If anyone wants to help in this study, let me know. You don’t get paid, but you also don’t have to take any weird experimental medications that might make you grow a beard on one side of your face or something.

Now please excuse me while I go eat some chocolate.

similar Dress (worn as skirt) // similar Shirt (on sale) // similar Shoes // Clutch // Bracelet (on sale) // similar Sunglasses // Lips “Unapologetic”

Backstreet’s Back

What did I do while wearing this outfit? Oh, you know, the usual. Went to bar review lecture. Got some coffee. Saw the Backstreet Boys live and partied like it was 1999. Yeah, that happened.

And my weekend got even cooler the next day when my wife and I walked in the Indianapolis Pride Parade dressed as the cast of the Rocky Horror Show. Yeah, that also happened. Proof of all of this is on Instagram.

On a related note, people often think one of the perks of being married to another woman is that you can share clothes. In theory, yes. But in my reality, not so much. If you’ve ever seen Kristin, you know she’s sort of an Amazon woman. She’s 8 inches taller than I am, which means she also has a few sizes on me. Her bra could eat my bra as a snack. And if she tried to wear my shoes, we’d have a Cinderella/step-sister situation. So basically, the only thing we can share is jewelry. When Kristin was taking these pictures, she couldn’t shut her mouth (which is also huge) about how cool this necklace is. So I have a feeling she’ll be helping herself to this bauble before too long! And if she doesn’t give it back, I’ll take one of her t-shirts and wear it as a maxi dress. With a belt, it might work.

similar Top // Necklace // similar Shoes // Sunglasses // similar Bag // Lips “Unapologetic”