You know what tomorrow is, don't you? DON'T YOU?!?

NoBloShoeMo: Thirty Days of Shoes.



Go here to join the NoBloShoeMoe Flickr group; then, every day in November, after you've hit your NaNoWriMo word count for the day and written your NaBloPoMo post, you can show us your shoes.

Or you can skip the other stuff and go RIGHT to the shoes.

I will be posting pictures of my shoes EVERY SINGLE DAY. Who else is in?

November is also Accessories Month at The Working Closet pool; break out your bags and your bling.

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Tuesday links: Dudes, shoes, and one bad wedding gown

Help! My coworkers all dress like men!

It's almost November! Are you ready to show us your shoes?

I'll admit it: sometimes, I just don't get couture.

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Like the Beatles, I get by with a little help from my friends

Actual unedited e-mail from my incredibly lovely and funny friend Caroline:

I come this evening with a tip for you: Don’t wear fleece sweat pants on a hay ride (even if they’re totally cool Nike ones). Unless, of course, you like having bits of hay poke you in the ass for the remainder of the evening. Removal tip—packing tape.

There you go. Don't say we didn't warn you.

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Layering 101

Hi Susan,

I would like your input on layering. I am somewhat challenged in this area in that I am (mostly) uncomfortable in button-down shirts, and wear them as infrequently as possible. Traditional blazers also present a comfort problem (yes, I'm weird). Aside from turtlenecks under crew-neck sweaters (bleh) and the occasional twin set, what are my options for layering for the office?

Ruth

I love layers. I love the look and the warmth and the flexibility.

What are Ruth's layering options? Well . . .

1. Crew neck sweater with crew neck tee. Tee can be slightly longer at the hem, or have slightly longer sleeves; the tee's neckline can show at the edge of the sweater's neckline.

2. V-neck sweater with tee (or tank or camisole). A crew-neck tee offers the most coverage, but a tank or cami is a sleeker, more dressed up look. Pair a shallow V with a crew neck and a deeper V with a cami (but be SURE that your cleavage is covered if you're going to the office).

3. Sweater over button-up shirt. Feel free to pair a sleeveless shirt with a long sleeved sweater; no one needs to know that you don't have any sleeves under there. Feel free also to opt for the sweater with the built-in blouse component (collar and cuffs only) as long as it is well made. Think about a short-sleeved sweater over a blouse, or a sweater vest or shell.


Solid silk Elizabeth halter, J. Crew, $88.00 (shown with cashmere henley)

Look for blouses with interesting collars (I am completely smitten with the ruffles on the J. Crew blouse pictured here). Wear with cardigans or crewnecks or V necks or jackets.

4. Short sleeves over long sleeves. Layer a short sleeved tee over a long sleeved tee for casual weekends; pair a short sleeved sweater with a long sleeved blouse for work. Or pair a three-quarter sleeve sweater or jacket with a blouse or tee or sweater with long sleeves.

5. Jacket over tee or slim sweater. Don't buy a jacket that you cannot button, but don't feel compelled to wear it buttoned up. A basic white tee is perfect under a casual jacket (denim or corduroy) or with a suit coat. Dress the look up with jewelry or a scarf; dress it down by choosing a graphic tee.

6. Dress over long sleeved tee or turtleneck or button up shirt. This season's shift dresses are fantastic layering pieces. Add tights or leggings or knee-high boots to finish the look.

There is more to layers, even for work, than just a jacket over a blouse. Mix and match pieces from your closet, and wear what fits your shape and your life. Add accessories to set the right tone.

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What to wear to Homecoming (boy version)

I know you generally deal with women's fashion, but perhaps you'll feel pity and help a mama out. My fifteen year old son is going on his first date (GULP) to the homecoming dance. It has been fun to figure out things like the flowers, tickets, weather or not you actually go to the homecoming game . . . however, we are having trouble with the tie required male homecoming outfit. Our first attempt was a little too Joe Corporate junior with a charcoal gray pant and white shirt and tie. Next, we paired the charcoal pant with a black shirt with thin gray stripes that just looked, well, off.

We have visited all the usual stores (Gap, Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropostale) but haven't even seen anything that would work. So, tell me, what are the kids wearing these days? Where do you go for fashion inspiration for the teenage set?

He is a casual kid who prefers t-shirts and will occasionally don a polo shirt. He has finally embraced the plaid short. Comfort is key. He is tall and thin.
Thanks ever so much,

Gayle

I remember my first homecoming dance. My date wore a three piece suit and a fedora. I was mortified.

Let's not have that happen to Gayle's son.

My husband has to get all the credit for this one; he wears a suit to work a lot of the time, and on the non-suit days, he does a jacket and slacks with a nice dress shirt and sometimes a tie (although often the tie sits in the back seat of his car, JUST IN CASE). A few years back he got tired of white and light blue and blue and white striped shirts and started experimenting with patterns and colors. And while all of his choices were fine, the most successful was the French blue dress shirt, which goes with virtually everything.

I prefer a straight collar shirt, one that does not button down, but that's a matter of taste more than anything.

Gayle's son can pair a blue shirt, in a more dramatic shade, with a black tie and his charcoal gray trousers. The shirt I've linked to comes in a fairly reserved shade of French blue, but he should feel free to go as bold as he likes; it's still a blue shirt, after all. He could also wear the blue shirt with the trousers and a jacket, if he had one, and NO tie (although I would check with his date first because that might be more casual than she wants him to be, and it's all about the date when you're fifteen and going to Homecoming).

The beauty of this is that the French blue shirt is a look that works for boys of all ages, so keep that in mind as the holidays approach and your husband starts to moan about not knowing what to wear to the office Christmas party or your sister's New Year's brunch.

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Tuesday links: Because I cannot write ONE MORE WORD

Global warming is totally screwing with my fall wardrobe.

This Halloween, all you need is some clean underwear and a Britney Spears CD.

This is what I look like in the morning.

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The Little Black Dress

In the comments on this post, Vorilee asked, "how do i dress up my black knit dress for an evening out?"

The answer is accessories, baby.


J. Crew faux tortise ring, $40.00

Jewlery. For evening, add a string of gumball pearls or a pair of chandlier earrings. Or layer on some bright colored necklaces or bracelets. With the simple black dress, you can opt for less (the classic pearls) or more (an armload of bangles). Cocktail rings are huge this year, both in terms of hipness and size; Target has been carrying some fantastic faux gems, for about ten dollars. Wear one on your index finger for a little extra something.

Shoes. Never underestimate the power of a really fantastic pair of shoes. Bright colors, bold patterns, a dangerously high heel are all a good way to amp up your LBD. Boots are also a good way to change the look, particularly if your hemline falls right at the knee. Add a pair of seamed or fishnet stockings if you're feeling really daring.

Handbag. For evening, I prefer a clutch bag, something ladylike that either must be held in my hand or tucked under my arm. Clutches come in a range of sizes; choose one that is proportional (if you are petite, you can go with a very small, palm-sized clutch, but if you are a bigger woman, choose a bigger clutch. Look for printed silks and beads and metallics; use the clutch as a shot of color in your outfit.

Wrap or coat. It would be lovely if we all could afford a beautiful evening coat, in either a printed silk or a lovely velvet. In lieu of that, though, look for a really great shawl or wrap, something with a beautiful print or bold color. Like the bag or the shoes, it will add a punch of color to the dress.

Whatever you choose, do NOT overwhelm the dress. A red clutch AND red shoes AND a red wrap are too much; ONE bright colored accessory is plenty. The same goes for jewelry; opt for a bold necklace OR big earrings OR a chunky bracelet. My favorite look right now is the LBD, a big cocktail ring, and a bright pashmina. The ring makes a statement, the pashmina adds color, and the dress -- well, the dress is the LBD. It's perfect on its own.

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What to wear when you're expecting: Evening wedding

I have a wedding to go to in November, and I need big help on what to wear. I'll be just over 4 months pregnant... this is my first baby and I don't know if I'll quite be showing or not. I don't want to wear something that just makes me look chunky and lumpy, but I don't think I'll be big enough for actual maternity wear. Oh and I don't want to spend a fortune on a dress that I probably won't wear again. It's an
evening wedding, and I expect it will be more on the formal side. Any ideas?

Hopefully my feet will still be happy enough to wear some fabulous
heels!

Dressing for the second trimester can be tricky -- you are too pregnant for your regular clothes, but not pregnant enough for maternity wear. Fortunately, in terms of every day wear, anything you buy NOW will still fit for a while after the baby comes home (I know, that makes you cringe to hear, but let's face it: for at least a few weeks after you become a Mommy, you will still look a wee bit pregnant). So anything Jennifer buys now will easily get more wear later.

Of course, that is more true of day wear than evening wear, unless she's going to be out on the town at three weeks postpartum. Who knows, some women are! Personally, I was flat on my face most of the time for the month or so after both babies, but maybe that's just me.

Jennifer is fortunate, because this fall is a great time to be pregnant and looking for a cute dress. The return of the baby doll silhouette, while a horrible mistake for many of us, is PERFECT for someone who is four months pregnant. The biggest problem with the baby doll dress, of course, is that it can make even an Olsen twin look like she's in the family way, but if you really ARE pregnant, that high waist and swingy skirt will just make you look fabulous. By four months, Jennifer will probably be sporting a little bump; a higher waisted dress won't camouflage it, but it won't call attention to it, either.


Design History jersey dress, Bluefly, $54.00

A black dress is always classic, and easy to dress up; this one from Bluefly would be perfect for an evening wedding, with some fantastic jewelry and shoes and a beautiful bag. The Gap also has a nice selection of empire and baby doll waisted black dresses just now, for about the same price. Jennifer might want to make a trip to the mall to try one on, since it can be tough to guess size when your body is changing literally every day.

While a jersey dress can be very casual, a black dress is always evening appropriate. Jennifer can dress it up for the wedding and then dress it down after the baby, for a sip-n-see or dinner with friends. This is also a dress that she can wear through the holidays, with tights and flats and a cardigan, or with heels and nice wrap. I think she will get a lot of use out of it -- more than she would out of a maternity evening dress.

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Shape up, America!

The Daily Mail

Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, the original What Not To Wear girls, have a new book out, The Body Shape Bible (currently available only in the UK). The premise is one we are familiar with: once you identify your body shape, you will be able to choose clothes that flatter you. BUT! Trinny and Susannah aren't sticking with the usual apple/pear shapes; they have come up with 12 descriptive names for various shapes, including the "brick" and the "lolly."

Today's Daily Mail includes an excerpt from the book, with photographs and brief recommendations. And while it's fun to see if you can find your body, you really should read all the comments, because, as one reader points out, "the really derisory comments about these women being fat comes from Americans." She's right, and I find that both unsurprising and very sad.

The American commenters are missing the point: bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Being curvy or hippy or a size 14 (or 18 or 22 or whatever) doesn't mean you don't deserve to look fantastic. When you have a body that doesn't fit easily into mainstream clothing sizes and shapes -- either because you are bigger or smaller in some area -- you will need to make a little extra effort to find what flatters. Lumping everyone larger than an Olsen twin together as "fat" is short sighted and simple minded and (dare I say) stupid.

Trinny and Susannah consistently urge their clients to push the envelope, to wear things that are daring and unconventional, regardless of size or lifestyle. And while I am compelled to say that yes, it's a wee bit impractical, I am also won over by their devotion to fashion, and their insistence that EVERY woman, regardless of size, has the ability to be edgy and chic.

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to put on some killer shoes, because I feelthe urge to be fabulous.

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Shoe of the day

Klamp Platform Sandal, Payless, $24.99

Thanks to Reagan for the heads up.

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Tuesday links

It takes a village, and some days I am the idiot.

I sacrifice, so that you won't have to.

And in the Flickr pool, I'm wearing essentially the same thing two days running. Awesome.

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Jesus doesn't want to see your boobs (nor do the bride and groom)

In this post on wedding guest attire, I mentioned that when the ceremony is in a house of worship, one should dress accordingly.

I had NO IDEA that this would be such a hot topic.

I've had e-mails and Twitters and comments about this. And honestly, it surprises me a little, because I assumed that everyone would have a pretty good grasp of what was and was not appropriate attire for a place where people pray. (If it looks suspiciously like lingerie, it's NOT APPROPRIATE for church. Just so you know.)

Apparently not!

For weddings -- or ANY function -- that takes place in a house of worship, coverage is crucial. Deep V or scoop necks, bare backs and shoulders, and short skirts are all inappropriate for a religious setting, regardless of your personal religious beliefs. If your dress is sleeveless or backless or strapless, cover up with a shawl or cardigan for the ceremony. And yes, it is entirely possible that you will get to the church, carefully draped in your pashmina, only to discover that the bride is wearing a halter mermaid gown; if that is the case, then you have the option to take your own wrap off. But it's better to be prepared, and to be respectful. Bare breasts are NOT respectful.

Keep your hemline as close to your knee as possible. The micro mini has made a return in the past year or so, but unless you are four and wearing some cute tights with it, an ultrashort skirt isn't appropriate for a house of worship (never mind the fact that very short skirts are flattering on very few people). Opt for something closer to your knee, that you can sit and -- if need be -- kneel in.

Weddings, and their attendant parties, often involve a variety of twisting and bending -- hugging the bride and signing the guest book and serving yourself at the buffet, and, of course, dancing. Make sure to check your cleavage from EVERY possible angle (no one really wants to see your boobs over the chicken marsala); be sure to test your skirt for twirl (do your dance moves show off your underwear? Then you best be WEARING some underwear, and also perhaps reining in your dance moves, or rethinking your skirt). If coverage is key for the church, containment is key at the reception. It's fine to take off your sweater and show your shoulders for the party, as long as your dress covers your boobs and your backside. All the time. Please.

There are two important components here: you need to dress in a way that shows that you respect the couple's religious tradition, even if that tradition is more conservative than your own, and you need to dress in a way that shows that you respect yourself, even if this is a rare day or night out for you. I think Erin Rae put it best when she said, "Some people seem to associate dressed up = boobs on display. Trust me, if the most exciting part of the evening is waiting to see if one of your ta-tas escapes on the dance floor, you won't be remembered kindly."

Exactly.

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What to wear to a wedding, Part Two: Dresses

It's Saturday and I'm at BlogHer, dishing about wedding dresses. No, not for the bride, for the guests! Silly.

There are a few life events that seem to be consistently hard to dress for: job interviews, first dates, funerals, reunions of any sort. And of course, other people's weddings.

When you are the bride, the fashion choice is fairly simple (seriously; you either do the white dress or you do something else, and I've never met a bride who didn't have an Opinion about what she wanted to wear). When you're a guest, however, the field is wide open, and while there are some basic rules to abide by, the actual What to Wear can be tough.

Read the rest here.

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What to wear to a wedding: A short checklist

I've been getting a lot of queries recently about wedding wear, and while I FULLY INTEND to answer each of them separately, I want to start with some generic Rules For Weddings.

Once upon a time, the wedding invitation gave you all the information you needed about the proper attire for the ceremony. Time of day was a big determinant: an evening wedding (anything after say five o'clock) was a black tie event, with tuxedos for the gentlemen and long gowns for the ladies. Morning weddings, on the other hand, required only your Sunday best clothes; they were typically small events for the immediate family and a few select friends.

Today, of course, the only ones wearing a tux to any wedding are the groomsmen (and that's not even a given) and the time of day has little if anything to do with what constitutes proper attire. So how do you know what to wear?

Err on the side of more dressed up, rather than less. For ANY situation -- wedding, job interview, parent/teacher conference -- it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. I'm not advocating a sequined gown for a ten am garden wedding, but don't assume that "beach ceremony" means you can wear shorts. And god help you if I even THINK you are wearing flip flops to a wedding. Put on some real shoes. Please.

An evening wedding is dressier than a morning wedding. If the ceremony starts after 5:00 pm, feel free to break out your Little Black Dress (or LBD alternative) and some fabulous evening shoes. You can dress your dress down by going with bare legs instead of hose, or simple jewelry or hair, but remember that you're dressing for an evening function, and don't be afraid to go all out.

Daytime weddings may be more casual, but they are still events. That cute skirt you wear to Gymboree? Not wedding attire. Trade your everyday tee or tank for a beautiful blouse or sweater, put on a skirt that might need dry cleaning, or better yet! wear a dress! Flat shoes are fine, but leave the practical running around shoes at home. It's okay to dress up in the middle of the day. In fact, it's encouraged!

If the wedding is in a place of worship, dress accordingly. Your attendance at a wedding is a symbol of your love and support for the couple; respecting their place of worship by dressing up (and, in some cases, covering up) is equally important. Not sure what to wear to someone else's church home? What would YOU wear to church? Not a church goer? In general, steer clear of jeans and shorts and cleavage. Which you won't be wearing ANYWAY because this is a WEDDING for heaven's sake.

Not a church wedding? Dress for the location. Again, I am NOT saying shorts for a beach ceremony, but I WILL say flat shoes for outdoors, as opposed to pretty shoes for a hotel or museum or other contained locale. If the wedding is outside, think about putting on some sunscreen and taking a light shawl (because you never know).

The bottom line for wedding attire is this: Unless the bride and groom are getting married at the top of Mt. Everest, DRESS UP. It's a wedding for god's sake, and while I will not go so far as to say that the divorce rate in this country is directly related to the horrible things people wear to weddings these days, I think it's high time we valued the ceremony by putting on some real clothes to celebrate.

Tomorrow: actual suggestions about what you might want to put on.

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More from the mail bag: October is class reunion month, and we need some jeans

I am going to my 10 year college reunion and it involves a football game, so I thought it was time for some new jeans. I have 2-year-old twins and have worked from home since they were born. My entire wardrobe could use some help . . . My body shape has changed a little since the pre-pregnancy days, and some things no longer fit quite right. Others are worn out or just need some updating. I have a classic style, and I'm not a big fan of shopping.

So last weekend my husband, boys and I went to the mall where I tried on roughly 20 pairs of jeans. I tried on all the denim styles I could find in Coldwater Creek, Talbots, the Lands End stuff at Sears, and JCPenney. Much of what I found was boot cut, and I confirmed that I just don't like the way that style fits me. I'm 5'6", probably about 145 lbs, with strong hips and thighs. If they fit through the thighs, they are ridiculously big at the waist and too long. I'm looking for a straight-legged pair of jeans that sit slightly below my natural waist... Any suggestions on where to look or a specific style to try?

Thanks for your help!

I spent TWO HOURS the other day trying to find some jeans I don't hate; I am feeling Marthena's pain. But I am also a little at a loss as to what to tell her, because I am COMPLETELY DEFEATED by jeans.

That's where you come in.


Let's talk jeans. What brands do you love? Why do you love them? Are you buying high end or low end or something in between? Share your secrets! Marthena and I need to know.

Just so you don't think I'm shirking my responsibilities here, let's talk about what else one could wear to the college reunion that involves a football game. I am a HUGE fan of skirts, even for this type of event -- a great A line denim skirt with a fitted tee and some beautiful driving mocs is a comfortable, casual, polished look. Denim is good because it wears well (if you spill your beer soda on it, it will bounce right back) but a nice cotton print is also good. Steer clear of light colors and dry clean -- it's a football game, not a cocktail party. Choose practical flat shoes that you can walk and stand in (skimmers or mocs are best). Top off with layers -- a tee and a cardigan or cute jacket.

Not feeling the skirt? How about a great pair of chinos? A little dressier than jeans, but still not dressed up. Or, if the weather is cool, a pair of corduroys. Again, pair with cute flats and a sweater or tee; add a jacket or cardigan for warmth.

Ten years out of college, it's okay to look like a grown up during the day. Marthena wants to find an outfit that flatters her post-baby figure and makes her feel pretty and fresh. That may be jeans, but it's okay if it isn't. Don't feel like you have to wear what you were wearing ten years ago; you're older now, and that means that you can dress like a grown up.

Even if you are tossing back a cold one at the football game.

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Tuesday links: From the mail bag!

It's Tuesday and I'm everywhere but here! Sorry about that.

At BlogHer, I'm answering your questions about maternity footwear.

And at The Working Closet, we talk about wearing my clothes to a job interview.

Coming later: wedding wear! Because apparently October is a big month for weddings (who knew?).

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Clothing storage 101

Shauna has some questions about wardrobe storage.

What is the best way to store clothes? What should be hung? What should be folded? For those things that are hung, what kind of hanger is best?

For the things that should be folded, what is the best way to fold them?

Real Simple knows folding.

Clean everything before storing. Have dry clean pieces cleaned; launder everything else. Food stains, even minute ones, can attract bugs; perfume and body oils will stain. Take the time to make sure everything is clean before you pack it away for the winter (or summer).

Remove dry cleaning bags. Moisture will build up inside the bags, causing mold to grow on your clothes. Take garments out of the bags immediately. This goes for any pieces you are having dry cleaned; do not leave garments in the plastic bag for one second longer than you absolutely have to.

Protect your clothes. Store off-season pieces in plastic or canvas boxes. I prefer canvas, because it breathes. Hanging clothes can be stored in canvas suit covers. Store off season clothes in a dry, cool space, free of bugs and pets. This can mean half of your everyday closet or the guest room or a freestanding wardrobe.

Let's talk hangers. Hang woven shirts and light weight jackets on padded hangers; hang heavier coats on sturdy wooden coat hangers. Hang pants on wooden or plastic hangers; for creased trousers, line up the seams and then hang them over the bar on the hanger. Fold uncreased trousers at the mid line (so that the fronts of the legs are against each other) and hang. Hang skirts on substantial hangers with clips; hang no more than two skirts together (more than that crushes the skirts and makes it difficult to see what you've got).

Fold your sweaters (or at least most of them). Conventional wisdom says that to fold knits, rather than hanging them; this is true for many knit pieces. Fold sweaters, particularly heavy sweaters, and store on open shelving, if possible, so you can see what you have. Shelf dividers will keep piles of sweaters organized. Lighter weight sweaters and knits can be hung, but only on padded hangers.

But what about your tees? Tees can be folded or hung; hanging them takes up space in your closet, but folding will often leave you with wrinkles in places you don't want them. Don't fold tees straight out of the dryer; lay tees flat to cool. Real Simple has terrific instructions for folding sweaters; fold tees the same way.

Finally, don't pack your closet. Make sure you have enough room for everything to hang straight and move freely. If you can't see what is in the closet or if everything is crushed when you put it on, you need to rethink your storage. Keep only the things you are REALLY wearing in your everyday closet; relocated the rest -- off season garments and special occasion pieces and those jeans that are just a half size too small -- somewhere else.

After all, less is more, especially when it's stored properly.

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Tuesday links

October is class reunion month! What are YOU wearing? Suggestions at BlogHer.

Who won the Superhero necklace? Come see!

Thirty Days of Not Shopping is OVER, and I've got new shoes! I'm so happy.

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We're all business here today

1. I've chosen the winner of The Working Closet Superhero necklace giveaway! But I'm not telling who it is just yet. Instead, stop by The Working Closet tomorrow! You're welcome!

2. JenB has posted Part Two of the Where To Shop for Plus Sizes Roundup at BlogHer. Hooray!

3. If you have e-mailed me recently and not heard back, I apologize; I've been scrambling to keep up. But this week is Answer The Damn Mail Week, here and at BlogHer and at The Working Closet. I promise. And, as always, feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or comments.

4. Getting married? Have I got a blog for you! Check out AisleDash, your source for all things wedding. And yes, I AM writing for them, why do you ask? Come see what kind of shoes I've found for the Big Day (hint: there is nary a white pump to be seen).

5. FINALLY, remember that October is Does this work? month at The Working Closet Flickr pool. Today the Internet has decided that no, this shirt is totally not working for me.



And frankly, I agree.

Dig around in your closet and find the things that may or may not be working for you; we'll help you assess and restyle and get your groove back. It will be fun, I promise!

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