Thursday, January 18, 2024

This week I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files, but I am doing so reluctantly. I really feel blah about what I wore over the last week, with a couple of exceptions. Ha! 

And, let’s face it. I’m cold. I really don’t care about fashion right now!

But, did you catch my post yesterday? I did a massive closet clean out and I am challenging myself and you to wear it all or it must go! 

I think we need to think of our closets as fluid beings – things come in, things go out – and that’s ok. I try not to beat myself up too much about bad purchases. 

Did you catch my post on Tuesday? I am trying to get back on track with my healthier eating habits and some of that is due to wardrobe unhappiness. Things aren’t fitting great. I feel frumpy. I want to be able to wear the things I love well, you know? 

When, I went back to school on January 8th, I had a goal to wear jeans for accountability. I did that for 4 out of 5 of the school days. Some of my jeans are a little -ahem- snug right now and I thought it would be helpful for my body to be slightly in pain. 

I am also trying to wear all of the non-Christmas winter colors in my closet like black, wine, royal blue, etc. 

One day I wore very dark Old Navy straight leg jeans, a Target wine colored long sleeved tee, and a very old sweater. I think I would like it better with black underneath or creating a column of all black with black pants or jeans. The jeans are so dark, they look black, though. 

Meh. 

One day I switched to black pants from my jeans plan and wore this. I will keep the fringey sweater vest (it makes a nice third piece) and the black dress pants from Wit and Wisdom are great, but the blue Umgee top has really tight elastic on the arms and it bugged me all day. I think this will go to my consignment shop because it’s almost new. I hate that I made a mistake with this top. It’s a brand that I really like, but I just don’t think it’s working for me. 

This was my favorite outfit of last week. I love this star sweater. I struggle sometimes with having things to wear under things. The black tank below is perfect but it has those tiny pinholes and I need to retire it. I hate that!

Friday night I got to dress up for my husband’s work party. This dress is by Jodifl which is sold by many of our little local boutiques in Louisville. I got mine at Tunie’s. That’s also the brand of my hot pink animal blouse that I love. 

After working from home on Tuesday, I went out for happy hour in my “Sweater Weather” sweater. I want to get some platform sneakers because I feel like I need a little height when I wear something like this.

Ok, let’s talk about Chico’s. I really like them for their pants, especially. I also like them for some of their basics. I used to have a consignment shop with a Chico’s designated rack where I got several pairs of work pants for a steal. I like their sizing and the fact that they come in short length for me as I am 5’4. I also think their quality is really good. 

But I recently looked on their website and I am not a fan of most of their prints. 

I did see two things that I absolutely love. The first is not really practical because I will mainly wear it in February: 

It’s reversible! Isn’t that cute and great for someone who runs hot? What do you all think? Chico’s gives a teacher discount, too, which is awesome. 

And, this for spring really spoke to me: 

They are both really expensive for my bargain hunting ways, but I am trying to do quality over quantity and only choose things I really love to have a closet of 10/10 items. 

These fabulous raffia sandals are sold out! Wow! 

They are probably too high for me, but I think they are just so awesome for spring! I did put my email in for notifications if they come back in stock. 

I ordered these pocketed leggings in bright blue. I’ve been told this brand is a great dupe for Lulu. I have tried on Lululemons once and they were very flattering, but I just couldn’t pay that price. 

I will always get 7/8 when I can – it’s my favorite fraction in leggings and I will always get pockets. It’s a great time to be alive when you can have pockets in your leggings!

So, that’s it for my Fashion (or Lack of Fashion) Files this week!

What have you been wearing? 

What are your thoughts on fashion this month? 

Amy

30 thoughts on “Fashion Files”

  1. I agree, fashion is not that interesting right now…! I re-discovered a pair of black leather pants that I’ve been wearing a lot – I remember you also have some leather pants? Like burgundy red?
    Did you have bare legs with that dress!? If you did, I’m so jealous! But let’s look at the bright side; I don’t have to shave my legs! 😀
    I like that black/white cardigan thing, I think you will use it a lot! And your star sweater is wonderful!

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    1. I have both black and a beautiful rich brown. They are a bit hot at school and sometimes in restaurants! I did have bare legs. I got a spray tan the day before and then it was relatively warm that day and rainy. It was like 50? Do you think I would wear the black white heart more than just in February?

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      1. Bare legs when it’s 50°? You’re a tough lady! You should live in Sweden, ha ha!
        Yes, I definitely think you will wear the black white heart cardigan all year round! C’mon, it’s a heart! We need love all year round!

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  2. I have worn nothing but pajamas since Sunday… still trying to shake whatever it is that I came home with off. Slowly feeling better though and looking forward to wearing real clothes again!

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  4. This is such a great fashion post Amy! Sharing what you wore and also what you’re eyeing is what it’s all about I agree about Chico’s – most of the jeans are great and the pants too. I’m a big fan of the no-iron shirts but some of the prints on their tops can be frumpy.
    Girl, WE are going to get those Aerosoles, I just know it! I am checking my email regularly – ha!!!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. I love your optimism! I’m not even sure I can walk in them! I am open to googling raffia and seeing what else is out there. I love my raffia style wedge sandals and my raffia style flat sandals that were my most worn last year, so I know it is a color/fabric I would be drawn to!
      Thank you so much – I really didn’t love what I wore but this is real life!

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  5. I actually like the outfit that you felt meh about, with the wine colors. And that is too bad about your Umgee top; can you cut a tiny slit into the elastic to help loosen it? Or can you take it to a seamstress and ask them to cut that part off? I would consider one of those options if you love it otherwise. A good black tank is hard to come by! I have one that I love from my favorite boutique; I know I’ll be sad when it wears out. I like the tanks from J.Jill…have you tried them? They’re great for wearing under things!

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    1. Oh, thank you! I don’t think I like the Umgee top enough to do anything, and it is the kind of thing that will sell quickly at my consignment shop. I’m good with letting it go. I know – I want a swing style one that skims the body, even if I do tuck it in sometimes. I will look at J.Jill because they have good quality! Thanks!

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  6. I love your star sweater and am looking for one! I don’t like winter and having to put on so many clothes just to run errands so love that you’re showing us options. I looked at Chico’s and felt the same way about their new prints and colors. Not thrilled. I’m starting my closet-clean today and…..yikes!

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    1. Mine is from Amazon but it’s been a couple of years. I know – I agree! Right? Their prints are like crazy old art teacher or older funky lady who has booths at art fairs, right? Not me!
      Good luck!
      Not be be an enabler, but I just looked on Amazon and I think this is mine:

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  7. That dress: love!!! I had about 10 days of very stressful time here and I did not care about clothes much: leggings and sweatshirts were my choice. But back to normal now having fun with my outfits and planning blog posts. It really makes me feel better to have something cute on even if for half a day! Going to go back and read your closet clean out post!
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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    1. Thank you! I feel great in it! Oh, I’m so sorry. Yes, it’s easy to live in leggings when that happens or when it’s cold. Fashion is not a priority! I agree. It helps you feel better to”get dressed”.

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  8. You’ve inspired me….our church doesn’t really practice “lent” per se, but I’m going to get rid of one item (clothes, shoes, etc) per day for the 40 days of lent…then I’ll take them and donate them somewhere. Given I literally still have clothes from the 90s in my closet, I think this should be do-able!

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    1. Yes, Beth! I have done “40 bags in 40 days” many years and I usually don’t quite finish, but it still is a great goal and helps a lot. You will be surprised that you don’t stop at one item. I make a list of 40 places to clean out and they can be tiny little spaces or just “spices”.
      I kind of wish I saved things from the 90s (and could fit in them) but that’s not me!
      Here is when I did “30 bags in 30 days”

      Prime Purchases and 30 Bags in 30 Days

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  9. I always go thru my clothes at the end of each season and evaluate whether an item was worn enough. Nicer clothes that I no longer wear I like to sell on my Poshmark or donate to my church. My church gives clothes to families that really need them. I love that animal print dress and I need to try those leggings! 7/8 legging length is my favorite too.

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    1. Yes! This is so smart to do! It feels good to either re-sell it or to pass it along. The dress makes me feel great and I love it. The leggings are really, really good. The quality is great. I will be wearing them a lot!

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  10. My fashion files this week would be leggings, sweatshirts and pjs 😆 I love the black and white heart cardigan, but you are right about practicality of it. 7/8 is the only way to go with leggings.
    Did you all have school today?

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    1. I agree! It’s a very flattering look and I do it quite a bit. It camouflages those lumps and bumps in my midsection most of the time!
      Thank you – it’s perfectly lightweight for me. I just don’t know why they did white buttons instead of black?

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  12. I don’t treat my closet like a fluid thing; clothes go in and never come out! I need to weed it out, but it’s hard. I made a blunder when I ordered a sweater from Ireland a eeek ago. The model on the website was wearing a small and she looked to be about my size, and sometimes I’m a small on top… needless to say, it’s too small on me. Ridiculously tight. And to return it will cost $35, and I believe it was $65. After my refund, I would have to reorder, and hit $100 to get free shipping. Sigh. I’ll be shoving it to the back of a drawer. It’s gorgeous, and I love the scarf I ordered as well, so that’s good. This is what happens when I break my Never Order Online rule, lol.

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    1. Ha! Sometimes I wish I saved more, but I don’t. It is hard, but the feeling you get when you have space and can actually pick out clothes is a real high!
      Oh, shoot. That is why I am really hesitant, too. I have made a bunch of mistakes. Maybe you can sell the too small one?

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  13. That star sweater is really cute! I think I’d look for a striped tee to wear under it, but then I put stripes with everything! I’m kinda chuckling because you want platform sneakers to give you some height. You’ve got three inches on me! I just learned how to do an original hem on my jeans so now I can have jeans at the right length! I do love that cheetah (?) print dress! You look fabulous in it!

    Hmmm…I’m trying to think what I wore this week…that’s how memorable it was! I’ve just been layering up to keep warm when I take the dog out to do his business. He just looks at me with those big brown eyes and raises one paw then the other. I tell him to just get busy so we can both get back into the warmth!

    Have a wonderful weekend…and, if those raffia sandals come back in stock, let me know! I love them!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. Thank you! I found it on Amazon and asked my mom for it for Christmas when she asked for suggestions. Stripes might be really cute! So, you think I’m tall? Ha! You are right, though, that is three more inches. So cool that you learned to do that! Hemming is super expensive here, too. I love when a retailer has short length or sometimes I buy cropped to be normal on me.
      There’s not much memorable fashion happening here when I don’t go to work!
      How cute! What would we do without our dogs.
      I will – I am seeing other raffia shoes come out, too, so maybe I will have a new favorite?

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