Building a grown-up wardrobe.
So, while I was culling my wardrobe the other day, I noticed something. I have a lot of tee shirts and jeans. A lot of worn-out sweaters. A couple of fancy dresses.
But the grown-up stuff in between? Nada. The interview suit I had from college no longer fits. (They tell you about the 'Freshman 15' but not the 'Real World 20.') I effectively have no pieces that are professional and pulled-together. I first noticed this about a month ago at a wake... all the other women had a skirtsuit or a pretty little black dress on. I had pulled together a dressy-ish black top and gray slacks. While I didn't look bad, it lacked a certain degree of polish. So I've been looking for "wardrobe pieces" ever since.
The problem is that I don't fit a lot of standard sizing. I am a medium frame with big' ol curves. If it were the 50's, I'd have it made. I could just steal Joan Holloway's wardrobe and call it a day. But for the most part, they just don't make clothes like that anymore... and if they do, it's either way out of my price range or flimsy crap. (Or perpetually out of stock... I'm eyeing YOU, ModCloth!)
This week, I am going on round 1 of a retail buying spree that will help me build a grownup wardrobe. It is hurty to the wallet, but it is an investment I seriously need to make.
I took the plunge and ordered a custom-made top from Etsy user Ureshii. I was a bit wary about ordering clothing from an Etsy seller, 'cause I've gotten burned in the past, but what cinched the sale was that her customers post pics of themselves in the clothes, and they've looked great on a diverse range of body types. So I ordered this top in a nice cranberry red:
To go with it, a classy pencil skirt with a little ruffle detail. I am embracing my curves and going against my usual A-line preference.
I have not bought the shoes yet, but I will. I realized that I have a decent amount of black shoes, but really only about two pair that I actually can wear because I realized too late that the reason I can't seem to walk in pumps has less to do with awkwardness (I wear 4" heeled boots all the time!) and more to do with the fact that my arches are so high that if a pair doesn't have some sort of strap, I step right out of them. Therefore, these are going to be my next dress shoe purchase:
Other things...
Just for fun, since Victoria's Secret has finally realized the importance of a) making PRETTY full-figured bras, and b) making "shop by DD size" an option (YAY), I treated myself to this:
Yummy. I love balconet styles far more than plunge styles, and now they're making them in my size, hurrah!
And my big purchase tomorrow... I have been rocking the same pair of black Docs since college. They are ratty as hell. It is time for a "comfortable everyday footwear" option that is both timeless and chic. And I've gotta stop buying $60 Sketchers that only last one season and invest in some quality footwear. Therefore, I am going to ALDO.
I am IN LOVE with these. If they don't have them at the Aldo I'm going to tomorrow, they'll be ordered online for free shipping. They're also pretty much all my spending budget for December/January, eek. But I'm sure they'll be worth every penny.
...in other news, I've been quite the holiday elf today, playing Secret Santa and also buying some of J's gifts. :)
But the grown-up stuff in between? Nada. The interview suit I had from college no longer fits. (They tell you about the 'Freshman 15' but not the 'Real World 20.') I effectively have no pieces that are professional and pulled-together. I first noticed this about a month ago at a wake... all the other women had a skirtsuit or a pretty little black dress on. I had pulled together a dressy-ish black top and gray slacks. While I didn't look bad, it lacked a certain degree of polish. So I've been looking for "wardrobe pieces" ever since.
The problem is that I don't fit a lot of standard sizing. I am a medium frame with big' ol curves. If it were the 50's, I'd have it made. I could just steal Joan Holloway's wardrobe and call it a day. But for the most part, they just don't make clothes like that anymore... and if they do, it's either way out of my price range or flimsy crap. (Or perpetually out of stock... I'm eyeing YOU, ModCloth!)
This week, I am going on round 1 of a retail buying spree that will help me build a grownup wardrobe. It is hurty to the wallet, but it is an investment I seriously need to make.
I took the plunge and ordered a custom-made top from Etsy user Ureshii. I was a bit wary about ordering clothing from an Etsy seller, 'cause I've gotten burned in the past, but what cinched the sale was that her customers post pics of themselves in the clothes, and they've looked great on a diverse range of body types. So I ordered this top in a nice cranberry red:
To go with it, a classy pencil skirt with a little ruffle detail. I am embracing my curves and going against my usual A-line preference.
I have not bought the shoes yet, but I will. I realized that I have a decent amount of black shoes, but really only about two pair that I actually can wear because I realized too late that the reason I can't seem to walk in pumps has less to do with awkwardness (I wear 4" heeled boots all the time!) and more to do with the fact that my arches are so high that if a pair doesn't have some sort of strap, I step right out of them. Therefore, these are going to be my next dress shoe purchase:
Other things...
Just for fun, since Victoria's Secret has finally realized the importance of a) making PRETTY full-figured bras, and b) making "shop by DD size" an option (YAY), I treated myself to this:
Yummy. I love balconet styles far more than plunge styles, and now they're making them in my size, hurrah!
And my big purchase tomorrow... I have been rocking the same pair of black Docs since college. They are ratty as hell. It is time for a "comfortable everyday footwear" option that is both timeless and chic. And I've gotta stop buying $60 Sketchers that only last one season and invest in some quality footwear. Therefore, I am going to ALDO.
I am IN LOVE with these. If they don't have them at the Aldo I'm going to tomorrow, they'll be ordered online for free shipping. They're also pretty much all my spending budget for December/January, eek. But I'm sure they'll be worth every penny.
...in other news, I've been quite the holiday elf today, playing Secret Santa and also buying some of J's gifts. :)