I’m going to unleash my calves

This time I’m combining 30 for 30 with a dressing my best post.  These outfits highlight my calves, definitely a favourite body part of mine.  It also reminds me of a particularly funny episode of How I Met Your Mother where Lily reveals her weakness for Marshall’s calves.

Barney: That’s crazy, nobody’s turned on my men’s calves, they’re a thoroughly unerotic body part.
Marshall: Well yeah, I’d say that too if I had those skinny little chicken legs.
Barney: I’ll be waiting by the phone for your apology.

I never want to appear too vain (kinda rich for someone who takes pictures of herself and then posts them online), so I don’t know how to talk about something I like about myself without sounding completely conceited.  But I just really, really, really like my calves.

 
#9: Anthro Verdant Slip Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Anadyomene Cardi (Rosie Neira) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I like how they look when I wear heels (particularly these Miss Sixty shoes, which were fairly pricey but a had-to-have for me).

#10: Anthro Pesisir Top (Fei) | J.Crew cardigan | Jacob pencil skirt | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I like showing them off in the summer with above-the-knee skirts.

#11: Anthro Reflecting Pool Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | J.Crew cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I’ve had a few shoe store salespeople ask me if I’m a runner when trying on shoes, which always makes me laugh (I’m not a fit person by any means – I’m too lazy to go to the gym).  I inherited my dad’s calves and I walk a lot, that’s all. 

Anthropologie catalogue: June 2009

Every week I take a look back at past Anthropologie catalogues and what I loved from then.  (Thanks to Natalie for posting all the links.) I used to think that it’s impossible to find these pieces again, but thanks to Roxy’s trade market and eBay, anything is possible.

June 2009 – not one of my favourite catalogues.  The cover seems like a cop-out.

beaded halter dress – I actually tried this dress on at the Don Mills Anthro shortly after it opened, the first Anthro in Canada.  I liked it, but obviously not enough to buy it.

clustered petals dress – I like the shot  more than the actual dress.

tritone dress – I wish I’d seen this in person and tried it on.

 
swirled rosette dress – so many ruffles

ruffled cowlneck cardi, slubby pocket tank, accordan panel skirt – this totally looks like something I’d wear.  Printed skirt, tank, cardigan.  Wait, that is something I wear all the time!

Colour, colour, colour

After a one-day break, I’m back into 30 for 30.  Here’s another three outfits; I’m wearing as much colour as I possible can.  As much as I love black and grey, it’s nice to go crazy for colour in the summer months.

#6: Club Monaco dress | Gap cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Tory Burch Reva flats

 
#7: Anthro Climbing Cowlneck (Bordeaux) | Gap cardigan | Anthro necklace | Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt (Edme & Esyllte) | Tory Burch Reva flats

 
#8: Banana Republic dress | J.Crew featherweight cashmere cardigan in heather algae | Hilary Druxman necklace | Puma flats

Now, if it could only be sunny, blue sky 23C/74F degree weather every day, and if only my allergies would go away so I didn’t want to hibernate inside and go to sleep at 8:30pm, everything would be just perfect.

I look like a superhero!

Anthropologie Oroyo Dress (Eva Franco) | Hilary Druxman necklace | J.Crew Jenna’s Cardigan | Tory Burch Reva flats

I’m going outside 30 for 30 today because I felt like it. And apparently it served me well, because a guy soliciting World Vision donations on the street told me I look like a superhero.  Interesting tactic to get someone to stop and talk to them (I didn’t).  But it’s nice to get a compliment every now and then, even if it’s from a dubious source.

I’m participating in academichic’s annual Dress Your Best Week.  Last year, I struggled to find something I liked about myself, and this year is finding me no less self-critical.  My list of what I like about myself hasn’t changed (hair, boobs, curves, skinny ankles, and muscular calves), and I think this dress highlights some of these good points for me.

Today was a bizarre day for me.  My old department at work underwent a semi-major re-org.  A good friend was let go, and I’m upset for her, although I think it’s for the best.  But more shockingly my old boss was let go.  I don’t know what I’m feeling about that.  Perhaps the word I’m looking for is schadenfreude? No, I won’t let myself stoop to that (my sister suggested I send her an email saying “nyah nyah nyah, I still work here!”, but I won’t).  When I think about it, I owe her a lot: because she let me go, I had six weeks of vacation to detox from that horrible environment, and I was free to accept a job that I actually really really like.  I don’t wish her any specific misfortune, but I can’t say I feel bad for her.  Karma’s definitely a bitch. 

You’re aging well

I’m 33 years young today, but I’m pretty sure I could still pass for 25.  You tell me. :)

No birthday outfit today, because as I predicted, I’m covered in dog hair.  So I’ll save a nice outfit for next weekend when Will and I go out somewhere.

It was a good day though.  Food, family, and a doggie.  My parents came, brought the dog, and an entire roasted duck.

I also celebrated with a dozen gluten-free mini cupcakes from Prairie Girl Bakery in Toronto.

Mini gluten-free chocolate cupcake with vanilla bean frosting.  The vanilla bean frosting is SO good.

A dozen mini cupcakes, minus the one.

Here’s Abby, all tuckered out.  Like me right now.

Catching up (again)

I’m getting really bad at this whole blogging thing.  I’ve been at my job for a month now, you’d think that I would have figured out my routine by now.  Apparently it’s still a work in progress.

Anyway, my 30 for 30 is under way, and here’s a week’s worth of outfits.

#1: Anthro Verdant Slip Dress | Club Monaco cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I used this outfit for Lisa’s personal style feature on her blog.  This is a very “me” look: dress, cardigan, my favourite necklace, heels.  It’s really simple and unfussy, but I don’t think it’s boring.

#2: Anthro Winged Victory Top | J. Crew cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Jacob pencil skirt | Bos & Co heels

I scored this top from Roxy.  Since the Pesisir Top, I’ve been much more interested in structured, corset-type tops.  I love the pleated detail on this, and the silk sash just adds such a nice feminine detail.  It’s a little big though; I may have to tailor it, or at the very least make use of some flash tape so it doesn’t fall down on me.  I also think it works for the office with the cardigan.

#3: Anthro Diamond Lattice Dress | Club  Monaco belt | Gap cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Puma flats

I wore this, but I’m not that keen on it.  I don’t think the black works with it.  Oh well, I don’t mind a mistake every now and then.

#4: Jacob sleeveless top | Gap cardigan | Ayala Bar necklace | Jacob pencil skirt | Feet First floral wedges

I was having a good hair day so I thought it warranted two photos, ha.  I needed to be a little more conservative that day for work, except for the shoes.

#5: Anthro Marine Mural Dress | J.Crew Featherweight cashmere cardigan in Heather Algae | Puma flats

From a good hair day to a terrible one.  My hair was such a mess that my bangs look crooked (I swear they’re not).  No wonder I don’t look impressed.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and my parents are coming to visit.  So they informed me last night.  I love my parents, but it’s not exactly my idea of a good time to be entertaining them on my birthday, especially with no notice (I need time to mentally prepare myself for their company).  On the plus side, they’re bringing the dog.

Anthropologie catalogue: June 2008

Every week I take a look back at past Anthropologie catalogues and what I loved from then.  (Thanks to Natalie for posting all the links.) I used to think that it’s impossible to find these pieces again, but thanks to Roxy’s trade market and eBay, anything is possible.

June 2008 – I think this is one of my favourite catalogues ever.

bobble blossom halter, plateaus and plains cardigan, skysailor wide-legs

lush arroyo dress, s'more striped cardigan

globemallow dress – I love the crisscross neckline and pretty floral skirt.

wear-it-well jumper, burly beads necklace, quiet moments cardigan

everything nice blouse, miroslav skirt, heidi & howdy wedges – I love the quirky print of this skirt.

suspended koi blouse – the fish detail is not really my thing, but I love the shape of this blouse

star turn dress – maybe it’s the model’s red hair, but this reminds of of Moulin Rouge

suspended koi blouse, nocturne wrap – I love the print of the wrap.  I also want red hair.

midsummer top, strings-attached trousers – pants I actually kinda want.

backdrop skirt, find-the-limelight tank, intermission mary-janes – looks like a combination of black ad brown, and it works.  I love the shape and print of the skirt.

sleeping forest dress – love

in-the-wings sheath – love the detail on the neckline.

final act dress – if it weren’t yellow, I’d be all over it.

labyrinthine tee, close-up necklace – sigh, the top that got away.

love-of-the-crowd dress – it’s a crazy print, but I’d try to wear it.

puckered tank, whirligig cowlneck, tumble-jumble scoopneck, hide & seek tee, labyrinthine tee – so many pretty prints floating in the wind…

30 for 30 summer edition

I don’t have to do 30 for 30 again.  I’ve already done it twice, so I’ve proved to myself I can work with a limited number of items and still dress myself reasonably well.  But I love a challenge, and summer clothes are completely different.  Lots of colour and lots of cardigans are planned.

7 dresses:

Top row, l-r: Anthro Diamond Lattice Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Verdant Slip Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Reflecting Pool Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Height of Summer Dreess (Maeve)
Bottom row, l-r: Anthro Marine Dress (Nathalie Lété) | Banana Republic floral babydoll dress | Club Monaco floral dress

3 skirts:

Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt (Edme & Esyllte) | Club Monaco skirt | Jacob pencil skirt

5 tops:

 
Top row, l-r: Anthro Echoing Folds Cowlneck (Bordeaux) | Anthro Pesisir Top (Fei) | Anthro Winged Victory Top (Odille)
Bottom row, l-r: Jacob sleeveless top – brown (circa 2006) | Jacob sleeveless top – black (circa 2006)

9 cardigans:

 

Top row, l-r: Anthro Bette Cardigan (Sparrow) | Anthro Anadyomene Cardigan (Rosie Neira) | Anthro Beribboned Buds Cardigan (Tabitha) | Gap cardigan
Middle row l-r: Club Monaco cardigan | Gap cardigan | J. Crew cardigan
Bottom row, l-r: J.Crew featherweight cashmere cardigan in Dried Blossom | J.Crew featherweight cashmere cardigan in Heather Algae

6 pairs of shoes:

l-r: Feet First floral wedges | Bos & Co heels | Miss Sixty Tracy pumps | Puma Rudolf Dassler Rhythm ballet flats | Tory Burch Reva flats | Rockport wedges

This’ll be fun.  But I’ve also decided to take a casual approach to this challenge.  As Kendi wrote, it’s not about putting together 30 outfits as fast as possible or competing with anyone.  I’m taking this challenge to wear and enjoy what I have in my closet.  If I want to wear something that’s not on this list, I will.  If I want to buy something, I will, as long as I love that thing and I’m not buying it because I feel like I have nothing to wear.  I just want to take these 30 pieces and make 30 outfits, and if it takes me all summer, that’s fine.