promises like pie crust: rehab

Showing posts with label rehab. Show all posts

1.2.11

February is the cruellest month

All Februaries are without a doubt, the Worst Months in any given Year. Unpronounceable. Cold. Gray. Barren. A dumping ground for feature films. The month when you have finally used up all the tasty frozen preserves that you slaved over in a burst of super green eco-energy last summer. Now all you have left is freezer-burned hamburger meat, and you couldn't care less. The whole month is like freezer-burned hamburger meat. Put some ketchup on it and choke it down.

From Daily Show comedian Samantha Bee.

I always hated February, but maybe this year will be different. There’s the whole condo thing. There’s the fact I completed my self-imposed no-shop month!

And there’s the 30 for 30 winter challenge. Here’s my first outfit:

Anthropologie Daily Gathering Dress (Bailey 44) | Club Monaco cardigan | Anthropologie necklace | Wolford Satin Opaque tights | Michael Kors patent pumps

Needed some colour to brighten up the first day of February.

I could have continued not shopping in the spirit of the 30 for 30 challenge, but I decided to use some J.Crew gift cards and order some cardigans. That’s all though. After today, I’m going to try to give up shopping for another 30 days.

31.1.11

Here we go again, 30 for 30 winter edition

I’m trying again with the remixing, hoping I’ve learned from last time. I’m making no promises that I’m going to complete the challenge, and I’m definitely making no promises about no shopping, because today is the last day of my own self-imposed no-shopping challenge (yay!).

Here are the 30 (and apologies for the bad photos).

3 dresses:

Anthro Daily Gathering Dress (Baily 44) | Anthro Network Dress (Velvet) | Anthro Oak Apple Dress (Moulinette Soeurs)

Some of these items are repeats from last time, because it was definitely not my goal to pick 30 new items. There are also some doubles in there. But I think I picked items that will remix easily. Actually, I know that they will remix easily, because I’ve already planned out 30 outfits. Yes, I really am that anal.

16.1.11

Blue surrounds me

Since I failed at the no-shop criteria of the 30 for 30 challenge, I decided I would try again to go 30 days without shopping. An entire month. It’s now January 16 by my calendar, so I’m almost halfway there! 16 days without shopping, and without wanting to shop either, which is the weird thing.

And if we want to get all technical about it, I’ve actually gone 20 days without shopping, because the last time I bought something was December 27 when I was post-Christmas shopping with my sister in Boston. But who’s counting??

So the first half of the month has been easy, but I’m itching a little bit to buy. When Feb 1 rolls around, I might indulge in these:

L: J. Crew cashmere crewneck cardigan in hthr tide
R: J. Crew Double-serge pencil skirt in nightfall blue

Not to wear together though, unless I want some bizarre not-quite-matching not-quite-a-suit outfit, but I do love this shade of blue. The cardigan will go with a lot of pieces in my wardrobe, and the skirt is just too cute, especially since I saw it on Kileen. But if I were to be practicing restraint and austerity measures, I would choose the cardigan over the skirt, because I really don’t need any more skirts.

If I weren’t practicing restraint and austerity measures, I would go for these as well:

Anthropologie Irresistable Maxi Dress, Plenty by Tracy Reese (CAD$218, US$178)

I was in Anthropologie with a coworker at lunch on Friday and tried this on. It’s pretty awesome, and I adore the colour, but I’m also not going on a resort vacation any time soon.

Anthropologie Take Action Dress, Girls From Savoy (US$168)

Haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s so cute. Still, it’s not really a “me” dress. If it had a deep V neck and an empire waist, I’d be all over it like a bad suit.

Fantasy shopping is fun. Delaying gratification is out of character for me though. However, nothing will be bought until February 1. I will succeed this time!

6.12.10

Excuses, excuses

So I’ve been remarkably quiet about the no-shopping challenge I set for myself at the beginning of November. Technically, that would have been up as of December 1.

Truth is I didn’t quite make it. I think I lasted about 15 days, which for me was an accomplishment. I hate the fact that I’ve failed again, so I thought about pretending I didn’t. Who would know any different? But I’m a terrible liar. I always have been.

I know it’s no excuse, but I had a terrible month. Things have been stressful with work, possible property ownership, family and health issues… I’m an emotional shopper, so that’s what I do when things aren’t going right. Yes, I definitely have to work on that. I will try a no-shop month again, and one day I will succeed.

So what did I buy?

Echoing Folds Cowlneck by Bordeaux. I bought it because I loved the purple version and I was afraid this one might sell out. It didn’t. I picked it up on sale yesterday and will return the full price one tomorrow (too late for a price adjustment).

Field Skirt by Edme & Esyllte. Also bought because I was afraid it would sell out. But I decided I don’t love it, so I’m returning it too.

That’s it. Not really worth it, was it? Sigh. At least I’m sticking to the 30 for 30.

11.11.10

One, two, three, four, tell me that you love me more

Still remixing. And not shopping. But is it wrong that I want to stop doing the former and start doing the latter?

Outfit 2 of 30 (lousy photo in the bathroom at work):

J. Crew knotted top
Anthropologie Aniseed Skirt by Eva Franco
Wolford tights
Michael Kors heels

Outfit #3 of 30:

Kensie dress
Club Monaco cardigan
Wolford tights (bright pink, but you can’t tell in this crappy photo)
Michael Kors heels

Outfit #4 of 30 (a better photo this time!):

Anthropologie Echoing Folds Cowlneck by Bordeaux
Anthropologie necklace
Club Monaco cardigan
Club Monaco pencil skirt
Wolford tights
Michael Kors heels

So far I’ve worn one cardigan twice and one pair of shoes 3 times. I need to branch out, but damnit if a black cardigan and a pair of black heels doesn’t work with almost everything!

8.11.10

Day 1 challenge, day 8 rehab

I’m smiling in this mirror photo, despite being at work, where smiles are not encouraged.

Anthropologie Volante Tee by Deletta
Anthropologie Glowing Leaf skirt by Floreat
Wolford tights
Miz Mooz heels

This was number one in my 30 for 30 challenge. I’m not convinced by the combination, and I’m afraid the skirt is too long for me.

And it’s been 8 days on my no-shop challenge, and though I was tempted today by a Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier and a pair of Repetto ballet flats, I have not caved.

Now I’m watching Gossip Girl and wondering a) why I’m still watching it, and b) why everyone loves Serena. Blake Lively needs to learn how to enunciate, and Leighton Meester is so much prettier.

7.11.10

30 for 30 challenge

I had already decided that November was going to be a no-shop month, but then Kendi’s 30 for 30 challenge came along and I signed myself up.

In a nutshell, the challenge is to pick 30 items from your closet, including shoes but excluding coats and accessories (tights, jewellery, etc.), and wear them in 30 or more outfits in 30 or more days. No shopping for these 30 days.

My 30 items:

6 Anthro tops

4 non-Anthro tops (J. Crew, Jamees Perse, Club Monaco, Jacob)

4 cardigans (Bailey 44, Mexx, Banana Republic, J. Crew)

6 skirts, 3 Anthro, 3 non-Anthro (Club Monaco x2 and Jacob)

2 pairs of jeans, 2 dresses

3 pairs of heels, 1 pair of boots, 2 pairs of flats

I’m following Kendie in not including coats or accessories, but I’m also not including the Hunter rubber boots I wear in the rain, or the running shoes or lululemon gear that I wear to ~~work out at the gym~~ lie around the house in.

30 items is actually a lot more than I thought. Still, I found myself agonizing over which items to choose, trying to think ahead to what will give me the most versatility over 30 days. That meant a lot of black and grey (16 out of 30 items).

It’ll probably be difficult, but at least it’s not as difficult as 6 items for 30 days. That I could not do.

I think this will be a good challenge for me because I’m terrible at remixing clothes. I buy pieces in outfits and I rarely deviate: top A goes with skirt A and shoe A and never shall shoe B or skirt B enter into the equation. I have to think about more combinations now. So I hesitated about the Oak Apple Dress and the Aniseed Skirt, but I put them in because I just really want to wear them this month, even if I only wear them once.

2.11.10

Happiness is a thick November Anthro catalogue

Nothing like coming home after yet another lousy day at work to a big fat Anthro catalogue. This one is my favourite of the year (definitely some of my favourite photography of the year), but it’s not tempting me to buy anything, just yet. I’m trying a self-imposed no-shop month.

I don’t love the cover; she looks a little evil/possessed. Is the whole vampire look still hot right now? The Karelia Coat is pretty awesome though, even if I couldn’t pull it off.

I love this shot. The Japonica Dress (Coquille), maybe.

Cabled Pathways Pullover by Moth. I wouldn’t actually wear this sweater, but she looks good.

Love the teeny tiny trumpet. I also love the Echoing Folds Cowlneck (Bordeaux) and the Unexplored Pyramids Necklace.

Lighted Walk Dress by Burning Torch. I don’t like the dress. I love this shot.

Gerard Giraffe is US$598.

Lookback Sweater Dress by Sparrow. Simple and elegant.

I really love this look. I would like to own it all, but it would cost me US$630. All Along Knit Jacket by Cartonnnier (US$88), Echoing Folds Cowlneck by Bordeaux (US$48), Scarf Adorned Belt (US$58), Tales of Yesterday Skirt (US$138), Crackling Flames Heels (US$298).

Laced With Grace Dress by Lil. I love me some gigantic scissors.

Why is this Victorian vampire to me? I love the Frozen Globes Necklace, not so much the Pinafore Pullover.

left: that Moulinette Soeurs ~~dress that doesn’t fit anyone properly~~ Lucillae Dress; right: Whipped Woolens Sweater by Birds on a Wire, Leifsdottir Firewing Blouse (which I would love if the colours were a little more vibrant).