Day 22

I'm beginning to bore myself. I have miles (or 25 days) to go in this Lenten fast of mine and I'm doing my level best not to wear all my interesting clothes at once.  To that end, it was a basic outfit today, what I lovingly refer to (in my head) as Judy Garland in a Star is Born-- cropped black trousers, an oxford cloth and loafers. To add a little flair I wore my gold glitter tuxedo slippers along with Nanny's Barbados pearls and Poppy's Persian turquoise earrings.

In other news, I once again broke my Lenten shopping fast and purchased a new blush. In my defense (really, though, defense? Jesus died for your sins and you can't make do or do without for 40 effing days? Some Catholic you are!) I've managed to "put my face on" every day since 12 Feb. This is a record for me. Turns out you can bring your make up with you in little bag and put it on at the office. Who knew? I've only been working since September of 2002. For some reason I thought if you didn't put your make up on before you left the house in the morning it didn't count. I was wrong. Anyway, wearing make up so consistently brought to light the fact that my blush was sub-par. Decidedly so. Enter a new cream blush. I know you're all riveted to the scintillating details of my toilette and I promise to let you know whether this $15 purchase was worth my mortal soul. One hopes. Paris vaut bien une messe mais j'espere le maquille vaut bien mon ame!

PS- 2 miles tonight. That's 7 en toto. 31 to go!

Day 21

3 weeks baby!

Today I wore my turquoise Jules dress (which my aged employer pronounces tour-quoi-z like my dear friend Laura rather than turk-oy-z like I do) with my floral print heels (5'10" in those kicks, baby!) and my orange sunburst ring. Pearls as well, natch.

On the plus side, I have another event which requires a specific (staid) style of dress AND it turns out that I have slimmed down enough to wear my short sleeved black wool Tahari dress. Woot woot!

Also, 2 miles tonight!

Days 18, 19 and 20

My boss, or as I like to refer to him, my aged employer, and I have a delightful relationship. Not unlike, I sometimes think, Jeeves and Wooster. Sadly for me (and perhaps my career) I am often cast in the role of Wooster! On Friday the old a.e. was decidedly unimpressed with my half-tucked shirt. Wouldn't let it alone.
This morning, as if to prove his point, he came out of his office with his shirt half tucked. Point, set, match to the gentleman from Ealing. I suppose the sexagenarian knows what Jenna Lyons doesn't.


Onward!
Le Weekend-- someone went a little crazy on Friday night (the Oyster Bar- how can one not?) and thus was a tade fragile Saturday. Suffice it to say it was a change from pajamas into clean pajamas sort of weekend.

Day 20
Black cropped trousers
gold ballet flats
oversized man's shirt

Yes- it's a cop out outfit but it was Monday and I'm not my best on Mondays. I hit my stride later in the week.

Speaking of hitting my stride. I MUST start running. For those of you playing along at home, I've run exactly 3 miles. Today is the 4th of March, Easter is the 31st. I have just about 25 days to run 37 miles. Really that's about 30 minutes every other day between now and then. I suppose I'll have to get my rear in gear even if my bed is toasty and warm tomorrow morning.

Days 15, 16 and 17

Wednesday was again the black dress and riding boots. Black tights, too. What can I say? It works. 

Thursday was bright blue cropped trousers, gold glitter flats, orange patent leather belt and a white oxford cloth. Outfit would have worked better with broadcloth. Such is life.

Friday and it's red gingham shirt, Jcrew jeans and the Zara boots. Pearls and that's it. 

This weekend we're off to the beach and then to Billyburg for hipster birthday brunch!

Days 11, 12, 13 and 14

I grow old, I grow old
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled

Sorry. Cheap quote but I did indeed wear the bottom of my trousers rolled. Not only that but, oy this task is growing old. The hardest part is not wearing something different (plenty of clothes to go around) but rather finding clothes to wear for specific events. As previously mentioned I have several events that require staid, conservative clothing and I have exactly 2 outfits that fit said staid and conservative bill. I'm varying my accessories but I'm beginning to bore myself.

Right-o

Day 11
Lazy Saturday-- I was on the couch and spent the day in sweats

Day 12
Oscars! Oscars and cooking in Brooklyn. Jeans, topsiders, orange and white scoop neck 3/4 length t-shirt.

Day 13
Day after the Oscars! Oof! Not my best moment-- cropped black trousers and an over-sized dress Stewart tartan shirt

Day 14
J.Crew Jules dress in the Fan print worn with nude hose fuchsia suede heels.

Tomorrow is Day 15 and I'll have to wear the plain black dress again. Not sure if I'll go with boots and tights  or heels and hose. Stay tuned sports fans, the results are sure to be scintillating!

On the running note: this weekend got away from me. Plan is to do 3 miles tomorrow (are you laughing? I am).

Day 10

It's Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday

Banner day here in the city that never sleeps.

Ran 3 miles this morning. 3 10 minute miles, that is. In my defense, this is the first time I've run since June 21 so I'm not complaining. Last night I did the 100 work out (100 jumping jacks, 90 crunches, 80 squats, 70 leg lifts and 60 pushups, then repeat at 50, 40, 30, 20, 10). Now I can have been tonight without too much guilt.

Today's outfit-
J.Crew jeans (light wash)
White oxford cloth
Nanny's Barbados pearls
Turquoise earrings (the ones that look like Poppy's Iranian turquoise)
Signet and black pearl rings
C. Wonder gold bamboo bangle
Coach Cuban heel boots

So- 10 days of different outfits; 3 miles down, 37 to go!

Day 9

This morning started off with a short round of dress up. It's February, that's what it is. Without fail February makes me want to pull out my spring wardrobe. It's 24 degrees out with snow in the forecast but the extra sun light in the morning and evening (light until 5:45! what what!) makes me think it should be 65. Anyway, I spent 15 minutes trying on clothes appropriate for April and quickly returned to my senses.

Today:

Neon pink silk camp shirt 

black cropped trousers

black riding boots

gold belt

gold hoops

enormous lucite ring (pro tip: this is the ring everyone think is Alexis Bittar. It's H&M. I will never buy)

pearl bracelet with sparkly clasp

I bought the neon shirt this autumn at Old Navy and this is the first time I've worn it. It's great and I can see it coming into full wardrobe rotation. Part of the reason I can't get behind the whole: "if you haven't worn it in 6 months, toss it"mentality is that there are plenty of things I haven't worn in 6 months but will wear the snot out of in another 3. Sometimes things go unworn because I've gained or lost weight, sometimes they go unworn because I'm in an environment that calls for different clothes (see also my 2 suits) and sometimes because I'm just too darn lazy to pull the whole outfit together and cropped trousers with a man's shirt and ballet flats is easy and looks nice (see also this entire project). 

Personally, I follow the William Morris theory of clothing: have nothing that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. Does it pull? Is it unflattering? Out it goes! Are there holes in it? Gone! Too big, purchased while I felt not unlike Fudgie the Whale? Dunzo! I cull and toss with the ruthlessness of well, I don't know (here's where I want to make a comment about vikings or cossacks, that's because I have a wrong sense of humor, so I won't). 

One caveat: I am extremely preppy. I wear Pendleton trousers my grandmother during the Kennedy administration and a fisherman's sweater that my grandfather bought while Lord Mountbatten was still vacationing at Sligo. Clothes purchased my first year of college still hang in my closet and get worn. So, yeah, are there two pairs of trousers I bought last spring and and haven't worn? Yup. Sue me. They'll get worn, I'll be complemented on them and told how nice I look. It just may be in 2015.