21 & 22 of 30

Still playing catch-up a bit. Below are the outfits I wore Monday and today. The majority of Monday was spent driving home. Five hours. In the rain. The entire time. Needless to say, I did not look nor feel up to taking outfit photos when I got home, so I recreated it today for your viewing pleasure.

Day 21 (Driving Home)

Yellow Cardi - Loft
Stripe Tee - J.Crew
Skinny Jeans - James
Boots - Frye
Necklace - Dillards

I realized that I hadn't taken any of my photos with my glasses on. This is a bit of a misrepresentation of myself, because I almost always wear glasses. There is a stereotype about architects that they always wear black and have weird glasses. This is a stereotype that happens to be completely true. I can pick out architects in any city I visit just based on their apparel and eye wear.

For the most part, I've managed to not reinforce the stereotype. Even though architecture school gives you many things to mourn (loss of free time, loss of sanity), I never went completely black with my outfits. I do own lots of black clothing, but I try to pair it with color or print. Try as I might to break the mold, I could not pass up the "architectural" glasses. My friends and I joke that there is a special case of glasses that they pull out if you show them your AIA (American Institute of Architects) card. All joking aside, the glasses do serve a purpose. We've all spent entirely too many hours staring at a computer screen and our eye sight is shot.

Day 22 (Teaching Non-Western Architecture)

Blazer - Banana Republic
Honeycomb Blouse - Banana Republic (via consignment)
Black Skirt - Banana Republic
Boots - Vintage
Glasses - Kate Spade
Necklace - Vintage

Today before class, one of my students asked where I shopped. I guess I'm still dressing stylishly even 22 days in.

19 & 20 of 30 - Playing Catch-up

The last few days I've had spotty internet availability, so I'm playing catch-up today. The two outfits you see below are what I wore Saturday and Sunday.

I've had these red tights for a while, but haven't been able to summon up the courage to wear them. I was afraid that I would come off too Christmasy. I wore them on Saturday to watch our team's football game on TV. It was rather appropriate because our team color is red. They must have been good luck, because we won. Go Hogs!

Day 19 (Watching the big game)

Stripe Tee - J.Crew
Polka Dot Skirt - Thrifted
Necklace - Vintage (From Grandma)
Belt and Tights - Target
Flats - Banana Republic

In case you were wondering, yes I do appear to have an abstract painting going straight through my head. My boyfriend (the artist) has been taking my pictures the last couple of days. Thanks for the art direction, hon.

Day 20 (Hanging Out)

Stripe Cardi - Old Navy
Ruffle Shell - Anthro
Black Legging Jeans - Gap
Boots - Vintage
Belt - Vintage (Etsy)

17 & 18 of 30

Look! A new venue. My dad actually took these pictures since I was home for Thanksgiving. This necklace is one of my favorites. I've been saving it as a secret weapon. Is there anything you are holding back just to give the last half a boost?

Day 17 (Thanksgiving Dinner #2)

Stripe Shirt - J.Crew
Yellow Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted
Boots - Vintage
Necklace - Dillards
Belt - Vintage
Tights - Old Navy



I didn't participate in the Black Friday festivities. It wasn't even a temptation for me. We hardly ever go out on Black Friday and when we do it's like 2:00 PM. Why you may ask? A) I value my sleep. B) I hate the cold. C) I hate crowds. We're talking about the family that left Times Square on New Years Eve, because we couldn't stand the crowd.

Day 18 (Driving 5 hours to my Boyfriend's house)

Red Cardi - Banana Republic
Navy Ruffle Tank - Gap
Skinny Jeans - James (Finally)
Boots - Vintage
Sunglasses - Vintage
Necklace - Vintage (From Grandma)
Belt - Thrifted

Yes, I always like to match my outfit with my car when driving long distances.

16 of 30 - Turkey Time

Okay, so this isn't really day 16. It's my second outfit for day 15, but I'm behind, so I'm counting it. I changed after my big meeting into something a little more comfortable for driving to my parents house for Thanksgiving Dinner #1. This is the first time my $0.50 polka dot skirt has made an appearance, but you will see it again.

Day 15 (Outfit 16): Going Home

Chambray Shirt - Gap
Polka Dot Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted
Necklace - Charlotte Russe
Belt - Target
Bracelet - Vintage
Boots - Vintage

Week 2 Wrap Up

Okay so these are not exactly weekly roundups. Being sick put me behind a few days and 8 photos fit better in my layout than 7, so you're getting a wrap-up on Wednesday.

What I've Learned (Week 2):

1. I can do multiple poses. New locations coming next week.
2. I should have picked a different style pant. I love my James jeans from Anthropologie and wear them all the time in real life, but they have yet to make an appearance in the 30 for 30. Let's face it. All outfits with skinny jeans look more or less a like. I could have multiply my outfit options by instead including a pair of trousers.
3. I could still use another cardigan. I'd like another causal topper option because the blazers are nice for work, but not necessarily for chilling.
4. I am going to do a major purge after this is over.
5. I'm overwhelmed by the possibility of having my entire closet at my disposal when the 30 days are up. I may just introduce a few pieces at a time.

Anyone else have any mid-way revelations?

15 of 30 - Half Way

Today I had a meeting with an executive board about a project that I've had a part in for the last year. In planning my outfit, I started out pretty conservatively. I was going to wear my grey blazer and black skirt, maybe one of the colored shells, then I thought, heck, this is boring and it's not me. So instead I choose to wear yellow! and print! and the black skirt. So what if all my colleagues were in black and tan. This is me. I enjoy color. Why shouldn't I wear what I want (within reason)? So I did. And maybe I brightened some old guy's day in the process.

Day 15: (Big Meeting)

Cardi - Loft
Shell - Anthro
Skirt - Banana
Necklace - Banana
Belt - ?
Heels - Gianni Bini

14 of 30 - Back with a Vengeance

Today I'm really back fashion-wise. The last two days were "fillers" so to speak.

Lately, I've been thinking about how the way you dress effects the way people perceive you. I feel like sometimes if you dress too fashiony (at least in my area and profession) then you aren't taken as seriously. Like you can't be fashionable and academic at the same time.

There are certain items/outfits that I won't wear to teach, because they're not serious enough? Not professorial? I'm not quite sure, but I do have a fear of looking too young. I teach a class of 18 year-olds and am often mistaken for a student myself, even though I am in my late-20s. I guess my main goal when dressing for work is to seem older and more credible. Therefore, I tend to avoid trendy items that might make me look younger. I pass on cute outfits that might mess with my "professional image". Oh well, I guess that is what the weekends are for.

Day 14: Teaching (Non-Western Architecture)

Dress - Banana Republic
Blouse - Tucker for Target
Locket - Vintage (with random children inside)
Belt - ?
Bracelet - Vintage
Heels - Gianni Bini

12 & 13 of 30 - I'm back!

Though not 100%, I am back to the land of the living. Below is a recreation of the outfit I wore to the doctor on Friday. I did not accessorize or even wear makeup that day. I somehow feel that your appearance should look as bad as you feel when going to the doctor. My twisted mind thinks that if you make the effort on your appearance, the doctor will somehow think that you're not really sick, as in, "If she feels well enough to put on makeup and pick out a necklace, then maybe she really isn't that sick." I know this is just me being paranoid and probably no doctors think this way, but oh well.

Day 12: Went to the doctor (boo)

Chambray Shirt - Gap
Black Legging Jeans - Gap
Black Flats - Banana Republic

Day 13: Working on my lecture for tomorrow

Stripe Shirt - J.Crew
Skinny Jeans - Banana Republic
Black Flats - Banana Republic
Pendant - Vintage
Bracelet - From Mexico

? of 30 - Short Hiatus

I have developed some sort of seasonal cold, so I'll be out of commission for a few days. Trust me, my pajamas are not very blog-worthy. I'll try to be back on schedule by Monday. Have a good weekend everybody.

11 of 30 - Looking Pretty Good, Feeling Pretty Crummy

I may look put together in this picture, but I'm currently in my jammies and I'm about to take a nap.

Day 11: Teaching (Non-Western Architecture)

Dress - LC Lauren Conrad (Kohl's)
Navy Blazer - Gap
Bead Necklace - Banana Republic
Bracelet - Vintage
Heels - Gianni Bini