dotty and the soup scarf

[wearing]
dress: c/fan (similar)
cardigan: old navy (similar)
scarf: forever21 (similar)
headband: forever21 (similar)
tights: simply vera (exactly)
boots: vintage (similar)




[previously on] ochre scarf
i adore this shade of pea-soupy/dark mustard/yellow-green and i used to have tights that were a slightly greener hue, but they are no longer with us.  they did have a good run though.
anyway, i am SUPER excited about being able to wear scarves everyday again, so that i can return to my uniform.




and apparently i will look anywhere BUT at the camera.  

dash of the rock

as soon as i recovered from a few too many 30rock episodes and stopped saying this constantly, my boss started saying it ALL THE TIME.  

dotty, vested

[wearing]
trench vest: forever21 (exactly)
stripes: forever21 (similar)
pants: j.crew (exactly)
flats: cole haan (similar)

+
while i have never stuck around anywhere to get any vesting percentage on my retirement, i did recently acquire a trench vest.  it's like a trench coat with all the style and none of the practicality of being an actual coat.

dotty and sockfords

[wearing]
moto: forever21
tie-neck blouse: thriftastic, bought during my polyester-things-with-bows phase
tube: forever21 (similar)
socks: target (similar)
oxfords: old navy (exactly)
arm gathering (not quite a party yet): forever21, thrifted, c/o inpink


+
i had a shmergency (a shoe emergency) last week when these suckers decided to cut my toes.  luckily, i walk past oodles of chain retailers on my way to the train from work, so i stopped in to fix the problem.  i was going to just buy a pair of rubber flops, but decided to spend six times as much and get some shoes i could actually wear to work.  my co-workers might go to meetings in flops, but i'm not that flippant.  






so trashy.  it makes the alley more authentic.  

dotty gets talky

ok, blog. we need to have a little talk. over the course of the last two months i have bought nine pairs of shoes.  that is EIGHTEEN shoes.  this is way more new shoes than any dotty needs to acquire.  granted, i have all sorts of excuses for this: 
i started a new job! 
i didn't buy any work shoes while i was in grad school! 
i walk a bajillion times more now that i live in the city! 
all my flats were worn out or pinchy!  
i have no gray shoes!  
those purple patent shoes i used to wear all the time are silly!  
(see, i am super good at justifying over-buying.)

the point is that this mountain of shoes was accompianied by a mountain of new clothes. some of which are things that i really like and others i'm not even that crazy about. and then while sorting through my winter clothes last weekend i realized that i had amassed quite a collection of thrifted wool things while i was in grad school. and although i didn't spend very much money on these purchases, they were taking up a lot of closet space (and mental space). it became obvious that there was a problem.

now that i am over my excitement about returning to be the land of paychecks, i have decided (with the help of my very wise mother) to set a limit on how many pieces i buy each month. there will be a budget involved too, but the quantity is a much bigger challenge for me. so, instead of buying oodles of cheap things, i'm limited it to TWO pieces of clothing/shoes and one accessory per month. the idea is that i will consider my purchases more carefully and end up with a closet of pieces that i adore. my closet will always shifting to adjust to seasons, whims, and acquisitions; but i want to be more intentional about what gets through the door. 

so why is this important to the blog? well, um, it's a blog about what i wear. and because of this, it becomes partially a blog about shopping. i've read this complaint many times before: that blogging about clothes leads to an increase in shopping for clothes and following trends. i list where i buy things, which is, unintentionally, an encouragement to buy the same things. more importantly, (but perhaps less obvious) my blog is about remixing. i would like it to focus even more on how to combine the clothes that you already have into more and/or better combinations. (click on the "remixes" button over on my sidebar to see all my "previously on" posts that feature how i've worn a piece multiple times.)

phew! this is definitely my wordiest post ever, but i hope that it helps explain my intentions and such. 

dotty and a background bum

[wearing]
top: forever21 (similar)
skirt: the limited (similar)
boots: old navy (similar)
bracelets: c/o inpink, forever21 (exactly)
necklace: me-made


+
there was a bum digging through trash cans in the alley, so i took my photos quickity-quick before he got to the trash can that my camera was on.  you can even see him in the dot photo in the back on the left.








[previously on] marled gray shirt

winter 2011, spring 2011 (x2), and summer 2011.

dotty and orange bows

[wearing]

jacket: forever21 (similar)

dress: tucker for target

flats: silvia tcherassi for payless (similar)

giant watch: forever21

+
these shoes are odd ones, for sure.   i want to cut the ribbons shorter so that the don't wrap around my ankles, but rather just tie in the back.  i thought i'd give the excess length a shot first though. 

dotty after the rain

[wearing]
leather: michael kors (similar)
dress: c/fan (similar)
shoes: tom's (exactly)
bag: banana republic (similar)
bun: put in a sock in it 


+
the boy said that this looked a bit aloof-art-student.  and i am all for it.  it was perfect for rainy day errand-running.  we seem to always be in need of some sort of connector cable or wall anchor type that we don't already have.  

dash of organization

hi.  

earlier this week, my remixability was featured over on the go chic or go home blog, so it's probably as good a time as any to tell you about my new-found interetsy friend and blog sponsor.  while my suburban days of giant walk-in closets are over, my new virtual closet is always super organized and tidy.  it's even arranged by color AND type AND season AND style, something i never managed to figure out how to do with hanging rods and shelves.  

(mah jewelz)

the site also allows you make ensembles from items in your closet, so you can plan outfits ahead of time without emptying out your dresser onto your bed.  (i may or may not do this a whole lot.)  

(an ensemble i put together to figure out what to wear with my purple pants the other day)

so, if you've ever wondered how many gray skirts i have in my closet right now (five) or have a similar fondness for organization, leave a comment below and i can setup a meet and greet.  or just an invitation.  no one will offer you champagne.  sorry about that.  

p.s.

oh, and one more thing.  yes mom, i know that i still have a mountain of (not just) winter clothes at home that aren't just going to donate themselves.  

dotty and a dress shirt

[wearing]
dress shirt: ny&co circa 2006 (similar)
pencil skirt: banana republic (almost exactly)
heels: target (exactly)
shiny belt: old navy (similar)
headband: forever21 (similar)


+
when i started my first post-college job i thought that solid color dress shirts were the key to business casual. so, i stocked up. and wore them.  everyday, untucked, with flared dress pants to work. now i shudder at the thought of this. only two shirts from this era still exist in my closet and this is one of them. i really like the color and figured that someday it would come in handy. i think i am finally at the point where i can incorporate such a basic into my wardrobe without it feeling like someone else's style. so, take that, 2006. i have reclaimed cuffs and collars.








[previously on] banana republic pocketed pencil skirt
this sucker made weekly appearances last summer in vegas.

dash of greetings

the combination of topshop opening eight blocks away from us and netflix suggesting a steady stream of suspenseful british dramas makes me want to call everyone "love."  this might get awkward at work.

dash of purple

[wearing]
purple: forever21 (similar)
striped cardigan: old navy (similar)
print blouse underneath: thrifted
silver belt: old navy (similar)
wedges: mrkt (exactly)
watch: forever21 (similar)
lisa simpson bracelet: c/o inpink (exactly)


+
it's everybody everywear colored pants day and i dug out my lone pair of technicolor jeans for the occasion.  i've been shifting more towards neutrals lately, so pinterest came in handy for figuring out what to wear with punchy pants. anybody else in on this round of themed outfits?  yes?  

dotty, urban hipster in training

[wearing]
cardigan: forever21 (similar)
scarf: vintage
jeans: bdg (similar)
shoes: tom's (exactly)
sunnies: ray-ban (similar)


[toting]
bag: deena and ozzy (similar)
helmet: nutcase 
bicycle: linus via j.c.lind


+
i wore this to bike over to see a potential loft space for the boy's art collective and go bowling with a bunch of designers.  no joke.  i am well on my way to being a pretty serious urban hipster.  we'd have to switch neighborhoods, get fixies, wear slouchy beanies, give up our beloved cheeses (to be vegans)...okay, so maybe it won't happen.  i really like me some mahon.











p.s. i wear my helmet at all times.  i haven't ridden a bike seriously since i was about twelve (bicycles built for two and/or in foreign countries and/or on islands with no cars don't count) and i'm a fraidy-cat, so i don't joke about safety.  

dotty and lucy

[wearing]
super soft stripes: forever21 (exactly)
jeans: citizens of humanity (exactly)
sneaks: tom's (exactly)


+
my four-wheel to two-wheel transition is complete.  meet my new lady friend, lucy.  she's a linus mixte 3 and the prettiest bike i came across on my bike shop tour.  

oh, and apparently i dress like a boy to go on bike rides. 








her overnight home--spot number nine.

dotty and bicycles

[wearing]

chambray: gap

shorts: old navy (similar)

sneaks: converse (exactly)

big bag: banana republic (similar)

hat: h&m

+

a few rarely seen things on the blog:

1. chucks.  perfect for test riding bicycles.

2. my giant bag.  it travels with me everyday, but is a bit camera-shy.

3. this hat.  because it's new-ish.

[previously on] chambray shirt
summer 2010 in vegas, and two from winter 2011.