I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

I don't know if it's allergies (usually is) or a cold (the coworker in front of me has had one all week), but for whatever reason I have been blowing my nose every ten seconds since 2:30 this morning and it's getting really. old.

In other news, I've been remiss about doing my What I Wore Wednesday posts because, well, I just haven't been feeling that creative, wardrobe-wise. I've officially outgrown every belt I own, and my clothing options are becoming more limited by the week. And outfits that are just a top and the same rotation of work pants don't seem worth photodocumenting.

But here are a few anyway.

Shirt: Old Navy; jeans: Kohl's.

This is from August 25. It's just (maternity jeans) and one of my favorite in-rotation t-shirts (it's striped, but you can't tell in the pictures). It's too small now.

 

Also, this is almost a month ago now and look how huge T-Rex looked then:

But I think it's partially a trick of the shirt, because here I am the very next day:



Shirts: Old Navy; belt: Goodwill; skirt:
consignment; shoes: Target.

I guess I don't have a belly shot. But look how much less pregnant I look in a looser shirt. Or maybe it's the belt. Belts are magical, after all.

 

Also, that's a maternity skirt and it's black with white polka dots and I love it.



I fished this shirt out of the donate pile when I found out I was pregnant. I had decided the babydoll cut was unflattering and made me look pregnant when I wasn't. Now of course, that's the idea:

Shirt: Sears; cami: Old Navy; pants: Kohl's.

I got these brown maternity pants at a consignment sale, and I was so happy to have a third pair to toss into my work outfit rotation. But the band rolls so. badly. that it's pretty uncomfortable. I'm wearing almost this exact same outfit today, and man. Blah.

Shirt: borrowed; cami: Old Navy; pants:
consignment.

Here is an attempt to perk things up by pairing a casual t-shirt with a skirt. I was enjoying the outfit well enough, and then I found those sandals while I was out shopping and yay:

Shirt: Hard Rock Cafe; skirt: Old Navy;
sandals: JC Penney.

Apparently, however, the outfit was not so flattering from the side, heh:





Also, those are platform heels and make me over six feet tall. I tower over the DDH a bit in them. Do not care. Too cute.

 

Anyway. Here's a dress I borrowed from a friend, I think. Classy:



Dress: borrowed; necklace: gift.

I've very much been appreciating dresses lately. I can't wear them to work because it's too cold in the office, but it does help me feel like I'm coordinated and wearing an outfit now that I have so few options:

Dress: Loft; shoes: JC Penney.

Also, heels again, because mama loves them.

 

Here is possibly the most unflattering picture in the history of unflattering pictures. Even the beagle is looking at me and wondering why I thought this pose was a good idea:

Shirt: borrowed; pants: Kohl's;
beagle: Animal Aid.



 This is from Saturday, so pretty recent. My comfortable clothing for our all-day childbirth class:

Sweater: borrowed; cami: Old Navy;
jeans: Kohl's; Labrador: followed us home.

It was pretty comfy, too. Layers are my friend right now.

 

And finally, Sunday's outfit, in which the strappy red super sandals make another appearance:

Dress and sweater-thing: Old Navy;
shoes: JC Penney.

 

Also? Old Navy seriously should be paying me for these posts. Apparently almost everything I own comes from them....

 



Phew! Are you tired of looking of mostly-headless pictures of me? ^_^ What has everyone else been wearing lately?

I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

It's been a few weeks since I did a What I Wore post, so I have a backlog of pictures. But something is messed up on my phone or Picasa or something, because it's not letting me upload more recent pictures. Grr.

Anyway. T-Rex is pretty obvious now (especially considering the most recent of these is from ten days ago!).

Shirts: Old Navy; belt: Goodwill; pants: Kohl's.

 

I'm actually starting to wear fewer belts now because they barely fasten even at my narrowest point. Sigh. But for awhile I was wearing them every day.

 

I love this blue shirt and yesterday noticed that it's starting to look a little...icky...around the armpits. *sob* I need to find a new one, I guess. The color is so cheerful.

 

Shirts: Old Navy; belt: Goodwill;
skirt: Old Navy.

I wore the shirt and belt with the pants above for work and with this miniskirt that evening. Maybe I'm starting to be at the age/life stage where I can't wear miniskirts anymore. But this one is so comfortable. And why not go for it for as long as I can, amirite?

Everything Old Navy.

This is from the last gasp of super summer heat. Knit tank, knit skirt. Cool and comfy all around.

I love that skirt, by the way. It's so soft and comfy. If it had pockets, it would be perfect.

Top: borrowed; pants: Kohl's.

Now for something different! I borrowed some maternity clothes (mostly tops and some dresses) from a friend of mine who had a baby last October. I really like this grey one, as it's cool and comfortable but still looks nice. I'm not really sure what the point is of the strip of fabric hanging down the front (it feels like there ought to be another so you can tie them in a bow or something, but there isn't), but it works, I guess.

Top: borrowed; pants: Kohl's.

Another borrowed maternity top. I do like that purple color, and ruffles are fun. My friend has good taste. I should have her buy my clothes.

Everything Old Navy.

Perhaps this was actually the last gasp of summer heat...the same skirt as above, but a different tank. I have mixed feelings about this tank. I almost got rid of it before I got pregnant, because it's an empire waist and very loose around the belly, which I have finally realized is a terrible look for normal me. But obviously it's quite appropriate for me now. ^_^

Unfortunately, the top part still fits weirdly. I can't figure out if it's too small or too big or what. The line tends to ride up over my boobs instead of under them, but if I loosen the straps they fall off my shoulders. I don't know. I should probably still get rid of it because it ends up being uncomfortable and unflattering.

Top: Gap; belt: Loft (stolen from a dress);
capris: Kohl's.

Purple on purple with my much-worn maternity capri cargo pants. The tie actually goes to a dress I picked up at Loft a couple years ago for less than twenty dollars, but I thought it was cute tied in front like a maternity top.

I wore this outfit to a ladies' lock-in at my church (where yes, I stayed up most of the night and slept a few hours on the floor in a sleeping bag). Purple is the organization's colors, and now that I remember that this outfit exists, I think I may wear it again to our conference next month. ^_^

Dress: borrowed; belt: Target.

I borrowed this dress, as well, and love it. I'm contemplating stealing it forever.

Dress: Old Navy; belt: Target.

Am I the only woman in the world who hates maxi dresses? This is the only one I own. I mean...it's comfortable, but not any more so than any knit dress or skirt, and less so in that it's strapless and has a tendency to...pull down a bit over the course of the wear. And I don't think they're particularly flattering. But maybe that's because I have nice long (if ghostly pale) legs and like showing them off? I just think maxi dresses make people look like tree trunks--all one thick cylinder. Bleh.

I do like that bright blue color though, don't I? ^_^

That's what I've been wearing!

What trends or popular pieces do you dislike or find unflattering, on yourself or everyone?

I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

I got a new phone (a long saga that involves the DDH taking his phone on a float trip, buying a nicer one to replace it, and me getting childishly jealous until he got me one, too), and I think there's a gap between pictures I took on my old phone but never uploaded to the intArwebz, and photos from my new phone.

But! Here's some of what I've been wearing:

Top: Old Navy; necklace: Stein Mart;
skirt: Target.

You can definitely tell the clothing stretches out more than it did when I used to wear this outfit (at one point, the skirt was so loose on me it was practically falling off--no longer!), but tucking in the shirt and cutting my midsection with the line of the skirt does create a slimmer sillhouette.

I suppose I should put in a disclaimer about what I'm doing when I talk about whether things make me look skinny or fat. Obviously I'm not in any way upset about gaining weight right now--that's the whole idea, when you're pregnant. ^_^ I am trying to keep it in a healthy range, but it's certainly not a problem.

Nor, really, am I trying to engage in any sort of fat-shaming in general. I work hard at working out and eating right so that I can feel a certain way, and for my body at this point in my life, that does also mean that I'm usually fairly slim. It helps that I'm tall and have ridiculously long legs--150 pounds looks much different on me than on someone who's 5'5". My goal isn't to be skinny, to in any way insult people who aren't, or to imply that having a certain body type makes you a better person, because it doesn't.

That said, I am genuinely interested in how you can alter your appearance with clothing. It's amazing to me how different I look just because I add or take away a belt, tuck in a shirt or leave it loose, or wear the same piece of clothing in a different size. It's just interesting, and I like to play around with these effects to achieve the looks I want.

Anyway. Onward with clothes!

Top: Goodwill; belt: Target; pants: Kohl's.

Most of my belts no longer go across my waist. I have to wear them around the bottom of my ribcage, right underneath my boobs. But I think they look cute that way! I'm still loving belts in order to pinch in and define some sort of waist, and because I think it looks nicer to break up my increasing bulk with some sort of contrasting accessory.

Plus, I stand by the statement that belts turn clothing into outfits. ^_^

For perspective, here's almost the same outfit from back in May, at about fourteen and a half weeks:

Shirt: Goodwill; belt and pants: Target.



It's a different belt and non-maternity pants, but the same top. Obviously a change!

Top: Loft; belt: Target; skirt: thrifted.

I do like this skirt a lot. Here it is dressed up with a niceish shirt and--of course!--a belt.

Tops: Old Navy; belt: Goodwill; pants: Kohl's.

It is officially too hot for me to wear tanks and shirts layered like this anymore. It makes three layers with the belly panel on the maternity pants and it's just too much. These outfits will be back in the fall though, I'm sure. They're just so cute!

And for reference: The last two pictures are from July 20 (23.5 weeks), the first is from July 22 (just shy of 24 weeks), and the second from July 24 (24 weeks, 1 day). T-Rex seems to have had a growth spurt, but you can also see just what I mean about how much clothes influence how you look.

It's Wednesday, and that's what I've been wearing.

How about you? How do you use clothing to create different effects?

I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

Sorry I haven't actually posted anything since last week's What I Wore Wednesday. It's been crazy 'round here. My boss does finally know I'm pregnant, though! So far no explosions. We'll see.

T-Rex must have had a growth spurt, because I got huge overnight. It's definitely getting to be more of a challenge to dress cutely!

First, a lesson in belting. Here we are above the bump:

Shirt and skirt: Old Navy; belt: Target.

 And here we are across it:

It makes a big difference, no? For a long time I could get away with kind of hiding T-Rex with this trick. At this point, however, 1) few of my belts fit around the baby bump and 2) belting there isn't fooling anyone anymore.

I changed into this skirt after work because it's been so stinking hot. Here's the same shirt and belt with my work pants:

Top: Old Navy; belt: Target; pants: Kohl's.

Have I mentioned yet that my maternity slacks don't have pockets and I HATE IT? Because my maternity slacks don't have pockets and I HATE IT. But they look nice and are comfy. It's sort of like wearing yoga pants to work. I feel a bit of a cheater.

Cami: Old Navy; skirt: Old Navy; belt: Target
(I'm sensing a pattern here); necklace: gift.

I'm trying to decide if the green and tan work with the gray skirt. At the time I decided I didn't care because the skirt has pockets. Now I think I wish I had a khaki skirt that has pockets.

This was a Saturday outfit--cool, comfortable, cute. Way too short a skirt. Oops.

Top: Old Navy; skirt: hand-me-down;
leggings:Target.

I haven't worn skirts to the office in a long time, for the simple and logical reason that it's often sixty-nine degrees in my office. Or less. Leggings are a must, but leggings are tolerable for about two seconds outside in the hundred plus degree heat.

I like this outfit, though. I will have to keep it in mind for the fall.

Okay. Those were still from a couple weeks ago. So to give you an idea of what I meant by "T-Rex had a growth spurt," I present you with these:

Shirt and cami: Old Navy; belt: Target;
pants: Kohl's, necklace: Target?

Hey baby!

This is today. Bam! There he is.

See what I mean about the belts not fitting over the baby bump anymore? It barely fits around my waist above it.

It's Wednesday, and that's what I've been wearing.

How do you dress for the heat? And am I alone in my fascination with belts?

I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

I don't know if everyone can tell yet, but I am really starting to have to change how I dress thanks to the T-Rex belly.

Only my black work pants still fit. These pants must be magical, since they fit when I weighed 180 and they fit when I weighed 150 and they fit now.
 

Top: Target; cami: Old Navy; pants: old old.

I think it's just the angle and the fact that it was a first-thing-in-the-morning slump here, but you can see that I'm definitely, ah, filling out my shirts more than I used to. We went for our ultrasound that day, so I just wanted to keep it simple.

Tops: Old Navy; belt: Goodwill; pants: old.

Saved by the belt! The days where I add a belt make a big difference in how I look. The problem is that a lot of my belts are starting to strain going around my middle....

Blouse: Gap; pants: Target.

Possibly the last day my gray pants still fit. They're in the wash; we'll see how they fit when they come out.

I always feel like this outfit should look better than it does. I bought the blouse because it was different; it seemed grown-up and professional. But it just doesn't fit right. You can't really see the details in this picture, but it ends up looking odd. I hate to give up a piece that I want to love so much, but I may need to do just that.

Shirt and cami: Old Navy; belt: Target;
pants: old.

Again, the belt really helps bring the outfit together. Unfortunately, this belt is elastic under the pretty metal links, and I'm afraid if I keep wearing it I'll stretch out the elastic and ruin it.

So that's what my very-early-stages-of-transitioning-into-maternity-wear wardrobe. At some point I guess I'll have to break down and buy actual maternity pants, but I am working the magic of those two pairs of black slacks for as long as it lasts!

In my off-work hours, I've been wearing a lot of skirts and dresses. I wear those to work sometimes, too, but it's so cold in the office and so hot outside, it's hard to balance the layers. Plus, a lot of times those outfits accentuate the baby bump rather than hide it, and I still haven't told my boss I'm pregnant. I suspect there won't be any hiding it by the time I get back from vacation, though.

It's Wednesday, and that's what I wore. What are y'all wearing this week?

How do you dress for those in-between times when you're not quite one thing or another?

I am dressed (don't ask much more of me)!

This week: Layering, belts, dresses, and a surprise find in the back of my closet.

Tops: Old Navy; belt and pants: Target.

Belts are a continuing theme. I've also been doing a lot of tanks-over-tees. Trying to add some variety to my work outfits (not to mention taking advantage of slimming effects).

Top: gift; skirt: thrifted.

I got the Firefly t-shirt as a Christmas present ("Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"), and though I've weaned myself off most graphic tees, I just can't pass up on Firefly.

The skirt I snagged at the Animal Aid thrift store a few weeks ago because it's loose and floaty (so much fabric!) and casual but fun. I am contemplating living in it this summer. It's not the most flattering thing, but its different and I can wear it while doing gardening and stuff because there's plenty of fabric to keep me from flashing everyone.

I got the t-shirt-with-skirt idea from Megan here; I'm not sure it actually looks good on me (reviewing Megan's photo, I've decided perhaps a belt is the answer), but it sure was cozy. 

Shirt: Loft; belt: Target; pants: old old old.

 Another work outfit. Pretty boring. I do love that belt, though.

Top: Old Navy; skirt: Sears;
necklace: Gordman's?

Sunday outfit. Yes please. I bought this skirt when I worked at Sears before I started my teaching job (skirts required; that's a rant in and of itself. Let's just say that girls and women had to wear skirts no matter how cold it was (and we had multiple ice/snow storms that year), but if it were hot, boys could wear shorts to chapel. Yeah. Very glad I got out of that place). ANYWAY, I love love love it. It's structured yet swingy, a modest-yet-flattering length, and oh. Love.

The shirt is actually small teal and navy stripes, which you can't see in the picture, and is another Old Navy favorite that I don't know how I'll ever replace. I love this outfit because it's trim and neat, with a touch of feminine flare in the skirt, bling in the necklace, and good color. Also, it makes me look skinny.

Dress: Loft.

I forgot to take a picture at home of what I wore to the step-sister-in-law's wedding on Saturday, which is a shame, because I was strutting some dang-girl! heels (these strappy purple beauties). And yes, I danced in them.

However. The dress looks ok; nothing special, but it was comfortable with my mini-baby-bump (my blue dress-for-weddings standby was a touch tight around the middle. and also was stained, ugh). Also: clearance at Loft for twenty bucks. Score.

You can't really see the jewelry I'm wearing because it's small and the necklace chain is very delicate, but it's almost the only "real" jewelry I own, and also the only jewelry the DDH has given me. He gave me the necklace the first Christmas we were dating, the matching earrings for my birthday, and the matching bracelet for...some other holiday. Dating anniversary, maybe? Anyway. Sapphires (blue!), baby diamonds, gold. I do love them, and I wear them to weddings for sentimental more than fashion reasons.

Dress: Old Navy; leggings: Sears.

I think that dress is from Old Navy; it might be Target. It has pockets, so it's one of my go-to party dresses (with leggings). I think it's actually either a girl's dress or a tunic shirt. Or an extra-small or something. Anyway. I like it because it's comfortable and cute (and has pockets), but it shows a lot of boobage. Not that I have much to show, but it's a struggle to keep the dress covering the bra. In the winter I wear it over a shirt, but it was so hot out I went with it plain.

Except it was so cold in the room of the birthday party we went to Friday night that I ended up dressed like this:

Scarf: Target?

Which at least also solved the boobage problem.

Shirts: Old Navy; pants and belt: Target.

Again with the belt-over-tank-over-t-shirt look. But. On some radio show or another this weekend I heard someone say that you couldn't wear brown and gray together. Excuse me? This is one of my favorite outfits. I had to wear it yesterday to prove the radio wrong. Take that.

Necklace: Gordman's; shirt: Old Navy;
skirt: homemade.

So I'm doing a closet purge (more on that later) for two reasons: one, it needed to be done anyway, and two, I need to pack away clothes that already don't fit me and make room for a key maternity piece or two.

Anyway, I made this skirt in the seventh grade. It and the absolutely hideous matching collared blouse are the only articles of clothing I have ever sewn, but I made them all by myself, from picking out a pattern and the cloth to cutting and pinning and sewing and hemming. That is a pleated front skirt with pockets and an elastic back. Fancy, right? Of course, I used someone else's sewing machine and haven't touched one since, so I have this split personality of I can sew/I can't sew thanks to this project.

The truth is, I now think the fabric (it's a tiny teal flower pattern) is sort of ugly, and it's not the most flattering length (though I will point out that I made this for myself in the seventh grade and it still fits. So there). I was about to toss it in the donate/repurpose pile. But it has pockets. And comfy 100% cotton. And a pleated front but an elastic back, which means it might fit me for a good bit of this pregnancy.

So I tried it on. Just to see. And you know, it went pretty well with the gray shirt I was wearing. And hey, I have this silver-and-turquoise necklace that really ties it together. So I wore it the rest of the day. The DDH is not a fan of skirts that hit below the knee (and in his defense, mid-calf really is not a flattering length for me), but he didn't say anything. I wore it to WalMart and no one gave me strange looks (though admittedly, it's WalMart). So it's staying in the closet for at least awhile longer.

It's Wednesday, and that's what I wore. What are y'all wearing this week?

Have you salvaged any surprises from your closet lately?

Linked up with What I Wore Wednesday at the Pleated Poppy.