Fashion

H&M is totally my jam right now.

There’s a store at the Northgate Mall about 10 minutes from here, which I guess is both a blessing and a curse, haha!

Sometimes I’ll walk in there, and the sudden barrage of stimulation — the loud music, the excess of cheesy faux fur, the wall-to-wall racks all jam-packed — is too just too much for me, and I’ll walk right out. But other times, I’ll walk in and it’s like the budget fashion heavens have opened up, and it’s raining cute clothes. 🙂

That’s what happened when I came across this V-Neck Jersey Top.

First off, it’s only $12.95, which DUUUUUUUDE, is about the same amount as a soup/salad combo with a large iced tea.

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Sometimes when I get dressed I like to pretend that Michael Kors is sitting there in a Project Runway judge’s chair talking mad smack about my wardrobe.

“There are more holes in those pants than one of my blind nana’s knitting projects,” he says, and “you look like an ice cream truck at a Magic: The Gathering convention.”

It stops me from reverting to my natural state, where I dress like a hip-less 13-year-old skater boy, and keeps me on the lookout for cute, affordable fashion finds, like this black-and-white lace peplum top I scored on sale on Anthropologie’s website.

Originally $68, the Deletta Sculpted Lace Top was marked down to $49.95, which is still a lot more than $10 Old Navy shorts (which I’m also wearing), but after reading so many rave reviews about it on the Anthro website, I gave in, figuring that if it didn’t move me, I’d just return it.

Babe, this top does werk! With it on, I feel taller, thinner and — by the gods — stylish.
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You know what they say: “You haven’t truly lived until you’ve worn a pair of mint green shorts with pink flamingos on the butt.”

Uh…I’m sure someone said that, right?

Babe, $10 shorts from Old Navy! I almost did a cartwheel in the store when I stumbled on these last night.

Ah, yes…this is one of those times when I realize just how much I am my mother’s daughter, because of how excited I get about a good sale, which reminds me, I need to call and tell her about this sale!

Before I went down there yesterday, I checked the website and saw that they had shorts on sale for $8-15.

Sweet! I thought, but I wanted to try them on in the store to make sure about the fit and colors.

I’ve purchased stuff online from Old Navy before, and the experience has always been a little hit or miss. The sizing’s inconsistent. I can try on three different pairs of pants in the same size, and each one will fit a little differently. I seem to have better luck in the stores, so nowadays I just brave the chaos (does anyone else get overstimulated at Old Navy?), and try stuff on.

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It’s true, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Working out in cute clothes makes the act of sweating that much more bearable.

This is somewhat of a recent discovery for me, by the way. I used to run in tattered shirts with holes in them and whatever shorts I had on hand (wait, it gets worse, because I’d also have a scrunchie in my hair, haha!), but that changed when I found the Zella Live-In Capris.

Now, I kind of enjoy getting suited up for a workout, and the cuter and more color coordinated the outfit, the better.

I also enjoy shopping for workout clothes… 🙂

When I spied these cute Actra Kendra Running Compression Capris ($35.99) at Lady Footlocker (diggin’ the purple ombre stripes on the side), I decided to step out of my Zella comfort zone and give ’em a whirl.

I love the attention to detail here, like the reflective strip at the bottom and the key pocket, which is zippered to keep your key from falling out.

The Kendra Capri is a compression garment, a type of form-fitting workout pant designed to prevent muscle strain and fatigue, thereby increasing athletic performance, by keeping your muscles warm. They’re also supposed to minimize chafing and rashes by wicking perspiration away from your body.

The deets…

• Mid-rise with a 20″ inseam (side note: these sit a little lower on the waist than the Zella Live-Ins)
• A zippered back pocket
• Non-chafing seams
• Tight compression fit from hip to knee
• EVAPOR® technology wicks sweat away from the skin
• Made from 75% nylon/25% spandex
• Sizes XS, S, M, L and XL
• Available in black with black stripes, black with teal ombre and black with purple ombre
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

And since they’re snug, they help keep your drawers in place!

For me, this is a top priority. 🙂 I can’t stand workout pants that make my underwear shift like tectonic plates. I need to keep those suckers on lockdown! — something the Kendra Capris totally do.

I’ve been wearing these off and on since early June, and I like ’em. I like ’em a lot. I haven’t really noticed a difference in my running performance from the compression (then again, I’m the farthest thing from an elite athlete), but I have noticed that these wick well and really keep me cool.

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I purchased this bra to wear to a funeral.

Wait — stay with me.

I purchased it for the passing of my thirty-seventh year, also known as my birthday.

I was kind of emotional that day, to be completely honest. After taking stock of my life and my accomplishments the past year, I just felt like I should’ve done more, been better, seen more things…

I don’t know… Maybe I shouldn’t have watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi so many times this year.

The day before my bday, I got myself to Nordstrom to look for a pair of birthday shoes (it was during the tail end their semi-annual shoe sale), but for the life of me, I couldn’t find the perfect pair.

Their inventory had already been picked over by early risers and seasoned shopping vultures, and what remained were the leftover, forgotten bones of unwanted heels withering in the wasteland of sad temporary shelving…

Dejected and disappointed, I lumbered over to the lingerie department, hoping to find a cute bra to wear on the first day of my thirty-eighth year, one that would make me feel girlie and special.

That’s when I discovered the $28 Kensie ‘Jamie’ Lace Trim Bralette [INSERT IMAGE OF ME STANDING ON A TABLE AND DOING THE RUNNING MAN]. 🙂

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One really cool thing about getting older is that you start to get a better idea of who you really are — the kinds of things that matter most to you, what lights your fire, gets you angry or makes you happy or sad.

That is, unless you’re one of those lucky devils who knew exactly what you were meant to be/do from the start.

Yeah…that’s not the way it’s been for me. I’ve spent a lot of time falling and getting back up again, but c’est la vie, right? What else ya gonna do?

I guess I’m a late bloomer, but like Tabs always says (okay, not), better late than never! 🙂

One thing I think I have figured out over the years is that I’m not a huge fan of strict rules.

In most cases.

Birthdays are the exception. I do believe that everyone should go big on their birthdays, because birthdays rock, like by going big on a birthday outfit, or by wearing a special occasion nail polish, gloss or perfume.

Something to put an exclamation mark (!) on the day to help yourself feel special.

And BAM! — this year, I began my thirty-eighth year on our planet with cheetahs on my bum.

And I feel pretty good about it, too.

I stumbled on this Jungle Romper a couple weeks ago at my local Anthropologie store. I liked that I could picture Gwen Stefani wearing it while shopping for muumuus and mangoes at a farmers’ market in Hawaii (that’s an invaluable test right there).

More reasons I it…

• It’s easy to dress up or down. I might wear it with a blazer, nude wedges, dainty gold jewelry and a structured satchel when I’m in the mood for fancy. For chill days, maybe a cardigan, or a khaki or denim jacket, beaded flip-flops or sandals, big hoop earrings and a cross-body or messenger bag.
• Pockets. Secret storage, ma! It’s big enough for an iPhone and a handful of cat treats (VERY IMPORTANT).
• Loves to travel. This romper worked out well on my trip to SoCal last month. It held through a long, 16-hour day with barely any wrinkles to show for it and remained comfy the entire time.
• It’s strapping! It also comes with straps…if you want to change the look, although I prefer to wear it strapless because I think it’s easier to get into and out of on bathroom breaks (was that TMI?).

This year my birthday was pretty mellow, which was exactly what I wanted. Brunch at a place up here in Novato called Hilltop 1892, and then cake and ice cream back at the house.

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When I worked as a legal assistant and had to look somewhat presentable, I had a major love affair with Banana Republic.

Then, I joined the world of high-pressure pet assisting, and my sense of style devolved. I went from business casual to surf tees and stretchy pants almost overnight.

I’ve been trying to rectify this over the past year, in part because of a new policy here at work. My manager, Tabs, says that he “will cut” me the next time I come to work wearing tattered clothes, or clothes with crusty, dried bits of food on the sleeves.

And I also don’t want to keep being mistaken for a 13-year-old skater boy from afar.

Whatever, it happens.

So because it still gets a little chilly here late at night, I’ve been looking for lightweight summer sweaters — kind of dressy, but not overly formal — and this Banana Republic Anna Cardigan is doing the trick.

Made from silk, cotton, nylon and a lycra blend, they’re super soft, and not too clingy, so I can comfortably wear a shirt underneath.

The golden buttons are also a nice touch. Fancy and Chanel-ish. 🙂

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