When You're Not Watching

So what do you wear on the weekend?  This is usually my "comfortable" outfit when it's not above 75 degrees, plus it keeps me warm when going into stores where I swear they set the a/c to about 65 degrees.  Not being a cold weather person the light long sleeve shirts from Gap are my favorite for many reasons.  They layer extremely well, are not bulky and are super soft and comfortable.  I own them in black, white and grey and proceed to stock up on them when they go on sale from $20 to $12 .  I also live in these Reef flip flops during the summer and take them to the gym in the winter because well, they're just glittery.  Is there anything you have multiples of that you can't do without?  I'd love to know what they are.

Shirt: Gap Pure Body Tee here $19

Shorts: Abercrombie & Fitch many years ago

Sparkle: Reef Stargazer Flip Flops here $26

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Albertine/S here $60 via NR

Earrings: Nordstrom Rack $14

For the love of shoes

Kimchi Blue Lovely Leaves Sandal $20

Lets talk about comfort.  Shoes love them or hate them are an essential for everyday wear, unless of course you are Cody Lundin from Dual Survival.  Even Pilates and Yoga teachers need shoes to get to class, so why not love what your wearing and feel comfortable in them?  I used to compromise on fit to accommodate my love for the style.  The outcome as you can imagine was not always beneficial to my tootsies.  Your feet should be happy so they will serve you well over your life.  This means choosing shoes that you can walk in for miles and not cringe when you take them off at the end of the day.  

A few pointers for shoe shopping:

• Quality is key.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen friends buy a poorly made shoe because it was cute and cheap, but it hurt their feet.  You can still buy more expensive brands of shoes at a discounted price if you have the patience to (gasp!) wait for them to go on sale or frequent the discounted mainline stores like Nordstrom Rack, Saks 5th Ave Off 5th or Neiman Marcus Last Call.

Christian Dior via Neiman Marcus Last Call $540 on sale,  originally $1200.

• Comfort.  Trying shoes on in the store or at home after secretly ordering them online and hoping no one sees the package arrive and calls you a shoe addict, is the first test of a shoe.  The second is how the shoe feels the moment you put it on.  Do you notice any uncomfortable spots that rub when you walk in the shoes?  If so put them back!  If you love the shoe, but you have a high arch or need more support in areas you can always add some Dr. Scholl's inserts which make world of difference.

Nude comes in all shades

• Functionality.  Unless you are buying shoes for a specific event & outfit look for shoes that will be versatile in your wardrobe.  Three main colors to have which will match most items in your closet are black, brown and a nude made for your skin tone.  Nude means matching the skin tone you have to the shoe.  Eveyone is a different shade of nude so it may take a little legwork to find your match, but it's worth it.

Esprit

Esprit

I really love this shirt for two reasons.  One, it's so light air just moves right through it, so even though it's a long sleeve it feels like a lightweight tank.  Two, it's made by Esprit, my favorite clothing company from the 80's that unfortunately no longer has a U.S. presence, as of April of this year.  You can however buy all you want off their online site if you live in the UK or pretty much any other continent except North America:(  I think this warrants a trip to see my sister in London, no?!  

• Top: Esprit
• Jeans: Guess Starlet Noisy Wash
• Bracelets: Vintage/J. Crew
• Sparkle: Marco Santi Rhinestone Sandals
• Nails: OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous

Circus Pants & New Camera

Top: J. Crew Stretch Three-Quarter Shirt $30, here

Jeans: Urban Outfitters on sale $10

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini Kareeza $30

Necklace: long time ago find

Bracelets: Target $10

Hello Kitty Watch: Gift

Flood

• Top: Thrifted Nannette Leopore
• Jeans: Guess Starlet Noisy Wash
• Headband as Necklace: UO
• Pearl Necklace: Handmade
• Horse Boots: Chooka 

On Fire!

It's been a slightly crazy week.  To start off, the state of Colorado was on fire everywhere & we ended up preparing to evacuate last Tuesday.  Three big bins full of shoes and one of clothes I couldn't live without were packed.  Shoes and puppies first of course when evacuating.  Luckily, as it turns out we didn't have to evacuate, but it was a good lesson in determining which items in my closet I value most and what I don't use as often.  I decided once we unpacked to either ebay or consign some things that didn't make it into the must go bins.  You'll find this also happens when your half way through packing to move to a new place.  You just start throwing stuff into the "there is no way I am packing this in a box and moving it to the next location" box.

On a side note,  my camera completely died.  When I say died I mean keeled over and refused to open when I asked it to.  So I am in the process of finding a new camera that has everything I want in it.  No small task really I tell you.  In the mean time I have a few pictures I haven't gotten around to posting, so I will and hopefully for my sake and your I'll have a new camera soon.