when?
April 25, 2011
wear?
cardigan, tank and skirt: Ann Taylor
shoes: Banana Republic
It is very rare these days that I go into a store and purchase and entire outfit, unless it is a dress. I hadn’t intended to do this when I went into Ann Taylor last week, I was just lured in by the 40% off everything sign in the window. While I can obviously wear all of these pieces with other things, as I did with the cardigan just a few days ago, they look pretty awesome together too.
I also love that in the first two photos you can see my lovely photographer, Shawn in the reflection of the window. It’s pretty great to have a partner that is willing to indulge me in photo taking most days.
when?
April 23, 2011
wear?
cardigan: Old Navy
tank: Gap
belt: Rodarte for Target
pants: J Crew Matchstick
shoes: Me Too Nyle
So I love these shoes more than any other shoes I own. Sure I have other much more interesting pairs. And I have pairs that are more flattering. But these are the most comfortable simple black flats I have every owned. I bought them about 2 years ago at Rack Room Shoes and knew instantly they would be well loved and worn. About a year ago I knew they were getting a bit worn out looking but I didn’t mind. In the past month I knew they needed to be retired very soon. I have scoured stores and the internet for a replacement pair, but could never find one until this week. I finally found them in my size and in black and for a very affordable price. I purchased 2 pairs. I know it’s totally crazy to buy 2 identical pairs of shoes, especially when I currently own a pair, but I love them that much and know they have been discontinued. I figure these new pairs will buy me about 3 more years of wear and then I will have to find a completely new style. I won’t think about that right now, I will just be happy to have my trusty flats.
when?
April 22, 2011
wear?
cardigan: Target
tank: Target
skirt: Anthropologie Scalloped Dots Skirt
tights: Unknown
boots: Hunter
belt: J Crew
I said I was happy about getting to wear my new rainboots and I sure have gotten use out of them!
when?
April 16, 2011
wear?
cardigan: Ann Taylor
tank: Target
pants: Joe’s Visionaire via Anthropologie
boots: Hunter
A very rainy day but I have my new neon yellow cardigan to cheer me up! I actually had a great night going to see Scream 4 (which was awful) with a literal vanful of my friends. I am not a huge movie person, and certainly not a horror movie fan, but sometimes seeing those movies with a big group can be fun. Before the movie, and after my coffee, we had dinner at home with some of the group. We had a fairly serious debate about the difference between “snacks” and “heavy hors d’oeuvres”. Some said they were the same thing, but I say there is a huge difference, with heavy hors d’oeuvres being able to stand in for dinner (as they did) and snacks being, well, just a snack.
when?
April 14, 2011
wear?
sweater: Anthropologie Field Game Cardigan
skirt: Old Navy (shortened)
tank: Target
boots: Target
Thanks to everyone who read my last post and wrote such nice, supportive messages! It really meant a lot to me. It’s been a bit of a busy week so I haven’t been able to follow up that post, but I did go to Madison, WI to speak at the University of Wisconsin and had a great time talking to students there. It was the first school in the hundreds of schools we have visited that offered us a beer before we went on stage. We had just stopped by a Peet’s Coffee and Tea and were happy with those drinks but I appreciated the hospitality!
when?
April 15, 2011
wear?
dress: Anthropologie Mullany Dress
shoes: Steve Madden
It’s my 1 year blog anniversary! Actually it was a few days before this but I missed my own anniversary, I guess I’m not very good at these kinds of things. I surprised myself at how excited I felt at having stuck at this for a whole year. When I started I didn’t have much of a plan, just an idea to document my outifts, like so many other inspiring bloggers, but to add my daily coffee outing to the mix. It has been a fun process overall and pushed me to care even more about how I present myself to the world.
One of the highlights of this past year has been interacting with other bloggers and readers. The most special of which just happened 2 weeks ago. I haven’t talked much about my regular job on this blog, as I thought I wanted to keep them separate and keep this a light and fun outlet not dealing with anything too serious. While that has been a fine policy for myself, I realized, through another lovely blogger, that maybe my two worlds can coexist nicely. Two weeks ago I spoke at UNC Chapel Hill. This is what I do, speak with my husband about HIV and how it impacts our lives, how to prevent the spread of it and how young adults and really all people can live healthy lives. Why is this my job? Because we have a unique perspective on this issue as Shawn (my husband) is HIV positive and has been since he was a child. I, for the record, am HIV negative. We have spent the last 10 years talking to college students on campuses all over the US about this issue. We use our own lives as a springboard for open and honest discussions.
How is this related to this blog and what does UNC have to do with it? Many months ago I submitted an outfit photo to the Weekly Reader Outfits that Kim of Anthroholic hosts. I was wearing my favorite dress (the Anthropologie Monochromatic Corset Dress) and was actually at a charity event raising money for an HIV service organization. Months later I was reading Dea of The Dea Diaries blog and saw that she was moving to Charlottesville, where I live. I commented on her blog post. She read my comment, clicked over to my blog and recognized me from the photo I had submitted to Kim. She scrolled through and then looked up some more info about me and sent me one of the nicest emails I could have received. She thought me and Shawn’s message could be a good fit for her school and proceeded to make an event at UNC happen. I was shocked and thrilled that a blog about what I wore could result in educating more people about HIV. I am so thankful to Dea for making this event happen and even more so for making me realize that I do not have to keep my two worlds separate, that clothes and education can go together.
With all that said, I do not plan on making this blog about my work. I still very much love it as on outlet for me outside of the HIV world, but I may talk once and awhile about that part of my life.
Thanks to everyone for all of the great comments and thoughts over the past year. I can’t wait to see what everyone is wearing in the coming year!
Also, a huge thanks to Shellie (my favorite barista) for making me this incredible latte art for my special blog anniversary day!
when?
April 13, 2011
wear?
cardigan: Old Navy
tank: Target
pants: Target
shoes: Nine West
necklace: Tiffany Key
watch: Toy Watch
The most exciting thing about what I wore today was my watch and it’s not even new. Basic outfit, but I wore my skull watch that Shawn got me for Christmas 3 years ago. It’s one of my favorite things but I don’t wear it as much as I should. We had a bit of an exhausting day but managed to turn it around after an early evening nap on the sofa, some late night pizza and eating the homemade twix bars I made a few days ago (which are insanely good and easy to make).
when?
April 12, 2011
wear?
t-shirt: Target
skirt: Gap
belt: Target
boots: Hunter
Yea! Finally got to break out my new boots! Although it wasn’t raining in this photo, it did rain a good bit of the day. I also picked up this bright orange belt at Target the other day because who doesn’t want a neon orange belt? I’ve been trying to wear more color but not very successfully. To be honest I’m in a slight wardrobe rut right now. I have ideas about things that I think would look good and then go and try them on and they just haven’t been turning out how I had hoped. In the meantime expect to see these boots more as well as a fair amount of black and grey, with a bright belt thrown in for good measure.
when?
April 11, 2011
wear?
dress: Anthropologie Two Wheeler Dress
belt: Anthropologie Crimini Cap Belt
shoes: Target
bracelets: Lucky Brand
It was 84 degrees! As much as I liked it, I’m really hoping that we don’t miss out on spring and jump right into summer, that would be tough. I think it is supposed to rain the next few day and I’m excited to finally get to wear my new rainboots! They are not very exciting to look at, but for the past 6 years I have only had polka dot rainboots and while I love them, it is sometimes limiting on what I can wear with them. I think the new plain black pair will suit just about anything I want to wear.
Over and out on the weather report.
when?
April 6, 2011
wear?
cardigan: Gap
tank: Gap
pants: Joe’s Visionaire via Anthropologie
boots: Anthropologie Pebbled and Primped Boots
belt: Anthropologie Infinity Belt
necklace: Tiffany Key
I was not planning an extended blog break but I just didn’t seem to be able to either get an outfit together or if I was wearing something cute to take a photo of it. Shawn and I have been busy speaking this past week, and have a few more events coming up but I do have a bit of time this week to finally rotate my closet to the warmer clothes. Although it has been cool here I’m not planning on wearing any of my heavy wool sweaters until next fall. I love changing over my closet because it feels like I just went shopping, but without spending any money! I have been on the lookout for some spring/summer items but haven’t found anything I like yet. Will keep looking…
