The Mullet of Sweaters

Thankfully, I am a little too young to have been part of the mullet trend that unfortunately proliferated in the 80s. I think we can all agree that if the mullet never came back, it would be okay with all of us.

That being said, I have recently acquired a few shirts that I affectionately think of as mullet shirts, as they are business in the front and party in the back. They seem to be having a moment. I like them for a few reasons, which I will now list for you:
1. They're usually professional enough to wear to work, but have an element of fun and surprise, making them more interesting.
2. I have found that they often have sleeves. Don't know why, but I'm not complaining.
3. They're an excellent excuse to not have to do my hair! (Sometimes I am lazy.)
4. There's a fun bow! Hurrah!

This was the first shirt of this type that I got, way back in my May Stitch Fix. It's possible that I had pinned it to my Pintrest Board at least 15 times. But only maybe. Anyway, I love it just as much now as I did then-- a true Stitch Fix winner. This was from the first fix Alison sent me, and we have been happily together ever since. It has also proven to be a significant conversation speech, and once prompted one of my students to ask me to turn around so she could see the back before I started teaching. Perhaps not the most appropriate, but then again, parties aren't always. Mullet shirts forever!

What I'm wearing: Ezra sweater via Stitch Fix, LOFT black pants (this season's version here)

Tunic Tuesday (or Thursday)

Has this ever happened to you? You're wearing an adorable dress. Everyone compliments your outfit. You're having a great hair day. And then... you get home at 9:00 and realize that you didn't take blog pictures. How sad. (And also shallow. But also sad.) No? Nobody else? That was just me, yesterday?

Anyway, that is just my way of admitting that I've been slacking a bit on the picture taking. It's partly because I sometimes feel awkward asking random people to take my picture, but it's also just that life got in the way a bit. I have my next comp on Monday, so I'm sort of distracted, but don't think that that means I don't love you! Because I do love you, loyal readers!

This looked better before I sat in it all day and it got all wrinkled.
But still cute, no?

This outfit is from last Tuesday-- hence it's name Tunic Tuesday. And today is Thursday. Get  it now? I've been very into tunics lately. I'm not totally sure why, but I'm having fun. This is actually meant to be a dress, but really, who on earth could wear this as a dress? I know people do, but I confess that I do not understand. Anyway, I wore it over pants and got lots of compliments. I had originally been wearing silver flats, but then they gave me crazy blisters, so I switched to my Toms. And man, it is nice to not wear boots every day.

Have you ever repurposed a clothing item to make it work for you?

That's all for now. I promise to be better about taking pictures and will be back soon!

What I'm wearing: Isabella Sinclair dress as a tunic, via Anthropologie (where the price, sadly, seems to have gone up), LOFT straight leg pants (similar here), Toms shoes (similar here)

Stitch Fix Review! My Mom Stitch Fixes It Up March 2015

I know what you're thinking-- another Stitch Fix, so soon? Well yes, but only sort of. (For information about how Stitch Fix works, just click here!) You see, after my older sister got me on the Stitch Fix train, I brought my mom along as well. It's become sort of a family thing...

Some things to know about my mom. She is AWESOME. Really the best. She is smart and interesting and kind and would do anything at all for her family. It also happens to be the case that she is not especially fashion-inclined. She mostly leaves that up to my dad.

Last year, my mom decided that it was important that she start taking better care of her body. She changed her diet and started doing Pilates. She looks amazing, and we are all very proud of her. However, as often happens when people are in the midst of significant weight loss, she didn't want to buy new clothes until she was done losing the weight, but everything she had before was basically falling off of her.

Finally, my dad and I convinced her to try Stitch Fix. It is great for someone like her who doesn't like to shop, because the number of items is inherently limited, and you can try them on in your own house. Perfect. They've been a bit of a mixed bag. Her first fix was a huge success and she kept everything. Her second fix, she was much less enthused, and she only ended up keeping two things. However, one of those who things was an amazing pair of pants (which you'll see in these pictures), so I count that as a success. And now we've reached Fix #3.

Sorry that the pictures are weird. Why this was the case was complicated, but basically, we ended up having to take pictures in her office bathroom. Awkward. (In my mom's words, If you want to be a famous Talmud scholar and fashion blogger, then sometimes you have to go above and beyond. I'm not sure I aspired to the latter, but sure, why not.)

Here's what she got:

And here is her style card:

My mom and I have different standards of modesty, so she wears sleeveless, which I don't.
If you're a modest Stitch Fix-er who loves something she got, well, that's what cardigans are for!

And without further adieu:

41Hawthorne Silvio Arrow Print Sleeveless Silk Blouse in Teal- $88

My mom really didn't like how this looked, so we didn't take a picture with it on. (The rules are different for people who make guest appearances. I have to show you everything, warts and all) We both agreed that it was beautiful, but she didn't like the notch neck, and I thought it made her look a little rounder than she actually is around the middle. (But isn't my mom cute???) This one is going back.

Renee C Shayna Graphic Print Blouse in Black- $54

Again, my mom didn't like it on. (You can sort of see it in the picture on the first blouse.) I liked it more than she did-- I thought it could be a keeper-- but she felt like the notch neck was unflattering. We'll have to update her profile for no more notch necks. In the meantime, return.

Papermoon Jerrard Heathered Open Front Cardigan in Tan- $54

I LOVE this sweater. I want it. Seriously, I'm going to ask my stylist to send it to me in another color. But my mom felt like it was my style, not hers. She wants to return. I feel so sad. It's so soft and cute! Help me convince her to keep it!

Pixley Miandra Embroidered Top in Colbat- $54

This was the biggest hit of the Fix. The picture doesn't do the color justice; it's a rich, deep, royal blue. (Yup, I used the oxford comma. Ha!) The embroidery is beautiful, and this will a great addition to her wardrobe for the summer. Yay!

Mak Laureni Airy Cable Knit Sweater in Pink- $48

This was the item with the most debate (other than the cardigan I loved.) I really liked this, although obviously not over the blue shirt. I like my mom in pink, and I think this is in line with her style but still a little adventurous. Again, my mom was unsure about the v-neck, although I think she liked the rest of it. She's on the fence-- what do you think?

So that's her third fix. I think it was more on target than the last one, even though she might only keep one thing this time. However, she wasn't thrilled. She wrote to Stitch Fix to ask for her first stylist back next time and they said they would make a note in her file, so hopefully that will work out next time. But no matter what, the blue shirt is so beautiful that that alone was enough.

What do you think? What should stay and what should go? Help my mom out! And if you want to get in on the fun, sign up for Stitch Fix here!

The Time Sarita Liked My Outfit

Hello from the library! I was sitting here studying for my next exam, which is on Friday, when my friend Sarit came by and asked if I had a new blog post today. I said no, she said I should because I was wearing a good outfit, and here we are. (All photo credits to Sarita.)

Sorry that I look like I'm possessed. My eyes were closed in the first version. This is what we call overcompensating.

This dress, like the one I wore last Tuesday, fits nicely into my "looks professional, feels like pajamas" aesthetic. It's not really warm enough to be wearing this, as my hair froze this morning when I went outside, but I've decided to pretend. And it seems like a no tights day could be coming as soon as Thursday! (Sorry I talk about the weather so much. Hopefully as it gets warmer, I'll start talking about other things.)

This dress is a little bit of a weird length, but it makes up for it by having an awesome swirly skirt, so I can't complain. The fabric is fun too. What are you wearing to bring spring in, whether it feels like it's coming or not?

Sarit said, You need a close up of the fabric!

And now, back to the books. Stay tuned-- a special guest Stitch Fix review with my mom will appear later tonight or tomorrow morning! The fun never stops!

And now, back to my books. Thanks for stopping by!

This is what I spend my time studying. Big and scary, isn't it?

What I'm wearing: Boden dress, Kosher Casual shell, Hue tights, Born boots.

Feels like Sweatpants, Looks like a Dress

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a good day.

Tuesdays are a long day for me. I usually leave home around 8:45 and don't get home until after 9. Yawn. But I also teach on Tuesdays, so I need to look nice/ professional. This dress is an excellent solution. It's stretchy jersey, so it's super comfortable, but its fitted shape and quiet colors makes it perfect for work.

One of the best things about this dress is the fact that it has sleeves, which means I don't have to worry about layering it. However, it's a little more fitted than the things I usually wear, so I usually wear it with a grandpa cardigan for a little extra coverage from behind. Which way do you like it better, alone or with the sweater? What do you wear for a long day?

What I'm wearing: Boden dress (similar here), Gap Factory cardigan (similar here), Hue tights, Born boots