Teacher Style: Gray Pants Inspiration

Excuse the crummy iPhone pictures that chop off my face. However, when I asked Mom to take my pictures for this week's posts, it was so blasted hot that we made it through two pairs of pants before copious amounts of inner thigh sweat just made my pants slide right off again. Okay, not really, but it was uncomfortable playing musical outfits. As a result, you must deal with the following images and their lackluster quality. Maybe the outfits make up for it? Sure, let's go with that logic.

Anyway, I bring to you my gray work pants that I love so very much, and they sat on my "wish list" for a long time before I finally found a suitable pair. Momma says the shade of these pants makes every outfit "pop." Yes, Momma, you are right as usual.

 Pants: The Limited (exact stretch)

Options: darker gray option from The Limited

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Look 1: colored cardigan + printed blouse + metallic flats
Yeah, it's this floral blouse again. Feel free to get sick of it. 

(Cardigan: NY&Co. / Top: The Limited / Belt: The Limited / Shoes: Audrey Brooke via DSW)

Look 2: printed cardigan + colored blouse + neutral shoes
Polka dots make everything better. So does this fuchsia shirt. (It took an embarrassingly long time for me to commit the spelling of that color to my long-term memory.) 

(Cardigan: gift from my sister-in-law / Top: The Limited / Necklace: NY&Co. / Belt: Express / Shoes: J.Crew Factory)

Look 3: colored cardigan + printed blouse
I love the color of this cardigan, and it almost made its way to the donation pile. That would have been a terrible, terrible mistake. 

(Cardigan: Express / Blouse: WHBM / Shoes: J.Crew Factory)

 Look 4: colored cardigan + printed tee + colored flats
Don't these colors make you happy? Or, are you sick of seeing my yellow and pink color combination? Eventually, you will want to pair them as well. Also, for the reader who asked me about bringing summer tees into fall, I've created this look for you.

(Cardigan: Express / Top & Necklace: Old Navy / Flats: Merona via Target)

Look 5: lace top + tassel necklace + colored heels
I decided to go neutral for one of the outfits. However, the lace of the shirt gives the look a bit of visual interest, no? 

(Top: Old Navy / Necklace: NY&Co. / Shoes: Dana Buchman via Kohl's / Belt: Express)

Look 6: neutral shirt + pendant necklace + colored flats
This peplum top is so pretty, which means it's no surprise that Momma got it for me. 

(Top: LOFT / Necklace: Old Navy / Flats: Merona via Target)

Okay, which outfit is your favorite? How do you wear your gray pants? I love gray with blush/any pink as well. It might be my favorite neutral.

Theme Week: Same Accessories, Different Outfit (Part 2)

Let's go a little more casual with today's look. In an otherwise neutral outfit, I used the accessories to add a pop of color. Sure, some might say that the same color necklace and shoes qualifies as matchy matchy, but I think a fair number of the people who frequent this blog appreciate a good matchy matchy outfit. And why does everything have to involve so much brain power? It doesn't, I argue.

I think this look would work perfectly for the zoo on a warm day. If these sandals weren't so comfortable, I'd say swap for sneakers. However, I am a firm believer in not compromising comfort for "style." They can and should go hand in hand. Luckily, pretty much any shoes I've bought by Franco Sarto are extremely comfortable--these sandals included. 

 

The Look: 

Shirt: gift from friend (it's American Eagle--love this elephant one)

Shorts: New York & Co. (similar at Target)

Sandals: Franco Sarto (similar by Nine West)

Necklace: Old Navy (similar on Etsy, and another)

Oh, hey, I'm married to him.

When hair cooperates

Sometimes, my body likes to help me choose what I wear for the day. (And, sometimes, it's not because Mother Nature decided to give me a terrible case of the bloats.) Take today, for example. The salt water from our beach trip last week ate most of the nail polish from my toes, but time did not afford me the luxury of repainting them today. (By "time," I mean that I spent 9a.m.-1:40 tinkering around on the computer, writing a to-do list I checked off one thing on, and e-mailing Jeff about house hunting.) Anyway, I like my toes to look fully polished at all times. As a result, I decided I needed closed-toe shoes to meet up with my co-teacher for lunch. (We received some bad news about test scores, so we decided to cry together over her Chipotle naked burrito and my Deer Park water.)

I thought about wearing pants, but who wants to engage in a tug of war with pants after applying copious amounts of lotion? Not I. Does this predicament befall anyone else?

Also, can we talk hair for a moment? Of course, we can. This blog is mine. I can talk about whatever pleases me. We're talking about hair and one of its many mysteries: why does hair always cooperate with you just before you plan to cut or dye it? WHY? It's like it KNOWS you're about to go to the salon and says, "HA. I'll show you." Again, does this predicament befall anyone else? Honestly, I spent all of two minutes on my hair this morning afternoon, and it looks so...beachy. Screw you, hair, and your fickle ways. But, really, keep cooperating. I love you. I enjoy spending less than 5 minutes on you. I have better things to do than worry about your cantankerousness. Like writing blog posts about you.

 

The Look:

Shirt: LOFT outlet (I got it with the two maxi skirts I bought during our Myrtle Beach trip last week. I hunted for it online and couldn't find it.)

Cardigan: New York and Company (I love me a good cardigan with short sleeves.)

Belt: Target

Shorts: LOFT via thredUP (these are CUTE, and these are close)

Shoes: Converse via DSW

Some might find this outfit too "matchy," but hot damn I love it. That mauve color plays so nicely with gray and white. No? 

 

No, I cannot explain to you why the lower half of my body absorbs sunlight so much better than the top half.  I'm weird.

Positivity about the end of the school year?

I really need to get better about posing more attractively. And actually opening my eyes. Or just wearing sunglasses. Clearly, my vampiric eyeballs cannot withstand even a fraction of sunlight without turning into slits. 

Since I'm a teacher whose school year doesn't end until June 20th, most people have been asking me if I cannot wait for the school year to end. Honestly, if I've learned anything after 8 years of teaching, it's that you have to be realistic and understand that kids are kids. Keeping this bit of knowledge in my brain means I find more joy at the end of the year now than I did several years ago. Of course they're stir crazy, so are all of the teachers; I can't blame them! Anyway, instead of forcing students to bust their tails as hard as I've made them work all year, I'm scaling back a bit and asking them to apply all of the skills that they've learned by doing fun things (speeches about pet peeves and debates--teenagers love to argue; who knew?). 

Plus, I'm really trying to soak up this last bit of time with them before they move on to a new set of teachers, so my goal has become to know them, as people, even better. I am taking time to sit with them at their tables and chat with them about their assignments and lives. I feel like we teachers spend so much time focusing on content that we forget we're dealing with human beings, not automatons. (Well, I forget.) As teachers, we keep thinking about the agenda we have to fulfill by a certain date, so we forget to take time to learn our students, which is often the most important learning that can take place in a classroom.

 Today, 22 kids were absent from my 4th period because they were helping with 8th grade visitation. (Incoming freshmen come to visit the school during the school day.) Since only 7 of us were in the room, I spent the period talking with my students about different fruits I should try, becoming a master falconer (it's a thing, and it's cool), and insects. One of my students taught me about different kinds of praying mantises. (This one is my favorite. It looks like a Transformer!) This same student also breeds them (it's NOT illegal to have them, for the record) and gave one to me. His name is Archimedes, and he's our class pet. The boys love feeding him and watching him devour fruit flies! 

Anyway, though some of my students drive me mad at the end of the year, I am trying to enjoy their company as much as I can before they're someone else's students instead of mine. Granted, even when they leave our classrooms, are our students ever not our students? Hopefully, my fellow teachers are enjoying these last few weeks of school. 

The Look:

Cardigan: New York & Co.

Shirt: Target

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Converse via DSW

Earrings: Francesca's

Here's the skirt in cold weather:

I wore this skirt two years ago.

"Ms. Wo, you have so many styles!" That is the first greeting I received from a student in the hallway today. As I trudged to my classroom, I considered the legitimacy of this claim. Yesterday, I wore tall, patterned wedges, a sleeveless sweater, a shirt with fun sleeves, and shorts. Today, I'm wearing a white skirt with my Converse sneakers and bicycle necklace. Tomorrow, I might wear gray slacks with a blazer. Kid, you're right: I do have so many "styles." Of course, I would say that I just like to experiment, for which I suppose this blog can take quite a bit of credit.

Although posting pictures of my outfits sometimes seems vain ("everybody, come see how good I look!"--one of the only Will Ferrel quotes I like) and often makes me feel pressured not to be "boring" in what I wear, it also encourages me to think differently about what's in my closet and allow it to verbalize how I'm feeling that day. Today, I felt fun and funky, much like Punky Brewster, an allusion I hope is not lost on you, dear reader.

Anyway, I'm walking to the gym and then doing some yoga. I wish I were as cool as I sometimes make myself sound.

The Look:

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Converse via DSW

Necklace: American Eagle

Cardigan: via thredUP

Knees.

I call this my "everybody, come see how good I look!" pose.

I should not make myself laugh as much as I do, but there you have it.

Mom: "Twirl!"

Me: ..............this.

I wore this skirt way back when I started this blog, and it went something like this:

This picture sort of makes me think about cutting my hair a bit shorter. Hmm...

(I just checked. This post is from just about two years ago!)

Pajamas in Disguise

I wore this outfit two weekends ago to visit Mom and Dad. Boy, is this dress comfortable. It's made out of sweatshirt material. Unless you try to wear it in the dead of summer, how could you go wrong?  I think we can all agree that any item of clothing that feels like pajamas without being pajamas is the best item of clothing. 

Today, I am still recovering from sinus surgery. Since Jeff had to go back to work, HGTV is keeping me company. Mom is coming over soon, too. Hopefully, she can braid my hair for me because mustering up the energy to "do" my hair just to sit on the couch seems like a large waste of time (though I have plenty of it right now). 

For now, I am going to sit here in my robe and see how deeply I can imprint my butt into the couch. 

The Look:

Dress: Old Navy (last year)

Booties: Old Navy

Scarf: Christopher A. Banks

Necklace: Francesca's (I really do love their jewelry.)

Today, I'm linking up with some lovely ladies:

The Modern Austen & Literate and Stylish's Pantone Challenge

(Today's color is Paloma, which is a cool gray.)

and

Style Sessions

Pastels & Metallics

Soon enough, circumstances might force me to rename this blog "The Sammy and Rudy Show" because we all know you return with the hope of seeing their fluffy faces. 

I understand that today was our Trendy Tuesday "Orange is the New Black" theme at school, but I forgot to pack that outfit for the weekend photo shoot with Mom. Sorry, guys. Forgive me? Check me out on Instagram (@likewo) if you want to see me sporting orange as the new black. 

I wish I had more to say, but I am catching up on Once Upon a Time, Resurrection, and Believe. Not simultaneously, of course. Maybe I should be grading, but that can wait another hour, right? Right. 

I am participating in another one of Sarah's April Challenges. Today I hopped on board the pastel and metallic trains because awesome is my middle name. (Actually, my middle name is Danielle.) 

The Look:

Sweater: Olive and Oak via Marshall's

Skirt: Jennifer Lopez via Kohl's (Momma bought it for me.)

Booties: Old Navy

Necklace: New York & Co. 

You see, Mom and I tried to take pictures of just me, but Rudy here became my shadow, insisting on joining in on the fun. Who am I kidding? He is the fun.

I also wore the skirt back in the day like this:

It's Not a Hashtag. But, Those Are 8 Ways to Wear Maroon Pants.

Teaching AP English has opened up a new level of intelligence for me. This scarecrow finally has a brain. Thanks, wizard. Enter my newest bit of knowledge--learned from my students, no less. That sign you call a hashtag? Not a hashtag. That sign you refuse to call a hashtag because, damnit, it's a pound sign? Not a pound sign. It's an...

octothorpe!

It's like the symbol superhero. Or something. 

What will the inter webs do if I just start saying:

#therealdeal

octothorpe: the real deal

Much cooler if you ask me. 

Not that you did.

Of course, calling the symbol a hashtag or pound sign is acceptable because plenty of words and symbols have different names/definitions. Look at the F word (yes, that F word.) It has an entire book devoted to its many definitions and a YouTube video dedicated to its versatility. You might have even seen my insta about that book.

I was frighteningly close to buying it for my Dad.

I refrained and bought him the Urban Dictionary instead.

octothorpe: not kidding.

It'll catch on. Eventually. Just like fetch.

Since you probably come here for my photos of terrible quality and not my words of better quality, I have a treat for you today. I am here to inspire you with pictures, but be glad you are not viewing pictures with my face in it. All I have to say is that Medusa would be proud of this lion's mane of mine. Instead, I present you with pictures of outfits folded all neatly and prettily on my bed. Who came up with this genius idea I see splattered all over Pinterest? Whoever you are, I LOVE YOU. In a very non-creepy way. 

Today's clothes-folded-prettily-on-bed (should I be concerned about putting my shoes on the comforter?) theme is "maroon pants." I just took advantage of Old Navy's $15 rockstar jean sale yesterday, but I allowed myself ONE pair as long as they came in the exact color I needed to replace my too-small H&M pair. Only one left. In my size. Fashion fate? I think so. 

(I really wish I bought a pair of the ones that look like leather. Poop.)

Anyway, after I buy an article of clothing, I like to Pinterest the shit out of it so that I can justify my purchase. Some of these looks are inspired by Pinterest, but I just relied on shopping my own closet.
Yes, I just turned Pinterest into an infinitive. 

I compiled outfit "formulas"and provided pictures of each outfit in case you want to pin a specific look. Let me know if you like this sort of thing and wish to see more posts like it!

Look 1 Formulas: 

Pieces: colored skinny pants + striped shirt + scarf + cardigan + flats 

Colors: maroon + navy + cognac + cream

Replacements: 

- swap stripes for another pattern

- swap cardigan for blazer

- swap flats for boots

-swap cardigan for an oxford under the striped shirt

Look 2 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + lace top + cardigan + scarf + booties

Colors: maroon + cream + leopard + black

Replacements:

- swap leopard scarf for statement necklace

- swap ankle boots for tall boots

- swap black boots for leopard heels/flats

- swap cardigan for blazer or vest

Look 3 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + statement shirt + cardigan + tall boots

Colors: maroon + blush + charcoal gray + black 

Replacements: 

- swap cardigan for blazer

- swap tall boots for ankle boots

- swap black boots for sparkly flats

- swap black boots for gray ankle boots

Look 4 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + patterned shirt + long blazer + scarf + long necklace + ankle boots

Colors: maroon + black + white

Replacements:

- swap blazer for vest/cardigan

- swap lace-print shirt for another black & white patterned shirt

- swap booties for flats/heels/tall boots

- swap white scarf for a different pop of color (hunter green? burnt orange? mustard?)

Look 5 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + heels + tee shirt + long necklace + scarf + statement blazer

Colors: maroon + white + gold + leopard + black

Replacements:

- swap heels for flats

- swap leopard for black

- swap blazer for cardigan

- swap white shirt for black shirt & black scarf for white one

Look 6 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + long sleeve tee + cropped blazer + flats + scarf

Colors: maroon + mustard + black + plaid

Replacements:

- swap long sleeved shirt for a sweater

- swap blazer for an oxford or cardigan

- swap flats for heels

- swap flats for booties

- swap scarf for statement necklace

- swap plaid for another pattern (dots? stripes?)

- swap mustard shirt for something neutral and wear a mustard scarf

Look 7 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny pants + leather coat + sneakers + scarf + tee

Colors: maroon + white + black + gray

Replacements:

- swap sneakers for booties/flats/heels

- swap coat for a vest/blazer/cardigan

- swap scarf for a statement necklace (or simple necklace)

Look 8 Formulas:

Pieces: colored skinny jeans + sweater (need breathing room) + oxford + lace-up boots + boot socks

Colors: maroon + tan + chambray + brown

Replacements:

- swap chambray for something fancier

- swap chambray (if it's too hot) for a scarf or statement necklace

- swap sweater for boyfriend cardigan

My exact jeans here (currently $22.50.)

Note: if you're new to the rockstar jeans, know that you have to size up. Typically, I'm a size 0-2. In these pants, a 6 fit best. 

Look at that. You are leaving with the knowledge of the octothorpe and eight ways to wear maroon pants. (If you follow me on Pinterest, you can see all of the awesome outfits I pin. Shameless plug.) 

Linking up with Molly. (There's a chance to win a Target gift card. Go now!)

Gray Maxi, Printed Belt, & Red Flats

Ragweed, we meet again.

This time of year always arrives with a swift kick to the nasal cavities and eyeballs for me. Even though I take my Allegra and squirt drops in my eyes, the ragweed still wins. Since this allergy did not crop up later in life like many of my other allergies, time has allowed it to percolate in my system, making me more allergic every year it seems. My itchy eyes woke me up this morning to say, "helloooo, we're red, we hurt, and you need drops." Thankfully, I haven't had any of those fake sneezes. You know the ones I mean: they tickle your nose and make your eyes water, but they NEVER come out. Sneezes that refuse to exit the nose are the worst. I'm lucky. Also, so far, I've managed to dodge the "throat itches so badly that cough syrup with codeine is all that gets me through the night" bullet. I hope the perpetual drinking of water keeps me safe. I need my beauty rest. No one wants to see the troll under the bridge that I can become.

Though I am allergic to ragweed (and everything else that grows), I am far from allergic to maxi skirts, especially this one. I know I wrote about it several posts ago (here and the wine-colored version here), but like Icona Pop says, I don't care. I love it.

The Look:

T-shirt: Target 

Belt: Target (such a long time ago)

Maxi Skirt: American Eagle

Necklace: American Eagle

Red Flats: Urban Outfitters

I finally have a close-up picture of the necklace that receives more compliments than any other piece of jewelry that I wear. People love the bicycle. 

The Details:

Occasion: Work 

Comfort Rating: 9 

Comments: I say 9 only because my classroom was HOT, and sweaty legs + maxi skirts = no bueno. Okay, sweaty legs + anything = no bueno. Perhaps, I am being unfair to the skirt. In the right climate, the skirt is a 10. I'm so glad I bought it in two colors. I like covering up the elastic wasitband with a belt or a knotted shirt.