clothes

What I’m Wearing To BlogHer ’11

Posted on July 23, 2011 Written by Tonya

Last year this time I was bitter about all the BlogHer blog posts and tweets because I wasn’t going, so if you aren’t able to attend this year or couldn’t care less, please bear with me as I share one of my own…

Even though I know it doesn’t really matter what I wear to BlogHer ’11 or any blogging conference for that matter, I do want to look my best and let’s face it, as a stay-at-home mom, I don’t get the opportunity to dress up very often.

Plus, I was feeling the pressure when I saw Nichole of In These Small Moments had a Pinterest board dedicated to her BlogHer ’11 attire wish list and upon further research discovered she wasn’t the only one.

Then I read all three of Morgan’s (The Little Hen House) posts, What Not to Wear: The BlogHer ’11 Fashion Edition, Weekend Post: More BlogHer ’11 Fashion and BlogHer ’11 Fashion: For the Curvy Woman and decided it really should matter how I dress for the biggest blogging conference of the year.

Enter: my friend, Nancy of Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab.

If you missed my post on Tuesday, My Wardrobe Rehab Experience, Nancy helped me go through my closet, buy some new, much needed items and has helped me get geared up for BlogHer ’11.

The only requirements I gave Nancy were: I want to be comfortable, especially in the shoe department and I need looks that can take me from day to night.

Here’s what we’ve come up with based solely on what I already had in my closet, in other words, I have NOT purchased anything new to wear to BlogHer ’11.

DAY 1: Striped CAbi blazer, light green Ann Taylor Loft blouse, Ann Taylor Loft tailored jeans with tan (both Aldo) wedges (haven’t decided which pair yet).

DAY 2: Red Ann Taylor Loft blouse, black-and-white floral A-line Ann Taylor Loft skirt with black wedge.

DAY 3: Ann Taylor Loft grey stripe seersucker pants and matching blazer (or white cardigan from The Gap) and navy Ann Taylor Loft blouse with TBD shoes. I am bound and determined to find a pair of silver flats!

NIGHT 3: Same seersucker pants as above or white trousers and hot pink tank from Old Navy with silver heels.

All outfits are subject to change and yes, I am aware that NIGHTS 1 and 2 are missing. A girl’s gotta have some secrets.

If you’re going to BlogHer ’11 too, please let me know, I’d love to meet you and in the meantime, please visit Nancy’s Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab’s Website/blog, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

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My Wardrobe Rehab Experience

Posted on July 19, 2011 Written by Tonya

On a typical day, here’s how you’ll find me dressed:

The unofficial official stay-at-home mom uniform: yoga pants, sports bra, tank top and sneakers. Despite how unglamorous this outfit is, I stand behind it; versatile, functional, comfy.

Last October, I wrote a post called What Not To Wear, where I lamented about the awful state of my closet and my need for an overhaul. In my post I mentioned my friend, Nancy, the best-dressed, most stylish person I know.

Nine months ago, Nancy was contemplating the idea of starting her own personal stylist business. Well, she’s done it and I was lucky enough to be one of her first projects clients!

With a closet full of every size under the sun, clothes that didn’t go with my SAHM lifestyle and client meetings, date nights and blog conferences that I longed to “dress up” for, I needed some major help. In other words, I was in need of some style of my own.

Nancy’s company, Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab entails a three-phase process: 1) Closet Overhaul, 2) Shopping and 3) Putting It All Together. My experience spanned from March – July and honestly, I’ve never felt or dressed better.

1) Closet Overhaul was my favorite part. I love purging! It was so great having someone there with me as I tried on articles of clothing that have been in my closet for far too long and getting a second set of (honest) eyes to confirm that it was time to let go. I ended up donating nearly 50 items!

2) The Shopping phase was the most difficult for me because I’m not a big fan of clothes shopping in general and it was difficult for me to see what Nancy was seeing with some of the selections, but I trusted her and ended with some fabulous pieces that are timeless and will last forever.

3) Putting It All Together consisted of just that; creating complete outfits with what I already had in my wardrobe paired with my newly purchased items.

Here are a couple of my new looks:

Thank you for helping me bring my inner fashionista out, Nancy!

Among many of the fashion tips and tricks Nancy taught me, my four best take-aways were:

Find a good tailor! All pockets can be sewn shut or removed completely and pants can (and often times should) be hemmed.
I look really good in bright colors, something I would have normally avoided.
A blazer and a necklace can do wonders for any outfit.
Nancy is awesome! Well, actually I already knew this, but her business, professionalism and fashion sense are amazing and I know, if she can help me, she can help anyone with their own wardrobe rehab.

If you have any questions about the clothes pictured above or my experience, feel free to ask.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on some of the outfits Nancy has helped me put together for BlogHer ’11… God bless her!

And meanwhile, please check out Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab’s Website/blog, follow her on Twitter and Facebook for great fashion tips and advice on everything from finding the perfect dress to wear to a wedding, dressing for an interview and packing for your summer vacation.

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Long Live The 80’s!

Posted on February 22, 2011 Written by Tonya

My fabulous friend, Colleen turned 40 on Saturday and threw herself an 80’s-style prom party. It was an absolute blast!!

Everyone dressed up! There was lots of neon, lace, big bows, arms full of bracelets, skinny ties, flipped up collars, leg warmers and pearls. Even the 80’s cover band, that provided enough dance music to last a lifetime, Orange County’s own, Tijuana Dogs got into the spirit.

All of my girlfriends and I have been fretting about our “prom” attire for months and it turned out for many, Ebay was the way to go. Who knew?

I, on the other hand, being the pack rat that I am still have my ACTUAL Jessica McClintock prom dress! With a little alteration to the bust line, I wore it! Crazy, huh?! I couldn’t believe it still fit either. Or that I even kept it!

I tried to mimic my 80’s hair style: big and curly and make-up: blue eyeliner and mascara. Although naturally curly, my hair doesn’t quite take a curl like it used to. Even with half a canister of mousse.

The cast of characters may have changed, hopefully we are all a little wiser. There were way more beer bellies, wedding rings and crow’s feet this time around, but the music is still the same, my friends make the world a better place and I found myself wishing the party would last All Night Long, just like I did at my high school Senior prom.

THENMy prom date was my boyfriend at the time. He had just given me the watch I’m wearing as a graduation present. Lovely gift, but looks so out of place now.

NOW

Colleen and I and our rad dates.

The birthday girl and Matt, the Tijuana Dogs lead singer.

Does this pose look familiar?

Feels just like 1988!

The totally awesome birthday cake!

I must admit, I had WAY more fun at this prom than at my own back in ’91. Maybe it was the alcohol or the music, the company or the pure nostalgia of it all, but everyone had a permanent grin on their face the entire night and my legs still hurt from dancing!

One of the best parts of the whole evening was being dropped off by Todd’s mother, who was in town visiting us for the weekend.

She waited up for us too!

This post was originally for Wordful Wednesdays and if you want to link up or see some really beautiful photographs, please visit Alicia at A Beautiful Mess and see how she effortlessly turns ordinary photos into a works of art.

This post was reposted for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, Prompt 4.) My prom dress.

Hopes, Dreams & Wishes – Redux

Posted on February 17, 2011 Written by Tonya

I wrote this piece last year when I had all of three followers and I immediately thought of it when I read this week’s Red Writing Hood’s writing prompt: Write a piece about finding a forgotten item of clothing in the back of a drawer or closet. Let us know how the item was found, what it is, and why it’s so meaningful to you or your character.

With some editing, here is Hope, Dreams & Wishes:

Long before I ever thought I’d have children and certainly long before I had Lucas, I bought this little sweater. I found it at Old Navy, of all places. It was originally $16.50 and had been marked down to $3.99. The tag is still on it.

From the moment I saw it, I thought it was precious.

Navy blue is my favorite color and I loved the adorable red heart with the arrow going through it and something came over me and I just had to have it. I remember thinking at the time while standing in the check out line, I’m nowhere near ready to have children, why on earth am I buying this?!? I don’t even have a boyfriend.

It took me a while to realize that this tiny little sweater represented something stupendous and wonderful. Something bigger than myself. Something that was yet to be. It represented where my life was going to be someday. Where my life, if I was lucky enough, was heading…

True love, romance, marriage, children, cuddles, giggles, and a lifetime of memorable firsts and happy moments.

A childhood, not unlike my own.

The sweater stayed safely wrapped in tissue paper in the bottom of my pajama drawer for years, but each February when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I remember the sweater.

Just last week, ironically the week before Valentine’s Day, I was organizing Lucas’ closet and I came across this tiny sweater. I was about to add it to the donation pile until I realized what it was.

Maybe someday we’ll have a little sister for Lucas, as the sweater is far too feminine for him to wear and at size 3-6 months, far too small for him anyway.

I gingerly put the sweater back on the hanger, returned it to the closet and there it will stay as a peaceful reminder that so many of my hopes, dreams and wishes have already come true.

Click here to read the original piece posted February 12, 2010: Hopes, Dreams & Wishes.

What Not To Wear

Posted on October 21, 2010 Written by Tonya

I have an age old problem… a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear.

There are some days that I feel like taking a blow torch to my entire wardrobe and starting over from scratch.

It’s all organized and I can find stuff, that’s not the problem. I just don’t like what’s in there.

Like you, I’m sure, I have several articles of clothing that I just had to have that still have the tags on them, a variety of sizes, too many pairs of jeans, not enough color, pieces that I will never wear again because they are itchy, outdated, I have nothing to pair with them, or basically had no idea what I was thinking when I purchased them in the first place.

I have clothes that don’t fit my lifestyle anymore and some I hope never will again.

I have fallen in love with a pair of shoes that I bought with the intention of building an outfit around and it hasn’t happened yet and I have shoes that are a half size too small because they complete an assemble I already have perfectly, but never wear because the shoes hurt my feet!

I have a few favorites that are in desperate need of retiring, pants in need of hemming, stains that won’t come out, ripped jackets, suits in need of a second hand store and sports bras that are ready for the trash.

I don’t own enough sweaters and the ones I do have, pill. I hate sweaters that pill!

I have a whole drawer full of panty hose and I can’t even remember the last time I wore panty hose. Who wears panty hose anymore? Speaking of panties, don’t even get me started on my underwear drawer.

My friend, Nancy has been toying with the idea of starting a business to become a personal stylist, especially for those in transitional states of their lives and I hope she will consider taking me on as one of her first projects. I need help mixing and matching and advice on collecting timeless essentials.

The post baby/temporarily retired/active mom is one to be reckoned with and something tells me shouldn’t be in yoga pants or jeans all the time, nor should she feel like crying every time she goes to her closet and finds nothing to wear.

What you won’t find is any acid wash, shoulder pads, Hawaiian shirts, animal prints, or cowboy boots, BUT my closet is full of impulse buys, god-awful fabrics, styles and trends and nothing of which reflects me anymore.

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This Little Piggy

Posted on April 19, 2010 Written by Tonya

Even though you are in the 95th percentile on the weight and height scales, all of you is little to me. I especially love your tiny feet and hands and nothing brings me more joy than seeing your itty bitty fingers pick up a Cheerio or piece of cheese. You have such precision in the task and I just can’t get enough of it!

Until recently I didn’t have the heart to cover up your little piggies with anything other than socks and jammies with feet. Sadly, your dad (AKA the shoe horse in the family) bought you several pairs of shoes that you never got an opportunity to wear because you have already outgrown them. Last week I finally broke down and got you two new pairs; a so ugly they’re cute pair of Crocs and a classic pair of navy blue Converse All Stars, with tie laces.

You don’t seem to mind them one bit and I seriously don’t think they could be any cuter.
You are a bit obsessed with the laces, so the next pair might need to have Velcro.

“If the shoe fits…buy it in every color.” – Anonymous

The best is yet to be.

Day 55/100

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Hopes, Dreams & Wishes

Posted on February 12, 2010 Written by Tonya

Long before I ever thought I’d even have children and certainly long before I had you, I bought this little sweater. I found it at Old Navy, of all places. It was originally $16.50 and had been marked down to $3.99. The tag is still on it.

I thought it was adorable. Navy blue is my favorite color and I loved the heart with the arrow going through it. Something came over me and I just had to have it. I remember thinking at the time, I’m no where near ready to have children, why on earth am I buying this?!?

It’s simple and sweet really. This tiny little sweater represented something stupendous and wonderful to me. It represented where my life was going to be someday. Where my life, if I was lucky enough, was heading… True love, romance, marriage, children, baby clothes, bottles, blankets, giggles and a lifetime of memorable firsts and happy moments.

The sweater stayed safely wrapped in tissue paper in the back of my pajama drawer for years and Valentine’s Day always reminds me that I have it. Until now, I have only shared it with one person…your daddy.

It’s a bit too girly for you and I don’t think you’d fit into anyway, it’s a size 3-6 months, but it hangs in your closet, as a reminder to me of my hopes and dreams and wishes and the realization that they have come true.

I love you, baby. Happy Valentine’s Day!

The best is yet to be.

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Dressed For Success

Posted on February 8, 2010 Written by Tonya

I have been told that I dress you in too much blue and too many stripes. I may be guilty of that, but I also love to put you in orange, green, red, jungle animals (especially monkeys!), spaceships, robots, cars, planes, trains, dinosaurs and monsters too.

As I’ve perused the baby departments at numerous stores, I have come to the conclusion that I like clothes made for boys better than I like clothes made for girls. It’s not that I don’t like frilly dresses and ruffles, it’s just that I prefer the bright primary colors that are more common in clothes marketed for infant and toddler boys and the themes used in both boy’s and gender neutral clothing.

The themes in baby boys clothing celebrate predominantly male (and mostly working class) occupations such as firemen, construction workers, mechanics, pilots, and soldiers. Activity themes seem to be popular as well; involving clothes the promote going on safari, hunting, fishing, eating and playing sports.

Even as infants, we start to socialize baby boys into occupations. You rarely find occupation themed clothes for girls. Little girls clothes have flowers, frills, and occasionally animals (i.e. butterflies, dragonflies and lady bugs), but they don’t have occupational themes. They also rarely have activity themes outside of shopping or cheer leading. In fact, to me the worst subset of little girls clothes are those that say “princess” or “diva”. Diva is often used in a derisive way to indicate that the girl is overly demanding, and unlike the fireman or construction worker a princess doesn’t earn her title – she’s born with it or marries into it. Princess themed clothes also seem to play up baby girls looks – looking like a princess means looking pretty. I’ve seen a few shirts that have messages about boys being handsome or cute, and then there’s the ever witty (dreadful) sayings: “Chick Magnet”, “I drink until I pass out” or “That’s how I roll”, but those are much less common in the boys department.

I believe that one of the reasons that baby clothes are so strongly gendered is that babies themselves are often androgynous. If you put them only in a diaper, it’s often hard to tell what sex the baby is, but that androgyny doesn’t fit well into our gender polarized society, so this is where the clothes come in. Those clothes have underlying and blatant messages. Baby boy clothes say: be active, be bold, enjoy the outdoors, and get a respectable paying job. It doesn’t seem that baby girls clothing have the same messages.

Today’s parents have a seemingly infinite choice of where to buy baby clothes and also the particular style they want, as long as you can find something that fits….the sizing of children’s clothes is still a mystery to me, but that’s the topic for an other post.

The best is yet to be.

What I’m Wearing To BlogHer ’11

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