So we're having spring-like weather this week and I thought I'd road-test a few outfits for our family spring-break vay-cay to Hawaii next week.

Old Navy off-white denim skirt (via Savers)
leopard flats (Mossimo--Target)
AT sleeveless blouse (AT outlet store)
Gap cardi (via Goodwill)--this will not be needed in Hawaii
New K/R tan canvas cross-body (Relic via Kohl's)

First, can I just say that I have always saved my skirts until it was so hot that I had to wear them with sandals? But seeing you fab ladies rocking them all winter made me want to get mine out early and try them with flats while it's still cool enough. I also like the look of knee length shorts with flats (instread of sandals). The summer is so long that I tire of wearing sandals towards the end!

Goldenpig's posts this morning about our wardrobe to-do lists and things we have too many of/ need sparked a mini closet cleanout and a flurry of bundling up returns. (Thanks Natalie!)

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....t-cracking

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....r-wardrobe

I had done some bargain shopping and thrifting for spring before the weather actually warmed up and I must confess I've made some mistakes. There seems to be a fine line between being prepared for the coming season and "going off half-cocked" as my mom says. Since I'm still in my freshman year at YLFU, I'm dealing with quite a learning curve and my style is still developing. I don't know myself well enough yet to buy ahead.

In particular, I'm having to consign a number of handbags. Three from the end of last summer are already at the shop. Three more are in the trunk of my car. Don't worry, Monty and Big Blue are safe! I'm saving my silver Tig bag as well. It turns out that I don't like the small, square, ladylike handbags with my outfits. I love them sitting on a display table, or on someone else, but I feel like they're too dinky with my frame and a bigger, slouchier bag looks better *on* me. Straw bags are scratchy and the ones I had bought for a steal weren't very friendly to hold and carry. I don't like bags with handles that I can only hold in my hand. I have to be able to wear them on my shoulder, too. (I'd make an exception for a clutch.) I think I'm better off with new or "nearly new" items.

And that brings me to my next point. I'm not sure why others can rock vintage and retro items so well (it could be that they have other fab, new, expensive items in their outfit to help carry the look), but I feel like on me, they can fall flat. I get the feeling people are actually looking at me and trying to decide if I've owned/been wearing the "vintage" item since its inception! If I thrift, I really need to stick to items that are unmistakably current. My mantra has been and needs to continue to be MODERN classic, not dated classic. I seem to need to find elements that are distinctly *not* girly, prim, feminine, prissy, girl-next-door and ladylike to counter the part of my style that is exactly that. AND somehow I've wound up with two A-line skirts and an A-line dress that I haven't worn yet. I have a feeling they are going to look *really* girlish on me. However they're practcal and filled a wardrobe hole so I'll try to get my use out of them this summer.

So with all of that in mind I found this canvas cross-body yesterday. I like the uber-casual style, and hope it makes my feminine outfits look less dainty. It looks awesome with my navy blazer, the rugged canvas being in direct juxtaposition with the shiny brass buttons. I think it looks big enough on me, and the tan color contrasts nicely with all of my clothes (because I would never wear that color)! What do you think from a style perspective?

As for proportions and figure flattery, I like to divide and conquer. I like to divide my belly, my upper chest and my bum, if possible. I like when I have a shorter sweater/jacket and some untucked shirt sticking out. I like to keep my tops above crotch-length. Showing my low-rise jeans waistband is very leg shortening. Belting on top of an untucked shirt can work. I'm struggling to find summer tops that cover my shoulder-neck point (SNP) that don't broaden my shoulders. I do like how the line of a V-neck or open collar (or even a cross-body bag strap) divides up my expanse of upper chest. Modestly sleeveless would be nice but I hate worrying about my bra straps slipping out all day long. I have the kind of straps that can be hooked together but the hook irritates my spine. For now, my summer tops will have to do even though they don't excite me style-wise. Two woven ones have ruffles (which I'd like to get away from) one has old-lady embroidery around the yoke and the others have gaping draped necklines. Is it a wonder I keep going back to T shirts?

Thanks for letting me dump all of this out on you. Hopefully, in true YLF tradtition, it will spark an epiphany about your own style! I appreciate your comments.