Caution: navel gazing ahead

This isn't just an "I didn't let myself touch my wallet" comment. I think I'm learning things here on the blog that are paying off by me not paying out irl.

We went to lunch at the "nice" mall. As we walked in, the lightweight fabric of the cream-colored summer dress on the woman ahead of us swung a little bit in the breeze. It was loose and flowing and casual and looked great with her stacked heels and tote bag. There were several other women in breezy, swingy summer things. I thought "I should get something like that. Yeah. It looks so nice". And then I remembered the style thinking I've been doing and realized that there was nothing RATE about those dresses, most of them weren't strong colors, they didn't have much structure (except for exposed shoulders/ collarbones)--I wouldn't wear them. If I did, I wouldn't feel fresh and breezy like they looked. I'd feel like the Staypuff Marshmallow man rolling through Manhattan. Then I thought a tiny bit further and realized that the very top I had on has a little bit of flow to it, with its slightly longer back and curved hem, and was balanced by my jeans shorts--they're not terribly rough, but do contrast with the eyelet lace. (I think i should've rolled the shorts up a tad, and hope the shells on my necklace weren't hidden irl the way they are in this photo, but otherwise think I look alright). So thanks, YLF!

I've lost weight, have a bit more to go, and some tightening up to get back to. So I needed to have a bra fitting. Where else to go but Nordy's, especially when their annual sale is in full swing? Last year I got one of their store brand bras and a Feathers set in the same size I've worn forever during the sale. Why not go for a repeat?

I'll tell you why not. I walked into that store, past the St John's Bay and other designers and thought "ooooh, let's look at the sales rack". I made myself keep going. Next was Topshop "their stuff is so cute, I should pick up some de-jiggling mojo". Made myself keep going. It was crazy. Decided to leave the store, walked through a display of a label I've never heard of and saw a _cute_ grey dress. Then right by the exit I saw a pair of EF leggings. They were petite, but further in they must have them in my size.... aaack! I barely made it out.

I had the fitting done at a Soma a couple doors down. The saleswoman measured me, asked what I've been wearing, and confirmed that she had come up with the same size. I tried on half a dozen bras. None of them seemed all that amazing, and I have 36Bs at home, so I left without buying anything.

But those Munroe tuxedo loafers were stuck in my head. I made like Ulysses tied to the mast and got down the escalator to shoes. I found the Munroes, imagined wearing them with various combos of black, wine, green, camel, and brown skirts and pants of varying lengths and cuts. Then I realized that isn't what I've ever worn, and those shoes would be at best occasional wear for me. I put them back and looked at blue Ugg! loafers. Want! The Halogen sandals in various colors were on sale and seriously cute. They looked practical and versatile too. And the Ecco sandals! But I didn't try any, because I kept wondering what I'd wear them with. I'd think about things in my closet and realize that although shoe x might pair up with a particular orphan, I didn't have a clear idea of what to buy, so I moved on. Yay me. And TY, YLF.

Then I got a little bit smarter and realized that I don't wear out the soles of my shoes living here; the uppers look worn, but the soles are ok. As little walking as my daily life includes, I don't need to spend money on shoes, especially not if I'm experimenting with new looks. Dressing for the life I have now. Ty, YLF. So I went to Call It Spring and found they have several shoes I'd like to try, if that turns out to be what will work with the wardrobe and style I come up with. They also have a fabric colorway I like better (for me) than the Munroes, sadly available only in heels too high for everyday.

As seasonally fashionable as those women in the summer shifts were, they were not the most stylish people there. There was a couple I ran into a couple of times. He sat across from me in the central area of the mall, waiting for his wife. He was wearing a peachy-orange shirt that made his medium brown skin glow, and his gently tied back grey dreadlocks look elegant. When he stood up, I saw he was wearing straight-leg blue jeans and brown loafers that went well with the shirt. But what really made me happy was when he went over to his wife, also in her late 60s, and I noticed that she had on a dress with a blush background that coordinated with his shirt, but was not matchy-matchy. They looked effortlessly elegant and reinforced that being young and slim is not what it's all about. They'd have to share the Best Dressed award with a little girl. She had long, dark, slightly curly hair, very dark eyes, and a slightly olive complexion. She was wearing a dark floral dress and silver ballet slippers with an ankle strap. She looked absolutely stylish and like she could absolutely run across the playground, jump on the swing, and do all the things a seven-year old is supposed to do. Dressing for the life you have now. Beautiful.

Last example--fedora at Dillards. Picked it up, couldn't find a mirror, shrugged & put it down. I have no idea if I'll need that Ty, YLF.

Not scoring a single thing is a strange kind of success story, but this is so much better than coming home having "saved" a bunch of money on stuff, and then digging around to see what would go with it. I'm learning to look, as in browsing for myself and as in noticing details about what other people are wearing. And recognizing that my thing that I'm wearing can fit in a profile I think looks nice on others was pretty neat too. So today was a good day.