Tag: Maxi Skirt

How I Almost Broke My Face Today

.Reading time 7 minutes.

I love wearing a new piece of clothing to work. If you are feeling down on yourself, go out, I don’t care if it is Bergdorf’s or Walmart, and buy yourself something shnazzy. For me, it gives me this false sense of power. Wearing a new piece of clothing makes me feel good about myself, or it should, and there is always a chance of people not knowing what you are wearing is new, therefore, unexpected, but pleasant, power trip. People will just think you have this air of confidence about you, but really you are just riding a new clothes high. You can’t get more fabulous than that.

So this weekend I bought a lovely Vivienne Tam, pleated, flowing maxi skirt, that was a bit too long, but I didn’t care … details, details. And guess what … it wasn’t black! GASP … I know. So purchasing said skirt made me ecstatic for two reasons: 1. I finally got to own something Vivienne Tam after I saw her show during fashion week. 2. I got it for a fantastic price (Loheman’s is God’s gift to woman.) It is a beautiful spring color, and, to be honest, if it is fun enough to twirl in, it is fun enough for me … which it was. I love the romantic idea behind a maxi skirt. The twirling aspect. The thought behind it that if I did have to run through a field of daisies after the love of my life, I would clearly have to hold up a side of it gracefully so I did not trip, hair flowing in the wind. You know … the usual day-to-day activities a woman does.

But just like in the movies, that romantic idea is nonsense. So I decided to wear my skirt to work today. This skirt has a ton of fabric to it, which is another reason why I have created a love affair with it. I wore it with a simple black t-shirt and flats to keep it casual, but like I said, the skirt is a bit too long if I’m not wearing heels. So walking to my car, fine. Walking into work, fine. Sitting in my chair at work and rolling to the computer … not fine. The bottom of my skirt immediately got caught under the wheels causing me to jerk forward. I mean hello, Monday morning, lost an hour of sleep, no caffeine in my blood stream yet. Really chair … really? But I untangled myself, stumbled a bit as I got up and marched myself to the land of caffeine.

Walking down the stairs to the kitchen was my favorite. I held the sides of my skirt gracefully, like I was about to curtsy, I mean it was glorious. So I did my morning ritual of going to get tea and made my way back up the stairs. One hand free to tend to skirt holding, one hand free for the scolding hot lemon tea. Even though I was holding one side of the skirt, the other side was still dangling … ready to kill me with every step up the stairs I took. I didn’t know what to do first, make sure I didn’t get burned by the scolding hot tea, make sure I didn’t face plant whilst walking up the stairs, or make sure when I finally said “screw it” and hiked my skirt up in an unattractive bunch that a co-worker wouldn’t get an awkward show first thing Monday morn. Instead, I took it slow and steady like a pirate with a peg leg up the stairs, trying not to burn myself, and trying not to step on too much skirt fabric, so it didn’t just slip right off, and praying to Jesus no one would see me acting a fool this early … I mean for the love of God.

By the time I got back to my desk, rolling over the fabric of my skirt yet AGAIN which caused me to jerk forward awkwardly, I had about enough of this nonsense and it was only 9:30 a.m. … if that. So to sum this story up, that scene took place about, oh, I don’t know, another 10 times throughout the day. The more I almost fell, but caught myself, or the more I hobbled up the stairs like a pirate, I couldn’t help but laugh. Yep I was that girl, hobbling, laughing, and falling up the stairs like I should be committed. Nice to meet you. Yeah so, my romantic idea of Audrey Hepburn holding up her flowing long skirt like a lady, turned into more like a toothless hag holding up her skirt in an unattractive bunch like she was stepping on grapes to make wine saying … “ELLO GOVNAHHHHHHH,” to passerby’s.

Lesson learned: I need to get that damn skirt hemmed, and quite frankly, romantic stories I make up in my head about clothing probably do not belong in a two-story office, okay? The funny thing is, I was so nervous to look at the bottom of my skirt for fear that it had been ripped to shreds with me falling all over it today, but to my dismay, it indeed stayed intact. I like to think while making this fabulous pleated skirt that Vivienne Tam said to herself, “hmm, some asshole girl is probably going to want to pretend that she is Cinderella whilst wearing it during everyday activities, but in reality she is going to fall … and fall a lot … and get really tangled in things. Let’s get the most durable fabric we can find team.” To that, I say thank you, Ms. Tam, thank you.

You Say Goodbye … I Say Hello.

.Reading time 5 minutes.

When I walked out of my house this morning, there was a familiar feeling in the air. A twinge of a chill that will forever remind me of going back to college or school in general. This is the time of year, for me at least, when change is the name of the game. Weather is cooling down, and like the tectonic plates decided to move and cause extreme chaos up and down the east coast yesterday (by the way, was I the only one that didn’t feel the earth move?), our closets will all go into transition mode.

But I’ve never understood those people at the end of a season who decide to move all of their winter clothes into Tupperware boxes or those dismal vacuum space saver bags and store in the attic for next winter to make room for spring and summer clothes. A. I don’t like the idea of Tupperware or vacuuming my clothing into plastic, B. I don’t trust leaving my clothes in a dark, damp, and weird space where God only knows what could happen to them … ick C. I like all of my clothing in one place … so what if I need super human strength to move through my closet, at least I know a random animal or colony of bugs living in my attic secretly didn’t eat them for dinner.

So if you are looking at all of your fantastic summer clothing and getting a bit depressed knowing that all the colors and frills will be retired after Labor Day … just … stop. Goodbyes suck, so why bother.

What To Salvage:

Summer Dresses: Since bright, vibrant colors are all the rage this fall, it is absolutely acceptable to keep these around. Strapless, spaghetti strap, one strap, crazy straps … or whatever other strap dresses you have acquired, throw on a pair of tights, a fierce pair of heels, a cute blazer and hello fall look, how you doin’?

Shorts: There is nothing more that I love in life than a pair of shorts with a great pair of tights underneath them, a cardigan and a pair of flats. Not only is it ridiculously comfy, but very retro chic. Perhaps this wouldn’t work with your jean booty shorts, but I always say, if your finger tips reach the end of the shorts, they are fair game to wear.

Maxi Everything: Parting WOULD be such sweet sorrow with my maxi dresses and skirts that I have collected, so I refuse. Even though they are beach frolicking and heat wave friendly, with a blazer and the right accessories you have yourself a lovely fall look. Ok maybe you might need to say farewell to the tropical print ones, but the solid colors I say keep around for the fall foliage.

Open Toed Booties: I know I’ve acquired a lot of fierce open toed shoes for the summer nights out, and when the weather gets a bit nippy, I know the urge to rescue your toes to warmth is overwhelming, but relax. Even the strappiest of strappy heels can be transitioned to fall and winter by rocking tights with them. Even socks are apparently socially acceptable to wear with heels now (even though I’m still on the fence on how I feel about this topic … more to come later).

Tank Tops: For the love of everything holy … tank tops are so versatile … yet they are such a symbol of sweltering heat and the summer months. When it doubt, no matter what time of year, if you find a cute tank top … BUY IT. Fall, winter, spring, summer … you can rock them solo, with a blazer (can you tell blazers are a must have this season?), a cardigan, layered under shirts and sweaters etc. etc. etc. Play around with them … but know they can always be used. They are a valuable resource, in fact I have a specific drawer dedicated to them. Be a tank top hoarder … no one will judge, I promise.

Lesson learned: Just say no to retiring your wardrobe into dismal Tupperware coffins.