Fashioning myself

  Good-fitting jeans are hard to come by. The pants in my closet all fit like they were abandoned there by strangers- women both bigger and smaller than I.  This past year I've gained and lost 50 lbs of baby weight and my body has continually morphed. Many of my clothes are from a different era, a different body. Part of being 30 for me is an increasing desire to put my best (or at least better) foot forward. Clothes are a part of this vision. 

I've long told myself when I was done having kids I would put money aside and grant myself some new clothes. So here I am.  I celebrated Alayna turning 9 months old by playing peak-a-boo and then going downtown to purchase 3 new pairs of pants at my favorite store. (Don't worry, they were miraculously just $15/pair.) I may be 10 years behind the trend, but I just bought my first pair of skinny jeans.   Over the period of a year my goal is to update to a small wardrobe of simple basics that fit. It may take a few tries to get it right.  This re-fashioning is my attempt to be less haphazard and more deliberate about my life.  It's not about materialism. Getting new clothes for me will be about finding enjoyment in myself.  

Many of my clothes were bought because of price, size, an upcoming event, or some other reason that is not 100% for me.   All my best clothes were given to me as gifts, from Brady or family.  I'll of course keep these items that still work for me, but add to them.  I pledge to buy only clothes that make me feel good, clothes that fit, that resonate. I promise to only bring home things that I love and never shop or buy too much. If I can't afford something, I'll save up or wait 'til it comes on sale.

I don't have any fashion intuition and I have never been stylish. Shopping is stressful and I can't stand overcrowded malls.  In an ideal world Kate Middleton's stylist would set out clothes for me in the morning, and I wouldn't ever have to chose outfits for myself.  Since I don't have the luxury of a stylists, I am soliciting the help of friends and family.  I may pry for advice but also feel free to let me know if you have any "This would look great on Dani!" epiphanies.  I'm not aiming to have perfectly crafted outfits, just for a simple, classy look.

I took this self-pic to kick off my new, more fashion- aware, me. I'm in the dressing room of my favorite store, LOFT.

Today we spent the drizzly day walking under the awnings in DC's Galleryplace-Chinatown.  There is nothing particularly Chinese-ish about this place, save the characters on the signs, but it consistently emits a cool vibe, and it's conveniently on our metro line.