What to Wear >> To a Baby Shower

It's been awhile since I posted an outfit around these parts! And posting two days in a row, what am I, trying to win an award or something? But when I got an email with a gentle nudge from Nicole to get back in the game so to speak, I couldn't help but oblige. I meant to do more What to Wear posts, but haven't for whatever reason, so it was just the push I needed. Anyway, I got this rad dress recently and I wanted to show it off to the internets. :)

 You might be thinking, "well that's a nice abstract print." GET CLOSER.

BAM. Upside down cats. Why are they upside down? I don't know. Maybe because I found this at the Salvation Army for $10 as part of Target's sample cast off lot? Maybe. But it kinda just makes me heart it even more.

So would I wear this to a baby shower? Yes, yes I would. Although I actually wore this to work yesterday. I thought a good dose of black would be good to keep the super sweet feel of the dress down, and also because, ahem, I am a 30 year old woman in a dress covered in cats. So on went the cardigan, leggings, and my new favorite boots. Oh, and can we talk about these boots from Teva for a minute? They're rad. Real rad. I know I didn't really take a pic of them here, but they look like this up close. Cute, right? Plus, besides looking good, they're secretly waterproof (perfect for Fall/winter) without looking like they are, and are all ergonomic and what not...cuz they're Tevas. I looked at a LOT of lack booties before settling on these, and am so happy with my purchase.

This is a link up with Gypsy in Jasper, so you should head over there to see what she's going to wear to a baby shower...it's um, unconventional to say the least. ;) Get ready!

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> While Exercising

I actually did snap pictures of what I wore to yoga this morning, but the more I thought about it, the more it wasn't sitting well with me.

Excuse me while I climb atop my soapbox. *Ahem*

via pinterest

Obviously, my primary form of exercise is yoga, and something that is very important to me is that anyone can do yoga. Wearing anything. With the rise in popularity of yoga over the last decade, what’s come with it is trendiness and a "cool" factor, which really has nothing to do with yoga. In fact, if you view fashion as an expression of your creativity and self, it doesn’t have anything to do with fashion either, since everyone is trying to look just like each other. You do not need to wear $90 pants, or have the latest and greatest mat in order to show up to class. What’s important is that you show up. I can barely afford to take class regularly, let alone drop a lot of cash on the clothes that I wear. I think you should wear whatever makes you feel good, even if it's grubby old leggings and a plain ol' tank top. Descends soapbox.

That said, yes, it is nice to wear nice things, so if you can afford it and it makes you happy, awesome! A few other tips for being what to wear for a yoga class:

> Marshalls and TJ Maxx are GREAT places to score deals on workout clothes. Also, REI occasionally has awesome scores on the clearance rack (I recently got a bunch of Hardtail stuff 70% off).

> For yoga in particular, form fitting it better than loose. You don’t want your shirt flying up in your shoulderstand! It also makes it easier for you to see your alignment, and for your teacher to make adjustments.

> When buying bottoms, try them on and SQUAT DOWN. Try and look in a 3-way mirror to check for opacity. I have definitely had my underwear clearly showing through on a few occasions!

> Be sure to bring a hoodie or a cardigan to class, even if it’s hot out. You’ll want it for savasana at the end (aka the best part of classJ).

Be sure to check out what the other ladies are rockin' this week! I can't wait to see the variety in this week's posts. If you'd like to join us today, link up! In two weeks, we'll be sharing what to wear for a coffee date.

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> To Work

It's style time, guys! I kinda love this week's topic: what to wear to work. I mean, this is what most of us get dressed for most of the time, right? I didn't work for most of last year while I was doing my yoga teacher training. Wearing spandex all day everyday was kinda nice on the one hand (i.e. comfort, time saved on getting ready), but I eventually sorta missed having a reason to put on real clothes everyday. I really see clothes as an extension of myself as well as a creative outlet, and I'm glad I get to explore it everyday!

I have spent my entire adult life working for non-profit performing arts (almost all of it theatre). The organizations have all been on the bigger side, so they're pretty office-y, but I mean, it's still the arts, so the dress code is pretty relaxed. I pretty much wear whatever I want, as long as it's not sweatpants and my boobs aren't hanging out. I am a manager though, and I do work with the public, so I try and look somewhat put together most days.

I'd say this is a good example of a work outfit for me. I wear many variations of this. Blazer-type thing? Check. That's like, the epitome of "work clothes." But this one is made of sweatshirt material, so it's not stuffy. Then I've got the llama shirt going on, as a nod to not looking too serious. Ankle length pants and my trusty Tom's take me the rest of the way. Oh, and the jasmine in these pics is blooming outside of our apartment and smells heavenly! YUM.

Yup, definitely something I would wear to work, and you should, too.

This week is another link-up party! Head over to Gypsy in Jasper to see more ladies getting in on the action, or post your own outfit and party with us!

Oh, and sorry if these photos look a little wonky. We got out to take pics just before it got dark out. How do style bloggers do it everyday?!

shanti >> sondra

blazer >  miley cyrus + maz azria for walmart (seriously!) way old, maybe $15?

shirt > madewell $12 

pants > target $10 

scarf  > thrifted, $4

bracelets > india

watch > timex

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What to Wear >> Florals

My first "real" post since coming back! It's nice to be back in the saddle again. I'm still working on getting all of my trip pictures sorted through, it might be a week or so, but in the meantime, here we are again with the What to Wear series! Seeing how yesterday was the official first day of spring, it's only fitting that we are going with florals.

While I was in India, everything burst into bloom! Now, don't hate. I've been eyeing up the weather in the rest of the Northern climes, and I know that most people aren't so lucky to have things blooming, let alone be able to see the bare ground. I feel for you; I endured 27 Minnesota winters before I left, so I know how frustrating this time of year can be! Don't worry, though. While everyone else is slipping on shorts on going on picnics in June, we'll still be here in the grey and drizzle. Or so I've been told at least.

Despite the sunshine and blue skies seen here, it was actually still a bit chilly and and VERY windy while I took these pics. I went with this dress since it has sleeves, so it's not too bare for this early spring day. Then, I decided to add some pastel tights to lighten up the look a bit and add an extra layer. Throw some birds on it (the necklace) and BAM! spring look = complete.

We are now doing something very exciting! A link up! This little feature keeps growing and growing. So, if you'd like to participate and/or want to check out more sweet florals, head on over to Nicole's blog!

Is anything blooming yet where you live?

shanti >> sondra

dress >> f21, $20? not sure

tights >> we love colors, $5

necklace >> f21 $4

booties >> target, $18

What to Wear >> St. Patrick's Day

Hi! When you're reading this, I should be safe and sound on the beach far, far away. But I am writing this before I have left, so it's like future Sondra is here talking back to past Sondra...whoa, mind blowing!

Confession: I'm not a big St. Patrick's Day fan. I'm not even a little bit Irish, and I don't like beer. Or whiskey. But neither do I like getting pinched on St. Patrick's Day, so you gotta wear some green.

Ya know, for all the blue I had in my closet, the green options were pretty limited. I guess it's not a color I'm particularly drawn to. I should probably wear it more, since it's the complimentary color to my red hair. Or maybe I look too Christmassy then?

This is one of my favorite shirts, if only for it's versatility. It's just plain white, but it has the collar, sleeve, and back details that make it a little extra special. It's great with so many things! I especially love it under dresses.

Here's a jump shot to show you all how excited I all am to be leaving in two days.

And here's one full length shot of the whole shebang. It's been warm enough the last couple days to have bare legs, if only briefly. When I looked at these photos on the computer though, I thought for a second that I had tights on. My legs are THAT WHITE. Holy moly, I hope I don't instantaneously burn while I'm away!

And, GUYS! There are a whole bunch of new ladies in the lineup this week! Be sure to check them out and welcome them to the gang! And if YOU would like to join us next time, shoot any one of us an email!

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Sondra: Abhaya Yoga

Lisa: Not Ladylike 

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: Lala Faux Bois  

Shayla: Northern Exposure

Lexi: The Girl Who Says Quack

Stacy:  Let it Unravel

Amanda: Little Lady Little City 

Sara: My Life out of a Lab Coat

Katie: Chestnut Mocha

Victoria: Life is Better Blonde

Okay, back to beaching (says future me...from the past). ;)

shanti >> sondra

top >> thrifted, $4

skirt >>  vintage, clothing exchange store  $7

belt >> from another dress

shoes >> Target, $4

What to Wear >> Ladies Night

Back again, with the What to Wear series! This week we're tackling ladies night. I suppose ladies night could mean just about anything, from staying in to watch movies and drink wine, to a full on night on the town, so I would suit my attire accordingly. But, for the sake of argument, let's say it was a surprise what we were doing. In that case, I think this outfit could go pretty much any direction!

First off, I would like to apologize for the wretched state of these photos. Taking photos of yourself is really hard! Especially when you don't have a tripod (note to self: get a tripod). So, if you can look past the grainy and blurry no-goodness, you will see my new favorite pants. Well, new favorites as of yesterday. I snagged them on the clearance rack at Target for $8. They are suuuuuper comfortable, and I love the shade. I tell ya, I'm a sucker for trends. I can't help it. This whole neon thing going on right now? Plus colored pants? Totally diggin' it. And these have the benefit of being a bit on the lemony side, rather than the highlighter pen side of neon yellow. I am especially loving neon paired with neutrals (my favorite neutral being grey!).

And, lookee! I got my hairs cut! So much shorter now. I was having a delusion that I was growing it out, but I realized recently that all I did was put it up everyday. What's the point of that? So I whacked it off. It's a bit shorter than I envisioned, but that's okay, it'll grow. It's fun in the meantime, anyway! The other things I'm wearing are this strange/cool sweatshirt-y thing that buttons at the top, over a grey t-shirt. I topped it all off with my trusty Tom's. Someday I'll wear different shoes on here, promise! I'm just not much of a shoe junkie, usually I stick with a few pairs that work for lots of things. Oh, and Piko was watching me while I took these, and was too cute not to snap pics of.

Are you much of a trend follower, or do you shun them (you trendsetter, you)?

As always, check out the other ladies this week!

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Lisa: Not Ladylike 

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: Lala Faux Bois  

Shayla: Northern Exposure

Lexi: The Girl Who Says Quack

Stacy: Let it Unravel

shanti >> sondra

jeans $8 << target

sweatshirt $14 << marshall's

t-shirt $9  << h&m

shoes $80 << tom's

What to Wear >> Shades of Blue

Blue is definitely my favorite color. Especially shades that more toward the turquoise/peacock end of the spectrum. When I looked in my closet, I had SO many blue options, it was hard to choose! I ended up going with some recent favorites.

The dress is sort of a sweatshirt material, so it's nice and warm, but is cut in just the right way so that it has a little shape to it. And this scarf. This scarf! It's a navy blue and white heather, and I have been wearing it nearly constantly since I got it over a month ago. It's basically like having a sweater around my neck.

I have a lot of variations of this exact outfit. Do you ever find yourself buying essentially the same things over and over again? I sure do. I am such a sucker for plain cotton that's cut in dressier ways. It's like wearing a t-shirt, but no one knows!

Be sure to check out the rest of the gang's choices for shades of blue, including new member, Lexi! And if you'd like to join us, shoot any one of us an email.

Nicole > Gypsy in Jasper

Marcia > Like a Small Fire

Lisa > Not Ladylike 

Sarah > Exploring Woods

Amanda > Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa > Lala Faux Bois  

Shayla > Northern Exposure

Lexi > The Girl Who Says Quack

Have a lovely Thursday! I'm off to work and then to play pub trivia this evening.

shanti >> sondra

dress > target ($10)

scarf > american apparel ($20 w/groupon)

clutch > target ($4)

tights > target ($2)

shoes > uo ($20)

watch > american apparel ($16 w/groupon)

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What to Wear >> to Karaoke

Clearly I am not doing karaoke here. Now, I love to belt out old tunes at the top of my lungs as much as the next lass, but I'm at least 4 gin and tonics away from that at almost all moments. BUT. If I were to go out for a night at the bar, here's something I would wear out. I will gladly accompany others who wish to sing, but I will not likely get up there with them.

That is, unless they have Salt 'n Peppa in the catalog. Then all bets are off. (I still know all of the words to both Shoop and Whatta Man. Classics!)

The main star of this outfit for me is the fur collar. All rock stars need a bit of fur, right? Then it's just an easy tank dress, a slightly fancy (because it's lacey looking? Does that make it fancy?) cardigan, tights, and my trusty Tom's wedges. Comfy, and dressy enough for a night out, but not too dressy to hit up dive bars.

How about you, do you like to get up there and sing your heart out? Or are you with me, nursing your g 'n t back at the table?

Check out the what the other ladies would wear for their nights out!  >>

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Lisa: notladylike
Sarah: Exploring Woods

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: lala faux bois 

Shayla: Northern Exposure

shanti >> sondra 

<< outfit details (I'm going to start including prices I paid here, too, since almost everything I buy is some super-clearance rack score)

dress > UO ($10)

cardigan > target ($8)

tights > gap ($5)

shoes > Tom's ($80)

fur collar > h&m ($3)

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What to Wear >> Stripes

I semi got my shiz together for this edition, guys! I remembered, AND had time to put together a post! Win! Except I forgot the minor detail of it getting dark super early, and not being home in time to take pics. Oops. So, alas, I put together a little spread here of some awesome stripey items I found that I would totally rock altogether as an outfit.

1> I have been afraid of blazers for a long time. I think they make me look like a stuffy old grown-up. But recently I've taken to wearing these blazers made out of thick sweatshirt-y material. They are super comfortable, and I think because they are a little less structured they don't make me look all weird.They add the perfect amount of polish. This one from Target is fantastic!

2> Um, these flats from Modcloth are amazing. They even have stripes on the inside! So they totally still count! And they are priced pretty reasonably, too. I'll have to keep my eye on these for when they come back in stock in my size.

3> Stripes on stripes is perfectly acceptable. I like the pop of green this scarf brings, plus the grey ties the shoes in. I top almost every outfit off with a chunky scarf these days. Anyone else?

4> I have a really similar pair of coral pants (these are F21), and I love them to pieces. They are surprisingly versatile, and would be great with the black and white stripe of the blazer. I'm also really digging the "flood pants" length that's popular right now.

To finish this outfit, I'd probably pair a plain white tank or tee under the blazer, and then I'd get 5> as a cover for my new Kindle. I'm pretty broke after the holidays, but I am currently coveting this one. Maybe next payday?

Be sure to check out the other ladies' offerings ~ we've had a few changes in the line up!

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Lisa: notladylike
Sarah: Exploring Woods

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: lala faux bois 

Shayla: Northern Exposure

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> On a Road Trip

I'm back on track with this week's what to wear! This week, in anticipation for the holidays, we are showing what to wear on a road trip. Andy is actually making the drive from Seattle to Minneapolis with Piko, and I'm super jealous I can't go with him. We are road trip warriors, and with the addition of Piko, we're now a road trippin' team. But alas, I have to work through the 22nd, so I have to fly to be home in time. But actually, what I wear for a road trip is pretty much the same thing I wear to fly. (It's also not too different from what I wore on laundry day. It's kind of a go-to combo for me.)

For me, leggings are a must. They're the epitome of comfort. Then I like to wear some sort of t-shirt dress. Something that is essentially a t-shirt, but just a little longer and looks a little less like I'm in my PJs. This sweater is a staple in my wardrobe. I call it my "blanket sweater," since that's essentially what it is -definitely one of my best buys of the last few years! Then, I add a scarf. A scarf is necessary, since it can double for so many things. Besides looking stylish and keeping your neck warm, you can ball it up to use as a pillow, tie it around your eyes to block out light for an overnight flight, or drape it over your legs if you're cold and there's no blankets. For car trips, I usually wear slippers or easy flats in the car that I can slip on and off for gas stops and bathroom breaks. When I fly, I wear my bulkiest footwear to save suitcase room; usually a pair of boots.

Other road trip must haves for me: lots of good podcasts, a reusable coffee cup for Starbucks stops, a blanket for napping, and my holga for fun film pictures along the way.

As always, be sure to check out the other ladies this week >

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Dorien: Bodacious Thought

Lisa: notladylike

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Katherine: thinkin' outloud

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: lala faux bois

shanti >> sondra

shirt dress  >> h&m, via buffalo exchange

sweater >> uo (2 years ago)

leggings >> american apparel

slippers + scarf  >>  target

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You Make Me Happy >> When Skies Are...

Everyone remembers my snafu from two weeks ago, right? Well, check back if you don't, and you can see what I wore for a snowy day. In the meantime, you can check out the other ladies' fabulous ensembles. I wish it was snowing here, I could go for a snuggly, wintry day. But a cool, grey, wet one will have to suffice.

 I'll be back on schedule with what to wear for a road trip in two weeks! >

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Dorien: Bodacious Thought

Lisa: notladylike

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Katherine: thinkin' outloud

Lisa: lala faux bois

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> for the Elements

:::EDIT::: Oops. Giant oops. Apparently this week's was "what to wear to a family dinner." Needless to say, this is not what I would wear to a family dinner. But that family dinner thing makes a lot of sense, seeing as how it's Thanksgiving in the states next week and all. This is what happens when you are so sure you remembered something, that you don't even bother checking. Lesson learned. :)
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ladies and gents, it is time once again…

This week’s prompt is what to wear…for the winter elements! We just got back from our trip to Canada, so I didn’t have time for proper outfit photos. BUT, we DEFINITELY encountered very cold and snowy conditions, and this is what I wore. 

See me? Looking like a ninja? Word. It may not be cute or fashionable, but darn it if I wasn’t warm. I have two ways of dressing for the cold. The first is if you are not actually going to be spending any time outside. If you go from warm house, to car, to work, and don’t spend more than a few minutes at a stretch outside, you can totally wear something impractical. My last few winters in Minnesota I wore a thin wool swing coat from Urban Outfitters, and was totally fine. But if you are planning on actually spending any time outside, like going for longer walks or hitting the slopes or trails, I highly recommend hitting REI and shelling out for some decent gear. I did not used to believe this.  I refused to. But I now know it to be true. See my get-up up there? It’s down, and neoprene, and goretex, and whatnot, but I was able to stay totally warm and dry for a few hours while out snowshoeing while it was around 0F. Oh, and that balaclava is a miracle. This was the first time I ever wore one, and my face stayed warm and comfy the entire time. Brilliant!

rainy warmth by abhaya on Polyvore

That kind of gear is really for your more extreme end of the cold spectrum. Luckily, I get to just visit the very cold, and the rest of the winter is spent mostly just wet here in Seattle. Wet is something you don’t want to mess around with. My first “winter” in Berkeley, I found some gear that is fashionable and functional; I own similar boots and a similar coat from the set above (the models of these from 2 years ago). Both are waterproof, and just warm enough to ward off the damp chill. I HIGHLY recommend both items, from Merrell. I also love wool socks and leggings in the winter. These options from SmartWool would be perfect for wearing out and about, as well as snuggling at home.

So there you have it – my winter recommendations. As always, be sure to check out the other ladies’ participating in this week’s series…I can’t wait to see what they all come up with!

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Adriana: Horses of Ares

Dorien: Bodacious Thought

Lisa: notladylike

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Katherine: thinkin' outloud

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: lala faux bois

I’ll be back tomorrow with a few more wintry pics and a recap of our trip up north.

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> Halloween Edition

As promised, I'm back today to share what I came up with for Halloween this year. As you can see...Little Red Riding Hood! I'm not sure what prompted the idea, but after I came up with it I went with it because all I needed to do was make a cape.

Since I'm not the best crafter in the world, I was pretty proud of the cape I pulled off. It was more labor intensive than I thought it would be (I imagined it would be possible to do it without sewing...it's not), but it still only took about an hour, and it only took that long because I stitched it by hand. I used this how-to (which was by far the best of all the ones I looked at) in case you ever need to make a cape. You know, all those random cape-making needs. ;)

Everything else was stuff I owned. This was a great costume, because basically you get to wear a fleece blanket around, plus you can put all of your stuff in the basket.

Don't forget to check out the other chicas and see what they put together!

Marcia: Like a Small Fire

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper

Adriana: Horses of Ares

Dorien: Bodacious Thought

Lisa: notladylike

Sarah: Exploring Woods

Katherine: thinkin' outloud

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry

Lisa: lala faux bois

shanti >> sondra

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What to Wear >> Laundry Day

Can I be real guys? I don't do laundry that often. There are a two reasons for this. The biggest reason is that I have an obscene amount of clothes. If I waited until I was down to the nitty gritties clothes-wise, I would probably do laundry like, twice a year. True story.

The second reason I don't do laundry that often is that I only wash things when they are actually dirty. It must be stinky, spilled on, sweated in, or otherwise soiled to be washed (with the exception of underthings. Duh.). Judge me if you will. I do not wash things like jeans and sweaters every time that I wear them. So between having a lot of clothes and not washing things every time I wear them, what dictates when I do laundry is when I run out of good underwear. And I am a lady of good repute, so I will not be showing you a photo of me in my laundry day underwear.

Instead, I thought I'd show what I've been wearing around the house lately. If I am at home, chances are good that you will find me in some version of this outfit. It is warm, comfortable, and decent looking enough to run up to the cafe for a chai, as I did this morning.

There's nothing too special here, but I'd like to point out a couple of things that take this outfit to the next level for me. The first are these leggings. They are American Apparel's winter leggings, and they are magnificent. I have three pairs of these and have been wearing them for 4 years now, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are the thickest, warmest, stretchiest, bestest things in the winter. They saw me through many below zero (Fahrenheit!) days in Minnesota, and have kept me warm on many cold nights camping. They are a little expensive as far as leggings go, but trust me, SO WORTH IT.

The other thing of note here, is this little grey skirt. I recently realized that this cheap cotton tube skirt is the perfect thing to pull over leggings when out running errands, or coming and going from yoga class. It provides just the right amount of modesty, and makes it look like you are actually dressed and not out in your jammies.

Here's the roundup of participants this week, be sure to check them out!

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper | Adriana: Horses of Ares | Marcia: Moose in Chartreuse | 

Dorien: Bodacious Thought | Lisa: notladylike | Sarah: Exploring Woods | 

Katherine: thinkin' outloud | Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry | 

Lisa: lala faux bois

shanti >> sondra

<< wearing

hoodie, slippers >> target

leggings >> american apparel

scarf, skirt >> f21

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What to Wear >> Pumpkin Patch

This was the MOST fun post to put together! It gave us an excuse to head out of town for a brief adventure, plus the patch we ended up at was run by the nicest guy. It was just his little hobby farm, and he does the whole thing for fun. We were the only people there on a Tuesday morning (go figure), and he took us on a tractor ride and let us play with his dogs. Win. Anyway, here's what I wore for the affair.

It was chilly when we left the house, but after tromping around a bit, I warmed up. Thus why I am wearing a sweater in some of these pictures, and not others. I think anything comfortable is good for a trip like this, but I was mighty glad I had worn rubber boots for the fields. It's been a really dry September here, so the field was pretty dusty. The boots kept me nice and clean, and I didn't worry about the leaves and stems snagging my leggings.

As always, be sure to check out the other What to Wear ladies and their fabulous ensembles. And, if you'd like to join us, just send any one of us an email!

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper | Adriana: Horses of Ares | Marcia: Moose in Chartreuse | 

Dorien: Bodacious Thought | Lisa: notladylike | Sarah: Exploring Woods | 

Katherine: thinkin' outloud | Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry | 

Lisa: lala faux bois

shanti >> sondra

<< wearing

dress, cardigan, boots >  target

leggings >  kensie

scarf >> h&m

belt >> anthropologie

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What to Wear >> Bike Edition

It's been a whole month since my last outfit post! Whew. Way back when, I originally thought that I would start a style blog, as I've been reading style blogs for the last 3 or 4 years and I LOVE clothes and dressing creatively. But man, am I glad I didn't go down that road! Taking and editing pictures is so much harder for these than other posts. I think that's because 1) you have to recruit another person to take your photos (well, you don't have to but it makes it a whole lot easier) and, 2) you're so much harder on pictures of yourself than of...well, not of yourself. Also, as much as I love clothes and all, I wouldn't exactly call it something I'm passionate about, like I am about yoga and living my best life. It's a lot easier to write about things you're really excited about. So there's that, too. It IS fun to do these outfit posts, because like I said, I am a lover of clothing myself; I'm just glad they don't happen more often!

Anyway. I digress(ed). Here is my offering for this week's prompt, what to wear to ride your bike. When I lived in Minneapolis, I rode my bike to work every day when it was warm enough, and I can tell you first hand that you can ride your bike in ANYTHING. It might not be elegant, but you can do it. So don't let that stop you from riding. I rarely wear pants (although I think every one of my outfit posts for this series I have worn pants...hmmm, weird), and have ridden in everything from a mini to a maxi skirt and everything in between. I will say that pencil skirts are a little tough, and if you go the mini route, throw on a pair of shorts unless you like getting cat-called. (Excuse me for another aside. WTF is with getting cat called in this day and age? I cannot believe that women are still treated like walking breasts and legs by strange men on the street. Does this happen where you live? It didn'happen too often in Minnesota, but I found that it was SUPER common in California...disgusting.) I went the pants-route here mostly because it was cool out, and I was so excited to finally put on a sweater and scarf. However, by the time I finished taking these pics, the sun had come out and I was too hot.

The other tip I would give would be to make sure there is a little tread on your shoes. It doesn't have to be much, but if they are completely smooth on the bottom your heels have a tendency to slide off and your pedal will hit your heel. Ouch. These moccasins are perfect, because they have rubber soles and are super comfy (oh, and the grass was wet, thus the dark toes). Now, clearly I am not a serious rider of bikes. I ride mostly to get from point A to point B, and so most of my riding experience involves me doing that and looking halfway decent when I arrive. If I were actually into riding, some wool base layers would be great for keeping you warm/cool and dry (think Icebreaker or Smartwool).

Re: the bike. She just got a new brake job, and she's riding like a dream. I LOVE the milk crate on the back of my bike; so handy for hauling groceries or my purse. I also have bike lights for night riding. What I do not have and I need, is a bike helmet. Not only is it just a smart idea, but it's the law here in Washington. I just rode around the park here for a minute, but when I get a helmet I'm excited to take my bike for a ride around the lake by my house.

We have even MORE new members joining us this round! Exciting! Be sure to check out the other What to Wear lady-gang members:

Nicole: Gypsy in Jasper | Adriana: Horses of Ares | 

Marcia: Moose in Chartreuse | 

Dorien: Bodacious Thought | 

Lisa: notladylike | 

Sarah: Exploring Woods | 

Katherine: thinkin' outloud | 

Amanda: Salvaged Strawberry | 

Lisa: lala faux bois

What do you like to ride in?

shanti >> sondra

<< outfit details

sweater > men's vintage, thrifted

pants > f21

mocs, scarf > target

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