cleaning house

I have not really lived at home for four years now. I moved back in after graduating college a few weeks ago, to live for the next year until I'm done with graduate school. Currently, I'm in the process of finding a place for all of the stuff I've accumulated over the past four years, and so far it's proved quite a challenge. In order to accommodate my things, I've had to donate a lot of items that were residing in my space, left over from high school. I've always found it quite difficult to "get rid" of things. I (or my parents) paid hard earned money for the things, and some of the stuff didn't get full use. To make it easier for me to let go of things, I follow a couple rules:

1. Always remember that donated items can be written off on your taxes. Takes some of the bite out of feeling like you're throwing away money.

2. Get rid of anything that you have not used or worn in six months. If you haven't touched it in that long, I'm pretty sure you won't suddenly start. Don't fool yourself - that too big, ugly sweater that you haven't worn since you were in high school will NOT suddenly become appealing. If it's spring, anything you didn't wear this past winter gets the boot. Anything that you didn't wear last spring as well. If you've gained or lost weight, don't save things because you want to fit in them again.

3. If you feel like you have to keep something because "I forgot I had this. I will wear this now, promise!", give yourself a cut off point after which you will REALLY donate it if you haven't worn it yet. Usually a month is my final cut off.

4. Try taking your stuff somewhere where you can sell it for credit and buy something you need in exchange. Who knows, those 5 pairs of tapered jeans might wind up buying you a nice, lightly used jacket for spring.

5. Clean when you're really mad. I find that cleaning out my closet is good therapy. When I'm angry I seem to be more inclined to get rid of things. (If anger isn't the feeling that makes you most willing to part with stuff, clean when your happy/sad/whatever.) Avoid cleaning when you feel nostalgic. You won't want to part with anything for fear of losing memories.

6. Once you're all done, don't feel compelled to fill up the space again with junk you really don't need. That's kind of like weeding your garden and then planting a bunch of dandelions when you're done.

7. Give yourself a time goal. Get everything out and organized in two weeks. Do a little bit each day. This makes the task more manageable, but gives you a point to look to end on so your space isn't in a constant state of upheaval and you never quite finish.

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colorful wool coats

We in CNY are now in the throes of mid-winter. It's windy, blowing lake effect snow, and slushy outside. Usually in a few weeks I'll have started to miss sun and the grass, and long for bright spring days. In order to help myself fight off the winter woes, I purchased a bright kelly green, pleated, swing, wool coat from Old Navy a few weeks ago. I really love it, mostly because while everyone else trudges around in dreary black, camel, or gray wool coats, the unexpected color looks happy and fresh. Here are some suggestions to keep you cozy and bright until spring:


classic long pea coat with thinsulate, $77.90-$82.90, Alloy


plaid short hooded pea coat with thinsulate, $59.90-$64.90, Alloy


bell sleeve wool-blend coat, $58.99, Alloy


tab waist wool-blend coat, $49.99, Old Navy

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pretty lounge wear

As a college student, I spend a decent portion of my night in lounge wear. After being dressed up from 8am to 8pm, I look forward to coming back to my dorm and changing into something comfortable while I'm doing homework and relaxing before bed time. I got to thinking, though, that my current outfit is pretty drab and unstylish (jersey gym shorts and an oversize t-shirt). There is absolutely no excuse or good reason to look like a disaster just because you're not "out" - especially in dorms where everyone may see you walking down the hall to the lounge or the restroom.

Where do you find pretty things to wear while you're relaxing? The first place I thought of was Old Navy. They usually have lots of colorful things, and are usually much less expensive than things you'd find at places like Victoria's Secret (another good place for lounge wear, although, as I just mentioned, usually out of my budget). After all, you want to look decent, but if you're going to have to spend an arm and a leg to relax, you may as well buy a new daytime outfit instead.

Here are my suggestions to the dowdy alternatives:

T-Shirts:
Instead of wearing an oversized, boxy tshirt from the bookstore that you sweat in at the gym, try one of these cute tops. Just because they're a little more detailed than a plain tshirt doesn't mean you can't wear them to lounge around in. Remember to separate your lounge tops from  your daily wear tops - you don't HAVE to wear these out in public just because they're marketed as normal wear tops. (Although these sure beat wearing workout wear to class if you had to get ready in 0.374 seconds.)

pink pleated top, $17.50
purple drop waist top, $17.50
yellow boat neck top, $10.00
blue striped henley, $8.99
gray and pink striped scoopneck, $14.50
green ruffled scoopneck, $12.50

Hoodies/Sweatshirts
Is that baggy, ratty old sweatshirt really doing good things for your figure? I doubt it. Aim for something with feminine details, or waist defining abilities. Stay away from solid, big kangaroo pouches that will add bulk (if you do get a sweatshirt with a pouch, aim for a slim one, or one that is split up by a zipper), or high crew necks without zippers that will give you a uni-boob. Try these for a change:

ruffled hoodie, $19.99
faux-fur collar hoodie, $19.99
shawl collared cardigan, $13.99

Sweatpants/Yoga Pants
I swear, the lounge uniform of college women is the black yoga pant, or black leggings. They are NOT cut to flatter everyone, and should NOT be worn as day to day pants. Why not try a colorful alternative, or a different color neutral? The trick with colorful pants is to avoid ones that look like PJ's. Also, try and avoid shrink-wrap leggings, or super baggy cuts. I'd also try and avoid fleece, unless you vacuum regularly, as it will act as a lint roller to whatever dust/fuzz is lying around your dorm. You could also try some super-casual twill pants, or light weight cords if you're looking for something a bit less relaxed.

green drawstring fleece pants, $10.99
purple striped foldover pants, $16.50
pink cotton drawstring pants, $7.99-$16.50
gray lightweight cord cargos, $12.99
navy jersey lined cargos, $19.99

I just love that for under $50.00, you can go into Old Navy and get a complete (and reasonably fashionable) lounge wear set!

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reader question: what to wear with riding boots

This post is dedicated to Kelly, from Tearing Up Houses - evidently my one, sole reader. (Haha, get it? ... SOLE!) She commented on my Winter Boots post, and she asks for:

Ideas on a pair of boots I bought a couple of years ago. They're Etienne Aigner riding boots a little sleeker than the first pair you pictured. I love, love, love them but don't wear them much because I never know what to pair them with. In the past I've thrown them on with an Abercrombie jean mini and a couple of lacey tanks. Any new ideas? (By the way, I don't really own skinny jeans because they look horrible on my body type, so it's tough squeezing my boot cuts into these...)

I'd never heard of the Etienne Aigner brand before, but I did a quick Google search to figure out what I was working with. I'm not sure what style exactly you've got, or what color, so I picked the ones that I would pick for myself, so hopefully you've got something similar to these:

 Etienne Aigner Venezia Riding Boots, $179.95, Amazon







Since I know you live in Florida, I will refrain from throwing a mess of cold-weather options your way, and suggest these instead:

Dresses
My first thought was to go for a breezy, chiffon dress in a floral pattern. My next thought was that, that was too predictable, so I looked for some alternatives as well.


Skirts
Since you mentioned that you usually wear skirts with it, I thought I'd try and find a few other choices besides denim and miniskirts, and found a few tops to pair with them.


Shorts
It is possible to wear boots and shorts together without looking like either Daisy Duke or a hooker.


Click on the images to see the items in each set!

You also mentioned that you have a hard time shoving boot-cut jeans into them, and that skinny jeans don't look good on you. As far as this goes, I would suggest perhaps finding a pair of jean-capris that you like, and tucking those into your boots - there's a lot less fabric to deal with than a full pair of jeans. Else, try finding a looser-cut pair of denim leggings.

Hope this helped, Kelly!

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collegiate appropriate winter footwear

Dependent upon where you attend college, many students face the predicament of what to wear on their feet come winter-time when sloshing around in snow and slush wearing ballet flats or peep-toe pumps is simply out of the question. Boots of some fashion are usually necessary for the winter months. Of course, you’ll want to ensure that your boots of choice fit in with your overall style genre. One thing to remember is that a decent quality boot is an investment - sure, it may set you back now, but in the long run, being able to wear the same timeless boot year after year sure beats having to purchase a new pair every winter because the cheap-o ones you bought last snow-season wore out. Before you reach for the ever popular (but oh, so … ugly) UGGs, consider these functional alternatives for a more put-together and stylish way to keep warm and dry.

Chic & Sophisticated
Full lace-ups or riding boots are sleek and polished. They’re clean, classic, and don’t need a lot of detail to make a big statement. Keep them polished and shined for the best effect. Though they're on the high end of the price spectrum for college students, I would highly recommend investing in a beautiful pair of Frye's. If you take good care of them, they will last forever, and are timeless. Big bonus - you can wear them in the spring, summer, and fall, as well as the winter!

Frye Paige Tall Riding Boots, $348.00, Zappos

Frye Melissa Riding Tall, $378.00, Zappos


Casual & Cozy
Duck boots, like these from LL Bean are the quintessential laid-back, homey boot. Many designers, like Sporto, are now emulating this classic style, but why not stick with the original? Sure, they might be a little pricey, but I can attest that they will last you a lifetime and will always be in style – after all, they’ve been selling out of them since 1912. If you have qualms about shopping at an “old fogey” store, try an updated look from Sporto.

L.L.Bean Duck Boots - Shearling Lined, $134.00, L.L.Bean

Sporto Kim, $75.00, Zappos


Sporty & Functional
These boots are all about keeping your feet warm and dry – no frills or fancy details, just straight up functional. I’m a fan of Colombia boots – they’ll withstand just about anything. Plus, they're cute in a "snow bunny" kind of way.

Columbia Bugaboot Omni-Tech, $99.95, Zappos


Urban & Hip
If bulky and/or fuzzy boots are just not your thing, try wellies. You may need to throw on an extra pair of socks to keep you warm, but they are the old standby for keeping you dry when it rains – and what is snow but a different type of water? They come in a multitude of colors and some with cute details like laces. If you’re looking for something a little bit more fashionable, try wellies with wedges to stand out.

Hunter Original Lace, $115.16, Zappos

rsvp Aster, $64.00, Zappos

Trenton Plask W, $76.00, 6pm

Sperry Top-Sider Pelican Wedge Sadie Rubber Boot, $27.98, 6pm

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holiday dresses

For many of us, December and January marks the beginning of holiday party season. With such an array of mass-produced, fancy dresses in stores and online, how do you choose a dress that will flatter your individual body type? I've compiled a selection of gowns found from reasonably priced vendors to help you visualize what styles could work for you. I picked styles with an almost old-Hollywood glamor; shiny fabrics, classic shapes, and feminine details make these just right for a special holiday gathering.

shirred sweat heart dress, $39.99, jc penney


short-sleeve beaded dress, $42.90, alloy


strapless bow dress, $42.90, alloy


cascade chiffon dress, $42.90, alloy

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