Frida Love

We took our students to see the Frida and Diego exhibit at the High Museum of Art, so I got a little Frida-fied with my outfit. 

While I can easily recognize her work, there was a lot I didn't know about the colorful Frida Kahlo! I didn't know that her body was constantly in pain from polio and a bus accident as a teenager. I didn't know she was in love with a much older (and larger) Diego Rivera... that they got divorced.... then got married again. I didn't know that her accident made her unable to have her own babies. That she lived in the USA and hated it and Paris and loved it but was always obsessed with her native Mexico. Turns out, there's a lot more to Frida than colors, flowers, and self portraits!

Cool thing about being a teacher #951: sometimes you get to do as much learning as you do teaching!

Anyway, if you live in Atlanta, you should definitely visit the Frida and Diego exhibit at the High. If you have the option, definitely see the lovely multimedia performance before the exhibit. It's appropriate for kids and entertaining for adults, too. And if me and my blog post are any proof, educational!

Wearing:
Vintage peasant skirt
Blouse from somewhere crazy cheap and probably not ethical at all
Belt bought in Paris
Circle scarf gift from a parent
Boots from Target
Glasses from a boutique in Brooklyn, NY

so long, winter

Yellow like a sweet
canary, yet skimming the
earth, water-bird style.
Some skirts cary warmer days
in just the thought of their hue.

Another outfit from several weeks ago. It must be old because such length and layers would be unthinkable now. I wish I'd worn this skirt more during the brief winter; it's long and oh so warm, but I think the bold bright yellow threw me off. I tend to be a muted-toned dresser in the muted-toned seasons.  Still glad I picked it up for a few dollars at (I think) Last Chance Thrift Store; some cold days are just begging for a bit of color, and sometimes it's your job to bring it!

Wearing
Knit yellow skirt from Last Chance Thrift Store (?)
Lace up boots from Underground Atlanta
Gray shirt from Rainbow
Jessica Simpson brand scarf gift from grandma
Bow barrette gift from Korean student ;)

collecting cobwebs (and a thought on ethical shopping)

Wearing:
Rainbow white tee and poofy hip pants
Laceup boots from Underground Atlanta
Cardigan from H&M (Suzhou)
Shawl/scarf vintage, found in attic.

I don't know why I let some outfit pictures languish on my desktop for weeks without posting them. Maybe I'm busy, or a bit discouraged by a fussy camera. Or maybe it's because I can't quite decide what I want to say about them.

Reading this Asian Cajuns post didn't help me want to gush about my clothes either. Boo! I hate it when the reality of a favorite indulgence confronts me. Lar basically points out the ugly truth I always know but never really think about when it comes to trendy cheap clothing stores like Forever 21 and H&M and probably my beloved ghettofabulous Rainbow, too. That for me to get that brief satisfaction of scoring a sequined top for $7, someone on the other end is sacrificing in some way. I like the way Lar puts it when she says, "at the back of my mind I did have that niggly sensation (aka guilty conscience) because I knew if I was buying a necklace for £1, someone on the other end wasn’t making very much money." I know exactly the sensation she means.

But what's an impoverished clothes-addict to do? Lar suggests shopping in thrift stores, but sometiems you just need your quick fix of a fleeting trend (you know, to set off all the frumpy oversized thriftstore garments you wear during the week). What do you think, my lovely fashionable ones?

tooth ache teacher

Is this sweater with the little doll stamps slightly too precious? I asked myself this question before shrugging and pulling it on anyway. I don't typically wear clothing with graphics, especially overly saccarine ones that might increase the youthfulness of my appearance... I need no help looking ten years younger. But some mornings, sweet little doll sweaters are the only thing that will do!

Wearing:
Vintage doll-stamped sweatshirt from Clothing Warehouse Warehouse
Blouse underneath from a free clothes pile in college
Blue corduroys frommmmm... H&M??
Outdoorables by Daniel Green vintage ankle boots
Antique socks from Dodie's Antiques in Sylva, NC

my heart runneth over-- teacher outfit

I'm going to sound like such a sap, but did you know I have the best job ever? In my world, one must dress prepared for impromptu dance parties and sneak-attack hugs. And sometimes a combination of the two. Today was one of those days I thought my heart was going to leap straight out of my chest and swallow everyone up, it was so full of love. How fitting that I wore my dorky little patchwork hearts sweater on such a day! To accompany it, the pants I can only describe as "sweatings", a chimera of jeans and sweatpants offering the necessary freedom of movement for Russian dance kicks and squatting low to boogie with small ones. Hope you all found something to love today <3

Wearing:
Patchwork hearts knit sweater from Last Chance Thrift Store
Sweatings/jeggings/pants from Festivity
Boots from Underground Atlanta
Collared blouse (underneath) free from university give-away pile.
Brown ribbon in hair.

ellis island chic

I think I need to take it more seriously when my outfits inspire comments like "You're looking very Russian Immigrant today." I'm the first to admit that I can't resist a long hemline, or that wrapping a scarf around one's head sounds like a perfectly acceptable way to keep warm to me... but I should probably be mindful that I am treading on dangerous ground when I throw fingerless gloves into the mix. All I can really say when faced with all this logic is, whateva. Babushkas can be hot. And these clothes just happen to be perfect for chasing down children all day. Russian grannies know wussup!

Russian immigrant sisters at Ellis Island circa 1906 (source) and myself circa 2012. Ok I am beginning to see the resemblance...

Wearing:
Hat and dress (worn as shirt) bought in Korea
Skirt: Vintage, I think bought at Clothing Warehouse warehouse
Thrift store tights
Minnetonka fringe trampers
Fingerless gloves a gift from my ma

minnie mouse dress

Are you more t-shirt or dress, big red Minnie Mouse garment? Doesn't matter. You're perfect for throwing on with tights and boots. You keep me warm but you don't constrict me. I could do the twist in you all day long. Thanks for being a friend.

Wearing:
Dress: thrift store
Boots: Underground Atlanta
Scarf: France

I notice a trend in myself where I stop blogging as much in the winter. I think it's a mix of being sloth-like in the cold, and the lack of satisfactory daylight by the time I get off work. Perfect circumstances for browsing all your blogs underneath my electric blanket, but not so great for setting up tripods and photographing myself in my dusky apartment. I did manage to get the photos above with the help of a neighbor's car and some interesting sharp afternoon light.

Stay warm, lovelies <3

paisley playground

Best job ever? One where your day might include catching a little air on the ole neighborhood swingset. You have to dress prepared for these things! 

I broke my usual pattern of dresses and oversize sweaters to wear some old favorite jeans unearthed in my parents' attic. I modified them into skinnies years ago by sewing up the inner legs, and just recently my knee popped through. That happened to another pair of self-made skinnies too. Weird! As for the shirt, I found it a few months ago at Last Chance Thrift Store in Decatur. It's a little like a turtleneck and a lot like a glorious deep ocean of paisley. Expect to see more of it once I figure out more ways to wear it!

Smiling faces blur.
Hi, sky, going up. Hello,
woodchips rushing down.

Wearing:
Dollhouse brand self-converted skinnies
Paisley shirt from Last Chance
Sunglasses found in school basement costume box
Sparkly black Toms.

wonderfully witchy

How I love to wade in a sea of fabric all day! Oversize scarf, oversize sweater, loose cotton dress... It makes me feel wonderfully witchy when paired with my lace-up boots. I can hide in these safe folds and spy on the outside world as much as I please. I'm still a young witch, though, so I make sure to remember my gold leopard leggings.

Wearing:
Leggings and boots: Underground Atlanta
Dress: H&M (in China)
Oversize cardigan: Stolen from mom
Oversize scarf: bought in France

The boots and leggings are both from shops in Underground Atlanta which I feel really bad for not knowing the exact names of. I know UA might seem rough around the edges or too touristy and cheesy, but I swear by their accessories and shoes! Ghetto fabulousness is still fabulous; they always have that little bit of sparkle you're looking for, and so cheap! I can't vouch for the quality of everything, but these leggings are going on their third season with me... and being a member of my wardrobe is no gentle experience.

As a "teacher" outfit (this distinction is beginning to fade), these clothes fulfilled all my requirements: Comfortable, modest, and fun... As a teacher of small ones, you WILL have your clothes pulled on, you WILL be occasionally groped, and you WILL spend much of your day squatting to talk to short people. You might also get to run around and maybe even climb something if you're lucky. There are many things to worry about throughout the day, and inadvertently flashing one of these short people shouldn't be one of them. I'd love to wear pencil skirts, but not here I'm afraid; I'm bag lady all the way!

Georgians-- How amazing is this 76 degree weather for Thanksgiving?? Everyone else-- Hope you're finding your own special ways to stay cozy and content this week. XOXO

Plain jane

Wearing:
Oversize Lacoste: Thrifted at Clothing Warehouse warehouse
Sweatpant jeggings: Festivity
Bow, circle scarf, slipper shoes: China

Yet another frumpy chic teacher outfit.

On mornings when you awake with swollen eyelids and a general need for comfort, reach for the faux glasses and the big slipper shoes. Oversize Lacoste sweaters will keep you cozy and ready to play polo at a moment's notice. Drink plenty of tea and practice calming breathing exercises. Stretch aching thigh muscles often. Count banana colored leaves on the playground. Count blessings. Repeat.

I love this gigantic bow my chinese BFF gave me for my birthday. I'm not sure it's as acceptable in America for a woman in her 20s to wear such a childish accessory, but sometimes I just can't resist. 

balance

Wearing:
Gray skirt: Dug up from storage; I think it was a Clothing Warehouse Warehouse find.
Boots: Underground ATL
Crop top and scarf: China
Crochet knee socks: Target 

I'm beginning to see the small results of yoga and kung fu; once touching my toes was a distant fantasy and now I reach them with ease. And balancing on one foot has become an activity that can last more than a few seconds. I hope this balance will spill out into other aspects of my life; i.e. MY APARTMENT.

One wonderful thing about having all my old clothes dug up from storage is access to old favorites. This gray skirt with its bell shape and deep pockets has more structure than I am accustomed to wearing lately, but structure is just what I need. It's a bit of my old self paired with a bit of my new self, a crop top purchased in China. Voila: Balance.

Frumpy Chic

I've been calling my style "frumpy chic" since high school, though I must admit there's always been a stronger lean in the "frumpy" direction. I get a little flak for it at work, as some of the older teachers like to tease me for my giant ugly sweater collection. I just brush my one-exposed shoulder off.

Wearing:
Pink granny sweater: Salvation Army on Marietta St.
Boots; Underground ATL
Striped maxi dress: China
Ruffle scarf: Festivity in Virginia Highlands
Shades: Found in old costume box in school basement ;)

Knitiful -- the hem, the boots, the knit

A teacher outfit featuring some of my favorite things this chilly season: Long hemline with tall boots, knits, scarves. I found this long yellow skirt at a church garage sale in Cincinnati amongst wide brimmed hats and bold costume jewelry galore.

Crayon yellow skirt
long as a giraffe's neck and
warm like easy mac.

Wearing:
Knit skirt from Cincinnati church yard sale
Lace up boots from Underground Atlanta shop
Old gray shirt
Knit vest given to me by a friend
faux fur circle scarf from China

It certainly is pitiful the way I use our class camera to sneak pictures of my clothes during down time. When dressed in shoulder-to-ankle knit, I guess that makes me knitiful (I deserve to lose some readers for that one). Stay cozy this weekend!

Inspired

I fell in love with this photograph the second I saw it on my tumblr dashboard (via iamfrombarcelona) and couldn't wait to try it for myself. I just love the way the yellow collar is poking out of the dark blue sweatshirt, both for visual pop and the nerdy schoolboy connotation (I love dressing like a nerdy schoolboy teacher sometimes, though a slightly older coworker said "I think I wore that exact outfit when I was in 8th grade!").

Usually I'm not a fan of layering sweaters because they have to have perfect proportions or else look unflattering and bulky, but I admire this combo on so many other people, I decided to give it another try. My version doesn't have the amazing pattern on her collar, nor the amazing lips with which to boast a lovely deep lipstick shade (I actually am wearing a deep maroonish brownish lipstick but my lips are so razor thin the camera can't even pick it up!)

Image Source

My version.

Wearing:
Sweater: $1 at a roadside sale in N.C.!
Blouse underneath: Love Culture
Brown schoolboy shoes: Last Chance Thrift Store
Pants: they're like sweat pant jeggings. I got them at Festivity in Virginia Highlands for 50% off with Scoutmob! Most comfortable pants in the world, I want to go back and get them in brown!!

Overall I was satisfied with this outfit! I'm picky about what I wear to teach in, and this fulfilled all my requirements. I'm sure I'll wear a variation of it again sometime, when the nerdy schoolboy within needs another day out. Could be as soon as this weekend!!

Teacher outfit -- flowers for the children

Sometimes the easiest thing is to just throw on your most comfortable floral pants and the most gigantic cardigan in your wardrobe, and call it a work outfit. When not having a good eye day, glasses do the trick, sending out that important message, "I'm watching you, children." 

Wearing
Floral pants: China
Long tank: H&M (Suzhou)
Oversize cardi: belongs to ma.
Ballet flats: Target