Passover Break

I meant to take outfit pics tonight, but when I got home it was time for last-minute vaccuuming and mopping and searching the apartment for any stray crumbs that had escaped our attention until now. This level of scrutiny can mean only one thing: tomorrow night is Passover. Since I'll be sedering, singing, synagogueing and refraining from using electricity until Wed. night, I'll be taking a mini blog hiatus (but don't worry, my outfits will still be fierce.) A zissen Pesach/Happy Passover to you all!

Windy City

The title is not a joke, as this gif shows.

Winter is sadly back again, but I rebelled by layering sweaters instead of whipping out the winter coat yet again. Take that. The wind was intense, as you can see.

On Friday, I was wearing:

-Nickel Creek tee (underneath)

-brown cotton sweater, stolen from sister's friend (underneath)

-brown flowy sweater, DKNY

-jean pencil skirt, Zara

-brown tights

-argyle flats, CL by Chinese Laundry

-brown stud belt, ebay

-brown and blue scarf, souk in Jerusalem

-tan hat, Anne Klein

Under:

 

And over:

I've been rewearing a few pieces all week: the shoes, the belt and the hat. Sometimes I just get into moods where all I want to wear is what I wore yesterday (and the day before.) At least I mixed them up a little differently. I felt pretty darn fantastic in the huge, billowy sweater cinched in at the waist with my studded belt.

I also can check one item off my to-buy list: I purchased an amazing spring/raincoat. Not exactly a trench, a bit more safari-inspired, I can see it working for weekday and Shabbos looks. Hopefully it will be warm enough to debut it soon!

Two Faced

Today marks 99 years since the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in which 146 women died. In memorial, a coworker and I took to the streets on a walking tour of famous women of the East Side. I am so grateful that I was able to do something to remember women just like me who unfortunately were not given the privileges I have been granted.

Today I was wearing:

-face tank, UO

-jean skirt, Zara

-black cardigan (it is there, I promise!), H&M

-black blazer, Theory

-black fishnets

-black oxfords, C G

-gold studded belt, ebay

-sunnies, vintage

-tan hat, Anne Klein

-scarf, still speculating (cousin?)

Not sure what made me reach for this odd-but-fun tank today, since I haven't worn it since sophomore year of college (ok, which wasn't so long ago, but still.) A face on the chest is a bit bizarre but I felt quirky and mod all day (the large vintage sunnies definitely helped, too.)

The fishnets are my compromise with the weather: I will cover up again, but not fully. They keep me from freezing but still allow my legs to take a break from tights, which can get rote after months of continuous wear.

If I hadn't been going on a walking tour today, I think I'd have paired this outfit with heels. Looking at the photos, I just seem so short! The length of the skirt and where it hits certainly contributes to the short/stumpy factor.

I thought this would be the last wear for this hat, a favorite of the past few months, but apparently we may get snow tomorrow. Oh boy.

Reader Question: Belting How-Tos

Shaynie asks:

Hi Nina! Can I ask you a question? :) How do you know whether to tuck a shirt into a skirt or to leave it un tucked? And how do you know whether or not it will look good to wear a belt with a certain outfit? I'm trying to branch out with my outfits, but I don't know how to style them. Any tips? :)

Thanks for asking, Shaynie! I'm a big fan of experimentation-- when I get dressed in the morning, I tuck, untuck, try one belt and then another. That said, I do have a few rules of thumb that make putting similar outfits together a snap. Here are a few ideas that I've found work for me!



I. When leaving a shirt untucked, keep the bottom half sleek and slimmer than the shirt. Volume on top looks lovely with narrow lines on the bottom.

II. You don't need to tuck tees to look good- just keep the rest of the outfit classy. Pair your untucked tee with a cardigan rather than a zipup to keep it from looking childish.

III. My favorite trick for feeling put-together is tucking into a high-waisted skirt. This vintage style is back in fashion, and no wonder! Since I've got some serious curves, focusing in on my narrowest part- my natural waist- works wonders.

IV. To amp up the small-waist factor, add a belt! Try skinny, wide, patterned and textured to see what works for your body. This draws the eye directly to your natural waist.

The green belt unites two disparate patterns; the wide black belt does the same while reigning in a voluminous top; the wide silver belt cinches in the volume of both the top and the skirt; and the studded belt adds a textural element and brings in a color that repeats in the necklace and shoes. The skirt in pictures 2 and 4 is the same: in the first, belted at the top with a voluminous blouse, and in the second, belted lower with a slimmer-fitting tee. You can use belts to wear the same piece quite differently.

V. One of my favorite tricks is to use a wide belt to raise the waistline of a skirt that otherwise sits lower on my hips.

VI. Use belts to create new shapes from what you own. Belt voluminous sweaters, long tunics and yes, even your husband's clothing. Watch your old clothing transform before your eyes.

 VII. Try belting with slim-fitting cardigans. You may be amazed at the results.

 On the left, I belted a skirt to keep it higher than it sits naturally. The cardigan on top narrows the field of vision, making the belt buckle (and hence my waist) a focal point. On the right, I belted over the cardigan, bringing the dress and sweater together into one piece. This way, layers don't shift and look as though they are meant to be put together. Belting right under the bust creates a flowy empire shape that is very forgiving-- great for eating dinner out!


Whew, what a long-winded response to your question! I hope this little experiment was helpful to you, Shaynie, and anyone entering the wonderful figure-enhancing world of tucking and belting. These seven commandments are just some trends I noticed when going through my blog posts.  
Can you add to my list? When do you tuck and/or belt-- and when do you let it all hang out?

Telling Time

 

Today was a doozy. Pilot tour of the new visitor experience with various docents and museum professionals, walking tour for high schoolers and museum tour for the same group. I basically spoke for 5 hours straight before heading out to class. I'm relaxing now with some Kitchen Nightmares, my latest guilty pleasure on Hulu (I have many.) 

 

Today I am wearing:

-grey owl sweater, F21

-green reversible skirt, Gap

-jean jacket, Calvin Klein

-grey chevron tights

-argyle flats, Chinese Laundry

-green stone ring, F21

-white watch, Loehmann's

-gold cameo necklace, gift from Mom

-patterned scarf, I believe left at my house by my cousin

      -blue fuzzy hat, H&M

 

Cold again today, so the tights were back to stay. I'm itching to wear my spring clothing, so here you see a mix with one of my favorites, this reversible green skirt from Gap. A coworker bought one a few years ago, and I ran out to get it in this and a pink color, and both have served me in very good stead ever since.

This watch is a new purchase. I am awful at being on time to anything, probably because my only timepiece is my phone, which I often leave at my desk. Maybe if I wear this every day I'll get better at telling time quickly-- I think I missed that day in second grade. I was totally feeling the chunkiness of the watch today.

shopalltumbledown

After looking at my closet with a critical eye, I realized that there are some things that I just don't wear. Why not give you all the chance to nab them at ridiculously discounted prices and winnow down my excess at the same time? So I set up a little shop at shopalltumbledown. You can visit any time via the picture in my sidebar to take you there. I even put up a few items tonight, so check it out! Sweet dreams and happy shopping!

Dots and Stripes Again

Can you tell how tired I was this morning? I went home midday to do some writing and fell asleep promptly, so I'm still working at 7:30! I decided to take a break to get this post up, so much for being good and taking photos in the morning!

Today I am wearing:

-pink tank, Israel

-creme and black striped sweater, H&M

-black and gold dotted skirt, French Connection

-wine striped tights

-black oxfords, CG

-acorn necklace, UO

-doorknocker earrings, UO

-fuschia fuzzy hat, H&M

Once upon a time, I stuck colored tanks underneath everything. In an attempt to look more mature, I gave it up and stuck to white and black, but when I looked in my tank drawer this morning and saw this pretty coral pink, I immediately gravitated to it. I paired it with the black and white pattern mix, a look that seemed so natural to me-- probably because I've done it before!

 

Dotted and Striped, 12.24.09

I paired this look with the wine tights, which I admit got little wear this winter since they are slightly thin. Their weight was just perfect for today's weather, and I matched the whole look with my favorite winter hat... I'm already nostalgic about my favorite winter pieces and it is barely spring!

 

(I always describe the hats as fuzzy, this gives you a better idea why!)

When it Rains

...one dons just the basics.

Today I am wearing:

-grey boyfriend cardigan, Gap

-A-shirt, Hanes

-jean pencil skirt, Zara

-grey knee highs, Me Moi

-rose wellies, Medici

-acorn necklace, UO

-green stone ring, F21

-dangly silver earrings, vintage from Israel

-blue cotton scarf, Israel

I gave a walking tour to 48 people yesterday. At the first stop, my mic went all crackly... and then, died. The next hour and a half was perhaps one of the most challenging and fulfilling tours I've ever given-- the crowd worked with me, and amazingly so did my larynx. Today, I was on tap for another walking tour in the rain, but the group ran into some delays with the rain and I was off the hook. Sometimes the universe smiles on you in the form of a torrential downpour.

I had dinner with one of my favorite people tonight. And even better- a few minutes after we were seated at the restaurant, someone is seated at the table behind us... her older brother. About to meet a girl on a blind date. Hilarity and switching of seats occurred so they wouldn't be facing eachother. A devoted alltumbledown reader/supporter, Chals was excited to see that I had posted so early today, and disappointed when it was not my outfit. Sorry, lady. This post is dedicated to you.