Rumplestiltskin

{cashmere cardigan: 360 Cashmere via Daffy's ($15!) // stripey tee: F21 // skirt: J.Crew Outlet // tights: Hue // shoes: Miz Mooz // necklaces: H&M }

This outfit started out all freshly pressed and jazzy. By 11 PM, when these pictures were taken, it looked decidedly lived-in, but I loved the color combination so that I needed to share it with y'all. Apologies, Mom.

In a bit of life-news, we're staying in Philly full-time for the next few years. Hubs matched into a program here, so he will begin residency over the summer. We're on the hunt for apartments yet again (this will be our 4th in 4 years of marriage), but hope to turn this one into a real home. On the top of my priority list? A large kitchen, since kosher restaurants are few and far between in this otherwise lovely city. A place where I feel excited to cook dinner every night, and have enough counter space to give up my weekly Shabbat juggling act. Ah, but a girl can dream.

Tired. But Still Mixing.

 

{ striped dress: Calvin Klein // flowered cardigan: Anthropologie // black tights: George // black boots: Enzo Angolioni // locket necklace: Ann Taylor }

If I look tired in the photos above, it is just because they were taken at 12:30 AM. After getting 5 hours of sleep the night before. And attending an engagement party. Oh, and driving from NY to Philly. Just a regular Sunday around these parts.

I haven't pattern mixed recently, but this outfit brought me back. Bold, bright, striped and flowered? Count me in.

PS: If you're in NY, you need to see this.  It was at once the most bizarre and most interesting experience I've ever had.

Modern and Modest: Fostering Self-Respect

Today's Modern and Modest post features Ilana, an alltumbledown reader and fellow blogger. Read on for her take on "liberal modesty".

1. What does "modesty" mean to you? Why do you choose to dress modestly?I aspire to have greater respect for myself and my body, and I feel that dressing modestly (within my own standards) is a means of both expressing and fostering that respect. 


2. What are your personal modesty restrictions? Describe a daily look. Are there places where modesty doesn't apply or situations in which the rules change (ie: your bedroom, your home, the beach, with your spouse, with family)? I generally wear knee-length (or just above, at the shortest) skirts with tights or leggings underneath (in summer, I forgo the tights or leggings) and a shirt where the sleeves are elbow-length or longer. Again, in summer I might wear a short-sleeved shirt if it's very hot. The neckline should come down no lower than three or four inches below the collarbone.


3. Do you dress in a typical style for your religious community, if you are part of one? If not, how does your style differ? How do you feel about members of your religious community who choose to dress differently? My religious community varies widely in its expression of tzniut. I know women who cover their heads and wear only long skirts, and those who wear tank tops and jeans. So I guess I'm somewhere in the middle! I don't tend to judge those who do things differently from me.



4. Have your modesty standards changed over time? How so? Somewhat. I became much more modest when I began to be more observant, but I moved back from that a little bit in the last year or so.


5. Do you find modesty empowering, restrictive, or somewhere in between? Is it something about which you feel passionate? Somewhere in between- I don't find it restrictive as such, but neither do I find it particularly empowering.

   I adhere to it in large part because it's how I feel most comfortable. If I wear too little (or too much) clothing I feel overly conscious of my body.

   I adhere to it in large part because it's how I feel most comfortable. If I wear too little (or too much) clothing I feel overly conscious of my body.


6. How do you balance your personal style with modesty requirements? Are the two the same? I don't find it difficult, since I don't have restrictions regarding colour or shape. I don't feel the need to cover my shape and I don't find bright colours immodest.

Striped, Again.

 

{ Sweater: Romeo & Juliet // Skirt: F21 // Tights:? (sister's) // Flats: Payless // Earrings: H&M }

I'm a sucker for a good stripe. Not that I have anything against a nice polka dot, a fresh floral, but given me stripes (Breton, seersucker, horizontal, vertical) and I'll be your friend forever. I wore this outfit to synagogue last week for Megillah reading on Purim morning, and was pleasantly surprised to discover a pair of tights in the.exact.shade of the skirt I had on right before running out the door.

This is a big week, future-wise, in our two-state household. Tomorrow is my first committee meeting, a preliminary gathering of the four academics who will examine me for my comprehensive exams in two years. Commence nail-biting. Friday is match day, when we will *finally* find out where hubs will begin his residency this summer. Hard to believe that the med school journey is almost done...

Repetition

 

{Dress: Calvin Klein // Tights: Hue // Boots: Enzo Angolioni // Belt: Zara // Earrings: Gift from hubs}

Yesterday was my little sister's bridal shower. There were games, a slideshow, video presentation by her future husband, presents, and of course, salads galore. I picked up this striped dress on Friday at Burlington Coat Factory and knew it would be just perfect for the occasion. Worked for Friday night dinner at the in-laws quite nicely as well. Nothing like a little repetition to break in a new purchase.

In Which I Forget to Button a Button

{Cardigan: J. Crew Outlet // Shirt: F21 // Skirt: American Apparel // Tights: DKNY // Shoes: Sam & Libby // Ring: F21 // Bag: H&M // Earrings: Gift to myself from Israel }

So I have a slight problem with these shoes. As in, I've been wearing them every day for the past two weeks. Photographing my outfits more frequently has made me realize that it might be time to move on and actually find shoes that match [insert sad face].

Yesterday, hubs and I took a break from research/studying (woooo spring break! Cancun can't beat the inside of the microfilm room!) to find some gifts at the mall. We found an empty Easter Bunny photo spot, barricaded to prevent sneaky people from getting a freebie picture. Take this, fence-over-which-I-could-not-jump:

Yup.

A very happy Purim to my fellow yidden, and happy International Women's Day to my fellow women.

Neutrality

 

 

 

{Sweatshirt: H&M // Scarf: H&M // Skirt: F21 // Tights: Hue // Flats: Sam & Libby //Necklace: Gift}

1. Fancy-pants sweatshirts are fantastic. This one has puffed shoulders and a slim fit, which make it less gym class, more Sunday morning brunch.

2. I have become obsessed with mixing neutrals. Here, an army green scarf, taupe top and camel shoes play off the deep eggplant of the skirt.

3. In an effort to ward off the growing mullethood of my former pixie, I've invented a style I dubbed the "phonytail." It involves grabbing whatever hair can fit into a small barrette and pinning the rest.  Thankfully, I don't have to look at the back of my head.