Wear and wear again | Dobby camp shirt

One of my favorite things to wear for work or for casual days is a crisp button down (or button-up...they're the same thing, right?). But to be honest with you, they can get boring unless they have some cool detail or texture. And this top has both. Score.

Purchased in 2009 off of Target's clearance rack (I think it was $12 or $13), this black dobby camp shirt is a workhorse in my closet, both at work and at home. The three-quarter length sleeves are perfect for nearly every season, and the dots are just such a fun touch. And as with any other collared shirt, a sweater on top creates the perfect preppy look. I've worn it with everything from trousers and jeans to pencil and A-line skirts.

October 2010

September 2010

December 2010

November 2010

November 2010

January 2011

Looking back through these photos, my tendency to wear the death out of an item for a season and forget about it is extremely apparent. Speaking of which, it's almost November...time to bust out the dobby dots again.

Some fun camp shirts from around the web:

Button Front Tops at Kohl's

What's your favorite variation on the classic button-down/up?

Wear and Wear Again | Wide-leg trousers

Although I've been gravitating more and more toward skirts and dresses lately, I am a pants girl at heart. So what better piece to showcase than the first pair of pants I ever wore on my blog? These Gap wide-leg trousers are so comfortable, and the wide leg balances out a fitted top.

Wide-leg trousers are best on straight figures (I think that's what I am) or those who are a little larger on top. They work best with a fitted top, or at least a belted one. The volume on bottom needs a little balance.

My trousers have seen me through every season:

Spring

Summer

Fall/Winter

Spring

More wide-leg trousers:

Wide Leg Pants by Banana Republic

How would you style wide-leg pants?

Wear and Wear Again | Pleated A-line skirt

It's time for another edition of Wear and Wear Again! I went through my closet this weekend just to take an inventory (for the first time ever), and was struck by a) how many clothes I have, b) how many clothes I don't actually wear and c) how many clothes I've worn many many times over several years. I have a dress—that I still love, but don't have much occasion to wear—that I bought my sophomore year of college (I last wore it about four years ago, but it's pretty classic and I'm sure I'll have a chance to wear it again). Needless to say, I don't go by the one-year rule. At the same time, there are many many many items that have entered and quickly exited my closet over that same time period. But that's a much larger, more rambly topic that I'd like to get into today.

Today, I'm talking about one of the best deals I've gotten. Ever. This skirt was $6 on the Target clearance rack in December 2007. It was a size too big when I bought it, but I've since grown into it (one of the few benefits of putting on wifely weight). While I'm currently in a pencil skirt phase, looking at these photos really makes me miss this skirt. In fact, I think I'll bust it out this week.

Three things I love about this skirt:

• The color. Bright and vibrant, perfect for casual or work wear.
• The pleats. Adds a nice fullness without being costume-y.
• The length. Demure and ladylike, but not frumpy at all.

August 2010

November 2010

December 2010

More pleated A-line skirts:

Mid-length Skirts by Forever 21

Do you like A-line skirts? What do you look for in a fuller skirt?

A week's worth of pencil skirts

Last Wednesday, on day three of black pencil skirts, I realized that was all I had worn last week. So what did I do? Grabbed my fourth and last pencil skirt, ironed it, and wore it on Thursday. It was a mishmash of colors and accompaniments, but I really liked just about every outfit I put together last week.

• Monday: Tulip
• Tuesday: Textured
• Wednesday: Lightweight wool
• Thursday: Cotton

Do you keep multiples of your go-to item? How do you mix it up?

Wear and Wear Again | Cowl neck shell

It's time to play how-many-times-has-Angeline-worn-the-same-item again! Like last time, this item is a top. I would ask you to guess which one it is, but the post title sort of gives it away.

Much like the ruffle neck, the cowl neck is a closet staple of mine. In addition to this blue shell, I have a cream-colored sleeveless cowl and a black cowl-neck sweater. This simple drape adds a touch of elegance to the most basic of shapes.

Out of the cowl-necks I own, my dark blue Ann Taylor cowl-neck is my favorite. Purchased in 2008 for about $20, it is a silk-nylon-rayon-spandex blend that's dry-clean only. But it's worth it. Three years of wearing this pretty regularly and it's held its shape and quality very nicely.

Notes on cowls:

• Make sure it doesn't go too low, or that it has some structure on the main shirt area that keeps it from getting too droopy. You don't want to flash anyone.
• Thicker fabric will keep your cowl drape falling nicely and help prevent scrunchy wrinkles (because it would be awkward to try ironing a cowl).
• Don't be afraid to wear a necklace with a cowl-neck. It's perfect for showcasing a great piece of jewelry!

Here are some ways I've featured this top on my blog:

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

January 2011

What's your favorite way to style a cowl-neck top?

Wear and wear again: Ruffled sleeveless blouse

It's been a while since I've done an edition of Wear and Wear Again. I picked up this ruffled blouse back in 2009 when the local Gottschalk's was going out of business. It's one of the only floral pieces in my closet and it's really sheer, so I always wear a thick-strapped tank underneath (usually in gray or purple).

The ruffled blouse is supremely versatile, especially in a floral print. It's a kick up from a traditional sleeveless shell, and layers well under a cardigan or blazer. Mine is definitely one my closet workhorses for casual or business wear. Here are just a few ways I've worn this top to work this past year.

How should I style this blouse next?

Wear and wear again: tulip skirt [Greatest Hits 2010]

[Greatest Hits 2010: Each day this week, I will be reposting a popular post from the past. This was first published June 17, 2010. See original post and comments here.]

 know, a lot of bloggers do this, but honestly...it's a good idea.  Not only am I on a shopping diet, but I have a tiny closet (err...makeshift closet...this apartment came with zero closets!), so I rewear my items a lot.  And I mean, A LOT.  So I thought it'd be fun to see how I've done different things with the same piece multiple times.

First off: my favorite black tulip skirt.  Bought at The Limited on sale for $20 last year, this thing is comfy, flattering, and totally work appropriate.  It went down to $15 soon after, which bummed me out, but cost per wear on this thing is already less than $1.

Tights, tightless.  Booties, gladiators, flats.  Can you tell I love this skirt?  I've got big plans for it in the future, too...with a belt, with some peep-toes, and with a blazer.

How would you style this skirt? I'd love ideas to mix it up even more.

Wear and wear again: swing jacket

It's been a while since I've done one of these, and I've been dying to do it again.  Problem is I feel a lot of the basics I wear over and over again are sort of boring, and it's hard to pick pieces to feature. But I'll try, I promise. Today's wear and wear again is the swing jacket, sometimes called trapeze, although mine is almost more like a blazer.

I bought this kelly green jacket at Old Navy back in January or February for about $30 (on sale).  I usually don't spend that much on Old Navy, since their pieces tend to fall apart on me, but something about this jacket just stood out. I don't know if it was the color, or the shape, but I don't wear it enough for as much as I like it.

Swingy/trapezy shapes can be hard to work around...you'll notice below that I usually balance it out with a more fitted shape on bottom.  With wide-leg trousers, the proportion would be totally off.

I'd really like to try this out next with a sheath dress or my khaki pencil skirt. Or maybe with another colorful piece, since I usually tone down the rest of the outfit colors with this jacket.  Or maybe just with different shoes.

How would you style this jacket?

Wear and wear again: tulip skirt

 know, a lot of bloggers do this, but honestly...it's a good idea.  Not only am I on a shopping diet, but I have a tiny closet (err...makeshift closet...this apartment came with zero closets!), so I rewear my items a lot.  And I mean, A LOT.  So I thought it'd be fun to see how I've done different things with the same piece multiple times.

First off: my favorite black tulip skirt.  Bought at The Limited on sale for $20 last year, this thing is comfy, flattering, and totally work appropriate.  It went down to $15 soon after, which bummed me out, but cost per wear on this thing is already less than $1.

Tights, tightless.  Booties, gladiators, flats.  Can you tell I love this skirt?  I've got big plans for it in the future, too...with a belt, with some peep-toes, and with a blazer.

How would you style this skirt? I'd love ideas to mix it up even more.