16 of 30: Green Stripes

This is so dumb, but I've had this very simple ensemble in mind for months now and have only just been able to take photos of it. Lucky #16. I wore the same outfit a few weeks ago but didn't get a chance to get photos, and given the way my clothes cycle through the wash, sometimes it takes a while for a hand-washed sweater to come back into my closet.

It's become clearer and clearer that my closet and style of laundering do not mesh with 30 for 30 challenges -- however, I still want to finish this challenge (in my own, ridiculously drawn-out way) since I do like the idea of clothing longevity in the first place. I mean, it's pretty cool that the same set of clothes can be worn over the course of three seasons. (Although it might turn into four....) Of course, I live in Southern California where distinct seasons don't really exist.

Sweater: Cooperative via Urban Outfitters | Jeans: GAP | Socks: old, Kohl's, Target, or even Mervyn's? | Flats: Blowfish via Amazon

I had my mom take the two bottom photos. I didn't tell her what for, only that I liked the outfit and wanted to remember it for another time. So I was stiff during the picture taking (not to mention my poor posture). Also, I did want to show you how my hair is in serious need of a cut and style. I finally broke down last week and called my stylist, so I'll be getting a haircut before the day is out. I'm not sure if I'll go short again or if I'll just have her restyle the layers. I'll try to put together another outfit photo set to show you what I decided. :-)

xo, Gladys

15 of 30: Red Sweater

Ah, another 30 for 30 outfit. Finally! It's been so long since the last one that you can see how much my hair has grown.

I've been meaning to post a photo of this sweater for the past month; it isn't one of the 30 for 30 items, but I threw it on to get it in the photo. I got it on clearance from ModCloth, and boy was it worth it! Shape-wise, it's rather dowdy and meant to be oversized, but the color and pattern definitely bring it out of the realm of dowdy. The red isn't too bright for my eyes, and I like how the stripe pattern isn't uniform in width. I've gotten compliments on how interesting it is. Most importantly, it is very soft and enveloping, just the kind of comfort I need during cool-weather days or when it gets cold indoors in the evenings.

Sweater: Motel Rocks via ModCloth | Tunic: Dani via Amazon | Belt: thrifted | Skinny jeans: a.n.a. via JC Penney | Socks: Sockdreams | Flats: Blowfish via TJ Maxx

And here I am showing a different side of my personality (hubby was behind the camera, and we were, er, bantering):

xo, Gladys

14 of 30: Mosaic and Wolves

Yes, I seriously am STILL working on my 30 for 30. I know, I know, it's been three months now. At this point, I'm wondering over how many months I can stretch my 30 days. It should be interesting.

Dress: Patagonia | Tee: GAP | Micro-fleece tights: Tabbisocks via Sockdreams | Booties: Blowfish "Hichi" via Amazon

I wore this dress as part of outfit #6 back in October, but here's my winter take. (And one of these days I'm going to take in the shoulder straps; they really are too long for me.) I layered the dress over a comfy long-sleeved tee and a pair of very warm micro-fleece tights. The tights are so warm that they feel like pants. I love them a lot.

I also wanted to show you the tote bag that I've been using as my everyday purse since the beginning of the year. Wolves and raspberry vines. Adorable! I like big totes but mine usually don't have such a cute print on them. The tote is quite sturdy so far and is big enough to carry anything a mom of a preschooler would need. Plus it's got three pockets (two inside and one outside) that allows me to keep the little items from getting lost at the bottom. I got this on sale from ModCloth in December but it is no longer available. (It's a Kate Sheridan bag.) However, ModCloth has got another 70% off sale going on! If you've got some Xmas or other holiday money burning your pocket, that might be a good place to get some adorable stuff. :-)

xo, Gladys

13 of 30: Purple and Plaid

Happy First Day of Winter!

I've finally gotten around to wearing another 30 for 30 outfit AND taking photos. I actually did wear my retro 70s romper several weeks ago but didn't catch it on digital "film." So this outfit is lucky number 13 on this here blog. (Another jeans outfit, sorry. I keep thinking I'll put on a dress but then the cold wind outside changes my mind.)

Tank: Old Navy | Cardi and jeans: GAP | Coat: Tulle via Modcloth | Socks: Sockdreams | Booties: Blowfish "Hichi" via Amazon

Loving the plaid coat; it's not one of my 30 for 30 items but as an overcoat it's allowed. Two of the oversize buttons fell off soon after I got the coat in the mail and I still haven't sewed them back on. Anyway, I'm not sure why I'm so into purple AND plaid this season. This coat makes me feel like I'm dressed up even when I'm just in jeans and a tank top. I think I'm going to have to wear it with a tunic-and-tights ensemble at least once this winter. Maybe I'll even match it up with the purple plaid skirt that's on my 30 for 30 item list. :-)

Don't mind the mess behind me. I have a hard time cleaning up after my preschooler. We're trying to get him to clean up after himself. If you've got any suggestions on good incentives to help him learn, I'd appreciate them! Also, bonus photo below: This is what our skies looked like five days ago. So so so gorgeous. It reminds me a bit of the ocean on an overcast day.

xo, Gladys

12 of 30: Dinner Outfit

Ugh, jeans again. Sorry about that. This was from a couple of days ago. I considered wearing a dress since I was going to be meeting up with old friends for dinner and drinks, but I realized that I needed to go more casual and comfortable because I would be walking around downtown L.A. Turned out to be a good choice. I wore a black cardigan over this (not in my 30 for 30 items, but it was warmer than what I had available) and a ladybug watch necklace from ModCloth (no longer available).

It was a really great evening -- stimulating intellectual and heartfelt conversation over sushi, sake, and Sapporo plus after-dinner Pinkberry. I hadn't seen a couple of these friends in years, but we were all in the same master's cohort a decade ago, and it was like our minds recognized each other again. It was easy to be happy hearing about what and how they'd been doing since the last time we met. It turned out that 3 out of the 4 of us were, are, or will soon be in the process of moving, separated by a two-week window each. That's some coincidence! Good times. :-)

Top: [no tag] via Speedygirl; Jeans: GAP; Socks: ?; Boots: Fluevog Raphael (Earth Angel family)

xo, Gladys

11 of 30: Burgundy Oxford Heels

The shoes are the star of the show in this super-simple outfit. The Operetta heel is my favorite and best-fitting Fluevog "family," and the Flagstads are another reason why. Love the perforated design and the rich colors. I had to wear jeans again and I wanted to dress up the outfit a little bit, hence the heels. Very comfy, even though I'm actually still breaking them in.

Top: Uno Core via Amazon; Jeans: GAP; Socks: ?; Oxford heels: Fluevog Flagstad (Operetta family) via Amazon (more colors here)

In other news, the new house has been recarpeted. It took the installers six hours, and I waited in the house almost the whole time. I was bored out of my mind for most of it, but at least I got a few other things done as well. 1) I got a Southern California Gas technician to come over and take care of a small leak in the kitchen stove. We won't be getting poisoned from that, thankfully! 2) The kitchen is a little cleaner. Still a ton more cleaning to do top-to-bottom, though, now that the major projects are complete. 3) I finally got my eyebrows done again!

xo, Gladys

10 of 30: Disneyland

Dress: Blue Bird via ModCloth; T-shirt: GAPbody; Tights: Happy Socks; Boots: Fluevog PRI (Radio family); Bag: Envirosax (via Zulily)

I just wanted to give some love to the boots. First, they are purple!!! Second, they are comfortable and truly made for walking. I wore them to Disneyland today, and they lasted over eight hours. My feet are not sore, I swear.

The bag also needs some props. Envirosax is a brand of reusable shopping bags, but this particular design (the Slingsax) is supposed to work like a tote bag (they have a smaller version that's more like a hand purse). It's constructed with two large pockets, one outside and one inside, so I was able to keep my phone, lip balm, and gum inside the bag without losing them to the bottomless mess that usually happens in huge bags without efficient inside pockets. I was able to stick lots of things inside the main pouch without worry. The straps can be tied together to make it a handbag or a shoulder bag. It worked incredibly well being taken on and off all day (the knotted straps were secure). And seriously, it is super cute. Big flowers? Polka-dots? Fun colors? I'm there!

xo, Gladys

P.S. I am 1/3 of the way through my challenge!

9 of 30: Fluevog Love

Today I made a special trek to L.A. to meet up with Shirley, the lovely lady who introduced Fluevog shoes to the person who introduced Fluevogs to me. She drove down from the Bay Area this weekend for a birthday treat -- she's a Halloween baby! -- and was kind enough to make time to see me during her quick trip. Of course, the setting had to be the Fluevog store on Melrose Avenue! Shawn, my favorite Fluevog specialist a.k.a. "dealer," was there, as well as the awesome Kate. I hadn't been to the store since the amazing new fall 2011 styles came in, so it was time to try some on for size.

I didn't get a chance to take good photos of my 30 for 30 outfit with the DSLR, which means that you just get some blurry iPhone photos of the tunic and jeans, but the purple boots that I wore will be featured in tomorrow's Halloween post. :-) Without further ado, here are the awesome shoes I tried on.

Delicate and sassy: Pearl Hart mary janes in black (Bellevue family)

So dangerous because they're finally making them in my size!

Having a (Bellevue) ball: Pearl Hart on one foot and Libby Smith boots with red spats on the other

Such a beautiful heel on this family

Cowgirl time: Monday boots in black (Another Day family)

Very comfy! Yee-haw!

Stompy suede: Halt ankle boots in black (Stop It family)

These have fabulous zigzag fabric-covered buttons, but sadly even the smallest size of this family is too large for my feet

Super hot: Jolie ankle boots in black (Attention family)

These are named after Angelina, and OMG the profile of these 4-inch heels is spectacular -- this photo doesn't do it justice

Fun(ky) stripes: Splendid ankle boots in stripe (Perfect family)

I LOVE these -- sturdy solid-rubber heel for comfortable walking and carefully hand-crafted leather for a perfect match between the left and right shoe! Amazing!

Another view of the Splendids -- perfectly-matched stripes, see?

Gorgeous slouch: Volunteer boots in burnt orange (Prepare family)

These boots from my I Want list (on the right) are even more amazing in person

Jaw-dropping scarlet: Lourdes boots in red suede (Miracle family)

This particular color is actually from last year's line -- still amazing to look at, and still not in my price range, unfortunately! Shirley really wanted me to get them, but can you blame her? :-)

Fancy shoes: Cana pumps in black suede (Miracle family)

Also from last year's line and on clearance...I'm in the market for some really fancy pumps like these, but the fit for my feet isn't perfect -- they run narrow while my feet are wide, so my feet look a little bit like they're getting stuffed into the shoe :-(

Sophisticated flats: Huallaga ankle boots in black and brown (River family)

Another shoe from last year's line and on clearance -- I actually love these as they're really comfortable BUT they're still too expensive, darn it! Maybe I can get them for Xmas...?

Another view of the Huallagas

Fluevog flower wheel with (clockwise from left) Shirl, Kate, Shawn, and yours truly

One last (candid) photo of Shirl with the hot new Fluevogs she bought for herself as a birthday treat: Certitude ankle boots in red (Faith family). HAPPY HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY, SHIRL!

xo, Gladys

8 of 30: Lace, Floral, and Dots

Top: Comme Toi via ModCloth; Skirt: Down East Basics via ModCloth; Tights: Urban Outfitters; Ankle boots: Fluevog Raphael (Earth Angel family)

Fun outfit today! The clothes look a bit bedraggled in the photos because they were taken at the end of the day, but you get the gist. This top is actually quite long, with an asymmetrical hem that is longer at the back like a tux with tails. The best part about it is the lacy floral layer on the front. It is semi-sheer so I wore another one of my skin-colored Patagonia tanks underneath. The skirt is a little too long for me, but I love it because of 1) the beautiful colors and pattern and 2) the black waistband that acts like a wide belt and cinches perfectly. And the shoes...ah, the shoes. Maybe you can see why I love Fluevogs so much? :-) These are just gorgeous with the black suede and "unisexy" shape, but they're also supremely comfortable -- and I'm not exaggerating here. This particular family (or shoe shape) is vintage now, meaning they've been discontinued, which is a shame. At least I have two other pairs from the same family.

I wore this outfit to a movie date with the hubby. We finally watched Crazy, Stupid, Love. and I thought it was really good. I liked the way the different threads of the movie came together near the end; it was a little farcical but it reminded me of the old TV show Seinfeld that way. The movie is a story about relationships with some dark insights about love and aging, but tempered with a LOT of lighthearted and laugh-out-loud moments. Some of my favorite actors really shone, like Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, and of course Steve Carell. The added bonus was that it made Ryan Gosling less creepy than I usually find him. O.o

Anyway, speaking of slightly creepy but cute, here are some last photos of my son the photo-bomber. :-)

xo, Gladys