Day 14, Dress 104: I'm Alive

I'm alive dear readers! Sorry for the complete radio silence the last few weeks - but at least this time I gave you some forewarning. Apparently a complete lack of blogging is what happens when I have to pack up a massive apartment I've lived in for 4 years, purge many of my belongings, move what is left to a much smaller apartment, deal with movers who cancel 5 minutes before they show up, have a lot going at work, travel (work and fun) and OMG unpack. It turns out no one let me in on the dirty little secret that unpacking is even worse than packing. Blargh. Who wants to come over and help me unpack...anyone??? It'd been so long since I'd moved that I'd forgotten how exhausting and tiring - on an emotional and physical level - the whole moving experience is.

But I'm having what my dad would say is diarrhea of the mouth because I know you don't all come here to read about my adventures in moving and what you, but rather to look at my bright and crazy clothing. So I shall indulge you.

After such a long hiatus I wish I had a more exciting outfit to showcase for you, because unfortunately you saw me wear this outfit not very long ago in a very similar manner. Sorry I didn't really remix it...at all.

This is a vintage dress that picked up at Re/Dress that I paired with a Torrid belt and scarily matching Topshop earrings.

On my feet I have my shoe of the summer, my Dansko platforms and amazingly I think this may be the first time they've popped up on the blog. Not remotely clear how they haven't shown up in a million, billion photos yet especially since buying these shoes was a big step for me. For the first time in my life I went into a store and told the saleswoman I needed supportive shoes and comfort was more important than cute. I thought those words would never come out of my mouth and I'm none too pleased that they did. Unfortunately for me 30 turned out to be the age where flip-flops actually start to hurt after awhile.

On an exciting to absolutely nobody but me note, it was also Primary Day in New York City and for the first time ever we had new voting machines. Considering I'm a voting advocate, this is a very big deal in my world.

Scantron ballots

And machines where you have to feed your ballot in face-up. I don't know what dummy designed this machine, which makes it impossible to vote in secret. Another fail by NYC Board of Elections, I am not at all surprised. At least my machines worked, plenty of others did not.

I'm going to try and be better about blogging. I promise. That I'll try. We shall see about the follow through.

New Apartment, Delayed Posting, A Stressed Out Bloomie

So as I mentioned yesterday I am moving. On numerous occasions during my crying binges and moments of ripping out my hair I thought about blogging about this and asking for your help in making decision, asking for input, etc...but then I thought better about harassing you about non-fatshion related posts and showcasing how crazy I can sometimes be. I am really not good with big life changes.

But...I have to talk about it, if for no other reason than it may mess up my 30 Dresses in 30 Days and I want to be honest with you. I'll be packing and moving so I may have to skip the last few days of the month and continue into October. Also, my posts may take longer to get up than I would like because I've got SO MUCH PACKING to do. I've been in my current apartment for 4 years and everything in it belongs to me and my new place is half the size, so there's a lot to sort through.

And now that I've broken down and told you all about this, I guess I'll talk a bit more since some of you have already asked questions and really it's absolutely all I can think/talk/obsess/cry over these days. I'm still in Brooklyn - 2 blocks and 2 avenues from my current apartment, but since it's NYC, it feels like a whole new neighborhood. I'm going to an apartment that is half the size of my current one and it has NO CLOSETS, but I'm going to be living there all on my own. I am leaving behind the world of roommates and becoming a grown-up. Solo living is an exciting (and expensive thing) in New York City.

If any of you are good with design and space and organizing let me know because I will post more information if you're interested in giving me suggestions. The basic layout is a 12x18 kitchen/living area, a 10x11 bedroom and a 6x8 room off the bedroom that I'm thinking will either be a walk in closet or a sleeping nook. Not quite sure what the "bedroom" will become if I have a sleeping nook (perhaps a really big dressing room) but I am open to suggestions if you have them.

Feel free to make me want to move by telling me all about the large, cheap apartments with plentiful closet space I could have in your city. Torturing myself in this way is kinda my new favorite/least favorite activity.

Thanks for listening.

Day 13. Apartment Hunting is Exhausting

Apartment hunting in New York is exhausting and depressing and overwhelming in a way that I cannot quite explain. Seriously people, it is the worst and it's been driving me crazy. I've now found a place (and will likely write about it more soon) but the stress has been driving me to want to put on sweats and not get out of bed. However since it's September I have to rally and put on a dress. I should probably be thanking you all for that.

I wore this tunic a few weeks ago so I wanted to showcase it in a different way. In that end I paired it with some jeggings from Faith 21, a cropped cardigan from Banana Republic and my new favorite moccasins.

I added a headband from some crappy accessory store on 14th street and my pink, sparkly moustache necklace that I got at the Bust Winter Craftacular. One of the fun things about this necklace (aside from the fact that it's a pink, sparkly moustache) is that it's reversible and is black on the other side. Yeah for utility!

Photo credit goes to my co-worker Ben who helped a girl out very late at night.

Day 12, Dress 102: Western Mode

Last Sunday was such a busy day that the thought of writing about it just made me breathless. And then I realized I didn't need to get into the 800 things I did last Sunday, I could just write about my clothes. In one sentence my day consisted of apartment hunting, date at the Brooklyn Flea and brunch, birthday party in Brooklyn, birthday party in Manhattan and the True Blood finale with Ashwini. I had to look cute because I had a date and it was raining. It was a long day people.

My basic dress of the day is a black tank shift from Brooklyn Industries that I also own in pink and wore last year. Brooklyn Industries can work for inbetweenies but they're overpriced for what they are and I only buy their stuff on sale. I put a very old Torrid button-down over it - in fact I think it may be the very first thing I ever bought from Torrid. I've worn this top before.

I paired the outfit with a necklace that I got at the Bust Craftacular, my purple cowboy boots
and at the Flea I got myself a new ring - B for Bloomie!


I really liked the days outfit and think I'll be repeating it once the month is over.

Photo credit to my darling, darling Dobs, one of the days birthday girls and Adam her lovely husband.

Day 11 - I Learn to Ride a Bike!!!

Ok so there isn't dress today but I have something so much better than a dress - at least to me. After almost 31 years I have FINALLY learned to ride a bike. My original goal was to learn to ride a bike before I turned 30, but at least now I can say I learned while I was 30.

Apparently learning to ride a bike while wearing a dress isn't recommended so I put on my plainest outfit of the summer. Some shorts that I've worn before in a very different way, a t-shirt that reads "just a small town girl, living in a lonely world" which my friend Jared laughs over every time I wear it telling me that he loves it but that I'm about as far from lonely and small town you can get. And on my feet I have some boring sneakers. Not an exciting outfit by any stretch of the imagination, but very practical.

In just 2 hours, the amazing folk from Bike New York taught this bloomie how to ride a bike. Granted I can't go more than about 20 feet at a time (if that) and I have no idea how to turn, but it's a start and I'm really proud of myself.

Note the look on my face. It's of the "holy shit is this really happening...I'm gonna fall...this is so scary...and exciting" variety.

They say it gets easier once I move to a bike with a higher seat (they keep you low to the ground so you don't worry about falling) and I'm holding out hope that that's the truth. I also hope that once I become a better biker and am riding a bike that fits it won't hurt that much. The following day I felt like I'd had about 10 hours of rough sex.

Photo credit belongs to one of the lovely Bike New York volunteers. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You were all wonderful!

Day 10, Dress 100!!!

Oh my goodness, today is dress 100!!! (Well that may not technically be the most accurate statement I've ever made because I've missed a day or two over the years but that can be our little secret right?) I feel like there should be cake and champagne (or at least Prosecco), but instead I'm sitting on my couch with a beer and leftover Mexican. Let's close our eyes for a minute and imagine the cake and champagne. Ok, open them back up and feast your eyes on this crazy ass dress.

I've worn this dress before and I wanted to make it different from the last time you saw it. In that end I belted the dress (nothing new) and then "bloused" the dress so that it was above the knee and you couldn't see the belt. I added my pink cowboy boots and some tiny turquoise studs in my ears. There was so much going on with the dress that this was my attempt at understated. I mean my hair is in a ponytail - what's more understated than that?

The dress is vintage Chadwicks, purchased in Charleston, the earrings are from a long ago trip to Paris and the cowboy boots are from Dorothy Perkins. I think the dress may be a bit much for me and it may make its way over to Re/Dress. What say you?


The photo was taken by my sister-in-law outside my mother's house on Rosh Hashana. Shhh, don't tell her, she doesn't like us to use electricity on the holidays.

Day 9, Dress 99: Starting the New Year Off Sexy

A few months ago I asked for your input as to which dress I should keep of 2 very different dresses that a friend was offering up to me. I ended up getting one dress as a present and buying the other off of T-Pops but when I wasn't sure if I could do that I had already decided on today's dress as the keeper. It was the overwhelming favorite of y'all and as many of you pointed out, I didn't have anything like it in my closet.

When I first posted the dress to vote on several of you commented that while you liked the idea of the dress, you thought it was too tight on my lower half. Some of you suggested shapewear as a solution, but aside from being uncomfortable, bodies - mine perhaps more than others - have lumps and rolls and I'm ok with that.

Thursday was the first day of Rosh Hashannah, aka the Jewish New Year and I decided that I was going to start the new year off right - loving and embracing my body and looking fierce while doing so. In that end me and my lumps and bumps wore my sexy secretary dress from Torrid for the very first time.

The dress had so much going on that I kept the accessories simple. Silver wedges from Office and the earrings are from a Brooklyn street fair.

I'm not one for services, but my sister-in-law was leading services which made everything very special. We even had a celebrity spotting at services! NY is fun that way.

Photo credit goes to Nicole, my dear friend that I am so glad I got to start the new year with for the third year in a row. This past year wasn't what I would call my best ever and I'm hoping this coming one is a better.

On the Jewish New Year we eat a lot of sweet food and dip everything in honey in the hopes of having a sweet new year. Dear readers I hope you all have a sweet and happy new year filled with joy and happiness and of course some pretty clothes.

xoxo

~bloomie

Day 8, Dress 98: Remixing a Dress Is Hard

When I decided to continue this blog after September 2009 I said that I wasn't sure what I would do come next September. Could I blog a dress in September 2010 if I had already blogged about it earlier that year? I realized that I would never be able to do 30 Dresses again if I didn't use some dresses I had previously worn and blogged (albeit not in September 07, 08 or 09).

Some dresses are easier to remix than others. I had worn and blogged today's dress a few months ago so I wanted to do wear it in a different way than I had before. I discovered that today's dress, a Target dress via Ross is not a dress that is very easy to remix.

With a busy pattern I figured all I could do was change up the accessories. I went with a silver palette. I'm wearing a mirrored necklace and a flower in my hair that both came from Forever 21.

Paired with some silver shoes from Office.

If you have other remixing suggestions for this dress I would love to hear them.

Photo credit goes to JoJo.

Day 7, Dress 97: My Blue Phase

I never realized it until folks kept making comments yesterday, but I don't wear that much blue. Perhaps I should rectify this because it turns out I like the way I look in blue.

I picked up this dress at Ross and I was super excited to find it because lately I've really been into chambray. Figuring out how to wear chambray without looking like an 80's castoff can be a bit tricky but the stitching under the bust of this dress took away any of my concerns. I've paired it with a light cotton sweater from Old Navy that is an absolute necessity in my icebox office, but not so much outside in the sunshine.

I'm wearing some accessories you've never seen before on the blog. The blue necklace I picked up in Iguazu Falls in Argentina, the long silver necklace I just discovered in my closet (I literally don't remember ever seeing it before) and the earrings I picked up in Mexico.

The shoes are on their virgin outing. They're Minnetonka moccasins and they are incredibly comfortable. It's also exciting to me because these were popular when I was a kid and I wanted them so badly. I never got them as an 8 year old, but I have them now!

But I came back from lunch with much more exciting shoe news. Look what was awaiting me in my office upon my return.

DUO BOOTS!!!!

Since last fall/winter I have been obsessing over getting another pair of Duo Boots (just about the only boots that fit my calves). I wanted an everyday, flat, black boot. I hemmed and I hawwed and I obsessed over price and the thought of having to return boots to London and finally I bullied my Dad into buying them for me as a birthday present for the last 2 years.

I picked the Oristano (stock image below).

And here they are on me. Front view.

Back view

I think I'm going to keep them. They fit, they're purty, there's room in the toes and they're wide enough that I should be able to wear them over jeans. My one concern is that the sole of the shoe is very hard but I'm hoping some inserts will be able to solve that problem. The boots aren't uncomfortable, but I'm not so sure that they're comfortable if that makes sense. I promise to give a much more thorough review when I've walked more than 25 feet in them.

Photographer of the day is Nicole.

Long Labor Day Weekend: Days 5+6, Dresses 95+96

I had lovely long weekend, but I spent most of my time frolicking outdoors and stayed far away from my computer. Thus I'm a backlogged blogger so this is going to be a double post.

I spent my Sunday in Prospect Park with some of my very good friends who have just moved to Brooklyn from Paris. Yay! Everyone I love should move to Brooklyn! I spent the afternoon showing them my beloved park and soaking up the beautiful weather. My dress is from Ross and I've paired it with some earrings that were a birthday present years ago from my friend Mirka.

Sadly beaches close after Labor Day so I headed out Monday for the last beach day with lifeguards of the summer. To advance my personal goal of fattie bathing suit visibility here's me in my cute bathing suit that I got at Accessorize several years ago. I think this bathing suit may be on its last legs - the under wire began poking out of the suit on Monday.


And I couldn't not wear a dress, so here's what I wore over my cute bathing suit. This dress you have seen before and it is a hand-me-down from Jamie and she got it at Loehmann's. The hat was picked up on a trip to Israel several years ago. It took me all the way to the final beach day of the summer to finally remember to pack a hat when I head to the beach.

Day 4, Dress 94: Cowgirl Chic

Saturday was the start of a long, lovely and very busy Labor Day weekend. The weather was perfect and for the first time all summer you actually needed a layer to keep warm once the sun went down. As my friend said "I'm cold and it's not because of air conditioning." After the summer we've had, music to most New Yorkers ears.

The cool(ish) weather also meant I could wear boots and some denim for the first time in a very long time. Yay! I haven't worn boots in months and I desperately missed them. Not to mention that fall shoe wear is so much more supportive than summer shoes, so on Saturday I was able to wear cute shoes and not have an aching foot at the end of the night. Have I mentioned to you yet how much I cannot wait for my tendinitis to be gone?

I adore this dress, which is some random brand that I picked up in Loehmann's last year. Paired with cowboy boots and a bit of denim, I love it even more. Last year when I wore this outfit a friend of mine told me I looked "hyper sexualized" in it. I am not even going to get into how angry that comment of hers made me, but suffice it to say I think she's wrong. What do you think?

I added some dangly earrings from Primark for a bit of bling.

And finally I wanted to share with you the heart shaped, blueberry birthday torte I made for my wonderful, fabulous, awesome, amazing friend Ateqah. I figure since her name comes up in the photo credits so often, I was allowed to wish her a very public happy birthday on my blog. Ats I love you and am so happy you and your hearts came into my life 2 years ago.


Photo credit goes to Amy.

Day 3, Dress 93 - Comfort and Coney Island

Day 3 and it is hot and sticky and all I could think of when I was getting dressed was comfort. To achieve that end I grabbed what I am aware is a not very exciting dress from my closet and decided to try and spice it up a bit with some accessories. That's not a stain on my dress, just a bit of water. In case you don't believe me, here's a picture from later on at night, sans water stain.

The dress is Splendid, a line I have raved about to you several times before. Like many dresses in my closet, it is a hand-me-down. This one is from my lovely sister-in-law to be and I believe she inherited it from someone else as well. The cycle of dresses!

The dress is simple, so I decided to add some pop with accessories. I've never really paired brown and yellow before, but Friday morning it was calling my name. I put on a big chunky necklace that I got in India.

And on of my favorite hair pins that I got last year at Atlantic Antic - a huge street fair in Brooklyn. I love how versatile this clip is.

And even though I shouldn't have, after looking at pictures from the day before and seeing how my tevas ruined my outfit, I wore different shoes and ended up paying for it with a very sore foot. Note how my friends shoes compare to mine.

The shoes ended up being a bit of an issue because some friends and I headed to Coney Island Friday night to see some fireworks. The fireworks ended up being cancelled (which we didn't know about until we already schlepped all the way out there) because of Hurricane Earl. Considering that the "hurricane" didn't even bring us a drop of rain in Brooklyn, we were none too pleased. However we decided to make the best of it and eat some fried food

play some games

go on a few rides.


and have a drink
It was a fun time, but we walked a lot and my tendinitis was really hurting by the end of the night.