12 Days of Reflection - #10: Wardrobe

 DISCLAIMER: This one is far less "serious" than the others.  But I think it's been a good decision all the same.

I am not, nor will I ever be, a fashionista.  Over the years, I have built up a wardrobe of function and frugality.  Most of my pieces are hand-me-downs or from a thrift store or (more likely) garage sale.  Many are years old.  Like, since college years old. Clothing has always been purpose-fulfilling and nothing more.  I pick the shoes in which my feet will be warmest.  My hair goes back wet.  I take the time to make sure I match, but that's pretty much it.  I like styles of other people, but I am not fashionable enough (or well-financed enough) to pull them off myself.

 

Since losing more than 40 lbs, I have found that the wardrobe department is much more fun than I had once thought.  Thanks to the generosity of many friends and my husband, I have now built up a wardrobe that is both functional and relatively (especially when you consider where I started) fashionable.  I now own boots, scarves, leggings, tights, and am working on fixing my hair every day.  I am also looking at upgrading my make-up (any recommendations?).

And I've been able to do all of this relatively cheaply.  Chelsea and Lindsey have been a great help, giving me stuff and taking me shopping, and I have been able to order some things online and pick them up on sale at the store, and, as it turns out Ms seem to be much more prevalent than Ls and XLs!

Why is this a good decision?  Because as much as we say looks don't matter, they kind of do.  I look far more professional at work when I am not picking my clothes out based on comfort.  And, maybe the biggest one: I am a much better reflection on my husband when I show up to church looking my best and not like I just rolled out of bed.  And I don't say that because my husband has EVER given me any grief over anything like that.  But my dad said something to me once - I don't even remember the exact wording or details - about how I am a reflection on him no matter where I go, what I do, or what I look like.  It stuck with me. 

How has it changed me?  Mmm...I feel more confident when I really like my outfit?  That might be the extent of the change.  This is a pretty superficial one, after all.

Family Pictures :)

I was super nervous about getting family pictures done.  I won't rehash it all because I already wrote a whole post about my anxieties over it, but ultimately, I think the outfits worked out well, even though it took nearly four hours of shopping to get them.  The good thing was that the temperature was very nice.  The bad thing was that it was EXTREMELY windy.  But our photographer over at Tiff Photography did such a great job that you can hardly tell.  I had a red scarf but it was blowing so bad that I didn't even wear it.  And, wonder of wonders, OUR SON SMILED!!!!!!!

Here are a few of my favorites:

And thanks to Chelsea for letting me borrow the boots :) Now time to make Christmas cards with all these beautiful pictures!

Shopping Trip

I really hate to shop.  I hate to spend money, I hate to mosey from store to store without a specific purpose (or even with one, come to think of it), and I hate crowds.  Shopping is not for me.  But I do like to be with people, I do like to look nice, and now that my body is 32 lbs lighter, I do need some new stuff.  So I asked some girls at work to take me shopping.  This was the perfect solution because they were picking out stuff and I was enjoying their company.  I was also enjoying being a MEDIUM in many cases instead of a large (or extra large) and being a size 10 in pants. :):):):):)

When Jo Marie commented on my post yesterday asking for a run down of clothes purchased on my shopping trip, I tried my hand at Polyvore. I'm not very good and wasn't able to find the exacts of ANYTHING, but here are the general ideas:

Outfit #1

Outfit #1(ish) by randi-stones featuring a white denim jacket

The white jacket is from GAP (though the one in the picture is from American Eagle because I couldn't find the GAP one).  The tank is from LOFT, but it's not this tank (though I LOVE this tank!).  I searched for the exact one I bought and couldn't find it, so then I just went for colors.  Mine is navy with a teal pattern.  I bought dark jeans from GAP as well.  And I don't even know if you can see the necklace, but it's long and silver with circles.  The one I bought (from Charming Charlie's) has circles in various sizes.

Outfit #2

Outfit #2 by randi-stones featuring a short sleeve polka dot blouse

(Please forgive my poor editing skills.  This is my first time.)  I got a green cardigan very similar to the one pictured from LOFT.  I also purchased a tank blouse in these colors but not quite this pattern.  And, I didn't realize it at the time, but I can pair the tank from the first outfit (which has more navy in it than the one in the shot) with this cardigan as well. I didn't buy the pants, but I have a similar pair of grays that I am going to pair with this.

Outfit #3

Outfit #3 by randi-stones featuring cotton shirts

The cardigan I bought is this cream color but has one design of a large flower outlined in black.  This is the closest I could find.  I am having a little bit of buyer's remorse today because I didn't buy the mustard colored shirt in the picture.  I could have and it looked nice, but I didn't.  So I'll be on the hunt for something similar in the future.  I didn't buy the pants either, but Chelsea gave me a similar pair that would be perfect with this outfit.

I bought a few other shirts that can be interchanged with the above outfits, so overall I am feeling VERY happy with my purchases and excited about the possibility of accessorizing with some more jewelry and maybe even a few pairs of shoes.

Thanks again to Lindsey, Jolie, and Jenny for their help yesterday!