Dress Me Up- Ashlin Week!

Apologies in advance, as this was not posted on the date it was schedule to go live.

Predictions-

I'm not really sure what to expect from Ashlin. She's the middle child, and can be a little quiet and reserved, so some outfits may take more prompting and her sisters will probably chime in on their opinions. But as for playing dress up- I think she'll enjoy putting me in skirts and dresses mostly. Usually I dress up her and two sisters on holidays, so this should be really fun for her to take control for once!

Monday 7th

Monday

blue tunic, grey leggings

leaf necklace

fishtail braid

Lazy, cold, rainy Monday. Welcome back everybody's favorite tunic and necklace for today's look paired with my grey leggings. Ashlin also suggested a side fishtail braid to start the week and I really appreciated a comfy casual outfit to spend the cold rainy day nannying! Hopefully the rest of the week has better weather.

Tuesday 8th

Tuesday

red plaid pants, black lace tank top

black cardigan, gold menswear watch

Today's outfit was very reminiscent of something I would've worn in high school. These red plaid pants haven't been worn in years, and I definitely enjoyed the feeling of them still fitting! My black cardigan was enough covering over a lacy black tank top, and the gold watch was all the accessories I needed today. Since I was just nannying today, my hair was pinned back in a tiny poof. Throwback Tuesday?

Wednesday 9th 

Wednesday

Day: cranberry sweater, polka dot cardigan, black jeans

Night: pleather peplum top, stripe mini skirt, black tights

hoop earrings, bangles, pink lipstick

I adored this day to night look today! The cranberry sweater layered over my navy chambray was warm enough to take LB to the zoo in the rain today, paired with my jeans and rain boots, and little rose stud earrings. Later, I twisted my hair into an updo with this adorable out on the town look consisting of my striped mini skirt (I've only worn once, because I never knew what to wear it with), leather peplum top, tights and combat boots. For accessories, Ash chose my hoop earrings and a pile of gold bangles. She also suggested I wear a subtle pink lip stain that brought out the pink of my skirt. I loved the compliments I received all night at my friend's comedy show. Thanks Ashlin!

Thursday 10th

Thursday

cranberry shift dress, comic leggings, tattoo choker

Now here's the real throwback Thursday! How great is today's lounging around outfit? I had today off to clean around home, run errands, and catch up my itinerary for next weekend's comic convention. This cranberry sheath dress is a little short, so Ashlin added my comic print leggings on bottom. My tattoo choker from the 90s made a cameo as today's only accessory and my hair was a dutch crown braid. I looked way more pulled together than I normally would on a day off!

Friday 11th

Friday

T.A.R.D.I.S. cardigan, red v-neck tee, black leggings

For my last Friday of this experiment, Ash went for my Tardis cardigan and a red v-neck tee. My pants are thick black leggings, that I usually wouldn't wear as pants without a longer top, but they were thick enough to stay warm today taking LB to the zoo concert. My hair was just pulled back on each side with butterfly clips enough to see my small clear studs.
Unfortunately my ride to a movie premier tonight wasn't available, so my evening look of a strapless purple and green dress, starfish earrings, and green statement necklace went unworn. But, it ended up being rather chilly, so I've made note to wear it the next fancy occasion that comes around!

Saturday 12th

Saturday

cream blouse, black tank top, black pencil skirt, 

black tights, gold circle earrings

For another day off, Ashlin picked a more business-y look with my sheer white blouse over a black tank top, black pencil skirt, and black tights. For accessories, we went with larger gold circle earrings and twisted my bangs back on one side. J commented that I looked like I was headed to an interview again. Gotta love my family ladies dressing me for success!

Sunday 13th

Sunday

green cropped Avengers sweater, high waisted jeans,

white scarf as headband

What a way to finish out the week! This has to be my favorite look of this whole experiment- cropped nerdy sweater with my high waisted jeans, and my hair is just straight with a white bandana as a headband. When I watched movies with the boys tonight they loved this look and were very surprised that my goddaughter would be cool with me showing my midriff! lol But they were incredibly complimentary and I only wish I could've gone out in this outfit. More people needed to see it. haha Noted- this will be worn again. Also, how cute is Gideon posing in the background??

Reflections-

I am pleasantly surprised with how stylish and comfortable I felt all week! Ashlin made a lot more outfits with pants than I was expecting, and dressed me pretty maturely. She definitely took some chances with pairings I never would've thought of, and her sense of playfulness really came across in these pairings. She gave thought to how I should wear my hair every day, though she took some advice from her older sister when in doubt. I still can't get over how much I loved Sunday's outfit- I'm still thinking about it. After dressing up Ashlin and her sisters since they were born it was really fun to have the tables turned and let them play dress up! I hope they had just as much fun.

Next week, on Raggedy Amy- 

That's all folks! This week wraps up my original experiment, but I want to hear from you- should I continue with other family members? Should I have J be an honorary stylist for a week to get a guys perspective? Let me know! I've had a blast doing this for the past month and have learned a lot about myself and the lovely ladies I have the privilege to call my family.

My Week
Lisa Week
Bess Week
Caitlin Week

Dress Me Up- Caitlin Week!

Predictions- 

I have a pretty good idea how my sister will dress me- including all the nerdy tees and cat print things I own into one mega outfit! Her style is very geek-punk, and since I own a lot of black and nerdy apparel, that's probably going to make up most of what I wear this week. She'll have to remember we're going out of my closet though, not hers. Dresses, leggings, black, and geeky tees- that's what my crystal ball tells me I have in store! I just hope she lets me wear practical shoes...

Monday 29th

Monday

blue tunic, black leggings, black flats

layered necklaces, sapphire studs, 

silver bracelet, cat scarf

Started feeling sick yesterday, and today it was a full blown cold. Thankfully I had this comfy ensemble to wear! My blue tunic and black leggings ended up being a little too lightweight as the temperature dropped, but they were nice and stretchy to run around with LB all day. Caitlin paired 3 necklaces of different lengths and metals, which I'm way too OCD to pull off on my own. I  matchy-match too much! My earrings were just subtle sapphire studs, and although you can't see it, I'm wearing a simple silver chain bracelet with a single charm. And finally, not to let me down, She suggested wearing my cat scarf as a headband. First cat print for the win.

Tuesday 1st

Tuesday

date nerds tee, blue checkered jeans, element hoodie

chinese character choker, aviators

Still sick, but how cute are my pigtails? Caitlin suggested this hairstyle that I haven't tried at this length yet, but it's a cute change. The weather was cloudy and snowy while LB and I went to the zoo, so I didn't utilize my sweet shades, but I appreciate that Caitlin is thinking out of the box with accessories! My pants are blue & black checkered, and up top is my old element hoodie I haven't worn much since high school. Underneath is my "I only date nerds" tee and a Chinese character necklace. This outfit is very similar to how I dressed in high school, so I liked this comfy casual flashback!

Wednesday 2nd

Wednesday

princess tee, adventure time leggings, black shorts

oversized red sweater (not pictured)

My running errands day turned into a stay home sick without a voice day, so I loved the comfort of this outfit as well! Not pictured is my oversized red Amelia Pond hoodie that is super big and comfy, which everyone needs on a sick day. Below it, Caitlin paired my black shorts over Adventure time leggings and my Disney princesses shirt. For a mostly black outfit it's pretty colorful too. Dig it. Later in the evening I watched a movie with the guys and thought how much cuter I felt compared to what I would normally throw on when I'm not feeling well.

Thursday 3rd

Thursday

blue & plaid tunic, black jeans, orange scarf

gold Broadway Cares charm bracelet

Museum day and I'm feeling better? What did I do to deserve this great day?? I liked todays simple pairing of this blue & plaid sweater tunic, back jeans, gold charm bracelet, and orange scarf tied as an infinity scarf. The orange in the plaid complimented the scarf really beautifully, so I'm surprised I've never thought to match the two before... This is a similar look to an earlier Lisa choice as well- do the ladies in my family know something about scarves I don't?? Hmm....
Caitlin also assigned my hair to me braided back today, though it started falling out throughout the day. So, note to self- it braids better at this length with a little curl for texture first.

Friday 4th 

Friday

tiered skirt, black leggings, bf blazer, grey v neck tee

pink studs, silver cluster necklace, rose watch

made you pink lip stain

Caitlin dubbed this the "interview look", working with various shades in grey. My tiered skirt is grey, pink, and black, worn over black leggings with a grey v-neck tee tucked in and my black boyfriend blazer. Accessories were dainty pink studs, silver and pink cluster necklace, and my Betsy Johnson rose watch. My sister advised me to wear a neutral pink lip stain and slightly curl my hair. I felt super cute all day at work, even going thrifting later in the evening before watching a movie at J's again. Saving this outfit to wear another time!!

Saturday 5th

Saturday

blue blouse, pleated skirt, knee high athletic socks

big jewel studs, heart necklace, blue converse

Welp, this outfit killed! J and I had tickets to see Heathers the musical this evening, so I'm thrilled at this "Veronica blue" themed outfit! My blue blouse was tucked into a khaki pleated skirt, and a little fashion tape kept my knee high athletic socks up all night. Surprisingly (and thankfully), Caitlin opted for my blue Converse high tops over heels. I agree that it's a cuter look with sneakers. My earrings are big blue jeweled studs and my necklace is a tiny heart. After the show we went out for Slurpees, of course, so my tongue ended up matching my outfit too!

Sunday 6th

Sunday

LBD, rust corduroy jacket, slouchy black boots

cat illusion tights, opalescence lipstick

 bid ring, bronze cluster necklace

sapphire studs, hoop earrings

Today's outfit made me feel like a Summerdale vamp slayer. Seriously, doesn't it kind of have a Buffy vibe? Maybe it's the rust colored corduroy jacket, or the bling ring on my finger, or the tall slouchy boots. Whatever it is, I liked the shake up my LBD got to have. For the rest of my jewelry Caitlin picked my sapphire studs again and hoop earrings, with a bronze antique cluster necklace. And last, but not least, my cat print tights that look like thigh-highs. I felt comfortable enough to sit through a drag show, but cute enough to snap a pic on stage post-show, and isn't that the best sign of a great outfit?

Reflections-

The two specific things Caitlin asked for first were belts and oversized hoodies. I was more than able to deliver on the latter, but didn't realize what a small belt selection I had. This is definitely a great thing to keep in mind for future shopping. It was also a moment when she expressed how we should be dressing me from her closet at this point.  Hey- I called that this might be an issue! And although Caitlin dressed me in a couple graphic tees, a bit of black, and some cat prints, this week was far from having just that. Another surprise was how many accessories she chose. A few days had earrings and a necklace and a bracelet, which I was not expecting from her. There wasn't any outfit I wasn't comfortable in, and I have some really interesting combinations to revisit later. Thanks lil sis, I've taught you well! 

Next week, on Raggedy Amy- 

Playing dress up with my goddaughter next week, but the tables have turned! Now she gets to choose what I wear! Oh boy- should I be worried that I'll be stuck wearing princess dresses every day? Yeah, like I would even be mad at that...


My Week
Lisa Week
Bess Week
Ashlin Week

Dress Me Up - Bess Week!

Predictions-

Growing up, I remember my Grandmother Bess always wearing scarves. In fact, one of my family's favorite memories of my childhood is my "Magic of Scarves"- an impromptu performance I put on in Grandma's living room after pillaging her under-bed storage of scarves. Part-interpretive dance, part-magic show, I would make tickets out of construction paper, set up chairs for the audience, and emerge from the bedroom draped in scarves to perform. Yeah- I was a character even back then. So, in college, when Grandma Bess gave me a bag of her old scarves, there was a special significance to go with them. Yes, I still have them. And yes, I totally hope she has me wear at least one.

During the beginning of our email exchange, she did warn me about hats- namely, that she is very pro-hat. In fact, she says "the right hat with the right outfit would put a zing in your step." I mean... I do look really great in hats... Let's hope I have one she likes! Other than bundling me up for a chic winter in scarf and cap, I have no idea what to expect from this week, but I'm excited. 

Monday 22nd

Monday

plaid flannel, wine sweater, jeans

combat boots, leaf pendant necklace

Right of the bat, I love this first outfit. Warm, practical, and a little vintage vibe. Grandma Bess put thought into everything from how many buttons to undo when layering under my cranberry sweater, to cuffing my jeans just right over my combat boots. I was even advised which socks to wear (tall argyle ones, for the boots). And we see my favorite leaf necklace yet again- nice. This outfit will definitely be returning at some point. For my hair, she suggested it to be curled and loose, finger combing out the curls. To achieve this I did overnight curls- something I haven't attempted since the big chop. Fortunately, I learned my hair takes to overnight curls really well now (I have too much hair for it to dry correctly when long). So far so good Grams!

Tuesday 23rd

Tuesday

green sweater tunic, ariel leggings

hoop earrings, long necklace, combat boots

Obviously my leggings went over really well with LB today, and I wasn't about to correct her when she pointed out I look like Ariel too... What else is green like a mermaid's tail? My tunic sweater of course! I was happy to have it's warmth since it was chilly and cloudy today. Grandma chose my combat boots again, and accessorized with hoop earrings and my long chained "Drama Queen" pendant. The necklace was the only thing I wasn't vibing with today, but I think it's because of the cheap chain it came with. I should look into putting the pendant on a different chain because the idea of a long necklace with this top worked for me. To finish the look, my hair was pin curled back on one side with leftover curls for the rest.

Wednesday 24th

Wednesday

Stripe tunic, black leggings, fuzzy socks

"naughty" earrings, flats

Today was spent inside as much as possible because of what ended up being the most underwhelming "snow storm" predicted, but I did run some errands as well. This striped tunic is one of the softest things I own, and it's like wearing pajamas without actually wearing pajamas. My black leggings were the perfect comfort pairing for catching up on some Netflix too. For indoors, Grandma Bess made sure I had fuzzy socks picked out, and that I left my black flats by the door when it was time to leave. Although I don't usually accessorize when staying in, Grandma asked if I had any "naughty" or silly earrings that I never get to wear. And, of course I do- little dangly naked people. I think my favorite thing I'll learn this week is this little wisdom:

"If there's any accessories you feel like you don't know how to wear or they're inappropriate for any settings, wear them around home! You'll feel a little nicer just lounging around and you get some use out of them." ♡

Thursday 25th

Thursday

fox sweater, brown blazer, navy pencil skirt

brown sweater tights, riding boots, banana earrings

Gideon kisses

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! NATURE MUSEUM DAY! Can I just say I LOVE this fox sweater, and wish I had gotten a better picture of the whole outfit for today. Grandma slayed this outfit combo with my sweater, brown blazer, navy pencil skirt, brown sweater tights, and riding boots. And don't worry- she fit in a scarf as a headband! I appreciated the color pairing of the scarf and sweater too. I would've thought the colored prints were too noisy next to each other, but they really worked! My earrings today were these funky little bananas that I should wear way more often. In the morning, I picked up LB and she grabbed my ear, looked me in the eyes, and exclaimed- " 'nanna!" (<- she has since grabbed my ears and acted disappointed the bananas haven't returned.) This evening I ended up meeting J and the boys at the Music Box theater to see The Master at their 70mm fest. J was sweet enough to snap a pic with the leg lamp in the lobby, and the other guys complimented my sweater and headband. One of them even recognized this outfit was similar Sunday's last week. Who says boys are clueless to fashion?

Friday 26th 

Friday

Base- green pants, taupe booties, boot socks

Day-wallpaper sweater, sparkle studs

Night- sheer pink blouse, green jacket, cap,

purple & pearl earrings, long purple pendant

Since we went to a limited showing last night, this day to night outfit wasn't given its full potential. Grandma's base outfit consisted of green pants, taupe booties, boot socks, and my hair braided up. For nannying in the day, this wallpaper patterned sweater was perfectly casual paired with some sparkly studs. Transitioning into the evening, she picked out a sheer pink blouse, with this vested sweater, changing out the earrings for purple & pearl french clasp, and adding a long beaded pendent and cap. I almost wish I had switched outfits with yesterday, since the guys and I stayed in to watch more Oscar nominees tonight. They loved this outfit only half sarcastically, noting that I looked like a sexy cabby. Well, they're not wrong- I look like a pretty sexy cabby...

Saturday 27th

Saturday

polka dot chambray, lace shell, navy skirt

grey tights, tan booties, circle dangle earrings, 

rose watch, blue & white scarf

My day today was mostly spent at a theater, running the front desk for auditions. I did have a dance call at the end, but for the most part I was sitting having to look cute. Never fear- Grandma Bess had that covered like a pro. This navy nautical-esque skirt started the outfit, and then she added this large polka dot chambray- tied at the waste and unbuttoned enough to see the lace shell. Then the taupe booties were added with a neutral grey pair of tights. To accessorize, I had circle dangle earrings, my Betsy Johnson rose watch, and finally this white and blue watercolor scarf. Grandma advised me to tie it around my neck for strictly fashion purposes, while noting, "we old ladies wear it there to hide our turkey necks." After a long day of auditions, I met up with J and his family for a long dinner, where I got some really sweet compliments on my outfit from his mother.

Sunday 28th

Sunday

batgirl shirt, black bf blazer, pleather pants, 

black flats, belle pin, nerdy earrings, watch

Another day, another audition! When Grandma and I had talked last Sunday, I hadn't officially received my audition slot, but we planned my outfit just in case. Good thing we did! I needed a little nerdy vibe, but since I was going to be on camera, I asked her to polish it up a bit. Her solution- my batgirl shirt (that has a cape and utility belt not pictured), pleather pants, boyfriend cut blazer, and black studded flats. My earrings are a set I made again- Pikachu and Totoro, paired with my "big honking" gold watch (as Grandma referred to it), and my Belle pin ended up being a conversation starter during the audition! My hair was a subtle wave that was meant to be twisted into an updo later in the evening...

Unused :(

Green Sari, gold sequined top, gladiator sandals

tiny green studs, gold statement necklace, gold bangles

The good news is that I was able to book my audition time for the afternoon. The sad news is that this really creative evening look wasn't able to be used. Every year I either throw or attend a little viewing party for the Oscars with wine and cheese, and look forward to dressing up a bit. Since I was running behind after my audition and starting to feel a little under the weather, I made a last minute decision to just go straight to the party without changing. I had spent the last couple weeks catching up on watching the nominees, so I was not about to miss a single award! Instead, I took off the batgirl shirt and buttoned my blazer over my black undershirt for an impromptu quick change. And instead of adding "tons of makeup" like Grandma suggested, as you can see my red lips from that morning actually wore off, so I basically did the opposite. Way to follow instructions...
I was really looking forward to wearing this outfit after how it came about, too:

GB: "Do you have a full length gown?" 

RA: "Not really, maybe in storage." 

GB: "Ok what about a floor length skirt?" 

RA: "I don't have a floor length skirt, why don't I have a full length skirt??" 

GB: "Ok, what about a sari or something long like that." 

RA: "Omg Grandma, I actually totally have a sari... how did you know that?"

Reflections-

This week threw a few curve balls my way, but I tried my best to stay true to my Grandmother's plan. I'd say overall, I had a week full of really great outfits! There were far fewer hats and scarves than I had worried, but I appreciated that the ones used didn't feel superfluous. Also, I loved that I happen to own just about everything Grandma had asked for, though I know now I have far too little plaid for her liking. Originally, she was nervous to be left in charge of what I wear, but with so much attention to detail from head to toe, wouldn't you agree she did such a great job? Perhaps my favorite part from this week was all the little lessons I learned along the way, including her main theme for the week: injecting some color into my wardrobe, since people tend to wear too much grey and black when the weather is less than friendly. A lovely reminder that Grandmothers are endless supplies of wisdom!

Next week, on Raggedy Amy- 

Help a sista out! Next week, my little sister finally has the chance to pay me back for all the times I made her over. How will she enact her revenge? Ugh, please don't make me wear heels to work... Seriously though- please.


My Week
Lisa Week
Caitlin Week
Ashlin Week

Dress Me Up - Lisa Week!

Predictions-

Right off the bat, I think Lisa will dress me close to how I already dress myself, but probably a little nicer. Not only have I bought most of my clothes with her, she has been a major inspiration to my personal sense of fashion while growing up. I like to think we dress similar- we wear most of the same sizes too! Although she is extremely well tuned to how I prefer to dress, I predict she will add more accessories and layers than I normally would. Honestly I'm looking forward to Lisa picking out some pretty killer outfits!

Monday 15th

Monday

Green tunic and grey leggings 
orange scarf, rose studs

Today was a baby-filled day for me. After nannying in the day, I babysat all evening for a friend of mine. Thankfully Lisa kept this in mind while picking my green sweater tunic and grey leggings. Hey-- that's what I usually wear on Mondays! She added my little gold rose studs and a scarf, which I would never think to wear with this top, since it already has a cowl neck. Surprisingly I liked how it draped after she suggested I tie it into an infinity scarf, and I was super warm all day.

Tuesday 16th

Tuesday

black jeans, polka dot chambray, blue sweater vest
layered pearls, knitted cap

This sweater vest is from a store that no longer exists unfortunately, and I've had it since high school. I don't wear it much any more, so I was glad to see it make an appearance today! Lisa also added my favorite chambray and suggested I "tszuj" up the sleeves a bit. Since I had a lot of blue already, we leaned towards black denim on bottom. She asked if I had any long pearls, and this necklace was the closest I had- another piece that doesn't make its way out often. Finally, Lisa chose a knitted cap to wear while taking LB to the zoo.

Wednesday 17th

Wednesday

black yoga pants, cut off yellow tee, 

slouchy grey cardigan

"Funky 80s comfy" was the vibe Lisa wanted to go for today. Since I had the day off to stay home and organize, she made sure I had layers to work with. I was mostly warm while moving around cleaning, but I was pleased to have the cardigan while watching movies later in the evening with J and his roommate. Their opinion on today's look? I look like Frankie from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Eh, I see it.

Thursday 18th

Thursday

Striped sweater, white button up, black a-line skirt

black thermal tights, pink studs, tear drop necklace

Hey hey hey it's Thursday again, and you know what that means- museum day!!! Seriously, why am I the only one excited about this... The Butterfly Haven had cute little heart sponges this week for Valentine's Day. What's cuter than festive love butterflies??
As we were indoors again, Lisa decided to layer a lighter weight striped sweater over my white button up. Accessories were minimal with my pink studs and pink tear drop necklace. For my bottoms, she chose to pair a plain black a-line skirt with my thermal tights. I had to wear my snow boots again, but at least my legs were warm when walking outside! 

Friday 19th

Friday

Base- blouse, back jeans, leaf necklace, green drop earrings

Day- oatmeal cardigan, blue braided belt, black studded flats

Night- moto-jacket, knitted scarf, black booties, cat clutch

I'm in love with today's outfit. Lisa knew I had to nanny all day, but then J and I were going out to the movies at night. The weather was beautiful today, though really windy, so I could finally wear some lighter layers. The base outfit was black jeans, green watercolor tunic blouse, long leaf necklace, and green drop earrings. During the day she added my oversized oatmeal cardigan belted with my black studded flats. Then for the night, we swapped that out for a moto jacket and black booties. I added my big knit infinity scarf because the wind was a lot chillier once the sun set. You can also see my Betsy Johnson cat clutch peeping out from my hand. Not only was this a seamless transition from day to night, but I felt super cute in each outfit separately, and would totally wear them again. Love love love.

Saturday 20th

Saturday

Spider-Gwen hoodie, long tee, 

comic book leggings, converse

Oh, rocking my favorite sweater in the world, favorite sweater in the world, woahhh wooo! That's a little diddy I wrote you about my, you guessed it, ~favorite sweater~. My Dad and Lisa got this Spider-Gwen hoodie for me for Christmas and I was ecstatic about it. Oh, and did I mention that it came with a Spider-Gwen mask?! Aw yiss. Today was a beautiful day to stay in and open up the windows to paint, but I also had some errands to run. So, basically that meant pants. Lame. Lisa chose my comic book leggings and long tee to finish off the ensemble. I absolutely love the look. Lisa was trying to figure out- how to look cute while laying around at home. And as it happens, that was exactly how I felt! 

Sunday 21st

Sunday

Navy Skirt, button up, blazer, cranberry tights, 

raspberry beret, pearl earrings saddle shoes

See that raspberry beret? Yeah, I totally found it at a secondhand store. By the laws of nature, I knew it had to buy it. That's like an unspoken rule, right? Well, after looking through my hat options, Lisa was inspired by the beret to create this "vintage flair" getup. She even asked if there was a chance I owned saddle shoes. Oh, you know I do... Pearl earrings were the perfect understated addition to tie into the theme. This peter pan collared cream polka dot button up matched perfectly to this navy nautical-esque skirt. To keep warm and dress it up a bit, Lisa thought this brown blazer (it has elbow pads!) and cranberry tights would match in rather well. She was correct to think so.

Originally I had plans to go out to karaoke, but my friends and I had a last minute chance to see a musical, so we took advantage of that instead. I received numerous compliments and a comment about looking like I was a part of some French rebellion. Touche... 

Reflections-

What a great week! I definitely feel like Lisa delivered on my expectations and gave me outfits that fit my style and activities. Not as many accessories as I had anticipated (not a bad thing) and no suggestions on hair or makeup, so I used my own discretion and kept things simple. I was, however, pleasantly surprised at the addition of hats for a couple days, and learned that there's always room for a scarf to bring out an interesting detail. For my lounging around days I appreciated having something to stylish to wear while being practical and comfortable- not just laying around in pajamas all day. And I definitely have a new day to night outfit that will make a comeback at least once! Thank you Lisa!

Next week, on Raggedy Amy- 

Will my Grandmother dress me modestly from head to toe or leave me half naked in the snow? Come back next Monday to find out!



My Week
Bess Week
Caitlin Week
Ashlin Week

Dress Me Up- My Week!

Monday 8th

Monday Blues
Blue tunic, navy leggings, long leaf necklace,
and snow boots (of course)

When I nanny, my go-to outfit is a tunic and leggings combo. Not only is it easy to just grab and run out the door in the mornings, but it's also very comfortable to roll around and chase after a toddler all day! This leaf necklace is currently my favorite and its length looks great with all my tunics- bonus! Thankfully I had the foresight to check the weather, because my cozy snow boots came in handy as the temperature decided to drop and flurry that afternoon. Even though I had to work all morning, I wanted to look more put together than usual since I was meeting up with J for a late lunch date before a photo shoot I had in the evening. Guest appearance by Gideon the kitty-on who agrees that bowties are cool.

Tuesday 9th

Tuesday Tee-time
Hogwarts raglan tee, long grey cardigan, 
jeans and snow boots with
teardrop necklace and earrings

Tuesday's are my more relaxing nights. After nannying, J and I decided to go to the movie theater and see the Big Short at the last minute. He was sweet enough to snap a picture of my outfit for me (though we did not see Finding Dory). I haven't worn these jeans in a while, and after a couple hours at work I remembered that they ride really low, so I was constantly pulling them up. Thankfully, my shirt and cardigan were longer and concealed any minor wardrobe malfunctions! Lastly, I threw on a pair of silver and blue French clasp earrings (that stay on even when curious little fingers are pulling on them) and a dainty tear drop necklace.

Wednesday 10th

Wendy Wednesday
Green peter pan collar sweater,
navy pants, and snow boots (again)
little jeweled bobby pin for sparkle

Peter Pan collar. Wendy Wednesday. Get it?? Anyway... at the zoo on Wednesdays and Fridays there's a singer that puts on a kids concert for a couple hours in the barn. I like to wear an outfit with pockets so I can keep my phone on me while we're indoors. So my navy pants and favorite sweater were an easy choice. Every time I wear this sweater I get loads of compliments, and this picture doesn't do justice to the beautiful shade of green. Since I had to wear my big winter coat and snow boots again, I added a little bling to my hair. Ooo getting fancy!

Thursday 11th

TgiThursday

red dress, chambray (tied @ waist),
thermal black tights, nerdy earrings
snow boots still

MUSEUM DAY!! Yes, Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. The day I take LB to the nature museum. Since we're indoors for the few hours we're there, I don't have to wear big bulky winter sweaters. In fact, the butterfly haven is so warm and humid that the couple times I have bundled up, I've regretted it and silently roasted. So, this day I wore warm base layers under this spring valentine inspired ensemble. As I'm still getting used to my new hair length, I tried a little half up do bun which showed off my cute Adventure Time earrings I made (today's pairing was Lady Rainicorn and Princess Bubblegum). I was already on the pink and red theme,  so I painted my nails with little hearts for Valentine's Day.
J complimented me on my outfit and assured me he always likes the way I dress, just particularly loved today's choice. Aww. But, I think my favorite compliment was when I took off my coat in the morning, LB ran up to me, asked to be picked up, grabbed my earrings, took my hands and individually petted each fingernail, then climbed down and asked me to twirl around to see my skirt. I think it's fair to say she approved.

Friday 12th

Hey Hey It's Friday

button up, black jeans, red suspenders
heart earrings, hair bow
you guessed it- snow boots

Continuing with the Valentine color scheme, today was focused around these sweet red suspenders I scored for $1 at a thrift store a few weeks ago. Finally finding a purpose for them, I paired them with my black denim and a floral button up. Since that top is so sheer, I layered a pink thermal beneath and fleece leggings on bottom to stay nice and toasty. Betsy Johnson heart earrings and pink hair bow added a girly finishing touch. And hey- my hair fits into a ponytail!
I did get one comment on my outfit from the children's performer who suggested I looked ready to perform myself. Don't tempt me- I do a mean rendition of Let It Go...

Saturday 13th

Saturday by Day

pink and black yoga pants, pink cardi

purple apron and black flats!

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Night!

red dress, nude heels, bracelet

Happy Galentine's to all the ladies! Any Parks & Rec fans reading? A couple coworkers and I started this tradition last year, and I'm so glad we continued it this year, even though most of us don't work
together any more. I decided to curl my hair in the morning but clean up and change later, so I could spend the afternoon running errands, decorating, and prepping food for the party with two other ladies. We even found time to test out the photobooth here. My yoga pants, cardigan, and black studded flats were perfect for moving around hanging up decorations and my apron came in handy when it was time to cook.
Quick change into my red dress and nude heels, and I was ready to hear every guest come in and say, "Oh I'm so under dressed!" Nah, you knew I was going dress up. Since the dress has large rhinestones on the collar, I was worried about over accessorizing on top. So, I just threw on a dangly Betsy Johnson bracelet and called it a day. Then I braided my bangs and pinned them back. Not bad for a shorty-do!
Maybe I'll write a separate post about the party, because you need to hear about this waffle bar we made...

Sunday 14th

Valentine's Sunday

Black blouse, leather pants, black wedges

pink and heart earrings, heart necklace, lips clutch

It's finally Valentine's Day. Too bad I used up all desire to wear red and pink earlier in the week. So I opted for a chic all black ensemble. I had the afternoon off to blog in my pjs, but J and I had our night packed with activities. To start the evening we had a beautiful dinner at a nice restaurant. Then, we walked over to a BYOB painting class where we painted two canvases of birds on a branch that fit together when displayed. Capping off the evening we went to the movies to see a chick flick. Just kidding, we definitely saw Deadpool. It was the perfect Valentine's movie too. Since we were going to be inside and seated most of the night, I let myself be not worry about staying warm like I have been. This sleeveless black blouse and high-waisted leather jeans were perfect to transition from classy restaurant to a casual art studio- not over or under-dressed. Unfortunately I began to regret my shoe choice- black wedges, that I chose over my snow boots (that I was getting sick of). But as the snow came down heavy that night, I admonished myself for being so stubborn about wearing cute shoes. Thankfully, all our destinations were within blocks of each other, so there wasn't much walking in the snow. Today won the most accessories of the week as I wore pink and heart studs (my ears are double pierced), a dainty little heart necklace, and my Betsy Johnson pink lips wristlet.

Reflections-

This is a relatively good example of how I dress myself weekly. When the weather warms up I wear more tights, but in the winter I try layering a lot of thermal base layers to keep all toasty. Having two days in a row to dress up was a bit of a treat, but mostly I'd say this was a normal week of dressing myself!

Next week, on Raggedy Amy- 

This week I was in control, but next week my stepmother decides if I live or die! Well, I could like, die of embarrassment or something... Just go with it. And return here on Monday to see if I already regret this experiment!



Lisa Week
Bess Week
Caitlin Week
Ashlin Week

So Here's the Plan...

Every Sunday, I will video chat with my stylist-for-the-week, and have them preplan my options for every day, taking into account my daily agenda (and hopefully weather). Before our chats, I'd like to write some of my predictions for how I think they'll dress me: will they stay pretty close to what I normally wear or will their own style come through? Will my sister make me wear a nerdy tee with everything? Will my grandma wish I owned more earrings?  I'll take a photo each day for you and jot down some of my thoughts and comments.

I'd like to start by telling you a little about my own style, and take this week to show how I would normally dress myself day-to-day. As it is currently winter, it's hard to feel cute in the brisk winds and snow. Living in the midwest, the constantly changing weather keeps me on my toes as to whether I need to bundle up or wear some shed-able layers. During the day I work as a nanny, for an almost 2 year old named LB, so weekdays tend to rock a sweater tunic and leggings combo. Weekends are usually rehearsal time for whatever show I'm currently in, so I like looking put together while still wearing something I can move in- usually a dress and tights. Special occasions are a special treat for me. I will pretty much take ANY excuse to dress up, though. Seriously- any. And if I get an evening off, it's probably spent watching movies with my own boy who waited, J.

Most of my wardrobe is from thrift stores. Not only is it cost effective, but I love finding unique, albeit random, statement pieces thrifting. It's a great way to shake up your style every once in a while without investing in something you end up wearing once. Unfortunately, I tend to hold onto things for far too long (I have so much tacky crap from the early 2000s that I'm just waiting to come back into style), but you'd be surprised how many times I'm ready for a costume party or film shoot at the last second. Thanks to my closet I'm always prepared!

Growing up I was that friend and family member that everyone calls for advice about what to wear. As I got older, I started styling for photo shoots and costuming for theater. Here's some more recent example from shoots I've done:

Hey that's me! In the top one I'm wearing a wig, but the lower photo is all my long red hair. Which reminds me- I recently cut my hair. Ok, that's a bit of an understatement. I chopped off over half a foot a couple days ago. It's been a bit of an adjustment, but I love the change. Styling it has already been exciting to see what I can still do with it and I can now curl my whole head without feeling like my arms are dying. Hello new me!

Thanks for joining me on this adventure- let's get started!

The Beginnings

Ever feel like- "Omg... I have nothing to wear!" It's usually while you're staring at a closet full of clothes, right? And yet, you are somehow able to dress yourself just fine after not doing laundry for longer than you care to admit? Yeah... Me neither... 

I absolutely adore a brand new outfit. However, I'm trying to cut down on needless spending (seriously, do I need another striped top?), and living in a studio has limited room, though I am relatively spoiled with closet space for now. My best friend thinks it's really funny when I borrow a dress or sweater occasionally because she has such a minimalist wardrobe and is constantly borrowing from my plethora of options. Hey- it's nice to cycle in some new options now and then! Even a bottomless closet can feel boring after a while... but I wish I could feel that I have everything I need already.

Did you know that people only wear about 20% of their wardrobe regularly? I would say I definitely fall into that- you know what you look good in and you know what's comfortable. Recently, I did some organizing of my Pinterest boards. Something I honestly didn't think would need to happen. How do I have so many pins?? While sorting through my multiple wardrobe boards, I noticed I'm very drawn to the Capsule Wardrobe idea. I just admire the creativity it takes to rearrange a finite amount of options and still get new outfits every day! If I'm only wearing 20% anyway... I think I could do something like that.

Shortly after my productive virtual cleaning inspiration, I read a blog post about a young lady who let her grandmother dress her for a week. (If you think that's scary, try having your toddler dress you!) I'm sure some of you shutter at the thought of having to wear something straight out of the 60s. (As a vintage clothing enthusiasts, I would absolutely love that by the way). But, no- Hayli Skyped her grandmother who went and chose outfits out of her granddaughter's closet. I love that not only did Hayli find inspiration from new ways of matching and accessorizing, but they have grown closer because of this and now video chat weekly!

Brilliant! I'm in. After mulling over some of the logistics of what I would need to do, I had a quick email conversation with my Grandma to see if she would even be interested. She was. Then a thought occurred to me- could I take this a step further? I have some amazing ladies in my life. And most of these lovely, fashionable ladies in my family I tend to not see more often than on holidays. Could this be a way to get new insights, not only to the secrets lying within my wardrobe, but also into the lives of my family members? Ok, that may be a tad overdramatic, but come on! I would love a good excuse to do some lady- bonding! 
Let the experiment begin!!