Putting It All Together - “A Night Out and a Day In”

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend time with some of my IRL girlfriends. We drank wine, read trashy magazines, soaked in the hot tub, talked about our husbands & children. Most importantly, we spent time listening, commiserating and laughing.  It was perfect.

Virtual Girls Night Out
Over the next two months, I get to do the same thing with you all - mah girlz online- through a new BlogHer project, Putting it All Together.  This new collaborative video series talks about what  really works for us -  real women - from lifestyle to personal style.  This series of videos will be hosted by some of the bestest bloggers evah : Susan of Friday Playdate, Holly of Nothing But Bonfires, Rhoda of Southern Hospitality Blog and Ree of Pioneer Woman.  Hang tight, we'll have a few special guests too.  (I know, I seriously had to have several glasses of wine to calm down after I heard that they let me be part of this crew.)

 Yours truly will be the hostess of the first webisode, where we will be discussing fashion.    Better yet, my guest is going to be Loralee, yes that Loralee!  And we are headed to visit Ree on her ranch to enjoy all that clean country air and shoot some video sharing your best ideas on what to wear for a "Night out and a Day In".    So HELP!  We need your best advice, funniest stories, and great photos. We'll be blogging your great ideas, and featuring some of them in the videos.

What do I know about fashion?
In a former life, I wore high heels, fashionable clothes and had a subscription to Vogue Magazine. (cuz that IS what makes you fashionable!)  Seriously, I used to have some kinda fashion sense, but it has long gone by the wayside since birthing kids and starting my own business. I am no fashion plate. But I DO avoid all things neon colored, have gotten rid of clothes with lace applied to it and anything that emphasizes my rear. (We should all do that!)   I also watch Project Runway and yell snarky remarks at the designers for not making clothes for regular gals like me.   So there, I know plenty about fashion and so do you!

 
The question still remains, what DO regular gals wear on a daily basis. What is your typical look for daytime? I own my business, so one of the perks is NO PANTY HOSE ever again.  You can find me most days in either a pair of of Gap jeans or yoga pants and a t-shirt.  I often can be spotted with a cardigan or fleece pullover.  Its the day time mom-uniform, allowing me to be ready for carpool, the PTA meeting, a coffee shop run and a conference call all in one outfit. There must be other options? Right? Please share.

Conversely, what do you wear when you have a special night out - whether it is a special date with your life partner or a night out with your partners in crime, what do you do to spiff yourself up?  Do you immediately head out and pick out a new outfit for the big occasion or do you recycle an old dress?  Personally,  I simply put on "clean jeans" and throw on a sparkly accessory or cool scarf.  I may actually bust out my little black dress if I'm going all out.    The possibilities are endless and we'd would love to hear your suggestions and tips for not so ordinary occasions.  

Hope you'll join me and the entire blogging team on this journey as we try to figure out how to "put it all together".

Comments

[Jessica M]

Every gal must have the little black dress. You can always dress it up with pearls and nice, dressy shoes. You can always dress it down with more casual shoes and casual accessories. This is a great program! Can't wait to read other comments as the weeks continue :)

[Loralee]

Psst...I've never owned a "little black dress". GULP! :)

[Debbie]

I'm a jeans girl. If I need to spiff up my look, I put on a more fun top than the typical t-shirt and cardigan I usually wear.

[Cindy]

A nice pair of fitted jeans should be in every girls wardrobe.

[Ashley]

I usually always wear dresses since it's easy to just slip it on and wear basic black, brown, or nude sandals (these are the 3 staple colors you need to match almost any ensemble). To get me out of my boring routine, I hid all my comfy sweats in the back of my closet and moved forward the cute trouser jeans and silk blouses!

[DeeDe]

I have a few basics that I pair with lots of different tops or shirts. A comfy pair of black boots (with a 3 inch heel), my cashmere navy cardigan, a black short suit jacket and a fabulous clavin klein dress that can be jazzed up or toned down.

[Diana]

Black suede boots are great to dress up a skirt outfit or a nice suit. Also, the basic black suit is something that should be in every girls wardrobe. I usually add some color with a bright shirt under the jacket. Also, a nice scarf can break up the color and add a little style.

[Melinda]

I usually go with jeans (dark wash) and heels with a cute sweater/cardigan/flirty top. And dress it up with a belt and jewelry!

[Kim]

no matter how my weight fluctuates year to year (!) I have shelves of scarves to throw on for a pop of color during the day, or for a little sassy style at night. I'll buy scarves in a color I would never "wear" in a blouse or dress, but in a scarf, I feel like I can get away with anything!

[Wendy]

my "dressing up" these days is shoes with a higher heel or wedge with jeans. just that inch seems to "count" toward feeling spiffed up!

[Elizabeth M]

I live right outside of Boston where the weather can be freezing for many months of the year. Last year, I was able to get a few Charter Club Cashmere sweaters at Macy's at the end of the season...(60% off)!
I bought a few different colors..one in red, blue and even a bright pink. They are a perfect to wear with jeans during the day and a skirt at night to be more formal.
They look great with a black skirt, heals and pearls!

[Brandie]

Great post. I was fashionable in another life too I think. Now I wear Under armour capri work out pants and t-shirts from my husbands work... at least they are my size. There was a time when all I wore was cut off sweats and huge t-shirts. I did buy a great black dress this winter and some super high heels. I like how they look but my fashion is still "mommy-riffic"!

[Denice]

I am really into black, grey, and brown lately. I enjoy layering and mixing all variety of the three. I have been wearing silver nail polish with a great bracelet my husband purchased for me from Banana Republic. I tend to go with long flowy tops layered with cardigan and vests. I love scarves! I want to wear long flowy dresses and skirts this summer... we'll see what happens.

[Courtney]

I work outside the home, so no super-casual day looks for me. When I want to look pulled together, I brush the baby spit off my jacket. :) Honestly though, the outfit I go again and again for day or date is: ruffled tank or funky tshirt, cotton jacket/blazer nipped at the waist, great jeans (dark wash, slight bootcut), and medium-high heels with a thick, mommy-proof chunky heel. Add in a cute necklace and earrings for bonus points. A neutral gray/black/brown blazer gets life by having a colorful and feminine top underneath (and colorful shoes work well too).

[MicroBlogginMom]

I'm definitely a jeans kind of gal.

By day it's usually basic jeans with a stretchy baby doll tee & cardigan.

By night it's usually dark/indigo skinny jeans with a fun sparkly top & heels.

I do have a basic black dress & jacket in the closest for those special nights out or a biz presentation. :)

[Jill H.]

Every girl's closet should have a pair of fitted jeans and a little black dress. Then just add some accessories like pearls and/or nice earrings and you're ready to go!

[Jackie]

So, we have been doing this thing we call Wardrobe Wednesday! Every wednesday, we pick an occasion to put an outfit together - clothes, shoes, and accessories - all under $100. Not that people have a $100 to spend every week on clothes, but the idea is that maybe you already have some items and you just need one thing to liven it up!

check it out
http://houseoftexasjustice.blogspot.com/2010/03/wardrobe-wednesdays-first-ladies.html

[FireMom]

I've really been trying this season. I just can't do it. I have no concept of fashion, style, what's in and what's not. I know what type of shirt and pants flatter (or don't...) my figure. That's about it. Even still, yoga pants are love.

I don't even know what a night out would BE LIKE so I wouldn't know how to dress for it. I'm a lost cause!!

[elz]

I work in an office, so I wear alot of wrap dresses and skirt/shirt/cardi combos. I try to dress things up with a colorful or patterned heel and a statement necklace. When we go out, it is usually a dressier version of the wrap dress or skirt combo. Jeans are pretty much my weekend outfit.

[Ann Harrison]

My mom-uniform is usually a long-sleeved T worn with jeans. (Some moms have called me "fancy" when I wear a scarf. It's just a scarf and it's so-o-o-o easy!) I try to keep the tennis shoes for exercising and choose to wear fun/funky low heeled shoes.

If I actually get to go out for a much deserved "date night" w/ my husband then it's time to show a little more in the cleavage area. Oh yeah. Not "tit's on a plate", but just a little somethin' somethin'. Pretty little shoes make ME feel better, I don't know about him ;->

It's amazing what dangling earrings can do for your look. (One time he called my new earrings "fishing lures". Not funny.) I play up the eye make-up a bit, but not too over-the-top. Gotta use eye drops to clear up those tired "Mom! I can't find my shoes... again!" eyes. And lipstick is a must!

[injaynesworld]

First of all, I'm salivating over those leopard print shoes.

Yes, the little black cocktail dress is a must. Your can accessorize in in a thousand ways for several different looks. Best investment ever.

[Katrina]

I'm definitely a jeans girl. Lately my idea of dressing up is throwing on a black shirt and adding jewelry. Once upon a time I was fashionable haha. It seems so very long ago...

[Megan]

I agree with dresses - they are versatile and can be dressed up or down, and the right dress is just easy to throw on!

[Elizabeth]

As a teacher I always wore pants, comfortable shoes or boots, and tried to be fashionable on top. Except for holidays when I'd wear the unfashionable, but child-friendly holiday sweaters or jewelry.

[Betty]

I was thinking you nailed it with jeans and yoga pants. The top can certainly be a tshirt for regular days but a dressier choice with different shoes can put me in a whole nother class. I'm biased but some of the yoga pants are starting to look like dressier office wear. I think we have to be comfortable in order to carry off fashionable.