What I wore today--featuring Stuart Weitzman Arlington Boots

Confession time: I read a lot of preppy style blogs, but I'm not really the Southern Prep/All Lilly All the Time/Pink and Green type. I'm more the "High WASP" type that LPC blogs about.

I grew up in New England where you wore Lilly in the summer--maybe because it reminds you of family vacations to places where it's warm all year round. You would break out your sun dress printed with monkeys drinking piña coladas and your husband would wear four-paneled Brooks Brothers "Fun" pants. You were on vacation, and this is how you signaled to the world that you knew how to enjoy yourselves.

But my people did not live where it's warm all year round. We deal with serious amounts of winter weather. The verb "to summer" only has currency in places where summer is a brief respite in an otherwise chilly climate. And therefore, I have an atavistic love of cotton turtlenecks worn under wool sweaters, plaid, camel hair coats, duffle coats--basically, the whole L. L. Bean-cum-Brooks Brothers vibe.

I try to fight it. I try to be Prep With an Edge, as blackbird puts it. But as soon as it gets near Christmas, all bets are off. I pull out my Christmas socks, jewelry, and scarves. I go mad for plaid. I even start trolling the internet for the Winter Wonderland prep wear of my childhood. Does L. L. Bean still make Norwegian sweaters? Where are the Tyrolean jackets and Fair Isle sweaters d'antan? Mostly gone.

Which is maybe just as well. I went to a holiday boutique recently in Lake Forest, Illinois, which is the epicenter of preppiness in these parts. And I ordered myself a pair of these.

Needlepoint loafers by By Paige

And in my internet trolling, I came thisclose to ordering myself a pair of these

Beachcomber Corduroys at Castaway Clothing

And if I had, I probably would have worn the loafers with the cords. No, really.

But then I noticed the cords were bootcut. Pffft! I might have standard boring preppy taste in preppy holiday attire, but I draw the line at buying a pair of bootcut cords, because hello? Out of style. OK, I realize I'm being ridiculously inconsistent.

Anyway, today's outfit was an attempt on my part to show you my new boots, which meant wearing a skirt. And I picked out one that is plaid, and warm and cozy, because this morning, it got below freezing for the first time this season. And then--well, I tried to rein in this Christmas-crazed tradition-loving northeast prep part of my personality, I really did. You can let me know whether you think I succeeded.

Fuzzy black watch plaid skirt, Talbot's last season (similar), navy cotton Bailey cardigan, Vineyard Vines, gray scoop neck t-shirt, Gap, gray wool blend tights, Vermont Country Store, black nappa boots, Arlington by Stuart Weitzman

Here's how Talbot's styled the skirt last year.

See how fuzzy?

Gold pendant and eBayed Hermes bangle. Hey, at least I'm not wearing pearls.

Here's a back view of the boots--sorry about the graininess. I was trying to show the elastic.

For outside, I added my Brooks Brothers leather trench and some Nordic glittens (what J. Crew calls fingerless glove/mittens) I found these in Lake Forest, which means they're preppy.

It's not every day you see a Chanel bag combined with mittens!

Sigh.

I've come to the conclusion that if I think I've escaped my roots? I'm sadly mistaken.

Overcoming Inertia, Part II: Practice

This post is a follow-up to yesterday's, where, in a rather long-winded fashion (as is my wont) I eventually made a point (I hope). Which is this: you know you're serious about an activity when you feel the need to pull together a working wardrobe for it. And over the course of about six months where I spent four to six hours at the gym, this is what happened to me.

Eventually I replaced my washed-out Smith College and Boston Red Sox t-shirts with plain shirts that don't plaster lettering all over The Balcony. My long sweatpants, baggy capris, and (I kid you not) velour track suits have also disappeared. The brown, navy, black shades have been replaced with black, gray, and white.

These are the things I like. Except for shoes, I have at least three of everything on this list, so there is always something clean to wear.

1. Shock Absorber Maximum Control Wire Free Sports Bra

Whether I'm doing a Jillian Michael's DVD or working with my trainer, it's wise to dress like a runner who is planning on running a marathon during an earthquake. 

These bras provide Level 4 compression/lack of bounce.

It looks a little odd, but I think the double two-hook closure makes a difference. This baby is jumping jacks-ready! It's available at Her Room and Bare Necessities for $69. (Her Room has some bright colored ones on sale for $49, and Bare Necessities is currently offering 15 percent off.)

Gap Essential Scoop Neck T-Shirt

These t-shirts are a little more low-cut than I'd usually wear to the gym, but no one is looking at my cleavage, and it does help me stay cool.

The cotton is a nice, thick weight, and the fit is loose without being baggy. I previously mentioned buying seven of these using Gap Rewards gift cards. I'm thrilled to have a nice stack of new t-shirts. This shirt only comes in black, white, and gray (for the fashion-forward.) $14.50.

Victoria's Secret Supermodel Capris

Yes, Victoria's Secret. And don't think I don't feel a little silly shopping there.

These capris come with a variety of colored waistbands. Not surprisingly, I opt for the black-on-black style. I wear them higher than the model; they fit right under my navel and end higher on the leg. The fit in the leg is perfect; not skin tight, but not baggy. There is a slight flare at the bottom which looks cute and probably allows some extra ventilation. They wash and dry well, and unlike the ones I got from Athletica, they don't end up a snarling, static-y mess when I pull them out of the dryer. These are available for $59.50.

Puma footies

I got so tired of various minor variations in the style and weight of my sports socks. I kept not noticing the differences when I paired them when I was folding laundry, and ending up heading out wearing mismatched socks.

I chucked them all and replaced them with two six packs of footies.

Cross Trainers

I have  two pairs, and I alternate them. They say you should alternate dress shoes every day, and I figured it can't hurt to alternate sports shoes. The Reeboks are slightly wider through the arch, but the Nikes fit better in the heel.

That's it!

I work out indoors in a gym, so I pretty much wear the same thing year round. I add a sweatshirt in really cold weather, but I drive to the gym, so I don't really need to worry about dressing for the weather.

I'm in the market for a really good gym bag, though, so if anyone has any suggestions, comment away!

Shopping and eating and *not* working out, or, several deadly sins

Internet! Thanks for all the compliments and good wishes. I wish I could return the favor by continuing to be inspiring, but today was about self-indulgence. One might even say today was about full-on sinning.

First, there was my appalling sloth. Please note the time in this loving exchange I had this morning with Mr. Buxom. (I'm the one in blue.)

Following breakfast, I indulged in some avarice.

I recently decided that the Gap Essential Scoop Neck tee is my favorite style.

The cotton is substantial, it shows enough clavicle to keep me from looking like Mae West in an inflatable life jacket, and it's a lot cheaper than the Nordstrom and Talbot's tee-shirts that are cluttering up my drawers.

So I decided to buy some--in black, gray, and white. It occurred to me that I had a pile of Gap Card Rewards to use up. Then it turned out that the Gap was having its friend and Families sale and everything in the store was 30 percent off.  What with my gift cards and the discount and the free shipping for purchases over $50, I ended up scoring seven $14.95 tee-shirts for $24.70. And I chortled like some crazy combination of Becky Bloomwood and Ebenezer Scrooge as I realized I had paid a bit more than 3.00 a shirt.

Then I took my daughter shopping because she needs a long dress for a formal dance she'll be going to later this month. We did very well at Bloomingdale's, where a sale was in progress. She tried on six dresses and looked stunning in every single one. Honestly, if I tried on six evening dresses and looks that good in all of them, I'd drag Mr. Buxom to every black tie event in Chicago. At any rate, she picked out one that I can't find anywhere, but it's lovely and age-appropriate and I was filled with maternal pride.

Say hello to Blue Blood

After helping my daughter in and out of so many dresses, I celebrated by stopping by the Estee Lauder counter, because some of the new nail polish shades filled me with an ungovernable lust. 

and Viper

Of course, I don't need to go into detail about the dinner I ate when I got home, right? Red wine, crackers with blue cheese, Korean spicy Sashimi, and the Hot Night Roll? Not to mention the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and the birthday cake pop?

Trust me; it was a symphony in greed.

Luckily for me, tomorrow is another day!

p.s. A word to the wise: did you know that a Starbucks Cake Pop has 170 calories? It's so tiny and so caloric, you might as well be eating fudge.

30 Days to 10 years younger--10 minute tips. Tip 20: Think like a decorator

A decorator once said that if you walk into a house and look around, you can tell how old the owners are.

I find the whole idea depressing, because I suspect that my house is telling the world I'm 80.

But let's explore the idea and apply it to clothes. Can people tell your age from your clothes? I think they can.

Young people just starting out stay current because current is all they know. If my daughter decided to buy a white t-shirt, a jean skirt, and a cardigan, she'd end up getting something like this:

Fitted T-shirt from Forever XXI

Jean skirt from The Gap

Ruffled-edged tie-front sleeveless cardigan from Forever XXI

Meanwhile, my mother would end up with stuff like this:

T-shirt from Lands End

Chambray skirt from Vermont Country Store

Cardigan from Lands End

Now, when you think about it, nothing says a cardigan has to be a plain, button-up, long-sleeved sweater. Or that a jean skirt has to graze the top of your ankles. Or that a t-shirt has to be boxy.

And certainly nothing says you have to wear the old lady stuff from head to toe.

So for today, do a youth inventory of your clothes. Figure out the likely demographic for each piece you're wearing. See if you can't tweak your look a little. (And include your accessories! The right shoes, bag, and jewelry can shave off a lot of years.)