Walk Like a Man

Ally of Shybiker proposed a challenge yesterday that I just couldn't refuse:

Dress up as a man.  Yes, a man!  You don't have to go outside if you're scared but put on men's clothes to see what they feel like.  You'll be surprised at how much you'll grasp, intuitively and emotionally.  It will be a major growth experience for you.
There are no rules.  If you have a bf or hubby, raid their closet.  If not, try a blazer and pants.  If you have enthusiasm, pick up real men's clothes at a thrift store for $3.
I know most people aren't as adventurous as I am, but I promise you that you'll find the experience incredible.  You will feel different.  People will react to you different.  And imagine the comments on your blog!
You can wear makeup if you wish but keep it neutral.  Pull your hair back or hide it under a hat.  Wear flats, preferably lace-ups that are big and clunky.  Don't worry about style -- few men do.

I decided to dawn what guys my age typically wear around my school. Thank goodness I have my boyfriend's clothes that he's given me. Here's what I came out with:

My inner dialogue while taking these shots was hilarious:

"What do guys do?" 

"No, don't stick your hip out."

"Make your face look hard."

"Harder."

"Hunch your shoulders to hide your boobs."

"What would Eddie Redmayne do?"

"Gosh my hair is about to bust out of this."

I really liked how these photos turned out. I think the best part of it all was how confident I still felt. I can't believe how sexy I felt wearing guy's clothing in a way that a guy would wear them and act in them. I'm honestly really proud of myself for that. I also, however, styled the same clothes in a way that I would wear them...as a girl I guess you could say. I basically just let my hair down, unbuttoned a button and tucked in the front of the shirt. Oh! And pulled up my pants a little higher =]. It felt SO good to put my hand on my hip and pop it out. So good.

I definitely think more people should take on this challenge and see what they end up with =]. I'm so glad I did it.

Till next time,

Jess

Suffice it to Say, it's Been a Bummer Day

Today I ran out of the door 15 minutes after waking up so I didn't have time for makeup or to do my hair.  I felt messy. Sometimes the au naturale look works, other days it does not. I wonder why that is? If only I could wake up and look as freshly made up as the movie stars do in their films. Oh right like we all just wake up with perfectly rouged cheeks and curled lashes as we smile and stretch. You're not fooling me Marilyn Monroe! It's also back to being grey and chilly. UGH! I want sun and warmth already! Suffice it to say it's been a bummer day. In spite of the that, I'm actually in a great mood. I really like this outfit, and I don't know how I was able to hurriedly throw on something like this, but I'm glad it happened. I'm also going to go to the store and get some noms and that has me a little more excited than I probably should be. 

Button up:Target
Leather Jacket: Belk
Skirt:Thrift/DIY
Tights:Target
Boots:Target

Ok, Since I haven't ranted this out of my system yet to my friends, I'll rant about it on here too. Apparently you all tend to like the posts I rant in better anyways ;). I have a younger professor who is only about 3 years older than me, and is trying to be a mentor of sorts to me. While I appreciate that, I didn't ask for it. It's my musicianship for engineers class, and at first he kept apologizing to me about how easy the class will be for me and was going to try to get me to exempt it all together. He would stop me before, during, and after class to discuss it with me until last Wednesday. I thanked him for the opportunity and just said that I would stay in the class. Whenever I saw him today he, again, talked to me after class and said I could use the A. Whenever I asked him what he meant by that he replied, "I think you know what that means." He then began to talk to me about my GPA and asked me what grades I've made in other classes. I just felt vulnerable and defeated and embarrassed. It didn't really feel like his business to bring that up like that. He then talked to me about the clip of music I sent to him of me playing Chopin's Nocturne in C# Op 27,1 (I sent it to him for exemption purposes). I was really proud of it, and it took me months to get it down. All he had to say was, "The recording quality is crap...but...yeah. Next Friday after class I can show you how to set up the school's equipment to record better quality stuff." Wow thanks jerkwad, you're right I would love to spend more time with you. He's only doing this to me...I don't get it.

Phew. Rant is over. My feelings won't be hurt if you skipped over it =]. 

Till next time,

Jess

L is for the Way You Look at Me

Ew what a cheesy title! Anyways, yesterday I pointed out how I've been thinking about what I want to wear for Valentine's day, and I have been drawing a blank. I do not want to go buy new stuff, because I need to really save my money. Also, Valentine's day is not that important to me to where I feel like I need to buy a special outfit for it. So! It's to the drawing board....erm well Photoshop...to create inspiration looks!

1/2/3/4

My first look is entirely from LuLu's. I'm thinking gold and black this Valentine's. Red and pink are just so obvious, and I'd rather use them as accents (Even though red is my absolute favorite color to wear, and I think it just screams power and sex appeal). Can we just talk about how gorgeous this gold skirt is? I'm in love. I also can't see myself living too long without this leotard. I don't think I'll ever stray too far away from a ballet inspired look. It's just.....me.

1/2/3/4

My second look is from *drumroll* eBay! I have grown to love eBay so of course one of my looks had to come from it. UM! I still don't have a stinkin' peplum top! I just adore them, and I really like the sequins around this collar. I am all about how sequins are everywhere now. I have a sequin top, and I live for how light dances off of it onto the walls (I'm basically a live disco ball and who doesn't want to be a disco ball?). I'm also wanting some high rise skinny jeans pretty freakin' badly. I would wear those suckers non-stop until the heat drove me out of them. I do believe some bright red lips and a red leather envelope clutch would finish this look off rather perfectly.

1/2/3/4

This next look is my wild card, and I chose Forever21's site to pick from since that is where I buy most of my clothes. This outfit is a bit out of my comfort zone due to a lack of confidence, but that's honestly why I picked it out: to push my limits. I am SO infatuated with these damask shorts! Louis XVI would be ever so jealous, and I could blend in perfectly dans le château de Versailles. Because I would feel a bit exposed with just the bustier top, I chose a burgundy colored blazer (bright red would just be competing too much with the shorts) to go over it. I would also wear this ensemble with black tights and these great wedges. I chose wedges for all the looks, because they're so easy to walk in and are my favorite type of heel for that reason.

Welp those are my three inspiration outfits. Which one is your favorite?

Till next time,

Jess

Time to Start Painting Your Toe Nails

 It's a very sunny, warm day, and I am a very happy girl. I've been cursing the grey skies and praying for sun, and I finally got it! I'm itching for Spring, and I've been making skirts and shorts and breezy tops like a madwoman. The title is close to home for me, because I don't know about you, but in the winter I don't shave often or paint my toenails. I always wear closed toed shoes and cover my legs so I just get lazy in the lower than my belly button upkeep. Not that you have to have your legs shaved or your toenails painted, but I like to if they're exposed. Well this post is certainly a weird one! I am super duper excited about Valentine's day next week, because I'm with a guy I actually like, haha (Just kidding...sorta). I am thinking about what I'm going to wear and I just...I'm lost! Maybe I'll do a post tomorrow with some options to draw inspiration from. I'm going to end this babble here. I hope everyone else is having as beautiful as a day as I am!

Till next time,

Jess

Sew, A Needle Pulling Thread

I have a question to ask you lovely people, do you read replies? I haven't been leaving them on my blog posts lately and just replying in comments on your posts, because I don't know if you read them if I reply on my blog posts. Woah that's a little confusing, but I hope you get what I'm trying to say. I feel bad for not replying in my blog post, but I also want to be able to reply where you'll read it, haha! Oh goodness. I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and I finally bought thread for it the other day and immediately ended up sewing 2 pairs of shorts, shortening 3 skirts, and making another. I've never had so much fun in my whole life (that's a little bit of a stretch). I had gotten so used to sewing things by hand, the fact that it took me less than an hour to do all of that baffled me and had me giddy the rest of the night.

Here is my outfit I wore today. This skirt is another vintage find from Patrick's house, It was his mother's from the 80's, and one of the skirts I shortened it up a bit. It was an awkward length that came down just above the middle of my calf. She is a much shorter lady than I so I bet it was a cute, longer skirt on her. 

 And here's Mumford! :) I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday.

Till next time,

Jess

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

 Today went very well. I woke up to a nice thin blanket of snow on my way to my musicianship for engineers class, and I piled on as many layers as I could. When I got back home I played piano for 2 hours. That's my favorite part about that particular class, it inspires me to play more, and I've also been inspired to start writing music again. I don't know what it is about this time being back in Tennessee, but I can't shake these homesick woes. I guess it is similar to when I came to Tennessee last year after my summer in South Carolina. I'll be fine though, and I know it will pass. It could be the grey, wet weather too. I tend to be happier in warmer months. Oh! There's something else I had to say. I have this goal in mind which is getting me excited. Patrick's birthday is March 17th, and he's talked about how he's wanted to pet the tigers at the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thing is, the V.I.P. tour where you can hold tigers is $180 a person with this coupon I have. I think for pictures it's an extra $100 (which isn't crucial, but it'd be nice) plus gas money to get there. My goal is to raise the money so I can take him there for his birthday. I really want to make this happen, because, let's face it, I want to hold some tigers too. If I can't do it by his birthday then it will just have to be a late birthday gift. Well I'm off to watch some toons and eat dinner. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend =].

Till next time,

Jess