Who wore it better?

Turns out, if you make desperate pleas for advice on the internet, the internet is happy to oblige. 

When I posted my first few attempts at dressing better, I didn't realize that the first thing everyone would notice was that, yes, I was wearing my uber-comfy nursing bra. Yes, I'd been wearing it for about 14 months straight. And no, it's not terribly supportive. Thanks for noticing, everyone! So after the third or fourth person mentioned it, I decided to wean my baby for the sole purpose of wearing my better, more supportive bras. So when William grows up and becomes a delinquent, I blame the internet.

Nah, just kidding. He is 15 months and I was planning on weaning him anyway. 

This week, I found myself wearing this same outfit from the very beginning of my blog, and I realized I've actually learned a few things since starting this adventure. 

See if you can spot the differences.
And since you're all noticing, yes, I'm wearing a better bra. Moving on!

Like Sarah said, "Accessories take up space!" They also transform a t-shirt into a background canvas instead of trying to be the (super plain, boring) centerpiece.
My necklace is one I've had for a couple years now, and it's literally the only necklace I've ever bought myself. And man, do I have great taste! Coincidentally, I bought it from Sarah's jewelry shop. The beads are made from paper by women in Uganda. They are some seriously talented and resourceful women, because if I rolled up paper and tried to make them into beads. no one would be lining up to buy any of those necklaces. But I love the bright colors and the design. It's my style-- which is something I didn't know I had.
The beads get tangled all the time, which is annoying, but gives me something to do during long talks at church-- while I listen, of course!

Shoes. Who knew?!

My other friend, Sarah, gave me the tip of "three things makes an outfit." I've always been really good at this, since I never leave the house without at least a shirt, shorts, and shoes. But I guess accessories could be three MORE things. Thanks for the great advice, Sarah!

My sister, Sarah, (Seriously, 1980s, the future called. Try naming your kids something besides Sarah, Sarah, and Sarah!) actually has nothing to do with this post. But she joined me on my 4th of July post. She's so much cooler than me! She probably already knew you're supposed to wear statement jewelry and shoes. But she doesn't have a Kindle case as fancy as mine!

Maybe it's time to update the old jewelry box?

It would be an understatement to say I let my jewelry box collect dust. Because this is Brazil, and we grow mold here.

The entire back of my jewelry box grew a bumper crop of mold this summer, which I'm assuming wouldn't have happened if I had opened the cupboard once in a while. But I keep it in with my maternity clothes (hello, I'm not pregnant) and my sweaters (ahem, BRAZIL!), and there's just no reason for me to go in there.

Before we moved here, my jewelry box sat unopened in our house and in storage for about 18 months.

So it's safe to say I'm not really a jewelry girl.

And yet, here's a picture of my jewelry box anyway!

I have some nice things. My grandma gave me a little butterfly pendant for my 8th birthday. It has a diamond on it, and if you really squint, you can see it sparkling there somewhere. Still have that. My sister gave me some wooden beads from her 8th grade class trip to DC. Still have those. My mother-in-law gave me some VERY nice things that I could probably wear if I had something to go with them. Of course I still have those.

But when Sarah talked about "holes in her wardrobe," my wardrobe is like Swiss cheese, but with more holes than cheese-- if that's even possible.

I decided to try and fill some of the holes in my jewelry collection. When Sarah said that World Market has some great accessories, I don't know about you, but I headed over to check it out.

I've been to a World Market store before. It has a ton of cool stuff from all over the world (like it's a market... from the whole world). I didn't see any jewelry. That's the problem selling jewelry in a furniture store. Maybe I should have checked under the couch cushions.

But going to their website, I could find it immediately. All you have to know is how to spell "jewelry," which I obviously do. (That was a joke for my British friends. Enjoy.)

I found some pieces I will definitely add to my jewelry box, just as soon as I get the mold cleaned off:

This would be a MUCH nicer necklace than the plastic atrocity I bought last month.
Real lapis instead of plastic. Imagine that!

I got a great gold and turquoise necklace in my Stitch Fix last month. My options to wear with it? Nothing. But these would look great:

Love these tiny leaf filigree earrings.
No, they're not ACTUALLY made from leaves, but for $4.99, I don't really care.
They look like it from here.

And speaking of jewellery that looks like leaves:

Oooh! I could wear this and pretend to be Arwen.
I should ask for a long, flowy elven maiden dress in my next Stitch Fix!

While I was looking around at World Market, I found this code to share with you all. If you click on it and use the code they give you, you get $10 off your order of $50. Not too shabby! And it gives me store credit for shamelessly promoting their website.

And you can all pretend to be surprised with me if I get these for my birthday next month.

Panel of Experts: Sarah

When you sign up to teach English in the Middle-of-Nowhere, China, it's going to be a life-changing adventure. In my case, I came home with adventure stories, a love of everything Chinese, as well as some great, lifelong friends-- and I'm not just talking intestinal parasites!
 
I'd like to introduce one of my good friends from that semester in Urumqi, Sarah. 

Everyone: "Hello, Sarah!"

In addition to her amazing contralto singing voice and passion for... well... everything, Sarah also has immaculate taste. She blogs over at Bombshell Bling, and so while it has been almost seven years since I've talked to her in person, I get to hear her voice as she writes about crafts, fantastic parties, and an unnatural obsession with s'mores. She has taste in decorating, cooking, and celebrating holidays, but today I've interviewed her about her fashion sense.

• Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

I tend to look at what friends, celebrities, and my favorite TV character are wearing and then go with my gut. Despite what Chelsea seems to think, I’m not a fashionista by any means, so I don’t tend to jump in with both feet at the first celebrity sighting of a new trend. I tend to wait it out a bit and see if I really like it and how it is going to last before I spend money and time implementing a new trend.

I have a lot of lovely, fashionable friends, and I definitely notice what they are wearing and think about how I would like to adapt it to my own style. A couple of people that I watch the most are my friend Jessica, who has a super flashy, colorful style that is a mix of cutting edge fashion and retro style, all mixed in with huge jewelry, and my sister Laura, who has a very Anthropologie-esque style that usually leans toward more muted colors and flowy fits. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle of the two, but definitely with bright colors and big jewelry.

I do watch what celebrities are wearing, and also what tv characters are wearing, interestingly. In college I adored what Monica and Rachel were wearing on Friends. I love what Zoe Deschanel wears, both on and off screen. Her colorful vintage vibe is right up my alley! Mindy Kaling’s character, Mindy Lahiri, on The Mindy Project has a wardrobe that I would LOVE to raid. It’s so dang colorful, AND it’s flattering for a non-size 2!

Mindy Lahiri? You know, I'm just not seeing it.
*wink*

If I could step into the wardrobe of one person for the rest of my life it would absolutely be Kate Middleton. Except that I have nowhere to wear fancy suits and dresses. But they’re perfection.

Most of all, I look for things that are flattering on my figure. My figure has changed dramatically since having babies, so I have had to relearn what works on me and I tend to stick with certain fabrics and cuts when possible.

• If you have a nice event to go to (brunch, night out, etc.) when do you start thinking of what you’ll wear? How do you plan an outfit?

I have certain things that I wear a lot. My sisters call them my “uniforms.” I know they look good on me and I know that I am comfortable and confident in them. I feel that spending more money on “staple” items that can be dressed up or down is a great investment. 
One thing I love is a great maxi dress. I have lots of solid colored dresses and tops that I dress up or down with bling. I am all about jewelry and bold lipstick. They both totally change the feel of an outfit! Sometimes I plan ahead, but more often than not I just walk in my closet and see what I feel like wearing that day and then mess around with makeup and jewelry to change the look a bit.

• What is your current favorite thing to wear?

Honestly? Yoga pants and Target t-shirts. That’s my ultimate “uniform.” Seriously. ;)
When I have a reason to look nice I’m all about maxi skirts with basic t-shirt tops and big necklaces. During the winter I live in skinny jeans, a basic top, long cardigan, fun infinity scarf, and boots. Boots and jeans are another great place to invest more money. If you’re like me you wear jeans almost everyday. For goodness sake, invest in a pair that FITS WELL and is comfortable! And make them dark wash! So much more flattering. I wear my boots into the ground, and they totally make or break an outfit.

• Top 10 items to have in your wardrobe:

(In no particular order.)

1. Great skinny jeans. I wear American Eagle High Waisted Jeggings in the darkest color. (They do bleed at first so wash them inside out in cold water only with other darks for the first few washes.) They are SO FREAKING COMFORTABLE!! American Eagle jeggings — not just for teenagers — who knew?! I wear jeans sized in the double digits, so you can trust me that they aren’t just for pre-baby bodies!)

2. Maxi Skirts

3. Infinity Scarves (World Market is my fav place to find them.)

4. Great boots

5. A fantastic pair of black heels — mine are peep toe and I adore them.

6. Target T-Shirts

7. Maxi Dresses that you can dress up or down

8. Long cardigans in both plain colors and bold patterns that I can throw over basic tops

9. Flowy tops that can be worn alone or with big bling

10. BLING! Lots of bling. And, as a friend once said to me, “The bigger the woman, the bigger the bling should be.” Big necklaces fill up space, ladies. It’s true. Although I wore them even when I was skinny . . . so I guess I just love big bling! :)

• Shopping: What is your plan of attack when you go clothes shopping? Do you have a plan of attack?

No plan unless I have something very specific that I need. I usually just go to my favorite places and look around. You can get great deals at places like TJ Maxx and Ross, but I don’t have patience for that. I will pay more in order to be able to walk in, scan the room, and know what is there. I don’t have time to dig. 

Overall, I look for colors and patterns that jump out at me. I also look for things to fill “holes” in my wardrobe, whether that’s a certain color or a certain style that I don’t have much of. Above all, it must be a fit and fabric that I know looks good on me. If it isn’t then I don’t bother trying it on, regardless of how cute it looks on a hanger.

• What are some of your favorite stores (in person, online)? What do you usually buy there?

For dressy stuff and jewelry I love Anthropologie and Nordstrom. Obviously, I shop the sales there. Online I’ve gotten some great retro-style dresses at Shabby Apple, and I recently discovered a site called Kiyonna that sells plus sized clothing. I got a formal dress there for a performance and I love it! 

More often, I shop at Target, H&M, Old Navy, GAP, and Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom Rack has fantastic jewelry. World Market is a great place for scarves and jewelry at bargain prices.

• What advice would you give me or people like me for whom dressing well is challenging and out of their comfort zones?

Just keep trying new things and BE BRAVE. It took me years to put on skinny jeans because I thought I’d look fat in them. Well, maybe I do, but they are fashionable and cute, and they allow me to wear boots all winter in Colorado! I love them! I shouldn’t have waited so long! 

Over time you will figure out what fabrics and cuts are best on you, and you will figure out your personal style. I wear bigger jewelry, brighter colors, and more sequins than most of my friends. But that’s me! Just own your personal style. Fun makeup and a cut haircut are a great way to shake things up. 

And one tip that I feel is valuable for every woman: A GREAT BRA AND SPANX! The Target Assets brand knockoff Spanx are affordable and will smooth you right out, whether you are already thin or not! I don’t wear them daily, but you’d better believe I wear them when I’m dressed up! And a great bra is an everyday essential. I go to the Nordstrom semi-annual sales and get fitted with the workers (yes, it’s embarrassing) and suddenly I look ten pounds lighter with those things hiked up. Great bras aren’t just for busty gals like myself. Sometimes I look at my super thin, flat chested friends and think, “Girl - hike those things up! You will love the fit of that dress so much more if you do!” Great undergarments make everything you wear look better. Best fashion investment of all!

Believe it or not, I know people who dress well

In 2011, we were posted to Shenyang, China, and Kevin was invited to an event at a 5-star hotel in town. It was on the night of our anniversary, and with our second baby almost three months old, we needed a night out!

I've never been someone who looks forward to an event like this and thinks, "Wow, what a fun occasion to get all dolled up!" In fact, I have never used the phrase, "get all dolled up," in real life. Instead, this is an event that causes panic and a feeling of being under-prepared, under-dressed, and outclassed. I rummaged and rummaged through my closet and found myself asking, "Well, what T-shirt would look nice with this?" And the brick wall I kept hitting kept telling me, "None of them!"

We lived upstairs from a huge shopping mall, which included H&M and Zara, as well as hundreds of Chinese stores for Chinese-sized women. I ran downstairs (well, I walked to the elevator) and found a black, lacy dress suitable for the occasion. It took me another long while to find some shoes. When you wear a size 8.5 in the USA, China thinks you're a Sasquatch.

I eventually found some size 8's that I could squeeze into, so I minced off to the ball like Cinderella's (dolled up) stepsister.

Lace dress and black leggings.
Just pretend I'm still wearing my shoes.

It was a step in the right direction, but after I saw the pictures we took, I realized that the outfit had looked a lot more glamorous in my head. Something was missing, or maybe a lot of somethings, and I had no idea what do about it-- even living upstairs from H&M! It seems like some people can just walk into a store and find some fantastic combinations and make some great outfits. But I had no idea where to start. Was there a class, or some kind of nerd-extracting therapy I could take?

So in a desperate plea for help, I emailed a couple friends who are fantastically talented at dressing well and getting dolled up-- and somehow still friends with me. I asked them what I should buy, how I should shop, and what they would do in my situation.

And being not only beautiful and glamorous, but also incredibly kind, they both gave me some really good advice.

"Look, tell her destiny has brought you together.
Tell her that she's the most beautiful girl you have ever seen.
Girls like that stuff. What, what are you doing, George?"
"I'm writing this down. This is good stuff."

I took some notes and made a shopping list and a plan, then headed down to H&M. This is one of the outfits I bought and wore on Christmas:

Sparkly sweater, pencil skirt, a purple halter top, matching earrings

It's not going to win any fashion awards, but I was really happy to have chosen something out of my usual comfort zone.

And I am very happy to STILL have these chique friends. In some upcoming posts, and hopefully on a regular basis in the future, I'll be interviewing some of my chique friends and sharing their wisdom on this blog. I have learned so much from them, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who could benefit from their perspectives!

For my first installment, coming later this week, I'll be interviewing my friend, Sarah. She is one of the original girls I emailed for help back in 2011, and I'm excited to have her as my very first guest-poster on my blog!

Stay tuned!

In no way should this post be taken as a movie recommendation

Back in 2011 there was this cute new Jennifer Aniston rom-com in the theaters, and I went to see it with a group of ladies from church. It was a diverse group, spanning the generations, including a very proper woman, probably in her mid-seventies at the time-- the go-to woman to teach classes on etiquette and manners and that sort of thing.

Did you see "Just Go with It"? It was terrible! It was your typical Adam Sandler fare, and while it was also technically a cute Jennifer Aniston rom-com, it's certainly not one you'd invite someone's straight-laced grandmother to! Oh, I cringe when I watch Adam Sandler movies anyway, but it was doubly awkward this time around.

Maybe that's why I remember it so clearly.


That look on Jennifer Aniston's face? Pretty much how I felt while I watched it.

But there was one part that actually made me think. Rare for an Adam Sandler movie, I know.

It wasn't terribly DEEP thinking, just to be clear.

In the beginning of "Just Go with It," when Adam Sandler is convincing his receptionist to pretend to be his wife, they have a conversation that goes basically like this:

(Walking through a fancy mall)
A: Will you please just look at some clothes?
J: Look at that! I don't wear that! I have clothes, by the way.
A: Yeah, the best clothes that Old Navy sells.

And then she goes on a Rodeo Drive shopping spree, transforming from this:

Old Navy's best

To this:

Muito chique!

There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from this. Lots of deep thoughts to be had.
Mine was this:
Old Navy isn't high fashion?!?

I'd never actually thought about it before. Stores are stores, aren't they? I mean, Old Navy sells dresses and belts and stuff. Isn't that enough to be chique?

Now, you can't be too careful on the internet.

Dear Old Navy,
I have no intention to smear you as some non-chique clothing store. I'm just repeating what Adam Sandler said. (Is that ever a legitimate excuse?!)  To be fair, all my favorite, most comfortable maternity clothes came from your store. (Well, the ones that didn't come from H&M. Or Target.) When I need more jeans and t-shirts, or next time I'm in 8th grade, I'll be back!

But for now I'm moving on, taking my fashion advice from Adam Sandler.

Dressing for the big game

I've always been a big fan of dressing up for football games.

My fashion theory boils down to this: Wear as much BYU gear as possible. I'm sorry, but there's no other sport and no other team, and that's it.

My family believes in my theory as well.
That's me in the dark blue shirt, BYU shorts, and BYU visor.
My sister's the one in the pink. It's a BYU hat and a BYU 5k shirt, so she is excused.

Winter games add more depth to your team spirit.
You better believe I'm wearing about six layers of BYU memorabilia under my coat!

Painting yourself blue and white is also a good option. Wigs are fun. The fashion options for football games are really quite extensive.

I feel kind of bad for U of U fans. I mean, at BYU, we never coordinate our BYU gear with red pants. But U of U fans go to games with blue pants on, inadvertently supporting the better team--with the better fight song. Go Cougars!

If there's anyone who knows how to dress for a game, it is the Brazilians. My personal favorite is the guy who has only worn Brazil colors for the last 20 years after Brazil won the World Cup in 1994. (He would also be the world's easiest person to buy presents for.)

But apparently there is more than one school of thought on what some people refer to as "Ballpark Style."

Ballpark STYLE?!? I had no idea....

Stitch Fix put this post on their blog to help people decide what to wear to baseball games this summer. And my eyes were opened. I never really considered the possibility of looking chique AND all team spirity.

I think she remembered to look in the mirror before leaving the house,
unlike some people who just look in the bottom of the drawer for more BYU memorabilia.

I can get on board with this.
I still think at least one (or two) of your shirts should be actual team memorabilia,
but I like this idea of looking nice AND spirited.

And this last outfit? Well, you can't win 'em all.

If you're going to wear a grey shirt to a live game, it should be this one:

Distressed denim: Feeling torn

I'm feeling torn about the whole distressed jeans trend. (Groooooaaaaan! Sorry.)

How much do jeans like this cost? Click and see!

I wonder how the factory workers feel, taking a cheese grater to some perfectly good jeans, and then knowing people will fork out $500 bucks for them!
Or what would our grandparents and great-grandparents say? "Um, you're buying them with holes ALREADY IN THEM?! Back in my day, we used clothes as rags well before they looked like this!"



Isn't the whole point of long pants so you DON'T have to shave your legs?!

Now that I'm supposed to wear pants with holes in them, should I also wear my nail polish all chipped and peeling off? Come on, I could be a trend setter!


And yet...


I could wear this...

There are so many pretty outfits with distressed jeans. They make everything look effortless and casual. 


This, plus the ironically half-tucked shirt... very stylish.
And I know some teenage boys at church who would HATE to know how unintentionally stylish they are!

And yet, I'm not sure I'm 100% on board. I have no trouble looking casual and unkempt. That's actually my forte. I have some jeans already well on their way to being fiercely stylish!
But would I buy them like that NEW?

I guess my final opinion on distressed jeans is my opinion about tattoos: Some look great and some don't, but is it ever an improvement on the original?

Sorry, distressed jeans. I'm going to have to be a lot cooler before anyone would believe I was wearing you ironically.

Recipes

Not to brag, but I'm kind of an amazing cook.

Someone should tell my kids

Last week I was at the store and impulse-bought some basil and tomatoes to make a caprese salad with basalmic vinegar and olive oil dressing.

When I got home, we were out of cheese, and I had to improvise. I pulled out the food processor and threw the basil in with some olive oil and salt to make pesto. We didn't have pine nuts, but cashews are practically the same. It's against my personal religion to put fresh garlic into anything, so after pureeing the heck out of it for a few minutes: voila! Italy's best! -- made by an American expat in Brazil, of course.

We had pesto pasta tossed with diced tomatoes for dinner, and when my kids grow up they will know what they missed.
The next night I made pizza with the leftover pesto. I topped it with shredded chicken, onions, and cheese. It was fantastic! 

Someday I'd like to get to this point with my clothes. Stay with me; it will make sense in a minute. Right now I feel like the person who eats every night at McDonald's. I know it's not great, but it's easy, comfortable, and I've been doing it so long it's all I know. I love wearing jeans and t-shirts, but they're my McDonald's. 

To be fair, McDonald's has a nice variety on their menu these days, with salads and yogurt and apple slices. And I have some nice t-shirts. 

But let's say this McDonald's person heads over to the grocery store and buys some basil and tomatoes. Fresh vegetables and herbs! Watch out, world, I'm a foodie now!

Then they get home and realize basil and tomatoes make a terrible dinner. Sure, it's edible, but it's not delicious like the fries at McDonald's. So they toss the leftover basil and go back to justifying the tomatoes in ketchup and the whitish-pink tomato slice in the Big N' Tasty.

That's how I feel about fashion. I don't really know what to buy, and even if I do buy something nice, I don't have belts or shoes or even pants to go with it. 

So... I need recipes.

I've been really looking forward to my Stitch Fix order, almost as much for the styling cards as for the actual clothes.

Almost. :)

My Grammy puts magazine pictures up in her closets or sticks them onto the hangers to inspire her on what she can wear with certain items. I, on the other hand, just get dressed until my body's covered. This idea of planning and accessorizing certainly didn't get passed down genetically.

But I'm sticking these "recipe cards" up on my closet doors.

Skinny jeans: I guess I can dress these up or down-- though both of these are dressing up for me.

I didn't keep this shirt, but I still like the styling ideas.
This idea that you can have more than one purse -- and then accentuate your outfit with it-- is novel to me.
I have one purse. It is blue. Because blue goes with everything.
Especially when you always wear jeans.

Dress this up with white jeans! Ooooohhh, I'm not so sure I could do that with kids.
Or without kids.
I like most of this, but on this one I started to get the feeling the stylist was just kind of throwing pieces together.
I mean, yes I can wear a necklace with this, but that coral and teal necklace on the right? It looks completely random.
I think my pharaoh necklace would actually match better.

And this is nice and all. I like the yellow necklace and teal clutch.
But I'm pretty sure that even I know you're not supposed to wear a black cardigan with a navy dress!
Maybe they ran out of pictures for cardigans. 

So maybe I won't try every single one of these "recipes." But I really need to stop eating McDonald's every day.
Maybe I'll try the white jeans.

Happy Independence Day, America! And happy 4th of July to the rest of the world!

If you're anything like me, I'm sure that your thoughts on waking up today were something like this:

"It's the 4th of July! Apple pie and BBQ beans, baby!"

"What is America going to be offended about today?"

and of course,

"How is Chelsea going to wow us with her sartorial elegance on this fantastic 239th birthday of America?"

Well, thanks for asking!

The 4th of July is the day for wearing red, white, and/or blue. I've always been really good at dressing up for the holiday-- as long as your only criteria are red, white, and/or blue.

2009-- a 9-month pregnant selfie- blue maternity dress

2010- Red AND blue, because jeans are inherently patriotic!

2012- Look at this fantastic outfit: red, white, and blue; patriotic stripes; way cute hat!!
I don't remember at what age I realized my little sister was cooler than me...
Me: Blue, blue, and pink.

2013- My friend bought this dress for me in China on taobao.com.
She made me buy one because she was buying a bunch and they were cheaper than even buying the material to make them--
which is always a good reason, right?
Plus: red, white, and blue in a fireworks design. It's like they made it just for me. Thanks, China!

2014- The rest of my family looked super cute.
But it's hard to dress the kids all cute and then still care enough to dress myself--
especially before I decided to care.

A few weeks ago I shook off that taobao dress and wore it with a belt. It wasn't an amazing outfit or anything, but it got me thinking. I tend to consider a dress as a complete unit, but when I see outfits on Pinterest or wherever, there are always layers. Like cakes. Or onions. Or ogres. So I decided to wear the taobao dress as a background layer for a complete outfit on top for the 4th of July this year.

This is history in the making, folks. Never before have I planned ahead what I would wear to a party-- and especially not three weeks in advance! This is revolutionary!

Not like 1776 Revolutionary... just... new.

I bought a chambray shirt (which, when I last wore one in 1993, was just called a denim shirt) and a chunky blue necklace. I figured I'd tie the shirt at my waist and have the necklace as a statement piece. 

Now, I'm not the world's best shopper, whether online or in person, and when I got that necklace in the mail, I realized the only time I'd be able to wear it was if I was Pharaoh of a cheap plastic version of Egypt.

When I asked him, even Kevin, who doesn't usually have strong opinions about what I wear, told me, "You can wear a necklace, but you can't wear THAT necklace."

So here you have it. I have another necklace-- quite understated, especially in comparison-- and I look like I put thought into my clothes!

2015: Wearing a handbag AND a handbag

Action shot

So happy 4th of July, everyone! I hope you have a great celebration wherever you are!
And if anyone's doing a Moses play in Sunday School, come talk to me.