katie

This is the kind of blog/project I dream of having/starting. So beautifully curated and focused.

All photos by Jeana Sohn

So, as mentioned, I started a new job today. It’s retail, so there’s lots of moving around with boxes, folding, etc. Our dress code is “professional” with a few stipulations: no cleavage, no super short hemlines, and no underarms (aka: a short or cap sleeve minimum) but the most challenging part is that I can’t wear pants. It’s skirts and tops or dresses when I’m out on the floor. Of course, footwear has to cover my toes for safety reasons.

Even though I worked in a professional environment in my last job, I was really able to wear whatever I wanted when I wanted. This meant that I wore jeans or something similar to jeans pretty much all of the time with the odd casual skirt/t-shirt combo thrown in when I was feeling ambitious.

Now I have to stretch what I brought to Vancouver in terms of a wardrobe. I have a blazer here as well as a couple of appropriate dresses and one or two skirts that aren’t too short. My shoe choices are limited to one pair of Steve Madden black suede flats.

Having just started today I don’t have the cash to go out and get new work clothes, but it is definitely time for me to step up my game and “dress for the job I want”. Here are some of the things I would buy if I had an unlimited budget right now:

Dresses

All three of these would do well with or without tights (Thinking of fall, of course!). Number two would look cozy layered with a long sleeve tee of just about any hue.

All of the above are from Modcloth.

1. Success Story Dress, $69.99
2. Grey-tful to be Your Dress, $54.99
3. Boat Race Dress, $57.99

Skirts

It’s definitely back to the basics for these pieces. They’re perfect specimens for layering or spicing up with tops and accessories.

1. Urban Outfitters, $58.00
2. Banana Republic Tweed Knife Pleat Skirt, $69.50
3. Gap Classic Pencil Skirt, $49.50

Tops

The goal here? Simple, versatile (not boring), and elegant.

1. Urban Outfitters Secretary Blouse, $48.00
2. American Apparel Oxford Shirt, $65.00
3. Urban Outfitters Chiffon Blouse, $58.00

Shoes

Brown, black, brown, black!

1. Coach Liana Bootie, $278.00
2. Marc Jacobs Clog, (Browns) $428.00
3. Spring Bramer Oxford, $44.99
4. Jeffery Campbell 99 Lace Up Wedge, (Need Supply Co.) $120.00

Props to all of the fashion bloggers who take the time to do this on the regular. It’s fun, but time consuming!

This Dress in Asphalt

And these “socks” in the gray as well.

So the rule went something like this:
One gift for [insert family member].. one gift for me.

I got a new pair of very dark Guess jeans (best fit for my body - take note ladies with some hip and thigh up in hurr). I want them to stay dark for as long as possible. I have had two pair of Guess jeans in the last two years that last for about a year each. They are the desired colour for about three months and then just loose their ability to be dressed up. With this new pair I want to try a pre-wash soak of salt. I have read in some places and heard from a friend that this is a good way to reduce the amount of fading to dark denim.

I will, of course, be washing them inside out, in cold water, and hanging to dry. But should I be putting the salt in the washing machine, or just soak them in a bucket before putting them through the cycle? For how long? How much salt? One forum said 3tbsp, which seems like a lot.

I need to get this pair hemmed before I wear them and want to wash them first. Has anyone out there tried the salt soak with their dark denim? If so, what was your method?