fashion

Last week for date night El Hub and I went to the market! — the farmers’ market, in the nearby town of San Rafael.

Now, style icons like Carrie Bradshaw can probably strut down pot-holed streets and weave between vegetable stands in five-inch Manolos and marabou feather coats without skipping a beat, but I opted for more casual comfort in a tank top and jeans.

And basics, of course, don’t have to be sloppy or boring, not with the help of a few easy accessories.

Spruce Up Jeans and a Tank Top with…

1. A tote bag in a fun print — This spacious blue and white one from Kate Spade is perfect for sightseeing because of how much it holds — everything from my wallet, to my camera, my makeup and all the late-summer produce I love (peaches, pluots and plums, yes please!). Plus, the colors match my jeans and top.
2. A pair of colorful shoes — Don’t these dark purple Seychelles sandals pop beneath the outfit’s blue and white? Their comfy, low heel makes them perfect for standing in long lines at the kettle corn booth. 🙂
3. A large textured scarf in neutral colors — Temps are falling around here after dusk, but it’s not cold enough yet for a jacket. This wide, striped scarf doesn’t just add texture to the outfit; it also doubles as a light wrap when there’s a chill in the air.

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I’ve been feeling kinda chunky and bloated all day long (damn you, PMS!) and came this close to wearing sweats and a tank top to my BFF’s baby shower this afternoon, but I didn’t want to break any unwritten party etiquette rules like “Thou shalt not wear stretchy pants to events celebrating major life changes,” or anything like that, so I nixed the idea, as tempting as it was.

Instead, I pulled out one of my favorite dresses, a black cotton strapless A-line I picked up years ago at Gap.

I how forgiving it is. Ah, sweet, wonderful A-line… Fitted at the top, it gradually widens toward the hem to form the shape of a capital letter A. They’re one of my favorite cuts — so great if you’re trying to disguise your tum and/or bum but still want to show a little bit of shape.

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I’m pretty short at 5’1″, but in my mind I’m taller.

How much taller?

On a good day, at least 5’8″. Of course, the rest of the world disagrees.

Once, years ago when I worked in San Francisco, I was walking through China Town on my lunch break in four-inch heels when I found myself behind a group of middle school students on an historic tour of the neighborhood. I was heading to my favorite greasy spoon for lunch, a place in the same direction the group was heading, so I tagged along (hey, free tour!), listening to the group’s tour guide.

When I finally arrived at my lunch spot and broke away from the group, one of the volunteer moms started yelling.

“Get back with the group!” she barked, and I could hear her footsteps pounding behind me.

I slowly turned around, looking up at a much taller woman. “Dude…” I replied, more confused than amused, “I don’t go to school with these kids.”

She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow quizzically, probably thinking she had a troublemaker on her hands. “Where do you go to school?”

“Uh…” I saw an opportunity I couldn’t resist. “The school of life?”

I think that’s where she figured it out. 🙂

Over the years, I’ve picked up a few height-enhancing tricks. One of my favorites? — pairing nude heels (more accurately, heels in a color close to my natural skin tone) with an above-the-knee length dress.

When my shoes and leg color sort of blend together, I think it creates an illusion of height, and when the dress rests above the knee, it enhances the overall effect.
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I totally smurfed out today! — and since I’m a big fan of “outfit of the day” posts, I thought I’d smurf two birds with one stone 🙂 and take pics of myself from head to toe.

The dress (about $40) is from a brand called Lush, and, um, I found it on the Nordstrom website in the Juniors Department… Yes, I have no shame when it comes to wearing clothing made for teenagers, but shopping for those clothes actually inside a store beside girls born after I graduated from college kindasorta freaks me out.

It comes in the blue pictured here, as well as black.

Unfortunately, when I checked online for the dress again today, I wasn’t able to find it, so if you’re interested and live near a Nordstrom store, it might be worth a quick call or visit, especially if you live somewhere hot.

The dress itself is rayon and weighs next to nothing, almost like a lightweight linen, and the elastic waist adds a little definition to my shape without feeling too clingy. So comfy in the heat!

I like wearing bold colors together, and one of my favorite ways to wear this particular dress is paired with these yellow shoes from Seychelles and this fun Kate Spade ring.

Then, to contrast with the brights, I might throw something quiet into the mix, like the off-white Kate Spade bag I’m holding here.

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