It's black, it's white

Being sick last week, I only pulled one real outfit together. It was inspired by this pin of Kendi from Kendi Everday.

I do like how she's mixing brown and black, but it just didn't work on me - without boots, it's hard to pull things like that together. Instead, I went with black and white. I know, I think I said the last time I wore this that I was going to try to mix in colour, but when you're feeling under the weather, trying to add colour is pretty hard. My mucus filled brain only sees shades of grey.

Time for a Picnic?

I spent the weekend being deathly sick (this is an exaggeration, but I'll admit my diminished ability to respire was scary from time to time). Posting this week will be... interesting, which is, of course, code for : "basic". So no awesome (again, code for "basic") organizational tips, just straight into curating my closet!

Why did I purchase this?

It was an impulse purchase, about $3, at Giant Tiger. It was super "cute". 

Why did it work?

It was pattern! It had ruffled! It was $3

Why didn't it work?
Its fit and style were very childish. The sleeves were also too short or tight and never lay right. 

How have I worn it?

What will happen to it?

Does anyone know a 5 year old? She might love this shirt for her dress-up box.

January 21-27th

So I finally figured out some basic technology - you know, transferfing pictures from my phone to my computer by bluetooth, rather than emailing them. I mean, I've only had both for almost 3 years. Anyway, I might make this "Week in Photos" a regular occurrence. It was fun taking random pictures! Then again, my week seems to consist of commuting and working.

These are two of my most common views - the first is actually on the bus, where as the second is the view from where I meet my connecting bus. Then again, the second one is usually during darker skies (shh... I slipped out of work early on Friday). It's looking toward the most iconic intersection in Winnipeg - Portage and Main.

This week marked the beginning of the renovations of our space at work. Do you see where those chairs are? One day earlier, there was a wall that my desk butted up against. 

Despite the renovations, it's still business as usual. This is the (censored) view from my spot at the Friday afternoon debriefing. And yes,  if you do notice, there is one person whose style is just as good as mine when it comes to socks.

My Shoe Alternatives

When I was thinking re-orienting my blog, I quickly came up with a longer list of subjects than I had days in a week. Looking at my list, I also realized it just wasn't possible to sustain a weekly post on each subject. Sure, it might have been possible to read a book each week, but not when I also would have to sew each dress a week, knit a scarf each week, watch a movie eac week, go on a date each week, explore a new area of the city each week... you get my point. This blog was about letting me regain my life, not be dictated by it! So I grouped ideas together. If Monday is organizing, Tuesday is dressing, Wednesday is exercising and Thursday is eating, the best way to describe my Friday posts, which are a catch-all for everything mentioned above, will be "Doing".

Immediately, I knew I had to talk about my slippers first. Working in a shoeless office is a really different experience. While it's great for days when you have an idea for an outfit, but can't pick out the shoes, it also means you have to pay attention to your feet. Are there holes in my socks? Do they match my outfit? Do they match each other? Are they a subtle enough pattern? And worst of all, running around in sock feet all day gets hard on the socks.

I have only worn cotton socks and tights since I've started, knowing full well I would burn through nylons in no time without any shoes to protect the delicate weave. Since all my pattern tights are nylon, it was a rather grim realization. Until I remembered slippers. While we aren't allowed floofy bunny slippers, there is little they can say about a good, homemade knit slipper. Slowly, I hope to build my slipper collected up to the point it rivals my shoe collection in number, colour and style.

Off the top of my head

The other day at work, I found myself slurping up leftover spaghetti noodles, thinking "I love food." Naturally, it would only make sense that I devote a portion of my blog to that subject. While my old Cooking & Crafting blog featured a lot of recipes I tried to tailor to meet specific dietary needs, My diet is not vegan, nor paleo, nor gluten-free, nor clean, by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, I believe that food should be closer to nature than to a factory, that if it can be easily made by hand, it should be, that salt is for people without any sense of taste and that the better stuff you put into your body, the better stuff you'll be able to do with your body. That being said, I will never be one to turn down a trip to McDonalds, store-bought Mac and Cheese, a fifth piece of bacon, or an Eggo waffle. After all, I let my taste buds make the decisions!

Over a year ago, I went to a potluck where I planned on bringing lemon meringue pie. That day, I also told Scott I'd bring his supper to work, since he was working late. Unfortunately, this was in the days before I got a little crazy about organization and didn't have menu plans for the week. As the pie was cooling, I looked around the mess of the kitchen, saw nothing but egg yolks and pastry scraps. Out of nowhere, I got an idea for taco pie. It was delicious and filling, but I never made it again. After all, how often do I have extra pie crusts kicking around?

This Christmas I bought pie shells anticipating doing some Christmas baking (a guilty secret, I usually make my pie crust from scratch), and it never happened. Instead, they've sat in my freezer until this weekend, when I remembered about Taco Pie. Of course, I have made a few changes - creating my own taco seasoning rather than the chemical laden one, and choosing to use whole eggs, rather than just the cholesterol-laden yolks I had kicking around that day - but it still was just as good. It's somewhere between a quiche and a meat pie.

Our taco seasoning recipe
(it lives in our spice cupboard!)

Recipe
1/2-2/3 pound ground beef
taco seasoning
water
1/2 pepper, chopped
2 eggs
1-2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
9" pie crust (raw)

1. Brown ground beef.
2. When cooked, mix in taco seasoning and water, according to package instructions (if following my seasoning recipe, use 1/2 c water). Continue cooking until water has mostly evaporated.
3. Mix two eggs, pepper, cheese and meat. Pour into pie crust.
4. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes.

Starting with babysteps

Between Christmas and New Years, I said I was going to take a healthier stab at life after my birthday. After my birthday, there was leftover cake. Then work was getting me down. But forcing myself to blog, once a week, about fitness should be the kick in the pants I need.

I'm starting off my days with basic calisthenics. While I'll be increasing the reps and the difficulty, and eventually bringing in a more varied work load, I think taking 5 minutes a morning is a great place to start.

My inspiration came from pins like these: 

But I wanted to choose my own exercises, starting really easy so I develop the habit before I start really making my body work. It doesn't seem like much, but the important thing is that it is a start!

Layering the Little Things

First of all, not doing outfit posts on a daily basis is so liberating. I finally feel free to create, rather than pressed to deliver. Giant difference! Some weeks, I'll have multiple pictures on my Tuesday outfit posts; some weeks, like this one, I will only have one. 

I wore this outfit for my birthday party with friends a few weeks ago. The dress/tunic was a present from my in-laws (via gift card). Since I didn't take a picture that night, I kept it in mind and pulled it together this last Friday. It's a light fabric, and since it wasn't exactly light fabric friendly weather, I layered a wool sweater over it, and tights, knee high socks, and jeans under it.

I also layered jewelry. Sal at Already Pretty had a reader request for incorporating delicate jewelry into regular rotation. I decided to give it a try. I was a little nervous to use the pieces that have emotional value, since I didn't know if layering necklaces would snag them together, particularly once I threw on parkas and scarves and played my twice-daily routine of public transit commuting, so I pulled out a necklace from an old boyfriend. Glad to see the relationship wasn't entirely a waste of time! (Kidding - we still keep tabs on each other from time to time). Overall, I like the look! Maybe not with the collared, wool shirt, but I can't wait to try it again with some of my more precious pieces that don't get to see much of the light of day.

It's my bag

Ask my sister, or my parents, or my husband, and they'll all likely same the same thing. I'm a little bit of a control freak. In my defense, I strongly believe that the more organized and prepared you are, the better the chances are of success. I want to share with you the strategies I use to try and keep the world spinning in the same direction and at the same speed as I am. 

Now, this is not a sponsored post. The company has not contacted me, and I am expecting no compensation for what I'm saying. I seriously just love Lug bags. Maybe it's sentimentality (my first Lug bag was dragged around the festival site at Lollapalooza in 2008), maybe it's quality (that bag survived many trips after that), but you can't deny the best ringing endorsement for Lug bags is how easy it is to be organized using them.

My in-laws gave me a Lug bag (the Cable Car Satchel) for Christmas, to replace the now-looking-bedraggled-but-still-functional first Lug bag. I tried using it stash everything I'd need from morning to evening commute on the average work day, but it quickly became clear it could handle me... just not all the materials I needed for the overtime I suddenly found myself doing. Sure enough, Scott bought me the Cabbie Social for my birthday so he could stop carrying my books to the bus (perhaps this is the modern version of chivalry?!?).

Whether it's entertainment for the commute, reference materials for client meetings, leftovers for lunch, or mints, kleenexes and lozenges for any ears, nose and throat distress, it's quick, easy and it's at hand.

_______________________________________________________

Why did I purchase this?
I grabbed this dress in 2009 at Value Village, attracted by the "vintage" Ricki's label. I place it about mid-80s.(Ricki's in a Canadian chain target ing young working women.Interesting and rather unknown fact: Ricki's started in my little hometown of Brandon Manitoba in 1939. It's still headquartered in Manitoba.)

Why did it work?
I love the idea of winter white in a winter knit. I also liked the length once I shortened it. 

Why didn't it work?
The knit is pulling in places, the sleeves are a little 80s, and I am not inspired by it. Not to mention the fact that it is a touch sheer.

How have I worn it?

What will happen to it?
Back to Value Village, unless someone speaks up!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

A closet is more than an organizational area within a room used for the storage of clothing. If you hold the Oxford English Dictionary in such high esteem as I do, you'll know "closet" was originally "a room for privacy and retirement; a private room; an inner chamber." Despite the fact no one "retires to one's closet for some reflection," we still use this definition in some idiomatic expressions: the skeletons in the closet, to come out of the closet. A closet is where we keep things private.

Cara's Closet has always featured the clothing with a bit of the private reflection thrown in from time to time.  It's also been the skeleton in my closet - the blog I'm willing to promote to the larger anonymous crowd, but will barely reference in social settings. It's an awkward situation. I've spent the last week thinking about this limbo in which I've found myself, and decided it wasn't a healthy place for me. Struggling about how to fill my role at work while struggling to hide this blog, which is one of my strongest marketable skills in my current job was getting too difficult.

 Now I'm both inviting you into my closet, and coming out of it, at the same time. Confusing, I know. Essentially, I want this blog to better reflect my life - whether it is feeling comfortable to share this blog with friends, or sharing more of my life with you. I'm still working out the details, but my tentative plan is to keep a consistent schedule that lets me showcase more areas of my life.

Mondays will continue weeding through my closet, but will also discuss storage, organization and what I'm trying to do to simplify my life. Tuesdays will contain outfit pictures. Wednesdays will be fitness days - that one will be difficult. Thursdays will focus on food. Finally, Friday will be projects that I've worked on, from sewing and knitting, to reading and writing.

I have three goals for this re-orientation
1. Stress less about clothing
2. Share more aspects of my life that I'm proud of (without having to maintain two blogs)
3. Since it's a blog about my life I'll be more likely/willing to keep up with the social media aspects a bit more

I'm taking tomorrow off blogging, then spending the weekend adjusting to the change. Look forward to the "new" blog next week - and don't worry: I'll do a little write up each day so you'll know what to expect!

Sailing into the unknown

There is a certain concern about writing posts on the day you wear an outfit, and then don't post until a week later. As you write about the struggles of the day, you know that in a week's time, you know the outcome of the problem and you'll either think: "I was so silly to worry" or "I should keep my mouth shut, because sh*t got real".

But it was an intense day, the kind when you wish that dark area under your desk was a bomb shelter. When I got home, I was so ranty, that I was stomping around the apartment. Scott said I looked like Godzilla. I figured it was the first thing that made me smile all day, so I best share it with you!

The jacket is also new - so comfy! It's a sweatshirt material. It makes me feel a little bit like a sailor. It was a super cold day, so the wide legs of the pants were great for layering tights.

Hemming and Hawing.

I'm slowly getting behind in my outfits, to the point where I'm almost a week between photographing and posting. I'm pretty confused. I've tried to keep writing the posts as I wear the outfits, but that really defeats any benefit of getting ahead of schedule.

This outfit was from the first day of real winter - the windy, snowy, cold weather winter, not the ambient temperatures and slushy snow we unexpectedly had for the first month of the season. Dressing for the weather when it unexpectedly hits is hard - immediately, I migrate to darker colours.

Fortunately, the darkness of winter is cancelled out by the bright, shiny newness of Christmas and birthday presents. I've ultimately decided the pants need to be hemmed - the issue becomes "how short"? Any one have any tips on how to determine the best length of pant for being worn WITHOUT shoes?

Curating my Closet 3

Why did I purchase this item?
I had been searching for a white cardigan. When this crocheted number cropped up in the thrift store, I snatched it up.

What worked with it?
I like the idea of it - crocheted, crystal buttons, and how it screams to be paired with a sweet sundress. I also like the almost peplum styling of it.

What didn't work with it?
The front was longer than the back, and the buttons pull slightly.

What will happen with it?
Current price is 5CAD for Canadian shipping, or 10CAD for US shipping. If no interest in a week, it will be donated to charity.

How have I worn it?
I haven't. That should have been the first clue it should go!

Give Away Winner!

Congratulation to Marie of The Joy of Fashion for winning a dress from Shabby Apple! Marie played the good sister by bringing her brother breakfast. Hmm... I wish she was my sister, I always skip that first meal of the day!

Marie, please email me what dress & size you would like, along with your mailing address!

To everyone else, thanks for participating, and don't forget to use carascloset10off when you purchase anything at Shabby Apple this month to get an 10% off!

Not in the pink

Whenever I get stuck on what to wear, I always go back to Lenore's advice: take one business piece, then add some colour. I also knew it was going to be the last nice day before winter hit (I shouldn't complain about winter not hitting until mid-January, I know), so I decided to give my favourite H&M jumper a wear.

I'm undecided about the outfit. Actually, I love everything about the outfit EXCEPT the pink. The company that I'm working for right now uses a very bright pink in their brand. While we are going through a rebrand that will limit the colour, I'm find I'm unable to look at the colour the same way. Unfortunately, it was one of my favourite colours prior to this job, and thus, I own a lot of it. Any outfit I make with the colour just makes me feel like I'm unwittingly a walking billboard for the company.

Are there any colours that you have loved that suddenly become tainted? How do you deal with it?

How short is too short?

I had a great birthday weekend... yes, a whole weekend. In case you couldn't tell, the theme of this week is becoming "Cara is spoiled". I did intend on taking a picture of all of my birthday weekend outfits, but I didn't really get the time. It's Wednesday, but I'm still trying to recover from the busy pace I kept. Friday was quality birthday time with Scott; Saturday was shopping with my mom and sister, then supper with the whole family. Sunday was breakfast with my parents, followed by brunch with my in-laws, and finally having friends over for some games that evening.

Needless to say, Monday morning came early. Earlier than inspected, indeed. I was awakened before my alarm by emergency vehicle sirens on the street. I didn't get back to sleep, despite my best efforts (which included turning off my alarm and tossing and turning for a good 20 minutes passed when I should have got out up). I had planned on wearing this outfit (with classier tights and a pair of heels) to church on Christmas Eve (before finding out we were double booked for the evening and ended up playing games at Scott's aunts & uncles), so it was great to have an outfit to just throw on without any thought.

I'm not sure about the skirt's length. On the one hand, the lack of heels at work definitely helped shorten the leg-line. On the other, the longer sweater definitely decreased the appearance of the skirt. No comment was made at work, other than a reference to me still classing up the joint, so from an office dress code, I suppose it was long enough. My thoughts? The jury is still out.

What do you think? To short for even my casual office?

Speaking of Being Spoiled!

Yesterday, I told you that I rarely spoil myself, and I get spoiled by others (such as Shabby Apple - don't forget to enter the give away!). Last Friday, I finally got a chance to wear the great blazer my grandparents gave me for Christmas from Mexx - a store I've only recently dared to enter, and only when not looking at price tags (retail is hard to stomach when you've been thrifting almost exclusively for nearly a year). I love the waist details, the fact that one of buttons on each sleeve is sewn with purple thread and the departing diagonal lines of the bottom jacket when buttoned. I saw it and immediately thought: "And that's me".

Of course, finding something to wear with one of the few pieces in your closet that are undeniably "you" is pretty difficult. I stuck with black and white (I should have posted this yesterday and linked up with EBEW!) I'll admit even the next outfit kicking around my head is also black and white. Very odd, since I consider myself a colourful person!

Do you have any clothes in your closet that seem excessively "you?"

Shabby Apple - A Review & Give Away

(If you're interested in the giveaway, it's at the bottom of the page!!)

I can remember being so disappointed as a child at Christmas and birthdays when I would open up a present and find clothing inside. Of course, now that I'm an adult and people are significantly less likely to willingly gift me Lego, I find getting clothes exciting. Not only does it make my closet so much fuller and thus me so much happier (consumerism at its finest), but usually these gifts are a higher quality, more expensive product than I'm usually willing to give myself. I tend to rely on others to spoil me, so I can make small, inexpensive impulse purchases myself. I consider it a sound financial strategy, but I do miss out on spoiling myself with a slightly bigger ticket item from time to time - something I can pick out for myself.

I received a perfect opportunity to spoil myself just before Christmas without the financial strain it would put on our continuing student-budget, when Shabby Apple sent me an email asking if I wanted to work with them on a couple little projects. Considering one of them was to receive a dress of my choice for review, I jumped at the chance.

It wasn't an easy choice selecting a dress. There were two requirements that I had for the dress - it had to be casual enough to wear to work (oh, sentence I didn't think I'd utter) and it had to fit, but I'll get into that part later. In the end, I chose New Caledonia - a great red dress.

The Website:
The Shabby Apple website is mostly laid out well. Dresses are initially organized by "line", with names like "Roamin' Holiday." (My dress is from the South Pacific line). However, then there is also the option to browse the dresses by categories like: "white dress" or "shirt dress." Unfortunately, it also includes obscure categories like: "essential," which isn't quite explained anywhere.It would be nice if it was sorted by colour, clearer styles, or even by available size.

There are three strong reasons I like the Shabby Apple website. First of all, they integrate reviews onto each product page, and they don't appear to be censored. Secondly, they create little stories for each of the dresses. Sure, they contribute limited value in the shopping process; however, they are just cute. Finally, they provide many pictures of their dresses - usually about 3 on a model from a variety of angles and "actions," as well as a number of the dress on a dress maker's form. There are very few surprises when the dress arrives.

The Shipping
I placed my order in the late hours of December 18th, so we'll call it the 19th. The dress arrived on January 6th. Elapsed time was 17 days, 12 of which were standard business days. Shabby Apple states on their site international orders take 10-14 business days. Not only did the dress arrive on time, it did so during the extremely busy holiday season. I do like that they ship through USPS, and then by Canada Post, as that is my preferred shipping method.

The good news? I was not charge customs, so that is one area where Canadians can breathe a sigh of relief. The bad news? The cost of shipping runs at $29.95 for orders under $100, and climb from there. Yikes. The dress was shipped in a bag (rather than a box), but it was a good solid package. The bag was quite beaten, but was completely intact.


The Quality
When I opened the bag, it was obvious I was touching a quality dress. The New Caledonia is made of thick cotton/poly jersey, and it is, indeed, thick. While my cotton dresses usually remain in my closet until the sun's spring rays grace the earth, I have no doubt I can wear this dress near all year round (though maybe not on the hotter summer days). The seams are solid as well. No complaints in the least, and if I am a return customer, you can guarantee the quality is what brought me back.
 
The Fit
Shabby Apple likely has the most confusing size issues of any website from which I've ordered. Their size chart runs one size smaller than most other size charts, a claim that is reiterated at the top of every product page. However, just as soon as you learn that, you realize that each product description further complicates the process: there are often notes like: "Buxom ladies might want to order a size up" or "fits generously by Shabby apple standards." Add to that the comments in the reviews like: "very curve conscious, order up if you don't want every bulge to show". However, once you get used to the idea that you have to research each product, it ends up being some what of an attribute in the end. My chest size is smaller than the smallest Shabby Apple size (XXS). I browsed through all dresses, selected the ones I liked. I then eliminated any dresses not in my size. Finally, I read the full product description and the reviews to find out how the dress fit compared to the size charts. Once I found all the dresses not suitable for buxom ladies, I could decide on my favourite dress that would fit. I knew it wouldn't be perfect, but my dress fits in the chest almost perfectly. Almost. 

The Verdict
If you've read my past reviews, you know that I am honest. Yes, the website is a little complicated, the sizes are a little disorienting, and the cost of shipping makes me want to hide my pocketbook, but the dresses are gorgeous, the quality is great, and the company has heart. Will I order from Shabby Apple again? I will - some day when I have the funds to spoil myself!


The Give Away
We have a dress for you! Ok, not all of you, but one of you! In order to be eligible to win the dress of your choice (any dress from the Shabby Apple website, except the Green Leaf collection), you have to do three things


1. Like Shabby Apple on Facebook (and while you're there, like me too! But don't worry, it's not required)
2. Do something nice for someone else
3. Leave ONE comment telling me you have both liked Shabby Apple on Facebook and tell me what you did for someone else. No lying now!


The contest will close Friday at 11:59 pm Central Standard Time, and the winner (drawn at random) will be announced at 7:30 am Sunday morning.

Don't like taking a gamble or too impatient to wait until Sunday to place an order? Use carascloset10off as a discount code at check out, and you'll receive 10% off your order. The code is valid for the next 30 days (Of course, there is also a new year's discount of 20% being offered right now too, so I won't blame you if you use that instead!!). 

Curating My Closet 2

Why did I buy this jacket?
I had seen it at the super-cheap tweeny-bopper store for $15. Then I bought the exact same jacket at Value Village for about half the price. While the deal made it seem worthwhile, keeping my eye on the jacket was due primarily because my friend Erica had a similar jacket in yellow, and she was the first person I knew, in real life, whose style was unique and clearly reflected her identity. No, the irony is not lost on me.

What works on this jacket?
It has colour. It also brought a more casual flare to my corporate get up. Finally, it has a nicely fitted elastic on the base.

What doesn't work on this jacket?
It's slightly boxier design, and so I found it hard to integrate into my style.

What is going to happen to this one?
First come first serve, 5CAD 10USD. If no takers, it'll go in the mail to a special person... surprise!

How have I worn it?

A Spring Birthday

It was beautiful on Thursday - above freezing, no wind, no snow. I figured it was time to pull out a spring-like skirt!

It was another good day - especially when Scott texted to say a parcel arrived for me! Almost like an early birthday!  That's right - today is my birthday! Happy birthday me!!

I have to admit, it's getting better

Aw, thanks for all the love about yesterday's post! The good news is that today was much better - and the bus is usually not that bad! Today, I even managed to catch the ever illusive Express bus (with some running and a kindly bus driver who waited for me) without having to sneak out of work early. It's always amazing how quickly life can turn around (either way, so count your blessings!)

No, really, do I have to go back?

First day back was rough. It was "Welcome back, Oh, right, I don't know how to do my job yet." When I finally got out of there (the "end of the day" comes a lot faster than I remember and I may have forgotten how much I can logically do in that time), it took me an extra 30 minutes to get home. Plus, the guy beside me on the first bus definitely was on a distinctively scented illicit substance, and the guy beside me on the second bus had a knife in his pocket*. Some days my life just isn't glamorous.

But I liked what I wore!

*(Dear Mom: if you are concerned about my safety, please know I decided against walking through the sketchy neighbourhood, despite the fact it would have got me home 40 minutes earlier. If that doesn't set you at ease, I will accept a brand new car with heated seats and a house with a garage in exchange for offering you some peace of mind). (Oh, and it was a utility knife and he was a construction worker or something similar)

Do I really have to go back??

Sigh, this is the outfit from my last day of freedom. It's a good balance between what I wore for most of the break (jeans, cotton tank or tee, usually topped with a hoodie) and what I hope to wear this year (colouful clothes that make me feel confident).

But yes, I go back to work this morning. While I don't make new year's resolutions at the turn of the calendar, but rather 6 days later, on my birthday (this Friday), I've been tossing them around in my head. I found myself using the same three words when discussing my job with family over the break: verging, challenging and rewarding, which I'm going to relate to ideas of hope, patience and fulfillment.

New Year's Resolutions / Curating My Wardrobe

I came across an article on the curated wardrobe a while ago, referred from a source which I can't remember. It stuck in my mind as I packed a suitcase for Christmas. It stuck in my mind as I did laundry. It stuck in my mind as I considered what to pick out for a birthday present from my parents. I'm not about to reject any gifts of clothing, nor am I going to purge my whole wardrobe and start again. I am going to tackle what may in fact be excess clothing by aggressively, but yet logically, weeding through my wardrobe.

Every Monday, I am going to feature an article of clothing that is going into my "give away" box. I will explain why I purchased it (if I remember), why it worked, and ultimately, why it doesn't fit into my curated closet. I'm certain that as I venture on this journey, I will discover that all these pieces are "good enough." My newly curated wardrobe, I hope, will be "great".

________________________________________

Why did I buy this shirt?
I was looking for longer shirts / tunics that were patterned, figuring I'd be wearing a lot of skinny jean / tunic combos when writing my thesis, and at least pattern would add variety. 

What worked on this item?

It had pattern, the colours worked with my skin tone (I think), and it had the length I had wanted. 

What didn't work on this item?
I broke my cardinal rule of shopping: I didn't try it on, so I didn't realize that the top was empire-waisted, and created the classical pregnant woman tent not useful to the non-pregnant woman. 

What's the plan for this item? 

It's up for grabs! Since it's barely worn, we're looking at 5CAD, with free shipping to Canada or 10CAD to the US. Otherwise, it'll be donated to the next person I hear is pregnant.

How have I worn it?