Fashionistas and fellow librarians,
Thank you for stopping by to check out my library convention fashion find. That could almost be an oxymoron because historically, librarians haven’t been necessarily recognized for their great fashion sense. However, since I have begun blogging, I’ve come across some very stylish library ladies. There’s Katie at Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life, and Daenel from Living Outside the Stacks and Jen blogging at Librarian for Life and Style. Doing their part in slaying the librarian stereotype of the grumpy, bespectacled, bun-wearing old bitty. And today, I am doing my best to help them!
Look what I found at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference last week.
My Library Convention Fashion Find
Actually, I can’t take credit for finding this piece.
My sister spotted it first. And bought it first. Then when she tried it on back at our hotel room, I fell in love with this honeyme paisley tunic. Valerie wore it to several programs and then dinner out.
The next moring, I couldn’t get back to the convention center fast enough to buy a tunic for myself. And when I did, the little kiosk was down to two smalls. I never dreamed a small would fit but it did!
Finding Your Perfect Fit (When You Are in the Middle of a Convention and Don’t Have a Dressing Room)
The sales gal showed us a cool trick for determining if a top will fit without trying it on. You put your hands inside the top from its hem all the way up to the arm pits on each side of the piece. Then with your elbows pulled in at your sides, stretch the top out in both directions. If the top stretches wide enough to extend from one side of your body to the other, it will fit you perfectly. Tried to find a graphic for this but couldn’t. So let me demonstrate.
My forearms are inside the top and my hands are at the arm pits. I stretched the top to the width of my body while keeping my elbows pinned at my waist. And voila, this small wasn’t. Wasn’t that small at all.
Putting Together My Outfit
Valerie found some darling glittery earrings at the convention (yes, they had clothes and bling for sale, along with a few books) to wear with her tunic. She paired her top with white cropped jeans and navy sandals.
In planning for this post, I rolled around in bed last night longing for a pair of coral peep-toe wedges that I bought a few years ago then took to the consignment store during a recent closet purge. They would have been really cute with this tunic. But alas, they are on someone else’s feet these days.
So here’s what I put together instead.
Loft white denim with ankle zippers, Stella & Dot pendant, my great-grandmother’s turquoise bracelets and “Mossimo Supply Company” cork wedges from Target. And, of course, my honeyme library convention fashion find.
Super excited to wear this to school tomorrow. But need your help with my jewelry.
Which Jewels?
Do you like the blue pendant or the coral pendant better?
And while you’re here, can I ask you a question? Another one? Don’t mean to pry, but do you mix metals? For instance, my bracelets are silver. Is it ok for me to wear gold-toned pendants with silver bracelets? Would anyone even notice or care?
Remember, I am old. I grew up in the days of matchy-matchy.
What do you think? Silver or gold, silver and gold?
OOTD: Outfit of the Day
Or as I have been known to call it “Outfit Out the Door”. Yeah, not so much. But for months I didn’t know what OOTD was so made up my own meaning for the acronym.
PC said I was very San Francisco-y this morning. Wasn’t sure how to take that. So I asked for clarification. He elaborated by saying I looked very hippy-ish. I hope that isn’t HIP-py-ish.
We have to get up earlier than usual right now to clean the pool. Still can’t swim in it…and not for 17 more days! Took advantage of that situation and asked my Prince for a couple of quick pictures by the pool.
Isn’t there a proverb about the early bird gets the pictures? Or something like that.
Your Turn
Have you ever shopped at a library convention for anything other than books? What’s the most unusual place you have ever bought clothing? My sister – same one (only one) who spotted this library convention fashion find first, also had the cutest pull-on shorts from Kroger! KROGER! No danger that I will be buying any of those in the near future because we don’t have a Kroger. But if we did…
Please stop by The Blended Blog to visit with all the gals linked-up there for today’s “Spring Fever Fashion” post. And then promise to come back by tomorrow for my spring bucket list update. Promise?
Happy hump day, gals. The weekend is within view. Thank you for spending a bit of your day with me.
P.S. Totally nixed the pendants in favor of some really loud earrings. Still pondering the gold-silver business, though.
Hugs and kisses,
Aren’t you stylish! My pick is the blue pendant – and cute zipper jeans.
Lisa
Daily Style Finds
Thank you. My zipper jeans are a few years old and my white straight legs are a little on the baggy side (not sure how!) so I may be in the market for some new white ankle pants or crops. I liked the blue pendant best but PC voted coral.
Love love love I would so wear that tunic. I’m glad you were able to go back and buy one for yourself. And, yep, I mix metals. All. The. Time. I like the eclectic look of them.
Also thank you for the shout out. I wasn’t expecting that. I saw the post in my feed and was mesmerized by the colors in your tunic.
Oh, YAY! Thank you for coming by and for commenting. The colors in the tunic and its flattering fit sold me. I have looked up honeyme (the company who sells the tunic) since returning home from the conference but apparently they are a wholesale business. Sure wish I could find someone who sells their line.
Have you ever been to a library conference? TLA aims to accommodate librarians from all venues…academic, public, medical, school. We always have a good time and learn something new. I learned how to create a Padlet. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Love it. I choose blue pendant. And I mix metals all the time. Go for it.
I am excited to read everyone’s updates tomorrow.
Everyone gives mixing metals two thumbs up so I need to quit overthinking something so easy and basic. So glad we had a good turn out for our bucket list update posts. Yay, us!
What a pretty top – and I love the colors on you. Now I remember that sizing trick from back in my retail buying days – it totally works!
I do wear mixed metals! That is a really cute top! Well done! Hmmm…I bought a poncho in the Atlanta airport last year! Does that count as an odd place to shop for clothes? It was from a kiosk, not a store.
A poncho purchase in the airport definitely counts as buying clothing in an odd place! Guess I need to get over my silver with silver and gold with gold hang-up. Sure will be easier to accessorize.
So pretty! You look great, happy that the smaller size fit!
Me, too! Even if I hadn’t like it on, I would have been tempted to buy it just because it was a SMALL! I haven’t worn small since I was…small. XO
That tunic is so pretty! Glad they still had it when you went back! I love the turquoise pendant with it and yes, to mixing metals! This is such a gorgeous look on you!
Jill
Doused In Pink
Thank you, Jill. I felt pretty the day I wore this tunic. The colors were different from those I usually migrate toward…really don’t wear much blue. Might need to try it again. Glad to know mixing metals is a yes!
That tunic is a perfect piece for you. The colors are stunning with your skin tone and I love all the accessories you chose. Fabulous find!
Oh, boy, what a lovely compliment. I like coral but really don’t wear a lot of blue. I guess maybe I need to rectify that! Thank you so much.
Leslie, you always crack me up! Bun wearing old biddy… Ha! Goodness, I can see why you rushed back to score this top – it is Gorgeous! I am in love with these colors and the way they pop against your white. I prefer the turquoise pendent, as it stands out more. I do mix metals, but have to admit I kind of have to make myself because the old rules are still ingrained in my brain. Thanks so much for linking up with Fabulous Friday! Also, I am currently looking for co-hosts, so I hope you will consider the opportunity.
A Pocketful of Polka Dots
Good gravy, woman! I would be honored to co-host for a Fabulous Friday. But I want to look my best!!! Need a hair cut and a fresh mani first. Ha! (And a face lift and a little lipo wouldn’t hurt) Please let me know when you need someone and I will get busy around here in order to do you proud!
Thank you for your sweet comments on my tunic. I loved it on my sister and just had to have my own. Glad I am not the only one who hesitates just a little when mixing metals.
You made my day, Jennie! Thank you so much. XOXOXO
I bet you were the most stylish at the conference!