Maybe Matilda: Loosy Goosy

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Loosy Goosy

(Lucy goosy? Loosey goosey? None of those spelling options look right, but you know what phrase I’m going for here, right? Let’s just move along.)

(I CAN’T GET PAST IT. Googling now . . . okay, apparently it is meant to be spelled loosey goosey. It still looks wrong, but who am I to question The Almighty Google? This has been our idiomatic spelling lesson for the day. The more you know.)

After Forrest was born, I remember feeling really dissatisfied with my wardrobe. 9 months of not fitting into anything remotely normal sized, longing for the day I could wear pants with a button (but without the MacGuyver rubberband harness system—moms, you know exactly what I’m talking about), and when I finally got into some of my regular clothes, I thought, welp, these are ugly. Absence did not make my heart grow any fonder for the same old clothes I’d always had.

And like clockwork, I’ve felt the same way since Darcy arrived. I don’t know if the problem is being too tired/uninspired to put outfits together, or if it’s the way the fit of my clothes has changed (birthing hips and nursing boobs, welcome, make yourselves at home), or maybe my clothes were never that great to start with, but I’ve definitely felt bored with my closet the past few months.

So I’m trying to be more creative with my closet to make it feel more exciting to me. And I’m forcing you to watch while I bumble along. (You poor thing! The escape hatch is right up in the corner of the page, X marks the spot. I’ll wait while you scamper off to read something more interesting. No hard feelings, I understand.)

I bought this loose-fitting, blousy boho top with some Christmas money I got this year—I liked the pattern, and loose and flowy sounded rillyrilly good to me (hello, postpartum and nursing? loose and flowy to the rescue). But I quickly realized that it was harder to make a cute outfit with than I had expected. I found myself just pairing it with comfy jeans over and over, and it started to feel boring really fast. I thought I’d see if I could come up with a few different ways to wear it so I hopefully won’t get tired of it faster than it deserves. (Also, am I supposed to tie those dangly strings? They looked weird to me when I tried tying them, so I just leave them hanging, but I don’t know if I’m doing this right. Don’t laugh at me.) (Also? I apparently only have one pose, and my right hand just makes a fist constantly, I guess.) (Aaaalso? I’m obviously not real big on jewelry. Or even wearing my wedding ring, it seems.)

Blousy Boho Top 3 ways

Option 1: No-brainer. I paired it with skinny jeans (a loose fit on top and bottom seems like a fast track to just look gigantic all over), legwarmers, and boots. Nothing fancy or tricky, but it’s a little better than the mom jeans and flats I was wearing before, I think. And don’t tell anyone, but these are my maternity jeggings. I guess I’ll just keep wearing them forever and always, because elastic waist. Need I say more?

blousy top + skinny jeans + boots

Top: Old Navy // Jeggings: Ross // Legwarmers: Target // Boots: gift // Necklace: ebay

Option 2: Stepped up casual. Definitely still a low-key outfit, but adding the jacket, cuffing the pants, and tossing on some booties makes it a little more interesting than wearing it with just jeans, right? I hope so.

loose tee + jean jacket + skinnies + booties

Jacket: Gap, hand-me-down from my sister // Booties: Maurices

Option 3: Playing dress up. I only pictured wearing a top as loose and casual-looking as this with jeans, but I actually think it dresses up pretty nicely with a pencil skirt and heels. I tried to keep the bottom half slim-fitting (once again, I don’t think loose on top and bottom is my friend), and I like the shape it created to have a flowy top half paired with a slimmer skirt. I think red heels would have looked better, to pull out the red pattern in the top, or a lighter shade of brown, maybe, but you can’t win ‘em all.

boho top + pencil skirt

Skirt: Loft // Belt: came with a different shirt // Heels: Ross

Anyone else having wardrobe issues recently? I’d love to hear how you’re making one-hit wonder purchases (like my hard-to-style loosy goosy top) work for more than out outfit.

36 comments :

  1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't know what on earth you're supposed to do with ties on those kinds of shirts. I have a couple shirts like that and I leave them untied. But I'm definitely not the kind of fashion icon you'd want to be basing decisions on. Maybe some others will back us up. (Others?)

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  2. I, too, have no idea what to do with those ties. Really...what are they for anyway?
    You always look great...thanks for the inspiration.
    Lately, my "go to" when I'm feeling uninspired...one word, ok...two words...THRIFT STORE. Last time I went I came home with a whole new wardrobe for $37.00, LOL! Keep up the great work...love your blog!

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    1. Not a bad idea! I'm still regretting a pair of Ann Taylor jeans I passed over at the thrift store recently...I didn't want to drag two kids into the fitting room :-(

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  3. I love outfit 2, it brings such a spring spirit :) Also: nice boots in this one. I feel you when it comes to liking the own wardrobe. It is so hard not comparing with other women, who look perfectly dressed every single day.

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    1. Agreed! I used to read quite a few style blogs but they were making me feel so unhappy with my own stuff. Now I only read ones that are very practical and down to earth. I find them useful/inspiring rather than just depressing!

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  4. Hahahaha, you crack me up! I have 2 daughters that have commented on the birthing hips and nursing boobs and nothing fits and holy cow I just don't have clothes that fit anymore. Sweetie, you look wonderful in all of those outfits. It is just a fact that after birthing babies our bodies just change. It's a badge of honor we gals get to share with each other. Embrace it and love those babies like crazy, soon they will be grown up and you will wonder where the time went.

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  5. I would be willing to bet that there are many MANY readers of your blog that are envious of your closet contents and flair for wearing them. Don't be too harsh on yourself and your fabulous post 2 babies body. If we can see the paint color of the wall you're standing in front of through your (ahem!) upper inner leg area, I'd say there isn't a body problem. I know we all get down on ourselves, but you are seriously so accomplished in so many ways. Not only do you take great care of your family you allow us to share in your considerable talents.

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  6. Great blanket. I love the pictures; you made the pattern really easy to undertsand.

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  7. I have the blue version of this shirt and the ties were tied when I tried it on. Thus, they have remained tied because that's how I bought it. Horrible reasoning on my part, but like everyone else has said, "What are you supposed to do with them?"

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  8. I have had wardrobe issues for years! I want to be able to put cute outfits together but I always end up in something comfy that I should be wearing to workout in

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  9. I have been waiting for a tutorial like this, have been trying to learn how to crochet for so many years, this is a great lesson, thankyou, I know the stitches, so away I will go.

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  10. First of all you look fabulous!
    I suggest visiting a site (nnot mine) called "putting me together". She blogs about fashion and outfits and how to put together things on new stylish ways :)

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  11. You are adorable. And you are working every single look.


    I wear all of my outfits the exact same way. It's sad, but I guess I have a look.

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  12. That is one of my favorite blogs! I love it!

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  13. There's something to be said for consistency ;-)

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  14. I hear that! Especially if you know you're just going to be spending the day at home with the kids . . . not a ton of motivation to get gussied up.

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  15. Rachel, I just wanted to chime in and say that when I need a good dessert (pretty much every other day), the Allred cookbook is my go-to source. Any cookbook where the dessert section is the biggest one is a solid choice.

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  16. Agreed! It is my favorite cookbook. Allreds know how to do desserts right.

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  17. Made these tonight... oh my. Dangerously delicious.

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  18. I found a recipe that sounds close to your Aunties that is Paleo. It uses a combo of almond and coconut flour, coconut milk, coconut oil and either honey or maple syrup as subs. The type of flours used in Paleo baking usually requires mores eggs (3 of 'em!) than conventional wheat flour. No sour cream...not supposed to use dairy. It goes in a smaller pan too, 9 x 9. I found an awesome sounding recipe for regular deep dish apple crisp which is baking right now and the aroma is intoxicating! Got some cinnamon ice cream for on top (definitely NOT Paleo!) but it's Sunday ;-) If I make the adjusted bars in the next few days I'll let you know if they are any good. If not I'll just make Aunt Emilys and make Rick eat them!

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  19. They turned out delish! Very moist and cake like. I also added chopped walnuts and dried cranberries. If you ever have any Cavegirl or Caveman friends over you can whip these up ;-)

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  20. Hey Rachel, You say that one skein of each color will make this blanket (35") What size skein would it be? Want to make one for our new Grand Daughter to be :-) Thanks and Happy Easter!

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  21. Congrats on the new grandbaby! My skeins were roughly 360 yards each.

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  22. Thanks, good to know ! We are excited and can't wait until July 13th-ish :-)

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  23. Rachel, I LOVE this pattern! Do you have a link where you have just typed out the pattern for us more seasoned crocheters? I would love to print out the whole thing at once without pic!

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  24. I don't yet--I'm sorry! I'll work on that :-)

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  25. Thank you so much for posting this! I am so happy I found your blog! I have been looking for a picture tutorial like this and I think I have enough confidence now to try this again... thank you! :)

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  26. You're so welcome and thanks for the sweet comment! Have fun crocheting!

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  27. How many rows did you put in this beautiful blanket?

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  28. How would you take it one step farther and use this stitch to make a poncho?

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  29. You'd need to add increases so it would get wider as you worked--you can do this by placing 2 v-stitches in 1 v-stitch of the previous row. I haven't tried it so I can't say how frequently you'd need to place an increase, or how many rows to increase over. I hope that sets you in the right direction!

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