An Actual, Top To Toes Repeat!

 On the whole, when i make a resolution, i keep it. It may take quite a while, in this instance a little over seven months. I'd first expressed a desire to repeat outfits back in the end of last November. Since then i've come awfully close a couple of times, but i'd never repeated an outfit full-on until this last weekend.

It happened pretty naturally. Mr. E suggested we go out for an evening frozen yogurt at our regular shop in the downtown Walnut Creek shopping area. We generally get our frozen treats and stroll around downtown for forty five minutes to an hour, checking out the sights and the local gentry. It's a fun excuse for me to spruce up a bit. It's California after all, there's no need to, but with so many high-end stores in the area snazzier looks aren't at all out of place. The night was warm, and i felt like wearing my olive cocktail dress. Up until now i've styled it to bring out it's dressier side, so a more casual styling was in order.

I chose a 'country style' straw hat, a raffia and leather belt, snakeskin print shoes, pearl earrings and my orange purse. Casual materials, no glossy finish, easy to walk in. Got a lot of looks, making this a good fit for Patti's Visible Monday.

Saturday i planned a day of thrifting in the summery heat of Danville to see if i could find any decent denim jackets. It struck me that my frozen yogurt look would work just as well for thrifting. Easy shoes, hat to cover hair mussed in the general frenzy, a wide skirt perfect for trying on pants and skirts, handy pockets for car keys. I'd taken the time to write down my Friday nite look in detail, so i referred to my notes and dressed in a trice.

As predicted, the look was wonderful for shopping. But the outing was a bust. The closest i came to a purchase was a fitted white denim jacket for $27. I took it to the counter of the consignment store to see if it had been around long for a markdown. As the assistant let me know that it was still $27, i wondered what i was thinking. The last thing i need in my closet is anything i wouldn't even pay twenty seven dollars for! I decided against it right then. Oy. The one thing shopping is guaranteed to do for me is highlight the wisdom of spending time sewing!

 Mr. E and i sojourned the rest of the afternoon and early evening in Berkeley, enjoying Gioia pizza,  ice cream and urban hiking.  I even got a very nice compliment on my dress from a passerby. The success of my first real repeat has got me thinking about ways to push myself into the habit. I think one key lies in the fact that this is my favorite way to style this dress, bar none! It's not one bit fussy, and the straw and raffia textures add a bit of rough. Complete physical comfort plus awesome colors. Maybe it's time for me to focus a bit more on my ideal outfits, not just my ideal clothing items?

Obviously i have a ways to go before repeating becomes a reality in my dressing habits. And i have no clues on how to get this happening, besides drastic measures (whatever those may be). I'll let you know if/when i make any more progress, in the meantime feel free to clue me in to the painfully obvious tips and tricks i am missing!