*The real street was covered in snow, so this drawing will have to do.

In line with my New Year’s Resolution, I’ve been on the lookout for ways to utilize some of the items in my closet that don’t get much play. Since I was looking for a way to spice up basics (jeans, white tee, black ankle boots), I figured I needed something a little over-the-top.

The purple velvet blazer was a random thrift find that I only wore once until I wound up using it as part of a Halloween costume (er…I was Prince, hence the lacy cuffs added by yours truly).  I figured it was juuust enough wacky goodness to make the look a bit more interesting.

What do you to do take your basics from stale to stylish?

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After attending Obama’s swearing-in yesterday, I really felt the need to represent the US!

While the steps of Cincinnati’s City Hall aren’t exactly the White House, I didn’t want the feeling of being in DC among the exuberance and excitement of the inaugural events to end. I decided to put my best quasi-political foot forward in red, white, and blue stripes, red ankle boots, and a beribboned porkpie hat.

For me, the magnitude of yesterday can be summed up in one word: people

Walking towards the capitol amongst throngs of people–at 5am. I was happy to see so many young people and so many families taking part.	The view from the back of the National Mall. You know how there’s the front, then the middle, then the back? We were waaayyyy in back of the back, next to the Washington Monument.

I was only one of millions, yet so grateful to be one of those happyproudrelievedhopeful people.
I’m so glad I went.

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Some mornings, I stand in front of my closet trying to decide what to wear, and I get…bored.  Same ol’ tops, same ol’ skirts, same ol’ pants, blah blah blah. Plus, many of my clothes are neutral colors–you know, the requisite black, lots of gray, some tan. Classics, yes, but also kind of boring.

So, I figure I have two choices: Move into Selfridges (they get really pissy when you’re dragging your raggedy old couch up the escalator, though), or find a way to make the boring stuff more interesting.

For me, this involves adding interesting accessories like lace tights, a wide belt, unexpected shoes, and a colorful wrap that conveniently doubles as a blanket on long plane trips (woo-hoo!).

How do you wear your boring/classic items? Any tips?

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Since I’m a pack rat at heart, another one of my resolutions is to find new ways to wear things that are already in my closet. This philsophy also happens to be a little easier on my bank account than my usual “I have nothing to wear so let’s go shopping and spend money I don’t have” line of reasoning.

Inspired by Marian over at The House of Style looking fab in her strapless velvet top, I picked a piece that I love but rarely get a chance to wear: a military style bustier from Grey Ant. (Full disclosure: I really had to suck it in to get into this thing. Good thing resolution #137 involves hitting the gym! )

To me, it’s always been more of a “going out” piece, but I wanted to find ways to wear it casually, and a way to make it appropriate for work:

Wearing it over a cotton tank tank with cuffed jeans and a thrifted army shirt takes advantage of the military style and brings it down a notch.	Pairing it with a classic button down, pearls, and a pencil skirt adds a bit of refinement while still, as Puffy would say, “preserving the sexy.”	Layering it over another bustier with cropped pants, purple heels, and Claudia Kishi worthy feather earrings makes it ready for a night out!

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