22 January 2014

Getting Dressed

peter pan dress peter pan dress

For a gal who loves getting dressed, I typically have a hard time doing it. Mornings are rough for me, mostly because I am so not a morning person (OK, I'm not much of a morning person on weekdays, but come weekends, try to keep me in bed past 8:30 ... funny how that works). I will snooze that alarm for pretty much as long as possible, do the let-the-dog-out thing, then the wash/dry deal, and then ... stand in front of my closet and stare.

I'm not staring because I am amazed at how wonderful my clothing is, or doing a mental "ooh, pretty" at everything. I'm staring because I have about four minutes before I have to leave and not a single thought in my head. Sure enough, this happens pretty much every morning. Seriously.

Now I've tried the whole laying out my clothes the night before thing, or writing out outfit ideas, or checking out my own pinned outfits for inspiration, but pretty much anything that requires forethought doesn't work for me. Whatever I plan in advance, for sure I just won't feel it that morning - trust me, I've tried.

What does work for me? Time. As in, I need to allot at least 15, sometimes 20-25 minutes, to get dressed each morning. Just the whole putting-it-all-together part. So if someone needs me in a rush in the morning, who knows what they will get!

Am I the only one with an off-kilter getting ready routine? This may be a ridiculous question to ask, but how do you get dressed each day?

peter pan dress peter pan dress

Blazer: J.Crew Robert Noble herringbone (worn here - sim, sim, deal)
Dress: J.Crew peter pan collar (sim for a serious steal, black, as shirt)
Earrings: Amrita Singh double teardrop (worn here - same in green, sim)
Bracelets: Yunikelley (the original, sim, steal), J.Crew factory chainlink (sim, deal)
Ring: Banana Republic (sim deal)
Belt: Anthropologie ekbal (worn here - sim, sim, bolder)
Shoes: Pour La Victoire mai (worn here - same in suede, sim, deal, slingback)
Bag: J.Crew claremont (worn here - sim luxe)

peter pan dress

68 comments:

  1. I wind up being SO late if I try to just pick out an outfit in the morning. I plan my outfits for the week on Sunday nights. I sort of hate the process but it's better for me come morning. I usually have easy go-to outfits that I'll wear if I'm just not feeling the planned outfit. And can I just say that I adore this outfit? This dress, that blazer!

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    1. I don't know what it is about my brain, but if I preplan an outfit, the next morning, I just can't. I guess my brain isn't wired for convenience!

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  2. I've started planning 3-4 outfits over the weekend and that really helps me in the morning. Especially during times where I just don't like what I laid out the night before. It's amazing how fast my mind changes from one outfit to another.

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    1. Ooh, I honestly have never thought about preplanning more that one outfit at a time. Options are good ...

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  3. The BF is still asleep when I leave in the morning, so I'm forced to pick out an outfit the night before, or else I'm fumbling in the closet in the dark (with the flashlight on my iPhone) trying to make sure that I'm getting the right colour tights (I've ended up with navy instead of black). I've gotten used to it, but it doesn't make putting together outfits any easier. I usually end up falling back on something I've worn already, something tried and true.
    Love those earrings!

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    1. I've totally just walked into the closet before and shut the door behind me to keep the light out of the bedroom. Or just grab clothes, wad it up, then tread back to the bathroom.

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  4. I have to admit I am a fan of your closet - you have the best fitting items and always manage to look pulled together. I think maybe the stress factor works for you, you feel the pressure and deliver great outfits.... just a wild guess. In my case, I have good days and WTF was i thinking days when it comes to getting dressed. I usually work better in putting items together the night before, because if i do it in the morning i will most likely change at least 5 times.

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    1. Thanks, Lorena! I like that, stress is good for my personal styling, yeah!

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  5. Love the color of your blazer Lisa! I too cannot get up for the life of me on weekdays...but have no problems on weekends either lol

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  6. I plan ahead the night before. I lay out Elodie's clothes (in case like this morning, she is still asleep in bed when my MIL comes over to look after her and we are off to work), make my lunch and then just as I go to bed I mentally scan the rails for ideas. I tend to shore up the idea in the shower the following morning so I know exactly what I am looking for. The mornings something looks off are a nightmare, I hate being indecisive when I've already decided and then needing to change something out. I get all flustered yet cannot leave clothes discard on the bed/floor. They must be re-folded/hung otherwise I have to do it later. Working + toddler = time management for me!

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    1. I try to mentally plan outfits while I'm showering or blow drying my hair but my mind tends to wander off to other things and I get nothing done! But, I only have a pup's schedule to manage in the morning ...

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  7. That belt looks great with that blazer! I usually try to think about what to wear while I'm in the shower. That way I have a slight idea when it's time to get dressed. I feel like my biggest problem is that there is constantly a piece that I need that is in the laundry basket.

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    1. That happens to me too - or I need that "crucial" piece and can't find it in my bottom of my drawer of something!

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  8. I love this colour combo.

    I need time to get dressed too. I like to preplan, or at least have a bunch of outfits already put together that I can choose from. This is how I travel, always with photos of the outfits ready so they come together super fast.

    When I'm just "getting ready" on the same day to go out somewhere it always take me way too long to choose what I'm going to wear. I change my mind a million times, make a huge mess and then inevitably just choose a dress and boots. LOL

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. I try to preplan outfits for packing ease when I travel, but I always end up with a mish mash. I guess I should try ON the outfits before I pack them to make sure they make sense!

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  9. Ah, you know me - I'm an inveterate overplanner. Couple that with my being an English major/teacher and you've got a lethal combo that results in OCD-esque outfit planning. Not only do I give myself a theme for the week and create outfits - to be hung side by side in order in my closet - over the weekend, I also stick to them, regardless of how I feel the day of. Crazy? Probably. But I lvoe my sleep and my method affords me thirty minutes of extra snooze time in the a.m. ;p

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    1. Love. I meant love. To Hades with my sucky typing skills...I swear it's a typo and not evidence of sub-par English major/teacher-dom. ;p

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    2. I was an English major in college too - but while I like putting together outfits, planning them doesn't work too well for me so far ...

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  10. My Stylebook app has been a lifesaver in this regard. I save my Pinterest outfit ideas to the Inspiration board and all my closet is in it so I don't ever "forget" what I have. I look at it every morning while I eat breakfast or the night before. I get it though and I still have those moments (this morning in fact) as things I "plan to wear" no longer always fit. Sigh. Love the grey and orange!

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  11. I LOVE this dress! You did so well by pairing it with this bold pop of color.

    I'm the same way...planning an outfit ahead of time never fits the mood I'm in when I go to put on said outfit. I'm going to try it again though. I feel like I end up looking thrown together because I lack time and creativity in the morning when I'm trying to rush out the door!

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    1. Oh yeah, there are days where I just look ridiculous ... I def don't blog those!

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  12. Love that blazer over that dress. It's a pretty combo! I'm the opposite...I have to plan out my outfit the nigh before. Otherwise I will stare at my clothes forever, and then hate my outfit all day!
    Meredith
    createthatoutfit.com

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    1. I've literally sat down on the floor of my closet before because I've had zero ideas about what to wear! First world probs, huh.

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  13. Lisa, I love that color combination. The grey & coral look fabulous together. Love the peter pan collar. Organization is key for me. It's important to have at least two options for the next day. I try to put things together the night before.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  14. I was just thinking I needed to wear my coral blazer and I see this fabulous inspiration! Loving the grey and coral together! I typically lay out my clothes the night before. Even better if I lay out my accessories, too. I don't often change it up because I am typically running late and don't have time to rethink it!

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  15. Gorgeous Outfit! Also love the Heels :)

    big Hugs

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  16. I have at least 5 outfits I like ready and then I pull the one I feel like wearing that day, so I spend some time on the weekend planning, but it makes it easy in the morning.

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    1. I need to try preplanning mutil outfits to see if having options in the morning helps!

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  17. I am exactly the same way! I do find Pinterest helps me though - I don't always copy an outfit exactly I just find that usually something will jump out at me and I'll come up with an outfit (I usually browse it while I eat breakfast). However, now that my body is in the weird, totally awkward after baby stage it's pretty much all sweats lately. Luckily I'm not going out much so it hasn't been much of a problem.

    BTW - it's good to be back! I have finally found time to check out my fave blogs again! Not sure when I'll have time to update my own blog but I'll get around to it eventually :-)

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    1. Sweats are awesome! I'm totally going to be one of those old ladies at the buffet line who is in a matching track suit with the stripes - and shell tops for sure!

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  18. You style is always so polished.

    http://simplysassysstyle.blogspot.com/

    dawn

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  19. This is so pretty! I love everything about this outfit on you, the colours, the collar, and that belt is just the perfect finishing touch! Hats off to your co-ordination skills, it all fits together so perfectly. And peach is such a lovely colour on you!

    Hm, I usually either wake up with an idea of what I want to wear (one time I dreamed an outfit and then I just had to wear it the following morning, how weird is that, eh?), or it sort of slips together in my head while I'm shuffling around the apartment making a hot drink and switching the heating on. And if I'm brain-dead, I'll revert to a combination I've worn and liked before. Even though that feels a little like cheating! ;)

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    1. I totally have looked up my older outfits before for outfit inspiration - I don't reblog them, but I've IG'd them before.

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  20. I'm like you - my brain doesn't function til 9:30am...okay, maybe 11 ;)

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    1. I've had those days where I go to work and it feels like I'm mentally non-functional until at least mid-morning.

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  21. Lol Lisa, I'm the same way but my roommate after grad school tried very hard cure me of the last minute habits. So now I put out outfits the night before. It's not fail proof but works >80% of time. I would snooze til I'm almost late in morning....youre not alone Lisa:).

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    1. I always always set my alarm for at least 30 minutes prior to when I actually need to get up so I can snooze button it a few times!

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  22. I play it by ear. Sometimes I think of an outfit and can't WAIT to wear it! Other times, I stare at my closet and go "whaaaaaaat am I going to wear?" I usually need time in the mornings to put my thoughts together and more often than not, my starting point is checking the weather and then looking at my planned schedule for the day. Those two things inform my shoe choice, and I usually build up from there. :)

    Jen @ Librarian for Life & Style

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    1. My shoe choice is usually determined by "do I have a lot of walking to do today or not?" Haha.

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  23. I always pick out m clothes the night before for work...otherwise, I would never make it to work on time. I get up about 2 hours before i leave for work to get myself & the kid ready as well as make breakfast, lunch & snack for us too. I love this outfit. I just recently bought a similar dress from Loft and will need to copy this look.

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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    1. I'm lucky because I just had to pup to look after in the mornings and she hardly takes any time at all to get dressed. ;o)

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  24. Getting dressed in the morning is not that easy! I came up with this idea of pre-planned outfits in my mind (ie. business,casual,colors and matching accessories and so on..) so whenever I need to dress up, I just follow what I think and feel would suit me for the day :)

    Love that combo! xo

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    1. I need to do the preplanned multi outfits thing - options are good!

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  25. Of course I can relate to your routine. Why does it never matter how many clothes we have (and love) and how many potentially great outfits we have written/pinned/planned that we can't ever manage to feel like wearing them?

    I will often come up with beautiful outfit and then decide it's too dressy for work, or too cold to wear when it's 10 degrees out, or too casual to wear to work, ect ect.

    There was once a time when I planned my whole week of outfits. Now I can't even do it the night before.

    This outfit, by the way, I really like. The blazer is such a gorgeous color.

    Chic on the Cheap

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  26. I love that dress! I normally go with my mood when it comes to dressing but it is easier for me as I am just a mere stay at home mom who likes to dress up so even if I feel like baggy tees and jeans everyday it would not make a difference!

    GREETINGS FROM DUBAI!
    MRS JACK OF ALL TRADES (a fashion and life-style blog)
    http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.ae/

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    1. Oh there are no mere SAHMs, plus you are always looking chic and put-together anyways!

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  27. That grey dress is beautiful, it's really nice with the bright blazer! :) I always lay my clothes out the day before, it's easier as I can spend ages trying to find something that looks good and I just don't have time in the mornings!

    Away From Blue

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  28. while i drool over beautiful style blogs, i wear jeans and tshirt to work. and i'm the same way--up and at 'em on a weekend. so unfair!

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  29. Right there with you on the "standing in front of my closet spacing out...er...planning out my outfit for the day." It is also incredibly frustrating that I also can't seem to sleep in past 8:30 on the weekends...go figure? Cute outfit!

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    1. Because it's the weekend! Yay! Weekend! It's like a mini Christmas for adults. (In fact, so close right now ...)

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  30. The color of this blazer is gorgeous! I LOVE IT! :)

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  31. Love your outfit! The belt is the perfect touch.
    I take some time on the weekends and put together several outfits for work and play. This gives me time to incorporate items that I haven't worn in a while or ideas I want to try. I hang them all in the closet and then have some choices in the morning when I'm rushed. There's bound to be something in there that I feel like wearing.

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    1. I've tried hanging up individual items that I want to try to incorporate into an outfit and that has worked, though most of the time, it's just another hangar in my way, haha.

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  32. I love that dress! I wanted it sooo bad but I never got it. The Peter Pan collar is too cute. And it looks great with the bright blazer!

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

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  33. Ahaha. I'm staring not because I'm communicating with my eyes how awesome I am but because I am zoned out. Hilarious! The gray and light coral look phenom together - another color combo for me to try out!

    <3 Liz

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    1. Options are good. But sometimes options just makes me completely incapable of making a decision!

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  34. Oh my gosh! Those coral colors look so good on you. Love it with the gray. Now that I work from home, I don't have to worry about the daily outfit but when I did work in an office, I had to plan the night before or my bedroom would look like clothing bomb went off and I hated cleaning that up after working.

    Tracy @Its Mostly About Fashion

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  35. Hang up a weeks worth of outfits I want to try on our canopy bed. Right now I have three left for the week. I also write down outfits I want to try and then as I try them I move them to a separate file marked, "outfits with photos I have taken." Sounds like I am organized, but truly I'm not!

    And I adore the color scheme here. It is soothing and pretty.


    Jenni

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  36. I usually plan it out the night before, as I'm falling asleep. :) Love this outfit, that dress is amazing on you!

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  37. OMG that is so me!! I totally know what you mean by not feeling what you laid out the night before..Yeah there I am staring at my closet knowing that if I take a minute more my training is going to be leaavvvvinnnng with me not on it!

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  38. I'm definitely a "put the outfit together the night before" kind of gal. Sometimes I'll even put together a few outfits the night before just in case I'm afraid I'm not feeling it. The couple times I've gone to sleep without planning an outfit, I either search Pinterest boards, put something together I've already worn, or end up looking like a wreck. I looove this dress on you! Thanks for the Target link -- too good a price to pass up!

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  39. great outfit! www.alyssabarnettbeauty.com

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  40. Gorgeous outfit. Fantastic jewellery. And I am one of those people who lays out everything the night before and is still happy with it the next morning. It takes me from 10 minutes to one and a half hour to put an outfit together. As I get up at 5.15 on workdays ...you can see I have no choice in this matter.
    Greetje

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  41. Wow, I thought I was the only one who changed outfits about 8-10 times before leaving the house. Glad to hear its a common problem. Sometimes planning the night before works but not always. Sometimes the outfit looks better on the hangers than on the wearer.

    When my kids were smaller and we had a change table right next to our closet, that thing used to be piled up with layers of clothing rejects from my morning dressing routine...

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