Monday, June 9, 2008

I Put My Appearance in Your Hands

Before I begin today's post I just want to acknowledge that I know I still owe you an advice column from last Friday. It was a whirlwind of activity around here what with the last couple of days of my brother's visit and my sick children including the event where my daughter vomited an actual lake on my kitchen floor get the raft. The entry is mostly composed and just needs some last minute editing. I shall post it soon.

Speaking of shopping, which we weren't but now we are so look how I pulled a transition out of thin air. Yesterday Boy-Child#1 and I ventured out to GAP Kids and bought an outfit for him to wear to his sixth grade graduation coming up this Thursday. He needed some slacks [no jeans] and a dress shirt [no t-shirts]. When I asked the sales lady to point me in the direction of the belts she said, "That's right. I was looking for the belts for you" which is odd because I hadn't previously inquired. So I thought, "Look who's so omniscient"! Then when I was waiting in line to pay she said, "I'll be right with you" as if I had somehow indicated that I was in a hurry. Which I wasn't. It was the first time I'd been out of the house in days and I was quite happy to stand there all day. Why she was picking up on some imagined impatient vibe is beyond me. So I was like, "No worries". And she looked skeptical. Tres weird. Anyway, I made my purchases that also included a dress for Girl-Child to wear to the graduation and to use for her own that is being held this Saturday. Then it occurred to me that I needed something for myself.

I love to shop. It's what I do. Mr. Farklepants can attest to my addiction hobby propensity to put a hurt on the bank account and clutter up our closet with STUFF! And he will argue that right now I probably have a perfectly acceptable ensemble in the closet that may or may not still have the price tags on them. I can shop the hell out of a mall. Except when I'm looking for an outfit for a particular event. Then I become overwhelmed when I walk into the store. I swear on any given day I can find a million things that I'd love to own and wear but if I'm looking for one specific thing I can't find a darn thing and end up with the first outfit that fits well and will do. Send me back to that same mall the day after that event and I will find a dozen things that I'd rather have worn. HONK if I'm preaching to the choir.

So, here is where I ask you all for help. Out of the following selection, which do you think I should wear? I do not currently own any of these items and I will go and make my purchases based on your opinions. Keep in mind that the ceremony is being held outdoors [read: center of the Earth hot] and also that it is at an elementary school so the length should be appropriate and cleavage should be kept to a minimum. There's a time and a place for flashing the stems and the girls and this is not one of them. A little less 'vava' and hardly any 'voom' :

(A) Simple sheath


(B) Classic wrap dress


(C) Basic sundress


(D) Skirt and basic tee


Vote in the comments!

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

A basic sundress will never fail you. Is there a color other than black? Second choice - skirt and tee. Classic, cool, casual.
Have fun!

Texasholly said...

beep beep.
I am currently in love...in love with the floaty skirt/t-shirt or tank option. Dress it up with heels or down with flip flops. But the dresses are really fun too because you actually have an event. So what I am sayin' is that I am no help at all because I would be asking you for help if I was in your situation.

Treasia Stepp said...

Really like the basic sundress but I think I would avoid black since it's outdoors.

Queen Goob said...

HONK!!

I like the skirt and T combo AND you could probably wear it more than once!!!

OHHH! And I live in the center of the earth TOO!!!

Anonymous said...

Honk!!

My vote is for A!

Anonymous said...

OMG, t-shirt. Everything else to me looks like you'd be trying too hard.

Probably completely not helpful ;)

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I think the skirt and t combo has the right casual/dressy ratio for the event.

pam said...

Simple sheath

Manager Mom said...

I like the wrap dress, you can throw a pashmina over there if you're chilly but it is summery and cute, but not cutesy.

Wrap it up, sistah!

Amy said...

My first pick would be the basic sundress and my second pick would be the skirt and basic tee (but I would probably do a tank instead). Good luck!

Ann said...

HONK!

I love A bc it's classic and white and crisp, can't go wrong. Love the detailing as well, nice design element.

Also love the skirt w/ a sassy top bc you can personalize it a bit more, and wear some great shoes - very sassy and a bit more modern and fun.

Of course, you could really make Mr. Farklepants cringe and just buy them ALL!!

Anonymous said...

I vote for the skirt and t. Defuc*inately... And, here is where an element of practicality and "this will serve Tootsie well" advice comes along: If you are feeling "I cannot make a decision, oh help me what shall I do" when you get to the mall, first you will be wise to choose the skirt being sure that it has loads of fun color, then take the opportunity to shop the hell out of t-shirts. You might be able to find a BOGO, and bingo bango, two completely separate outfits. How helpful is the hippy potter today, huh?

Zoeyjane said...

Oh, sure. Make me delurk to vote on fashion! And Honk.

I vote for the wrap dress, or the skirt with a simple knit shell. Both would totally rock with some strappy sandals and/or (ugh) wedges.

{sue} said...

HONKKKKKKK!

I am going against (most of) the flow here. I love A the best and B second best. But I am sitting here in sweatpants and a too-small t-shirt from last summer, so you may not want to take my advice.

Just My Type said...

Definitely B without those God-awful shoes the model is wearing.

I'm sure you have great shoes.

stephanie said...

The t-shirt & skirt is what I am wearing to the HS graduation where I teach, and we're not anywhere near the center of the Earth. It's just what I do and I recommend it to everyone.

(And yes, HONK. It's aggravating times infinity)

Allison said...

I'm going to have to go with the sundress. All options are super cute, but I'm pretty in love with sundresses this summer. Oh yeah and honkity honk honk.

smalltownme said...

Can't you just get all of them? If not, I vote for 1) wrap or 2) skirt and T.

Anonymous said...

**HONK**

The sheath. Definitely the sheath. Simply because I'm jealous you would look good in it - I'd look like a Vienna sausage.

Anonymous said...

I like the sundress, but I live about 30 minutes north of you (I'm not a stalker--I swear--you just mentioned Henry Mayo recently), so I know how it can get just unearthly hot in these parts which makes me lean toward the white sheath for practicality purposes.

calicobebop said...

I'm voting for "B" the classic wrap dress. Great way to highlight boobs and legs.

Wear sunscreen!

:)

Glennis said...

For practicality (i.e, future use) I vote for the skirt & t-shirt, but I think for true love of clothes, I vote for classic sun-dress. The long line of the one in the picture is very flattering, and you've got the height & boobs for it. You'll always feel like you look good in a classic sundress. Get a matching cardigan or shawl for evenings.

AutoSysGene said...

I pick A, but I am not in any way stylish...just ask Stacey and Clinton ;)

Jamie said...

The sundress, the sundress, the sundress!! It's super cute and you can save that adorable skirt for another time of the year.

West Coast Grrlie Blather said...

My first pick is the wrap dress. That being said, I went for skirt and t-shirt option for my son's high school graduation. Sensible and fun all at the same time...

Madge said...

HONK!!! Beep beep beep!! HONK!!!

I vote D.

Unknown said...

HONK!

I vote B or D!

Anonymous said...

Another vote for (D)Skirt and basic tee.

Although I suspect you'd look hott in any of them.

MamaMo said...

You do NOT want to be taking fashion advice from me!!

Eve Grey said...

I likebthe first one, the white.

Anonymous said...

I like the skirt and shirt.

Little bit of stems but good coverage of the girls. Not distracting to the boys, won't anger Moms, but the Dads will take notice ;)

-Stu

Mrs. G. said...

Skirt and tee-I can see you in it. I like the wrap dress too.

Anonymous said...

Definitely the shirt and skirt combo!

Anonymous said...

Buy them all now and let Mr. F decide...no...well, "B" dress and "A" shoes.

scargosun said...

I LOVE that sheath dress that is at the top. I also think this is the coolest option becuase of the color.

Marmarbug said...

Sundress. Maybe in another color. But dresses are a must to wear in the summer!!!!

Bonnie the Boss said...

I think you should go with the wrap dress. Comfy cool and modest.Something a summery pattern would be nice.

Anonymous said...

I love the skirt/tee option. It's hard not to make any figure look good in them. 2nd would be the sundress.

Laski said...

I like the first one, but I think that I'm going to go classic . . . the wrap! A mix of sexy, classic, and cool . . .

Kristi said...

Big fan of the classic sundress over here. All of that deciding made me tired. You owe me big.

Anonymous said...

I live in the south and the humidity here makes one positively melt outside.

I vote for D. More than acceptable for that type of event.

Insane Mama said...

classic sundress, but stick with a color that won't show sweat marks
aka yellow, but with your hair you might look too yellow and then I would go with tan, but that is a bit bland.. maybe black

Anonymous said...

A or B. And btw, HONK!

Anonymous said...

First of all, consider yourself lucky to have things in your closet with the price tags. I wear things until they are stretched out, threadbare, or full of holes. You'd think I was raised in the Depression.

Second, I have found that the amount of things I find in the mall is directly proportionate to the amount of money I have. When I am Ramen Noodles poor, I want everything in the store. If I am big pimpin', there is nothing I want.

Finally, I vote for the white sheath. Coming from a "center of the earth hot" place myself, I would stay far, far, away from black. White, linen, and cool is always the way to go.

Nicole said...

A: Too simple
B: Frumpy
C: Too casual
D: Perfect

Karen said...

I love the skirt/tank option myself because it's versatile enough to do anything. Plus it mixes and matches so well with other things I, er YOU, already own.

MommyTime said...

Classic wrap all the way. You can dress it up if you ever want to wear it out to dinner, or wear it with ballet flats or something comfy for more casual events. (I think the shift looks too babydoll.) But it might also depend on the style in your area...

That Chick Over There said...

I love the 2nd one. Can't help it.

Kaye Butler said...

I love A. It is perfect for a summer graduation, especially outdoors, and you would so look vintagetwentyish!

1blueshi1 said...

DEFINITELY A. A ROCKS (air guitar). and if not A, then D, because that pattern on that skirt is amazing.
btw, I totally don't mean to nag on the whole, "hey you have lots of comments and I want lots of comments too! all the cool girls have them! comments are the new black!"
please enjoy your family's visit and snurfle away on that lovely lump of snurftitude.
also I see A with some flat gold sandals like the ones on the Old Navy website, whereas D definitely need to rock some wedge heels.

Your Pal Pinki said...

Stems and Girls...you crack me up.
Any of the above, in cotton, bright Spring colors, up-do hair and wedge espadrilles.

Leanne said...

Hmmm. My first thought was wrap, but that might be too warm. Go with the summer dress and be cool and collected!

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

I like B best. I can't wear dresses that look like that so I will live vicariously through you.

Jason, as himself said...

I say A. It will probably be a billion degrees and that looks the coolest. Very cute, too.

Anonymous said...

Go for one of each. If not possible, you can't go wrong with a sundress. If I didn't have these damned "great for childbirthin' hips," I'd go for the simple sheath. But seriously...one of each. ;)

Anonymous said...

Go classic wrap! Go classic wrap!

Anonymous said...

HONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHOOOOOOOOOONNKHONKHONKHONKHONK!!!!! The light is not getting any GREENERHOOOOOONK!

I really love option A.
If you feel it's too short, go with Option 4.

Beep beep.

Muddlin' Mother said...

Must do the cool skirt! And don't forget the shoes!

Jennifer S said...

I vote for skirt and t-shirt.

I also vote for whoever decided to have graduation outside to have to wear an overcoat, scarf, and knit cap.

Tootsie Farklepants said...

WOW Y'all!!

As of 9:45pm tonight, option 'D' is winning by a landslide! So I'm off to New York and Company tomorrow to get it.

I agree about the shoes in option 'B'. There' something I don't like about them...ohhh...that's right, the hideousness of them.

I love the shoes in option 'D' but I would be about 6 feet tall in those and I would be very obvious.

insane mama~ yeah, I don't do yellow well. I look like a lemon popsicle.

Thanks for participating friends!!

katydidnot said...

wrap your bad self in the wrap dress. and buy some good jimmy choo knockoffs (yes i did so just say that) to go with it.

JCK said...

I'm with the wrap dress, but lucky for you...any of them will work! :)

And can you help me with PMS zits at 46? Just thought I'd ask.

Anonymous said...

I may be in the minority, but go for the sheath! The skirt/tee combo is winning because that's what every other mom will be wearing. The sheath is eye-catching but elegant, and white will be perfect on a hot day. We all just wish we could pull off that look -- and you can!

XO
Long-time lurker who felt passionately about this issue!

Anonymous said...

Tootsie-

NONE of the above look like you.

Try again. :-)

Minnesota Matron said...

I skimmed through and didn't see a lot for this, but given your lovely figure, I'd choose B!

jess said...

I love the first one, but they're all good. I think D is my second vote.

Michelle Hix said...

I'm a skirt girl...just because I like the idea of being practical and being able to pair the skirt with many shirts...but hey, I also HATE HATE HATE shopping...so don't listen to me :)

Anonymous said...

A classic wrap is always a safe bet. But I'm sure I'm chiming in just a little too late.

Wineplz said...

HONK HONK HONK!

(and I'd vote, but it's the day AFTER...)

Donna-Michele said...

Did anyone notice that after all that voting.. you went with a the best features of A and B? BTW, it suits you and was a great choice in general.