Here's what it looks like today:

(There was a slightly baffled comment from my office manager today about the orange tights. Not quite my usual look. Guess I'm going to be pushing the envelope a bit.)

And no, I don't plan to wear it every day. But maybe, say, every other Friday or so.

I'd never heard of Iris Apfel before running across this video today. I don't think our tastes exactly coincide, but I sure hope I'll be this confident and having this much fun if I also reach the age of 88.

I'm sponsoring April 27, my online journal anniversary. You'll note that's my comment there up at the top. (There were 365 limited edition Little Black Dresses being made, so when you buy one, as I did, you pick a day to sponsor. I would have picked my fiftieth birthday tomorrow, but alas, that day was taken already.)

Man, I'm really going to miss Sheena's posts every day.

The Uniform Project is shortly going to be coming to a close (last day is April 30). Take a look at this extremely cute video she's produced showing the looks she's put together over the past year. It does a good job of showing the fun and whimsicality of the project.

Tomorrow is going to be another Little Black Dress Day: wear your black dress, accessorize it, and post the pictures to the Uniform Project's Facebook page (here's the link to the last time I did so. One of the dress pictures isn't displaying properly, so try this link.)

I managed to snag one of the limited edition Little Black dresses she sold (there are only going to be 365 produced) as a birthday present to myself, for the day April 27. I wanted to get April 28, my actual 50th birthday, but that day was sold already. But hey, April 27 is the anniversary of my Livejournal, so it's all cool.

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

My comment on Sheena's outfit today on the Uniform Project:

Your hat strikes me as something that might happen if Robin Hood went to work as a trendy French chef making amuse-bouche hors d’œuvres.

In other news, I am wearing incredibly bright fuschia nail polish. I haven't put polish on my nails in, oh, five years at least? But Delia's gotten fascinated with it and, yeah, the sort of month I've been having, fuschia nail polish seemed like a fine idea.

( New tops so pretty for Fiona and Peg they must be shared )

Thanks to Grandma Mel and Nana for funding the purchases.

(And those new yoga pants look amazing on Fiona.)

( What I did today to make the world a better place )

Now, here's a really fun Decrease Worldsuck idea. Saw this on Do the Green Thing:



Sheena the model, who had the original idea, and Eliza, the dress designer, describe their project like this:

I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. The challenge is to reinvent this uniform everyday with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments. I'll post a daily snapshot of my progress here for you to see and enjoy. This is also a year-long fundraiser for Akanksha's School Project, a grassroots foundation that is revolutionizing education in India. The money raised at the end of the year will be put towards funding school uniforms for slum children in India.

See The Uniform Project. You can follow on Facebook, Twitter, or feeds: uniformproj or uniformproject

Personally, I WANT that dress (photo below of the first day, just the dress alone). Take a look at some of the daily shots on the site to see all the different ways she can accessorize it, making it look like a totally different outfit. (See, for example, the month of October)





They've just announced that they are going to offer it for sale, once they find a sustainable manufacturer. Viewer are invited not only to donate money for the cause, but accessories to help keep the project fun and funky. There will be an auction of the accessories, again for charity, so Sheena's closets aren't overflowing.

( What I did today to make the world a better place )

From austen_blog:

I took the girls out on a bunch of errands today. Delia needed a watch, and Fiona needed a book for English class and a new pair of shoes. While we were at Kohl's, I wistfully looked at the boots. I have snow boots, of course (inevitable in Minnesota) but I haven't had fall fashion boots, the sort you wear with tights under dresses to extend your summer wardrobe into fall, for over a decade. And they were on sale. Against my better judgment, I tried on several pairs and found one that fit, that weren't too tall, and looked nice. Did I mention that they were on sale?

"I sort of need new shoes, too," Delia said. "I mean, now that I've added the arch supports to my old shoes, they're getting a little too tight."

I looked at the price tag on the boots I was eyeing and sighed. I need another tank of gas before payday, and I don't know yet how much it will cost to get the jeep fixed--if it can be fixed at all. Regretfully, I put the boots back. "I'll get your shoes with next month's paycheck, okay, honey? I got you the watch today."

Delia winced, but nodded, resigned. "Okay," she sighed.

Unexpectedly, Fiona plonked down on the floor and grabbed another box of another model of boots. "I'm going to try these on."

I stared. The boots I had tried on were a sensible heel height. These were not. She zipped them up and stood up--and my jaw dropped.

Oh. My. God.

My daughter was wearing a pair of Do Me boots and the effect was totally stunning. "Aren't those heels too tall for you?" I asked her weakly.

Fiona shrugged. "I could turn cartwheels in these."

She probably could.

"Fiona, I can't possibly let you wear those. Ever. You'd cause a riot if you showed up at the high school in those."

She gave me a little smile and walked a few steps away, studying her reflection in the mirror. She pivoted in place like a model on the catwalk, and I'm surprised the mirror didn't shatter into a million tiny pieces in response.

I swallowed hard. "I'll get you these shoes," I said, gesturing to the box at her feet. "Better take those boots off; we have to get going."

"Okay," Fiona said, transforming into a little girl again. It was sort of dizzying. She plonked down on the floor again, her limbs going in every direction like a colt, and pulled the boots off again. I took them from her and placed them back into the box and felt a little relieved when I replaced the lid over that dangerous pair.

"Fiona?" I said as we started walking to the cash register.

"Yeah?"

"You must promise me to only use your power for good."

She smiled. "Okay, Mommy. I promise."