What I wore to BlogHer 2012

My good friends, Anne and Susan, would tell you that I pack for every Fun Girl trip as though I were planning on circumnavigating the globe.

Sue me. I like clothes.

But poor me lives in a place where the term “dressing up” means that you’ve showered this week. (I’m not even kidding.) So when I get a chance to dress up, I don’t want to miss it.

And, since I haven’t figured out which is worse–being over-dressed or under-dressed–my former tactic has consisted of throwing all of my clothes into a suitcase and picking out what to wear after taking the fashion temperature of the crowd when I get there.

This technique resulted in me taking my literal weight in clothes and shoes to Bloggy Boot Camp in Atlanta—a ONE DAY conference!—last year.

But that was the old me.

Thanks to my total vaginal reconstruction surgery in March, I am restricted from lifting anything heavier than 30lbs. Period.

The new me had to be organized because I could not carry 100+lbs of clothes to New York City.

Planning was made easier this time because all this therapy I’ve been getting recently has helped me (1) understand myself better, and (2) let go of what other people think about me.

Knowing who you really are and accepting yourself frees you up!!! I carry a lot less weight around—both in my suitcase and in my head–by not worrying about what other people are thinking. If you haven’t tried this approach to life I highly recommend it!

Anyway, my therapist says that people are not thinking about me. Just like me, they are thinking about themselves and worrying about what others are thinking about them.  The way to get off the merry-go-round of self-absorption is to think more about others than yourself. This works in every area of life. Even in fashion planning.

Yes, even in fashion planning.

Fashion does seem so selfish, doesn’t it? Why not just show up to a major professional event like BlogHer wearing Ye Olde Stained Pajama Bottoms?

We both know that’s what I wear most of the time anyway, right?

And besides, people should not judge YOU by what you’re wearing anyway, right?

Maybe.

But they do just the same.

People aren’t worrying about what you are wearing—they are worrying about themselves and what you are thinking about what they are wearing–but they are taking stock of you by your appearance just the same.

And anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

Sorry.

But I won’t lie to you. I’m going to tell you the truth: People do judge the book by its cover; that’s why book publishers spend millions of dollars on book cover design. Hello.

I’m not telling you this stuff to stress you out. No! I’m trying to help alleviate the stress. It’s not that difficult to build a flattering wardrobe. Really.

I had no fashion sense whatsoever in 2007 —the year before I started blogging–but I learned.

Here’s what you do. Order some past seasons of What Not to Wear on Netflix and watch them. In short order you will have all the rules you need for choosing outfits that flatter any shape or size.

Also, major department stores, like Nordstrom or Macys, have consultants who will help you. Yes, the clothes cost more. But you will save money in the long run by not buying crap that doesn’t suit you or fit you. And you will buy less clothes because, believe it or not, a good wardrobe requires far less clothes than a slipshod one. I know it sounds crazy, but it is true.

Usually I stick to black and white graphics when I travel because they are so easy to mix and match, but this year I wanted to bring a lot of color and pattern. The influence of Mad Men is huge right now, and lots of great patterns in wonderful feminine silhouettes were available this spring.

Choosing what to wear was made is a lot easier because I knew the weather was going to be very warm. But it was complicated by the fact that convention halls keep their interior temperatures downright igloo-ian.

Geez, freezing Louise! Could they make those rooms any damned colder? Us skinny chicks get cold easily, people. Doesn’t anybody care?

No, they don’t. Nobody cares about the plight of the skinny chick. Not nobody. Not no how.

So I brought two Pashmina scarves and a working set of goose pimples.

I wish I had better pictures. You know, like perfectly lit photographs of me posing in Central Park looking like a younger, hipper version of Kim Catrall? But I don’t. These are all candids taken with a phone.

So here it is; the wardrobe of BlogHer 2012 and the rationale behind every outfit.

Day 1. Pathfinder Day

Pathfinder Day is the antithesis of the Girls Gone Wild hype of BlogHer. It’s a serious day of workshops for serious bloggers.

What I wore: Navy blue dress with white polka dots by Robbie Bee, and cherry red peep-toed sling-backs by Cole Haan.

Rationale: Mad Men inspired, this outfit made me feel like a serious writer who wants to be taken seriously. It totally worked for me. I loved wearing this!

Thursday Night: People’s Party

What I Wore: Strategically faded boot-cut 515 Levi bluejeans. Floaty, 1960′s inspired top with a bright tattoo-ish-like print by John Paul Richard. White flowered sandals. Cliffs by White Mountain-Cove (White). (Here I’m pictured with my friend, Nicole, from By Word of Mouth Musings.)

Rationale: People’s Party is the down-to-earth, laid-back social event of BlogHer. No dressing up necessary, this event is meant to be casual, but still it’s a party. I wanted to convey a hip, fashionable woman who appreciates comfort and doesn’t take herself too damned seriously.

Day 2.

What I wore: Black strawberry print sundress by American Rag at Macys. Worn with black 3/4 sleeve sweater by Jessica Howard. 1940′s inspired black 3” round-toed pumps with jaunty ribbon detail by Madden Girl.

Rationale: This 1940’s inspired outfit says feminine, but not to frilly. I wore the sweater because it was freaking freezing!!  I wish I had a picture of the entire outfit because I adore the shoes. Rounded-toed shoes with a lower heel are less aggressive and easier to wear for hours on end.

Friday Night: Sparklecorn

What I wore: Turquoise sequined sheath dress by Adrianna Papéll Evening (bought 15 years ago at Ross Dress for Less). 4.5” silver cage platform heels by Marc Jacobs. (Pictured here with my good friend, Anne, from notasupermom. Take a gander at her beautiful Steve Madden Come-Fuck-Me black sequined pumps. I totally covet.)

Rationale: Sparklecorn is THE public party event at BlogHer. If you only have one cocktail dress this is where you want to wear it. Like I said, I found this 15 years ago and rediscovered it hiding in the back of my closet as I was packing for BlogHer. The turquoise sequins were perfect. I got tons of compliments, and I felt tremendous wearing it. 4.5” silver platform cage shoes are intentionally aggressive while at the same time insanely easy to dance in for hours. This outfit says that this girl came to party!

Day 3.

What I wore. Floral sundress by Nine West and Pink floral heels in fuchsia by Born.

 

Rationale: No rationale needed. I LOVE this  super-feminine, flirty sundress. I love it so much that when it dies I’m going to cremate it and wear its ashes around my neck. This is my favorite frock right now and I feel totally delightful wearing it. As my new friend, Shay, says, “[I’m] like a ball of sunshine.” It wasn’t me, Shay, it’s the dress. Again, no picture of the shoes, but there’s a picture in my post about my anniversary.

Saturday Night: B(L)oomers Party and Cheeseburger Party

What I wore: White and grey-striped A-line flared dress in jersey with spaghetti straps made in the USA by a company that is now defunct and 4.5″ peep-toes, Chappel White by GUESS. (Yes, I already posted the picture, but here it is again.)

Rationale: I bought this dress in Las Vegas two years ago when my husband competed for the International Karaoke Crown. I wore it with pride, but I’ve never had a place to wear it again. This was the dress I’d planned to wear to Sparklecorn before I found the sequined thing hiding in the back of my closet. To me it says just a little bit Sex in the City. And even though the shoes are high, high, high, they fit like a glove which is key to high heel success.