Recycling My BlogHer Fashion

Since my clothing budget for BlogHer '09 is $0, I will be recycling previously worn fashion. The annual BlogHer conference is my rare dress-up opportunity so I have some pieces that rarely appear on my body other than conference time.

However, I would very much love to win a style consultation with Tim Gunn who will be Tide's booth babe. I dream of him greeting me with "gather round" and bidding me adieu with a fond "make it work!" I also would love it if Stacy and Clinton would pop out of the bushes and wisk me off to the 360 mirror room.

Therefore, allow me to share with you some pictures of me from previous BlogHer Cons in clothes you are likely to see again. These are not some of the most fabulous items but perhaps they might inspire my friends and family to plea for a What Not To Wear intervention or boost my chances of Tim Gunn realizing  just how much help I need.

You probably will not find me in these items from the picture on the left this year but I'm certain Tim Gunn would be horrified by the ill fitting cropped pants I'm rockin' ;) (pick me, pick me!)

You will likely see the shorts seen in the picture in the right above (it's hard to tell but they are knee length walking shorts). However you hopefully won't see the top of my undergarments peeking out from the top because a) since the shorts are linen and loosen up and sag a bit I returned home and purchased another pair a size smaller and b) I won't be climbing up on tables testing out my newly learned camera techniques. But see what I'll show you in hopes of better fashion!

Here is a top you might see make a repeat appearance. You can see it better in the first picture where I am with the adorable Heather Clisby. But the picture of me with a clearly on a rampage BlogHer Co-founder Lisa Stone is more amusing.

And speaking of me with a BlogHer co-founder, this time it is Elisa Camahort Page (now I just need one with Jory Des Jardins to complete the trifecta) who is mysteriously hiding behind her sunglasses indoors because she is a rockstar. In both pics I'm wearing a beaded tunic top that might reappear even though I've worn it to BlogHer two years already and the delicate fabric is a bit beat up at this point. But I love it.

It's hard to see but in the picture of me and Elisa I'm decked out in Jen Lemen (whom I adore) swag which totally makes the outfit.

Whatever shoes I wear will likely be painful because I have yet to figure out how to choose the right shoes for a balance of beauty and all-day comfort. And, as much as I love my stilletoes, I am planning on being smart and leaving them at home though I love costume changes and will change from daytime comfort to dresses and heels (just not 4-5 inch spikes) for night for the parties.

Anyhow, that's a little taste of my recycled fashion.  And you might be wondering why I'm sharing that I will be wearing exactly the same things I've worn to BlogHer and showing fashion off even when not shown to its most fabulous. It's because nobody will remember what I've worn before, nobody will care what I'm wearing (unless I show up looking like a hobo, in which case I will fully understand if a get a few askance glances) and all that matters is how I feel in and about what I'm wearing.  I enjoy the opportunity to play dress up for my girls since there is nobody around much of the time when I'm working from home and being a hermit to appreciate my efforts. But really what matters is what you see in the pictures above - not what I'm wearing but the awesome people who join me in the photos, the smile on my face or my furrowed brow as I bang out a blog post in the corner of a ballroom.

I'm looking forward to what to wear to BlogHer not stressing over it and I hope you won't either. Tide bringing Tim Gunn and running a contest to meet him at BlogHer does not mean that there is any BlogHer Conference dress code or that you have to change what you are wearing. If Tim Gunn doesn't rock your world as he does mine, skip the Tide Booth and let your clothing freak flag fly. Or not. As long as you are wearing something, when I see you I'll say "hi" and give you hug (unless you don't want one, in which case make a little "x" with your fingers and I'll back off).

Photo Credits: All © rubyshoes (AKA the fabulous Laurie White) except the last photo with Hawaiian bag © cambodia4kidsorg (AKA the fabulous Beth Kanter)

Comments

[Elisa Camahort]

Great post, Maria!

And you are so funny with your rock star appellation. Must I remind you those sunglasses hid a hideous, swollen, eye afflicted with what turned out to be a corneal ulcer!? You mock my pain, it's so cruel. :)

[Maria Niles]

Thank you for the kind words, Elisa.

I would never mock your pain, darling. It is true that you are a rock star and I simply left out the hideous, swollen afflicted eye part. Recycling is good for the environment but I'll hope for no need for you to recycle that particular look ;)

[Heather Clisby]

Wait .... I'm adorable?????

Speaking of adorable, you can come to Chicago in old potato sacks and your Maria-ness will charm the Jimmy Choos right off us BlogHers every single time. Just bring that famous winning smile, Niles, and you're good to go.

[Mom101]

I want you to win.

And I mean that in the best possible way that that could have come out.