Yesterday, while I was at school setting up my classroom I had to laugh at myself a little bit. I am such a creature of habit. All of us probably are to one extent or another, but I’m pretty hardcore about it…
THE STORY
…I arranged the kids’ desks, the bookshelves, and all of the different areas in the room the same as always. And of course the things on my desk; the exact same arrangement. Over the course of my 27 year teaching career I have taught in two different districts, a total of six different buildings and I can’t remember how many different classrooms. No matter where I’ve been, the top of my desk has always been arranged the same way, right down to the placement of the stapler. I even still keep my loose paper clips in the same little crooked ceramic dish my son made for me when he was in elementary school. If my kids use my stapler or tape dispenser, without conscious thought, I will straighten it’s position so it’s right where it belongs. OCD much?
I’m like that at home too. If, for example, I walk through the dining room and one of the pictures sitting on the buffet is slightly out of line, I have to stop and adjust it so that it’s exactly where it belongs. One thing I never realized until my husband pointed it out a number of years ago is that anywhere I have a grouping of things, whether it be photos, decorative doodads, candles or a combination of those things, the group it almost always a group of three. A group of four will freak me out and something’s gotta go. Seriously, what’s that all about?
The armchair psychiatrist in me links all of this weirdness to my over the top chaotic and less than stellar childhood. When you’re small you have no way of controlling the world or what goes on around you. You just have to deal with it because you’re a kid. I think perhaps my overwhelming need to structure and control my immediate habitat, whether it be home or my classroom, is my subconscious way of keeping my world in order. Makes sense to me. Fortunately, my need for everything being “just so” doesn’t overwhelm my life. Like I said, I don’t even realize I’m doing it unless I make a point of paying attention.
THE OUTFIT
Today is part two of my Grace & Lace new Fall pieces love-fest. If you aren’t familiar with them, check out this post for the 411 on all things Grace & Lace. When this delicious little confection of burgundy pointelle tie back sweater awesomeness showed up I knew immediately how I was styling it. Yes, literally immediately, I knew that it absolutely must be layered over the chiffon skirt extender. It’s like they were made for each other. Actually, they just possibly were in light of the fact it is styled almost the exact same way on the Grace & Lace website.
I had also contemplated leggings and a cami underneath, but I was going for a Summer to Fall transitional look and quite honestly my friends, black leggings were not something I relished putting on at this time of year. Bare legs are much more heat friendly then legs encased in black lycra. But, with that being said, how sweet will this sweater be later in the season layered over a black turtleneck, black leggings and my new black suede over the knee boots that are eagerly awaiting release from closet purgatory?
Just like I did yesterday, I paired a lightweight knit in a Fall hue with a more Summer inspired under layer. That’s my new go-to shortcut for creating outfits that straddle the two seasons seamlessly. Lightweight materials + Fall colors = Summer to Fall fabulousness. Look at that…it’s like a mathematical formula, but for fashion. I guess I’m sort of like a fashionematician.
THE TIP
In case you missed it in the last paragraph…Lightweight materials + Fall colors = Summer to Fall fabulousness.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
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Sweater: c/o Grace & Lace; Chiffon extender: Grace & Lace; Boots: Three Bird Nest (Similar)
**Sweater provided c/o Grace & Lace, but all opinions, as always, are my own.
