A lifetime ago…back at the end of February (seriously, every month in 2020 has been equivalent to six months in a normal year) I was well aware that I needed to lose a few pounds…
THE STORY
…Not because of some preconceived societal expectation of body size, nor because of body image issues, it was simply because I was running several pounds above my fighting weight i.e. the weight I’m most comfortable at. The clothes were starting to get just a bit tight and I knew I needed to get it reined in before it got out of control.
Enter quarantine…
Yes, I know, quarantine wasn’t kind to many of us in regard to excess poundage. However, I was already behind the eight ball when the entire planet shut down. I realize that there were a boatload of maniacs out there who used the quarantine time-out to whip their bodies into goddess-like condition (or at least they said they did on the ‘gram), but believe me, I wasn’t one of them. I personally used the time to eat Cheetos like it was my job.
It didn’t help that the entire first month I was a baking beast. We were never without some sort of baked good sitting on the kitchen counter. Ironically, I hate all things culinary and I’m gluten sensitive to boot so where the baking came from I have no clue. Some sort of brain short circuit maybe. On a side note, my daughter & I did make these freakin’ amazing chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars…dayum were they yummy! And totally worth the gluten-induced stomach pain that resulted I must say.
Anyhow, it’s no secret that I’ve always been a huge fan of comfy clothes, particularly sweats, so needless to say I was not even a little bit sad when sweats (and occasionally whatever I had slept in) became acceptable work attire. As I’m sure you can surmise, the comfy baggy stretchy sweats & leggings did nothing to remind me that perhaps I should step away from the Cheetos for a moment. Add into all of this that I, like everyone else, was confined to the house so the exercise I normally got bopping around a classroom, trotting up & down the steps and sprinting after run away students was no more. The most exercise I got in a day was walking from the couch to the refrigerator.
I did actually try to make sure that I put jeans on at least once a week just to keep me honest. They did (and do) still fit, so no worries, right? Um, no. They do fit, however in November they were the perfect slouchy boyfriend jeans…see Exhibit A. Now? They’re skinny jeans…see Exhibit B. I’m currently working on getting things back in line, but dropping 15 pounds when you’re 55 as opposed to when you’re say 35, is like attempting to swim the English Channel when you’re used to floating on a raft in the kiddie pool.
Why am I whining about something that in the grand scheme of things is truly inconsequential? You’ll find the explanation in the outfit section below…
THE OUTFIT
I could’ve easily told ya’ll that I layered this pretty lace trimmed cami under my tiered sundress to make it more interesting, but I’ve never lied to you before so I won’t start now.
I layered it underneath because the top two buttons refused to stay buttoned due to the spare baggage I’m carrying around. While it does make the dress extra pretty, it was actually more a matter of me not wanting the girls to pop out to say “hello” at an inopportune time, say in the produce aisle at the grocery store.
The last time I wore this particular dress was back in the Fall. Because of the aforementioned button front, it does layer well and looked particularly pretty layered over a burgundy tulle skirt. Note the top two buttons are staying closed on their own…lol.
The dress would’ve have looked way cooler I think, paired with these fab ankle tie sandals, however in the interest of keepin’ it real I’m showing it with the Birks that I actually wore it with. And I was too lazy to go up to the attic for the ankle tie sandals, so there’s that.
THE TIP
I’m a huge fan of silk cami’s. They are pretty on their own as a top, but they also make the perfect lightweight layering piece under dresses, button down shirts and sweaters.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Dress: Target (Similar); Birkenstocks: Similar; Cami: H&M (Similar)
