October 18, 2011

Today's Everyday Fashion: My Dream Job






































Yesterday I got to experience my dream job. A local school held a wellness day for their teachers (it included nutrition, fitness, makeup sessions, etc.) and I was hired to present on dressing well. I shared tips for answering the most basic question "what do I put on my body each morning?" and gave practical advice for shopping on a budget and coming up with outfits that work in everyday life. As a kid, I dreamed of having a book and doing seminars based on that book. I always imagined that I would be in my 30's or 40's before I accomplished that goal, but yesterday felt like I got a little glimpse of what that could be like and I loved every minute of it! As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Inspiration photo: Ann Taylor
Navy blazer: Gap, $70
Navy shirt: Banana Republic, $50
Scarf: c/o Happy Scarf, $20
Skirt: Banana Republic, $35
Belt: Joe's Jeans c/o Marshall's, $20
Shoes: Restricted via Endless, $40
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $69
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift



1. Gomax pumps via Endless, $49.99
2. Mia pump via DSW, $49.95
3. Audrey Brooke pump via DSW, $59.95

42 comments:

  1. I love this outfit!  I like your take on the inspiration much better than the photo.  The camel belt and shoes really compliment the black and white so well.   Glad you got to get a taste of your dream job.  Maybe you will have more opportunities soon :)

    I always wanted to be a teacher or an attorney when I was a kid.  I am neither!    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome! Does that mean a book is in your future plans? :)

    www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this outfit. I didn't realize it was navy till I read it. I'm going to recreate this with a black and tan palette next week. I'm wearing the tan skirt today so I can't do it this week. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So cool!  That must have felt great. I hope wellness day becomes mandatory in all schools.  Thanks for posting and giving me an angle on how to suggest something like this.  I wanted to be a dentist or flight attendant as a child unfortunately I am neither, but I do practice being a dentist/hygienist on my kids every chance I get, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thats great you have a wonderful talent and help others by doing it. Do it!! Do the book anything is possible if you visualize it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Erica! Yes, I have an idea for a book that I think is pretty stellar, and a gorgeous 20-page book proposal that is just waiting for the right opportunity. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Natasha, that is cute! I love that you practice on your kids lol!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good for you! That would be amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Please write a book!  I will buy it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I absolutely love this look! It's so cute and classic but the accessories really bump it up a notch! I have been wanting to wear my white skirt lately and I think this will be how I wear it! Keeps it feeling more like a neutral than summery!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I wanted to be a fashion model. I was expected to be very tall and I was insanely skinny. I ended up at 5'6" with close-set eyes. It wasn't meant to be. Go for that book, it's a great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would buy the book too!  Or you could post a talk for us.  :^)  I wanted to be an actress, vet, or a librarian.  I am a librarian, so yay!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I wanted to be a marine biologist until I found out it didn't necessarily mean "plays with dolphins professionally."

    ReplyDelete
  14. I had to laugh out loud Nikki, because that was my other dream job as a kid!! I wanted to be a whale trainer at SeaWorld. That is, until I discovered that marine biology would include going to lots of science class. :-) 

    ReplyDelete
  15.  LOL. I always thought modeling would be fun (I blame America's Next Top Model for that), but I'm only 5'7" AND I'm extremely awkward in front of a camera. So that was a no-go for me too. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree Emily, this is a great way to wear a white skirt in the fall! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. kind of obsessed with this outfit! wish i could wear it but i even with the fall colors i dont think the white skirt would be appropriate in new york in late October.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I wanted to be a football player.  Seriously.  I had an older brother who I thought was the coolest thing ever (I still kinda do :-) ) and wanted to play football with him and the other boys so badly so I made it my mission to become the first female pro receiver.  Needless to say...reality hit and I was confused all through high school as to what to do!
    Love the outfit and I would definitely second all the votes for you to do a book!
    XO - Marion

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good luck to you J! I know I would buy it in a heartbeat! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I absolutely love everything about this outfit!! I love how you put a belt on your skirt and would love to recreate this look. I wear a ton of skirts to work and most are high-waisted, would a belt work with that? What kind of skirt is yours? Thanks J!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gorgeous, I love this look! 
    Sounds like a perfect day too! Congrats on reaching your goals! 

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love this outfit! I'm one of those who doesn't wear white after Labor Day (unless it's winter white), but I could definitely see me doing a khaki skirt instead.

    I always wanted to be a teacher growing up. Instead, I am now a CPA, though my dream job would be as a wellness consultant...on the fitness and nutrition side of things. :-)

    Good luck to you!

    http://health4lifekc.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm really liking this look!

    Julia
    Cup of Tea
    http://cupoftea-style.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the outfit. I'm really into scarves this year.

    When I was younger I always wanted to be a teacher or a secretary (not sure why?). As I got older I wanted to be an athletic trainer and work for a professional sports team. Well, after one internship in college of athletic training for the football team I dropped that major really quick as it was so very boring!

    ReplyDelete
  25. That does sound like a dream job!  I'm sure the girls got a kick out of your advice.  I just love your childhood dream of writing a fashion book!  I always wanted to be a fashion designer.  Or a novelist.  Or a magazine writer. 

    ReplyDelete
  26. Teacher here.. would you mind sharing some of that advice and conversation on your blog one day?? I'd love to hear what your response was to some of their questions!!

    I wanted to be a vet, but let's just say I enjoyed being more outgoing than focusing on my studies in high school and college!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. My two sisters are in education, i.e., one was a second-grade teacher for 15 years, but she's now an Elementary School Counselor;  and the other is a High School English teacher.    They each would just *"die"*............ (if there were $$money in each of their School District's Operating Budgets in TX!)............ to have a Wellness Day for their teachers, (i.e., including nutrition, fitness, makeup
    sessions, etc.)!!   

    Most of all, I KNOW that my sisters----(and their very dedicated, hard-working colleagues in school, all of whom I greatly *admire and respect*)----would simply love to hear your LIVE presentation on Shopping And Dressing Well On A Budget.    Although I'm a retired nurse, I think you're as passionate, J............ about YOUR field of knowledge in fashion, and as devoted *to* your clients and Facebook/blog readers............ as teachers are about THEIR field(s) of knowledge in education, and *to* their students in the classroom.    (That passion and devotion also certainly comes through in your online "How To" Fashion Videos, and in your On-Air Interviews, too!!)

    Plus, your consistent kindness (even to the *most* fashion-challenged!);  your non-intimidating personality;  and your easy, genuine smile each really............ NEVER............ "go out of fashion" either;  and those three things, (which the best teachers also have, too!), will surely help you to have *many, many more days*, (i.e., just like this past Monday, October 17th!), in which you'll be able TO say that you............ L.O.V.E.D.   E.V.E.R.Y.   M.I.N.U.T.E.   O.F.   I.T.!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I wanted to be a writer!! I do write as a hobby, however nothing has been published. :P I adore this outfit, by the way! I'll be keeping a lookout for a polka dot scarf and a white pencil skirt!

    www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateBox

    ReplyDelete
  29. That is so awesome you are doing something you love and accomplishing your goals so young!  Congrats, girl! 

    ReplyDelete
  30. I live in the Northeast. Is it okay to wear white after Labor Day?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great outfit!!!

    When I was young I wanted to be a trial lawyer. I'm a lawyer, but I do tax law and I love it. So technically my dream came true, just in a little different form :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I lived in Boston for 4 years and I definitely would! I would just pair it with fall colors like I did here. This outfit could also work with white skinny jeans and some knee-high brown boots for colder weather.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you Shelley! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Rosanna, you are SO sweet! I am definitely very passionate about this and would have to agree that it shows. :-) I have considered going back to work full-time many times, but I just can't bring myself to do it because I love freelancing and blogging so much! Thanks again for your sweet note!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sarah, I would love to share it but I'm afraid someone is going to steal my book idea!! Eek! :-) And your outgoing comment cracked me up.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I just wanted to write a book in general - I used to make them out of paper and bind them together with pieces of yarn when I was little. I never knew what my topic would be, but I think I may have found it, LOL! :-) 

    ReplyDelete
  37. Shayla, I would call this a regular ole pencil skirt (not high-waisted). You can definitely do a belt with a high-wasited skirt though, maybe try one a little skinner, like I did in this post? http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2011/10/todays-everyday-fashion-stretchy-skirt.html

    ReplyDelete
  38. I LOOOOOVE this outfit!!!  You look super cute! 

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love this outfit! You look crisp and sophisticated - which is something kids need to see more of if you ask me :) I always wanted to be a Journalist and write for a fashion magazine... I think that this era of technology and the ability to have blogs and share our views/opinions has given me a little bit of the dream... it may not be Vogue, but I write about my fashion for my tiny following :)

    I hope that you do write a book! I would buy it in a heartbeat - you are actually the reason I started blogging, you are a great inspiration and a wonderful role model to so many people, both kids and the kids at heart :)

    xo Teresa
    enter my GIVEAWAY!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I wonder if any of the teachers commented on footwear? I'm a teacher who enjoys being stylish, but I honestly could not imagine wearing those heels (pictured above) to work every day. Anyone else out there with similar thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yeah, I would never recommend this outfit to a teacher. Especially these teachers, who as I understand work with little ones and need to be able to get down on the floor with them. I would recommend this outfit to someone conducting a sytle seminar, but the heels and a white skirt are definitely a no go for that crowd!

    ReplyDelete
  42. What an exciting opportunity! I'm glad you got to do your dream job and look incredible while doing it!

    ReplyDelete