Uninspired

I don't take blog photos very often these days. To be honest, I don't have an excuse. I just don't feel motivated by it like I used to. I still enjoy reading blogs, and I still love shopping, but I just haven't been feeling inspired to step out of the box with my outfits. No crazy color combos or pattern mixing for this lady as of late.

In short, I've been feeling uninspired. Maybe I need to seek out some new blogs to read, or maybe I need to hit up pinterest again. I'm not sure.

I'm reaching out to you for help. Who/ what inspires you? Help me break out of my rut! 

Outfit: Shirt- Old Navy; Pants- Target; Flats- Target; bracelets- various

Busy Lady

I had my three month review at work last week. I can't believe I've been there three months already. Lately I feel like I blink and another week has passed. I am definitely not complaining. I'm lucky to have a job that I love, a man that I adore spending time with, great friends, and lots of activities and social ventures to keep me busy. 

I'm also lucky to have some fun trips and activities planned for the coming weeks. I'll be spending Memorial Day weekend in New York, and then two weeks after that Mike and I are doing a little weekend getaway to the Cape.

I'm hoping I'll find plenty of time on those trips to take some outfit photos, so that I can stop posting photos 2-3 weeks after I take them!

Outfit: Skirt- ? Marshalls 2008; Tank and belt- H&M; Blazer- ? TJ Maxx; Shoes- Lucky Brand via Marshalls

I want to thank all of you that still read and comment despite my blogging negligence. I may not always respond to comments, but I assure you, I read and love all of them. I also love reading your blogs while I unwind in the evenings, or on my phone in the elevator at work. Y'all are awesome! 

Fuzzy

I would have liked to celebrate my blogversary with a fancy new camera, but that wasn't in the budget. Instead, I treated myself to a new tripod that is small enough to fit in my purse. I had high hopes that I'd be able to rig it up in my office and take some indoor outfit pictures. My office has great natural lighting, but not a lot of space so the pictures didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped.

They kind of remind me of the early days of taking blog pictures in my bedroom.

Outfit: Sweater- H&M similar from Old Navy; Skirt- Target; tights?; Boots- Me Too; Necklace - thrifted 

In my defense it has been beyond frigid in Boston this week. The thought of taking off my coat (and hat, gloves, scarf, legwarmers, two pairs of socks...) for pictures is just too much to bear. Taking fuzzy pictures in a fuzzy sweater will just have to do for now.

Blog Birthday, Blog Future

Image via

My blog is a year old! It was officially a year ago on Saturday that I published my first post, but better to celebrate late than never. 177 posts later, here's a look back at some of my favorite moments from my first year of blogging. 

1. I wore a really cute sundress and vented about street harassment. 

2. I took some pictures in a bikini while on my Connecticut vacation. 

3. I shared my five reasons for being a feminist.

4. I shared my secrets for dealing with chub rub. (and I realize now that I never posted part two of that series)

5. I threw caution to the wind and broke all the rules. 

You're probably noticing a trend here. All of my favorite posts are focused around body image or feminist issues. Anyone who knows me "in real life" would not be surprised to hear that, but I'm not sure that I've represented myself the best in the blog world. I've been feeling a little disenchanted with blogging lately. For one, I've been incredibly busy. I also haven't really felt like taking pictures of myself and talking about my clothes all the time. I love clothes but I hate feeling like I don't have the freedom to write about other things. 

So I'm going to mix things up a little on here, and I hope you'll stick with me. I'm definitely not doing away with outfit posts or wish lists, but I anticipate a little more feminism and a lot more personality. 

What would you like to see from Hips and Hangers in my second year of blogging? 

Autumn 2012 in Review

I can't believe it's December already! I know winter doesn't officially start until the winter solstice on December 21st, but I always think of December 1st as the unofficial start of winter. With that in mind, here is a look back at some of my favorite outfits from Autumn 2012.

There are definitely some trends in my fall favorites. I loved cobalt, mustard yellow, horizontal stripes, and my denim jacket! Which outfit is your favorite?

Negligent Blogger Alert!

I have been really negligent about blogging lately and it makes me sad. Finding the time to take blog photos in the fall and winter is really difficult! I know I should be used to it, since I started this blog in January, but I took indoor photos then!

I wish I had considered an indoor space with good natural lighting as part of my apartment searching criteria. Between the wind, the rain, the snow, and it getting dark at 5:30 I have taken outfit photos only on Saturdays 3-4 weeks. Terrible! I miss it!

These photos were taken in the Boston Common this past Saturday. Mike and I had brunch in Beacon Hill and then headed to Haymarket for some cheap produce. I think we're going to make brunch and Haymarket a weekly ritual. The prices really can't be beat! For less than $10 we got 3 peppers, an eggplant, a bushel of bananas, 3 avocados, a bushel of asparagus, and 6 apples. 

Outfit: Sweater: H&M; Leggings: Danskin via Marshalls; Boots: Me Too via DSW; Jacket: JCrew thrifted 

Today felt like winter (rain, snow, wind, freezing temps) but Saturday was gorgeous. The foliage on the common was absolutely beautiful. I wish we'd had more time to walk around, but Mike had homework to do and I had a birthday party to get to. 

Hopefully you'll be seeing more of me in the coming weeks. Maybe it's time I start toting my tripod to work and take advantage of the lighting in my office? Thanks for sticking with me while I work out the kinks that come with the change in seasons. 

Breaking all the Rules

I have always been a fan of makeovers. Clueless was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I loved TV shows like "What not to Wear". As much as I believe that how you look on the outside can affect your mood. I have become quite disenchanted with makeover shows. They always pose a stupid list of rules, especially for curvy women! No horizontal stripes, wear dark straight, but not skinny legged pants or an A-line skirt and heels to slim and elongate the leg, etc, etc, etc. 

I acknowledge that here are cuts, styles, colors and prints of clothing that are more "flattering" to my figure, but I think abiding by a list of rules when you get dressed in the morning is a ridiculous notion. If you aren't having fun with your wardrobe and taking some risks then what's the point? So here I am, wearing flat shoes, horizontal stripes and bold skinny leg pants. 

Look at me breaking all those rules. Where are Stacy and Clinton? 

Outfit: Corduroy skinnies-  F21+ last year; Sweater- Old Navy; Flats- Target

Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen wrote a great post earlier this week on the subject of taking clothes a little too seriously. The post really resonated with me. In getting caught up in the rules, we jeopardize our personal style. We lose the things that make us unique! We should all take Allie's advice and lighten up a little! 

What  fashion faux pas did you commit this week? 

From Dusk til Dawn

I am making real strides towards becoming a morning person. One of my biggest motivators has been joining a gym that is two blocks from my new apartment. I have gone to that gym more in the past two weeks than I went to my old gym in the previous two months. It's so much harder to make excuses when I don't have to haul a change of clothes to work with me. I just roll out of bed and run out the door with my keys, water and ipod then come back home post workout to shower and get ready for work. Monday morning I didn't get up early, I didn't make it to the gym, and I didn't take outfit pictures. I did put together a really cute outfit with my new mustard yellow corduroy pencil skirt and jewel toned leopard print blouse!

The other big motivator for getting up earlier? My day light hours are fading. Since coastal Massachusetts is about as far east as you can get on the eastern seaboard, it gets dark here REALLY early in the winter. We're talking 4:30pm early. I have no choice. I'm going to have to either get up early and take my pictures in the morning, or start bringing my tripod to my office.

Outfit: Skirt- Old Navy; Blouse- Target; Flats- Old Navy (old); Cardigan- Old Navy (old)

These pictures were taken around 6:20 in the evening. I this is the earliest I can get home to take pictures after work and the light was definitely low. I better become a morning person really fast!

Friday's Five Facts: Why I blog

I am so happy to be blogging on the regular again. I only posted 12 times in August, and it was sad. I actually shocked myself with how much I miss blogging when life gets hectic. So I figured, what better to focus on for my first Friday facts in September than the reasons I blog in the first place?

1. I needed a hobby.
I used to work in a campaign environment. My job as a recruiter required that I consistently work around 55 hours a week, sometimes as many as 70 hours. When I transitioned to a transitional 40 hour work week I found that I got really lazy. I felt like I needed something productive to do with the extra time. Starting a fashion blog was a great choice because I didn't need buy any equipment or learn any new skills (besides awkwardly posing in front of a tripod). I was already reading fashion blogs, shopping and having fun with clothes, so why not document it?

2. To challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and to build confidence in myself.

I have loved clothes for as long as I can remember, but after I gained weight in college I definitely started falling into the "dress for your body" trap. (I think that's total bullshit, but that's a story for another day) In other words, I avoided selecting pieces that would draw attention to the parts of my body that I was insecure about. I didn't always select items that I liked as much as items that were "flattering". Documenting what I wear challenges me to try new fabrics, colors, cuts, and combinations. An example? Red corduroy pants. Blogging is also challenging me to go to events and feel comfortable talking about myself to strangers. 

3. To present my point of view/ something a little different.
My point of view is something that is evolving everyday. I guess I market myself as the everywoman? I love to shop, but like most people I have limited means. As a result most of my pieces are thrifted or from affordable major retailers.I have a day job, a personal life, and responsibilities outside of blogging, so that comes through in my blog as well.  I'm approximately the "average size" for American women. I'm not glamorous at all! I take my pictures with a point and click, and I blog from my living room on a beat up Dell laptop that is literally on it's last leg, and I don't know HTML or have fancy editing software. I'm hoping to start infusing a little more of the feminist/ activist side of myself into the blog, but I haven't yet found a way to bring those things up organically.

4.  To connect with other awesome women!
This wasn't one of my goals when I started, but making online "friends" has been my favorite part of blogging. Reading your comments and your blogs makes my day. I am still discovering new blogs and bloggers that amaze me, and of course I have mad love for my non blogging readers too. (I used to be you!)

5. Did I mention that I love clothes?

Why do you blog/ don't you blog?

Have a great weekend!

Glimpses of Autumn

I have said on this blog before that I am really not a morning person. I've been trying, but I still just can't bring myself to get up in time to do more than shower, get dressed, pack my lunch and pack or grab a coffee. As a result, I've been taking a lot of my outfit photos in the evening.

I'm dreading the day when it will be too dark after work for photos and I'll have to get my butt out of bed to take pictures in the cold!

Outfit: sweater- Old Navy; Pants- H&M+; Jacket- thrifted JCrew; flats- Old Navy; sunnies- thrifted

I'm afraid that day may not be as far off as I'd like. It was 50 degrees outside when I got up for work on Tuesday! I wore a sweater, a jacket, and got a pumpkin spice latte on my way to work. I still refuse to wear socks that require shoes, and I'm not ready to pull my tights out of storage, but I'll acknowledge that Autumn is starting to show herself here in New England.

Some Blogging Dillemmas

One thing that I do not love about my new apartment is the lack of natural light. I don't really have an indoor location that works for taking outfit photos. This is probably for the best because it will encourage me to take pictures outside more often. However on rainy days like Tuesday, it presents a real problem. I looked really cute, but I didn't get to take pictures! Instead you get some pictures from about a week ago.

Outfit: Blouse- Old Navy; Skirt- Alfani via Macy's; Shoes- Payless; Bracelets- thrifted; Earrings-?

These pictures were taken in the stairwell of my old building. I really missed that spot this morning!

Fellow bloggers- what do you do for photos on rainy days?

Settling In

I am finally done with my fourth move in a little over three years. Thursday I spent packing. Friday I packed and cleaned and we loaded the truck. Saturday we got our keys, unloaded the truck, went to Target to get some household essentials, and assembled our bed frame. Sunday was spent unpacking, moving furniture around, and figuring out how in the hell we were going to fit all of my clothes and shoes into our dresser and closet space. I have accomplished so much over the past 5 days, but I am so glad it's over! I missed blogging!

Monday I finally got to take a break from all the moving madness and get dressed in something other than my moving uniform of shorts or work out leggings and a tank top. It was really nice to put on makeup and a pretty dress after a few days of consistently being a grimy mess.

I spent most of the day in hanging out in Somerville's Davis Square. I went there for lunch with my friend Kelly and to sell some clothes at Buffalo Exchange. In the evening I decided to take my tripod for a spin in the adorable Ramier Park, which is just steps from my new apartment. It was really busy at 5pm on a holiday Monday and I'll admit that I felt a little uncomfortable taking pictures with a bunch of people around. One older gentleman offered to take a picture for me. I thanked him and explained that I am used to using a tripod because I take a lot of pictures for my blog. I think he was from the elder living community that borders the park and didn't exactly understand what a blog is, but he was nice none the less.

Outfit: Dress- H&M; Red Belt- H&M; Flats- Payless

It is is a great park for lounging on a bench to read and enjoy the flowers. Of course I'm just hoping it will be an empty park with good lighting for taking outfit pictures in at 8am on weekday mornings.

Hiatus/ Life Lately

It's been a week since I put up a post. Life is busy, y'all! Between packing, preparing for the move, and just generally trying to enjoy these dog days of summer, I have simply not had the time or motivation to take outfit pictures or write a post. Here's what I've been up to.

Recent  Old Navy purchases have me finally excited for fall fashion. 

Snuggled in bed reading with Myles kitty.

Sometimes I'd just rather spend my time watching movies, eating my weight in ice-cream, drinking beers with friends or live tweeting the ridiculousness of the RNC than writing a blog post. I hope you can forgive me. I'll  be back next week!

Dress Dilemma, Cable Dilemma, Girls Dilemma

I love dresses. I feel I look my best in dresses, I love feeling feminine and pretty, and they're just easier. It's one piece! However dresses present a problem as a fashion blogger. How in the heck do I style the same dress in unique ways? I'm still trying to figure that out. In the mean time here is my bright yellow dress for the third time on this blog (also seen here and here). This time with a thicker belt and some flat sandals.

I was unhappy with my lack of posts last week. I am not going to apologize, because I don't think that bloggers should feel like they HAVE to post, but I am going to say that I really would have liked to share this outfit, and a few others with you sooner. Due to roommates moving in and out of my apartment I was without cable and internet for a few days. It was all worth it though, because now we have free HBO for a month!

When we got the cable back Friday night I proceeded to watch all of HBO's Girls on demand. It is so good! I couldn't stop watching and watched all 10 half hour episodes within about 14 hours. I will be the first to admit that I have a bit of an addictive personality when it comes to tv. Whenever I get sucked into a new series that has been out for a while, I proceed to watch every episode ever made, sometimes spending 8 or 9 hours straight watching. It's terrible! This is the reason I'm hesitant to check out Downtown Abbey, MadMen, Modern Family, or any other awesome show I'm not watching that has lots of seasons readily available on Hulu or Netflix. Could be dangerous. I might never leave my house again!

Outfit:
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: Forever 21
Sandals: Payless
Necklace: a gift

Do you ever do marathons of tv shows?

100!

This is my 100th post! When I started this blog back in January I was looking for a hobby. I decided fashion blogging was the perfect hobby because I love clothes and I love reading fashion blogs. I also thought that it would challenge me to think outside the box a little when getting dressed in the morning.

I'm happy to report that blogging has brought me all of those things, and much more. One thing I never imagined I'd get from blogging is the sense of community. I love being a part of a group of talented women who challenge and support each other. Your comments, advice, and support make this all worth while.

I figure my 100th post is as good a time as any to take a look back at my favorite, and least favorite looks.
Here are my three favorites:

My first big color experiment. Cranberry and Mustard!

Simplicity at it's finest. 

Animal print, lace and sandals. 

And here are my least favorites:

 Love the colors, hated the skirt. 

I have a really hard time styling wide leg pants. Boxy, blech. 

I think this outfit would have benefited from a skinnier red belt. 

Thanks for reading! Here's to the next 100 posts:)