Twenty Questions

Works Cited
turtleneck, cardigan, belt, boots: j crew
skirt, socks: target
tights: gap

I love this outfit, but sadly my photos didn't exactly cooperate. Normally I'd avoid posting medicore pictures, but I am determined to plow through the 30 for 30! The turtleneck and long cardigan risks looking a bit librarian, which is precisely why I like it. I find that the longer I get dressed, the more I notice my penchant for nerdy-looking pieces and combinations. Some of my sartorial flames? Lots of cardigans and muted colors, turtlenecks and jewelry, a hidden passion for argyle, and a longing for a pair of big, dorky frames.

Nineteen Outfits and Counting

Works Cited
dress: gap
tights: j crew
clogs: dansko
belt: old navy
cardigan: j crew

My parents are here this morning and about to take Christopher and me out to breakfast, so I'll keep this short: I love the combination of maroon and dark orange together. It almost rivals the combination of bananas in pancakes. Almost.

My Outfits Are Old Enough to Vote

Works Cited
dress: h&m
leggings: h&m
socks: target
belt: anthro
tee: j crew
boots: steve madden

I wore this on Friday to feast on leftovers and take the plane home. But because I didn't get a photo of it (and it was darn cute), I'm wearing it again today to tackle lots of grading and reading. On an unrelated note, I finally got my stubbornly-straight hair to hold a curl, using this tutorial by one of my blogging BFF's. Now I feel a bit like Little Bo Peep, with big curls and a polka-dot dress.

Sweet 16 (and 17)

Works Cited (16)
jeans: gap
tee: gap
necklace: forever 21
shoes: target



Works Cited (17)
dress: ruche
necklace: c/o olive & a
tights: loft
shoes: target
cardigan: j crew

I'm combining a few backlogged outfits in this post, otherwise I will never make it through the 30 for 30! Sadly, outfit 16 was the only other one I captured live in Boston, so #17 is a replica (exact, I promise--no cheating) of what I wore on Thursday, when I was so busy playing with my adorable cousins and stuffing turkey down the hatch that I entirely forgot to take pictures. I'll keep it short today, because I'm still glowing from a weekend away from the internet--it was surprisingly lovely to be technology-free. xo.

Sponsor Love: Le Mode Accessories

If there's one thing I've learned doing 30 for 30's and being a poor grad student, it's this: accessories are a wardrobe lifesaver. They are an inexpensive way to make old pieces feel new; they take up very little room in tiny old-fashioned closets; and they make any old jeans and tee feel put-together. Le Mode Accessories is a one-stop boutique for lots of accessories, including the above: necklace that would look great with a simple black dress; yellow earrings for every day; and a roomy clutch for exciting adventures to the library...or out to dinner, if that's your thing :)

Remix Roundup: Halfway Point

Here's a roundup of my first 15 outfits. I've worn nearly everything at least once (besides a tee or two), and I'm looking forward to the challenge of making these pieces new again for another 15 outfits. Happily, I think I'm gaining momentum--14 and 15 are favorites so far, along with 10 and 12.

Lucky #15

Works Cited
button-up: j crew (gifted)
pants: gap
boots: steve madden
sweater: j crew

Deprived of my favorite photographer while I'm out east for Thanksgiving, my mother was nice enough to snap these for me by Walden Pond, where I dragged her to look at Thoreau's house after my plane landed yesterday. While Thoreau has little to do with the twentieth century British literature I study now, I read and loved Walden Pond in college and couldn't resist the detour to Thoreau's beloved body of water. I hope you all have a great holiday tomorrow; I'll have some plumper, post-feast photos up over the weekend.

Fortnight

Works Cited
tee: target
skirt: megan nielsen
flats: steve madden
necklace: ruche

The midwest has been having its usual inexplicable weather patterns and I wore this (yesterday, actually) when it was weirdly balmy. I can't believe I'm going without tights at the end of November, but I'm not complaining. What I might complain about, however, was the wind. I looked like Cousin Itt by the time we were done. I only barely escaped with my sense of dignity. Just a few of the ridiculous outtakes:

Traveling Nerd

Although I'm organized in most areas of my life, I get inexplicably flustered when it comes to packing. Packing turns into frantic circles between my closet and dresser until I eventually become paralyzed. So lately I've taken to writing little notecards for each day I'll be away, and what I need to prepare for and taking photos of what I'll need to bring for those activities. It considerably reduces my anxiety about forgetting something important and helps my weak, paralyzed packing brain visualize the minimum number of items I need bring. Silly? Undoubtedly yes. But life-saving for an addled grad-student brain? Certainly.

Triskaidekaphobia

Works Cited
sweater: inherited from friend
tee: j crew
cords: loft
scarf: street stall in london
shoes: target
headband: local drugstore

Christopher is a sweetheart for taking my pictures almost every day, and over the past year, he's become a lot more skilled with our cameras, good photo locations, lighting, and angles. Lately, however, he has started to think he's Steven Meisel, and has been directing me on how I should pose, which cracks me up. "Now from the side!" he shouts from the sidewalk, "with your hand on your hip!" With his finger wagging: "Taneshka, remember to stand up straight! Angle your head to the left!" It's ridiculously charming, but instead of producing the perfectly-composed pictures he wants, it makes me giggle unstoppably. Christopher, I adore you. xo.

Sponsor Love: Spotted Moth

Occasionally, I'll ask my little sister for blog advice because I know I can trust her to be honest. Recently, she told me that she likes seeing pretty pieces from online boutiques that she wouldn't have otherwise found. So this one's for you, Rachel, some pretty pieces from Spotted Moth that might end up under the Christmas tree with your name on them. Bonus? They're all reasonably priced, even for a grad student budget.
From left: aubergine belted dress (would make you look like a grown-up in med school next year), draw the line dress (I love the sultry-sweetness of a long-sleeved mini-dress), and the midnight dress (pair it with black flats and you and your beau could dance all night).
Or you can browse their adorable offerings yourself, right here.

Giveaway: Win $25 to Smashion

Earlier this week, I posted about Smashion, an online marketplace for gently-used clothes, shoes, and accessories. Now you have the chance to win $25 to spend how you like at Smashion. I'd go for this polka dot skirt or this super-flattering dress I regretted not buying earlier this year.

All you have to do is:
1. Comment that you've registered for a free user account on Smashion with this link. For your entry to count, the registration must be activated with the above link.

For additional entries:
2. Like Smashion on Facebook and leave a comment here.

I'll choose a winner next Monday, November 29. Good luck!

These are my Confessions (No. 12)

Works Cited
pants: gap
tee: target
sweater: j crew
scarf: street stall in SF
boots: j crew

Confession du jour: these are actually jeggings that I'm wearing; don't tell anyone. I was lured because they have real front and back pockets, and they look amazingly like normal jeans, except that they have 30% lycra content and slid easily and snugly into boots, unlike my regular jeans which bunch up and drive me nuts. And they bring to mind Christopher's complimentary adage about high-lycra pants: "They look just like regular jeans, but extra-tight. Awesome."

Eleventh Hour

Works Cited
dress: loft
turtleneck: j crew
scarf: liberty of london for target
tights: we love colors
shoes: target

Today I was really in the mood to wear some purple but didn't have a stitch of it in my 30 items, so I improvised with some bright tights and a patterned scarf. I'm pleased that three dull blue pieces could be so jazzed up with bright accessories and that a gigantic scarf can bring new life to the dress I've worn a billion times before. It feels a little like cheating on the 30 for 30 when I obscure my dress completely with my accessories, but hey, at least I got my purple fix.

Count to Ten

(my out-of-the-house layers)

Works Cited
skirt, tee, sweater: j crew
belt: mommed
tights: target
boots: steve madden
scarf: target
coat: jeremy's

I'm having one of those very irritable days (ladies, you know what I'm talking about). However, I have found that counting to ten, taking a few deep breaths, and eating half a box of taffies are having an excellent effect on my mood. Do you have any fail-safe tricks (or Ben and Jerry's flavors) for cheering yourself up on cranky days?

Sponsor Love: Smashion

If you've ever been frustrated trying to sell clothes at secondhand stores or agonize about bidding for things on Ebay, I have a solution for you: Smashion. Smashion is an online, no-fees marketplace for gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories. It's kind of like Etsy or Ebay, but only for clothes and it is completely free to buy or sell. Although the site is just a tiny bit hard to navigate and you have to do a little digging for the good stuff, the prices are incredible and it is super easy to use. I searched "J. Crew" (of course) and found the above gems. If one of you all doesn't snatch them up, these babies are going to be joining my closet once the 30 for 30 is over.

*Smashion is a sponsor of What Would a Nerd Wear, and I'm sure glad that it is, because the site is awesome.

Nine Lives

(very sleepy jet-lagged face)

Works Cited
skirt: anthro
button-up: jeremy's
sweater: j crew
tights: gap
shoes: target
belt: j crew
locket: camp lost and found

This weekend, I was miraculously lucky enough to attend a James Joyce conference in Dublin, and I arrived home late last night. I had a great time but I feel a little like I've been run over by a car and am badly wishing I actually did have nine lives--or at least nine more hours of sleep under my belt. But the show--and my classes--must go on, so today called for bright colors, warm layers and a locket I stole from the lost and found at the end of summer camp. Finders keepers, right?

Dress x Three (Six, Seven, Eight)

This black Gap dress has been a super easy-to-wear closet staple, and I had fun figuring out several ways I could wear it for the 30 for 30. Here are three that I came up with, but I'm sure this baby can be remixed at least a dozen more times.


belt: anthro (gift), scarf (forever 21), shoes (target)

It's a little scandalously short with bare legs, but it's been so warm still in the Midwest that I could easily see wearing this out to dinner with Christopher or to hang out with friends.


striped tee (target), tights (j crew), boots (j crew), earrings (nobletown vintage)

This is definitely my favorite of the three ways to wear it--I love the subtle mix of polka dots and stripes and the slightly tunic-y feel of the unbelted dress.


tights (target), boots (steve madden), scarf (friend's castoff), belt (anthro)

For a really dark day, I like wearing a little more color, so these brights tights and scarf would probably accompany me to the library or the photocopy machine to brighten up my day.

Don't get sick of the dress yet; it will definitely make more appearances for the rest of the 30 for 30. Is there any limit to the number of ways you can wear a little black dress? I think not.



P.S. Magical triplets! Jealous of Christopher's photoshop skills?

Take Five

Works Cited
dress: ruche
sweater: j crew (gift, yes I have two of the same sweater)
tights: we love colors
boots: steve madden
bracelets: from christopher

Guess what? I'm giving myself a quiet pat on the back because for four days in a row, I've abstained from belting at the waist. Maybe these ruffled cardigans exacerbate my accessories-phobia and have contributed to the four-day stretch without a belt, but I'm still secretly proud of myself for breaking my well-worn habits.
It's the little things, right? Hope you have a good weekend! xo.