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Rain, rain go away. Please? At least the mustard and purple in...

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:50:14 -0400

Rain, rain go away. Please? At least the mustard and purple in this outfit lifted my spirits!

Details:

25: Mustard cardigan, JCrew
16: Lace top, H&M
1: Grey skirt, F21
27: Black flats, Kohls
Purple cami: Old Navy
Gold belt: Gap
Gold, beaded headband: Target

To the Races!

Mon, 09 May 2011 14:41:00 -0400

Last weekend, A. and I headed back to UVA for one of our favorite, southern traditions… the Foxfield Races!

Charlottesville premier Spring event; Foxfields is central Virginia’s answer to the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. For over 30 years The Foxfield Racing Association has provided a beautiful setting for the equestrian sport of steeplechasing. The alluring but challenging Foxfield course was designed to attract Thoroughbred owners and trainers, and to provide the jockey and his mount with a beautiful ride over rolling lush green turf.

UHM. Let’s get real. What actually is it?

20,000 people; dressed to the nines in seersucker, madras, big hats, and strapless pastel dresses; tailgating in a huge, grassy field. Are there horses? Absolutely. Are you guaranteed to see one? Not necessarily. So far, I’m 3/9 in that department. :P So you’re starting to see that it’s essentially like a JV Kentucky Derby, right?

I decided that since I’m all grown-up (read: not a blacked-out undergrad anymore) AND living in the northeast (read: these people just don’t the pomp and circumstance of it all!), it was time to document Foxfields for the masses. It should come as no surprise that I decided to view it through the lens of style.

First: the Women. Yellow-Hat seems to be taking this event a bit too literally with stuffed horse on her head, no? The majority of women seem to fall somewhere in the realm of Daisy-Head: strapless cotton dress in a pastel, spring palette. One of my favorites of the day was Pretty in Purple. The perfectly coiffed feathered headpiece and well-tailored dress told us all that it was certainly not her first time at this rodeo.

And now: the Men. These pics really speak for themselves so I’ll only offer 2 comments. 1: It warmed my heart to see that the southern tradition of Foxfields knows no bounds when it comes to ethnic heritage. The Sikh rocking the turban-seersucker blazer combo was priceless. We really are one, big community, aren’t we? :P 2: It’s legitimately difficult to tell which men are being serious with their attire and which are sarcastically mocking the entire event. Virginia Vs (to the right) was showing a casual, but prominent sense of school pride; yet, Purple Paisley (in my opinion) put a lot of thought/concern to his look (and perhaps for the worse).

So what did I wear to this sunny event? I decided I wanted to forgo the strapless dress — who wants to be hitching it up all day, anyway?! — and head for a more urban-prepster look. My good friend, B., is from Maryland and went classic Ralph Lauren (outlet) with a traditional pastel palette. And yes, I did teach him how to pose like a fashion blogger! He’s a quick learn, right?

My Details:

Madras button-down: F21
Coral bubble skirt: JCrew
Oxfords: DSW
Necklace: H&M
Sunglasses: Target

B.’s Details: shows us the true value of outlet shopping!

Plaid pink bow-tie: Brooks Brothers Outlet
Blue button-down: Marshalls
Pastel green slacks: Ralph Lauren Outlet
Polka dot slip-ons: Vans Outlet

Pattern mixing! Details: 19: Grey boyfriend cardigan,...

Mon, 09 May 2011 14:03:10 -0400

Pattern mixing!

Details:

19: Grey boyfriend cardigan, H&M
18: Plaid shirt, Old Navy
3: Skirt, Zara
27: Black flats, Kohls
Brown belt: Target

Details: 15: Striped sweater, F21 24: Shirt dress, H&M 27:...

Tue, 03 May 2011 11:56:46 -0400

Details:

15: Striped sweater, F21
24: Shirt dress, H&M
27: Black flats, Kohls
Belt: Anthropologie

This is the last day I’m wearing tights. I don’t...

Mon, 02 May 2011 09:43:37 -0400

This is the last day I’m wearing tights. I don’t care what the weathermen say. It’s time for Spring. So there. ::plbbbb::

Details:

11: White shirt, H&M
14: Striped shirt, H&M
7: Ruffle skirt, Old Navy
28: Brown boots, endless.com
Black tights: Target
Scarf: gifted from A.’s mom!

I was SO close to not having to wear tights, but the overcast...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:50:08 -0400

I was SO close to not having to wear tights, but the overcast day foiled my plans again. At least my ankles got some fresh air. ::grumble:: NYC - can you please find the Spring sun at some point in the near future? It’s almost MAY. K, thanks.

Details:

23: Boyfriend blazer, Target
13: Floral blouse, Old Navy
5: Lace skirt, Target
29: Oxford heels, DSW
Leggings: Old Navy
Necklaces: Kohls and Anthropologie

Details: 17: Striped shirt, Urban Outfitters 6: Cord skirt,...

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:14:25 -0400

Details:

17: Striped shirt, Urban Outfitters
6: Cord skirt, Zara
28: Black boots, endless.com
Green tights: H&M
Headbands: Kohls and H&M

Rainy days make for dingy hallway pictures. Thank goodness for...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:09:00 -0400

Rainy days make for dingy hallway pictures. Thank goodness for bursts of rani pink!

Details:

20: Utility jacket, LOFT
12: Rani pink t-shirt, LOFT
18: Plaid shirt, Old Navy
9: Khaki skirt, H&M
28: Brown boots, endless.com
Lacy black tights: Target

Cro-Cyle?

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:37:57 -0400

I can only hope my crochet skills will reach this level. Someday. In the meantime, at least my color blocked baby blanket is almost done… almost. After 4 months. ::sigh::

The owner of this bike also had a successful food cart just off the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian overpass. Creative AND an entrepreneur?! :P

I was back up in Boston and this was my apartment-hunting ensemble. Beantown was deciding whether...

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:57:53 -0400

I was back up in Boston and this was my apartment-hunting ensemble. Beantown was deciding whether or not it was ready for Spring so layering was key. My short-sleeve, knit cardigan over a sheer blouse was perfect.

Details:

13: Floral blouse, Old Navy
21: Knit wrap cardigan, Old Navy
4: Red skirt, Gap
26: Black boots, endless.com
Black tights: Target
Headband: borrowed from sister

Doesn’t it look like the sun is shining down just to...

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:54:15 -0400

Doesn’t it look like the sun is shining down just to provide me with a radiant spotlight!? :P

Details:

15: Striped sweater, F21
3: Printed skirt, Zara
26: Black boots, endless.com
Tights: Target
Belt: Target

Halftime Recap. WIN? FAIL? You decide. click image for larger...

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:47:00 -0400

Halftime Recap. WIN? FAIL? You decide.

click image for larger view.

50% to Goal.

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:51:00 -0400

This was the super casual outfit I had on for the ride back down to NYC. Jeans, cozy boyfriend sweater, flats. Perfect for train napping.

Details:

19: Grey boyfriend cardigan, H&M
18: Plaid button down, Old Navy
2: Trouser jeans, Banana Republic
27: Black flats, Kohls
Faux pearl necklaces: The Limited

So here we are. 15 outfits down. 15 to go. 50% to goal. Am I 50% to full body and self recovery as well? Jury’s still out, but I’ve had some interesting revelations along the way.

Revelation 1: My body is curvy. I know what you’re thinking— Uhm, this isn’t a NEW revelation, Rachna. Remember what you told us here? okay, okay… LET ME FINISH. My body is curvy AND that means there are very specific silhouettes that look good on me. And there’s an equal (or larger) amount that do not. What’s been the most challenging about this revelation is that some of my old go-to looks are no longer the best fit for me. Pun intended. Mad Men style skirts, tucked in tops, trouser jeans, open-necklines, hip skimming sweaters and coats, 50s feminine style? All in, all the time. The curves love ‘em. Skinny jeans? Only on confidence-high, booty-lovin’ days. Crew neck tshirts? X: Too much coverage and high risk of uni-boob. Flowy tops with no structure or untucked? X: Sloppy and poorly unfitted. Spaghetti strap or strapless tanks? X: Have you seen the size of the girls?! Didn’t we already go over this?

Revelation 2: I use my body and style as my first line of defense in the face of insecurity. When I was at HBS Orientation Weekend with A., I was surrounded by hundreds of successful overachievers. I was surrounded by them and, at the same time, was being labeled and corralled simply as “HBS Partner: #1 supporter of all these exceptional overachievers.“ That’s apparently what I brought to the table that weekend. HBS Partner and Primary Supporter. Wait a minute, what about me?? I’m just as good as these folks, aren’t I? (Uhm, did I mention extreme competitiveness is also a “glorious” trait of mine? :P) So my external environment was pushing and pulling on me and the only thing I could feel was my clothing closing in on me; suffocating me a bit more with every breath. And, to think, these were the same clothes I chose solely because I knew they fit me perfectly! Rather than dealing with the real emotions and insecurities I was feeling, I chose to embody them. Figuratively and literally. As I thought back, I realized this wasn’t the first time this had happened. Whenever I have big events, work conferences, new situations, my outfit is always at the top of my list to get JUST RIGHT. It WAS the first time that this strategy didn’t work, however. My style and clothing couldn’t tame any uncomfortable or insecure feelings I had this time around. I clearly wasn’t cured yet.

Revelation 3: I should’ve included that construction-orange, ruffly JCrew shirt. This blog is called Rani Pink for a reason. I. Love. Bright. Colors. I was so anxious about my new body and this project that I swung to the completely opposite end of the spectrum. Neutrals, few patterns… BORING. I’m dying to get back to my old palettes.

Through the Chaos comes CHANGE... (and more outfits).

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:32:00 -0400

Well. Here I am. ::waving:: I apparently fell off the face after the vacation. Too much sun? Too much work and life madness hitting me upon my return? Too many plates of casados (rice, beans, fried plantains) for my tummy to handle? How about all of the above?

BUT, I’m BACK. And I’ve learned (just as I think you’re learning as well), when my life (or my head) gets crazy, I tend to tunnel down into the chaos and not let myself come out until I’ve calmed it down… at least in the interim. Oops?

The good news is there’s lot of exciting news to share. Change. New Mindsets. Revelations. Celebrity Sightings. (!!)

Before we get to the Change… we must take a brief pause and recognize what HASN’T changed. My dedication to 30-for-30. I want to take a brief moment to make a couple things clear… while I realize that, yes, it has been MORE than 30 days since I started this challenge (again, oops?), I remain committed to finishing it through to the end. It’s been a really positive experience (both for my style and my self) and, more than anything else, I ain’t no quitter. I know other devoted fashion bloggers are likely scoffing at me and my lack of rule following. But, who said the 30 days had to be in sequence, anyway?! :P

Okay, now that we have that all cleared up, the REAL change…

… looks like A. and I are moving to Boston! We were so excited to find out A. got into HBS (what a rockstar!). Part of my absence was actually spent at an Admitted Students Weekend with A. in Cambridge checking out the Harvard Business School student (him) and partner (me) scenes.

So. I was gearing up to meet a lot of B-School hopefuls and their equally ambitious and supportive partners. Clearly the most important thing running through my mind… WHAT WAS I GOING TO WEAR?!?

Outfit 1. Orientation Day!

I chose something crisp, clean, and a little business-y for our full day of orientation. I think I nailed it from the abundance of blazer ensembles I saw running around Spangler Hall that day. Of course my bright red popped against the sea of dark denim, black, and neutral palettes the other ladies sported. WIN.

Outfit 2. Similar silhouette, much more casual.

The only event I attended was a late afternoon reception. In looking at this pic, however, I think I might have played it TOO casual. Lighting in Spangler Hall was off (not surprising), so the tights look a more pink than the subtle rose they actually were. But I think the jacket brings the outfit down a potentially schlumpy road, yes? It seems to be throwing off the whole aesthetic I have going with the glasses, structured purse… Hmph.

OH WELL. We can’t win ‘em all. (And yes, this even holds true for fashion bloggers… or, at least for those willing to admit/post it. :P)

Onward. Outfit 3. Indian Lunch Buffet. MMMM….

Well, I think I got the jacket right this time! Completely complements the casual, weekender look. BTW, this outfit is also perfect for EATIN’; clearly the one important requirement for Indian Lunch Buffet. (And, yes, the proper noun capitalization is intentional. It’s an EVENT, people.)

So, you’re probably asking, why is this an ideal eatin’ outfit, Rachna? WELL…

#1: Elastic waistband skirt. Do I even have to say more?
#2: Flow-away sweater; fitted around the girls (read: chest) to give shape, but not clinging to the stomach region.
#3: Somewhat structured jacket to hide under if #1-2 fail.
#4: Flat boots to easily carry your (post-buffet) self down the street. It takes effort, no?!

And so ends the weekend of Beantown outfits. You can see that packing was a cinch with all the re-mixing I had going. Body and self mindsets, however, were another story. More on that next…

Decidedly... Out of the Office.

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:41:09 -0500

Reclaiming my mental sanity in Costa Rica until the 14th. Leaving the computer and cell phone behind are necessary for mission success. Previously promised posts upon my return. PROMISE.

See how much I need a break? I don’t even sound like myself anymore.

Uhm… so these tights look smurf-blue. In my head, they...

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:42:54 -0500

Uhm… so these tights look smurf-blue. In my head, they didn’t look like that in real-life. They were the perfect complement to my necklace, drawing out the shades of green-blue beads set against a palette of greys.

In my head.

I blame indoor lighting.

Details:

19: Grey boyfriend cardigan, H&M
10: Light grey top, Old Navy
1: Grey skirt, F21
26: Black boots, Endless.com
Necklace: H&M
Tights: H&M

Helllooooo??

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:32:00 -0500

Oh, THERE YOU ARE!!! Did you know I went all the way to Boston looking for you?

I’ve been wandering around Cambridge and Beantown since LAST Wednesday trying to find you so I can tell you about my style remix. That’s nearly a WEEK of searching. And you’ve been HERE the whole time waiting for me?!? Well, color me embarrassed.

In all seriousness, tons of travel has kept me from posting… but FRET NOT… it HASN’T kept me from snapping style pics. (You’re breathing a sigh of relief, aren’t you?) Look for loads of outfits - and even some new revelations (!) - in the next couple of days.

3 lessons to share here: The FAIL? This pose. What was I...

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:13:14 -0500

3 lessons to share here:

The FAIL? This pose. What was I thinking? I look like I’m claustrophobic, trying to nonchalantly push the walls away from me. ::sigh:: The trials and tribulations of style blogging…
The WIN? This outfit is all multiples of 7! 7x1, 7x2, 7x4…. 7, 14, 28! Yes, I’m a total nerd. I <3 MATH. You know what else I <3? ORGANIZATION. Wouldn’t it be great if clothing lines numbered and pre-coordinated all of their separates? You could go in and know that all multiples of 6 could be styled together. Or make it even trickier like all prime numbers work together!
def. Prime Number: a number that has exactly two distinct number divisors: 1 and itself. (2, 3, 5, 7…) Hello, algebra!

Details:

7: Ruffle skirt, Old Navy
14: White shirt, H&M
28: Brown boots, Endless.com
Scarf: Street Vendor
Brown belt: Target
Blue tights: H&M
Headband: F21

Secret’s out. My outfit posts are on a lag. Fear not -...

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Secret’s out. My outfit posts are on a lag. Fear not - the beautiful sun is NOT just hovering over Sullivan St (while the rest of the Northeast is dusted in snow). This was from the GORG day on Friday. So, sue me. :)

Well now that we’re being all honest…

I also apparently decided to try and wear as many pieces as possible with this look. Oh, by the way, did you know I’m a complete over-achiever? :P Although I did give up trying to find a non-shadowy place to take pictures. Clearly I’m not used to the sun actually being out.

Details:

20: Utility jacket, LOFT
22: Pink cardigan, thrifted
12: Rani Pink (!) shirt, LOFT
2: Trouser jeans, Banana Republic Outlet
27: Black flats, Kohls
Necklaces: Kohls and F21
Gold hoop earrings: Vday gift from A!
Sunglasses: Target

This turned out to be the BEST travel outfit back to NYC. Comfy...

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:43:21 -0500

This turned out to be the BEST travel outfit back to NYC. Comfy wrap sweater, elastic waistband (hello my new eatin’ skirt!), and easy on/off flat boots. WIN. Please excuse the frizzy mess on top of my head… the overgrown pelt I, lovingly, refer to as my hair is in desperate need of some weed-wacking.

Details:

21: White wrap sweater, Old Navy
11: Striped top, H&M
3: Cotton skirt, Zara
26: Black boots, Endless.com
Black tights: Target