Bohemian Girl Means Business

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Sometimes there comes along an occasion that calls for something other than princess dresses and flowy caftans.

Sometimes.

Rarely.

Not often.

But it happens.

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This particular occasion was my son’s Back To School Night at his school.

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I did not want to be remembered as Bohemian Chick by his teachers. I wanted something more firm. Pulled together. Polished.

I have a silly demeanor. A child-like voice. It is easy to be dismissed with those two descriptive traits. Throw in a flowy garment and the unarguably potent power of threes will make any future interaction with school officials one-sided. In regards to people who have influence with my children, I like to make a good first impression since I am dealing with the aforementioned attributes.

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This did not, however, mean my hair had to be tame, as well.

One of us was going to have a little fun.

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And that is a-okay with me.

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My husband would love it if I dressed in button down tops and pencil skirts every day. It is what I wore when I first met him. So, he has good memories of me dressing like this during the beginning of our relationship.

The top was a popback from Anthropologie called the Chambray Lace Buttondown (similar here). The skirt is a few years old. It was also from Anthropologie. It was called The Flounced Hem Skirt. The shoes were from my Modcloth Stylish Surprise package in the spring.

I used to love dressing up every day.

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But that was for work.

And that wardrobe is no longer a part of my everyday life.

I can now have a little more play in my everyday.

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Speaking of play. How neat is this scrabble ring from UPcycled Works on Etsy? I purchased it at the Del Mar Fair at her booth there. I have a “Q” as well. “Q” is my favorite letter to draw in Scrabble. The “C” is for my husband.

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Do you enjoy dressing in multiple styles? Do you do it often? I have to admit it was fun to wear something like this for one night. It brought back many memories. Good ones. And good memories are always… Good.

*I had really wanted to get pictures in before we left for the event. However, the time of day was not the best for pictures. Sorry for the hazy quality. It is as if the sky had some wine, too.

20 thoughts on “Bohemian Girl Means Business

  1. I love the little ruffle on the skirt and the necklace. I must say though it seems weird to see you dressed like this. Out of character.

    The red heels are HOT.

    I’d be curious to know what the teacher thought of your spokesperson.

    You know, the one in the red hat.

    Did she get mad when you referred every question to him?

    What about when you placed him on her desk and tried to take a photo of the two of them. You know, just for “his” Instagram feed?

    bisous
    Suzanne

    • Thank you Suzanne! Ha! If I would have brought my little gnome friend to my son’s school, I never would have heard the end of it. Poor little gnome had to stay home and drink wine with the hazy sky.

      Have a fabulous Wednesday!

      Jenni

  2. I love this outfit! sometimes we need throw on a pencil skirt! ok, so the top, the shoes (I am still waiting for the day I can purchase that ModCloth surprise deal!), the necklace, and the ring….so cute!

    • Thank you Melodee! I am surprised there has not been a Stylish Surprise since March! I will definitely do a post the next time they have one!

      Have a fun Wednesday!

      Jenni

  3. Really cute outfit!! Especially love the shoes! Modcloth has such interesting shoes!! I especially love the Poetic License brand that they sell. I have purchased several pairs and they are so unique and comfortable. Thought of you last weekend when I was in Lucky Brand and found the most beautiful lace dress . It is called the Lydia Embroidered Dress and has a great fit. I was so happy to have plenty of room for my broad shoulders! Was trying to be good, but could not resist making the purchase.
    Happy Tuesday!

    • I had to look that dress up. It is stunning. I can see why you did not pass it up. If you like Lucky Brand, they usually do the best Black Friday Sale online. I think last year it was 50% off the entire site. I did have a huge order mess up last year, but they eventually sorted it out.

      I love your dress!

      I love Modcloth’s Poetic License shoes. I am hoping I get a pair if they do another Stylish Surprise Shoes one day.

      You have a happy Wednesday! And thank you for the compliment! : )

      Jenni

  4. I love this outfit. The pencil skirt is similar to the ruched pencil skirt Anthro had this winter. I love the lace on the back of your shirt.

    I tend to dress in different styles at work vs at home. My work style tends to be very conservative (I think). Then again I think my personal style is probably also very conservative, although I like tops and dresses that show off my arms and back.

    I hope your kids have great teachers this year. The teachers in BC (the province next to us) are on strike so school didn’t start last week for almost half a million students.

    • I love the ruched skirt you got. It is lovely on you. I love your style. I would not call it conservative. I would call it feminine chic. : )

      Thank you for the compliment!

      My kids have amazing teachers this year. Well, except my daughter has a sub in an important class for a whole semester this year. I have no idea how we are going to manage it. After back to school night at her school, I plan on arranging tutors. It is not the best situation but I am trying not to panic.

      Have a wonderful Wednesday!

      Jenni

  5. You look great, dressed up & “polished”, as you said! I think both the top & skirt have hints of your signature, bohemian flair though! Bc that’s you, but I totally understand about the teachers’ first impression & agree! :). I used to ask my mom to dress & act like a regular mom sometimes, like school events, bc she is a bohemian, hippie child! Flowy skirts all the time! And definitely the opposite of my younger, conservative self! :). I’m still much more conservative in how I dress compared to my mom, mother-in-law, & even my sisters-in-law, but I’ve come out of my shell a lot in the last few years! And I’m happy with that! By the way, thanks so, so much for all the sweet comments you leave on my blog! Esp., the ones regarding clothing or how I look at a certain time! I think we’ve discussed this before, how we women tend to be our own harshest critics, & it’s so nice to have another woman’s perspective! Your comments always lift me up, so thank you!

    Also, don’t think I ever answered this: my dad didn’t get a cat that day. He’s told me every time that we’ve talked since, that watching the kiddos play w/ all those kittens has truly been one of his greatest joys! He says he can’t remember having that much fun in a long time! So, that’s so much better I guess! 🙂

    Have a happy day! 🙂

    • Thank you Rebecca! Your mom sounds awesome. I would raid her closet. You always look great. They are easy compliments to give. I wish I had your legs.

      And thank you for the update on your dad getting a cat. I had been wondering and I was going to ask you again next time I commented on your blog! That is so great what he says about watching your kids play with Sadie. She is such a sweetheart, I can see why she brings such joy. I look forward to watching her grow and see Lily and her’s relationship develop.

      Sweet dreams!

      Jenni

  6. I like it! I know what you mean about setting an “in charge” persona. I work in television and when I work in the studio, the old camera guys and sound techs have been around FOREVER. I look younger than I am, and they used to think I was an intern. I wore blazers and pencil skirts in the studio, even when I could have worn pants and flats. I called my blazers my ” I AM the boss” blazers 🙂 The guys have worked with me enough know to not hassle me, but I felt like I needed to dress the part first and let my work follow. I hope you had a good meeting!

    • Thank you Alicia. And thank you for sharing. I like imagining you in your blazers and being awesome at your job. It made me smile. I definitely think that dressing a certain way builds confidence. I feel better when I put a little effort into what I am wearing. It does not take hardly any time and it makes me happy. I am glad I am not the only one.

      Have a wonderful week!

      Jenni

  7. I am not used to seeing you all business like! LOL You look great! Perfect for your event.

    I think that sometimes you HAVE to dress in a different style to get the desired reaction you want from people. I do it too. I think it’s fun. I never think I am being untrue to myself either – it’s just that I am highlighting a certain aspect of myself to go with the occasion. I can never understand why several people in my life do not understand this. They will declare that they are “not being true to themselves” and feel that society should ignore the hoochie shorts or multiple face piercings and promote them to CEO already. So weird and oh my goodness what a way to soot yourself in the foot. Hmmm… don’t know why I just went off on a tangent. I guess I am trying to say – You are a highly intelligent no nonsense thoughtful advocate for you kids and a pencil skirt radios that loud and clear. Go go go Jenni!

    • Thank you Cynthia. I agree. I think there are many facets to people’s characters. I know I definitely have other sides to my personality that I sometimes like to explore. Dressing up a different way is harmless fun. I had a lady start berating herself when she saw me in a dress and she was in sweats the other day. But honestly, my dress probably took less time to put on and was probably more comfortable. It is so odd that people think dresses are dressed up. I wear them almost everyday. They make me happy and feel better.

      I hope I made a good impression. : )

      Have a beautiful Wednesday!

      Jenni

  8. Bravo for taking the time to dress up for back to school night. You look so nice in this outfit.
    Back to school night is tricky because I want to look nice but I don’t want to be too dressy. I have worn nice jeans with cardigans and statement necklaces in the past, but this year I wanted to be more low key. I did wear an Anthro cardigan, but no necklace.
    Have a great evening,
    Stacey

    • Thank you Stacey. When I first started going to Back To School Night it seemed everyone dressed up. This year it was the complete opposite. I bet you looked lovely. I have another Back To School Night next week. It is going to involve a ton of walking on the campus, so no high heels on that night! It is the night I am most nervous about so I am hoping it goes well.

      Have a terrific week!

      Jenni

  9. Hi, I just love your blog! I wanted to mention that for some reason, I can’t see your outfit posts very well lately. They have a foggy, white-out appearance. I thought it might be my computer so I scanned past outfit posts and they seem fine. Just the last two or three have been this way. It still might be something with my computer but I thought I would mention it. Obviously the other commentors are not having the same problem. Anyway, I do love your blog!

    • Thank you so very much. Oh, those pictures! They are so bad. Sorry about that. They were taken at six o’clock in my back yard before we went to the event. I tried to darken them with various filters, but could not do it, so I posted them without any filters. They were so hazy. I did post a small blurb about the haziness at the end of the post, but I made it super small. It was very easy to skim over it. I should have made it bigger. The post before that I purposely made look foggy. But now I know that it might not read well in real life. Thank you so much for the feedback. I really, really appreciate it. I think I have one more post taken in my backyard that is kind of hazy coming up, but definitely not this bad. It must be the gnomes in the backyard. ; ). Today I took pictures out of the yard, so they are better. Please never hesitate to inform me of something like this. I am always looking to improve. I hope tomorrow’s outfit post is better. : ). If it does not read well, please let me know, because it should be clear. And if it is not I need to make adjustments.

      Have a happy rest of the week!

      Jenni

  10. I love how you’re dressed for “business” but you make sure to keep the little touches that are specifically you. The ruffle on the skirt, the hair, the ring, the necklace, it’s all you, just in a slightly more “professional” format.

    It’s really all about lifestyle. Why wear pencil skirts and buttondowns if they don’t fit your lifestyle? I love a lot of looks I see online, but they don’t fit me and they don’t fit my life either. If I didn’t work in an office, I probably wouldn’t get dressed at all. It would be leggings and T-shirts all the time. So it’s a good thing I work!

    • Thank you Rachel. Today I was in pajamas all day. Which meant I felt bad about myself all day. Which means I ate badly all day. It is a spiral. I definitely need to dress up so that I actually accomplish something. Otherwise I just become a sloth. It is probably just me. I get into my head too much. If that makes any sort of sense at all.

      I always love looking at your style. : )

      Have a rad weekend!

      Jenni

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