and do: get dressed #6

For the past two years, when it comes to shoes, I've been obsessed with booties. Love the cool girl look. Love that you don't have to worry about your skinny jeans bunching or the leather around the ankles softening and ending up with a pair of unintentionally slouchy boots. But, just like by the end of summer when we're all ready for sweaters, I feel the need for a counter to the bootie. Namely, a tall boot. Perhaps even an above-the-knee? I don't know if I can pull it off, but this week I'm dreaming of pairing tall boots with wispy dresses. A counter to my more typically minimalist, sporty style. I'm dreaming of something romantic. Something bohemian. A different decade's cool girl.

Image via Vogue.

and do: get dressed #5

With the changing of the seasons comes the changing of the clothes. A month ago I was dreaming of chicly dressing down a fancy pencil skirt with a casual t-shirt. Today, I'm looking to stay a bit warmer. So I'm loving all the ladies rocking fancy skirts with the most comfy casual of all closet items -- the sweatshirt. It's inspiration to carry me through till legs must be covered too.

Image via

and do: get dressed #4

This post was originally conceived in my mind about being about all black dressing. Yes, it was on my mind last week and there it has stuck. I have dressed in all black (exception being shoes) twice this week. But I was strolling around the web when I caught sight of this pic and it has brought up that undeniable thing on all our minds when it comes to getting dressed -- covering up for fall. Are you a hat person? In previous times, I have walked and ridden the bus to work and I'm back on that schedule, which means, come fall and winter, hats are kinda necessary. And I'm loving the idea of a wool baseball cap replacing knit beanies.

Image via HonestlyWTF.

and do: get dressed #3

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I know you probably don't want to talk about it at the end of August since they have probably A) blissfully fallen off your radar, and B) it's not like it's December 31st and you feel pressure to make new ones and thus be forced to revisit unaccomplished old ones. Despite the immense personal pressure that accompanies resolutions, I like them. I make them every year. I've got a few on 2013's list that have been hanging out since 2011. But I like them anyways. One year one resolution was to wear lipstick at least once a week. It could be to just run to the drugstore. I didn't accomplish this goal, but for the first time in my life I started considering lipstick as a way to get dressed. To not be afraid to bring a little attention to myself. To "pull it together" if you will. The above image from J.Crew demonstrates the idea perfectly. Even in sweatpants, a girl in lipstick is in an outfit.

Image via here.

and do: get dressed #2

Today, I'm dying to pair a graphic tee with a pencil skirt. Remember the movie Hitch? There's a scene where Eva Mendes' character is wearing a graphic tee under a blazer with a pencil skirt. I remember my high school self thinking, "That is how I'm going to dress when I'm a professional woman." For the life of me, I could not find a screen shot of this scene. But I love all the interpretations of it I'm seeing today. And the tee above sums up just how I feel about the whole look.

Image: Peony Lim

and do: get dressed

When I entered this period of unemployment I made a very important promise to myself: I would continue to get up at the same time every morning. I'm a morning person (please don't hate me). Understand that really by what I mean by "morning person" is that I am not an evening person. If left to remain accountable to an evening exercise schedule, you would promptly see my love for ice cream manifesting itself on my poor body. But seriously, I love working out in the morning. So, I made this promise to myself. A promise that I did not make, however, was: To get dressed everyday. Obviously since I wake up, put on workout clothes and get my sweat on, I am changing out of my pjs. But in reality, if I don't have an interview, I'm changing into another pair of yoga pants.

I would like to begin a new promise to myself: To get dressed. Like everyday. At least for part of the day. (See how I'm trying to make it easy on myself.) Anyways, I'd like to make this a regular series here on makeanddo. And because my own closet often feels quite boring, I'm going to share with you what I would be getting dressed into should the power to make dream closets a reality ever become mine.

Today, I'm wishing I were perfectly styling the sneakers and dress look. How cool does the girl above look?

Image via Creators of Desire