You know those folks that have an incredibly innate, natural, check-out-how-cool-&-creative-I-am style about them?

I am so NOT one of those people.  On the other hand, if I have any redeeming quality, it is probably my lack of denial over my lack of style ability.  It took me until I was well out of college to discover designer jeans & as you’ve probably noticed in many pictures (including those below), I still rock the looped ponytail circa 7th grade with wild abandon (at least I don’t wear a hair ribbon anymore,  mmkay?).  I do feel, however, that I have a decent excuse for my poor excuse for a wardrobe – from 8th grade until senior year, I was stuffed into a polyester cheerleading uniform twice per week (oh yes, we wore our uniforms in class on game days).  Then in college, I wore sorority T-shirts & jeans.  With pearls, but still, no real need for style.  So I have never really had to develop my own sense of style.

& it shows.  It is not intentional — I WISH I was one of those people that always looks put together, or that is always one step ahead (hell, I’d give my right arm to just be right in step).  Sometimes I want to look totally comfortable & natural, rocking my Chacos with a pair of jeans that are lovingly broken in.  College T-shirts & chapstick.  Other times, I want to channel Audrey Hepburn in my pearls, perfectly pressed blouses, dresses, & heels.  & then I want to squeeze into a slim pencil skirt, gaping button-down, & trendy jewelry.  But at the end of the day, it barely matters because my job requires me to dress conservatively & to be successful, I must portray myself older than my mere 26 years.   Which is a hard task, considering I can still easily pass for a young college student but I refuse to feel frumpy & shop at Chicos.

Add to that confusing equation the fact that NONE OF MY CLOTHES FIT.  (thank you, Harrison!)  So even my eclectic wardrobe is worthless at this point.  & the sad thing is, I return to work in less than two weeks & last time I checked, I couldn’t wear yoga pants to the office.  DISLIKE.

Enter in Christmas, & these lovely work outfits.  & my readers, who shall lovingly offer critique & advice as I give you a wee fashion show.  I NEED STYLE, PEOPLE.  & if I have one goal in 2010, it’s to not “let myself go” now that I’m a mother.  In my dreams, I step out of the car at daycare to drop off Harrison & the other moms think to themselves, “How does she do it?  How does she look so chic & put-together with an infant?  I want to be Blair!”  (Yes, that’s right.  I’m narcissistic enough to admit that it would be nice to have another mother side-eye me in mild envy.  Then again, I never claimed to be perfect – I just daydream of creating the illusion.)

I like to think that Tuck is admiring the cute pleats on the back of the skirt.  The skirt’s a little long for my taste, but I have to remember that a) I have stretch marks on my knees that the public should not be privy to & b) my clients don’t want to see my tugging down my skirt length when I sit, lest I look like a two-bit whore.  I do, however, adore the cardigan & blouse.  The sweater to the right is super-soft cashmere & wool…absolutely delicious to wear in winter.  But I feel it’s missing something.  Thoughts?

Can I take a side-note to take a personal moment of “EWWW” at the width of my hips & thighs?  ::sigh:: It’s also hard not to get wrapped up in the number on the tag.  I know.  IT’S JUST A NUMBER.  I’ll never forget the time my aunt sat me down in a dressing room & gave me some of the best advice for life (past the notion that you choose to stay married every day, but that’s another post for another time) – “It’s just a number, Blair.  It says nothing of who you are, or the kind of person you will be.  It doesn’t determine your strength or success, or your worth in the world.  It is just a number to help you find what will make you look amazing.”  Rinse & repeat through my thought processes to keep myself sane & optimistic.

This is where I really need your help.  I am pretty sure that the picture on the right (the purple tunic) is chic right now.  At least, that’s what People.com tells me when I peruse their celebrity photos.  But to be honest, I’m not sure that I am “chic” enough to pull it off.  You should know that patterned tights & big earrings are a far stretch out of my comfort zone.  Am I doing it correctly?  Should I wear a necklace instead of big earrings?  Big earrings and a necklace?  & when it comes to the orange sweater, I am lost.  Nate thought it looked really cute & sporty with jeans & the shirt underneath, but I need something that will work for the office with it.  & I’m considering nixing the long-sleeved shirt underneath, although it would be chilly on 40-degree days.  My mother purchased a wool skirt to wear with it, but the top is far too long for a skirt without making me look stumpy (which is quite a feat, considering my nickname in middle school was the Jolly Green Giant.  which always made me cry into my binder behind my locker door.  I was totally that nerd that got picked on constantly until 9th grade).

I digress.

So to those of you that have style, a thumb on the current trends, etc, please feel free to leave your advice.  Where do you shop?  Do you find it hard to balance youth & professionalism?  Are your work clothes kid-friendly?  What do you budget for clothing?   Do you have weekend clothes & work clothes?  What does your work wardrobe look like?  What type of accessories are you into & where do you find them?  Trust me, I’d appreciate anything at this point.

& anonymous?  considering this kind of post totally double-clicks the mouse in your undies, please know that the whole “you’re fat & ugly & frumpy” bit is stale.