Functional Fit: From a Dress to a Shirt

By: LL
As evidenced by this post, I am loving chambray this season. It goes well with so many different outfits and works well worn alone or layered under a sweater or blazer. It can be dressed up or dressed down. Chambray is very versitile, thus a staple in any fall wardrobe.

Even though I have not yet decided upon a well tailored chambray shirt, in the meantime, I decided to get more use out of my button-down chambray shirt dress that I got from Old Navy a few seasons back. To make it work as a shirt, I paired it will a longer wool skirt under which I could hide the actual length (you would guess it to be a shirt, right?). You might be surprised how many of your tunics or shorter dresses might work well as blouses this fall! And it is a clever way to get a second wind out of some things you otherwise might not get to wear again!

Shirt Dress Worn as a Shirt: Old Navy (Fall 2010) (similar)

Wool Skirt: Thrifted (similar)

Belt: Target (similar)

Shoes: Nine West

Watch: Movado

Amber Drop Earrings: (purchased while living in France) (similar)

Failed Fit: Zumba

By: LL
Those who know me can attest to the fact that I have no rhythm. No matter what I think, or how hard I try, I cannot just move with the music and look good doing it. Yes, I can do structured choreography, such as that found in step or traditional cardio classes, but I have come to the conclusion that dance-related fitness classes are not my strong suit.

Case in point: I went (for the 4th time) to a Zumba class offered at the gym at my work. Contrary to the evening classes that I had previously tried, the lunch hour class was much smaller and appeared less intense. In fact, looking around me, I was the youngest and definitely (from my judgment) in the best physical shape. I was feeling much more positive about this Zumba experience. That was until the instructor came bounding into the studio and plugged in her iPod to ignite a pulse throughout the room with her latin-based techno music. And then she went straight into the movements - no warm-up, no breakdown of the routine. Rather, she started rolling her hips, twisting, and moving every which way (which for me translated to an RPE of 9!) and the movements only intensified with the beat of the music over the next 35 minutes. She kept encouraging us (okay, probably just me as everyone else seemed like professionals. So much for my initial judgment of their physical capabilities), with "just feel the music" or "imitate my movements." Umm that really didn't do anything for me. Where were the counts? Where was the step-by-step instruction? My imitations of the movements were not nearly as fluid and effortless as hers, or the other participants. Maybe I had accidentally joined the advanced class! And to make matters worse, I couldn't hide or escape early. The studio is surrounded by mirrors on three sides and a wall of windows to the corridor on the fourth. This was embarrassing. Talk about a failed fit!

But, in hindsight, I got a great workout! I left the 50 minute class feeling exhausted and drenched in sweat. The rest of the day, I could feel my obliques and hips (all that twisting and popping). Even though it was a failed fit for me (which is mainly due to my inability to dance, and my resistance to just let go and look like a fool), it was definitely worth the experience and made me realize a few new areas that might need more conditioning and toning.

In summary, I would recommend trying out a Zumba class because they are obviously popular for a reason. But, if it doesn't work for you - if it is a failed fit - then look for something else to try.

Fits do race reviews: Monster Dash 1/2 marathon

By: Cool J

Next Saturday, one of LL and my sisters is coming up to my city for the Monster Dash 1/2 marathon. She has been training very hard post-baby, and this is her "comeback race". I'm looking forward to sharing this experience with her, and will be very proud when she crosses the finish line. 

We discussed running together, but our paces are a little different, and she said she would prefer to run alone with her headphones, which I understand. 

Last year, the 1/2 marathon got a lot of bad press because of the faulty shuttle buses from the finish line back to the start. To alleviate this issue, the race directors completely changed the course:

The 2011 Half Marathon and 10-Mile Monster Dash is in St. Paul this year!  We are very excited to have the races on a course that is fast, beautiful and entertaining.  Did we say fast?  You just might PR on this course which is all downhill (400 vertical feet total from start to finish -- to be exact)!

 Combined with the beautiful fall foliage, the start of the race is spectacular! It begins at the picturesque Cathedral of St. Paul that overlooks the city. Participants will run the tree-lined course along historic Summit Avenue and finish in Downtown St. Paul at the Mighty Mississippi (See course info).  The chip-timed race is USATF certified. 

And if you can handle it-- challenge yourself to run the distance in costume!  You could win our costume contest! But make sure you run with it on first-- we can guarantee fun but we cannot guarantee "no chafing".

Start time: 8:30 a.m.

Though I have not done the 1/2 marathon, Ms. Matilda (my vizsla) and I have run the 5k in the past:

Runners are encouraged to wear costumes, which was easy enough for a 5k, but for 13.1 miles, it might be a bit more difficult.  We're going to try to find some "monster flair" but will probably run in our regular running clothes.

My sister is arriving on Friday, when we'll go to the expo, (and perhaps some shopping!) and then a friend of hers, who lives up here, is having us over for a pasta feast carb-load.

Team Ortho, the charity behind this race, has a reputation for great gear at their races. However, with great gear comes high prices. I believe I paid $80 for this 1/2, which I think is a little pricey. I will be sure to share all the pictures of the gear we get for that $80!

Throwing a Fit: Hunter boots

By: Cool J
In the Midwest, boots are a way of life from October through May. No one dares to wear heels through the snow and mud- boots, baby, boots! And let's be honest, even suede boots are risky. The best kind of boots? Hunter boots!

Last year, a run club friend of mine often rocked a pair of Hunter boots. She wore them with multiple outfits and to various types of get-togethers, and always looked very stylish. I wanted a pair, and I mentioned it many times to my husband...And apparently he was listening! This year, on my birthday, a fun pair of purple Hunter boots were waiting for me. Thanks D-man!

I am actually looking forward to some snow or rain, so I'll have an excuse to wear these!

 Although, snow isn't a necessity for Hunter boot wearing, is it? Check out these celebrities rocking their Hunter boots- is there snow in L.A.?

When is it time to change your fit routine?

By: LL
I have been teaching spin classes now for just over eight years. I have taught a variety of styles, at multiple studios, in cities from the Midwest to the Mid-South. Throughout the years, I have (for the most part) really enjoyed teaching. However, I think that I might be burning out.

This worries me because I feel that I run the risk of getting turned off of spin for good. But it is hard to continue with my classes when my heart is no longer in it (and it really isn't fair to the participants). Recently, I have found myself thinking about yoga classes or boot camp classes - how great would it be to enroll in one of those programs?!?! For instance, I think that it would be a much needed addition to my routine to focus on flexibility and toning as enhancements to my first exercise passion: running. And yes, I have tried to find ways to fit them all into my schedule, but it just doesn't seem to work, unless I want to spend all my free time at the gym (I think that my husband would object). So, I think that it might be time to "unclip my shoes" and take a sabbatical from spin. As a nudge in this direction, I started looking at options near where I live and work, and was excited to find a top rated Bikram Yoga studio close by.

But this still is a hard decision. Like I stated above, I have been dedicated to spin for over eight years. And I do love it. But I question whether it is good for me to continue. Is there something out that I will enjoy more? I really enjoyed the sculpt class at Core Power Yoga with Cool J this past spring, and I could really use the flexibility! However, if I stop spin now, will I ever get back into it? Will losing this exercise commitment make me lax on my regime? Will I get the same health benefits from the other options? Will it be worth giving up the money and spending more? Yet, will burning out be worse than stepping back for awhile?

In short, how do you know when it is time to change your fitness routine?

I looked into a few different fitness resources and found a few common signs that you might be burning out: (1) lack of progression, (2) undue fatigue, and (3) increasingly consistent lack of motivation. They also gave some ways to avoid exercise burn out, which include: (1) completely changing your routine every 8-12 weeks, (2) trying 2-3 different workouts per week, (3) striving to try something completely new every few months, and (4) taking a full week off from exercise every 3-6 months.

Yep, I think that it might be time to change my routine...

Fits for Men: Investing in Custom

By: LL
It is amazing how quickly women's fashion changes. The leggings that you bought in September are outdated by Thanksgiving. Or how about that pair of wide leg trousers or the oxford wedges? How long will those last?

Men's fashion is different. I admit, they do have their fashion trends, mainly related to the cut of suits, length of ties, and length of shorts (which also seem to be age-related, not just trends). Either way, comparing apples to apples, style for women shifts faster and more frequently than that of men, which is one reason why women shop so much more often than men - because we HAVE to (seriously!)

I like fashion, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to wear your favorite boots from last fall or wear that tunic that fits so amazing just one more time without feeling outdated. If that were possible, if fashion were more stagnant at times, I think that more women would invest in custom pieces, as many men invest in custom suits or shoes. It would "fit the bill" better to spend a bit more on a solid piece that you would be able to wear for more than one year. Men have it lucky in this sense. Normally they can get 2 or 3 seasons out of a pair of shoes or a lifetime (weight dependent) out of a polo shirt.

Case in point - Last fall, my husband purchased a pair of custom boots from Quoddy. He had been looking for awhile to find a stylish, durable, and comfortable pair. Finally, he stumbled upon Quoddy when he was looking for replacement boaters. Instead, he ended up purchasing their chukkas. A great thing about Quoddy, and many other men's shoe companies (Johnston & Murphy, Hewlett & Dunn , etc.), you can get shoes (at not too crazy a price) that are custom made to fit your foot - including your arch type, width, and foot length. At some stores, you can even choose the leather color, texture, and sole type. It might seem expensive, but once you run the numbers, purchasing such a pair of shoes - and getting exactly what you want and being able to wear them for multiple seasons - it is actually much cheaper than the amount women spend on multiple shoes, year after year. And funny enough, my husband's shoes are still stylish, even getting a feature in the most recent J. Crew catalogue...more than a year and half after my husband first got his.

Seriously, men might be onto something with this custom thing - but then again...

Finalize my Fit: Post birthday recap

By Jessie

Last night I wore my Topshop dress (as I previously discussed here)- it was a little dressy for the venue, but it's my party, and I can wear a dress if I want to, right?

It was only in the low 50's yesterday, so unfortunately, I wasn't able to pair the dress with the heels I had purchased especially for the occasion...sad.

Instead, I had to go with boots. But sometimes fashion has to follow function my friends. Especially in the midwest. These heels were pretty tall too, and I have a feeling they may have become quite uncomfortable after a long evening out. I will have to save them for another outfit.

Now, truth be told, this picture was taken at the end of the evening...but it's the only one I have of the entire ensemble.

I paired the outfit with an LL original necklace (thanks sister- this necklace has helped me complete several outfits!)

I didn't get a good picture of my purse, but you can see it in this picture:

It's a brown leather clutch that I purchased at Len Druskin a year ago.

I had a woman in the restroom ask me if my dress was vintage. In fact, she insisted it was vintage, even after I told her I just bought it at TopShop. Maybe I should have just gone with it? Though it makes me wonder what it was about the style that made her think that...any ideas?

Well, thanks for reading folks. Time to head to another Moksha Yoga class to detox after all the celebrating.