sweatervestin'

Fall + East TN. Yep, let's go there. You've gotcher hot & then you've holyshnikeyswhomadeitcoldISH. Things don't drop in the south, people. There is no Minnesota drastic turn of the dial. Weather is happening all zen-like. We southerners can go until good mid-October before the likes of any necessary layer for the benefits of warmth as opposed to, oh you know, fashion is essential.

I love high school girl watching on the first Friday night football game. What? You people watch, Meg? Um, yeah. Football is a spectator sport am I right? My eyes gaze over sweet girls possessing total Yoda-status with the twisting of the that loose curl wand. It's probably still plugged in at their house sitting on top of the sink basin next to a wet washrag {that southern for wash cloth} with left over remnants of Clinique foundation smeared all over it. I bet their moms go in there and turn it off only to blast them in a text that they forgot to. School is about 3 weeks in, and their new outfit compilation has expired oh about 5 days ago. They're at a crux. Re-wear a new outfit or GASP...break out something old from O.M.G. last year.

They've scoured ~~Seventeen magazine~~ Pinterest for the latest looks. Given plasma eleventy-five times to bring home that highly-coveted navy blue bag with the white Serif CAP LOCK letters: GAP. They have proverbially arrived up on the fashion scene.

And now what? One cannot attend the first Friday night football game bereft of what every Hollister, American Eagle & Abercrombie cross-between-casper-the-friendly-ghost-Amish-faceless-doll mannequin is flaunting? Forget that it is late August IN THE SOUTH. You perform. You do what any high school sister knows best. You wear it. All.the.layers. The Princess Kate Middleton riding boots with the under socks showing. Infinity scarf yourself to death, girls. And don't you even think about NOT wearing flannel. If the front of the store has it on, by golly, you better too for those 4 quarters of bleacher sitting gratification.

Fall is a super great season. It is eclectically alive with movement and celebration. Fellowship & community. It's like having one huge pep rally for the winter months that bind us all in with colder temperatures. {That's like low 40's on average in East TN.} There's football games to attend. Soccer ones too. Hay rides to maneuver. Pumpkins to carve. ~~The blasted time change that makes every middle aged mom overdose on her vitamin B intake~~. Halloween costumes & craft fairs. Gatherings for thanks & family time. And the leaves. Let's NOT forget the leaves. Touchable beauty to watch ignite with a swelling, saturated pride just before cascading down before our very eyes. And there's sweater vests.

The one you see me in here was snagged at a suspect Goodwill. Long story. I may or may not have rolled up into a not-so-safe part of town in a nearby city and proceeded to do DUH-AMMMMMMUGE finding about 20 items for $22.

See my sweet sweater vest there on the rack? Hey girl! Mama loves you. You know why I love a sweater vest as a super transition piece from summer into the fall seasons? Because they are a practical layer option. Listen, my young high school sweethearts. Let me be your Yoda here. Use the force. The force of a sleeveless sweater vest. Sleeveless sweater vests are a way to create the layer effect without heading to Iceland when the Jefferson County Patriots take on Knox Central on August 29th. I know. I know. Faceless Amish Casper from Aeropostle tells you it's not so. BUT. Are you ready for this? You don't have to conform. WHHAAAAAT??? Shut the front door. Nope. You don't have to. Should there be any middle school girls reading this: YOU CAN EAT LUNCH. Who cares if it's "not cool". Your belly wants it. Your body needs it. Get that rectangular tray like the beautiful beast you are and power up.

I am here and living proof that a middle school girl can eat lunch AND wear knee socks WITH shorts to a high school football game and turn out just fine. I mean look at me.

I got my shades on, top back, Rolling with the music jacked, One on the wheel, one around you baby

This sweater vest has a killer tag. Check it out:

There are little threads and offset stitches throughout the entire outside of the vest. It has little mess ups in the weaving too. To own this vest was my destiny suspect Goodwill or not. I am all about what this company is promoting with their clothing line. To be perfect is unattainable. Eat your lunch. Wear your knee socks with shorts. Do not morph into a faceless Amish Casper. Be you & enjoy the journey of finding out a little more about yourself as you go.

Outfit Stats

dress: $2.50 Kentucky Goodwill store
booties: $29 Zappos {I NEVER by full price, but these girls have been worth.every.penny to my happiness.}
belt: $0.25 {shown here}

Total Outfit Investment: $31.75

Fall. I do not feel you. At least not all the way yet. But football is here. k.Mac is making Fall candles like a mad dawg. And I've stocked up on my B12 at a Food City BOGO just sale last week. The time is now. I'm trading my motorboatin' for some sweatervestin'.

.mac :)