Engineered Style

After discussing ways to wear red pants last week, I decided I should really pull out my own pair and finally wear them.  It’s possible you recognize these pants from an old post.  Seriously, if you did recognize them, that’s crazy.  I took a thrifted pair of white pants and dyed them red with RIT dye (well, actually, I accidentally dyed them mauve on my first try, then tried again with extra red dye to make sure it worked).  I may need to do a post on RIT dye sometime–that stuff is awesome!  What’s not awesome?  The way these pants fit.  They sit waaaaay above my belly button.  Now pretend I didn’t say that and look at the photos.  Hopefully you can’t tell, but I only spent $3 max on them, so I think I’m still ahead.

{Thrifted & RIT Dyed Jeans, F21 Button-Up Shirt, Banana Republic Blazer, Gianni Bini Shoes}

Congrats to Anne and Regina!!  I’ll be emailing you ladies soon!  You each have a $50 gift certificate headed your way!  Thanks so much to Fort Worth Running Company for partnering with me on this!

I’ve mentioned in the past that I am part of a running group at Fort Worth Running Company.  It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made since moving to Fort Worth.  I’ve met so many great people throughout the years, including these 2 lovely ladies who joined the 5k and 10k training groups this winter.  I love hearing about why and how people became runners (so inspiring!), so I asked them to share a little bit more about themselves with you…and show you some great gear in the process!

Meet Angela (and baby boy!)

 {Asics Ayami Tank (Purple, M) $34, Moving Comfort Mobility 1/2 Zip (Gray, M) $80, Pearl Izumi Infinity Warm-Up Pant (Black) $80, Asics Gel Excel33 Shoes $125}

First off–can we all just stop and tell Angela how awesome it is that she’s still running 20 weeks into her pregnancy?  Way to go, Angela!  I really had a lot of fun picking out items for her to try.  Dressing for a growing belly can be challenging–who wants to buy new pregnancy workout clothes when you’re already buying for the rest of your wardrobe?  We looked for items that would be great pre, during and post-pregnancy.  The Asics Ayami Tank and Moving Comfort Mobility 1/2 Zip Jacket have a flare to them at the bottom and flattering ruching, which makes them perfect options.  A little flare at the bottom goes a long way!  We also picked the Pearl Izumi Infinity Warm-Up Pant since the waist is quite forgiving, and it has a looser fit through the rest of the leg.  It’s a all-around easy going pant that would work well running, walking, and relaxing around the house.

Meet Divya

{Asics Ayami Tank (White, M) $34, Brooks D’lite Mesh Skort (Flower Check Powder) $42, Asics Thermopolis Lt Jacket (Black, S) $85, New Balance 860 Shoes $104.95}

Age: 28

Occupation: Industrial Engineer, currently pursuing my PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Host of “Weekend Wisdom” a weekly radio show on 104.9 FM, and Blogger at Saved By The BEHL where I share my tips on saving you Time, Money and Energy.

Fun Fact about Yourself: I have the weird ability to memorize large number (tracking numbers, PI, phone numbers) quickly and forever.  When my team lost the NBA Championships, my husband (then boyfriend) knowing this, made me read the phone number for ordering the other teams’ Championship package…I still have that phone number memorized 7 year later…1-800…9100!

How long have you been running? 6 weeks this Saturday! Before the FWRC Couch to 5k program, I hadn’t even run half a mile in my entire life.

What is your current running goal? To run the Cowtown 5k race in under 38 minutes, and complete a 10k before the start of summer.

Why did you decide to train with Fort Worth Running Company? I have always wanted to be able to run because I think running is the perfect “engineer’s workout”–It’s efficient! You get the biggest impact in the shortest time (activity wise). A quick 30 minute run burns almost the same calories as a 60 minute dance class.  Between studying, the show and life itself, I seem to always be short on time. All that said, running is something that is completely foreign to my body, and I didn’t want to injure or shock myself by starting out incorrectly, so I turned to the experts at FWRC. With them I knew I would be in good hands…shoes, socks and everything else I needed!

Toughest part of training so far? The toughest part for me has been the physical challenge on my body. Specifically soreness in my calf muscles. Maybe from wearing 4 inch heels all my life?  As a result, possibly shortening my achilles wasn’t the best idea in hind sight

Best part of training so far? The amazing feeling of accomplisment I get after each run. That feeling alone is worth all the calf pain in the world.  The glory lasts all day where, thanks to compression sleeves and a foam roller, the pain only lasts a couple of hours.

Divya is one busy lady!  We ran together on the first day of the Couch to 5k program–can you imagine my surprise when I found out that we are the same age, both engineers, AND both bloggers?  Seriously–I can’t make this stuff up!  We’ve (obviously) become fast friends.  I had Divya try the Asics Ayami tank as well (so versatile!) and the Asics Thermopolis LT Jacket. I own the jacket myself in an orange color–I’ve said it before, it’s soooooo soft and cozy for cold morning runs.  She also tried the Brooks D’lite Mesh Skort, which is quite different than most running skirts I’ve seen.  It’s a mesh material with a nice A-line cut that I think would be nice and breezy for hot Texas summers.  It’s also got a pocket in the tights underneath, so you don’t lose that flexibility either.  I wish both of these ladies good luck next weekend at the Cowtown 5k and 10k!  If you are interested in getting more information on FWRC Training Groups, check out their training page to see when new groups start up or stop in / give them a call!  Oh, and the FWRC giveaway closes on Saturday, so get your entries in!

Lately, bright pants seem to be everywhere.  My personal favorite happens to be red (blue is close behind!), so I thought I’d share my favorite color combos for red pants.  I mean, Valentine’s Day was just yesterday…I’m still in the mood for red!  First, find yourself a pair of red pants (ASOS, Express, Calvin Klein, Madewell, Target, Macy’s, J.Crew, Limited).  See? I told you they’re everywhere.  Then…for you color lovers, try:

RED + PINK

{Calvin Klein Pants, Piperlime Pink Silk Button Down, Calvin Klein Belt}

You already know my story about red & pink.  It’s so bright and fun–makes me think spring is JUST around the corner!  Keep the rest of the outfit simple–black or nude pumps with a basic belt and some bracelets.

RED + TANGERINE

{Calvin Klein Pants, NY&Co Cowl-Neck Top, The Limited Leopard-Print Belt}

How about something in the same color family?  Tangerine pairs well with red–it’s perfect for mixing in a leopard print belt or patterned scarf.

RED + BLACK

{Calvin Klein Pants, Twenty Jersey Cowlneck Top, Mango Touch Metallic Belt}

And come on, we can’t pass up a classic!  Set off red and black by adding in some metallic touches–this rose gold belt is a great option, but chunky gold jewelry would look great too!

Pssssst, only a few more days to sign up for the giveaway!!

One day left to plan something special for Valentine’s Day.  We typically aren’t big observers of the holiday in our house.  A bottle of wine and a good dinner is probably the extent of it, but really, I guess that’s the point–to spend time with someone you love.  This year I stepped up my game a bit and ordered some Waygu beef steaks for a Valentine’s dinner.  Plus, I’m pretty much decked out in red below, so really, this is light years beyond last year.  Whether it’s big or small, I hope you do something special for your someone special tomorrow, whether that be a spouse, friend, parent or sibling.  Let me know what you do–I need inspiration for next year!

{Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the Fort Worth Running Company giveaway!}

{Anthropologie Skirt & Jacket – similar jacket, J.Crew Chambray Shirt, Nine West Shoes-similar, Gifted Necklace}