single pleat - [link] - if you get petite then it will certainly be the right length.

straight - [link] - don't be full by the name it is only 17 inches.

straight - [link]

pleats - [link]

a little ruffle - [link]

I've been watching far too many Mythbusters shows in a row. My dreams are sure to be full of things exploding or crashing.

msbelle, the first two are the same link. The third is pretty close to what I want--standard jean weight, very simple line. I need to try it--I wonder if my local Nordie has it.

I slept all frelling afternoon and I am STILL TIRED. Feh.

Curse you, msbelle. I had never heard of the $15 Store before, and now I have to talk myself down from this dress (yeah, only $15, but what little discretionary income I've got this month really needs to go toward either a new bra or a new purse, as my favorites of each have both committed suicide in the last week; however much I like that dress, I can't even make a weak pretense of needing it).

Hec and Emmett are off bike-riding, and now I'm trying to talk myself into doing laundry. It's gray and nast outside and I really don't want to, but laundry procrastination now = far, far greater laundry suffering in a day or so.

The going-out kerfuffle was resolved to everyone's satisfaction; Emmett sat down and, very carefully and effortfully, drafted a contract (complete with official seal) laying out his desired terms for weekend outdoor activities. Hec read it, they sat down to renegotiate some provisions of the contract, and a final, gold-pen version was signed by both of them a few minutes before heading out to ride bikes. He truly is a good, good, endlessly patient parent, and Emmett truly is a good, good kid, and now I'm all verklempt over both of them. When my brothers and I were kids, a scene like that playing out between us and our dad would have been about as likely as all of us joining hands and jumping over the moon.

[link] - the second link.

JZ, perhaps if you find a bargain on teh bra and/or purse, you could put any save money this month, with some next month and get the dress.

For cheap bras, maybe try Target, Hanes her Way, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx.

Dude, if that skirt is only 17", that slit is up the ying yang.

Because I'm not in a browsing mood, I asked store personnel for "denim skirts like this" and pointed to the non-denim skirt I was wearing. Gap said "No denim skirts" and only one of the other stores even bothered pointing me to anything. Aren't they staples? I'm so disappointed.

Also, did I miss a Western trend? Do we have Brokeback Mountain or summat to thank for the boots and belts all over the place?

Yeah, it's got to be 17" to the slit, right? Cripes.

I was going to try Nordstrom, but I don't know if it'll be worth it; the fancy measuring-and-helping bra lady at Macy's netted me three expensive bras, none of which held up under actual daily wear. I do about as well at TJ Maxx on my own as at the big-name places with helpers, and for about a third the price. But I dunno... all my local friends keep talking up the Nordstrom bra ladies.

Right now I'm wearing a vintage bullet bra from eBay -- a fair amount of flexible boning around the ribcage, but no actual wires, and the cups are pure unboned fabric. After the repeated stabbage of yesterday, my boobs are now ridiculously happy.