She done grown up so quick!

It was 12 short months ago today that I planted my bum in this very chair, donned these same oversized high school sweats, popped handfuls of these identical salty Dutch licorice bits and came to the decision to pass on "Earn it First" and "It's a Privilege, not a Right" and

anoint my new DC fashion interventionist endeavor, "A Serious Job is No Excuse."

Though I've admittedly strayed more often than not from its original mission, I'm still quite pleased with the uniquely focused but not too focused niche I've carved out for ASJiNE. Not only am I pleased with how acceptant you all have been of my desire to bring celebrity shenanigans into the fold, but I'm additionally jazzed you've allowed me a forum in which I can freely wax poetic (and occasionally not so poetic) about the few loves of my life outside of - or only tangentially related to - the fashion world.

You may not agree with my super-structured, high-neckline obsession, my death-to-flats attitude or my staunch belief that bigger is actually the opposite of beautiful when it comes to backless, strapless, sleeveless or waist-less; you may think I take dog fawning to an unreasonable, unhealthy level; you may want to reach through your screen, shake me and scream, "I subscribe to your blog, not your issues, bitch!" every time I not so subtly hint at how heartbroken I still am.

Contentious views aside, at the very least I hope we can all agree on my early-stated-and-still-true belief that the adoption of the following three principles is critical for any woman at any age of any size in any setting:

1. ALWAYS dress to flatter your figure - unless you have a body like JenConn's that can wear anything well, you must approach every item of clothing with complete honesty and the willingness to accept the fact that yes, your calves are too big for ankle booties, yes your bottom-half is too pear-shaped for purple skinnies, or no, your back is not sufficiently in-shape to pull off a plunge that deep. Wearing something just because you like it is fine for a five year old but not for a grown woman.

2. Remember your audience when choosing that day's ensemble. Are you giving a briefing in your office? What about in an office that conducts itself more formally than yours? Are you lounging at home? Is there a possibility that your significant other's much more senior colleague might drop by to pick up a document? Are you attending a dinner party with mostly younger people? Mostly older people? Being 100% aware of the environment into which you will be entering is key in making a good first - and lasting - impression.

3. Wear what makes you feel most confident, not most comfortable. Unless your day is done and you're snuggled up tightly between your pup/boyfriend/husband and the fat arm of your cushy couch, feeling comfortable should never trump feeling confident. Sure, there is the sexy white t-shirt that fits your bits just right and the university-emblazoned booty shorts that make your ass look as high-and-tight as a new Marine's buzzcut, but obvious exceptions aside, there are very few wardrobe components that fall under both the "comfiest thing in my closet" and the "damn, I feel powerful" categories. Giving into one or the other exclusively will change your life -- but only the latter will do so for the better. Anyone who tells you differently is either in denial or Jeanne Bice.

I'm not sure how regularly I'll be posting in the next few days given the drop-dead deliciousness of my six-month old niece's presence in our thankfully-now-at-76-degrees home, but I think you know me well enough that if you check back once a day, you'll probably find a little something from me under the tree.

To B, C, E, K, L, L, M, R, T and the rest of the devoted ASJiNE readers who have helped make 2007 the best year of my life, please strap on your Strawberry Shortcake party hats and join me in blowing out my baby blog's first candle.

love,

J