does this outfit make my need-for-approval look big?

We are leaving for Seattle in a week to visit our dear family who moved away. Hooray! Last night, in preparation for our trip, I sat down next to Hubby and started making a list of outfits to pack. I believe this tradition started in high school when, before family vacations, I would make a list of cute outfits to bring so that I would look snazzy for the locals that I would never see again. I don't want to look Midwestern among all those on-trend (or even pre-trend) Seattle-types who wear their American Apparel with etsy earrings and buyolympia handbags.

A few weeks ago I was eating dinner with my friend Greta (who is also sister to Amanda that we're going to visit) and as I told her about my plan to buy a new Forever 21 outfit for Seattle she said that Seattle-ans (-ites?) are casual, jeans and t-shirts types of people. Hmm. So no fancy dress with fancy earrings. Got it.

So back to last night. I sat down on the couch next to Hubby and started making my list. Mr. Casual-At-All-Costs was worried.

"So, what are you planning on wearing?"

"Mm, I don't know. Nothing too fancy after what Greta said."

"Yeah, I think you should just wear jeans. You know, when you wear nice jeans, it makes everything just look nice. Nice and simple. That's what you should wear."

I put down my list and looked at him. "Are you afraid that I will overdress???" I could see his mind going, filled with visions of me wearing a skirt for the first month-and-a-half of our courtship, which lead to him wondering if I had a religious reason for not wearing pants. (I didn't.) My natural tendency may be to overdress and be a little fancier than others, but his concern made me giggle.

"Um. . .no. . .I just think you should try to wear jeans. Nice, simple, jeans."

So I'll try to stick with jeans. But I'll probably have to put a dress on top. And maybe throw in some fancy earrings.