Vintage-y

Dress: Forever 21. Belt: thrifted. Socks: H&M. Boots: my old horseback riding boots. Purse: Target. Necklace: vintage.  

I really love this outfit.  It's got a really vintage-y feel to it, and it makes me feel kind of cute and sweet, but in a confident way.  I love the lace peter pan collar and how the skirt flares out when I twirl.  Seriously, you are never too old to put on a pretty dress and twirl.  Try it next time you are feeling down; it's a major mood lifter.

Thankful

This Thanksgiving, I have so very much to be thankful for.  I have an amazingly loving and supportive family, friends who brighten my life, a wonderful education, a roof over my head, and food in my stomach.

I hope that everyone spent the day with loved ones and had lots of delicious food!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Silky Smooth

Top: thrifted. Pants: TJMaxx. Shoes, bracelet: Target. Sunglasses: H&M.

Lately, I've really been into thrifting silk tops like this one.  I almost feel like I'm cheating the system when I get something luxe like silk for $3.  But I really don't mind that feeling considering how amazingly comfy silk is.  The pants are a more structured take on harem pants and are this great satiny material.  This outfit looks polished, but I feel like I'm wearing pajamas.  Really fancy, expensive pajamas.  If that's not a win-win, I don't know what is.

Bleary Eyes

Top: TJMaxx. Jeans: Old Navy. Jacket: Forever 21 via Plato's Closet. Belt: Target. Shoes, watch: thrifted.

So the secret's out: I have terrible vision.  I wear contacts 99% of the time mainly because I prefer the way I look without glasses and because I have an obsession with sunglasses and wear them every day.  That 1% of the time is made up of days like today, when I wake up and my eyes do not.  They complain that they are tired and won't open wide enough for me to put in contacts, and certainly won't open wide enough to look decent in a photograph.  So please excuse my sleepy eyes.  Oh, and the sleepy rest of me.  I was quite tired.

Sock Feet

Dress: TJMaxx. Blazer: Thrifted. Scarf: H&M. Shoes: Kohls. Sunglasses: Old Navy.

Today I tried something I've never done before: an unconventional shoe/sock pairing.  I've seen a lot of socks with more open style shoes around the blogosphere, and I've been really interested to try it.  I like the pairing for the indecisive weather we've been having; I can still work bare legs, but the socks make the outfit feel a little bit more like fall. 

This dress was an interesting find on the clearance rack at TJMaxx.  It was marked down to $3 due to a reasonable size tear down the side.  I figured for that price, I didn't really even need to like the dress, I could use the material to make something else for cheaper than I could buy fabric.  But I actually did like the dress, so after a quick stitch up the side on the sewing machine, it was good as new.  That is, until I discovered that the bodice was separating from the waistband in a way that was not a simple fix on the sewing machine, at which point I begged my mom to work her fixing magic.  Then it really was good as new.  Thanks, Mom.  

Caught off Guard

Top: thrifted. Jeans: Target. Blazer: H&M. Shoes: Payless. Watch: my Grandpa's. Ring: Charlotte Russe.

There's a funny story behind this blouse.  I found it in a thrift store in my hometown a while back and really liked the wrap design of it because I hadn't really seen anything like it before. If I had to guess when this blouse had it's original hay day, I'd have to say the late 80's or early 90's, based on the colors, print, and gigantic shoulder pads that I cut out of it.  

When I took everything up to the register to pay, the lady ringing me up took everything off the hangers one by one and said nothing until she got to this shirt.  She paused, looked at me, looked back at the shirt and its shoulder pads, and said "This isn't for you, is it?"  I was caught off guard by that question and quickly tried to form a response.  All I could manage to say was "I like to change things up a bit before I wear them."

2 quick snips later, and I've had a perfectly wearable (at least in my opinion) top.  I think the 80 year old woman who must have owned this before me would have her heart warmed to know that it is still well loved.

The Key to Successful Thrifting

Today was the first day since the school year started that I didn't have a huge assignment or project to work on, so I decided to treat myself to a day of much needed thrifting.  I didn't really need anything else to stuff in my already full closet, but I did need some 'me time,' and what better way than to sift through the racks and racks of insanely low-priced clothing?

A really decent portion of my wardrobe is thrifted, and I was asked recently how I have so much luck with it.  After a good amount of time thinking about it, I came up with a pretty simple equation to answer that:

patience + focus = thrifting success

Walking into a thrift store for the first (or even the thousandth) time can be really daunting.  There is usually a ton of inventory and it can be hard to figure out where to start so I find it really helpful to have a particular item in mind going in.  Today, for example, I was looking for a gingham button down blouse, so each store I went to, I started at the long sleeved blouses and moved on from there.  Once you get past that initial jumping off point, you're gonna need patience and focus.

In my opinion, the key to successful thrifting is looking through every item in the store.  Patience and focus.  I know it sounds crazy, but how else will you find that diamond in the rough?  Thrifting takes more effort than traditional retail shopping, but that work makes amazing finds that much more worth it!  

Writing this made me realize how much I have to say about thrifting, so I might just have to write up some more tips and tricks for future posts.  In the mean time, I can't wait to incorporate my 'new' clothes and accessories into my wardrobe!

2 of my favorite finds from todays thrifting trip: Purse, $2.99. Sheer silk leopard print blouse, $3.99.

It's Dark and Rainy Outside

 

Tank: New York & Company Outlet. Vest: TJMaxx. Jeans: Old Navy. Boots: Urban Outfitters. Belt: from my mom. Bracelet: Target.

This whole daylight savings time is really throwing me off, especially in blog photo shoot timing.  Today was extremely busy and we didn't get a chance to shoot my outfit until it was already dark outside.  So pardon the not-so-wonderful artificial lighting and the strange shadows cast across my face.

Today was insanely unseasonably warm, despite the fact that it poured for most of the day.  I didn't wear a jacket of any kind with this outfit, and I was still even a little bit warm.  I don't understand what is up with the warm weather.  I bought earmuffs recently, and I would really like to get some use out of them at some point.  Where is my beloved sweater weather?!

I know I've been complaining a lot about the weather recently, but fall is my favorite season and I feel like I'm getting gypped.  Everyone, do me a favor and think chilly thoughts!  Pretty please?

Can I just take a minute to explain the many joys of a ruffled tank top? Seriously, this thing is amazing.  It can be dressed up or down, its super comfy, and, best of all, its ultra forgiving.  I've had quite a stressful week thus far, and I will admit that I have been coping via chocolate.  This lovely little tank is doing a wonderful job concealing the chocolate food baby in my tummy.  Chocolate and ruffles: a match made in heaven. 

Frolicking

Shirt: Belk. Jeans: Old Navy. Blazer: TJMaxx. Shoes: Report via Ross. Watch: XOXO via Burlington Coat Factory. Belt: Walmart.

This weekend was pretty eventful for me: it started with an all-day shopping trip and progressed into me being sick for 2 days.  I spent yesterday curled up on my couch in my pajamas watching sitcoms from the early 2000's (hence no outfit post).  I am feeling much better today, enough so to go for a frolic in the leaves.

On Saturday, my mom came down to visit and to have a mother-daughter shopping trip, which was awesome.  My birthday is in a month, so I was able to pick out some early birthday presents, including the watch I'm wearing today.  It came in a set of two, so I have one with a white band, also.  My mom tried to hold them hostage until my actual birthday, but I pleaded with her and got to keep them.  I did, however, not get to hang on to an amazing cape that I also picked out; I have to act surprised when I get it for my birthday.   

Fall Colors

Shirt: Charlotte Russe. Pants: Gap. Jacket: Forever 21 via Plato's Closet. Belt: thrifted. Shoes: Eva & Zoe via Off Broadway Shoes.


The weather started feeling like fall today, so as promised, I'm wearing fall colors.  I always feel like, even though it's a light material, this shirt is just made for fall.  The oranges and burgundies and taupes just scream "it's autumn!"  Maybe that whole description was a little redundant, but I think you get the idea.  Yay fall!


These pants are one of the few (possibly the only?) items of clothing I own from Gap.  It's not because Gap isn't great, because it is, but on my college student budget, a lot of it is out of my reach.  I did, however, go into Gap during the huge sale they had during the summer where there was something like an extra 50% off of clearance items.  Everything was really picked over, except I magically stumbled upon this lone pair of pants that just happened to be my size and also happened to be $5.  Oh how I love sales.

Statement

Sweater: Walmart. Silk blouse: thrifted. Jeans: Target. Shoes: Payless. Necklace: flea market.

Umbrella: borrowed from my lovely photographer, Amber, because it's much cooler than mine.

I've been seeing statement necklaces under collars all over the blogosphere lately, and I've been really wanting to try out the pairing.  I feel like a bold necklace really takes a simple sweater and jeans combo to the next level.  

I'm very thankful for the rain today, because it seems to have brought cooler weather, at least for a day or two.  It'll probably be back up to 70 by next week, but I'll enjoy the cool while I've got it.  

90's Revival

Dress: Forever 21. Blazer: TJMaxx. Tights: Target. Boots: thrifted (brand new). Sunglasses: H&M. Watch: from my mom.

For some reason, this outfit kind of reminds me of 90's grunge type style.  I feel like if I threw on a oversized flannel plaid button-down and some dark lipstick, I'd be ready for a 90's themed costume party.  However, I'm not really a big fan of looking like I'm wearing a costume on just any old day, so I traded the flannel for my favorite fitted black blazer.