Reunited

With my favorite blazer that is.  This blazer has been bird-pooped-upon, lost in the shuffle, and left behind.  I've been craving it for several months now and finally we are together.  Muah!  Oops!  Sorry you had to be witness to this mushy moment. 

Blazer - Gap

Tank - Rafaella, Belk (Unblogged)

Pants - J.Crew

Necklace - Vintage

Boots - Antonio Melani, Thrifted

Major Unblogged Item

Sorry for my bloggy silence, y'all, but I've been busy...moving.  We bought a house! You can tell because I have a new outfit shot location, my own backyard.  No more creepers!  I'll be posting some images of the house as we get everything unpacked and settled in its place.

Doesn't it look all wilderness-y?  But we're right in the middle of town.  Below is a sneak peak of the house (the matching shed actually).  It's what I would call "modern swiss chalet".

Cardigan - Anthro

Tank - UO

Skinnies - UO

Brogues - Aldo

Neckace - Simply Vera

Glasses - Kate Spade

New House - Unblogged

Second-Hand Shower Attire

No official "Thrift Finds for the Week" today.  I will however share with you the second-hand dresses I wore to my showers last weekend.  The first photo comes from my church shower.  The lovely ladies pictured with me are my mom and my grandma (dad's mom).  Note that I have my mom's chin and my grandma's (and also my dad's) nose.  I'm not that much taller than my mom and grandma, I'm just the only one in heels.

Cardigan - Gap

Dress - Isaac Mizrahi for Target, Resale Shop

Necklace - Vintage, Great Aunt's

Belt - Thrifted

Corsage - Made by a lady in the church

This second photo is from my family shower at my aunt's house, also featuring my grandma.

Cardigan - Loft

Dress - Vintage, Thrifted

Corsage - Made by my cousin

Paper Doll Project

Today I've been Paper Doll dressed by the lovely Dani of The Daily Dani.  Be sure to head over to her blog to see how I styled her fringed vest.

I asked Dani to style my new-to-me dress.  It's Anthro via a local resale shop.  It's color says fall, but the silk fabric definitely speaks to warmer temps.  I asked Dani to style this slightly summery dress for the quickly approaching cooler days of fall.

Jacket - LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Dress - , Resale Shop (Unblogged)

Scarf - Target

Tights - ?

Boots - Nine West, Thrifted  

Intended Audience

I now know who I dress for.  It isn't for the people I see in RL, it's for my blog readers.  Two days last week, I worked by myself in the office.  I didn't go out with friends, I didn't have lunch with my fiance, I didn't see three people each day, but I still wanted to wear "good" outfits, including the one below.

I've already admitted that I usually dress for other girls (guys never notice what you're wearing), but I guess I dress specifically for you ladies.  Who do you dress for?

Cardigan - J.Crew

Blouse - Old Navy, Resale Shop

Jeans - Gap

Belt - J.Crew, Thrifted

Flats - Naturalizer

Fishing for Fall

I love it when I thrift something that is on my "to buy" list.  In the last few months alone I've found a blush colored blouse, a cream blazer, a lady-like jacket, black boots, and a fitted fisherman sweater. All were things I was willing to pay retail for and to count as one the pieces in my 5 Piece French Wardrobe. I paid between $4.00 and $6.50 for these items and didn't have to count them against my list.

I just found the latest, the fitted fisherman sweater, this weekend at a much maligned spot, the chain resale shop. I didn't find it at the chain resale shop that everyone loves to hate (I'm looking at you Plato), but another more local chain.  I've never tried to sale here, but I like to shop here because I can occasionally find Banana, J.Crew, or Anthro here.

This trip they were having a end of season sale so a lot of their summer clothes were $3.00.  That's cheaper than some thrift stores.  Our local Goodwill sales tops for $3.50. I managed to find a cute Anthro t-shirt on sale for $3.00. The fitted fisherman sweater was $6.50. Maybe slightly higher prices than Goodwill, but I hardly ever find sweaters or tees at Goodwill, most are too pilled up.

All of this is to say, occasionally check out the resale shops geared more to teens and tweens.  You never know. Their judgement could have momentarily slipped causing them to buy something nice for once.

Blazer - Vintage, Goodwill (Unblogged)

Sweater - Gianni Bini, Resale Shop (Unblogged)

Skinnies - F21, Plato's Closet (Unblogged)

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage

Bracelet - Mom'd

There will be no Thrift Finds for the Week tomorrow and post may be spotty early next week.  This weekend I'm going to my hometown for my wedding showers (yes, showers).  They just happen to coincide with work meetings in that part of the state.  So I'll be back to posting sometime next week with a round-up of the dresses I wore to the showers.

One Last Hoorah

For my bright clothes that is. With the change in temperatures comes a desire to dress in more muted shades. You know me, I love brights and I incorporate them in my wardrobe year round, but there is something about Fall that makes me want to switch out bright yellow for mustard, kelly green for olive, and turquoise for navy.  

Do you find you change your wardrobe color palate with the seasons?

Cardigan - Loft

Blouse - Banana Republic, Plato's Closet (Unblogged)

Skinny Jeans - BCG, Urban Outfitters

Flats - Naturalizer

Necklace - Vintage

Classy Lanket, An Oxymoron?

Classy Lanket? Who knew such a think even existed? Isn't it kind of like a formal Snuggie?  Regardless, I felt pretty chic, comfortable, and warm in this skirt.  Ladies, Lankets maybe the perfect piece of clothing, bestowing both style and convenience on those who wear them.

Blouse - Mossimo, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Skirt - Handmade, Thrifted

Necklace - Simply Vera, Kohl's

Belt - Vintage, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Flats - Naturalizer

Am I There Yet?

The last time I wore these pants, there was a bit of discussion on whether turquoise jeans were work appropriate.  (I added a blazer, okay?)  Granted they probably wouldn't work for every setting (IBM headquarters circa 1985 come to mind), but surely I can make them work given the fact that I'm in a creative field (architecture).

This time around, I decided to treat them more like colorful tights.  I paired them with a shirt dress that is just a little bit short of it's own and now I have more of a tunic/legging thing going on.  I also think the jeans will be cute with tall boots and a long sweater later in the fall.  The key is to minimize the actually amount of turquoise that is showing.  It's less jarring that way. 

Shirt Dress - Gap (Unblogged)

Skinnies - F21, Plato's Closet

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Belt - Thrifted

 

Thrift Finds for the Week

This weekend's post should really be called Yard Sale Finds, because that's were most of these items come from.  I generally don't have much luck finding clothes at yard sales. Compared to thrift stores, there is less choice, the size is specific to the person selling it, the quality tends to be low, etc.

 I did have some luck today though at two yard sales.  One was a friend's yard sale and the other was a restaurant/hooka bar going-out-of-business/warehouse sale.  Don't ask.

l to r

Polka Dot Dress - Express, Warehouse Sale, $3.00

Yellow Sweater - Go Int. Target, Friend's Yard Sale, $1.00
Red Skirt - Goodwill, $4.00

Khaki Shorts - Old Navy, Warehouse Sale, $2.00

Total $10.00

Today's post is actually a two-parter.  The second part is a restyle of the red skirt.  I bought this earlier in the week with the intentions of adding to my "team spirit" wardrobe, i.e. more red.

It was a size 10 which is several sizes larger than I normally wear as demonstrated by the photo above.  I thought that I might do some elaborate restyle involving moving all the buttons over, but the end decided just to do a few tucks in the back.  It takes me back to sixth grade when all my jeans had to be taken in to get them long enough and small enough around.

The next step in my restyle was to cut off several inches and finish with a blind hem.  From frumpy to fun all for $4.00 dollars.

Jacket - Gap

Tee - Gap

Skirt - Thrifted, Altered

Belt and Flats - Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage

Wearable Comfort Food

Nothing fancy today. Just a simple outfit for lots of desk sitting. Now that I'm spending 8 plus hours a day working at a desk in a highly air conditioned office, I find myself favoring comfort over style. I never thought I'd be one of those people, but here I am consistently choosing pants over skirts.

 Maybe I'll wear more skirts once it gets cool enough to pair them with tights.  Only time will tell.

Blouse - J.Crew, Goodwill (Unblogged)

Skinnies - Banana Republic

Flats - Naturalizer

Belt - Gap

Bracelet - Vintage

The Boots Are Back!

Y'all, the weather has been so nice here that today I decided to break out my boots.  These happen to be my $5.00 Thrift Find boots from a few weeks ago.  I also broke out a pair of leggings to ward off outdoor and office induced chill.  Upon further consideration, perhaps black jeans would have been the more appropriate, professional leg covering choice.  Oh, well.  I should have thought of that before I left the house. 

Dress - Vertigo, TJ Maxx (Unblogged)

Leggings - Old Navy

Boots - Gianni Bini, Goodwill

Necklace - Thrifted

Seeing Red

I managed to dig another piece of red clothing out of my closet.  This one doesn't exactly scream, "RaRa! Go team go!", but with a change of accessories and jacket, it could definitely go to a ball game.

I've got one more red piece in store for this week.  Let's just say that this week's Thrift Find is going to incorporate some DIY.

Blouse - Simply Vera, Kohl's (Unblogged)

Blazer - Banana Republic

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Flats - Naturalizer

Necklace - Simply Vera, Kohl's

Casual Friday on Tuesday

In case you haven't noticed, I'm blogging a day behind (or two since yesterday was a holiday). It's much easier to schedule posts that way. Anyway from now on my casual Friday outfits will be featured on Monday and really who couldn't use a little reminder of the beginning of the weekend as the beginning of the week approaches.

I live in a college town, actually the college that I attended. As football season approaches, our team has requested that everyone wear red (our team color) on Friday to show our support. Despite the fact that I went to school here for five years (architecture is a five year program), I have very little red in my closet, and very little team gear for that matter.  You are looking at one of the few solid red tops I own.

I guess if I ever find those red jeans, then I'll have two red pieces.

 

Blouse - French Connection, TJ Maxx (Unblogged) 

Jeans - Gap 

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's 

Jewelry - Vintage

Fall 5 Piece French Wardrobe - #1

Okay. I took the plunge and bought the first piece for my Fall 5 Piece French Wardrobe. I really wasn't planning on spending the money at this point, but the winds of fate were blowing in a different direction.

This evening I was at the mall.  I stopped at Banana Republic to buy a pair of shorts for my fiance. They were having a surprise percent off. The possibilities were 25%, 30%, or 50% off. I happened to get 50% percent off. I just couldn't let a chance like that go to waste, so I went ahead and splurged on the trench coat I've had my eye on for a while. 

This coat is sooo classic.  I'm sure the investment is going to pay off in the years to come.

Source: bananarepublic.gap.com via Kara - Unusual Form on Pinterest

Thrift Finds For The Week

This week our new Goodwill turned a month old.  Do you know what that means? They now begin 50% off color of the week.  The first tag color was green.  Luckily all my finds were green, so they were all 50% off.

Can you tell I'm getting ready for fall?  Boots last week, turtleneck, sweater, and blazer this week.

Blazer - Vintage, Goodwill, $2.50

Turtleneck - J.Crew, Goodwill, $1.00

Silk Skirt - The Limited, Goodwill, $1.75

Sweater Shell - Vintage, Goodwill, $1.75

Total: $7.00

Lanket

I failed to account for one entire category of clothing in my battle against office air conditioning: long skirts! They're like blankets for you legs. They're like lankets! 

This particular skirt I've had for a while. I purchased it at the Goodwill Half Price Center before I moved, so it was $2.00. It took me so long to wear it, because it was slightly too big. I needed to move two buttons over. It took me 4 months to do a 4 minute task. What can I say? I've been slightly preoccupied lately.

 

Blazer - Ann Taylor, Thrifted 

Tank - BDG, Urban Outfitters 

Skirt - Gap, Thrifted 

Flats - Naturalizer 

Necklace - Grandma'd 

Bracelet - Vintage

Colorshow

Okay, so you might have been able to tell from yesterday's post. I'm still wearing unblogged pieces, I just decided not to wear them according to Mr. Roy G. Biv.  While it might be a cute blog gimmick to wear 4 red shirts in one week, I'm pretty sure people in my non-blog life might notice.  Or maybe not.  You can never tell how observant people are.  I've never had anyone in my non-blog life comment about me wearing the same 30 pieces of clothing for one month.

All this to say, I'm still wearing unblogged pieces, I'm just moving up and down the color spectrum.

Blouse - Odille, Anthro (Unblogged)

Skirt - Banana Republic

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, TJ Maxx

Neck - Vintage, Great Aunt's

Bracelet - Vintage