30x30 - Outfit 5

Blazer - Vintage, Thrifted

Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

Jeans - Gap

Boots - Frye, Resale Shop

Bracelet - Mom'd

If you ask me my favorite era of clothing, I would probably say late 50s, early 60s.  Very Mad Men.  But in my day-to-day wear, I often find myself drawn to 70s. 

Part of it is because the "borrowed from the boys" style better fits my boyish figure and it represents the first time women started to enter the professions in serious numbers.

I think the biggest reason is because the 70s represent the time when my mom was a young woman.  Most of the pictures of my mom as an adult but B.K. (before Kara) are in the 70s.  High-waist jeans, concert tees.  Next time I'm at my parents house, I'll have to dig up some photos to illustrate my point.  What eras are you drawn to?  What eras do you find yourself wearing most often?

30x30 - Outfit 4

Striped Tee - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Pencil Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Scarf - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Mall

Belt - Thrifted

Boots - Frye, Resale Shop

One thing I really like about doing a 30x30 challenge is that it requires planning.  A normal morning for me involves standing in front of my closet, staring, trying on multiple outfits, discarding the rejects into a pile, finally settle on something that I'm unsatisfied with by the time I get to work (late).

With the 30x30 I have limited options to chose from and I usually have pre-planned outfits.  I already have at least 40 outfit combinations on Polyvore and I know that I haven't even done all the possible outfits.  Assuming every shirt goes with every bottom and not even taking into jackets or cardigans, that's 104 outfit possibilities (13 tops x 8 bottoms). 

Red Skirt Combos by unusualform featuring striped tops

Above are all the combinations possible with the red skirt.  Trust me.  You'll see a couple of these during the remix.  They all work with the exception of the yellow polka dot shirt/red skirt combo.  But who knows?  Throw on a navy blazer and a wide belt and it might work too!

30x30 - Outfit 3

Today I wore yellow, and floral, and red peep-toe wedges.....to a meeting with contractors about millwork.  And I'm okay with that.  Yes, I'm female and yes, I can talk shop about cabinetry.  It's the best of both worlds.
 

Cardigan - Loft

Blouse - Go International Target, Thrifted

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Wedged - Jeffery Campbell

30x30 - Outfit 2

Day two outfit photo cortesy of June a.k.a. Mom. Perhaps you can tell by the background that I'm not in the Ozarks any longer. I'm at Unusual Farm.  A work trip brought me to my parents' neck of the woods (or lack there of) for a few days.  They certainly aren't complaining.

Navy Blazer - Gap

Tie Dye Tee - Gap

Skinnies - Bullhead Black, Resale Shop

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

Necklace - Antique Store

30x30 - Outfit 1

And so it begins...

Blouse - Jason Wu for Target

Skirt - Elle, Kohl's

Belt - Thrifted

Heels - Vintage, Thrifted

30x30 Spring 2012

Without further ado, my thirty items for my Spring remix...

Toppers:

1. Cream Blazer - Vintage, Thrifted

2. Red Trench - Anthropologie

3. Navy Blazer - Gap

4. Poppy Cardigan - Gap

5. Yellow Cardigan - Loft

Shirts:

6. Chambray Shirt - Gap

7. Navy Polka Dot Blouse - Jason Wu for Target

8. White Tie-Neck Blouse - Old Navy, Thrifted

9. Red Polka Dot Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

10. Bird Print Blouse - Old Navy

11. Striped Tee -Rodarte for Target

12. Tie-Dyed Tee - Gap

13. Arkansas Tee - Arkiestyle

14. Floral Tie-Neck Blouse - Go International Target, Thrifted

15. Yellow Polka Dot Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

16. Gingham Shirt, American Eagle

17. Lace Tank - BDG, Urban Outfitters

18. Red Striped Shirt - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Pants:

19. Wide Leg Jeans - Gap 

20. Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

21. Red Skinnies - Bullhead Black, Resale Shop

Skirts:

22. Polka Dot Maxi Skirt - Gap, Thrifted 

23. Yellow Polka Dot Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

24. Tie-Dye Skirt - Elle, Kohl's

25.  Floral Skirt - Jason Wu for Target

26.  Red Pencil Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Shoes:

27. Boots - Frye, Resale Shop

28. Bauble Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

29. Red Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

30. Navy Heels - Vintage, Thrifted

Bright Outfit, Gray Day

Today was a yucky, gray, rainy day here in Arkansas. I actually wore jeans, a sweater, and boots. I thought I would post this unblogged outfit from a few days back. It's bright and cheerful, a visual pick-me-up for a blah day.

Blouse - J.Crew, Gifted

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Heels - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Belt - Thrifted

Necklace - Resale Shop

I'm planning on starting my 30x30 Spring Remix on Monday. Check back Friday, I'll announce my items then. 

You Search, I Answer: Yellow Skirt

Today's You Search, I Answer is based on the search term "yellow skirt outfits".  I know what you're thinking: So much color?!?  On my bottom half?!?  Yes, a yellow skirt is a bright pop of color, but I think you can pull it off, even in a work environment.  I present to you my three formulas for fool proof outfits involving a yellow skirt (presented in order of most tame to most daring) and as demonstrated by me.

Yellow Skirt by unusualform featuring striped shirts

1.  Neutral Top + Bold Necklace + Yellow Skirt + Neutral Flats

2. Neutral Pattern Top + Bold Necklace + Yellow Skirt + Neutral Shoes

3. Color Pattern Top + Neutral Belt + Yellow Skirt + Bold Heels

1.  Neutral Top + Bold Necklace + Yellow Skirt + Neutral Flats

2. Neutral Pattern Top + Bold Necklace + Yellow Skirt + Neutral Shoes

3. Color Pattern Top + Neutral Belt + Yellow Skirt + Bold Heels

 I put together a Flickr set of all my yellow skirt outfits, so head over there for more inspiration.

30x30 Spring Remix

My shopping has been getting out of hand recently. Not money wise, just volume wise. I thought that I would do a 30x30 Spring remix to get myself back on track. I haven't picked all my items yet, and I probably won't start for a few days, so this page is just a work in progress.

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Fancy Skirt for a Thursday

I'm wearing my fancy Thursday skirt, with fancy gold trim. You don't even need a belt with this baby. Look at all that shimmer.  The best part, this skirt set me back $2.00.  It was half price at Goodwill.  Aaanndd...it has an elastic waist.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Button-Up - American Eagle, Thrifted

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Target

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, TJ Maxx

Slight Variation

Today is just a slight variation on this outfit.  Sometimes as bloggers we feel like it has to be "all new, all the time", but that can be expensive.  One of the reason the 30 for 30 challenge was so popular is that it proves great variety can come from a few well chosen pieces.  It's the same concept I've been trying to demonstrate with my Blah to Blog-Worthy Series.  One item can make a huge difference in the look and feel of an outfit.  Be more creative with what you have, not with what you can buy (trust me, I'm saying this mostly for my own benefit).

Cardigan - Banana Republic

Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

Skirt - Elle, Kohl's

Boots - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Thrifted

Belt - Thrifted

EBEW - Being Green

This outfit is green in two senses of the word. Literally (the skirt) and figuratively (mostly vintage and/or thrifted). There's more than one way to be green.

Cardigan - J.Crew, Thrifted

Blouse - Banana Republic

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Tights - Target

Boots - Antonio Melani, Thrifted

Brooch - Vintage, Antique Store

Belt - Gap, Thrifted

Thrift Find in Action

Below is one of my thrift finds from last week.  Potter's House Thrift Store has a regular mark down schedule.  Items, based on tag color, cycle through regular price, 25% off, 50% off, and $0.50.  Somehow this lady-like jacket had stayed in the store long enough to be marked down to $0.50.  I decided it shouldn't stay any longer.  It should come home with me.

Jacket - Liz Claiborne, Thrifted

Tee - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Boots - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage, Resale Shop

Purse - Vintage, Thrifted

What I Wore to a Fashion Show

Below is the outfit I wore to Thursday night's fashion show.  I wanted something a little quirky (polka dots), a little sleek (black blazer), and a little fashion-y (piles of jewelry).  When I left for the evening, my husband gave me a "you look ridiculous" look, so I know I had it right.

Blazer - Banana Republic

Dress - Peppermint, Savoir-Faire

Boots - BCBGeneration, Dillard's

Necklaces - Simply Vera, Kohl's

Bracelets - Kohl's and Vintage

Glasses - iSee, Glasses USA

Thrifting Manifesto

This week I received a very rude comment on one of my pins on Pinterest.  I had pinned Elissa of Dress with Courage's book Thrifting 101: A Beginners Guide to Thrifting and Vintage.  Within minutes I had a very rude comment from someone who does not follow my pins or my blog that I know of.  The comment was as follows:

"If you are older than 15 and you're just now beginning to thrift, you're one of the masses of people who are ruining it for those of us who have been doing it since the sixties."

I did not want to start a Pinterest Feud, so I simply replied that Elissa was one of my blog friends and I would like to support her by purchasing her book.  I've loved reading her Thrifting 101 posts on her blog and thought it would be great to have them all collected in one volume.  What I'm posting here is not a rebuttal.  It is simply my own thrifting manifesto.

Source: createspace.com via Kara - Unusual Form on Pinterest

1. I believe thrifting is for all ages.

Last time I was in a thrift store (less than a week ago, in fact), the store did not carry just one size and style of clothing.  There was clothing for babies, children, teens, men, women.  Oh, occasionally you'll be in a store and see your thrift twin.  Someone who is going for the same style and size as you, but that's rarely the case.  Most of the time a thrift store is filled with shoppers that are as diverse as the merchandise.  The variety of items present means that nearly anyone, in any age group can find something they like.

2. I believe thrifting transcends time.

Doing something first does not necessarily give you ownership over that activity.  There were plenty of people who grew organic gardens in the 60s (and the 1860s for that matter), does that mean that everyone who grows a garden now must use toxic chemicals, because they were not around during the original movement?  No, that's ridiculous. I think that thrifting and organic gardening are similar in that people realize that both are good for the environment and are responsible things to do, regardless of decade.

3. I believe thrifting is something to be shared.

I've never been secretive about my thrifting.  In fact, I regularly post my recent finds.  I give tips on how to make the most of your thrifting experience.  I even divulge my best thrifting spots.  You might even say one of the focuses of my blog is thrift shopping.  I want to encourage people to give it a try.  Isn't it a spirit of giving that makes thrifting possible in the first place?  If people were not generous enough to donate items, then there would be nothing to thrift.  The entire premise of thrifting relies on giving and sharing.

This is by no means my complete thoughts on thrifting, but I do believe it is an open culture with plenty of room for any interested person, of any age or background, to join in.  What are your thoughts on thrifting?  Should it be an exclusive club or is it something to be shared?

Yes, No

Yes, these are the same pants as yesterday.  No, I didn't wear them two days in a row (though I may or may not be known to do this, especially on the weekend).

In more exciting news. I won tickets to the Thursday night fashion shows of NWAFW.  But what should I wear?  I walked through the venue on my way out of work this evening and I was seriously intimidated.  It was full of all kinds of fashion-y types.  Sure, I'm a "fashion blogger", but Unusual Form is really more of a personal style blog.  What I'm wearing and what is in fashion is not really the same thing.  Ever.

I know I can pull of cute and quirky, but can I go high-style? We shall see, we shall see.

Blazer - Gap

Top - Old Navy

Skinnies - Buckhead Black, Plato's Closet

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage

Seriously, if you have any tips on what to wear to a fashion show, leave them in the comments.

Blah to Blog-Worthy

I'll be the first to admit that this outfit is not bad. But should that really be my goal? To wear outfits that are "not bad". While perfectly serviceable, I think I can take this "not bad" outfit and make it a little more interesting.

Last time I took an outfit from Blah to Blog-Worthy by changing just one item.  This week (okay it was really last week, you can tell by my haircut) I'm doing the same thing, but I'm giving you four Blog-Worthy looks, each created by changing out one item from the original outfit.  This really goes to show how much one piece can affect an outfit and also demonstrates the remixing possibilities.

Outfit 1 - Blah

This outfit is not without merit. It has color. It has pattern. The pieces fit well. The proportions are balanced.  It might even pass for sophisticated.  It is classic, but does it have enough quirk?  I think we can do better.

Outfit 2 - Blog-Worthy

I switched out the monochromatic scarf for something a little more colorful.  Now my jeans are not the one hit wonder of the outfit and I have a little color near my face (the application of lipstick also doesn't hurt).

Outfit 3 - Blog-Worthy

I switched out the plain grey sweater for a striped shirt.  Now I'm doing a little bit of neutral pattern mixing.

Outfit 4 - Blog-Worthy

Here I switched out the tweed blazer for a printed coat.  Still neutral pattern mixing, but the bold pattern on the coat has more of an impact.

Outfit 5 - Blog-Worthy

I switched out the red skinny jeans for a short silk skirt in painterly blues and greens.  The fullness of the skirt give the outfit a touch of feminine.  I'm also branching out by mixing a neutral pattern with a colorful pattern.

Casual Friday

I'm been changing into this outfit every day after work for the last three days.  It's so comfy. The shirts and shoes also happen to be the spoils of my Wednesday thrifting plunder.  It's becoming a weekly ritual that I run to The Attic, my favorite thrift store for vintage, during lunch.  Wednesday is the first day of the week that they are open.  This week proved to be successful.  I bought the shirt below ($2.00), the shoes below ($2.00), the blazer from yesterday ($5.00), plus two other pairs of vintage shoes.

Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Belt - Vintage, Goodwill

Flats - Vintage, Thrifted

Everyday Dress

I had an important meeting at work today, so I wanted to dress extra spiffy. Before I left the house, I asked my husband how I looked. His first response (without even looking at me) was: "You look great." I then insisted that he look at my outfit before commenting. After seeing my outfit his response was: "Ooh! You look very professional. You should dress like this every day." Like I don't dress professionally most days? Oh well, I'm glad he at least appreciated the outfit.

Blazer - Banana Republic, Thrifted

Blouse - Old Navy, Thrifted

Skirt - Banana Republic

Heels - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Brooch - Vintage, Antique Store