Neutrals Week - Day 3

I feel especially French today, because I'm wearing Christian Dior. Yes! Christian Dior! So, okay, it's thrifted and made of polyester (he could have at least sprung for silk). But it's Christian Dior! I do understand the allure of designer (even if I'm not willing or able to spring for it at full price).

Jacket - Express, Thrifted

Blouse - Christian Dior, Thrifted

Skinnies - BCG, Urban Outfitters

Flats - Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage, Gifted

Today's outfit is a slight variation on this outfit. It's a bit of a blogger taboo to repeat outfits. What's your take on this? I could probably repeat an outfit from a year ago and no one would notice, plus I may have new readers that didn't see my outfits a year ago. The bloggers I read could repeat an outfit and I probably wouldn't notice unless it was within a few days of each other. Personal style bloggers tend to have just that "personal style" and our outfits have similarities, themes, etc.  Throw remixing into the mix and you're bound to have similar outfits from time to time.  All of this is a convoluted way of saying I hope you don't mind if I have almost repeats, I promise I probably won't even notice yours.

Today is the last day to enter my eSkakti giveaway.  I'll announce the winner on Friday.

Neutrals Week - Day 2

Jacket - LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Tee - Old Navy

Skirt - Thrifted

Boots - BCBGeneration - Dillard's

Necklace - Simply Vera, Kohl's

Despite my usual professional appearance, I really am a hippie at heart.  I frequent farmer's markets and natural food stores (and bring my own bags).  I listen to NPR.  I make my own granola.  I bake my own bread.  I use Dr. Bronner's for everything.  I own five pairs of Birkenstocks.  And we have a garden in our backyard as well as a flock of chickens.  Who says you can only be one thing?  I can wear skirts and oversee a construction site.  I can shop at thrift stores and work at a big building downtown.  To be multifaceted is to be interesting.  Or at least I think so.

We may have chickens, but it doesn't mean they can't have a sleek, modern coop that just so happpens to match my outfit.

Neutrals Week - Day 1

I'm going to do something you probably thought that I would never attempt.  Neutrals Week!  I'm setting out to prove that I can be stylish without relying heavily on bright colors and prints.  I know that's generally how I roll, but a girl's got to change it up from time to time.  So this week, neutrals only (or mostly).  Do you think I can do it?

Blouse - Banana Republic, Resale Shop

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Heels - Antonio Melani, Thrifted

Necklace - Thrifted

First up a new shirt, or new to me at least.  It picked it up at a local resale shop. This particular shop has nice merchandise (sorority girls' barely worn cast offs) and it's reasonably priced.  I purchased the above gray silk shirt for $7.50.  A little more than at a thrift store, but definitely still worth the price.  Even though I'm not wearing any color in this outfit (aside from plum heels), the fit and shape of the blouse add interest.  The blousey fit nicely contrasts with my skinny jeans and the little details like metal buttons and peplum hem just add further interest to the outfit.  So did I do it?  Did I manage to be both neutral and interesting?

On a side note be sure to check out my eShakti giveaway if you haven't already.  A winner will be announce on Friday, June 1st.  And check back tomorrow for the second installment of Neutrals Week.

eShakti Giveaway - Closed

You may remember in the Fall when I reviewed a dress for eShakti.  Well, they have graciously offered to give one lucky Unusual Form reader a custom dress of their choice from the eShakti website.

eShakti by unusualform featuring a straw tote handbag

The rules are simple.  You must:
1.  Visit eShakti and let me know which item you would choose if you won.
2.  Follow eShakti on Facebook and Pinterest.
3.  Follow Unusual Form in some form or fashion.
4.  Be a resident of the U.S. or Canada.
5.  Leave your email address or blog link so I can contact you if you win.

That's it.  I'll pick a winner June 1st.  Good luck!  I can't wait to see what you pick.

Blah to Blogworthy

I picked this jacket up at an estate sale a while back.  It was part of a suit that included a matching skirt and shell.  I got the whole set for around $12.00.  I wanted to give the new jacket a whirl, before it got too hot.  Unfortunately I made this decision in the morning before I left for work.  Let's just say that my outfit making abilities are drastically diminished before noon.

Outfit 1 - Blah

This is the outfit I actually wore to work.  It looks a little...sloppy.  The shirt tail hanging out, the boxy jacket paired with the voluminous top all add to little waist definition and a outfit that is not entirely flattering.  It's all a little disjointed and disheveled looking.

Outfit 2 - Blogworthy

I switched out the oversized polka dot blouse for a fitted sweater.  The shorter length of the sweater works much better with the slightly cropped jacket.  It makes the the outfit more proportional.  I also think the bright, solid sweater works better with the printed jacket.  It makes the outfit simpler and more interesting at the same time.

Outfit 2 - Blogworthy

For this outfit, I switched out the skinny jeans for the matching skirt from the suit.  I was hesitant at first to pair the jacket with the matching skirt.  I generally try to separate my vintage suits to make them more modern.  Wearing the whole suit always runs the risk of looking like an extra that wandered of the set of Mad Men.  I tried it anyway and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Tucking in the top both makes the outfit seem less sloppy and defines the waist.  I really like this look.  It's retro enough without being costume-y.

You Search, I Answer: Cream Blazer

I've had this post brewing for a while.  "Cream Blazer Outfits" has show up pretty consistently in the keywords people use to find my site.  My 30x30 challenge finally gave me a few extra outfits featuring a cream blazer, so I thought it was time to tackle the subject.

I'm going to boil it down to a simple formula for you:

cream blazer + simple, colorful top + sleek, dark bottom + bold accent

Cream Blazer Outfits by unusualform featuring a button shirt

Sometimes you have to break all the rules.  Do you have a cream blazer?  How do you wear it?

Meanwhile...

I'm taking a bit of a blogging break. In the meantime, you can find me at Fabric Strips and Ruby Lips, filling in for Roxie while she's on vacation.  Head on over there and check out my guest post on inspiration.

 

30x30 Recap

I think this might be my best remix yet as far as quality of outfits. Usually a 30x30 has a few duds, but I think most of these are pretty solid. Most of the items got pretty equal wear as well. The only things that were worn once, and thus not remixed, were the polka dot maxi skirt, the Arkansas tee, and surprisingly my chambray shirt and yellow polka dot blouse. So I really could have done this challenge with 26 items, but that always seems to be the case with a 30x30. No matter how carefully you plan and pick your items, something is underutilized.  It's interesting to see how my fashion choices have changed since I participated in my first, second, and third 30x30 challenge. How's that for style evolution?

30x30 - Outfit 30!

Blouse -Go International Target, Thrifted

Skirt -Vintage, Thrifted

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

Belt - Vintage, Antique Mall

Last one!  Audible sigh of relief.  It's been a fun challenge but a long one. To celebrate the end of my challenge, I decided to go out with a bang!  Floral! Polka dots! Yellow! Red! A cacophony of pattern and color.  I think it's a fitting last outfit for this challenge.  Check back tomorrow for a recap of the whole challenge.  I'll be back to regular posting (and the rest of my closet) next week.

30x30 - Outfit 29

Blouse - Old Navy

Skinnies - Bullhead Black, Resale Shop

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Store

Bracelet - Vintage 

I actually wore this outfit last week, but didn't have a chance to photograph it.  I wore it on a day trip for work.  My boss and I went to measure a volunteer fire station for a small town.  I couldn't find any data on the town's population, but the county seat has a population of 1,355 and the entire county has 8,195 people.  So needless to say this town is tiny.  While having lunch in the county seat, I remarked to my boss that I was probably the first person to wear red pant in the town.  He replied that I was at least the first person to wear red pants and mean it to be stylish.  Haha.  Kara, small town trend setter.

30x30 - Outfit 28

Cardigan - Gap

Blouse - Old Navy, Resale Shop

Skirt - Jason Wu for Target

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

This outfit is almost unphotographable.  You are witnessing my third separate attempt to capture it.  Any amount of sunlight and this blouse turns into a white blob near my equally white face.  I even photographed yesterday when it was overcast.  Still didn't work out.  Just for kicks and giggles, I'm going to post one of the terrible ones.

Here it is.  Wooo! Ghost blouse.

This one too.  Giant hands are funny.

30x30 - Outfit 27

Cardigan - Gap

Tee - Gap

Skirt - Elle, Kohl's

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Store

Belt - Thrifted

Yes, I'm wearing the same shirt as yesterday.  This 30x30 challenge is going down hill.  Quickly.  Good thing there are only three more outfits left.  Eek!  Next week I can finally break out the rest of my closet.  I'm quite excited.  This challenge has drug out a little too long.  The other times I participated I posted up to 7 outfits per week so the whole thing was over in a month.  This time around I tried to post 5 outfits a week so I wouldn't bombard you, the readers.  Add in a work trip with inconsistent posting and this challenge is going to be 7 weeks by the time it's finished.  That's almost 2 months.  I bet y'all are really ready to see me in some different clothes.  I'm definitrly ready to wear some different clothes.

30x30 - Outfit 26

Blazer - Gap

Tee - Gap

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Mall

Belt - Vintage, Thrifted

Yes, I am wearing the same red skirt from Outfit 25 and yes, is does break some kind of 30x30 rule to wear the same distinctive piece two days in a row.  You've got to spread them out for maximum outfit diversity.  In my defense, Everybody, Everwear snuck up on me this month.  In fact, I didn't realize it was all going down today until I saw one of Liz's tweets yesterday.  Out of my 30x30 items what is more nautical than red, white, and blue?  Perhaps only stripes and rope!

30x30 Week 5 Recap

Well I didn't get very adventurous in my poses this week, did I? Except Outfit 25, foot behind leg and hand on other hip. Daring! My outfits were also rather subdued, mostly in the blue family, except for Outfit 25 once again.  Red!  One more week to go.  I have plenty of options left so I'm not sweatin' it.

Outfit 21
Outfit 22
Outfit 23
Outfit 24
Outfit 25

30x30 - Outfit 25

Blouse - Go International Target, Thrifted

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

Belt - Thrifted

This outfit is another one that just seems so "me". Maybe it's just the red skirt. As I get older, I am really beginning to get a sense of the types of clothes I like to wear as opposed to the types of clothes I am drawn to in stores. It's import to distinguish between these two so that you don't have a closet full of clothes that you never wear. A lot of times I'm drawn to girly, frilly outfits. Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles, but I know that in reality I wear items with a cleaner cut. I like my outfits to get interest from color and pattern, but not necessarily from shapes/adornments.  I do love a tie neck blouse though.  Do you find a disparity between what you are drawn to in stores and what you wear in real life?

30x30 - Outfit 24

Jacket - Mossimo, Thrifted

Tank - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Skirt - Elle, Kohl's

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Necklace - Vintage, Grandma'd

Belt - Thrifted

Another good thing about a 30x30 challenge is that it actually makes me crave items that are in my own closet.  Things that I already own seem tantalizing, just out of reach.  I'm not really yearning to go shopping, but I am dreaming up outfits I'll wear when I have my entire closet at my disposal.  I guess that's the whole point of this challenge.  Realizing that I already have enough clothes for years of outfit remixing.

 

30x30 - Outfit 23

Blouse - Old Navy

Jeans - Gap

Boots - Frye, Resale Shop

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Mall

Bracelet - Vintage, Garage Sale

Belt - Gap

One good thing about a 30x30 challenge is that it makes me want to do a major closet clean out when I'm done.  That shirt I bought on a whim that never fit? And is still hanging in my closet a year later, unworn? Gone!  That funky vintage blouse that was just a bit too funky? Gone.  When I realize how many interesting outfits I can make with so few pieces, it makes my bulging closet look excessive and sickening.  Sometimes more is more (like in pattern mixing and accesorizing), but sometimes less really is more, especially when it comes to my closet.

30x30 - Outfit 22

Shirt - American Eagle

Skirt - Jason Wu for Target

Flats - Calvin Klein, Dillard's

Belt - Thrifted

Sometimes I think fashion blogging is all about seeing what wacky combinations you can get away with.  The statement jewelry, the layers, the pattern mixing. For this outfit I went with a gingham and floral combo.  I actually wore this to work.  I don't just blog these outfits, I wear them as well.