What's Up?

Blouse - Vintage Havana, Altar'd State (Made in USA)

Skirt - Vintage, Goodwill

Sandals - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Bracelet - Vintage, Great Aunt's

So what's been going on in my life since I last posted six months ago? Well, we had the usually holiday hub bub, followed by the first of the year, be a better person push. I'm drinking more water and eating more vegetables, and I've started running. Another resolution I have stuck with was one that started out somewhat unintentionally, purchasing only secondhand clothing. I didn't specifically resolve to avoid new clothing, it just kind of happened. I was throughly disgusted by the clothing factory fire and collapse in Bangladesh and even more disgusted with American retailers response (or lack of one). I read the book "Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion" by Elizabeth Cline. There were just several things that added up to me saying, "You know what? I don't need new clothes." I've learned by now that I can satisfy my sartorial desires in a way that lessen my impact on the planet and on other people. I've keep my second hand only policy all year, until Saturday. 

My parents were up and my mom and I were killing time at the mall. Since I'm not buying new that limits shopping options to Sephora and William Sonoma. The men folk weren't back from Cabela's so we decided to check out Altar'd State. I knew it was a Christian based store, but I didn't know what their angle was, modesty or more along the social justice line. Well, the shorty shorts in the window told me that it probably wasn't the first. We began browsing and after a while found a piece made in the USA. Intrigued, we searched further and before long I had a handful of US made clothing to try on. 

I ended up buying three new pieces. Now, I don't know for certain the conditions of the factories in which the pieces were made, but at least by being US made hopefully they are following minimum wage as well as health and safety regulations (not to mention building regulations). 

For now, I'll mostly stick to secondhand (still best for the environment regardless of where the new clothing is manufactured), but its good to know that when I'm craving something new there might be some slightly better alternatives out there.

Arkansas Women Bloggers Ornament Swap

In an uncharacteristic spurt of participation I signed up for the Arkansas Women Blogger's Ornament Swap.  I received the name of a lovely Arkansas blogger and my name was sent to another lovely blogger.  It was all hush hush until today, reveal day. 

Last week, I received the ornament that was made for me as well as a extra present.  I received an ornament made by Rebekah of Oh Beloved.  In keeping with the theme of her blog, she sent me a lovely paper ornament, incorporating a bible verse, a reminder of the true meaning of this holiday season. 

She also send along a surprise gift.  A copy of her book.

Please head over to Rebekah's blog to check out what ornament she received.  You can also visit the Arkansas Women Bloggers' site to see all the ornaments that were exchanged.

P.S. If you want to see the ornament I made, check out Karen's blog, Ting's Mom.

arch+craft giveaway

The lovely Kim of The Made Thing is hosting an giveaway on her blog.  The prize?  One of our arch+craft necklaces!  So head over there and enter!

Bright Friday Sale

Long time readers of my blog will know that despite my architecture background, and architects' penchant for black, I can't get behind Black Friday. But I can get behind Bright Friday!

Unusual Form Vintage is having a Bright Friday Sale running today through Friday, November 30. Take 25% off you entire purchase by using the code: BRIGHTFRIDAY25.  Happy shopping!

arch+craft

Lately I've been alluding to an exciting new project.  Well today is the day for the big reveal.  In the last few months, my friend Rachel and I have been working on a new jewelry and home decor line. We launched our Etsy site today. We also just got notification that we will be participating in this year's The Little Craft Show.  Everything is happening in fast forward.  Check out our first products below and let me know what you think. 

Blah to Blogworthy

What can I say? This nice Fall weather has reinvigorated me.  Expect to see more posting from my neck of the woods. In the coming weeks, I'm also hoping to share an exciting new project that I'm working on.  Stayed tuned for that, but for today I present to you a Blah to Blogworthy that is kind of blue.

Outfit 1 - Blah

This outfit is not terrible, but once again, "not terrible" shouldn't be my goal.  I think the general shape and balance of the outfit is flattering, but the too-close color of the cardigan and trouser jeans make for a weird onesie look.

  

Outfit 2 - Blogworthy

I simply switched out the trouser jeans for a wooly red pencil skirt. The contrasting color of the skirt helps all the items in the outfit to stand out on their own accord. The tripartite color scheme strikes a slightly nautical note without be over the top.  Overall, I think the outfit is sharp and professional with the pop that the above outfit lacks.

Yellow Blazer - 3 Ways

Colored jeans were all the rage last fall.  I even covered how to style them earlier this year.  This fall the fun has moved from jeans on up the body to blazers.  A yellow (or teal or purple) blazer may seem intimidating at first, but I promise, it's not.  Think of colored blazers as the even more professional version of the colored cardigan that you are probably already wearing to work.  Below I've styled my new mustard blazer three ways for your viewing pleasure.

Yellow Blazer + Gray Tee + Leather Pencil Skirt + Fringe Booties = Edgy Professional

Yellow Blazer + Printed Tank + Skinny Jeans + Black Booties =  Quirky Casual

Yellow Blazer + Vintage-y Dress + Neutral Belt + Neutral Flats = Fresh Professional

Shop Feature Saturday

I'm going to start a new feature called "Shop Feature Friday"  (today's just didn't happen until Saturday).  Each week I'll feature one item from my shop Unusual Form Vintage.  It will be a fun way to let you know what's in the shop and to show you how it looks on a real person and how it can be styled.

First up is this darling 1950s day dress.  I love the varied plaid print in navy, one of my favorite colors.  It looks especially cute with red accessories.  I would guess that it was originally meant as an "around the house dress", but what a 50s housewife wore to clean house, now makes a perfectly cute date night look.  The dress is a little shapeless on its own, so you'll definitely want to belt this one.

The dress can be found here in my shop.  It's currently $27.00, but this weekend only you can get it and all other items in the shop for 20% by using code: welcome20.  So head on over and check out all my vintage goodies.

In & Out - Denim Jackets

In: Vintage Denim Shirt (Thrifted)

What's not to love about this jacket?  It's vintage.  It's thrifted.  It was a few bucks.  It's already worn in and has pleather patches.  Front and back.  I can just imagine this being my go-to weekend topper for chilly fall days.  On a side note, this is totally the outfit I would wear if I went glamping (red wedges and all).

Out: Gap Denim Jacket (Thrifted)

I have had this denim jacket for over a year and have never worn it.  It's pretty standard denim jacket fare and the fit is a little weird.  Oddly cropped/wide in the shoulders.  Plus, I have a similar, but darker version of this jacket that I wear more frequently.  Seeing this photo with the ones above definitely makes this jacket seem kind of blah.  

Welcome Sale!

To jump start Unusual Form Vintage on Etsy, I'm having an exclusive sale for Unusual Form readers.  You can take 20% off your purchase now through the end of this month.  Use coupon code: welcome20.  Happy shopping!

In & Out

Hey, y'all.  Let's just pretend that I didn't take a two month blog break, and get on with business as usual.  I recently had a big clothing sort and edited my closet.  Things had gotten out of control!  Now that I have things down to a managable size, I'm implimenting a one in/one out policy.  It's a great filter for shopping.  Before I decide to buy something, I have to think of something in my closet that I would be willing to get rid of.  I tested out my new filter at Anthropologie last weekend.  I walked out empty handed, because there was nothing there that I liked more than what is currently in my closet.

I'll be documenting this process through a new series of posts entitled "In & Out"  where I'll tell you exactly that, what item is in and what item is out.

In:  New Mustard-y Blouse from Banana Republic

I've had my eye on this blouse for a while now.  I pinned it.  I caressed it in store (I'm a very tactile shopper).  It's silk and the perfect shade of mustard!  When I saw a 40% off coupon in my email, I decided the blouse should come to my house and displace something in my closet.

Out: Vintage Butter-y Tie-Neck Blouse

 

This blouse is lovely.  It has a tie-neck which is kind of my favorite.  It's yellow which is also kind of my favorite.  The only mark it has against it is it's buttery shade of yellow doesn't quite do for my pasty, pale, Dayglo skin what the mustard top does.  Lucky for you, this lovely number will be added to my Etsy shop posthaste! 

Etsy Grand Opening

Mod Knit Dress

Hey, y'all!  I've come out of my summer hibernation (that's what we do down here in the south) to reboot my Etsy shop featuring vintage clothing.  I'll be adding new things all week.  Be sure to check it out:  Unusual Form Vintage.

Magazine to Me - Glamour

Lately, I've been really loving these "Month of Outfits" features in Glamour Magazine.  Perhaps it's the remixing aspect.  I've been cutting them out and leaving them on my dresser for when I need some early morning outfit inspiration.  Today's inspiration came from the bottom left.

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

I decided to forgo the pink blazer because:  A. I don't own a pink blazer and B. I think it would freak out my office mates if I wore pink and red together.  Baby steps...bringing fashion to architecture trough baby steps.

Blazer - J.Crew, Thrifted

Tank - Old Navy

Pants - J.Crew

Wedges - Jeffery Campbell

Necklace - Vintage, Resale Shop

Work to Weekend

Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Great Aunt's

Belt - Vintage, Thrifted

Shoes - Vintage, Thrifted

Let's start this Work to Weekend post with an all second hand outfit.  Would you believe that this outfit came from four different thrift stores and one great aunt?  It's true!  I thought that the blush blouse was a nicely complimented the coral pleated skirt.  Paired with a vintage necklace, belt, and my Ferragamos, I think it was a very lady-like outfit.  No casual Friday for me!

Tank - J.Crew

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Antique Mall

Belt - Flea Market

Sandals - Antonio Melani, Dillard's

To make my pleated skirt more casual, I paired it with a dotted tank and a wide leather belt.  Strappy sandals definitely say "not in the office anymore".

Blouse -Vintage, Thrifted

Shorts - LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Flower - Anthropologie

Belt - Gap

Sandals - Antonio Melani, Dillard's

Why should the pleated skirt have all the weekend fun?  The blush blouse also goes casual with the help of navy polka dots.  My office dress code is "no shorts or sandals" so this is definitely a weekend only look.  So is the floral brooch.  Wouldn't want to scare off contractors with a reference to anything feminine.  This blouse got plenty of casual wear last summer during my 30x30 challenge.  If you want a few more outfit ideas, check out my challenge here.

 

Work to Weekend

This post is a twofer.  You get both a before and after and a work and weekend post.  This dress began it's life as a frumpy church lady's dress.  I snatched it up at a garage sale for a whopping $2.00.  A few snips and one blind hem later and I have a fun new dress that can go from work to weekend with just a few swaps.

Blazer - Ann Taylor, Thrifted

Dress - Garage Sale

Necklace - Simply Vera, Kohl's

Flats - Gianni Bini, Thrifted

The dress may be a wee bit short for work, so I toned it down with a classic black blazer and flats.  A black statement necklace and a bun finish off the look.

Dress - Garage Sale

Necklace - Antique Store

Belt - Thrifted

Heels - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

For a night out with the girls, throw off the blazer and jazz the ensemble up with gold accessories.  Let your hair down and throw on some heels.  A swipe of red lipstick and you're ready for a night on the town.

Work to Weekend

I rarely post about weekend wear, it's usually work, work, work around here.  It could be due partly to the fact that I have a bit of a weekend uniform.  It's usually these shorts or these shorts with a striped tee.  Fine for a single post, but it would get repetitive after a while.  I'm going to start a new series called "Work to Weekend" that attempts to incorporate my work items into weekend looks.  First up the champ of work wear:  the button up shirt.

Button Up - J.Crew, Consignment Shop

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Great Aunt's

Bracelet - Mom'd

Belt - Thrifted

Flats - Thrifted

Nothing is more professional than a button up shirt.  Crisp, clean, androgynous enough not to freak out contractors.  But this office basic doesn't have to stay in the office.

Button Up - J.Crew, Consignment Shop

Shorts - Vintage, Thrifted

Bracelet -Garage Sale

Belt - TJ Maxx

Flats - Thrifted

Roll up your sleeves (if you haven't already) and you're ready to bring a preppy touch to high-waisted shorts.  I picked these shorts at my local thrift store for a song ($1.50 to be exact).  The red belt adds some much needed color to an otherwise monochromatic look.  Same woven flats as before and you're ready for your dressy casual weekend event.

Catalog to Kara: Madewell

Source: witanddelight.tumblr.com via Kara - Unusual Form on Pinterest

I pinned this outfit from Madewell way back when it wouldn't be climatically appropriate to wear a t-shirt and skirt to work.  Now that summer is in full swing, I decided to give it a whirl.  The best thing about my version is the very un-Madewell prices.  $10 tee.  $0.50 skirt.  $1 belt.  $4  shoes.  The sad thing is that the model is doing the "Kara" pose and this is the one photo I managed not to do it.  Sigh.  Next time.

Tee - Old Navy

Skirt - Thrifted

Flats -Gianni Bini, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Flea Market

Belt - Flea Market

Dots on Dots

Cardigan - The Webster at Target

Tank - J.Crew

Skirt - Limited, Thrifted

Necklace - Vintage, Yard Sale

Belt - Flea Market

Shoes - Dillards

You hear of people being "good on paper", meaning they have the right pedigree, education, job, what have you, to make them attractive in theory, but usually not in reality.  Well, I think this outfit is just the opposite.  It probably sounds ridiculous on paper: two different polka dots, one with a navy background, one with a black background, a multi-toned cardigan, brown belt, black shoes.  Wackadoodle right?  But in real life...it seems to work!  The polka dots have different densities that work in their favor.  The cardigan ties in the navy of the tank and the pink dots on the skirt.  Brown belt and black shoes?  Eeh.  We've debunked the matching belt and shoes myth many times over.  So there you have it...bad on paper, good on person.

Hi There

Hey Y'all! Long time, no blog. I've been busy in real life. Holding a yard sale and whatnot. That stuff is hard work. Definitely glad it's over. Even though I haven't been showing my face around these parts recently, I have discovered the joy of Instagram. If you would like to follow along, my user name is unusual_form.

Tee - Old Navy

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted

Necklace - Target

Shoes - Vintage Ferragamo, Thrifted

Now on to the matter at hand (or on body)...my outfit.  I'm still up to my thrifty ways.  In fact, this outfit rings in at less than $25.00. I've been loving this gray t-shirt I picked up at Old Navy for $5.00.  It's heathered with sweatshirt-like details that really toughens up otherwise sweet pieces such as the peach vintage knit skirt ($3.00) and vintage Ferragamos.  Yes, I am now the proud owner of vintage Ferragamos thanks to my local thrift store and a $5.00 bill. 

I'm thinking about re-opening my Etsy store with a focus on vintage clothing.  I find so many great things that either aren't my size or aren't my style, but I just hate to leave them behind.  Any thoughts?

 

Another Skirt Redo

Last week I gave a brief description of how to take up an elastic waist skirt. Today, I wanted to do an elaborate tutorial on how to take up a skirt with a flat waistband.  I started out altering the skirt and documenting all the steps with photos.  Then I decided I wanted to wear the skirt to a party that evening, so I had to dispense with the photo taking and get down to the taking in. I will give a quick description of what I did.  No photos though, some other time.

This works best with gathered skirts. Straight skirts such as pencil skirts would take a little more work. With a pencil skirt, you would have to take out fabric for a good fit. With a gathered skirt, you can just make it more gathered and redo the band.  Simply:

Step 1. Remove the waistband.

Step 2. Gather the skirt to fit. If you can find the original thread ends, pull them to increase the gather of the skirt and decrease it's circumference. If you can't find the thread ends, simply sew a new line around the skirt. Use a long stitch with less tension, then use the new thread ends to increase the gather.

Step 3. Reattach waistband and trim any excess.  

Jacket - Mossimo, Thrifted

Tank - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted, Altered

Necklace - Vintage, Thrifted

Belt - Thrifted

Sandals - Gianni Bini, Dillard's