Pattern Mixed with Pity

Do you ever look at the "Search Keywords" people use to get to your site?  Sometimes I feel sorry for those people because I know they're not going to find what they're looking for on my blog.  An example of keywords for this week:

• pattern mixing (Have I got a tutorial for you!)
• french 5 wardrobe (Been there, blogged that.)
• summer interview outfit (You'll find two or three.)
• unusual form (You found it!)
• unusual form blog (Yep!)
• anthropologie woven balls necklace (Umm...sorry.)
• dixon short boot jcrew cloudy grey (I have no idea.)
• fisherman vintage sandals (Can't help you there.)

 

What's the funniest keyword someone has searched to reach your site?

On a totally unrelated note, my outfit for today.   This is an example of Step 2, patterns with similar colors, but varying scale.

Tank - Thrifted (Unblogged)

Pants - Thrifted

Belt - Old, Target?

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, TJ Maxx

Necklace - Belk

New Features

I've been thinking about adding a little variety to my content. Unusual Form will remain primarily a fashion blog, but I thought that I might start incorporating a few topics that interest me (and perhaps you). You can help me out by answering my survey (choose as many topics as interest you). Also, if there is something you've been wanting to see or that you're particularly interested in, let me know in the comments.

Pattern Mix for a Job Interview

I have answered the eternal question.  Can you mix patterns for a job interview?  The answer is an unequivocal "Yes!".

I wore the outfit below to a job interview.  I didn't want to wear my most fashion forward outfit, even though it was a second interview with someone I knew.  Now granted the first picture is a bit "Where's Waldo?" when it comes to finding the mix.  Hint:  I'm wearing a patterned camisole.  You have acknowledge that it's at least more adventurous than a black suit.  Ooh!  What about tri-tone shoes?  Does that count as another pattern?

Jacket - Mossimo, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Tank - Old Navy

Skirt - Banana Republic

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, TJ Maxx

I did an open jacket shot just to prove that there really was a patterned tank under that jacket.

Another Day, Another Pattern Mix

It's another day and I'm wearing another pattern.  This one is also a Step 4 or maybe a Step 3.  It depends on whether you consider this particular shade of blue "neutral".  It is a bit brighter than navy.

Today I have another unblogged skirt with a funny story.  Before I went to grad school, my dad and I went down to Auburn to rent an apartment, sign papers, etc. (my mom had to work).  Anyway, it was just us and on our way back, we stopped at The Summit in Birmingham to do a little shopping.  At Anthro my dad tells me that I can spend $100 his treat, so I shop and try on and all I can come up with is the skirt I'm wearing below on sale for $30.  Don't get me wrong.  I love this skirt, it's one of my favorites (though unblogged, hmm...), but who leaves $70 unspent at Anthro.  Me, apparently.  Well, I'm sure my dad was relieved, for that trip anyway.

Blouse -Thakoon for Target

Skirt - Fei, Anthropologie (Unblogged)

Necklace - Loft

Belt - Flea Market

Heels - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Be sure to check out how everybody else mixes their patterns.

Pattern Mixing Week

In honor of EBEW Pattern Mixing, I decided to do pattern mixed outfits all week. Today's outfit would be an example of Step 4, two similarly colored patterns.  In this case, it's red that ties the shirt and skirt together.

This skirt actually comes with a funny story.  One day a few weeks ago, I was out shopping.  My first stop was a local resale/vintage shop.  It generally has nice merchandise, but the prices definitely reflect that.  It is definitely not a thrift store.  I saw the Tulle brand skirt (that I'm wearing in the photo below).  I thought it was cute, but at $17.00, I decided to pass. 

My next stop was one of my favorite thrift stores.  I was perusing the skirt section and low and behold, there was the exact same Tulle skirt.  The only difference was that this one was $2.92.  Needless to say, I snapped this one up and now display it for your viewing pleasure. 

Blouse - Banana Republic, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Skirt - Tulle, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Heels - Antonio Melani, Dillard's

Unusual Form has been all over the blogosphere lately. In case you missed it. I guest posted for Lidi of Eclectic Flair.  See the post here.  Also today on Modly Chic, Katy featured me in her blogger profile.

Short Commute

It's amazing how much where you work effects the way you dress. I'm not just talking about corporate dress codes and that kind of thing. I'm talking about the day to day practicalities of working. I wear very different clothes now that I'm spending 6, 7, 8 hours a day working at a computer than I did when I was teaching.

While pencil skirts and dresses look really cute (because that was my primary goal as a teacher, right?) when you stand up in front a class, they are just not that comfortable for a long haul in front of the computer. Heck, I never really had to sit in my teaching ensembles. Get dressed, look cute, go teach, come home, change into pajamas, grade, prepare for class, etc. Now that I'm sitting more I find myself gravitating more towards pants, especially those of the stretchy variety.

One good thing about a desk job is the shoes. When I had to walk across campus (and stand up for an hour and a half straight to teach), I always went for the flats. Now that I only have to walk from the parking to my desk, and trust me, this is a small parking lot, I say, "Bring on the heels!" Who care if they're hidden under my desk all day? They sure look cute on my short commute (seriously, it's like 100 ft, ladies).

This is for you, Katy:

Blouse - Banana Republic, Resale Shop (Unblogged)

Jeans - Gap

Heels - Gianni Bini

Belt - Gap

More Engagement Photos

I got the rest of my engagement photos today and I am so pleased.  They are so perfectly "us".  I have only one person to thank for that, our photographer and friend Meredith Mashburn.  If you like the photos be sure to stop by her site and tell her so.  I promise I won't enundate you with photos (or wedding stuff in general).  This is the last of the lot.

The last one is my favorite of the bunch. David and I just randomly decided to jump.  It cracked Meredith up because she wasn't expecting it. It also perfectly describes the spontaneity and silliness of our relationship.

The Night of the Unblogged

Last night I got to thinking about Tip #3 from yesterday's post: wearing the unblogged.  I had estimated that over half of my clothes had never made it on the blog.  Last night I decided to divide my closet into the blogged and the unblogged.  So I played a few episodes of Samantha Who? on Netflix and got to dividing.  Once separated, I counted the items and crunched the numbers.  Without further ado, the final tally.

In my closet:

93 blouses,  49 Unblogged = 53% of Blouses Unblogged

34 Dresses,  20 Unblogged = 59% of Dresses Unblogged

48 Skirts, 12 Unblogged = 25% of Skirts Unblogged (Much better odds)

So I was right.  Over half of my blouses and dresses have never been blogged.  This doesn't even count jackets, tanks, sweaters, shoes, belts, etc.  For the next few weeks, I'm going to concentrate on wearing the unblogged.  The unblogged items I don't want to blog might be a good indication of the clothing items that I should get rid of.  I don't want to own any pieces of clothing that I wouldn't want to show on the blog.

Blouse - Thakoon for Target (Unblogged)

Jeans - James, Anthropologie

Heels - Antonio Melani, Dillard's

Jewelry - Vintage

Please excuse my awkward express.  My neighbor caught me and wanted to chat while I was taking my photos.

Tuesday Blues

I had a funny exchange on Twitter yesterday.  Someone saw my post title "More Deception and Money Matters" and thought I was writing about our national debt problem.  It would actually be a perfect phrase to describe what is currently going on in Washington, but that never crossed my mind.  The only debt ceiling I was concerned with was my personal one.

These yellow pants are another one of my thrift finds from this past week (the one where I went overboard).  J.Crew City Fit pants for $4.  I already own these in grey and love them.  In yellow?  I couldn't pass them up.   

Chambray - Gap

Pants - J.Crew, Thrifted

Heels - Gianni Bini, Dillard's

Necklace - Target

Belt - Resale Shop

Yesterday, I mentioned my new budget and how I'm already $4.14 over for this week due to last week's spending.  Well, despite that fact, I still have the desire to shop.  What do you do when you want something new, but know you shouldn't go shopping?  

Here are a few of my tactics to beat the "got to spend money" blues:

1.  Wear the unworn.

 I have a pile of thrifted skirts I need to hem.  I guess I could start in on those.  That's brand new-to-me clothing just waiting to be worn.  

2. Make something new.  

 I have fabric waiting for some new skirts and dress.  All it would take is some time and effort (though no money) to have something new to wear.  

3. Wear the unblogged.

 Well over half of my wardrobe has never made it on my blog.  I could challenge myself to wear an unblogged piece every day for a week.  A month?

Anyone else have any helpful hint for those time that you just want to shop, but know you don't need to?

More Deception and Money Matters

My blogging deception has been well documented, but I have a feeling that I'm not the only one who practices this particular art of deception.  I started out with the best of intentions, but my hair went into a pony tail as soon as this image was taken, and those heels came off by lunch time. Oh, well.  I tried.  For the camera at least.

This outfit features some of my latest thrift finds.  The jacket is J.Crew and was purchased at the new Goodwill that just opened last week.  The purple shoes were purchased at a different Goodwill in the next town up.  They are brand-new Antonio Melani.  The bottoms weren't even scuffed.

Jacket - J.Crew, Thrifted

Pants - J.Crew

Heels - Antonio Melani, Thrifted

Jewelry - Vintage

I'm trying to be a good girl when it comes to shopping.  I know that come this fall, I'm going to have to stick to a budget.  The amount of $25 per week has been tossed about as a future shopping budget.  This sounds pretty generous, but it's going to take a while to add up for those big ticket items.  Those grey flats that I want from Banana Republic?  Over four weeks of not buying a single thing.  That classic trench?  Two months of not stepping foot in a thrift store.  It sounds daunting right now, but it will probably be good for me.  It will definitely be good for my wallet.

I started really tracking my spending this last week to get into training for the new budget.  I set up $25 a week for shopping, but went over so much last week that I started this week with negative $4.14.  In my defense, last week I went to two Goodwills that I had never been to before, one of which was brand new.  You can't not go to the Grand Opening of a new Goodwill.  

This budget thing is going to be challenging to say the least.  What about you?  Do you have a budget that you have to stick to or is your spending more "flexible"?