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.