a Reason to be Fabulous

21-in-2012: navy blue skirt

2012-01-31T00:06:00.000-05:00

One of my goals this year is to create more than I consume; I want to make more clothing and jewelry than I buy. It's got nothing to do with "being green" - it's more about saving green for me. I have hundreds of dollars worth of unused fabric (really, I added it all up) and until I've made all of my 21 in 2012 items I'm not allowing myself to buy any more. I have also sworn off thrifting until I've altered at least half of the items in my To Be Altered pile and I'm not purchasing anything I could make on my own. This is the year of the DIY for me.

I'm acutely aware of the colors and pieces I feel are lacking in my wardrobe; isn't there always just one more thing that would make your closet complete? There are entire chunks of the color wheel that I feel are under-represented in my wardrobe and I recently decided that I don't own enough navy blue clothing, so I whipped up this skirt last week. Instead of using a pattern I examined the proportions and techniques of a thrifted pencil skirt and sketched out a basic plan with my measurements. It required a little trial-and-error and a lot of repeatedly trying the piece on, pinning it, taking it off, sewing, trying it on again.... The most challenging aspect was getting the darts placed in the right spots at the correct lengths and angles; again, I'm a "wing-it" sort of seamstress so there was quite a bit of seam-ripping and second-tries involved. In the end I created a skirt that I really love, but it's still a work in progress. After looking at these photos I've decided to take in the sides near the hem to give it a more fitted (read: flattering) look around the thighs and above my knees. I would also like to find a way to duplicate this skirt in a less-apt-to-wrinkle fabric (I must confess to using the wrinkle-remover editing tool on that last photo). I'm thinking a thick knit would work great for future versions.

What excites me most about this piece is the versatility of the color. Given my current love of earth tones, expect to see this skirt paired with orange, mustard, maroon, camel, tan, olive, and eggplant in upcoming posts... but then, wouldn't it also look great with light or hot pink, coral, lavender, periwinkle, or turquoise?

still autumn

2012-01-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

I recently treated myself to a belated Christmas gift (all purchases made in January will be identified as such) and ordered some new shoes. I've got zero space to store them, but nevermind that. I've had my mind on a few styles and colors that I felt were lacking in my closet and among them was a pair of high lace-up boots, bonus points if they had some sort of lift. I was thrilled to find these in brown (black lace-up boots might have looked and felt a bit more dominatrix than I was aiming for) and on sale, no less! They're not uncomfortable, which is to say that the quality is greater than expected for the price. If you're so inclined, you may also purchase a pair for yourself here at gojane.com. (not an affiliate link, I make no money off your clicks) They're not on sale anymore (were they ever? I can't remember) but there are coupon codes all over the webz.

Also, I am still, always, forever wearing autumn tones. No signs of changing that any time soon, especially with a forecasted 75-80° weekend. I'm particularly fixated on this reddish-eggplanty color (my sister bought me this top for Christmas. Danke, Bec!) It seems to go with every other color and pairs well with my hair and skin tone and new boots. Who cares what Pantone says, this is my color of the year.

just a bit

2012-01-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

Just a little black outfit with a pop of pattern and a bit of color.

hipster day dates and the most effort I've put into getting dressed since last week

2012-01-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

I've been exceptionally lazy in getting dressed for work this week but when Saturday rolled around I thought I'd get a little dolled up for a day out with Ben. My outfits of late have been pretty bland (and thus, unphotographed)- I'm talking turtlenecks and jeans with flats- but for our day-date I went a little crazy with mixed patterns. We spent the day browsing through old books at our favorite used bookstore (Chamblin Bookmine) and sorting through records at the local flea market (Yesterday & Today Records). I had luck in both places; I picked up Robert Nozick's Examined Life at Chamblin (I find his philosophical beliefs thoughtful and intriguing, particularly his theory of the we as a separate and whole entity created by two individuals in love*) and I added The Beatles and Bowie to our ever-growing collection of vintage vinyl.

Reading over this post, I think it's pretty clear that we are living the hipster life. Purposely mismatched outfits, days spent in bookstores, flea markets and record shops, casual mention of philosophy and vinyl collections...and did I mention we spend Sunday mornings sipping homemade espresso on our beach-front porch listening to Johnny Cash and The Kinks and reading classic literature?

*Here's a link to a writer's synopsis on Nozick's theory from Love's Bond. It's worth a read.

associations rambled

2012-01-04T22:48:00.001-05:00

Wintry weather usually inspires dark and drab outfits but I'm still stuck on the color schemes of autumn (most likely due to the temperate climate around here, and yes, I much prefer balmy winters to snowy ones, I don't care how pretty all that white stuff is on Christmas morning). The orange, purple, brown and teal together remind me of crisp mornings followed by golden afternoons, cinnamon gum, crunchy fallen leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. I can't really explain how this outfit reminds me of those things, I mean I've never even tasted a pumpkin spice latte and I don't even like cinnamon gum, but these colors subconsciously conjure up those images. I'm not the only one who associates smells, tastes, experiences and emotions to clothing color schemes, right? Is this some sort of blogger synesthesia?

I have a penchant for solid-colored jersey dresses and a sack full of jersey knit material in various jewel tones, so over the long weekend I made this simple dress based on a red one that I often wear. I love the 3/4 sleeves and casual fit of the dress; I just made it Sunday and it's already becoming one of the rotating favorites in my closet. I got off work 6 hours ago and I'm still wearing it- it's that comfortable.

I'm including this last photo to show off the waist construction for inquisitive minds. It's basically a skirt banded with thin elastic attached to a fitted top. Much simpler process than I expected it to be, and that stretchy waistband makes this the perfect buffet-date dress.

unplanned success

2011-12-24T15:02:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I'll throw on an unplanned outfit for a practical task like travelling or biking and later realize that I love the look more than some of my more carefully-selected ones. Case in point: I pulled this dress off the hanger because it's one of my most comfortable anda dresses. If I had to commit to one type of fabric for life, I'd choose jersey knit- it wears like a soft, thin blanket and you never have to iron it. I made this dress a bit short so I normally wear it as a top but it's Christmas weekend and most of my day will be spent driving and lounging, neither of which will involve much bending over in front of strangers. Also, it's not cold outside but it is cool enough for opaque tights, and we all know that opaque tights may as well be pants so the dress length really isn't even an issue (just kidding).

This color combination is a loose interpretation of the traditional red and green associated with the holidays and I could really wear these two shades together any time of year (and I probably will).

in hindsight

2011-12-24T14:27:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty understated holiday outfit for those who don't want to go all-out for the season. Honestly, I've been so OMG-Christmas-is-here since December 1st that by now I'm exhausted at the thought of pulling together full outfits for the blog, even if they're part of a self-imposed thematic challenge. Taking on the task of DIYing sentimental gifts was more work than I anticipated. Between daily trips to craft stores, last-minutes stops at dollar stores, bi-weekly grocery errands, baking, wrapping, glittering and Mod-Podging... it might have been easier to just buy gift cards for everyone. On Sunday morning my family's faces had better reflect an adequate appreciation for the time and effort that went into their gifts, or I'm gonna be pissed. Just kidding. They'll like anything I give them, even if it is on par with a kindergartener's attempt at macaroni art. I've got some dont-do-it-yourself posts and pictures to go up after the holidays are over... some of the things I attempted to make came out downright laughable. Turns out some crafts are harder to execute than Pinterest would lead you to believe, but we all know it's the thought that truly counts anyways.

taking it easy

2011-12-21T23:12:00.000-05:00

Day two of the red and green outfits. This one was too easy, perfect for the ~~downright slack~~ laid-back day I had at work. I finished a gift for Ben in between tasks and went to lunch on the Boss's dime and snacked on chocolates from clients and chatted with my co-workers. All perfect activities for this outfit.

I wore an often forgotten (rein?)deer ring I bought from Forever21 but my camera battery died as I was taking pictures and then the antlers broke as I was getting out of my car, so no close ups. Although it's resting in pieces now, believe me when I tell you that it added a whole other level of holiday charm to this outfit.

i've waited all year for this

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love pairing red and green and I wish I didn't have to wait for December to roll around each year to wear an outfit like this one. Yeah, you can put cranberry and olive together without looking like too festive but bright reds and greens (like these) get funny looks outside of the holiday season. I've got 4 days left before Christmas so I'm limiting myself to red and green clothing (with accent colors) for the rest of this week. 'Tis the season and all.

I'm in over my head with diy/crafted gifts for my family and friends this year and our home is starting to resemble Santa's workshop with all the craft supplies, half-wrapped presents, tinsel, garland and tissue paper strewn about. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love this time of year.

fair weather fair isle

2011-12-16T00:03:00.000-05:00

I haven't been particularly drawn to wool mini-skirts of the fair isle persuasion in the past but this one practically jumped off the rack and into my cart last Sunday. It could have been the price ($6.99), or the color combination (dark green and orange, a new favorite pairing), or maybe it was the way it makes my butt look (which is fabulous)... whatever the reason, it came home with me that day and I've been formulating outfit ideas around it ever since. This outfit was inspired by cozy layers and thoughts of icy winter mornings... in reality it's been in the high-60s and mid-70s here for most of the month. We've had the occasional cold front but in typical Florida fashion, the cool temps never stick around. It's hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you're sweating through your sweater, but I'm making do.

Speaking of Christmas, I need more than 10 days to get ready for it. Most of my gifts this year are of a DIY nature which means I have a lot of work to do and very little time to do it. Couple that with my penchant for procrastination and I imagine I'll be working late into Christmas Eve putting the finishing touches on my gifts. Here's hoping for a Christmas miracle :)

granny sweater

2011-12-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

I've got a few grandfather cardigans hanging in my closet but I believe that this is the first granny sweater I've ever bought. Pink, plush and proper, it looks like something right out of my own Nana's wardrobe (in fact, I probably could have saved the money and stolen one of hers). It does nothing for my shape but it feels amazing, especially on a cold and drizzly day like we had on Monday. Nasty weather days call for cozy clothing and this outfit fit the bill in almost every way. (I mean, the grey booties could have been a bit more comfortable but I'm not going to complain since 1. I spend most of my day in an office chair, and 2. I got them for $5 on clearance from Forever 21. What could I expect? You get what you pay for.)

tunnelvision

2011-12-09T14:58:00.002-05:00

I think it's technically winter now* but I can't stop dressing in fall tones. I'm currently fixated on rust orange, leopard print, chambray tops and cognac accessories, and it doesn't matter what the calendar or the weatherman have to say, I'm going to keep pairing them together until the obsession is replaced by something else. In the few weeks that I've had the boots and cardi (I bought them a day apart), I've paired them at least 4 times (more if you count non-blogged outfits). I've got plenty of footwear to choose from but as I've said before, I get a new pair and it's like all the other shoes disappear from my closet. The same goes for sweaters, I guess.

Check out my other remix recaps here.

PS, I got my hair cut and now I have bangs and I love them.
PPS, I was wrong. Technically, winter doesn't start until December 21st.
On with the warm color palettes, then!

the fungus among us

2011-12-07T21:35:00.001-05:00

I only wore this outfit today because my boss has been on my case about not wearing tights often enough. Out of sheer laziness I've been wearing jeans most days and she's tired of it. Some people have to worry about job performance and all I gotta do is show up properly dressed in the morning. Life is tough, right?
Also, taking photos during my lunch hour at high noon sucks eggs. I end up sweaty and reeking of outside-kid. There must be a better way to do this OOTD thing.

fashionably late

2011-12-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Pairing teal and red is hardly anything trendy or new (I did it in April but back then I called it cyan instead of teal) but this outfit felt so fresh and fun. I think it's the jeans. I've been so anti-pants over the last few years and I don't even really know why; maybe all I needed was a pair that fit well. Since I purchased these, they're all I want to wear anymore. I've been a slacker at taking outfit photos but believe me, I wear them several times a week. I'm sure people have started to notice.... it's kind of hard to remix fire-engine red pants without people realizing you just wore them two days ago.

This morning I woke up a few minutes late... ok, every morning I wake up a few minutes late but this morning I was trying to look nice and make it to work on time. Usually it's one or the other. Anyways, I wanted to put a little effort into my look but was short on time to play dress-up so I went through the gallery on my phone and found this outfit that I'd planned out a few weeks ago, added my faux-litas and a chunky ring and out the door I went. I was still a few minutes late but I showed up looking fabulous, and that's what really matters, right?

rewearing vs remixing

2011-11-30T22:23:00.000-05:00

I wore this dress to work today and my boss said she'd never seen it before. She has, of course, but I'm so awesome at remixing that she didn't remember*. This is what getting the most of your clothing is all about. People snark on remixing- they say it's just rewearing your clothes but I think there's more to it than that. Wearing one piece the same way every time is rewearing. Wearing that thing in so many different ways that your co-workers don't recognize it when they see it; that's remixing.

*There really should be a typographic method of expressing sarcasm. Give me a font effect or a punctuation mark or something....

giving thanks

2011-11-28T23:16:00.000-05:00

It probably wasn't the best idea to take photos after dinner but I'm just proud of myself for cranking a few shots out before slipping into sweatpants and slippers. To say that Ben's family takes the holiday seriously is an understatement; Thanksgiving dinner is seen as a challenge to be taken on with whole-heart and empty-stomach. We ate at the Mt. Vernon Country Club again this year and I'm not ashamed to say that I took full advantage of the gourmet buffet.

I packed a suitcase full of warm fall colors for the trip (cognac boots and belts, rust orange sweaters and socks, deep purples and browns, leopard prints and olive green accents) and I put together some great outfits but these are really the only OOTD shots from the trip. This year I left the camera in my bag most of the time and actually enjoyed my surroundings with the naked eye instead of through the lens. I recommend trying it sometime; it's nice to live in the moment.

Hope your Thanksgiving Day (or just plain "last Thursday" for international readers) was pleasant and fulfilling.

On second thought...

2011-11-22T00:19:00.000-05:00

I was really excited about this outfit on the day that I wore it. I recently and finally bought a perfectly fitted pair of red jeans (what took me so long?) and these camel boots are the second half of my sister's generous gift (thanks again, Bec!) so naturally I had to immediately pair them with denim and leopard print. I find myself in these stereotypical blogger outfits lately (I blame excessive exposure to Pinterest) and while I innately resist following trends, this whole camel boot- red pant- leopard print- chambray thing that I keep seeing has me hooked. And check it out, I even threw in the color of the season, rust orange, just to finish off the cliche (I also thought it looked warm and autumnal at the time).

As I said, super excited when I wore this outfit, totally thrilled with the photos at first, but when it came time to edit and scrutinize more closely I lost that lovin' feelin'. I thought I was cleverly playing with proportions but I do not love the short jacket with the longer cardigan; it's just not working on my figure. I also dislike the orange paired up next to the red because they're just too similar. I look like I was given access to a blogger's wardrobe with the stipulation that I had to get dressed in the dark. I love all the elements separately, and some together, but the overall look doesn't thrill me. I wasn't going to post the outfit at all but then I figure that's what I keep this blog for- live and learn from the good and the bad.

dark florals for dark days

2011-11-18T18:57:00.000-05:00

This is kind of a wintry look and it completely juxtaposes the previous outfit post but I dress for the weather and today it was grey and windy. I purchased these boots last week with money my sister gave me (we're calling it an early Christmas present) and I'm glad to finally have a proper pair of flat black boots. Those slouchy old Rocketdogs that I've been wearing for ages are falling apart and they're a bit smelly too, if I'm being completely honest. They served their purpose; they comfortably walked me through Europe and DC and Disney World and made numerous appearances on this blog over the last few years, but they lost their arch support long ago and the rat chewed a hole in the toe so it's time to retire them (to the closet, not the curb). These replacements are leather (faux? I can't tell) so I hope they'll hold up for a few years longer than their suede predecessors. Even if they don't, they were free to me so if I get a year out of them I'll be happy. Thanks for the boots, Bec!

Here's to another weekend of coffee and crafting!

style blogging in autumn

2011-11-10T23:39:00.000-05:00

If you took a poll, I bet 85% of style bloggers would say that autumn is their favorite season, right? I think this is due, in large part, to the fact that by late August we're collectively sick of sundresses and sandals. It's a lot easier to change up an article of clothing when you can add 5 other pieces and layer the shit out of it; for instance, this outfit, minus the tights and cardigan, would basically be this outfit and I would expect to be called out for a repeat. But add the rust orange tights (hello, I'm obsessed with this shade like it was just invented) and my beloved mustard cardigan, sprinkle in a dash of leopard print and oxfords and whoa, whole new outfit. Could I be a more cliche blogger right now with my chambray-leopard-oxford-orange ensemble? Well, maybe if I added a top knot and didn't need the glasses to see.

tights at 10 and 25

2011-11-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

When I was a little girl, tights ("pantyhose," as I knew them back then) were the bane of my winter existence. I was forced to wear them in church plays and for family photos and every freaking Sunday throughout winter. To me, they were one more thing that got in the way of running around outside with my friends; they were itchy and binding and too fragile for the active lifestyle of my adolescence. I remember my mom washing her many pairs of varied neutral hues in the sink before hanging them over the shower rod, and I can recall that every trip through JCPenney required a stop in the stocking department. When I was 10, tights were just a necessary evil in a woman's life.

A decade and a half later, tights and I have a better understanding of one another. I've realized that they're a delicate alternative to pants, a colorful tool for keeping my legs warm and stylish through the colder months, and a semi-disposable and inexpensive accessory with which I can add variation and creativity to my wardrobe. They really aren't even that itchy or uncomfortable (unless the office heater is set too high.) These fuchsia* tights were a cheap score last year when the weather began to warm up and Target purged their cold-weather accessories. I think they may have cost $3 at the most and they've held up pretty well. I know you're supposed to buy quality over cost but come on, who really has the cash to blow on $25 tights? That said, I do often buy multiples of my favorite colors when they're on sale because inevitably they'll snag when I'm miles away from the nearest bottle of clear polish.

Thanks to EBEW for giving me a reason to talk about tights for a whole post.

*I googled whether the hue is called fuschia or fuchsia and it turns out both forms are accurate but technically, the term comes from Leonard Fuchs, the German scientist who labeled the flower of the namesake plant, so officially I suppose it's fuchsia. Hm.

florals for fall

2011-11-06T16:53:00.000-05:00

I found this blazer on a thrifting trip a few weeks ago and nothing, not even the "size 16" tag or overstuffed shoulder pads, could prevent me from taking it home. Yes, it is a bit larger than my frame requires but slap a belt around my waist and roll up the sleeves and boom, it almost has that boyfriend blazer look. I'm fixated on adding more oranges to my wardrobe this autumn so I scooped up these cozy knee socks last week (my awesome little sister paid for them- thanks, Bec!) and I love how they pull out the warm orange-reds from the vintage floral print of the blazer.

I've been thinking critically about my motivations and habits surrounding this blog lately and I'm making some changes with respect to when, why, and how often I post. Over the last few weeks I've felt less inclined to put forth the effort involved with putting together an outfit post- call it laziness, call it burn-out, call it what you want; my perspective has shifted. Since I don't blog for money or sponsors, there's no extrinsic pressure to keep up a certain frequency or always be on top of the trends, yet I feel an intrinsic pressure to compete and/or perform regardless and I'm tired. I'm tired of feeling like I should have to increase my followers and create brand partnerships and more actively participate in the blog community and comment on everyone's blogs who comment on mine. It's exhausting! At the same time, I've put a fair amount of effort into building and maintaining my space here so I don't want to just give it up and walk away. My solution is to simplify things. From here on out I'm not going to worry as much about having the perfect backdrop or time of day to take photos. I won't stress if I go a week without wearing a "blog-worthy" outfit and I'm not going to set unrealistic editorial goals for myself. I started this blog to document my style, not to get internet-famous, and I want to get back to that place of dressing for me (shout-out to GOMI: I dress for me!). I briefly thought about doing away with the comments section but for some of my internet-friends who don't have twitter (I'm talking to you, Cammila), this is how we communicate. But please don't be upset or offended if you comment on my blog and I don't comment back. I read a lot of blogs but I comment on few; again, call it laziness if you want. It is what it is. SO thanks for visiting ARTBF, hope my inconsistency doesn't drive you away, I'm glad to have you here and I appreciate each and every one of my readers for taking the time to check out what I wear some days. See you sooner or later :)

uses for the earring you didn't lose

2011-10-28T22:41:00.000-04:00

I know chambray + leopard has been done to death already but I couldn't resist taking a shot at it after I picked up this top at a thrift store. It's actually an XXL Old Navy tunic but the fabric is thin enough to tie up without a lot of bulk. I love the easy shape and laid-back appearance of this outfit but after seeing these photos I think I'm going to let the hem out of this dress- it's just the slightest bit too short for work-related activities. To counter the scandalous length I went casual with a flat oxford and if I had worn this on Saturday instead of Wednesday, I might have topped the look off with my straw hat. The bubble ring is a new favorite; it's a re-purposed beach glass earring I purchased in Hawaii years ago. I lost its mate a while back and never let go of the remaining piece- so glad to have found a way to work it into my wardrobe once again.

Have an awesome weekend! I'll be spending this one in much the same way as I usually do: coffee on the porch, Lifetime movies on DVR, crafting in my pajamas and eating grilled muenster and bacon sandwiches. Oh, and on Saturday we're going out to people watch for Halloween, so there's dressing up on the agenda as well. I should also add that it's FL/GA weekend. Not that I care about football or anything, but it does take place in Jax so it's an event worth mentioning.

look closely

2011-10-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

The line for the fabric counter can get pretty long at my local craft shop so I learned a long time ago to get all of my selections cut in one trip at one time. Last Saturday it took an hour (40 minutes of browsing and 20 minutes of standing around waiting for my number to be called) before I made it out of the fabric department and over to the dye aisle, down the bead aisle, and around the glitter and ribbon side caps. Just before I headed to the check-out counter I made one final sweep of the sewing section for threads and elastics and in an instant the delicious warm color palette of this little fungi print grabbed my attention. This fabric is so earthy and whimsical and twee, I'm tripping out over it. Fashion-hippie me circa 2004 would have wanted to go buy the rest of the bolt and make an entire wardrobe- dresses, jackets, vests, bows, headbands, shorts, shoes- out of it. Currently a skirt is enough to make me happy and the one yard I bought was totally worth the additional 30 minutes I had to wait for a second spot at that fabric counter.

where am I?

2011-10-17T18:46:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, sorry for the abrupt lack of posts here. At some point during our recent move I lost my camera battery charger... so until I find it or get a new one, no new outfit posts. Sad face, I know. I'm taking this time to get some other projects finished, and I'm also taking a break from dressing up. Lots of black dresses and cardigans; you aren't missing much. If you just can't live without my witty comments on life, follow me on twitter. Otherwise, I hope to be back soon!

all diy long

2011-10-11T08:00:00.003-04:00

I'm digging this outfit big time because it incorporates several of my current style fixations (leopard print, earth tones, deep cranberry reds, and homemade pieces) and it was a perfect fit for me in both literal and figurative terms. There's a sense of pride that comes with wearing things I've made on my own and this outfit has 4 of them, so I'm feeling pretty fabulous right now. Please excuse me while I pat myself on the back...

The necklace was inspired by this one from Anthropologie; it cost much less the original but it also took much more time than I expected it would. It's fluid and chunky and shiny and I love it, but I wear it in constant fear that a string will break.
I made the blouse this summer when what was intended to be a dress ended up a bit too short (first seen here, then here).
The skirt is a year old this month and it still fits! That's a good sign, it means I haven't gained much weight in the last year. It does seem shorter than before but that's why we buy opaque tights, right?
I don't wear this ring very often but it's one of my favorites. That tiny lighthouse portrait is so detailed and clear, and it's just the right amount of quaint without being too twee.

I was especially excited for this month's EBEW because I love any chance to show off and say "I made this myself," but I'm also really looking forward to getting some awesome inspiration from my fellow bloggers. Did you participate? What did you make? Leave a link, I want to see.

birds of a feather

2011-10-07T16:09:00.000-04:00

Fashion and style bloggers are a rare breed. We love our clothes and shoes more than the average girl, and we embrace style as a virtue that must be groomed and shared. We place our wardrobes in high regard, we see personal style as an on-going journey, and we think our daily sartorial choices are significant enough that they must be shared with the world. Some of our closest friends live on opposite coastlines, others in different countries, and we'll probably never meet most of them in real life. Style blogging has a highly interactive virtual community, yet the lack of physical interaction can be lonely at times.

Enter meet-ups. I'm not talking about anything new here- I mean IFBCon just ended- but I've often envied bloggers in cities where meet-ups and get-togethers are frequent. For as large a city as Jacksonville is, the style scene is pretty ~~lame~~ tame here. Only in the last few years has Jax begun to cultivate an appreciation for local fashion, but hey, at least we're making progress.

Thanks to Alicia, very organized local blogger, on Tuesday night I finally had the opportunity to meet some real, live Jax bloggers. Face-to-face conversations! Over wine and food! Swag bags! It was pretty awesome. From left to right in the above photo: Alicia, Roxana*, Prissy, Trice, Kenny (not a blogger but the owner of the Nippers; he doesn't understand blogging but does understand posing for pictures with pretty ladies), Nicole, me, and Cathy. The food was great, the swag bags were fabulous (see below for a list of the sponsors**) and the laughs were plentiful. Hopefully it was just the first of many occasions for us to chat about the particulars of our collective hobby. Actually, I know it was because we're meeting up tomorrow for some thrifting. Sweet.

What does one wear to a blogger meet-up? So much pressure to look fabulous! I wanted to capture my basic style so I went with pieces that define most of my daily outfits: light layers, separates (a skirt), prints, and homemade jewelry. I realize in these pictures (especially the third one down) I kind of blend in with the background... how nice.

*this link will take you to a site with loud auto-play music- consider yourself warned.
**Thank you to those who sponsored our swag bags:
Anika Burke Eclectic Boutique
A’propos Boutique
Clothes Hound
Jaffi’s
Karen Kane
Le Lapin D’or
Private Gallery
Tara Lane Designs

go ask alice

2011-10-05T21:19:00.000-04:00

On Monday morning our place seemed cooler than usual so I checked the forecast on my phone before getting out of bed and it read sixty (60) degrees!! After running outside to confirm that yes, the weather was almost cold (by Floridian standards), my first thought was, "tights! I can wear tights!" This shows you where my priorities lie. Anyways, I had already chosen this outfit the night before and that morning I picked white tights to pair with it (obviously) and the result is a little Alice (you know, of the Looking Glass and Wonderland). Blue dress, white tights, black flats= recognizable Halloween costume with minimal effort. Slap a top hat and a colorful blazer on your man and there's your Alice/ Mad Hatter couples' costume for the lazy party-going pair. I digress, back to the tights. Turns out that mosquitoes hardly see tights as an obstacle to prevent them from my delicious blood, and I foolishly chose a photo spot that's home to swarms of them. In my excitement about the dropping temperatures I assumed the buggers would have died off but let's be real: 60° isn't really even that cool, objectively speaking. I'm just so friggin stoked about Fall being here and perception makes reality, right?

oktoberfest

2011-10-04T00:33:00.000-04:00

This weekend my sisters came to town for a short visit so we took them to a local Europub for pretzels, beer and beer-cheese soup in celebration of Oktoberfest. The weather was incredible, sunny and brisk- ideal for a weekend spent outdoors on foot. For the occasion (the arrival of fall, that is) I dressed up a spring/summer-print skirt with an autumnal color palette (mustard, cranberry and olive are atop the list of hues I'm craving this season) and kept the entire ensemble casual with minimal, functional accessories. It gave me great joy to pull my boots from the back of the closet for the first time in months. Autumn is exciting for many reasons but right now "boots, tights and cardigans" are the only three things I care about.

Thanks to my sister Becca for shooting these pictures. I was a bit too buzzy to operate the tripod at the time.

take it slow

2011-09-30T14:55:00.010-04:00

Getting back into the groove after being sick means dressing in basics with a teeny bit of flair. I'm ready for the weekend, who's with me?

controversial clodhoppers

2011-09-28T22:20:00.001-04:00

People have some pretty strong opinions about Litas. They're the shoe of choice for style bloggers (or they were last year, anyway); others think they're hideous clown shoes; people I work with called them "gaga shoes" and laughed. Personally, I love a good Lita - I think they're fun to look at and fun to wear- but my budget is low and my ethics about retailers knocking off designers who knock off other designers are even lower. I don't see these being shoes I wear into my thirties so I refused to pay the asking price for a pair of the real deal; instead I patiently waited for a fast-fashion on-line retailer to imitate the look. This GoJane pair is pretty close, right? I don't mind if you judge me for a) supporting fashion plagiarism or b) putting a pair of Lita-look-a-likes on my feet. Knock-offs aren't for everybody. Clodhoppers aren't for everybody, either. I'm ok with both when it comes to shoes.

Also, if I wanted to be a sterotypical fashion blogger for Halloween, this would be pretty close to the costume I'd choose. Add some hipster glasses and a top-knot and I'm almost there!

*I'm not going to make any money off those links up there so click away, friends!

when the waters receded

2011-09-26T00:33:00.000-04:00

I'm back! We've finally moved back into our apartment and unpacked all our things- what a task! We moved out on Saturday and back in on Wednesday, and all weekend Ben and I have been sorting out our things. There were a lot of great things that came out of the flood; we got rid of our nasty old carpet in exchange for ceramic tile, we re-arranged our furniture and deep cleaned our house (both needed to be done) and we made friends with our neighbors. I'm not saying this week has been easy but I know that there's always a reason things happen and you have to stay positive, even when things don't go the way you planned. Our home is 150% more awesome since we've re-organized- I have a new craft corner! There's been other improvements as well, but that one is my favorite.

I took the week off from blogging and outfit photos but these were taken last Saturday, the day after the flood*. My husband's company hosted a huge picnic and it was the first time I'd be meeting all the characters he works with so I put a lot of thought into my outfit; I wanted to represent him well. I asked Ben to pick out what he'd like to see me wear (barf, I know. So sappy, so sorry) and he chose this homemade dress. I added the diy jewelry- he's told some of his co-workers about my sewing hobby and blog so I had a reputation to uphold as a crafty and somewhat stylish wife. I don't know if that's the impression they got, but anyway I had a great time.

This dress is so easy to remix with primary colors; so far I've paired it with blue, green, red and yellow. One of my major remixing tips, although it seems pretty obvious, is to choose a print that contains three or four different colors. The opportunities to wear it throughout the year with colored tights, flats, cardigans and skirts will be endless.

*(I talk about The Flood like it was some epic experience... but it was, for me)

where am i?

2011-09-20T13:55:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, sorry for the radio silence on the blog these days. If you follow me on twitter you probably saw that over the weekend a little flash flood invaded my home. The photo to the right is our front porch and foyer at midnight on Friday... and it kept raining for 4 more hours. It was an exciting experience, to say the least!

Our landlord is an awesome guy; he was at our front door the next morning ready to deal with the situation. Our carpets got completely soaked so the good news is we're getting tile! The bad news is that we've had to move out of our apartment for a few days. I'm writing this post from work since we currently have no cable or internet at our temporary home, but I promise that there are posts on the way as soon as we get moved back in. On the bright side, without access to all the technological distractions I've been so productive this week! There's always a silver lining. Hopefully I'll be updating soon!

thoughts and feelings

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

A little pattern mixing for your Friday viewing pleasure. Flowers and polka-dots, obviously made for one another. The skirt is quickly becoming a favorite of mine for its m(odd)est length and super-light fabric; I can wear it for work, to dinner and then on a bike ride. Versatility ranks pretty high on the list of things I look for in an article of clothing. Also, I'm trying to remix this Stop Staring! dress a bit more so I wore it as a corset top today. I love the fit of the top but the neckline is cut a bit too scandalous for work, hence the tank top. Yeah, there are a lot of layers going on in this look- cardi, skirt, (knee-length) dress, tank top- so I was basically wearing two outfits in cotton sundress weather. It's too hot for all this yet. My "if I dress for fall, it will be fall" theory isn't panning out as I'd hoped so far.

It's almost the weekend! And I got new shoes in the mail yesterday! And I'm going used-book shopping after work! Those are things I'm happy about right now- what about you?

travel and leisure

2011-09-14T20:40:00.000-04:00

I have an unhealthy attraction to kitschy prints, so I had to have this retro travel fabric when I found it last week. The colors are warm and will pair well with the reds, yellows and browns that I'm drawn to throughout autumn, and just looking at those hat-boxes and suitcases makes me want to catch the next transcontinental train! In keeping with the travel theme I added my airplane earrings (which is just this side of costume-y, I know) and I wore my sewing machine ring to subtly brag that yes, this fabulous skirt is homemade. One. Of. A. Kind.

And since I'm on the topic of sewing (it's National Sewing Month, didn't you know?), I'm so excited to report that tonight I purchased my first serger ! If that's a foreign term to you, check out the inside hem of the cotton shirt or dress you're wearing; that nice, multi-threaded finished look comes from a serger, not your typical sewing machine. I can't wait for mine to be delivered so I can really start churning out more professional looking pieces (no more frayed hems or uneven seam tension!). In the future, the near future, I'd love to take custom orders for the patterns I make and wear so often (like this skirt), and a serger is going to give me the tailored look that I'd expect from other independent designers (I hesitate to use that word describe myself and the novice pieces I make but for lack of another term, you'll have to accept it.) I know one machine isn't going to catapult me to Project Runway (which is fine... much as I love to watch the show I think that living in that competitive environment would emotionally destroy me) but it always helps to have better tools to hone your skills.

sizing up

2011-09-12T23:39:00.000-04:00

Any experienced thrifter will advise you to wander beyond the confines of your own clothing size when secondhand shopping. Most of what you find on the plus-size rack will be hideous but once in a while you stumble across a gem like this size 24 sheer leopard print button-up blouse that fits like the slouchy dolman-sleeve shirt-dress you've been searching for, and you'll thank the Goodwill gods for the generosity of stylish ladies who donate their still-new Lane Bryant clothing to your local thrift.

This blouse/dress is going to be a great piece through fall with skinny jeans and riding boots and it will layer well through winter, but while the weather is still undecided as to whether it still wants to be summer this drouse (or bless?) makes a great girls-night-out piece when simply belted over a short cotton dress. On Friday night some girlfriends and I met up at my friend Chelsea's for wine and gossip, and while I wanted to feel fabulous (see: leopard print), I also needed to feel comfortable (see: cotton dress). As drinking was involved, so were flat shoes and minimal jewelry. When it comes to going out (or even just going out to stay in), my theory is the less I have to worry about my outfit, the more fun I can have. Look good, feel good only works as long as there are no blisters on your feet, right?

scattered showers

2011-09-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

I'm not typically a label-whore and I refuse to spend more than $20 on a blouse, but when one of my bosses offered up a bag of her cast-off pieces from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic I couldn't say no. This top (Ann Taylor) is made of super comfortable high-quality silk and I love the embellished neckline but honestly, I shouldn't be allowed to wear clothing that costs as much as this one probably did. By lunchtime I had already used a Tide pen twice and before the end of the day the edge of the pleats were beginning to fray, but despite my glaring inability to preserve nice things and the constant anxiety that comes with wearing them, I loved this outfit. For the second post in a row I'm wearing shades of blue and yellow, though this time the colors are more on the primary end of the spectrum. It's a cheery look even with the dash of gray, like a sunny day spattered with rain clouds, which is exactly what the changing weather has been like the last week. I'm looking forward to evening bike rides that require a sweater and morning walks that beg for tights and boots but for now I'm just happy to walk outside without sweating through my cardigan.

Here's to a relaxing weekend, friends! Hope you're taking time to appreciate the good things in life.

where seasons meet

2011-09-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

Short weeks always feel longer than they should, don't you think? I only had to work three days this week (I'm off every other Friday (I love my job)) but they were three complicated, hectic, exhausting days; I am so ready for the weekend. As evidence of my busy week, I present you Tuesday's outfit on Thursday night.

One of my style strengths is color pairing- I like contrasting, complimenting, and clashing to find new combinations. When I have those nothing-to-wear moments I pick one item and go down the rack (my closet is organized by color) pairing it with the various hues in the ROYGBIV spectrum, and that's how this outfit was born. The cyan and mustard duo is a great summer-to-fall transitional palette and when you throw a little leopard into the mix, the result is nothing if not eye-catching.

labor day and leopard print

2011-09-06T13:31:00.000-04:00

My holiday weekend was just what I've been needing: three days of sleeping in, goofing off and enjoying life. My dad came to visit on Saturday so we spent the day biking around town, drinking at cafes and catching up. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! It's begun to cool down here in North FL (by "cool down" I mean temps in the low 80s) so spending time outdoors is actually pleasant again. Ben and I just got beach cruisers and we've been going on long rides every night trying to enjoy as much of the ocean breeze as we can!

Last night Ben and I had a casual dinner with friends so I seized the opportunity to take my new shoes out for a spin. You've seen these shoes before but they've gone through a bit of a transformation recently. When Ben whacked the mouse/rat with his machete in the closet some of the rodent's blood splattered on my white tennis shoes. Believe me, it was worth it to hear him squeal (the mouse/rat, not Ben), and rather than toss the shoes out I re-worked them with some left-over fabric. I've seen leopard-print shoes in trend reports and around the web for a few months and I love the pop of pattern at the bottom of an outfit but didn't want to drop cash on what will probably be just a passing trend, so for a few bucks I now have a totally unique pair of leopard-print shoes. I didn't photograph the steps but I basically used the same method as my diy lace pumps, in case you want to try this yourself. Super easy and totally cute result, right?

dots for days

2011-09-01T12:24:00.001-04:00

This is one of the outfits I put together while experimenting with patterns for the latest EBEW. I think the visual effect of the same-sized, same-spaced white dots on two contrasting background colors is almost too intense but it works for me. I tried to keep the rest of the outfit classic and somewhat neutral with a basic black skirt and a pair of (super-comfortable) boys' oxfords I thrifted a few weeks ago. What do you think? Is this print pairing too much or just enough?

blazer tag

2011-08-29T23:00:00.000-04:00

Improving my sewing skills has been a goal of mine over the last few months so this jacket pattern (burda 8201) seemed like a good challenge to get me out of my comfort zone. Most of my sewing knowledge is leftover from childhood 4-H classes and many of my previous pieces were constructed from basic shapes; despite the "easy" rating of the pattern, creating this blazer was a daunting task. This was my first time working with set-in sleeves, interfacing and collars, and I spent a lot of time consulting various youtube videos and sewing dictionaries. It took me two whole weekends (you could have followed the process on twitter) but looking at the result, I'd say it was worth the effort. The finished piece isn't quite perfect but I think it looks great for a first attempt. The sleeves fit comfortably, the silhouette suits my figure, and the color and weight of the fabric are ideal for fall. This is going to be one of my favorite layering pieces in the coming season, and I can't wait to execute this shape in other fabrics.

twice as nice (and no dead mice)

2011-08-25T19:28:00.000-04:00

Well, we didn't get the mouse last night. Apparently he's larger than we thought; too big, in fact, for the traps we set throughout the house. There was a show-down in the closet between a machete-wielding Ben and the brave rodent, but the furry little asshole got away. He's somewhere in the walls nursing a wound (he bled all over my Wal-mart keds, the jerk) so tonight we're setting larger traps.

With all the excitement last night I didn't get much rest, so this morning I reached for something simple and easy. No patterns today, just a playful mix of color. I can't resist pairing these heels with the matching belt; though some may say it's a no-no, I think dual pops of this shade are twice as nice.

My plans for the weekend involve visiting with family, working on a personal project, and sewing sewing sewing! What about you?

feeling ferociously feline

2011-08-24T23:47:00.000-04:00

I've been drawn to leopard prints this week, and I think I've figured out why: I'm channeling my inner cat-woman. Check it out: we have a mouse in our house, and it's not as cute as it sounds. He ate my cheez-its and I looked past it. He chewed a hole in one of my couch cushions, I got a little annoyed and set some traps, but still it was no big deal. Then, he messed up. He went after my shoes and now I'm pissed. You can eat my food, you can ruin my furniture, but do not touch my footwear. I always had a soft spot for Jerry in the old cartoons, but now I am 100% Team Tom. Mice are jerks. Ben and I have invested in every mouse trap on the market, from the old-school snap traps to the more humane sticky traps... and until then, my shoes are packed in a duffle bag. I won't rest until that little rodent is dead and my heels are safe once again.

back to school and what it means to me

2011-08-22T21:50:00.000-04:00

Today wasn't just any old Monday, it was the first day back to school for Jacksonville kids and college students. Although my campus days are long gone, I still get excited this time of year because more than anything, the first day back means the end of summer break and the unofficial beginning of fall. To celebrate student style as well as the soon-to-be-changing seasons, I wore a sweater (despite the fact that we continue to experience very summer-like weather). Together with the oxfords, simple skirt and button-up top -a basic element of every school-girl outfit- this outfit was my homage to the beginning of classes and, with any luck, the beginning of autumn. If I dress for fall, it will be fall, this is my mantra until the weather cools.

PS, I just made this skirt and I am patting myself on the back for a nearly successful first attempt at sewing a scalloped edge! I would have scalloped the bottom too but I ran out of fabric. Regardless of that, I love the outcome, it's such a fun detail!

spin cycle

2011-08-21T23:52:00.004-04:00

After seeing the many ways one can be styled, I searched far and wide (two days and four thrift stores) for the right chambray top. I found this one in the men's section of a local Goodwill and it fits like I imagined it would; like a classic button-down. I try to avoid buying into trends and it seems that for over a year now people have been falling over themselves about chambray so for a long time I resisted, but at this point I'm convinced that it's a versatile classic. Here I am, jumping on the bandwagon. And liking it.

Speaking of following others, I saw this streetstyle photo a few weeks ago and recently pinned it for reference, and here it is in all its plagiarized glory. It's definitely an outfit for summer days- simple, bright, casual, not a Monday-to-Friday work look but great for Sundays at the laundromat.

seeing patterns

2011-08-17T22:20:00.001-04:00

I love love love wearing this skirt... with teal, obviously.

also seen: here, here, & in original form here

getting what you want for less

2011-08-15T23:20:00.002-04:00

I won't lie, this outfit is straight-up copied from this one right here. Obviously she is way more rock and roll than me but you see where the inspiration came from.

I would have put these colors together sooner (I've been thinking about this outfit since May) but I was previously lacking this perfectly bright, non-mustard yellow cardi which happens to be thrifted LOFT, thankyouverymuch, and I must say that it's better quality than three of my Target sweaters combined, even if it is a size small on my size large frame. I guess it's true, you get what you pay for (unless someone else pays for it and then donates it to my local Goodwill, then I get at a lower cost what you pay full-price for ).

Speaking of getting things the cheap and easy way, I've been meaning to scoop up a pair of red flats for like 3 years but it keeps slipping my mind, so last night I got resourceful and painted a pair of dingy white flats (previously seen in small detail here) this coral-reddish shade. It was an impulse DIY; I used old, cheap acrylic paint and the whole thing took about 5 minutes to complete. I don't expect the paint job to last but these shoes certainly served their purpose today. Good 'nuff.

edit: the ring is DIY too

thoughts of falling

2011-08-12T00:23:00.000-04:00

It's pleated and midi-length and it cost $4 and for that, I can live with the uncomfortably thick polyester this skirt is made of. I love pairing green with black and white, it looks and feels simple and fresh, but to be honest I'm more excited to remix this shade into fall with layers of deep berry tones and light neutrals (by then the fabric won't feel so obnoxious). Is everyone else as ready for fall as I am? I'm so over this humidity that hits you like a wet towel, mosquitoes that gorge themselves on your blood, the constant threat of sweating through silk blouses and hair that just won't cooperate. Summer no longer feels as shiny and precious as it did when I was a kid. It once symbolized freedom, vacations, staying up late and sleeping all day, lazy afternoons between the pool and the couch with a book in hand and not a worry in sight. Now it's just... humidity, mosquitoes, sweat and frizz. I'm sure my attitude is closely connected to the climate in which I live (I know Californians and Brits won't relate) and don't get me wrong, I do love a warm breeze and long days but I've just had enough. I'm ready for cooler temps and a different color palette. And speaking of fall color trends, have you seen the Pantone guide to fall colors? My mind is reeling at so many perfect color combinations. Gah, why isn't it fall yet?!

pros

2011-08-10T21:59:00.000-04:00

Totally digging my red hair against this shade of blue, neutrals with a pop of color, the weightlessness of this skirt on a hot day, and dressing casual on Wednesday.

ebew: pattern mixing (in a homemade outfit)

2011-08-09T08:00:00.020-04:00

I am absolutely loving sheer fabrics this summer, so when I found this heart printed chiffon I bought it without a second thought (I only wish I'd bought more!). I originally intended to fashion it into a circle skirt but one evening as I was watching Project Runway I began draping it over my body form (I like to play along) and I really loved this blousy shape. It's loose and light and although there's an excess of fabric on my frame, it doesn't look or feel bulky. I paired the top with an equally breezy skirt and cinched everything in with a belt to create a defined waistline and I felt like such a lady. This classic silhouette is one I could absolutely stick with forever, I don't think I'd ever get bored of it.

For this EBEW challenge, I wanted to keep the color palette simple so I went with black and white patterns. I recently paired this skirt with another black and white polka dot top but this outfit seems easier on the eyes, probably due to the inverted patterns I've got going on here; the white dots on the black skirt play well off of the black hearts on the white blouse and the overall effect doesn't overwhelm (not to me, at least). To keep this basic black-and-white ensemble interesting I added pops of red at the top and bottom of the look (the always classic color combo) and I couldn't resist throwing in a third pattern to finish off this look- the striped ring is a pom-pom remnant from another black and white chiffon shirt I made!

In planning and pairing prints for this challenge I got so inspired! I snap photos on my phone when I'm ~~playing dress-up~~ putting outfits together and now I've got several pattern-mixing looks lined up for future posts. In my experience, the longer I spend in my closet pulling ensembles together, the more creative I feel so on Sunday nights I try to spend an hour or so just playing with different combinations and remixing the hell out of my clothes.. With all the looks in my phone gallery I don't ever feel like there's nothing to wear (it really helps on those mornings I wake up late) and I highly suggest a good dress-up session accompanied by a glass of wine and good music at least once a week. What's your method for creating new looks? Do you plan ahead or style on the fly?

How I Wore It: pattern mixing

2011-08-07T18:00:00.021-04:00

The next EBEW challenge is pattern mixing so to inspire myself I pulled out some past attempts from my archives. I don't think there's a perfect formula for mixing prints- most of my favorite examples have come from hours of experimenting- but there are some guidelines and starting points I keep in mind when pulling prints together.

When in doubt, stick with a base color and pair prints within that hue.

Go completely against the grain with different prints (extra points if they're in opposite colors!) for a clash that's so obvious, it must be intentional (and thus, fabulous).

It just works.

Keep things monochrome or use one print to tie different colors together, either way the patterns will mix well.

Mixing lines creates an image that's visually stimulating. Play with proportion and mix sizes, widths and colors.

I'm certainly not the reigning authority on pattern mixing; there are so many bloggers out there who do a fabulous job of throwing prints and patterns together with ease. For more articles and posts on pattern play, check out:

Kelly of The Glamourai is a mix master- check out her mixology posts (I'm a big fan of polkadotorama!)
Suze of Miss Vinyl Ahoy is fearless when it comes to pairing prints and has compiled her 8 simple rules for mixing patterns.
Kristine of Kristine. Or Polly. also wrote a how-to guide for mixing prints.
The ladies of Academichic put together a weekend workshop for pattern play.
This editorial trend report from Shopbop gives great pointers (with incredibly executed examples) for a crash course in print mix-and-matching.
The New York Times wrote a great Print Mixology article.

Got tips or links of your own? Send them my way! And be sure to link up to Everybody, Everywear on August 9 (Tuesday!) to show off your pattern mixing skills.

Five Points

2011-08-07T12:46:00.001-04:00

From the day we moved to Jacksonville two years ago Ben and I have been talking about spending a Saturday in Five Points and yesterday we finally had the opportunity and motivation to do it. It's located in the Riverside district and is undeniably the most bohemian of all the Jax neighborhoods with its colorful street murals, vintage-rich antique shops and boutiques, mom-and-pop restaurants and the historic Five Points Theatre (which hosted the first talking-picture shows in Florida!). I grew up in Jax so as a teenager I spent a good amount of time hanging out in the coffee shops with friends, but this was the first time I've taken the time to stroll through each shop and really enjoy just being in Five Points. Ben had never been before so experiencing it with him was as exciting as if it were my first time too.

It was hot as blazes yesterday so we tried to stay cool by ducking into shops as frequently as possible. We wandered down to the river and took in the breeze, chatted with locals and snapped pictures. The WWI memorial statue behind Ben is of personal interest to his family; his great-grandfather headed up the construction project when it was installed in the current location in 1924 (it's still standing strong!).

I tried to dress to beat the heat with a light top and my all-time favorite black skirt. I've quit wearing it to work because it's way too short, but for weekends it's a go-to piece. I thrifted the blouse a few weeks ago; it originally had a much higher collar and long sleeves, so to update it I cut out a square neckline and shortened, rolled and hemmed the sleeves. And yes, this is yet another pair of those cotton mary-janes- they're so comfortable! I love the pop they bring to a mostly neutral outfit. I still ended up being uncomfortably sweaty but it's unavoidable these days. I cannot wait for fall to get here, how about you?

what nearly wasn't

2011-08-05T19:52:00.000-04:00

This is the outfit that almost never happened.

The blouse started out as an anda dress that refused to let itself be made. A process that typically takes an hour took three; the sleeves wouldn't lay right on my arms, I hemmed it too short and the neckline looked straight-up wonky. I kept re-cutting and re-stitching so before I knew it I had very little material to work with around my collarbone. In my frustration I nearly tossed out the whole thing but I gave it one last shot and braided three scrap pieces to stitch over the poorly-crafted neckline. Although embellished necklines aren't usually my thing, I'm really pleased with the result because if nothing else, I made it work.

The skirt was nearly a thrift store cast-off. I tried it on, I loved it, but when it came down to purchasing either a perfect-fitting pair of boys' oxfords or this skirt, it had to be the oxfords (finding them in my size has been an on-going challenge). To my delight, the shoes were discounted and the Salvation Army doesn't charge tax so I had just enough leftover cash to run back and scoop up the abandoned skirt. As if I need another midi skirt, I know, but check out that print! I have yet to identify what it actually is but I like it.

The heels have made an appearance on the blog before but there was a time when I nearly purged them from my closet. Pointy-toe yellow stilettos aren't exactly every woman's kind of shoe and they remind me of a duck bill but I held on to them because they fit well and they're statement-makers. So glad I kept them now (what was I thinking, getting rid of shoes?!), they ended up being just the thing to cap off this outfit.

braided belts

2011-08-03T20:58:00.000-04:00

In a recent post I raved about the cotton mary-janes I got on sale at Urban Outfitters. At $10 a pair, I thought I had really scored until Kirstin sent me this link to an even better deal on Amazon. It may seem a bit excessive to own 8 pairs of the same shoe but who can say no to a rainbow selection of comfortable flats? This bright blue pair was the first color I pulled out of the box and immediately I thought of the matching belt I just thrifted. I love when that happens, I don't care how tacky matching belts and shoes may be.

And I'm still fixated on layering skinny belts, obviously. Can I call it a waist party? Does that have weird connotations? OK. Braiding these three colors together was a really cool effect but before you try this at home, beware: when I pulled them apart they were slightly bent out of shape. I've got them stretched under a stack of coffee table books to flatten them out again and I'm not too concerned since the total cost of all three was something like $5, but I don't want anyone ruining their designer belts on account of some creative experiment I attempted. Braid at your own risk, you've been warned.

devil in the details

2011-08-01T22:39:00.000-04:00

The devil is in the details: that's how I feel about this outfit. First impression: loved it. It's got pattern-matching, a simple color palette (or lack thereof), and a classic silhouette. This was meant to be a midi-length circle skirt but as you can see it's more of an asymmetrical knee-length. I love the shape and length and cut, unintentional as it may have been. When I made this last night I didn't use a pattern, I approximated quite a bit and don't get me wrong, I do like it, except that I overestimated the length of elastic (but I measured, I promise) so the waist-band is too big (so maybe I was bloated?). I suppose there are worse things in life though. Next time, measure better. Make a note: measure for morning weight loss.

I also remembered today that polyester feels and smells funny when your body temperature rises, that two necklaces feels like choking, and that a nude slip does not do the same work of a black slip. A nude slip looks like skin under sheer black clothing, making the whole exercise pointless. I also learned that it is inappropriate to remove one's nude slip while sitting at her desk conversing with co-workers. (Sorry, Sarah!)

Were I not an outfit-of-the-day blogger, I probably wouldn't have noticed the nude slip issue or doubled up on the necklaces. Were I not a Floridian, wearing polyester in the summer wouldn't suck so horribly. And were I a more patient seamstress I might have measured twice before cutting/sewing once. Lessons were learned today and next time I wear this skirt and this blouse (separately of course, no re-wears here) I'll be more prepared.

PS, I feel like I need to add that this is not a self-pity post. I'm not fishing for compliments here, I'm just trying to have an honest conversation with myself about today's outfit. Feel free to chime in with suggestions for me or stories of your own, but don't read this as a plea for validation. I'm just trying to learn what works and when and why (or in this case, why not).

how to make me like you

2011-07-28T23:25:00.000-04:00

I've been sitting here trying to come up with something more interesting to post than "I wore my UO fauxfords today because my toenails aren't painted so sandals weren't an option" but I got nothin'. Today was uneventful except for the surprise red velvet cupcake that a client brought in for my birthday. Fact: give me baked goods covered in cream-cheese icing and my opinion of you will instantly and permanently improve.

click for original posts: 1 2 3

ps, linking these photos was kind of time-consuming so maybe don't expect it every time.

whimsical walking shoes

2011-07-27T22:47:00.000-04:00

I'm a sucker for the occasional excessively-girlish outfit and these shoes seem to add the right amount of whimsy for such a look. They're my new favorites, mostly because of the bright color but also because they feel like slippers on my feet. Comfortable doesn't even begin to describe the fit! Let me put it this way: this will be the footwear to get me through my next marathon shopping day or weekend Disney trip. If your local UO has these in store I say get 'em while you can- I'm thinking of heading back there and stocking up on several more pairs myself.
Also, two remixes for you today, because it's Wednesday and I like you.

the birthday, part 2 of 2

2011-07-25T21:17:00.001-04:00

After our dip in the ocean yesterday, Ben, Becca and I went out to a casual local restaurant with a screened-in dining room that overlooks the beach and a deliciously fresh seafood menu (I had fish and chips, nom). After dinner we picked up dessert: peanut butter fro-yo with marshmallow cream, brownie bites, peanut butter cup crumbles and chocolate syrup and it was all guilt-free because if there's one day you can treat yourself to a heavy helping of sugar, it's your birthday! We ended the night on the couch with our cups of fro-yo and a new episode of Breaking Bad (I'm a superfan, it's ridiculous), the perfect way to cap off the weekend. I realize I'm getting older because this year celebrating my birthday was less about presents and getting wasted and more about relaxing with the people I love. Does this make me a real adult?

For a no-fuss dinner outfit I pulled on an easy staple of mine, this jersey dress, and added some contrasting colors to give it a little festive feel. I picked up these flats on sale at UO Saturday- they were $10 a pair so I bought two. They're supremely comfortable, perfectly casual and quite practical as well; I wore them while riding my new bike this afternoon and they function as well as any tennis shoe would. Though they may not last long (there's probably a quality-related reason they were so cheap), I'll get a lot of wear out of them while I can.

And speaking of cheap, at this point the cost per wear for this dress is somewhere around $1.50 and I'd say that's not too bad. Ten wears for a Forever 21 dress is a surprise for me; in my experience that they typically begin to shrink or fall apart long before then. If you want to know my secret, it's not having easy access to a washer and dryer. Having to take my clothes to the laundromat means I'll wear something as many times as possible before washing it. I also wash many of my F21 pieces in the sink as if they were precious delicates. Spare me the "buy quality" advice please because even if I had the cash to buy well-made items I'd still probably shop fast-fashion. I couldn't see myself spending over $30 for a simple dress like this, so my approach is to buy cheap and love the clothes as much as possible because you never know when they'll be gone.

You can see more remixes like this one by clicking the often remixed, never repeated tab under the banner. Or just click HERE.

the birthday, part 1 of 2

2011-07-24T23:26:00.000-04:00

It's been such an enjoyable birthday weekend! My dad and sisters came to Jacksonville for a birthday dinner Saturday night (my baby sister's birthday is the day before mine) and this morning we all met up for brunch before they headed home. Becca (my other sister; I have two, she's the middle sister) and I walked the few blocks from my house to the diner and she graciously snapped a few photos of my outfit. Thanks, Bec!

I wanted a casual, breezy look for brunch so I pulled out these shorts that I bought a few weeks ago- they're much too short for work so they've been relegated to weekend wear and that's fine because they're just what Sunday ordered! I recently thrifted this perfectly matched silk blouse and have decided against taking it in and shortening the sleeves; for now I like the over-sized, drapey fit. It's so comfortable! In keeping with the neutral tones I accessorized with my pom-pom necklace and zip-top clutch (as I'm sure you can see from the photos) and topped it all off with a new hat (my other fedora got crushed). I loved wearing this outfit! It was a simple look but I felt fabulous in it, which is exactly how you want to feel on your birthday.

After brunch we headed home to lay around (a Sunday must) and watch movies (The Life of David Gale) before heading out to the beach for a few hours (ahhh). It was a slightly less humid and miserable today, the skies were a bit cloudy but it made for a pleasant afternoon on the sand. I don't typically get all the way in the water but this new short hair means I can fully submerge without freaking out over tangles and other long hair nonsense, so I even did a bit of body-surfing and aimless floating. It was so refreshing! Perfect day.

warm colors for warm days

2011-07-24T15:49:00.000-04:00

The oppressive heat of summer has me fantasizing about autumn with its drops in temperature and the sartorial changes that come with it. I'm dreaming of a warmer color palette and have begun shopping for browns, olives, navies and this delicious pumpkin/rust shade of orange (I'm also dreaming of heavier layers, but those will have to wait). When I picked up this crinkly chiffon fabric at the craft store yesterday I immediately imagined it in maxi skirt form and when paired with a bit of leopard print (I love the way they work together!), brown and gold accessories, and topped off with an easy summer sandal, I felt fabulous. I can't wait to remix this skirt through fall with other prints and colors.

Today is my 25th birthday! Woo! Birthday outfit post to come later.

EBEW: thrifting: a personal history

2011-07-21T07:00:00.040-04:00

This dress isn't some great "vintage" gem but it is my favorite thrifted item to remix. It fits like a glove and seems suited to every season. I've worn it over blouses, under skirts, with and without cardigans and tights... (see below)

Check out those sources: thrifted, wal-mart, diy. Call me cheap and I'll take it as a compliment. True story: in junior high I was picked on for wearing wal-mart clothes and it almost ruined my life. It's not that my parents couldn't afford nice clothes, I just never knew it mattered until the cheerleaders told me so. I developed a huge complex about where my clothing came from (Old Navy or bust!) until I started high school and met Jen, one of the cool upperclassmen. She was smart and pretty and talented and crafty and quirky and everyone liked her... and she bought her clothes at Goodwill. The day she took me thrift shopping changed my life. It was probably more about the fact that I considered her cooler than those mean bitches who made my life hell, but I respected her sartorial choices and adopted them as my own (this was before I developed my own personal style, or maybe it was a stepping stone on the way to finding it). I became a voracious collector of ironic t-shirts (I was a hipster before they had a name for it) and my closet suddenly filled up with boys' t-ball jerseys, car wash employee uniforms and embroidered bowling button-downs. The more unlikely my affiliation with the organization, the more I loved the shirts.

I moved to Houston my junior year and experienced Buffalo Exchange and Leopard Lounge for the first time- they're a different strain of thrifting all-together. I fell in with a group of outsiders who shopped only secondhand and began hoarding patchwork maxi skirts and shiny mini-skirts, the stranger the better. It was a weird phase and I stood out like a sore thumb, but in a way it boosted my self-esteem and I felt comfortable in my skin, in those clothes. Rather than seeking to fit in by camouflaging myself in Hollister and Abercrombie, I began to develop a sartorial style that reflected who I thought I was: a unique and interesting individual.

As I've matured I no longer desire screen-printed tees or garish separates; I've found a different love for thrifted clothing. These days I'm on the lookout for colorful blouses and pleated skirts, dated dresses and stylish shoes. I love finding timeless pieces that have survived decades of wash and wear- there is no other thrill like that of unearthing a pristine vintage silk blouse without a stain or tear (and with a price tag that costs less than most Forever 21 necklaces).

One thing that hasn't changed is my constant search for pieces that no one else will have - that's the allure of thrifting for me. It's knowing that I'll be the only girl wearing that top/skirt/blouse that night at the bar. It's finding something decades old that's suddenly trendy once again and buying it for fractions of the present price. It's that gambler's rush you feel when you walk into a shop not knowing what you may find that day- a vintage DVF blouse, a Chanel purse, a pair of Louboutins, or just a fabulous dress without a tag that fits like it was made 40 years ago with your figure in mind. It's the thrill of the unknown and the rush of discovering lost treasures. There is nothing else like it.

two-belt tuesday

2011-07-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

I dressed primarily for comfort today (see: elastic waistband, t-shirt) but I wanted to have a little fun with my outfit too. It's only Tuesday after all, far too early in the week to be sartorially calling it in, so I mixed a little pattern and piled on what might have been too much of a necklace for work, added some chunky wedges for good measure and then twisted and buckled a few skinny belts together and this slightly over-the-top black and white outfit was born.

bragging rights

2011-07-18T21:55:00.000-04:00

Little back story about the blazer: In 2008 I graduated college and, thanks to Rachel Zoe, Tim Gunn and a collection of too many magazines to count, began shifting toward a more grown-up wardrobe. Any style guide will tell you that, first and foremost, one must acquire the perfect black fitted blazer, so when Ben and I set off for Europe the following summer I made it a personal mission to find a fabulously foreign version for myself. In Paris I set foot in my first H&M and died... but the blazers I found there were too small. I almost bought one anyways, just so I could boast that I bought a black blazer in Paris (I would omit, of course, that I picked it up in a major retail chain...). Ben convinced me to hold off for 'the right one' and so I left Paris, Naples, Florence, Rome and Venice without the blazer I so desperately needed (as though I would not be allowed back on US soil without one). We stayed in Milan for just a few days as a jumping off point before ending our trip in Amsterdam, and we saw advertisements for some great fashion district across town from our hostel. With nothing to do one afternoon we caught one, two, three different buses and got lost in a really shady side of town, in the rain, trying to find these stupid shops. Ultimately we found the section of town we'd been searching for with about 15 minutes to spare before they closed and there I found this blazer. THE blazer. Yes, it was much more expensive than I might ever have paid in US dollars (converting coin is not a strong suit of mine) but it's also well-made, well-fitted and well-worth the stress and anxiety I went through to find it. And did I mention I bought this blazer in a boutique in Milan, Italy?? The bragging rights there alone are worth $100.

PS,
Sorry I'm not sorry for the photo overload today, guys. The style-blogger force was with me this afternoon- I was wearing a newly crafted dress, found a new waterfront photo spot, and there was a cool breeze and low humidity (!!!) so I ended up with a memory card full of usable shots.

swish

2011-07-13T23:20:00.008-04:00

Wednesdays seem to take it out of me so today I dressed for ease and comfort. This dress is a pleasure to wear, really. It swirls and twirls around my legs all day, inspiring exaggerated movements (an extra half-spin when filing a chart, a dramatic swoop into my rolling chair- I move like a Disney princess) across the office... but what it really wants is an uninhibited whirl in an empty field (see below). To jazz it up (and prevent the necessity of a strapless bra) I layered and tied this polka-dotted cotton tank over top and I took the opportunity to mix a little pattern with this ridiculously cute cardi. The resulting outfit looked good, felt good and didn't wrinkle after 8 hours at work- instant favorite.

PS, updates coming to my Etsy shop tomorrow. (Hint: you wear them on your fingers)

PPS, all the ways I've worn this dress, also found here

the mosquito bite remedy

2011-07-12T22:44:00.001-04:00

When I purchased the boots that I wore today I had the option of buying them in black or this greyish taupe color. Black boots seemed more practical but I ultimately chose this shade because it was something so different from the norm for me. As my style is evolving I'm finding myself more drawn to neutrals; I still love a black accented ensemble but there are days when earth-tones are more fitting.

This outfit was inspired by a color palette I glimpsed briefly on some color palette website. I was immediately drawn to the juxtaposition of what I associate with "army colors" against a bright, obnoxiously feminine shade of pink and I instantly thought of this skirt and top, both recently crafted by yours truly. I accented the waistband with two belts (a new favorite trick) and added a beaded necklace I crafted over the weekend, and then in a flash of genius (or a convenient stroke of memory) I reached for these boots and delighted in the realization that they are almost exactly the same color as my top. This one outfit validates my reason for choosing these boots over the black ones.

I provided a generous feast for swarms of mosquitoes while snapping these photos. A humid atmosphere + overgrown weeds + puddles of warm rainwater = blood-sucker breeding grounds... this is life in July in Florida. My legs were on fire by the time I got home so I quickly applied my home remedy to soothe mosquito bites, and it's so effective that I consider it my civic duty to spread the word. I don't know the science behind it but science doesn't matter; relief is what matters.

fill a bathtub full of scalding hot water. I mean so steaming hot your legs think they're being punished for tasting so sweet water.
sit in it. it will only hurt for a second or 5 minutes. mind-over-matter, you've got itchy legs and this will fix that. be tough. you need to open those pores, let the poison out.
stand up and douse your bites with rubbing alcohol. douse 'em good. this will hurt too. the whole process is painful, but so worth it.
don't dry off. don't touch anything until your alcohol-reeking legs are dry.
realize an hour later that your legs don't itch anymore.
send me a thank you e-mail.

You're welcome.

Ernnt, secret's out that I wore my EBEW outfit yesterday so I could post it early today, but I think I'm not the only one who does that. So this is what I really wore today.

itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow skirt that used to fit better

2011-07-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

I'm glad yellow was the community choice for Everybody, Everywear this month because I don't wear it often enough. I should make more of an effort, it being a natural mood-lifter and all, but really this skirt and a mustard cardigan are the only two yellow pieces I own if you don't count the thrifted gold sequin dress I bought because it was cheap and flashy or the overpriced one-shoulder mini-dress I bought from a boutique for my 21st birthday, both of which I never wear for lack of an appropriate occasion. So yeah, my options were limited for this challenge but fortunately I have this skirt I made a few months ago (incredible foresight, I know). Unfortunately, I didn't pre-wash the fabric before making it (I really hate the laundromat) and then I loaned it to my conscientious little sister who made sure to wash it before giving it back. What a sweetie. I thought I was gaining weight until I looked at the much higher hem-line and I realized that I'm either going through a growth-spurt at 24 or the skirt had shrunk. On the bright side, I can still squeeze into it as long as I don't eat a large lunch or breathe too deeply, and there's nothing like not fitting into your homemade, custom-tailored clothes to motivate you to diet.

Seriously though, I really like this outfit. I experimented with a new color palette and I'm pleased with the result. Gray and yellow and brown? Really? I would have never thought they'd work well together but throw in that baby blue and watch the magic happen.

hello there, stop staring!

2011-07-11T00:08:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I prefer silhouettes that flatter my curves, so when Stop Staring! offered to outfit me in one of their retro chic dresses I was thrilled to accept. I was nervous that I might have too many curves to do the dress justice- I mean the model wearing it is a tiny little thing- but to my delight it does all the right things for my figure. The fabric has enough stretch to fit my form closely without feeling too tight, and the twisted top gives my bust the boost it needs for a neckline this low. I zipped it up and instantly felt like a million-bucks, and my first though was that this is one of those dresses I need to wear on the mornings I wake up feeling not-thin. It's a mood-enhancer, looking into the mirror and seeing a bombshell silhouette reflected back. But lest you think these dresses are only for ladies with bodacious curves (I flatter myself), check out petite bloggers Kristine (Kristine. Or Polly) and Nubia (Nubia's Nonsense). They look amazing too, amiright? And you know who else loves Stop Staring! dresses? Coco. Admit it, you watch Ice loves Coco and you secretly love it too. My point is, basically anyone can wear these dresses and look amazing (and thus, feel amazing).

If you still need convincing, then let me add that all Stop Staring! dresses (and skirts, etc) are made in the good ol' US of A and many styles are available in plus sizes. As far as the fit is concerned, I compared my measurements to the sizing chart (I always round up) and ordered an XL since I wasn't certain how the fit would run but I found that the dress actually runs true to form and I probably could have ordered a large, which is what I normally choose. It actually fit really well out of the box but given the elasticity of the fabric it was fitting a bit looser at the end of the day (after getting in and out of the car and other errandy activites). That said, I imagine that after having it dry cleaned it will return to the original snugness once again. I also shortened the hem about 4 inches so that it would fall right below my knee as opposed to lower calf. This isn't unusual for me- it is advertised as hitting below the knee but I'm a short lady with short legs. So aside from those minor issues which were more my problems than the dress's, I give it my stamp of approval.

I am totally pleased with this dress. Although I'm a thrifty girl and typically don't spend over $100 for a dress, I would make an exception for this company. It's not often that you find a vintage-inspired frock made of quality fabric with the perfect fit at the thrift store. It just doesn't happen (often, at least. And if it happens to you all the time then I want to know what size you are and where you shop.) When special occasions roll around that qualify a shopping spree for just the right dress, I'd order from Stop Staring!- we all like to splurge for birthdays, anniversaries or awards ceremonies. Or don't wait for a special reason to shop, just do it because you owe it to yourself to invest in a sexy dress. Looking for that perfect LBD? Here. Need something sexy to vacuum in? Gotcha covered. I'm even toying with a rockabilly-themed Halloween costume and now I know just the place to start my search...

*That exclamation point at the end of the company name is theirs, not mine, although I am quite excited about the dress. Also, the name is quite fitting because I had to creatively crop out quite a few lurkers from these photos. Men like this dress.

own it and you're good

2011-07-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

I'm headed out the door to celebrate a friend's birthday so I'll keep this kind of short. Since the evening could entail a lot of walking from bar to bar, I wanted to keep my outfit simple but fun. I built this outfit around the shoes. I picked up these mint condition Jessica Simpson espadrilles at the thrift store today and although they look a bit more in shape like flatforms than true wedges and despite the fact that they are a size 7 and a half while I am an 8, I am convinced that they are just the style of footwear that my closet has been lacking. It was a rather successful day at the thrift- I also picked up this brown double-strap belt (among other things...) A few years ago I would have shuddered at the thought of wearing a brown belt with black shoes but I've since decided that leopard print is one of those neutrals that brings the two tones together. Also, I think any intentional faux pas comes off as more acceptable than those that are obvious mistakes. Like if you mean to mismatch then it's cool, you just gotta rock it with confidence.

(This shirt was last (and first) worn here.)

great expectations

2011-07-07T22:23:00.000-04:00

I've been counting the days since I last wore this skirt, anxiously waiting until enough time has passed to re-wear it. You would think that I would have gone a different route with it this time, but I reached for yet another striped top to pair with it. This silky sleeveless blouse has been hanging in my closet for close to a month- I just had to have it right when I bought it- but this is the first time I've successfully styled it*. Funny how that goes. And it's not even a complicated or difficult top to wear, per se, I just have some sort of block about it. I think I expected that outfits would magically create themselves around it and I wouldn't have to put forth any effort. Who knows, maybe I just needed to break the seal, perhaps I'll find myself overwhelmed with inspiration after wearing it today. It really is a nice shirt, I would like to see it become a remixing staple. Fingers crossed, I'll keep you posted.

*It's just a regular striped button-down with a split tulip back (er, I guess that's what you'd call it). I just took the bottom of each side and tied it, which, combined with that weird split back, ends up looking really cool but unfortunately doesn't give you a great idea of what it actually looks like on the hanger.

Polly Patriot

2011-07-06T00:57:00.000-04:00

What better place to celebrate America's independence than our nation's capital? Ben and I drove up to DC for the weekend to visit with family and play tourist, and I really expected to see more shows of patriotism. I was the only person dressed in red, white and blue in all of DC, I think! It was disappointing to find that my fellow Americans don't embrace the holiday as whole-heartedly as I do, but in all fairness I did wear this on July 2nd, not July 4th. I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference- I mean, we call it "Fourth of July weekend" and all... but I suppose not everyone wears their pride on their sleeves as fervently I do.

Anyways, this dress is really short but I don't own much red so my options were limited. It was comfortable though, and (obviously) quite breezy and cool- and thank goodness for that because I assumed the weather up north would be remarkably cooler than it is in FL but I was sorely mistaken. We spent much of Saturday ducking into air-conditioned museums and strategically standing near air vents in the Metro stations.

The nice thing about this trip was that I've been to DC before so there was no need to make the obligatory visits to the memorials and monuments throughout the city. We focused our energies on hitting the sites we love: the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Phillips Collection and the National Building Museum (that last one was a concession I made to my carpenter husband, but it was actually less of a drag than I expected.)

We also cooled our heels in a fountain.

And enjoyed some frozen treats (they were all out of popsicles!!)

And played in a sculpture garden.

\We have a long history of imitating art, a tradition that I hope continues for many years.

So yeah, it was an amazing weekend. And I still haven't even posted the pics from Sunday and Monday, so stay tuned.

PS, did you catch that I am now calling friendship bracelets by the more accurate term bandwagon bracelets? Because this is basically a resurgence of those WWJD bracelets we all wore 15 years ago (shut up, you know you wore them too). I'm not claiming to be above the trend- hell, I braided them for 10 straight hours on the way up to Virginia- but let's be real for a minute and admit that no one was thinking about friendship bracelets until they started springing up on the wrists of anonymous fashionistas on street style blogs. And who are we kidding, we aren't making them for our BFFs, we're keeping them for ourselves. Just sayin'.

hot apple pie

2011-07-04T20:16:00.000-04:00

I love dressing up for holidays; I think I actually enjoy the costumery more than the festivities at times. And I rarely wear red, white and blue together outside of this one weekend- they compliment one another quite well but the result can come off looking a bit garish. I mean I'm all for embracing national pride but it can be a bit much, right? This outfit is over-the-top for sure, but when Independence Day weekend rolls around I go all out with the America-f*ck-yeah ensembles because I can.

party girl

2011-06-30T11:31:00.000-04:00

This would make a great birthday party outfit but I'm a sucker for instant gratification and I couldn't stand the thought of waiting a whole month to wear it. Pink, black and white always screams party-girl to me- does anyone else get that same feeling? This fabric seemed much heavier when I bought it but as a skirt it's light and thin so I anticipate several remixing opportunities over the course of the summer. Every girl needs a pepto-bismol pink poufy skirt, right? It's practically a wardrobe staple.

earth-tones

2011-06-27T21:49:00.000-04:00

This outfit is everything I want in a Monday outfit- it's understated and simple and classic and I just felt so feminine and pretty all day. Ben bought this skirt for me on Saturday (and it was his birthday, am I a lucky girl or what?!) and it's just the sort of thing I've been obsessing over lately: give me a vintage-inspired midi-length skirt with a pattern and I am a happy lady. And the tan/taupe color is the perfect neutral for summer and fall (but to be sure, I'll remix this baby through all four seasons.)

Last night I was planning outfits for the week and when I paired this top (freshly made) and skirt, Ben remarked that it was nice but a bit plain for me. It needed some flair, he thought, so I layered a few necklaces and all of a sudden he was sold (and so was I). The mixed materials- hard and soft, metallic and pastel- are unexpected but the result- flowers and leaves- makes perfect sense. I love that completely separate pieces can become an entirely new accessory when paired together, and it's like these two were meant to be.

I am lagging big-time on my 30 days of creativity challenge but I'm gonna keep on keepin' on until I've got 30 creations*. By the end of this thing I'm going to have quite a collection of homemade accessories and clothing. I recently purchased a bulk order of ring blanks from some Chinese wholesaler and it's opened up a whole world of possibilities. I browse sites like Modcloth where they sell these adorable rings at exorbitant prices and suddenly I have the materials to re-create them on my own for next to nothing! I found this little lighthouse pendant at Wal-Mart for $2, applied a bit of craft glue to the back and voila! The DIY lifestyle is so empowering.

**PS, you can keep up with my 30 days of creations on my Pinterest board, here.

love in an ancient city

2011-06-26T20:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Ben's birthday and we celebrated with a little trip down the coast to St. Augustine. It's a favorite getaway spot for us- far enough to feel like a vacation but close enough to drive home at the end of the day. We spent the afternoon shopping at an outlet mall, watching the waves roll in off the pier, popping in and out of little tourist shops and strolling through the streets of the Ancient City after sunset. We drank cocktails at a jazz bar, enjoyed the music of wandering minstrels and basked in the perfect ocean breeze; it was an ideal Saturday.

I knew that we'd be doing a lot of walking around so I dressed comfortably in my current favorite flats and a simple skirt. I was never really a hat person but this straw fedora has changed the way I feel about headwear. It makes a great finishing touch for these casual weekend outfits, and there's the added benefit of keeping the sun out of my eyes as well. It's funny how you think for so long that you could never pull something off until you actually give it a try, and then it becomes something you want to wear all the time.

FBFF: the weird and the wonderful

2011-06-24T01:05:00.001-04:00

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Absolutely. There was a time when I sought out neutral items that I thought would be easiest to wear alone. Rather than buy items that would stand out, I tried to buy things that would match everything else in my closet. I was afraid to purchase anything too different for fear that I wouldn't wear it.

These days, I keep my eyes peeled for the stand-out pieces that will add interest to an outfit- a striking blazer, patterned cardigan, chunky necklace, quirky prints. I try to find shoes that make me go "ooh" and I rarely buy anything I think I could make myself or buy in the thrift store.

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?

Well, yes and no. I am more of a risk taker than many of my friends and co-workers, but my sisters and closest friends have their own established styles that are original and fabulous as well. Almost all of the comments I receive from people in my personal life are positive and encouraging. People seem to appreciate my fervor for fashion. My co-workers and friends who don't take daily outfit shots couldn't care less about how often they re-wear the same items, naturally, but they are very supportive and perceptive about my wardrobe and they certainly notice if I've been rocking the same skirt or shoes too frequently. My boss rotates the same scrub tops out week to week (not judging!) but if I dress-down for a non-photo day she definitely notices, and if I wear something really unusual like floral wedges or patterned tights I always come to work with an explanation prepared. The people in my life who know about the blog never judge, but they are always ready to offer up opinions and ideas. I love it.

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?

Palazzo pants. They look so comfortable and fun but I just couldn't wear them out without feeling like I was in my pajamas. I am not a "pants-person" in the first place so going for a pair of patterned cotton wide-leg slacks is not a trend I'm ready to explore, but I love them on people like Kyla (Blue Collar Catwalk) and Kelly (the Glamourai)

4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?

Colored jeans. I know it's not a crazy trend but as I said, I am not one to wear (or buy, for that matter) pants. I love them in the way I love colored tights, but until I find a pair of super high-waisted jeans that fit tight without giving me camel toe, I'll stick to skirts, dresses and loose fitting shorts.

5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?

Blair of Atlantic-Pacific and Diya of In Her Stilettos are two bloggers I constantly keep in mind when I'm out shopping. Each blogger has an amazing array of statement pieces that are remixed in fresh ways each time and they always seem to have at least one piece in every outfit that makes me go "ahhh." They inspire me to buy that structured neon blazer instead of the traditional black one, the sky high wedges over the brown flats, the patterned blouse rather than the solid tank, because those daring items garner much more attention (and provide more remixing inspiration) than boring old neutrals. With a more adventurous mindset my shopping skills have improved immensely and I've amassed a small collection of pieces that can make an outfit in a single step.

Check out Modly Chic for information on how you can become a part of FBFF!!

leopard-prints, eggplant and tea-time too

2011-06-23T23:40:00.000-04:00

I purchased this leopard-print top last night and I would wear it every day if I didn't think it would fall apart immediately. Leopard print is basically a neutral in my book so there's a lot of room to play with color combinations; today I paired it with my bright blue dirndl skirt and accented with eggplant accessories. The belt is another acquisition from last night and this is only the second time I've worn the heels- the first time being my wedding day- and how perfect is it that they match so well? I didn't even plan for that! I bought the belt with my new quest for colorful belts in mind, and this happened to be the only non-neutral color that Forever 21 had in stock. It was only $2.50, and if that's not reason enough to justify bringing it home then I don't know what is.

The cherry on top of this ensemble is the ridiculously adorable pair of rings I created last night from buttons I found recently. Too freaking cute, right? I seem to have a penchant for mismatched jewelry. I thought about making several (different) styles for my etsy shop but most likely I would just end up keeping them for myself.

This skirt makes a great base for fun outfits and every look I've created around it

has been a favorite of mine so far. (Have you checked out my remix page lately?)

band of belts

2011-06-21T23:58:00.000-04:00

I love a good floral frock as much as the next girly-girl and I pride myself on being an solid remixer, but this dress is a challenge to change up. It's great for those throw-it-on-and-go days but the print is so distinct that a re-wear gets noticed pretty quickly (in blog-land, at least). For that reason I don't wear it out as much as I'd like and that is a crying shame because the fit is absolutely divine. This dress does amazing things for my boobs, waist and hips (the body-love trifecta!) and oh, if I could only replicate this dress in black (as well as every other color in the 120-count Crayola box), I would be a happy, albeit boring, style blogger.

My approach to remixing is completely color-centric and this dress provides ample opportunities for playing with different combinations. Yes, I just contradicted myself by claiming the dress is difficult to remix and then explaining how I use colors to create various looks with it, but let's not dwell on inconsistencies. Since cardigans and tights are out of the picture for the next 3 months I'm relying on belts, shoes and jewelry to pull me through. In this case I added a belt, and then another, and then another and I am obsessed with the result. Obviously I'm not the first blogger to layer belts but this is the first time I've done it and I've now made it my mission to acquire as many colorful belts as possible and layer the shit out of them.

**So I just went through my archives to pull examples of past stylings and it appears I've only worn this dress once on the blog (for a double-take post) since I bought it in December. Hm. When I said I don't wear it out much, I didn't realize the extreme truth of that statement. I wear it in real life quite often but I'll make more of an effort to wear it on the blog from here on out, I promise.

hey that doesn't match

2011-06-21T12:05:00.004-04:00

Oh hey, we got a little pattern mixing going on here. Nothing too crazy, just a leopard-print belt paired with a floral-ish dress, but it's different and I like it.

why our towels are under the sink

2011-06-20T21:58:00.000-04:00

For the better part of a year I've been cultivating a more expansive shoe collection. There was a time when I saw footwear as a means to an end, a necessary but insignificant element of an ensemble. I thought it was important to have a few key pairs but I preferred to invest my money in clothing; I assumed I would get more out of a variety of skirts than shoes. The logic there is flawed. Shoes are the one item (two items?) we wear every single day. You can't go anywhere without them (except the beach and certain backwoods gas stations) and of all the components of an outfit, it is only shoes which can be worn three days in a row without fear of scrutiny and judgment. No other accessory has as much influence on the vibe of an outfit, so having a healthy variety can only increase the creative potential of your wardrobe.

These are all the things I tell myself when I find myself at the check-out counter with yet another pair of shoes. I've long since run out of shelves to store them and most recently I've displaced our towels so that I can use that precious linen closet space to showcase my current favorites. It's becoming a problem, or so my husband tells me. But what does he know, the man only owns 5 pairs of shoes.

PS, this is what I wore over the weekend. My dad lives in a gorgeous community on the Golden Isles, and how lucky for me to catch sunset on an empty dock at the marina with time to kill and an outfit worth photographing.

See other ways I've worn this skirt here.