This
is one of my all time favorite outfits. I love all the pieces used for
this look. I felt I was even having a good hair day...which is always a
bonus since I feel those are rare for me. :)
Some
family health issues have caused a shift in my priorities. My blogging
may be a bit less frequent, but I still plan on posting some of my
thrifted outfits when I can. Optimum health for myself and loved
ones... and reducing my wardrobe... are the focus for the coming months.
Therefore, I will have fewer new
thrift purchases and more repeat outfits. Since I consider this blog
my "outfit journal" some days there may be new combinations of things I
already own... and sometimes repeats of favorites. I want to re-wear
outfits I love more than I have in the past. Less shopping and fewer
new wardrobe additions will allow me to focus on doing that.
thrifted:
black jeans $3.99 Forever 21
long vest $1.95 J.J. Basics
tee $?
scarf $6.80
earrings $1.78
shoes $5.99 Two Lips
~~~
necklace $1.26 via ebay
I thought this was a perfect scarf for the fall season and it matched my earrings and jacket so well.
I'm wearing just a basic dark gray tee with tan pants. Wearing a simple base and then adding interest with the scarf, earrings, bracelet, and jacket is my favorite way of dressing.
Shortly after I thrifted these loafers in 2012 the side seam busted open. These shoes were so soft and I loved them so much I decided to have them repaired. It only cost me $6 and so for a total cost of about $11 for the price of the shoes and the repair I feel it was well worth it because I wear them often.
thrifted:
gray tee $2.09
scarf $2.79
pants $? Gap
purse $7.99
jacket $3?
earrings $?
loafers $4.99 Honors
I kept my whole outfit to neutral colors, but added a scarf with a large floral print. I kept the pieces classic by using black jeans, a tan short sleeved sweater, with a handbag and flats in tan and black. The flats have little bows on the toe and a bit of gold detail.
thrifted:
black jeans $7.67 Celebrity Pink (similar - on sale)
sweater $?
scarf $6.50
gold/black hoop earrings $.69 cents
purse $4.19 (similar)
flats $5.60 Bandolino (new w/ tags)
I recently thrifted these gray pants and also a black pair of the same style, but in a smaller size. Both are the Banana Republic Sloan Fit style. This style is great because the legs have a slim fit on me which I love. Not too baggy, but not super skinny.
I've had this top for over 4 years and really like the coral and light gray colors. It's lightweight, I like the v-neck, and it feels a little on the dressy side without being too much so. I'm leaning away from lots of prints these days and opting for more solids(except stripes or prints in scarves), but I do like the print and colors in this one so I've kept it.
Paired with the loafers this was a very comfortable look for me and about as dressed up as I like to be.
thrifted:
top $4.50 Liz Claiborne
pants $5 Banana Republic
necklace $?
purse $5.94 Alfred Dunner
red loafers $6.99 Partners
~~~
pearl/crystal earrings $3.98 via Target
Link Up: Visible Monday
A favorite in my wardrobe these days are tees (long and short sleeved) in light gray, dark gray, black, white, and tan. Oh, and my striped sort of parisian style ones too. They seem to be putting me in my style happy place. :)
gray tee $2.09 Gap
cardigan $7.99 gnw
belt $1.99
white jeans $12.99 Gap
necklace $3 Chico's
purse $3 Kelly & Katie
sandals $6.40 Clarks
This outfit makes it's way into my favorites category. It once again uses the simple formula of a basic tee with scarf to create the casual/classic/minimal look that I'm loving.
I have started a Pinterest board (Casual - Classic - Minimal) of outfits and I hope to continue refining my own wardrobe to similar styles.
thrifted:
navy tee $1.50 Old Navy
pants $? Gap
scarf $?
earrings $2.09
gold bangle bracelet $.79 cents
belt $2.25
purse $6.99 Style & Co.
shoes $3.24
Everything about this outfit perfectly illustrates my ideal style direction and types of pieces I would like my wardrobe to become composed of.
First of all, the neutral colors are classic. The striped tee and black jeans are classic...yet casual. The scarf adds a touch of sophistication to the casual ensemble. The cognac brown color with black is a favorite. The shoes are really comfortable and a very low wedge heel. (I'm slowly getting rid of anything but the lowest heels because they just don't feel like "me" any more.)
And lastly, I felt this outfit was flattering to my figure. Not all of my clothing is an attractive fit or look for me.
Overall, this outfit just makes me happy when I wear it.
That's where the difficulty comes in.
Distinguishing between "liking" certain pieces and "realizing" that they are not the best choice for me or that I'm not super happy with how something looks on me....and then coming to the point of being able to let them go in order to achieve my personal style goals.
For me, it's easier said than done.
It's an ongoing process and a slow one because sometimes I feel like maybe I should give a piece another try by reworking it into a another combination of garments or adding a different accessory to see if I obtain a better result. Little by little, as the mood strikes me, I'll reach into my closet and grab something and think "Today is the day for this to go" and plop it into the donation bag. I never really regret my decision. I am actually happier with other clothes I have. So why oh why is this process so difficult for me?
I wish I could just take a day and do a full on clean out...removing everything from my closets and drawers and only choosing a select amount of items that I absolutely love and feel good in (like the outfit today) to put back into my closet. That would get rid of all the excess that doesn't achieve the style or happiness level I'm looking for and I know I'd feel soooo much better.
The problem is that I have culled quite a bit, but still have LOTS left...and I like everything I have. It is difficult to let go of my "likes" and settle only for the "loves" group. Sometimes I'm not even sure of the distinction so I have to ponder it for quite some time.
I think I'm just wanting someone to wave a magic wand and do it for me so that I don't have to go through the painful process and decision making. haha
These shoes are one of my favorite summer thrift purchases. I've worn them so many times already. They are my new go to shoe.
p.s. I love this top so much...and guess what?! I have just found another one exactly
like it, but with long sleeves for only $3.99. Yay!! I hadn't
noticed, till I got the one in photos home, but someone had actually cut
off the sleeves to change this top from long sleeves to short sleeves.
I love the length of the sleeve and you can't even really tell they've
just been cut off with a scissors. I could even roll them up if I
wanted a shorter look.
So now I have a short sleeved and long sleeved version of my new favorite tee! :)
thrifted:
black skinny jeans $7.67 Celebrity Pink
striped tee $? Merona
scarf .69 cents
black gold hoop earrings .69 cents
belt $2.49 Ralph Lauren
purse $3 Kelly & Katie
sandals $? Aerosoles
At
times I have failed to record prices of things I've thrifted so I'm
occasionally blank on the cost of some items....but you know it was probably a super sweet deal. ;)
Link Up: Visible Monday
Fresh Fashion Forum
In July we're going on a vacation to celebrate our anniversary. We'll be visiting the Carmel, California area and then south along the coast toward Santa Barbara. We'll have 9 days to relax and see the sights.
Even though we're not leaving for a few more weeks yet...I'm excited and planning my wardrobe. This dress will be coming with me. I can wear it as shown here with the cardigan or more casually with a denim jacket. It's sleeveless, so when we travel inland, to the warmer Paso Roble area, it could be worn without a top layer.
I'm taking these sandals and also the hot pink ones that are almost identical because they're so comfortable for walking. I'm planning my outfits around these two pairs of shoes...and possibly a brown pair as well.
I will need to fit everything I'm taking into one small suitcase so I'll want to take as many mix and match pieces as possible to avoid overpacking.
I'll be taking a different handbag that will match everything I'll be wearing, but these earrings will probably be making the trip because they're my favorites.
maxi dress $9.09 Liz Claiborne
cardigan $7 h.i.p.
earrings $1.78
purse $4.89
sandals $1.99 Apostrophe
Link Up: Visible Monday
These pants are fairly new and I love the material and fit. The length is good for spring/summer as I do generally prefer pants to hit nearer the ankle... and these don't fit like a shorter mid calf capri.
Another thing that makes me happy about this outfit is the color palette...cream, white, gold.
This is a thrifted tee that sells at Target. Over the last year or so I've noticed my Target t-shirt (and other similarly styled brands) collection growing. I never realized how much I liked them. This one was only $1.39! How cheap is that?! And in perfect, never worn condition. I think they probably sell retail at really good prices, but you just can't beat a little over a dollar for one.
Bummer about the shoes. They were brand new and broke the first day I wore them. We tried to super glue them and I attempted to wear them a second time, but it didn't work out. That's a shame because I really liked them and had plans to wear them with numerous outfits over the summer. Oh well. I buy quite a lot of shoes and every so often this happens. At least I was only out a few dollars. Overall, I have pretty good luck with my thrifting so I can't complain.
white pants $6.99 Karen Kane
gold print v-neck tee $1.39 Mossimo
cream cardigan $2.79 Merona
earrings $1.72
purse $2.79
sandals $4.19 Report
Link Up: Visible Monday
This peachy pink color is one of my favorites and I have a quite a lot of it in my closet. These comfy sandals and cute purse I purchased this spring have provided an excellent reason to have shades of salmon (or coral) on high repeat in my daily outfits.
jeans $5.60 Metro Blues
v-neck tee $1.49 gnu
jacket $9.99 Draper's & Damon
necklace $5.99
purse $4.89
sandals $1.99
I'm not really the most "in the know" person when it comes to fashion terms, but I think this purse is what I would call an example of color blocking.
Whatever the term, I loved this purse. It is in two of my favorite colors and will go with many of my outfits.
I also absolutely love my new sandals. They are in a shade of dark salmon and cream similar to the purse colors. They were only $1.99! I also got a pair of hot pink ones of the same brand and for the same price that same day. I don't have much to wear with the hot pink ones, but they were nearly identical to these and such a good price that I couldn't pass them up.
jeans $7.67 Mossimo
top $3.50 Charter Club
scarf ?
purse $4.89
sandals $1.99 Apostrophe
Link up: Visible Monday
