Category Archives: Dress Up Dress Down

Different ways to wear the same thing.

October 14, 2012 · 7:56 pm

Little Red Dress: Three Different Ways

Every closet needs a little black dress. But if you’re in the mood for color, try a little RED dress! A few months ago I was hooked on the show Fashion Star, where upcoming designers compete to have their collections in H&M, Macy’s or Saks Fifth Avenue.

This dress is one of winner Kara Laricks designs. I ran to Macy’s the day after she won and found it on the Fashion Star racks. It came in black too, but I already have a LBD (or three).

First I styled it for a warm weather daytime event–like lunch with friends.

Dress: Macy’s
Clutch: Crystalyn Kae
Sunglasses: Florida street market
Shoes: Aerosoles

Then I swapped out the shoes and clutch and dressed it up for a date.

Clutch: Victoria’s Secret
Shoes: Tory Burch via consignment

Finally, I added tights and a cardi to show that a summer dress is suitable all year long.

Sweater: Swapped
Clutch: Swapped
Necklace: Sue Huston
Tights: Target
Shoes: Payless

I love how the hem is slightly longer at the back. It’s not an extreme, bi-level “mullet-style” so it’s not super trendy. But it feels fresh and unique.

I have to point out this amazing find from STA in Boston. Tory Burch shoes (never worn) for $40! They go great with everything. I think they’d look best on a darker skin tone, where they’d be a true nude. For me, they stand out a bit more, but I love the warm caramel tone and metallic toe. They go with the VS clutch too!

I’m participating in Visible Monday today. Go see what the others are wearing at Not Dead Yet!

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Filed under Dress Up Dress Down, Fashion, Hot and Cold

Tagged as dress, fashion, fashion star, Kara Laricks, red dress, style, thrifty fashion, tights, tory burch shoes

July 5, 2012 · 8:50 pm

Dress Up, Dress Down: Striped T

I bought this striped t-shirt at Mexx when I was in Vancouver a month ago. Mexx is a neat store but they aren’t in the USA–so I make sure to visit when I go to Canada.

I first wore it to dinner with the Mister. White jeans seem to dress up a T and make colors pop.

T-shirt: Mexx
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Sandals: Flexx
Sunglasses: Street vendor
Cuff: Claire’s

Later, I wore it with denim shorts for a more casual look. I like to get a lot of use out of my clothes and wearing things in different ways is a good way to get mileage without being repetitive.

denim shorts

Shorts: Calvin Klein
Sandals: Payless
Purse: Microsoft Company Store

I think this top would look great with dark denim too or kelly green capri pants. I have a denim pencil skirt that I’ll try this with next.

How do you wear t-shirts? How else would you style this top?

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Tagged as denim shorts, fashion, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, white jeans

May 21, 2012 · 7:09 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Skinny Jeans and Purple Scarf

Seattle is a casual city, more known for fleece and hiking boots than satin and stilettos. I don’t find most fleece jackets very stylish, though. So when I found this black fleece jacket that looked more moto than mountain, I bought it. It’s my first fleece jacket and I have to admit: Fleece is warm!

Jacket: Old Navy
Scarf: Gifted
Jeans: Ernest Sewn
Boots: Wanted

I wore the fleece with skinny jeans and flat boots so I could comfortably walk my dog. Perfect for a cool, spring morning. The scarf added a pop of color. It’s from my aunt. She sent it to me in a care package–all the way from Germany!

Later, I wanted to grab a bite with hubby and thought I needed to dress up just a bit. So I swapped the fleece for a military-style jacket and the boots for stacked heels.

Jacket: H&M
Shoes: Seychelles

Everything else about the outfit stayed the same. The little changes really changed the look of the outfit. Do you have any tricks for changing the look of an outfit?

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Tagged as fashion, fleece, scarf, skinny jeans, style

May 10, 2012 · 5:18 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Missoni Shift

A few months ago Missoni for Target hit the stores–and flew out the doors! Their website crashed, the shelves were stripped bare, and I was left empty-handed. My friend, Cheryl, was luckier though. She snagged a few pieces from the online store. This shift was one of the pieces.

Dress: Missoni for Target
Cowl: Scarf City
Tights: Roots Canada
Shoes: Seychelles

It proved to be a bit too short for Cheryl’s statuesque frame, so I bought it from her. I dressed it up with opaque tights and a stacked heel, but I knew it had more potential. I dressed it down too, by pairing it with skinny jeans and boots.

Jeans: Express
Belt: Marshall’s
Boots: Naughty Monkey via thrifted

I like to have options and make my shopping dollar stretch. Wearing this as a dress and as a sweater gives me choices. Did you manage to get any Missoni pieces from Target?

Fishtail Denim Skirt

I’m wearing my long denim skirt again. I wore it a few weeks ago for more of a dressed down look with chunky boots and a jacket. Today I wore a blazer and pointy, faux-suede boots. I added a long necklace to dress it up.

Blazer: Dynamite
Skirt: Sears
Tank: Wet Seal
Necklace: Florida street market
Boots: Rampage

This necklace came with a shirt I bought when I was in Florida a couple of months ago. I’m usually a low-key jewelry person but I’m learning how an interesting piece can change an outfit. I’m especially getting into longer necklaces. What style of jewelry do you wear most?

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Tagged as fashion, necklace, skirt, style, thrifty fashion

February 10, 2012 · 6:10 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Flamingo Skirt

You might recognize the color palette in this post. I wore this dress (as a skirt) when I visited Flamingo Gardens a few weeks ago.

I packed light for my trip to Florida and I wanted to get a lot of mileage out of my clothes. Later in the vacation, I wore the dress (as a dress) when my mom and I celebrated our birthdays.

Dress: Annie 50
Top: H&M
Shoes: B2
Pashmina: Mary Kay
Earrings: DIY

This dress was a breeze to pack. It didn’t show wrinkles because it has just a bit of lycra. The shoes are really comfortable and worked well for a walk in the park as well as out for dinner. Plus, they’re semi-waterpoof. I wore them to the beach, but not in the water. The wedge is wrapped in faux leather and I didn’t want to risk ruining them.

If you want to see how other fashion bloggers wore outfits in different ways, hop over to the Winter Remix Challenge that Jessica Quirk of What I wore put together. My photos are in the collection too. Thanks Jessica!

Dress Up, Dress Down: Black Velvet

About the same time as the movie Blue Velvet came out, this dress was made. It was an amazing film: dark, disturbing, and fantastic. I was 15 when I saw it and it opened up my eyes to a world of movies I’d never heard of. I have been a fan of David Lynch ever since.

I didn’t buy my frock back then; I bid on it a few weeks ago on eBay. I made a video about how to buy vintage on eBay. This was one of those finds. It’s a Diane von Furstenberg. Unlike her signature wrap dresses, which I’m always outbid on, people don’t look for her other pieces as often, it seems.

I thought I could dress this up for dinner and a show. Something like this.

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg via eBay
Tights: Betsey Johnson
Shoes: Manolo Blahniks via consignment
Vegan purse: Vamp Bags
Necklace: Forever 21
Cuff: Claire’s

I can also dress it down too, for dinner and dancing.

Dress: DVF via eBay
Tights: Target
Shoes: Swapped
Scarf: Labels Consignment
Earrings: Sears
Jelly bracelets: eBay

I wore this last night when I went dancing for part two of my 40th birthday bash. I had on blue tights and flats. (Dancing in heels on Thursday was tough. I can’t do that twice a week!) I’ll post pictures of the dancing outfit soon.

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Filed under Dress Up Dress Down, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as dress, ethical fashion, fashion, style, thrifty fashion, tights, velvet, vintage

December 5, 2011 · 9:04 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Leopard and Sparkle

With leopard and sparkle on the agenda you might wonder how I could dress my outfit down. I should put this in perspective. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a wine tasting at ROAD Apparel. So both my outfit ideas were for a Saturday evening event. I do think they’d both work for day too, with a couple of minor adjustments.

I knew for certain that I’d be wearing my silky cowl-neck top with a sparkly cardigan. The sparkles say fancy but the cut of the sweater says casual. Seattle is known as a casual city but for a Saturday night event, I didn’t want to under dress. This was my compromise.

First, I tried on wide-legged pants and leopard ballet flats.

Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: Express
Pants: People Love Frank via thrifted
Shoes: Payless
Necklace: Mary Kay
Cuff: Lauren Harkness

Just to mix things up, I swapped the pants for a denim pencil skirt and traded the flats for heels.

Skirt: Sofada
Shoes: Two Lips

Which outfit do you prefer? I ended up going with: The skirt!

The shape (pencil) was dressy and the fabric (denim) was casual. I felt like I was ready for any occasion in this outfit. I love this brand too. It’s a line of handmade clothing by Alice Dobson, a Portland designer. I try to support small businesses whenever I can. The gorgeous hammered copper cuff by Lauren Harkness is another example of an independent designer. I bought both items recently at an event called Thread.

I threw on a jacket I’d thrifted at Goodwill and I was set.

The final look

Jacket: Tahari via Goodwill
Clutch: Shiraleah

To dress these items down more, I’d change the skirt for dark jeans and keep the heels. These looks are probably fine for day, but a simple white t-shirt would be a good substitute for the silky blouse.

I’mentering this post in the Everybody, Everywear challenge since it meets this month’s requirements: sequins and sparkles.

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Tagged as animal print, Everybody Everywear, fashion, skirt, style, thrifty fashion

November 13, 2011 · 7:45 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: A Change of Pants

I recently wore wide-legged pants to work with a corduroy blazer. Later, when going out to meet friends, I wanted to look a bit more casual, so I switched pants. It’s amazing how one simple change can alter the whole look of an outfit.

Here’s the dressed-for-work version:

Blazer: Thrifted
Tank: Papaya
Scarf: DIY
Belt: Forever 21
Pants: People Love Frank via thrifted
Shoes: Payless

And here’s what I wore out with friends:

Blazer: Thrifted
Tank: Papaya
Belt: Forever 21
Jeans: GLO via swapped
Shoes: Payless
Clutch: Shiraleah

I added the scarf for work because the tank was a bit low-cut. I also carried a Shiraleah clutch so I could stash away my keys and phone. I like how the slingbacks look like boots with long, bootcut pants (as long as I’m standing up).

So before buying new boots, have a look at your shoes. Can you wear a dress shoe with casual pants? Perhaps wearing socks with a slingback is unorthodox, but it was my little secret. I’ve doubled my shoe wardrobe, in one fell swoop!

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Tagged as blazer, fashion, style, thrifty fashion

October 30, 2011 · 12:21 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: Cropped Cords

I bought these corduroy pants at the Suzy Shier outlet in Cambridge (Canada). They were $5 and I’ve gotten my money’s worth, that’s for sure. I recently wore these pants to work and to a concert. Here’s how I dressed them up (and down).

Blazer: Forever 21
Tank: Swapped
Pants: Suzie Shier
Boots: Nine West via Goodwill
Necklace: Imani

The cropped length works with boots because the pants are narrow and there’s no gap between the bottom of the pants and the top of the boot.

When dressing these down in the past, I’ve cuffed the pants and turned them into capris. This time, I tucked them into knee-high boots. This length of pant is so versatile. They look great at full-length and are easy to cuff; when I tuck them into boots, there’s no excess fabric (as with a longer pant).

Top: Swapped
Pants: Suzy Shier
Necklace: Macy’s
Boots: Candies via thrifted

In both my outfits, my boots are thrifted. Footwear is usually the priciest part of my wardrobe so getting these two pairs for a song really helped keep costs down. The dressier Nine West boots were $9 at Goodwill. The Candies boots were $1 on a blowout clearance at a now-defunct Seattle thrift shop. I love wearing them to live shows because they’re comfortable, sturdy, and tall! With them, I’m almost 6′ tall. I can see over any crowd when I’m wearing these.