Category Archives: Hot and Cold

Remixing clothes for different seasons.

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!

5 Comments

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

April 24, 2012 · 6:41 am

Fresh Produce Spring Dress

I recently had the chance to test drive a dress from the Fresh Produce catalog. Talk about timing! Seattle was in the 70s this past weekend and it was a great time to wear spring clothing. Fresh Produce has a great collection of dresses for spring. I chose the Bali Café Wrap Dress. It arrived a few days later and I love it!

Dress: c/o Fresh Produce
Jacket: Betsey Johnson
Tank: Papaya
Shoes: Aerosoles
Necklace: Fremont Sunday Market

It’s made of a soft rayon/lycra knit blend and is really comfortable and wrinkle-resistant. The empire waist is super flattering, as is the v-neck. It works well with or without a tank top underneath. I love how it’s a half wrap so it doesn’t blow open in the breeze. It looks like a full wrap but it’s sewn together at the side. I slipped this on over my head and secured the ties in a bow.

The sleeves are sweet too. They are a soft flutter style that’s feminine without being too girly. Fresh Produce has oodles of colorful clothes but since I chose a muted hue, I decided to brighten it up with my accessories.

Seattle is known for its cool, wet weather, so I thought I’d try styling this dress a couple of different ways. You know me–I like to remix and get mileage out of my clothes.

Dress: Fresh Produce
Jacket: Betsey Johnson
Tank: Papaya
Boots: Rampage
Necklace: Fremont Sunday Market
Bag: Nine West

I swapped my sandals for faux-suede, kitten-heel boots and added a denim jacket. It’s a spring dress will be so cool in the hot weather, but definitely works for cooler days too. I’d even wear this with tights and a cardigan.

Check out the Fresh Produce website. They ship to over 200 countries and have more than just great dresses. I saw great casual tops and vacation clothing too–and I have my eye on a few pieces!

5 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold, Product Reviews

Tagged as dress, fashion, Fresh Produce, spring dress, style, wrap dress

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!

Thrifty Thursday: Andrea’s Closet

This is part two of Shopping her Closet. The first post about my friend Andrea was over a month ago. Have a look at it for style ideas and thrifty tips. Andrea is looking at the clothes she already has and is creating neat new remixes. She’s inspired me to do the same.

Picking up where we left off, here’s Andrea in a great monochromatic look with a cute hat. She knows what works for her.

Hat, top, jeans, and scarf: Ross Dress for Less
MIA boots: DSW
Necklace: Chico’s

Check out her fantastic boots! I love the button detailing.

In this next look, Andrea returns to a black, white, and red color palette. I love how bold–yet classic–it is. The yellow bag is really unexpected too.

Scarf, top, BCBG shoes, and bag: Ross Dress for Less
Pants: Nordstrom Rack
Coat: Mexx (Canada)
Jewelry: Fred Meyer

Seattle weather can quickly turn cold and rainy–and get nice just as fast. That’s why I love how that outfit looks great with or without the jacket. In Washington, outerwear is definitely part of our everyday wear, so why not think of it as part of the outfit?

Case in point: Andrea’s red coat. It’s adorable. This might be my favorite look. It’s coordinated but not too matchy. The neutrals of the hat and boots are different but they work together really well.

Hat: Gifted
Top, jacket, and jeans: Ross Dress for Less
Earrings: Fred Meyer
Mia boots: DSW
Coat: Macy’s

This is a hot, retro look. Andrea looks sophisticated in these elegant colors. The faux fur detailing glams up the outfit. Remove the coat, and she’s ready for work. Put it back on and she can to dinner and a show. I love the versatility of this.

Top: Marshall’s
Skirt: Club Monaco via Goodwill
Tights: Ross
Boots: Nordstrom Rack

The photo shoot with Andrea was a lot of fun and I learned new ways to remix clothes and get a bargain. I hope you got some ideas too. Maybe we’ll see Andrea in her own blog soon!

5 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold, Thrifty

Tagged as boots, fashion, hat, skirt, style, thrifty fashion

July 31, 2011 · 12:00 am

Hot and Cold: T-shirt Dress

One day in June, I wore the dress three different ways—mainly because the weather in Seattle can change ten times before noon. I thought that if I can make it through one day in the same outfit in the Pacific Northwest, I can make it through three (or four) seasons.

Spring: It rains all the time in Seattle, and spring is no exception. I wore this dress with ballet flats and tights. I layered a tank under the dress and wore a shrug over it.

Dress: Wish, Seattle
Tank: Wet Seal
Shrug: Thrifted
Shoes: Payless
Umbrella: Gifted
Cuff: Greenbelts
Necklace: Thrifted

Summer: When the temperatures rise, a loose, lightweight dress is a godsend. I traded the tights and flats for sandals, and ditched the shrug. It was a beautiful day, but not humid. For a truly scorching day, I’d probably lose the cuff too (and add sunglasses).

Shoes: Flexx
Purse: Shiraleah

Fall: For fall (and in Seattle, winter too), I would add the shrug and tights back into the mix, throw on a scarf, and wear boots. In Canada, where I’m from, this wouldn’t fly in winter unless I added a parka, hat, and mittens. But it would be a great fall outfit.

Scarf: Gifted
Boots: Wanted
Purse: Shiraleah
Cuff: Greenbelts
Necklace: Thrifted

Buying clothes is fun, but it can quickly add up. Getting lots of mileage out of your pieces will help stretch your wardrobe budget. I hope these ideas get you thinking. What items do you have that you can wear throughout the year?

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Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold

Tagged as fashion, hot and cold, seasons, style, t-shirt dress

June 1, 2011 · 8:32 am

Hot and Cold: Jovovich Hawk Dress

I’m getting good use out of my floral Jovovich-Hawk dress. I recently wore it to work and styled it with orange tights and yellow shoes. I got the color inspiration from a kids’ painting easel that I saw in a children’s store in a mall.

I put on my dress added a brown belt. When I left the house, I realized how cold it was! It’s almost summer, but it’s still chilly in Seattle in the mornings. Seems strange since the rest of the country is in the middle of a heat wave. I grabbed my go-to safari jacket and warmed up the outfit, proving that this Jovovich-Hawk dress is a three-season number.

Dress: Jovovich-Hawk for Target
Belt: Wet Seal
Tights: Target
Shoes: Aerosoles

Jacket: Mossimo for Target

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Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold

Tagged as dress, fashion, Jovovich-Hawk, orange tights, style, Target, yellow shoes

May 21, 2011 · 12:11 am

Red Florals from Madrid

Madrid, New Mexico, that is.

On my way home from NM, I took the Turquoise Trail, as it’s known, from Santa Fe to Albuquerque. The scenic byway cuts through a 15,000 square mile area in the heart of central New Mexico. Madrid was booming during the height of the coal mining era in the 1800s, but became practically a ghost town when the industry fizzled.

Fortunately, artists and craftspeople took up residence in the Victorian homes and clapboard storefronts and now the tiny town boasts a thriving arts community. I had lunch at Mama Lisa’s Ghost Town kitchen and ate a scrumptious butternut squash and pumpkin seed taco platter.

Then I found, among the galleries, a funky consignment shop called Redbone. I shopped the rows of vintage clothing and jewelry while listening to 80s new wave music. Redbone has a fabulous selection of perfectly broken-in vintage cowboy boots. I couldn’t find a red pair in my size though. Too bad—they would have looked great with the floral skirt I bought.

T-shirt: Victoria’s Secret
Skirt: Thrifted (at Redbone)
Stone pendant: Street artist in Santa Fe
Sandals: Payless
Cross-body bag: Shiraleah

Later in the day, it got cooler so I thought I’d see how to make this summery southwestern look work in a Seattle spring evening. I added my Joe’s blazer and off I went, into the sunset. Is it weird that I kept humming “Blinded by the Light” as I drove to dinner?

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Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold, Thrifty

Tagged as blazer, fashion, green shoes, Madrid, NM, Santa Fe, skirt, style, thrifty fashion, Turquoise Trail

May 13, 2011 · 12:36 am

Sunny Yellow for Santa Fe

I’m planning a trip to Santa Fe. So if you’re tired of me complaining about gray skies and rain, don’t worry. I’ll soon have outfit posts featuring summer wear. I cannot wait. Actually, I couldn’t wait and I went ahead and road-tested a dress I bought at a thrift store a few months ago.

Dress: Forever 21 via thrifted
Tank: Wet Seal
Hat: Foodland in Hawaii
Shades: Target
Shoes: Payless
Purse: JC Penneys

Don’t I look happy? Sadly, it was about 43 degrees on this particular day so I couldn’t keep this look going for long. I did find a way to “winterize” it. I ditched the hat and glasses and grabbed my go-to safari jacket. I added a DIY scarf that I made out of a T-shirt, swapped the sandals for boots, and off I went.

Scarf: DIY
Jacket: Target via thrifted
Boots: Wanted

Are you in the throes of spring or are you still hanging onto winter wear?

4 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold, Thrifty

Tagged as big hat, dress, fashion, green shoes, style, sun hat, sundress

April 20, 2011 · 10:02 am

Dress Up, Dress Down: White Jeans

I’m Jean White, so I find it humorous to write about white jeans. The first time I did a vanity search for myself with my married name (c’mon, we’ve all done it: you’ve gone to a search engine and typed your name), instead of finding me, all I saw was a page full of pictures of white jeans. I can’t complain. It’s harder for potential employers to find incriminating photos of me among all those pants (I kid—there are no incriminating photos of me).

Sometimes I want to go from work to social events and I don’t want to change outfits. Here’s what I did recently. I’ll start with the social look.

I love this top—It’s a Selma Karaca. She’s a New York-based designer and sews strips of fabric into amazing tops and dresses. I bought it in a boutique in Seattle that recently closed.

Top: Selma Karaca
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Boots: Bass
Clutch: Clothing exchange
Necklace as bracelet: Mary Kay

The top is too low-cut for work, so I flipped it around and put the scoop in the back. Then I added a coordinating cardigan. I wrapped an orange scarf around my neck and off I went. In the evening, before happy hour, I removed the cardigan and flipped the shirt around again.

Cardigan: Thrifted
Scarf: NYC street vendor

On days like this, I put my essentials in a clutch and throw the clutch into a laptop bag. That way I have everything I need for evening and can still go to work looking like a professional.

Do you have any tips for day-to-evening wear?

Here’s the poem of the day, in honor of National Poetry Month:

The Leaves like Women interchange
by Emily Dickinson

The Leaves like Women interchange
Exclusive Confidence —
Somewhat of nods and somewhat
Portentous inference.

The Parties in both cases
Enjoining secrecy —
Inviolable compact
To notoriety.

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

Tagged as fashion, remixer, Selma Karaca, style, white jeans

April 8, 2011 · 1:03 am

Blue Chai T-Back: Target Dress #4

This Richard Chai design is the fourth and final Target dress from the mini-spree I had a few weeks ago (and it’s also a GO International Designer Collective piece). It’s a great alternative to the Little Black Dress. Meet the Little Blue Dress.

I wanted to make sure I could change the look of this dress and wear it to a variety of functions, as well as in different seasons. First, I paired it with silver shoes, a pewter clutch and silver jewelry. I’d wear this to a fancy dinner, a wedding, or a New Year’s Eve event.

Dress: Richard Chai
Clutch: Victoria’s Secret
Shoes: Steve Madden
Bracelet: Gifted
Necklace: Fred Meyer’s
Earrings: Target

Next, I swapped out the silver shoes for a nude pair and threw on a bright orange scarf. This would be a nice dinner dress or something I could wear to the symphony.

Scarf: Street vendor in NYC
Shoes: Nine West

Finally, I thought about girls’ night out and how I could get a little funky with this dress. I added a black satin blazer, a golden-baubled necklace, and tan faux suede boots with a kitten heel. I’m carrying a flashy, bronze hobo bag too, to make this more fun and less formal. I swapped out the silver-tone earrings for a gold version.

Blazer: Bebe (thrifted)
Earrings: Target
Necklace: Mary Kay
Bag: Thrifted
Boots: Rampage

Here’s a thrifty tip: I found the Bebe blazer at Goodwill for $8 but it’s a size 2 (and I’m not). Because of its length and shape I realized this would work as a coat. I can’t button it up, but let’s keep that between you and me.

The total for the first outfit was $65; the second was $105; the third was also $105. Obviously I bought the dress only once so all the pieces you see here total $275. Proof that you can look like a million for much less.