jeanofalltrades

May 29, 2012 · 7:31 am

Stripes and Red Skinnies

Who knew I’d wear these red skinny jeans so often? They were money well spent and I consider them a neutral. They go with almost everything.

T-shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Red Light Vintage
Shoes: Qupid

Today, I wore them with a long, striped T from Old Navy. If you recognize it, it’s because I have the same one in cool tones too. If I like something, I often buy multiples. It’s an affliction I picked up from my mom and oma.

I have the same pair of Flexx sandals in black, sand, and lilac. I have two of these tops, three pairs of the same style of Aerosoles (in tan, purple, and yellow), and I have the same turtleneck in wine, gray, and teal. If I like the fit and cut, why not get a few? Do you ever “stock up” on favorite things?

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as ballet flats, fashion, skinny jeans, stripes, style

May 27, 2012 · 2:13 pm

Observing Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day when Americans remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day has its origins in Decoration Day, a day when Freedmen and other black Americans would celebrate the black and white Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Decoration Day began in 1865 and was held on May 1st.

By 1882, the holiday changed its name to Memorial Day and moved to the last Monday in May. It became an official federal holiday in 1967. Many people visit cemeteries and remember those who died serving this country. Many more take time for friends and family by going to the beach, having picnics and parties, shopping, enjoying fireworks, or watching the Indianapolis 500 car race.

Memorial Day is similar to Remembrance Day in Canada and other Commonwealth countries, but it’s different. Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran’s Day in the USA is on November 11th and was formerly called Armistice Day. It’s held on the 11th because November 11, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an agreement that ended the fighting of WWI.

My great-grandfather fought for Britain in WWI. My maternal grandmother worked in a munitions factory as part of the war effort and both my grandfathers fought in WWII. More recently, my husband was in the US Navy. So I guess I do have a lot to remember on Memorial Day. Mostly, though, I’m wishing for peace.

bw flags

My Three Husbands

Today’s post is short. A picture says a thousand words, they say. I had a bit of fun with my patient husband, my camera, and the photostitch feature of Windows Live Photo Gallery. I did something similar for one of my outfit posts last summer. Only that time I copied two photos and lined them up in Windows Paint. Low tech but it worked.

Do you have fun with photos? What’s your favorite technique?

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Filed under Art, Fashion, Technology

Tagged as Paint, Photo Gallery, photography

May 23, 2012 · 10:24 am

Olive and Gray…in May?

Can you believe I’m wearing tights in May? Most of the country is packing shorts and tanks for the Memorial Day weekend and I’m looking more back-to-school.

Sweater: Portland thrift shop
Skirt: Forever 21
Scarf: Love Culture
Tights: Roots Canada
Cuff: Greenbelts
Boots: John Fluevog

That’s Seattle for you. We had a good start to the month but cooler weather is back. They say summer starts on July 5th. At least I got to wear my cool, new Fluevogs.

I bought these as a consolation prize when I house I put an offer on fell through. I’d seen these shoes just after having my offer on a home accepted and I knew frivolous purchases were out of the question–for a long time. But during the inspection, I’d realized I’d got more than I bargained for. The house was going to be a money pit. I started dreaming of these boots. I backed out of the house and got these the very next day.

The last time I wore green and gray was last December. It’s not a common combo, but I like it. What uncommon color mixes to you like?

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, Fluevog, skirt, style, tights

May 22, 2012 · 6:58 am

Tips for First-Time Thrifters

Today’s post is a short one. You see, I am a guest blogger at the Be In Style section of Pocket Change. I was asked to share my thrifty tips with a broader audience. I know some of you have asked about how to find great threads at thrift stores. Hop on over to Pocket Change and read about how I go about finding deals.

Do you have any thrifting tips? Share them here or on Pocket Change!

5 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as Be In Style, fashion, Pocket Change, style, thrifty fashion, tips for thrifting

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?

3 Comments

Filed under Dress Up Dress Down, Fashion

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

May 18, 2012 · 11:02 am

Teal High-Waisted Flares

I have to admit: I’m not a fan of the look of high-waisted pants. But I loved the color of these pants and the super-wide legs so when I saw them at Crossroads Trading Company I tried them on. I usually leave my shirts untucked so you can’t really tell they’re high-waisted.

Top: Sofada
Jacket: Betsey Johnson via thrifted
Pants: BDG via thrifted
Sandals: Bamboo via eBay
Cuff: Thrifted

The high waist is really comfortable. They stay up nicely, and I don’t flash my underwear when I sit down. There’s something to be said about that. I’m still not flaunting the waistline though!

I love how long these are too. Very ’70s and very leg-lengthening. I like when long, wide pants hide my shoes–except for the fact that no one gets to see my footwear. Have you tried high-waisted pants? What about flares?

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Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, flares, pants, style, thrifty fashion

May 16, 2012 · 7:19 am

Run With It: Olive, Orange and Black

Sometimes I forget to dress according to season. I wear light pink in the fall, white in the winter, and earth tones in the spring. Case in point: this combo.

T-shirt: Goodwill
Cardigan: Smart Set via gifted
Skirt: Newport News
Boots: G by Guess

I don’t mind though. I was in the mood to wear this green t-shirt. It has a sneaker logo on it. So unique! I found it in Goodwill when I was in Pittsburgh in 2010. I know it seems weird to travel across the country and visit thrift stores, but I thought I might find something different–and I was right!

Of course I didn’t travel to PA only for the thrifting, but I did manage to make it part of my trip. My motto: Never walk by when you could walk inside.

Can you pass a thrift store or do you give in to temptation?

1 Comment

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as boots, fashion, skirt, style, t-shirt, thrifty fashion

May 14, 2012 · 10:34 am

Red Corduroy Kindle Case

Once upon a time there was a red corduroy blazer. Someone bought it, wore it (maybe), and gave it to Goodwill. I bought it at Goodwill, wore it (once), and cut it in half so I could make a Kindle case with it. I wore the half jacket once too (just for fun). Unfortunately it was in my pre-blogging days so there’s no photographic evidence. There is evidence of the Kindle case:

I posted the Kindle case on my Etsy shop recently (to replace another one I made out of a pant leg). Best of all, my friend, Lynn, took the remaining fabric (two sleeves) and made a wine tote out of one of them. Brilliant!

The red blazer has had quite a journey–and it looks like it’s just beginning!

DIY Skirt Zipper

I got this skirt at a clothing exchange and I’m embarrassed to say I’ve been keeping it up with a safety pin. It was a bit too large but I like the asymmetrical hemline.

Top: Swapped
Skirt: Swapped
Earrings: Amy Bengtson
Purse: Frye via thrifted
Shoes: Fry via swapped

I’ve been seeing a lot of “exposed” zippers in the stores lately (meaning the zippers aren’t hidden in seams but are part of a garment’s embellishments). With that idea in mind, I took in my skirt.

First I cut a V of fabric out of the waist (a little pie-shaped wedge of fabric), then I sewed each half of the zipper to the new edges. When I zipped up the skirt, it was smaller. It fits nicely now. And since the skirt was free, it was a low-risk project. Yes, there was a chance I’d mess it up, but I was willing to try.