jeanofalltrades

December 2, 2011 · 11:46 am

Red and Purple and…Where’s my dog?

Fresh on the heels of mixing black and brown, I thought I’d try another unlikely color combination: Red and purple. I purposely chose a blueish-purple cardigan with a deep red dress. Tomato red and violet would work, but would be especially bold and bright. Baby steps!

I set up my tripod in the parking lot of Frankie’s vet, where I was dropping him off for day boarding. I thought he’d make an excellent prop for the shoot, but he was camera-shy.

red and purple

Dress: Boutique in Seattle
Cardigan: Nordstrom
Tank: Papaya
Tights: Target
Shoes: John Fluevog
Dog: Petfinder

I’m so glad I’ve discovered day boarding. When I go away on vacation, I take Frankie to Doggie Care Resort, a great small-dog, kennel-free place. He stays in a lovely couple’s home at night and plays in their secure, fenced yard during the day. They’re too far to travel to for a day visit though. Until now, weeknight happy hour was out of the question; I couldn’t leave Frankie alone that long.

Now, on days when I have to work longer hours or have a dinner invitation, I can drop him off at his vet’s in the morning, and pick him up as late as 8:30 pm. He gets playtime, affection, and potty breaks, and sleeps away the rest of the day in his kennel. I wasn’t sure he’d like it but he goes in willingly and greets the staff enthusiastically. A sure endorsement if there ever was one.

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, style

December 1, 2011 · 10:05 am

Thrifty Thursday: Shopping Her Closet

You might recognize Andrea from my recent clothing exchange post. Andrea appreciates a bargain as much as I do and she has great tips on how to get a deal. As a fellow clothes horse, I knew Andrea had a lot of great styles in her closet so I challenged her to remix a few of her favorite pieces. The following outfits are items that Andrea hadn’t worn in a while and hadn’t combined in these ways.

Blazer: Clothing Exchange
Turtleneck and boots: Ross Dress for Less
Jewelry: Fred Meyer
Jeans: Paige via Marshall’s
Overcoat: Nordstrom
Hat: Boutique in Portland

Poncho: Marshall’s
Hat: San Francisco Hat Company via PCC Natural Markets
Trousers: The Limited (Buy one, get one 50%)
Shoes and clutch: Ross Dress for Less

Jacket and skirt: Clothing exchange
Top, belt, and boots: Ross Dress for Less
Jewelry: White House Black Market

Looking at Andrea’s outfit, I noticed a few things: She loves classic pieces in neutral colors with pops of red. It’s definitely her go-to accent color. Also, she looks great in hats and isn’t afraid to wear them.

Andrea appears to be a Ross addict! Ross Dress for Less and similar off-price stores (like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx) are great ways to get designer items for a good deal. The buyers at Ross work with manufacturers to buy overruns and then sell them deeply discounted.

I asked Andrea to share her tips. Here’s what she said:

Once a year take everything out of your closet and put things back one by one. Reorganize your clothes and put them back in a different order pants on the left this time, color coded, etc.) to change the visibility. If you haven’t worn in it in over a year you probably won’t ever wear it again so start your clothing exchange/donate pile.
Keep your receipts! I often buy when I don’t need to and recently found a handful of items still with tags. Most stores will honor original price on return if you have the receipt… even if it’s very old.
Push yourself to be bold. When going to work I have less fun, however have been newly inspired by going through my clothes and seeing so many things I forgot I had or was too lazy to work into an outfit.
Take photos of your favorite outfits. When you feel really good in something, make sure to take a photo so you won’t forget to put that ensemble together in the future.
Ensure you’re wearing the correct bra size. It’s common knowledge most women are wearing the wrong size. I have to tell you when I was correctly sized and got bras that fit well clothes started to feel and look better as well. At some point I was wearing a 36C however I am actually a 34DDD. Now the ladies are right where they should be!
Try out sockittome socks! Some of the most fun socks to wear even if you aren’t showing off the designs.

I have even more of Andrea’s outfit pictures so I’ll post part two in a few weeks.

5 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, remixing, Ross Dress for Less, style, thrifty fashion

November 29, 2011 · 7:05 am

How to Buy Vintage Clothes on eBay

I recently made a video blog (I refuse to use the word vlog) about how to shop vintage on eBay. I had a lot of fun turning my office into a studio, playing host, and editing my video.

I hope you watch it. Here’s a recap of what I covered:

Check the seller and make sure they have good ratings and reviews.
Use different search terms to find what you’re looking for (dress, shift, or frock; vintage, retro, or original).
Look in different categories to find items with potential (women’s, men’s, vintage, 1960s, etc.).
Decide what price you’re willing to pay for an item and don’t go over that amount; it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy.
Consider shipping. The cost of shipping can make a deal, not such a deal. Other times, free or low shipping is an incentive to bid.
Look for different types of items from your favorite designers. (For example, DVF is known for wrap dresses but there’s always a bidding war for them. However, scarves and shirts are less in demand, and sell for less.)
Take your measurements and be honest with yourself. Don’t bid on something that isn’t going to fit.
Vintage sizes are different than contemporary sizes. I’m usually a 4 or 6 but in vintage I wear a 10 or 12. Look at inches, not garment sizes.
Buy larger rather than smaller. You can always have an item taken in. (Keep tailoring costs in mind though, since they’ll add to your costs.)
Consider how you can make an item your own. If it’s a good price, but dated, can you remove the sleeves? Change the hemline?
Pay on time so you made the seller happy, get good reviews, and keep your auction karma in good shape.

Do you use auction sites to get thrifty finds? What’s your best score? How have you made a vintage piece yours?

4 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as eBay, fashion, online auctions, online shopping, style, thrifty fashion, video blog, vintage, vlog

November 28, 2011 · 6:46 am

Shopping Local at Etsy Rain

This past weekend I went to Etsy Rain with a few friends. Etsy is a great website where you can buy handmade goods from all over the world. Etsy Rain is the Seattle contingent of crafters. They set up shop at the Seattle Center and that’s where we met.

Supporting local crafters is important to all of us. I have an Etsy shop. So does Sadie. Lynn does too. I’ll have to check and see if Stephanie does.

Left to right: Jean, Sadie, Lynn, Stephanie

I bought a neat pair of green coil earrings from Sue at Phoenix Beadwork. I’ll be sure to wear them in an outfit post this week. Here are a few beautiful necklaces from Sue’s booth.

Then I bought a cool green ring from One-eyed Collie made of candy pieces set in resin. I’ll wear it with the earrings from Phoenix. Here’s a sampling of the other items at this booth.

I almost bought a green cowl scarf at the Scarf City booth but it was on the mannequin so I tried on a pink one instead. Surprisingly, the pink one looked great. I’m glad about that. otherwise I’d have a bag full of green things! Scarf City had other items too, like ponchos, leg warmers and hats.

Shawl City

I was lusting after a “ninja rider” t-shirt from the Retro Pop Namu booth, but when I talked to the shop owner, she said she’d be putting that logo on canvas messenger bags soon so I held out. I’ll be shopping online for that one!

I’ll post pictures of the tiny tam I bought from Alise’s Pieces. I have a tiny hat, and now I have a tam.

Etsy Rain was a great place to buy gifts. There are other craft fairs coming up too.

December 3rd and 4th Urban Craft Uprising is at the Seattle Center.
December 3rd and 4th Winter Fest and Craft Fair is at the Phinney Ridge Community Center.
December 10th Punk Rock Flea Market is in Belltown.
December 11th the Mourning Market comes to SoDo.

Update:

Hot tip from Elizabeth Space:

December 10th I Heart Indie Holidays at the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club.

And from CraftyClementines:

December 17th Bizarre Bazaar at the Erikson Theater in Capitol Hill.

Do you know of others? Is your city hosting craft fairs for the holidays?

12 Comments

Filed under Art, Crafts, Fashion

Tagged as craft fair, craft show, crafts, Etsy, fashion, style

November 27, 2011 · 7:07 am

EarnedBeauty Interviews Jean of all Trades

Last week I received an email request to be interviewed by Latashia, the woman who runs the blog EarnedBeauty. This is one of the things I love about blogging: The community is so wonderful and there’s always unexpected meetings and opportunities to make new friends.

I shared some of my thoughts and answered a few questions and Latashia, the beauty behind the blog, did the rest.

Check out the interview and all her other posts at http://earnedbeauty.wordpress.com.

Shadow Shot: Fall Foliage

Hey Harriet hosts Shadow Shot Sunday, a weekly photo challenge where people can submit their shadowy shots—pictures that show the play of light and dark. I haven’t participated for a few weeks so I thought I’d get my act together and share some pictures with you. Check out her site for lots of inspiring photography.

Here’s a glimpse of what I saw while walking the perimeter of my building at work a couple of weeks ago.

fiery trees

I love autumn. I can’t get enough of the colors and I marvel daily at the fiery shades of the leaves.

golden tree

The day was cool and sunny and the sun brought the colors to life.

parking garage

It’s interesting how something dying can be so beautiful.

brick red

Fall is part of the life cycle of the ecosystem and the falling leaves add nutrients to the earth so things can grow again in the spring.

light on the leaves

I’ll have to remember that. I’ll have to sing The Byrds more often: “To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season.”

Sadly, a few windy days and a rainstorm blew all the leaves away.

Maybe it’s the temporary quality that intrigues me. I’ll have to wait until next year for more vibrant color like this.

8 Comments

Filed under Art, Photography

Tagged as art, autumn, fall, leaves, photography, Seattle, shadow shot sunday, style

November 25, 2011 · 6:50 am

Simple Denim Look

Here’s an outfit I pulled together when I was feeling casual. I don’t always dress to the nines everywhere I go (far from it, actually). It’s basically jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt, but I added a few extras.

Top: Kensie
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Shoes: John Fluevog
Necklace: Gifted
Laptop bag: Solo

Nothing in this outfit is thrifted, which is rare for me. However, I managed to get the top and jeans on sale. I’ve joined a few online member-type sale sites and I’ve found some great deals.

It can be tough when beautiful items pop into my inbox every day. I have to remind myself about what I really need and what’s just another pretty thing. Also, just because it’s 50% off doesn’t mean the sale price is a deal. But, self-discipline aside, there are good places to find nice things—without leaving the house. I’ll do a write-up about what I like about the sites I peruse.

These shoes were technically free. I say technically because I paid the full price for them—using a Visa gift card that I was awarded for good service in a role I participated in at work. So even though they cost money, it was free money.

I didn’t want to use the card here and there—groceries, fuel, a latté or two and a couple of knick-knacks—and then have nothing to show for my award. So I bought the shoes as a reminder of a job well done. They’re much more useful than a silly plaque (which is what I’ve received in the past for merits). These shoes are my trophy. I’ll wear them with a skirt soon so you can see the neat studded detailing on the straps.

2 Comments

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as casual style, fashion, jeans, style

November 24, 2011 · 11:57 am

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a tough holiday for me. More than other holidays, it seems to revolve around the eating of an animal—and it makes me uneasy. I don’t like to get preachy on this blog (and that’s not the spirit of today’s post), so I hope it’s not taken that way.

I have a lot to be thankful for. My husband and family, my friends, my job, and my health. Here are a few photos of thankful turkeys—the ones not on the table today.

Photo courtesy of The Gentle Barn

Photo courtesy of United Poultry Concerns

Photo courtesy of Sue Coe

I’ll still be feasting (on squash, potatoes, yams, corn, cranberries, stuffing, pumpkin pie and apple pie, wine and mulled cider). Oh, and a tofurky. I hope you have a great holiday and have lots to be thankful for.

7 Comments

Filed under General, Healthy Living

Tagged as Thanksgiving

November 22, 2011 · 10:48 am

Monochromatic Union Jack

I like the design of the Union Jack (aka the UK flag). I see it on the roofs of Mini Coopers, the logo of Ben Sherman jeans, and on The Who album covers. When I saw it on this shirt at the Frock Shop, I was smitten. It’s a Union Jack, all right, but it’s dark and moody.

Top: Frock Shop
Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: Banana Republic
Shoes: Old Navy
Earrings: DIY
Clutch: Seatbelt Bag via thrifted

It’s also sheer, so I wore a tank top under it and paired it with skinny jeans and heels. I’m usually a walking rainbow so wearing this look was branching out (or a nod to my all-black days of yesteryear).

How has your style evolved? Do you have a go-to item or signature look?

Street Style: Falling for Hats

Dave is a man of style. He appreciates a well-made shoe, and he’s fun to talk to about anything sartorial. Add to these qualities that he’s also a musician and avid motorcycle rider and, well, you can imagine what a cool guy he is. It’s especially refreshing to see a man like Dave on the Eastside: He’s stylish in a sea of software folks (who, despite their smarts, don’t usually spend much thought on getting dressed).

Hat: Byrnie Utz
Jacket: Territory Ahead
Shirt: Territory Ahead
Jeans: Territory Ahead
Shoes: John Fluevog

Dave’s a big fan of Territory Ahead, a stylish line of clothes for people with a sense of adventure. The clothes are rugged and durable, and are sourced from exciting places all over the world. But unlike a lot of travel wear, this stuff isn’t just practical, it looks great. He gets his Territory Ahead gear from the Bellevue store.

Despite Dave’s adventurous nature, this hat is his first. And by hat, I mean fashionable hat. Baseball hats are not a fashion statement (Ron Howard, I’m talking to you). Fortunately, Dave’s brother talked him into trying on some hats at Byrnie Utz in downtown Seattle. The associate helped him with dozens of styles so he could find the right one.

Some hats make a person’s face look leaner; others make it look wider. Some just aren’t the right style. So Dave’s advice for anyone looking at hats is to try a bunch. Don’t try one and say you’re not a hat person.