Tag Archives: fashion

January 27, 2014 · 11:59 pm

Blue Camo and a Classic White Shirt

I joined the Navy. Old Navy!

Shirt: Old Navy
Pants: Old Navy
Belt: Couch Guitar Straps
Shoes: Soda

Until this pair of pants arrived from oldnavy.com, I had zero camouflage in my closet. Or maybe I did. Maybe it was just so good at being camo that I couldn’t see it!

I like the unexpected color of these pants. (Well, blue camo is worn in the Navy, I think of the olive/khaki color combo when I think of camo.)

Camo reminds me of hunting, and hunting makes me sad, so I’ve steered clear of this pattern. But the blue camo seemed like a nice variation.

I’ve since seen professional wildlife photographers wearing camo (they even have camo cameras) so if I do get some green camo clothing, I’ll pretend I’m on assignment with National Geographic. Seems reasonable, right?

And to offset the military vibe, I’m wearing a belt made of vinyl from a VW Bug. You can’t get more hippy than a Bug!

For once, I’m actually wearing a “classic white shirt.” For years I went without this wardrobe staple because I thought it would get dirty and wrinkled (and it probably will). Nevertheless, I’m glad to have a timeless item.

I’m joining Style Sessions, Visible Monday and Monday Bloom today. See what everyone else is wearing!

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Tagged as camo, camo clothing, camouflage, fashion, style, white shirt

January 24, 2014 · 1:55 pm

Peasant Blouse and Olive Skinnies

This past fall, I wore this white embroidered blouse with these same boots and with shorts. I wanted to style it for cooler days, so I kept the outfit the same and replaced the shorts with olive skinnies.

Shirt: Bébénoir
Jeans: Just USA
Boots: MIA
Bag: Matt & Nat
Ring: Silk Wire Jewelry
Cuff: Lauren Harkness

Everything else is the same (well, I forgot my necklace). I like experimenting with small changes to see how big a different I can make with an outfit. It goes to show that I don’t need that many items to mix and match and create new looks.

That said, I do enjoy shopping for new pieces. The blouse was a piece I picked up in NYC this past summer. But a white shirt is a classic, and a key piece for any wardrobe. This is a twist on a classic and it’s great to have in rotation.

Unlike its classic cousin, this blouse doesn’t button up. It’s a pullover style and being such a relaxed fix, I feel like it doesn’t need to be ironed crisp.

It’s got a neat back opening that I promise to show next time I wear it.

I’m joining Style Elixir, Elizabeth Nygard, The Life of the Party, and Lena B Actually and Rachel the Hat for linkups. Phew! Check out all the other bloggers and see what they’re wearing.

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Tagged as boots, fashion, jeans, skinny jeans, style

January 17, 2014 · 10:00 pm

Moto Jacket and Pencil Skirt

I didn’t do a lot of post-Christmas shopping last month, but this quilted pleather motorcycle jacket was an exception.

Jacket: Aeropostale
Top: Marshall’s
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Roots Canada
Shoes: Old Navy
Purse: JC Penney
Necklace: Herbivore Clothing

I found the jacket in the clearance section at Aeropostale.com–and then I saw the site had an additional 40% off! That made this $100 jacket about $22.

It’s really soft, and completes my moto jacket collection. I have a velvet one and other variations, like pink, but until now, I hadn’t found the perfect faux Rebel Without a Cause version.

Today, I wore it with tights and a pencil skirt. Perfect for wine tasting and a live show, which is where hubby and I were off to.

A jacket like this is a classic, and I’ll be able to wear it with everything from jeans to dresses. What classic pieces do you have in your wardrobe? Anything missing?

I’m linking up with Fab Favorites, Love your Look and Passion for Fashion today. See what all the other bloggers are wearing!

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, faux leather, motorcycle jacket, pencil skirt, pleather, skirt, style, thrifty fashion, tights, vegan

January 13, 2014 · 8:41 pm

Culottes or Gauchos?

According to Wikipedia, culottes is a French word that described the knee-length britches worn by upper-class men in the late middle ages and Renaissance to the early 19th Century. They were tighter (think George Washington) than the “split skirt” style women adopted later on.

Women’s culottes afforded women the freedom to straddle a horse, rather than having to ride side-saddle, like they did while wearing dresses and skirts.

Gauchos is a Portuguese word used to describe residents of certain South American regions. They are a type of cowboy who wear ponchos and loose-fitting pants called bombachas.

If culottes are pants and Gauchos are people, then I guess I’m wearing culottes! Some will call these Gaucho pants, in reference to the people who wear them. Now we know!

Shirt: Thrifted
Culottes: Swapped
Socks: Target
Shoes: Thrifted
Bracelets: Various places

I got my culottes at a clothing exchange. They’re loose and comfy and look utterly ridiculous–until I put on heels. When I’m flat-footed, the length and width of these pants are more Bobby from King of the Hill than woman’s wear. For some reason, heels change the proportion and make everything work.

I wore these style of pants a lot when I was a kid. I’m happy to have them in my wardrobe again. Do you have culottes or gaucho pants?

I’ve joined Style Sessions, Visible Monday and Thrifters Anonymous for blog linkups today. See what everyone else is wearing!

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Tagged as culottes, fashion, gauchos, style, thrifty fashion

January 9, 2014 · 4:14 pm

Winter White and Robin’s Egg Blue

Who says you can’t wear white in winter? I don’t mind breaking rules so I wore white jeans. I’m also dreaming of spring so instead of playing it safe with black, gray or brown, I wore robin’s egg blue on top.

Sweater: Goodwill
Tank: Gifted from my Tante Marion
Shoes: Aerosoles
Ring: Shop in Boston (name long forgotten)
Earrings: Shop in Seattle (no closed)

I can’t complain about the weather. Seattle is such a mild climate. The polar vortex bypassed us, leaving us to our usual rain. Flowers around here will bloom all year (depending on the type). A hearty mum does well by my front door. In summer, when it’s actually dry around here, potted plants in full sun don’t stand a chance so I switch to in-ground gardening.

The real risk with white in winter is getting dirty. I took advantage of a rare rain-free day to wear my white flares. And in case you’re jealous of the mild weather, remember that I’ll still be dealing with rain in May and June when everyone else is in sundresses and shorts! It’s a trade-off.

I joined The Fashion Informant and Lena B Actually for blog linkups today. Check out what everyone else is wearing!

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Tagged as fashion, flares, jeans, style, sweater, thrifty fashion, white jeans

January 5, 2014 · 9:43 pm

Flares and Stripes

If you’ve been to my blog before, you know I’m drawn to color. That’s why I mixed so many colors (and a couple of patterns) together in this outfit. I just can’t help it!

Jacket: Macy’s
Sweater: Swapped
Tank: Target
Flares: Thrifted
Shoes: Thrifted

I’ve worn these flares before (with denim, stripes, and a poncho). This time, I mixed in houndstooth.

Of course, I also added stripes, and a bright, layered tank. I made my necklace out of another, less interesting necklace. Is that DIY or reassembly? Either way, I’m happy with the results.

I do wear black sometimes, but when I do so, I’m less likely to take time to pose for outfit shots. That’s the real reason you see me in so much color. It’s funny. At some points in my life, you’d be hard-pressed to find color in my closet at all. These days, I can dress in all colors, without hesitating. It’s like a fashion pendulum. Could swing back one day. But for now, I’m enjoying playing with colors.

I’ve linked up with Style Elixir, DC in Style and Thrifters Anonymous today. See what the others are wearing!

8 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as coat, fashion, flares, jacket, stripes, style, sweater, thrifty fashion

January 1, 2014 · 10:51 am

Zebra Striped Dress

I’m ringing in the New Year with a dress in one of my favorite patterns: Animal print. There are so many types of prints (zebra, leopard, giraffe, snake, tiger, even cow!) so the look never gets repetitive. Add color to the mix, and you can see why I’m drawn to the infinite varieties of animal prints. Plus, I like animals, and you know what they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. I’m copying their pretty designs!

Dress: Swapped
Pleather boots: MIA
Necklace: The Vegan Woman
Vinyl purse: Shop in Pittsburgh

The best part of this dress might be that it was free. I got it at a clothing exchange from a fellow animal-print lover who tired of this particular piece.

It doesn’t have a defined waist, which makes it really comfortable, and the black vertical detailing at the front keeps this looking long and lean. I love the retro 70s collar!

I wore this with boots today but I’ll try it with other shoes and maybe a different pop of color, like an orange or green purse or a big cuff.

Happy New Year!

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Tagged as boots, dress, fashion, necklace, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

December 29, 2013 · 12:23 am

New Year’s Eve Outfit

The outfit I pick for New Year’s Eve depends on what I’m doing. I’ve worn everything from a ballroom gown and heels to a motorcycle jacket and armored pants. (It was a midnight ride, and perfectly appropriate for the occasion.)

I might even wear PJs. Sometimes New Years isn’t a huge party, but an intimate stay-home-and-cozy-up event.

Truth be told, this year, I’ll be home early. Hubby is getting his wisdom teeth out the day before and I plan to be home with him. I’ll leave him for a bit around dinner so I can grab a bite with friends, but I want to be home well before the clock strikes midnight. For me, it’s not New Year’s if I can’t kiss my sweetie.

So my outfit this year won’t be special, but it could look something like this:

Jumpsuit: Rachel Roy via consignment
Tights: Target
Shoes: Poetic Licence
Rubber cuff: Shop in Honolulu
Vinyl purse: Shop in Pittsburgh

I found this jumpsuit (onesie?) at a consignment shop and adored it! I might not have forked over a lot for it, but it was a great deal and worth a try. I snapped these pictures shortly after I bought it (spring–see the pretty daffodils?) but never posted them. They’ve given me my New Year’s outfit inspiration though, so I’m glad I saved them,

It’s a fun look for dinner, drinks, dancing, and dare I say, New Year’s. I could wear this in warmer months–it is a shortset–but I like it paired with tights. Plus, it’s a chance to wear my purple velvet and sparkle heels! I tried to match my shoes and tights to elongate.

Do you have any special New Year’s plans? No matter what you have scheduled, have fun, be safe and:

See you in 2014!

I joined Not Dead Yet and Style Elixir for blog linkups today. See what the others are wearing.

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Tagged as fashion, jumpsuit, style, thrifty fashion, tights

December 27, 2013 · 1:16 am

Accessories for a Casual Day

I’ve worn this sweater on the blog before, but never with these fun accessories.

Sweater: Old Navy
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Thrifted
Ring: Old Navy
Necklace: The Sapphire Bee

I loved how big this ring was when I saw it in the store. Yet it’s light, and not at all cumbersome. It’s folded fabric, and I bet I could make one just like it! Sometimes it’s easier to just buy something ready-made though.

I got this empty cage necklace from Brittany at The Sapphire Bee. Brittany is a blogger and artist and student, in addition to creating and selling jewelry. She sounds like a Jean of all Trades to me! Sometimes though, we can’t do it all, and I don’t see anything in her store right now. I hope she sells more soon. I really like her designs.

I’m a proponent of “emptying cages,” so to speak. I enjoy wild animals in the wild, not in zoos, circuses or at places like SeaWorld. So, to me, this empty cage represents hope for a better future for animals. I like looking at it and imagining that a little bird has flown to freedom.

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Tagged as big ring, fashion, jeans, necklace, style, sweater, vegan

December 23, 2013 · 10:06 pm

Animal Print and Faux Leather

I’ve remixed my leopard-print dress again. I can’t get enough of animal print! I’ve worn this in cooler weather and warmer days. This time, I wore my faux-leather-sleeved jacket and purple tights.

Dress: Ross Dress for Less
Jacket: Forever 21
Tights: Target
Booties: Old Navy
Bag: SNAP Designs

I’m a fan of booties and find these stacked-heel ones easy to walk in and funkier than a pump. But they still add the height that my flat boots couldn’t give me. If I’d have known how much use I’d give these, I’d have bought a back-up pair. I’m not sure how much life these have left. I love them though! The faux suede hasn’t faded or scuffed, and they’ve kept their shape.

As usual, I had to sneak a pop of color in somewhere. In addition to my muted purple tights, I have my bright SNAP bag. It’s vinyl and is wipeable, so I can keep it clean despite the light/bright shade.

I’m joining Monday Bloom today. Check out what the others are wearing!