Tag Archives: stripes

October 26, 2015 · 12:07 am

Striped Top and Culottes

My Mayamiko pants arrived! I love the wide, cropped cut and organza trim.

I was recently gifted a Mayamiko top and fell in love with the soft cotton fabric and solid construction. Their mission of helping women struck a chord with me as well. So I ordered these pants when I saw them on the site.

If you order something by Mayamiko, remember that the sizes are UK. I’m a 6-8 and the UK 12 fit perfectly. Of course the elastic waist meant there was wiggle room—I didn’t have to worry about an exact fit.

I paired my culottes with a neat two-tone top from my friend Andrea. She’d contributed it to a recent clothing exchange and I picked it out. I gravitate toward her items because she has fantastic style.

If my boots look familiar, it’s because Andrea wore them in the fashion shoot I linked to in the previous paragraph. I love extending the life of clothes and shoes my sharing among friends. These are in my closet now, and I have a couple of pair of shoes for her.

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as boots, culottes, fashion, Mayamiko, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

September 17, 2015 · 10:12 pm

Striped Dress

I discovered a new brand while shopping my way through Germany. Armed Angels is an fair-trade, organic, eco fashion line that proves ethical fashion is stylish.

Dress: Armed Angels
Coat: Thrifted
Peace necklace: Brooklyn Flea Market
Cuff: Express
Pleather boots: Bucco

I love the quality and details. See how the stripes from the front and back panels line up perfectly? That’s the kind of thing I love. I’ve found great patterned items before and the stripes or whatnot didn’t line up. It drove me crazy and I didn’t buy the pieces.

This dress came from Veganista, a vegan eco boutique I visited in Munich. The shop was fantastic! A cute little place with loads of treasures. Owner Rahel Goldner was so nice and took the time to answer all my questions and show me pieces that I found interesting. It was so exciting to meet other veganistas!

I bought a shirt, a pair of jeans, and a couple of t-shirts from Armed Angels, so expect to see a few more posts down the road.

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as Armed Angels, boots, dress, ethical, ethical fashion, fashion, organic cotton, stripes, style, vegan

July 16, 2015 · 11:06 pm

Black Eyelet and Stripes

Here’s a #tbt to the end of last summer. My hair is lighter and shorter now but I would still rock this outfit.

eyelet pants

Top: H&M
Pants: Dolce & Gabbana
Shoes: Adrienne Vittadini
Necklace: Beacon’s Closet

I saw these black eyelet capri pants in a consignment shop in Seattle. I wanted them so badly but I was about to fly to NYC and I knew shopping opportunities were in my future. However, after sleeping on it, I rushed back to the store and bought them. They’re just too neat to pass up.

cowl neck

I see a lot of white eyelet but black is harder to come by. For some weird reason, I don’t look scantily clad—even though the pants aren’t lined. Boy-cut briefs and strategically placed pockets seem to do the trick.

capris and wedges

I wore the pants with the honeycomb necklace I bought in New York. I kept finding honeycomb patterns wherever I went: a dress, this necklace, a manhole cover, neon tubing artwork in a subway stop. There were so many honeycomb patterns that I decided to get a honeycomb added to my bee tattoo.

honeycomb necklace

Stripes and eyelet almost count as pattern mixing. I went with a neutral top, but these pants will look great with a bright shirt too, or even just plain old white.

eyelet

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as eyelet, fashion, stripes, style, thrifty fashion

July 9, 2015 · 2:45 pm

Sunny Stripes for Summer

I found this shirt at a clothing exchange and loved its day-glow colors. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but I took it figuring I could pair it with black pants.

Top: Swapped
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Target

However, when I saw that the yellow in the topic was the same hue as my highlighter-yellow cropped jeans I decided to put the two pieces together.

Gold shoes aren’t exactly subtle either but I went with these because a demure ballet flat seemed to be a good fit for the psychedelic swirls in the shirt. It’s not often I find a shirt busier than my tattoo sleeve!

It’s summer, and to me that means bright, fun clothes—especially ones that you can get wet! I bought a little pool for my dog so he can cool off. I enjoy dipping my toes in the water too.

What are your go-to summer tones?

I’ve joined Happiness at Midlife, High Latitude Style, The Penniless Socialite, and Rachel the Hat for blog linkups. See what everyone else is wearing!

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Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as ballet flats, fashion, jeans, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, yellow jeans

March 30, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Black and Red Maxi Skirt and Nicora John Boots

Today, I’m starting from the bottom up.

Vegan boots: Nicora John
Skirt: Fred Meyer
Top: Gifted
Scarf: Herbivore Clothing
Faux leather jacket: Aeropostal

My new Nicora John boots are my favorite thing ever! They go with everything and are quickly becoming part of my “uniform.” These are handmade in LA, in an eco-friendly factory (solar panels anyone?). NJ is keeping the craft of shoemaking alive in the US, while working exclusively with textile leathers (meaning they’re all vegan). I can’t say enough great things about this company.

I found out Nicora John is doing a fundraiser to upgrade their factory, increase production, and lower costs.

Turns out there are next to zero shoe manufacturing facilities left in the United States available to emerging shoe companies, which forces them to outsource. The USA has lost 70,000 jobs in the show industry since 1979! And unregulated foreign-made shoes often lack animal welfare laws or labor and environmental standards.

There are so many reasons to support Nicora John. Plus, these boots are comfy! I’ll be getting the Willow boots next. So cute!

Okay, up to the skirt. This skirt looks red, but is actually a fine red and black striped fabric. I saw it on clearance and couldn’t resist (even though I’m trying to stick to my shopping goals of supporting USA-made and/or small businesses–it’s hard to break old habits and shop in a new way!).

I wore my new skirt with a scarf (purchased in a small shop), so maybe that evens things out. Scarves are my favorite way to dress up an outfit (and stay warm).

I think a faux leather jacket goes with just about anything. I wear mine all the time–with jeans, pencil skirts, dresses, and long skirts. This quilted version has a nice texture and is my go-to jacket.

I’m linking up with Style Elixir, Rachel the Hat, Penniless Socialite, and Rhea Etcetera–check out what everyone else is wearing!

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as boots, faux leather jacket, infinity scarf, jacket, nicora johns, scarf, skirt, stripes

February 26, 2015 · 7:56 am

Stripes and Dots

Here’s a #TBT (Throwback Thursday) post for ya, taken about a year ago (before I stopped growing out my hair and started snipping it bit by bit until it was short again). I don’t mind posting this so late because I plan on wearing this tomorrow. It still works.

Sweater: Thrifted
Skirt: Ililana (via flea market)
Tights: Roots Canada
Faux suede booties: Old Navy
Pleather cuff: Etsy

I enjoy pattern mixing (is that still a thing?), especially when the look is monochrome. If everything is black and white, it has to work! Here, I paired a well-work black and white striped sweater with a Swiss dot wrap-around circle skirt.

I love adding a pop of color and I thought the red cuff did the trick. I read recently that some clueless company in Norway made their female employees wear red bracelets during “that time of the month” so managers would know why they were taking extra bath room breaks. Ridiculous! Talk about TMI and “none of your business.: Well for better or worse, I think about that story whenever I reach for this bracelet. Then, I often decide not to wear it. Well, this is purely a fashion statement. I am discouraged to hear of such backward practices from an otherwise forward-thinking nation.

Back to the outfit! I bought this skirt at a flea market in Brooklyn. It was new, from a company called Ililanga, but I can’t find them online anywhere. I guess you’ll have to go to Brooklyn to see their collection of skirts and dresses. I like the length and shape but I think a midi needs to be worn with heels–so that’s what I did.

I’ve joined a linkup at Fashion Should be Fun. See what everyone else is wearing!

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Filed under Fashion, Feminism

Tagged as fashion, feminism, polka dots, skirt, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

October 16, 2014 · 7:44 pm

Tent-striped Skirt for Fall

Here’s another #tbt to last fall. One of the few outfits I neglected to post.

Top: Old Navy
Skirt: H&M
Tights: Roots Canada
Pleather boots: DSW
Scarf: Gift from Marion
Ring: Gift from Mom
Vinyl bag: Snap Designs

I loved the wide, black and white stripes on this skirt (yes I got the same one in a cat pattern–I just couldn’t decide). This one had a dramatic, circus-tent look.

To offset the dramatic pattern, I wore all black. But I still needed to inject a bit of color into my look. I chose a lovely mauve scarf that my aunt sent me all the way from Germany. My yellow bag is the complementary shade to purple so they work well together.

Last fall was the point when my hair was the longest it’s been in a decade. I’ve had pixies and bobs and finally got it this long before getting trim after trim until my hair is short again. I can never decide!

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Tagged as fashion, scarf, skirt, stripes, style, tights

June 29, 2014 · 9:26 pm

Remixing my clothes

My mom just wrote about how she hangs onto her clothes for a long time and keeps things in rotation. I have to admit: I do the same thing. I’ve had some clothes for 10 or 15 years.

Unlike mom though, I do have a steady stream of clothes that leave my place too. I buy/trade clothing on a regular basis, but I also donate pieces I don’t wear to clothing exchanges so others can enjoy them.

Jacket: Guess via swapped
Top: Swapped
Sunglasses: Old Navy
Pants: Macy’s
Shoes: Payless
Bag: Alchemy Goods

This look reuses my asymmetrical striped top and red wedges. I wore both pieces with a different pair of khaki capris last year.

These cuffed pants have been on the blog since I started it. I just keep coming back to them. Today, I added a denim jacket (cool breezes be damned!). I’m also carrying my recycled tire bag from Alchemy Goods. And, my newest tattoo is peeking out!

It makes sense that wardrobe staples like khaki pants, a striped shirt, or a denim jacket stay in rotation. Those types of items are worth splurging on (even though, in this case, I got them free or cheap). A crazy trend, like my red shoes, I wouldn’t spend a lot on–I might tire of them sooner than the “classic” pieces.

What pieces to you keep turning to and wearing again and again?

I’m joining Visible Monday and Monday Bloom for a link up today. See what all the others are wearing!

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Filed under Ethical, Fashion

Tagged as denim jacket, fashion, jacket, stripes, style, thrifty fashion

May 27, 2014 · 9:00 pm

Leopard and Stripes

I’ve heard leopard is a neutral. It’s classic and timeless and it goes with everything–including, I’d argue, stripes, florals, or plaid.

Top: Marshall’s
Jeans: Macy’s
Pleather belt: Truth
Pumps: DSW

I started off tame and wore my leopard pumps with stripes.

I separated the patterns with my Kelly green cropped jeans. I really love denim in all the shades of the rainbow. I have yellow jeans, and red ones and a few other colors.

My shoes, hiding in the grass like a leopard, are a great rubber-soled platform. Comfortable, and sturdy, even when I walk on slippery surfaces.

If you have a pair of shoes that are hard to balance in because the sole is slippery, I recommend getting a shoe repair shop to add a Vibram sole to them. I wrote about Vibram soles last year, and described how they preserve leather-soled shoes. And while I no longer wear leather, the Vibrams will save any sole and improve grip. The tip is still true.

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Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, jeans, leopard, mixing patterns, stripes, style, thrifty fashion, vegan

May 4, 2014 · 6:48 pm

Black and White Stripes and Floral

I love mixing patterns, especially when the patterns are in the same color family. I’m mixing and matching black and white again here. I did that recently with houndstooth, paisley and stripes. In this look, only the top is the same.

Top: Marshall’s
Skirt: Thrifted
Boots: MIA
Socks: Sock it to Me

I wore this skirt on the blog a couple of years ago. that time, I was in Florida and made it a warm-weather look. It’s not bad out now, but it’s not Florida warm either. So I stuck with boots.

Peeking out of my boots are my black and white star knee-socks. You can’t see much of them, but technically they count as a third pattern. And stars are an appropriate theme for today. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll know the reference.