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Wardrobe Wednesday

Just when I thought I didn't have any new outfits to put together, I had an epiphany.  Sort of like that double scarf epiphany. So yeah.  This bouse is actually a dress.  A rather short dress.  But I've been wearing it so much lately, that I thought I'd better mix it up a bit.  Enter skirt (from the back of my closet), floral tights, knee socks, and a fur collar.

 

Okay, then came the garters.  Is there anything sexier than garters?  I mean, really.  (I sort of feel naughty when I wear these! ha!)  They're actually a necessity for this outfit (knee high socks and all...), but in truth? I sort of wanted an excuse to wear them.

Well, after the garter belt addition, I though I had better class it up a bit with the dainty necklace.  Nothing classier than a big fake diamond, eh?  Well, I like it.  I'm a fan of simple mounts, like the tiffany mount of my engagement ring.  So, I'm still not sure if I pulled it off.  The garter belt and granny shoe extravaganza.  Clothes are just too much fun to take seriously!  (Oh, and, uh... beware of wearing garters in public, unless you don't mind the stares...)

Outfit details:

Blouse/dress: Urban Outfitters 09

Skirt: Victoria's Secret 07

Floral tights: Love Colour Love Tights

Thigh high socks: Urban Outfitters 08

Granny shoes: Etsy vintage

Fur collar: Etsy vintage

Wardrobe Wednesday

I remember after fashion week last Spring, everyone was freaking out about the return of shoulder pads.  And I'm quite aware 99% of America is not ready for it.  I'm still deciding whether or not I fit into that leftover 1%....  But in the meantime, I'm still really enjoying puffed sleeves.

Puffed sleeves and circle skirts are the prettiest silhouettes of all, in my opinion.  They're kind of like shutters and fireplaces.  A modern girl doesn't really need them, it's simply the romanticism that draws us to them.  I think it harkens back to my days of Disney princess loving and Anne of Green Gables watching (which, by the way, those days are not over...). 

This circle skirt was a diy.  I found a long ankle length denim skirt such as could be seen on a 90s schoolmarm back in the day.  Then I took it home, chopped it off, and hemmed the bottom.  Now it's one of my favorites in my closet.  The jacket is part of a vintage two piece sweater set which will soon make its way into Half Caf. 

This blouse is one of my favorites from the shop.  It's been there a while, so I thought I'd take it out for a spin.  I love the buttons and the yoke neckline is adorable.  I'm kinda bummed that you can't see it in this photo, but you can check it out in the shop here.

Before I sign off, I wanted to remind everyone to leave a comment, if you haven't, on Diana's giveaway I hosted last Friday.  I'm picking a winner this evening!

Wardrobe Wednesday

I think I'm in for a season of lots of black paired with brown. Something that would've made me cringe in high school. But hey, it's a new day and age. Right? I will admit, this outfit stemmed from all of my black tights being dirty. But it works.

Oh, and did you hear?  Peach is the new pink. I forget where I read that. But I'm so ready for it. Even if it reminds me of the wallpaper in our dining room back in the 1980s.

Here's this week's purse. I have another one much like it that isn't patent and has an ever so slightly different shape. I found it at the thrift store, along with this blouse and these shoes. The skirt and tights are from Urban Outfitters. But, I must warn you, I thought these tights were deceptively comfortable when I first wore them, but the truth is, they are so weirdly low rise and tend to roll down as the day progresses.  Kind of weird, but I put up with it because I love the subtle pattern they add to an outfit.

Next week... perhaps a grey purse?

Wardrobe Surprise

I know they say variety is the spice of life. But sometimes it's nice to just overdose on one thing. And on rainy days, yellow is just the thing.

The funniest part of this outfit is that it didn't occur to me until well into my day that I looked like a yellow monster. When I woke up, I picked out a floral summer dress and put a black and white pinstripe ascot blouse underneath. Then, since all of my black tights were dirty, I pulled on a pair of yellow ones. I grabbed a coat on the way out, and picked up my book bag from the trunk of my car. And then, later on in the day, I caught my reflection in a raindrop covered window and smiled. I looked like Big Bird!

I kind of like happy little accidents like these. Especially on a rainy day.

Wardrobe Wednesday

When you're in college, specifically for interior design, purses are really more of a nuisance than anything else. So, my purse love is quite unjustifiable, as I can't seem to fit them in my arms along with my laptop bag, bookbag, contract documents, and sometimes even my art box.

 

In the winter, my coat pockets bulge out with my cell phone, lipstick, wallet, and keys.  It's quite sad, really. So, I've made it a goal of mine to actually start carrying a purse. I'm hoping this way I will be able to keep track of my belongings... you see, I'm rather renowned in my circle of friends for my ability to abandon my wallet at a moment's (or a cocktail's) notice. This little alligator purse is this season's first attempt at breaking into my embarrassing purse collection.

 

I thought it worthwhile to note that only two items I'm wearing here are actually thrifted (the blouse and the purse). I guess I talk a lot about thrifting, so one might think that I only ever wear thrift or vintage clothes. Eh, that's mostly true. But with an 80s pinafore front shirts like this, I would feel a bit too out of date pairing it with other vintage items. So, I've paired it with a denim skirt from Anthropologie, a skinny belt from UO, super fun tights, and some modern mary janes from Dillards. 

I've noticed that I don't have a lot of pattern in my wardrobe. Since I don't have a lot of money, I invest in solids that will go well with pretty much anything. These crazy tights add a little life to my boring solids. But what would be really nice is if I found a great patterned cardigan. I've been looking everywhere and still haven't found *the one.*  I haven't lost hope...  And so the search continues indefinitely.

The Antidote to Sweat Pants

I woke up late, and all I wanted to do was sleep the day away and take back those cookies I ate the night before.  Oh, and sweat pants.  I wanted sweat pants.  But if there's one thing I've learned in the past year, sweat pants only make things worse.  So, here's my antidote.

Seriously, I don't think any sweat pants I own are more comfortable than this tent dress.  I paired it with some stretchy tights, comfy long socks, a warm but pretty scarf, and an oversized blazer I found at the thrift store last week.  And the hair?  Forget it.  I just pulled it up in a bun really quick and rushed out the door.

I made it to class on time, and after about thirty minutes in this outfit, I totally forgot that ugly feeling I had when I woke up.  In fact, I even felt put together and (dare I say?) sexy.  The point is...  A cute comfortable outfit can change a crappy morning into a productive day.  Say no to the sweat pants!  (P.S., I don't always say no to sweat pants, but let's celebrate in our moments of victories, shall we?)

Wardrobe Wednesday: Jeans Edition

It's not that I don't wear jeans that often.  It's just that I just don't generally find them too terribly creative, therefore not blogworthy, in my opinion.  Although, I had fun putting together this outfit, despite the presence of jeans!

The blazer I'm wearing is actually a hand-me-down from my mother.  She wore it when she was in college.  The shirt was thrifted (and currently for sale at Half Caf) as well as the sweater and clip on boys' tie.

I sort of have a thing for ties.  They're not particularly fashionable, or anything.  I just think they're a fun way to add extra pattern to an outfit.  And clip-ons are way too easy to throw on as an afterthought before leaving the closet in the morning.

We've been blasted by Fall this week.  Not in a bad way.  Just in a windy way.  It always makes me feel bad for the neighbors that actually rake their leaves.  I personally don't see the point... unless you've going to jump in the leaves, of course.  I remember, as a child, raking all the neighbors' leaves and dumping them out at the bottom of a little hill.  Then, my friends and I would jump off the little hill and onto the leaves.  Seriously fun, and I think I might have to try talking Phil into doing that with me... eh?

Wardrobe Wednesday: First Day of Fall

Well, my dears, fall is back!  And so is my cardigan collection.  The weather is still a bit muggy, which is actually quite delightful, because it gave me an opportunity to wear a vintage romper I recently purchased from another vintage seller on Etsy.

True to form, I celebrated the beginning of Autumn by taking a lonely drive through the country before work.  The farmer across the street was weed-wacking the tall grass along his fence while glancing at me curiously every now and then.

The past week I've been carrying a purse from my shop.  It's kind of nice to have a rotating purse collection.  I've got some beauties stored away that have been waiting until Fall to make an appearance.  This week I'm planning on a mini shop update, followed by a larger one next week.  Oh yes... and scrapbooking!  It's been a while.  Oh, school days... and the work and partying they bring....

Wardrobe Wednesday: University Edition

I'm in my last year of University... which also happens to be my sixth year.  Putting together cute outfits for school is no problem when I'm rising for an afternoon class.  But this semester, I'm rising with the dawn like normal adults.  It's like pulling teeth trying to drag myself out of bed to put together a decent aesthetic.  Hence, the bun.

This is a typical outfit for me, the design student.  Really stupidly messy hair, shapeless comfy dress that might as well be a nightgown (jammies, anyone?), oversize blazers for the chilly studios, and crazy tights for inspiration.

Oh yes, and the lipstick.  Sort of makes me look more womanly.  So I hope.  One must distinguish oneself from the freshmen, you see.

So, what's your go-to-outfit for daily wear?

Wardrobe Wednesday: Riverfest Edition

I spent the weekend hanging out with husband in Cincinnati, and if you want to know a secret... we were trying on the city for size.  Checking to see if it's a nice fit for the two of us...
 
I must say, I felt a little bit like an odd ball without a cigarrette in hand... I swear, four out of five people were smokers.  Maybe it was just the holiday weekend...?  Not a big deal.  Just observations here.
 
So it's off to Wicker Park and Bucktown this coming weekend.  No offense Cincinnati, but they'll be pretty hard to beat!  Chicago is my number one choice for residence... but we're exploring our options.

Oh, and for the record... I'm not a fan of Cincinnati funnel cakes.  They have a rather sour taste to them as compared to the Penn Dutch versions I'm used to.  And don't worry, I think this is my last statement regarding funnel cakes until the next festival season!  So sad I will have to wait another year to taste the yummy goodness...