Use Your Own Jeans

This post requires you to use your own jeans. Normally, I prefer to create the full outfit, but sometimes you just have to rely on a piece already in your closet. I liked the pieces I found so much that I didn't want to look for cheaper alternatives.

Blazer: Forever21
Top: Tilly's
Shoes: ModCloth

Tail Gate Chic?

Okay, so not chic, but I thought that sounded like a fun oxymoron.

My husband nabbed a pair of San Diego Chargers season tickets. I figure I'll have to get myself a Chargers shirt to fit in while tailgating. Luckily, these days, they make women's fan gear to help us keep our shape and prevent us from having to wear men's t-shirts which turn us into rectangles.

I'm also lucky that it's San Diego, where I likely won't need more than this faux leather hoodie to keep me warm on the cooler days.

The Converse were a given. I've been wearing them with my t-shirt and jeans ensembles (please say that in a French accent) for years, so I chose these ones because they look fun. :) The cross body bag is perfect for keeping the essentials handy at the game without lugging a bag around.

 

Hoodie: Tilly's

T-Shirt: Lids

Bag: Forever21

Shoes: Finish Line

And We're Back... With More Military

I meant to get a post up yesterday, but I ended up spending the day recovering from my long weekend trip to cold Ohio. I am happy to be back in SoCal to find extra warm weather.

Anyway, I found this Jacket on Polyvore today. It was originally $125 but is now final sale at $49.97 with most sizes still available. I couldn't pass on posting it! I meant to make the military-ness of it just a side note, but then I found the other three pieces and ended up making it over-the-top military. Ah well. I'm still really hooked onto the military trend.

 

Jacket: Piperlime
Messenger Bag: Zara

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Romantic and Kinda Sexy

I am in love with over-the-knee boots. I didn't think they'd work for me, personally, due to my own issues with my thighs... BUT! I loved them so much on everyone else that I just had to try a pair on. So while at Macy's I looked and looked and analyzed all of their many choices and after about ten minutes I finally found one that I wanted to try on. It turns out that they were out of my size, but luckily the display was my size! I tried them on. I looked in the mirror and loved them! I kept looking at them, though, to make sure I was really seeing them and really making a good choice and trying to make sure that I wouldn't take them home and then end up with a "what was I thinking" purchase. Well, I bought them! And I wear them as often as I can.

So my first fashion post of 2011 just had to have over the knee boots, but unfortunately the ones I purchased can only really fit into a Sunday Splurge post! Yes, I splurged on them and I do not regret it! I will keep you all in suspense (ha!) as to what boots I purchased for myself. You can see them this Sunday. :) What you can see now, though, is the kind of outfit I imagined wearing with my dream boots, yet I don't have an outfit like this to wear them with yet. So without further ado...

 

Cuff Bracelet:  Liz Hutnick at Etsy

Sweater Dress: Charlotte Russe

Boots: Forever21

Tights: Target

Ah! Hi!

Oh my goodness. I am having a terrible time keeping up with this blog since starting my job! I am really going to have to start putting a better effort forth to keep content regular.

Anyway, here's a new post! This outfit is based off of a couple items I've recently picked up for myself. The lace shirt and jeans I nabbed at Charlotte Russe for less than what they are on the web! They currently have lace tops (long sleeve, short sleeve and tanks) available at two for $20. I picked up the one shown, and a dark blue tank top. I listed it here at full price since that's the deal. The jeans are full price on the website, but I found them on the clearance rack at my local store. The clearance rack that day was buy one get one free! I bought a pair of pleated and slightly cropped slacks and these jeans for $14.99. That is what I consider a deal.

Top: Charlotte Russe
Cardigan: Forever21
Jeans: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Delia's
Earrings: Ice Blues at Etsy

Sunday Splurge

This week's Sunday Splurge doesn't come from Etsy! It comes from TOMS!

I haven't hopped on the TOMS train yet, but I might have to now that they have these super cute and casual wedges!

Canvas Wedges: TOMS

In Her Natural Habitat

Look how awkward! I was multitasking. Nope. I'm not pretending to talk on my phone, I'm talking to my best friend of many years who lives oh so far away. Yes. I'm wearing that hat again. It's just too easy; I don't have to do anything special to my hair if I wear that hat. Yes. I'm wearing those sandals again. These are reasons why I couldn't do a daily outfit blog; I don't have nearly enough clothing and shoes to make it interesting! But guess what, that tank is new!

Hat: Dorfman Pacific Co. at Pavilion's, $12.99
Black Cami: Kohl's, $6.99, $3.99
Ruched Ankle Leggings: Kohl's, $19.99, $12.99
Tank: Macy's, $24.99, $12.50, $6.25
Sandals: Ross, $12.99
Bracelet: Forever21, $5.90

Grand Total: $55.11

Classic Red & Leopard

Red and Leopard are old, old friends. Red and Leopard go way back. I still love the class combination of red shoes with leopard print clothing. Both this skirt and the red platform wedges are super fabulous. The ruffles on the tank and the shoes was totally an accident. It may or may not be overkill, but I decided to keep it. The necklace fit into what I had left of my budget and kind of pays homage to sexy librarians.

Tank: Old Navy
Skirt: Spiegel
Necklace: Forever21
Shoes: ModCloth

A Little Bit Fancy

Summer finally hit us hard in SoCal this week. The recent heatwave inspired this kinda fancy/kinda casual look.

Dress: American Eagle
Necklace: White Owl at Etsy
Hair Pin: Sumiko Shop at Etsy
Shoes: Piperlime

Hello, Purple

This outfit is pretty outrageous, I'll be the first to admit it, but there's something I love about it. Maybe it's the inner-wannabe-rockstar in me that wishes I could just wear this to the grocery store to buy some slaw at the deli.

In completely unrelated news, I've started a new job so posting might be thin for a while until I can get comfortable with my schedule!

Jacket: Overstock.com
Tank: Kohl's
Shorts: Forever21
Tights: Asos
Shoes: Target
Bracelets: Forever21

In Her Natural Habitat

Okay, so this week's Habitat post is a little more literal than the past Habitat posts. It's also much less of an outfit post. I threw on my usual Kohl's jeans, as seen previously, and a tank top that appears to be falling apart at the seams there. I didn't notice that until now. It's an old tank, though, and I really only got dressed so I could do my walkable errands: i.e. buy more almond milk, a skinny caramel macchiato, pumpkin spice muffin from a bakery/cafe... and that hat! I found this faux-straw fedora at the grocery store for 13 bucks. I say faux-straw because the label says it's 100% paper, which I find pretty neat.

This is my first ride on the fedora train, even though they've been hanging around for a while. I think I like it on me. It'll be nice to have something ready for those days when my hair won't cooperate.

Hat: Dorfman Pacific Co. at Pavilion's, $12.99
Tank: Too old to remember or count for cost...
Jeans: Kohl's, $34.99 (on sale)
Sandals: Ross, $12.99
Toe Nail Polish, for kicks: CVS, Carnivale Grape by Borghese, $7.99

Grand Total: $68.96

Here's an afterthought shot from the next day in a similar outfit, except different jeans and tank. It was conceived from boredom and Photoshop. Hope you like it. hehe

 

Chambray and Chiffon, Among Other Things

I know I just featured chambray yesterday, but I just couldn't resist the alliteration after coming across this chiffon tank. That cloche hat has the same sound, unfortunately it's not at the beginning of the word. Have you tried out a cloche hat? I used to have a couple years ago that I loved. I just love the shape of them and hats in general are really great for those days when your hair just won't cooperate.

Tank: Tilly's
Belt: Buckle
Skirt: Alloy
Hat: Forever21
Cuff: Art of Spirit LeatherWorks at Etsy
Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Looking Forward

... to fall, that is. We've still got at least a month or two of summer weather here in SoCal. Well, maybe. It's been a strange year for weather here! In any case, summer isn't over but I cannot wait to get into fall clothes.

Chambray Shirt: Old Navy
Leggings: Forever21
Scarf: Textile Monster at Etsy
Boots: GoJane

Take Monday Off

We've all been there. It's Sunday night and you've already got a bad case of the Mondays. Here's a good outfit for when it's bad enough to take a "mental health day". Take Monday off and go run errands, cruise the mall or sit outside at the cafe in town that you like.

Now, unrelated to Mondays... look at those shoes! Do you know why I love those shoes? It's because when I was 10, I had a pair of hi-top white canvas shoes with a layer of white lace on top of the canvas. The lace may or may not have been a little shimmery. The best part were the wide laces that were... well, lace! Those were my most favorite shoes of all time and these shoes instantly reminded me of them, and that's why I had to share them with you guys.

Shirt: Buckle
Jeans: Aeropostale
Necklace: Forever21
Shoes: TopShop

Casual Friday

If I worked in an office that implemented "Casual Friday", I'd wear this. The jacket seems pretty necessary. Has anyone ever worked in an office that wasn't cold?

I actually have those shoes in black. They're super cute and a really nice suede-like texture. I wouldn't wear them if I'm going to be on my feet all day, but really cute for minimal-walking days.

Chiffon Dress: Aerie
Jacket: Forever21
Necklace: Fallen Angel Designs at Etsy
Shoes: Target

Oh! And in other news, I purchased a complete outfit as shown in one of my past posts! I've ordered it all online, and given that everything fits properly, I'll definitely be showing you guys. Any guesses as to which one I chose?

In Her Natural Habitat

I am so happy to have found a pair of dark wash jeans that are completely solid. There's no whiskering at the tops of the thighs, there's no fake fading on the thighs or the butt. Just all one solid dark blue. Thank goodness. All of those fades and marks just make my thighs appear wider. These ones are perfectly dark and masking.

P.S. These are my favorite summer wedges! They come in black, but I wanted them to yell at people when I walk by.

Shirt: Macy's, $19.99
Tank (that you can't see): Kohl's, $4.99
Jeans: Macy's, $24.99
Shoes: G by Guess, $64.50 $34.95
Necklace (that you can't see): Images Under Glass at Etsy, $8.00
Sunglasses: Random cart at a shopping center, $6

Grand Total: $98.92

I'm a Loner, Dottie; a Rebel!

One might consider this ensemble a little... rebellious. Or maybe outrageous? I think it's fun.

Top: Buckle
Shorts: Forever21
Pocket Knife Necklace: Contrary at Etsy
Clogs: Go Jane
Nail Polish: Drugstore.com

P is for Plaid, Pleats and Peep-Toe

I love the kind of correlation of this outfit. The shoes and the plaid are a little bit country western, yet the plaid and the military-inspired skirt have an idea of manual labor, all while staying pretty feminine. The bag, well, I just thought the color would look great next to the shirt and skirt!

Shirt: eVanity.com
Skirt: Forever21
Bag: Tippy Thai at Etsy
Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Take a Bow in Bows

That's a little tricky for a title, huh? The bow details in this were kind of accidental, but I like it. Oh, and look! Hundy&Undy colors.

Dress: Forever21
Tights: ModCloth
Necklace: Fresh Metal Jewelry at Etsy
Shoes: Urban Original

In Her Natural Habitat

My real life wardrobe is really struggling lately to stay relevant. Due to my frugality, I don't replace old pieces and pick up new clothes as often as I should in order to have a fully current and versatile wardrobe. I'm working to fix this without over-spending and feeling guilty for not using my money on, say, groceries.

That being said, I went shopping at Macy's on Sunday with my husband. I had a few key pieces in my head that I was looking for, then just had the goal of keeping and open mind and trying a lot of stuff on. I did try a lot of stuff on, but only left with three items. I would have stayed longer, but the husband was growing restless. Anyway, this dress is one of the things I found!

It's the first of it's kind (the skirt/tank top in one) that I've found that flatters me. The silk tiers are flitty and fun without adding too much bulk to my hips like some tiered skirts can. I added the belt over the elastic waist to help "clean it up" a bit and create a more smooth transition between the top and the bottom.

I wore this out to lunch on Monday with my dear husband, then back to a different Macy's afterward to see if I could find the pieces I couldn't find. Those are my $8 Aldo shoes, and they proved really comfortable while buzzing around the racks for an hour or two.

Dress: INC at Macy's, $89 $17.80
Shoes: Aldo, $100, $29.99, $8
Bracelet: Forever21, $5.90
Belt: Forever21, $7.90
Necklace: Hollygems at Etsy, $20

Grand Total: $59.60