Casual Wear

Around 10pm last Saturday I got dressed to head out for the night. Johnny's sister moved and he had spent the day helping her while I stayed home and cleaned and sewed. ( Very Domestic) He called to see if I wanted to head over to enjoy some drinks and help them unpack. I knew I would finally have to take off my pajamas, but it wasn't going out enough to get fully dressed. And some came the casual wear dilema. I decided to keep it simple with jeans, a long sleeve shirt and fleece. Because they just moved in the place doesn't have a warmy feel as they continue to unpack boxes, and after painting all day the windows had to be kept wide open. Layering would be necessary.

Step 1: Add Accessories

I contemplated this step for awhile. What accessories would be appropriate for painting and unpacking? The answer was none. In the end I decided the best accessory I could bring would be my face. And with that I did something I almost never do for a casual day, I put on make-up, added some shiny earrings and jumped in the car.

Step 2: Pick great Shoes

The only option would be my favorite almost converse ever! I got these shoes at Sketchers a year ago, and am still amazed by how much wear they have gotten. They are perfect for an occasion such as this. Running sneakers wouldn't be needed since I wasn't going anywhere fast, and yet flats wouldn't be enough since I would be moving boxes and helping however I could. With the cute airplane design these shoes are cute and flirty, and still provide me with the necessary sneaker support. They were the perfect addition to an otherwise, far to casual outfit.

Tights

My biggest excitement of the changing seasons, is getting to bring my tights back out of hiding. I didn't welcome tights into rotation in my wardrobe until the end of last winter, and I have spent the whole summer dreaming of all of the ways I can make them work for me this year. With the weatherman promising me rainy skies with highs of 50 all week, it seemed like the perfect reason to slip them on and enjoy a shave free day.

This skirt has only been worn once. After making it a few months ago, I was disappointed when the skirt ripped halfway through the day. It wasn't my sewing and instead it got snagged on a loose nail. After fixing up the tear, this skirt seemed like a perfect spring reminder to pair with my black tights.

When I felt a chill halfway through my second day of wear I looked down to discover that again my skirt had ripped. This time almost all the way down the side, and I spent the day kept together with safety pins.

The only thing more exciting than bringing out the tights, is bringing out these patent leather shoes. I picked these up at Payless about a year ago, and work them into my regular wardrobe. They are comfortable, and perfect for all day wear. More importantly they have a great throwback feel of being a lady in the Victorian era, enjoying tea on the porch while sewing. Maybe if I was a Victorian lady my cross stich patterns wouldn't tare as easily as my current sewing project skirts.

Cardigan: Urban Behavior $2

Shirt: Target $6

Necklace: Lia Sophia $12

Skirt: Homemade

Tights: Kohls $4

Shoes: Payless $20

Welcoming Fall

I was able to find the perfect skinny belt last week, and was excited to work it into my outfits. So many bloggers rely on belts to add another layer to their outfits, to create the idea of shape and to help accessories many outfits. I have a very hard time with belts, mostly because instead of making my waist look smaller, they tend to make my thighs look bigger. When I grabbed this super skinny black belt for $2 at the Goodwill, I wanted to start playing around with how I can make the belt look work for me. On a whim I grabbed this shirt, the perfect cotton tee and attempted to give the shirt the idea of a ruffle.

This shirt by itself is baggy and pretty shapeless. When I put the belt on to give some shape to the shirt, it immediately hung over, and I decided to play with it a little bit to make it more apparent. I just loved the look. Suddenly this shirt that has been sitting in my, ' I should probably just donate you' pile has some life, and a purpose in my closet. Originally I just couldn't part with that pattern, now I'm not sure I could part with so many unexplored possibilities.

After a busy week in heels, I wanted to enjoy my feet being flat on the ground. I have a very hard time making flats look fancy, and knew that since I was already wearing jeans this presented a bit of a challenge. I thought that these shoes solved the problem. With black lace covering the grey bottoms, these shoes appear dainty and feminine and yet my feet can enjoy a day of rest.

Cardigan: Target $10

Shirt : Walmart $3

Belt: Goodwill $2

Jeans: Urban Behavior $12

Flats: Maurices $15

Necklace: Joyce Leslie $6

Grandma's Couch

When I first bought this dress, I couldn't help but feel like I got a steal. The dress fits wonderfully, it is so comfortable, and it hugs my curves perfectly. With a $4 price tag on it this dress was a great find, but I still just wasn't in love with it. I think it reminds me of ever 70's sitcom couch, and I have an underlying fear that the orange and brown together will look more like Grandma's Couch and less appropriate for wearing.

Following a tip in this months InStyle, I decided to try some layering to help make the dress more work ready. Adding this 'blazer' and a belt, and suddenly the dress' pattern became much less severe. I actually picked up this coat at the Goodwill. It is not a blazer, but actually a little boys suit jacket. Despite finding it in the young boys section, it fits great and it's shorter sleeves give the appearance of a very purposeful 3/4 length. I added just subtle jewelry, my arrow necklace and some beige heels to complete the look without complicating it. This dress is loud and I wanted to do my best to address the pattern without overwhelming it. The dress came with a belt, but I decided that by belting over the jacket the whole outfit would seem more cohesive.

Dress: Walmart $4 ( came with belt)

Shoes: Micheal Khors via Marshalls $20
Jacket: Goodwill $5

Necklace: Gifted

Bracelet: Lia Sophia $12

Must Have Monday

These amazing shoes were staring back at me as I scrolled through the latest pictures on Karla, of Karla's Closet. Her shoes are always amazing, and this pair is no different. In her blog she apologized for the toe cleavage, but I must admit that it is a little sexy in this photo. These heels are strappy and high and would make a great addition to any pair of jeans. They are marked as being from Aldo, though the details I haven't been able to yet find. Hopefully they are still attainable, and more importantly affordable!

When I stopped by Pay less last week to look at my Must Have purple booties from last week, I saw these amazing shoes. These are deep purple booties from Lela Rose for Pay less. As I was looking through the aisles for my perfect purple booties, I spotted these and just had to try them on. They run $35 and look so amazing on. The cut out with the ties give such a unique look to these shoes, that no matter what you pair them with, these shoes will stand out. I have dreams of wearing them with black tights to really let the shoes shine. When I searched online for them today Payless.com came up with nothing, which leads me to believe that these shoes will soon be on their way out, and if I have hopes up picking up a pair of my own I better head over there soon!

Purple is obviously a favorite color of mine, but that fact becomes even more prevalent as the season changes from fall to winter. I love the deep purples for fall and winter and love that they help bring a touch of color to an otherwise brown and gray season. Coats are a huge part of my closet, especially since they are a necessity for about 7 months of the year. It's important to have a coat that works not only as added warmth against the snowy wind, but that also can stand on it's own as a part of an outfit if we should stop by somewhere that doesn't require me removing my outer layer. This coat provides the perfect marriage for both of my favorite things. I found the coat online from Sonia by Sonia Rykiel. It retails for about 530 pounds or about 840 dollars. I haven't been able to find it online anywhere in the states just yet, but I bet with a little more time a great version in a store near you could probably be found.

Winter Additions

Ever since the start of my shopping ban, I have kept an ongoing list of things I will need for the fall. The list isn't very long, but it is full of basic pieces that will be easy to layer with and will work for the transition from season to upcoming season. Even with the ban lifted, and my list at it's end, it doesn't excuse the fact that I am a lady on a budget. Not to mention this is a recession! This calls for some smart shopping.

I decided to swing by the Salvation Army. I usually go to the goodwill but after having no real luck there, I headed down the road to the much bigger Salvation Army. I just find so many racks sometimes overwhelming, and for as much as they have I don't often find things that I love. With my list in hand I went with 1 thing in mind, a button down shirt. I didn't have any specifics from there, but I was on the look out for a great shirt I could layer under or over a sweater or dress, and that could be worn alone when the warmer weather comes back. Maybe it's that my style is slightly changing, or that I just watched Grey Gardens, but I found myself in love with every old lady inspired! After trying on 20 or so items I left with these 4 finds. At $3 a piece the total bill was $12, and I have so many ideas already floating in my head!!

I know that the best place to shop for simple basics is Old Navy. I am really in the need for some plain long sleeve and short sleeve replacements. It's been about a year since my last 'basics' shopping trip and I'm happy to say they have lasted me about a year. My patterned items last me so much longer because they don't get worn as much, but a long sleeve white tee with get so much wear in a month that now a year later, they are stretched, stained and starting to form holes. I happened to have picked a great week to stop in at Old Navy because a lot of their back to school items were on Clearance. This time of year I usually find the clearance racks full of summer items that they have yet to see, but Old Navy surprised me, and let me a very happy customer. In the end I scored 1 skirt, 1 dress and 4 shirts and spent a whopping $22.

None of these items cost more than $5, and here I am with a whole slew of items to help get me in the colder frame of mind. Shopping doesn't have to be expensive! Take that all you magazines who claim, " smart shopping where no item costs over $250!". I never understood those articles, because $200 for a white shirt is unreasonable for me. $5 however is not.

Casual Wear

As I continue my quest to improve my go-to casual wear, I found this weeks trivia another reason to see what I could put together. As usual, I start with my favorite basics, a tee shirt and jeans.

Step 1: Add accessories
I was already running late for trivia, and really just didn't want to mess with an armful of bangles of dangling necklaces. I had plans to eat and contribute a little bit, so less is sometimes more. Just because I didn't want to layer on the accessories, doesn't mean that I didn't want to make what accessories I did choose small, so this scarf was a great compromise. I was able to add color, a piece of interest and more importantly warmth! I threw on my white belt for a little bit of contrast and I was ready to put on my game face.

Step 2: Add a great pair of shoes
I may have failed at this step, but just slightly and with good reason. I'm not much of a flip flop wearer, even when the weather calls for it. But after a week in high heels, and a great pedicure, I just wasn't ready to cover my piggies up.

I never do anything outside of color so when the nail artist convinced me to add a little flower to each big toe, I was pretty unsure. In the end of love the look. It is much more beachy, than the start of fall, but with the weather changing, my toes are seeing less and less of the outside world. This means that not only will the flower likely last longer, but that they will only really be enjoyed by me. Consider these my little pick me up. Just as I'm getting sad about putting away all my favorite summer finds and layering sweaters over my favorite tank tops, I'll smile remember that my toes don't yet know that it's fall!!

The perfect everyday shoe

This is what your daily outfit photos look like when you work overtime and don't leave until after the sun has set. I was bummed to see the dark sky greeting me as I pulled out of our parking lot, but was determined to find a way to make it work.

The entire outfit was based around these shoes. I have a co-worker who has a very similar pair, and wears them about 4-5 times a week. No matter what she pairs them with, they match and always look chic. As I was flipping through one of my Instyle books this week, I was surprised to see an almost exact of this shoe listed as the perfect shoe to wear to work everyday. At first I was skeptical, but after another second, I just can't disagree. Gray goes with everything.

I didn't want to play it safe and just wear gray colors. That's not what the book recommended and that isn't what my co-worker does. Instead I decided to play off of the black strap and work some dark and bright colors. With the shirt as my only pop of color, this look becomes very 'neutral with a pop'. As I continue to stretch my thinking of black and brown together, this cream and tan cardigan seemed like a natural addition to the outfit. I think Instyle was right. These shoes really could work for all occasions.

Cardigan: Rue 21 $5

Skirt: Salvation Army $4

Shoes: Walmart $10

Shirt: Target $6

Tank Top: Target $4

Necklace: Joyce Leslie $5

Menswear

It seems that the idea of menswear is becoming more and more talked about. For the most part I have dismissed the idea as not being right for me, and nothing more than a passing trend. I just can't picture myself wearing suits and ties and looking anything more than a copycat of my boyfriend. Menswear doesn't necessarily mean suits and ties though, and this outfit really made me re-consider my once firm opinions.

I never considered this vest a menswear option until a light bulb went off in my head. I love this button down shirt because of how well it flatters my female figure, and this vest I have just loved since day 1. Putting them together though just never crossed my mind, until I was rummaging through my closet. Don't you just love moments of inspiration? To keep the look from becoming too overwhelming, I wanted to add a touch of feminine. Adding cleavage always seems the perfect accessory to balance the look out, but my smaller figure leaves that as a non-option, and wearing this to work made it a never going to happen idea. Instead I decide to include a cascade of yellow beads and matching bracelet. I loved the addition of color and the little extra spark of lady.

These boots will never leave my top 5 list of favorite shoes. After months of drooling over images of Frye boots last year, Johnny surprised me with this pair for my birthday. I love the simple detailing on the side, and I love that they sass up any outfit. What I don't love is this weather. Living in the Northeast, we enjoy all 4 seasons. And with the exception of Winter into Spring, the weather changes very fast. One day it's hot, than chilly, one day its chilly than snowing. This fall has left me a little confused however. It is so cold in the morning that I dress for a crisp day. By mid afternoon though it is so hot I find myself stripping layers and turning on the air conditioning. This weather came quite unexpectedly, so when I brought out my boots for their first wear of the season, I had no idea that I would spend all afternoon with sweaty calves.

Button Down Shirt: Target $3

Vest: Weathervane $8

Skirt: Walmart

Boots: Frye *gifted

Necklace: Joyce Leslie $2

Bracelet: Joyce Leslie $5

Designer Label

While strolling through my local Goodwill the other day, I was intrigued by this cute pair of shoes. I was even more intrigued when I saw the label on the inside, and that there were 2 pair. Ferragamo?? Yes please. They were of course about 2 sizes too small and $30 a pair. I'm on a budget and am trying to become a smarter shopper so I dutifully placed them back on the shelf, but not after taking a quick picture. Somebody will be a very lucky owner of some very expensive shoes...

Just a little off the top

I'm in the process of growing my hair out, which is long and tedious, and reguires a ton of patience. About a year ago I had a short bob that I loved, but it's time for a change and so for the last few months I have been going to the salon for the occasional trim, and avoiding all hair products ( besides the necessary shower items). I have been really impressed with just how fast my hair has managed to grow. Cutting out hair spray, moose, and the occasional gel has really made a major improvement in not only the quality of my hair, but also in its growth. I was having a hard time running the comb through the back of my head, which is a sign that it is time for a little trim in the back, to help keep it form getting too thick. My normal hair dresser was off for the day, so I gladly sat down in a new chair. The stylist was great, but I could feel my head getting a little lighter as he talked. After blow drying he announced, ' Oh I so prefer it shorter. Don't you?'. Well, I'm not sure I have much choice, he seemed to have made the decision for me.

I don't hate the cut, and it does feel so much healthier. Even still I can't help but feel that from certain angles this cut makes me look like a soccer mom, and from others it makes me 5 years younger. In the mean time I will enjoy the ' little off the top' and try to style it some different ways.

These were the best thrift of the summer for me. They will last me for so long, and their comfort goes a long way. I scooped them up at the Goodwill for less than $10 though the exact number I can't remember now. They are nine west and the name speaks for itself. I often find flats that aren't well made and that hurt both my toes and my back after a long day of walking. These were made for long days and the little twist in the front adds detail to an otherwise neutral pallet.

For the most part I avoid belting about the pant line. I just don't think that it adds anything to my figure, but I liked that in this outfit it did help to add an extra element. My boss jokingly said, " You know your belt is up a little high". I promptly told him that I was afraid my shirt was going to fall down and needed the extra security. That's the key to great fashion, not only wearing it with pride, and trying new things, but being able to enjoy peoples side comments about how much more confident you are in new things, that they may never be.

Cardigan: Urban Behavior $3

Tee Shirt: Urban Behavior $1

Brown Slacks: Target $20

Beige Flats: Good Will $10

Necklace: Lia Sophia $15

Haircut: An amazing $20. And well spent at that.

That layered look

I saw a post from Kim of Fab Finds under $50 the other day, who had a dress very similar to this one. She layered a skirt underneath it to help give the skirt a little more length. I loved the idea for another reason. This dress is so thin. I love the safari feel of the dress, and I love how it resembles a shirt dress, but with an edge. the dress is made of a thin cotton material however, and I am always afraid that it won't be strong enough to even hold the buttons closed, much less keep my legs covered. For that reason I only wear this dress with tights, until the day I decided to use it as a layering tool.

Normally I don't pair black and brown together, but I'm finding myself more and more venturing into the realm not so traveled. I thought that with a black and tan pattern in the skirt, black shoes just made the most sense. These are a pair of Jessica Simpson heels that I got for $10 on Ebay. I just love how they are classic Mary Janes from the front, and in the back they have the surprise slingback. They are also one of the most comfortable pair I own.

It took lots of attempts to find the perfect skirt to layer with the dress. I didn't decide to layer anything under the top as well, until I was about to walk out the door. It wasn't even out of need as much as I couldn't let the brown go without a touch of orange. This outfit gave me hope. Not only that layering can solve nay problem, but that a lot of my wardrobe that I save for just certain types of weather can be safely and smartly utilized through the seasons.

Casual Wear

I enjoy pulling together outfits to wear on a daily basis, but once work is finished and I'm headed home to change quick before heading to watch the football game, meet friends for trivia, or off to do errands, I can't seem to find my ideal casual style. I've figured out great ways to dress for the week-days, and my special events are completely covered, but how do I want to look when I'm just hanging out? A part of me will always be a jeans and tee shirt kind of gal, and I've recently decided that the best way to find my casual style, is to work with what I already know. Comfort is key and working with what I wear now, I may be able to slowly find my ideal look.


The basic outfit perfect for dinner and drinks at a bar while watching Monday night football. a great long sleeve cotton shirt, perfect for blocking the draft of the chilly evenings, but not too much hassle. I layered a tank top underneath, to give myself the extra layer, and the extra addition of color. Than a go to pair of jeans, and a belt to keep everything in place as I jump up and down with each touch down.

Step 1: Adding accessories

Since I new wings would be on my meal plan for the evening, I wanted to keep any bracelets pretty simple. These saint bracelets were perfect. They are flat which meant they wouldn't impede on my eating or cheering, and yet they have so much color and interest. I decided instead of picking just one to wear, I would wear them both to make them stand out a bit. For necklace options, I really wanted to keep it simple. Less is more sometimes, and as I move from a more baseball game go-er look to one of pulled together comfort, this was a small step in the right direction.

Step 2: Adding the perfect pair of shoes

I know the secret to adding some spice to an outfit, pick great shoes. I'm not ready to commit to my highest ankle boots for game night, just yet, so these simple brown heels were perfect. They added just a bit of height, and really took the outfit from everyday, to something a bit more special. I know sitting at the table no-one could see my shoes, but walking from to the bathroom, or the bar everyone could hear them. I was the girl in the heels.

Overall, I think my first attempt to change it up a bit, was very minimal. I have to say that by just adding heels, the whole look felt different. I am not trying to loose my tee shirt wearing self, but I'm trying to find new ways to spice it up a bit. Do you have a go to casual look? How do you make a tee shirt and jeans look extra dressy? Will I ever be able to loose my love of cotton??

A dress for thought

I have so seen so many blogger's utilizing the ' dress as a shirt' idea, or the ' skirt as a shirt' idea, but I just haven't been able to make either look work for me. Than in a stroke of genius while in the shower the other day I remembered this dress, which would work perfectly when tucked in. This cotton dress has always been a favorite of mine, but it seems to get shorter and shorter every year which means now leggings are a must. This dress never comes to work with me, ever since it is mostly reserved for great summer days off from work. I love the blue in the top however, and it's just short enough to maybe work with a skirt!

I'm really glad that I was able to make this look work. It took a lot of trying on with various skirts before I found the perfect one for the look. Besides wearing dresses as anything but, I also never tuck in my shirts. I find that the look almost never flatters my figure, which is partly why I was suspicious of this idea, but was happy to discover that with the correct pieces, the look is completely appropriate. Because the dress is loose already, instead of looking frumpy, or making me look like I had a belly, I was surprised to find that the look actually accented my frame. I was comfy all day, and secretly excited that I was able to master a look that I have always admired, but didn't think I would be able to apply to my style. Using dresses and skirts in new ways, is a great way to transition much of my closet from summer to winter.

The idea of brown and black together, is still one I'm a little weary of. I've seen so many lovely ladies pull it off before, but I can't help but to feel like together the colors are a little drab. That is until I pull these great shoes out of my closet, and I immediately remember how great the two shade can look together. These Steve Madden beauties were a gift from Johnny for Christmas 2 years ago, before the Victorian boot even came back into style. I used to reserve these shoes for only special occasions, but now I wear them as often as possible. These shoes make me smile, and sometimes a little smile can really change a rough work day around.

Dress: Charlotte Russe $10ish ( I bought this dress years ago, and don't remember the specifcs)

Skirt: Wal-mart $3

Shoes: Steve Madden gifted

Necklace: Maurices $10

Iconic Styles: Mission Complete

I have successfully completed my Iconic Styles Mission!

When I started my mini-challenge I wasn't sure that I would be able to. My closet just seemed so one noted and I wasn't sure how I could make my closet sing anything else. In the end I learned a lot and really got to experiment with what I have. Some lessons learned:

Gamine- Subtlety is key. Sometimes the less stuff you have, the more pulled together a look can become.

Arty Slick- Statement pieces can sometimes make an outfit. Adding a little adventure to an outfit doesn’t always mean the outfit will instantly become too much.

American Classic- Stay away from this look! I spend way too much time living in the American Classic realm. Sometimes classic just works, but if I spend too many days living in this world, I will find myself again stuck in a fashion rut.

Mod- Color Blocking can go along way. I usually think of colors in terms of how they coordinate together. Following the ideas of Mod I should not only think of them in terms of coordination, but also location.

Posh Eclectic- This look still makes me nervous, but I think will become key to my winter wardrobe. Layering with intention is how to keep from looking frumpy.

Rock N Roll- Edgy doesn’t have to scream in your face. Adding a hat, or layering some killer necklaces can make a look have a little added edge without making you look ready to grace a stage.

Bohemian- The color pallet of this look is one I normally stay away from. But sometimes earthy tones can help add peace to an outfit and give off a sense of calm.

Bombshell- Shorter skirts and thinner material does not a sexy outfit make.

European Chic- It is absolutely appropriate to always be dressed for a last minute tea party. You just never know when the queen will call.

California Casual- It is possible to dress casual and work appropriate. Office attire doesn’t always need to include heels and a skirt. Sometimes a great pair of jeans can be dressed up to look like so much more.

Each style really taught me something different about getting dressed. I don't think that my natural instinct which draw towards a more conservative look, has changed, but now I see some of my clothes in a different light and I look forward to stretching their realms of possibility. I may not have converted to a new iconic style, but I hope to find ways to make each style more a part of my every day look.

Have you ever thought of trying a different style? What tips do you use to keep your personal style fresh and new?