Clashing

The last few weeks at work have been exhausting, and I'm sorry to say that it shows in my photos today. I honestly didn't know how tired I was until I took these photos, and than proceeded to fall asleep sitting up on the couch. Even Gossip Girl wasn't enough to keep me awake. Have no fear though, when I did I awake I rewound and re-watched.

This jacket was a great find at Charlotte Russe. I've been keeping my eyes open for a boyfriend jacket, but I am such a tall person that they often hit me at an awkward length. This was on the longer end. The fabric is amazing, and the inner lining offers just a great hint of fun.

This sweater was another great Goodwill find at $4. It's Micheal Koors. I've been keeping them both in my closet waiting for a great chance to wear each of them, and decided this week to debut them together. I don't love the look in general, but I do love how to very different styles came together almost perfectly. I would consider this argyle sweater very preppy, while the jacket is a bit more rock and role. Pairing the two styles, as well as the brown and black worked surprisingly well together, and it kept me comfortable all day.

Jacket: Charlotte Russe $10

Sweater: Micheal Koors via Goodwill $4

Jeans: Seven via Marshalls$20

Shoes: Payless $14

Necklace: Payless $2

* Posting will be sporatic for the next few days due to the holiday, and some lacking Internet Service. I promise to be back with lots of great posts next week! And maybe even a giveaway or two!!*

DIY Sweater Update

Living in a cold weather state, I have accumulated lots of random sweaters. Most years I got threw my stack of un-worn items and donate them to local Goodwill's and Salvation Army. This year was no different. I purchased this sweater from Wal-mart last year for $1, but found it to be just too plain and didn't wear it much. It's loose fitting which makes it a great layering item, but awfully boring. To help make the sweater a bit more interesting I decided to dig into my sewing box and see what I could do.

Necessary Materials:

Any sweater you want to add a little bit of interest to

A needle

Thread to match your sweater

Random Buttons of any shape or size!

To add these accents I decided to make a button flower. I pulled 6 buttons of different colors and sizes, and some thread to match the sweater. From there it was just deciding on placement, and than sewing them on!

The project took about 5 minutes total. The buttons can be placed anywhere, in any way so it is a great project to really let your creative juices flow! The best part about this look is that if I decide to don't like the buttons later, a little seam ripping and the sweater is as good as new!

Breaking the Rules

I know, I know. Yes I broke the golden rule and I put up the Christmas Tree before Thanksgiving. I know some of you are out there reading this thinking I am crazy, but the truth is I am busy! Almost every weekend in December is booked with parties and events, so I had to take the opportunity of the day off to put up the decorations. I tend to be a cheerful person all year long, but I so look forward to the month when the whole world seems to join me. Until you step foot in the mall, those people are not so cheerful.

The rest of the world doesn't know that I've decorated the house and hung the stockings, they just know that I've shown up today in clothes, which meant I couldn't let my fashion reflect my house, completely. This jacket is everything perfect for the season. It has ruffles, and fits great. It has a great plaid pattern that's both subtle and festive. This jacket will get use through-out the year, and yet somehow standing next to the tree this item yelled, " Christmas time!" I think it may be the lights behind and not the jacket itself.

I read a fashion blogger recently declare that she had over-dosed on tights, and I am right there with her. Suddenly I wake up in the morning unable to put on anything but jeans. My work pants don't seem to fit right, and tights just aren't optional. My feet are tired of being contained and my legs don't want to sit lady-like at work anymore. They want to sit cross legged, and roam free under my desk which means for the meantime skirts are out. Jeans are acceptable at work because our casual dress-code and I love trying to make my jeans meeting appropriate. Somehow, jeans can seem stronger to me when paired with a great top. They have a statement to make and it isn't always one of tee-shirt and sweatshirt comfort. Maybe jeans and a great jacket are slowly becoming the next power suit. Maybe the work jeans rules are changing, just like the rules about putting your Christmas tree up to early.

Jacket: Charlotte Russe $6

Black Long Sleeve Shirt: Maurices $5

Jeans: Seven via Marshalls $20

Heels: Target new via Goodwill $10

Must Have Monday

This winter I find myself wanting to be draped in lace and ruffles. I think my style recently has become a bit more feminine and I am looking to make it a bit more refined. A favorite blog of mine, The Chloe Conspiracy is full of girl pieces. ( http://chloeconspiracy.blogspot.com/ ) Lots of party dresses, ruffles, bold colors and great materials. She is a big fan of Ann Taylor and is often found posting amazing photos from their website. On my search for inspiration I headed over to their website and was greeted by all things magnificent. I couldn't pick and choose what items I Must Have. In fact I find myself feeling as though I must have everything from their line! Many of the prices are a bit to high for me, but they often offer coupons. They also do an amazing job of styling each of the items, and I think I may be able to pull some of these looks from the closet I already have.

http://www.anntaylor.com/home.jsp

This website is full of items that I immediately fell in love with, but what it really gave me was inspiration and new sources of inspiration are always a must have for fashionable women!

Party Ensemble

A close friend and I share a birthday week. Her birthday is just 2 days after mine, so each year we share a birthday weekend. This year, we decided that birthday dinner and some Karaoke with friends would be the best way to celebrate. She showed up in her amazing gray sweater dress. Always stylish, she added the perfect wide belt to break up the outfit a bit. I on the other hand had a very difficult time deciding what to wear. I was on my third dress by the time Johnny called to let me know he was on his way and I had to make a decision. I caved and threw on my skinny jeans and boots. I'm quickly seeing that this will become my winter uniform as I have spent almost every day of the last week various outfits like this. Even if I wasn't feeling dress ready, I was feeling the need to be dressy so I threw on my new loose tank from Old Navy and my favorite old cardigan. I got this tank on our trip to Atlantic City for just a few dollars. I haven't had the occasion to wear it yet, and knew that this would be perfect. I loved how the ivory of the tank played off of the cream of the cardigan, a combination I wouldn't have put together so fast a few months ago. I'm continuing to explore the idea of neutrals, and that all neutrals can go together. They are in fact neutral colors!

I was at first unsure about the necklace as well. I loved that it hung lower than the shirt detail and wouldn't take away, but did it give off the same feeling as the shirt and cardigan. In the end I didn't have time to re-think it as I ran out the door, but in the end I love the added accessory. It was the little something extra the outfit needed, and make a perfect accessory for some Karaoke Singing.

Cardigan: So old I'm not even sure

Tank: Old Navy $2

White Tank: Weathervane $6

Necklace: Payless $2

Jeans: Pacsun $20

Boots: gifted from Johnny

Style Minded

I took some time this weekend and re-organized my closet. Up until recently, my closet has been organized by color. I've tried a few different ways. For a while my closet was organized by sleeve length, but as I saw myself putting outfits together based on color I knew that a re-org was needed. Having my clothes organized by color helped me get dressed when I was thinking, " I bet orange would look great with this floral skirt". Recently however I have found myself thinking more in terms of style and less in color," I think adding a cardigan over this shirt would help make the two pop". As my mind-set was changing so must my closet. I decided to organized my closet based on style. I pulled everything out and started putting it in piles. A pile for sleeveless, a pile for button-downs, a pile for cardigans, a pile for patterned tees, a pile for plain long sleeve and so on. As I was putting everything back into my closet in their new respective spots, I was almost stunned by how much there was. Having stored everything by color for so long, I haven't had to look at certain pieces because I just knew that they were there. Knowing that they are there however, means they are living in the back of my head, and not in the fore-front where I tend to pull my outfits from. I decided to take the opportunity to clean-out as I cleaned up. I now have a pile of shirts that are on their way to a local consignment shop, and a number more to donate. I woke up feeling lighter. I am better able to sort through everything, and will hopefully make a few dollars off of some little worn items. Sometimes it take a little closet cleaning to help clean out your mind.

The Brass Hussy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Brass Hussy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Such a sweet necklace!

Birthday Suit

I went to bed Tuesday night with plans to wear sequins and glitter and lots of fun for my birthday. I woke up wanting nothing than to stay at home and hide under the covers. I had to head to work even still so I threw on my favorite mock turtle neck and my now well lived in boots.

Johnny took me out for an amazing dinner the night before, and surprised me with the coat I'm been drooling over from Modcloth! Unfortunately they are out of stock on the blue so he told me to pick out any coat I liked. I stuck with the same style in black. I actually think I'll get more wear out of the black.

Some friends brought me to see a production of The 39 steps. The play was amazing. The actors were so talented and the show was hilarious. Because Johnny works on Wednesday's I had plans to spend my night on the couch doing laundry, but they invited me to join them and I just couldn't say no! They also gifted me with some great earrings.

I had to treat myself. After such a stressful day at work, I decided that a little treat was in order. With that I gifted myself the new Christian Siriano book, "Fierce Style". It may be my birthday, but the budget doesn't care so I loaded up my coupons before I went. I'm always getting bookstore coupons and I save them for special occasions such as this. Just a few pages in this book is amazing. You can even hear Christian saying every line. It's true what they say. Birthday's aren't as much fun after 21, but that doesn't make them less important. All of my friends and family made sure to contact me and made me feel loved. That really is the best birthday gift of all.

Zebra Mock Turtle Neck: Express $15 with giftcard

Pink T-Shirt: Target $6

Jeans: Pacsun $20

Boots: Target $35

Style Crossroads

I've been blogging for a little over a year now, and this week I found myself becoming a little reminiscent. I first started this blog as a way in which I could put my thoughts into words, and quickly discovered some amazing fashion blogs. Just like that I was swept up into a world I knew little about. I've always had an interest in fashion and style, but in the last year that interest has become a passion. What has started as a side project has begun to consume my full time mind. Reading through all of my old archives I have also found that I have gone through a number of different phases this year on the search to define my style. For awhile I played with colors, bending and breaking the rules. Later I tried to master different styles as defined by various magazines and books. I was breaking and bending the rules that I had defined for myself, and was learning that I can still survive as a fashionable lady without the rules I had always followed so strictly. I don't see these phases as being separate instances, but instead an ever flowing interpretation of my stylish evolution. All of these moments are things that have helped to become the dresser I am today. The night of my birthday dinner, Johnny and I sat on the couch having long conversation about what started as photos and developed into fashion, and just like that I began my next phase. I have discovered what colors I prefer, what things flatter my body and what clothes make me feel good. I do not feel any closer however to developing my personal style. I haven't been able to pinpoint what it is that makes my clothes, and how I put them together me. I think that every fashionista is always on the hunt for the answer to that question. The big burning question, " What is my Style?" I also think that there is frankly no answer. That's the wonder of style, it is always changing and always being re-evaluated. Here I stand at the crossroads of my next fashion journey, What things inspire me? What do I strive to say through my clothes? What do I want people to take away after a first impression? I find myself pulling out my favorite magazines, reading great books and searching through many fashion blog posts. The images on my inspiration board will be cleared. It's time to go through my closet and say goodbye to some little worn pieces. Less is more when it comes to clearing out your mind, and re-defining your through process.

Where do you get your inspiration? Do you ever hit a roadblock in your creative road? How do you keep yourself on the path to defining your style?

Animal Instinct

Johnny took my out for a birthday dinner last night. Once we got home I politely asked him to take a few photos for me, and boy did he. He caught me cheesin' big time. I can't help it. Having someone take a picture of me makes me feel on the spot. It's something I'm going to work on as we talked about him taking some pictures for me. Before leaving the house I glanced in the mirror quick and asked, " Is my dress too short?" His answer, " No Kayla your legs are just too long" Amen to that Johnny. The dress is on the shorter side but with appendages like mine this dress didn't stand a chance. Thank you Black Tights for allowing me to still be fancy dinner appropriate.

Dress: Forever 21 last year

Tights: Kohl's $4

Purple Booties: Payless $22

Cardigan: Old

Celebration

Today is my birthday! This is also the one year anniversary week of my blog. What a great day to celebrate!

Lined Legs

I'm just not ready to let these boots go yet. I decided to stick with the gray and see if I could make this gray sweater a little more important than the last. Again, the sweater was outdone by my bottom half. Instead of the boots being the highlight however, the floral skirt and sweater leggings seemed to be taking the cake.

I got these leggings by Betsy Johnson last year at a Marshall's, but this was one of there first real wears out. Despite the holes they were so warm, and I really liked how the pattern of the tights played against the pattern on the skirt. After 8 hours of working and sitting however, I got home to discover little triangles pressed into most of my bottom half. It was worth it though, I loved the play on edgy femininity.

Gray Sweater: H &M $6

Skirt: Made by me

Tights: Besty Johnson via Marshall's 2 pack for $5

Boots: Target $35

Gray Days

It is all about these boots.

After seeing Kyla of Blue Collar Catwalk ( http://www.bluecollarcatwalk.com/ )wear her gray boots with so many different things, I couldn't help but to run to Target and get my own pair. These are so similar to the red boots I've been pining after, but in a basic black these will be so much more wearable for me. Kyla was right, these boots are amazingly comfortable. I think I'll have a harder time wearing any other pair of shoes from now until April.

Originally I choose this shirt because Johnny mentioned as we waited in the train station on Saturday, that Gray is a grossly underused color in fashion. I am one of those lucky girls who does not have to dress her boyfriend. He falls into the metro- sexual category and has a closet full of designer duds. He has always had an eye for fashion, but our eyes are very different. Our love for fashion is mutual, but our understanding of it is different. That is sometimes half the fun of our debates. As we were people watching at Penn Station, he spotted a gray bag on a girl and made his statement. "It's a great color and too many people use it as a background instead of as a focal." I can't disagree with him. If I'm wearing gray I will almost always pair it with some colorful pieces to make everything pop. On a whim I've decided to try my hand at the gray ensemble. The look failed thanks in part to those blue tights and my new boots. How could any sweater stand a chance?

More importantly this sweater doesn't fit well. Looking at these pictures, the sweater hangs giving me a boxy appearance. From my shoulders to my lower torso is not the shape of a perfect rectangle, and this sweater would make you think otherwise. It was a great thrifty find, but it will soon find it's way off to the Goodwill.

Gray Sweater: Salvaged from a friend before she donated it

Tank Top: Forever 21 $2

Black Skirt: Salvation Army $3

Blue Tights: Target $5

Boots: Target $35

Thrifting Gem

From now till April I will be on the constant hunt for great sweaters and cardigans. I am always cold and having those extra layers comes in handy during the five below weather. Each winter I stare into my closet and think, how do I not have more sweaters? It's this cold every year! Anyways, I stopped by my local Goodwill the other day to sort through the racks of thick wool and cotton. I couldn't help but swing by the shoes and sitting there on the rack were these. Now call me judgmental, but what exactly do you wear these with? I'm not sure if it's the fake falling off fur, or the rows of thick ribbon will draw the future owner to these shoes. Maybe it the jewel details near the ankle of the shoe that they will enjoy wearing the most. The most amazing thing about these shoes, the Goodwill was selling them for $40. Apparently they think that someone will fall in love with these, and be willing to get them at any price. I don't care what designer created these, they need to re-think the design, and more importantly the construction of the shoes. My boots should not shed more than my dog.

Celebrity- Whitney Port

My love of Reality Television started around 1996. That's when I turned 10, and that's when Reality Television started to take over the media-waves. It started with Real World and now has exploded onto all channels with The Hills, Survivor, Biggest Loser. Life with the Lamas and now the City. Being a fan of Laguna Beach meant I became a fan of the Hills, and eventually the City. Whitney Port is such an amazing woman, and I respect her daring choices when it comes to fashion. She isn't afraid to step outside of the box. I would describe her look as being Bohemian-Rocker. Over-all though many of her outfits are a giant ball of juxtaposition.

This look was hard for me to put together. Well the actual putting it together was easy, the feeling comfortable in it wasn't so. As a person I am just better suited for A line skirts and poof shirts. I am as comfortable in poodle skirts and I am in slips and heel, but leggings, edgy boots and a short dress?? I wasn't confident I could pull the look off, and it translated through my clothes.

I knew the outfit couldn't be worn to work, so instead I threw it on for some house cleaning. The outfit was extremely comfortable. Something about leggings just makes me feel warm and cozy. I can't imagine that any snuggie in the world would be better than a great pair of leggings.

I purchased these boots last year when I decided to add a little Edge to my wardrobe. I have never wore them exposed. They get worn often, but usually under jeans. They are an unusual length which makes them appropriate for skirts and dresses only. They just aren't the right length to be worn outside of pants. They are so comfortable though and I am working on finding new ways to bring them into my outfits more.

This top has never been worn out of the house. I got it at Walmart for $1 and at the time couldn't pass up the bargain. Now the unusual length has left me baffled. It barely reaches below my butt, but the ruffles on the bottom has made it too long for jeans. I do love the blocks of colors at the top however. I think this shirt may need a little hemming. Taking off the bottom ruffle layer would help bring the shirt up and make it much easier to wear.

Top: Walmart $1

Jacket: Forever 21 $15.50

Leggings: Forever 21 $3

Boots: Charlotte Russe $10

Must Have Monday

I am a bargain hunter at heart, which makes online I great place for me to shop. I am always a little nervous when it comes to shopping online for clothes and shoes. I'm always fearful that they won't fit right, but if you find a great item at a great price, than the risk is worth taking! Ebay is a great friend of mine. You can bid on almost anything your heart desires! With so many items available there will never be a shortage of great deals. Half of the fun of shopping is searching for a deal, and half of the fun of Ebay is the bidding! I am always checking on my Blackberry to see if I've won any auctions. Ebay is also great for gift giving. With some great bids and a little luck you can stock up on all of your Holiday needs for great prices. While searching today I came across some great items. Because Ebay is always changing, thanks to Bids starting and Ending, the information I post below for each of these items will be current as of today. I will also post the seller name so you can easily find these pieces.


Lace Dress $1.80 bid at last check.

Pink dress $2.50 bid at last check. Both of these dresses are available through luvluvbiz the shop. They are full of great little dresses! The seller's name is austfasions. What great holiday party dresses and summer vacation on the beach pieces!

Searching for vintage shoes is my favorite! These Pixie Shoes were at $9.99 at the most current bid through theirattic4u. They are in such good condition and look like they have lots of life left in them.

Another great pair of vintage boots! Those are my favorite keywords to search for. I'm just not sure how you can go wrong with two of my favorite words in the same search bar. These are listed as Pirate Boots and at the last bid they were for $10 through shirtnskirts.

I also love searching for new, never before worn items. I have gotten quite a few of my shoes through Ebay with the tags still on them. These amazing purple slouch boots sell for $25.99 and are a " But it Now" item through osoclassybyd09.

These suede boots are so similar to the purple ones, and very similar to the amazing boots that Kyla, from Blue Collar Catwalk scored. These boots sell for $19.99 through 001fashionsoes. While they do need to be bid on, there are so many in stock that you are guarenteed to get the color you are looking for!