Black, white and everything inbetween

The June rain has been really bumming me out. I've been in dress-mania! Case in point, I just picked up a really simple brown dress, and a pretty little green one from Goodwill yesterday. All these summer dresses and no where to go but rain puddles.

To somewhat console myself, I've taken to planning my summer outfits and doing a little mixing and matching, so no matter what occassion (really formal to super casual and everything in between) I will be dressed for success!

Enter the formal outfit. I love this fitted bustier style top. It's so comfortable, flattering, and classic. My favorite combo is with the black skirt, but I think it also looks smashing with a pair of black slacks.

The skirt and pants are both from Goodwill, and I've had them in my closet for a while now, as they are good classic pieces -- the best part is I paid $5-8 for each of them. The shirt was a little pricier as I got it at a consignment shop, it was $25, but this seems like an investment piece.

I had wedding attendance in mind when I purchased it, but it would also be suitable for nice dinners, the theater, and other places where I want to look crisp and classic. Oh and the shoes! Another Goodwill find, at $9.99, they were a bit of a splurge for me, but they were unworn and I love the little front strap.

But, what if there's an event that's sort of fancy, but you don't want to look over-dressed? Enter the sun-dress with coordinated shrug and heels. I was disappointed with the pictures of this dress, you can't see the beautiful navy color of the shrug and shoes -- they match amazingly well.

I'm picturing a busy day: tidying the house, going to the grocery store, getting an oil change for the car, shopping at Goodwill for more dresses, etc. But, after this busy day I'm meeting with a friend for a nice dinner. Well, I'll wear just the dress and flat sandals during the errands, and throw the shrug and heels into my purse. When it's time for dinner all I need is a quick change and voila, I'm ready for an evening out. One of the best things about the outfit is everything is from Goodwill: shrug: $2.99, dress: $5.99, shoes: $4.99.

As I've said, I love dresses, it makes getting ready so easy. There's just one piece: the dress and maybe a few accessories and a sweater. Wham-bam-done. When you wear a shirt-pants combo, you have to make sure your pieces match, fit, and look good together. Dresses are simpler in my opinion except: (A) It's hard to find one that fits properly (B) They can be chilly. At Goodwill I always make a b-line for the dresses, because no matter how many you have, they almost always come in handy.

Case in point, I found this blue dress on the same day that I found the dress just pictured at Goodwill. Two dresses in 1 day? Is the price right? Is the fit right? Then sold! It was mid-winter, so I had to tuck them away in preparation for summer, but at $5.99 each I can't really complain. Plus, I found this shrug on the same day for$3.99.

I like to style this one a bit more casually. Oh, and I love my big clunky wedge heels. (Yes, another Goodwill find at $5.99) They are surprisingly comfy and I'm not kidding. I walk around in them for hours without a murmur of regret. Plus, my Napoleon complex is soothed as I am almost as tall in these as I am in Matilda.

Some variety and experimentation in the wardrobe is a good thing. My friend found this very funky skirt at Goodwill one day. I don't have many high-waisted items in my closed, and the few I have are rarely worn because they are so hard for me to pull off. But, I loved the colors, the poofiness, and the unique look of it (even though it's just a run-of-the-mill H&M skirt).

I think when I wear this skirt I'll wear more bangles, and more beads around my neck. The skirt was $3.99, so I nabbed it. I've had these sandals for along time, they're Paolo's that I found at Value Village, and they are really comfy and versatile.

The frequent wardrobe changes and running around the house made Lexi confused. With all this discussion about Goodwill hunting, penny pinching, dress hoarding, accessory coordinating, and wardrobe changes...I'm sympathetic....

The Newest Member to our Family: Matilda

A few months ago, a very special package came in the mail. It was my belated Christmas present from Rob…my once in a lifetime boots!

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I found myself searching the thrift stores for some boots. My old brown ones were beat up and abused, and I wanted something new and fresh. But, I was disappointed by all the boots I found, at both the swanky mall stores and the thrift stores. They all looked cheap, ugly, were made of fake leather, and felt uncomfortable. So, I got a Christmas poem from Robert promising to buy me once in a life time boots. To prohibit me from scavenging for these boots, he set a rather high minimum price. I knew I had to get a pair of Frye boots.

It was fun and nerve wracking looking in the swanky stores and online for these special boots.

For a long time I was going to get a basic pair of Frye boots, like the Fiona:

But, my mouth fell open when I saw Matilda!I ordered both pairs from Endless shoes to do a bit of at-home-comparison-shipping. When they came in the mail, I experimented with a few outfits. Matilda's neo-victorian style and luscious red leather demands a very simple dress or skirt to pull off the look. Fiona easily went with just about anything. It was a tough choice to make, especially because it really boiled down to practicality versus whimsy. Fiona felt instantly comfortable, but Matilda helped me reach new heights (5'8), which presented some initial walking challenges. Ultimately, my Napoleon complex won out, and Matilda has a special place as my most valuable piece of clothing.


I've successfully paired them with a simple brown or black skirt combo. For one night on the town, I did a little color/texture clashing with a bright green lacy tank and Victorian choker with a form fitting skirt. It was funky, but I felt good in it and confidence can make anything fabulous!



Admittedly, these aren't the best pictures, but the fact that spring has sprung has led my mind to wander towards warm weather fashions, and I think Matilda has a decidedly fall-winter look. I'm sure by next fall I'll have all sorts of Matilda inspired fashion breakthroughs! This week I'm feeling more excited by summer dresses, sandals, light jackets, and bright colors!

The Shapeless Shift

So, the holiday season is here yet again. I have so far survived an epic Thanksgiving weekend full of eating, sleeping, eating, and playing Settlers of Catan. By far, my favorite part about the holiday season is being able to slow down and spend time with the family. Sure it’s fun to be busy and make plans for dinner parties, gifts, and travels, but I particularly love abandoning my to do lists and sinking into my plans and flowing with the festivities.

But, I have been noticing (with all this eating and resting) that my pants and shirts aren’t fitting so nicely. Things are bunching and tugging and pulling. Also, when I go to Goodwill, things that look like they ought to fit me…don’t. So, the last time I went to Goodwill I tried on something like 4 dresses and a few fitted shirts, and one dress fit me. Yep, it was the shapeless, flowing one.

Ordinarily this isn’t the style I gravitate towards. I like something to compliment my waist, chest, and bum. I tend away from things too baggy…because why look more pregnant than you have to, right? But, this flowing dress had very beautiful colors and a nice delicate material that I thought would pair well with a dark pair of tights.

When I got home, I experimented and paired it with some thick grey tights and a simple pair of grey wedge heels (ever so slight in the heel).



I still felt a little too exposed, and my friend did warn me that this is more of a spring/summer look, but I decided to experiment with adding a long sleeved undershirt.



Definitely more comfortable. And, I had this coat I got the summer before last which really pulled together a nice monochromatic look to accentuate the subtle colors of the flowers.



However, I’m still more comfortable pairing something this short and dainty with jeans. I think with the black velvet blazer and open toed shoes, the look is really pulled together. Also, the colors of the top are perfect for wintery days, so it’s nice to accessorize it to go with almost any season.



The best part about the shapeless shift? No one has to see a bloated, over-nourished holiday belly! Also, if you have to unbutton those pants after dinner, who’s the wiser? I really like the idea of a nice flowy shapeless dress for the holidays. The holidays themselves create all sorts of shapeless days, whether it’s shopping, lounging away lazy afternoons, baking and snacking, or curling up with a good book, it’s nice to embrace some easy days to just go with the flow.

The Fuchsia Base

So, I'm working on trimming down the budget. This means reducing even my Goodwill and thrift store consumption. Not only is Christmas around the corner, but we're just getting over the wedding and honeymoon costs, plus I'm not working full time and I'm planning on going to grad school next year. Yep, so frugality is especially meaningful these days.

But, what about bedizening the wardrobe?

Well, I came up with a simple plan to mix a lot of the old with a little bit of the new. I went to Target and picked up a pair of bright tights (about $7) and a matching long sleeved shirt (about $6) and created what I call "The Fuchsia Base."

First, I put the base with a casual day time style. I found a flouncy brown skirt, low lace-up boots, and a wool blazer:



(The tights and shirt really do match, my camera is just limited.)

When I picked up the boots in the middle of the summer (Goodwill $5), I was unsure about how to wear them (and with what!) They are definitely funky, and when you pair low boots with a knee-length skirt, you run the risk of making yourself look short and stumpy. However, I think with the whimsical color of the tights, the look is pulled off.




A loose and flowing brown skirt is a must for any wardrobe because it is so versatile, flattering and comfortable. The jacket was another mid-summer Goodwill find for probably $5-6.

It would be easy to expand this look with other shoes, skirts, and coats for traipsing around during the day. Mixing a slightly conservative style with a daring color makes for a unique and eye-catching outfit. So, by spending about $15 or so, I've created several new day time chic outfits. Oo la la.

A few weeks ago I nabbed this vintage Armani pencil skirt at Goodwill for $6. I know we're talking about limiting spending here, but I really couldn't possibly pass this up...




I decided to pair this conservative skirt with a black velvet jacket and open toed heels for an interesting outfit to wear at night out on the town:



Both the blazer and the skirt are vintage, but the shoes are just cheapies from Ross that I've hung onto for a couple of years. Black basics are really good additions to a wardrobe, and they rarely go out of style. Depending on how you pair the black basics, you can create a myriad of looks. I took this outfit out on the town for dinner and a show with my friend. I think the unexpected bright look went along perfectly with our fun night!

Oh, and remember that blue sweater dress?


Although, as you can see I couldn't decide which shoes to pair it with...



The other day I wore this outfit with the blue shoes and got quite a bit of attention. I think wearing bright fuchsia tights with a bright blue sweater dress is bound to catch a few eyes on another dreary northwest day. All the more reason to continue mixing up my old wardrobe with this new fuchsia base!

Two Sweater Dresses

Like I said, I really love the fall. It always seems like a "get started getting serious" season. I suppose it's ingrained in me because school starts in the fall, and with the cold north west weather, the time spent indoors increases.


While I'm trying to get serious about house work, writing more, reading, and graduate school preparation, I also feel my mind wandering to outfits.

For a long time, I've been a fan of chunky sweaters. I like the thick knit patterns, cables, and the hearty textures of the materials. But, sometimes chunky sweaters make you look and feel just that -- chunky. The sweater dress seems like no exception, only you also forgo a pair of cute bottoms to give you some shape.

Well, I picked up a sweater dress at Goodwill in the middle of the summer. ** SIDE NOTE: Goodwill hint for the day: don't be too reluctant to buy out-of-season clothes, that next season is always just around the corner.** It was a cute green knit with a hint of blue in the yarn. I liked the length and the bell sleeves as well. But, it looked kinda frumpy. Hmmm.

So, I took the dress out for a test drive the other day and worked on some accessories to make the look feel more polished and hip. I wore a couple of bangles, big earrings, a thin scarf, nude-stockings, and my old brown boots. Also, not pictured, I wore my hair in a messy, tussled look. And....



Also, on a day when I'd like to feel more cozy, I thought I'd pair it with a shawl I picked up in Argentina.




So, my idea for how to wear a chunky sweater, is to work on the accessories. Add a cute scarf, some snappy jewelry, and kicky shoes to create a cozy, fall look that does not look frumpy (in my opinion). Also, wearing slightly disheveled and loose hair will make it look more casual, comfortable and trendy. (I notice my camera is inadequate the capture the details in the colors, textures, and patterns...curses to inperfections!!)


Let's break down the price:

1. The dress: $6.99
2. The shawl: I can't remember exactly, so let's say, $12
3. The scarf: I found it on the street during a walk (true story!)
3. The bangles: gifted from my mother, but you can pick up bangles for $1 or $2 at Goodwill.
4. The boots: $20 from a thrift store, and I've kept them for over 2 years.

Plus, all I had to do was buy the dress and then use other things I had collected to complete the look. So, when it's all said and done, the outfit costs about $30, but with so many interchangable pieces, it's worth much more!

For this green dress, I plan to accessorize it with browns, greens, oranges, and possibly blues. Contrasting colors add a lot of pizazz to an outfit.




Now, let's move on to the second sweater dress. This was a really pretty blue one and I found it just a few weeks ago at Ross. I really like the cables and the cute side pockets. I paired it with a silk scarf a friend brought me back from China and some simple blue jewelry and...



Also, for a chilly day, I paired it with a thick scarf a friend of mine made for me and wore a long sleeved shirt under.



So, to break down the pricing of this dress:

1. The dress: about $12 at Ross.
2. The scarf and shawl were both gifts
3. The same boots
4. The brown shirt: $3.99 at Goodwill
5. The jewlery: just knick-knacks and gifts

I plan to accessorize this dress with different shades of blue, orange, red, purple, and brown.




Dresses are such fun, easy and versatile pieces in the closet. Sweater dresses especially are comfortable and not constricting around the waist or legs. Assuming someone else would want to try and duplicate these outfits, here are my suggestions:

After you find a sweater dress, look for a few snappy accessories to pair with it. Look for matching and contrasting colors.

Thin and narrow scarves are nice because they don't add a lot of bulk to the outfit. Pairing a jacket or blazer with it can add some color, texture, and some shape to your outfit.

This doesn't work for me, but putting a thick belt around the waist can also help define your shape.

Adding a pair of classic shoes and a sensible matching purse completes the look. Now that I have a few good sweater dresses and some ideas on how to accessorize them, I can't wait for the cold weather!

Fall fashion

Fashion week and fall are upon us, and the wheels in my head are turning!

But, no, it's not because of exciting things happening in New York. So far the style trends seem terrible! Just look at this or this. It looks like Molly Ringwald's vomit dug up from 1986! Not all advice is ridiculous, this page has some reasonable ideas. I like sweater dresses and layering.

Whenever I feel in a fashion rut, I'll scope out Nordstrom's website to see what they're pushing. I very rarely buy anything from there, but it gives me ideas for what to look for at Ross and Goodwill. Hmmm...

Even though it's a tad frivolous, I love thinking about outfits and accessories. Fall is my favorite season, because I pull out all my colorful scarves and mittens! Adding a scarf to an old outfit makes it feel new again!

I want to re-vamp my wardrobe a little bit. Even though I shop at Goodwill, I can't afford to do a complete re-do. Plus, I don't have that kind of time right now. PLUS, I'm a shameless pack-rat as anyone can tell you, so purging a wardrobe isn't something I'm inclined to do. So, my strategy will be to invest in a few new base outfits and accessories, then I can pair them with some of my old things and voila...more on this to come.

Here is how I've thought about organizing my wardrobe for the past while:

First, I keep a lot of accessories on hand to mix and match with different outfits. I love my collection of scarves in varieties of colors. They are great accessories that can really change an outfit. Also, I very, very rarely throw out a piece of jewelry. My outfit might feel a little boring until I throw on a few bangles and dangling earrings. Neither scarves nor jewelry take up much space, and you might discover that the weird bracelet your mother gave you, that goes with nothing, is completely fabulous and goes with everything! Accessories can also add uniqueness and personality to your outfits. They can be a great conversation starter too: Oh this? My friend brought it back for me from her trip abroad...I picked these earrings up at a flea market in Ballard from this funny, old lady...that sort of thing.

Second, I try to keep an open mind at Goodwill and look for things that I like, things that are different and things that are classic. For example, I like colors, so I always look for colorful clothes. I also like looking for unique things and vintage things. But, it's important to stock your closet with some classic and simple items such as basic tees, an easy a-line skirt, a stunning pencil skirt, good jeans, some blacks, browns and whites, etc. I try not to worry about buying things out of season; some of my best winter clothes were bought in the middle of summer! If I like it, there's a good chance I'll find a use for it, even if I don't use it right away. (Although, maybe that's just pack-rat mentality.)

Third and final, I try to do things my way, even if it's a little different. Sometimes following the fashion experts or the newest trends can be a let down (see above). I would suggest to anyone that instead of trusting the experts, trust yourself. It might sound trite, but confidence is the best accessory.

So, I'm looking forward to the season of back to school clothes, rusty colored leaves, chilly mornings and cozy evenings. I'm also looking forward to settling back into my domestic bliss and attending to some chores and hobbies that fell by the way side in lieu of the wedding.