green goddess

Mint + Maxi + Grecian style + title that magically references food.  Best blog post ever.

It's 8pm in the middle of the work week; succinct is key.

Wearing:  maxi (old navy); necklace (honey rose&k); shoes (thrift); clutch (h&m)

enchanted

I'm so glad spring is here.  While I enjoy the pale skin of winter, these legs are ready for sunshine.  

I should apologize for my absence--busy work week + birthday celebrations!  I've not even had time to hunt/thrift or research my latest fashion obsession:  printed pants.  Where are all the good prints?? I've also been wanting to road-trip-it to Greece--who doesn't want to feel like a goddess and dress like one? (coming soon!)

Until then, it's romance-inspired dresses of sheer lace and floral patterns. 

I'm wearing:  you guessed it--all thrifted

get mad

In honor of the season premier of Mad Men last night, I wanted to celebrate one of the best shows with style.  I found this dress while out thrifting, and it some how captures three trends I like right now:  60s-ish silohuette, patterns, and pastel colors. I actually wore this to work with a pink cashmere cardigan over it, but the day was too pretty to include it.

Also, I'm seeing The Hunger Games for the first time tonight....of course, I have an outfit inspired by the movie.  Not sure if it's post-worthy, but I did contemplate Prim's goat and killer bees as accessories. Happy Hunting!

I'm wearing:  shoes/dress (thrift)

the audreys

If Audrey Tautou and Audrey Hepburn had a love child, this picture would be it.  There are some days when I don't want the flashy outfits or statement pieces. So I'm letting necklines and silhouettes work for me. Sometimes less is more.

I'm wearing: top/shoes (thrift); pants (express)

memoirs

As I'm writing this, I'm having a "Why did I wear that together?!" moment.  Have you ever been so excited about something new that you didn't give a damn how it looked, it wasn't leaving your body for days?? That's how I feel about these shoes...I'm officially the weirdo who sleeps in heels...that's going to bring all the boys to the yard...

So I read from somewhere that the Asian trend is in or will be in at some point.  This is as a close that I could get, and honestly, I'm still on the fence.  But the shoes...go buy yourself mustard colored shoes now. (Then, I won't be only the person wearing them out!)

I'm wearing:  shoes! (payless, srsly); jeans/jacket/necklace (xxi); clutch (thrift)

sunday obsessions: gingham

beige

red

pink

After all the love from my recent gingham post, I did a little research to inspire new ideas for gingham.  It seems like blue and black gingham are pretty popular, but in the spirit of spring I chose some lighter choices.  After finding these, I was ready to hit the thrift stores again to look for a pink one.  So gingham style tips from the top:

1. To no one's surprise, pattern mixing.  This will be a new challenge for me. Stay tuned.

2. Red gingham + leopard print (fail proof every time)

3. Use a gingham shirt to layer (for those whose bodies drown in prints, this could be good for you)

Kendi Everyday uses a lot of gingham in her older posts to browse her 30 for 30 pictures. I'm also going to create a gingham board on my pinterest. 

french connections

A kind person recently suggested that I work for a fashion magazine in Paris....Paris, if you're hiring, contact me ASAP.  But since I can't be in the most romantic city in the world, I'll embrace their simple know-how when it comes to style.  Rules for the subtle Parisian look according to one of my favorite stores (Madewell)...or at least the ones I acknowledge...

1. Slouchy boyish top (they suggest paring it with silk pants; I chose boyfriend jeans)
2. Neutrals
3. Stripes...always stripes.

I'm a big fan of dressing in the boy or boyfriend styles, which kinda contradicts the classic/romantic looks I adore.  So helpful hints I follow are pretty simple:  show the collarbones and wear heels.

I'm wearing:  shirt/jeans (old navy); bag (target); heels (kohls); necklace (xxi)

gingham

I love red gingham.  In the fall, it makes me think of Christmas, and spring--of picnics. Not sure if it makes the perfect year-round shirt, but I wear it anyway.  One little thing I love to spruce up an otherwise boring outfit is throwing in the unexpected statement necklace.  It changed the entire look of this outfit.

And speaking of sprucing up, I know I should be letting my body glow in neons and brights for spring, but I haven't quite given up the darks just yet.  Give me one more week--which is how long it takes for me adjust to the time/season change.

I'm wearing:  shirt/shoes (thrift); necklace (target); jeans (xxi)

get on board

It's a lazy post kind of day and the weather's mood swings are giving me whiplash.  I highly recommend layering...because underneath the baggy sweatshirt, nautical stripes and loafers are cute. 

I will tell you that all spring/summer clothes came out yesterday.  Yes, as soon as I had my apartment cleaned, I destroyed it all over again.   This includes bathing suits.  I'm taking Spring and Summer by the balls this year.  It's a season to be fierce.

I'm wearing:  skinnys (xxi); shoes/sweatshirt/clutch (thrift); stripes (old navy); pigtails (lack of haircut)

just say yes

After so many kind comments and emails, how could my answer to continue blogging not be yes? You guys make me feel like royalty, which is probably how I somehow ended up looking like a modern day Snow White in these pictures.

Someone recently asked how to transition winter clothes into spring fashion.  I think the easiest way is color; and January's forecast trend of brights makes that easier.  I can't go into any store without needing sunglasses.  And for those that thrift, you can easily revisit the colors of the 80s and 90s--just steer clear of the acid wash. 

I'm wearing:  all thrift except the necklace (target) and tights (kohls)

ruched

Thanks to Sierra at Vienna Waits, I just found out that my picture from the Mint Condition post was used in Ruche's mood board.  I'm only freaking out because I stalk their website and blog daily for ideas and inspiration. This is one company I would totally let me sponsor me.  Read their blog here. It's so worth it.

PS--I'm officially ready for warmer weather and dragging out spring/summer clothes this week.

set your sights

I've not been a huge fan of the exceptionally bright and neon trends; but as a lover and devotee of all things fashion, this was the best I could do.  And of course, it had to be stripes as well as pattern mixing.  I may be getting into a pattern....I'll try to change it up.

What's even more impressive is the blue shirt underneath.  It's old school Oscar de la Renta.  We all know that I don't get super caught up in labels, but come on--that's awesome.   Of course, it's thrift.

Also, I'm scheduled to take pictures for the blog today; fingers crossed for decent weather.  

I'm wearing:  pattern top/purse/shoes (thrift); stripes top (old navy); skinnys (xxi)

how to wear stripes

Your wish is my command. Here are some of my stripe-victories and ideas for outfit creating.

Tie it up

As a lover of loose fitting tops, this has posed a problem for the stripe-loving petite girl.  I'm short with small bone structure; I, like most, have to create my hourglass curves.  One thing I do often with tops is tie it up in the back.

pattern mixing

The great thing about mixing patterns is that the eye is not only focused on horizontal lines that never seem to end, which can be balancing.  The shirt I'm wearing is technically to be big for me as you can in the arms.  The more fitted the better.

at the waistline

I have found that tops stopping at my natural waist create a more balanced look.  Longer striped shirts on me have a tendency to make me look short and wide rather than boho chic or whatever that style is.  Don't get wrong--I still wear longer striped shirts.

Loose fitting

For the loose fitting and longer tops, I contain it with a blazer.  Giving end points to stripes can shape the figure and create boundaries for curves.

dainty

Doesn't everyone love a great pencil skirt?  I love that this one has a little flair.  I think it might have been Target once upon a time, but I found it thrifting.  Every once in a while, I get to wear stuff like to work. 

On a more serious note, I regret that all the blogging may be coming to an end.  There have been so many changes in the past couple of months that depending on anyone to take pictures is proving to be difficult.  I have one more outfit to post after this, but thought it might be a good idea to let you know rather than just disappearing.

Thanks for always making me feel like such a rock star. 

I'm wearing:  shirt (target); skirt/shoes/bag (thrift); tights (urban outfitters)

dessert first

The stripes/leopard obsession continues. And for some reason my sweater reminds me of brownie batter...how is it that I always end up talking about sweets???

I cannot believe there was a time when I refused to wear horizontal stripes?! Now, they have taken over my closet.  I really hope pattern mixing continues for a while because it will in this house. Pinterest has some fabulous ideas on this if you enter "pattern mixing" in the search box.

As a life long student of dressing for my body type, fitted and/or cropped stripes work better on me than an oversized striped sweater.  So unless you're cinching in loose stripes with a fitted blazer or breaking up the pattern with a scarf, I would probably stick true to size.

Would it be helpful to do a how-to post on wearing stripes? I only ask because this was confusing for me.

I'm wearing:  sweater/tank/shoes (thrift); bag (h&m); jeans (xxi)