Feathered

Before my co-worker/friend Emily and I had annoying things like car payments and other life responsibilities (she just got engaged!!), we used to do a ton of shopping....like every weekend shopping. Our style is very similar (except she loves pink and sparkle much more than I do) so our separate closets have a lot of either exact, or very similar, pieces.

I would be lying if I said that today was the first time we've worn the same thing to work, but it has happened so often that our supervisor now comments on it.

If we weren't forbidden from taking pictures on company grounds I would prove it.

TWINSIES!

Blazer: LC Lauren Conrad {similar}
Scarf: H&M  {similar}
Pin: my Mom made it!
Shirt: Gap
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Watch: Boccia
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact}
Nails: seen here

Plaids and Rain

Oh heyyy, welcome to my basement, where pet hair comes to party. I've been wondering what I was going to do about taking pictures for this here blog once winter really sets in, when it's dark before and after work. My questions were all answered today when it was dark before I left, and pouring rain when I got back. Looks like you'll be seeing a lot more of my basement and a lot less of my backyard from now on.

But you can here for me and not the background, right?!

.....right?

Yesterday I mentioned that I was hoping homemade banana bread and crafting were going to brighten the beginning of the week. The banana bread was delicious - you should all be disappointed you don't live near me (if I were to share...which I'm not going to, so back off).  I also made the middle bracelet, which I now refuse to remove. I'm also going to make a silver one and document the process so you can make your own - it's super easy!

Blazer: H&M  {similar}
Blouse: H&M
Pants: Gap
Belt: The Limited
Shoes: Crown Vintage via DSW  {similar}
Watch: Target   {in stores only}
Bracelets: J. Crew via eBay, DIY (instructions and opportunity to win one here)







linking up with wiww

Audrey and Marc

I've been a fan of Audrey Hepburn since my family had an Audrey movie night probably a decade ago. Like just about everyone else, I feel in love with her in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her sass and witt and tiny bird body with those big eyes just won me over, and I've been a fan ever since. I even made and hung a giant picture of her in my bathroom.

My mom bought me this scarf in Germany as a birthday present, and I've been so excited to wear it. In a nod to Audrey, I wanted to keep the rest classic with a bit of sass.

 

I've been looking for some dark/light capped shoes for a long time, especially after seeing how cute they looked on Laura and Whitney. I went on a lunch hour shoe shopping trip to a new DSW and found these Marc by Marc Jacobs flats in the clearance section. They were originally $250, but I got them for $95 (50% discount off the DSW price plus $5 birthday coupon). Although that is 2/3 of my budget for this month, I know that I'll get so much wear out of them. They are still priced at $200 online but your local store may have them on the clearance rack! With the remainder of my October budget I'm hoping to find a tweed blazer to add to my ever growing collection.

Scarf: Present from my mom
Earrings: Tiffany & Co. {exact}
Blazer: H&M  {similar}
Shirt: H&M
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Watch: Fossil
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact, similar}






Linking up with Real Girl Glam...

Uniform

My fall uniform: blazers and scarves. It's the easiest way to layer easy and there are endless combinations. This look is inspired by the styling from the J.Crew website for this blazer. A collared shirt, swater and blazer was a bit much for me so I just added a scarf instead. See, easy!

I have wanted this watch ever since I saw it on Kelly at Alterations Needed. I haven't been able to afford buying it for myself so I begged hinted at Chris that it would make the perfect birthday present.

He's too good to me.



Like Kelly, I plan on replacing the watch band. She used a brown band but I think I'm going to go for navy.

Blazer: J. Crew in tall  {exact}
Sweater: Old Navy  {similar}
Scarf: H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}






Linking up with Real Girl Glam, Work it Wednesday and wiww.

Blazered

I'm back - and dressed! Today was the first day I felt like actually trying to look put together.

Every day I want to reach for this blazer but hold myself back. In Germany (and other parts of Europe as I'm learning by reading other blogs), it is very common to wear certain pieces over and over and over again. I think that growing up mostly in America I've always dressed in the "most wear something completely different" every day method of dressing. I think owning pieces that can be worn 100 times a year is the definition of buying a well thought out item for your closet so I hope to learn from my motherland and not feel bad if I bring the cost per wear of this blazer down to like $2 this year.

$2 a day well spent, I think!

Blazer: J. Crew  {exact}
Scarf: H&M
Watch: Target  {exact}
Jeans: Express  {exact}
Shoes: Rocket Dog {exact}






P.S. Julep is holding a Pinterest contest to develop and name a new nail polish color.  You can find my entry here (please follow! :D ) and find out how you can enter here!


Linking up with real girl glam and pretty shiny sparkly.

EBEW: Schooltime

This month's Everybody, Everywear theme is back to school. I already wore a back to school outfit last week, but I don't need many excuses to wear my new blazer and scarf!

A note on the blazer: I've been looking for a red blazer for some time now, both for regular outfits and for football Saturdays. I got this baby for $27 (I refuse to buy anything from Old Navy at full price - there is always a sale going on!). It is unlined and a bit stretchy which means it isn't that bulky. The only fault is that the material that makes the lapel and opening of the jacket has folded over fabric that would sometimes stick out. I bought iron-on adhesive (~ $3 at a fabric store) and ironed down the inside fabric. It was super easy and the added stiffness really makes the blazer sit better.

I was debating wearing my yellow loafers but I felt it was a little too Ronald McDonald...

Blazer: Old Navy (exact)
Scarf: DIY (you can win one here!)
Tee: Gap
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang
Watch: Boccia
Nails: Seen here







Linking up with EBEW, wiww and real girl glam.

Back to School?

Happy first day of school! Even though today I drove to my job like I do every day instead of starting out a new school year, I like to reminisce about back to school time. God, the beginning of the school year was the best! You got to wear all of your new clothes you spent your summer job money on, you get new school supplies (nothing I love more than a new planner and pens), and you get to see all of your friends again.

So even though today was a day like any other, I wanted to wear my brand new blazer and even though I'm seeing less friends (Chris just left for 2 months! :(  ), I'm excited for what the fall has in store for me. 

Are you surprised at all that I'm wearing this blazer today? I'm so glad that I didn't stick with the first navy(ish) blazer, or the second/third blazer to cross my path. I want to wear this one every day this season but I promise to hold myself back.

Maybe.

I just love these two rings together.

Blazer: J. Crew {exact}
Blouse: Gap
Belt: so old
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Shoes: Aldo {exact}
Necklace: family heirloom {more here}
Heart Ring: Karen Walker  {exact}
Anchor Ring: H&M
Watch: Target  {exact}
Nails: OPI Razzle Dazzler

What's your favorite back to school memory?











Linking up with Real Girl Glam and wiww.

Mission: Classic Wool Navy Blazer, Part 2

As I mentioned in Part 1, I ordered the J. Crew Schoolboy blazer in a size 10 tall to see how it compares to a regular size 10. The J.Crew website says that tall sizes are for women 5'9'' and taller. I'm 5'9'' so I ordered both regular and tall blazer to compare the fit.

As you can see, the tall blazer has longer arms (by about an inch) and a longer torso (by about 3/4 of an inch). With the added length of the sleeves also comes a bit of width, which I may have corrected by a tailor. The longer sleeves allow me to move my arms without looking like I am wearing a 3/4 sleeve blazer, which is what happens a lot when i buy blazers/sweaters. The added length in the torso, even though it is just a little bit, allows the blazer to sit a lot better on my waist. I feel the buttons on the tall blazer aren't pulling pulling across by chest like they are on the regular blazer because they sit right underneath it.

The catalog and website don't tell you the fabrics used for the blazer, but in case you were curious, the shell is 98% wool and 2% spandex (which explains the "wool with a hint of stretch").

Over all, I'm thrilled with this blazer. Expensive? Yes, but I hope that the cost per wear will drop quickly because I plan to wear this allllllll the time. Get excited.

Mission: Classic Wool Navy Blazer, Part 1

Since I started keeping a clothing budget, and seeing where my money is going each month, I've realized that I make a lot of quick decisions when buying clothing. I want a closet with pieces that work with each other, that can be worn in a variety of ways, and that I will have for years to come. To do this, I need to buy less "fast fashion"and more closet staples. First on my list of staples is a classic wool navy blazer. I wanted to do my research on these investment pieces, and not just buy the first one I found that kind of matched what I wanted. I searched online and narrowed my choices down to three that I could try on in the store to review.

Gap Ponte Academy Blazer : $88

The first blazer I tried on was the Ponte Academy Blazer at Gap. I tried on the size 10 (on the left, in fuchsia since they didn't have a 10 in navy in the store) and a size 12 (on the right). This blazer is fully lined and made of 77% polyester, 15% rayon and 8% spandex. The blazer is light weight and has a smoother finish.

Pros:

• Machine Washable
• Comes in Petite, Regular, Tall
• Comes in 5 colors
• Price point: $88 is very reasonable for a blazer
• I like the double pockets on the left

Cons:

• Too light weight for what I'm looking for. Since the fabric is polyester and not wool, it feels more like a business suit blazer.
• While I like the white ribbon piping on the fuchsia blazer, I don't want the black ribbon trim on the navy blazer
• I feel I'm in between sizes. The 10 is a bit tight in the shoulder, but the 12 is much too boxy
• The regular is too short on me. 
• Buttons are light weight and feel cheap

Verdict: 

I like the fuchsia blazer for what it is - a cute shrunken bright blazer. While the price is great compared to the next two blazers, it isn't exactly what I want. If I ever find the pink blazer on sale I may purchase it but I am passing on the navy version.

Banana Republic Navy Double Breasted Blazer : $130

The second blazer is from Banana Republic. Again the size 10 is on the left, size 12 on the right. This blazer is also fully lined, and is made of 67% cotton and 33% rayon. This blazer was a lot thicker and more structured than the blazer at Gap and although it is made of cotton, it feels like wool.

Pros:

• I really like the thickness of this blazer. It seems like a firmer fabric than the Gap blazer which means it would keep its shape better.
• The buttons are solid.
• I like where the blazer hits my hips and the arm length is long enough (in the size 10 - the 12's sleeves are too long)

Cons: 

• It is dry clean only
• It does not come in petite/regular/tall sizing
• While the double breasted buttons look great with a nautical outfit, I feel it limits the outfits you can wear with this blazer
• There is only 1 closure which means it isn't as practical for the cooler temperatures.
• Again I'm in between sizes. The 10 fits me well in the arms but pulls a bit in the chest area. The 12 is too large in the arms but fits my waist better.

Verdict: 

While again it would be a fun piece to own for certain outfits, it doesn't fit the classic navy requirement and because it doesn't come in tall sizing, I can't try in between sizes. 

J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer : $198

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen a picture of this blazer with me expressing my disappointed. I initially tried this blazer on in a size 12, and left feeling, well, disappointed. J. Crew is outside my normal budget so since it is expensive, I expected the quality to match the price. Initially I was disappointed in this blazer but have since changed my opinion.

Again, the size 10 is on the left, 12 on the right. This blazer like the other two is fully lined. Neither the website nor the catalog describe the material in percentages but will tell you that it is "wool with a hint of stretch".

Pros:

• The size 10 fits me well. I didn't feel that the shoulders were too tight, and there wasn't any strain in the chest or waist. 
• This blazer can be ordered in a petite/regular/tall
• It has an interior pocket, which the other 2 blazers did not.
• The fabric is thick but soft.

Cons: 

• I tried the size 12 on Friday night, and left upset about the fit. The shoulders felt narrow, it made my arms look bulky and it didn't fit my waist at all. I had given up on this blazer until I decided that proper photograph documentation was needed so when I went back on Saturday to take pictures, I realized that the blazer looks terrible in a size 12 because that's not my size.
• Dry Clean only.
• The arms are just a bit too short on me. 
• Price: $200 is a lot of money for one piece of clothing.
• The buttons are very cheap. For a blazer that costs this much, I expect the buttons to be solid. If I do decide to buy this blazer I would replace the buttons. It isn't a huge problem, and it allows me to customize the blazer a bit, but it is unfortunate that J. Crew didn't decide to use nicer buttons.

Verdict: 

After realizing that the sizing was off, not the blazer itself, I really do like this blazer. It is thick, lined, and is that classic wool blazer I am looking for. Because the sleeves are a bit short, and I would like the blazer to be just a bit longer, I am going to order this blazer in a size 10 Tall and then compare the tall sizing to the regular sizing. $200 is a lot of money for one piece of clothing, but I hope that by doing more research and being patient about the process that I will find a piece of clothing that I will wear for many years to come.

To be continued....


Part 2 here!

Navy Blazer...ish

No, your eyes are not deceiving you - this is not a navy blazer. But last night in Forever 21 it looked like one! I've been searching for a navy blazer for a long time...and it looks like the hunt will continue because as fun as a purple blazer is, it isn't what I want to spend my limited budget on. So far this month I've spent $90 of my budget, so I'm thinking about cutting it off there and putting the rest of the money towards next month to use it to buy myself a great navy blazer as a birthday present. So far I'm considering this Topshop blazer, this Banana Republic one, and of course this J.Crew one. Any suggestions where else I can look?

Blazer: Forever 21  {exact}

Scarf: Forever 21 {save, spend, splurge}

Top: H&M

Jeans: Gap  {exact}

Shoes: Aldo  {exact, similar, similar}

Watch: Fossil  {similar}

Bracelet: J. Crew  {similar}

A few weeks ago I had my first Save/Spend/Splurge post about pink saddle bags. Kara who blogs at My Life in the Curvy Lane mentioned that she had a very similar bag that just neeeeeded to be taken off of her hands. I was kind enough to help her out with that ;)  Make sure you stop by My Life in the Curvy Lane! She has some great pieces in her giant closet, and I wish I lived closer to her so she could make me her amazing Strawberry Stuffed French Toast.

We're going to be good friends, you and I.








Linking up with Everybody Everywear, WIWW...

Thrifted

My love for getting a good deal is well documented. I rarely pay for anything full price - I always shop the sales at stores I can't really afford full price items (J.Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor), and try to use coupons/codes at stores I can afford to pay full price but try not to (Gap, Old Navy, Loft, Express).

You would think with all of that I would be all for thrifting for clothes...yet I never have. I go to Goodwill and Savers lots, but it's to pick up house items. I went to Goodwill specifically to buy a frame for a print I bought down town, and wandered into the clothing section...and found this blazer waiting for me. It's more of a cardigan blazer and I'm positive it previously belonged to someone's sweet grandmother but with a snip of the scissors to remove the shoulder pads, it became the newest member of my closet. I also found an old leather purse whose straps I  removed to make an awesome new clutch.

All for less than $10! What took me so long?!

Blazer: Thrifted {similar? haha}
Shirt: Buckle
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Necklace: Present  {save, spend, splurge}
Watch: Boccia  {similar}
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang {save, spend, splurge}


Do you thrift a lot of clothes? Any tips for a newbie?


Linking up with wiww and harper's happenings

Color Challenge: Pink

This is my first month participating in The Color Challenge over at Small Town, Big Wardrobe- this month's color is pink. I don't own much pink...or at least I didn't until I purchased these pink loafers (on clearance in stores!) on Friday after seeing them on Michelle at Second Street East. I think they'll be a fun addition to my growing collection of work-appropriate shoes.

I also finally created a facebook page - you can find me here! 

Blazer: H&M (similar)

Shirt: Forever 21 (very similar)

Jeans: Gap Outlet

Shoes: Target (currently on sale in pink)

Necklace: H&M (similar on eBay)

Sure is hot out here.

I hate to be that person that discusses the weather, but come on, the temperature outside dictates what we wear. Although its been in the mid 90s outside for days now, the AC at work keeps the building chilly. I've been trying to layer up at work so I can remove them after. How are you dealing with the heat? Love it or leave it?


Blazer: LC Lauren Conrad (similar)
Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: Gap Outlet (similar)
Necklace: Forever 21
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang (similar at JCP)
Watch: Fossil (similar)

Linking up with Marionberry Style's Monthly Trend: Colorful Blazers.


P.S. Have you linked up to Budgeting Bloggers yet?