april showers?

 

This morning when I was getting ready for work, I looked outside and noticed that everything looked a bit wet and dreary, so I thought it would be the perfect time to wear my new rain boots. April showers, right? I haven't had a chance to wear them a lot other than to walk the dogs, so I was really excited. So excited in fact that I neglected to notice that only my driveway was wet (from the giant shoveled snow mass in the front yard), and everything else was bone dry. Once I stepped out of my car to take pictures, I felt a little ridiculous standing there in my rain boots. Plus I already felt so twee with the skirt, pattern mixing, and little bow in my hair that this is what I ended up doing:

So I changed into the flats I was going to wear at work. Maybe not as fun, but also not as silly as wearing rubber boots when there isn't any wetness on the ground.

Shirt: J.Crew [exact on sale]

Skirt: Thrifted

Scarf: Forever 21 [similar]

Tights: Target

Watch: Target (for $1!)

Boots: Hunter [exact]

Flats: Tory Burch [exact]

linking up with wiww.

5D5W: Dresses!

 

I don't really own a lot of dresses that I really like. In fact, I'm taking a bunch to be consigned soon because I feel guilty about them hanging in my closet. I've actively been working on getting rid of any clothes I don't wear in my closet, but what tricks me is the other closet that we don't use that holds all of my dresses. Every single dress since my senior year of high school hangs in there, and I don't wear a single one. Most don't fit correctly (please, like you fit into the clothes from when you were 17), are too short for a 25 year old lady to wear, or just have no place in my life. Anything that hasn't been worn in 2+ years is getting consigned in the coming weeks.

But not this dress. This dress is like wearing pajamas but without having to be embarrassed about wearing them in public. She's soft, surprisingly flattering for a striped tee shirt material, and best of all, didn't cost me more than $20. The cost per wear is lower on this dress than I think any dress I've owned before, and I've only worn it 4 times (twice not blogged - I know, I'm shocked too). I wish Fran from 3 years ago would have made smarter shopping decisions.

Dress: Old Navy  [save | spend | splurge]

Chambray: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Tights: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Belt: Gap

Watch: Fossil [exact]

Necklace: gift from Whitney

via instagram

How have you worn the dresses in your closet? Are you a remixing master when it comes to dresses, or are you a shameful neglecter like I am? Link up with Whitney for the second to last day of 5 Days 5 Ways. Tomorrow is Casual Friday...which means you can just show us 5 ways you've worn a more casual outfit, or how you've worn jeans 5 ways, or a comfy skirt, or...whatever you feel defines a casual Friday for your life! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve :)

 1 | 2 | 3

skirted

Hi! It snowed today (after these pictures were taken). Blogger is not pleased.

Shirt: Equipment via eBay [same style]
Skirt: Thrifted  [similar]
Scarf: c/o The Posh'mina
Tights: Target
Boots: Frye  [exact]
Belt: Old Navy  [save | splurge]
Watch: Kate Spade  [exact]

Don't forget that the 5 Days, 5 Ways link up starts next week! As a reminder of the line-up:

Monday: Tops

Tuesday: Pants

Wednesday: Accessories

Thursday: Dresses

Friday: Casual Friday

I hope you join Whitney and me!

this ol' thing?

Last week Jessica from Here & Now (did you read her Behind the Blog?) wrote about how she often buys a new dress for every occasion instead of trying to re-wear the dresses for different events. I can totally relate because I too have a closet full of dresses that have only been worn once. Since the occasion to wear them are few and far between, I always use it an excuse to buy a new dress. I got this dress last year for my friends Kayla and Craig's wedding, but haven't worn it since. I figured that Kimmie's "Oh, This Old Thing?" link-up would be the perfect opportunity to re-wear it. It may not be the oldest thing in my closet (I think that "honor" goes to my tan belt that I think is from Aeropostale...but that hasn't been verified), but it is something that hasn't been out of my closet more than once. Make sure you link up with her and see what everyone else dug up!

Can we talk about my new boots? I know, quick turn around. When I was on my way to the UPS store to ship the rubber leather boots back, I decided to stop by at DSW. These boots were the first thing I tried on, and even though I paid full DSW price for them, I'm really excited about them. They remind me a lot of these Frye boots, but for a third of the price. I forgot how much I hate breaking in boots (my poor toes), but I think they'll be perfect in just a few wears.

Dress: Banana Republic  {save | splurge}
Cardigan: Old Navy  {similar}
Tights: Target  {exact}
Boots: Nicole via DSW  {exact}
Scarf: Scarf Obsession giveaway win from SOML
Necklace: locally made
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}




ugh, my hair looks terrible! I promise it was cute before I had to wear a hairnet for an hour and then stood in what seemed like a wind tunnel for these pictures.

Tights for TOPIO. Oh man, really breaking the creativity bank. I tried to wear the dress as a shirt but there was just too much material. hmph.






also linking up with Style Showcase!

fate

You know how sometimes when we're shopping and we find something that we think is cute and it's the last piece and it's our size? We tell ourselves it's fate and buy it because the universe has clearly decided that it was meant to be for us to own that jacket / scarf / ring. Yeah, I'm not immune to that feeling either.

I mentioned that I was looking for a new pair of boots and when I saw that this pair (at the time) only had one pair left and in my size, I did not even hesitate to press buy. Obviously the fashion gods felt that I needed to own those boots. A week later they arrived at my front step, and I'm now a fashion atheist because girl, no. They look like plastic rain boots! Not what I expected from something that claims to be leather boots. I know my expectations are higher because I love my Frye boots so much, but another pair of such expensive boots is just not a possibility right now (especially since I need to be good about saving money while I'm still working). Back those go. Next up: this pair or this pair.

Maybe they'll make me be a believer again.

Dress: Old Navy  {exact}
Vest: Old Navy  {similar for less than $30}
Tights: Target  {exact}
Belt: Old Navy  {similar}
Scarf: Victoria's Secret
Boots: Frye  {exact}
Watch: Target  {similar}

Day Four of TOPIO











linking up with Sunday Style!

winterize

One of my goals for my closet is to buy pieces that work not only for my job, but also for outside of work. I love the easiness of a simple dress for the summer time, but I've never been one to winterize a dress so there's been a bit of a learning curve for me. I've learned a lot from all of the other bloggers out there about how to make a dress appropriate for the winter, so hopefully I'm not failing you! I picked this dress up as a part of my January budget but I know I'll be wearing it straight into the summer.

Dress: Old Navy  {exact}
Cardigan: NY&Co.  {save / splurge}
Belt: H&M Mens
Tights: Target  {exact}
Boots: Frye  {save / exact}
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}
Rings: Forever 21  {exact}

and for the future...

Outfit 1: Sunglasses + Cargo Jacket + Crossbody Purse + Sandals
Outfit 2: Cardigan + Necklace + Brown Belt + Boot Socks + Brown Belts
Outfit 3: Grey Sweater + Red Belt + Black Tights + Grey Boots

Linking up with wiww