cape love

I've wanted a cape for a while now, and had nearly settled on just making one myself, but due to lack of time I had to postpone that. Little did I suspect, someone else had the same idea and made this pretty number, which I graciously snatched at a local thrift store for a whooping $4.99! When I brought it my dad's place, he looked at me and said 'oh, you've got a poncho, cool' or course I corrected him; it's not a poncho if it has an opening (common knowledge-stuff about clothing escapes my otherwise brilliant father).

cape-handmade & thrifted
top-H&M
denim shorts- Joe Fresh
tights- Anne Klein
boots- Steve Madden
necklaces- gifted

comfort is key

Everyone has a couple of comfy, simple garments that sometimes get neglected, but are always loved. For me, this top is in this category; it's super-duper comfortable and simple so I can wear it with pretty much anything (pretty much) depending on how I feel like accessorizing it.
Today felt like a 'bib-necklace and polka dot tights' type of day, so I went with it.

top-Smart Set (their jersey tops last a whiiile!)
skirt-Joe Fresh
tights-H&M
boots- Steve Madden
necklace-Forever 21 (old)
belt-H&M

disappointing

This blog isn't a place for me to complain and nag about things (other than the weather, which some of your already realize) but I feel like I need to put this out there, as a warning. I bought this dress at H&M in my correct size a while back, and was totally loving it until I wore it, washed it and it shrunk in the strangest ways possible. Most often garments shrink in one direction; pants might get shorter, sweaters tighter; this dress shrunk in all directions! Especially at the top; which is why I've layered it (the top 3 buttons refuse to close up).
So, moral of the story, because there always is one, don't trust your size...even if it's the same one you've worn for years. Not cool H&M, not cool at all.

dress-H&M
top-??
belt-thrifted
tights-?? winners
boots-Franco Sarto

To keep things in the positive spirit of this blog- I suppose it all works out since I get to layer the dress, and that makes it kinda fun. But I still would have liked the option of wearing just it...

27/30- green is for spring

Officially cannot wait for full on spring to finally make its triumphant return. Spring is so re-charging (minus the exam periods, and such) and it makes you feel so alive after the near-hibernation of late winter. Sometimes I wonder why other mammals get to be so lucky to just sleep right through the cold, icy season, while the rest of us have to suck it up every morning, deal with frost nip/bite, and generally function to a degree. I guess I'll have to take that up with mother nature herself.

button up shirt-Jacob

pants-H&M
socks-??
ankle boots-Spring
purse-vintage via my grandma :)
necklace-??
belt-H&M
sunglasses-Roots
ring-Forever 21

Thoughts on the outfit?

24/30- look twice

Thought I'd share a short story about the necklace I'm wearing here. I promise it's short, plus it's got a message, so read on.
I love antique markets (real shocker right?!) and whenever I pass by the different booths I always look for little containers or boxes market down because they're full of broken, mis matched pieces. That's how I came along this little pendant, which was actually originally a part of a bracelet (and it must have been beautiful too). The vendor was very haggle-friendly, so I managed to get this little piece for 50cents, plus he threw in a pin just for kicks!;)

Moral of the story--when antique/thrift market shopping, look through the boxes of marked down bits; you never know when you might find a little treasure! (clearly I use the word treasure a bit loosely, but still)

blazer-Forever 21
top-H&M
teal tank-Dynamite
pants-H&M
ankle boots-Spring
necklace-part thrift, part handmade

22/30-the other way to wear a belt

The title for this post only makes sense if you've seen this one; and even then I make no claims that it's an original or good title; kinda dropped the ball on the whole "getting better at the titling" thing...always room for improvement I guess.

blazer-vintage via my mom :)
top-H&M
skirt-H&M
belt-Suzy Shier
tights-Anne Klein
ankle boots-Spring
bracelets-Forever 21
sunglasses-Nine West

thoughts?

15/30-blazer love

I've just started to realize some of the rewards of this challenge; one of them being-how much wear I've been getting out of this blazer! It's great to remix an item like this, because it makes it so worth every penny.

On that note, I have a bit of a confession to make...it involves me cheating, a vintage Ralph Lauren wool blazer with a crest, and a consignment store I shouldn't have found. It felt so wrong and yet so right, I just couldn't help myself! I know I made a promise not to shop for 30 days, and I'm only half way through and have already cheated, but I feel like there should be an exception to the rule when it comes to AWESOME VINTAGE BLAZERS!

That being said, I will stick to the rest of the rules of the challenge and NOT squeeze in the blazer as one of my 30 items. That means, you'll just have to wait to see how awesome it really is...;)

blazer-Forever 21

button up shirt- Jacob

wool shorts- H&M

tights- Anne Klein

ankle boots-Spring

necklace-?? (via a consignment store)

clutch- ?? via Mirella's Ladies Boutique

sunglasses- Roots

7/30- no name

This business of coming up with a title for these posts is just not going well for me. Hence the super-creative and original "no name" post for today!

Anyways, I think I'll share the story of how i got/found this necklace. First off, I love garage sales, in fact my family and I came up with a verb form-garage sale-ing describing the action of sorting out through other peoples' unwanted stuff and bargaining for cents.
Think what you will about it, garage sale-ing is a great way to find some real treasures (of course if you let it, it can become a bit of a hoarding problem, but that's only if you let it). So, one sunny Saturday morning this past summer, my grandma and I were just about to leave a garage sale when a man on a bicycle dropped off BAGS of JEWELRY labeled $1! That was our cue for action! Soon after I was proudly browsing through all the little treasures (that's what I like to call 10 cent necklaces!) in my $1 bag. Amongst them of course, this collar-like pearl necklace!

shirt-Jacob
skirt-H&M
tights- Anne Klein
oxford ankle boots- Spring
belt- H&M (came with skirt)
necklace- garage sale find!

What's your take on garage sale-ing? Any awesome treasures you've found?

5/30-Sunday Brunch

Or more appropriately-Fancy Sunday Brunch! When I was picking my 30 items I definitely wanted to include this pleated skirt which I recently bought at a thrift store for the great price of $4.99! I've been looking for a pleated skirt for a while now, and this one just called out my name (not literally, although that would've been cool). It did need a bit of an alteration because it was pretty long and kinda frumpy looking, but nothing my handy sewing machine couldn't fix!
I'm hoping through this challenge I'll be able to remix this skirt at least 4 different ways (I figure that's an appropriate amount for a $4.99 purchase).
Wish me luck!

oh! and the fancy part--my belt! Also a proud thrift buy ($2!) and if you know me, you'd know I can get pretty excited over beaded things, and this one was just so pretty, I couldn't pass it up!

shirt- Lapis via Winners
skirt- St.Michael (thrifted)
tights- Jew Fresh
oxford ankle boots- Spring
ring- forever 21
earrings- Swarovski
beaded belt- thrifted
clutch- vintage (via my grandma)

3/30- stripes and polka dots

I just realized that in this outfit I'm actually wearing pieces from 3 generations of women in my family! The blazer is my momma's (which I've lovingly borrowed for an indefinite amount of time), the purse is my grandma's (I even dedicated a post about it!), and everything else is mine! There you have it, 3 generations represented!;)

As for the title for this post...I'm basically referring to the stripes on my socks (fun!) and the polka dots on my top (double fun!). I know it's hardly creative, but bear with me and I promise one of these days I'll actually come up with a worthy title!

blazer-my momma's (custom made)
top-H&M
jeans- H&M
socks-??
oxford ankle boots-Spring
ring- vintage (Freelton Antique Market)
purse- vintage via my grandma ;)