Monday, May 31, 2010

Wardrobe Lab Partners?

Had a day of dressing "experiments" with my friend Stacy today! I've come up with two new looks where I've worn a dress as a top, and she's come up with two looks for jeans. I'm still not convinced I wear jeans that well, so I'll leave that up to the more experienced. :-)

DRESSES AS TOPS:
Example #1



Dress: Sears (I know, right?)
Skirt: Forever 21
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Modcloth

Example #2

Dress: Cactus Flower (but you can get one online at Modcloth.com)
Belt: Modcloth
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: vintage, via Etsy

^^That outfit was a big deal for me! I NEVER wear pink. Something about having a pink, irish face usually... (oh and please excuse the bit of hem poking out at the bottom...I'll fix it next time!)

Exciting Jeans Outfits by Stacy:
Example #1



My best friend goes magically from 5'1" to 5" in those babies! She calls this look "Tough Chic" Grr!

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Black tee: Target
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Journeys

Example #2
And... while it's a LITTLE warm for this now, she's got her fall looks worked out!

Top: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Target

and check out the cool necklace! (excuse our squinting, it's sunny!)

Extra Special Surprise of the Day:
My friend stacy looks great in sundresses and has bought a few this year for herself. BUT NEVER WEARS THEM! I aim to fix this. Doesn't she look adorable? 

Dress: Jean Paul Gautier for Target (yes!!!)
Wedges: Steve Madden

So, though yesterday I said I'd be wearing yoga clothes (and I did for about 20 minutes), Stacy and I showed up to yoga class at the WRONG TIME! ugh. So we had our fashion experiments instead. I may have also bought a new dress today for $9.99 at Urban Outfitters during the time I thought I was going to be at yoga as well...perhaps all fashionable things happen for a reason? 

Sunday, May 30, 2010

My Lips Are Red!

So...Annie Clark of St. Vincent has a song called "Your Lips are Red" and it is somehow both haunting and adorable in the manner it makes its way into my mind every time I wear red lipstick. St. Vincent to me, will always be the patron saint of red lips.

However, today's outfit was not only because that song popped up on my itunes recently, but also because I have slipped back into being a brunette.  And last summer I was redheaded and that was too matchy-matchy, so here's to a color I can rock much more often during this year's red-hot months. :-)


I wore this to my friend's little sister's high school graduation party. And their parents' house is phenomenally gorgeous, so I really should have tried to sneak some photos there...but instead, here I am again by the brick side of the abandoned house on my own little country street in my college town.
(Oh, Bloomington!)







Heart-shaped sunnies: Urban Outfitters (boyf says I'm over-wearing them...hope not!)
White ruffled blouse & red pencil skirt: Forever 21
Belt: hand-me-down from friend
White flats: vintage, via Etsy

Though I got lots of outfit compliments from both my friend's family members and her friends, I DEFINITELY ate more than I should. So...the only outfit I might be wearing tomorrow is my YOGA one! But we'll see... ;-)


Friday, May 28, 2010

Black & White and Choices All Over!

I usually go for more colorful outfits, but today surprised me with the fact that when I was deciding what to wear to a shindig with some friends tonight I came up with two quite neutral ensembles! I'm going with the second one, because the first one is a bit too dressy with the heels, but I think they both turned out alright! Maybe I don't have to be so colorful all the time! Maybe neutral doesn't have to be boring?

My inspiration started out when I was surfing the internet for things I love but can't afford and found this little combo at KateSpade.com. I love EVERYTHING she designs. But this blouse caught my eye:


 And I realized I actually DO have an affordable version of this outfit!



You can't see the polka dots in the blouse as well, but they're there!

Blouse: TJ Maxx
Shorts: J. Crew
Tights: Target
Shoes: Cactus Flower

My outfit was probably about $50 all together, but for the real thing, I'd be set back about $150 just for the blouse! (And that's on SALE!) Is there anything designer that you've paid full price for? I'd love to get my hands on some real Katie sometime, even if I can make my own comparable looks.

But then I realized I was too dressed up. Heels are NOT necessary at theatre kid house parties. 
Hence this outfit!
 
The boyfriend is getting great at taking photos :-)



Vest & bow necklace: Cactus Flower
White shirt: Target
Skirt and Belt: Forever 21
Flats: Charlotte Russe

And here's a better view of that necklace! New favorite accessory perhaps? 

Excuse my silly iphoto laptop cam. Sorry if this is too close for ya!

So has your fashion been black and white when it comes to color or price? Or are you finding the right kind of "grey areas" ?  :-)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cookout-fit

This is what I finally ended up wearing to my class cookout! And I must say, it was a pretty awesome shindig. Those people that you think you get along with in classes that you take--trust me, you get along with them. And you should hang out with them. Because they're great people. And I should have gotten pictures of everybody! But it was dark. And there will be a part two!!
I was also pleased that bringing veggie burgers to a barbecue isn't a faux-pas...teehee








Dress: Pitaya
Cardigan and sunnies: Urban Outfitters
Flats: vintage, via Etsy

Oh, and because James keeps making fun of me and feeling left out on the whole fashion blog thing, here's Britain's next top model himself, my ridiculous boyfriend! He even went to the cookout with me after complaining about how he wouldn't know anyone and had a good time. What a darling.


Models don't wear NEARLY as many Marilyn Manson T-shirts, Jamie. Hate to break it to you...

The ol' writing class and I might even through a shed party! You'll have to know the password to get in. Because we're creative like that. 
So moral of the story: make new friends. Hang out with new people. You've got all this time...what else is the summer for? 

Monday, May 24, 2010

Dress Dilemmas!

Thought that my roommate Sam and I were going to take a nice bike ride today...but then my bike ended up being WAY broken. Rusty bike chains = ruined mornings. However! While we were out and about I got a cute new sundress and a bow necklace that I shall be wearing soon, so not a total loss at all, even if we did get lazy and go by car. 

Here was my comfy, picnic blanket-esque look that I was prepared to bike in today:






Sunnies: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: My mom made it out of seashells in the 60's!
Dress: Charlotte Russe
Flats: Modcloth!

The problem is, while I was finding too many things that fit me, and was depressed with choices because afford all the dresses I wanted today, my awesome roommate Sam couldn't find a single one that fit her! Are any of you out there bustier girls that have managed to find a sundress that's built for someone like Sam who actually has curves up top? When did being flat become convenient??
Sam would totally appreciate it if you let her in on your curvy dress secrets!

I hope you've had better shopping luck than we had!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Blue Skies Smiling at Me

          It isn't raining and that is a small wonder at the moment! I've made up another outfit that I could possibly wear to my creative writing cookout on Tuesday, but I think yesterday's might be better for the weather. It's getting pretty hot, so I might have to lose the tights/socks altogether eventually. :-(
          The only place I wore this to today was my summer monologue workshop group (aka out of work theatre students hanging out), because for most of the day I've actually been wearing sweats and working out. But this time people got to see the outfit I created for a couple of hours.






Blouse: TJ Maxx
Dress & belt: Urban Outfitters
Tights: street vendor in London
Shoes: Modcloth!

I don't have any plans for tomorrow at all. And sometimes that makes me hate summer. But it's also a LITTLE liberating not to be going to a ton of rehearsals and classes. Are you feeling free or bored now that summer's here? 

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Sweet Summer May Flowers

Excellent. Weather is getting a LITTLE better and now I actually have plans to do fun outdoor things. The problem was: what to wear! I don't have my creative writing class cookout until Tuesday, but I wanted to try and put together outfits before then to see what was the best I could come up with. I think I might have already found it, though. This just might sum up summer me!








Dress (That's right, it's all one fabulous piece): The Frassy Dress from Modcloth!
Necklace: from Whiteowl on Etsy.com
Socks: Target
T-Strap flats: Urban Outfitters

And, because my boyfriend loves to really help out and take flattering photos of me so often, classic me:



Yep. This is what I'll look like all summer. Sigh.

I hope your day has been as colorful and relaxing as mine has! And I'm going to experiment with another outfit tomorrow!



Friday, May 21, 2010

I Match The Weather

It's been too rainy to do anything summery! I got a ride somewhere last night, and I've been going to yoga or to the gym during the day, but I can't do ANYTHING outside for more than about five minutes without it raining!

So here's my rainy, rainy outfit. I'll probably wear it out to a house party this evening for someone my boyfriend knows. Sigh. Rain, rain, go away!








cardigan: urban outfitters
dress: charlotte russe
raindrop necklace: gift from a friend
shoes: Modcloth


And here's my boyfriend James in his silly "dressing gown" (cause apparently that's what British people call bathrobes) joining in on the rain-colored fashion for the day. hehe. Look at him pose!  :-)



Thursday, May 20, 2010

Dressing Like a Grownup!

Since turning twenty-one in January, there have been a lot more places in town where my social life can go. However, it's hard to keep on top of the nightlife's fashion trends when it seems as if their atmosphere only provides for the style of "slutty chic." (so says my roomie, Alana) My usual sundresses and flats weren't cutting it, and were getting a few of the wrong kind of stares from the regular out-and-abouters, so I've been wondering how to keep my personal style, but also fit in when I go out!

I think I've done it. My friend Chelsea's twenty-first birthday was last night, and I think I fit in nicely at the bar.




Cardigan, Blouse and Purse: new from Urban Outfitters
Jeans: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Thrifted

I almost never wear jeans out, so this was kind of difficult. I hope I pulled it off...

Friday, May 14, 2010

Wrapped up in Flowers

Went to another job interview today for a clothing store! (which would be great...) And wore this dress under my green blazer. When I got home I discovered the weather was perfect, though, so I decided to re-accessorize and get even more summery!



I look a little ridiculous in this last one, but I also look incredibly happy that it's summer instead of the usual unemployed glares streaming from my bored blues.

Dress: Macy's
Scarf: Delias
Belt: Wet Seal
Shoes: Vintage, via Etsy

And! I went shopping today. I haven't been able to do that in a LONG time. So...here are the five pieces I got from my visit to urbanoutfitters' website while I took advantage of their MASSIVE sale!

So I've gotten myself two new cardigans, a fancy new top, a belt and a purse. These should be good new purchases...now I just have to make sure I get a job so they're funded!