March Purchases

After gorging last month, I starved for most of March. I didn’t go to Target even once. I went to TJ Maxx, but stayed in house wares.

My single “impulse” purchase was an order from Sequin Appliqués. Surprisingly, I ordered sequin appliqués:

1. Owl appliqué, $4.99
2. Black and gold epaulets, 2 x $5.99 = $11.98

They haven’t arrived yet…but they were shipped to me over a week ago, so I expect them soon.

I was saving for my pennies for a trip to Denver during the last week of March. On the second day of my vacation, I bought my real cowboy boots.

3. Dan Post boots, $200

Also while in the Denver area, I spent a day secondhand shopping with my sister, Ping.

Goodwill:
4. Converse One Star striped shirt, $5.99

ARC:
5. Worthington paisley skirt, $6.99
6. No Boudnaries pleather skirt, $3.99
7. Scarf, $2.99
8. Belt, $3.99
9. Max Studio dress, $6.99
10. Chain necklace, $5.99

Assistance League of Denver:
11. Chadwicks black and white dress, $4.99
12. Kors clogs, $4.99

Buffalo Exchange:
13. Necklace, $10.50
14. Shearling gloves, $15.50

On my last day in town, we went to the Garden of the Gods and I bought three bracelets in the gift shop.

15. Bracelets, 3 x $1 = $3

The total is $292.88. I knew I’d go over my budget in March because of my planned boot purchase. I couldn’t resist the thrifting goodies. I don’t have plans to buy anything in April, although I do have a thrifting trip scheduled with Londyn. I’ll concentrate on finding things for her wardrobe, not mine!

IRL Awkwardness

This blog started as a secret project. Even after I told Londyn about it and started participating in Wardrobe Remix, the blog remained my shameful secret. I thought it incredibly vain to post my picture each day and the trolls told me that it was, not only vain but, a big waste of time. I was running and swimming with my best friend Erin Fancy Pants for almost a year before she found out about it (and she heard from someone else). I suspect that this is no longer a secret blog, but I remain painfully shy about it in real life.

I’m sometimes recognized on the street or at work. Perhaps I meet someone new, while in the company of friends, and my current acquaintances tell the new one about the blog. I die a little death each time the blog comes up for the first (or second or third) time. I change the subject or just run away.

I am, perhaps, overreacting, but I certainly can’t be alone in my discomfort in reconciling my online and offline lives.

• Do you have a blog (style related or not)?


• Do you tell people about it?


• How do you deal with strangers who recognize you from your blog?


• What do you say to someone who says, “I love your blog!” (“Thank you” is not sufficient when you’re trapped in the elevator with them!)


• If you were to come up to me and mention the blog, what would you want me to say to you? (Is "thank you" enough, after all?)

Seeking the Perfect...

There has been much discussion of late in the blogosphere on the subject of buying multiple, identical items (or the same item in various colors). This post isn’t so much about multiples…it’s about permutations.

I’ve been fixated on the idea of the perfect gray cardigan for years now. It’s that cardigan that goes with everything, is appropriate for every occasion, and makes you look fabulous. I can’t help it, every time I enter a shop, I’m on the lookout for the gray cardis. Could this be it? Is this the holy grail of gray cardigans? As a result, I have a few of them in my wardrobe.




1. Things started off with the gray cardigan (with a detachable faux-fur collar!) from New York and Company. Then someone commented that it was too bulky and I cast it aside.


2. Very soon after, I found another, lighter, knit at Wet Seal and declared it “perfect!” But then I noticed that one side grew to be longer than the other and continued the search.


3. I found a cute gray Bitten cardi at Steve & Barry’s, but there was only an XS left. I bought it and wore it only twice because it was truly extra small.


4. The next one, from Pangaea, looked to be perfect and had pockets to boot! But the fitted shape, while great with jeans, didn’t work with my a-line skirts.


5. Then (oh, this is getting ridiculous), I found a light-as-air cardi with chiffon trim at Wal*Mart. It’s pretty, but not quite structured enough.


6. I ordered an adorable, scrunched-sleeve cardigan from Forever 21. It is a perfect fit except that I can only (barely) button it across my chest. There is no chance of buttoning it around my hips.


7. Lastly, I bought a short-sleeved cardigan from TJ Maxx that looked great in the dressing room but has disappointed me at home.


The saddest thing of all is that I don’t even have a mental picture of this “perfect” gray cardi. I’ll just know it when I find it.

The holy grail madness has begun with navy cardigans as well…




1. The Merona swing cardigan is, perhaps, a bit too swingy.


2. The Sparrow cardigan is a hair too big.


3. The Limited cardigan…oh, wait! Stop! I’ve found the perfect navy cardigan!

Now if only that came in gray.


What are you searching for?

Ask the Muchacho: A Call for Questions

Ever have a question about WIW2D but didn’t think Kasmira would give you a straight answer? Now is your chance to get the inside scoop from the Beefy Muchacho (aka Kasmira’s boyfriend).

Want to know how much time it takes Kasmira to get dressed? Wonder if she actually wears those kooky outfits to work? How many cats does she have? Is she honestly reporting her monthly spending? Do people stare when they go out? Is that her real butt?

Leave your question in the comments and the Muchacho will reveal all in an upcoming post.

How This Blog Has Changed My Life

Pretty grand title, huh? Well, it’s true; I’m a different person than I was when I started this blog. I’ve changed in lots of the little ways you’d expect: I’m more conscious of trends, I visit thrift stores more often, I dress more creatively and I shop more than before WIW2D. The biggest change I’ve seen, though, has been in my attitude towards others’ dress. I’m much more accepting of other people’s style choices than I used to be.

I used to delight in the criticism of other people’s clothing. My favorite part of What Not to Wear was the snarky comments Stacy and Clinton made about the “before” wardrobe. In the checkout line, I’d flip directly to the back of Glamour magazine and the infamous “black bar” page. Next, I’d grab a tabloid off the rack and see what witty things the rag had to say about badly dressed celebrities. Throughout the day, I’d note what other people were wearing and I’d think: too tight, too short, too loud, too tacky, too sloppy, too wild. I constantly judged what others were wearing and usually found them lacking.

There’s nothing like living in a glass house to teach one not to throw rocks.

The nasty comments started in the forums. I’d notice traffic coming to my blog from a message board and check out the thread. For every nice comment (if there were any!), I’d find ten hurtful remarks. Then, “anonymous” started leaving cruel comments directly on my blog. I was cut to the quick. Each unkind remark left me with a hollow feeling in my chest, a hitch in my throat, and a buzzing in my head. I’m not confrontational, so I did not engage the commenters, but I was busily justifying myself in my head and venting to my friends. I felt victimized and misunderstood. I contemplated giving up the blog on more than one occasion.

One day, it all just clicked and I realized that every time I judged others harshly, I was behaving exactly like the trolls. Even if my thoughts were left unshared, I was ashamed to be associated with them. I changed my attitude.

Instead of curling my lip in disgust at a woman’s outfit, I’d imagine what the offender was thinking when she got dressed. Was she in a hurry to get her child off to school? Does she dress to identify herself with a particular subculture? Is she expressing her mood with her dress? I also found things to admire in outfits that I would have previously snubbed. What a great pair of shoes! Look how she picked up that particular shade of green in multiple places. And, the number one attitude-changer of all, I admire her confidence!

Confidence is just what I gained from this exercise. As I accepted others around me and their fashion choices, I became bolder with my own. The new confidence inspired me to wear what I want, without worrying about whether it “went” or was too dressy or impractical. I adopted a more carefree attitude about my appearance. Why not take a risk today? I can play it safe tomorrow. Fuck the detractors. They only WISH they had the courage to try this.

There are always going to be nasty people in the world and they are probably always going to say nasty things, but I feel better in knowing that there is one less. I admit, the world would be a boring place if we were all winners and no one was better than anyone else (a la Harrison Bergernon), but maybe we could all cut each other some slack when it comes to style. There are so many ways we can express ourselves through our clothing. I’d like nothing better than to watch the parade go by and appreciate your choices.

Cherries and Li-Berries

I enjoy getting comments from Cincinnatians who recognize my photo locations. Can you tell where I am today?

Blazer, Forever 21 (Twist). Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Rampage. Bag, Target. Brooch, self-made. Pendants, Phai’s House of Jade. Sunnies. Girl Props.






Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Clomp Clomp

The forecast called for rain, so I wore galoshes all day. It didn't rain until 9 p.m., but I didn't mind. I love clomping around in these boots.


Jacket, London Jeans. Cardigan, Forever 21. Dress, Frederick’s of Hollywood. Boots, TJ Maxx. Bag, Tommy Hilfiger.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Combat

I dressed for combat today. You never know what you might encounter during a day of bus travel.

Jacket, Dex (swap). Cardigan, Silence + Noise. Dress, thrifted. Belt, some department store. Boots, Playhouse. Hat, Pangaea. Owl brooch, swap.

Bright Side

My printed Merona wrap dress is a staple of my wardrobe. In May 2008, I posted a recap displaying the thirteen ways I’ve remixed it. Since then, I’ve shortened it and worn it ten more times:


Number ten…


Dress, Merona. Shirt, New York & Co. Necklace, World Market (lengthened). Shoes, Delicious. Bag, vintage.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho.

Walking on Sunshine

Sunshine! It’s almost enough to make me lose the tights…except that my toes aren’t ready for their springtime debut.


Sweater, The Limited. Dress, City Triangles (swap). Scarf, Camp Foster “mall" (but embellished by me). Tights, We Love Colors. Peeptoes, BCBGeneration. Brass bangle, World Market. Wooden bangle, swap. Alligator bag, vintage.





Photos by Beefy Muchacho.

Irish Professor

Nothing says Irish Professor like a mismatched tweed suit, a sweater vest, and the colors of the Irish flag.

Jacket, So…(thrifted). Sweater vest, Cherokee. Satin blouse, Express. Skirt, Talbot’s. Boots, Nine West. Necklace, Zad. Owl brooch, vintage.


I started my morning with some good ol’ Irish Coffee. Mmmm....whiskey...


Ha! I wish. I have some rules about drinking and they include no drinking before work and no drinking before using power tools. (Also, no drinking before driving, but I don’t even drive sober so that one doesn’t come up much. You’d be surprised at how often I have to refrain from the power tools, though.)



My past St Patrick’s day ensembles: