May Purchases

No preamble this month…

15dollarstore.com
1. Romeo and Juliet Couture plaid chiffon blouse, $15

Don’t browse online when you’re bored. Yeah, right. Well, if you MUST, then go to the 15dollarstore, because you can’t do too much damage. I don’t regret this purchase one bit.


Meijer (it’s kind of like a Super Walmart or Fred Meyer):
2. Massini purse, $30

I amazed Beefy by snagging this purse off the rack as we walked by, on the way to find suspenders. I hardly slowed at all.


I certainly didn’t need another purse, but who couldn’t use a big, black purse? This one fits my giant SLR camera, which is important right now since the lil’ golden PowerShot is broken.

Dillard’s
3. Adriana Papell sequin jacket, $41.70

I bought this super-discounted jacket to give my velvet dress a new look. Olive-colored sequins are the perfect mix of edgy and stuffy. Expect to see this topping all my formal and semi-formal attire.


Urban Outfitters
4. Jack BB Dakota Achava skirt, $19.99

One of the perils of reading so many fashion blogs is the development of an urgent need for an item. I was happily browsing blogs when I suddenly felt my life would not be complete without a high-waisted chambray skirt with an exposed zipper and pockets. Thankfully, I found one on sale.


I had spent my budget by the end of May, but couldn’t resist a few deals while thrifting on Memorial Day.

Village Discount Outlet
5. The Limited Blazer, $2.40

Valley Thrift
6. Starfish belt, $.50
7. Red snakeskin belt, $1.49

Total was $111.08. Not too shabby for a month that included a special event and a holiday.

Better Get Moving

Saturdays are very active days for me. They usually start with swim practice and include either a marathon session of housecleaning or an afternoon of errands and events. Today was the latter. Guess I’ll have to clean on Sunday, instead (after my run). I’m always a little relieved to go back to work after the weekend and plant my butt in a chair.


Tank, Wet Seal. Skirt, Jack BB Dakota. Shoes, Champion (thrifted). Earrings, No Boundaries. Sweater (below), Juicy Couture (swap).

Ponytail

I was so happy to scrape my hair back into a ponytail today. I don’t really like hair, so I’m happiest when it’s super short or long enough to pull back.


Sweater, The Limited. Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Shoes, Van Eli (thrifted). Bag, No Boundaries. Cuff, swap. Earrings, Pangaea.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Pangaea

At first, I thought I wasn’t doing well today on my pledge to wear “one non-traditional-retail item” each every day. Then I remembered that my shoes and earrings came from a local boutique in Clifton, Pangaea.

I recently named Pangaea as my favorite local shop in Cincinnati. I used to visit every Saturday, after swim practice, and fondle the clothing. The selection is geared towards a younger, more casual lifestyle, but I’ve found a few things that work for work. I don’t get to visit as often anymore, but I make a point of studying the store’s lovely window display each time I pass.*


Blouse, Charlotte Russe. Vest, Forever 21. Skirt, Moda International. Yellow bracelet, Target. Brass bangle, World Market. Earrings, Pangaea. Shoes, Miss Me.

I met up with the Locals on Living bloggers last night and talk turned to sponsorship and the lack of it on my blog. I’ve noted the sponsors on other style blogs, but have no affinity for any of them. I’d rather have no sponsor at all, than one whose product I wouldn’t or couldn’t buy. If Pangaea came a-calling, though, we could do business.

*I must be on the same wavelength as the person that does the display window at the Clifton store. I’ve found myself standing in front the window, twice, wearing the same color palette as the mannequins. Great minds…

Photos by Beefy Muchacho

You're My Inspiration

I’m often asked where I get my inspiration. Two of my biggest sources of ideas are other outfit bloggers and magazines. I hope it doesn’t sound too pompous to share that I also find inspiration from my own, past outfits. Today’s outfit was inspired by one I wore last July. I’m wearing the same vest and same belt over a different jersey dress.

Vest, Julie’s Closet, Belt, thrift. Dress, London Times (handed down and shortened). Necklace, vintage. Pumps, Two Lips.



Sometimes, when I’m stuck for outfit ideas, I’ll look at what I was wearing a year (or two or three) ago. It isn’t always inspiring, but usually entertaining. Here’s what I was wearing on this date in 2009, 2008, and 2007.


I also find it interesting to reflect on my incredible closet rotation. I no longer have the vest or shoes in the second picture or the skirt or shirt in the third picture. And when that third picture was taken (2007), I didn't own anything that I'm wearing today.

Fighting with Myself

I reached for a safe blouse and skirt combination this morning. It bored me to tears, so I added a denim vest and, later, a hat.


Hat, Charlotte Russe. Vest, Urban Vibe. Blouse, Mossimo. Skirt, Worthington (thrifted). Shoes, Linea Paolo. Cuff, Pangaea. Bag, Franco Sarto.

Sometimes I think I’m trying too hard to be interesting. Should I have left the outfit alone* or was the vest a good addition?


*I certainly would have won a camisole underneath if I hadn’t had the vest over the blouse.

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I like this outfit better...

without the vest with the vest

Much Acclaim

Beefy and I attended the Acclaim Awards last night. The program recognizes theater in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. We attended to cheer on the winners of the 2010 Trailblazer award, but I found that I knew many of the attendees and awardees.


Dress, vintage. Jacket, Adrianna Papell. Tights, Apostrophe. Shoes, BCBGeneration. Necklace, vintage and thrifted.


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

This is probably my favorite cocktail dress. It was a gift from one of the theater groups I work with. It is from the early 80’s, but designed like a dress of a much older vintage. I’ve worn it twice before, to weddings:


Sorry about the coat in the first picture – that wedding was COLD!

Cool Water

We seem to have leapt into summer. It’s suddenly hot and humid. I dressed in watery tones to keep myself mentally cool.


Sweater, Moda International. Dress, vintage, swapped, and shortened. Belt, Cappel’s. Shoes, Colin Stuart. Bag, No Boundaries. Bracelets, Phai’s House of Jade. Earrings, Girlshop.

I’m wearing my shelly pearl bracelets to complete the under-the-sea theme.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Obey

Shepard Fairey has put up a number of controversial murals in the Cincinnati area, as a part of his installation at the Contemporary Arts Center. This mural, on Whetsel, near Madison, is the most recent. A group of offended residents threatened to deface the mural on Saturday evening, but it was still intact when we left our 8 pm performance.


Vest, borrowed from New Gate. Belt, thrifted. Dress, Body Central. Bag, Target. Earrings, Pangaea. Boots, Blowfish.

Honestly, I don’t know what is so offensive about the mural.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Kasmira Everyday

When I was first introduced to Kendi’s blog, I kind of hated her. Not only is she tall, thin, pretty, young, and stylish, but she’s funny too. It just isn’t fair.

I read over a hundred style blogs and the green-eyed monster often rears its ugly head. There’s plenty to be jealous of: clothes I can’t afford, fabulous locations, better cameras, incredible hair. But I’d trade it all to make people laugh.


Tunic (worn as a shirt), Wet Seal. Skirt, Herman Geist (thrifted and shortened). Shoes, Nine West. Necklace, The Mustard Seed. Bag, Massini. Sunnies, Girl Props.



I might not be funny, but I thought this outfit was sort of like one Kendi would wear. And Beefy did a good job of making me look tall.


Photos by Beefy Muchacho