October Purchases

I did pretty well resisting the shopping bug, this month. All I bought were a few souvenirs at Disney and some boots.

Epcot

My favorite park to visit and my favorite for shopping!

1. Mexican woven earrings, $9.95
2. Moroccan belled bracelet, $18.75
3. Moroccan multi-colored tassel, $5.75
4. Moroccan olive tassel, $18.75 (I didn’t notice this much higher price until I examined my receipt. I wonder if one of my tassels was mismarked. The green one is slightly larger, but I don't think it is $13 larger!)


Nordstrom

5. Vince Camuto “Bilco” Boot, $159.90


October total: $213.10

Total spending for the year: $1401.46

With two months until the end of the year, I’m $200 over my yearly budget. Honestly, I don’t plan to do any shopping for myself (with the exception of a thrift store visit or two) until after the holidays. I hope to come in under $1500 for the year!

Closet Circulation - Chocolate Girl

This is my final outfit from October of five years ago.

In
Earrings, Girl Props - I have an abiding love for anything remotely Bollywood, so these earrings stay in rotation.

Out
Blazer, Apt 9 – swapped away when the style no longer suited me.
Skirt, Newport News – also swapped. I went through a period of ridding my closet of the mid-length skirts.
Shoes, Mossimo – I believe I donated these to the thrift store. They were always a bit too big and my feet would slide toward the ends, smashing my toes.
Silk tank, Target – this cami’s boxy fit never worked for me. I don’t remember its fate…either swapped or donated.

Hold
Faux pearls, Okinawa - these really should be moved to my swap set.
Scarf, Walmart - scarves don’t take up much room, so, even though I don’t wear it, the scarf has escaped past purges and lingers on.

No Halloween Humbug

On Halloween, you either have to wear a costume or orange and black. I considered wearing my Supergirl costume to work, but couldn’t face the day in a leotard and butt-skimming skirt. Even if I managed to convince my coworkers that it was appropriate, I’d have to deal with way too much flak on the bus and walking around campus after work. So, I wore a much tamer outfit (in orange and black, of course).


Vest, Daisy Fuentes (swap). Sweater, The Limited. Skirt, Chaus Sport (thrifted and overdyed). Tights, Danskin. Wedges, Steven by Steve Madden. Necklace, Macy’s. Bracelets, Hot Topic, Mixit, and Epcot Morocco. Bag, Vieta.

Woolens

On Saturday night, I remembered that the Tristate Antique Market was having a “make-up” day on Sunday. Normally, the market is closed by this time of the year, but a May show was cancelled so a late October date was added to the calendar. Beefy was game, so I pulled on my woolens and we headed to Indiana.


Cardigan, Love by Design. Sweater vest, McGregor (thrifted). Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Leggings, Danskin. Socks, Target. Gloves, Mossimo. Boots, Dan Post. Earrings, Julie’s Inspiration. Bag, vintage (from last year’s Tristate Antique Market!)

This is a summery dress, but with the right layering, I wasn't a bit cold...even in the shade.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Closet Circulation - Pearls and Bows

As you can see, I’ve always had a fondness for matchiness. Pink blouse + pink belt. Pearl belt + pearl necklace. Black lace trim on skirt + black mules.

Out
Bodysuit, Victoria’s Secret – down with snap crotches!
Mules, Nine West – I’m pretty sure I bought these when I still lived in Okinawa, so it would be a miracle if they were still around today.

Hold
Skirt, Victoria’s Secret - this skirt is one half of the interview suit I bought just before leaving the military. I rarely wear either half any more, and the style doesn’t really suit me, but I keep it around in case I have a suit emergency.
Faux pearls, Okinawa - these hang with my necklace collection, but haven’t been worn since August 2007.
“Pearl” belt, Target - no longer my style, so it’s in my swap set!

Bearfish

I’m a Bearfish. That’s the sort-of-made-up mascot of my Masters swim team. We swim at UC and it’s home to the Bearcats. So Bearfish made sense.

As I left swim practice today, I realized that I was dressed in UC’s colors: red and black. I felt more like a Bearfish than ever.


Sweater, Energie (thrifted). Flannel shirt, Mossimo (thrifted). Striped tunic, Urban Behavior (swap). Leggings, Reebok. Boots, Vince Camuto. Bag, vintage.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Jeans

It’s been a really long time since I wore jeans to work. They aren’t prohibited. In fact, many people wear them to the office on Fridays. I just haven’t been playing along. Until today.


Jackety thing, thrifted. Shirt, Merona (thrifted). Jeans, Express. Hat, Epcot Germany. Shoes, thrifted. Necklace, Serket Jewelry. Bag, D&G knockoff (thrifted). Tassels, Epcot Morocco.

The last time I wore jeans to work was February 19, 2010. The last time I wore this pair was January 29th of that year. I don’t know if I’m going to start making a habit of it.

Closet Circulation - Boring, but Warm

2006 and 2011 Kasmira agree; this outfit is boring. But 2011 Kasmira would have found a way to jazz this up. I’d prove it to you, except that most of the items are long gone.

In
Necklace, Newport News - this classic is still one of my favorites. Someone once left me a comment advising me to get rid of “that grandma necklace.” Little did they know that grandmothers are one of my style icons.

Out
Chenille sweater, INC – warm, but unflattering.
Flannel trousers, Express – also, warm, but unflattering.

Wide Angle

Always on the quest for better indoor outfit photos, I tried using the wide-angle lens, this morning. The focus isn’t as sharp as I’d like, under these conditions, so I don’t think I’ll use it again. I was amazed at how much wider the field of view was than with the 35 mm or stock lens. I had to crop out more of the mess and the cats kept getting in my shots.


Vest, Daisy Fuentes (swap). Dress, Lipstick. Tights, Urban Outfitters. Boots, Vince Camuto. Necklaces, vintage. Bag, Charming Charlie.

Closet Circulation - Travel Trousseau (Day 3)

I left Kansas City this day and headed back to Cincinnati and a rehearsal for Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge. I was a little overwhelmed with the long day. Little did I know that was only a preview of my hectic life to come.

In
Tweed blazer, The Limited - nice and warm for the fall!
Boots, Nine West - again.

Out
Suede skirt, Mossimo – see? I told you I wore this a lot!

Hold
Necklace, Target - I can’t remember the last time I wore it. (You can actually see the pendant here.)
Cami, Deep Los Angeles - this cami (and it’s pink twin) exposes far more boob than makes me comfortable, but it’s so pretty. I can’t quite let it go.

Now, I travel for work about once a month and juggle multiple personal priorities. When does life get simpler?

Plaidness Madness

This outfit might be a bit much for some, but I loved it! And, hey, two out of the three plaids matched one another, so it really isn’t as crazy as it first appears.


Blouse, Romeo + Juliet Couture. Dress, Bitten (shortened). Shoes, Charlotte Russe. Bag, D&G knock-off (thrifted). Tassels (on bag), Epcot Morocco. Studded cuff, Hot Topic. Rhinestone cuff, Birch Hill’s.

Closet Circulation - Travel Trousseau (Day 2)

Before I started traveling with my tripod, I had some really awkward outfit photos in hotel rooms. I was restricted to balancing the camera on tabletops, augmented with stacks of books. I had a terrible time getting my entire body in the shot.

In
Boots, Nine West - yup, those same boots
Beads, Claire’s - these still come in handy every now and again.

Out
Tank, NY & Co – too tight, buh-bye.
Suede skirt, Mossimo – this skirt cost me less than $30 and I certainly got my cost-per-wear out of it (mostly in the pre-blog days). As my tastes skewed towards shorter hemlines, I finally sent this skirt packing.

Hold
Cardigan, Victoria’s Secret – this sweater is currently in my swap pile! It’s a lovely fabrication (silk and cashmere), but I dislike the lack of structure.

Now, I either travel with the full-sized tripod (and DSLR) or a mini tripod (and the Canon Powershot). No more missing feet (or heads)!