daily duds: feeling blue

This past Saturday, Goodwill had their ‘half off everything’ sale and while I need to add a few things to my wardrobe, I didn’t go. I didn’t want to wade through hordes of shoppers (with Micah in tow), and I definitely didn’t want to be in the streets while it was raining cats and dogs. So instead of hitting the sales, I shopped my closet instead, which I’ve been doing a lot of lately. When I cleaned out my closet earlier this year, I stashed a lot of rarely-worn pieces in the back of my closet because I couldn’t bear to part with them just yet. Fortunately, one of the things I held on to was this zebra-print tie-neck blouse.





I’ve been playing around with the pieces in my closet and it’s been fun finding new life in old clothes. Today I played mixmaster and paired the blouse with a black and white plaid skirt and topped it off with a thin royal blue sweater.





I accessorized with a quilted black handbag, black pumps, and a royal blue ring.





[SKIRT: Body Central; BLOUSE: Thrifted (circa 2005); SWEATER: Walmart; SHOES: Charlotte Russe; HANDBAG: Express; RING: Gifted]

wardrobe envy: wendi reed ducky cardigan

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that navy blue and gold is one of my favorite color combinations (see Exhibit A and Exhibit B), so when I saw this Wendi Reed Ducky Cardigan, I gasped with delight (although, in retrospect, I may have been gasping in shock at the $565 price tag).



Not only does this sweater have my much-loved mix of blue and gold, but it also has a red and black plaid panel in the front. (It reminds me a bit of a lumberjack, but hey, maybe that’s part of the appeal.) I haven’t hit the lottery since my last case of wardrobe envy, so you won’t be seeing me in this cardigan in the near—or distant—future. But because I like a challenge (and because I really like this costly yet covet-worthy cardigan), I played around with a few pieces in my closet last night so you may see me in something, ahem, inspired by this sweater in the future…

daily duds: black and gray with a bit of chambray

Well, on Saturday we finally got the torrential downpour that we were supposed to get last Wednesday. And Thursday. And Friday. So instead of hitting up Goodwill's half-off sale, I stayed home and stuffed my face with pumpkin bread and cotton candy-flavored ice cream. (Don't judge me. I have a serious sweet tooth. Besides, I didn't eat them simultaneously. I alternated.) Anyway, today's high here in Dallas is 90 degrees. Ninety. As in nine zero. And even though I'm used to this fickle and erratic weather, all I can think is: What. The. Hell?!

So today's ensemble isn't necessarily made for 90 degree weather (nor is it made for the strong gusts of wind that came with today's fall heat wave), but I kind of don't care. I like it.





Today, I paired my faux leather skirt with a chambray top and a thin gray sweater. I like the combination of solid neutrals and the mix of textures. I think it's simplicity at its finest.





I added a pair of black lace-up heels and my red Brahmin bag. I accessorized with silver jewelry--a pair of self-made earrings and a wire ring.





[SKIRT: Forever 21; TOP: Thrifted; SWEATER: Forever 21; SHOES: Charlotte Russe; HANDBAG: Brahmin; EARRINGS: Self-made; RING: Queen Beauty Supply]

wardrobe recap: october 18-22, 2010

This week on words & wardrobes:

Monday: an outfit post featuring a fall-appropriate version of my green handkerchief skirt

Tuesday: a quick post showcasing my two new vintage handbags

Wednesday: an outfit post featuring what I wore when I headed "back to school"

Thursday: a little Dolce & Gabbana wardrobe envy and a two-for-one outfit post featuring my go-to rainy day ensembles

Friday: answering a reader's request for tips on layering clothes in cold weather

words of advice: layering

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from a reader asking for tips on layering. She lives in a cold climate and hasn’t quite gotten the hang of dressing in layers. Although it’s still somewhat warm here in Dallas, I’ve been experimenting with layers and plan to do a lot more when the temperatures begin to drop. Done right, layers can be aesthetically pleasing. Done wrong, your ensemble can end up with more lumps than a bowl of oatmeal.

Here are a few tips (with examples from previous posts) that I keep in mind when layering:

1. Use thin, lightweight fabrics. This is especially true for warmer months. (In colder weather, you can layer with heavier fabrics, but make sure that the bulky item--like a heavy coat--serves as the outer layer.) In the pictures below, I used thin fabrics to keep from overheating (it was summer…in Texas) and adding bulk.





2. Play with colors, patterns, and textures. When it comes to layering, contrast is the name of the game. For example, layering black on black won’t be as visually appealing as layering black on white. In the first picture below, I created contrast by wearing a thin, striped long-sleeved thermal-like shirt underneath a thicker, solid short-sleeved military top. In the second picture, the bright green ruffles stand out against the dark navy blue v-neck sweater.





3. Layer with outerwear. In colder climates, outerwear is a good way to layer. Hoodies, coats, and jackets can be used to create warm layers while still being fashionable. In the first picture below, I wore a hooded faux leather jacket over a thin blouse. In the second picture, I wore a short-sleeved faux leather jacket over a thin cami.





4. Wear heels to elongate your legs. Because layering can cause the illusion of shortened height, it can be tricky for shorter girls, so add heels to give yourself a few more inches and create a longer silhouette.





5. Check out the glossies. Fashion magazines can definitely offer up some inspiration when it comes to layering. I haven't been able to read the November issues yet, but I've skimmed them and seen lots of layering.





So tell me: Do you agree with my tips? Disagree? Got a tip to add to the list?

daily duds: fancy pants

So earlier in the week, the local meteorologists predicted it would rain yesterday. And today. And tomorrow. Right now, the meteorologists are oh for two—it’s been drier than the Sahara all week. As a matter of fact, it’s been absolutely gorgeous and sunny. All week. There hasn’t been a drop of rain in sight (but then again, this is Texas—the home of random and rapidly-changing weather), and I’m not complaining about the lack of precipitation. Now, for whatever reason, I tend to gravitate towards pants when it rains (as evidenced in this post), so you can guess what I’ve been rocking for the past two days.

Yesterday I wore a pair of dark olive pants with a red and white striped top. I accessorized with a brown gold-studded skinny belt, red earrings, gold bracelets, a ring, and brown lace-up shoes.









[TOP: Forever 21: PANTS: Ralph Lauren (Thrifted); SHOES: Charlotte Russe; HANDBAG: Coach (Vintage); EARRINGS: (I don’t remember); BRACELETS: Borrowed; BELT: Charlotte Russe; RING: Forever 21]

Today I wore a pair of wide-leg pants. Very wide. I’ve been having them for a while and I really like them, but after seeing pictures, I don’t know that they’re very flattering. Even with heels, they’re still very long on me and tend to create a pool of fabric at my feet. Hm. I accessorized with a pair of camel-colored ruffle shoes, my new vintage bag (is that an oxymoron?), a black braided skinny belt, and self-made leopard ring.









[TOP: Walmart; PANTS: Walmart; SHOES: Urban Original; BELT: Charlotte Russe; EARRINGS: Gold Beauty Supply; HANDBAG: Vintage (Thrifted); RING: Self-made]

but i want it: d&g polka dot blouse

Only in my wildest dreams would I ever be able to afford anything in Vogue's magazine spreads, but that doesn't keep me from thumbing through the pages for glimpses of haute couture. My eyes seem to always be drawn to pieces by Dolce & Gabbana, so when I saw this sweetly stunning blouse while browsing online, I wasn't surprised to see that it was designed by those brilliant minds.



Gorgeous color? Check. Polka dots? Check. Tie neck? Check. Black lace? Check. I mean, what's not to love about this? Besides the $518 price tag, that is. Sigh. If you need me, I'll be off somewhere cursing my lack of discretionary income.

daily duds: school daze

Last night was Open House at Micah's school; he showed me a lot of things that he's learned since school started. It was so freakin' cute. Before we headed to the school, I took pictures of what I wore.



The last time I wore this skirt was during the summer when I paired it with a white tank for a simple and casual look. Yesterday, I wore it with a striped tie-neck blouse.





I accessorized with pumps, a clutch, and a ring. Oh, and an unbelievably adorable 5-year-old.





[TOP: Thrifted; SKIRT: Forever 21; SHOES: Bakers; CLUTCH: Thrifted; RING: Gifted]

in handbag heaven

If you've been reading my blog, you know that my current wish list is comprised of a little chambray, a lot of perfume, and a few pairs of stunning but astronomically-priced pumps, among many other things. What I don't think I've mentioned is handbags. For the longest, I've coveted the Michael Kors Hamilton Chain Tote and the Coach Kristin Leather Satchel. Unfortunately, I doubt that those bags will make its way into my handbag collection anytime soon, and I'm okay with that seeing as how I just scored two GORGEOUS handbags for less than twenty bucks.

I purchased this beauty (for 7 freakin' bucks!) on Saturday during a trip to Casa View. I am absolutely in love with the color. And the shape. And the texture. And the size. Sigh.



I also just purchased this authentic Coach bag for $12. Yes, twelve dollars. It was originally priced at $20, but it was marked down to $12.



I'm definitely happy with my new bags and I'm sure you'll be seeing them on the blog. Often.

daily duds: hanky panky

This weekend was a busy one for me and I'm still trying to recuperate. Unfortunately, I have a laundry list of things to do today so I'll have to put off rest and relaxation for a bit longer. I did manage to snap a few shots today though:





The last time I wore this skirt was in the summer, so to make it fall-appropriate, I added a jacket, swapped out the sandals for the pumps, and switched up the accessories.





I'm all for buying clothes that are versatile can be worn in multiple seasons, so I think I'll get plenty of wear out of this skirt.





Here's the supporting cast:



[SKIRT: Goodwill; TANK: Walmart: JACKET: Forever 21; SHOES: Bakers; CLUTCH: Ross; BELT: Stein Mart; NECKLACE: Bakers; EARRINGS: Sam Moon; BRACELET: Forever 21; RING: Forever 21]

IN OTHER NEWS: I was interviewed by Cat over at The ABC's of College and my feature is now posted on her blog. Cat does a phenomenal job of providing information about college. I wish this blog existed when I was in school! Thanks Cat!

wardrobe recap: october 11-15, 2010

This week on words & wardrobes:

Monday: a budget-friendly duplication of Olivia Palermo's promo shot for season 2 of The City

Tuesday: a quick post about a covet-worthy ModCloth dress

Wednesday: an outfit post featuring navy blue, lime green, and tan (with a bit of leopard thrown in for good measure)

Thursday: an outfit post featuring my attempt to pull off Parisian chic

Friday: a peek at the items from my most recent thrift store haul

haul of fame: fall 2010 (part three)

As you can see from my first fall haul and my most recent fall haul, I'm stocking up for cooler weather. I think the temperatures will begin to drop next week, so hopefully my haul items will be making appearances on the blog soon. Even though the temperatures are still in the 80s, I recently picked up a few more thrifted threads to add to my fall wardrobe:

PLAID PANTS. I absolutely love the huge cuff on these pants. Plus, I like my pants long, and these are the perfect length. I could see myself wearing these with a trench.

CHAMBRAY TOP. I found this top in the boys section at Goodwill. I needed it for an outfit that I have in mind. Can you believe it was only a buck?!

TIE-NECK BLOUSE. I adore the puffy sleeves on this blouse. It's a Forever 21 top, but I found it at the thrift for $4!



PRINTED SKIRT. I love the different shades of brown in this skirt. I think I might pair this with a solid top and my leopard-print pumps.

[PANTS, CHAMBRAY TOP, and SKIRT: Goodwill; BLOUSE: Casa View Thrift]