5 Career Outfits in 5 Days

Hello and welcome to my recap of this week's fashion choices! :)  My 5 Outfits in 5 Days challenge to myself went well, I think.  I forced myself to pull some things out of my closet that I hadn't worn for quite some time, but I also stuck with a lot of weekly staples in my work wardrobe as well.  Below is the rundown on each outfit; some items I've had so long I don't remember the brand or price.  Next time, I hope to have more clear photos; we used my phone for the pictures, so they turned out a little fuzzy.

Monday ~ The Power Suit

Let's face it, Monday is always the hardest day to get out of bed when you have to start your work week.  This week was no different, so I went with an outfit that was quick and didn't take too much thought.  I picked out one of my black suits, paired it with a new polyester blouse and black heel booties.  I accessorized with a purple and green cameo necklace.

Details:
Lane Bryant black slacks, size 18 (Salvation Army)
Lane Bryant black suit jacket, size 18 (Salvation Army)
Lane Bryant black & gold studded booties (Lane Bryant clearance $19.95)
Worthington striped blouse, size 2X (bought off friend $2.00)
Cameo necklace (custom-made for me by a friend at no cost)








 

Tuesday ~ Retro-Esque

 The second day, I sank deep into the back of my closet and stumbled across this lovely polka dot jacket.  I had a moment of "oh, I hope this still fits me!" apprehension, so I held my breath as I put it on...Voila!  It fit like a dream!  This belted scoopneck and cape style is so awesome on.  It's comfortable, stylish and honestly, I felt most like a put-together woman on this day of the challenge.  I paired the jacket with a purple polyester blouse and bright green scarf.

Details:
Just My Size purple blouse, size 2X (Goodwill)
Venezia polka dot jacket, size 18/20 (Goodwill)
Green Scarf (Flea Market)
Worthington dark blue trousers, size 18 (Goodwill)
Silver Bow Flats (gifted to me from mother)






 

Wednesday ~ A Pop of Color

The middle of the week found me searching for a different silhouette, so I went for a dress I had yet to go out of the house in.  This is the wrap dress I featured in my Dresses on a Dime post.  I chose a black knit cardigan and leopard print belt to go with it.  I usually have a strong stance against mixing prints and mixing black and brown, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it.  I thought it turned out well.  I topped the look off with footless tights, silver heart pendant necklace and beautiful teal pumps.

Details:
Merona black knit cardigan, size XL (Goodwill)
Print wrap dress, brand & size unknown (Salvation Army, no tag)
Lane Bryant leopard belt, size 14/16 (Lane Bryant clearance $4.95)
Hanes Just My Size footless tights, size 4 (Wal-Mart)
Spicy Brand teal pumps, size 10 (local thrift shop, $10)
Lia Sophia rhinestone heart necklace (hostess party gift)



 

Thursday ~ Greywash

 After Wednesday's color clash, I decided to stick neutral for Thursday.  However, in order to make the neutral ensemble pop, I accessorized with a silver charm necklace and waist belt for a little shine.  This was the most comfortable outfit of the week.  The jersey knit tee and sheer print jacket were light and breezy, perfect for the sunny weather we had.  I paired with black slacks and the silver bow flats from Tuesday's look.

 Details:
 Plush Brand grey knit tee, size 2X (Goodwill)
 Elementz Woman sheer jacket, size 2X (Salvation Army)
 Briggs black slacks (gifted by mother who found at Shopko closeout sale)
 Silver bow flats (gifted by mother)
 Lia Sophia silver charm necklace
 Black waist belt (thrift shop, can't remember which)

 

Friday ~ Jean Day

Fridays at work are casual jean days, so I always take advantage of that.  A favorite pair of jeans can make any woman feel like a rockstar.  I chose my favorite dark wash and paired them with a pinstripe suit jacket and skull scarf for a funky fresh feel.  Underneath is a polyester print blouse and hot pink tank for layering. The skull scarf is one of my favorite wardrobe items.  It's soft, fun and HUGE!

Details:
Lane Bryant dark wash jeans, size 18 (Goodwill)
Style & Co. Woman pinstriped jacket, size 18W (Salvation Army)
Hot Pink exercise tank (Wal-Mart, $1.00 January clearance rack)
Worthington print blouse, size 2X (Salvation Army)
Skull Scarf (Ross Dress for Less $8.99)
Black bow flats (Wal-Mart)






I hope you enjoyed this little personal challenge!  I had fun, and I hope you did, too.  If you have a favorite look or piece, let me know.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Much love,
-Heather

Outfit of the Night - Leopard Print Love

Greetings!  Today, I bring to you a short, but fun Outfit of the Night (OOTN) post.  Last Saturday night, my husband played his first ever "paying gig" for a local restaurant; we were stoked for him to have the opportunity to play his blues music for others to enjoy that night.  We had a blast!  However, this exciting show also gave me the opportunity to get a little dressy with a fun outfit.  Here's how it looked:

 

I apologize for the ghost white face; my extremely light complexion does not mix with a flash!  :)  

What I loved about this outfit was that it was a fun print that allowed for a pop of color and made me feel super sexy and confident!  The dress is a leopard print, knee-length piece from Old Navy (size 20) that I purchased off a friend for $2.00.  This dress has a drawstring tie at the waist that you can adjust for different amounts of definition based on your shape.  I thought that was a nice touch.  The red blazer is the one from Dress Barn (size 18, bought at Goodwill) featured in a previous OOTD post.  I accessorized the dress with a black cinch belt for added definition, and a purple and green cameo necklace that was made for me to wear on my wedding day last November.

I am also wearing black Hanes Just My Size footless tights from Wal-Mart.  The boots are a little hard to see, but they are six-inch, black ankle boots with a two-inch platform.  I LOVE these things!  They are way more comfortable than they look, and my calves get a workout in the process.

Underneath the dress, I wore the Spanx Simplicity Open-Bust Body Suit from Lane Bryant in black(size 2x) to help smooth out all the lumps and bumps.  I just recently purchased this shapewear because my trusty shapewear shorts (brand unknown because I've had them for at least 8 years) finally tore a hole in them from wearing them so much.  I have to say, I do like the body suit.  I probably wouldn't wear it all day, but it is comfortable enough for a night out.  I put it on around 3pm and when I took it off when I got home around 1am, I had a couple of tender spots on my shoulders from the straps, but nothing too harsh like other shapewear I've tried.  It is a bit pricy at $88, but if it lasts as long as my favorite shorts did, then I don't mind it.  It helps me to feel more confident in my appearance, knowing I have that smoothing quality underneath a dress.

Overall, this is probably my favorite dress now.  What do you think?

Much love,

-Heather

Outfit of the Day - 1/10/15

Happy Saturday!  Today, we had the privilege of witnessing a friend's wedding ceremony.  It revolved around a beautiful couple in a just as lovely setting.  It was a classy casual type of day, so I went with a dressed up jeans look.  

This outfit was super easy to put together and fun to wear.  I started with a pair of dark wash, Lane Bryant trouser jeans (featured in my first OOTD post).  Then I chose my new black and white halter top that I found on a Deb Stores summer clothing clearance rack this winter.  To add some color, I paired the top with a red blazer I found at Goodwill.  And of course, I went with my trusty high-waisted belt for added definition.

Lane Bryant Trouser Jeans - FREE (gifted from my mom, who found them at Goodwill)

Grey Peeptoe Pumps Brand Unknown - $0.69 (Salvation Army 69 cent color day)

Deb Stores Halter Top - $7.49 (50% off already marked down clearance price)

Dress Barn 3/4 Sleeve Red Blazer - $3.99 (Goodwill)

I chose simple accessories since the print on the top is quite loud and already had gold sequins on the neckline.  I wore my wedding ring set and a Lia Sophia rhinestone heart pendant necklace.

I haven't worn much makeup over the last couple of months, so I wanted to do a dramatic, full-coverage look today.  I started with a clean, smooth base by applying Hardy Candy's Sheer Envy Perfecting Primer.  I used Maybelline's FitMe! liquid foundation in 110; this stuff is amazing.  Hands down my all-time favorite foundation.  It's silky texture and dewy finish is wonderful for my dry skin.  I wouldn't recommend it for oily skin, but it's great for dry to combination skin types.  

I followed that up with Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser concealer for my dark circles underneath the eyes.  I also used this concealer in my T-zone (forehead, down the nose, cupid's bow and chin).  I applied CoverGirl's Professional Loose Mineral Powder in 105 and did some soft bronzing to sculpt out and add warmth to my pale skin with NYC's Color Wheel Mosaic Powder. 

For the eyes, I had this idea for a sunset color palette after all of the beautiful sunsets we've been having here during the cold weather temps.  I used NYX Walnut eyeshadow for the crease and two shades of purple from the Hardy Candy 2014 holiday gift sets I purchased after Christmas.  I used a shimmery, bright purple for the lid and then followed with a matte, pale purple to blend the browns and purples together.  I thought it made for a nice effect.

I lined my lid using NYX Black Bean jumbo pencil and went over the cream liner with a black eyeshadow from NYX's Sex Bomb Femme Fatale palette using a fine point pencil brush to set the liner.  My mascara is the CoverGirl Lash Knockout Volumizing Mascara from Drew Barrymore's FLOWER product line.  This is the first time I've used the mascara, and I have to say I'm not impressed.  It came in a FLOWER holiday gift set that I bought this Christmas, so I thought I should give it a try.  It gets the job done, but it doesn't have near the volumizing effect as my Colossal mascara that I am absolutely addicted to.  Maybe if I built it up with more coats of mascara I would like it better.  I'll keep trying it out.

The lipstick I wore faded off after a few hours of wear, but I chose Maybelline's Red Revival lipstick for the base red color and added a glossy finish with NYX Black Label lipstick in Rose.

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I hope you enjoyed my second OOTD post!  See you soon!

Much love,

-Heather

Dresses on a Dime

Hello and Happy New Year, Readers!  I hope you accomplish all that you desire to this new year. 

 I have battled and battled with new year's resolutions, and each year it is always the same "resolution to lose weight and look better."  And each year, my resolution is squandered by self-doubt and low self-esteem.

I can't do the exercises.

I can't learn to eat healthier.

I love oreos too much.

I hate running.

So on and so forth.

So this year, I decided on a new resolution that has absolutely nothing to do with shaming myself and everything to do with loving myself for exactly the way I am at this point in time.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to lose weight and look great in a smaller size.  But right now, this is me - a size 18 beautiful woman with goals and dreams. My resolution this year is to acknowledge that truth and learn to accept and love my body for just the way it is.  Once I accept and love?  Then I can truly begin my transformation both emotionally and physically. (I am also writing my first full-length novel this year!)

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So today, I bring you a topic and a fashion trend that has PLAGUED me for years and years.  I have been afraid of this style all of my life because I always felt like I was too big of a frame to wear it and flaunt it.  Well, newsflash!  Turns out I love them.

DRESSES!

I want to share with you some of the thrifted dresses I've found over the last year, and show you that you can look great for that special occasion without spending a fortune.  You can find great quality items for a fraction of department store prices, and no one will ever know the difference.  Check it out!

1. Chico's Size 3 Zebra Print Tank Dress - Goodwill ($4.99)

This dress is super comfortable and wearable for both special and casual occasions.  It's lightweight and flirty fun with the flouncy skirt.  I wear this to work with a black or solid colored cardigan and with the cropped, dark jean jacket below for weekend wear.  Add a high-waisted belt and some jewelry and you're ready to go.

2. Striped Print Wrap Dress, Brand & Size Unknown (no tag) - Goodwill ($2.50 1/2 off colored tag)

I would normally pass up a wrap dress because they usually just feel awkward on my body.  I feel like they sit uncomfortably on my figure, but I saw this color pattern and really liked it so I tried it on.  I'm still getting used to the feel of the way it wraps, but I do think it looks nice and is suitable for drinks after work or a nice dinner with my husband on the weekend.  And for two dollars, you just can't beat the price!

3. Igigi Size 18 Black & Gold Lace Sheath Dress - Goodwill ($4.99)

Can I just say - LOVE this dress!  It was originally priced for the Goodwill Boutique at $12.99, but was moved to the regular Goodwill store after it didn't sell, and I scored it for five bucks.  I think this dress has a simple, sexy vibe to it, and I feel confident just putting it on.  It is a back lace sheath over gold metallic material, and I just love how it glimmers when you move.  The classic draped neckline and over-sized sleeves make fore an elegant,  yet modern look.  Add a belt to cinch the waist, bangles on the wrists and a colorful pair of heels for a fun night on the town.  I think this is also a classy enough look to work great for weddings and other similar special occasions as well.  

4. Chico's Size 3 Flower Print Sheath Dress - Goodwill Boutique ($12.99)

I was really on the fence about this dress for two reasons: 1) it's shorter than I'm used to, coming up above the knee, and 2) it's a clingy dress with no give.  I don't usually wear dresses much shorter than knee length because I am not a fan of my chubby knees.  I also don't normally choose any type of clothing that is not a stretchy material.  Even my structured blazers are some blend of polyester with some give.  But I made an exception in the case because I personally think it looks amazing on.  I feel like a woman wearing this.  I know that probably sounds funny, seeing as the size of my chest clearly states I'm a woman, but I just feel like it shows off curves in the right places.  The diagonal print of the front is placed perfectly and the length really makes me look a few inches taller.  It's not as comfortable as my stretchy dresses, but it is definitely wearable.  I wear this with a suit jacket for work and a colorful scarf for a night out to dinner.  High-waisted belts are a must for me in a sheath style dress; it helps add a little definition for some shape.

(Say 'hello' to my three ferrets! Angus's white head in the first photo and Cooper & Malcolm in the second LOL.)

5. R&K Size 1X Reptilian Print Sheath Dress - JC Penney Liquidation Sale 

($6.90: 90% Off Original Price)

This dress wasn't a thrift store find, but it was a dirt cheap bargain that I had to include.  This is by far, my favorite dress to wear.  It's funky, fun and full of bright color.  I wore this to work with a cardigan or blazer, and then turned around and wore it on its own with accessories and a belt for my bachelorette party.  This dress is my kind of funky with an edgy print and my two favorite colors, green and purple.  I like to pair this number with my faux snakeskin platform booties and a couple of flashy wrist cuffs and bam!  Instant vixen!  ;)

So that's my secret for dresses on a dime.  If you like this post, please like and share my Facebook page!

Much love,

-Heather

Black Friday Deals for the Curvy Girl

It's that time of year again, the exciting (or dreadful, however you see it) shopping day known as Black Friday...or Brown Thursday even, for those of you that are hardcore shoppers that will be going out at 6pm tonight for all of the deals being offered.  I have looked through the ads this morning and have found the following deals that are worth note, in my opinion, for the curvier folks out there.

1. Lane Bryant - 50% Off Entire Store (11/27 - 11/30)
            This sale is definitely one I will be capitalizing on.  There are no limits and not one item in their entire stock that's regular price!  The best thing about this sale though, is that it is both in stores and online AND it is for the entire holiday weekend.  That means I can avoid the Thursday/Friday rush of people and go on Saturday or Sunday instead.  I will be using this sale to stock up on my intimates.  The majority of my bras come from LB because they are the best support I have found for my shape.  I am eyeing this leopard print plunge at the moment:

Smooth Boost Plunge w/Lace $22.00 (reg. $44.00)

2. Dress Barn - All Dresses $50 or less; All "Cashmerely" Sweaters $22.99; Jewelry/Accessories B3G1 (11/26 - 11/30)
            I personally think this is one of the not-so-awesome sales overall, but I do think I will check the store out just for the dresses.  If I can get a well-made, pretty dress for less than 50 bucks, I'd consider it.  Their sale is also all holiday weekend and it's both in-store and online. It's worth note that the shapewear line is in the B3G1 free deal, so if you're in need of shaper briefs, shorts or cami's, definitely check out their wares.

Zebra Print Dress $23.99 (reg. $54.00)

3. Old Navy - 50% Off Entire Store (Thanksgiving & Black Friday Only)

            This sale is in-store and online and is only for 11/27 & 11/28.  If you shop online, they also have a 15% off entire purchase coupon code on top of the sale.  I don't normally shop Old Navy, but I know they do carry a plus size range with some comfortable, cute pieces.  I love these wine colored boots myself.

Faux Suede Ankle Boots $19.97 (reg. $39.94)

4. Macy's - Variety of Sales Throughout Store (11/27 - 11/29)

            60% Off Coats, 40-50% Off Plus Size Clothing, Rampage Boots $19.99

5. Payless Shoe Source - Variety of Sales Throughout Store (11/26 - 11/30)

            Up to 50% Off Women's Boots, 2 for $25 Moccasins (11/27 & 11/28 Only), $16.99 York & Raven Boots, $9.99 Women's Slippers

6. Target - 40% Off Plus Size Clothing (11/27 - 11/29)

7. Ulta Beauty - Variety of Sales Throughout Store (11/27 - 11/29)

            $14.99 for 72 pc. Ulta Irresistible Beauty Collection Makeup (reg. $24.99), $10 Bare Minerals 2-3 pc. Kits (reg. $44), $10 Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara (reg. $20), $10 Smashbox On the Rocks Travel Makeup Brushes (limited edition)

8. Salvation Army - 20% Off Single Purchase Coupon (11/28 & 11/29)

            Salvation Army of course doesn't have normal sales outside of the 69 Cent Color sale, but hey, a coupon is a coupon when you're going anyway!  I'll be spending most of my shopping time at my two SA locations.

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Best of luck in your Black Friday adventures this year!  Be Safe and Warm!

And a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends out there.  May you be surrounded by loving arms and warm memories.

Much Love,

-Heather

Stuck in a Fashion Rut?

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a rut?  When it comes to fashion, and more specifically career fashion, I find it's not hard to.  During the work week, you get into a daily routine, and it never fails that you never have enough time in the mornings to devote to really seeking out a rockin' outfit for work.  You throw on "the usual" and call it a day.

For me, that "usual" is black slip on flats, black slacks, print polyester top and black suit jacket - every time.  Some days I'll mix it up and swap out the black for brown - whoopie!  Living life on the edge for sure!  But I find that I just don't have the energy a lot of mornings to really get passionate about my attire.

And then, when I go shopping, I find myself gravitating toward the same styles and color that I wear day-in and day-out.  I have found that if I don't buy "the usual" and start getting more comfortable with different looks, I'm more apt to put a different twist or variation on my daily suit.  Now, when I hit up the thrift stores and clearance racks, I focus on two things: Color and Cut.

Color:  First, I look for colors I don't normally gravitate toward.  I try out yellows, pinks and other pastels instead of the deep, dark purples, reds and blues that blend in with a black suit.  Let me tell you, yellow pops on black like you wouldn't believe!  So anyway, I buy the colors I wouldn't normally buy.

Cut: I think this is the most important thing when you're shopping, no matter what you're shopping for.  If the cut isn't right, it turns out being a crapshoot all around.  Tailored blazers are the love of my life; I have about 10 different blazers/suit jackets that are black, but all have different cuts that give each their own personality.  My problem is that you can only cut a blazer so many ways, and then you wind up buying the same cuts over and over again, hence the rut.  To get out of this rut, I keep an eye out for the cuts I like in blazers, but rather in a shirt.  Women's button ups are great for that suit structure and darting; Poncho style jackets are a nice, comfortable variation on the jacket as well.

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Now, to my reason for this post to begin with - I used these two key points today when out with my friend Kelly at the local Salvation Army.  Like all of us, she has been stuck in the so-called rut.  Kelly mainly gravitates toward neutral colors like black, grey and white.  She also feels comfortable in looser clothing that sometimes can lack the shape she needs to show off her beautiful frame.  So she asked me to head into the racks on my own, without her opinions on color and structure, and put a few outfits together.  Then she would try them on as a set rather than separates to help her get an idea of how to pair different types of clothing.

I happily dove into the racks, knowing exactly what I wanted to see her in.  I hit up the short-sleeved tops and found some great prints that had her neutral colors, but still had a little pop of color somewhere.  I also pulled tops that were solids like a beautiful light olive green one I found.  I then headed over to the blazers (you know, because I'm addicted to them!) to see if I could find anything I thought she might be open to trying.  

I spaced out the different tops I had found on the blazer rack and got to digging.  I chose to stick with her solid neutrals for the most part, but tried to find subtle uniqueness in them as well.  For example, I pulled a black knit poncho jacket and put a red printed top underneath.  I then pulled a turquoise colored suit jacket that matched a green print I found.  And then I pulled a darted, lightly pinstriped black blazer and put the olive green top with it.  Then I grabbed a couple colorful scarves and added those to what I had picked out.

I have to say, I am so proud of Kelly for her openness.  I had so much fun watching her come out of the dressing room in the different combinations, and she was pleasantly surprised by the different looks, I think.  She would up liking the pinstriped blazer (HALLELUJAH!), and ended up purchasing that as well as several of the printed tops and one scarf!  I was SO happy to see her smile when she came out of the dressing room each time, and I was happy to see her liking what I had picked out for her.

In the end, I was able to pull just a tiny bit of her personality out of the rut she feels like she's in for work, and I hope she uses that in the future to push herself to gravitate toward colors and styles she wouldn't normally buy.

Everyone deserves something different from "The Usual."

Much Love,

~Heather

Glam It Up for the Weekend!

With Monday being the Labor Day holiday tomorrow, today is my "second Saturday."  In order to celebrate, I thought I would glam it up a little bit and share my Outfit of the Day (OOTD) and Makeup of the Day (MOTD) with you!  Hope you like it!

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My outfit today was 90% thrift store & clearance items, and the rest was gifted:

Purple Striped T-Shirt/Size & Brand Unknown-No Tag (Goodwill $3.49)
Uproar Cropped Denim Jacket/Size XXL (Goodwill $3.99)
Lane Bryant Lightly Flared Jeans/Size 18 (Goodwill/Mother bought for me-FREE)
Lane Bryant Black Booties w/Gold Studded Heels/Size 10 ($19.99 clearance last winter)

Chunky Black/Silver Chain Necklace (Goodwill $3.99)
Silver Knotted Ring (Gift from Fiance/Price & Brand Unknown-FREE)
Lia Sophia Chain Bracelet Cuff (FREE Gift for hosting a Lia Sophia party)

TOTAL PRICE OF OUTFIT OF THE DAY: $31.46 (before tax)

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This cropped denim jacket is one of my favorite pieces currently in my closet.  It's fun and a little edgy with the zippers and black stitching details.  I wear this jacket all the time for casual Fridays at the office.  The jeans are to die for!  I love super long jeans for my short stature.  If I wear heels with them and let the hem brush the ground, it helps me feel taller!  I will need to wear a little higher heel next time to get these off the ground more, though.  I also like pairing chunky jewelry with edgy pieces.  I think they mesh well and show off a little of my personality at the same time.  A pop of bright color, like purple, is a fun way to jazz up a mostly denim outfit.  I also like to make sure I never pair two denim pieces that are the same wash color.  It ends up looking to matchy-matchy, so I try to mix it up whenever possible.

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I had to have a little fun with the hubby's guitar since he had it out for his own photo shoot today.  I can't play it, but it sure is fun to accessorize with!

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My makeup of the day consisted of a full face of products by Maybelline, Hard Candy, CoverGirl, NYX, E.L.F. and Wet 'N Wild.  I chose to go with browns and a little glitter shadow, black eyeshadow for eyeliner and two lipstick shades with a gloss over top.  NYX eyeshadows blend super easy for me, so I usually only stick with them for my eyes.  They are a brand you can get at your local drugstore or Target (and budget friendly, too!).  I used E.L.F.'s brow duo to fill in and shape my brows.  I don't like super strong, defined arch brows for me, so I keep it soft and with my natural brow shape.  I also chose to define my nose and cheekbones with an NYC bronzer compact to give my pale complexion color and a more sculpted face.  The hardest part for me is always the lips.  I can never get a shape I like without looking too caked on.  I still need more practice and better products in order to get the right shape and fullness without the products bleeding into my liplines.  I'll keep you posted as I find new products I like.  I used a Fergie Wet 'N Wild lipstick, NYX Black Rose lipstick and NYX pink gloss to get the color. 

I hope you enjoyed my first OOTD/MOTD post!  I enjoyed doing it, so I will most likely be posting many more that will include more thrift store finds.

Much Love,

~Heather

Twist & Shout: Scarves with Attitude

Scarves are a fun way to add a little spunk to your daily wardrobe.  They can be dressed up or down, going from special occasion to casual summer concert in seconds.  I like wearing scarves in simple knots for daily professional ensembles and in funky wraps and drapes for casual nights out.  My favorite scarves are probably the long, wide ones with fun patterns.  A larger scarf allows for more complex knots and looks instead of just your run-of-the-mill little patterned square.

My favorite scarf right now is the Alexander McQueen Chiffon Skull Scarf.  McQueen has a variety of designs, colors and sizes in this line.  Sadly, they retail at $200+, which means unless I win the lottery, I won't be buying one.  So I settled for a similar skull scarf from Ross Dress for Less that I bought for $8.99 that I love as well.  I buy the majority of my scarves from thrift stores.  You can often find vintage, interesting patterns and all different sizes for a great price.  

Scarves are easy to please in my opinion, because there's a style or design for everyone.  Loud patterns, soft patterns, fringed edges, quilting, long, wide, short, square - they come in almost any style you can think of.  If you want something that's office appropriate, perhaps choose a soft pinstripe pattern in neutral colors.  If you're looking for an edgy, going out look, lean towards a large, colorful pattern instead.  Personally, my favorite is something with fringe like this one pictured below.  It's a large houndstooth pattern that gets larger the further out to the fringed edges.  You can tie it in a normal wrap, but I think this triangle shape looks great here styled with a basic top and edgy, black jacket.  Her makeup and hair are icing on the cake for the edgy feel.  

To master the different options when styling your outfit with a scarf, I recommend scouring YouTube and Pinterest for ideas.  I found the tutorial below on Pinterest for the Allure knot.  This is probably my favorite knot because it adds volume and texture to an otherwise basic look.  I use this knot a lot for the office.

Here are a few more tutorials and photo inspiration I found on Pinterest for helping you choose the styles you like best.  With Fall on our doorstep, I will be pulling my scarves out much more often!

Feel free to follow me on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hfmoor2/fashion-likes/

Grace Kelly

Audrey Hepburn

Vintage Elegance: Accessories with Interest

Collage made at www.photovisi.com

One of the most prevalent aspects of fashion is the statement accessory.  Like I mentioned in my Professional Ensembles article, accessories can turn a neutral outfit into something fun and eye catching.  But what makes for an "interesting" accessory?  And how do you pair it with anything?  I feel that interesting can mean basically anything to anyone; we all have different tastes and attractions when it comes to style.  That's the beauty of having your own style!

For me, an interesting adornment is something that's bold and full of detail.  I look for color, sparkle and a metallic feel.  I like pieces that feel strong and standalone that I can wear by itself if I want to, and I won't look completely bare.  Wrist cuffs, large rings and necklaces with multiple strands are the pieces that I am attracted to most of the time when I'm out shopping.  I also like the idea of a brooch in certain cases; believe it or not, I have seen several brooches in recent outings, and I think they look fabulous.  A decent sized brooch with gemstones and vine detail (like the one pictured to the right) can offer a classy feel to an everyday professional look.  I actually was just gifted this piece by my grandmother yesterday.  She found a bag FULL of old jewelry that was simply beautiful.  This brooch actually has matching earrings, bracelet and necklace, but I'm not sure I'd wear them all at the same time.  It might be a little to matchy-matchy for me.  This gold gem-filled brooch is an accessory I would like to use to bind a solid, colored scarf together after draping it around my neck to glam it up a bit.

Interesting can also be something that shows off your personality.  For example, let's say you have a soft spot for the 80's; we all have that, right?  ...Maybe it's just me then.  Anyway, as most of us know, 80's fashion was popular for bright colors.  Put on some hot pink, chunky beads that double over around the neck.  Let's say you lean more towards the bohemian look.  Find one of those cute, leather-thronged headbands and wrap it into your hair for a casual weekend accessory.  There are so many ways to showcase your personality and likes.  My all-time favorite story is the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I've read all the books and watched all of the movies countless times.  What catches my eye while watching the movies is the silver, elegant jewelry of the elves.  The headdresses that the women wear take my breath away.  The leafy details in the circlet combined with the delicate silver chains that waterfall down their long locks of hair is just beautiful to me.  The detail in some of these pieces is astounding.  One thing I knew I had to have was the Evenstar Pendant (pictured left).  I bought it last year when I saw it displayed in a tent at an Irish Fest my fiance and I go to every year.  Wearing it is a way for me to display my love for the elegance of Elvish craftsmanship. [ - Nerd Alert! - ]

Like I mentioned earlier, a statement piece to me is something bold and full of detail.  And when I say bold, I mean BOLD!  I have two wrist cuffs that I love to wear because of their bold color and shine.  One is a silver metallic cuff with a large turquoise center and one flower on either side.  Just those three pieces alone made for a bold piece, however, the band itself has major detail as well.  It is a strong enough piece that I feel like I can wear just the cuff and my engagement ring, nothing else, and still have some bling.

The other bracelet/cuff I have is a gemstone lizard.  I found him at an antique store in Corbin, Kentucky.  I don't know who made it or how old it is, but I honestly did not care when I laid eyes on him.  I just knew I had to have him!  This is by far, the most amazing piece I have ever owned.  It is simply gorgeous in my opinion.  It's colorful, gold and metallic...and did I mention...a REPTILE.  The cuff seam is in the back and it splits open at the toes and tail to wrap around your wrist.  I cannot go anywhere without somebody noticing this one.  Several of the women who have commented on it to me have had mixed feelings about it; it's interesting, but it's a lizard.  I personally think the fact that it's a lizard is what makes it so cool.  But like I said, everybody has their own taste when it comes to style.  Reptiles just happen to be awesome in my book.

Collage made at www.photovisi.com

I hope you've enjoyed reading this article about statement accessories.  I think having pieces like these that you truly love and wear with pride is a way to tap into your inner fashionista.  When you gravitate towards a bold necklace, don't question whether it's too gaudy or too "weird."  If you love it, I say GO FOR IT! 

Much Love,

~Heather

Thrifty is My Middle Name

It's true - I'm addicted to thrift store shopping.  I can't get enough of digging through racks upon racks of old, used clothing...It's a rush for me to dig through an entire rack of stuff right out of the 80's to find that one gem that suits my style.  How can you go wrong with the price, anyway?  Ninety-nine percent of the time when someone asks me where I bought a piece of my outfit, I reply with "Goodwill, of course!"  I live for thrift store finds.

So without further ado, here are a few items I've found over the last several months that I feel are expressive pieces worth mentioning.  I will try to find these items online, if possible, so you can know where to purchase. :-)

The first I want to share with you is this pair of boots I found at The Salvation Army.  I went to both SA stores on President's Day weekend because everything was half off, no matter what color price tag was on it!  (For those of you who may not know, they pick a "color of the day," and any clothing item with that color tag will be half of the price marked.)

These beauties were marked $4.99, so I paid $2.50 for them.  A steal to say the least!  These boots are by Truffle in a size 9.  I found a couple different similar styles here and here.  Both are inexpensive and definitely worth checking in to.  These are comfortable to walk in, and I can wear them all day without any problems.  I like how the tops can be rolled down for a more relaxed look, but I prefer to lace them up all the way instead.  I also like that they were already broke in to a bit of a worn, creased look.  I think it helps with the rustic effect.  You'll notice there is a bit of a scuff on the left toe, but for $2.50 I wasn't going to complain!  I will just take a similar colored marker and color that bit in to make it much less noticeable.

My next thrift store steal are these gorgeous teal pumps by Spicy.  

I can't seem to find them online, or anything close to them in style for that matter, so I'm assuming they are probably discontinued.  They are a pair of faux snakeskin, stiletto pumps in a beautiful teal shade.  I would say they are probably between two and three inches in height.  I am a sucker for the pointed-toe style heels, so I was super excited to see these at a local thrift store for $9.99.  The snakeskin adds a nice textured feel, and the buckle gives them a little bit of a pop.  I like to wear these to work underneath a pair of floor length trousers so that the pointed toe peeps out underneath to show the color and silver buckle.  Wearing them like that with the pointed toes gives me a nice streamlined look, which I love.  I have to admit that they are uncomfortable if I'm on my feet for a long period of time, but they are tolerable for my daily desk job.  Quite a bit of weight will rest on the ball of your foot when standing in these, so I recommend purchasing a gel sole to slip inside styles like this for more practical wear.

The third "steal" I found was at The Goodwill.  I found a pair of bootcut Lane Bryant dark wash jeans for $4.99.  I am always ecstatic when I find Lane Bryant brand clothes at thrift stores because buying Lane Bryant in their own store is always way too expensive.  A regular price pair of jeans at LB runs around $60-$70. 

    

I really like this style of jean for three reasons: 1) the dark wash, 2) the whiskering at the hips and 3) the extra panel above the back pockets.  Dark wash is universally flattering on all body types, but especially among us thicker gals.  I also like that a dark wash can be dressed up with a nice blouse and blazer or dressed down with a fitted tee for a more casual look.  I have always loved the whiskered pattern on jeans; I think it gives them a fashionable look without being overbearing and full of holes.  The big reason I love this pair of jeans is the way they sit on the hips.  Because of the extra panel of fabric above the back pockets, they cover the entire rear without fear of showing more than I bargained for when I sit or bend down.  They have a fair amount of stretch in them as well, which helps with the comfort factor.  Shown here, they do look a little big in the back, but this was after I had worn them all day long so they relaxed quite a bit.  When I first put these on after a washing, they feel and fit amazing.  The fabric lays flat in the front, which is something I always look for in a good pair of jeans as well.  I don't like feeling like I'm carrying around a pouch...not very flattering!

The last item I want to talk about is this necklace I found at The Goodwill.

I have no clue who this piece is by, but I love the costume style chunkiness to it.  It's fun without being too gaudy.  I have been gravitating toward extra long necklaces lately because I like the idea of drawing the eye down to lengthen the neck area.  I think in this case the knotted beads intertwined with the chains gives it a unique interest.  I use this piece to give an otherwise stale outfit a personal flare.  This necklace is two of my favorite things in fashion - Black and Chains.  It's edgy and fun, and for a price of $3.99, I wasn't about to pass it up!

Well, that wraps up my first thrift store haul!  I have tons of other great items from thrift stores, so I'll make sure to include them in Outfit-of-the-Day posts in the future.

Much Love,

~Heather