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 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

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

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

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