ode to resale

dress: resale

sandals: Target

sunglasses: Walgreens

blazer: Target clearance

Resale shopping is the best! So many of my favorite articles of clothing have been unearthed from the depths of some resale clothing shop. This dress was like $12 or something ridiculous! It takes more patience than regular shopping and you also kind of have to have an eye for styles and fabrics that work for you but it's totally worth it. I will miss Crossroads but know it's just a matter of time before I find my resale mother-ship calling me home. 

I'm calling it Selfish Saturday

dress (as a skirt): JC Penny

blouse: Kohl's clearance

jacket: Nordstrom Rack

doe necklace: [un]possible cuts 

tights: JCrew

boots: Target

lipstick: Maybelline "Shocking Coral", Revlon "Cherries in the Snow" at the corners

I can proudly say that I did not participate in a any Black Friday or Cyber Monday madness. I could not say the same for the Saturday in between. In my head, I was avoiding the craziness but benefiting from the sales. And benefit I did! Are there people who can actually shop on the weekend after Thanksgiving and only buy gifts, not shop for themselves? If so, who are you and will you please teach me your self restraint? I bought lots of gifts but I shopped for myself too. How could I resist the holiday products at Lush? How could I resist 40% off at Old Navy and GAP?  I couldn't. If you hit the stores last weekend and only bought for others, you are a far, far better person than I.

wanderer

black pants: GAP outlet

top: Kohl's clearance

chambray: Kohl's Lauren Conrad

black blazer: super old

platforms: blowfish resale

cherry blossom necklace: [un]possible cuts

Somehow I caught myself with my eyes closed in just about every picture. This is from a couple weeks back on a Sunday in the city. I met a friend for brunch and had some time to kill before dance practice, so I wandered around. I sat in Huntington Park reading. Pretty sure I trespassed, taking these pictures outside the Pacific Union Club.  Getting lost in the city was one of my favorite things when I lived there so I was content to stroll up and down hills for a few hours. Thank god I've finally learned how to layer!

alleviating buyer's remorse

dress: Forever 21

blazer: super old

top: Sway

cherry blossom necklace: [un]possible cuts

heels: Aerosoles

 Stripes again. I can't believe how many ways I have found to wear this dress! When I bought it I was definitely NOT thinking, "This lavender, high-low, striped, sheer, low cut dress is going to be super versatile." I bought it thinking it was pretty and feeling like I shouldn't buy it because I would never wear it. So, when I bought it I immediately set out to prove myself wrong and to alleviate my guilt at buying such a frivolous article of clothing, that I didn't need. I think I wore it three days in a row that first week and styled it differently each time.

Do you have something hanging in your closet, unloved and rarely worn? Does it evoke buyer's remorse each time you push it aside to reach for the boring, safe blouse/t-shirt/tank you wear constantly? Pull that item out and take a risk. You'll be glad you did. 

Prep School

Bloggers Do It Better. Prep School. I was stumped when I first read about this one. All the fashion challenges I have done so far have not been much of a stretch...all white, floral, maxi dress. These are part of my style. However, prep school. I do not own a tie, I am not super preppy. Not my cup of tea.
That being said, I had so much fun with this! Since I don't have a tie I had to get creative. This vest has a thick ribbon tied around the shoulder. I took it off and viola, tie...kind of. I had all the pieces for this challenge. Blazer, vest, button up I just don't usually pair them together.

I really wanted to wear a skirt for this but this skirt is far too scandalous, length wise, to wear to school. Especially bare legged with a blazer-vest combo. Way to school-girl for a school teacher. :) So after the photos I had to switch to grey cords for school. I got the best comments from my students!!! I was told I looked like a general and a Pokemon trainer. Then I was asked why I was dressed for 80's day. Finally I was told I looked like an American. ????? But I guess the last one let me know the outfit fit the challenge. What is more stereotypically all American looking than prep school? What do you think?

blazer: crazy old
vest: Forever 21
button up: Target
skirt: Sway
underskirt: Target
wedges: Seychelle's Hawk wedges

I just realized that my collar is sticking up in ALL of these photos! Ha!

corsets are hot...literally

dress, top: anthro clearance
blazer: ???
shoes: Target

It has taken me until today to realize that the sun is now up long after I get home most days so hopefully this will be my last classroom photo shoot for a while. Take a good look my lovelies.
I so love Anthropologie but could never justify spending their outrageous prices. So I shop their clearance section exclusively. It's still a bit pricey but it's not going to make me have to dip into my savings. This dress I got last summer along with the top. I had never thought to wear them together. I waited a week to long to wear this outfit. I'm not going to lie, it got hot in these layers. Even taking the jacket off didn't offer much relief from the corseted, double layer, belt combo. Note to self: light and airy only from here on out

mean teacher

I found an online top knot/bun tutorial that actually worked for me! Big thank you to I believe in Unicorns It was Monday and I am starting with a new class who are a bit wild. So i decided to really play up my school teacher look ;) I think I succeeded since one kid told another that I was really mean and two of my colleagues commented on how teacher-ish I looked today. It's really fun to play with different looks. I, too often, fall into my cardigan, dress, tights rut. Gotta break free now and again.

skirt: j crew
top, coat: H&M
blazer: super ancient
tights: GAP
shoes: Target

Round 3 with the ballerina skirt

After being so excited about this skirt and failing miserably the first time I wore it, I have taken it as a challenge to make this skirt work. I wore it here and somewhat redeemed myself. Yesterday I wore it with these two cardigans (my new favorite thing) and my new black oxford wedges. I think this skirt shrinks each time I wash it. A few more trips thru the wash and it is not going to cover the necessary areas at all!!! Then I will have to retire it and I'll be sad :(

Another round of photos in the chair. It's only fair to disclose that I will never pass up the chance to take photos in this chair. Anytime I am home during the day and need to take outfit photos, I will be taking them in this chair. Just throwing that out there.

skirt: Target
Cardigans: Target
cami: Kohl's
tights: Kohl's
Shoes: Forever 21

After reading about PikaPika, japanese photo booth stickers, I finally went last week with my roommate and sister. Oh my goodness! It was awesome! We went back this weekend. We made a card for my friend and had way too much fun doing so :)



In the evening I got dressed up to attend my good friends' birthday dinner. My roommate and I took silly photos before we left the house.

Skirt: Old Navy clearance
top: GAP gift
blazer: old, can't remember
tights: Kohl's
shoes: Jeffery Campbell via Nordstrom Rack
necklace: gift