Boots and Alterations

Over the last few weeks I have been assessing the holes in my closet. I would have to say that I lack accessories and finishing pieces for the most part. I have some basics, not a ton, mind you but a few. Basically I need some of everything. So I have been on the hunt. 

Two weeks ago I was looking for boots. As they are part of my outfit that I am trying to piece together. And would you look at what I found!! Some totally cute boots for $17.00 at, of course, the Devil Store i.e. Fred Meyers. Here they are. Originally $50.00, they were on 60% off lowest marked clearance price. 

WOOO-to-the-WHOOO!!!

 They kinda scrunch down and look great with my jeans and my denim skirt and my brown skirt. I have also added two white basic shirts. Both are button downs as I have two tie-shirt types white ones already. I also found a denim jacket. All of these were either on uber clearance or at the second hand store. I found a new one called Dazzle and it has some great stuff, but I digress. I am just so excited to find boots that are cute, fit, and didn't cost me an arm and a couple of eye balls.

 

On another note. I have needed a new temple dress for quite some time and I finally found one that I really loved. I ordered the 2x and the first picture is of the dress straight out of the box. I should have gotten the size smaller. (That was a thrilling discovery.) Anyways, why I am saying  this is because alterations can be done to make things fit and look great. The second picture (where I am by my table) is the dress after I fixed it. I hemmed the sleeves and the skirt and took darts in the back to take out the excess under the arms and in the shoulders. Notice I don't look as droopy. I feel like I should look good even in the temple. In this dress I feel lovely. That is what it is all about. Be dang sexy and  feeling like a million bucks. And if a little hemming can help, well then so be it.

Operation No-Brainer Wardrobe week 2 { filling in the gaps part 2}

Alright...so yesterday we discussed the three categories of a wardrobe:

• Essentials
• Additions
• Finshers

And then we discussed what the essentials in my wardrobe might look like. Here is a list of what should comprise the additions on my wardrobe:

• Additional jackets / vests
• Sweaters
• A versatile dress
• Blouses made of non-knit materials
• Belts
• Stockings or tights
• Heals, another pair of boots, and possibly a pair of sneakers
• A non-denim pair of pants

Here is what I dreamed up that my additions might look like:

The 3rd category ( though not final, we do have a little sneaky category to discuss as well!) I think is probably the most fun, and that's the finishers! You really get to walk on your wild side a little when it comes to your finishers!

My Finishers

• Another great versatile dress
• Dressy shirts to layer
• An edgier pair of pants
• Versatile skirts

Here is a look at what my finishers might look like:

 See...more patterns to work with...and I am seriously gonna look to getting a pair of  'sailor' style pants in my wardrobe, cause they are so cute!!

Wanna take a look at the completed wardrobe?

Let me tell you, it was a lot of work putting all of that together, but I think visual aids are very helpful! I know it helps me when I can see things and not have to dream them up all on my own! I think it would be interesting if we took this sample wardrobe and just counted how many individual outfits we can each come up with! There are some really obvious pairings...and then I think there are some not so obvious ones. if you dare to take the challenge, count them up and then tell us your number in the comments! ( This isn't a part of this week's challenge, just for fun!)

Hayley did talk about one last category in our wardrobe, and it's accessories. Here is what I will plan to have as accessories in my wardrobe:

• A pair of stud earrings
• A pair silver hoop earrings
• Several pairs of versatile dangle earrings
• A simple necklace
• A statement chunky necklace or two
• Bracelets to my liking
• Varied array of cute belts
• Scarves (galore!!)

These are going to be those little finishing touches that really pull an outfit together! You can be as heavily or as minimally accessorized as you like, its all about you and about how comfortable you are in your own skin.


So now that we have discussed a capsule wardrobe in detail, here is your task for the week: Go through what is left of your closet and find what is missing. Then come back here and write about it! Tell us what categories are missing, why you think your wardrobe lacks certain items, and what you think you need to add to your wardrobe to make it complete!

Phew! This was a doosey of a week for me with posting...and I gotta tell you, I kind of wish I actually owned the wardrobe that I dreamed up! Oh well...I'm on my way at least! Looking forward to your guy's posts!!

Operation No-Brainer Wardrobe Week 2 {filling in the gaps part 1}

Alright...we've taken our time discussing personal style, and I think we're ready to move onto looking at the weak spots in our current closets.

I'd like you guys to start by going back and looking at the pictures she provides in the book for an example of a 'capsule' wardrobe. Hayley talks about how our wardrobes should consist of clothes that fit into the following 3 categories:

• Essentials
• Additions
• Finishers

 Here is what I assessed that I need in each individual category:

My Essentials:

• Basic tees- long and short sleeve
• camis- with and without lace
• basic cardigans
• a jacket I LOVE
• button down shirts ( that fit your personal style)
• 2 great pairs of jeans
• 2 NON jean pairs of pants
• a pair of versatile flats
• a pair of versatile boots

For a visual aid...here is what a look at the basics in my closet will hopefully look like:

Wardrobe furnished courtesy of Old Navy....pffffffff ha!!  I wish!! :)

In all honesty...this is my closets biggest gap. For some reason....and I have no idea why, I do not buy basics when I shop! The majority of the clothes I actually own fit into the next category; additions.


My Additions

• Additional jackets, and/or vests
• sweaters
• a versatile dress
• blouses made of non-knit material
• belts
• stockings or tights
•  heals and another pair of boots. Possibly a pair of sneakers
• a non-denim pair of pants

You'll get the snap shot and the rest of this discussion tomorrow!! Hope you're waiting with baited breath!!

ripped jeans and snake skin heels:)

OK here we go on my personal style:) Jenny hit my personal style on the nose so forgive me for repeating her.  I'm typically a blue jeans and t-shirt girl, I LOVE the ripped jeans look and recently bought my very first pair from American eagle for 20 dollars:) and they looked Great if I do say so myself;) I wont wear raggy or stained T's they most definitely need to cute and somewhat feminine. and yes! I do love love love plaid button up shirts! I dont really know why the lumberjack style appeals to me but it does and I love them! I guess theres a country girl hidden deep inside me;)  but like Jenny said when Sunday rolls around and its church time its a sexy pencil skirt with snake skin heels and a frilly top for this girl:) or obviously something else similar. I've noticed I like bold tops but like to keep it simple on the bottom, most of my skirts are solid black. I did however step out of that box and bought a dress on clearance at Down East Basics for $7.00 (I think that's my biggest steal on a sale item in a LONG time, very proud of myself for that find) Its Grey but has very bright pink floral print and has a belt that goes around the flattering part of my figure:) I wore it to church on Sunday and I felt great in it! I also love cardigans, I think I have owned at least one in every shade of the color spectrum;) OK not really but pretty close. I think they give a nice layered look which I've been told makes you look finished, like you tried to look nice:)
            I still am searching for my style in accessories, they are going to be new to my wardrobe but I'm very excited to start a collection of accessories. especially scarves, I've always loved that looked and was never bold enough to wear it. So last but not least the strongest part of my style is in my bags and shoes, they are usually pretty bold, especially my heels:) as Jenny can attest to!I have a weakness for expensive brand name purses but usually because in my own opinion they have the cutest styles, however if I am patient in my shopping at the mall stores I can find one I cant live without for about 20 to 30 bucks. but sometimes it takes controlling the urge to buy a new purse for weeks in search of that perfect one.  I have to fall in love with them or they arent worth my money so that being said when you see me in an outfit if you look at my bag and shoes I'm wearing be assured they are without a doubt the perfect statement of my personal style and are pieces of my wardrobe I cannot live without.
           Can I just throw out some things I'd love to improve about my personal style? I want to feel comfy in a casual skirt, cute flats and a cute T-shirt during the week (on my normal jeans and t-shirt days) I dont want to change my style just mix it up a bit:) I'm thinking it must be something along the same lines as what Jenny told me about accessories and that is that I just need to put it on and own it;) so that will be one thing I will be working on over the course of time.