Four Ways To Wear Episode 9: Watercolor Silk Shirt

Remember that truckload of Martin & Osa clothing I found at the Goodwill? Well, this shirt was also a purchase from said truckload. It's 100% silk, machine washable, 7$ and originally $120. Awesome-sauce, right?

The Candidate: Silk Martin & Osa shirt

The Goal: A fun, summer shirt that I can also layer to get use in the other seasons. Bonus points for work-appropriateness.

The Results:


My first thought--easy with jeans.
Shirt: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Jeans: Martin & Osa via Goodwill (it's like there's a trend somewhere...)
Shoes: Unkown, France


Second thought--the lower part actually has pockets, so it must be a tunic, right? Toss on some leggings, let's see how it looks!
Shirt: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Vest: F21
Leggings: Target
Shoes: Unknown, France


I wanted to try something a bit more relaxed...bring in faded denim!
Shirt: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Pants: AE via Plato's Closet
Sweater: The Limited via Goodwill
Shoes: Unknown, France


Now let's try something more teacher-y.
Shirt: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Sweater: Express via Goodwill Outlet
Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Shoes: Unknown, France

The Verdict: It was very close with this one. While I like some of the outfits (mainly the one with jeans), this shirt was just very difficult to style! The colors are close to my main colors, but not spot on--something I would forgive if the silhouette was more versatile, but it's hard. It is slightly too long for pants, too short for leggings, too casual for work and I'm just not feeling it. I really wanted to love this shirt--honestly, $7 for a $120 shirt with the tags attached!!! However, in the end it would just be $7 for a shirt I'm not in love with, which would take up space in my wardrobe and which I would have to lug around with me from move to move. *sob* My overwhelming joy with the purple Martin & Osa dress throws my lackluster reaction to this shirt into sharp relief. There will be other silk shirts, right? So back it goes, and $7 goes back into my wallet for other items that will mesh in my wardrobe even better. So--nope, out it goes. Next!

Ke$ha Said It Best: Blah!

This was another outfit that was less than successful. I think my brain is being fried by my new job...also, I usually get dressed while I'm half asleep and the world is still dark out. That could have something to do with it.



Boring, right? I think it would have been better with some punchy jewelry, a fun scarf (is it a surprise anymore?), maybe some bright tights. As it is, it's functional but not especially pretty, and definitely not memorable.

Skirt: Brass Plum via Goodwill (I think it's vintage BP)
Shirt: Deux via someone's Goodwill donation pile (freeeee!)
Cardigan: The Limited via Goodwill
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet (they are cranberry for a bit of color, not that you can tell in my crappy 'it's almost dark, hurry and get an outfit photo in!' picture)
Boots: Steve Madden

Four Ways To Wear Episode 2: Purple Embroidered Shirt

The Candidate: A deep grape silk and cotton blend loose fitting shirt from Lucky Brand (via the Goodwill, of course!)

The Goal: A cute work-appropriate shirt, something that will go with pants and skirts

The Results:


Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Pants: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer


The same outfit, but with a blazer by American Eagle via Plato's layered for a more formal, professional feel.




Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Sweater: The Limited via Goodwill
Skirt: Vintage, unknown brand, via Goodwill
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Aerosoles, gift




Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Long-sleeved shirt: unknown brand, from France
Skirt: Express, via Plato's Closet
Scarf: Gift
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden


Shirt: Lucky Brand via Goodwill
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's
Shoes: Naturalizer
Blazer: H&M (from six years ago, and I still wear it!)

Final Verdict: Success!

Double Feature: Brown Pencil Skirt

A new feature for this blog! With every new item I buy, I will show four ways to wear it, or four different outfits built around it. I already do this to some extent, but by documenting it I will have a record of what I was actually thinking when I bought that one blouse with the polka dots, or that sweater which was so weird I couldn't not buy it and of course it will work in my wardrobe. Yep. Or, in this case, a cute taupey-brown skirt that I decided was long enough for work and neutral enough for pretty much everything.





Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Sweater: One Clothing via Ross
Scarf: Garage Sale find!
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Boots: Steve Madden
















Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Shirt: Language Los Angeles via Plato's Closet
Sweater: The Limited via Goodwill
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Boots: Steve Madden
Necklace: Spotted Moth! (seriously, it goes with everything)














Ok, this is the exact same outfit as the last one, only with a scarf...but I liked it both ways! Don't worry, I will be uploading at least one more outfit with this skirt to make up for this moment of cheating...what can I say, I'm a rebel! Also, I was quickly losing my light...
















Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Shirt: Banana Republic via BR Outlet
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Boots: Steve Madden

Cleaning in High Heels? How 50s Housewife of me...

Not working=high heels (even though all I'm doing today is cleaning house and cooking!)




Sweater: The Limited via Plato's Closet
Dress: H&M via Plato's Closet
Tights: Target
Boots: Faded Glory via Goodwill
Belt: Target

Work work work

Work has pretty much taken over my life at this point...HOWEVER, with the dress code, I have been cultivating my 'professional-cute-yet-hip-and-appropriate-for-high-end-retail' LOOK! Here is what I am wearing today.


Shirt: Loft via Plato's Closet
Cami: F21
Sweater (omg I love this sweater): Limited via Goodwill (and in new condition, too! Just got this one last week)
Pants: Unknown, have had them since HS
Shoes: Champion via someone was throwing them out at the end of this last school year, and they are in awesome condition!

Hopefully I will be more on it with updating--my schedule is still super wonky, but I am getting into the swing of things. Work is fun, but very hectic!

Now, let's look at my goals:
Vitamins: check! yay.
Exercise: haven't been running in ages, but have done some random hiking, rock-climbing, and at work I am literally running around or speed walking for almost all of my 8hr shifts. I would say I am doing ok.


My shopping has been great so far, haven't spent too much money (although I am *this close* to placing another order at Fyrinnae...it's so hard when it's only 20$ for an amazing haul of goodness! I don't want to lie, I'll probably place my order later tonight. I don't really need any of it--but do I really need most of the stuff I buy?--but it would make me exceedingly happy. Plus, I'm finally ordering some every day wearable colors! Taupe eyeshadows! Neutral lipstain! Oh, plus some eyeshadows that are orange, chartreuse and...oh yes...more orange. BUT mostly everyday wearable! :] ) I am mostly waiting for my first payday, in 5 days (countdown? noooo...lol). I plan to buy a few bras (which I really do need to do soon), and to keep trawling the thrift shops for my list of teacher clothing.