Twenty Nine Knuts to a Sickle

This is a backlogged outfit that I wore early last week. I liked how the belt really pulled the outfit together, from defining the waist to balancing the dark legs and feet. As we all have seen, time and time again, I am a chronic belter. What about you guys? To belt or not to belt?


Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Tights: Target
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
Shirt: Loft via Plato's Closet
Cardigan: Unknown via Goodwill
Belt: Unknown via Goodwill

Ten Fingers

The one part of my blog I have been trying to improve has been the photography. I have been scouting out new locations to no avail--my requirements were strict and exacting! I finally decided to try out this location. It is half way between work and home, so I can stop by to take photos after work, it is easily accessible, and it is filled with grass, trees and various woodland critters (what, it was on my list!).

Today was a windy day--I think I am holding my scarf to prevent it from flying away in almost all of the photos! I ended up leaving work early today and this is my break before I start at-home work. (the benefit for doing my at-home work right now is that I can take my pain pills, since I won't be driving anywhere! heehee)

Where do you take your blog photos at? Do you have any tips for finding a great location? Or do you change locations frequently?

On a more superficial note, what do you think about these tights? I like that they're a break from burgundy...but I wish they were a little more forest green and a little less bright blue!








I love my watch!

Cardigan: Unknown via Goodwill donation pile
Shirt: The Loft via Plato's Closet
Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Boots: Capelli via Goodwill
Coat: Jenifer via France
Scarf: Self-made (this is fast becoming my favorite snuggly scarf!)

Four Ways To Wear Episode 13: Orange Tweed Skirt

Now, don't worry--I haven't breached my 30 for 30 No(shopping)vember! However, in the spirit of working within my wardrobe, I decided to do a bit of sewing to turn a skirt I don't wear very much into one that fits my wardrobe better. This is not one of my thirty items, so you won't see this skirt again on my blog until December, but I decided to do a Four Ways To Wear episode amid my thirty remix challenge! (If I am not making much sense, it is because I am hopped up on strong pain killers--sorry!)

If you want to see the before, I wore it here. I enjoyed the color and the tweedy material, but the length was a bit too long, the lining was coming undone, and it felt a bit boxy to me. So I snipped, pinned, and sewed, and here it is! (If you were wondering, this skirt was the result of the inspiration from Orchid Grey--I love the silhouette of her skirt in that picture!)

The Candidate: An altered orange tweed skirt.

The Goal: A cute, professional skirt that will add a fun color twist to some of my basic outfits.

The Results:


Skirt: Vintage via Goodwill, altered by me
Sweater: Unknown via Goodwill donation pile
Shirt: Loft via Plato's Closet
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Boots: Steve Madden
Belt: Unknown via Goodwill


Skirt: Vintage via Goodwill, altered by me
Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Long sleeved shirt: Kiabi via France
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


Skirt: Vintage via Goodwill, altered by me
Sweater: Goodwill find, altered by me
Shirt: Kiabi via France
Necklace: Vintage via Goodwill Outlet
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Merona, gift


Skirt: Vintage via Goodwill, altered by me
Long sleeved shirt: Kiabi via France
Cowl-necked sweaterdress (worn as shirt): Rhapsody via Ross
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Giusti via Goodwill

The Verdict: I like this silhouette and shape much better than before. I'm still not enamored with the color--is it too much of a blue-hued orange? I think that might be it. However, hopefully I will get more wear out of it this way than I did before (when I wore it once in the past six months!).

Do you alter your clothing at all, or even do any of your own alterations? What do you think about the alterations that I did--successful or meh? Finally, do you agree with me about the color being not quite right, or am I too drugged up on pain meds to accurately judge the skirt? ;)

A Casual Ballerina

Today was a relaxed day at work, especially compared to how busy is has been recently. I wanted an outfit that was a bit more fun, so I built this outfit around my new, full, swooshy skirt!


Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Shirt: The Loft via Plato's Closet
Scarf: I bought it at a street market in Ukraine
Tights: Target
Shoes: Naturalizer
Sweater: Unknown via Goodwill donation pile
Belt: Unkown via Goodwill

What do you wear when you want a fun outfit? Do you dress differently when you know you have a stressful day ahead of you?

Lazy Day Style

Work work work. I feel that I've worn some variation of this outfit frequently as of late--I am just in love with this shirt (what Mr. P lovingly refers to as my 'old lady shirt that somehow looks good') and this gray cardigan has been my ultimate go-to.


Cardigan: Unknown, free from a friend's Goodwill donation pile
Shirt: Loft, via Plato's Closet
Jeans: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer

Day The First

First day at the new job! I'm working in a school, but there are no students this week (we are just going to meetings, setting up, etc) so I can be a bit casual. This is what I wore on my first day. I was going for professional, yet creative, young but very mature, an individual but also a team player. Apparently I have high expectations for the verboseness of my outfits...



Shirt: The Loft via Plato's
Sweater: Unknown, free
Necklace: Spotted Moth, gift
Jeans: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Naturalizer
Scarf: Gift

Four Ways To Wear Episode 5: Black Poncho and Cream Sweater

This episode is a Full Night Event (remember those, back when the CW was the WB?). A twofer, if you don't mind.

Part I: The Case of the Black Lace Poncho

The Candidate: A black lace poncho

The Goal: A new type of layering piece, something fun and unexpected

The Results:


Poncho: Bisoux Bisoux via Goodwill
Shirt: Gap via Goodwill
Jeans: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: Unknown from France


Poncho: Bisoux Bisoux via Goodwill
Dress: Ross
Tights: Hue via Plato's

I'm stopping at two. This poncho does not fit in with my wardrobe (Is it the lace? Is it the fact that it looks cold weather, but is not warm? Is it the unusual shape?) and it was a stretch for me to make these outfits, much less two more.

The Verdict: Thumbs down. Return it!

Part II: The Case of the Wool Cream Sweater

The Candidate: A wool cream sweater, Banana Republic.

The Goal: A light-colored neutral warm sweater.

The Results:


Sweater: Banana Republic via Goodwill
Dress: Ross
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Shoes: Naturalizer


Sweater: Banana Republic via Goodwill
Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Shirt (you can see the tip of one sleeve, haha): The Loft via Plato's
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Boots: Steve Madden

Aaaand I stopped again at two. This time, it was definitely the result of several extremely unflattering photos--usually I get quite a few not-very-pretty ones, but rarely to this degree! It was the sweater! Added in that it felt a bit too big, loose cut notwithstanding, and the cropped sleeves denied me the warmth I was seeking in a wool sweater...it got cut.

The Verdict: No-go. But a return means more money in my pocket!

Paisley It's Cold Inside

When it's warm outside, that means that the AC is cranked up inside. Therefore sunny skies and warm temperatures equals sweater and long pants for my work outfit!



Sweater: Unknown brand, free from a donation pile (literally, there is a tag for the brand name...but it is blank. Very curious.)
Shirt: The Loft via Plato's Closet
Cami: Shimera
Pants: Unknown
Shoes: Naturalizer

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.

Opposites Attract?

This is an example of how the exact same outfit can work for the summer (on the left, with bare legs and flats) and for the winter (on the right, with my new kickass tights and heels). This skirt is pushing shortness for school, so I would never wear it with bare legs and heels in a school setting. However, with the darkness of the tights, the fun heels add a nice pop! Outerwear is the only other thing to change between these two outfits. This shirt is a new one I got in my recent shopping trip--it is Ann Taylor Loft from Plato's Closet, and while on first glance it appeared to be an old lady shirt, on second I was liking it, and after trying it on with my wardrobe I *love* it! The background is creme (neutral!), and the dominant colors in the pattern are cranberry and teal (my primary and secondary colors in my wardrobe). It goes with so many things in my closet.
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft via Plato's Closet
Skirt: Nordstrom via St. Vincent Thrift
Gray Shoes: Unknown brand, from La Halle de Chaussures in France
Tan Shoes: Covington via Goodwill
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet (new)