For the love of oxfords!

I've taken my restless surfing of Modcloth even further...to Etsy! I love surfing Etsy, but so much time can be lost in it's endless archives...

My latest love are these vintage leather shoes, for sale on Etsy. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately, given my No-Buy status), they are a half size too small for me. Oh well!
























I am reading an interesting book on Speed Chic and the ever-increasing rate of fashion. It talks about how personal style is really falling to the wayside as people scramble to keep up with the trends, instead of spending time to discover their personal look. This has reinforced, more than ever, my desire to purchase most of my items either second hand or at alternative fashion websites that are a bit out of the mainstream (like Modcloth, my love!).

(Only A Bit) Behind the Times

I was humming along to myself (as I am wont to do, especially when mindlessly surfing the net), feeling rather proud of my no-spending in August so far. 'I haven't even been to a store to test temptation!' I gleefully proclaimed. I was feeling a bit antsy...surfing Modcloth obsessively, multiple times a day...when I glanced at the clock on my computer (please note, this was about three minutes ago.) I stopped. I stared. 'Can it really be only August NINTH?! But it feels like I haven't gone shopping in forever!' Yes, I might have a problem...

In good news, I'm hoping that my item and money restrictions will reduce the items bought and money spent while not necessarily restricting my shopping time, which is what I really enjoy anyways.






















Latest love at Modcloth...

Wardrobe Count-Up Part 2

I wanted to do another count-up of my wardrobe to see how it has progressed in the past few months, compared to my last count-up.

Pants: 6 total (compared to 7 total last count-up)
--Jeans: 2 (1 pair less)
--Cords: 1
--Cargo: 1
--Slacks: 2

Shorts: 1 (2 pairs less)

Sweatshirts: 2

Coats: 8 (3 more. How did this happen? I bought one. Perhaps this is a counting error...oops...)

Blazers: 4 (1 more. My houndstooth one!)

Work-appropriate long sleeved shirts: 7 (2 less.)

Casual long-sleeved shirts: 5

Work-appropriate short-sleeved shirts: 15

Casual short sleeved shirts: 10 (1 more.)

Camis: 4 (hard to compare, since my last category included 'layering shirts' as well. I got rid of a ton of racerback tanks I got for free, and bought two camis that I AM IN LOVE WITH OMG I wear them all the time.)

Work-appropriate skirts: 7 (up from 4 skirts at last count? Hmm...I think I bought one skirt. Another counting error?)

Casual skirts: 6 (down from 10. Perhaps my qualifications for 'work-appropriate' have become lax? I didn't think I had gotten rid of 4...well, the total number of skirts had been fourteen, and now is fifteen, which makes sense because I bought one skirt.)

Sweaters/Cardigans: 6 (down from 9)

Work-appropriate dresses: 5 (down from 8. I think my restrictions became more stringent here, lol)

Casual dresses: 8 (down from 13, woohoo!)

Formal dresses: 2 (down from 3)

So at least my overall count has gone down. Good lord, that brings my total number of items to 91, not including shoes, accessories, or underthings (even not including tights or leggings!). That is crazy! Last time my overall count was 111 items, so I am down TWENTY ITEMS OMG. Even with all my recent shopping! Alright, so the goal is now to keep purging, but be very selective with what comes in! I think it will be easier to purge once I start teaching, as then I will have a better idea of what is appropriate for work and what it too formal, too casual, too 'stereotypical teacher-y'

New Month Resolution

I was reading a very interesting book on French culture and the word that jumped out at me was deliberate. French women are very deliberate with what they wear, what they buy, how they look, and I very much admire that aspect. I want to become more deliberate with what I buy and what is in my wardrobe, instead of continuing to repeat my 'buy, purge, repeat' cycle that I have been in for the past few years. I tried doing that recently, but it wasn't as successful as it could have been, especially given my recent propensity to continue purging my closet, even of items I have recently purchased. (Really, what is up with that?)


















So I am going to try an experiment. I am still on a No-Buy for this month, thank you very much, but for future months I am going to limit both the amount of money I have to spend and the number of items I can purchase. I was thinking of a maximum budget of 100$ per month, with a maximum number of items I can buy at five per month. Of course, I can do less of either one, but I will let the budget roll over from one month to the next in case I find something fabulous that I want to save up for. I think (hope!) that having a budget will really make me reflect on the item I am bringing into my wardrobe, and having an item number will make me consider if the item is worth using up one of my 'items.' This will hopefully prevent my ever-present case of 'but it was so cheap I had to buy it!' syndrome. After a few months I will evaluate both the number of items and the budget to see how effective they are. I am also including accessories and makeup in the item and budget count, in addition to clothing.

I think part of it is that since I am still young, I am bouncing around different styles quickly and my wardrobe is fluctuating to accommodate these changes. I would love to have a small wardrobe of clothing that I love, that all goes together, that I am satisfied with, but my tastes are changing so often that it is hard to do that right now. I think I am narrowing down on my preferred style (for now) but I have to try a lot of different looks to figure out which one is me.

Alright, so after August is over, I'll try this experiment. The only big item I have left to really buy or make for the upcoming school year is a denim pencil skirt, so that will be my September goal!

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

To make a sarong story short...

Today is quite warm, with nothing better than throwing on a sarong and a breezy white top for a day of running around!





Top: Old Navy
Cami: Shimera
Sarong: Gift
Sandals: Curfew via Goodwill

Mirror of Past Deeds

Much like my last No-Buy, I immediately feel compelled to organize and sort through my wardrobe. I've been constantly going through it this summer, culling out pieces that accumulated through University and tossing ones that no longer fit my style/body/needs. (By tossing out I, of course, mean selling to Plato's Closet or donating to Goodwill, my favorite places!) I am, however, now in a quandary. I want a slim wardrobe filled with perfect pieces. Good, let's shoot for perfection, shall we? However, as I have pulled out pieces from my wardrobe with increasing pickiness, I am wondering how far I should take purge.

Of course, I have the few sentimental pieces (Mr. P likes it, even though I loath it, so-and-so gave this to me not too long ago, so I can't toss it yet, etc) but I also have the pieces that I bought not incredibly long ago (i.e. within the last year and a half), that still fit me, that theoretically fit into my lifestyle/wardrobe, and yet I never wear.

Case in point--comfy Aerosole pink pumps. They fit my narrow heels, hallelujah! The only pumps to really fit nicely, with no inserts. The pink color is ok. Not great, by any means, but definitely could fall into an 'almost nude' color that might be able to work. However...when would I wear pumps? To teach? Certainly not. To work retail? Deeefinitely not. On my days off? I'm either in peep-toes or sneakers. So they have been worn once in the past four plus years. But should I keep them in case I need them at some indefinite point in the future? Or should I just toss them and deal with getting something comparable if I need something?

I also have several pairs of SUPER CUTE high heels that are slightly tight or uncomfortable, and can only be worn for a few hours at a time--but I always get compliments when I wear them!

Another item is a dress that I bought last summer and have worn once (and NOT felt pretty in). But it might work for teaching! And so it goes.

I think I'm talking myself over to the purge side, away from the keep side. At least it will make it more clear what I have (actually have, that I actually wear) and what I actually could use in my wardrobe. Except maybe the cute-but-slightly-too-small shoes. Those I might keep. For those occasions when you need cute high heels! (At least I wear them!)

I think this No-Buy will do me good. I was getting caught up in the buy-buy-buy and losing sight of my wardrobe goals.

Off to continue the detox of my wardrobe!