Money in a Jar

In my efforts to save up for my pair of OMG Amazing Frye Boots, I have decided to use the infamous money-in-a-jar trick. Yes, I have indeed sunk that low. This will be coupled with my previous spending goal, of spending 100$ or less every month (on five items or less). All my extra money will roll right into this jar, my Frye Boots jar.

There is currently 60$ in the jar (birthday money, thanks mom!) and on September 1, 100$ will be going into the jar. THEN when I spend money on other, frivolous items it will be painfully obvious that the money is being taken out of my Frye Boots Fund (FBF).

The boots that I like will be around 350$ after tax if I buy them at Nordstroms, or just under 200$ if I find them online, so I'm guessing that this fund baby will be growing for a few months before I find the perfect boots for the perfect price. My guess is by the end of December or January the right amount of money will be there, but who knows--perhaps sooner, yes? (but perhaps not, especially if Fyrinnae keeps coming out with awesome colors I have to have! haha)

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!

Four Ways To Wear Episode 4: Safari Skirt

I found this cute skirt at Plato's Closet (originally from H&M) with the tags still attached! It's definitely not work appropriate, but I liked it enough to want to include it in my casual wardrobe (and prevent me from looking 'office-appropriate' all the time). I put on the skirt and immediately think safari, complete with wanting to wear square scarves around my neck, tweed, a hat and riding boots (obviously have never been on a safari. I've been to the zoo though, that counts, right?). Of course, Mr. P saw it and told me "it looks like you took a trench coat and cut it up to make a skirt." Thanks, Mr. P.

The Candidate: My safari/trench skirt.

The Goal: A cute casual piece that, because it is a neutral that is light colored (i.e. not black, gray or dark brown, my usuals) will coordinate with much of my wardrobe in a new twist.

The Results:


Sweater: Gap via Goodwill
Skirt: H&M via Plato's
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden


Sweater: Bogari via Goodwill
Scarf: Unknown, Goodwill
Skirt: H&M via Plato's
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden


Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Shirt: Tricot Jolie via Plato's
Skirt: H&M via Plato's
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden


This outfit reminded me most of my safari/outback idea when I saw the skirt.
Blazer: AE via Plato's
Scarf: Unknown via Goodwill
Skirt: H&M via Plato's
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden

AND a bonus outfit! What I wore to birthday dinner tonight (OMG we had authentic italian and I just about imploded it was so amazing...om nom nom)

Shirt: Tricot Jolie via Plato's
Skirt: H&M via Plato's
Tights: F21, gift
Boots: Steve Madden

The Verdict: Yay! I like it!

However...to come soon, a Four Ways To Wear that might not be as successful...stay tuned!

Lust-Have #2

A pair of Frye boots. Leather? Check. Comfy? Check. Ability to last twenty years? Check. The price tag is steep, but the price per wear would be SO low. I'm keeping my eyes peeled on ebay, because even with my price-per-wear reasoning I have problems justifying spending 350$ on one item. I will be saving up for these! Not a no-buy, but we'll call it a period of Buy-Lite, where I am trying to spend less to save up my 100$/month budget for a pair of these beauties (yay for my roll-over addendum on my new spending idea!). Besides, my wardrobe is looking great!




Women's Paige Loop Pull-On Boot




















Women's Melissa Button Knee-High Boot

Craving Neutral

Going out to dinner with family! After wearing a mini, bright tights and high heeled cowboy boots with fringe all day, I craved something a bit more toned down...give me neutrals, dark blues and flats!


Pants: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shirt: Language Los Angeles via Plato's Closet
Cardigan: Unknown, Free
Shoes: Naturalizer (love!)
Necklace: Spotted Moth (giveaway win!)

Make A Wish!

It's my birthday! Mr. P is working today, but we're going out for dinner tomorrow and having friends over on Sunday. Today I plan to ogle the new fall boots at Nordstroms, go to the Goodwill, and grab bubble tea! I'm excited. :)


Dress: Pour La Frime (free)
Sweater: Unknown brand (free)
Belt: Chicos via Goodwill
Tights: Hue via Plato's
Boots: Unknown brand, Goodwill
Necklace: Spotted Moth (giveaway)

PSA

I have just gone through and re-tagged everything with the items in the photos! If you want to see every outfit I have ever worn that featured the cream sweater from Express, just click on the tag in the label. Remix summary to the max!

















just to share!

Orange You Glad I'm Mad For Plaid?

(hehe, I couldn't resist!)

It's hot out today, and as it's probably one of the last days of summer I decided to pull out all the stops and wear my UBER summer dress!



Dress: Unkown brand, Goodwill
Shoes: Curfew, Goodwill

Four Ways To Wear Episode 3: Red Sweater

The Candidate: Red Sweater by the brand 22 (via the Rack)

The Goal: A comfy layering piece that I can wear both indoors and out

The Results:


Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Shirt: Language Los Angeles via Plato's Closet
Pants: The Merlot via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Merona, gift




Sweater: 22 via The Rack
Scarf: I made it out of a ridiculous poncho-type thing I found in the trash
Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Steve Madden


The same as before, just with the jacket done up differently and with a different scarf (this time via a garage sale).


Sweater: 22 via the Rack
Sweater Dress: from Ross
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Steve Madden

The Verdict: Another win! I love this sweater, especially the cozy sleeves!

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!

Yet Another Goal

Alright y'all, time for a new goal! For the fall, I want to focus on spending conscientiously, especially taking care to buy items of quality that I will want in my wardrobe for a long time. I also want to curb my spending but not necessarily my shopping--shopping is fun for me. It's relaxing, and the thrill of the chase is the best. Therefore, my new goal:

Starting September 1st, for a trial one month period (to be modified or continued as-is at the end of the month) I will be spending 100$ or less, buying 5 items or less, for the entire month. I fully expect to spend less than 100$, but in case I find a perfect pair of boots, or a wool winter coat that fits me amazingly (a needle in a ridiculously large haystack, to be sure), I want my wiggle-room. I can also roll money/items over from one month to the next (thus, why I might need to modify at the end of the month).

My wardrobe is shaping up nicely, and while there are still a few items I have my eye out for (warm cardigans, denim dark-wash high-waisted pencil skirt, full black knee-length skirt, cute scarves, brogues, boots--my neverending quest), I do not need to be adding volume to my wardrobe. I have quite enough pieces as is, made abundantly clear with my wardrobe count-up.

Now, for what is included in the items--all clothing, accessories, hair products and makeup (except Fyrinnae, because, let's face it--I love Fyrinnae, I rarely place an order, and when I do, it will be for the 20$ worth for free shipping, and the stuff is so cheap that that would wipe me out completely in items for the month. Therefore, one order at Fyrinnae=one item).

So...let the games begin!

Like Chasing a Unicorn...

Yesterday, I found the cutest pair of brogues--they were leather, they were comfy, they were the perfect color. HOWEVER. They were a half size too big. I tugged, I tightened the laces, I tried to rationalize...then I put them back, sadly and slowly, determined to find the perfect pair. Besides, it's the chase that I like, right? Right? Besides, eventually the half size too big would have bothered me--they would have flopped around, not been as comfy as I would have wanted, and it would have prevented me from continuing my quest to find the perfect pair.

I do think it's interesting how I will search for perfection in the certain items I have on my 'list,' such as with these brogues, or with flat boots, but with other items, such as 'pretty' shoes or impulse buys, I am much less discerning. For example, those high heeled cowboy boots with the fringe that I recently purchased? They are a bit snug on the right toes (my right foot is bigger than my left, just by a bit), but I decided that they would stretch out and it was fine. To be fair, they are leather, so they will stretch. However, I definitely can't wear them all day--the heel, plus the snugness, it would equate to an unhappy Plummy at the end of a workday.

I think my expectations for pretty shoes is lower, plus I knew that it was extremely unlikely that I would ever find anything similar that would be more comfortable (they are not bad, by far). I'm wondering if my expectations are too low for pretty shoes, or if I should just accept that my impulse buys are less-than-perfect. If it's any consolation, I think my bar is much higher now than it was before this evaluation of my personal style and what I want in my wardrobe.


Just about the perfect brogues (if in the right size, of course!)

Double Take

As promised, the last look for my brown skirt! Actually, two looks, although they are extremely similar (what can I say, I have a look I like!).



Skirt: Preview Collection via Goodwill
Leggings: Target
Shirt: PSYCH! It's a sweater dress. Yup. I almost like it better as a top, haha. It's Rhapsody via Ross.
Shoes: Naturalizer







The same, only with an actual shirt for the top--Tricot Jolie via Plato's.

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

Sparkle Sparkle

I am so excited! My giveaway from JenLovesKev of the Spotted Moth necklace finally arrived! It was wrapped up so cutely with soft brown tissue paper and a little bow on top...of course I tore the packing to shreds in my excitement, but it was worth it. ;) This necklace is wonderful, I"m so excited that I won it! It is the perfect length, the colors are so pretty and sparkly, and it has a decent weight to it (which I loooove). Most importantly, it looked great with what I was wearing today, so I put it on immediately (that's pretty much an insta-win for me. It also worked with a skirt I bought earlier...I might have a problem...). Thank you Jen and Spotted Moth for this lovely present!

What the Fringe?

Well, my No-Buy is over (it lasted until my out-of-town shopping trip with my mom and aunt, as per my initial condition--who would say no to an all-girls family shopping trip, anyways? haha) and I couldn't be more thrilled. It was hard this time! I only picked up a few items on my shopping trip, which was massively different than the end of my last No-Buy, so that's good.

I am just one week out from starting my new job in the teaching field, and my time is therefore taken up with errands, massive cooking (frozen soup, how I love you!) and cleaning.





Dress: Goodwill
Sweater: Unknown, free
Belt: Chico's via Goodwill
Boots: NEW! Unkown brand, but awesome suede cowboy boots with FRINGE! I got them at a Goodwill in the middle of nowhere and I looove them! I shelled out the extra money to get them resoled at my local shoe cobbler and it makes all the difference.











I really like this necklace! It was a present from my Grandma, a score from a garage sale--I got all my second-hand shopping skills from her! It is gold with a teeny tiny amethyst and I love it.


















My new boots! xoxo

Goodness Gracious!

I won the Spotted Moth Giveaway at jenloveskev!!! I am currently on vacation and cannot post any pictures (or even make this a long post) but suffice it to say that I am VERY EXCITED!!! Pictures, etc, to come soon!

Sweet Sassy Molassy

I am officially on my break between my two jobs! Retail job=over and school job=upcoming! To celebrate I...ran errands, babysat for a friend, and worked my other job. Sad, but true! Today was a scorcher, and I was biking, so I opted for a breezy skirt and a crisp button down (also for the yes-I-CAN-responsibly-care-for-your-children look). This skirt was recently on the chopping block in my latest closet purge, but I'm glad I kept it. It's not for every occasion, but it's a bit out of the ordinary and I enjoy it, and that's what matters, right?




Shirt: H&M via Goodwill
Camisole: Shimera from Nordstrom
Skirt: Selfmade
Belt: Chico's via Goodwill
Sandals: Curfew via Goodwill














So in the spirit of full confession, I bought a nail polish while I'm supposed to be on a No-Buy. In my defense...it was a beautiful OPI on half price? I have no defense. *hangs head in shame* But I don't feel too bad about it. The point of this No-Buy was to assess what I have, clothing-wise, and not spend a lot of money while I am between jobs, and I think that has been successful.















This does not fully demonstrate the awesomeness of this color. It is an antiqued gold shade, with soft magenta and green sparkle, and the important thing? It looks great on me!

Isn't Summer Gray-t?

My vitamin D deficiency is being resolved today with a hearty prescription of blue skies and abundant sun!




Dress: Unknown, Goodwill Outlet
Belt: Chicos via Goodwill (I LOVE this belt! It is leather, it is metal, it is shiny and it is COMPLETELY adjustable! I can wear it around my natural waist, around my hips, I could fit TWO people inside it. It is amazing.)
Leggings: Target
Shoes: Unknown from France

Sneaky Sneaky!

Mr. P is always ragging on me about the amount of clothing that I have--"Do you really need five pairs of jeans? Is it necessary to have so many pairs of shoes?" (Yes it is, thank you very much!) So today, with Mr. P safely ensconced in his job, I decided to do a wardrobe count up for him! I will compare it to my last wardrobe count-up. Let's see who is the pot and who is the kettle, hmm?



















(Mr. P looks nothing like this, and definitely would not consider himself a 'fashionable guy.' He's pretty oblivious to anything apparel- or fashion-related. Once he asked me who Chanel was. Yup.)

Mr. P's Wardrobe Count-Up

Pants: 13 pairs (yes, thirteen!)

Shorts: 2 pairs

Short Sleeved Shirts: 17

Long Sleeved Shirts: 16

Jackets (I included coats, suit jackets, rain jackets, everything): 14

Vests (both down and suit): 5

Sweatshirts: 3

Total articles of clothing: 70 flat.

BUT WAIT! I would like to note that Mr. P works in a hospital and wears a uniform to work, and therefore has no need for 'work-appropriate' clothing.

LET'S COMPARE! (cue evil cackle)

Because of different categories (for example, I have skirts and he does not), I have consolidated categories for comparison:

He has 15 bottoms (shorts, pants and skirts are included here)...I have 20 (9 are work appropriate).

He has 33 tops (long sleeved and short sleeved shirts)...I have 41 (22 are work appropriate, 4 are cami's, which I consider an undergarment anyways!).

He has 19 outerwear pieces (coats, jackets, vests, raincoats, sweatshirts, cardigans etc)...I have 20.

He has 0 dresses (surprise, haha)...I have 13 (5 are work appropriate).





















Final conclusion? I currently have 91 items of clothing compared to Mr. P's 70. That is 30% more than what Mr. P has. However, at least 40% of my wardrobe is work-appropriate (only counting work-appropriate clothing from tops and bottoms, and ruling out outerwear). That is not to say that I would not wear those items on a casual day, but only that I have collected those items for the purpose of wearing them to work.

Therefore I would say that even though my wardrobe is larger than Mr. P's, it is rather balanced due to the fact that I have to dress up for work. Ta-daaaah! Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.

(Although I will note that there is a vast difference in clothing turnover rate, plus the amount of time I spend cultivating my wardrobe compared to what little time he spends...details, details...)

The Stodgy Professor Jacket Strikes Again!

I had an unexpected day off from work today, so I mustered all my energy and got into real clothes, instead of staying in my oversized sweatshirt and ratty pajama pants all day. Why, you might ask? It turns out that I am more productive in real clothes...Go figure. Although that did not prevent me from spending ten hours procrastinating on two and a half hours of work I did have to do today! Oh well, at least I made it out of the house (look, I'm on the back porch!).








Jacket: American Eagle via Plato's Closet
Scarf: Unknown via Goodwill
Shirt: Gap via Plato's Closet
Jeans: Martin and Osa via Goodwill
Shoes: unknown from France