Bonjour!

Hi everyone! Sometimes I will write my posts in both English and French--I have several friends who live in France, and when I translate for them sometimes I just post the entire translation up on the blog. Just to let you know, if you see random French paragraphs!

(A few years ago I lived in Besancon, in the eastern part of France, and I attended the University of Franche Comte.)

Outfit post to come later today!

Bonjour tout le monde! J’habitais en France il y a quelques années, mais maintenant ça fait longtemps que je parle français et j’ai peur que je vais perdre toute le lange ! Donc, de temps en temps je vais écriver en françai.

Et un peu d’information…je m’appelle Plummy, j’habite dans une grande ville aux Etats-Unis. Il y a quelques années, j’habitais en Besançon et je suivais des cours à l’Université de Franche Comté. J’ai un époux, M. P, et j’ai un petit chaton.

A bientôt !

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?

Technocolor Vision

I love the combination of my two new brightly colored items! I tend toward dark neutral-type colors, so this is a refreshing change for me.


Shirt: Dress by Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Skirt: Nordstrom Brand via Goodwill
Tights: Actually two layered tights for warmth, F21 and black Target tights
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill
Sweater: Unknown via Goodwill donation pile of a friend

Do you find yourself unconsciously straying toward one style, color or accessory? Do you try to correct it, or do you just run with it?

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!

Four Ways To Wear Episode 8: Orchid Silk Dress

Occasionally, the Goodwill by my house will get in clothing from stores that have recently gone out of business. In the case of yesterday, a shipment of clothing from Martin & Osa. Yes, you read that correctly. I bought two things, one of with was this 100% silk dress, machine washable (huge selling point!), with a drawstring waist, with the tags attached, originally ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS and I got it for FOUR DOLLARS. I was seriously bouncing off the ceiling. Fan-fucking-tastic. I love it!!! I actually saw it in the store before it went out of business, and I liked it, but it was waaaay too expensive for me, even on store closing clearance. And now it's miiiiine, all mine! *cackle*

The Candidate: My super mega-awesome Martin & Osa silk dress

The Goal: A breezy summer dress, but also something I can layer to make it appropriate for more than one season. Also, somehow to make it work-appropriate.

The Results:


Dress: Martin & Osa, via Goodwill!!!!
Necklace: Spotted Moth, giveaway prize
Shoes: Unknown, France


Dress: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Scarf: Goodwill (also a find on the same trip, but I won't do a Four Ways Episode for it--come on, you've seen how often I wear scarves! Do you doubt I will wear it frequently?)
Tights: F21, gift
Shoes: Unknown, France


This reminds me of what I would wear as a painter...an awesome painter! I also see this as a go-to weekend lounging outfit.
Dress: Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Shirt: Gap via Plato's Closet
Leggings: Target
Boots: Steve Madden


I think this is one of my favorite looks, honestly. Simple, clean, professional and creative. Awesomeness.
Dress (worn as shirt!): Martin & Osa via Goodwill
Skirt: Nordstrom Brand via Goodwill
Necklace: Spotted Moth, free with giveaway
Shoes: Unknown, France

Verdict: Do you have to ask? Yes, yes yes!

Four Ways To Wear Episode 7: Brown Full Skirt

In this episode of Four Ways To Wear, Plummy finds another skirt that looks remarkably like one she already has, gets very excited, and then gets goofy. Intrigued? Read on!

The Candidate: This brown skirt from I.N.C that I found (where else?) at the Goodwill.

The Goal: To make many a work outfit, and to find another versatile skirt that is not my brown pencil skirt (how I love thee! But srsly, I have to branch out. I wear it pretty much every day.)

The Results:


Could it be? So similar to other outfits! Yes, I am already in love.
Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Shirt: Tricot Jolie via Plato's Closet
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


This is what you get when Plummy is overtired at the end of a long week...
Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Blazer: AE via Plato's Closet
Shirt: Banana Republic via BR Outlet
Tights: Hue via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Naturalizer via Goodwill


It's the month of Halloween! Give me scary!
Shirt: Gap via Goodwill
Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Belt: Unkown via Goodwill
Leggings: Target
Boots: Steve Madden


Finally, something that looks alright with my wool Bebe coat...I was so excited to find it at the Goodwill (brand new for $10!!!) but it's such a tricky little beast to wear. Obviously, I bought it before I started Four Ways To Wear.
Coat: Bebe via Goodwill
Skirt: I.N.C. via Goodwill
Leggings: Target
Boots: Steve Madden

The Verdict: Since it is indeed practically the same as my brown pencil skirt, except with lovely pleating and a slight sheen to the fabric, it is in! I love that it is another great find for work, I love that it is a fuller skirt, and I love this rich taupey brown color.

Un Deux Trois Cat Sank

A casual day thrift shopping cried out for a casual outfit. Yes, my shirt has a cat with a hood on it. It's AWESOME. Love.

On that note, I have a joke...One Two Three Cat and Un Deux Trois Cat decided to have a race swimming across a river. One Two Three Cat made it to the other side, but Un Deux Trois Cat Sank! (ok, it only makes sense if you speak French and say it outloud...but Un Deux Trois Cat Sank phonetically in French is one two three four five. It was pretty much the most exciting joke as a seventh grader...and yes, I still find it amazingly funny!)


Shirt: I got it at a Death Cab For Cutie concert!
Sweater: Zenergie from Chicos (clearance!)
Pants: Martin & Osa, Goodwill
Shoes: Unkown, France