Stripes & Spikes

Three sets of stripes make for good pattern mixing.  Add colored pants and a spikey necklace, and it's a recipe for polished casual.

Jacket, Mossimo, Target; shirt, Gap, gifted (thanks, Kristin!); pants, Buffalo, Costco; shoes, Dr. Scholl's, Amazon; necklace, gifted (thanks, Beth!); earrings, Claire's.

I added two(!) pairs of pants to my wardrobe last weekend.  They were a splurge (for me) at $15 each, but they are worth it.

Shoes and Widget

Switched and Spotted

This outfit got away from me.  It started out with a faux leather moto jacket, but it didn't quite feel right.  I switched it to this suit jacket, and suddenly I was all dressed up.

Jacket, Apt. 9, thrifted; dress, London Times, swapped; leggings, Faded Glory, Walmart; shoes, Relativity, Younkers; earrings, handmade and gifted; necklace, thrifted!

This dress is from my last clothing swap.  I love it with leggings.

Also, there's a reason people wear lipstick.

The "Also Rans"

You know them from politics, athletics, and other contest of wits, strength, and popularity.  They didn't place.  They didn't do anything particularly noticeable.  They are the also-rans.

One of the happy consequences of my blogging goals this year is that I am dressing to blog many days.  That means I'm putting more thought and effort into what I wear and how I wear it, but, like any skill, it takes practice and I'm out of it.  This has created a subset of outfits that I put together and even photographed, but they didn't fill me with joy like my koi pond outfit and my fancy thrift store ruana or I just didn't have time to blog.

The also-ran oufits are important.  Without trying new things I don't know what I like, what works, and what makes me smile giddily to myself throughout the day.

Here for the Weird

I got this lovely brooch at an estate sale last weekend.  It's pretty weird.  It is made of mother of pearl, silky cord, and red stone beads.  I like thrift stores and estate sales because of the weird.  You never know what you're going to find.

Jacket, Anne Taylor Loft, thrifted; shirt, BRAND, swapped; belt, thrifted; skirt, Xhilaration, swapped; tights, Assets, Target; boots, Frye, Goody Two Shoes; brooch, thrifted; earrings, handmade by me!

My friend Natalie said the belt makes me look like Minnie Mouse- compliment, right?