spring's uniform.

merona floral blouse

old navy skinny boyfriend khakis

fioni carissa flats

we had some really warm days a couple weeks back and i wore nothing but outfits like this all week - short sleeved blouses and pants.  i'm so glad i've made an effort at expanding these types of tops in my wardrobe over the past year because they are exactly what i want to wear when it gets warmer outside.  target and j crew factory seem to be the stores where i locate the most short sleeved blouses, and though i've never purchased anything there before, jc penney seems to have a lot of nice options as well.  i'm sure as we transition into spring this outfit formula is all you'll see me wearing, but i would like to try to locate a few different styles of pants - either those that are more casual like these skinny khakis from old navy - or dress pants/ankle pants to make my outfits feel a little fresher.

do you have to mentally shift what you decide to wear based on the weather?

get the look:  similar blouse / exact khakis / similar flats / similar necklace

not quite right.

mossimo ultra soft sweater

loft skirt {thrifted}

merona wedges & belt

you guys, if you could change something about this outfit, what would it be?  i wanted to wear this skirt with something other than olive green or cream, so purple seemed logical as its a complementary color to green, but something about the outfit still felt off.  maybe it's just been a while since i've seen myself in a fuller skirt. i have never liked the way shirts look untucked from fuller skirts, but i was messing with the tucked layers all day.  i'm glad i gave this outfit a try, especially since i haven't worn the skirt since april 2013 - but maybe that's reason enough to pass the skirt on!

get the look: exact sweater / similar skirt / similar wedges / smiler necklace / similar belt

unexpected outcome.

j crew factory ruffle collar top

merona skirt, flats, and cardigan

i  was initially going to wear this outfit without the cardigan but it was negative nothing degrees out this am (the temp gauge in my car read -16) so i figured i should add another layer on my arms underneath my jacket for the commute into work.  i just grabbed any cardigan, but then i realized i quite liked the look of the purple shade with the hunter green skirt and the patterned blouse so i kept it on all day.  i used to wear cardigans all. the. time. and don't wear them too often anymore so i was glad how this outfit unexpectedly came together!

other surprisingly good things about today:
- finding a new radio station that played some great jams on my way to work including "shut up dance dance with me," of monsters and men (i used to listen to this album on repeat a few years ago at work - such great background music), and the killers "i've got soul" (another nostalgic song that reminds me of being deployed to florida with the red cross in 2006 to help tornado victims, it's all i listened to in my hotel room).

the best song the radio station played, however, was "budapest" by george ezra on my way home from work - i am such a fan of this guy and urge you all to check him out!  i seriously want everyone to love this guy as much as i do, check out his video:

have a great week!

get the look:  similar cardigan / exact blouse / similar skirt / similar flats / similar necklace

throwback thursday.

old navy chambray {thrifted}

handmade {by me} skirt

american eagle 'justify' heels

this week the receptionist at the nursing home where i work said she never sees me wear the same thing twice. if i scroll through my archives from 2012, 2013, or 2014 {ugh, way behind on updating that one} it may seem that way but i definitely re-wear certain items a lot.  i haven't worn this skirt in over a year though so i thought it made sense for a sunny 70* day and to join the throwback fashion thursday link up at happiness at mid-life.  this is the first skirt i ever made and i still seem to get quite a few compliments on it, so hopefully it'll continue to have a place in my closet for some time to come. you can check out other ways i've worn it here.

get the look: similar chambray / similar skirt / similar heels / similar belt / similar necklace

pink prints.

 

merona button down   ·   old navy sweater

mossimo slacks   ·   jessica simpson heels

as i put this outfit together it struck me how much i like to coordinate. i like when certain details of my outfits appear as though they were just meant to go with others. i received packages in the mail yesterday from target and old navy and it seemed like the button down from target was a nice complement to the sweater from old navy.  it's not a perfect match, but both have neutral oatmeal colored backgrounds and a pink design. there are subtle dark stripes on the button down that match the color of my slacks.  and because i have to complete an outfit with a necklace, i added this neutral gold bauble one and added the gold shoes.  the gold near the top of my body and also near the bottom felt like good symmetry without being too overwhelming or glitzy.

this seems like a really long explanation regarding the thought behind my outfit but i like being intentional about pairing pieces together for a cohesive look and i think i achieved what i was going for with this outfit!  plus, it felt good  to slip on these gold heels after debating at length whether or not to wear them last month.  i thought they may not stand out so much with slacks but all my residents who saw them thought they were pretty fun :)

get the look:  exact button down / exact sweater / similar slacks / same style heels / similar gold heels / similar necklace

scrooge.

gap cardigan {thifted}   ·   merona doubleweave skirt
dexter kylie wedges   ·   target belt & necklace {thrifted target stock}

with every major holiday that rolls around i ask myself if i want to dress in that holiday's assigned colors or be a scrooge.  usually i'm a scrooge but i decided to embrace the color coordination that comes along with st patrick's day and wear some green in the form of this hunter green skirt.  after all, green is my favorite color and i was pretty much a walking leprechaun today anyway!  i wore my green winter coat, i carry my work stuff and lunch bag in a teal green tote, i used my green coffee thermos today, and i brought in a water cup with a green lid to work for the week! 

do i have you beat or did you be sure you wear green today as well?

get the look:  similar cardigan / similar button-down / exact skirt / similar wedges / similar necklace / similar belt

the mvp.

 

merona skirt   ·   mossimo sweater

fioni flats   ·   target necklace

this skirt has served me well for so many years that i think it deserves the title of closet MVP!  i bought it in august 2011 from the clearance rack at target and paid around $15 for it -- i think i can safely say that was $15 well spent for the number of times i've worn it and how it remains in such good condition.  i play it pretty safe by always pairing it with a top in the same color as one of those featured in the print, but i always feel so put-together whenever i wear it.  after the struggles in expressed on monday (thank you for your comments--i'll be replying shortly!) about putting together outfits and not feeling comfortable wearing some of my favorite clothing items to my new workplace, it felt great to put together an outfit that i felt truly confident in all day.  thanks, skirt!

get the look:  exact sweater / similar skirt / exact flats / similar necklace

mismatched.

 

 

sweater & skirt & necklace & shoes {all thrifted target stock}

old navy button-down

so, here's my question for today... what is your discomfort/annoyance threshold with clothing, shoes, accessories?  do you have a high tolerance for pinchy shoes or would you prefer everything you wear to feel like pajamas?  i often think i land somewhere in the middle; i mean, no one really wants to be uncomfortable but i suppose it can't be avoided if you are wearing something for the first time or just grabbed your usual size of shoes from the rack and didn't try them on first.  

well, such is the case with these wedges i'm wearing today.  i spotted them at the goodwill and knew they were donated target stock.  i saw my size on the bottom sole of one shoe and since the pair was connected with elasticized string i assumed they were both the same size.  it wasn't until i got home that i realized one of the shoes is a half size smaller!  to understand why i didn't check the soles of both shoes you would have to get into my head when i am thrifting... with my goodwill googles on, my eyes are so focused on spotting the target stock, especially in the shoes, that when i see something in my size i grab it.  i haven't found many target stock shoes lately and was so excited about these cute metallic wedges.  plus, i guess you just assume shoes that are attached or are sitting together are the same size!

anyway, for $2.99 i was willing to give these mismatched wedges a try.  the smaller shoe was a bit pinchy but not intolerable so i guess it was 3 bucks well spent.  has something like this ever happened to you before?  are you a crazy, focused thrifter like i am?

get the look:  similar sweater / similar button-down / exact skirt / exact shoes / similar necklace

a snowy morning.

old navy flannel shirt   ·   j crew factory wool skirt

mossimo wanda wedges   ·   target belt & necklace

if you can believe it or not, i've never owned a flannel shirt before... i'm really stretching my memory here and i don't even remember owning one when i was in high school in the 90s.  this one from old navy definitely came in handy today though as it was another cold day, but more impressive than the cold was the 5" of snow that dropped during the first part of the morning. the weather is crazy all across the country and it seems like it's all we can talk about, but i feel so fortunate that we are equipped to deal with winter weather up here in minnesota and by the time i left work this afternoon, every road i needed to travel on was completely plowed.  

i grew up in atlanta, one of the southern cities impacted greatly by the icy and snowy weather earlier this week, and though nothing quite like that ever occurred when i lived there (i remember getting a dusting of snow maybe every few winters), i have a different perspective living in a state now where winter weather happens a couple times a week!  i have so much compassion for the citizens down there (and in neighboring states) who were trapped on highways & for parents whose kids had to stay overnight at school because buses couldn't get them home.  i sincerely hope for everyone's safety and recovery from that incident!  how are you managing with winter this year where you live?

get the look:  exact shirt / this season's skirt / similar wedges / similar necklace / similar belt

birthday!

banana republic factory dress & old navy blazer {both via threadup*}

mix no 6 otavia wedges   ·   target belt

nov 7th / so, today is my birthday... what better day to wear a bright green dress and my favorite printed wedges?!  i hope you are having a great november 7th as well!

get the look:  similar dress / similar blazer / exact belt / similar necklace / exact wedges

* when you join, we both get $10!

august 12th {confidence & risks}

merona eden skirt   ·   old navy crepe shirt

merona emma flats

i've wanted to wear this skirt for a while but it's a couple inches shorter than i would prefer so in my closet it sits until winter rolls around and i can wear it with tights.  for some reason it didn't get pulled into rotation this past winter, but now that i have this bright magenta shirt that matches perfectly i thought again about how much i want to wear it.

i've talked here & there about taking clothing risks; despite knowing what silhouettes you like and  work time after time, there's always room for growth.  i may never wear skinny jeans & booties again (probably never) and i may never again belt a flowy blouse instead of tucking it in... but at least i did it, made it through the day, and gained an inch of confidence as a result of trying something new.

from about middle school through grad school i never wore shorts, skirts, or really anything shorter than capris.  i became self-conscious about my bigger calves right at the worst time of a young female's life--adolescence and the onset of high school--and unfortunately it was something that stuck with me until about four years ago when i was helping out during a summer school program that took place in an extremely old school building with no air conditioning.  in a desperate effort to gain some relief from the heat during the day, i wore a skirt.  and you know what... no one looked at me like i had sprouted two heads.  if anyone made a comment inside their head, i didn't hear it.  (as an aside, kate wrote something along these lines here that is worth checking out).  so, i continued wearing skirts when i began my first job out of grad school.  and since then, i feel like there's been no turning back.

it's funny to look at my archives (2012, 2013) and see that during the spring-fall months i wear a skirt nearly every single day.  maybe i'm making up for lost time?  i'm certainly still not completely confident with my body type or my weight, but i've reached a much more comfortable level and i think it's important that i continue to take risks & share them with others. 

and yes, i realize looking at this picture right now that this skirt looks no shorter than the other target skirts i own (it is, i swear!) and the length likely wouldn't make anyone look twice... but for me, i'm glad it is something that i am now wearing without thinking twice about.  writing this post helped, too, so thank you so much for reading and visiting!

april 8th {doubleweave floral}

merona doubleweave skirt   ·   gap cardigan {thrifted}

merona milena wedges {thrifted target stock}

i get such a thrill when i can add cute, versatile pieces to my closet for mere dollars--or less.  this may be why i bought two target stock blouses at the goodwill yesterday for 99 cents each (seriously... they had a 99 cent rack of target stock) and why i was willing to wait for this skirt to drop to 70% off at an actual target.  the thing about target is that as soon as new merch hits the floor, you know it is going to go on sale soon.  i blogged about this season's new doubleweave skirts at the end of february and they went on sale almost exactly a month later.  after items go on sale you might have to wait another month or so, but then they start to go on clearance.  once something is on clearance, an additional drop from 30% to 50% or 50% to 70% off happens roughly every 2 or 3 weeks... so i just kept watching this skirt during my normal target trips until they got to 70% off.  it's not often that i come across clothing that i feel i NEED to have, clothing is something i want, so i tend to be pretty good about playing the waiting game for a good deal.  i'm glad it paid off this time for me and i could finally buy this skirt that i've been admiring for a while.  i don't have many tops in the same exact shades as the colors in the skirt, but that might push me a bit to experiment with different color schemes.

how do you feel about buying clothing at full price vs playing the waiting game for a sale or clearance markdown?

march 28th {5D5W: dresses}

eshakti dress {c/o}   ·   merona cardigan

mix no 6 otavia wedges

is it crazy to think that an orange dress can be one of the most versatile items in my closet?  it's definitely true!  give me color over black any day, and i'll show you it's just as--if not more--versatile.  i featured three ways to wear this dress in my initial review after receiving it from eshakti and wanted to share another option as i'm wearing it today for fran & whitney's 5 days, 5 ways challenge.  i have worn the dress one other time too that you can check out here (it's similar to the middle picture below).

oh, and please ignore the tear in my tights... i slipped on ice (again!) this morning and skinned my knee through my tights.  what am i, 6?  who skins their knees?!  at least the shoes were unscathed, that's all i can say.  i mean, how awesome are these shoes!  thanks for visiting!

march 8th {neglected new stuff}

merona tie front dress   ·   old navy cardigan
mossimo belt {thrifted target stock}    ·    dexter kylie wedges

i promise i am still participating in "no longer neglected," today's outfit is just going to be a little but of a stretch.  i ordered this dress from target.com on tuesday and received it in the mail on wednesday (how awesome is that?) and i have a hard time waiting to wear new clothes, so here we are.  i paired it with a belt i picked up at the goodwill a couple weekends ago that i haven't worn yet either.  i really liked pulling the colors out of the belt to coordinate with the rest of the outfit -- navy, magenta, and rusty orange/cognac.

by the way, i highly recommend this dress!  aside from the strange fabric (it's mostly modal, whatever that is, so there's almost a filmy texture and sheen to the fabric), it's a great color, length, and price!  it has long sleeves that i envision rolling up when it gets a bit warmer outside and it's fun to think about the different types of belts or cardigans/blazers to layer with it.  that's definitely the mark of a good dress in my opinion!  i do need to cut those silly ties off though.

here are the other items i picked up in my target.com order that i'm really excited to wear (thanks to my reader jennifer a who inspired me to get the pink wedges, and the top is on sale through tomorrow!):

Merona Melinda Wedge Pump Pink

Xhilaration® Juniors Peter Pan Collar Lace Top - Assorted Colors

linking up with these lovely ladies today:

january 3rd / hey, liz

liz claiborne dress {thrifted}   ·   old navy sliver wedge boots

i picked up this dress at a goodwill in georgia over the christmas holidays.  i'd combed through the entire store and felt a little discouraged that i couldn't find one thing to try on, but then i spotted this printed dress.  the size threw me off for a minute so i simply glanced at it and kept going, but then i actually kept going back to this dress.  i tried it on over my clothes, assuming that it wouldn't fit.  i didn't really think that it did so i put it back.  finally, after my mom had finished her browsing, i went back for it again and when i got her approval i decided it would be worth it to try shrinking in the dryer or cinching with a belt.  turns out none of those options were necessary as this dress fits me perfectly...  if anything, it's a little short.  the only alternation i need to make is to attach some hem tape to the bottom part of the placard after the last button (right now it's held together with a safety pin).  as is pretty typical with me, i immediately accessorized with my cognac belt and boots... i'm nothing if not predictable!

let's chat!  when is the last time you tried something on that was the completely wrong size number but ended up fitting great?  isn't that the best surprise?

thursday {painterly}

j crew sweater {thrifted}   ·   talbots painterly floral skirt

 thrifted belt   ·   dexter kylie wedges

it's kind of chilly outside but i'm determined to get at least one wear out of this lovely skirt before we're really feeling the fall--err--winter-like weather.  i love the great deals at the end of the season, but i don't know how i would feel about wearing this bright floral skirt in the dead of winter.  i might have to try it on with tights and a darker top to see how it looks.  but for now we're still on the cusp and if i can brave it out with bare legs i'm saying that bright florals are a-okay (the high today is expected to be in the mid 60s, so that's really not that bad)!

i picked up this skirt and two others during a spontaneous late-night online shopping venture last week after apples & pencil skirts posted a promo code that offered 25% off and free shipping (clearance pickings are slim, but the code only works for free shipping now for some reason - 029353545).  you know i love my free shipping, and when i saw the prices of some of the items in the clearance section i ran to grab my wallet!  i had never ordered from talbots before, but overall i'm really pleased with the quality, print, and most of all the price of this skirt!  speaking of my friend at apples & pencil skirts, she picked up the same skirt... see how she styled it today as well over at her blog!  we're in different time zones, so her post may not be up quite yet depending on when you're reading this, but i'm looking forward to seeing how she styled it as well!  thanks for visiting!

monday.

express oxford {thrifted}   isaac mizrahi for target skirt {thrifted}

merona mari pumps {thrifted target stock}

as i put this outfit on this morning i realized that i certainly don't shy away from wearing very similar versins of the same outfit.  i figure it's unlikely that people who i encounter on a daily basis have that much awareness of what i wear to know that i wore this same skirt and a very similar belt two weeks ago.  i'm not sure if any of my readers would pick up on that either, especially if you follow as many blogs as i do!  it kind of makes me go, "huh..." when i read that bloggers don't like to post similar or repeat outfits.  i'm not sure why we would ever need to put that pressure on ourselves.  for me, this blog is a representation of the outfits that i feel great in and a realistic portrayal of my professional wardrobe, so it's natural that staple pieces like this navy skirt are going to get worn 1-2 times a month.  you'll probably see it again in a few weeks!

 

do you leave outfits unblogged if you feel you are wearing an item too soon after having just worn it?  did anyone remember that i wore this same skirt and a tan colored belt last week, and if so - do you care?  :)  now i'm kind of curious!

wednesday.

j crew chiffon silk blouse {thrifted}   merona cecila skirt   dexter kylie wedges

this is a pretty safe outfit for me.  printed but professional skirt and coordinating, neutral top.  it works every time and leaves me feeling confident when i am meeting with colleagues or just working in my office.  i've come to realize in my working environment that what i feel comfortable in is dictacted by what i see others around me wearing even though we all have different jobs.  i wonder if it's like that in most businesses?  i always feel great in outfits like this though.  yesterday the administrator of the building was wearing a great midi length skirt and 5" peep toe pumps.  then there are other people i see who are dressed way more casually than i am.  so... i think it's okay if i break out the yellow heels or continue to wear fun, printed skirts and not worry so much about looks that i may get!

also, i think that's dirt on my knee from kneeling on the garage floor to look at my bike tire when i got home... is anyone out there a biker?  the air tube is bent and my tire doesn't stay inflated, so i'm not sure what the solution is - one of these days i need to figure that out though before my bike riding days are over.

thursday.

old navy perfect cardigan   ann taylor loft rose print shell {thrifted}

mossimo slacks & virginia heels {thrifted target stock}   forever 21 belt

hello, thursday.  let's work towards wrapping up this week on a high note, shall we?  i'm doing my part by wearing a burst of color to mitigate the damp and dreary outlook outside.  today is a great day anyway because it's my friend whitney's birthday - happy birthday {eek i hope so anyway, i'm second guessing myself on the date now!}.  have a great day!

friday (juliet, juliet)

merona essential cardigan {thrifted target stock}   handmade (by me) skirt

old navy blouse   target belt {thrifted target stock} mossimo wanda wedges

 

my coworker and i met our boss for lunch today, but she was running late so we browsed around a consignment store next door while we waited for her.  i saw quite a bit of donated target stock {the brand name like "merona" is always marked through with a sharpie} from the goodwill and found it really interesting that someone out there is buying donated target stock from the goodwill and trying to get something for it at a consignment shop!  or that's what i assume anyway, since many of the merona pieces i saw i see at goodwill all the time.

 

i also saw these j crew juliet heels priced at $23 (originally $198!).  i mulled them over while my coworker and i waited for our boss to arrive, all through lunch, and then went back and tried them on again after lunch.  i was thisclose to buying them but the yellow was REALLY bright and they looked silly with my brown tights (and would probably look silly with any color tights except maybe navy?).  i've never tried on or purchased j crew shoes before but man oh man, these were so comfortable and in great condition.  any other color and they would have come home with me... but bright yellow?  bummer.  i'm glad i decided they just didn't have a place in my closet despite how beautiful they were.  maybe one day i will wear j crew shoes on my feet, just not today.  have a great weekend!