chunky necklace.

 

loft scalloped ruffle sweater   ·   merona doubleweave skirt

fioni carissa flats   ·   simonson's jewelry necklace

i had a really fun time at the minnesota state fair monday and i have plans to go back again next weekend  before it wraps up. one dose of fried pickles just isn't enough for me!  i also may need to stop by my favorite jewelry vendor again and grab a other necklace or two. i bought the necklace i'm wearing today from them (i couldn't resist the colorful chunky beads that will be fun to build outfits around) but there were a couple others i had my eye on. last year i bought this necklace and this one. i always enjoy supporting local merchants and this jewelry vendor has become one of my favorite ones to check out at our state fair.  thanks for visiting!

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

spring pantone challenge (hemlock)

 

gap dress turned blouse {thrifted}   ·   isaac mizrahi blazer {thrifted}
merona doubleweave skirt   ·   dexter hensley wedges

the color marissa and i chose for today is hemlock, the name of a highly poisonous plant.  kind of a downer, but with as much green as i have in my closet, it was an easy color for me to wear today!  in fact, this top jumped out at me right away as a pretty similar sage green/sea foam green.  this was initially a dress that my mom and i refashioned into a blouse late last year.  with our never-ending winter, i'm not sure i'll ever have a chance to wear short-sleeves comfortably, but i finally went for it today since it fit the color of our challenge so well and just added a coordinating blazer and scarf.

i'm looking forward to seeing how you interpreted the color hemlock today over at marissa's blog--join me there to link up!

get the look:  similar blouse / similar blazer / similar scarf / exact skirt / similar wedges

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<a href="http://literatelystylish.blogspot.com/" title="literate & stylish"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/whatwedo/SpringPantone-InspiredColorChallengeButton3.png" alt="literate & stylish" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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

ill-fitting.

gap button-down {thrifted}   ·   old navy v-neck sweater

merona doubleweave skirt & merona maye heels {both thrifted target stock}

i have been having major issues getting dressed recently.  let's be real, this is nothing new.  suffice it to say, none of my clothes fit but what i hope will fit is a treadmill in the back of my SUV that i can bring home from my parent's house when i visit for thanksgiving!  putting on clothes that used to fit just fine that are now way too snug for any degree of comfort is pretty much one of the worst feelings.  anyway, after trying on two outfits before this one that just didn't work, i finally decided just to recreate an outfit i saw kate wear this week - neutral colored skirt, navy sweater, plaid button-down, statement necklace, DONE!  i love the "holiday" plaid vibe of her button-down and the printed shoes she wore that were really easy for me to replicate with similar items in my own closet.  thanks kate!

get the look:  similar button-down / this season's sweater / exact skirt / exact heels / similar necklace

august 15th {more neon}

old navy camp shirt   ·   merona scarf

merona skirt & mossimo pumps {both thrifted target stock}

more blinding yellow neon coming your way (more can be found here)!  i think the tan skirt and shoes helped tone it down some but really, as i look out into the sea of people in head to toe black and zip-up hoodies and cargo capris at my workplace, i think i'm okay if i stand out for wearing bright yellow!

linking up with tara!  have a great end to your week!

july 29th {orage & navy}

 

 o​ld navy patterned shirt · j crew blazer {thrifted} 

merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock} · lela rose heels ​

i have been shopping at old navy.com a lot lately - two orders this month! their deals are hard to resist and those additional 30% off purchases seem to come around a lot more often these days. this is a button-down i picked up in my most recent order for less than $8. i have this orange button-down (also from old navy) but i knew this darker orange top would be just as versatile. i like the subtle white medallion print too, it gives the shirt a little more interest and will encourage me to perhaps do some pattern mixing. orange & navy go so well together, so this look came together relatively easily. happy monday!

july 15th {husky}

old navy boy's poplin shirt   ·   merona doubleweave skirt

merona bella flats

i think button-downs are one of my favorite articles of clothing to wear.  they are so easy to throw on, especially ones like this that area pretty, colorful plaid.  it takes the guesswork out of what color bottom to pair with it {just pick one of the colors in the plaid!} or how to accessories {no need, the plaid is busy enough}.  even in the hot summer months, rolling the sleeves up like this keeps me cool enough while hiding my upper arms that i'm not always confident enough to show off.

this is a little boys shirt from old navy just like this one is that i wear often, but there is less puckering from my bust (oh my gosh, i hope no one ever googles that phrase and happens upon this post) along the placard as i ordered the "husky" version.  honestly, i would never suspect this shirt to be for a little boy and hopefully no one else would either unless they look closely and realize it buttons on the opposite side!  thanks for dropping by!

may 9th {bullseye!}

merona doubleweave skirt & skinny belt {both thrifted target stock}

merona floral scarf    ·   gap cardigan {thrifted}   ·   merona emma flats

if this isn't the easiest outfit i've ever put together, i don't know what is.  the scarf and the shoes were ridiculous deals from target yesterday, so why not wear them right away.  have you used your target coupons yet?!  these shoes were an online return priced at $9.06, you can do the math to what they came to after using my $5 merona shoe coupon.  i know!  i also used my $5 off accessory purchase of $20 or more on two clearanced scarves, including this one, and a tote {mine's emerald green} that was marked down to $8.98 {what?!} bottom line:  one pair of flats, two scarves, giant tote for $23.  have you gotten any deals at target lately?

speaking of target, i spotted two new pencil skirts today... restraint, stay with me!

april 10th {belted blazer}

isaac mizrahi blazer {thrifted}   ·   old navy oxford   ·   old navy flats {thrifted}

limited scarf {thrifted}    ·   merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}

i am so happy with this outfit!  if only i were wearing different shoes and the lining of the skirt wasn't showing i would have felt unstoppable but, well, this is what i really wore and how i really looked.  :)  i saw a woman at ikea over the weekend wearing a blazer belted with a skinny yellow belt and a floral scarf, jeans, and boots, and i loved how put together she looked.  i didn't think that i could recreate the look with my limited scarf options, but somehow this outfit came together.  i picked up this blazer over the weekend as well from the goodwill, brand new with the back vent still sewn shut, for less than $5.  a great gray blazer has been lacking from my blazer collection, so i was so happy to finally find a nice, fitted one at the GW.  thanks for dropping by!

march 21st {neglected pumps}

land's end button-down, merona sweater, merona skirt, mossimo pumps 

{everything was thrifted!}

this is what i wore on thursday, an extremely tiring + emotionally draining day.  i'm a care coordinator and on this day my client files were audited.  it is always stressful when your work is being picked over or critiqued, whether it be by your direct supervisor, a colleague, or in this case... a health plan with strict requirements i have to follow in working with their members.  there were some low moments, but i feel re-energized moving forward and making my work the best it can be in 2013 in preparation for it to be audited in 2014!  that's what i tried to take away from this day, anyway.  i also took away a love for green & purple paired together and a new-found love for these shoes, which i think i have only worn a couple times (the last time was may 8, 2012!) because i thought they were too pinchy & painful, but they really weren't!  neglected no more, i say!

january 9th {accessorized}

old navy sweater   ·   dexter kylie wedges {other colors}
merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}   ·   inpink necklace

often times when i assess the outfits those around me are wearing {come on, you know you do it too} the one thing i often see missing is an accessory.  a great necklace, belt, or scarf does so much to turn a standard outfit into one that's memorable.  when i look back through my weeks in review what stands out to me is that there is always one dominant accessory that i think ties my outfits together.  what i'm wearing today would have been pretty boring on its own - tan skirt, purple sweater, who cares - but the bold, chunky necklace in similar colors and a simple skinny belt makes it cohesive and interesting.  the shoe color choice is also a little unexpected but works with the other brownish/goldish tones coming from the necklace.  i spend very, very little money on accessories - they almost all come from goodwill, forever 21, the clearance racks at target and kohl's, and giveaways/gift cards {like this necklace} - but i've found that they have the biggest impact on my outfits.  of course this is all my own bias so you're welcome to challenge me, but i see an immediate difference when i look at this outfit with accessories and without:

let's chat! / i'm curious, do you see it too?  how much importance do you place on accessories?

monday (scarved)

mossimo sweater {thrifted}   ·  mossimo wanda wedges

merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}   ·   old navy ikat scarf

i'm getting on board with scarves as accessorries, as evidenced here by this simple outit featuring this lightweight scarf that did absolutely nothing to ward off the temps that were in the teens this morning.  in fact, i wore another heavier scarf over it just to protect my neck from the windchill.  but hey, i'm all for outfits like this that come together quickly and look put together... it was as easy as picking out two colors in the scarf and finding a sweater & skirt that matched.  seriously.  if only getting dressed were this easy every day!