the accessories dresser.

banana republic factory blouse {via thredup*}

mossimo slacks {thrifted}   ·   dexter kylie wedges

like everyone, i am especially excited about this short work-week so i can have more time to organize and get my new place in order over the upcoming long weekend!  my bedroom is coming along thanks to a trip to ikea over the weekend that resulted in a new dresser that has somehow been filled with pretty much nothing but accessories.  that's okay by me though, and i am enjoying this little nook so much that i thought i would share a peak:

 the mirror opens up to hold necklaces.  i still need to hang the shadow box of earrings on that wall.

i love storing jewelry in small dishes.  the ceramic egg crate from world market is my 

favorite way to store earrings.  i don't own many bracelets anymore, but the ones i've 

hung onto fit perfectly in these ceramic green strawberry cartons from michaels.

a drawer full of necklaces stored in long trays, including utensil trays from a thrift store

 a drawer full of scarves!  this makes me so happy!

 

another fun little dish (from target) to store the watch & a bracelet i wear daily

isn't it fun to create little space like this in your home?  i needed a place to do my hair in the morning and a place to store all of my jewelry, and i think this will work out really well for me!

*join thredup through my referral link and immediately get $15 to spend {through july 6th}, and i'll get $15 too when you make a purchase.

eyelet, part 2.

 

 

j crew eyelet blouse {thrifted}   ·   mossimo slacks {thrifted}

groopdealz necklace   ·   jessica simpson oscar heels

when i wore this eyelet blouse two months ago, i mentioned how there was a snag on one part of the blouse i overlooked at the goodwill before purchasing it.  it was covered by the blazer i wore that day, but you guys convinced me that it wouldn't be noticeable if i wore the blouse on its own - and i agreed.  however, when my mom came for a visit last month and i added this to the mending pile i requested her help with.  i'm so mean, i made her let out the hem of this dress, fix the hem on a pair of pants that had come undone, and reattach a purse strap when she was here for a vacation!  luckily, she took one look at this blouse and said it would be a simple fix, and minutes later i couldn't even tell where the snag had been!

i wanted to wear this blouse with something other than black skinny pants, which has become my default lately, so i chose this pair of dark denim/chambray boot-cut dress slacks instead that, well, i also wear at least once a week.  even though i've become accustomed to wearing pants more often in the past few months, they still don't seem as versatile or visually interesting to me as skirts.  i liked the addition of the coral statement necklace, but the look didn't seem as cohesive since i didn't bring in that color or the shade of blue in any other part of my outfit.  yes, this is how my mind works!

i decided these gold heels pulled out the gold-colored metal in the necklace and gold earrings and added  some visual interest... i think it worked (even though i got a "tsk tsk" from one of my residents who doesn't like to see me wearing heels... oh well.  if i'm going to wear high heels, at might as well be fun & gold, right?!)

get the look:  this season's exact blouse / similar slacks / similar necklace / similar heels

linking up with the modern austen!

mauve & mint

 

 

loft scalloped ruffle sweater   ·   mossimo slacks {thrifted}

restricted slice it wedge

i've been doing a lot of online shopping this month... and i mean, a looot... but it's really my preferred way to shop.  i know what size i am at the stores i frequent so i don't need to try anything on, i have no problem stalking things i like and waiting for sales, and i can always find coupon codes for more savings or free shipping.  sure, it's delayed gratification when i have to wait for packages to arrive in the mail, but i even love tracking when it was shipped and when it will arrive.  yes, i am a nerd!  i also like the opportunity to bookmark items i'm interested in to ponder or come back to later whereas if you see something you like at a store you're more likely to buy it right then and there without giving it that extra thought.

one of the purchases i made this month was at dsw.com.  these minty cut out wedges made their way into my cart and into my heart when i tried them on.  okay, all corniness aside, these wedges are so comfortable!  the wedges i wore yesterday are a different story and gave me a painful blister, but even so i had no issues wearing these wedges all day.  i'm currently stalking the poppy red color at dsw.com but sears.com also carries the taupe color.  they're more expensive on sears.com, but i've noticed that retailer offers a lot of random promotions that could lead to a decent deal.  

i couldn't think of a better color to wear with mint than this pretty rosy mauve color.  the sweater is lightweight enough to be bearable with the moderate temps right now in the midwest, but i'd welcome a few more chilly days to take advantage of wearing it at least one more time before the heat hits.

are you an online shopper like me, or do you not mind braving the crowds at malls and shopping centers?

get the look:  exact sweater / similar pants / exact wedges / 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

another green day.

 

old navy boatneck tee   ·   old navy button-down

mossimo slacks   ·   dexter wedges   ·   inpink necklace

i should be sick of dressing in green by now after last week, but it's still in heavy rotation in my closet.  do you have certain colors you gravitate toward if there is a whole colorway for one particular item?  i definitely do!  i always reach for blues and greens... i have never been much of a fan of yellow, orange, or red.  i'm slowly working those colors into my closet in light doses, like with this cantaloupe colored button-down or with jewelry, though.  this boatneck tee from old navy is a nice, thick knit and will be fun to remix different ways... my first time wearing it of course i had to layer it with a button-down. 

thanks for visiting!

get the look:  exact tee / similar button-down / similar slacks / similar wedges / similar necklace

day one.

mossimo slacks {thrifted target stock}
mossimo ultrasoft sweater   ·   merona mollie booties

today was my first day at my new job!  i was told i would be in orientation all day but i didn't know what the schedule for the day would be, how formal it would be (ex: a classroom setting vs computer module trainings), etc.  with so many unknowns, i wore something that would pass as business-casual but wouldn't leave me feeling completely out of place if others defined "orientation" as an opportunity to dress casually.  these slacks used to get a lot of wear a couple years ago and were the easiest item to build an outfit around because they indeed are dress slacks but the fabric almost looks like fancy denim rather than a shade of navy.  i figured if some people were wearing slacks and others were wearing jeans, i'd land somewhere in the middle - and that's actually exactly what happened!

even though i'm gaining more confidence with my personal style, i wanted to wear something that allowed me to fit in more than stand out, which i may have if i'd worn one of my normal bold printed skirts or colorful shoes.  i've been trying to put into words why this made sense to me and i think i just wanted to focus less on myself and what i was wearing so i could focus entirely on learning about this new organization i'm now a part of.  does that make sense?  of course, i may totally change it up tomorrow.  how do you approach first days at new workplaces in terms of what you wear?  do you always play it safe on day one?

oh, and i finally got my hair cut to donate to pantene's beautiful lengths program.  how crazy different do i look?  whoa!  it's been pretty easy to draw a parallel from the date on the calendar to these new changes... new year, new you.  new job, new hair.  but they're good changes.  i think we should open ourselves up to recognize small, good changes all the time.  i'm trying  hard to keep this in mind & am wishing the same for you at the start of this new week.  thanks for visiting!

get the look:  exact sweater / similar button-down / similar slacks / exact booties  / similar necklace

june 26th {hey oh}

merona popover lace blouse   ·   mossimo slacks {thrifted target}

merona maye heels   {thrifted target}   ·   inpink necklace

i have felt so disconnected from my blog lately that i wanted to make it a point to actually write out a post on a weekday rather than waiting until friday to recap what i wore throughout the week.  these lulls hit me every so often, but i want to maintain this hobby of blogging as i still feel strongly about getting dressed intentionally and being inspired by others.  i think sometimes the problem can be that after you've worn a particular item a few times you run out of descriptive or emotional ways to talk about it.  and let's face it, i re-wear/re-mix/re-work (however you want to say it!) the pieces in my closet a lot.  other bloggers do such an awesome job at sharing snippets and vignettes about their lives, but i don't think i have quite honed or explored that type of voice for my blog.  so, i hope you'll forgive me if i literally just run out of things to say--at least i shouldn't have a problem of ever running out of things to wear--let's hope not, anyway!

i hope your week is going well!

april 2nd {magenta floral}

old navy blouse   ·   mossimo slacks {thrifted target stock}
lela rose for payless charson pumps

whenever i think to myself, "pants, you are dull" i think i need to remember this outfit.  throw on a lovely printed blouse and fun colored shoes and suddenly your attention is diverted away from the boring pants.  i can get behind outfits like this that come together so effortlessly!

in other sad news, i think payless has ended their relationship with lela rose.  i frequently pop over to the payless.com website to browse around and she no longer seems to have any offerings there.  she surely came out with some great shoes for payless (i have quite a few pairs), i'll really miss that collaboration!

thursday (orange & navy)

merona cardigan, merona blouse, and mossimo slacks {all thrifted target stock}

dexter kylie wedges   ·   limited colorful clusters bracelet

in the past, i never would have been drawn to something that was orange if there were other colors to choose from, but i'm finding that i really like adding pieces of this shade to my closet.  it started with an orange necklace that i wear all the time, and the same can be said for this cardigan.  i think it looks good with my skin tone and hair color, when those were the two aspects of my appearance that i thought always clashed with orange.  i'm glad i'm giving this color a try - red, however, is one color i don't think i will ever care to wear!

thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday, you guys are all really kind and they definitely brightened my day!  a i get older, birthdays are still special but they don't seem as celebratory so even though it really felt like any other day, it was still nice to be recognized.  thanks again!

monday (scarfed)

old navy sweater   &middot   dexter kylie wedges {on sale for $19!)

mossimo scarf & slacks {both thrifted target stock}

 

i went to my favorite goodwill for the first time in over a month yesterday and was inundated with target stock.  this scarf and another merona bow blouse (i now have it in all three prints, thanks goodwill!) and a necklace was all i picked up, but i think there was more thrifted target stock than anything else.  i should mention that i use the phrase "thrifted target stock" to refer to the donated target merchandise that i find at my local GWs.  i am not sure if i have ever really explained that before.  from what i have deduced over the years, target has a relationship with GW and will donate clearance or returned merchandise to be sold there.  this merchandise is denoted with a specific color tag and is rarely discounted.  i have never actually asked an employee about this before, this is simply what i have intuitively figured out over the years.  the merchandise ranges from clothing, shoes, accessories, household goods, furniture, you name it - if it doesn't sell at target, it will often end up at the GW.  yesterday there was even a bin full of it, all marked at 49c (nothing that exciting, sadly, mostly just shorts & swim suits).

 

here is another one of my finds... a great j crew strapless eyelet/scallop dress {i also found  an orange j crew shell!}.  the dress is about 2 sizes too small for me, but it was only $4.50 - plus, it's brand new with tags and the back kick pleat is still sewn shut.  i bet you can understand how bummed i was that it didn't fit!  but what could i do?  definitely not leave it there!  do you ever thrift items that don't fit with either a) the hope of fitting into it sometime in the future, or b) to resell?  i'm leaning towards the latter because let's face it, i exercise about once every other month and i know j crew sells well on ebay.  i'll probably still find myself staring at it longingly until i list it.  have you thrifted anything special lately? 

 

i hope your week is off to a great start!

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!

tuesday.

 

mossimo blouse & slacks & shooties {all thrifted target stock}
inpink orange & beige beaded necklace

whoa, hey mossimo.  sometimes when an outfit comes together you don't even realize that all the pieces are of the same brand.  i love this little flutter sleeve top that will be perfect this summer.  i'd been eying it at target {it's now on clearance} but found it at the goodwill last month instead, only missing the little ribbon around the waist.  for a fraction of the price, i was okay not having that little ribbon!  i wore these slacks last monday and am already pulling them out again - i love the dark denim-like fabric but that the straight line cut makes them appropriate for work.  and can you believe i am not wearing a belt today?  i feel like i always wear a statement necklace and a belt in every outfit and i've started to feel incomplete if i leave one of those items out of the equation, but i think these pants stand up fine on their own. 

thanks for dropping by - and thanks to appgirl at musings on the mountain for being my 75th follower through GFC, i think it is pretty awesome (and unbelievable at times), that you guys support this blog so much.  thank you!

monday.

mossimo crewneck sweater   mossimo flare chambray pants {thrifted target stock}

target necklace   lela rose for payless charson pumps

this is the type of outfit i wish i had put together last week when i was in such a rut.  great fitting slacks, fun heels, a solid colored top, and a statement necklace.  it is a simple enough combination that worked really well for me a couple fridays ago, just substitute the pants for skirt.  i'm starting to think that when you're uninspired in front of your closet it doesn't mean you need to head to the mall to buy something new to be excited about--it means you need to figure out what your uniform is and what combination of tops & bottoms & accessories works for you time after time.  i think this is definitely one of mine!

after work, i headed to target to buy this purse that i've been stalking for the past couple weeks.  i knew it would go on sale 2-3 weeks after i saw it pop up in store - everything at target always does, so it always pays to wait.  during that time, you can decide if it's an item you really just want vs something you've realized that you need or fills a hole in your closet.  i have such a hard time finding purses that work for me - it has to be roomy enough to fit my dslr, a colorful/light inside, and a flat bottom that keeps the bag open or a bag that keeps it's shape so it's easier to grab what i'm looking for.  i like that this one also has handles & a longer strap, so i think it ended up being a really good purchase. plus, i put a couple gift cards towards it and only paid a couple dollars out of pocket for it!

i'm a little disappointed in myself with how much money i spent in the month of april and how little self-control i had to stick to any semblance of a budget, so i'm proud with the thought that i'm putting into my purchases so far this month.  these slacks were a find at the GW yesterday, and for $4.99 i think they were a wise purchase.  the dark navy/chambray fabric has a slight sheen to it will be a nice alternative to the standard black slacks that i wear so often.  thanks for visiting & listening!