Twofer

So, I still haven't gone to bed, which means it's not really Saturday - it's still FRIDAY, and I'm not a liar.

Here's your two for one special:

Thursday:


Brown paper bag waist skirt: Ann Taylor (remixed)
Printed ruffle blouse: Ann Taylor
Royal blue bolero: Ann Taylor
Gold headband: Forever 21
Elephant earrings: Kohl's (remixed)
Yellow bangle: Vietnam (remixed)
Brown beaded flats: Target

I didn't have a whole lot of time to put an outfit together, so I went with this Ann Taylor heavy outfit. Looking back, I wish I'd worn different shoes, because, although these are adorable, they do nothing for my legs and are frankly quite uncomfortable.


*Sigh* They really ARE adorable, though. Look at that beading!




Friday:

Black shirt dress: Target
Black boyfriend cardigan: Banana Republic Factory Store
Leopard print belt: Banana Republic Factory Store
Red pumps: Michael Shannon via Off Broadway Shoes
Stripey plastic bangle: gift from sister-in-law
Elephant earrings: Kohl's (remixed)

I wear a lot of black. A lot. I totally went for a jungle theme with what I call "the safari dress" by throwing on the leopard print, that stripey bangle that looks like a bengal (I am so clever!), and the elephant earrings. This belt is a little bit big to wear around my waist, so I felt kind of uncomfortable, but looking at the pictures, I love it.


The pictures made me realize that I looked pretty '40s. Something about the red lipstick, the collared dress, and the hair (which I just pinned back on the sides) make me think of that era.

Oh, and a quick note about that cardigan: I got it on clearance for $11 about three and a half years ago, and at this point my cost per wear must be down to about $0.00000001. I swear, I wear it ALL. THE. TIME. It's so fabulous because those dolman sleeves make it the perfect layering piece all year round.


That bangle was a gift which I received during my first Christmas celebration with B.'s family. I love the way it played with my leopard print belt. Big cats match with big cats, right? I think so.
The elephant earrings are my favorites. They're just so much FUN while still looking all grown up.

Slacker

I'm slackin' today, though I promise I have a good reason to slack. A reason which I will hopefully be sharing soon.

Anyway, I'll have double the outfit fun tomorrow.

Paris in the spring

Leopard print swing jacket: Banana Republic
Brown skirt: New York & Co.
Yellow snakeskin pointy-toed flats: SE Boutique via DSW

This is what I looked like leaving for and returning from work today, and that jacket is the reason I love spring. I cannot feel anything but Jackie O. fab in it. It's the perfect combination of classic and wild for me. Plus, you know, the added animal print bonus. Now, on to the rest of my ensemble.... (I am imagining "ensemble" being pronounced the French way, of course.)


Khaki swing jacket: New York & Co. (remixed)
White pleated blouse: Target
Blue printed scarf: Target
Green beaded bracelet: gift from my mom (handmade by a girl who used to go to church with my mom and used to have an etsy shop, but no longer does either.)
Yellow button earrings: free gift from Noble Town Vintage

I don't know why, but this outfit makes me feel kind of Parisian. Full disclosure: despite having lived in Europe for three years, I have never been to Paris. We did visit Strasbourg quite often, though, since we only lived an hour from the French border, so at least I've been to France.

Anyway, I think it's the blouse, with its sweet pleats in the front, and the scarf, which I wrapped into a cowl, that give off that vaguely French vibe. Yes? No?


I don't want to say that I adore that scarf, but I kinda do. The print makes me happy, much like those little button earrings. I got those with the purchase of a pair of vintage boots, and I was so excited to see what an adorable thank you gift I'd received. (Can you see why I love etsy?!)


This bracelet is a bit big on my wrist, so it slides around a lot as I move my arms, but we're doing PSSAs this week - Pennsylvania's brand of high-stakes tests - which means that I only see two of my five classes. We've been working on in-class projects instead of learning any new material, so I don't have to write on the board and can wear any bracelets I choose.
I love the variety of green beads on this particular bracelet, and I like how my accessories were nice and bright against the familiar palette of neutrals.


This is me being silly while B. takes my pictures. I put it up mostly because it shows my yellow shoes, and, as I told one of my coworkers today, nothing bad ever happens when I wear yellow shoes. He told me he hoped I broke my finger, but the yellow shoes seem to have done the trick and have held his ill wishes at bay. Dang skippy.



In the week or so since starting this blog I've discovered:
A) I buy a lot of clothes at Target.
B) No, really, I wear a lot of neutrals.
C) A full week and only one pair of jeans?! I'm more of a skirt girl than I thought.

The dress

Vintage checkered shift dress: Thrush Vintage via Etsy
Blue-grey cardiagan: Target
Black belt: came with a blazer from Kohl's
Fake black pearl earrings: Target
Grey patent leather pumps: Steve Madden via DSW (remixed)

This is probably my favorite dress. I wore it all winter long with various pairs of tights and cardigans; it's been crazy versatile while being comfortable, professional and interesting. I am ob. Sessed. with Etsy, and I have wasted countless hours of my life favoriting items I've found there. This dress comes from Thrush Vintage and was quite a find. It's from the 60s, and appears to have been handmade. The fabric is fabulous. I mean, look at that square / checkered pattern!

As the art teacher told me today, "It looks like pixels". Yes, yes, it does.
And I love those shoes.


The ruffly, stand-up collar and the bow at the neckline are just to die for. The earrings are super-fake black pearls. I'll admit that I've only recently started wearing studs again because I work at a school where the students can't wear earrings any larger than a quarter and I'm trying to set a good example. I don't always follow this rule myself, but I try.


So, back to the dress. It's nearly perfect, but it's a shift which translates to boxy, especially when you don't have a particularly well-defined waist, which I don't. So I belt it. I was terrified of belts for many, many years, but they really can work, even on me. Turns out all I needed to do was experiment a bit, and now I'm hooked. All those commas to say, belts just might have been my gateway drug to the great big world of accessories. Just sayin'.