Personal Style: Retro Secretary

This outfit is mostly thrifted. I was planning on cutting this top up to refashion with a dress, but I just love it too much to cut. The fabric has a lovely raised texture, yet it's so silky too. I am usually against pairing silky blouses with cotton type skirts, but I felt that with the addition of the silky sash from my last dress that it would somehow work. Perhaps the bow and mega ascot ruffle is too much, but I sort of like semi-ugly fashion, and I don't have any belts that fit with this skirt.

For my hair, I'm trying to make a teeny 2 inch ponytail look styled, b/c there is no way I'm flat-ironing every time I go out. I let sections air dry in a slight fingerwave style and used maybe 4 pr 5 bobby pins on my ponytail in the back to muss up into a messy micro bun. I pulled out random sections on the sides and back as well for a soft effect.

I'm a tad lucky that my hair has a natural wave pattern. To get a similar look, Blythe Hopes Vintage has an incredibly easy youtube tutorial on a simple finger wave. Hers is a very subtle and modern wearable finger wave style that would even translate nicely into a updo for longer hair. The finger waves we had to perfect in cosmetology school had very distinct ridges and wrapped all around the head, a style that is more appropriate for formal events and period styling.

Autumn Rose Earrings: made by me, Jeweled Ambrosia
Blouse: Ann Taylor Loft, thrifted
Skirt: H&M, thrifted
Sash: from a Forever 21 dress, thrifted
Shoes: faux snake print, Target

*Linked to Clothed  Much's, Rule Breaking Monday post.

Personal Style: Retro Chocolate Polka Dots

This may be weird, not sure, but matching browns is extremeluy important to me. This outfit may seem simple, but it almost gave me a panic attack because I couldn't find brown shoes that matched. Dark chocolate browns, burgandy browns, tans, cognac browns... it's an immediate eyesore for me when accessories don't match.

Fortunately, I had made this necklace a while back that pulls the shoe color in with that one amber colored bead. It's odd how that one necklace saved the outfit.

And oh! My final haircut reveal. I love it because it's cute and I dig shattered layers. I also like how it shows my peekaboo highlights I did several months ago in the interior section of my layers. I hate it b/c it really requires flat ironing, (and she cut the front shorter than the back... loathe that.) I usually only blow dry my hair about 10 times a year, so this is going to drive me insane and I will be doing a lot of deep conditioning now. But, as a hairstylist, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

   I changed up my Aquarius eye make-up, by adding some slightly shimmery chocolate shadow to the crease.

Dress: Forever 21, via goodwill
Necklace: Jeweled Ambrosia, made by me
Earrings: vintage brass sailor knots
Shoes, can't remember
Tank top: it's maternity... sad

So, if you like my outfit, please vote for it here on Clothed Much's rule Breaking Monday post! Thanks :)

Personal Style: Stripes, Pencil Skirt and a Haircut

I love the loose, blousy, boxy, off the shoulder striped thing going on, but those styles don't seem to work on me, and the ones that do, are a little too pricey. So, I went for the blue and white classic vneck that I love, and this cute, pale gray pencil skirt. Earlier, I paired this top with some thrifted, jcrew, light linen city trousers, but I didn't get pics of that day. I guess I really like this top in light colored, unexpected pairings.

As for the haircut, I was giving length advice to another mom who asked, "Does anyone ever really regret cutting their hair?" As a hairstylist, I have seen grown women cry over getting 1/4th an inch cut off. Another woman chimed in, "My hairstylist said that if you spend 50% of the time with your hair in a ponytail, it's time for a new style."  Bingo, that did it for me, and besides, my ends were looking shot and needed to go. I went, grabbed some scissors and cut at my shortest layer for a completely straight and unlayered look. I added an angled bang and bam, was done. A few days went by and it felt heavy still though. I know I can layer my own hair, it has an odd texture and wave pattern that i trust with no one but myself... but I decided on a whim to walk into a salon and have some choppy layers added. I have a love/hate relationship with them now. You will find out why and see the new-new haircut in the next outfit post.

(yes, it was very windy while taking these pictures)

shirt: abercrombie
skirt: banana republic, thrifted
belt: calvin klein, thrifted
watch: fossil
shoes: thrifted
necklace: made by me

Personal Style: Pinstripe Vest

I found this double breasted, pinstriped (cream/brown) denim vest with super cute buckles and ruffles at Goodwill. A whole bunch of things I love, but on a vest? I don't usually do vests. So I brought it home and tried it with this heather gray athletic craft shirt. It may not match, but I think it's pretty cute and it helps me keep my back straight... so there's a plus for my poor posture.

 earrings, made by me available here

This picture makes me sad. I got all wild the other night and chopped 8 inches off my hair! (which really means about 6 inches, right?) So, now, no more fun buns and updos. I'll talk more about the cut in another post.

 

My two boys showing their fashion sense. Which is perplexing since they never wear these clothes... usually they prefer to wear the same four shirts all week long (Leggo Starwars and some cute monster shirts). Caleb is loving the beanie right now, even though it's crazy hot.

 And, these outfit posts would not be possible without my David. So, here is a little outfit post from him.

Personal Style: Pink Ruffles and Stripes

I wore two dresses and a shrug. That's right. A striped, short maxi dress to add some length to this adorable, pink, fluttery, ruffly, sleeveless sheath dress. The gray, ruched sleeved shrug helps tie in the peek a boo of gray 'hem'.

  

I kept my make-up very light and natural. I always have a hard time deciding what lip color to wear with pink, so I just did light lipgloss here for a subtle hint of shimmer. A low, side parted ponytail helped keep it casual.

dress, shrug, maxi dress ~ross,
shoes~ steeve madden
earrings~ thrifted vintage clip-ons

linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday

Personal Style: 70s Humanity. Sequined Scarves. Trousers.

  Something a little unexpected. Very 70's. I would never in a million years pair these colors together.

Looks like it's been a million years.

I love this shirt, and apparently, pairing washed out, fitted graphic tees in unexpected ways is a new thing for me to be documenting. The shirt reads, "Humans are no way to treat a planet." "A modified version of a quote from Kurt Vonnegut Jr. "Life is no way to treat an animal"." From those rapscallions,  mixed species.

And oh, if you think these are wide leg trousers... you should have seen the ones I put back! I kind of regret it, though they were a tad hideous/glorious and only $6.

I did very light and natural make-up since I was on the way to the gym. Though, I think it would look better with this outfit had I done a very heavy, winged black liquid liner.... and attempted to do something with my hair.

I shrunk a really cute, wool anthropologie cardigan a while back. Before I gave it to a local 5 year old girl (who loved it), I cut off the trim, and behold, this heavily beaded lace scarf was born.

shirt: mixed species
ring: miss bellas room   (her etsy)
trousers: bannana republic, thrifted
shoes: thrifted
belt: calvin klein, thrifted
neckerchief/scarf: anthropologie trim cut off a cardigan

*linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday

Personal Style: Thrifted Librarian

Everything I'm wearing is thrifted, from the jewelry to the shoes. This was an errand day, getting the guitar fixed, going antiquing, checking things off of the ole to do list. I actually ended up uncuffing my jeans b/c after looking at these photos, I realized how terrible it looked withe these vintage Guess oxfords. This is why I need a full length mirror in my home. Another thing to add to my to do list. And a haircut/deep conditioning treatment. Look at those ends! Actually, please don't.

*I also did my eye make-up a pretty aqua color. Details and tutorial here.*

 I realize I need to iron this shirt. But you know what? I really couldn't care less at this point., b/c it's the kind of fabric that gets wrinkly every time I move. I love the color, like a nude lilac or something. Goes perfectly with the vintage bakelite hoop earrings.

 

 I didn't think that belting a bubble/tulip shape tunic this short would work, but I kind of like it.

Personal Style: Retrofitting a Batman and Robin T-Shirt

Behold my Batman and Robin tshirt. One of my very first thrifted finds ever,  from yeeaaarrsss ago. My trusty, (nearly) vintage, Chris O'Donnell as Robin ringer tee. The one that always invokes questions from my 5 year old such as, "Is that a boy shirt?" "Why you like to wear that?", "Can we get daddy one?", and so forth.

I like to usually wear the tee like below, but I wanted to snarf it up a bit, so I added this little gray shrug, and smokey eyes. I think it's kind of cute, different, and unexpected.

These jeans have some spandex in them, so I must wear a belt otherwise they keep sliding down. But, I am fresh out of micro black belts and didn't want a gigantour buckle poofing out of the middle of my shirt, so I belted it to the side. It makes for a much better silhouette. Because belt buckles that look like a gut under your shirt is not winning.

The only danger, is random males will comment on any lady wearing a comic type tshirt. Like the magazine salesman guy my kids let in whilst I was telling them to pretend we weren't home. He also complimented my garden gnome.... I think he just wanted a sale. Too bad for him that I don't need any overpriced magazines!
 

*linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday.

Personal Style; Emasculating a Man's White V-Neck

So, I experimented with a men's athletic white v-neck. I was hoping for more of a relaxed drape, it's still a little stiff (especially around the shoulders), but hopefully it will loosen up after a while. I thought a middle partial tuck sans belt would make it look a little more 'intentionally styled'.
 

To roll the sleeves, I pinched it in about an inch, and rolled maybe two times, like the j.crew jean cuff roll. Everything here is thrifted, except for the shirt. I love these ballet flats b/c they have a huge bow on the toe. So, I spent around $18 for the whole outfit, max.

Beyond casual with a big a messy bun. Oh, and no I didn't darken my hair. I just used the Pantene brown glazing shampoo and conditioner. It adds a punch of depth to your color, I highly recommend it. Which, is serious since I'm a hairstylist and all. (Paul Mitchell and Redken color shampoos are also awesome, just happened to grab this when I was in a hurry... Pantene usually makes me shudder.)

* linked to: clothed much's rule breaking monday