Personal Style: Fancy That

I got these faux leatha leggings on sale at Marshall's. They so reminded me of Wendy Nguyen's styling video with her faux leather leggings. Which if you haven't seen her ideas, you must watch! Wendy's legging pairing ideas are fall oriented, but I wanted to wear these now, crazy in this 104 degree heat, I know. I remembered this adorable idea on Cut Out n Keep by Selena, on how to wear a button up shirt all adorable and tunic like by just folding it, no cutting/no sewing, and thought I would give it a whirl. This striped shirt is much bigger than what Selena uses, and I'm okay with that.

So, the pants look way better on Wendy and the top looks way more adorable on Selena, but in public, people aren't comparing me to them so I'm okay with that.

 And I got these sparkly flats at a garage sale, brand new. I had to roll the leggings under, I'm considering cutting them and hemming them around the lower calf, what do you think?

.

 I also got these amazing vintage buttons at a garage sale. I turned this one into a necklace pendant.

shirt: craft shirt at Michael's
button up: Ralph Lauren, goodwill
leggings: Marshall's
shoes: garage sale
necklace: handmade
bag: goodwill

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: Golden

Yep, another fully thrifted outift. Accept for the winged tiger (panther/lion?) necklace, I made that from a vintage stamping. I have about four of them left.

I always thought gold tones were for old ladies. I guess my tastes have matured, fashion has changed, or I am now, an old lady. I'm guessing... okay hoping... it's a mix of all three.

I had this little gray jersey tunic (not a maternity shirt, thank you) for a while, but couldn't find a good top to wear under it. I've also had this sequin gap tank for even longer, and they just came together perfectly one day. Like a casual way to wear evening wear {almost}. The tank is way too big, so I safety pinned the straps like a racerback, makes kind of a cute effect for layering, imo.

I've been looking for a sailor knot type earrings for a while. Who knew I would find this amazing golden vintage pair at a garage sale for 10 cents. Reminds me a bit of the Auryn (from The Never Ending Story).

These shoes are supposed to be for my princess dress. But, I had to give them a test drive with a casual outfit. More comfortable than  imagined for extended periods of time, but not good enough for running around. I'm thinking I will need a pair of glittery toms.

Linked to *thrifters anonymous

Personal Style: Chambray on Denim. diy Accessory

 
I know this is a big style right now, but I never thought I would wear this trend. I especially love, love how Sydney and Elaine have styled the chambray tops with the wide leg trousers and their variation in color with a lighter top.

But, I found these skinny jeans at a garage sale for like $1 and the distressed shirt cheap on ebay, so thought I would give it a shot with what I had. (Yes, it's another Miley Cyrus button up, embarrassing! I got the shirt here, there are still several left).

Pretty much my whole outfit was scavanged. T-strap shoes, thrifted/ jeans, garage sale/ ralph lauren bag, thrifted/ vintage bakelite earrings, garage sale/ vintage cuff, garage sale/ shirt, ebay/ vintage lace, antique mall/ vintage brooch, antique mall. The whole outfit was probably less than $30.

 

 

For a bit of interest, I wadded up a yard of soft, vintage peach lace and pinned it to my shirt using this vintage rhinestone brooch. I thought the peach lace complimented the vintage orange bakelite earrings nicely and added a small hint of color. It's nice to do something unexpected every now and then, what do you like to do?

*linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday.

Personal Style: Sailor Minnie

This looks reminds me of a Sailor and Minnie Mouse love child. I wore this length of elastic lace as a little scarf one day, and decided to use it as a headband bow, resulting in the Minnie Mouse ears reference.

 jacket: thrifted/ shirt: ?/ jeans: vanilla star/ shoes: steve madden/ bag; thrifted/ earrings: handmade

I love this bag. I bought it at Goodwill, left it there on accident, then drove back the next day to see if it had been purchased again. Fortunately, they believed me that I had bought it the day before and let me take it home. They kind of know me and my kids there, should I be embarrassed by that?

 

I felt like doing a fresh face this day. Make-up consists of a small hint of blush, light ivory eyeshadow under the brow and black eye shadow as a liner. I used it on a very small, dense angled brush to line my lashline and pulled it out about a half inch at an angle for a very subtle cat eye effect. I used a bit of black liner in the waterline of the eyes as well. Lipstick... I can never find a really good nude lip color that isn't too pink/orange/brown/matte/shimmery.... so, I used a touch of concealer (Maybelline Dream Mousse) and Carmex on top. Perfect nude lip stain.

*Linked to: Clothed Much's Rule Breaking Monday

Personal Style: Rule of Three

I didn't go anywhere today. But I thought, "Why not get at least a little bit cute?" Normally, I would have worn this shirt with ratty jeans (okay, pajama pants) and flip flops. I thought, there must be something simple I can do to work this and still feel "at home comfortable." I did technically break one rule with the brooch. Aren't brooches for like cardigans, jackets... basically things with a lapel? Well, I've always thought so, but I enjoyed using it on an old tee, and I think you can do it too.

So, I invented the Rule of Three.

*Three minimal accessories to posh up an otherwise unremarkable outfit.*

1. Red lipstick Rimmel moisture renew in Red Alert 900... (will do a post on wearing red lipstick soon)
2. Vintage brooch
3. Awesome shoes.... ones that compliment your outfit but are still comfortable.

I had a belt and rolled jeans to make 5 things I normally wouldn't do while just lazing around the house in a few pics, but the 3 pieces work just fine for me to turn a boring outfit into something a little less boring.

I even jazzed up my mom ponytail, by making it a tad higher than usual, wrapping it loosely for a bit of a mess and pulling the top part out like a crazy woman and twisting in a bobby pin for a bit of 'oomph'.

Sparkles... old vintage brooches can be found anywhere. I got this at an antique mall for very cheap. Tip: Brooches can be heavy.. if pinning on a loose shirt, grab it through a bit of your bra strap to stabilize it better.

 I loved these shoes like a lot. Thrifted, of course. They were too big... so I just tucked the strap since there were no holes for my size. Maybe I'll drill 'em later, but maybe not, the tuck looks kind of cute.

 See, cute but maybe too much going on with the belt and the side tuck. You think?

 hubs told me to walk as I stood there cluelessly...

 He always manages to get a bum shot.

 

My pound puppy, rescued when she was 4 months old... before I even met my husband.

She's almost 9 now, I love my Jackie Chup, though it makes me sad to see her aging,
and even sadder knowing what this lady did to her dog!

This is what he calls a 'perspective shot" So people can see how low I am to the ground since I'm barely 5"

Love him too, such a sweetheart. When we were dating and first married, people used to stop and

ask him if he was a model. Made me feel like a toad... a happy one, but a toad nonetheless.

So ladies, remember the Rule of Three. What small 3 things can you do to jazz yourself up today?

*shirt: target/ jeans: delias thrifted/ brooch: vintage thrifted/ shoes: apt 9 thrifted/ belt: vintage thrifted*
*linked to Clothed Much's Rule Breaking Monday... visit for lots of other rule breakers

*linked to Mom of Two Boys Fashion Fridays

Personal Style: Denim Ballerina

 

  
I have been looking for the perfect denim jacket oh for about, five years now. I finally came across two contenders while thrifting the other day. An adorable Banana Republic one and this. I don't know why, but the lack of lapels really struck me, it seemed more effortless to wear and less 'jackety'. I also really love the faux epaulets look with the shoulder detail and the fact that the sleeves rolled easily had me sold. Once I got it home, I was worried it would be crazy hot, but I got lucky in that we had a cool morning!

You know, I'm going to be 30 in a few weeks. I can honestly say I didn't start to notice those 'fine lines' around my eyes/nose until about 6 months ago. I can tell you though, I honestly love them and am so happy to be aging. That said of course, I'm so glad I've been working out these past few months. I've noticed a spike in my energy level and am starting to lose a bit of the stomach pooch... still got a few inches to go! Hair was inspired by Sydney's Daybook bun tutorial and twisty belt knotting by Elaine of Clothed Much, (I did mine a wee different, but her tutorial is better). Not really digging the boots, can't decide if it's the cut or color... maybe both...

jacket: thrifted/ boots: candies/ cuff: thrifted/ earrings: jeweled ambrosia (handmade by me)

shirt: look for fiddleheads/ belt: calvin klein thrifted/ jeans: vanilla star/ bag: ralph lauren thrifted

 

 one of my little guys

my other little guy

*linked to Mom of Two Boys Fashion Fridays