A Vintage Red

This OOTD revolves around a dress that was one of my first vintage buys verrry early on in high school (9th or 10th grade, I think).  It's a red boucle unlined belted shift from the late 50s-early 60s, and it's one of my favorite pieces of clothing ever.

Dress: Vintage, no label (I think it may have been homemade)

Long-sleeved t-shirt: Coldwater Creek, sz. small

Tights: Merona, sz. small/medium

Shoes: Nine West Riane, sz. 7.5

Necklace: Vintage

This is one of those outfits that really can be made or broken with makeup, so broke out of my routine and went for a '50s-inspired demure pinup look (I know that's an oxymoron, but I AM a teacher, so I gotta tone it down a bit).  I did a black cat-eye liner with a bold red lip and kept the rest of my face pretty plain.  I'd like to think it worked, but since my only audience was a bunch of 14-16 year-olds, I'm not sure that they got the allusion.  Heck, I'm not sure they could even tell me what an allusion is, even though it was a vocabulary word for about a month.  Sigh.

Do you use makeup to complement your "look," or do you have a set makeup routine?

OOTD: A remixed blouse

Just an old OOTD I wanted to share with you all from about a month ago (Yes, I am that behind on posting.  For shame.).

Blouse: Lemon Liftoff Blouse, Girls from Savoy, Anthropologie, sz. 4 (remixed here)

Cardi: Merona, Target, sz. small

Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Anthropologie, sz. 28

Shoes: Cole Haan Air Lyric, sz. 7.5

Pin: Vintage

Earrings: Target

How darling is that little owl pin?  I originally bought it to turn into a necklace earlier this fall, but I think I may keep it as a pin.  I felt very Emma Pillsbury-ish in this outfit.  Not a bad feeling, in my opinion. 

Have a great day!

OOTD Nov. 18th and some lame excuses

Hey everyone.  So sorry it's been over a week since I've posted.  ::hangs head in shame:: 

Here are my lame excuses, in prose-form:
I've discovered that winter darkness (It gets dark between 4:30 and 5:00 PM here now...ick) makes me extremely sleepy this year.  It may also be my ridiculous new work schedule - no plan period, cafeteria duty, three preps - or my ridiculous new workout schedule - pre-training for a half marathon (here we go again), daily yoga and strength training - or it just may be a combination of all three elements, but I find myself conking out before 9:00 every night.  This used to be my blogging time.  Looks like I'll have to find a way around it!

Anyhow, as promised, here's an OOTD from the middle of November:

Sweater: Trouve via Nordstrom, sz. sm.

Skirt: J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in double-serge wool in jazzy purple, sz. 4 (remixed here and here)

Tights: Merona, sz. sm/md

Shoes: Missoni for Target, sz. 7.5

Gold heart necklace: Vintage

Mixed metals necklace: A gift from my daddy :)

This skirt is possibly my best buy from J.Crew thus far.  I've already worn it three times this school year, and I have several more outfit ideas in mind.  It's thick, so I was able to tuck in my bulky sweater with no lines.

The shoes, on the other hand...ugh.  Not very comfortable.  But they complemented the sweater, so I pushed through for the sake of fashion :)

A Bauble and a Bow - OOTD: November 14th

This past weekend, I went shopping with my mom and my cousin, both of whom I look up to immensely.  We had a great time catching up, getting some Christmas shopping done, and looking for deals.  One of the deals that I found was a dress from Macy's.  It was originally $58, and I snagged it for $15.  Woohoo! 

I had reservations about the dress itself because the fit was just a bit odd, and I hated the belt that came with it.  However, once I got home, I replaced the belt with a vintage belt that's attached to a dress I have from the late '50s/early '60s, and I layered a shirt under it to smooth out the fit.  I added a long pendant necklace to draw the eye away from the weird shoulders of the dress and down to the fun belt, and I was good to go!

This is my pre-7:15 A.M. Monday smile.

Dress:  NY Collection, sz. small

Long-sleeved Shirt:  NY and Co., sz. small

Tights:  Merona for Target, sz. small/medium

Shoes:  Nine West Riane, sz. 7.5

Amethyst Necklace:  My grandmother's

Belt:  Vintage, late '50s or early '60s

A picture of the details:

Have you ever revamped something you bought on super-sale to make it work? 



OOTD Nov. 6th: Testing it out

Do you ever build an outfit in your head for a long period of time before you try it out?  I often find myself thinking about how to style certain pieces in my wardrobe.  For example, for awhile now, I knew I wanted to wear an elbow-patch sweater from H and M with a vintage scarf, but I wasn't sure how to style the two pieces.  I knew I could just throw on a pair of jeans, but that seemed like a cop-out.  Eventually, I came up with an idea, but I wasn't sure how it would look on.  Sometimes, I have great ideas for pieces, but they don't translate well on a body.  This past Sunday, I went on a little shopping excursion with my mom, then the fiance and I had dinner with my family, so it was a perfect opportunity to test out my outfit:

Cardigan: HandM, sz. small; remixed here

Brown Cami: Nordstrom (I can't remember the brand), sz. small

Scarf: Vintage

Skirt: Puddle Pleasures Skirt, Modcloth, sz. small, remixed here

Tights: Merona for Target, sz. sm/md, remixed here

Boots: Etienne Aigner, sz. 8

Earrings: Truly Vintage (a brand that takes vintage beads and makes them into jewelry)

Ring: Vintage (it was my grandmother's)



I was also pretty excited about this outfit because it remixed several pieces much differently than I normally wear them. 

It was also a great cat-walking outfit.  Yep, I said cat-walking.  I bought a leash and decided to start training one of my kitties, Sassy, to walk on it with me.  She loves being outdoors, so I figured, why not? 

The fiance is horrified that I'll turn into that weird lady down the street who walks her cat every day.  No chance of that happening...at least not yet.  :)

OOTD: Vintage Oranges and Browns

Because yesterday was the first day of November, I decided to dress the part in shades of autumnal oranges and browns:

Cardigan:  Merona for Target, sz. small

Dress:  Vintage late '60s/early '70s era

Necklace:  Vintage '70s marble beads

Bracelet:  Wooden '70s beads, compliments of MamaAllDressedUp's high school years :)  

Shoes:  Cole Haan Nike Air Lyric Bronze heel, sz. 7.5

I found this dress last spring in a vintage store in Pittsburgh called Eons, and I get compliments on it every time I wear it.  It looks like it could have come off right off the rack of Anthropologie or Modcloth.  The dress is sleeveless and cotton, and it has a pretty, yet appropriate, V-shaped back.  The construction of the dress is timeless; it's one piece, with a top that blouses out over the pencil-like skirt.  It came with a sash that can be tied on the front, back, side, or anyone else you please. 

I know I sing the praises of vintage clothing quite often, but it's a song I don't get tired of singing.  If I had the resources (namely, vintage clothing stores that aren't 45+ minutes away), I would source an entire wardrobe from vintage clothing.  Clothes just aren't made as well today, and it seems like clothes in the 40s-70s were made to fit women with curves.  Sigh.  /endrant.  :)

Well, I'm off to read this year's Pennsylvania High School Mock Trial Case.   I help the fiance advise our high school's team, and this year, the case is about saving endangered bog turtles from a pharmaceutical company's plant.  I wish I were kidding.  I will leave you with a picture of my inspiration for the trial:

Source

Isn't he cute? 

Channeling Cruella

My school is observing Red Ribbon Week this week for drug/alcohol prevention and awareness.  Our Red Ribbon Week is similar to spirit week because we have theme days in which staff and students are encouraged to dress a certain way.  Monday was "Wear Red" day. 

Would you believe I only own one article of red clothing?  Inevitably, when I wear it, someone makes a Cruella de Vil reference.  Every. Single. Time.  However, while looking for a picture for this post, I was hard-pressed to find anything that even remotely resembled the offending red cardigan.  This was the closest match I could find:

Source

Now, here's my Cruella-esque OOTD:

I guess I can see how the polka dots give off the dalmatian vibe.



Cardigan:  BCBG, size sm.

Dress:  Vintage 1950s-era, size unknown

Tights:  Merona for Target

Shoes:  Nine West Riane (on sale for $62.30!), size 7.5

A quick word about the shoes - if you're looking for a comfy, high-heeled oxford, I can't recommend the Riane enough.  I've had this pair of shoes for less than two weeks, and I've already worn them five or six times.  They're a great basic for the fall/winter months.

Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'm off to don some long black gloves, smoke from a cigarette holder, and scare a hundred or so puppies. 

Dress Like an Egyptian: A Consignment Score

Hi, all!  I hope you've had a restful weekend!  I thought today I'd show you guys an awesome designer score I found last weekend while shopping with a good friend.  When we were fueling up for our shopping excursion at lunch, my friend and I talked about how shopping creates a type of high.  For some people, the high is just about instant gratification: scoring an item as soon as it comes out.  For others, the high is a culmination of what I like to call "the dig," "the find," and "the score."  I love going to consignment or vintage stores (mainly vintage stores...I love clothes with a rich history), digging through every item they have, finding something alluring, and scoring it at a great price.  This post is about one such item.

After reading about Topshop Unique's Egyptian-inspired Spring 2012 line here on the Fashionista blog a couple of weeks ago, I was super excited to pick up the Nanette Lepore Hieroglyhpics Dress at a local high-end consignment store. 

Trying on the dress with some Charlotte Russe heels the day I brought it home

The dress was a size 0, but I tried it on anyway, because I just couldn't pass up its amazing print and gorgeous saturated hues.  And honestly?  Who doesn't want to be a size 0?  I squeeeeezed into it, and I am so glad that, for just a second, I let myself think I could possibly forcibly shove my size 4 self into a dress two sizes two small.  By some fluke or graciousness of the fashion gods, it fit!  Here's a closeup of the print that begged for my attention on the rack:

The colors of the dress are saturated enough that I can wear it in the fall, but are bright enough that I think I can wear it during spring and into summer, too.  I believe this dress originally retailed for around $350, and I scored it for a little less than $75 in perfect condition. 

For my birthday, the fiance got us tickets to go see Wicked, which I had never seen, so I figured I could wear this dress.  It was cold and rainy, so I added tights, a cardigan, and boots.

Cardigan: NY & Co.

Dress: Nanette Lepore

Tights: Merona for Target

Purse: Vintage

Boots: Aldo

At first struggled with how to style the dress; it has so many gorgeous colors to pull from for accessories, and like a kid in a candy store, I wanted to use them ALL.  In the end, I decided to keep everything but the bag neutral and let the great print speak - rather loudly - for itself. 

The dig, the find, and the score certainly paid off in this instance.  Are you a digger, or do you like instant shopping gratification?

OOTD 9/6: New Stripes, an Antique Pendant, and Vintage Pleats

Shirt: J.Crew Painter Tee, sz. small

Skirt: Vintage '50s linen pleated skirt

Shoes: A purchase from a trip to Italy in 2008; red patent leather

Necklace: Vintage pendant

Earrings: Gold filigree hoops

Yesterday's OOTD was centered around/inspired by the vintage '50s navy linen pleated skirt I picked up last week at Yesterday's News in Pittsburgh for $15.  If you're ever in the Pittsburgh area and are a fan of vintage clothes, I highly recommend stopping at Yesterday's News!  Here are a couple of better pictures of the skirt (front and back):

There's just something about the silhouette of a high-waisted A-line skirt and tucked-in shirt that I can't resist.  Maybe it's because it makes me feel like the glamorous Hollywood version of a 1950s housewife.  I even tried to paint on some red lipstick this morning.  Unfortunately, the closest thing I could find was a maroon lip gloss, and it made me look like I belonged with the Ringling Bros. instead of in the kitchen in my heels, patiently waiting for my adoring, hard-working husband to burst through the door, Leave It To Beaver style.  Because I don't do well with clowns OR cooking, I decided to leave the red for the pros. 

I also wore a pendant that my mom found at an antique store a few years ago.  She's worn it twice since she bought it; I've worn it twice since Saturday.  When she told me she thought I would get more wear out of it, she was right.

I love the delicate details of the necklace, and it's a very of-the-moment length.  

If the blog is quiet for the rest of the week, it's because one of my best friends' weddings is this Saturday, and the rest of the week is filled with bridesmaid dress fittings, a rehearsal dinner, and other pre-wedding and wedding festivities.  I'll try to get another post in before the end of the week, but I'm not making any promises.  I hope you are all having a wonderful week!    

I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight

On the first day of school, one of my favorite Billy Madison clips brings a smile to my face no matter how hectic and stressful the day seems.  I asked for some first day of school outfit opinions a couple of days ago, and here's the outfit I decided to wear yesterday for the official first day of school:

I went with the Paisley pencil skirt!  I agree with those of you that commented that a pencil skirt is the most professional option, and I couldn't wait to bust this beauty out of the closet.  I went with a ruffled tank blouse for a bit of personality.

Cardi: Merona for Target

Tank: Mossimo for Target

Skirt: J.Crew Paisley Pencil Skirt

Shoes: Vintage Joseph Larose

I found these shoes at a vintage store in high school, and they just happen to be that awesome coral/red/orange/flame color that is so huge this fall.  They also match the Paisley pencil perfectly.



As far as how the school year is going, day one left me feeling extremely worn out.  We felt the sting of budget cuts big time at the end of last year, so this year, I have two sections each of three different classes, cafeteria duty, and no planning period (on top of advising the school newspaper and being in charge of our school's TV studio).  I was on my feet ALL DAY today (thank goodness Joseph Larose knew how to make a good shoe), and I had no time to collect my thoughts, run copies, breathe, etc.  I have a feeling this year is going to take a lot out of me.  I think I'll be heavily relying on weekends for blogging, wedding planning, and recharging my batteries.   

I also found that I subconsciously drank quite a bit less water (no time to go to the bathroom, except for lunch!), and I was parched by the end of the day.  I'm a big advocate of drinking lots and lots of water (I normally drink at least 4 or 5 bottles a day), so I'm hoping that drinking less won't adversely affect my health/immune system/skin/overall wellbeing. 

I got my liquid silk skirt in bright dahlia in the mail, so I'll blog a few pictures of it by the end of this week.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

Thank you, J.Crew (and some of my favorites)

I was pretty pumped when I opened my J.Crew email this morning and saw that they are now offering flat-rate shipping for $8.95 and free shipping for orders over $175.  I also couldn't wait to get home from working in my classroom (blech) to check out the new arrivals (yay!).  After the last roll-out, I had a feeling this update was going to have some great pieces in it. 

Before I get into my picks, the sweater from my B&M that I could not identify in this post is actually the Fisherman sweater from the new arrivals.  It's reviewed with pictures in the post mentioned above in the heather honey and deep plum colors.  I also (unbeknownst to me at the time) tried on and reviewed the origami mini in houndstooth in this post. 

Now, on to the items I'm lusting for after this rollout.

First, the Double-cloth townhouse trench:

The shape, buttons, and available colors make me want to order this rightthissecond.  The $350 price tag, though not unreasonable, is stopping me.  The fiance and I are putting ourselves on a spending moratorium to save up for a few wedding essentials, as well as a new bed, and spending $350 on a coat that isn't even a long trench just seems to be superfluous right now.  This will be going on my wishlist in the vibrant flame color, though.  It would be the perfect way to cheer up on a cold day. 

The Blythe shirtdress

This silk shirtdress seems to stay true to its moniker with a beautiful, feminine silhouette and texture.  This just looks so easy to wear, and it looks like it would make its possessor feel like an absolute lady when she dons this dress.  I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should put this dress or the Maisie dress in abstract floral on my wishlist.  What do you think?

The Two-tone circle skirt

This skirt reminds me of my grandma, but in a good, vintage fashion sort of way.  I love the caramel and grey colors together, and I love the length.  As a part of the collection, this skirt comes with a $250 price tag, so I will probably have to just stare at it lustily on my computer until a generous coupon code comes along.

The Merino pleated skirt

I have never worn a pleated skirt, and I can't imagine that it would look good on my curves, but I can't help but love looking at them anyway.  If this skirt came in colors other than black or "saddle" (pictured above), I might be more willing to give it a try.  Nonetheless, I imagine it would make an excellent staple for girls with less of a hind end than myself. :)

No new tops or pants really seemed to entice me, but looking through my favorites, I can see why.  I'm really loving feminine, vintage-looking skirts and dresses for the fall.  I've always loved a vintage silhouette, and I'm ecstatic that stores are beginning to carry pieces that lend themselves to that type of look.  I guess I have Mad Men to thank for that. 

Side-note: My double-serge no. 2 pencil skirt in jazzy purple should be arriving within the next day or two, so when it does, I'll make sure to take some pictures and post a review.

Have you checked out the new arrivals?  If so, which pieces are you coveting? 

OOTD: August 9th

This past Tuesday, I went into school to meet with my principal about my schedule.  I wanted to look professional, yet summer-casual.  It's finally cooled down enough here that I could test drive one of my Tippi sweaters without sweating profusely.  Here's what I wore:

There was a bit of a breeze, and the soiree skirt fluttered in a very pretty, feminine way.  So far, so good with the Tippi sweater.  I only wore it for a few hours, but I'm still afraid it might pill after a few wears.



My earrings and necklace are not included in the Polyvore set below.  The earrings are from Truly Vintage, a company that takes vintage pins, beads, buttons, etc. and creates new, stylish jewelry from recycled pieces.  The necklace is a gift from a friend.  Here's the set:

Summer Meeting by alldressedupnoplace2go featuring tortoise sunglasses

J crew sweater
$70 - jcrew.com

J Crew flower skirt
$70 - jcrew.com

Carolee wedding jewelry
£28 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Marc by Marc Jacobs tortoise sunglasses
$98 - nordstrom.com

Shoedazzle

Giada

simplyme091909.blogspot.com

It's almost the weekend :) Happy Thursday!