Looking through some old pics I wanted to retry my halter top as sweater vest look again last week. This time around I added my trusty blue cardigan and sparkly brooch as well as my super awesome leopard print rain boots.
I kept this close up pic to show you all how cool (in my humble opinion) the different textures of the purple halter, the blue cardigan and the sparkly brooch look together. This pic also has the added benefit of showing you all my blue freshwater pearl necklace that I put together. I bought the pearls on a string and restrung them on jewelry wire and added a lobster clasp and ring to either end. It was really easy and took almost no time at all. I definitely recommend trying it out as its a cheap and easy way to grow your jewelry collection. It's also the same reason I've begun sewing. Even if all I do is rework old garments, it will end up saving me money in the long run as well as keeping me in control of my own closet.
Do you make anything yourself to save money or gain creative control of your closet?
The Details:
Blouse: BR
Faux Sweater vest: ?
Blue cardigan: Target
Jeans: ON
Sparkly brooch: consignment
Pearls: me
Rain boots: Steinmart
Generally when I get dressed on weekends, I do it because I have to go somewhere, not because I want to look cute. But sometimes, I end up with a cute result. Do you find yourself dressing up more for weekends or for the work week?
The Details:
Jeans: ON
Belt: Target
Tank: Ralph Lauren (Marshalls)
Necklace: Swarovski (gift from sister)
Cardigan: Hanes
I Last week on Tuesday morning I had a meeting to attend. Knowing that I'm 5'5" and female, I wanted to make sure I could convey some authority and be taken seriously. So I chose a blazer. But I didn't want to wear a full suit. My solution was to wear a pair of dark gray pants with my navy pinstripe blazer. After my meeting I swapped out the blazer for my blue pashmina for the rest of the day. It kept me warm and added some color and detail to the outfit.
When you need it, how do you convey authority through dress?
The Details:
Blazer: Nine West (suit)
Cream Sweater: LOFT
Gray pants: Gap
Boots: Etienne Aigner
Pashmina: streets of BCN
Necklace: Consignment
Red Coat: ON
I will be participating in the Spring Capsule Wardrobe Challenge hosted by The Small Fabric of My Life from March 1 to March 5. Last winter, by the time I came across the challenge it was already too late and the challenge had started. This time around, I am prepared. I've been looking in my closet trying to figure out how to combine a total of 15 different items into 5 different outfits and not have them look repetitive. I've got 2 outfits planned so far, and I'm looking forward to planning the rest. The initial rules are below, and for those of us still in the throes of winter, we've gotten permission to add "one functional coat, one pair of functional gloves or mittens, one functional hat, one functional scarf and one functional pair of snow boots or other essential footwear needed to get from A to B without your feet freezing off!"
Choose ten items of clothing from your wardrobe and mix and match them for five days between Monday March 1st and Friday March 5th.
You can have any combination of shoes, dresses, skirts, tops and jackets as long as it adds up to ten individual items.
You are also allowed five accessories which include jewellery, scarves, bag, belts etc.
Underwear and hosiery do not come under the ten items and five accessories!
If you are joining the challenge please blog about it and if you want to appear in my Capsule Wardrobe Challenge round-up the following week then please email your pics to workthatwardrobe@googlemail.com
The reason I really want to participate in the challenge is that I think it's important to be able to create outfits that are fun and interesting from a limited wardrobe. Granted, with the challenge we get to choose the wardrobe around the outfits, but the idea is to use clothing as efficiently as possible to make them look different in several outfits. In addition, the capsule challenge really plays into my shopping ban. Without the ability to fill in the holes of my wardrobe that I have discovered, I have to put together 5 outfits from only shopping in my closet. I think it's cool and should pose an intriguing challenge for the next week in figuring out outfits. Do you plan on participating in the Spring Capsule Wardrobe Challenge?
 |
| I look tall! |
I wore this dress last Friday to work and felt sassy ALL DAY LONG! It was amazing. The combination of the red belt and shoes with the purple dress rocked. Not to mention that I also wore my favorite gray tights. (Sadly, these tights are now departed since I snagged them on my desk today and caused them to have a ginormous run in them. :'( ) I think the reason I felt so sassy was the proportions of the dress. With the red belt, I was able to make my waist look smaller and the skirt of the dress look fuller. The combination reminded me of something out of the 1950's, and frankly, that made me happy. Also, I think the proportions somehow combined to make me look taller, what do you think?
When I chose the red shoes, I knew I was treading a fine line between being an individual and work appropriate clothing. Knowing that my office is very casual and accepting, I figured I could run that risk. Especially since the red shoes matched the red leather belt. And believe it or not, one of my bosses told me I could get away with wearing my outfit with light purple tights and the other told me he liked my red shoes. It was pretty cool to know that others, including my bosses liked what I was wearing.
How do you tread the fine line between being an individual and maintaining work appropriateness with your accessories?
The Details:
Purple Dress: Target
Red Belt: Target
Red Shoes: Nine West
Cream Sweater: LOFT
Tights: L'eggs
Earrings: gift
Sometime last week I decided to wear this dress and try to make it look different than the last time I wore it. I think I achieved my goal. I layered a skin-tight black long sleeved shirt under the dress as well as black tights and boots. I think I dressed it up pretty well. In fact, one of my professors asked me if I dressed up for work that day. She then told me that if I wanted to, with a sweater or blazer, my outfit would be office appropriate. So yay for me!
When I first put the outfit together I was kind of afraid of the lumpiness and curviness. As you can see, you can't really hide a whole lot in a bright green fitted sheath dress. I was afraid that the belt would highlight my tummy pooch and make my boobs look enormous and . . . In the end though, I ended up feeling really comfortable all day long and didn't really worry about the lumps and bumps.
I added the Bravissimo trench to the dress so I could brave the elements. I have really grown to love how the trench itself as an outfit piece. I love how the cut creates an illusion of a much smaller waist and that the "skirt" of the coat is so swingy. It reminds me a lot of the 50's and how different proportions can create the most amazing illusions. If it buttoned a bit lower I might risk wearing the trench as a dress, but as it is, I would be exposing myself a whole bunch if I did that and that's not a risk I'm willing to take.
How do you face your body issues when you get dressed? Sometimes I suck it up, like on this day, and wear whatever I want regardless. Other days, when I'm not feeling quite so confident, I cover up in great big sweats. Which do you prefer? If you do both, what makes you decide? Do you think there's another way?
The Details:
Green Dress: Target
Shirt: Gap (old!)
Tights: L'eggs
Boots: Target
Belt: Target
Trench: Bravissimo
I made this skirt. By myself. Without a pattern and with lillipilli's instructions as my only guide. What do you guys think? Any beginner sewing projects anyone recommends?
The Details:
Black Blazer: ON
T-shirt: Target
Necklace: gift
Tights: L'eggs
Boots: Target
Skirt: made by me!
I kept this close up pic to show you all how cool (in my humble opinion) the different textures of the purple halter, the blue cardigan and the sparkly brooch look together. This pic also has the added benefit of showing you all my blue freshwater pearl necklace that I put together. I bought the pearls on a string and restrung them on jewelry wire and added a lobster clasp and ring to either end. It was really easy and took almost no time at all. I definitely recommend trying it out as its a cheap and easy way to grow your jewelry collection. It's also the same reason I've begun sewing. Even if all I do is rework old garments, it will end up saving me money in the long run as well as keeping me in control of my own closet. 
Do you make anything yourself to save money or gain creative control of your closet? 
