Thrifting Queen

Well, maybe two years old isn't THAT old for a dress...I love this dress just as much now as when I bought it and wear it all year long - on its own with sandals in summer and with tights, boots and jacket in winter. It truly is a workhorse in my wardrobe.

To play up the lighter tones in the dress, I've paired it with my neutral peep toe booties and the new Elliot Lucca handbag. I like the booties with the dress, but not sure the handbag works with it - what do you think? I've also been missing some of my vintage jewelry so pulled out my pearls to wear. I like them with this dress and neckline.

Also showing you the new soft purple lipstick I just bought for fall from The Body Shop. I'm in LOVE with this colour!

So does this outfit work? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Dress: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Shoes: Boutique 9
Handbag: Elliot Lucca
Pearls: vintage

As you know, I attended my friend Kristin's wedding on August 17th. She and I have a unique relationship - she is exactly 20 years younger than I am and yet we are so similar. We work together but also have a friendship outside of work. She is very near and dear to me.

I asked Kristin if I could have a couple of pictures to post of her in her gorgeous dress for you to see and she has kindly agreed. The funny thing about this stunning dress is I found it for her on our local Kijiji site. Kristin and her hubby paid for their entire wedding celebration themselves so were being very frugal. She asked me to help her find a dress at a reasonable price and so I began the search. I found this dress on the site and it had never been worn (the wedding it was purchased for was cancelled). She loved the dress and went to check it out - it fit PERFECTLY. Absolutely no alterations required - it was meant to be.

I think she looks absolutely STUNNING. Enjoy...

Seeing MaryK use the Elliot Lucca handbag from NAS, I decided it was high time to break out mine! I've paired this beautiful bag with my white jeans, psychedelic cold shoulder dolman sleeve top and neutral peep toe booties. I've added my vintage pink Bakelite bangle for another pop of colour - like I needed one with this top (lol)!

So what do you think? Does this combination work? Proportions ok? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Top: Laura Petite
Jeans: Jeanne Bekker
Shoes: Boutique 9
Handbag: Elliot Lucca
Bangle: vintage

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/co.....tback=1391

Just a quick check: are denim jackets something that can be worn year round, like a blazer? Or are they considered more warm season staples?

I really shouldn't peruse the Antro site. There are so many pretty things available and they have a decent sized petite section.

This is the latest incarnation of the famous Bailey 44 column dress - it's available in petite and it's my favourite yet with the greys and blues (fab colours for me).

We've discussed before how body con this dress is so that's still something to take into consideration. And yes I know I have three new dresses waiting for fall (Maggy London black/white wrap, Calvin Klein long-sleeved multi colour and BCBG blue/turquoise wrap) but I do wear them a lot for work.

I trust y'all - could this dress work on my apple shape or would it be unflattering? Tell me the truth - I can take it!

http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....683558.jsp

I've decided to enter therapy with my BF to make this relationship work. I'm heading out to get some groceries and it's cool enough to wear my BF jeans so am giving it a "go".

Taking in all the wonderful advice I received from my fellow YLFers http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....with-my-bf I've figured out there are a couple of things I need to add to my BF looks in order to feel like me:

1. Something feminine
2. A good strong looking belt for a bit of a structured feel
3. Colour
4. At the minimum, a semi tuck to show I do still have a waist, and sometimes even a full tuck

Taking these four points into account, I've paired the smaller of my BF jeans with a feminine green blowsy tee - the detailing around the neckline and the shape of the neckline of the tee make it feminine; the green is my pop of colour; my wide belt gives me my structure; and my gold metallic flats are another feminine touch. I've also fully tucked the tee - it's still voluminous in a way but under control.

I think this works - please give me your honest feedback and let me know if you think I'm on to something with these four points. As always, all comments/feedback welcome.

This was the first time I participated in NAS and I'm shocked and thrilled to say that every single item I chose is a keeper. They include: black Halogen seamed pencil skirt (not technically part of NAS but purchased at same time); Jeffrey Campbell oxfords (not technically part of NAS but ....); Elliot Lucca snakeskin handbag; Halogen tipped two-tone purple sweater blazer; Vince Camuto houndstooth blouse; Maggy London black/white wrap dress (not technically part of NAS but...); Rachel Roy tree print skirt; Vince Camuto striped banded tee; Blondo Vergara boots. I also have the Amber Sun jacket on the way to me in the purple colour but I ordered it after NAS was over.

Here are the individual threads that show each item:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ther-items

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....oth-blouse

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....banded-tee

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rint-skirt

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-delivered

I truly cannot believe how lucky I was and I want to thank all of you for helping me narrow down my choices and providing me with information on the individual items (i.e. if you'd seen them in person, tried them on, etc). I especially want to thank you Angie for your killer list of items to begin with and answering my gazzillion questions when I required more info. I'm looking forward to putting all these babies into action once we get into fall weather.

Went shopping with MIL today and had a wonderful time. We both bought clothes (everything on sale mind you) and then had sushi for lunch. MIL's first time eating sushi - seemed to like it!

Had several places to go while out shopping (some mundane errands thrown in the mix) so went with comfort all the way. Started with my gold flats (my most comfy shoes EVER) and paired them with my white bermuda shorts and hi-low floral tee. Popped on my orange leather handbag for another colour and away we went. How's the outfit? Proportions and mix ok?

While out, we went into BCBGMAXAZRIA. Normally their clothes are out of my budget but I always have a look at the sale rack. There was a beautiful two-tones blue wrap dress with long sleeves looking very lonely on the rack, as it was the last one. It was my size so thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try. Well I fell in love - hard! This is not posted as a Keep/Return for two reasons: 1) final sale so cannot be returned; 2) I love it!

Then my MIL wanted to look in Cleo and I spied this taupe/mushroom ponte knit faux tiered pencil skirt. Not exciting but a fabulous little staple and I've been wanting some fall/winter pencil skirts in colours other than black and grey. It fit perfectly so it also came home with me. I've popped it on here with a purple ruffled sleeveless blouse I already had and my Jeffrey Campbell three-toned oxfords. Probably not the best styling, but hopefully you get the idea. I think this is a keeper - yes?

Then once we got home, I changed into my grubbies to do a bit of yard work and literally just zipped up the cut offs when the doorbell range and there was the handsome and always popular UPS delivery man with my Blondo Vergara boots (one of Angie's picks). You'll have to excuse the outfit I'm wearing with the boots but I could not wait to try them on. They fit perfectly, are ridiculously comfortable and are beautiful. I was very worried they would be too tall in the shaft but they are not. My only tiny issue is that on my left knee (my bad knee) I have swelling on the inside of the knee that the boot pushes up a bit. It's not uncomfortable at all but may make the boot look a bit tight. But I'm not going to worry about it. Again, I think these are keepers - yes?

Thanks for looking and as always, all comments/suggestions welcome!

I'm having doubts about the boyfriend jeans look on me. Although I've had reassurances from Angie and others on a couple of the looks I've tried with them and they are undoubtedly comfortable, I just don't feel like ME in the look.

Just saying...