Thrifting Queen

My fall/winter shopping needs listed included: black booties (done - keeping the Ara boots); classic trench (off the list - have changed my mind); white blouse (have ordered the Zara one Inge suggested - fingers crossed); and work trousers. I have one pair of trousers for work come winter. I have added two items that were not on the list - the Nine West "magic dress" via Pil and the YLF Exchange and the blue floral VC tube skirt via eBay.

However browsing around on Amazon at the Kamilakulture dresses following Angie's blog post yesterday, I have fallen HARD for this dresshttp://www.amazon.com/KAMALIKU....._8?ie=UTF8 . Now I obviously don't know if it would work on my short torso or shoulders.

In order to stick with my budget and shopping plan, my question to you is...could I replace one of the pairs of trousers that I would be shopping for with this dress instead? Does that make wardrobe sense? Or should I stick with the original trouser plan? 

Ever since Inge found me this Gap sweater last summer (waving to Inge) and showed me how white, yellow and cognac can work together, I've been slightly obsessed with the colour combination. 

Today's outfit started with my TR Brianna white baby BF jeans to which I added my yellow and oatmeal striped light weight sweater. I would have normally chosen my animal print belt for the first hit of cognac and some pattern mixing, but I've been missing some of my vintage elements lately so chose instead my vintage men's tribal leather belt. To further play up the cognac accents, I am wearing my Blondo bone and cognac sandals and am using my cognac vintage-inspired Fossil handbag. Jewelry is my gold wedding ring and an old thrifted copper coloured watch.

I don't think I have the length of the jeans right - does the cuff need to be a bit higher? 

What do you think of this combination? How are the proportions? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Sweater: Gap
Jeans: True Religion Brianna (eBay)
Sandals: Blondo
Handbag: Fossil
Belt: vintage
Watch: thrifted

I had a few moments to put together two quick looks with the Ara Tala booties I received yesterday (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ck-booties).

First of all, I tried them with jeans and my one pair of work trousers (I need more, I know) and there is no problem with the pants catching in the V at the front of the boot. Plus the heel height is perfect. Loved the look of the sleek patent paired with my Cameron BF's in particular.

Then I tried them with both patterned and opaque hose and two different pencil skirts.

Vix - you're genius! The hose made all the difference. LOVE the look of the booties with these two outfits. Coupled with the comfort factor and ease with trousers, an easy decision has been made. Definitely KEEPING!!!

I do have one other question and a slight confession about the Rachel Roy skirt in pics 3/4. I purchased this skirt at last year's NAS and never wore it. It was a wee bit snug when I first got it and then I gained more weight and it didn't fit. So back in June I found one size larger on eBay at a ridiculously low price and snagged it (that's the one here) to wear come fall. I'm still as much in love with this skirt as when Angie first showed it to us. But this size is now bordering on a bit big and the size smaller is just a bit too snug for comfort. I feel like this size in the pictures is a bit wide - is it worth tapering or should I just wear it as is until the size smaller fits? Does it look horrible?

Thanks for listening :)

I think I've found a way to wear this green skirt that makes me happy - I've decided that if I'm wearing one item that's voluminous, the rest of the outfit has to have shape and structure. Volume on volume does not make me happy. 

So today I've paired this full twirly skirt with a simple black tank and my black short sleeved blazer. IMHO the fit and structure of the blazer balances out the fullness of the skirt. I like that. I popped on my trusty Clarks sandals again and am using a modern oversized print clutch. Then I added two vintage elements with a gold bangle and a green hummingbird brooch. I like pairing the vintage pieces with the modern clutch. Although I'm still not overly thrilled with how wide my hips look in a full skirt, this outfit feels like ME.

What do you think? Have I tamed the full skirt? Do these proportions work? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer: RW & Co (thrifted)
Tank and skirt: Cleo Petite
Sandals: Clarks
Clutch: XOXO (thrifted)
Bracelet & brooch: vintage store

After my return of the Michael Kors ankle boots (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ck-booties) I ordered the Ara Tala black patent ankle boots that Suz had linked to. I know that Vix has a pair of the Ara booties and is quite happy with them.

I got home from work today to see the box on the kitchen island and promptly kicked off my sandals and blazer and popped the booties on. Please ignore the lack of styling. These booties are to wear with skirts and dresses primarily, but also with jeans and trousers. I would wear them with bare legs until the weather is too cold - I know the contrast is high with my pale skin but that doesn't bother me - and then with tights after that. I probably should offer you more stylings with tights, jeans, etc. but it's +40 with the humidity and I just can't muster it :(

I am looking for refined but not too girly, sleek and very little to no adornment. 

A couple of quick things - comfort level is fabulous, heel very manageable, crinkly patent leather very pretty.

But over to you before I say anything more...are THESE my black booties?

I'm continually inspired by Sveta's outfits with "our" yellow Gap Academy blazer. A particular favourite is how she wears it with black and white.

So today I started my outfit with my black/white abstract tiered dress and added the bright yellow blazer over top with popped collar and scrunched sleeves. For footwear, I went with my Clarks black sandals and decided to go completely matchy-matchy with my yellow clutch which is pretty much the exact same yellow as the blazer. My white watch and silver wedding ring round out the outfit.

What do you think? Does it all work together? Does the yellow clutch work or would I have been better off to go with white or black? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer: Gap
Dress: Cleo Petite
Sandals: Clarks
Clutch: Gap
Watch: thrifted

Pil recently offered for sale a Nine West "Magic Dress" on our own YLF Style Exchange and I promptly scooped up this fabulous offer. I have enjoyed seeing the various coloured versions of this dress on other Fabbers and was dying to give it a try and add another dress to wardrobe at a fraction of the new cost.

I received the dress today and I think the fit is pretty much spot on. Here are a couple of quick pics and stylings to see what you think.

Pic 1 - 3: The dress on its own with my nude pumps.
Pic 4: with my blue lace moto and black pumps. I like how the colours in the dress sleeves peek out from underneath the lace moto. 
Pic 5: with a black blazer and my Blondo boots. I could wear it this way in the winter with tights. I would actually wear it with my leather blazer but it is currently at the cleaner's getting ready for fall so I just popped on this black blazer to show the colour contrast.

I consider this dress a fall/winter item due to the longer sleeves - it would be much too hot in summer here. I can also see it with a denim jacket topper and my blue suede booties. Any other styling suggestions my wise ones?

What do you think? Is it staying in my closet? 

Pil - thank you soooooo much :)

Casual Friday (or in our office "Denim Days") doesn't need to be just about jeans so I thought today I'd wear my dark denim pencil skirt instead. Plus it's going to be HOT so the skirt will be more comfortable than jeans.

I paired the denim skirt with my voluminous white and blue silk-blend floral tee and simple gold flats. I am using my cobalt/cream/black handbag again (used it yesterday) and a gold watch/wedding band round out the outfit.

Although the outfit is very casual, I still feel put together and appropriate for my Denim Day at work. What do you think?

I also have a hair question - last time I was at my stylist's we were talking about how much we're both enjoying how my hair is growing and I must admit, I'm really liking having a bit more hair to play with, as opposed to my super short pixie cut. She asked me if I would consider growing it out to a chin length bob, either all one length or with a few layers in the top for some movement. I do have a tiny bit of wave in my hair (if I work it) and she also thought I could just sort of "scrunch" it while it dries and go with my natural hair and then also have the option of blow drying and flat ironing it for a sleeker shape. She thought we could leave the side swept angular bang/fringe the way it is since she thinks that front shape really suits my face. Would love to hear your thoughts on this possibility and whether or not it would look good on me.

Tee: Laura Petite
Skirt: Revolution (thrifted)
Flats: Enzo Angiolini
Handbag: Danier Leather
Watch: thrifted

This Attitude by Jay Manuel abstract wrap dress has probably been the most versatile piece in my wardrobe since I bought it three years ago. I wear it all year round - with tights, boots and leather jacket in the winter and with sandals and light topper like today. This is the kind of piece I'm always on the lookout for...something that can transition easily from casual to work to dressy and be worn during the warm months and the cold.

Today I paired the dress with my bone/silver sandals (which I've decided go with EVERYTHING and have been my best summer 2013 purchase) and my white denim jacket. I've been wearing my white blazer more than the white denim this summer but the blazer looked too long with this dress and threw off the proportions. I chose my cobalt/cream/black handbag.

What do you think? Is this dress still working for me and still in style? How are the proportions with the white denim jacket? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jacket: BUM Equipment (thrifted)
Dress: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Sandals: Fugitive
Handbag: Danier Leather

My word, I'm tired this morning. This menopausal insomnia is getting to me - thank goodness for concealer and bright lipstick!

Today's outfit started with my silky long shorts (love these things!) to which I paired my white laser cut hole-y sweater. I really like the weight of this knit sweater because it semi-tucks and slouches just perfectly. A simple black leather belt completed the outfit. Then for footwear, I chose my bone laser cut oxfords - I like how the holes in the shoes mimic the holes in the sweater. Finishing touch was my over sized snakeskin print clutch. Jewelry is my black and white oversized watch and silver wedding band.

I really like how this turned out - dare I say I feel "kinda cool"? Anyway, what do you think? do the pieces and proportions all work together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Sweater: Nygard
Shorts: Baby Phat (thrifted)
Belt: Danier Leather
Shoes: Dolce Vita
Clutch: XOXO (thrifted)