Thrifting Queen

I may have broken No Shopping June....and this may be on its way to me all the way from Australia...ok...that's a lie....there's no may - I ordered and its on the way!

Huge thanks to the gorgeous Deborah for her info and confab with her local boutique SA, measurements and ever helpful and beautiful self :)

Now I wait. Impatiently I might add.

ETA: I'd like to know how a boutique in Australia can ship an item to Canada at one-third (yes...one-third) the cost of shipping from the U.S. to Canada???

I have a fun day ahead of me today - I'm working at the staff picnic handing out ice-cream. It's supposed to be a warm/bordering on hot day today and our picnic is held in a lovely spot known as the Nuns' Garden. I needed to dress in something that would be comfortable and easy to move around in, layered for the combination of the A/C in the office and then the heat outside, completely washable and good for being on my feet. Thanks to many of my new pieces, this was easy to put together.

I started with my EF black cropped pants - comfortable, fairly lightweight and washable for those pesky ice-cream spills that are likely to happen. I then paired the cropped pants with a breezy cobalt and black print sleeveless top. This fits my idea of appropriate sleeveless at work - good bra coverage and cut high enough in the underarm area. It has a pleating detail in the front that doesn't really show in the pics but it adds some interest to the outfit because it's kind of "swingy" when you walk and move. 

I chose my Birkenstock Papillio sandals for footwear. Great for standing and moving around outside and cool enough for the heat. I topped it all with my EF linen blend short cardigan for when I'm back in the A/C. I like the length of the cardi with the longer top showing underneath. Keeps my proportions in check.

I went with my quilted cobalt/cream/black handbag, red specs and black/white watch to finish off the outfit.

Oh yeah…and to end my already fun day, I'm meeting two of my girlfriends from my previous job for happy hour on a patio after work. It doesn't get much better than that :)

So what do you think? Does this work for a casual office/picnic day? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Cardigan & pants: Eileen Fisher
Blouse: Smart Set
Sandals: Birkenstock
Handbag: Danier Leather
Watch: Calvin Klein

When I bought this pastel drapey tank about a month ago (when shopping with DS), I had no idea that it would work with my pastel blue suit jacket - YAY for happy surprises!

Today's outfit started with the tank - I layer a white tank underneath that has higher underarm holes for modesty coverage. I then paired that with my new EF white cropped pants. These are made of the same fabric as the black pair. I realize that the slight flare at the hem won't be to everyone's liking but I actually like that they are not skin tight and therefore don't resemble leggings.

I then topped that with my pastel blue suit jacket, with scrunched sleeves for added structure. I chose my bone/silver sandal shoes and large cream leather handbag, as well as purple/clear specs to complete the outfit.

I'm happy with how this looks together - what do you think? Does it work? How is the length of the cropped pants? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jacket: Anne Klein
Tank: Gentlefawn
Pants: Eileen Fisher
Shoes: Fugitive
Handbag: Danier Leather

Today's outfit started with my blue EF drape front dress. I love being able to just pop these on over my head and I'm essentially dressed. I've added my floral moto as a topper for protection against the A/C. I really like how the grey/purple/cream of the jacket looks against the blue of the dress. 

I then added my cream laser cut oxfords for footwear, to bookend the cream in the moto and bring out those lighter tones. I remember saying I would never wear oxfords with a dress….I have learned to never say never!

For accessories, I chose my large cream handbag, my taupe/silver leather wrap watch and silver wedding band, and my purple/clear specs.

Feeling good and ready for action! What do you think? Does it all work together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Moto: Club Monaco
Dress: Eileen Fisher
Oxfords: Dolce Vita
Handbag: Danier Leather
Watch: Fossil

I decided to go with an old favourite colour combination of mine - optic white with shades of cognac. I love how the cognac makes the white seem all that much brighter.

I started with my TR Brianna BF white jeans, rolled twice to showcase my Blondo cognac ankle strap sandals. I bought these sandals last year and wore them a ton. This will be their first wearing this summer so hoping my increasingly fussy feet will be fine in them today. I added my animal print belt to bookend the cognac tones in the sandals and then chose my white cut-out drapey knit pullover and semi-tucked to show a glimpse of the belt. I finished off the outfit with my large Fossil handbag (waving to Natalie!), an ebony and stainless steel watch that was a gift from DH several years ago and my purple/clear specs.

I've added a couple of close up shots of my new haircut. Really please with what my stylist did and it will be so light and easy for the summer.

So what do you think? Does white and cognac still look current together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

P.S.  I realized after the pics that I had my jeans pulled up a bit too high and have skooched them down lower so the crotch area fits better. My bad.

Pullover: Nygard
Jeans: True Religion
Belt: Streets Ahead
Sandals: Blondo
Handbag & watch: Fossil

So tonight is my hair appointment and I've been giving it a fair bit of thought as to what direction I want to head (ha ha....get it?...."head"....) in with my hairstyle.

Bit of info about my hair. It is pretty straight, although has gained some body with age, and very thick and requires a fair bit of thinning when I get it cut. It has the tendency to grow the fastest in the crown area and I can end up with what I call "the mighty hump" if left on its own.

Continuing with my desire for simplicity, I don't like to spend a lot of time on my hair. Right now it's much too long and thick for my liking and I need to both blow dry it and flat iron the front to get it to look decent. Hey c'mon...if I can have 10 more minutes of sleep in the morning, I'm going for it!

I'm also taking into account Angie's comments on my previous thread about haircuts (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....cut-option) and would like to leave the sideswept fringe in the front for length and asymmetry. The asymmetry does work well to help shorten my fairly long and narrow face. I don't mind blow drying and flat ironing the fringe, I just don't want to do my whole head.

So here are three options I'm quite interested in. #1 and #2 are actually quite similar except that the sides and back of #1 aren't shaved and therefore are smoother and the sides/back of #2 are shaved but still has the longer fringe in front (although difficult to see at this angle). I love the front of #3 but am a bit concerned that the way the sides and back are shaped will only enhance my Mighty Hump and end up with me looking like a mushroom head.

I'm strongly leaning towards something like #1 - I love the shape and how light and easy it looks but would love your feedback.

Today's outfit started with my VC marble patterned midi tube skirt (waving to skirt twin Elizabeth!). I paired the skirt with my black lace drapey tee and then topped that with my light blue linen-blend boxy cropped jacket. I scrunched the sleeves for some added structure. For footwear, I chose my black/white polka dot Birks. I can't believe I'm wearing a midi with flats (essentially) - a shortie like me. See what you can teach us Angie? :)

For accessories, I went with my cobalt/cream/black handbag, red specs and a gold/turquoise cuff. Looks like I'm ready for the day!

I realize this is quite casual for the workplace, but trust me…this will be fine in my office. This outfit will also work for weekend get togethers with the BFF for coffee, shopping with hubby, etc.

So what do you think? Does it all work together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome. 

Jacket: Liz Claiborne
Tee: Smart Set
Skirt: Vince Camuto
Sandals: Birkenstock (Papillio)
Cuff: thrifted
Handbag: Danier Leather

In my attempts to stay warm in my office Arctic A/C, I purchased this EF linen-blend short simple cardigan. I adore the simplicity of this cardigan - no bells and whistles in terms of buttons, snaps, ties, design details - just an open, beautiful fabric, soft-to-the-touch, not-too-long, cardigan.

Underneath the cardi, I have on my abstract multicoloured in citron/black/grey/white/taupe drapey tank. I've paired the tank with my slightly slouchy black tapered trousers and then added my high vamp black sandals to elongate the leg line. I added my black/white specs, citron leather clutch and large gold watch for accessories.

Not an exciting outfit, but I feel good in it. Does it look ok to you? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Cardigan: Eileen Fisher
Tank: Laura Petites
Trousers: Ricki's
Sandals: Clarks
Clutch: Gap

I don't wear scarves (other than winter ones) - I have quite a short neck and I don't think they do me any favours. But the A/C in my office is ridiculously cold - and I've been told it will be like this all summer. Some days I don't want to wear a blazer or topper so how else to stay warm from that vent in my ceiling blasting cold air down? A tee shirt cotton scarf.

The outfit started out with my slim striped version of the famous VC black and white tube skirt. I then added a white tank and over top of that, my blue linen oversized boxy hi-lo EF pullover. I then chose my bone/silver sandal shoes and my quilted cobalt/cream/black handbag and a large gunmetal cuff and silver ring for jewelry, as well as my red specs. Truth be told, I preferred the clean look of the outfit without the scarf, but I'm not sure I'd be warm enough. 

Ok ladies - give it to me straight. Does it look horrible with the scarf? Do I look like I have no neck? I still have time to take it off if it looks goofy or doesn't suit me. 

Other than that, what do you think? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Pullover: Eileen Fisher
Skirt: Vince Camuto
Shoes: Fugitive
Handbag & scarf: Danier Leather

I collected a pin of a bold black and white outfit with cobalt purse and am finally getting around to copying it (pic #5).

The outfit started with my black Earhart aviator trousers (sooooooo comfy) combined with a simple black tank, fully tucked with a black leather belt. I topped the outfit with my crisp white blazer and chose my black heeled sandals for footwear. I don't have a cobalt blue clutch like the inspiration outfit but I was able to choose my quilted cobalt/cream/black handbag for that pop of colour. I finished off the outfit with my black/white watch and silver wedding band, black/white specs and a swipe of red lipstick.

I really like the simplicity of this outfit. What do you think? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer: Nygard
Tank: Smart Set
Pants: J Brand
Sandals: Clarks
Handbag: Danier Leather