Thrifty Muse

Mustard Reprise

2009-11-13T15:14:00.014-06:00

Sweater, The Limited. Skirt, Eddie Bauer (swap). Belt, Forever 21. Necklace, Access. Purse, Tingnanello. Tights, Forever 21. Shoes, Keen.

I just love my new yellow purse and belt -they can really add a "pop" to an otherwise ordinary outfit. Now if I could only find a mustard colored scarf...

Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy

2009-11-13T00:05:00.003-06:00

Much has been said about First Lady Michelle Obama's style since she burst into the fashion consciousness at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She has been praised for her ability to mix high-end fashion with less expensive clothes. She has been compared to Jackie O., but with a more attainable style. She is glamorous, yet accessible.

Mary Tomer of Mrs-O.org elaborates on the "Michelle Obama Effect" in her new book Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy.

Tomer's group blog, Mrs-O.org, already does a lovely job providing information on Michelle Obama's daily fashion choices. The book goes beyond with new analysis, splendid photography, designer interviews and insights into Obama's cultural impact.

Writing about Michelle Obama's sartorial choices during the Democratic National Convention, Tomer explains what is captivating about the First Lady.

I found myself profoundly impressed by Michelle Obama's confidence, intelligence, and gracious spirit, and inspired that such strength and self possession could exist in harmony with a feminine, almost romantic, style sensibility. While strong and feminine shouldn't be at odds, the dress code of our culture can be remarkably outdated, particularly in the realm of politics. With Mrs. Obama's style, a new era of body-hugging silhouettes, jewel tones, floral prints, and brooches was ushered in--unapologetically feminine details that quickly dismissed the boxy skirt suit as anonymous, old-fashioned, and, well, square.

The book brings forth fresh analysis of the First Lady's fashion, such as Isabel Toledo's comment on the dress worn to meet the Queen of England:

"I thought it was perfect," she said. "Michelle Obama really let the Queen shine in her blossom pink." Commenting on the ivory and black palette, Toledo added, "This classic combination is well understood by men in tuxedos. You are always at your best without upstaging anyone else in the room. It is the art of restraint. For a woman, there is a sense of beauty in being discreet."

The book closes with quotes from readers of Mrs-O.org on why they follow Michelle Obama's fashion. Particularly charming is the short and sweet final quote:

Because I love her.

Thanks to Mrs-O.org for the complementary book for review!

Warm and Fuzzy

2009-11-05T23:06:00.009-06:00

Dress, Ann Taylor Loft. Turtleneck, Habana. Belt, thrifted. Leggings, Forever 21. Boots, Aldo.

Some fall days just call for a cozy turtleneck and a warm cup of tea. Since the cutest part of this dress is the ruching at the shoulders, I decided to layer under instead of over.

I got this belt for seventy-five cents at a costume store that was going out of business. It was too big, but my husband fixed that by making another hole in it with his power drill. Ta-dah!

And just for fun -pop the collar!

Breaking the Rules & Power Tools

2009-11-05T20:24:00.011-06:00

Sweater, Merona. Jacket, Forever 21 (thrifted). Belt, Forever 21. Skirt, Larry Levine. Shoes, J-41. Necklace, Souvenir from Rome.

When it comes to dressing for my body type, I usually have a pretty good intuitive sense about what works and what doesn't work. I end up subconsciously following the rules touted by fashion writers in magazines and blogs, just because their advice seem to innately make sense to me. After all, at five-foot-three, I know from experience that tea-length skirts make me look comically dwarfed, and billowy shirts with empire waists are better left to the tall and lean or to expectant mothers. But I don't care what they say, I WILL wear floor-length skirts, even if I have to hem the bottom a whole six inches. Long skirts not only feel elegant and feminine, they're also perfect for hiding knee-high wool socks and leggings during the colder months. Not to mention they're as comfortable as pajamas!

Adding a belt to create a high waist helps to lengthen the silhouette a bit as well and makes it a little more wearable for me. I had actually been searching for a "skinny belt" for about a year without finding one that fit at my natural waist. But since my husband graciously offered to customize the holes on my new $2.50 belt with his power drill, I can now define the waistline of any outfit with a bright splash of gold.

By the way, this necklace was a souvenir I picked up in Rome a few years ago.

Mustard Fever

2009-10-27T21:36:00.015-05:00

Dress, Mossimo (swapped). Sweater, MEXX (thrifted). Belt, Forever 21 (thrifted). Purse, Tignanello. Tights, Betsy Johnson? (from T.J. Max). Shoes, Rough Hewn.

Kasmira's Year of Mustard must have been working in my subconscious over the last six months, because I have been craving something mustard-colored! It seems that everywhere I go, that rich, sunny shade pops out at me from wherever it's hiding and begs me to take it home. At first I was hoping to find some lovely mustard-yellow shoes, but then I came to the practical realization that without shoe polish to match, the shoes wouldn't look lovely for very long.

Then I found this purse. It was the only one left. And it was 50% off. AND my current purse is so old it's falling apart. So how could I resist? With its its creamy soft leather and rich, sunny color, it was love at first sight.

Looking back, maybe I had mustard yellow even deeper in my subconscious than I thought - the rich, golden hue of sunflowers, which I've used as part of my decorating scheme since high school, is strikingly similar to the mustard shades I've been drawn to more recently. I guess that warm, rich, bright colors just make me happy!

Chopsticks, anyone?

2009-10-26T18:34:00.012-05:00

Shirt, Oxford Style Lab (Thrifted). Sweater, Old Navy (Thrifted). Jeans, Banana Republic Factory Store. Scarf, T.J. Max. Earrings, Target. Belt, brand unknown (Thrifted). Shoes, Bakers. Necklace, Target.

Something about Mondays makes me crave sushi. Maybe it's because a light and elegant meal is the perfect antidote to the long, fast-paced day that jump-starts every work week. Sushi makes me stop and savor the moment, instead of just being swept up by the momentum of the day and rushing right through dinner. Sometimes you just have to stop and taste the California rolls...

What's your cure for the Monday blues?

Bring on the Trench Coat, Hold the Snow!

2009-10-11T11:45:00.012-05:00

Trench coat, Old Navy (thrifted). Jacket, Forever 21 (thrifted). Shirt, Merona. Necklace, Fossil. Skirt, Mossimo (thrifted). Boots, Aldo. Tights, eBay.

Brrrrrrr! I'm not ready for the temperatures to drop yet, but they sure are dropping here in Wisconsin. We even had a bit of snow for a few brief minutes -snow in mid-October?? Crisp fall weather means I get to pull out my jean trench coat, which I enjoy. But if temperatures dip below 45 degrees, I have to swap it for my wool winter coat or freeze in the wind while waiting for the bus.

I got this coat on my first trip ever to a Good Will store, which I discovered in the middle of nowhere, Ohio. As I was looking around, a fellow shopper walked up to me and handed me this coat, saying "Here. This wouldn't fit me, but it would look great on you." For $4, I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. It was definitely money well spent.

Autumn is here

2009-09-29T19:15:00.014-05:00

Shirt, Merona. Skirt, Eddie Bauer (give-away from fellow blogger Theresa). Necklace, also a give-away from Theresa. Tights, eBay. Shoes, Strictly Comfort.

Wearing this outfit made me realize again how much I love fall. I love sweaters, tights, and lots of layers for cool, crisp autumn weather. I love the warm, rich color palette of autumn. I can't wait for the sugar maple trees outside my window to turn orange!

And with fall comes harvest season, including neighbors and relatives whose gardens are overflowing with tomatoes, zucchini, etc. that are gladly bestowed on anyone willing to give them a good home.

Two and a half hours after a friend brought over forty tomatoes, we had "made-from-scratch" spaghetti sauce -and strands of spaghetti on the wall, since we decided to test the theory that it sticks when done. We concluded that adhesion to the wall does not indicate al dente, but trying to get the spaghetti to stick to the ceiling does make for great entertainment. Leaving it up there to see how long it takes my husband to notice it on the ceiling is even better! ;)

Also shown in the above picture: my cooking apron, NowDesigns.

First Day of Fall

2009-09-22T22:53:00.007-05:00

Green blouse, Forever 21. Skirt, New York & Company. Striped scarf, a street market in Spain. Boots, American Munro. Earrings, rummage sale. Camisole, Express.

Aaaaand we're back. Blog hiatuses... happen.

To celebrate the first official day of fall, I mixed my summer and fall palette. The green babydoll blouse is one of my summer staples. The brown boots are definitely fall footwear. The earrings were a rummage sale find at my parish festival this past weekend. I warmed up the ensemble with a multi-colored scarf I bought at a street market in Mallorca, Spain.

Cruncy leaves, here I come.

Thrifty Thursday

2009-09-17T17:47:00.008-05:00

Sweater, MEXX (thrifted). Shirt, Mossimo. Necklace, Target. Belt, Forever 21 (thrifted). Skirt, Merona. Shoes, Bakers.

I got this fun elastic belt at Goodwill the other day. It was part of a shirt-belt combo, but after buying, I cut the belt loops off of the shirt to free the lovely belt so I could wear it with any outfit. I consider the shirt just a "free bonus" thrown into the deal, and may or may not keep it.

Incidentally, I realized halfway through my day that with the exception of my shoes, everything I was wearing was from either Goodwill or Target clearance.

Just Another Day

2009-09-14T20:06:00.003-05:00

Cardigan, Old Navy. Shirt, Banana Republic factory store. Camisole, Diviine Modestee. Necklace, Kohls. Skirt, H&M. Polka-dot Heels, Lifestride.

Just another day... not much to say. Definitely feels like Monday.

Queen of Hearts

2009-09-10T20:50:00.008-05:00

Shirt, Banana Republic factory store. Camisole, Diviine Modestee. Skirt, Odille. Shoes, Dollhouse. Necklace, Access.

Judging by how often I wear it, I really am in love with the color gray. It's subtle and classy and can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion. Plus, it's easy to pair with other colors for a bright "pop".

My new necklace is a fun two-for-one: doves and flowers on one side, queen of hearts on the other.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

2009-09-10T19:53:00.010-05:00

Dress, Mossimo (swapped). Jacket, BCBG Maxazria. Shoes, Bakers. Earrings, Macy's.

It's a good think I'm such a frugalista, because I've just discovered something dangerous: the BCBGMAXAZRIA outlet store in Kenosha, WI.

I've never been one to go gaga over brand names, in part because I refuse, on principle, to buy into all the silly hype. But I do recognize that the more pricey brands often carry higher quality products.

That's certainly true of my lovely new jacket. I am impressed not only by the overall construction and tailoring of the garment, but also by the thoroughness with which its finer points have been designed. Whereas most buttonholes are made from a line cut in the fabric with thread sewn around it to prevent fraying, this buttonhole is hidden neatly in the seam of the jacket. Well done!

Despite its superior quality, I don't quite understand why some would pay the $278 original price tag for this jacket, other than to have a "brand name" label hidden at the nape of the neck where no one will even see it. I will say, though, that this jacket was certainly worth more than the drastically-reduced outlet store price I paid for it. I'm sure it will last me many years.

Christmas in July

2009-07-17T18:10:00.006-05:00

Cardigan, MEXX (thrifted). Shirt, H&M. Tank, Diviine Modestee. Jeans, The Limited. Necklace and Bracelet, from my great grandma's costume jewelry. Ukranian Pin, a gift from fellow blogger Cat.

This sweater is another find from my last thrift store expedition. It might be hard to see in the picture, but it has a fun velvety trim running down the front on both sides, and little pockets, too.

The pin I'm wearing is a souvenir that Cat picked up for me in Ukraine. The mix of red and green remind me of Christmas.

An art teacher once told me that black, white, and red is the strongest possible color combination. These colors together can be quite striking, but my preference is for more soft and friendly colors -which is probably why I have been wearing so much gray lately.

Wearing black, white, and red together reminds me of a childhood joke: "What is black and white and red all over?" The answer could be almost anything: a penguin with a diaper rash, a newspaper ("read" instead of "red"), a zebra with chicken pox, etc. Today I guess I am one of the answers, too!

TGI...T??

2009-07-02T20:47:00.004-05:00

Blazer, Semantik. Shirt, Grace Elements. Jeans, The Limited. Earrings, Macy's. Shoes, Nordstrom Boutique.

THANK GOODNESS IT'S THURSDAY!

I've been swamped at work, so having Friday off was just what I needed. I pulled out the "casual Friday" look to celebrate the early end of my work week.

I am looking forward to a lovely three-day weekend with friends at a lake-house (though I can promise you I won't be wearing red, white, and blue on the 4th...just not my thing.)

Happy 4th of July, Everyone.

Goodwill Hunting

2009-06-29T21:19:00.009-05:00

Dress, Merona, thrifted. Cardigan, Ann Taylor. Belt, Forever 21's Accessories Store. Earrings, gift. Shoes, Bakers. Purse, Apt. 9.

My husband and I went on a little treasure hunt Saturday afternoon at some local thrift and vintage stores. I tried on a great pleated wool skirt or two at a neat little vintage shop. I considered shortening one to a playful knee-length hem, but then decided that they were just too itchy! I guess I'm not one to suffer for fashion.

After carefully perusing through several more thrift stores, I came up with this lovely blue and navy dress at my local Goodwill store. I'm glad I didn't buy it at retail price when I first admired it at Target! I guess good things come to those who wait...

Monochromatic Monday

2009-06-15T21:45:00.018-05:00

Dress, Mossimo (swapped). Sweater, Ann Taylor. Shoes, MIA. Belt, borrowed from a dress, JK2. Earrings, Macy's.

I don't know what it is about spring, but it makes me crave shades of warm grey. Maybe it's a softening of the black that is so prevalent in winter wardrobes.

Today I layered blue-grey, green-gray, charcoal grey, and silver grey for a monochromatic but textured result. I almost wish I could dress in grey every day!

Just for Fun: Lisa's Closet

2009-05-20T20:23:00.007-05:00

During Cat's Red Letter Week back in February, Cat responded to my comment that I can't pull off the color red by challenging me to do a week of my best colors. So why not present "my colors" all at once? Introducing: my closet. Here's a "color wheel" that

represents the range of bright, earthy colors that live in my closet. I tend to go through "color phases": in high school I loved maroon; in early college all the clothes I bought were blue; by the

end of college I was craving green; the next few years I was smitten with dark teal. Lately I've been really drawn to rich, dark

berry colors. I have an inkling that smoky purple may be on the horizon.

Yes, I do have grays, browns, blacks, and whites, but I chose not to represent them in the color wheel (I didn't want it to get too complicated!)

And just for fun, here are two different color wheels, because I have 1) Adobe Photoshop, and 2) Too much time on my hands. 3) A love of colors!

COLOR WHEEL #1: Vivid, energetic colors that although enjoyable on their own, do not go very well with my coloring, AND

COLOR WHEEL #2: A second color wheel with rich, earthy colors that complement my complexion.

Can you see the difference? What's your ideal color wheel? Do you shop by color?

Inaugural Swap

2009-04-22T22:03:00.012-05:00

Dress, Mossimo (swapped). Sweater, Ann Taylor Loft. Necklace, Gina Beberg. Sash, stolen from another dress. Tights, eBay. Shoes, RuffHewn.

Thanks to Kasmira's tip about the Wardrobe Swap Shop, I now have this cute and versatile little dress. In exchange for a few dollars shipping cost and relinquishing a too-big thrift store blouse I never wore, I now have a work-or-casual, layering-friendly dress!

I'm officially sold on the idea of swapping. :)

(P.S. Can you tell I'm getting better at hiding the camera?)

Summer Dress

2009-04-21T19:17:00.023-05:00

Dress, sewn by me. Sweater, Relativity. Belt, The Limited. Shoes, Type Z. Hoop Earrings, Nordstrom Rack.

Sewing this dress was my big project last summer. I managed to use the neckline from one pattern and the princess seams from another to develop my own design. It was a lot of work, but I learned more about tailoring clothing to fit well. It would be so much easier if I had a mannequin in exactly my size!

I chose a fun retro-looking cotton fabric, but with the tiny teal and orange flowers everywhere and the A-line skirt, the dress ended up looking a lot more "old-fashioned" than I meant it to. Adding a belt and/or a sweater tones it down a bit for those time when I want to look more modern.

Elements of Art: Form

2009-04-15T12:53:00.005-05:00

Sculpted sweater, Jus D'orange. A-line skirt, Ann Taylor. Cami, Express. Belt, Express. Necklace and Earrings, thrifted. Layered tights, Merona. Heels, Naturalizer.

Form – three-dimensional, encloses and takes up space.

To illustrate form, I focused on overall silhouette and sculpted details. This French sweater actually came from a boutique in Ukraine. I was attracted to the layered neckline with rose detail and an asymmetrical hemline. I balanced the heavy neckline with a bias-cut, flared, A-line skirt. The belt in the middle extenuates an hourglass silhouette.

Elements of Art:
Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture

Elements of Art: Shape

2009-04-09T08:10:00.003-05:00

Dress, Jessica Howard. Floral cardigan, Element. Belt, Express. Necklace, thrifted. Earrings, Patina. Tights, Merona. Heels, Naturalizer.

Shape – two-dimensional (circle, square, rectangle, triangle), encloses space.

The element of shape is easy to compare to the basic fashion concept of pattern. Londyn of BlogFashion has written about mixing patterns before. I must have subconsciously absorbed her advice for this ensemble. I mixed the small pattern on the dress (polka dots) with the larger pattern on the cardigan (flowers). If you look closely, the polka dot pattern is repeated on the inside of the cardigan at the neckline. It's all about the details.

I chose patterened tights that repeated the floral pattern on the cardigan. Apparently, this was one pattern too many. I helpful co-worker gave me some constructive criticism--she liked the outfit, but the tights were one step too far. She reccommended nylons with a backseam.

I paid attention to shape when I chose my accessories as well. This necklace repeats the polka dot shape with the circular beads. My earrings also form shapes using positive and negative space. (Close-up of the earrings from a previous post.)

Elements of Art:
Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture

GrayDay

2009-04-06T19:47:00.010-05:00

Shirt, Mossimo. Cardigan, Ann Taylor. Skirt, Odille. Tights, eBay. Necklace, Souvenir from Rome. Shoes, Rough Hewn.

Anybody else out there have a gray Monday? Both the sky and my morning at work could

have used a little sunshine today. The phones were ringing off the hook with less-than-cheery clients, and my inbox was overflowing, though I am happy to report that by the end of the day things were much sunnier, both inside my windowless cubicle and outside on the walk home. Not such a bad day after all...

P.S. I love my new flats...they are cute and comfy.

P.P.S. Anybody else out there just adore skirts with pockets?

Elements of Art: Line

2009-04-06T17:13:00.014-05:00

Striped blouse, New York & Company. Striped scarf, George. Pinstripe pants, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Earrings, One World Imports. Heels, Liz Claiborne.

Actor Peter Ustinov once said, "If Botticelli were alive today he'd be working for Vogue." Art has always informed fashion. John Galliano of Christian Dior regularly draws inspiration from the arts. This inspiration for his Couture Spring 2009 line were Flemish painters Vermeer, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. For a previous Spring Couture line he sampled kimonos, origami and the opera Madame Butterfly.

Numerous fashion blogs have written about the virtues of the color wheel and combining complementary colors: Fashion 101, Already Pretty, What I Wore Today, Ephemera. I was inspired to use the Six Elements of Art to create six outfits.

Line – a continuous mark made on a surface.
Shape – two-dimensional (circle, square, rectangle, triangle), encloses space.
Form – three-dimensional, encloses and takes up space.
Color – that which is perceived when light hits and reflects off an object. Three properties of color are Hue (name of a color), Intensity (strength of a color) and Value (lightness or darkness of a color).
Value - the lightness or darkness of a color. Sometimes called shade, tone or tint.
Texture – the surface quality or feel of an object.

The most basic Element of Art is the line. One-dimensional lines are needed to create 2-D shapes and 3-D forms. For this ensemble, I incorporated as many lines as I could in one outfit: pinstripes on pants, intersecting lines on a scarf, and dotted lines of the contrasting stitching on my heels. The lines in this outfit lengthen my legs and emphasize the natural waist. Such useful lines.

Son of Day to Night at the Theater

2009-03-25T10:10:00.006-05:00

Transition Pieces: Dress, Connected. Tights, Merona. T-strap heels, Naturalizer.

Day: Yellow blouse, New York & Co. Blazer, Wet Seal. Necklace, thrifted. Blue earrings, Great-Grandma Pearl.

Night: Shrug sweater, W. Scarf, George. (Shrug and scarf borrowed from Theresa.) Shell earrings, One World Imports.

I created another Day to Night Transition for an evening at the Guthrie Theater. This time, Family Friend and I attended Happy Days by Samuel Becket. Like everyone else, I'd love to dive into my spring wardrobe, but the volatile weather holds me back. I compromised with 3/4 length sleeves in bright, spring colors.

This dress felt a bit formal for work. It probably would have been a bit more staid had I buttoned the blazer, but I couldn't resist showing the lace at the waist.

Winnie, the protagonist of Happy Days donned bright spring colors complemented by a vintage hat and parasol. Too bad the poor dear inexplicably spent the entire play buried up to her waist and then neck. We'll never know what she wore for the lower half of her ensemble. Hurrah for Theatre of the Absurd.