Scottie Soxer

Skirt: Forever 21

Cardigan: J.J. Basics

Socks: Target

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

My two objectives with this outfit were (1) to wear one of the few skirts I hadn’t shown yet on my blog and (2) to wear these Scottie dog socks that I found for $0.79 at Target right after Christmas. This skirt actually isn’t one of my favorites just because the back gets really stretched out when I sit in it. It’s fine for a day when I’ll be walking around, not for workdays. But the color and texture are nice, so I try to work it in when I can. Also, I got it for $8 on a sale rack! It’s six or seven years old, I think.  

Welcome to the Doll Blouse

Skirt: H&M, thrifted

Blouse: Urban Outfitters

Camisole: unknown

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Nordstrom

I’m sorry my outfit looks a bit rumpled! I’ve been sitting on the couch in it most of the day, writing on my laptop, and I didn’t realize how wrinkly my clothes had gotten until I saw the photos.

I found today’s skirt at the Glendale Goodwill, and I bought the blouse in Urban Outfitters’ day-after-Christmas sale. That sale was crazy! I knew it would be, but wow. I got there at 8:00 a.m. and the sale section was filled with about eight people to a rack. The selection wasn’t the greatest, but I would do it again because I found this beautiful blouse for $15 and an adorable chocolate brown bomber jacket with a sherpa collar and rib-knit trim for my youngest brother at almost 80% off the original price. (I gave him the jacket as a birthday gift.)

Of course I had to wear my dolly shoes with this blouse that looks like it was modeled on the attire of a Madame Alexander doll. And I think gray tights would work well with this outfit too. I just felt like being very berry. 

Coral of the Story

Skirt: Banana Republic, found at Buffalo Exchange

Tank: thrifted, no tag

Camisole: Nordstrom

Cardigan: Jessica Howard

Shoes: Target

I’ll have to make my post snappy today because I have a big ol’ freelance writing project hanging over my head. I traded for this pretty Banana Republic coral skirt at Buffalo Exchange a couple of years ago, and I love the color! I would like to try it with a navy top sometime, but amazingly, I don’t own one. I found the lace tank I’m wearing in the lingerie section at Quality Thrift in Montclair for either $0.79 or $1.99...I can’t remember right now, but whatever the price was, it was cheap, and this tank looks very similar to others I’ve seen priced at $30. Oh, and finally, as you can see, our cat Zeus wanted to be in the blog again today!

Powerpuff Woman

Skirt: thrifted, no tag

Top: Susina

Belt: Liz Claiborne, thrifted

Socks: Hue

Shoes: Nordstrom

This outfit started with the skirt, as usual, and once I'd added the bright mustard top, I thought I'd continue the cartoony theme with my chunky patent leather Mary Janes from the 90s. I've had them since high school, and they were stored in a box above our coat closet. I added white socks so my feet would be reminiscent of the Powerpuff Girls, but I also added a belt to create a more "grown-up" silhouette. The final question: go over the top (for me) with Revlon's Love that Red lipstick or stick with my typical Revlon Rose Velvet shade? I opted to be theatrical.  

Teacher's Petals

 

 

Skirt: thrifted, no tag

Tank: Love on a Hanger

Cardigan: Nordstrom

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

I think this outfit has a schoolteacherish vibe with the long floral skirt, but the tank is also kind of sexy — low cut with, um, strategically placed ruffles that overlap like petals. Hence the title of this post, which I hoped would make sense but felt like I had to explain.

The skirt is yet another Pasadena Goodwill find for $4.99, and I like how the cardigan picks up the darker, closer-to-burgundy sections that run across the fuchsia flowers. It’s hard to tell even in the close-up shot, but parts of the fabric are matte and parts have a sheen that makes them slightly lighter. I see so many floral skirts like this in thrift stores. If you keep an eye out, it shouldn’t be too difficult to eventually stumble upon one that suits you. I just had to buy this skirt because it has several colors that I like to wear and it’s pleated.    

Also, these nude pumps from Urban Outfitters are the best! I plan on wearing them a lot this spring. They’re available in several other colors too.

Fall Over Again

Skirt: BB Dakota

Sweater: J. Crew, found at Crossroads Trading Co.

Tights: For Love 21

Shoes: Boutique 9

Zeus joined me for my photos again today, but he turned his head away every time the camera went off! I still had to show a photo with him in it, though. Below the text I have a couple more photos that I took of him today because I am obsessed with my cat.

The tweed BB Dakota skirt that I’m wearing is called the Groton Skirt, and I see it’s on sale now on Zappos.com and available on Lulus.com and the Dakota Collective website, among other sites. It was another purchase from MyShape’s after-Christmas sale, but it’s not available on their site anymore. I decided to wear it with this burnt-orange J. Crew sweater that I traded for at the secondhand store Crossroads because it sort of feels like fall here in Southern California (it’s 72 degrees out, yet the sun is going down early and there are dead leaves on the roof of the apartment across from ours) and I like wearing fall colors because I think I have an “autumn” complexion...somewhat olive-toned skin with brown hair and eyes.

This post is getting long, but I have to mention the shoes as well. I found them for, I think, $20 on my lunch break when I used to work in the Lake Avenue neighborhood of Pasadena. There was a Shoe Pavilion there, which has since closed down along with all their other stores. I’d never heard of the brand Boutique 9 before and decided to look it up just now, and apparently I got a great deal on these because Boutique 9 shoes are usually much pricier. 

Printy in Pink

Skirt: thrifted, no tag
T-shirt: L.A. Made

Belt: Liz Claiborne, thrifted

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

I wore this skirt today because I knew I was going to see Natasha and she would love it...and be sooo jealous, mwahahahaha! (She’s sitting here with me while I write this and insisted that I put that in.) This is definitely one of my favorite thrift store finds ever. I got it for $4.99 at the Pasadena Goodwill, and I think it might be homemade. Who doesn’t love a pleated skirt that’s machine washable, no pressing required, with a super-cool, unique print? Well, I’m sure at some point I’ll have to get the pleats pressed, but after I got a quote of $10 for that at the dry cleaners, I decided to toss this in the washing machine, and it came out looking fine. Also, I love it with the saddle shoes my mom and stepdad gave me for Christmas.

Our cat Zeus decided to join the photo shoot today! I’ve been hoping he would do this one day because he is so freaking cute, but you can’t force a cat to take a picture with you.

A new orange tabby cat just started showing up in our apartment complex a couple days ago. He meows constantly, and Zeus doesn’t like him, as you probably can see in this photo.

Khaki Trails

Skirt: Fei, from Anthropologie

Top: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Whoa, I apologize for the bad blurring on this photo, but this was the best one we got today because we tried to take photos too close to sundown with no flash. Lesson learned.

Also, I am, of course, a little embarrassed that this outfit is all Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, but I had never worn this green-striped top with my khaki skirt before, and I really liked the result. I think it has sort of a Girl Scout sensibility. Or maybe “Navy meets Army” with the stripes and military tones.

Favorite Jeans

T-shirt: Thakoon for Target, thrifted

Jeans: CJ by Cookie Johnson

Shoes: Pink Studio

No skirt today because I went to Disneyland...again...and I felt like wearing my most comfortable pair of jeans from CJ by Cookie Johnson. If I could afford them, I would definitely buy more of these jeans, but unfortunately they are now way out of my price range. I bought this pair with a very generous discount from my former employer. They don’t gap in back, the denim is soft and stretchy, and they have a satin-lined waistband. The T-shirt was another cool Goodwill find. I love the gray and white and how the stripes are denser and thinner and form sort of a sweetheart pattern at the top. And of course, this simple outfit also needed red flats. It would not be complete without them. 

Pan and Pencil

Skirt: thrifted, unreadable tag that appears to be from the 80s
Top: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Seychelles, found at Ross

The colors of this outfit don’t quite translate to the photo unfortunately. I need a better camera! The skirt looks a bit darker and more greenish in real life and the top more orangey-red...it’s an interesting complementary combination. I like red and green together, but since that can, of course, look too Christmassy, I thought combining teal with an orange red would work out nicely. Also, I think I need more tops with Peter Pan collars. I got this one on sale from Urban Outfitters sometime last year, and I hope they end up selling something similar this spring. While it’s pretty easy to find skirts in good condition at thrift stores, tracking down vintage/vintage-like tops and blouses in good condition without armpit stains has been more challenging.

In Reverse

Skirt: Gap
Cardigan: Halogen

Shoes: Naturalizer

I realized when I put this outfit on that the colors are sort of the reverse of those in my January 1st outfit. Instead of an olive green pleated skirt and gray sweater, today I’m wearing a gray pleated skirt and olive sweater. And the same shoes. Oh well, I like gray and green together, what can I say? This skirt is another good oldie. I got it at Gap sometime in the late 90s. The cardigan I found for $9.99 at Nordstrom Rack, and I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but these Naturalizer Mary Janes were a Christmas gift from my mom a few years ago. They are the best! I can walk around in them without being in pain, and I love the cute little straps that button rather than buckle to the sides.

Going to Goodwill

Skirt: Marks & Spencer, thrifted

Top: Urban Outfitters (for $9.99!)

Camisole: Nordstrom

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Handbag: Tignanello, found at Marshalls

Today was a Goodwill shopping day with Emily and Ani, so I wanted to wear something I could change out of and into quickly. I hadn’t worn this Marks & Spencer skirt in a blog post yet, and I’d just repaired a hole in this cream Urban Outfitters top last night, so it was on my radar. I usually don’t carry a bag in my outfit photos because I only own four, one of which is a fancy clutch that I only use for special occasions. But I decided to show my Tignanello hobo in the photo today because I love how it looks with this outfit. I probably use this bag the most — it’s big enough to carry everything I need, it’s a nice, neutral metallic that isn’t too shimmery, and it has a sleek, simple shape. I don’t like a lot of strings, buckles and bulky pockets on my handbags.

Going-Away Party

Skirt: H&M

Top: Cotton On

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Target

This is going to be a quick post because I’m not feeling great, and I just got back from my sister’s going-away-to-Australia party. She’ll be gone until December, so it was pretty sad, although we had a fun game of Apples to Apples with her friends and our two brothers.

The skirt I wore is a machine-washable, stretch-woven skirt from H&M that is surprisingly sturdy. I’ve had it for more than a year and washed it many times, and it still looks good. The top was a birthday gift from my friends and former coworkers Ani and Emily. I LOVE it! They know exactly what I like! I also found out that Cotton On is an Australian company, so I thought it would be sort of appropriate to wear this top today.  

The Crazy Thing Is...

Skirt: thrifted, no tag

T-shirt: Forever 21, thrifted

Cardigan: Kersh

Socks: unknown

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

So, this little giraffe-print tee has a funny story behind it. Natasha found it when we were at Goodwill one day last summer, and we both really liked it. I thought she should get to keep it because she found it, so she decided to buy it but said she’d lend it to me later on. When we went to the register, the young woman working there commented that she had seen the tee hanging on the rack and wondered, “Who would buy that?” Natasha explained that she was going to buy it and that we’d take turns  wearing it. The young woman just shook her head and said, “The crazy thing is, you BOTH like it!”

Prim and Primary

Skirt: J. Crew, handed down from my Aunt Judy

Top: Susina

Socks: Hue

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

I wore a school uniform from 5th grade through 12th grade, and I’ve never been able to get over pleated skirts. They’re versatile and flattering...and fun to wear! My Aunt Judy passed this one along to me about 10 years ago. I don’t know how long she had it before that, but the quality is amazing. The hem has never fallen out, the button is still firmly sewn on, the zipper hasn’t jammed — and I think I may have worn it more times than any other skirt in my closet. Today I coordinated it with a mustard top and burgundy socks to sort of represent the primary colors but with a more subdued tone.

Black Skirt Two Ways

Skirt: Cynthia Steffe

Sweater: DKNY Jeans

Knit top: Cotton On

Tights: Target or a sale bin at Anthropologie

Shoes: Pink Studio

I just got back from another Disneyland day, where I wore my DKNY Jeans sweater and this black Cynthia Steffe skirt that is the perfect “little black skirt.” I also wore it on Christmas Eve, and Jasen took some test photos that day, so I decided to show one of those photos below with outfit details. I love that this skirt is fitted and short enough to wear with a baggy sweater yet also has a high, elastic waist that’s flattering with a T-shirt or tank tucked into it.

If you’re thinking I go to Disneyland a lot...well...I kind of do, but the main reason I’ve gone twice in the last week is that I’m spending as much time as I can with my sister, Hillary, before she leaves to live in Australia for a year, and we both have Southern California annual passes. And she, of course, has wanted to go to Disneyland as often as possible before she can no longer use her pass. Today our youngest brother Jeremy came with us, and it was so good to enjoy the whole day with both of them. I only wish our other brother, Trevor, could have come too.

Hillary, thanks again for taking my photos today and yesterday!

Skirt: Cynthia Steffe

Top: Forever 21

Cardigan: Jessica Howard

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

I know there's a weird white speck on my skirt in this photo...please pretend it's not there. I'm too lazy to edit it out right now.

Listen to the Sea

Skirt: thrifted, Dana Buchman

Top: Willow & Clay

Camisole: unknown

Tights: For Love 21

Shoes: Naturalizer

This top reminds me of one of my favorite Hitchcock films, Rebecca, with its 1930s-style flutter sleeves, oceanic color and sheer chiffon. If you’ve seen the movie, remember that scene where Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers tells the second Mrs. de Winter, “Look, you can see my hand through it!” while showing off Rebecca’s negligee, and later urges, “Listen. Listen to the sea...”?

I found today’s skirt at the Glendale Goodwill on Brand and had been looking forward to wearing it with this top for a while. I had to tuck the top into my tights so it wouldn’t look lumpy under the skirt, but otherwise I think it worked out!

I Heart Saddle Shoes

Skirt: Banana Republic Outlet

Knit top: Forever 21, thrifted

Tank: Nordstrom

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft

Tights: For Love 21

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

This outfit started with the Urban Outfitters saddle shoes that my mom gave me for Christmas. You wouldn’t think it would be hard to build an outfit around saddle shoes, but today, for me, it was. I knew I wanted to wear them with this skirt, but I also really wanted to wear some cute ankle socks and go bare legged; however, the low temperature tonight will be in the 30s and I’m staying out late, so I had to stick to my typical tights. Also, this skirt is hard to work with because it doesn’t fit me that well. It sits too low on my body and looks a little off from the back as a result, but I keep wearing it because I love the pattern on it so much. As long as I pair it with a very fitted, not-too-short top that hugs the waist, it’s okay. I had wanted to wear a peach top with the gray, but it turned out to be too loose at the waist, and I wasted more time trying to tuck it in and create a paper-bag waist with a belt, etc. Despite all that, I am pretty happy with the final result! And this is the first time I’ve worn this heart-patterned top that I found at Goodwill months ago, so I feel a sense of accomplishment.

Elastic Waist Land

Sweater: Mink Pink

Scarf: Alessi

Jeggings: Calvin Klein Jeans

Shoes: Naturalizer

I decided to take a break from skirts today and wear these comfy Calvin Klein jeggings with — yes — an elastic waistband! They’re perfect for an evening watching The Office with a bottle of wine and cheese and salami from Trader Joe’s, which is what Jasen and I are doing tonight. The sweater came from the Black Friday sale on MyShape.com, and although it’s no longer available through MyShape, I found it on sale here, where it’s still not cheap, but maybe the price will go down more. I think I paid about $30 for it, and I’ve already worn it several times, plus it’s pretty neutral...so it wasn’t a bad investment. Natasha gave me this beautiful scarf yesterday, and I like how it picks up the gold of the sweater’s beading. 

Under $15 (Sort Of)

Skirt: thrifted (no tag)

T-shirt: Mossimo, thrifted

Tights: Payless

Shoes: Pink Studio

Yeah, I bought a Target T-shirt at Goodwill, but isn’t the color great? I acquired the skirt from the same Goodwill in Pasadena, and although it has a light stain on the front, you really can’t tell because of the pattern. So I wear it anyway because the fit is perfect, and it’s challenging to find a pencil skirt that fits exactly right.

I was trying to make a particularly inexpensive outfit today, so in addition to the tee, which was $4.49, and the skirt, which was $4.99, I wore Payless tights that I got for about $4. I used a gift card to purchase my red Pink Studio flats from Anthropologie’s website a couple of years ago, so technically they were free for me — but they were on sale at the time for $29.99, I believe.

Also, thank you, Natasha, for taking my outfit photo today! 

Disney Day

Skirt: Forever 21

Sweater: Target

Coat: Mac & Jac

Tights: Target

Shoes: Seychelles (found at Ross!)

Handbag: Kenneth Cole Reaction (found under the sink in my mom’s bathroom)

This is probably the most basic print mix possible, but I know very little about combining prints and thought stripes with polka dots would be a good place to start. I bought the sweater on sale for $12.90 at the Pasadena Target on Hudson last week. I’m also considering getting it in this color. The skirt I bought in San Francisco last summer while visiting my sister, Hillary. Today Hillary and I went to Disneyland with our friend Natasha, and Hillary took my outfit photo. (I haven’t mentioned it before, but Jasen usually takes the photos for my blog.) Below are a few more photos from our day at Disneyland!

Anniversary

Today my husband, Jasen, and I have been married 5 years! This photo from our wedding is one of my favorites. It was taken by my Aunt Judy. I prefer her photos from our wedding to those taken by the professional photographer.

Skirt: thrifted (no tag)

Cardigan: J. Crew Outlet

Camisole: Nordstrom

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Pink Studio

Jasen and I spent today together, and I wore this cardigan and skirt because his favorite color is blue and he always compliments this outfit when I wear it. Yes, I dressed for my MAN, but I also happen to like the outfit a lot and I did create it for myself! The skirt is another Quality Thrift find, and the cardigan was a Christmas gift from my mom the year before last. I don’t wear floral prints that often, but I think this one is so pretty. I usually wear it with graphic-patterned tights because they create more of a contrast than a lacy pair would.

Shades of Gray

Skirt: J. Crew, thrifted

Sweater: DKNY Jeans

T-shirt (under sweater): Ambiance Apparel

Tights: J. Crew

Shoes: Naturalizer

I wore this exact same outfit on New Year’s Eve and couldn’t wait to put it on again because I love how all the different grays play off each other, especially how the pearls on the sweater pick up the dark gray of the tights. Regular-priced DKNY Jeans clothing is out of my price range, but I scored this sweater in the after-Christmas sale on MyShape.com for $9.75 plus tax. I searched to see if I could find it for a super-low price elsewhere because it’s sold out on the MyShape site, but no dice unfortunately. However, I did find it (still at full price or slightly marked down) on Zappos.com in both gray and white and in plus sizes on Lane Bryant’s website! Here are the links:

http://www.zappos.com/dkny-jeans-missy-v-neck-pearl-embroidered-sweater

http://www.zappos.com/dkny-jeans-missy-v-neck-pearl-embroidered-sweater-bone-heather

http://www.lanebryant.com/plus-size-sale-clothing-initmate-apparel/discounted-plus-size-clothing-lingerie/pearl-dolman-sweater-by-dkny-jeans/4053c14621p70567/index.pro?Mpper=16&Mpos=257&pageSize=16&Mcatn=Clearance&Mcatpn=Sale&Mcatg=category_root&Mcatp=cat_4053@6000&Mcat=14621@6000&sid=AFFLBxk186575&mcid=AFF

I also have to write about the skirt I’m wearing because it’s one of my best thrift store finds EVER. I bought it at Quality Thrift in Montclair for $1.99 several years ago and have worn it, oh, maybe 100 times. I love the length, color, fit...yay for Quality Thrift!

Rain and Shine

Skirt: Express, thrifted
Knit boatneck top: Moda International, thrifted

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Target

Coat: J. Crew

Scarf: Roadkill Boutique

When the weather is gray and drizzly, I usually wear at least one bright, standout piece, so today I added these magenta Urban Outfitters tights. I've had them for over a year, I've worn them a lot, and they still look great, so thanks, Urban! The "autumn-rainbow" colored scarf, which I wear far and away more than any other scarf in my wardrobe, came from a little boutique in Fullerton called Roadkill that I learned about from my friend Mary who lives in the OC. Thanks, Mary! Oh, hey, I see the sun started to come out for the second half of the photo shoot...

Lazy Day Skirt

Skirt: Idra

T-shirt: H&M

Cardigan: Rubbish

Tights: Target or from a sale bin at Anthropologie

Shoes: Pink Studio

This is a very comfortable outfit that I don’t mind lounging around in, believe it or not. The skirt is a machine washable lightweight corduroy, so if it gets all wrinkly and stretched out in the butt, no big deal. And I ADORE these red flats. I just about ruined them by wearing them in the rain, then had them redyed by Zinke’s for $6, and they came out looking practically new. But then of course I didn’t learn from my mistake and wore them on the Grizzly River Run ride at Disney’s California Adventure a few weeks ago, so they are a bit water stained again. 

Green New Year

Hello! So I decided to start a personal style blog today.

Who am I?

Name: Heather

Age: 29

Skirts: 29

Location: Pasadena, California

Birthday: September 23rd

And a little about this first outfit: the skirt hails from my local Pasadena Goodwill, and I’ve had the sweater for about 10 years. I hadn’t styled this skirt for colder weather yet, so that was my little challenge for today. I’m glad it worked out with this sweater because I really like the contrast of the bubbly popcorn stitching with the skirt’s knife pleats. Also, whenever I wear this sweater it reminds me of my friend Natasha because when we first met back in 2002, she owned the exact same sweater in navy with colorful flecks. I wonder if she still has hers...  

Skirt: Mondele, thrifted from Goodwill, possibly vintage

Sweater: Charlotte Russe

Short-sleeved knit top (under sweater): Nordstrom, also at least 10 years old

Tights: For Love 21

Shoes: Naturalizer

This Bud Light can was sitting on the hedge behind our apartment building this morning, right above where I wanted to take photos. Happy New Year!