Tartan and Rules to Shop By

Freezin' for a Reason

It's been below zero up here in Wisconsin...but I sucked it up and took some outfit photos.  I also went to the outdoor mall this day, but I think that goes beyond "sucking it up" into crazy person territory.  Oh well...I don't think my insanity is a secret anymore. if it ever was.  ;)

This post features my [thrifted, of course] plaid Burberry bag.  And I thrifted the scarf to match it.  I used to hate wearing black and brown together, but the Burberry plaid makes it sooo easy; it bridges the gap so well!

Loooove this bag...Looooove Goodwill.  :) 
Why do people get rid of this beautiful stuff?  Oh well; lucky for me!

Scarf: thrifted || Sweater: Express || Tee: J. Crew || Jeans: Wal*Mart || Boots: thrifted || Headband: Bangles and Bags || Bag: thrifted (Burberry of London!!!)

I'll leave you with some inspiration: the song I heard recently that got me hooked on Florence and the Machine: "Cosmic Love."

New Year = New Layout

What do y'all think? 

This new layout seems much more congruent...the other one had sepia and black and white, teal and maroon...It was kinda hard on the eyes...just wasn't feeling it anymore.

While I'm at it, I'll probably start posting different kinds of things...like, I've been dabbling in decorating my home, and so far I'm pleased with the results. 
I think I'd like to share them with you...  :) 
Would you mind, dear readers?  Let me know in the comments!

But before I got off on any more tangents, here are the outfit photos I promised (in the midst of yesterday's 2012 mash-up):

This outfit is making me laugh while I'm putting it against my new layout...such completely different facets of my personality are all mushed together!  But, hey, the ability to design and love both a grey-pink-sweetly-elegant blog layout and a gold-red-plaid-in-your-face-prepster ensemble makes a girl more interesting, don't you think?
Looking at these pictures, my constant inspiration--Audrey Hepburn--came to mind.  The sweater/men's shirt/high-waters/loafers combo was a thing she would do...but I have a bit more drama in my outfit! plaid and metallics...  That means it gives a nod to Audrey without being too copycat-ish.

Shoes and Sweater: Rock & Republic for Kohl's || Pants: Wal*Mart || Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters || Bag: thrifted || Headband: Bangles and Bags || Necklace: old

Off-Orange makes for an On Day

Check out my new BAAAAAAG!!!  :)  
I made such a haul thrifting last night...I found this and another Prada bag.  I hope they're real...  Regardless, they're absolutely lovely!  So even if they're not worth a mint, they're worth having!

I tweeted last night about how 15-degree weather really cramps my style...so when I woke up this morning, I refused to be beaten!  I brought out a skirt, regardless of the ice on the windows.  :)
I've also been missing all the more dated (vintage, retro, etc.) items in my closet.  I enjoy dressing like I live in the here-and-now sometimes, but I mostly identify with vintage fashion.  It's hard to wear my vintage pieces in winter...I'm still trying to find ways.
  

Anybody have any tips/hints/tricks on how to wear vintage outfits in frigid weather?

This skirt really does a good job of showing off a tiny waist...(thank goodness my waist survived the holidays! my thighs certainly didn't, but I think all the good home-cookin' was worth it).

Tell me about your holidays in the comments!  

I have more photos of mine coming...hope y'all won't mind some Christmas in January...

Hat: old || Sweater: thrifted || Skirt: thrifted || Tights: Wal*Mart || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Aldo) || Coat: thrifted || Bag: thrifted (orig. Prada)

What's black and white and plaid all over?

 

Sooo sometimes I wear two pairs of tights when it's cold haha...Hopefully this year I won't let Wisconsin winter pull down my style spirit!  Wrapping up in a little fur always makes a girl feel warmer, right?

And now, dear readers, I'm gonna throw out this plea again:

If you have a piece of art that you like, please tell me the name of it and its artist (you can email me or leave it in the comments below).

I want to do a series of outfits inspired by pieces of art (not where I try to look like whoever is in the painting, but where I wear an outfit in the same color pallette that attempts to evoke the same feeling).

If I choose your idea, you'll definitely get the credit for it and a link to your blog/site in my post.

There's no time constraint to this thing, either...in fact, I'll probably be re-posting this little spiel for the next few blogposts so I get as many ideas as possible, because I've always loved art, but I'm not very knowledgeable about it, so I'm looking forward to getting your input and getting exposed to new artists.

 

Scarf: thrifted || Sweater: Kohl's || Belt: Express || Skirt: Charlotte Russe || Tights: old || Shoes: old || Bag: Forever 21

Plaid is not a fad: it's always rad, and I'm so glad!

Please pardon my title...

Looking at these photos trying to figure out what to say about them, one thought kept running through my head: my gosh, I've had these pants for soooo long!

They were a gift from my BFF, Piera.  :)  Back in the day when I wore pretty much only black, red, and grey they were a completely neccessary edition to my wardrobe!  She bought a matching pair for herself in blue, purple, and green plaid.  I'm sure we coordinated wearing them a couple times, 'cuz we were really cool kids.
Unfortunately, when I posted this outfit on Instagram, she informed me that she has long since gotten rid of her pair.  No more matchy-matchy twinsies days.  Shucks.  :P

HEADS UP!  Here come some kooky poses: 
(I was wearing kooky pants; I think it's only fair to do kooky poses then, right?)

Pssst: you're getting sneak-peaks of my new apartment in these photos!  It's totally a WIP, but I painted yesterday, so you'll hopefully be seeing photos of it soon.  It'd be nice to post something besides my outfits that I got creative with...maybe I'll do some makeup craziness sometime soon for a change of pace, too.  Thoughts?  Would you mind that, my darling readers? 

Also: I'm officially as of this second just deciding to ask for your help for a series I want to do. 

If you have a piece of art that you like, please tell me the name of it and its artist (you can email me or leave it in the comments below). 
I want to do a series of outfits inspired by pieces of art (not where I try to look like whoever is in the painting, but where I wear an outfit in the same color pallette that attempts to evoke the same feeling). 

If I choose your idea, you'll definitely get the credit for it and a link to your blog/site in my post.

There's no time constraint to this thing, either...in fact, I'll probably be re-posting this little spiel for the next few blogposts so I get as many ideas as possible, because I've always loved art, but I'm not very knowledgeable about it, so I'm looking forward to getting your input and getting exposed to new artists.
For a bit of a preview: the first piece that I'll be tackling is "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt:

 

Anyways, I just want to show off my accessories one last time...

 



...and then I'll sign off!  :)

'Bye all my loves!!!  Talk to you soon! 
(And please don't forget to comment with an idea [or several] for my upcoming series!)

 

Beret & Sweater: Wal*Mart || Pants: gift || Purse: thrifted || Shoes: Target || Bracelet/Necklace: Charming Charlie || Earrings: thrifted

 

 

Burberry Girl in a Plaid, Plaid World

I wanted to dress in such a nonchalantly elegant way that it stunned the world!  :)  It was a cold, rainy day, and I wanted to bring a little pep (and prep) and freshness into it.

Also: these are the first pictures you all get to see of the inside of my new apartment...a little anti-climactic, huh? lol I'm standing in from of our linen closet.

I had fun sporting all this plaid...  This is another outfit--like the one in my last post--that I feel is really me.  I felt comfortable and vibrant while wearing it out and about.  And I wasn't trying to impress anyone but myself.  :)  Though if you guys, my readers, like it, I will certainly be very happy about that.



Like my cateyes?  I've been doing that a lot lately...
I've also been really into highlighter.  Trying to find new ways to define my cheekbones.  Any suggestions?

 Plaid on plaid...how English of me.  :)  I'm returning to my roots, I guess.  I was quite the little Anglophile back in high school...even to the point of spelling words the English way, adding 'U's and such where Americans don't.  Someday I'll visit.  :)

 

Scarf: thrifted || Coat: old || Shirt: Gap || Jeans: Charlotte Russe || Shoes: thrifted || Bag: thrifted Burberry ||Earrings: thrifted

Nerdy Skirt

This was a beautiful day: both weather-wise and event-wise.  I took a nice long walk with my hubby and visited his family to watch the Packer game.

My burnished silver metallic cut-out shoes originally from Aldo. I had to buy new laces, but otherwise I'm pretty sure whoever had them before I did hardly wore them! Her loss, poor, unfortunate soul.

 I love Fall layers...denim shirt, leather coat, plaid skirt, and fun pops of color in my accessories!

The skirt is kinda nerdy, really, but I love the pattern and texture! 
I'm trying to dress like me, again. 
I know it sounds silly to blame a thing like this, but Lookbook really started to mess with my personal style; I thrifted thinking in my head, "Ooh! I don't really care for this, but it would get a lot of hypes on Lookbook!"  Whenever I catch myself thinking that kind of thing, I back off of whatever is causing it.  [I've said since the start of this blog that it's not primarily a FASHION blog, but rather a STYLE blog.]  So, I've stopped going on Lookbook completely.  Lookbook could have been a wonderful fashion and style tool, but I'm tired of seeing all the emaciated women wearing slutty clothes getting all the love! Ripped fishnets are not innately stylish; showing off long, thin legs does not mean a woman has pinache. Yes, of course I am jealous of those legs and the money required to buy all brand new designer denim to clothe those legs in, but that is not my chief qualm with Lookbook: my biggest problem is the lack of originality.  There are so many women who are regarded as international fashion plates who I respect and admire and so many pictures in magazines that I really don't believe would get majorly hyped on Lookbook (if they were unknowns like me).  And really, what are hypes to tell you what is cool and what is not?
Sorry for the rant, but it's been on my mind since I read similar thoughts on another blog I really like recently. 

Has anyone else had a problem with Lookbook?

or something similar?  

 

Skirt: thrifted || Purse: old || Scarf: old || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Aldo) || Shirt: H&M || Sunnies: Marshall's (orig. American Eage Outfitters) || Belt: White House | Black Market || Jacket: gift