Faking sunshine

Yall, the weather here lately has been the worst....the WORST I tell you! Rain and storms almost everyday. Leslie and I got lucky and managed to sneak in a quick photoshoot yesterday between the clouds and seemingly constant drizzle.

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes when the weather is gross like that, I find myself wearing brighter colors to fake like it's sunny and pretty outside. Which is exactly why I'm in turquoise and yellow here. I mean what says summer beach fun more than a color combo of turquoise and yellow? Exactly...nothing!

Good news though, the sun is legitimately out today, so I'm not faking a thing. Woo!

Here's the cheapskate breakdown:

1. Turquoise skirt/dress, Parisians (?? - crazy old)
2. Cream lace vest, Banana Republic ($59.99)
3. Scarf/belt, gifted/passed down
4. Wedges, Charlotte Russe ($12.50) *buy one, get one half off deal
5. Clutch, Altar'd State ($9.99)
6. Sunglasses, Forever 21 ($5.80)
7. Heart pendant necklace, gifted/passed down
8. Circle necklace, Brooklyn Flea ($20.00)
9. Square ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)
10. Leaf ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
11. Thumb ring, Charlotte Russe ($2.99)
12. Earrings, Charlotte Russe ($6.00 - set of 3)

Total: Under $125.00 

Photos: Leslie Evans

Take me out to the ballgame

One of the perks I have at my job is that our company shares an executive suite at Regions Field (Home of the Birmingham Barons) with a couple of law firms in town. They pass out a few of these tickets at the beginning of each month to employees. I was lucky enough to snag a couple of them for me, J ("the boy") and two of our friends to attend this past Tuesday night's game.

Since I knew I was climbing after work and the stadium is downtown near my climbing gym, I realized it made no sense to go home and change before the game. Therefore, I needed to pick out something that was both office and baseball game appropriate.

(Insert pinstriped skirt to be worn as a strapless dress here.)

I mean, really, what could be more appropriate for baseball than something pinstriped? Am I right? And the cream lace cardigan made it office appropriate (and cute!). I also wore the wedges to the game, though I probably should've brought a pair of flats. But the wedges were just so cute. I couldn't resist.

Anyhow, even though the Barons (barely) lost, it was a good time. Perfect weather and 50 cent hotdogs. Yes I realize this is the second time I've mentioned these on the blog...clearly I love those 50 cent hot dogs!

Ok, here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Pinstripe skirt (worn as dress), thrifted ($2.50)
2. Belt, Cato ($1.99)
3. Wedges, Charlotte Russe ($12.50) *buy one, get one half off deal
4. Lace cardigan, Banana Republic ($59.99)
5. Necklace, Noteworthy/gifted (thanks Em!)
6. Purse, gifted/passed down
7. Sunglasses, Dollar Tree ($1.00)
8. Earrings, Stella & Dot ($34.00)
9. Circle ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)
10. Simple gold ring, gifted/passed down

Total: Under $125.00

ps. oh yeah, check out those lovely scratches on my right shin...compliments of a weekend camping trip and rafting the Hiwasee. Hot, right?

 

Photos: Leslie Evans

One skirt, two ways: Wear it now, wear it later

As I mentioned in a recent post, I broke my arm at the climbing gym the other day, so this means few outfit posts to come in the near future. Mostly because I seem to be only able to wear strapless dresses for the moment, so that's nothing too exciting and original to showcase. So instead, I have to get a bit creative with content featuring photos I have already shot.

That's where this post comes in. I was thinking about my photoshoots and realized that I had a fab skirt to be worn as a dress or a skirt, and in turn can be worn as such all year round. In fact, I am wearing it as a strapless dress with a sweater & boots in the winter shot and as a skirt with a tank top in the summer shot. But I've also worn it as a strapless dress in the summer and plan to wear it as a skirt this upcoming winter.

You've got to love a piece that is this versatile.

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown for look one (spring/summer):

1. Floral skirt, thrifted ($2.99)

2. Tank top, Target ($8.99)

3. Cream jacket, Parisian ($29.99)

4. Tan wedges, Charlotte Russe ($12.50)*

5. Clutch, gifted (thanks mom!)

6. Squirrel necklace, gifted (Thanks Em!)

7. Vintage Ray Ban sunglasses, gifted (thanks mom!)

8. Leaf ring, Charm, gifted (Thanks Em!)

9. Earrings, ATL market ($2.00)

And here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown for look two (fall/winter):

1. Dress/Skirt, thrifted ($2.99)

2. J. Crew Sweater, Rugged Warehouse ($8.99)

3. Boots, Cato ($24.99)

4. BCBGirls Bag, Zoe's ($30.00)

5. Knee socks, H&M ($14.00)

6. Men's belt, GAP ($34.99)

7. Leaf ring, Charm (gifted)

8. Flower headband, Urban Outfitters ($9.50)

9. Earrings, Charlotte Russe ($2.99/6 piece set)

10. Sunglasses, Venice Beach ($7.00)

photos: Laura Menconi

Skirt to dress, Vol. 2

I know I've proclaimed my love about turning skirts into dresses before. It's one of my favorite ways to extend my wardrobe and it also makes me feel like I am being creative with my outfits. So when I first spied this skirt at a thrift sore several months ago, I immediately considered it as a possible fall or winter dress with a sweater layered on top of it. I just consider it an added bonus that I can also wear it as a skirt. So stay tuned on to what I pair it with as a skirt.

In the meantime, get creative looking in your own closet and see what skirts you can wear as both a skirt and a dress.

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:
1. Dress/Skirt, thrifted ($2.99)
2. J. Crew Sweater, Rugged Warehouse ($8.99)
3. Boots, Cato ($24.99)
4. BCBGirls Bag, Zoe's ($30.00)
5. Knee socks, H&M ($14.00)
6. Men's belt, GAP ($34.99)
7. Leaf ring, Charm (gifted)
8. Flower headband, Urban Outfitters ($9.50)
9. Earrings, Charlotte Russe ($2.99/6 piece set)
10. Sunglasses, Venice Beach ($7.00)

 

 

photos: Laura Menconi

Back of the closet: Turquoise skirt

I've had this skirt since about seven years ago when long flowy hippie skirts were all the rage. In due time, that style went out but I loved the bright turquoise color of this skirt so I couldn't think of parting with it. Luckily, I wised up and realized I could turn that skirt into a dress by simply adding a belt! Viola! My life was changed. I mean, what better way to maximize your closet than taking an item and being able to not only extend it by wearing different accessories, but to wear that one piece two completely different ways?

Ever since that magical day of realization I have been a huge advocate of turning a skirt into a dress. I do it with several other skirts in my closet that are long enough to rock that way. And now that I think long skirts are starting to pop up again, I'm hoping to do a post showing this skirt as an actual skirt. So stay tuned!

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:
1. Skirt, Parisian's (wow, if that doesn't tell you how old it is, I don't know what will!)
2. Belt, ATL Market ($15.00)
3. Sandals, Payless ($16.99)
4. Turquoise necklace, ATL Market ($8.00)
5. Hat, Forever21 ($12.80)
6. Sunglasses, Forever21 ($5.80)
7. Adrienne Vittadini handbag, TJ Maxx ($69.99)

Photos: Laura Menconi