Mad about plaid (& print mixing)

So I tend to wear plaid shirts a lot in the fall/winter seasons. In fact, if I were a daily fashion blogger, you'd be like, 'yep, bored of seeing the same old plaid shirts every day.' Which is pretty much what I told myself when I looked in the closet and was reaching once again for one of my new fav plaid shirts (that I scored from a Madewell sale, thank you very much!). And that's why I tried to mix things up a bit.

This outfit is a little grunge, a little music enthusiast and a little business casual. And I think it's starting to grow on me a little bit as well. Really glad it's ok for me to push the envelope with my attire at work, btw. Not sure this would be acceptable at the majority of offices.

(also, you'll probably notice that I have a new pose I seem to keep using when I have a button down shirt wrapped around my waist - I mean, doesn't this look familiar? I'm so creative - insert sarcasm here)

Alright, enough already....here's the outfit breakdown:

1. Plaid shirt, Madewell ($24.99)
2. Charles Bradley concert tee, gifted
3. Pencil skirt, GAP outlet ($19.99)
4. Socks, ??
5. Boots, C. Wonder ($55.00)
6. BCBG bag, Zoe's ($30.00)
7. Hat, NYC street vendor ($10.00)
8. Sunglasses, c/o Sunglass Warehouse
9. Ampersand ring, gifted (thanks Natasha!)
10. Tungsten ring, c/o Modern Design
11. Triangle earrings, gifted (thanks Joy!)

Total: Under $150.00

 

 

 

photos: laura menconi

Under the (fashion) influence: Miranda Kerr, vol. 3

I swear I actually look at other people's fashion and not just Miranda Kerr's. I mean, I look at Alexa Chung too yall! Ha, kidding, but for real I have had quite a few Miranda Kerr posts lately it seems. Oh well, what can I say? She has great style.

When I saw this picture of her I knew I could recreate something similar based on the utlitarian army jacket alone that I already owned. Then I bought the booties a couple of months ago and when I looked back at this photo, I was like "bingo!" Done and done.

Also, I will go ahead and admit these aren't my favorite photos, but it was just one of those days. I felt rushed and there were way too many bystanders and my outfit just felt frumpy. That would be the only downfall losing a few pounds—my clothes don't exactly "fit" anymore. I still wear them all, but sometimes I feel like my outfits just look messy and unflattering. Oh well, we all know I'm not buying any new clothes any time soon!

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Army jacket, Sugarlips ($59.00)
2. Floral top, Sugarlips ($32.00)
3. Skirt, GAP outlet ($19.99)
4. Booties, Target ($34.99)
5. BCBG bag, Zoe's ($30.00)
6. Sunglasses, Venice Beach ($7.50)
7. Earrings, gifted (thanks Joy!)
8. Turquoise ring, gifted (thanks mom!)
9. Love ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
10. Square ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)

Total: Under $200.00

eek! My most expensive outfit to date so far!

 

 

 

Photos: Leslie Evans

ps. this last photo is such an Alicia Silverstone "Clueless" pose to me!

Under the (fashion) influence: Cameron Diaz

When you don't go shopping often and therefore don't have many trendy pieces, it gets pretty difficult to succesfully recreate a celebrity's look. So take that into consideration as I tried to somewhat copycat Cameron's outfit seen here. I like to think I just put a conservative 9-5 spin on the look :)

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Red top, ATL Market ($40.00)
2. Pin-striped skirt, GAP outlet ($19.99)
3. Silver pumps, Target ($25.48)
4. Yellow bag, c/o Oopsy Daisy (thanks mom!)
5. Silver hoops, c/o Oopsy Daisy (thanks mom!)
6. Sunglasses, Venice beach ($7.50)

Total: Under $100.00

 

 

 

 

Photos: Leslie Evans

Basic black

I have to say, it is SO great to have "professional" pics again! Certainly no disrespect to Leslie and her amazing iPhone photoshoot abilities, because without her taking time from her day I wouldn't have any outfit photos period. So I definitely appreciate her! But you can just tell such a difference when you look at these photos my brother took with his ridiculously professional camera versus the ones we usually take with a phone.

I mean, this was a complete impromptu photoshoot and I think these look so amazing. I am super grateful to my bro for taking the time this past Sunday to snap a few pics of me. Granted, we were trying to kill some time around his house before we had to go to our grandmother's, but still. He could've been just chillin on the couch instead, so I'm glad he "took one for the team" so to speak.

Anyhow, it was super fun getting to actually not only spend time with my brother but also spend time while taking the pics and being able to review them as we were shooting. Plus, now you know what I look like on any given Sunday...just in my basic black dress after church that morning. Oh and I realize that this ensemble is nowhere near boho, but I couldn't resist a couple of good hippity dippity flower field shots when the backdrop was literally right there in Josh's backyard.

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Dress, GAP outlet ($24.99)
2. Guess pumps, DSW ($29.99)
3. BCBGirls Bag, Zoe's ($30.00)
4. Sunglasses, Dollar Tree ($1.00)
5. Circle ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)
6. Square ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)
7. Necklace, The Clotheshorse ($10.50)

Total: Under $125.00

 

 

Photos: Josh Lewis

Under the {fashion} influence: Busy Phillips

A kind of crazy thing happened on a recent trip to a local consignment store here in Birmingham. My mom and I saw this really neat triangle necklace on a mannequin as we walked in. She pointed it out to me, knowing that I've had a thing for triangle jewelry lately. I nodded that I had seen in, kept it in mind, but kept shopping in case I found something else I wanted instead. An hour or so later I'd ended up with only a pair of boots in hand, so I went back for the necklace.

I took the treasure home and placed it on my jewelry tree. Two days or so later I looked at it as I passed in my room and stopped dead in my tracks as I realized, doh! That is the exact same necklace I had seen on Busy Phillips and I had even chosen that photo for a "what to wear" post. Clearly I had to recreate that outfit.

While I don't have a fun printed skirt like hers, I did at least have a short pleated one, so I figured that was similar enough. It's not the exact same outfit, but I think it works. The amazing necklace find definitely helps!

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:
1. Vintage Susan Bristol top, gifted/passed down (thanks mom!)
2.  Pleated skirt, GAP outlet ($19.99)
3. Socks, Charlotte Russe ($2.99)
4. Suede booties, Target ($24.99)
5. Vintage Aigner clutch, gifted/passed down (thanks mom!)
6. Triangle necklace, The Clotheshorse ($10.50)
7. Sunglasses, gifted (thanks Joy!)
8. Earrings, Charlotte Russe ($3.50)
9. Leaf ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
10. Square ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)

Total: Under $75.00

Photos: Leslie Evans