Making A Blaze Into 2014

 

 

 

 

E here, as we get closer to the final countdown to the new year this will be my last post of 2013! I hope you've enjoyed reading my blog so far, I promise to be a better blogger in the new year. As for today's outfit, I went for something simple yet chic. Blazers make any outfit look chic, whether paired with jeans and a white shirt, or belted over a dress. Here, I added a belt and necklace to top off the outfit. The great thing about accessorizing is that it polishes off any outfit. The trick is not to go too overboard. I tried to pick accessories that complimented the colors and pattern of the blouse and the fit of the blazer.

 

 

 When looking at blazers and trying to pick the right one for you keep in mind the shoulders (shoulder pads,) length of the sleeves, and overall tailoring. Once you figure out the right fit for your body type layering becomes a cinch. Women's blazers are typically very fitted, so I like to look in the men's section. In this case, I scored the blazer in the women's section for really cheap. My favorite detail of the blazer is the inner lining of the sleeves which are pinstriped and look great when rolled up. If blazers just don't work for you, you can still create polished layered looks with accessories.

 

 

 Thrifted items; blazer: Merona $5.99
 (Value Village,) blouse: Mac & Jac $4.99 (Goodwill,) boots: Steve Madden $22.50 (Crossroads Trading Co,) cardigan: Banana Republic $7.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: JCPenny's $25, necklace: Charlotte Russe $5.

 

That's all for today. Check back soon for New Years photos. Hope you and yours have a great NYE. Cheers to my first year of reinvention, and many more to come!

-E

Final Thrift Haul of 2013!

 

 

 

Pictured from right; purple cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft $7.99, booties: Sam Edelman $19.99, jacket: Calvin Klein $24.97, shoes: Merona $5.99, print blouse: $7.99.

 

E here, before we ring in the new year I had to do one last thrift haul. I know its long overdue, so its only fitting that I do it before the new year! All of the items in this haul I acquired from two different trips to Goodwill. As I have mentioned in previous thrift posts, shopping at Goodwill is hit or miss, but I have found that it is simply a matter of diligence. If you have the patience to take the time to look through racks and bins you can find great deals. For instance, some of the items that I found on this haul I merely spotted last minute. The Sam Edelman boots pictured below were sitting in a bin full of shoes as my friend and I were leaving the dressing room when they caught my eye. So you see, it is simply a matter of keeping your eyes peeled!

 

 

 

When it comes to shopping for shoes at thrift stores it is important to inspect them for any noticeable wear, damage, or flaws before buying them. The reason that I emphasize this is because some thrift stores have a strict "all sales are final policy." This is also typical of flea markets, estate sales, and garage sales where returning items is obviously impossible. I have never had any problems with shoes that I've purchased from sales or thrift stores, I simply say it out of caution.

 

 

 

What I love about these booties is that they are so versatile and look great with just about any outfit. Much to my husband's discord my boot collection continues to grow! I have never been a tennis shoe kind of girl, I have always preferred boots, flats, sandals, heels, etc. Personally, I find boots and flats to be far more comfortable and ascetically pleasing. Not to mention the fact that boots give me a bit of a lift! When you are shorter like myself, a heeled boot can give you a little extra height.

 

 

You may recognize this jacket as I have worn it several times already. A girl can never have enough jackets! The one below was a real gem to find as its vintage!

 

 

Blouse: Ann Taylor Loft $7.99, fur coat: Frederick & Nelson jacket: $12.99.

 

Well that's all I have for now, check back soon for thrifting tips and styling advice. Happy thrifting!

-E

Merry Blogmas!

 

 

Merry Blogmas!

E here, I hope that you have been enjoying the holidays as much as I have. Its been a busy couple of weeks for me, but it has all been worth it. Working in retail, I know better than anyone how easy it is to get caught up in the pre-holiday madness. I know that I haven't been the best blogger lately, but I plan to make up for all the lost time. Now that the craziest time of the year in retail is over you can expect to see more of me!

 

 

I was feeling very spirited today so I decided to pair bold red tights and stripes for the ultimate festive look. I don't typically wear red lipstick unless its a special occasion, so today was just the right day for it. When wearing such bold lipstick you don't want to overdo it, so I went for a more natural look. Per my husband's suggestion, I wore my hair in a side braid with a sparkly headband for extra glitz. This time of year its really fun to dress up and add sparkly accessories for a fun, glam look. If sparkle is just not your thing, you can always add chunky statement jewelry or hair accessories for extra oomph.

 

 

Thrifted items; striped tank: Cyrus $4.99 (Goodwill,) black heels: Unlisted $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jacket: Self Esteem $15 (Fred Meyer,) skirt: Joe B $10 (Fred Meyer,) red tights: Legale $4.00 (Fred Meyer,) bow ring: Curfew $5 (Fred Meyer.) My lipstick, "Jet Set red."

 

 

As I've mentioned before in previous posts, color really adds extra pizazz to an outfit. I don't personally own a lot of red clothes besides my beloved trench coat, but I wanted to be festive today. Colored tights are a fun and great way to add a pop of color to any outfit. Lately I've noticed a lot of women wearing mustard colored tights, but unfortunately that color washes me out. My advice - if your planning on trying colored tights, pick a color that compliments your skin tone/complexion and  hair color. Take me for instance, I have dark hair, so bright hues tend to look the best on me because they contrast with my hair. If you have lighter colored hair, cool colors will look great against your hair.

 

 

That's all for now. I hope you had a great Christmas with your friends and family. Eat, drink, and be merry! See you next time!

-E

 

 

Baby Its Cold Outside.....

 

 

 

E here, I've got a lot of catching up to do before the new year! [Check back soon for a very overdue thrift haul post.] As the weather gets chillier its time to start thinking about accessorizing to stay warm. My favorite winter accessory? Well, its really hard to narrow it down because I enjoy experimenting with different layers of hat, scarves, and glove combinations. But I'd have to say that when it comes down to it I have quite the collection of scarves (my husband can second this!)

 

 

When it comes to layering I always try to pick pieces that will work well together and will also be functional if I decide to remove a layer. The last thing that you want to do is create a layered outfit that looks great, but is not going to be comfortable and functional. Here, I threw on a vest, a hat, and a scarf to ensure that I would be warm, but could just as easily take off the vest if I needed to.

 

 

My personal styling tip for accessorizing - if you're wearing a lot of darker colors try to balance it out with some lighter colors. What I did here, is try to contrast the darker colors with lighter hues. Also, the accessories don't necessarily need to match. I like to mix different pieces together to create a unique look.

 

 

 

Thrifted items; tan sweater: Ann Taylor Loft $7.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; vest: North Face (gifted,) jeans: Levi's $20 (JCPenny's,) riding boots: Bandolino $99 (DSW,) hat: Adidas $15 (Fred Meyer,) scarf: H&M $7.99.

 

 

That's all for now. Happy Friday! Let the final countdown to Christmas commence. Until next time.

-E

Experimenting With Prints

 

E here, its been quite a few days since my last post. I don't know about you, but I've been pretty busy getting ready for the holidays. Its been all hustle and bustle at work, so trying to pick the right outfit to wear is difficult when your in a hurry. As I mentioned in a previous post, once you have figured out what styles and textures/prints look good on your body, knowing what to wear is a cinch. Here, I experimented with mixing two different prints. The scarf matches the jacket, and the animal print is black and white so it doesn't clash too much with the plaid.

 

 

 

 

Several of the items that I'm wearing I picked up on my last thrifting trip. Check back soon for the details. As you know, the title of my blog is "Elizabeth Reinvented" (with particular emphasis on the reinvention.) The great thing about thrifting is that you can take an item whether its the jacket that I'm wearing, or the boots, and make them your own, essentially reinventing them so to speak. I like to mix my thrifted items with my other clothes and create new, unique outfits. Most of the time when I tell people that the designer boots or jacket that I'm wearing I thrifted from Goodwill or got from selling clothes at Crossroads they don't believe me. That's the great thing about thrifting, no one can tell your thrifted clothes from your new clothes!

 

 

 

 

Thrifted items; green trench coat: Calvin Klein $24.97 (Goodwill,) animal print blouse: Ann Taylor Loft $7.99 (Goodwill,) boots: Sam Edelman $19.99, (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: Levi's $25 (JCPenny's,) plaid scarf: Softer Than Cashmere $4.99 (Fred Meyer.)

 

 

Out of all my recent thrift finds, I think these boots are my favorite! Talk about a steal! They go with just about anything, and they are incredibly comfy. The great thing about booties is that you can wear them with anything from jeans, to a skirt with tights, or a dress.

 

 

 

That's all for now. I hope you enjoy this festive time of year with your friends and family. Until next time.

-E

What I Thrifted: Loading Up On the Basics

 

Whenever I go thrifting I always try to pick pieces that are unique and will build to my existing wardrobe. The whole point of thrifting is to look for great deals on clothes, shoes, and accessories that would otherwise be expensive. When thrifting it's important to keep in mind that you pick items that compliment what you already own. You will notice that I use the term "compliment" quite often on this blog. The reason that I emphasize choosing items that are "complimentary" is because you want to buy things that you will get maximum use value out of. For instance, you will notice that all of the items pictured here are tanks. Tanks serve as a great base for layering in any outfit which is why I was tried to look for a good selection of different styles.

Price Breakdown:  Goodwill

1. *Limited ruffle tank: $7.99 - $4.00

2. Forever 21 floral tank: $3.99

3. *Calvin Klein tank: $4.99 - $2.50

4. Cyrus black and white tank: $4.99

*All of the starred items were colored tags that were on sale for 50% off that day. As I mentioned in a previous post, you should always try to find the color tag item that's on sale that day because you will save a few extra bucks.

 

On this shopping trip I determined that I was only going to look for tanks because I needed them to build up my wardrobe for layering with jeans and skirts. When shopping for tanks to layer under other items, you want to look for styles and fits that will go with a wide array of clothes. Personally, I look for patterns and textures that are interesting and would look good with a cardigan or trench coat. In my previous post you'll notice that I'm wearing the ruffle Limited tank pictured above with a polka dot trench coat. In sum, once you have some good pieces to build a foundation for layering upon, feel free to mix patterns and textures and see what looks good on you. The thing that I love most about my thrifted wardrobe is the freedom to experiment with different styles.

These two basic staples will be a great addition to my wardrobe because floral and stripes go with practically anything. The floral top will look cute with shorts and skirts in the spring and summer, and will serve as a good base for layering the rest of the year. The stripe piece is a gem because it's classy and retro looking. You can't go wrong with black and white, and the shoulder bow really tops off the retro chic look. Well that's all for now. If you want to hear more style tips and see what I thrifted this week check back soon. Happy thrifting!

-E

Layering 101: Polka Dots & Neutrals

 

 

 

 

 

E here, as the weather gets colder its essential to start layering up in order to stay warm. Not sure how to master the layering method? I have a few suggestions for how to stay warm and still create cute outfits. First of all, it is important to figure out what styles and fits of clothing work for your body type specifically.

 

 

Thrifted items; polka dot trench coat: Gap $20 (Crossroads Trading Co,) ruffle blouse: Ann Taylor Loft $4 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: Levi's $30 (Macy's,) oxfords: Pink & Pepper $10 (Fred Meyer,) scarf: $8 H&M (not pictured.)

 

 

For example, do you prefer fitted tops like the Loft blouse that I paired with skinny jeans, or perhaps a loose fitting tunic and leggings is more your style? Whatever your style preference is, you next need to build upon it with a warm jacket such as a trench coat (my personal favorite,) and accessories such as a scarf or a hat.

 

 

The trick to layering is to pick items that compliment each other; either in color, texture, or contrast. What I did here, was I took delicate ruffles and paired it against polka dots to create a soft, feminine look that creates a balanced contrast in texture. If you're going to layer contrasting textures you want to make sure that one offsets the other in a flattering manner.

 

 

You can probably tell by now that I love scarves! During this time of year I tend to wear scarves almost everyday. Scarves are perfect for layering with outfits because they add a little something extra. Besides scarves, I like to add chunky rings and statement jewelry for that extra bit of flair.

 

 

 

My friend was kind enough to humor me and pose for the camera. We grew up together, and naturally we thrift together! I mean friends that thrift together stay together right?! Speaking of thrifting together, we recently went on a thrifting mission at Goodwill to find the perfect outfit to wear to the concert of the king of thrift shopping himself - the one and only Macklemore! Check back soon for details on the success of our shopping mission, and see what we end up wearing to the concert tonight.

 

 

Sarah is wearing a D&Y scarf from Fred Meyer that I gave her for Christmas, and a comfy, yet stylish casual wear look.

 

 

This time of year the weather is fairly nippy and windy, but fortunately we don't get dumped on with snow like the rest of the country does so you just need to dress in several layers. Sarah's layered outfit is a great because it offers warmth and protection from the extremities, yet its still very stylish.

 

 

Great shot of my friend's boots that she nabbed on Black Friday. Cute aren't they? The girl's got good  taste! Boots always serve as a great addition to any outfit.

 

 

 

That's it for now, please stop by again soon. I have several upcoming posts documenting my thrifted finds and adventures with my friend during her visit in town. Until next time!

-E 

 

 

Letting My Inner Biker Chick Out!

 

 

E here, as the weather gets colder its time to kiss those lighter clothes and flats goodbye, and trade them in for heavier clothes and boots. As much as I love my cute skirts, dresses, and flats, I think I love my fall/winter wardrobe more! As I mentioned before in a previous post, I really like experimenting with layers. Besides, I have a serious boot addiction!

 

 

I really do love a good pair of boots, but I also have an affinity for jackets; whether it's a trench, a blazer, or drumroll.....a motorcycle jacket. In addition to shoes, or great accessories, jackets add that finishing touch to an outfit. In this case, the motorcycle jacket was the focal point of the look that I was going for. When I think of a motorcycle jacket, that iconic image of James Dean wearing a black, leather motorcycle jacket comes to mind. He looked so cool and so stylish in the jacket, which was the inspiration for this look. After all, you have to let your inner badass, biker chick out sometimes right?

 

 

The thing about wearing black is you have to know just how to pair it with the right pieces and accessories so it doesn't end up looking too gothic. Personally, I wear a lot of black! I don't know why, but whenever I go shopping I'm always drawn to black. There's something about black that is just so sleek and classic. Not to mention the fact that black always make you appear thinner!

 

 

Thrifted items; motorcycle jacket: Express $27.50 (Crossroads Trading Co,) boots: Steve Madden $22.50 (Crossroads Trading Co.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: JCPenny's $25, skull scarf $20 (Nordstrom,) Sheer blouse: Forever 21.

 

 

That's all for today. Please stop by again soon! Make sure to bundle up those thrifted duds as the weather gets chillier.

-E

Color Me Pink!

 

 

E here, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. Working in retail this time of year is pretty stressful so I may not be able to blog everyday. We are now only about 20 days away from Christmas can you believe it? This month is really going to fly by because there is actually one less week between Thanksgiving and Christmas so you can expect to see a lot of advertisements within the coming week for special 1 or 2 day sales in order to make up for missed sales opportunities.

 

In fact, this would be a really good time to take advantage of all the sales either online or in the store. If you find yourself still shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts, think about heading to the mall during the weekdays because it will be less crowded, and you are more likely to find the items on your list in stock before the last haul. Check back soon for more shopping tips.

 

 

Funny thing is, these pants aren't actually as pink as they photograph. For some reason anytime that I wear these pants in photos they come out looking really light. The trick to wearing colored skinny jeans, is to pick a color that compliments your skin tone and hair color. For instance, if you have darker hair like mine, you should wear lighter colors and vice versa.

 

 

Also, when wearing colored jeans, you want to try and wear colors that either compliment or contrast that color. What I did here, is I picked the darker tones in my top that matched my blazer so it would compliment my jeans. I also tried to mix patterns and textures to make the outfit more interesting. The idea is to make the outfit your own, so don't be afraid to go bold!

 

 

Today's outfit is almost entirely thrifted, with the exception of my D&Y scarf from Fred Meyer which was $4.99.  Thrifted items; blazer: H&M $9.99 (Crossroads,) tank: Mossimo $4.99 (Goodwill,) jeans: Mossimo $7.99 (Goodwill,) boots: Deena & Ozzy $7.99 (Goodwill.)

That's all for now! Until next time!

-E

Trending Right Now: Birchbox

E here, by now I'm sure that you've seen ads all over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs, and other forms of social media about Birchbox. The recent "box craze" as I call it, appears to be rampant all over the internet. It seems like everywhere you look there's an advertisement about "Birchbox," "Naturebox," or "Barkbox" (I find this hysterical! But who am I to judge, I mean pets have to keep up with the latest trends right?) My point is, there has been a flurry of advertisements lately emphasizing these specialized boxes. If you are trendy and into beauty products there is a box for you! Maybe beauty isn't your thing, perhaps you are a techie, not to fear there is a box for you! Get the idea? 

 

 

[Pictured Above in November Box; Atelier Vanilla Cologne sample spritzer, TOCCA Crema de Mano hand lotion in grapefruit-cucumber (my favorite item in the box,) 3 samplers of Ahmad teas, POP beauty Aqua lacquer, and Aloxxi firm hold hairspray.]



For quite some time now, I have seen people instagramming their monthly boxes on Facebook. I get InStyle every month, and I had read about it there as well. Finally I figured that for $10 a month I would give it a try, seeing as $10 wasn't really going to put me out by much if I didn't like it. Two boxes later I'm addicted! As soon as the beginning of the month approaches I am a giddy child again waiting for my gifts to arrive! What I like most about Birchbox is that you can customize your samples to your complexion and beauty preferences, so that you always receive product samples that you like and can use on your specific skin type. With the holidays approaching, Birchbox is a great gift idea affordable to almost any budget. You can choose the number of months to gift as a subscription.

Birchbox also offers special limited edition boxes like the "snow day" box complete with games and hot cocoa. Or, for that special beauty diva, you can upgrade to the "sparkle and shine" subscription which offers more luxurious high end samples of beauty and hair products. Personally, I like the original Birchbox. You get a lot for $10! Besides, if you don't absolutely love a product no big deal, you can always give it to a friend right? So far, I've been happy with my samples, (so much so that I already drank all the tea samples!) Whether you decide to opt for a trial run for yourself, or spread the love with friends and family, I give Birchbox my seal of approval. Well that's all for today. Ta, tah for now! 

-E