Viva Las Vegas - Day Four: An LBD Is Always In Style [Pt. 2]

 

 

[Me and my handsome hubby at the "One" Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show]

 

 

E here, we've reached the final segment of my vacation fashion series. I hope you've enjoyed the journey with me, its been a lot of fun. I don't know about you, but I like to play dress up once and a while. I have so many great dresses that never see the light of day, so it was exonerating to finally get to wear them. I realize that it might not be a big deal to dress up for most people, but it is for me. I've always felt that I was born in the wrong era. People simply don't dress up like they used to anymore. I mean its perfectly acceptable to just walk around in pajamas and yoga pants these days. Don't get me wrong, I own several pairs of yoga pants, its just that I only see those as fit for wearing when you are exercising. Call me old fashioned I guess!

 

 

Well one thing that will definitely never go out of style is a little black dress. A LBD is perfect for any occasion, and looks great on virtually every body type. Besides looking a little more regal, the good ole LBD is a great go-to option when you just can't make up your mind. Black is so easy to wear, and is an easy, effortless way to look put together. [Which is why I always pack one or two when I go on vacation just in case.]

 

 

Thrifted items; blazer: Express $6.99 (Value Village,) black wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; black dress: London Style $20 (Fred Meyer.)

 

 

These iconic loafers once belonged to the king of pop himself; Michael Jackson. Amazing right? I mean who would have thought to bedazzle socks with rhinestones? I have to say though, my favorite MJ look is that badass red leather jacket that he wore in the thriller music video. After all, who wouldn't feel BAD in a jacket like that? As for the show, it was out of this world! I won't give away any spoilers, but the show was incredible and I highly recommend it. Well that's it for my trip, thanks for coming along for the ride. I think that everyone needs an escape from their life once and a while! Until next time.

-E

Viva Las Vegas - Day Four: Casual Chic [Pt. 1]

 

E here, this is the final segment of my Vegas vacation fashion series. For today's look, I aimed for a casual chic feel. All it takes is a few key pieces to give an outfit that extra oomph. Here, I added a colorful statement necklace to bring out the bright colors of the floral top. I love to experiment with different types of prints in my wardrobe, but my favorite type of print to wear is floral. What I love about floral print is that it looks good with just about anything, and is flattering on virtually any body type. Depending on how adventurous you're feeling, you can pick more bold and colorful prints like the one that I'm wearing here.

 

 

To balance out the bold hues of the print, I paired it with a lighter toned pleather skirt. The texture of the pleather skirt goes well with the floral print of the tank. When mixing prints and textures you don't want to overdue it and put pieces together that might clash. I prefer to keep it simple, and stick to a more classic look. 

 

 

Thrifted items; floral tank: Forever 21 $3.99 (Goodwill,) belt: $3.99 (Value Village.)

Non-thrifted items; skirt: Joe B $10 (Fred Meyer,) loafers: Pink & Pepper $15 (Fred Meyer,) necklace: $7.99 (Fred Meyer,) cardigan:$10 (Nordstrom Rack.)

 

 

-Zara Finds-
[Blouse: $35, bracelet: $16]

 

Speaking of classic style, for my final shopping venture at the Fashion Show mall, I went to Zara with a mission in mind to snag some basic staples. What's great about these items is that they are timeless pieces, and will make great additions to my wardrobe. I wear the bracelet with just about everything now! It has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. As for the blouse, its chic and cutting edge at the same time. The print has a timeless feel to it, but as the same time, the cut and fabric of the blouse itself is very modern and sleek.



[The runway at the Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas]

My shopping tips:
1.)  Shop with key items in mind; shopping can be overwhelming so I like to go with key items in mind. Rather than mindlessly shopping, I try to stay on mission so that I don't end up overspending and having buyer's remorse later. By sticking to a plan and shopping for specific items you will end up only adding items that you need to your wardrobe.
2.) Shop with the long-term in mind; as I've mentioned previously, when choosing clothing or shoes it's essential to pick items that you will get maximum use value out of. For me, price is not a key factor. [After all, half of my wardrobe was thrifted!] Rather, the important component is whether or not you will get a return on your investment in the long-term.
3.) Make decisions based on your own personal taste, not on trends; it can be easy to get caught up on the latest trends, but the question that should be lingering in the back of your mind is whether or not that trend truly suits you? [Let's be honest, crop tops and patterned leggings are not for everyone.] When the dust settles and a trend goes out of style, are you going to end up a fashion victim?

These are all important factors to keep in mind when going shopping, especially when on vacation. Stay tuned for the final photos of my evening outfits from my Vegas adventure.  
-E

 

Viva Las Vegas - Day Three: Flower Child [Pt. 2]

 

 

 

 

 

 

E here, part deux of day three required two outfit changes; one for Beatles Love, and the other for  Chippendales. When packing for this particular vacation, I had to consider all of the different things that I would be doing both in the day time, and in the evening. I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of person that likes to plan outfits ahead of time. Its much easier to have outfits picked out in advance so that you don't end up over packing. I narrowed down what items to pack (dresses, shoes, accessories, etc.) based on what I would be doing. 

 In this case, I wanted something fun and playful to wear to the Beatles show (pictured above.) Since the title of the show is "Beatles Love" I thought it would be fitting to go with a retro, Mod inspired look, and what says that better than flower child! I think that the crème de la crème of this look is the charming floral headband. Recently, headbands such as the one that I'm wearing have come back into style. You've probably seen pictures of celebrities like Lana Del Ray and Taylor Swift donning headbands. I picked this one up at Forever 21 for $4.99.
 

 

Thrifted items; black wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill,) purse: $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; floral print dress: Love by Design $15 (Fred Meyer,) cardigan: $10 (Nordstrom Rack,) floral headband: $4.99 (Forever 21.)

 

 

Thrifted items; black wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill,) purse: $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; black dress: $30 (Topshop,) necklace: $15 (Topshop,) floral headband: $4.99 (Forever 21.)

 

 

As for the Chippendales show I went for something a little bit more understated. So how does one determine what to wear to an occasion such as this? Well, you can never go wrong with a little black dress. While others might go for a more daring look, I opted for something a bit more classic. I didn't have a lot of time to change between the Beatles show and this one, so I picked something that was versatile and comfortable. Also, the headband complimented the dress, and added a playful touch to the overall look. That's all for this segment. Next time I'll detail my final shopping trip.        

-E

 

 

Viva Las Vegas - Day Three: Parisian [Pt.1]

 

 

E here, the inspiration for my day three vacation outfit was Parisian. [All I needed was a beret.] On this day we ate lunch at the spectacular Paris hotel and casino. Personally, it's one of my favorite hotels. I love everything about Paris; the atmosphere, the décor, the feeling that you're walking down a cobbled street in Paris. The piѐce de résistance? Why, the food of course!  Let me tell you, the deserts did not disappoint. My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I saw the macaroons and crème brûlée. J'adore macaroons! It's ok to indulge yourself once and a while right? 

 

 

[ Even the décor at the buffet was exquisite!]

 

 

[Macaroon Eiffel Tower]

 

 

[Macaroons, crème brûlée, fruit tart. Mouth watering isn't it?]

 

 

What I love about wearing stripes is that they go with just about anything. This black and white top was such a great find because it looks classy with anything. The cut and fabric of the top reminds me of the sort of fashion that you would see a style icon like Audrey Hepburn wearing back in the day. 

 

Thrifted items; stripe tank: Cyrus $4.99 (Goodwill,) cardigan: Banana Republic $7.99 (Goodwill,) flats: Tahari $9.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; skirt: Joe B $10 (Fred Meyer,) necklace: Fred Meyer $7.99.

 

 

Mixing prints and textures is a fun way to create a personal style statement. Here, the black and white stripes tie in very well with the monochromatic floral print skirt, creating a cohesive look. Furthermore, by wearing black tights, you can really dress up an outfit and make it look more sophisticated.

 

For a pop of color, I wore a chunky, colorful necklace to play against the rich black and white tones of the outfit. When you mix prints you don't want to overwhelm the outfit with too much jewelry and accessories. By wearing a piece of statement jewelry, I'm able to tie the outfit together as well as add a splash of color. That's it for this portion. Check back soon for photos of my evening outfits, and tips for how to pack for special events.

 -E



Viva Las Vegas - Day Two: Shopping Spree

  

 

E here, I'm moving onto day two of the vacation fashion series from my Vegas trip. As I mentioned in my last post, it's essential to only pack items that you will get maximum use value out of. Take this outfit for instance, the loafers that I'm wearing are comfortable for long days of walking. Furthermore, they are quite stylish and can be worn with jeans and a tank, or with a dress like I'm wearing here. After all, the lighter your suitcase is, the more new clothes and shoes you can buy! [There is nothing wrong with splurging on vacation.]

 

 

Thrifted items: dress: Betsey Johnson $7.99 (Goodwill,) cardigan: Banana Republic $7.99 (Goodwill,) purse: $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; loafers: Pink & Pepper $15 (Fred Meyer.)

 

 

As I said, there is nothing wrong with splurging a little on vacation, especially when in Vegas! [Wink, wink.] I have to say, I was pretty excited to embark on a shopping spree because of all the great shopping centers located within a two mile radius on the strip. It seems like every casino that you go into has its own mini mall. I was especially excited because there are a lot of stores in Vegas that we don't have here. Which store was I most excited for? It was a close tie between Topshop and Zara. We just had a grand opening for a Zara store here in Seattle, but I haven't had a chance to make it over there yet. Topshop has become pretty popular on this side of the pond recently.

 

 

When it comes to shopping, I always try to find the best deals for my money. I'll be honest, whether I'm shopping at a thrift store or at the mall, I always opt for the salesclearance racks. I wouldn't call myself "cheap" (I prefer thriftnista,) it's just that sale prices are more appealing to me. Besides, I always find the most unique and interesting pieces on the sale rack.

 

Take this dress for example, it was originally $52 and I only paid $30 for it. The necklace was originally $30 and I got it for $15. Voila, the perfect outfit for a night out on the town. Not bad for Topshop right? 

As for the purse, it was a pretty good deal considering how much quality leather purses go for these days. Personally, Dooney and Bourke is one of my favorite brands. I love the classic, retro feel of their purses. I always feel like I get my money's worth with their products because they last forever. Stay tuned for more photos and trip details. Until next time.

-E

 

Viva Las Vegas - Day One: An Evening In Paris

 

[This photo was taken at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas.]

 

E here, as promised in my last post, I will be detailing my recent vacation to Las Vegas. But first, per the recommendation of a friend, I'm going to provide some quick, easy tips on how to successfully plan outfits for a trip. Planning what outfits to bring on vacation can be time consuming, and even stressful. I don't know about you, but I need plenty of time in advance to pack for a trip! In order to prepare for a vacation, I rely on three easy rules when packing; 1) comfort, 2) quality, and 3) quantity. When it comes to comfort, I try to only pick items that I deem to be "essential" i.e. -can't live without. In terms of quality, I pack items of good quality that I know I will get maximum use value out of for an extended period of time. Finally, when it comes to quantity, I rely on the last two standards as a guideline for choosing the number of particular items to pack.

 

 As a seasoned traveler, I only travel with one carry on suitcase, therefore it's really important that I pack items with quality and quantity in mind. For example, the blazer that I'm wearing in this photo meets all of my guidelines. It's comfortable and extremely versatile when it comes to planning outfits, and is also lightweight and easy to pack.

 

 

 On this particular trip I wore the blazer a lot. Since it's black it matches just about everything, and provides that extra touch of polish to an outfit. The amazing thing about this outfit (shoes and accessories included) is that it was all under $40. [Everything except for the dress was thrifted.] As I've said before, you don't have to spend a lot of money to look like a million bucks! Its as simple as throwing on your favorite LBD (little black dress) with some chunky jewelry, and other fun accessories.

 

 

Thrifted items; blazer: Express $6.99 (Value Village,) wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill,) clutch $3.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; dress: Maggy London $24.99 (TJ Maxx.)

 

 

Isn't the view spectacular? By far one of the best views I've had at dinner in a long time! Not only does the Eiffel Tower restaurant at the Paris hotel offer a great view, but it also provides guests with an authentic French dining experience.

 

 

 

 

 In case you're wondering, the food was just as good as the view! I had the mackerel and it was exquisite. Back to the view, we had front seats for the fountain show at the Bellagio hotel across the way. [Pictured below]

 

 

Not a bad way to kick off a fun, relaxing week-long vacation if I don't say so myself. If you happen to find yourself in Vegas with a few extra dollars to spend, I highly recommend you pay a visit to the Eiffel Tower restaurant. Well that's all for today, check back soon for more details on the trip, and how I spent my time. Happy Saturday!

-E

 

**Late Post: Army & Pinstripes**

 

 

 

E here, sorry it's been so long since my last post. :-( As I've mentioned before, I am in retail management so my schedule tends to be pretty hectic. Also, I just got back from vacation. [Lots of great outfit photos from that trip coming soon.] If you follow me on Instagram you know that this post is long overdue, so here it is finally! 

 

What I love about this outfit is the versatility of it. The fun thing about fashion is that you can take clothes and create a look that is unique to you alone. Don't get me wrong, I do follow the current trends, but at the same time I like to put my own spin on things. What I tried to do here; is take the army inspired piece and mix it with more casual pieces, so as to try and downplay its more rigid, masculine features, and make it appear more feminine and stylish. The trick to pulling off any army inspired look, is to try and deflect the rigid, uniform appearance of the piece, and make it seem more modern and stylish. While the jacket offers warmth and comfort, it also adds a sort of rugged-chic feel to the outfit. The best part? I only paid $22.50 for it, and its original tags were still attached for $115.00. If you think that's a great deal, read below to see what other amazing finds I scored.

 

 

Thrifted items; jeans; Else $9.99 (Goodwill,) pinstripe button down: Gap $10.50 (Crossroads Trading Co,) army jacket: Ricki's $22.50 (Crossroads Trading Co,) *boots: American Eagle $12.99 - $.129 (Goodwill.)

 

 

These boots are cute aren't they? Can you guess how much I paid for them? [Hint: under $5.] That's right, the boots were under $5! I paid a whole $1.29 for the boots which were practically new. Its funny because whenever I wear the boots and people ask me how much I paid for them, no one believes me! Even some of the employees at the Goodwill that I purchased them from were shocked that I found such a fabulous deal. I'll admit, I tend to have pretty good luck at Goodwill on $1.29 days, but I have to say that this is the best $1.29 find, (perhaps Goodwill find of all time!)

 

 

I'm telling you, thrifting is the way to go! Are you convinced yet? If not, stick with me and I'll give you tips and advice on how you can nab fabulous deals for yourself. It's quite simply really. First; find out what thrift stores are located in your area, second: do some quick research and see what stores are top-rated, or have the most reviews. I tend to be a Goodwill/Value Village girl, but I also love to check out smaller, private thrift stores/boutiques as well. After all, you never know what gems you might come across! A lot of times, the places that appear to be small, sort of stereotypical "hole's in the wall," turn out to be quite interesting. Every time I check out a new neighborhood, or visit another state I always check to see if there are thrift stores nearby. Make sure to come back again soon, I'm going to embark on a thrifting challenge with a friend and show you just how easy it is. Well that's all for today. See you next time!

-E