Modern Day Retro Flair

E here, I don't know about you, but I've been spending a lot of time outside lately. The weather has been so beautiful that I decided to throw on a floppy hat and a darling sundress that I picked up at Goodwill recently. I wanted to wear something fun and flirty now that dress season is finally here.

What drew me to the dress was the retro charm. Its such a fun, lively print with its bold colors and retro inspired print.

 I feel as though I'm channeling Lana del Ray! 

Lana del Ray is one of my celebrity style icons. I love how she invokes retro glamour, but is still very cutting edge. Like Lana, I have an appreciation for vintage inspired glamour, red lipstick, and floppy hats!

Thrifted items; dress: Webster Miami for Target $7.99 (Goodwill,) cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft $7.99 (Goodwill,) purse: Etienne Aigner $6.99 (Goodwill,) flats: Sam Edelman $3.99 (Value Village.) Non-thrifted items; gold bracelet: Zara $16, sunglasses: Sperry Top Sider $30 (Nordstrom Rack,) hat: $9.99 (Fred Meyer,) necklace: Curfew: 5.99 (Fred Meyer.)

I absolutely love these Sam Edelman flats. I picked them up for the unbelievable low price of just $3.99 at Value Village! Talk about chic for cheap! They look good with just about everything from jeans to a dress like this. Style tip: pointy flats look good with everything, and instantly add a touch of chic to any ensemble. 

Nothing like a good book to read on a sunny day! If you like fashion and have an appreciation for people's eclectic collections and flea market treasures, then this is the book for you. Todd Selby is an amazing photographer and blogger who takes you inside the home of some of the world's most interesting people.

Gasworks Park is easily one of my favorite parks in the whole city because of the 360 degree panoramic views. No matter where you are in the park you will get a great view, and there is undoubtedly always something to see.

Gasworks is a beautiful place to view the Seattle skyline.

It's also a fun place to watch boats on Lake Union. In fact, every Tuesday there is a weekly regatta (boat race) which is quite the sight if you've never seen one before. 

If you like kite flying, then check out kite hill where you'll get a great view of the whole park and one of the best 360 degree views of the city. Well, adieu for now my friends, but please stop by again soon. I hope that you too find your own ray of sunshine when thrift shopping. Remember, you don't have to spend a lot of money to look like a million bucks. Happy Thursday! 

-E

Thrift Finds: Retro Charm

E here, I picked up this adorable little number for just $7.99 at Goodwill the other day. Funny story; my husband came in and asked "where did that come from?" I replied that "I just bought it at Goodwill today. Isn't it darling?" Of course my husband, (being the man that he is,) remarked that it looks like something that you would see someone in Florida wearing." I didn't know if I should take this as a compliment, or as a playful jab. That's the thing though, fashion is a means of personal expression and others might not always get it. After all, you know how guys are! Mine isn't exactly the most stylish. [Sorry honey but it's true!]

What I love about this dress is the retro charm. There's something about the whimsical tropical print that just caught my eye. It immediately stood out to me on the rack. For me, thrifting is like treasure hunting. I look for things that are unique, and that stand out. 

Take this dress for example, I absolutely love the detailed print. Its fun yet flirty, making it the perfect summer dress. That's the beauty of thrifting, you never know what great pieces you might stumble upon. 

Doesn't the purse go with the dress just perfectly? That was my first thought as soon as I saw it. In true blogger form, I was already planning outfits in my head!

I normally don't go for small bags, but its always good to have a purse in every shape and size for any occasion. This one will be perfect for travel and those days when I just don't feel like lugging a big, heavy bag around.  [I feel like this is a problem that all stylish females struggle with! style versus practicality.....size versus versatility, etc.]

That's the beauty of thrift shopping, you can walk away with several purses (designer even) for relatively cheap. I've built up quite a collection of wallets, clutches, and purses over the years from great brands such as Coach, Betsey Johnson, Dooney and Bourke, Kate Spade, just to name a few. Well that's all the time we have for today. Happy thrifting!

-E

Going Green!

E here, today's outfit was inspired by the bold, lively colors of spring. I love walking out of the house and seeing all of the lush greens, reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, etc. as plants and flowers start coming alive. Like mother nature, my wardrobe is gradually lightening up and beginning to bloom. After all, what better way to dive into spring then with a bold pop of color?



. You might recognize the top that I'm wearing from my latest thrift haul. It was brand new when I bought it. As I mentioned in the thrift haul, you can find a lot brand new items that are donated by stores like Target and Old Navy. This particular piece was part of an exclusive collection that Philip Lim did with Target.



I love this top because it looks very sophisticated. The detailed beading on the collar gives the top a little extra sparkle, and ultimately makes it look more expensive than it actually is. After all, who doesn't love a little extra sparkle? Plus, the great thing about black is that it goes with everything. Black is flattering on virtually every body type. In addition to having a LBD (little black dress,) it doesn't hurt to also have a LBT (little black top) in your closet!



Thrifted items; black peplum top: Philip Lim for Target $4.99 (Goodwill,) green trench coat: Calvin Klein $29.99 (Goodwill,) jeans: Else $9.99 (Goodwill,) flats: Tahari $9.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; Ella James $7.99 (Fred Meyer.)

As I've stated in the past, you can find gems like these adorable flats at the thrift store.They were practically brand new when I bought them. You just have to keep an eye out constantly, and you too will find some great pieces.Well that's all for today. Happy thrifting!See you next time!

-E

Two Nautical's Don't Make A Right

E here, if you haven't already guessed by the title of this post, this is a nautical themed outfit. [I'm obsessed with everything nautical.] However as the title suggests, two nautical's don't make a right. As much as I love the nautical look, I tried not to overdo it too much. Since the tank is a solid nautical print, I didn't want to add too many nautical themed accessories. Instead, I opted for simple accessories; gold anchor studs, a beaded rope necklace, and my favorite sunnies. I mean Sperry Top Sider is about as nautical and preppy as you can get!

Whenever you're putting together a themed ensemble you want to try and create a focal point that ties the whole look together. Here the nautical print served as the base for the outfit, so I just added accessories that that would compliment the overall look. 

I picked up these cute anchor earrings at Forever 21 for just $3.50! The best part about it was that they were part of three pack of nautical themed earrings so I really got my value for my money.



The final touch for this look was the rope sandals. Don't they just scream nautical?!


Thrifted items; nautical tank: H.I.P. $7.99 (Crossroads Trading Co,) navy sweater: JCrew $9.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: JCPenny's $25, sandals: Curfew $9.99 (Fred Meyer,) beaded necklace: GNW $5.99 (Fred Meyer,) aviators: Sperry Top Sider $30 (Nordstrom Rack.) 

The great thing about Seattle is that there are so many different marinas and beaches to choose from.

  This particular spot is one of my favorite places to hang out in the summer because of the great view of downtown, Puget Sound, and Mt. Rainier.

On a bright and sunny day like this you can see Mt. Rainier in the distance.

The perfect end to this lovely spring day was the sunset. Talk about picturesque! Until next time. Happy Sunday! 

-E

Thrift Haul: Goodwill

 

E here, I thought that it would be fun to do a thrift haul since I talk a lot about the great deals that I find at Goodwill. Along with my blogger bestie Sara, we spent an entire afternoon tackling one rack at a time with one of our good friends who is also an avid thrifter. Between the three of us, we managed to fill one shopping cart. It was a good trip for all of us! Without any further adieu, here is the second half of the thrift haul, (Sara posted the first half on her blog.) I've attached the link to her blog at the end of this post.

 

My Tips:

1.) Avoid the "fashion focus" section because it tends to be overpriced. You can still find great designer/brand name labels in the rest of the store.
2.) Find out what the color tag special for the day is, (or the manager's special,) because you can get a better deal on those items than others. [i.e. pink tags for 50%, or green tags for a $1.29 on Monday's.] 3.) Grab everything that catches your eye because you can always make your final selections later. There's no guarantee that if you don't grab an item, you can find it later! Trust me, I've passed on an item and regretted it later.
4.) Finally, avoid lines at the fitting room by trying on what you can in front of a mirror. This means dressing appropriately (wear a tank/shirt so that you can slip on other clothes, jeans/pants, and shoes that are easy to take on and off.)

 

Pictured from the back left; green blouse: Mossimo $4.99, black peplum: Philip Lim $4.99, sequin dot blouse: Merona $5.99, pink sleeveless blouse: Xhiliration $3.99, tye-dye tank: Soprano $4.99, print tee: With A Tourist $3.99, Sam Edelman flats $3.99 (the only item from Value Village).

I really scored on these flats. This is the third pair of Sam Edelman's that I've thrifted! Talk about good luck!

 

 

I love all the details on this tank from the rhinestones and pearls, right down to the flower. Typically I don't go for pink, but every girl loves a little sparkle right? Its definitely one of the more feminine and flirty items that I picked up on this trip.

 

 

What's great about this blouse is the dimension. As I mentioned in the haul, this is another brand new Target brand item. All in all, I walked away with four brand new Target tops. Not bad! Well thanks for stopping by, if you'd like to hear about the haul from Sara's perspective and see what great items she got, here is the link to her blog The Blonde Squad. Remember the first half of the haul video is on her page if you want to see it from the beginning.

-E



Saturday Date: This Little Piggy Went To The Market [Pt. 2]

 

 

 

E here, for part deux of my Saturday date my husband and I spent the afternoon walking around Pike Place Market. The great thing about the waterfront is its proximity to the central downtown area. Everything is located within a leisurely walking distance, so it only took about 10 minutes to climb the stairs up the hill to the market.

Before I discuss the top things to see, I just wanted to give you a quick little blurb about the history of the market. Pike Place opened in 1907, and is the oldest farmer's market still in operation in the U.S. The market remains open year-round and attracts thousands of visitors from around the globe.

 

 

The Pike Place sign is one of the most recognizable and iconic landmarks of Seattle.

 

 It gets pretty crowded this time of year as the tourist season kicks into full gear, so I recommend going on a weekday if you can.
 

Perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions is the infamous Market Theater gum wall in Post Alley. Its definitely a novelty if anything. If you're wondering, the gum is several inches thick. Talk about gross! To get to the wall, simply follow the alleyway (in the photo above this one) around to the left. Don't forget to bring a pack of gum!



The gum wall also marks the start of the market ghost tour if you're interested. I've actually been on it myself and its pretty fun, especially if you enjoy hearing about some local history. I can't say that I saw any ghosts though! But I won't lie, there's something eerie about walking through the market when its dark and deserted.

I took this picture because it's a very iconic image in Pike Place. Here in the northwest we are known worldwide for our famous salmon, as well as other local seafood such as crab and shellfish.

 

Another popular tourist hotspot is the Pike Place Fish company made famous for its fish throwing spectacle.When I say that its a spectacle I'm not exaggerating. Every time someone makes an order, the "fish mongers" as they're called, toss the fish around to each other until it eventually makes its way down to the customer. If you're in the mood for a free show be sure to check it out.

Mouthwatering isn't it? Definitely a perk of living in the pacific northwest!



Moving on, down on the lower levels there are a lot of great shops and other fun things to see such as the "giant shoe museum."





I love this part of the market because it feels like you're going back in time. The shoe museum is reminiscent of the old travelling sideshow circuses.

 

The Pike Place Magic Shop has been around forever. It's a fun place to poke around if you can spare the time. Like most magic shops, they offer the typical novelty gag gifts and magic tricks for kids. If you like this sort of thing, not too far from the aquarium, down on the waterfront is the Ye Old Curiosity Shop.
 

 

Now moving along, located down on 1st and Pike is the original flagship Starbucks for all of you coffee connoisseurs. This is actually the second original location, however it is still the oldest Starbucks in the world. Another place I recommend checking out is Beecher's Handmade Cheese. The cheese curds are to die for! The macaroni isn't bad either. In fact, the macaroni and cheese is so good that Oprah dubbed it one of her "favorite things." Beecher's is just down the street from Starbucks so you can't miss it.

 

I always enjoy watching street performers in their element, especially the statue people! Its amazing to me that anyone could make a living doing such a thing! 

Our journey ends here with one of the many pigs that you will see throughout the market. Unfortunately it was so crowded that I was unable to get a picture of the original piggy Rachel. To find her, just walk towards the main sign at the gateway of the market and look for the bronze piggy in front of the Pike Place Fish Company. Well that's all for today, I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Check back soon for the details of my first ever thrift haul video with my best friend and fellow blogger Sara from the Blonde Squad. 
-E