Collegiate Issue: Color Me Spring

 

 

E here, I don't know about you but I'm excited for spring. Now that the weather is warming up, there are so many fun, playful ensemble combinations that you can put together. Today's shots were taken in "the Quad" at the beautiful University of Washington campus where I attended college. The Quad is an especially popular place to take photos this time of year because of the famous Sakura blossoms that bloom every spring.

 

 

 

I was feeling extra preppy today so I pulled my tweed jacket out of the closet. I think that tweed is a classic style staple for any fashionista. What I love about tweed is that it is so timeless, and effortlessly chic. If paired with the right pieces, it can look very modern and even cutting edge.

 

 

 For instance, the pleather detailing and the cross body zipper put a twist on the classic tweed archetype. I picked up this lovely Gap jacket at Crossroads Trading Co. during a trade. That's what I love about thrifting/consigning, you never know what sort of hidden gems you might discover!

 

Thrifted items; tweed jacket: Gap $20 (Crossroads Trading Co,) grey skirt: JCrew $5.99 (Goodwill,) boots: Deena & Ozzy $7.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; sunglasses: Sperry Top Sider $30 (Nordstrom Rack,) monogram necklace: $4.97 (Nordstrom Rack.) *Polka dot blouse: gifted.

 

Yes, I went for a preppy school girl inspired look! Rather ironically, I did attend private Catholic school from 5th-12th grade, but I never had to wear a uniform! Perhaps that's why I've always had an inclination to create my own version of the look. While the centerpiece of this look was the tweed jacket, I thought that mixing it with the flirty polka dot print would make the outfit seem more fun and youthful. To polish off the look, I paired black tights and heeled lace up boots with charming accessories to add a more grown up, sexy flair to the outfit. That's it for today's edition.

-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

Camouflage & Lace

 

 

E here, another beautiful sunny day in Seattle. It's still quite cold so layering is key. I talk about layering and mixing prints/textures pretty often, so today's outfit is a good example of both. Most people that live in the Northwest tend to throw on a North Face or Columbia jacket, but I tire of wearing the same thing all the time. When creating a layered look its important to try and put outfits together that will keep you warm and look stylish at the same time. Here, I threw on a cardigan on top of layered tanks to keep from getting chilly. This time of year it can still be fairly cold, especially near the water, but if it's sunny you can get away with not wearing a jacket.

 

 

In a city like Seattle you tend to see graffiti and mural art plastered all over buildings, (in this case a bridge,) but this section really stood out to me. I thought the nerds thing was kind of funny. A lot of times you walk by a wall covered in graffiti and you think nothing of it, but I thought that it would make a great contrast against the picturesque views of the Ballard Locks. Below are some shots I took of the railroad bridge with the ocean behind it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Sara was the photographer for this shoot. You may recognize her as one of the blondes from the blog The Blonde Squad. If you haven't already checked out her blog, please take some time to view it. She has a lot of great DIY projects, as well as great outfits!

 

 

Thrifted items; lace tank: Old Navy $4.99 (Goodwill,) booties: Sam Edelman $20 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; camouflage cardigan: Unionbay $15 (Fred Meyer,) jeans: Levi's $25 (Macy's,) monogram necklace: Nordstrom Rack $5.99.

 

 

 

Monogram necklaces have been all the rage lately on other fashion blogs and Instagram. I realize that I'm a little late on this trend, but better late than never right?! After all, a monogrammed necklace is a fun way to personalize any outfit. As you may have noticed, the letter E was all sold out so I had to settle for L instead. But that's ok, I look at it two ways; the L can either represent Lizi, or Logan (for my husband.) If you're interested in picking up a monogram necklace for yourself you can most likely find one at Forever 21, Nordstrom Rack, or on internet shops like BaubleBar. Thanks for stopping by. New thrift posts coming soon. Happy thrifting!

-E 

 

Cat Lady Chic

 

 

E here, its been awhile since my last post. Unfortunately, life has been somewhat hectic for me lately. My New Year's resolution was to be a better blogger, and I'm really trying! Ironically, the title of this post is Cat Lady Chic, and believe me I've felt like a bit of one lately!

 

 

[Taken at Toulouse Petit; crawfish, shrimp, and Andouille sausage over creamy grits, with scrambled eggs.]

 

In addition to blogging about my outfits and thrifting adventures, I'm going to start posting pictures of food. I don't know about you, but I'm a serious foodie. I have a very diverse palette and love trying new things. Pictured above is one of the best breakfasts in town. If you're ever in Seattle make sure to stop by this place, I guarantee you won't be disappointed! I've been to New Orleans twice and I think that this restaurant does a great job of capturing the creole flavor of Louisiana. My recommendation - order anything with crawfish in it!

 

 

Thrifted items; trench coat: Gap $20 (Crossroads Trading Co.,) wedge flats: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; cat sweater: Love By Design $10 (Fred Meyer,) sheer blouse: Forever 21, jeans: JCPenny's $25, vintage necklace: gifted. 

 

 

The interesting thing about this outfit is that these shoes are probably the most expensive pair that I've ever thrifted that aren't designer. In the same shopping trip that I got these shoes I bought; Marc Jacobs heels, Coach loafers, Tahari and Sperry Top Sider flats, all of which retail for more than Aldo. [I'll be posting the details of the thrift haul that these shoes came from soon.] But that's the funny thing about thrifting, sometimes items are under or overpriced.

 

 

Ultimately I made the right decision in purchasing these shoes because they are a great style staple for any closet. Just like having a little black dress, black shoes go with just about anything from jeans and a tee, to a flirty blouse and skirt. Also, pointy shoes such as these dress up any outfit and make you look chic. Whether its jeans or a skirt, you can make any outfit classy and sophisticated. All it takes is a few extra touches to give any outfit that extra oomph. Take my necklace for example, it was given to me by a friend who found it at a flea market. Besides adding a pop of color to the outfit, it also gives it a retro feel. Remember, it doesn't take much to look like a million bucks, so see what you have laying around that you could use to boost an outfit.

 

 

Well that's all for today. More posts coming soon. Happy thrifting!

-E

I'm Preppy and I Know It

 

 

E here, another lovely day in Seattle. I hope that your new year has gotten off to a good start, mine definitely has. I recently went on quite the massive thrift haul, check back soon for the details on that adventure. Today I went for a preppy chic look. Over the past couple of years I have gone through several style reinventions and phases, but I have always been drawn to the preppy look. The funny thing about this outfit is that the sweater/button down combo that I'm wearing is actually one piece.

 

 

 I typically stay away from built-in one piece combos because I find them to look tacky. However, in this case I don't think that you can even tell that the sweater and undershirt are sewn together. Either way, I think that the sweater really adds to the overall look of the outfit, so much so that it reminds of my private school days! I worked really hard to make sure that this outfit looked polished-preppy, and not school-girl preppy. In order to pull off the polished-preppy look without it looking like a uniform, its important not to get carried away with making the pieces too matchy-matchy that they appear looking uniform.

 

 

 

Here, I took some pieces from my latest haul (my Coach loafers) and paired them with some great pieces that I already had in my closet. The key to perfecting the polished-preppy look is to stick with items that you are comfortable wearing. After all, I don't know about you, but polo shirt dresses are just not my thing. Whenever I put together an outfit that has preppy qualities to it, I try not to overdo it by making the outfit as casual chic as possible. If the preppy look is not your style, than just stick to basic style staples from the preppy look-book to enhance your closet (i.e. - trench coats, loafers, cardigans, etc.)

 

 

Thrifted items; two piece sweater: Forever 21 $3.99 (Value Village,) trench coat: Banana Republic $10 (Value Village,) loafers: Coach $7.99 (Value Village.) Non thrifted items; jeans: JCPenny's $25, scarf (not pictured) Nordstrom - B.P. department $10.

 

 

Don't get me wrong I definitely keep up with what's currently trending, but ultimately, I will always prefer the classic look because its simply timeless. However as I have said before, you don't need to spend a lot of money to look and feel like a million bucks. Each look that I create is practically 85% thrifted, everything else that I am wearing I've spent a bit more of money on to get longer use value out of. Well that's all for now, as I mentioned earlier I will post the details of my latest thrift haul soon. I guarantee that you will want to read all about it once you see what coveted designer brands I snatched up! Also, I will provide some great shopping and styling tips to help you achieve maximum results on your next thrifting adventure. Ta-tah for now!

-E

Layering 101: Corduroy

 

 

 

E here, corduroy was never my thing growing up, but as I got older I started to look at it differently. For a long time I had always thought of corduroy as being really dated, but then I saw other people wearing it and I changed my tune. When paired with the right pieces corduroy can look refined and polished.

 

 

The thing about corduroy is knowing what to pair it with so it doesn't end up looking too frumpy. Since corduroy is so structured, I decided to pair it with plaid and a delicate feminine scarf to create contrast. Most people think that everything needs to be matchy-matchy but I find that to be boring. Outfits are more interesting when you mix them with different prints and textures.

 

 

Thrifted items; corduroy blazer: Banana Republic $9.99 (Goodwill,) plaid button down: Indigo $4.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; jeans: Levi's $15 (Macy's,) boots: Pink & Pepper $30 (Fred Meyer,) scarf: H&M $8, aviators: Sperry's $30 (Nordstrom Rack.)

 

 

 

Here I tried to keep it simple and go for a casual, laid back, layered look. It might have been sunnier here than the rest of the country, but it was still cold! When putting together layered looks, I try to go for pieces that will layer easily (in terms of movement.) I always make sure when I buy blazers or jackets that they are a size bigger so that I am still able to layer underneath them. Well that's all for now, hope my tips help. Until 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