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

 

 

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

Leaves Are Falling.....

 

 

 E here, it's been awhile since my last post. I work in retail management, and with the holidays approaching its one of the busiest times of the year for me. I will post as much as I can in the coming weeks. For this photo session, we went to one of my favorite local Seattle parks - Discovery Park in Magnolia.  I hope you enjoy my photos.

 

Thrifted items; trench coat: Banana Republic $10, stripe shirt: Ann Taylor $7.99. Non-thrifted; scarf: d&y $5.00 Fred Meyer, globe ring: Curfew $3 Fred Meyer (not visible in this picture,)  jeans: JCPenny's $20, sunglasses: Sperry's $30 (Nordstrom Rack,) rain boots: Hunter Nordstrom (gifted.)

 

 

 

 

 The colors of the leaves were so vibrant today that it appeared brighter for being such a grey and drab morning. It was simply stunning walking through the park and admiring all of the beauty that fall brings to the park. This is by far one of the best parks in the Seattle area to visit because of the diversity of trails, picnic areas, beach access, and of course for walking those furry friends. There is so much to see and do all year long.

 

 

The best part about owning Hunters? They go with practically anything, and they add a particular touch of sophistication and style to any outfit. You can pair them with jeans, skirts, or wear them with a dress and tights/leggings on a cold and rainy day. Personally, I love to wear them with jeans and a trench coat. It tends to be pretty windy where I live because of my proximity to the water, so they are a must have. Especially during these rainy months!   

 

 

Another added bonus? They are very comfortable. However if you have athletic calves like me, trying to wear boot socks with them on top of jeans/leggings does not work too well. If this is the case for you, I recommend purchasing the "Huntress" variation of sizing (wide calf) which I am wearing. They look exactly the same and are available at most retailers such as Nordstrom's, Macy's, etc. along with the regular width Hunters. They come in a wide variety of colors but I prefer black because it goes with everything and will not show dirt nearly as much as the brighter colors.

 

 

Located at one of the highest areas of the park, the chapel is an iconic landmark visible from many of the walking trails down below.

 

 

 

 

 

I really love the rustic beauty of this old chapel. I can only imagine what it must have been like back in the day. It has a lot of charm and character, and is one of my favorite places to visit in the park.

 

This area overlooks the rolling hills that face out over the Puget Sound. In the summertime this part of the park is popular for flying kites, and also serves as the perfect site for having picnics and sunbathing with a good book.

 

 

 

One of the many things that I love about this park besides the majestic view of the Puget Sound, is the natural scenery. Sometimes when strolling through the fields, forest, or trails, you can spot a rabbit in brush such as this.

 

That's all for now. I will try to blog more this week, assuming my busy work schedule will allow me the time! Happy Sunday!

-E