Fall Fashion Trends 2016

Fall is my favorite. Not only is it perfect cozy temperature but you get all the fun things that come along with fall, like wineries, beautiful leafs, gatherings around a fire, pumpkins, Halloween, comfort food, and of course fall fashion. Fall fashion is fabulous because I get to wear leggings, chunky knit sweaters, blanket scarfs,  and boots without anyone thinking I look frumpy!

What I look out for at the thrift store for fall looks:

• Sweaters
  • These are bountiful in all colors, thickness, patterns – plaid is my favorite. The brown/black sweaterish jacket I have on in the photos is super unique and a great brand for $8. 
  • Not only wear alone but also think about layering options (turtlenecks and blazers is a stunning work look)
  • Hartley's adorable Gap sweater was also a thrift find at $3 and it matches everything!
• Boots
  • Over the knee, lace-up/military, and ankle bootsare this years fashion craze, and good luck for you they are available at steep discounts if you are willing to hunt. I know not everyone is keen on the used shoe idea, but I will say at least with boots you can wear socks :)
  • Recently I found grey wedge ankle Franco Sarto boots for $9! They are super comfy and look great under bootcut jeans or with the leggingsand sweater dress I paired it with below.
• Printed pants
  • I get so bored of my dress pants and jeans so finding fall prints like the leopard ones I’m wearing below to incorporate into my day or night selection makes me so happy! These leopard Anne Taylor Loft pants were only $7!
• Jackets
• If you step into a thrift store right now you will be OVERWHELMED with all the options you have.
• Fur, leather, velvet and suede are HUGE trends right now, so rock it by finding an affordable option.

• Special Occasion Dresses
  • Start looking for holiday looks now or get a special dress for any fall weddings you may have. This little black dress I have on above was $11...and yes, I questioned the price as my normal maximum at the thrift store is $10, but it is a fantastic wardrobe staple that will be perfect for any occasion. I wore this to an October wedding and paired it with a faux fur coat, which are about $15 from the thrift store. *remember your store clearance days and for higher priced items like designer labeled dresses or jackets, you can get for an even bigger steal*

Getting this evening to spend with Willie, Hartley and some fabulous friends along the waterfront was wonderful. A great pick-me-up to all the fall gatherings, demanding work schedules, and election frenzy. I hope you ROCK your fall looks, because sadly our season is flying by!



Trendy ripped jeans under $3

Happy Thrift Thursday!!

This summer is flying by, but that’s ok with me because I am so over this extreme heat and ready to enjoy being outside again. I have BIG plans for our new backyard once it cools down a little and if you know be any…I’m not patience…if only mother nature knew my A-type personality.  However, I have been better at pacing renovations at the new house. I’m doing reasonable things and trying to not give my husband a heart attack by asking for new things every week, so maybe I am relaxing a little…maybe??!? Or maybe it’s the little toddler running around that doesn’t let me get anything done and has high interest in every tool which she either steals, hides, throws, or runs with?  

As I slowly make progress on the house, I needed a closet pick-me-up. The cool girls of Instagram finally convinced me to try the casual ripped jeanslook. Since I was a teenager, I’ve always wanted huge knee ripped jeans but the astounded horrified look from my grandmother and mother as they questioned “why are you going to spend money on jeans with holes and rips in them” still festered in my mind. So as my memories faded with laughter and complete understanding as a mother now…I stumbled upon a $3 pair of jeans at the thrift store and thought “what the heck…let’s take a scissor to them and see what happens”.

So that is exactly what I did. I put them on and right at the knee I made an X with a pen. That gave me a good outline of where I wanted the hole to be. I took them off and laid them on the floor, sperated the front and back fabric and cut right at the X by pinching the front fabric together. Then I just cut a large square shape where the knee is. After I finished cutting it did look like someone just took scissorsto them and not really the designer celebrity look I was going for, so I just used my nails and scraped and tugged on the hem until the fabric started fraying.

I paired it with a classic white tank, flannel shirt tied around the hips (all the cool kids are doing it haha) and these fabulous clearance heels I got from Marshals. What do you think? Worth the $3 and a pair of scissors?

4th of July fashion bargain style

Ahhhh I love 4th of July because it means I get to go on vacation!! If you have been reading my blog for a few years, you know that Willie and I take an annual friends trip to Outer Banks. Last year we took our daughter but this year we are going childless so we can fully relax and enjoy some down time after a couple of extremely crazy and stressful months. I don't think either of us have EVER needed a vacation more.


So happy Thrift Thursday 4th of July special! I wanted to do some bleaching/painting techniques I saw on Pinterest but my shopping trips to the thrift store failed and honestly I just couldn't muster the strength after work this week to tackle a DIY project (instead my weeknights were filled with unpacking, home good shopping, chasing a toddler around her new yard, and trying to paint my daughter's bathroom). The new house is coming along...yes we moved! Can't wait to share more details soon!

My look was inspired more of the nautical look with hints of July 4th. The brand NEW Talbots red pants (these are cute too) were $6.50 from the thrift store and I paired that with my favorite Mossimo navy/white striped basic tee from Target (similar) that was on sale + a Cartwheel coupon about $4 (Cartwheel is the greatest, I think I saved about $40 that shopping trip by going into the app and making my list off sale items + my REDcard discount). Oh how I love stacking coupons! The american flag bandana headbandwas just one I have had for years that I styled like my favorite adorable country singer Jessie James Decker.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! I am hoping to come back refreshed and rejuvenated to tackle all the DIY projects I have planned for the new house! Get excited :)

High Waisted Jeans

I know I have been failing Thrift Thursdays lately...but this one is a good one! Summer is officially here in Virginia. We went from a horrible 3 week span of rain and dreary weather to HOT summer temperatures. Where did spring go?!?!


I was a little disappointed because I found these awesome high waist jeans and cute white boho top that I only got to wear once...I guess I have to wait for fall now to show off this cute outfit. The jeanswere only $4.45 and the white top was $3.00. So this cute retro look was under 8.00!! Heck yeah! Ohhhh and BOHO is SOOOO in right now :) I paired it with some cute strappy blue sandals that I bought on clearance in Park City a few years back on vacation and a TopShop floppy hat that I got on clearance for $22 (similar).

One of the reasons I LOVE thrifting is because you can experiment with your style. I would not normally pick out these jeans at a retail store, but I thought what the heck, if they look horrible it was only the price of a morning latte. It is just so exciting to be able to pick out styles that you would not normally try for extremely low risk in spending too much money. Hope this look inspires you to go for something WAY outside your norm and have fun with fashion!

Long Sleeve Printed Dress

Have you ever had a print that just jumps out at you? Well this is sort of what this dress did for me. A couple weeks ago I got to have a WHOLE hour of dedicated thrift shopping without a husband or baby trying to rush me. I got to explore some new labels, some new sections I never hit, and tried to really re-imagine some items. To say the least, it was one of the better ME nights I've had for awhile. I walked away with 2 dresses, 1 blouse, 3 pairs of pants, a silk scarf, 2 designer men's ties, and 3 pairs of pants for $60!! Ummm YEAH!



This dress by ASTR really grabbed me (especially since it had this amazing back detail...I'm a sucker for back details) and when I was able to research more, I found out that is a brand sold at Nordstrom's with a retail price around $65.00 and I found for $6.50.

I decided to wear this to a bridal shower last weekend when the weather was finally gorgeous in Virginia.  I paired it with some fabulous clearance Jessica Simpson booties (similar) I found at DSW for only $30.00 for a more casual look. So I know it's a little bit of a funky look for a bridal shower, but for the bride-to-be I think it fit perfectly for her fun personality. I never wear anything this short, and Kimberly actually had to reassure me a few times (even with a backup outfit in the car) that it wasn't really as short as I thought and to ROCK it. Ekkk...so I did and I was really happy that I pushed myself out of my fashion comfort zone. I did however wear this to work the next day with a cute pair of black leggings and it was just as spectacular :)

Happy Thrift Thursday! 

Vintage Hat & Brooks Brothers Coat

Kimberly and I shot this in the fall and I was waiting for the perfect time to share it! We are officially in winter here in Virginia with just shoveling out of the Blizzard of 2016, so I thought it was a perfect way to get fashionably out of my PJ, no makeup, messy hair trend that I had been sporting. Being home all weekend with the baby and Willie was great! But boy, after day 5 I was totally ready to get back into the routine and as bad as it sounds, yes, back to work.

This look is for the confident classic women. The hat I found at a vintage store with Kimberly paired with a tan vintage 100% camel hair Brooks Brothers coat is EVERYTHING! The Brooks Brothers coat was a thrift store find at only $28!! Coats and jackets at Brooks Brothers retail for almost $600, so that's a 95% savings! And the hat...ughhh I'm in love. The deep rich beautiful burgundy color is just stunning with the fabulous flower accents. It is so fun and such a great winter staple! Happy Thrift Thursday! 

  

The Perfect Holiday Look

Christmas Eve Thrift Thursday!

Ahhh tomorrow is Christmas!!! The crazy warm rainy weather in Virginia has done nothing for my holiday spirit but the shopping and parties surely has gotten me in the mood. Tomorrow is going to be so exciting with our little 16 month old daughter. I cannot wait to see her face!

As my last day in the office before our break, I was counting every minute (don’t you hate those days when you feel like the clock doesn’t move…ughhh). However, I did make myself feel a little more Christmassy by wearing a beautiful red plaid jacket, winter white pants, with red lips and nails. Red lips for some reason just makes you feel instantly more classy! 

The plaid faux-fur lined Ralph Lauren blazer was $6.00 which I paired with white Banana Republic trousers that I got for only $3.50, both from the thrift store! The mix of the bright holiday red and the winter white pants just screams holiday to me…LOVE! A whole outfit under $11...YES please!

Enjoy this wonderful time with your family and friends. Memories are the best presents you will ever get. Merry Christmas!

How to Wear the Fisherman Sweater

Thrift Thursday!!

So first off, this is why I always have Kimberly model...because I can't! But this was the perfect night to showcase my beautiful Oscar de la Renta sweater with the amazing Christmas decorations and lighted streets in Old Town Alexandria.

The Aran sweater, often known as the fisherman sweater, takes its name from the set of islands off the west coast of Ireland where it originated from in the late 1800s. The stitches are said to carry their own unique meaning in the lives of the Island community. Today, the mass versions of the sweater are seen everywhere and I just can't get enough! It's a classic and new wardrobe staple.There's something so cozy and rugged about the loose fit and chunky cable-knit details. Although this is more of a masculine look, it can serve as a nice counterbalance to more feminine garments, like the skinny black jeggings I paired it with. 

I found this amazing Oscar de la Renta sweater for $15.00 at my local thrift store!! I paired it with my favorite pair of black Calvin Klein pants that I have worn at least 100 times which were only $7.00!! I have definitely gotten my money worth!! 

Professional Wardrobe On A Budget - Suit Under $20

Thrift Thursday!

About this time a year I feel like everyone it’s getting the itch to start the new year off with a new job. I mean come on, what’s better than starting the year off fresh in a new environment with new challenges. So, to get you all inspired and looking snazzy for those interviews, here is an amazing find from my local thrift store that will surely land you the perfect job!

The Look:

• Suit - (Blazer and Skirt) = White House Black Market $19.90 from thrift store!! WOW!

• Shirt -  Can be just a basic cotton (like this black one which go for about $4 at the thrift store) or make it extra professional with a nice blouse or button-down (about $7 from the thrift store)

• Shoes – Aren’t these Jessica Simpson heels amazing! Kimberly got these on sale for $39 at Marshals to wear at my wedding and I think she has gotten her full use out of them!

• Michael Kors purse

The beautiful flirty details of the jacket and skirt are appropriate for any job market. Professional enough to take you into a multimillion dollar company but fun enough for that art gallery interview that you are so excited about.

Hope you land the perfect job and have fun exploring your options with not only clothing but your career!