Quote.

The Target fitting room attendant, as she handed me a plastic number: "Okay. Good luck."

She said it with a straight face, like it was business as usual. Apparently, my mission, should I choose to accept it, is to fit into the pants I was trying on. (They were awesome pants, by the way.)

Girl Friday: Kari

This is Kari -- my friend, neighbor, and fashion-enthusiast buddy!

I really value and respect the way Kari's taken time to figure out her style. Through experimentation and research, she has unabashedly come up with a formula that works for her and complements her love of both bohemian & classic styles. She's encouraged me to stay true to what I love, while feeling the freedom to try something new (even if it doesn't end up working in the end... like the autumn we realized that we are not hipsters. There's a story.)

You also need to meet this girl because she's going to be doing a feature on the blog, starting next month: Secondhand September! Kari has a knack for finding unexpected pieces at Goodwill and then either wearing them with flair or innovatively altering them until they work for her. She's going to give us tips for shopping at Goodwill/thrift stores, show off some of her finds (like leather riding boots for $5. I know. I KNOW.), and hopefully inspire and encourage your thrifting endeavors. Her first post will be this coming Wednesday, so stay tuned -- and email me if you have questions about thrift store shopping you'd like her to answer.

Here's her interview!

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The Twenty Ninth: Describe your style in a few words or a phrase.
Kari: Die-hard bohemian with a solidly classic backbone.  

TN: How has your style evolved over the years? 
K: As a child, I wasn't allowed to shop according to preference. When I was finally able to choose my own clothes, I did it all wrong, by starting with what I wanted people to think of me and working backward to what clothes I should wear. It wasn't experimentation - it was people pleasing. I had to go through a phase where I pared down to the skeletal basics and rebuilt, only allowing stuff into my wardrobe that I or my husband loved, with a heavy leaning toward what he loved -- and he loved lady-like classic stuff. It was hard to put my wild-but-feminine side on hold, but it was worth it to convince him how much I loved him. Recently, though, he's told me he's is convinced, and is encouraging my more free-spirited side. The result is a solidly urban-boho wardrobe with cameos by a chic city-dweller.

TN: Any fun/embarrassing clothing mishaps or stories you'd like to share?
K: I was experimenting with pattern mixing not long ago, but my wardrobe isn't well stocked with patterns. All I could manage were a pair of blue, sailboat print shorts with a kelly green striped Breton top. After my husband had been home from work for a few hours, I asked what he thought. He confessed that after discerning I hadn't actually meant to grab my solid navy shorts, he declared that outfit "THE worst one yet." Days later, I thought I'd found a pair of pants at J.Crew that I'd wanted but had been discontinued. When I called to ask about the money factor, he said "I'll OK flexing the budget to buy these, and you'll promise never to wear stripes and sailboats again." I discovered that the pants were NOT available after all, but when I told my husband, his response wasn't to be sad with me about the loss. No, he said, "Nonetheless, your promise about the stripes and sailboats is still binding." Message received, honey.

TN: Who are your style influences? 
K: When I'm feeling like my city-self or really want to score with my husband, Kate Middleton, Audrey Hepburn, Gwyneth Paltrow and Grace Kelly are women I'd love to dress like. For style philosophy, I'm usually of one mind with Coco Chanel. And when I'm feeling free-spirited, I am my only inspiration.

This top & these jeans are from Goodwill!

Dress = another thrift store score.

TN: Where's your favorite place to shop?  

K: Believe it or not: Goodwill. I enjoy altering almost-perfect clothes to perfection, and like that my purchasing saves my family money, provides jobs to those who need them, reduces the amount of stuff being thrown into landfills, and cuts down my own consumerism. In our area, you can find startlingly good quality cast-offs!

TN: How do you pick out an outfit? 
K: I'm SO boring... I have a formula. We have a family joke called The Bohemian National Uniform. The BNU is a white T, jeans, and one tasteful accessory (only one, usually... I feel over-accessorized VERY easily!). All my outfits are just a variation of that formula -- shirt + jeans + accessory. I deviate, of course, but on the main, you can deconstruct everything I wear into those basic parts.

TN: What's your favorite thing in your closet to wear and why?  
K: My white T-shirts. I wear them as often as they're laundered.

TN: Any shopping tips or fashion advice you'd like to share? 
K: Always, ALWAYS be true to your own creative voice. Dressing to please others or merely to be "on-trend" will always show. But dressing in clothes that reflect your personality will make you relaxed and confident -- and WAY more beautiful! You know what you want to look like -- don't compromise!

*   *   *   *   * 

Thanks Kari! I'm really excited for Secondhand September!

If you have questions for Kari (either about her interview or about thrift store shopping), leave them in the comment section below.

This Summer's Bracelet.

(This year's bracelets. The gold one was a gift.)

I make and wear a friendship bracelet or two every summer, and have since I learned how to make them in elementary or middle school. At the end of each August, the threads are fading, matted, and full of memories from the past 3 months.

A friendship bracelet doesn't just add a summertime vibe and personal touch to my warm-weather outfits. It's also allows me to wear a little collage of the colors that are currently inspiring me, and be a little mismatched.

But these bracelets are mainly about the memories. My sisters and I would spend summer afternoons knotting bracelets together, and now my youngest sisters are carrying on the tradition. Last year, my little sister Laura made me a bracelet. It ended up being pretty special, since I wore it through the last few months of being pregnant with Vi. It's in her baby box now, just for fun.

This year's bracelet carries memories of Vi's first experience with the ocean, her first birthday cupcake, countless walks through the back streets of our neighborhood, a Coldplay concert, sitting in the sun at the pool, and ...starting this blog.

It was a good summer.

Clothes for Cheap: Madewell Dresses

More cheap finds! Madewell and Forever 21 are on the same page this Fall, it seems:

As previously stated, I'm not exactly a polka-dot girl, but I did like the look of this dress from Madewell (on the left). I liked the price of the one from Forever 21 (right) better.

Madewell Artdot Novelist Shirtdress                                 Forever 21 Polka Dot Tie Neck Dress

This striped Madewell dress (right) would be cute under a wooly sweater with tights and boots for the Fall. This similar option (left) at the F-2-1 will only set you back about $20.

Madewell Striped Duet Dress                                                          Forever 21 Striped Skater Dress

I feel the need... the need for tweed...

Doesn't this picture make you want Fall right now? It's got me dreaming of butternut squash soup and hot chocolate, flannel blankets and drizzly November days, walking through crunchy yellow leaves, and smelling woodsmoke. Mmm.

I think Fall has to be the best season for textures... They're natty and gnarly and chunky and soft, and you can layer them on with reckless abandon. So many Fall textiles tend to be good old classics, too, so they can last you a long time. Here are a couple of pieces worth investing in -- they'll add amazing chunk and gnarl to your cold-weather wardrobe:

Cable knit sweater: Get in touch with your inner New England lobsterman a la L.L.Bean. Cable sweaters are awesome enough that you can even get away with wearing one that's over-sized -- if you pair it with skinny jeans, to keep the Pillsbury Doughboy effect at bay. Big cable sweater + jeans = winning. (Add boots and you get a gold star.)

                                                                                                                                 (via Cupcakes & Cashmere)

Tweed (try a blazer or skirt): Not just for librarians and Harvard professors. If Fall were a fabric, it would probably be tweed. Dress it up or down - you'll always look put together in tweed because it's a stiff textile with a classic "pattern" and color scheme.

(via J.Crew)

Plaid button down: A little Oregon lumberjack to go with your lobsterman-ness. Surprisingly chic if paired with dark jeans, black pants, or a pretty skirt. Plaid is more versatile than you think!


Comfy go-to hoodie: Ain't nobody don't like hoodies (or their hoodless cousins). Have a nice(r) hoodie/sweatshirt on hand to look posh even on the rainy-stay-at-home days... It's probably time to replace that ratty one from your alma mater anyway. 

(via Aerie)

So, when can you start wearing these beauties? Is it kosher to start slipping chunky sweaters into your outfit when it's still August? Mindy emailed me about it, saying that she and a few friends were discussing when it was okay to start wearing boots, now that Fall is near. Mindy suggested, "mid-September possibly, or when the weather cools a little... If you wear them with shorts and skirts you may be able to ease into them earlier." And I agree completely! Of course... you can always be an avant-garde rebel and do whatever the heck you want, too.

Not that you asked, but I personally have an unspoken rule about seasonal changes... I try not to wear straight up cold weather clothes till September rolls around (same goes for warm weather clothes. I wait till March/April). I'm sure it might sound dumb, but you know, I'm the kind of person who hates seeing back-to-school displays in June and Christmas decorations in October. Having that little rule helps me enjoy the season to it's fullest potential, life-wise and fashion-wise.

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Note: All images are from my style pinboard on Pinterest -- please go there for original sources for the uncredited pics. Many of them are from previous seasons, so the links would be invalid. I tried to give credit where I could. 

Trends for Fall 2012

Erin left a comment saying, "I want to know what are going to be popular looks, trends, and colors for this fall."

Here's the thing: fashion runways are always full of all kinds of interesting things that normal people with normal clothing budgets and normal lives in which they clean the bathroom, feed their kids peanut butter sandwiches, or watch re-runs of The Office instead of working out (I know, sorry, now you're really jealous of my life) probably couldn't or wouldn't wear. Runways to some extent present the extreme version of trends, which then go through a normal-person filter via the commercial market (and for that, we are grateful). So I'm going to focus on the wearable trends for the season, as opposed to the high-end, all-out-crazy trends (like this & this).

Beyond the always-acceptable autumn staples like tweed, plaid, and comfy, over-sized sweaters (hooray), here are the kinds of things you'll see for this fall. Please note... the pieces below reflect my personal taste and/or budget (for the most part). There are lots of other options out there that would fit the bill for these trends as well! 

(Click the pictures for links to specific items.)

• Ornate clothing & accessories, courtesy of the Baroque period: think brocade and tapestry-like fabrics, and gilded details like on this locket and this dress
• Reds: Especially burgundy, which also goes by its not-approved-by-the-PETA nickname, "oxblood." I love burgundy -- excited for this one.
• Prints: Polka dots, printed denim, prints mixed with prints. (Free advice: the key to mixing prints is matching different sized patterns (big w/ small) and limiting the color scheme (stick with 1-3 colors) so you don't end up looking like a circus.)
• White & black suiting, & tuxedo pants: Sharp looking.
  
• Ankle boots: Try with cuffed boyfriend jeans & an over-sized sweater, or with a little dress.
• Patent leather: Not just shoes, but outerwear, too.
  
• Statement collars: Detachable, kind of strange, apparently acceptable in all shapes and sizes. We've already established the fact that I'm not really into this. (Sorry.) The gold collar necklace is probably the closest I'd get to wearing this trend.
  
• Military inspired jackets and vests: Pair with a feminine dress for contrast.

Still in, and not going anywhere:

• Brights & color blocking: Lots & lots of colored jeans, but not much neon.
• Everyday sportswear: Raglan baseball tees & baseball caps. (Anyone else happy that baseball caps are having their day?)
• Peplum: Very retro, kind of Jetsons. If you can pull this look off, rock it hard.

What are you excited to try? What do you plan to avoid?

Girl Friday: Lauren

This week on Girl Friday: Lauren!

As long as I've known Lauren, I've been impressed with how she always dresses true to her taste. She makes clothes work for her, not the other way around. Whatever she wears always looks classic, clean, and just... pretty!

*   *   *   *   *

The Twenty Ninth: Describe your style in a few words or a phrase.
Lauren: Simple classy with a touch of softness.

TN: How has your style evolved over the years? 
L: My style has grown into adulthood as I have. I used to wear more playful glitzy articles when I was in high school and early college. Now when I shop I try to find timeless pieces that can go with lots of items in my closet instead of always seeking out that one wow piece.

TN: Any fun/embarrassing clothing mishaps or stories you'd like to share?
L: Recently I was at J.Crew and the male sales associate had to tell me that my satchel purse was pulling my dress up in the back. I thanked him and left as soon as possible. Now I am always checking myself when I wear a dress or skirt on the shorter side with that purse.

TN: Who are your style influences? 
L: I take visual tips from any fashionable person I see when I'm out and about as well as on sites like Pinterest and in magazines. Although I don't own much of her clothing line, I like Lauren Conrad's chic personal style. Once I sat down at Barnes & Noble and read her book on fashion, "Style by Lauren Conrad" cover to cover. 

TN: Where's your favorite place to shop?  
L: I love Gap, J.Crew and Loft, with an occasional item from Urban Outfitters.

TN: How do you pick out an outfit? 
L: When I have trouble picking out an outfit to wear for the day I try to treat it like a challenge. I love finding new color/fabric combinations that I had never thought of before in my closet. It's like getting a new outfit without having to spend any money. It is always fun to experiment. I usually begin with the top I want to wear and then go from there but I normally have more creative success if I start with an accessory and build from that.

TN: What's your favorite thing in your closet to wear and why?  
L: I love wearing dark skinny jeans with a loose flowy blouse. That is a definite go to outfit in my closet because it is comfortable and a good in-between dressy and casual.

TN: Any shopping tips or fashion advice you'd like to share? 
L: Since I am trying to build a wardrobe that will last a while I try to steer clear of things that are "too trendy" when shopping. I try to use discretion to decide if a trend is going to last a few months or if it could last several years. That said, I do let myself buy trendy things every now and then but they are usually accessories, rather than big items. Another thing I often catch myself doing when I walk into a store is scanning it quickly to see what catches my eye. Then I go to those items and if nothing catches my eye in those first few minutes in the store, I go to the next store. 

Lauren, thanks for interviewing -- I particularly can't wait to try your idea of putting an outfit together by trying to match unusual fabrics. That's a really cool approach.

If you all have more questions for Lauren, leave a comment!

Bedazzlers Need Not Apply

(via The Glamourai -- I love the distressed/destroyed look of this jacket.)

Denim jackets will never go out of style. Whether yours is cropped or regular, bleached or dark wash, there are countless outfits you can throw a jean jacket over to complete a look. They're also endlessly personalize-able. I just made that word up -- feel free to use it in your everyday vocabulary. 

To be clear: when I say "personalize," that doesn't mean I condone bedazzling, cutesy embroidery, or puff paint. Jackets, or ANYTHING for that matter, decorated with these travesties should be left in the 80's and in midwestern Goodwill stores where they belong. Below, however, are some fun ideas that are worth a try...

Use pins to add a little personality: Search your mom or grandmother's jewelry box, grab vintage ones from Goodwill, or buy a big flower pin from Forever 21 for a buck. Also, putting a pop of fun fabric under the collar is a great idea... it would take a little sewing know-how, but would be a really cool addition to a jacket.

(Pamela Love for J.Crew)

Decorating the entire back panel of your jacket: You could probably use a sharpie, paint, or your favorite art medium to create your own design, kind of like the jacket below from Forever 21. On Anthropologie's site, I saw these jackets where the panel was replaced with a painting -- an extreme version, but maybe worth considering and emulating in a slightly less dramatic way.

                   (via Forever 21)                                                (via Swarm for Anthropologie)

Classic studs: You can buy studs at any craft store (or even online). Choose a section or two on your jacket (the shoulders or back top panel are good ideas, but consider the collar, down the sleeves, around the bottom, pocket flaps...) and go to town. This is bedazzling done right.

(via The Feather Junkie)

(via ShopFashionStylist on Etsy)

Cool, huh? Now I just need to figure out what exactly I want to do to my jacket. I'm thinking distressed, and maybe a few studs...

Styling a Cropped Denim Jacket

Another question from my friend Mindy -- she recently bought a cropped denim jacket from the AE outlet that she's not sure if she should keep.

My answer, in a word, is YES. I know where Mindy's coming from -- I actually just got a cropped denim jacket too, and I kept going back and forth about whether to keep it or not since it's seems like it's a less versatile piece. But! This jacket will only expand your wardrobe: if you treat it like a cardigan-type piece, it can make any of your summer dresses wearable into the fall, while adding a little touch of prep or punk (depending on your personalization - more on that tomorrow!). Also, since it's cropped, it's kind of like the regular jean jacket's smarter, cuter cousin. It's not as bulky, so it makes your look feminine and more streamlined. 

Over a dress: Pretty much any type! I can't wait to style mine with the thrifted silk Banana Republic dress I found the other day, as well as my black maxi, and this shorter floral dress I have. You can use the jacket to make a little black dress or something with a formal silhouette or fabric/texture (like silk or sequins) more casual.



With a maxi skirt: The jacket would look cute over an oxford shirt, tank, or tee tucked in. You might have to wear the skirt high enough around your waist so there's some overlap where the jacket meets the top of the skirt, to keep the line clean.

(via Atlantic-Pacific)

With shorts or a skirt: Wear with a tank or tee untucked, or tucked in the front (with a belt) and pair the outfit with wedges (or FINE, whatever shoes you want... I'm not the boss of you). The one caveat would be to make sure that the jacket doesn't chop the look up too much, especially since you're wearing shorts or a shorter skirt, so maybe pick a slightly higher-waisted pair of shorts or skirt.


I think it'll take some experimenting, depending on the skirts/dresses/shorts you try. Now we just have to wait for the 90 degree temperatures to move along so we can actually wear jackets.

Clothes for Cheap: J.Crew Talitha Blouse

J.Crew blouse from a few seasons ago that I loved and couldn't afford:

Very similar look-alike at Forever 21 this season:

Yesssss!
(But I do not support those gold shorts.)