Winter Work Wear 2015 Take 1

Since we're four weeks into the term, I figured I'd do a work wear post. I just posted my top favorite new combinations on IG today, but I've continued to quietly document what I've been wearing each day so I can continue to avoid repeats throughout the term. Some people find creativity from other means, but choosing what to wear to work is a way that I try to bolster creativity in my life I suppose. And I honestly love that so much of what I wear is usually thrifted. I still haven't decided if I'm trying to make it through any no buy challenge this year or what that might look like, but so far into 2015 I've been to Target twice and walked out empty handed...and I did finally score an awesome thrifted jean jacket :)

Week 1:

Not much variety here actually and most of the class that long sweater was off. This week I was just in a rush to get to work and so my standard pencil skirt and a tucked in shirt seemed to win out :)

Thrifted items: both pencil skirts, first two tops, long cardigan & belt on right

Week 2: 

All about the patterns! Absolutely love the middle outfit.

Thrifted items: entirety of middle outfit, cardigan on left

Week 3: 

Not a fan of the sweater on the right and don't think it "does" much for me. Totally in love with the middle outfit again--it fact it's my favorite thrifted outfit of late.

Thrifted items: entirety of middle outfit (minus boots), belt on left

Week 4: 

Man, my Wednesday night class is getting the better outfits for sure, because again my favorite here is the one in the middle. The teal combo will probably get worn again to teach since I wore it here for the work conference, but it would work well for a Saturday or fitness lecture class.

Thrifted items: skirt on left and right, teal button-up

Beyond the jean jacket, I also found a leather pencil skirt like I'd mentioned previously and if it hadn't have been just a teeny itty bit too small in the hips, then I totally would have bought this sucker too.

I totally think I could pull off something of this cut and style at work, even if it is leather. Thoughts?!

Still haven't decided what to do about the hair, so I seem to just be letting it continue to do it's thing. Although I do think the long hair makes me look younger and I'm not always sure if it's the most "professional" thing in the world...I also do tend to like it.

I'm pretty sure there is a suggested dress code for our Africa trip, so I envision a couple more Goodwill trips in my future for the coming months. But I also just went through my closet to take stock of what I already have and realized that there's plenty I need to be wearing more routinely. Additionally there are items that I need to be willing to pass on to others who will get more use out of them. I keep holding on to some things for that 1-3x a year that I'll wear it, when really I'm sure there are other items that will also make do.

The flat boot look is new for me this term, but I finally noticed that my heeled black boots need to be retipped so until that happens they're potentially a slipping hazard :) It's also neat to be noticing that I've truly developed a "style" of my own for work wear...definitely makes it easier to get ready for work when I already have a pattern down. 

What are your favorite pieces you've been wearing or dreaming of owning?

Recent Thrift Store Scores

Technically I went into the thrift store on the look-out for a button-up plaid shirt and a black leather pencil skirt. Although I am sort of wondering if a black leather pencil skirt might emit too much sexiness to be teacher appropriate. I've seen some pretty tasteful ones on pinterest, but there are quite a few tasteless ones on display also.

But the following also demonstrates why I both love my local thrift store and why I plan to stay out of it in the months to come now....

Here's what I scored just by looking:

Cute cardigan that can be dressed up with a button-down and pencil skirt for work or dressed down with jeans for every day. And a cute henley style shirt in a color that's great for my skin tone.

This beaded tunic that left me laughing at how much my style goes in circles (I used to be drawn to this more ethnic style all the time in undergrad)....and can be worn tucked into a pencil skirt, with various colored or black leggings, or perhaps with jeans. (It was 50% off even!)

And this long sweater which will go with pretty much anything. Since I've pretty much been living in that other thrifted sweater, I decided that picking up this other gem would also be worthwhile. I'm in love...and in fact, the tank and leggings in this picture are also thrifted.

But total: $31 spent for a shirt, cardigan, tunic, long sweater, and a new pair of fleece lined leggings that are perfect under my waterproof pants on outdoor adventures

PS My hair is getting really, really long...trying to decide what to do with it. Keep it going or chop it off. If I keep it, I don't have to pay for hair cuts! :)

The new term has me thinking about new outfits to put together, although I'll probably just revert to ones that I loved from past terms. And honestly, I have a feeling that with my Saturday class I might end up dressing in a more laid back style than I do for my evening courses... we'll see how the class presents and how rushed I'm feeling in the mornings on those days...but come on, it's Saturday! ;)

2014 Clothes Challenge in Review

The 2014 altered clothes challenge granted me permission to pick up something new if it was needed (ie running/outdoor gear) and allowed a more or less free pass on accessories, while not allowing any new clothing purchases for fashion purposes. I did stumble a bit in September and walked out of Target (dang it Target!) with the striped skirt and polka dot blouse in the pictures below (total price: $20!). I've been to my favorite thrift store a few times this year to pick up a couple of items and it's been great to be back in the mindset of "check the thrift store first before thinking of buying it new..." I also inherited two of Granny's velvet blazers and a couple of incredibly beautiful necklaces. Purchased accessories this year included a couple of scarves, a replacement work tote bag (my handle on the old one is breaking), 5ish new pairs of earrings, a couple chunky bracelets, new leggings, & a necklace or two. Altogether I feel like the clothes challenge is ending very well this year however and I'm really proud that I've done as well as I have with this challenge in 2014. 

Even with buying limited new or used items, I cleaned out my closet during late summer and was reminded of just how much I HAVE and that I truly don't need even that much. I could probably downsize even more if I was honest.

So here are a few of my favorite outfits from this last year:

(Ironically, most of these are from this fall)

One of my best looks from the start of the year.

Skirt & shirt both thrifted in prior year.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! I have to admit that I'm completely in love with that striped skirt. 

New skirt, 4yo ruffled blue chiffon top and blue flats

LOVED this too. Best part? Everything except the belt is second hand. Top and skirt came from separate thrift stores, shoes I bought off a friend.

The other highlight of this fall is that my aunt altered a bunch of my work clothes to fit my smaller frame. I can finally wear actual work pants & have more work tops for the first time in two years :)

New blouse, Altered trouser jeans, 2yo boots & cardigan

And here becomes the highlight of one of my absolute favorite thrift store purchases of the year:

The thrifted oversize sweater/shawl

This literally has been my go-to first date outfit for the fall :) Well, now it's worn with leopard print flats or tall brown boots and additional gold jewelry. 

Black skinnies were my fail purchase from last year, black t-shirt secondhand from summer housemate, thrifted sweater.

Perfect transitional summer/fall outfit! 4yo military style dress, thrifted belt & sweater.

And this, this has become my go to outfit of the winter!

Leggings, 5yo beat up brown boots, thrifted long gray sweatshirt & sweater :) SO COZY!

I haven't decided what all the challenge will be for 2015 or even if there will be one. It definitely does help keep me from impulse purchases and also keeps me out of the stores in general so there are no impulse purchases :)

Style Evolution

When I look back on prior outfit posts, I sometimes cringe at the combinations I used to create. As my body has evolved (and I've continued to forgo buying new clothes), I've had to rediscover new ways of dressing it appropriately.

On instagram I had been documenting my work outfits to avoid duplication during the term, but sometimes I still take other pictures of outfits I love as well.

These are a few from the last three months that I have loved and have let me know that I've arrived at a style that seems to be working for my body:

On the plus side, everything that has been pictured (minus the black skinnies) either has been in my closet for 2+ years or was thrifted during the last two years. LOVE. It's seriously great to feel that I already own what I need in terms of clothing (and well, really most things), and I'm happy to finally have reached a point where I can put together things that are comfortable, flattering, and very representative of plain jane me :)

Other October Attire

Again, October recap in November :) but seriously, dressing for massage school has been an adjustment but I think I've found a happy medium :) Also clothes and the act of putting an outfit that works together has totally become one of those happy daily tasks. I think I'm hitting a style of my own...even if it's 1/3 pinterest inspired, 1/3 me inspired, and 1/3 WNTW inspired. Ha!

And if you're on instagram then you've already seen almost all of these :)

Totally comfortable...and made me realize I matched my house!

New top for massage....awesome!

Also both massage and yet everyday appropriate. (And the first time Lady has made her outfit photo appearance!)

IN LOVE with these shoes....and the way it looked against nature!

Massage school day to teaching evening. I changed shirts cause I'd already worn that one to teach in before but I couldn't remember for which day of the week class....(I try not to duplicate outfits within the term...)

Coffee w the gals, freedom/hike day, and work evening. That middle picture tunic and leggings had a 3-4 day run. I'm all about rewearing the same outfit in a row these days if I can! :)

Dressing for Class, Dressing for Work

I still like tracking what I wear so that I can attempt to not wear the same thing twice while teaching. I'm also trying to figure out how to alter what I wear to class in order to wear it to work and not have to double up on laundry that way. Transitioning into massage wear has been interesting for me (I tend to like the more pulled together professional look!), but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Trying to still keep cute flats even with the yoga pant look though...at least until someone tells me I can't :)

Trying out the maxi skirt (thrifted) look for a meeting:

Home lounge days (my favorites):

Class wear:

Altered into this for teaching wear: 

Class wear:

Which changed into this for teaching wear:

Coffee w the girls & errands:

(Which ironically a random gal in the coffee shop told me that I'd "nailed" the look with this one....sorta made my day that compliment.)

This started with that top & black yoga pants & changed into this for work wear:

Teaching:

Class wear & errands:

PS Anna's face! :)

Brunch date attire:

Similar work wear look: 

And no, I didn't cut my hair....but it's getting wavier lately!

Hmmm now what to wear to work tonight? BTW are skinny cords if I dress them up on top inappropriate for college instructors? Thoughts on this?! Thanks!

My Fall Off the No-Buy Wagon

Okay, okay, so I said I fell off the no-buy closet challenge sort of with the gift card and the black skinnies....

Well, then I had the unfortunate choice of spending an extra 15 minutes when I was early meeting a friend with a quick stop to check out the new city Target......which then made me fall in love with a certain shirt...and after thinking about it continuously for two days, I then went back to purchase it (and some needed file boxes)....only to walk out with it and another 75 dollars worth of new clothes all because my staples were on sale....and there was the cutest gray jacket for sale. I'm not going to lie, there MIGHT be one more new purchase of work pants (I looked at Goodwill but no go) but other than than, I'm considering September my slip up month and plan to make it full steam ahead the rest of the year....Sigh, I was doing so well!

But anyway, new and old, here's what I've been wearing lately:

Errands:

Work Mtgs:

Probably the only time all year, I'll wear skinnies to work.

Fall afternoon at home & out with Tall D: 

Old jeans that make me realize I must have been much thinner than I realized 5 years ago!

Community Health Lecture:

Social Saturday: Coffee, Lunch, BBQ

New scarf, new yellow shirt, & new gray leather coat

If you didn't notice, I'm loving the scarf look (have I mentioned I'm a late adopter?) and still rocking those black skinnies probably a lil too much :)

Black Skinnies & Chambray Tops

Okay I know I'm a total Pinterest copy cat, but pretty much my thrifted chambray top and my new black skinnies have me in love. Don't be surprised if you see me in only combinations of these all fall...

(Ps that elephant (aka Africa to me) Starbucks coffee cup also still makes me swoon a year later...)

Summer Staple: Thrifted Dresses

So y'all know that I love dresses and skirts anyway, but seriously this summer I feel like they're all I'm wearing....well that and work-out gear! Ironically, one of my housemates came home the other day and saw me still dressed in an actual dress and reported that I looked really nice...that's when it dawned on me that normally in the evenings when he comes home, I'm already in sweats or I'm still in work-out gear from yard work or working out! Ha-oh man! But so far this summer I've still been putting old staples and new thrifted skirts and dresses to work!

Swim-wear cover-up & unofficial good-bye party for a friend:

Usually I don't expose this much cleavage, but lately I've decided that as long as I'm covered I might as well rock it on occasion.....

Brew Fest attire:

Cargo skirt was perfect as I needed pockets to hold my phone & ID so I didn't have to take a clutch. Both the skirt and tank came from another friend's closet.

Family BBQ: 

Granny visit & sushi w housemate:

Dinner at friend's place;

This I honestly love. Felt like it looked good but was incredibly comfortable too. 

Drinks downtown with the guys:

I've been wanting to wear this downtown for drinks and finally had the opportunity to do so! Sometimes I feel like maybe it's a lil too young at this point, but I do really like the dress also!

Every single dress pictured was thrifted and as mentioned the skirt/tank combo came from the discard pile of a friend, so really only the cardigans and sandals in these pictures came new from a store---and that to me is a major score!