playing closet: Tate

This is my friend, Tate. And she is great (my rhymes – do you appreciate?).

We joined Zeta at the same time, and we fell in love just after Bid Day. She spent two years with the Peace Corps in Botswana, and came back to the States almost a year ago (I know we’re all glad to have her back – me, her family, her friends, me, her boyfriend, her animals, me).

She’s a smart lady, who loves science, and loves to help people, so she’s going to med school, natch. She starts this summer and asked for my help in putting together an updated wardrobe for this next chapter in her busy life. Being the interested-in-fashion-and-style friend that I am, I wholeheartedly agreed (and by that, I mean I replied with a very enthusiastic “YAAASSSSS!”).

We started by Tate sharing her style "Pinboard" with  me via Pinterest, so I could get a better sense of her style, especially after living abroad for the last 2 years. We discussed her between-jeans-and-business-casual dress code for medical school, and the her style: boho meets young professional. Then we were finally able to get together one evening (after several weeks of planning and "would this evening work? what about this time?" discussions), with the company of her dog and cat.

Currently, her clothes are spread between a few different places, all over the State, so we tackled what she had in her closet currently. We went through each and every item and discussed:

Could she wear this for med school?

What about clinicals in a few years?
Can she pair this with items she already has?

If not, what are some pieces that would complete several outfits?

We came up with a list of items that would be worthwhile to add to her closet, a few of those items are: a black pencil skirt, some new Converse, a chambray shirt, flowy cardigans, and a faux leather jacket, as well as a list of items to replace when she happens upon the perfect item: an LBD, a polka dot shirt, and a big black belt.

We also discussed several ways to wear some of the items she already has, such as her flannel shirt under a pullover sweater, or a cardigan, and the easiest way to print mix: florals and stripes, or polka dots and stripes.

And, just this weekend, we were able to get together again and work on her closet. I don't have any pictures to share, but we did pretty much the same thing as before. And she took a few items off my hands for me, including a really cute floral dress that she might wear for her white coat ceremony this summer...!

playing closet: Amanda

Many many weeks ago (back in March - yikes!) my friend, Amanda, and I decided to "play closet" at her house one evening. We had some wine, Mean Girls, and puppy love from her shiba inu, named Kirin (find him on Instagram: @kirintheshiba).

The plan was to evaluate her closet a bit, and transition her closet from winter wear to spring/summer wear. Amanda works in a local school district, with a business casual plus dress code. She occasionally attends conferences and teaches seminars, and has to break out the suit and heels. She also kicks my rear every time we run together, and teaches a mean Zumba class - girl loves fitness and being healthy and working out. 

Here is her closet before we started. And an almost empty glass of red...

We started by examining each piece of clothing and asking a few questions about it:

1) Does it fit? (getting at if it should be donated or kept)

2) Do you love it? (again, getting at the same as above)

3) How recently have you worn this? (again, keep or donate)

3) Is this wintery, or can you wear it during the warmer months?

Amanda's winter stuff got moved to the back of her closet, so it's out of sight, and out of mind until the fall. Personally, I find that helpful and useful - it's the worst to look at heavy sweaters in the middle of summer; it makes me feel like I have nothing to wear because I can't wear what's in front of me.

There were a few items we hung a little bit to the side - lighter sweaters, perfect for the snowy days in April and May (*cough* Mother's Day *cough*), or a cold office. And when we get to the heat of the summer, they can easily be added back into the winter clothes pile. 

When we rehung the clothes she can wear for warmer weather, we grouped them by sleeve type/length (some people do color, or style). We then moved to pants, jeans, dresses, and skirts, and worked our way through those.

Last were shoes and scarves.

Here is the after shot of Amanda's closet. Truth be told, we didn't really get rid of that many items - I think a handful. All we really did was sort, and condense, and discuss potential outfit options:

"This polka dot shirt is great. What do you normally wear it with? This would also be really great paired with these pants, or under a dress. Or what about this color skirt?"

Dresses and maxi skirts.

We also discussed a few pieces Amanda should consider adding to her closet as a young, hot, fun, stylish lady and professional: #1 being a chambray (she ended up coming to my house a few weeks later, and taking one off my hands. win-win.), and a skirt or two, plus a few dresses. 

So, even if my sweet friend doesn't end up adding anything to her closet, or changes around the organization of it, I think we came up with some great ideas for outfits, and multiple ways to wear some great pieces she has. And, we got watch listen to Gretchen Weiners and Regina George in action. I mean...

Happy Saturday - I'm off getting my toesies did with girlfriends, then to a Zeta event, then a graduation celebration, all in one day! Whew - this girl is going to be tiiiiiired.

breakfast, snow and shopping

A few weeks ago, it was gross and snowy out. So my friend, Chelsea, and I went out in the grossness and cold for breakfast, followed by shopping. We both indulged in biscuits and gravy, and the thickest bacon I've ever had. Plus lots of coffee. Of course.

We shopped&shopped&shopped all day - we were both pretty worn out by the end of it. I mean, not that it was extreme shopping by any means, but neither one of us had been on an all day shopping extravaganza in quite a long time. #thosewerethedays

freezing in the snow, after all the bacon breakfast
from my Instagram

turtleneck: GAP

cardigan: Aéropostale

blanket scarf: WalMart (more about that here)

coat: Coldwater Creek

jeans: thrifted (Old Navy)

snow boots: SOREL via Jax

beanie: from a friend

my friend has a blog. and wears cute outfits.

This is my friend, Chelsea. The friend who loves Harry Potter as much as I do (we did Harry Potter trivia together a few weeks back). 

See what she's wearing above?

What about below?

A gray tee, neon maxi, and a denim jacket. She thought this outfit up all on her own - no outside influence. I kept complimenting her - I mean, a simple tee and a super fun maxi for a fun Saturday outing is the perfect combination.

So, imagine our surprise when she sees her outfit (on someone else) on Pinterest! She sent me this screenshot, saying something witty along the lines "Stole my look!":

Obviously the people creating these style tips saw her at Harry Potter trivia and needed to replicate her outfit, and then post it on the internet. Well done, Chels.

#Pinterestcopiedyou

Here she is with her husband. Had a blast at their wedding last summer - I danced the night away and had to be dragged off the dance floor...

She recently started a blog that you should definitely check out, especially if you're interested in fitness and/or running. Or if you want a good laugh (or 12). This girl and I are on the same level of hilarity (which is high - a very high level of hilarity) and Mean Girls quotes.

Here's her blog: Colorado Kicks.

Check her out, follow her, have several laughs, and be sure to report back.

Oh, and here's a bathroom selfie of her cute outfit, showing off the short layer underneath the maxi. She's cute, funny, AND knows how to dress?

Keeper.

Fo Sho.

mild costume change

I wore this recently on a Friday. Nothing too fancy - just a button up and a chambray skirt.

And after work, I did a quick costume change to meet up with a friend for one of these.

Bright pink shorts in place of the skirt. A bit more appropriate for a casual Friday afternoon beer with an old friend. Thinking I need to do that again - and soon!

shirt: J. CREW (thrifted)

skirt: thrifted

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: DSW