flashback

I'm not a big fan of this look, for a few reasons, but in the interest of showing you what I actually wore, here it is. Allow me to explain, my friends.

- It looked a lot better in my head. It's a fool-proof formula: embroidered tank, high-waisted A-line skirt, neon flats, mixed metal accessories. But how it all came together? A flop. Womp womp.

- The proportions of these items of clothing feel "off." Too big in some places and too small in other places. The skirt seems a bit too long and lifeless. The tank is snug in the chest, yet with lots of fabric at my waist.

- The jewelry and accessories I chose bring me back to high school - this feels (and looks) similar to something I would have worn in my youth, with ripped jeans and sports team sweatshirts.

In other news, this skirt has made its way to my "donation" pile, and I'm feeling ok about it. Something my high school self would probably not be able to do. Look at me, all grown up!

tank: from a friend

skirt: thrifted

neon flats: Kohl's

belt: thrifted

teal & sky blue

Teal on teal, plus dark hair and dark skinnies. That's apparently how I roll. Or at least how I rolled on this particular day.

I've had this cardigan since high school...but the color never gets old! It's such a nice sky blue meets teal that makes my eyes POP, so, even though, it is almost the age of a 5th grader, on my sweater shelf it remains. And, wow, has the way I style it changed ten times over - Lara, Mom, can we all agree that this is very different than how I used to wear it way-back-when? (we're talking a tank top underneath, flared jeans, STRAIGHT hair, and those clog-type slide-on shoes everyone was wearing between 2005 and 2007 (mine were taupe). I might have even had a string (or five) of shell necklaces...

Back to THIS outfit: what I like about the combination of this plaid button-up and cardigan is twofold:

1) it mixes old and new(er) items in my closet; and

2) the monochromatic vibe is still there, without being TOO overwhelming,

know'i'msayin'?

plaid button up: c/o Aéropostale

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

pink flats: Coldwater Creek

linking up:

Cappuccino & Fashion // Shopping My Closet

Lizzie in Lace & I Do DeClaire

The Red Closet Diary // Sydney Fashion Hunter

throwback

These pants are quite the throwback. Junior, maybe senior, year of high school. And whenever it's closet clean out time, I just can't part with them (you can't see it in these pictures, but they have a small pinstripe).

I was about to toss them (they're kind of a funky fit, and really wide-legged, and what do I wear with them?), but my friend Amanda gave me some new ideas for them. And so, life was breathed back into these old pants. I chose a baseball tee, plaid tennis shoes, my trusty cognac faux leather jacket, and of course, my aviator-style sunglasses with monogrammed croakies. We'll call this

"casual, menswear-inspired, almost-but-not-quite-vintage wide-legged pants."

How's that sound? ;)

And please wish me luck - currently I'm running 13.1 miles (I use running very loosely) down a canyon, into Old Town, where I hope to have a beer waiting for me at the finish...

shirt: J. Crew Factory

pants: GAP

faux leather jacket: c/o Aéropostale

plaid tennis shoes (or, as my sis-in-law calls them, "tenny pumps"): Coach via DSW

sunglasses: Smith Eyewear via The Eyes Have It

croakies: Etsy

linking up with Saltwater and Stilettos

Mr. Picks Mondays: Oldies

the sash in the back

The Mr. chose this tiered almost-but-not-quite-maxi skirt that I’ve had since...my senior year of high school...

Its triple-print-mixing and pretty color has helped it survive many closet clean-outs. The bow on the back helps, too ;)

I wore this to work (for part of the day - I went on a jobsite tour, and had to wear pants AND close-toed shoes AND a hard hat AND a neon vest for that part) and then to dinner with the Mr. to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. We went to Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar - we’ve been trying to get there for ages. Oh. My. Word. Delicious. 

I’m a huge fan of seafood - crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, calamari, you name it. I love it. Turns out they have all-evening happy hour on Mondays. So, we indulged and tried a bit of everything on the menu. And it was all divine. I would eat seafood all day, every day if I could. But I’m sure my checking account wouldn’t appreciate that...

shirt: WalMart

skirt: Nordstrom

Cleopatra sandals: WalMart

The First Wedding of 2014

Like I mentioned last week, I traveled to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to celebrate my cousin's wedding. They're a couple that's been together since high school, so, I'm kinda partial to them.

#highschoolsweethearts #HSSoftheworldUNITE

Here are some pics from their big day. My sister-in-law couldn't make it, as she was in one of her best friend's weddings on the same day - we still had a really great time, but really missed her.

with MY high school sweetie

Big Brother and us

Mr. & Mrs.

originally my youngest cousin agree to split 1 of every flavor with me, so I wouldn't be a TOTAL glutton. However, he filled up on Shirley Temples and couldn't help a girl out

Cousins - 1 of them was the Best Man!

me & Dad. sorry for the grainy pics - the lighting was low at the reception so we could get our dance on

ain't he handsome?
*swoon*

my family has a long tradition of breaking out hats at a wedding.
don't believe me?
proof from our wedding is below

I made a dainty little fascinator-top-hat, and my groom sported Nemo. don't worry - he's only kissing one of my besties/bridesmaids because she traveled the farthest for our big day (all the way from Hawaii!)

It's tough to see, but the dress I wore was a really pretty plum color, originally from Banana Republic,  but I thrifted it before we bought our house this fall - thrifting for the win! See something sort of similar below...



SOMETHING SIMILAR...

Print Mixing (before it was cool)

I wore this a few weeks back, and have been scrambling to make sure I got it up in time to link up with Bri for Third Thursday Threads over at Work Clothes, I Suppose. Is it just me, or is this time of year so much busier?? I can't keep up! Especially on this little blog here :(

So, I've been dying to wearing this sweater vest again. You won't believe how long I've had it...

High school. 

And not just right before I graduated...more like sophomore year-ish for DECA competitions. Interested in hearing more about DECA? I've got a whole schpeal I'd love to share! Basically it's a marketing club. I was the President my senior year, and went all the way to Nationals in Orlando once, and to the State competition all 3 years. It's fun playing grown-ups for a few days and getting to dress up. Oh, and traveling to cool places with your friends. And winning at competitions.

I must give credit for this sweater vest and the striped button-up underneath it to my sweet Mama. I remember she found both items on the clearance rack at GAP. I would have never thought to put a striped shirt under a striped sweater vest! (to be honest, I would have never thought to look twice at a sweater vest) My mom was print-mixing before it was cool, you guys. Oh, and she helped me pick out these loafer/oxford style shoes, too (again, they were purchased in the same "time period"). The layered necklaces above were wholly my idea, but all 3 belonged to my grandmothers before me. You could say inspiration and style run in the family ;)

shirt: GAP
vest: GAP

jeans: Kohl's

shoes: DSW?

necklaces: 2 Grandmas with good taste