a week

Apologies for my unintended absence on the little blog - it has been a week (really, two weeks), my friends. Thanks for understanding, and checking out my red & navy striped outfit. Hope you're having a great weekend :)

*all items are part of my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe

teaching & librarian-ing

Back in elementary school, I had dreams of becoming a teacher, or perhaps a librarian. And this is something I might have worn in either of those careers. But, my outfit would also depend on my location, and who I was working with – maybe this skirt would be too short for getting up and down from a reading circle in Kindergarten, or maybe not long enough to reach up to the top shelf when restacking books.

Either way, consider this peplum, cardigan, glasses, and oxfords look a nod to teachers and librarians, who are soon-to-be free for the summer!

dress: Target

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

oxfords & leopard print belt: thrifted

glasses: America’s Best

*edit: I had to add tights and booties, because, #springtimeintheRockies

tights: Target

ankle booties: Old Navy

linking up: Charming Lucy

predictable

This has become a "uniform" of sorts. Button-up (preferably plaid and/or flannel), skinnies, fun shoes (maybe boots or booties, or sometimes borrowed oxfords from a friend), and occasionally a scarf.

And a faux-leather jacket on top is practically perfection.

Sometimes I'm pretty predictable...

shirt: Old Navy

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

jacket: The Screamin' Peach

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

shoes: borrowed from a friend

brunching & accessorizing

This outfit was just about perfect for brunching. The button-up shirt and stretchy skinnies allowed for maximum food intake, with minimal discomfort. And the plaid on the shirt helped to camouflage any food or beverage spills that might have happened...

The oxfords are borrowed from a friend (I've been trying to steal this pair from her for over a year, but she just. won't. hand them over). I added a sparkly statement necklace to glam up the plaid, and threw an old seashell clip in my hair. I belted my pants and half-tucked my shirt - it's a completely different look untucked, try it sometime. And the little teal clutch matched my shirt just perfectly.

Until I started this blog, I would have never:

1) worn these shoes and this belt together (they don't match)

2) worn this clip with this jewelry (they're different vibes)

3) mixed a sparkly statement necklace with dainty gold bracelets (they don't match)

4) worn pants other than jeans or dress pants (jeans were truly my comfort zone)

5) worn a sparkly statement necklace to dress up plaid (shouldn't your whole outfit just be the same aesthetic - dressy? casual? sporty? etc.?)

Look how far I've come! All with a little courage, time, guts, inspiration, and accessories :)


shirt & pants & clutch: Aéropostale
necklace: WalMart
belt: American Eagle
shoes: Frye (borrowed from a friend

1 pair of pants. 2 scarves.

 

 

 

The brown paisley scarf (on the right) is the one I actually wore with this outfit. But right before we started taking outfit pictures, I realized my blue plaid scarf would look just as good with this ensemble - it has stripes of bright pink, which match the polka dots on these pants perfectly.

sweater: Old Navy [[exact and similar below]]

pans: Ann Taylor LOFT [[similar below]]

shoes: thrifted [[similar below]]

brown scarf: gift from my sis-in-law [[similar below]]

blue plaid scarf: thrifted (Target) [[similar below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

Photo Bombed

Sometimes I can wear kids clothes. Like this vest. It's blue, it has glitter, and it's from GAP Kids. A friend of mine purchased this several years ago, and once upon a time, this friend gave me several bags of clothes she was getting rid of. In one of those bags was this sparkly blue vest. From GAP Kids. 

And now, you see it here, on sweetbananie.blogspot.com

:)

I realize that everything (except my tanktop) in this post was thrifted, bought secondhand, or a hand-me-down. Would anyone be interested in hearing my thrifting tips? I just love a good thrift store - I've found some really great things! Let me know in the comments!

photobombing. she can't stand to not be included. even in blog pictures!

linking up: 

Style Elixir for Style Sessions Fashion Link Up

Colorblind for Thrifters Anonymous

shirt: thrifted (Ann Taylor LOFT)

jeans: Trends (consignment shop)

shoes: thrifted

vest: hand-me-down from a friend

30 for 30: Day 29 & Day 30

Day 29

Aaaah, Day 28. Day 28 was filled with turning in the keys to our apartment (!!!), a(nother) stop at The Home Depot, a trip to Kohl's, and some celebratory/farewell-apartment TCBY. Busy busy days, I tell ya! 

I threw on my chambray & corduroys with my oxfords - I've hardly worn those shoes during this challenge so I wanted to make sure I got another wear in during my 30 for 30. 

Day 30

The weather this day (and really all of Thanksgiving weekend) was beautiful - high 50s at the end of November! Unheard of! 

So, to commemorate the last day of my 30 for 30 challenge and this occasion of warmth & sunshine, I wore a dress. Without tights. For the last time until March/maybe April/probably May. I'm glad I got in my last bit of sun & bare legs - we've been hit with well below freezing temperatures this past week. It's so cold it hurts to breathe! And a short walk to my car in the parking lot at work is enough to make my whole face numb - BRRRRR! Good news is, I've been pulling out a lot of my sweaters...!

linking up here today

30 for 30: Day 18 & Day 19

Day 18

this two-toned coat is from Aéropostale, I wore it earlier here

snapped this at work

Chambray and a pencil skirt. Not two items I would normally pair together, but on a wild hair, I did. And I'm thinking it turned it pretty darn well. From a distance, I look like I'm wearing a nice dress shirt with my skirt. But, as you get closer, I appear more casual and, possibly (hopefully!), fashion-savvy? ;)

Sorry for my extended (and completely unintended!) absence. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I've been pretty busy the past few weeks (we bought a house! and moved! and are settling in!). 

So, I'm back! Just in time for the holidays :)

Day 19

tough to tell in these pictures, but those pants are navy corduroys

my Mr. told me to "act cold!" so, I did.
normally, when I'm cold, I'm frowning and grump-ing and generally unpleasant.
#truestory
anything for fashion, right? ;)

It was at this point in this challenge I started having a tougher time putting together outfits with my 30 items. I originally felt like I was reaching a bit with this outfit, but looking at the pictures, 

it doesn't appear that way (at least to MY eyes). 

Ever feel uneasy about the outfit you put together? But then think about it later and realize you looked FABULOUS?!?!

linking up here, here and here today