dresses x3

I picked up this gray striped t-shirt dress recently, and I’m disappointed I didn’t find it sooner. It’s so simple, and I can play almost any color scheme off of it.

Brights? Sure.

Neon. Why not?

Neutrals (my new fave)? Absolutely.

Did I mention it’s comfortable? And soft? And striped? Oh, and it’s gray.

*swoon*

dress: WalMart

statement necklace: WalMart

shoes: Nordstrom

This navy blue dress is a favorite around here. Last time, I took a patriotic turn. This time a green and brown approach. Nothing TOO terribly exciting, but a little different. And a belt at the waist makes it feel a bit more put together than say, a plain blue dress with no accessories.

dress: thrifted

belt: reallyyyy old

shoes: Rocketdog via DSW

And here’s the blue striped peplum dress. Feels like I can wear any color belt with it and immediately look put together (it helps that I don’t have TOO many belts that would look funny with it). Oh, and this belt just happened to go with my bright red wedges. Funny how that happens…

dress: Target

belt: thrifted

wedges: thrifted (ELLE)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blushed

This blush-colored blouse is a recent addition to my closet - I found it at H&M on my recent (and quick!) trip to Florida for the 4th of July. No, it's nothing crazy (neon or sequins), or groundbreaking, or especially special, but it's a nice, solid, steady, understated classy piece that can be dressed up or down, and since it's so neutral, goes with just about anything and e'er'thang in my closet. 

Exhibit A: this navy and white striped skirt.

Next up: Olive skinnies? Shorts? Another skirt?

shirt:H&M

skirt: J. CREW Factory

wedges: DSW

When You Don't Know What to Wear

When you don't know what to wear, try a pastel striped v-neck with a high-waisted chambray skirt. Throw on some metallic sandals for good measure. Consider soft curls in your hair. Have fun twirling and frolicking in your fun and flirty skirt (see above).

Happy Sunday!

shirt: Target

skirt: thrifted

sandals: Target

Mr. Picks Mondays: Peppy in Peplum

The Mr. selected this striped blue peplum dress for me to wear (apparently he prefers that I wear blue striped dresses). This dress came with a skinny yellow belt, but in an effort to be more creative and not wear it EXACTLY as prescribed, I went with a brown belt and sandals, and mint jewelry. 

Peplum is great for many things - it’s sweet, a wee bit flirty, and expertly hides the evidence of a few too many breakfast burritos that one may or may not consume...

dress: Target

belt: thrifted

Cleopatra sandals: consignment shop (Candie’s via Kohl’s)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blue Under Gray

When you wear a dress, tights and a blazer, what do you add so that you don't appear TOO dressed up for your pretty casual office?

A big chunky scarf that serves two purposes: 

1) to keep you warm; and 

2) dress down your tights, dress, and blazer combination.

Oh, and to pair with the cute outfit your husband picked out :)

dress & belt: Target sort of similar below

blazer: Aéropostale sort of similar below

boots: Rack Room Shoes sort of similar below

CHECK OUT SOMETHING SIMILAR

Hemingway-ed

I don't know if you know this, but I really love my local library. They've saved me tons of money when it comes to reading - I can just check a book out, read it, and turn it back in, rather than purchasing a book I might not really like or want to keep. I also check out audiobooks on the regular, and listen to them on my drive to & from work. I'm finishing up Jane Eyre, and this time last year listened to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, among several others. The Mr. listened to all 5 books of A Song of Ice & Fire, sparking our interest in the TV show "Game of Thrones," and subsequent Halloween costumes. 

So, anyways, I love the library. A few weeks ago I finished The Paris Wife. It's a novel about Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson, and their life in Paris as he was working on some of his first works.

Finishing The Paris Wife piqued my interest in Hemingway, so, on this fine (read: not freezing) day, I went to the library and headed to the H section of the fiction area. I checked out two books by Hemingway, and am halfway through the first one, To Have and Have Not.

Now, my knowledge of this great American author is limited to The Paris Wife, the novel I'm currently reading, and what I read on Wikipedia (I never read The Old Man and The Sea in high school). Based on this small bit of information, I don't think Ernest Hemingway is someone I would have gotten along with. Seems to me he was a bit of a womanizer (he left his first wife for her best friend), and kind of selfish. That being said, I AM enjoying reading To Have and Have Not, although I wish it provided more background & detail for each character.

So, since I knew I was headed for a literary center, I wore a hat. I don't know why a hat makes me feel more cultured and traveled, but it does a little bit. Maybe it's the fact I don't normally wear them? Or that a fedora seems a wee bit old school? Either way, I wore a hat. And checked out some books by Hemingway. And took some pictures of my outfit.

linking up with:

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday

Color Blind for Thrifters Anonymous

shirt: GAP similar below

sweater: thrifted

jeans: thrifted (True Religion) similar below

shoes: thrifted similar below

hat: thrifted (Target) similar below

Neon & Stripes

I saw these NEON shoes at Kohl's several weeks ago. They were the only pair left, and they were in my size. Aaaand, they were marked down to $8. So, they came home with me, along with the dress shoes for the Mr. that were my original reason to venture to Kohl's. Imagine my surprise when my shoes rang up at not $8, but $4! 

Oh, and I had a coupon. 

So, for less than the price of a Peppermint Mocha, I got a new pair of shoes. I know this doesn't necessarily jive with my resolutions from last week, but in my defense, the shoes were purchased well before the New Year. And let's be real - who doesn't want neon shoes?

shirt: Old Navy

sweater: rue21

jeans: Trends

shoes: Kohl's

scarf: gift

linking up:

Run Style Run for What She Wears

Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesday
The Fashion Canvas & Walking in Memphis in High Heels  for Trend Spin Link Up

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