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

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blue-ska-doo

Blue shirt. 

Blue sweater. 

Blue pants. 

It's all blue over here, y'all! My Mr. is really into this monochromatic thing lately - I think he's trying to see how many we can put together from my closet. Bad (is it bad?) news is, we could probably do a lot. And without repeating many items. Have I mentioned I have a lot of clothes? Like, a lot.

Along that vein, I'm trying to empty out my closet, so help me out by checking out my closet on Poshmark (link in sidebar, too). See anything you like? Purchase it on Poshmark, or shoot me an email at sweetbananie@gmail.com

Hope your week is off to a great start!

shirt: thrifted (Liz Claiborne)

sweater: thrifted (J. CREW)

pants: thrifted (Joe Fresh)

shoes: thrifted (Not Rated)

P.S. Didn't realize my entire outfit today was THRIFTED! Would anyone be interested in seeing entirely thrifted looks put together? I'm coming up with ideas...!!!

Falling Into Plaid

 

This ensemble made an appearance at a college football game tailgate. Not the game, just the tailgate. Very important distinction. I did originally wear different shoes to the tailgate, but swapped them out for something a bit fancier for dinner with that handsome husband of mine. I wore rain boots earlier in the day, as the weather called for precipitation, and I knew that the tailgating would take place in a field (of sorts). However, the sun came out and there was not a cloud in the sky. But, rain boots are a lot easier to wipe dirt & mud off of than almost any other shoe, so they were ok. 

I knew the day would be chilly, so I layered up accordingly, with a long sleeve shirt under the plaid button up, and threw this sleeveless sweater (vest?) on top, then had a jacket, a scarf, and gloves in the car. I didn't end up needing those last few accessories, but was glad I brought them - I'm almost always cold. 

I'm so glad I was finally able to comfortably wear my leggings with the faux leather panel - last time, it was still pretty warm out. I've got a feeling these will be on repeat a lot this winter. 

Today I'm linking up with Walking in Memphis in High Heels, The Fashion Canvas, and It's Not That Deep for their weekly Trend Spin Link Up, featuring gingham & plaid. I wish I'd gotten a picture wearing my rain boots - they're a black & white plaid, so I would have been able to showcase plaid (times two!) AND a bit of print and texture mixing. Better luck next time!

plaid shirt: thrifted

sweater: Eddie Bauer

leggings: Aéropostale

shoes: Jessica Simpson

Pants Decisions

I wore this combination on a particularly gray & rainy day. Sometimes I like to wear brights when the weather is cold & gray, but sometimes I like to blend right in - it really depends on my mood. 

And what items are not in the laundry...

Lately, I'm loving purple in all shades. Sometimes I just want to put on every purple item I own and dance around and pretend to be a grape. Or an eggplant (it's always food...). Anyone care to join me? 

I got this pair of coated denim on major clearance this past May at Kohl's, from the Lauren Conrad line. It was between these and a pair of (vegan) black leather pants (vegan leather is a fancy way of saying faux leather, because as you know, it is trendy to be a vegan/paleo/gluten free in this day & age). I agonized over this life-altering (hardly) decision for a good 20+ minutes. As you can see, I ultimately went with these pants. I'm just not sure that my blonde hair, blue eyed, sometimes-gets-confused-for-a-high-schooler-self could really rock (vegan) leather pants. However, as my bestie pointed out, this pair of coated denim fills that hole of "badass-ness" in my closet. 

AND, they're purple, instead of typical black. 

AND, purple was my favorite color in the 6th grade.

linking up here, here and here today - check it out!

gray lace shirt: Victoria's Secret

sweater: Maurice's

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

flats: Jessica Simpson

Worst Blogger

 

 

Hi there, strangers. I've awarded myself the "Worst Blogger Award" this week. I know you don't wanna hear this again, but my life has been crazy busy - you have to believe me. 

Forgiven? 

Great. 

Moving on.

Happy Thursday-evening-it's-almost-FRIDAY!

later, gators ;)

shirt: Tour de Fat

blazer: thrifted (originally from Target)

pants: thrifted (originally from Target)

flats: Kohl's

watch: Kohl's

Just Following the Trends, Y'all!

wearing my pups on my clothes. it's cool, right?

5 pointed crown - another ZTA symbol. told ya I sneak 'em in there

Does wearing a bulldog shirt make me look like an over-excited soccer mom? If so, too bad, so sad. 

I love reppin' my breed of pups - they're just so cute! 

And sweet! 

And wrinkly! 

And loud. 

They're very loud. Loud breathers, loud snorers, and loud going up the stairs. 

You would NOT believe how loud they are.

I have a voice memo recorded on my phone of both of them breathing, if you're interested ;)

I am digging the animal-on-the-shirt/sweater trend. I've seen a lot that I would love to take home and make part of my closet, but this is the only one I've been able to pull the trigger on. But that's ok, it's got a pretty special animal on it. 

Now, to find a shirt with TWO bulldogs on it - one that's mostly white with his tongue sticking out, 

and the other brown & white...

shirt: J CREW Factory

sweater: Ann Taylor

jeans: Trends

shoes: Kohl's

Itty Bitty Strawberries

Hope you noticed all of my little strawberry details - I try to sneak 'em in there. Strawberries are just one of Zeta Tau Alpha's symbols, and I try to show my ZTA alum pride without being TOO over the top. I don't wear these shoes often, so with every closet clean out I "hem" & "haw" over them, but when it comes down to it, I can't toss my sweet little strawberry Keds!

Sad story about this vest: I found it at a thrift store this past summer, and was thrilled to have found a denim vest (and in off-white, so it's not the same as everyone else's). I brought it with me to go visit my parents one weekend, and my mom and I went to get pedicures, a favorite activity of ours. While I was picking out my color (SO. MANY. CHOICES.), I dropped a bottle of hot pink OPI nail polish. 

Onto the tile floor. 

It shattered. 

Pink nail polish splashed all over the floor. 

All over my sandals, my legs, my shorts, my tank top.

And onto my new (to me) vest. 

However, after much application of acetone with cotton swabs, I was able to get out most of the pink from my vest. 

Whew. 

Now you can sleep peacefully tonight knowing I got the pink nail polish out 

of my new (to me) cream-ish colored vest.

I just know you were on the edge of your seat. 

The end.

;)

Hey, smile! It's Thursday, which means it's almost Friday!

shirt: Target

vest: thrifted (Levi's)

pants: thrifted

shoes: TJ Maxx