Plain Jane

Here's a "plain Jane" outfit from the other day. Apart from the wrinkly skirt, I thought it was cute, even if it was a bit simple. During the afternoon that I wore this outfit, while I was snacking on some popcorn, part of one of my teeth broke off. Ahhhh! It was a horrifying experience, to pull a chunk of broken tooth out of my mouth. But thankfully I got it fixed yesterday, and I think I'll steer clear of popcorn for a while.

Also - where the heck did my eyebrows go?! I wish they would show up in photos more often...

Shirt: J. Crew

Skirt: Anthropologie

Jacket: Macy's

Tights: American Apparel

Boots: Jessica Simpson from Macy's

Hat: H&M

Scarf: made by me

Bald patches

I'm so tired of buying black tights and having them disappoint me. Both pairs of black tights I bought at American Apparel ripped (one pair ripped the first day I wore it!), and this pair from Target that I'm wearing in these photos appear to have bald patches. (And you thought the title of this post was referring to my hair, didn't you?) I just want a pair of solid black tights that have an even tone and don't rip the moment I put them on - is that too much to ask of life?

Other than the tights issue, I loved this outfit. I'm glad I found an excuse to wear my giant fuzzy black hat in a way that doesn't make me look totally insane. (Unless it does, in which case I guess I'm not very self-aware.)

Top: Old Navy

Jacket: MICHAEL Michael Kors from Nordstrom Rack

Skirt: Forever 21 brand, thrifted from Crossroads Trading Co.

Tights: Target

Flats: ShoeMint

Hat and scarf: Fred Meyer

Necklace and earrings: free from my aunts

Cozy 80's sweater and a shopping ban

It's been so cold here lately, so I've been wearing a lot of bulky, cozy sweaters. I love this gray sweater that my aunt gave me. She found it when she was cleaning out her apartment. I think it's from the 80's. It was more obviously 80's before I cut out the shoulder pads, but now I think it looks quite cute. One of my other aunts gave me this necklace. I get so much free stuff from my three aunts, it's ridiculous. Right now I especially appreciate their hand-me-downs, because I'm banned from buying clothes. Josh and I are trying to kill off the rest of our non-student loan debt, so for the next few months I have a clothing budget of $0. So far I've gone a month and a half without buying any clothes, and it's been rough. I don't think I've gone that long without buying clothes for years. I think my no shopping challenge will be good for both our budget, and my frame of mind when it comes to shopping. I don't need to be constantly buying things in order to have a good wardrobe.

Sweater: free from my aunt

Coat: Marks and Spencer

Jeans: Levi's

Boots: Jessica Simpson from Macy's

Hat: H&M

Necklace: free from my aunt

Bracelet: gift

Project Runway unconventional materials challenge

All photos from this source

I watched last week's episode of Project Runway last night. If you don't watch that show, I would highly recommend it - it's the only "reality" show I can handle. I love the clothes, I love the snark, I love the drama. Last week's episode was the unconventional materials challenge, which is always my favorite. The contestants are sent to an unusual store to buy the supplies for their outfits - grocery store, pet store, candy store. This time they went to a flower store and hardware store. I loved the results so much that I thought I'd share some of my favorites. (As well as the one I hated, because, well, why not?) Also, I had no outfit photos to share, so there's that reason, too :)

I love Kate's dress (pictured above) because it's so frou frou and over the top. Michelle and Richard's dress, below, is kind of bondage-meets-salad, which is weird and very interesting...

The next two dresses I only liked the backs of. I love the asymmetrical string straps and ombré flower petals on Benjamin's dress, and the exposed hardware on Amanda's...

Patricia's outfit was the one I absolutely loathed. I thought it was hideous and nonsensical, and I feel fairly certain that even though I am not crafty, I could have made something similar in a day and a half...

My favorite dress was Layana's - I think it's a work of art, and I could definitely picture someone wearing it on the red carpet....

Do any of you watch Project Runway? I'm sad that Michael Kors isn't one of the judges this season. I miss his particular brand of brilliant, witty snark. And I feel like all the contestants are being too nice to each other with this team challenge. I miss the days of people yelling at each other and calling each other names behind their backs.

Old news

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that these photos are from September of last year. I forgot about them, but stumbled upon them the other day and thought I may as well post them, because the weather has gone through its horrible winter phase and has circled back around to being semi-pleasant, so this outfit is actually something I would be able to wear right now. (With the addition of a light jacket, of course.)

The leaf in the background of the top photo is driving me nuts, but I couldn't erase it because I don't have mad Photoshop skills, so I apologize for the eyesore.

Shirt: Target

Pants: thrifted

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Dress Barn

Bracelet: In Pink

A small dose of color

On Saturday I went on a cleaning spree in our bedroom, reorganizing things and getting rid of clothes I no longer wear. I arranged my tights in a vintage suitcase so I can see them all at once. I completely forgot about most of them. This winter I've been wearing mostly black and brown tights, so it was nice to rediscover these green tights. I've only worn them one other time (here), because I can only handle colored tights in small doses. I think the pop of green between the skirt and the boots was just right.

Sweater: Target

Skirt: Anthropologie

Jacket: MICHAEL Michael Kors from Nordstrom Rack
Tights: American Apparel
Boots: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: free from my aunt

All black

This outfit is from a couple weeks ago, but I've been a bad blogger lately and haven't been posting. There's so much going on in this outfit, I'm not sure what to call it. Spiky floral goth-splosion? I can't say I'm crazy about the way it looks in photos, but I had fun wearing it, and it was super comfy.

Sweater: Target

Floral blouse: thrifted

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Forever 21

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Lita heels from Solestruck

Spider necklace: Bauble Bar

On the fringe

I love this fringe skirt that I got at Anthropologie about a month ago. It feels trendy without being too trendy - I think it's something I'll be able to wear even a few years from now. The only problem is that it sheds, which won't matter later in the year when I can wear it with bare legs, but when I wear it now with black tights, my knees and thighs end up looking all man-ish and hairy. Thank goodness for lint rollers.

And I decided to wear it with a blazer from the 90's because it just felt right. Also because I never had a chance to wear blazers like this when I actually lived through the 90's.

Sweater: Kohl's

Skirt: Anthropologie

Tights: American Apparel

Shoes: DSW

Blazer: from my mom, probably from the 90's

Necklace: gift

Bracelet: won in a giveaway