tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54022712916887337012024-03-20T08:29:38.196-07:00Wardrobe TherapyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-19918642930195424282015-04-06T00:18:00.003-07:002015-04-06T00:18:47.690-07:00I finally swapped out my seasonal clothes and let me just say, I have waaay more clothes than I originally thought! It was definitely an eye-opening experience and an important exercise to undertake every 6 months. Not only does it help maintain clutter, but it also allows you to assess your wardrobe inventory. It's also kind of nice to open up the storage boxes and find clothes that you completely forgot you had!<br />
<br />
I spent almost 3 hours inspecting each item for any damage, trying on items for fit, and rigorously interrogating myself on the reasons why it should stay in my wardrobe. I demanded nothing but brutal honesty in answering whether it was flattering, comfortable, or if I had even touched it last season. Basically, the question boiled down to whether or not I'd buy it again or if I'm just being sentimental about keeping it.<br />
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I ended up with two 13-gallon trash bag-sized piles of clothing for donation.<br />
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Looking at my closet now, I realize I need to declare a moratorium on purchasing any more white tops as they make up almost 25% of my shirts. I was happy to find a gray shirt and a white tank that were on the <a href="https://vm235.isrefer.com/go/gypostyle/Angelshade/" target="_blank">GYPO Spring Challenge</a> shopping list.<br />
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Fortunately, with all these new Huggable Hangers I recently bought, I can pretty much hang up all my tops which makes them more visible than putting them inside drawers. I got three 40-count value packs for $30 and four 10-count shirt hangers for $9 each for a total of $126 at Target.<br />
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So after discovering how many clothes I have, I still went online and bought two different pairs of white jeans (modern skinny and modern straight) from Loft.com. They were having a cybersale (promo code: CYBER50) of 50% off and free shipping which hardly ever happens!<br />
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It's going to be a real challenge, but I plan to really try my best to save up my money and give myself a budget of no more than $200 for this spring challenge. Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-70750568116498722962015-04-04T23:42:00.001-07:002015-04-05T23:23:37.751-07:00Happy Easter Sunday!<br />
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I've been wanting to switch out my fall/winter wardrobe for my spring/summer wardrobe for over a month now.<br />
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Last week I spent two hours replacing all my white plastic hangers that I had accumulated since college for these Huggable Hangers which came highly recommended by fellow GYPO challengers.<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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<b>BEFORE AFTER</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9qTrdwal9yYxla2objRZ_SKrAenyIFwvB5pPhmbrknRQM4IhpMHFsZypxk8VNJTbIhkpCeuYFeGbjcgzVOCXzGc20_eUEKRbMst8KPOKDg971FByHKmu6IdJwW0IIFTPqIrDiF7GbOxk/s1600/before1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9qTrdwal9yYxla2objRZ_SKrAenyIFwvB5pPhmbrknRQM4IhpMHFsZypxk8VNJTbIhkpCeuYFeGbjcgzVOCXzGc20_eUEKRbMst8KPOKDg971FByHKmu6IdJwW0IIFTPqIrDiF7GbOxk/s1600/before1.jpg" height="320" title="BEFORE" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIlOugmOUGu8AXgvQyhB-gVRsy1TaNqN4p4TtkSJgVNAaue8IjdTowj91nZ1PoquI0S_KteYHRj6AGp0tCN56CrsT8D14tJ93Nv44DHUH8rBeQFPYFbMcBDgduJtGdWc8B3GHZYDX8dcg/s1600/after1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIlOugmOUGu8AXgvQyhB-gVRsy1TaNqN4p4TtkSJgVNAaue8IjdTowj91nZ1PoquI0S_KteYHRj6AGp0tCN56CrsT8D14tJ93Nv44DHUH8rBeQFPYFbMcBDgduJtGdWc8B3GHZYDX8dcg/s1600/after1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdxmtgDLP6KebNw8-5MHWkFI86mmeQUPA5VfDoVvk9_NokDxaGs0Jouk-ygJG-8br6mmVMYPS2TlCBTeB3l5MmxIiab2Lv0ovrXjireUNZQe4LVC4kcPr2InRdr2ZnTUz_OOeHQzg4f-Z/s1600/before3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdxmtgDLP6KebNw8-5MHWkFI86mmeQUPA5VfDoVvk9_NokDxaGs0Jouk-ygJG-8br6mmVMYPS2TlCBTeB3l5MmxIiab2Lv0ovrXjireUNZQe4LVC4kcPr2InRdr2ZnTUz_OOeHQzg4f-Z/s1600/before3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHaZnLaW7Yd47qIOCt9cQK1MfBWfkenH21IbNPTNW7SWizzX_vOO36hDNAYIyA2lNRFWP5TLdLB8R-oiAigSGIo1g9kc7Sbhx1cICNDsUWjB8sO3ctCtySKSgwInlI7WZIQ-m-EzmeZaO/s1600/after2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHaZnLaW7Yd47qIOCt9cQK1MfBWfkenH21IbNPTNW7SWizzX_vOO36hDNAYIyA2lNRFWP5TLdLB8R-oiAigSGIo1g9kc7Sbhx1cICNDsUWjB8sO3ctCtySKSgwInlI7WZIQ-m-EzmeZaO/s1600/after2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I don't know if it really made that much of a difference. In fact, it took longer to hang clothes on the hangers and take them off, but I do love the look of the shiny hooks against the rods. Looking at the bottom row of pants, I may go with black hangers since the white really sticks out.<br />
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So I signed up for the <a href="https://vm235.isrefer.com/go/gypostyle/Angelshade/" target="_blank">GYPO Spring 2015 Challenge</a> and you should too if you haven't already! It's not too late to join. The outfits will be released next Monday.<br />
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The GYPO shopping list came out this past Friday and I feel confident in filling the gaps of my spring wardrobe with it, except in order to do so, I need to first assess what I have!<br />
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Both of these blogs, <a href="http://www.puttingmetogether.com/2015/03/spring-cleaning-refreshing-your-spring.html" target="_blank">Putting Me Together</a> and <a href="http://www.alittlebitofcheer.com/2015/02/building-wardrobe-part-1-two-step.html" target="_blank">A Little Bit of Cheer</a>, have great guidelines on how to clean out your closet.<br />
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It seems like the only time I can do a closet purge is between the hours of midnight and 2 am.<br />
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The GYPO challenges are a great resource for fashion ideas and inspiration. I learned two really neat and simple wardrobe tricks that make it easy to distinguish between the clothes you wear and the ones you don't. This would be super useful in a closet purge at the end of a season! The first method is to hang all your hangers backwards on the closet rod and turn them around once you've worn the item. The second method is to tie a ribbon on your closet rod and then as you wear your clothes, move the hanger to the other side of the ribbon. I'm going to try the ribbon method.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-55784396842225132912014-12-09T20:13:00.000-08:002014-12-09T20:28:37.326-08:00I am doing something I've never done before - wear leggings! I think
they look so cute on everyone else but always thought they wouldn't work
on me because of my athletic calves. However, wearing riding boots
covers them up nicely. I got the famous Hue ultra wide band gray
leggings during Cyber Monday for $27 (had to size down to avoid knee
wrinkles) and they arrived yesterday. I can now understand why some
people would live in leggings - they're as comfy as yoga pants!<br />
<br />
Also wearing a Caslon tunic I got for the fall challenge but never got around to wearing until now.
I felt like the Zara vest interfered with the Dolman sleeves on the
tunic so I left it off. Plus, the weather is in the upper 60's.<br />
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Guess what?!? This is my 3rd challenge and I <b>finally</b> got my first ever
unprompted compliment from my hubby today. "You look nice! Get your
pretty on!" he said with a smile. Woot woot!!! 😇 Feeling over the moon!
Happy Tuesday!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR-UtuaV0pnkeZJJP38Toxs3Q9b1YVUQStP6oXUFLXzGImTTOnRl3cCH_uO-_169jRd4iVEVxmuNALdsx6aAJ3VpprbA5ENqU8AhKitRVVkwt9MUO0TyighSNBtK0XlxY9BYvlPMiNb5y/s1600/ootd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR-UtuaV0pnkeZJJP38Toxs3Q9b1YVUQStP6oXUFLXzGImTTOnRl3cCH_uO-_169jRd4iVEVxmuNALdsx6aAJ3VpprbA5ENqU8AhKitRVVkwt9MUO0TyighSNBtK0XlxY9BYvlPMiNb5y/s1600/ootd2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Looking at it now, I should have added in my tassel necklace to dress it up a bit.<br />
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Yesterday was the kickoff for the <a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-winter-2014/?ref=119">Winter/Holiday Style Me Pretty Challenge</a>. It's not too late to join! Just click on the link or the graphic below:<br />
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<a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-winter-2014/?ref=119" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Winter/Holiday Style Challenge Square"><img alt="Winter/Holiday Style Challenge Square" src="http://getyourprettyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Winter-Challenge-Square.jpg" /></a></div>
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Once you join, be sure to join the Facebook group since that's where most of the fun is. You get to see how other people style the outfit of the day (OOTD) and can get tips, inspiration, and lots of encouraging feedback. I highly recommend it!<br />
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I posted my OOTD late yesterday since I received my new
fur scarf and neutral gray sweater in the mail in the afternoon but didn't
get to open the packages until well after my son went to bed. I was
wearing a teal version of this Target Mossimo sweater with my leopard
scarf and neutral flats before I got to play dress up.<br />
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What a great outfit to start off the challenge!<br />
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The scarf is from Nordstrom and I love how super soft it is. Feels like
the most luxurious thing I've ever owned. I tried it on with the red
sweater (Target had a BOGO60) and felt like Mrs. Claus (possible outfit
for Xmas card)! Target ultrasoft V-neck sweater, AG skinny jeans,
Naturalizer riding boots from Macy's, Coach bag, Nordstrom pyramid stud
earrings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5i9DxwVn250BNVdiBK-WBrXzeNZAWvUUfUWq05uIL2eX7clPKAB8e3sn9Vp3Ryv_hKg8akERLC2oixESjvn9kdFp-mSPnDX52c3kx2TLn-0O5VW9NW8OJTsSU3Nu7xEeKZioXsupoONU/s1600/ootd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5i9DxwVn250BNVdiBK-WBrXzeNZAWvUUfUWq05uIL2eX7clPKAB8e3sn9Vp3Ryv_hKg8akERLC2oixESjvn9kdFp-mSPnDX52c3kx2TLn-0O5VW9NW8OJTsSU3Nu7xEeKZioXsupoONU/s1600/ootd1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-88955321548643178122014-11-22T11:32:00.002-08:002014-11-22T11:32:27.419-08:00Not gonna lie. This was definitely a challenging outfit probably
because it was almost too basic - is that even possible? When I first
put it on, I felt so masculine in it, like one of those guys that work
at Best Buy or something. Not my favorite look.<br />
<br />
Evolution of
today's outfit:<br />
1) I didn't have a statement necklace, so I first tried
this with pearls, but it looked all kinds of wrong. 2) Then I tried to
add some color with a pink tank and pink dangling earrings,<span class="text_exposed_show">
but it looked too matchy-matchy as if I was trying too hard.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">3) I kept
the tank on for warmth, switched into my pearl studs, and decided to
throw on this lightweight $5 floral infinity scarf from Charlotte Russe
to both add color and femininity. From the fall challenge, I discovered Charlotte Russe has an awesome selection of lightweight scarves for only $5. I hadn't shopped at Charlotte Russe since my college days!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I do love how much a look can be changed by adding accessories since you can get a bunch of them for the price of a shirt.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I only know one way to tie an infinity
scarf and this is it. I think it makes the look a little top heavy
though. I had to leave the house so ran out of time to try improving
this. Maybe some winter white pants and cognac riding boots next time?</span><br />
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Another blog that I recently started following, <a href="http://pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest Told Me To</a>, just did a <a href="http://2014/" target="_blank">post</a> yesterday about how scarves can elevate the style of an outfit.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-70126773377056832142014-11-21T15:43:00.000-08:002014-11-21T15:43:56.697-08:00It's raining today but I still managed to run quite a few errands. Today's outfit called for a jewel-toned blouse with bootcut jeans, tassel necklace, and leopard flats. I was so excited to wear the JCP shirts I recently bought. Unfortunately, I had major gaping issues! What!?! They worked fine in the dressing room. I must have just grabbed different shirts when I headed to the checkout line. Needless to say, I ended up returning both of them and amazingly, left JCP with nothing but my receipts. Instead, I shopped my closet. This is what I wore:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZldmaRaKIp5DNv_kEWLcWYX5WRlL_jElxOhmdU-QLFcus7c_itDDRWUj8qpf-jo9U4im-Nq8Bn8ztJmmHqacR7_V6v2J6QKu3W2N44uavlcPiHYm4j9HJQeVoB1wTWKIpRxNj7RN1n3h/s1600/OOTD5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZldmaRaKIp5DNv_kEWLcWYX5WRlL_jElxOhmdU-QLFcus7c_itDDRWUj8qpf-jo9U4im-Nq8Bn8ztJmmHqacR7_V6v2J6QKu3W2N44uavlcPiHYm4j9HJQeVoB1wTWKIpRxNj7RN1n3h/s1600/OOTD5.jpg" height="320" width="139" /></a></div>
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I love this Banana Republic blouse and I don't wear it as often as I should. The last time I wore this blouse was went we closed on our house two years ago! It has a dainty white mini-polka dot print and a ruffle collar that goes down the front placket. I never would have thought to pair this with jeans. Since the neckline already forms a Y, I went with my new Stella &
Dot necklace that arrived yesterday instead of the tassel necklace. Like other ladies in the challenge, I spent half an hour tucking and untucking trying to
decide which looked better. I think tucking the blouse draws too much attention to fluffy abs, so I left it untucked. One of these days, I will venture out with a tucked shirt, but not today. This is the perfect date night outfit for my dinner date with my husband tonight.<br />
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Went by TJ Maxx looking for the "must-have" <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bobeau-asymmetrical-fleece-wrap-cardigan-regular-petite/3113609?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Black&resultback=430&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_1_C" target="_blank">Bobeau asymmetrical wrap</a> that I heard was on sale for $20. They only had heather charcoal and black, both of which looked good. However, this time I went with black. These would make really nice gifts.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-19261368827495313742014-11-20T19:34:00.002-08:002014-11-20T19:34:34.346-08:00LOVED my outfit today! Not only did I get this selfie right on my first try, but I got to put together two old pieces I had thought of donating, layered my necklaces for the first time, and overall felt really pretty. I hardly wear these necklaces since I don't know what to wear them with, but as I was playing around in my closet this morning, I put them on and voila! They just worked!<br />
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Just love how the lavender and gray played off of each other nicely too! It was pure style magic. I was searching for a neutral sweater and a plaid shirt and ended up shopping my closet for weather appropriate tops. I pulled out my old Banana Republic plaid lavender shirt and my old H&M gray sweater that I've had forever since they were both lightweight. They were perfect for the 70 degree weather we had today.<br />
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This is one of those outfits that I feel really captures "me" - fun, romantic, laid-back, and classic. This is also the first time I ever wore this locket that I purchased off of Etsy for my wedding 2 and 1/2 years ago. It contains a picture of my late father and I had wrapped it around my bouquet as I walked down the aisle with my brother. There's a lot of sentiment behind this outfit which makes it extra-special.<br />
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Have a terrific Thursday!</div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-79359543711498226322014-11-19T21:24:00.002-08:002014-11-19T21:25:40.356-08:00I apologize for the lack of posts recently. I had gotten sick along with my son from this cold front that made its way to Houston since my last post. The temperatures are now climbing back up to the 60's and 70's.<br />
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Today I finally crossed off the last item on the <a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-over-40/?ref=119" target="_blank">Build Your Wardrobe Basics</a> shopping list - the jewel-toned dressy blouse! Hooray!!! I found it, or should I say them, at JCP. Have I mentioned that I never shopped at JCPenney before the fall challenge? It's my favorite place to find shirts nowadays. I actually couldn't decide between the <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/tops/ana-long-sleeve-rayon-tunic/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004221750&catId=cat100260297&topDim=Color&topDimvalue=purple&dimCombo=Color|Fair+%26+Square+Prices|&dimComboVal=purple|monthly+price|&currentDim=Fair+%26+Square+Prices&currentDimVal=monthly+price&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP1027201421025424C.tif&urlState=/women/shop-clothing/tops/shirts-blouses/purple/_/N-1noxc9Z146Z1fe/cat.jump" target="_blank">regal teal</a> and the <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/tops/ana-long-sleeve-rayon-tunic/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004221750&catId=cat100260297&topDim=Color&topDimvalue=purple&dimCombo=Color|Fair+%26+Square+Prices|&dimComboVal=purple|monthly+price|&currentDim=Fair+%26+Square+Prices&currentDimVal=monthly+price&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP1027201421025424C.tif&urlState=/women/shop-clothing/tops/shirts-blouses/purple/_/N-1noxc9Z146Z1fe/cat.jump" target="_blank">intense plum</a>, so I did what I normally do in these moments of indecision...I got them both! The teal is such a beautiful deep blue turquoise-like color that was so flattering and difficult to find. It reminds me of the ocean. The plum was more of a berry-wine that looks so elegant. I'm starting to gravitate to berry colors this season. Since the shopping list mentioned that the blouse would be used to layer underneath the black sleeveless shift dress, I was imagining how these colors would look. I think the blue would give off a nice pop of color and the plum would tone it down so other accessories could take the spotlight. I would imagine the plum would pair very nicely with my brown tweed skirt for a quintessential fall look.<br />
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Lots to catch up on, plus pictures!<br />
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The outfits have been released for the past 3 days and they've been living up to the challenge's name so far (as in being very basic). For Monday's outfit, I woke up feeling under the weather but got dressed up anyways because I was so excited for the challenge outfits to start. This is what I wore:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeo-Ufxce1GbMYbscK5HfL3TlahVr8tTSRhcyzqS9zYA4_3dRqhi1AJa-6agdMVdhMwkvydKA6DkPs9mOu76zzCAFzPtyEmP2vIHN8ycHSwE_uU4aYgxbma2tLm0N4rge6W97Zyp_90FP/s1600/OOTD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeo-Ufxce1GbMYbscK5HfL3TlahVr8tTSRhcyzqS9zYA4_3dRqhi1AJa-6agdMVdhMwkvydKA6DkPs9mOu76zzCAFzPtyEmP2vIHN8ycHSwE_uU4aYgxbma2tLm0N4rge6W97Zyp_90FP/s1600/OOTD1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The striped shirt I already had gotten for the fall challenge at Ann
Taylor, same with the tassel necklace and oversized gold watch from
Forever 21, the dark wash bootcut jeans are a Long & Lean pair I
already had pre-challenge from 1969 GAP, and the Coach bag was one of the few items I
purchased for this challenge. I got it at the Coach outlet during my birthday weekend
with my mom. After getting dressed, something amazing happened! I felt much better and even went out to run some errands as opposed to staying in bed.<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0">I also realized how much footwear really completes an outfit! These were my
DSW Lucky Brand flats that arrived yesterday and I was still wearing them around
the house debating whether I should keep them since I sized up to 7.5
and they're a tad big, but I can't exchange them for a 7 since they are
sold out. I love they way they look though!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0">On Tuesday, I got to wear another new purchase for this challenge: my </span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0">Ann Taylor Factory leopard belt. This was my first time</span></span></span> belting an un-tucked buttoned-down shirt in my life! I am amazed at how it creates a waist with a subtle peplum effect. </span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0">I have no idea why I never thought to try this earlier. These are the moments I love about the style challenges: they really do encourage you to go beyond your comfort zone!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0">Also, I hadn't worn black dress pants for more than half a year and am amazed
they still fit! As you know from my previous post, I had been raving about this $10 JCP chambray shirt, when I came across the lighter Old Navy one for $20. </span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".z1.1:3:1:$comment745004862247332_745120138902471:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span class="text_exposed_show">I think the darker one looks dressier
and has a nice cuffed sleeve contrast, but I also really like the
contrast in the buttons on the lighter one. I switched out of the dress
pants for black straight leg corduroys for the first picture. </span>Which do you like better?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" style="width: 50%;"><tbody>
<tr><th>Dark</th><th>Light</th></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3yL8QIbObejJ8uQIbKgZiLV5WqsYABeM4W-QxyY7OePT1cxoNv2XJzF8uOiWAFN4_be0rSlxg9eCx5dggpGvZ8XMaKHdI4Y5fjlMxevdWkWanOYD8eQ6AcoxXhW2fvPU2tUw_LOm0cYL/s1600/OOTD2dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3yL8QIbObejJ8uQIbKgZiLV5WqsYABeM4W-QxyY7OePT1cxoNv2XJzF8uOiWAFN4_be0rSlxg9eCx5dggpGvZ8XMaKHdI4Y5fjlMxevdWkWanOYD8eQ6AcoxXhW2fvPU2tUw_LOm0cYL/s1600/OOTD2dark.jpg" height="320" width="131" /></a></td>
<td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAef238Axxxp7XfO4XDYXwrcScmNJtpYax7NPtczd9gVRKoAiMheKspWMlxz9V2JCoKyy7TJ9NJ7YcKRHahCz4lGrrU1-j7pmdToGzBReLpUXVo_gv9JWKE8kjD9m4NdkOjFL9BKWSdPb/s1600/OOTD2light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAef238Axxxp7XfO4XDYXwrcScmNJtpYax7NPtczd9gVRKoAiMheKspWMlxz9V2JCoKyy7TJ9NJ7YcKRHahCz4lGrrU1-j7pmdToGzBReLpUXVo_gv9JWKE8kjD9m4NdkOjFL9BKWSdPb/s1600/OOTD2light.jpg" height="320" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I decided to keep them both since they will be useful in different situations. The darker one would be more appropriate for work or meetings, and the lighter one is more casual.<br />
<br />
For today's outfit, I thought, "This is the GAP uniform!" Well, except for the leopard flats.
Never tried putting a button-down shirt under this denim jacket until
today, but I like it! I'm doing all kinds of crazy things here in the basics challenge! Not sure whether the lengths of the tops work,
but when I tried tucking the shirt in, it just emphasized my long torso
due to the low rise in my pants, so I left it untucked. My old GAP jacket is
much shorter than I remember, but I know the waist-length works
perfectly for summer dresses. These Banana Republic weekend chinos are my khaki pants
version - I love them since they have a nice relaxed fit with just a hint of stretch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCYPFqMCQIFJ7-scOxLUqtBcY1qG9Imu7zScEmCzxMXgOXmVWxnNIpMZjgAz2crMDUa2VG9YWSlBiibQxYvNt2J9-azxB4k8MyUTl8HCl0HnhvvZBQjLPF9G-YB8PT8nqa6Na8WdTxcwN/s1600/OOTD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCYPFqMCQIFJ7-scOxLUqtBcY1qG9Imu7zScEmCzxMXgOXmVWxnNIpMZjgAz2crMDUa2VG9YWSlBiibQxYvNt2J9-azxB4k8MyUTl8HCl0HnhvvZBQjLPF9G-YB8PT8nqa6Na8WdTxcwN/s1600/OOTD3.jpg" height="320" width="142" /></a></div>
<br />
All clothing was shopped from my closet. The white button-down shirt is The Limited Essential Shirt. <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">I love the shirt since it's made of thicker material than other see-through white shirts. Plus, this outfit worked surprisingly well for the 60 degree weather we had today.</span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">During my trip to JCP, I confirmed that I will be keeping my DSW Lucky Brand leopard flats despite them being a tad big. I had been eyeing the <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/casual-shoes/ana-epic-ballet-flats/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004200032&catId=cat100250188&&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0711201411335860M.tif" target="_blank">a.n.a. pair of leopard Epic ballet flats</a> since they remind me of the memory foam cushioned <a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/lucky-brand-emmie-flats?ID=719446&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=120156340000052510&catargetid=120156340001070696&cadevice=c&cm_mmc=Google_Nongender_Shoes_PLA_PLA-_-Nongender+Shoes+Brands_Lucky+Brand-_-62339753103_-_-_mkwid_qte500sB|dc_62339753103|-|qte500sB" target="_blank">Lucky Brand Emmie Flats</a> that felt incredible on my feet. However, I felt like the suede leopard print was too faded so I returned them. The JCP ones were cushioned, but I really prefer</span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"> the grosgrain trim and suede upper of the sold out <a href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/lucky+brand+letah+flat?prodId=317845" target="_blank">DSW Lucky Brand Letah Flats</a>.</span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1l2.1:3:1:$comment746089572138861_746101188804366:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
One of the side effects from doing these style challenges is that you purge your closet of clothes that do not work. The ones that are too old, no longer fit, or you never wear since you have nothing to wear it with. You're more willing to part with them in exchange for ones that do work and work well.<br />
<br />
I had purchased <a href="http://www.umbra.com/usd/little-black-dress/little-black-dress" target="_blank">Umbra's Little Black Dress</a> at Marshall's yesterday for half the cost and absolutely love it! It completely cleared out my cluttered jewelry drawer and it keeps all my long necklaces nice and untangled. I had been thinking of the best ways to organize my jewelry and this is pure genius! The solution to all your jewelry problems - it takes up very little space, lets you see your entire collection at a glance, keeps everything in its own space, is user-friendly, and is so well-organized that you can find whatever you need within a second. No need for fancy jewelry boxes, this does it all!<br />
<br />
Based on the success of the jewelry organizer, I got myself a scarf organizer from Marshall's today. Actually, it's 3 18-hole each scarf organizers for $10. I ended up using one of them for a belt organizer and cleared another drawer!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-24325536265079908642014-11-13T21:11:00.001-08:002014-11-13T21:23:03.972-08:00It's finally feeling like winter in Houston! Our temperature dropped to the 30's and 40's. The autumn and winters in Houston are my favorite seasons. No crazy humidity, no mosquitoes, just good hair days, holidays, and sales galore!<br />
<br />
I loved my outfit today. I got to wear my new Zara black puffer vest, my new $7 striped shirt from Banana Republic factory, and my new Naturalizer riding boots. I also pattern-mixed a leopard scarf with a striped tee for the first time in my life! The pattern-mixing took some getting used to and was definitely not in my comfort zone, but it worked out beautifully. After putting on the boots, I felt ready to conquer the world! It never fails to amaze me how closely correlated looking good and feeling good are. They say confidence is the best accessory...or is it a smile? Either way, I had both.<br />
<br />
Knowing that the cold front was coming today, I finished swapping out my spring/summer clothes with my fall/winter clothes yesterday evening. I loved how my entire summer wardrobe can fit perfectly into the four storage boxes. This is how I make sure I don't have more than I need. I treat the storage boxes like luggage space. If all the clothes for the season don't fit in the storage boxes, something has to go.<br />
<br />
Allow me to regale you with tales of my shopping adventures:<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I was so proud of myself for resisting yet another plaid shirt at Old Navy. I went in to return a boyfriend cardigan, but then came out with a light chambray shirt and a wide brown belt. Seems like I hardly ever make a true return without turning it into an exchange and then some! I felt a bit guilty because I already bought my chambray shirt, although a darker shade earlier this week at JCPenney for about $10. However, both items were on sale at Old Navy and I like the contrast of the white buttons against the lighter denim. While at Old Navy, I saw a pair of the pyramid studs that looked exactly like my Fall Challenge Nordstrom ones at a quarter of the cost! Who knew Old Navy sold jewelry? <br />
<br />
Not satisfied with my black sheath dress that I have because it gathers to one side, I stopped by Nordstrom Rack because it was practically next door to Old Navy. I fell in love with a Calvin Klein black sheath dress. Who better to design a black sheath dress than Calvin Klein, right? True to their minimalism design philosophy, the dress has these vertical insets that also function as hidden belt loops. Ingenious! This way, you can wear the dress with or without a belt.<br />
<br />
I'm still in search of one last piece for the Basics Challenge: the jewel-toned blouse. I saw an emerald green collarless blouse at Old Navy, but it failed my gaping bust test. Basically, I just put my hands on my hips and throw my shoulders back. It seems so hard to find a button-down shirt that will lay flat across the chest without pulling at the buttons and exposing your bra. It's not like I have a huge chest or anything. I had a whole set of H&M button-down work shirts that I used to wear in my 20's that are now notorious for gaping at the bust. I noticed I started having this problem when I hit my mid-thirties and my fiance, now husband, kindly pointed out I was getting back fat. I'd like to think the cuts are made to be slim-fitting for juniors. I recently discovered the St. John's Bay brand from JCPenney of button-down shirts which successfully pass the test. I was so happy to finally find shirts that didn't gape that I ended up buying three of them: 2 plaid and the darker chambray shirt mentioned earlier.<br />
<br />
Anyways, Nordstrom Rack had these awesome berry-colored and teal button-down blouses which were extra long and could be worn as tunics. Unfortunately, they also didn't pass the test. I think I'll need to check out Nordstrom later on.<br />
<br />
Today, I went to the GAP to exchange my sexy boyfriend jeans for a smaller size since they were almost falling off my hips. While I was there, I saw a darker, distressed pair of sexy boyfriend jeans also on sale that fit much better and looked fantastic. Totally worth the $6.60 difference in price!<br />
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-62272187947647733912014-11-11T20:51:00.001-08:002014-11-11T20:54:52.949-08:00Happy Veteran's Day!<br />
<br />
Okay, so I think my closet is
reaching its limit. My drawers are barely closing and I still have one
last item to get for the Basics Challenge - the jewel toned blouse.
Yesterday, I went to Old Navy looking for a chambray button-down shirt
and ended up with this <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=977882032" target="_blank">light taupe brown boyfriend cardigan</a>. On the other hand, I managed to score <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/women/st-johns-bay/view-all/st-john-s-bay-roll-sleeve-denim-campshirt/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004111229&N=508%204294964845&searchTerm=denim+shirt&topDim=Gender&topDimvalue=women&dimCombo=Gender%7CItem+Type%7C&dimComboVal=women%7Cbutton-front%7C&currentDim=Item+Type&currentDimVal=button-front&catId=SearchResults&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0905201417165580M.tif">this denim shirt at JCPenney</a>
for only $10! I wasn't sure if the chambray shirt should be light or
dark, but I think darker denim has always looked better on me. I'm
starting to really love this St. John's Bay brand that JCP carries - all
of their button-down shirts fit perfectly on me without any gaping at
the bust. I already have two of <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/women/st-johns-bay/view-all/st-john-s-bay-long-sleeve-plaid-flannel-shirt/prod.jump?ppId=pp5004680800&N=508%204294964845&searchTerm=plaid+shirt&topDim=Gender&topDimvalue=women&dimCombo=Gender%7CItem+Type%7C&dimComboVal=women%7Cbutton-front%7C&currentDim=Item+Type&currentDimVal=button-front&catId=SearchResults&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0929201417220675M.tif">their plaid shirts</a>.<br />
<br />
A
couple of the challengers posted some really informative resources on
the challenge Facebook group that I want to share with you: <br />
<br />
Mary Munkelwitz posted a great link for determining which colors look best on you:<br />
<a href="http://www.thechicfashionista.com/seasonal-color-analysis-2.html">http://www.thechicfashionista.com/seasonal-color-analysis-2.html</a><br />
<br />
Apparently, I'm a deep winter. Yay for jewel tone colors!<br />
<br />
Becky Ratliff Podhajsky posted this awesome link about one of my favorite stores of all time:<br />
<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-target" target="_blank">http://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-target</a><br />
<br />
I
love the discount scheduling info! Since today was Tuesday, I had to
check out the Target clearance section and found a great sweatshirt for only
$9!<br />
<br />
I learn so much from these challenges - which is why you should sign up for the <a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-over-40/?ref=119" target="_blank">Build Your Basics Wardrobe Challenge</a> if you haven't already!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-over-40/?ref=119" title="Build Your Wardrobe Basics Banner"><img alt="Build Your Wardrobe Basics Banner" src="http://getyourprettyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/over-40-challenge-FB-banner.jpg" height="146" width="400" /></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-26606488460284854172014-11-07T22:25:00.001-08:002014-11-07T22:25:05.233-08:00<!-- start InLinkz script -->
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-1149528673283692482014-11-07T22:22:00.000-08:002014-11-07T22:24:19.613-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1OgjXJOmUsUlGelxtsFRxQ2bitoDyHnTYmnWtjsEPTESBqdtFbVikdKpNh_QURM6SidTdgo0yeZsIk1aeWbBm_2L40YV_GMrUkPJlaDvaRw4jPKNINH5AwWdVPKXu-h2mm8TV44Spauq/s1600/1236159_10154750295710322_4142471788335976263_n+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1OgjXJOmUsUlGelxtsFRxQ2bitoDyHnTYmnWtjsEPTESBqdtFbVikdKpNh_QURM6SidTdgo0yeZsIk1aeWbBm_2L40YV_GMrUkPJlaDvaRw4jPKNINH5AwWdVPKXu-h2mm8TV44Spauq/s1600/1236159_10154750295710322_4142471788335976263_n+-+Copy.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I just joined the Style Me
Bloggers link up series. I'm a completely new at this, but thought I'd
try my hand at adding the link-ups to the other blogs. I take it we
were supposed to give you a peek into our closets and provide
organizational tips this week.<br />
<br />
My walk-in closet is one
of my favorite rooms in our house. Granted, I share it with my
husband, but it has one section for hanging tops and bottoms, another
section for hanging dresses, above that there's a pull-down rod for more
tops, multiple shelves, 4 drawers, a 3-way mirror, and a built-in
vanity with multiple drawers.<br />
<br />
When we first moved in, I
was adamant about having consistent hangers since your clothes will
look so much nicer on uniform hangers - just like a store! It was
something I picked up in college when I bought these cheap white plastic
hangers from Target. I love them because they always have them in
stock, they take up very little space, don't get tangled with each
other, and are so inexpensive, I can always buy more! There are two
versions of the hangers - one with little hooks on the inside which are
my default hangers, and one with wider grooves on the shoulder of the
hangers which is better for sheath dresses and tank tops.<br />
<br />
I
organize my clothes first by type (tops, bottoms, dresses, sweaters,
workout, etc.), next by style (sleeveless, short-sleeved, long-sleeved),
followed by color (rainbow order: roy g. biv) and pattern (solids
first, then more complex patterns after) going from front to back. It
makes sense to have your tops located on top of your bottoms, so with
any sort of vertical organization such as my drawers, I'll have tops in
the top 2 drawers and bottoms in the bottom 2 drawers. I also have 4
very nice boxes that I took over from my husband which I use to store
out-of-season clothes.<br />
<br />
I try to be minimalistic and
make sure my closet isn't overflowing with clothes. This goes a long
way in making your closet look organized. Every season, I'll prune my
wardrobe when I move the clothes out of the storage boxes and into my
closet. I'll donate or toss items that don't work, are worn out, or no
longer fit. If I find I can't close my drawers, or my shelves or racks
are spilling over, I reduce and recycle. To avoid a surplus, every time
you add an item to your wardrobe, pick out another item that will need
to go.<br />
<br />
Someone in the group suggested a wonderful idea
of holding a clothing swap. It would be so much fun to trade items that
no longer work for you with your friends and family. Not only is it a
fantastic way to recycle, but one gal's trash could be another gal's
treasure!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-3202389867495525122014-11-07T09:14:00.004-08:002014-11-07T22:25:32.089-08:00<a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-over-40/?ref=119" target="_blank">Build Your Wardrobe Basics Challenge</a> by Alison Lumbatis and Cyndi Spivey<br />
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The basics challenge is on! We just received the shopping list last night via email. I am both super thrilled and relieved to discover that I have almost all the pieces already in my closet. I guess having a classic wardrobe is coming in handy for this challenge. I just need a couple of items: chambray shirt, leopard belt, and a jewel tone blouse. This time, I'm doing the challenge with my mom and a few other friends, so I'm really excited to see what they come up with!<br />
<br />
Someone on the Facebook group recently asked how much money do you spend on these challenges. I know I felt as if I went on a shopping spree with the fall challenge since I had only a minority of the pieces on the shopping list. However, I was glad to know others said you tend to spend more on your first challenge. It's incredibly hard to stop yourself from buying multiple variations of the pieces when you know that they work so well. I ended up with 3 more plaid shirts than I needed, 2 more scarves, an extra puffer vest, dressy sweatshirt, long sleeve tee, sweater, necklace, and am thinking of getting another cardigan! I decided yesterday that I was going to cut myself off since I finally got all the pieces for the fall challenge. Now, I have a new problem: I can only wear one item out of the multiple options for my outfit of the day!<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402271291688733701.post-66653578670627023122014-11-06T10:12:00.002-08:002014-11-07T22:25:52.164-08:00<b>Alison Lumbatis' <a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/style-me-pretty-challenge-fall-2014/" target="_blank">Style Me Pretty Challenge Fall 2014</a> Review</b><br />
<br />
First off, Alison Lumbatis is amazing!!! I heard about Alison through the <a href="http://bym.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?sl=330964842" target="_blank">Bellaire Young Mothers</a>' listserve. One of the moms, Trish Taylor, posted about upgrading your fashion style for fall and mentioned Alison's unique service. Trish stated that if you ever wanted a personal stylist, but couldn't afford one, this is seriously the next best thing.<br />
<br />
I grew up with fashion magazines and although I always had an interest
in fashion, I knew I did not really have an innate knack for it. I
would watch shows like "What Not to Wear" or "How Do I Look" and read
books about style, but having a real fashion sense of my own remained
elusive. So my wardrobe consisted of fairly basic foolproof pieces
along with impulse purchases. I prefer classic over trendy. Only in
the last year did I realize that to make my outfits more interesting, I
should add a pattern, color, or texture. Yet, even then I would play it safe and made sure everything matched. I should also mention that it would take me hours
to pack for a trip. I would be up at 3 am the night before trying on
all the different outfit variations to make sure all the pieces I was
packing worked together. <br />
<br />
Once you sign up, Alison sends you a shopping list which you have 10 days to obtain the pieces. You can shop your closet, buy her recommendations, or use them as guidelines to make your own selections. After the 10 days, she releases an outfit everyday for 21 days.<br />
<br />
I was intrigued and decided to give it a try.<br />
<br />
Best idea ever!!! I joined the Facebook group for the challenge and got to "meet" lots of genuinely warm, extremely supportive, plain funny, and awesome ladies. I got so much inspiration, styling tricks, and shopping tips from the group!<br />
<br />
Upon receiving the shopping list for the challenge, I was happy to see that I already owned about a third of the items listed. Getting the other items was similar to a scavenger hunt. It made shopping a lot easier and more efficient since I could just walk into a store knowing exactly what I was looking for. Plus, everyone on the Facebook group was in the same boat and sharing shopping tips on their finds as well as pictures of their capsule wardrobes that they put together.<br />
<br />
I had a trip to California and packed all the pieces I had off of the shopping list. It cut my packing time down in no time! I loved how convenient it was! I could actually get some sleep the night before the trip without worrying that the pieces I packed wouldn't work. Too easy!<br />
<br />
Getting the outfits for the day was great too. It was such a luxury to wake up and know exactly what I was going to wear that day without spending forever trying on outfit after outfit. I didn't have to think about what would match what or whether it would work or not. I loved knowing that what I put on would automatically be stylish and pretty.<br />
<br />
The main lesson I learned from doing this challenge was to keep an open mind. It's good to push yourself out of your comfort zone. That's how we grow - when we stretch ourselves beyond the familiar. After all, isn't that why it's called a challenge? I noticed playing it safe such as matching black boots with black pants wasn't nearly as exciting as matching cognac boots with black pants, same goes for matching only silver or gold jewelry - why not both?<br />
<br />
Here are 10 other notes regarding my experience with this challenge:<br />
<br />
1. I learned how to wear a scarf using this incredible video Alison recommended called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYAEz777AU" target="_blank">25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!</a> Wendy must have spent lots of time editing it.<br />
<br />
2. Leopard prints are your friend. They add instant pizazz to any outfit and yet, are surprisingly considered a neutral! Imagine that! A wild animal print that can go with anything! I think I remember Oprah saying something like, "If it doesn't go with anything, it goes with everything!" I had one leopard print cardigan that I used to only match with khaki and black pre-challenge. Now, I have a scarf and flats that I can mix with teal, mustard, red, cobalt blue, blue jeans...everything!<br />
<br />
3. Boyfriend jeans were the hardest part of this challenge for me. During the 10 day shopping period, I tried on several pairs of boyfriend jeans and couldn't believe they could be considered stylish. They just reminded me of the dreaded, frumpy "mom" jeans of the 1990's with the high rise and the bagginess in the thighs. I realized during the challenge that these boyfriend jeans were unlike the old boyfriend jeans which had no shape from before. This new version had tapered legs that you could roll up and after seeing it on other ladies, I decided to buy a pair at the end of the challenge. I was surprised by how comfortable they are. I even got them in a lighter wash other than my usual dark wash because I wanted to try something different. Besides, they were on sale! The best thing about these boyfriend jeans is that you don't have to worry about a muffin top because they are looser around the waist for a more relaxed fit.<br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com/2013/10/leggings-101-leggings-are-not-pants.html" target="_blank">Leggings are not pants</a>. I couldn't help laughing at this post. Too funny!<br />
<br />
5. Neutrals can be paired with other neutrals. I don't know why, but this combination as obvious as it seems never occurred to me as something you would pull together on purpose. I always knew white and black would go with anything, but gray and taupe? Brown and gray? Navy and brown? Leopard print and gray? Why didn't I think of this before? So chic!<br />
<br />
6. Speaking of combinations, you can also pair patterns. Stripes, leopard print, floral prints, and plaid can all be mixed together.<br />
<br />
7. I discovered mustard yellow is an awesome fall color after seeing it on some of the challengers. I got a long mustard yellow cardigan from Target that I love! I would never have thought to wear such a color before.<br />
<br />
8. Taking selfies are much harder than you think. Trying to get the right angle, lighting, posing yourself in a flattering way, looking in the mirror the right way while pushing the camera phone soft button with one hand is a challenge in of itself! However, it's amazing to be able to document your outfits this way and view yourself objectively. It was so nice to see the other challengers post their outfits of the day or OOTD (a new abbreviation I learned on this challenge). You realize this is what real women look like, not the Photoshopped models in the magazine, but working women and moms who have busy lives taking care of their loved ones.<br />
<br />
9. Since getting dressed was such a breeze, I could spend more time on my hair or makeup. Looking my best as I headed out the door gave me a feeling of renewed confidence.<br />
<br />
10. Shoes are an investment. I tried to go with a cheap pair of leopard flats and ended up with cuts on my heels. They were so uncomfortable, I could barely walk and I ended up returning them. Plus, it defeats the purpose when you're wearing something cute and you're grimacing the whole time because your feet hurt. So when it comes to your feet, always opt for comfort!<br />
<br />
This time, Alison is teaming up with Cyndi Spivey to bring us a <a href="http://getyourprettyon.com/?ref=119" target="_blank">Build Your Wardrobe Basics Challenge</a>. So why don't you join me and challenge yourself to another great fashion adventure? Your wardrobe will thank you for it!<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683820311769300651noreply@blogger.com2