Knee High

I'm sure you remember the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is fixin' to go out on the town and she uses a Sharpie to cover the scuffs on her heels.  This was the state that my usual over the knee Jessica Simpson boots had been in for some time.  So, instead of feeling like a hooker every time I put them on, I decided to bite the bullet and buy a new pair.  Imagine my glee when I found these amazing Calvin Klein Averie Platform Boots at Nordstrom! I haven't been a skirt and boots type of gal until lately, simply because I've packed on a few LB's over the last year, but I've been hard at work in the gym and felt like I could finally strut these babies with a leather mini.  Other than the striped sweater, everything else is from a thrift or vintage store!  The skirt and jacket were great finds at Goodwill, while the necklace came from a local antique shop here in town.  You seen in worn with stripes before here, and the rich gold and candy colored stores give a monocromatic look a much needed splash of color.

Jacket, Skirt, Necklace : thrifted/vintage | Sweater : Banana Republic | Boots : Calvin Klein Averie Platform Boot | Socks : Velvet Heart (and a gift from my future mother in law) | Ring : Francesca's 

Bracelets : Stella & Dot, Lipstick Rose, J.Crew 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway here for the Lipstick Rose Ram's Head Clutch Bangle, happening this coming Friday!!

xoxo,
sarah

A Few Notes

Hi love bugs!  Hope you are having a great Thursday!  Mine started out with not one but two tire blowouts.  I hit a "city titty" while driving to work and that thing was solid as a rock.  Anyways, I am one of those girls who has car trouble written in her genetic code, so I just waited for roadside assistance and went on with my day.

I've been thinking a lot on what direction to take some things from this little old blog here, to my career,  to things I simply love doing, and then maybe blending them all together.  I would describe myself as someone who hands their hands in 10,000 different things.  I'm interested and curious about everything from fashion, business, interior design, fitness, cooking... the list goes on.  I want to figure out a way to blend it all together and to have one feed the other.  I get some feedback from time to time on certain things, but want to ask you guys what you would like to see more of.  

Obviously, this is a fashion blog and always has been, so I don't want to take away from that.  I do get a really great response when I post things about home design, interiors, things of that nature, which really ties in with both of my businesses (mortgage lending and real estate investing).  I love taking something old and neglected and making it beautiful and am lucky enough to have the opportunity to do more and more of that in the near future. I haven't even shown you guys pics of the new house and it's something that we are so super proud of and that we designed specifically for us.  I'd like to mold all of this together at some point, but also have some things to share on fitness, building wealth and making smart financial decisions at a young age (young being post college to 35-ish).  Basically, I have a lot to say, but I don't want to turn people off who visit this blog for a very specific reason.  And maybe that's the part of me that wants to please everyone, who knows. I am probably going to separate it into two different blogs so one can be more business based, but I think a lot of it intertwines.  Blogger problems, right?  Give me a little feedback on things you would like to see, would ya?

Moving on.

So, you all know my love for a good old fashioned spray tan, right? Right. It's my therapy session, because the chick that does it is absolutely hilarious.  If you live in Dallas and need a flawless bronzing, call Tantrum Tan and ask for Daesha.  Anyways, this is the dress I wear when I go for my appointment.  It's cute, loose, and black - all requirements for appropriate spray tan attire.  The weird thing is that it's been in my closet for at least 7 years and I just rediscovered it when I was redoing my closet and fell in love with it all over again.  I kind of love when that happens because it becomes part of my weekly uniform, along with some other staples that beat the heat. Also, I love how my Raybans look like the mirrored reflective ones that all the cool kids are wearing nowadays!

Dress: thrifted, love this similar version

Sandals: Soda, love this brand and their awesome price point, another option

Sunglasses: Rayban

Bracelets: J.Crew, Stella and Dot

Necklace: Francesca's,  also at Daily Look for $14.99

Do you have pieces that you wear consistently, week in and week out?

xoxo,

sarah

Blast from the Past

We've all had those encounters where we see someone from our past unexpectedly.  It makes your heart skip a beat for a second and then a very strange feeling comes over you.   Whether it's an enemy, an old friend, or an ex, you are never quite prepared for it.  That happened to me yesterday evening and it was completely unexpected.  I'm just glad that the I could look within myself and say that I am proud of who I am now, proud of where I came from, and proud that I don't have to look back.  I was also proud that I stopped by home before I went out in order to freshen up and looked pretty dang hot ;)   

Top: F21, last seen here, similar option here

Skirt: thrifted, St. John Collection Basket Weave Knit Pencil Skirt in Lapis

Heels: Christian Louboutin

Belt: Anne Klein, similar

Necklace: West Avenue Monogram Necklace via Max and Chloe

Bracelets: J.Crew Classic Pave Link, vintage Hermes

Ring: YSL Arty

Thrifting 101

I would say that the majority of comments and emails I get pertaining to specific or directed questions overwhelmingly surround thrifting.  I was at my local Goodwill a few days back and I decided to take iPhone pics of several of the items I tried on so that you could see what catches my eye, what doesn't work, and what I take home with me.  My thought process throughout the whole thing is, more than anything, to be extremely open to anything including colors, textures, material, age, basically anything goes.  So, without further adieu, let's go thrifting!

What - J.Crew Haberdashery Button Down

Price - $2

Size - M

Thoughts - these shirts are awesome, but they are expensive at J.Crew, usually running around $98.  This one was light blue with a darker blue stripe and I really don't think it's ever been worn.  The cuffs and collar were very stiff which is great for layering, all the buttons were intact, and it's a little more tailored.  The great thing about this one is that they still have it in the store.  

Verdict- Keep

What - J.Crew Perfect Shirt and vintage suede skirt

Price - $5.99 and $9.99

Size - S and ?

Thoughts - This shirt was my size (as opposed to the medium above), plus I am obsessed with the Liberty for J.Crew button downs right now, so this was a great compromise.  It will look great under a striped dress, with a cropped trench, or under a sweater.  The colors are really great.  The skirt was a great fit for me, but it was really faded on the seams. It's hard to see in these bad iPhone pics, but it was almost gray. I have a cognac colored one that I picked up last year, but it was not as worn as this one.

Verdict- Bought shirt, bailed on the skirt.

What - Theory Button Down

Price - $2

Size - S

Thoughts - I loved this shirt because it was a little longer in the back and I can wear it with leggings.  It's flannel, but it's light, so it will be great for the mild Texas winter.

Verdict- Keep

What - vintage silk dress

Price - $5.99

Size - 6

Thoughts - I'm a sucker for vintage silk dresses.  I have two in my closet that I absolutely adore and I really liked this one, too.  It fit perfect and I loved the length.  I couldn't quite get on board with the print, though.  I didn't jump on the Hawaiian print trend last spring and these just looked like hibiscus flowers.

Verdict- Pass

What - no label mint sweater and Seven For All Mankind jeans

Price - $5.99 and $9.99

Size - ? and 27

Thoughts - not all mint clothing items are created equal.  If I was going to walk around with my hand on my hip all day long, it may have worked, but it was just too boxy.  I actually loved these jeans because someone had worn the hell of them and I liked that little rip on the thigh.  I couldn't legitimize another pair of jeans.

Verdict- Pass

What - J.Crew Strapless Dress

Price - $9.99

Size - 4

Thoughts - This just wasn't a good fit for me because it was too big and I have nothing to hold it up, frankly.  I think it would look great on someone else, a bit shorter, and with some turquoise jewelry.

Verdict- Pass

What - Vintage Cucumber Blazer

Price - $5.99

Size - 6

Thoughts - A grey wool blazer is on my it list for fall and I have been trying to stay away from this one for $228.  Yikes!  This blazer is a little bit too big, so it will go to the tailor for fitting and new buttons.  Overall, I loved it and felt like Emerson Fry in this outfit.

Verdict- Keep

What - vintage shift

Price - $5.99

Size -  no label

Thoughts - I loved the fall colors, so I picked it up, but it smelled like mothballs, which you cannot get out.

Verdict- Pass

What - J.Crew Sweater

Price - $9.99

Size - S

Thoughts - I liked this but it had a little stain on the back.  I probably could have gotten it out, but it just wasn't what I wanted it to be.  When I buy a sweater, I usually fall head over heels in love with it, but I just couldn't get there with this one.  Still looking for something similar, though.

Verdict- Pass

All in all, I walked away with a few button downs and a blazer.  Although I will need to spend a few bucks at the tailor and on dry cleaning, this was a successful trip for me.  Even if I was able to get all of the items on sale in store with a coupon, I still came out on top by spending a little extra time at the thrift store.  This visit lasted about an hour and a half, and these items were about a third a what I actually tried on.  Hope this gives you guys a little insight!

What other things would you like to see on the blog?  I'd love your input!!