Fuzzy Cropped Sweater: DKNY (thrifted from Goodwill)
Sheer black Blouse: unknown (thrifted from Goodwill)
Silver Cross Necklace: handmade by me
Grey stud-pocket Jeans: Roxy (thrifted from Goodwill)
Padlock Bag: Aldo
Puffball Bag Charm in Brown: my Etsy shop
Multi-Buckle Wedge-Heel Boots: (from Japan)
I haven’t been sharing outfit posts as of late, partially because I haven’t been sure if my readers (youse guys!!!) are actually interested in seeing outfit posts or not. I’m not sure if I identify with being a Style Blogger exactly…maybe more of a DIY’er and how-to’er? Er. Er. So I’m always unsure of whether to share an outfit or not that really has no elements of DIY in it, because yes sometimes it does feel like I’m saying “Look at me! Look how stylish I am! I think I’m so pretty and here’s my photo to prove it!” On the one hand, it feels kind of vain, on the other hand, I myself like looking at other people’s outfit posts because not only do those photos give me a real sense of who those people are, but I also discover new and lovely items from others’ posts, and am awash with new ideas for styling and incorporating different elements into my daily wardrobe.
So anyway, for better or for worse, just to throw it out there…here’s what I wore yesterday.
Portland weather has been, well, typical Spring weather lately – typical Pacific Northwest Spring weather, to be sure – with gray, rainy mornings that suddenly blaze with sunshine around noon or so, and then a bout of hail around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and then chilly and sunny until evening. So with all the gray and fluctuating temperatures throughout the day, I’ve been layering up and gravitating towards…what else? GRAY. (Even down to the tips of my fingers!)
All the main elements of my outfit I sourced from my local Goodwill. I’ve been searching for the perfect cropped sweater for awhile…and I love the textural nature of it. It’s made of this weird nylon knit – and is almost like soft astroturf. I’ve never seen anything like it.
These Roxy jeans are a little tight on me – they were fitting fine back in Summer, but I have to admit I’ve put on weight since then. They are bootcut – so feel a little behind-the-times…I’ll have to alter them to make them into slim-fit. Perhaps I’ll do a tutorial on it? I know I’ve seen the how-to somewhere out there on the ‘Net…
But yes – back to one of my main reasons for wanting to post this outfit…vanity!! For a MONTH I’ve been watching what I’ve been eating, not snacking or eating junk food, sticking to some diets I ripped out of Health Magazine…and I managed to drop 5.6 lbs!! So next up is phase 2: going onto a higher protein diet, and adding some more exercise. This, though, I’ve found is even a bigger hurdle… So I wanted to post this because I can now fit back into these jeans!! (Which, ok, are still a little too tight to be completely appropriate on me…Just wait til next month!)
Rhinestone plate armor ring: Forever21 (from last year)…though I just saw the EXACT SAME RING at Payless 4 days ago!!! (Methinks somebody cast the Forever21 design and stuck a Payless label on it…though theirs has a stretchy band…it’s still almost exactly the same piece.)
Ball-rings: totally forgot – from like 15 years ago.
Hinged Metal Armor Ring: ASOS (on left hand)
Wedding rings (Cartier & Tiffany)
Manicure: Essie Over the Top
I love this ASOS Hinged Metal Armor Ring soooo much! It looks so expensive…and yet was only $18! (shhhh….) I wear it all the time, and people often stop me and ask me where I got it. Since I’ve been in a gray mood lately I decided to paint my nails this shiny charcoal gray by Essie…it varies from black to light gray depending on the light and the angle. Just lovely and chic!
I’ve been lusting after a sheer black blouse for so long…and many stores all have great options…
But since I’m such a cheapskate I found the best way to find one is to just go to your local thrift store! I guarantee you will find a perfect button-down sheer blouse for a fraction of what you will pay anywhere else. The one I found is something like size 14…but who cares? Oversized is in, and with sheer items, the less fitted the less it will look like lingerie! (I think it’s good to balance out the sheer sexiness with a loose fit anyway…)
Hope everyone’s having a great start to the week!
xoxox
Carly
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You look so pretty, I love your outfit!
Thanks Nury – so sweet of you!:-)
I really like your style and what you wearing. I just loved you 30 days challenge back in november. I think it is really creative.
A friend of mine made a group on facebook where everybody shows photos of what they are wearing. It wasn’t from you but i showed them your blog…because is really inspiring. I don’t know if they reading your blog because they seems to proud to DIY.
I hate that a lot of fashonistas dont know how to DIY and they wear all the fancy and expensive clothes withowt personality. In romanian we call them Pitzypoance. I just have no idea how to call them in english…maybe spoilted girls…
Oh yea! And post more photos of you if you feel like. In my opinion it’s really interesting.
sandy recently posted…Incet dar sigur
Thank you Sandy! I’m so glad the 30-day challenge resonated with you…I got a recent comment on my 30 Day Challenge: A Look Back post saying that most of my outfits were terrible and I had a lot to learn about “style.” LOL!
Pitzypoance…I will definitely remember that word!!:-) I love seeing other people’s style…which is so subjective anyway; what “looks good” to some people “looks bad” to others…I love seeing the range and seeing people express their personalities through what they wear… When I look at other people’s photos it’s not about “would I wear this?” for me, it’s about “Who is this person?”
I think making things that you wear infuses even more of yourself into your outfit, and it really is all about self-expression! When I wear all stuff that’s made by other brands and designers and bought at stores and whatever…I feel like it’s “wearing me” if that makes any sense, and like I’m a walking billboard for their companies!!
I saw your post on “Tangled”…did you like it? Some people said it’s a really great kids movie, I’ve been debating renting it…
Thanks for your feedback!:-D
I really loved Tangled. Disney made a really good job. After i saw it i exclamed ” This is the best day ever!” It really made my day brighter.
Pitzy it’s the short form of pitzipoanca (pitzipoance is in plural form)= its a superficial woman with bad taste of clothes and bad atitude, that exagerates with make-up …i googled it for an explication…because the word isn’t in the dictionary.
I’m sad that more and more romanian women consider themselves stiled and fashonistas, but they totally exagerate it.
I hope my english is not that bad. i have an issue with the verbs.
sandy recently posted…Incet dar sigur
Although I love all the DIY mentions and inspirations, I would love to see more outfit posts!! I think you need to show more of your personal style. 🙂
p.s. adore the grey-on-grey look! 🙂
You should submit your outfits on The Wear to go Girls’ facebook wall for a chance to be featured Best Look of the Week! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wear-to-go-Girls/138631736207424
xoxo,
melrod
modanista junkie recently posted…Pattern and Print Blocking
Oh, you’re slowly growing on me 🙂 slowly but oh-so-steadily! I’m sure it’s the garden too, but you are so charming and warm, it’s hard to understand why sometimes people feel the need to tarnish in a shallow approach. Oh well.
I think you’re refreshingly creative and truly inspiring and even if you don’t come across as Fashion Toast, you still have style and personality and your DIY projects are priceless! I love your down-to-earth approach.
Speaking of which – imma go off topic – is that a red maple behind you? I saw the fall images with a ton of red foliage on the ground, everywhere…
kpriss recently posted…Victoria Beckham’s Baby Bump Is Finally Visible
Oh kpriss- you are super-kind to write all those nice things!:-) My garden looks pretty awesome in the summer (right now the lawn has just been dethatched, which is why it’s so pitiful-looking…;-) But in the summer it goes wild with flowers (well, mostly due to the previous owners and their work, but I’ve added a little here and there!!). My black tulips in the front of the house are just about to bloom…I’m dying to see if they’re pure black like I ordered or are actually purply, which will be a disappointment.
Naw, I’ll never be able to be FashionToast…I was trying for awhile to write short, succinct posts and random musings and share lots of outfits and all that, but it’s not really me…I really like to help people with spreading information, you know? Well beyond “I bought this here and this was given to me by …” So I figure by sharing how-tos it may help somebody learn how to do something they didn’t know how to before, or find their own creative voice…or sumpin’ like that:-)
Yes, that’s a Japanese maple – the leaves are crazy red in the Fall! Every time October rolls by I always feel so lucky to have such a pretty tree in my backyard!! (The cherry tree in the middle of the yard, however, gives me no end of grief… >:(
I love outfit posts (and DIY posts)! It’s always inspirational to see how someone else puts together different pieces. I also love seeing outfits that are fully thrifted.
Thanks Rebecca!! Usually I won’t end up wearing all thrifted head-to-toe (I like to mix things up a bit more), but I was so excited about my cray-cray astroturf sweater when I put everything together I realized it all came from the Goodwill!! LOL:-) So much of what’s been in style before in the late eighties/early nineties is now “IN” again…I find myself going to thrift stores and finding pieces that look like they just came straight from NastyGal, StyleStalkr, or another “In” brand! (But are some other brand and that particular piece has been sitting around for years in someone’s closet or on a thrift store hanger…) I feel like I’m treasure-hunting at the thrift store, and when I find something great I always feel like I’m onto this HUGE secret!;-)
I really like your hair – it is longer and I think you look fabulous!
Please share your outfits! I’m new to your site but love all that I’ve seen and read so far. Great outfit too.