winter white

I recently thrifted this cotton and rabbit hair blend sweater at Goodwill.  Prices at the Goodwills in my area went up in 2012....skirts, sweaters and tops went from $3.79 to $3.99.  Still worth the $3.99 price tag.  The sweater is from Gap originally, and is oh so cozy.  I bought this Ann Taylor skirt off Ebay over a year ago, and while I love it, I have struggled to figure out the right top to wear with it. 

These super cute burgundy shoes I picked up at the Naturalizer outlet when I was in Vegas in December.  Just the right punch of color, and at $20 a good steal for heels that feel like they have the cushioning of runners.

Thrift-a-holic

I realized today that this whole outfit (except for the boots and undergarments) is thrifted.  AND I recently found a new-to-me blog that features readers thrifted finds every Tuesday.  Considering 90% of my clothes are thrifted, I am super stoked about this.

The sweater is originally Old Navy ($3.79), the top is Banana Republic ($3.79 and has some cool detailing that you can't see in this picture), and the skirt is a Walmart brand ($2.99), but was found with the tags still on it.  Not bad for a casual Monday.

crazy times

I have had a hard time this week getting in pictures....but I promise I have been wear clothes.  I pretty much wore this outfit with these shoes on Tuesday, and a variation of this outfit yesterday.  This mornings photo isn't very flattering (I promise it looks better in person) but at least I got a picture taken, even if I didn't have time to re-take the picture.

The skirt (Abercromby and Fitch), sweater (Nicole Miller) and the button down (Lee with tags still on) were all thrifted for $3.79 each.  yay Goodwill!

drag-a-thon

This semester has hit me hard.  First week and I am already reaching for pieces based on comfort rather than style.  I picked up this gray 100% cashmere sweater at Goodwill shortly into new year.  100% cashmere sweater for $3.79....thank you Goodwill!

I paired the sweater with an easy-peasy combo of black pants and a white button down shirt.  Boring?  yes.  Comfy and easy?  definitely!

one of those days

Today was one of those days where I tried on way to many outfits before ultimately deciding on the dress that I kept looking at every time I went in the closet.  Why didn't i grab it first?  It seemed too early in the semester for all over animal print.  Why ideas like that pop in my head I don't know.  This dress is super comfy and on a rainy day with lots of meetings and 2.75 hour power lecture comfort is key.

This is a dress I obtained via Goodwill for $4.99.  And after my long rant yesterday about how I like a pop of color with black and white, today I just didn't have a pop of color in me.

Revelation

Today is Everybody Everywear: Black and White.  Now this should have been super easy for me.  Half my closet is black and white.  If I could afford to buy all of my clothes from White House Black Market, I would.  But today is also the first day of classes and thus I am trying to set a tone and impression with my new students.  I have come to the revelation, as much as I thought I was a black and white girl, I am a black and white girl who needs a punch of color.  Pure black and white seems too harsh (not that I haven't done it, see here, here, here,  here,  here, here, here, here, here, here and here)  But I am coming to love a pop of color with my black and white.  (See pops of color with black and white: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,  here,and here. )  Wow, I really do like my black and white with a pop of color, as I only chose some outfits to link.  So today, I was just feeling the need for a pop of color.  I added below how it looks without the cardigan, and while nice it seems unfinished to me.  I tried a black blazer and a black cardigan but they seemed like overkill on the black.

I have had this shirt for a while (um well over a year) and it has gone completely unworn.  I guess it felt like too much a lot of the time.  but I got lots of compliments on it today, especially from my students.  The skirt is new to me (White House Black Market via Ebay).  I must say, whbm pencil skirts are the best.  There sizing is very consistent and fits my body shape the right way. 

Shoes: Aldo clearance ($39)

Skirt: White House Black Market via Ebay ($12)

Belt: Kohl's clearance ($3)

Tights: Talbot's Outlet ($3)

Shirt: Random Boutique ($19.99)

Cardigan: Moda via Goodwill ($3.79)

What do you think, was the cardigan the right call?

And so it begins.....

Another semester starts.  I am 35 years old, and I still have that back to school in January feeling going on.  I wonder if it will ever go away?  Maybe when I retire?  Luckily, I don't teach today.  But I am still on campus with oodles to do.  This is how I braved the first dreary, rainy day of the semester:

I am have pretty much worn almost this exact same outfit before.....but why mess with a good thing?  (see first wearing here).

casual Wednesday

I don't often post my casual outfits.  In fact I don't post all my regular work day outfits, so the casual ones surely get missed.  But I am loving these jeans (despite the muffin top visible with this angle).  The flowers on the thigh make me happy.

Favorite Looks of 2011

So this post is a little late in coming, but I just decided I did want to highlight my favorite looks.  It will be fun to look back at them next year and see if I still like these looks.  I am going to post them in no particular order.  But the following looks are the ones that make me feel great, and put together, and most importantly like ME.

I think it is safe to say that despite how much I try to mix in some color, I feel my best in primarily black and white!