weekend cool

I feel like the weekends are the universe's way of saying, "here's two free days! Do what you want and be who you want!"  Now that I'm starting up my internship, I'll be getting more familiar with the structured side of style. I'm excited about it, for sure, but that free-spirited 23-year-old is still in me. She's alive, kicking and yelling, "I want to wear crop tops, dammit!" 

And I listened to her. But only because it was a festival weekend which made wearing a crop top more than appropriate. As for the rest of the get up, it's mostly thrifted. That's probably why I get a slight 90's (or 50's?) feeling from it. The free-spirited 23-year-old in me is okay with that, too. 

  

 

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this old thing

My mother's wisdom has taught me that fashion is cyclical and styles always make their way back around. That's one of the primary reasons that I'm a thrift store junkie. The other is that maybe, just maybe, I'm a bit of an old lady in love with old things. 

I won't tell you how many floral midi skirts I have in my closet for fear of judgement, but all you need to know is that I have a teeny problem. As far as I'm concerned, stripes are a neutral. I wear them with the ease of a plain white tee, so while this pairing is technically pattern-mixing, it's much simpler to wear. 

P.S. These bangs I have are clip-ins. I'm afraid to do the big chop, so these are non-committal fun. If you're debating bangs or just like to look like a totally different person each day (hello, I'm Audrey and I have multiple personalities), I suggest them.

 

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a bit bow struck

Sometimes, clothes just speak to you. Other times, they yell at you. They yell, "you, woman, I am everything you've ever wanted from a garment. I am you, if you were a dress! You simply must buy me!" This was that dress for me. I saw it first when my boutique got it in stock. I'd never seen anything like it before. I was immediately star-struck. Or bow-struck.

I am devout bow person. The very day I turned 18, I got a tattoo. That tattoo? It was a petite pink bow on the nape of my neck. I have no regrets. Anything with a bow catches my attention, only now that I'm older, I'm a bit more selective of the kinds of bows I get attached to. I want to avoid lookling like an overgrown toddler, obviously.

The classic fit-and-flare cut, soft colors and whimsical design of bows made this the perfect Easter dress for me. My only worry when buying it was that it would be a one-time dress -- only for a special occasion. My life isn't filled with many cocktail parties these days, so I had to figure out a way to re-wear it. So, I threw a basic black tee over it and knotted that bad boy to dress this dress down. Even dressed down, I still felt like a 50's glamour queen, through and through. And I love anything that makes me feel that good wearing it.

I'll probably try it with a chambray shirt next (chambray goes with everything), but as long as this is sitting in my closet, I will find ways to wear it. Oh, it also comes in a skirt too! See the skirt here and fall in love with the dress here.

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thrift must haves

I live for a Goodwill or Value Village shopping day -- live for it! I am a huntress and severely discounted old clothes are my prey. I love when I find those amazing, one-of-a-kind, funky items, but more often than not I end up grabbing what I consider thrift must haves. These are items that you'll always find at thrift stores that are easy to throw into your closet's rotation. They're also great items to hone in on if you're new to thrifting or just haven't developed "the eye" for hunting.

Blazers: Just about all of my blazers are thrifted. Most older blazer styles have padded shoulders which I don't love. I usually take them out unless I intend to wear to it as an overcoat. I found some great patterned blazers, too! Not for the timid, though. 

Button Ups: I go to straight to the men's sections when I want over-sized button ups for grungy or casual looks. Their denim shirts are better than women's to me. DIY tip: Cut the sleeves and roll them for a more feminine look.

Crossbody Bags: It's amazing how similar the expensive crossbodies sold at mainstream stores are to the ones at thrift stores. I've found some amazing crossbodies for only $4! 

Silken Scarves: I love how classic a good silken scarf looks tied onto one of my purses. I also use them as hair accessories, but the possibilities are endless. 

Midi Skirts: Here's the thing: what we consider a midi-skirt is what ladies back in the day considered regular skirts. That length of skirt is easy to find. All you have to do is find a pattern you like. Keep in mind if it's too big, you can always cinch it with a belt and make it high-waist. 

Denim Cutoffs: I live in these during the summer. They're just so cool and effortless. I usually look for light wash shorts and cuff them a few times. If you cant find a good pair of shorts, regular length jeans can be cut and cuffed. 

Trouser Shorts: I wear these similarly to the cutoffs, but I go for ones that are brightly colored -- coral, royal blue, pink. They are more fun and can be dressed up or down -- especially patterned ones. I have a great houndstooth pair that I wear with tights during Fall.