Jcrew elizabeth halter

 

This Jcrew elizabeth halter is more than a few years old but is still a favorite.  The ruffled neckline and bright color never fails to cheer me up.  I'm on the lookout for a long sleeve button down silk top in this shade or a hot pink for fall.  Instead of succumbing to changing into my pjs/play clothing, I carefully laid down on the bed to nap rest my eyes before B got home to take my picture, hence the crazy hair.  Hopefully you'll be distracted by the more photogenic Link dog!

Outfit details

Top: Jcrew

Cardigan: Madewell

Skirt: thrifted

Shoes: No. 6

Accessories: vintage bracelet

Jcrew scalloped lace top

Here's another typical outfit from me--skirts and dresses are my daily work uniform.  I've been feeling a bit ambivalent about my outfits lately.  My style is neither quirky or outlandish and certainly not inspirational.  I do think I dress appropriately for work and for my body type so that's something at least.  Even if I feel boring sometimes at least I'm consistent :)

Outfit details

Top: Jcrew

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Skirt: thrifted

Shoes: No. 6

Accessories: vintage bracelet and ring

 

 

Steven Alan Fairchild dress

My outfit from Saturday night when Sydney and I went to the Austin Fashion Awards, thanks to tickets from Michelle of 81 Poppies.  We got to see new Rory Beca and Wren collections as well as designs from other talented local designers during the fashion show.  It certainly was a glamorous event with a lot of people in cocktail or full evening dress.  I wanted to be comfortable (not have to fidget with my outfit or suck my stomach in the whole time) and my new Steven Alan dress certainly fit the bill. Also I just had to do my clog sandals again because my feet were done being abused.  I used to be in the camp of wearing killer shoes but then realized that they get taken off halfway through the night because of the excruciating pain so you might as well wear something good to your feet in the first place.  What do you think?  Comfort shoes or hot shoes, then barefoot like Britney Spears?

Outfit details

Dress: Steven Alan

Shoes: No. 6

Accessories: Hoss Intropia necklace

Vintage fox bracelet, Jcrew belt

Weekend buys

The shopping gods were smiling down on me this weekend!

From Le Garage sale:
- J Brand crops (which are really full length on me, but perfect for rolling up to show a little ankle)
- Joie white silk top -- I can't resist an embroidered top
- Green statement necklace -- perfect color that will work for all seasons!

Not only that but I scored two gorgeous dresses from the 499 dresses sale:  a vintage black dress with gorgeous beading and a chiffon skirt, and my very own Tess Margaret dress!

Did you get anything good this weekend?

Big sales today!

The lovely Theresa from Tess Dress is sponsoring this charity event.  I can't wait to rummage for treasures!

Yay!  The day has finally arrived!  See you there!

Malia bird skirt

Here's another blue/green combination outfit.  I find myself wearing this color combination a lot in the summer as well as other bright colors.  Then in the winter I escape into black and greys.  How about you?  What's your favorite fashion color combination?

Outfit details

Top: Jcrew

Skirt: vintage Malia

Shoes: Worishofer

Accessories: Dream collective necklace

Austin Fashion Week parties (Wednesday)

Grechen and I attempted 3 parties in one evening, Grechen just fresh from a root canal procedure, and me, cross-eyed from a crazy week at work.  It's no wonder that the quality of my pictures dwindled as the night (and alcohol) wore on.  From party #1: above are some delicious treats by the Sweet Pop Shop at the Underwear/By Jeannie party.  Jeannie's line of jewelry was gorgeous and I especially loved this lace cuff:

In silver as well

Party #2: Tess dress at Touch of Sass.  This party was a blast--the yummy burgers and fries from Terra Burger and apple pie from Tootie Pie were delicious.  This was also the party with the strong drinks (thanks for mixing those margaritas Andrea!).  I wish I had taken more pictures of the jukebox, original coke machine and all the other wonderful touches they added to this party.  There was a short fashion show and here are the models with Theresa and Andrea.

Hanging out with Cathy

Grechen and D'Andra in the Tess USO dress

Party #3: Moss and Margot Wolf.  Sorry, I think my head exploded at this point from the heat and margaritas so no pictures.  This party was hopping and Margot's jewelry was amazing and even better in person.  The food was pretty good though I did have a moment when I discovered that the sushi had no rice in in (sacrilege!).  Sydney showed up a bit for this so the party became an epic win.  All in all it was a fun evening and I'm hoping that better pictures will surface soon from the other attendees!

Vintage head to toe, well almost

Here's an outfit picture from last week.  I've worn this new to me vintage skirt, thrifted from Chicago, almost every week now. Also finally caved on this gorgeous vintage gold chain bracelet from Moss.  And a quick reminder that Tess's Doo Woop party is tonight! 

Outfit details

Top: vintage, thrifted

Skirt: vintage, thrifted

Shoes: No 6

Accessories: vintage necklace and belt

Fail cuff and vintage bracelet 

Austin Fashion Week: Tess Party

The Tess party at Touch of Sass is the one event of Austin Fashion Week that I am most excited about.  You know my love for Tess Dress and Touch of Sass is amazing as well--we had a wonderful time when they hosted us for our first pop up shop.  So back to this party, which not only will have amazing dresses and jewelry and fun people, but also burgers, fries and pies.  Did you hear me?  Burgers, fries and pies!  Hope to see you there!

First day of school

Here's my outfit from the first day of school.  Our Student Life office had a whole Hawaiian theme going and since I didn't want to wear a lei (too itchy!) I compromised by wearing a brightly patterned dress.  I put on a thrifted boy blazer over it to look a bit more professional and also to avoid the "you're the teacher?" comments I've gotten in the past.  To which I usually respond "yes and that's a letter grade off!"
 

Outfit details

Blazer: Thrifted

Dress: Anthro

Shoes: Camper

Accessories: Miki and Nora spike brooch

vintage bracelet from Moss

Weekend wear

These Jcrew shorts have been my favorite buy this summer and I wear them constantly with any striped top I can get my hands on.  A change of scenery this weekend--we were out at a lakehouse with lots of sun, good food and good friends. 

Outfit details

Top: H&M

Shorts: Jcrew

Shoes: Havianas

Sailboat dress turned skirt

I am a creature of habit so here is yet another Malia vintage dress in a sailboat print.  But to my credit instead of reaching for my tried and true formula of a belt and cardigan, I decided to put a short sweater over the dress instead.  I've always loved the look on others and thought I'd try out something new.  It felt a bit odd not wearing a belt all day as I like to have my waist defined, but I definitely like the idea of having the option of wearing this as a dress or a skirt.  What are your thoughts on this top over a dress deal?  Have you tried it?  Liked it?

Outfit details

Top: Target

Dress: Vintage Malia

Shoes: Marni

Accessories:Fail cuff, Shaesby ring,

Dream Collective necklace and Braille ring

Pleated skirt

My camera finally coughed up the outfit picture I took at the beginning of the week.  Silk skirts (esp with pleats) are on the top of my list every time I go thrifting and I was so happy to find this gem in Chicago.  As usual, the length hit me at mid calf so I put it in the hands of my alterations lady who did a great job hemming and pressing the pleats.  I fear I am beginning to have an animal belt addiction but I can't seem to resist.  Anyone want to start a support group?

 Outfit details

Top: L'Agence

Skirt: Thrifted

Shoes: No. 6

Accessories: vintage bird belt

Fail and vintage cuffs

No. 6 dress and clogs

I know this excuse has been used a lot, but my camera really did eat my pictures.  So today here's just a low quality outfit picture from my trusty iphone, taken in the dressing room at Anthropologie where I was scoping out sale items (more stripes and the pointillist blouse!).  I absolutely adore the vintage-y print on this No. 6 dress and the blazer has the best cropped sleeves ever.

 Outfit details

Dress: No. 6

Blazer: Smythe

Shoes: No. 6

Accessories: JW Hulme bag

Tuesday Morning Shopping

Tuesday is the only week day morning that I don't hit the snooze button.  That's because it's sale day for a lot of retailers, including Anthropologie and Shopbop!  When the alarm goes off, I usually stumble to get to the computer and blearily peruse my wishlists to see if any "absolutely must haves" went on sale.  This week I'm eyeing:

T by Alexander Wang dress in grey  

(have this in black and love it to bits)

Striped blazer (inspired by Sydney)

And because I'm sucker for silk blouses

Did anything on your wishlist go on sale?

Reflection on the Tyranny of Trends and Southpark

The Tyranny of Trends 

This article has been lighting up the blogosphere recently and rightly so because it is a thought provoking read about the fashion industry and us as consumers.   It details the economic, environmental, and human costs of the industry that keeps churning out fast fashion to appease the masses who then discard it quickly to keep buying to fulfill a need to conform to, you guessed it, the fashion industry standards.  The knee jerk reaction to reading this article is to swear off buying fast fashion and turning to vintage or independent, local and fair trade designers.  Which don't get me wrong, is really great and should be encouraged; however I'm a little wary of ultimatums and its ability to sustain an action or behavior.  The faster the pendulum swings in one direction results in getting to the other extreme direction that much quicker.

Coincidentally, I just watched a great Southpark episode the other day about "Wall-mart" and its effect on consumers (shopping at all hours of the night, buying in bulk and subsequently hoarding because it's cheaper, ie a 3 pack DVD of Timecop when just one copy would surely suffice) and how it shut down local businesses who could not compete with their prices.  The Southpark boys go on a quest to destroy the "heart" of Wall-mart, which actually turns out to be a mirror reflecting themselves, the consumers.  And the final scenes show the town burning down Wall-mart and going to shop at the local business instead which then grows and grows into its own mega store from the increased patronage and subsequently becomes the target of the mob again and gets burned down.  Consuming is certainly a vicious cycle.  Who knew a cartoon could be so profound?

The best thing about the article is that it creates room for conversation and more thoughtfulness about our consumer habits and how it is linked to our definition of self.  I don't think the answer lies in doing away with our closets and denying our fashion wants but rather to be more thoughtful about our choices and how they impact others and how we view ourselves.  I especially love this last paragraph and will certainly be mulling over it for a while. 

Globalisation has misunderstood and misused this concept for its own ends. We have misinterpreted our connectivity and as a result are more disconnected than ever. Now we have to learn to express ourselves and reconnect with integrity. In the end the true antidote is to adopt an attitude of voluntary simplicity. A manner of living and being that is outwardly more simple and inwardly more rich. A way of being in which our most authentic and alive self is brought into direct conscious contact with every part of our lives.

What does a sustainable wardrobe mean to you?

Exclusive with Tess Dress

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet up with some wonderful bloggers for happy hour and a tour of the Tess headquarters located in the gorgeous Scarbrough building downtown.  This historic building was built in 1910 and then later remodeled in the Art Deco style.  I cannot think of a more perfect place to house Tess designs!

Theresa is the designer of Tess and truly exemplifies the Tess woman--gracious, thoughtful, creative, and articulate along with the smarts and courage to face anything.  Her dresses are inspired by the 50s and 60s and the ladylike women of that era.

Here's a peek into Theresa's linen inspiration closet and her gorgeous mid century office full of party frocks

I adore the visual mood board (her fall collection!) and the luminous silk shantung fabrics

Theresa takes us through the fit process - there is a more detailed explanation here - it is well worth the read.  I truly admire her attention to detail and sense of responsibility in creating a quality product.

Here, Theresa shows us the Sabrina and points out special details including the silk lining and specially stitched hems - remarkable attention to details that result in a dress that fits and flatters the figure and will wear well through the years!  Theresa takes special pride that her dresses are all made in the US--and in Texas no less!  That certainly is a rarity in the fashion world today.

Tess dress collection in feminine prints along with her separates collection

 

Other fashionistas in attendance: Andrea, Theresa, Cathy, Joyce and D'Andra

Theresa with Joyce and Grechen with Andrea.  Huge thank you to Grechen for coordinating this event!

Enjoying the yummy snacks and each others company

 We were all itching to try on some of Theresa's creations.  Here the lovely Andrea is wearing a top and skirt from the separates collection, I'm in the Margaret dress (love), and D'Andra looks stunning in the Margot.  The blue was so fabulous with her coloring and can you tell she just looked so radiant in that dress?  It's true -- a good dress can transform your mood!

Here we all are all decked out in Tess: Andrea in the Marlene, Theresa in a maternity dress she just happened to whip up the night before (seriously is she amazing or what?), Joyce in the Eloise skirt and I'm in the Audrey in the sweetest poppy print.

If you've read this blog, you know that I'm crazy for 50s and 60s dresses already.  What I love most about Theresa's line Tess is that not only is she recreating these silhouettes (she's bringing ladylike back) but she is also focused on an attention to details, like the fit and measurement for the modern woman, fine (and local) craftsmanship as evidenced in the silk linings and hand stitched hems, and overall ease of wear-ability found in the soft and luxurious fabrics in vintage prints and bold saturated colors that are easy to wear and wash. In a world of fast fashion, it's definitely worth the time to slow down and enjoy a classic and quality piece that can be worn for many occasions both simple and elegant and be treasured by the next generation as well.  I wish Theresa and all at Tess the best and can't wait to see what great things are waiting in store for them around the corner!

Preview of Tess

Here's a little sneak peek of a blog post I'm planning on writing this weekend!

(after I take at least 2 good naps)

Happy weekend everyone!

Worishofer love

Comfort shoes are a staple in my wardrobe.  If a shoe is cute and comfortable, I am more than happy to hand over my credit card.  Worishofers are a German comfort shoe, made for well, the older set, but why should age stand in the way of a good arch support?  I haven't worn my Worishofers (yes, plural) much this summer as my No6 and Dansko clogs have been in heavy rotation.  Yet I enjoyed pulling these out yesterday and greeted them like a long lost friend.  This khaki skirt is one of my Chicago thrift finds and is vintage (double score!)--I love the high waist, the drape of the skirt and also, they have snack pockets!  And in "this never happens" thrift shopping, I found the exact same skirt--same brand, same color, just a different size and will be putting it on our Hunt Gather Style shop for October!

Outfit details

Top: Anthropologie

Skirt: Thrifted Vintage

Shoes: Worishofer

Accessories: Jcrew belt

Mociun and Baggu collaboration

I ADORE Baggu bags.  My favorite No. 6 collaboration bag is always in my purse and has carted many treasures from thrift stores, goodies from Trader Joe's and one dollar romance novels from Half Price books.  You can only imagine my excitement that Baggu's new collaboration is with Mociun who has amazing prints (my favorite dress here).  In fact I had to close my office door so I could do a little happy dance.  Now I've just got to decide which ones to get--which are your favorites?  You can shop here!