See the Possibilities

What? Another post? Why yes, yes this is. 


So you all know I like to go thrifting and doing that, one has to see the possibilities in the clothing. This dress has been sitting in my closet since last summer when both my sisters said they thought this was so ugly. And part of me thought it was ugly, too. Yet there was something about it that I liked. I bought it. I tried pairing it with different things and nothing looked good. Then I pulled it out a couple weeks ago and did something as simple as throw a sweater over it. Boom. I liked it. Simple, but nice. I didn't get to photograph it that day, but today I dragged my husband out to make sure I got a picture.

Dress: Thrifted

Cardigan: American Eagle

Belt: from dress

I've accumulated quite a few dresses that have a matching belt but I (almost) never wear them with the actual dress. Now I have a drawer full of belts that I don't wear. A lot of them are like the one above, so I've taken to doing, well, what I've done above. Tying them around my waist with a little bow or just a knot, most of the time not with the actual dress. It adds a super girly element to an outfit and a nice pop of color.

Have fun with your belts, dearies. 

Professionally Green

Sooo...This outfit isn't the most interesting. I was struggling today...I actually had a couple amazing outfits, but they required confidence and I was out of it today. Completely tapped. Maybe it originated from a conversation with my boss about dressing appropriately, professionally (it wasn't in reference to my way of dressing, but to something else). This is something that I have always worried about with work. I want to wear something professional, but occasionally I walk that thin line, you know. I yearn more for the artistic, the inspired, the interesting outfit, something out of the ordinary than a strict professional look. And maybe a slight desire to break the rules. I want to wear what I feel like wearing at that moment. No one has said anything to me, but sometimes I wonder: should I have worn that to work?

 What I like about this outfit is the details, the green in the scarf, the leopard print shoes, the ribbon in my hair and the pendant that peeks out from the scarf, the easy, relaxed chicness of it. 

Shirt: Old Navy (maybe?)

Sweater: Target

Pants: Kohls

Scarf: Gift

Shoes: Gift

Necklace: vintage clip on earring

Quick movie recommendation before I must fly away: Jane Eyre. If you liked the book, more especially if you have read the book, a new movie came out recently on DVD, that is absolutely amazing. Brilliantly written, Michael Fassbender is an amazing Mr. Rochester and I just love it. I could watch it over and over again, and talk further about it, but you can watch the movie and determine for yourself what you think of it.

But I must go now, the wind is frightful and the lights are flickering, the beginning of a horror movie, really. I hope it stops soon.

My Power Suit

Another Sunday come and almost gone. How speedy the weeks are flying by; it's hard to pack everything in. But spring has sprung in the U.P., though today is quite chilly. I'm hoping those couple of eighty degree days have brought the bugs out and today's cold has killed them off, especially the ticks. One can hope anyway. 


I had a little adventure today. I was walking my dog on the Noqemanon trail and came across a little beagle. Poor thing was on a mission, just walking, with no owner around. I walked around in the woods with her for an hour, hoping to come across her owner. Well, no one was around and I tried calling the number on her tag and no answer. The dog finally wandered to the Dead River and just sat. My husband and I could not get him to move. We ended up carrying her home, where she just laid down and slept. My husband put a post up on Facebook and within a half hour his brother had called him, saying he had seen a post from a former classmate about her dog being lost. He hooked us up with the owner's number, found out the dog was really sick and she had worried she had wandered off to die. My husband and I had left to go to a pancake breakfast and we raced home to make sure the dog was alive. She was, and a bit chipper than when I first found her. Anyway, she was returned to her rightful owner via facebook. Who would have guessed. 


And here is what was called my "power suit" at work the other day, because, you know, every part-time teller needs a power suit. 

Blazer: American Eagle

Tank: Forever 21

Skirt: Charlotte Russe

Heels: Payless

My favorite thing about this outfit is the balance, boyfriend blazer over pencil skirt, flowy tank and long necklaces with a shorter skirt and high heels. Sorry, I don't have any close ups, we ended up taking these pictures with my husband's phone and it was cold out, plus really awkward walking on soft soil in heels. 

I'm done rambling. You all have a good week. 

Summer?

Ahhh, so it's been a week since I last did a post. School has been brutal. I have actually done homework all weekend. Friday night, part of Saturday, and now Sunday. But I finally got some pictures taken today...

So how crazy is this weather? Two eighty degree days in March? As they say, "only in the U.P." 

Only in the U.P. can you go to the beach in March. 

Only in the U.P. can there be white-out conditions and barely two weeks later be sweating in a tank and shorts.

I was almost panicking when I was looking for something to wear yesterday and today, because suddenly it's summer and I have to de-layer my wardrobe. I live for layers but this belt has been the answer to my outfit questions lately. You know when you buy a piece of clothing and don't quite know what to do with it at first? This belt was like that and I almost never wore it. Then the other day, in fact, the last day I wore my turtleneck for the season, see that post here, I put the belt on and bam, it looked great.

Shirt: Maurices

Skirt: Thrifted

Belt: Gift from me mum

Everyone is walking around in summer gear. Shorts and tanks and cute summer dresses and even swim suits, though no one is going swimming in frigid Lake Superior. Suddenly thrust into summer, what does it mean to dress for summer? Honestly, I see the summer dresses and I want to rebel against it. Maybe I just don't like change (I know my mom would agree). I'm sure this balmy weather will pass and spring will be back, with its cooler temps and rain. And I'll figure it out. Anyone have summer outfit ideas? 

Trip to Vintage Land

So I took a partial tour of the antique shops that are apparently, prevalent out in Ispheming and Negaunee.  I only just found out about them earlier this week from a delightful customer. Upon finding out this info, I was torn between being delighted to have more resources and disappointed that there were more sources of vintage clothing, since I want to open a vintage clothing store. 


Mainly these stores are furniture, kitchen gear, books, and for lack of a better word, knick-knacks. These stores were just packed with delicious items, so much so, that even my husband liked looking around. Fun places to poke around in, especially if you want to find a unique present or that just right bit of eclectic decoration. However, there was not much at all for clothing. I did find a pretty purple dress that hopefully I will be able to feature later this week. 


Lowenstein's - 334 Iron Street Negaunee
Nice open floor plan with so much to look at. Almost no clothing but there were a couple cute vintage Coach purses hanging out...


Old Bank Building Antique Shop - 331 Iron Street Negaunee
If you like searching for the antiques, come here, there were so many little rooms and hallways all loaded up with treasures. Not a lot of clothing, but the clothing that they did have was in spectacular shape and beautiful. I will be sure to go there again just to see what they have for clothing.


Tickled Pink - 320 Iron Street Negaunee
Girly store. My husband hated it, except for the old milker that was sitting in the corner. Had a few pieces of clothing, but hard to get at. Had some classic Nancy Drew books but also more than a few psychological books on sex (near the milker, might I add)...


Main Street Antique Mall - 121 S. Main St. Ishpeming
This store had a ton of jewelry. It also had a vintage clothing store on the second floor, but I was very disappointed with what it had. There was a lot of nightgowns, a few jackets, power suits from the eighties and nighties and I don't think I could even make look good. But it is certainly a place I will check out again.


There are more...And if maybe someone wants to go check them out with me, (I can't submit my husband to these places all the time) I can post more about them. 


Oh yeah, here's my outfit

Look how nice the pictures look with a little light.

Sweater: Gap

Shorts: American Eagle

Tights: Kohls

Boots: Madden Girl

Necklaces: here and there and everywhere

Sunglasses: Target

And so nears the end of my spring break. With the time change the light will last longer so hopefully I will still be able to continue regularly posting, instead of just once a week,  but school could prove to be brutal. I'm trying to be chill about it and not freak out continually over it. That proves to just be exhausting. Wish me luck, my readers!

R-r-r-ruffles have Ridges

I am not a ruffly, dressed all in pink type of girl. I always want to balance out super girly pieces with, well, anything that would tone down the girly. 
I found this pink dress at Salvation Army and didn't like it that much. Except it was vintage and in excellent shape. I bought it, if only to have for that mythical vintage shop I wish to own one day. Every time I've worn it, I have gotten at least one compliment. So maybe pink and girly is my thing. In this outfit I tried to tame the ruffles (which you can see the best in the last photo) with a shirt over the ruffles, but then I just add a bow...

The dim light hides some of the details of the dress, but really brings out the pretty pink print on the shirt. Which I like...and that's why I'm pointing it out. Anyone notice how cute so many words that start with P sound?

Dress: Vintage

Shirt: American Eagle

Belt: from dress

Time change...Does losing an hour outweigh the benefits of Spring?

70's chic

It wasn't quite dark out last night when we went to take pictures. But, of course, in the twilight, the pictures turn up black. And it was raining. But I really liked the outfit. It was 70's chic. And the rain that was caught in the pictures.

Turtleneck: thrifted

Belt: Gift from Mom

Pants: Kohls

"Carrie" necklace: gift from sister

Necklace: Maurices

Strappy heels: Kohls

I was given a list of antique and vintage stores out in Ishpeming and Negaunee. I'm so excited to check them out. It was a decent list, so I'm going to at least get to the ones that have vintage clothing. I will be doing that Saturday and I promise to get a post up about them. 

Simplicity

Simple, classy, sometimes it's so nice to just strip everything away and do uncomplicated, like a sweater and skirt combo. If felt refreshing and chic and completely comfortable. Which is a great place to be, sometimes.

Amp up a simple outfit with a pile of necklaces and leopard print shoes.

This is how excited I am that it is still light out when I get home.

This sweater is one of my great thrifting finds. Ann Taylor, 100% cashmere. Boo-yah.

Jacket: Getz's

Skirt: Maurices

Necklaces: vintage, American Eagle, gift from someone...

Shoes: gifted by sister

Tights: wherever you can get brown tights from

And winter finally arrived.

I was out walking along the bike path, in the semi darkness, the lights of a nearby parking lot, the only light, reflected back a yellowish-orange color by the mounds and heaps of snow we have now. Snow is still falling, softly now, no angry wind behind it, and the world has gone quiet and it is delightful. 


So here are some pictures taken on the bike path earlier today, the trees still laden with snow, yet the path surprisingly clear. 

Yes, I would prefer this look with heels or flats, but this is Michigan and I had not been expecting the bike path to be plowed already. 

Dress: Vintage

Belt: Forever 21

Cardigan: American Eagle

Boots: Born

Necklace: Vintage Avon

Have I ever mentioned how I take care of my vintage? Or how to look for good vintage? 

Always look for tears, stains, how delicate the fabric is, anything that would make it unwearable. I found this awesome, beautiful forest green dress at Curious Cargo over on Third St in Marquette and right in the middle of the chest area, a stain. Excitement deflated. If it's a stain that looks like it can come out, like some smudged dirt, don't worry about it. If the stain is in a place that is coverable, like near the hem, then still easily fixable. But right in the middle of the chest? If the seller is willing to make a deal, sure go for it, but if not, sniff, sniff, and move on to something else. 

Loose seams are also something that crops up frequently, but again easily fixable. The clothes have been around for a while, so loose seams are understandable, and a little needle and thread even in inexperienced hands like my own can go a long way.

Lastly, smell. Ugh. It's so hard to get that old musty smell out of clothes. Soak, soak, soak. I hand wash all my vintage clothes. I tried throwing a shirt in the washer and just ended up having to repair it afterwards. Finally, just washing it doesn't always get that smell out, especially if it's polyester. Febreeze helps with that. A lot. 

One last note before I scuttle off to bed. Ever heard of a BB cream? It's a "beauty balm" that's exploded out of Asia. I've seen it mentioned over and over in magazines. It's a multitasking product that moisturizes, protects, perfects, and treats skin. Supposedly all in one. A miracle cream. Garnier just came out with a BB cream that isn't ridiculously expensive like the others I've seen and so I am trying it out. That's why there's a close up of my face. I'm going to try it out in lieu of my usual lotion and foundation. After a couple days I will try and provide a product review of it, I guess. On camera it looks pretty good except that I should probably put some on my poor white neck.

Good night, all.