LIFE'S A BLEACH

This is my favorite kid of outfit: generally classic with a serious bite. The blouse/sweater vest/pencil skirt/loafer combo is nothing new; but add in mixed prints, bleach stains, and studs and you've got yourself something to look twice at.



Yes, that's pony hair AND studs.

• Blouse old Dollhouse (similar)


• Vest old Gap (similar)


• Necklace Lia Sophia (similar)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Skirt old H&M (similar)


• Tights American Eagle (similar)


• Shoes Zara (similar)

I CAMO TO PARTY

Are you one of those girls who sees an outfit and then you are inspired to replicate it with your own pieces? Jill is good at this, but I am not. I'll see an item that reminds me of something I own and haven't worn in a while, but that's usually the extent of my thought bubble. However, I came across this picture on StreetPeeper:



and I fell in love with the girl on the left's outfit. Upon further inspection, that might even be my exact Forever skirt. I had planned on saving my version for a nighttime look, but the weather has made boots a necessity and skirt looks are in high demand. So I decided to school-ify it.

Now, I don't recommend busting out this outfit at your day job unless they are already used to you wearing *interesting* getups. I was originally wary of wearing a leather skirt to school, but no one batted an eyelash the first time, so Game On.

Jill's quest to kill me with hypothermia continues. But how beautiful is this blue wall we accidentally found?

Good lord, it was cold and windy. Can you tell? These pics are not top notch because we just tried to take a bunch as quickly as possible. Also, I am not suffering from some kind of leg disease: those are pale peach tights with gold studs. Next time, I'll expose more of them (shorter boots) so you can tell what's really going on.

• Jacket old Krisa via Nordstrom Rack (similar, similar for $20)
  


• Tee old Forever 21 (similar)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Necklace Forever 21 (buy in Cream)


• Skirt Forever 21 (similar for $17)


• Tights Forever 21 (similar)


• Boots old Kenneth Cole Reaction (similar)

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

This outfit started with the necklace. It's the other bauble I bought to celebrate my new job.  Originally, I had planned on wearing it over a crisp white blouse, but that morning I started tweaking things one by one, until I unknowingly recreated this exact look with different accessories.

(The colors are a little off here. Remember, these velour pants are more of a purpley wine color, and the plaid in the blazer is less contrasty in normal light.)

I only wore these boots because I thought I'd be sitting in the office all day, but I wound up on my feet in a classroom. I was worried these heels would NOT make it through the long haul (I always have a pair of, what the kids call, "chanklas" on standby, just in case), but they were fine! I even ran a few errands after school without changing. And the kids got a kick out of the glitter.

• Blazer Merona via Target (buy, last worn)


• Shirt J.Crew Factory (buy)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Necklace Leslie Danzis via TJ Maxx (similar, similar)


• Pants  Xhilaration via Target (similar)


• Shoes Wanted via Barefeet Shoes (buy, last worn)


• Nails Essie in Meet Me at Sunset (buy)

Gingham Style

Thank goodness I brought these boots with me! I almost didn't! I brought a bunch of shoes I didn't end up wearing because the weather was so gross and wet.

This is the outfit I ended up wearing out for my birthday. I originally planned on just wearing it to see Les Miserables (holla, Anne Hathaway!), but decided it was sufficient for the Christmas night neighborhood bar we were going to. "This is what 31 looks like, people. Deal with it."

• Shirt J. Crew (buy in Neon Lavender)


• Jacket old Krisa via Nordstrom Rack (similar, last worn)


• Necklace ?? (similar, last worn)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar, last worn)


• Rings Forever 21 (buy)
  


• Jeans Old Navy (buy in Dark Wash)


• Boots old Kenneth Cole Reaction (similar, last worn)

Gilded Age

So, for starters, my hair is in a messy side bun that, apparently, got EXTRA messy as the day went on. Also, this photo shoot was fairly traumatic (kicked out of our usual spot, whistled at by creepers in the new spot, and freezing wind). At least we got some nice sunshine.

These are gold jeans, which have been surprisingly versatile, but they just look like chinos unless they are in the right light (as you can tell in the photos). Our students' uniform is tan chinos, black shoes, and they can wear a plain black sweater over their school polo (among a few other shoe/top options). From behind, I was mistaken several times for a student; once even getting yelled at for entering the Teacher's Lounge! But I suppose there are worse insults than being able to pass for a teenager.

  

• Sunglasses old H&M (similar, splurge)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar, last worn)


• Pink shirt Limited (other colors, similar, last worn)


• Black sweater old Magaschoni sample (similar, similar)


• Gold jeans Allen B. via JCP (similar, last worn)


• Shoes ooold Old Navy (similar)


• Ring old Forever 21 (similar)


• Nails ORLY in Purple Crush (buy)

Violet Hour

Oh the disorgaization of it all! These last few (and probably the next few) posts have been wildly out of order, but such is life.

This extremely purple number was from the last day of Spirit Week. Friday was Wear Your School Sports Team Shirt Or The Spirit Week Shirt Day, of which I had neither, so I just decided to go overboard with our school color: purple. I've worn this tank/cardigan combo out before, but certainly not with all the extra purple accessories. The silk top is scandalously low cut, so I decided to throw a little pop of Other Color in with the modesty cami.

• Cardigan ooold NY&Co (similar)(similar)


• Teal cami Forever 21 (buy)


• Purple top old Rory Beca via Neiman Marcus (similar)


• Jeans Old Navy (buy in Dark Wash)


• Shoes old Steve Madden (similar)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Necklace ?? (similar)


• Plastic ring ?? (similar)


• Plum ring Bought in Harajuku (similar)


• Sunglasses Forever 21 (similar)


• Coat North Face (similar)


• Nail polish ORLY Velvet Rope (buy)

Pony Up

Yes, this is a hilarious pony sweater. Yes, I wore a (faux) leather skirt to school. Yes, ANOTHER bubble necklace. And yes, naked legs in December! I am a ridiculous human being and the 66 degree weather on Monday was (almost) equally ridiculous.

A Bizarro Preppy look for a bizarre day.

• Jacket old Gap (similar)


• Pink blouse Limited (other colors) (similar)


• Pony sweater old Forever 21 (similar) (similar)


• Skirt Forever 21 (similar)


• Shoes old Rampage (similar)


• Earrings “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Necklace J. Crew Bubble Necklace knockoff via Ebay (buy) (original)


• Ring Lia Sophia (identical)


• Nail polish Revlon in Graceful (buy)


• Sunglasses old H&M? (similar) (splurge)

Strawberry Wine

This is as close to matchy-matchy as I get!

I had low expectations for how long I would be able to stand this square ring, especially since I had it on my right hand. But I ended up wearing it all day - wearing it even while I wrote.  I wore it some more over the long weekend and got a zillion compliments. In fact, the ring got way more attention from my family than my hair color. It's funny when such a drastic change is so common, it doesn't even warrant discussion anymore.

• Sunglasses: Target (similar)


• Sweater: J. Crew (buy)


• Shirt: Mossimo via Target (similar)


• Earrings: “borrowed” from Mom (similar)


• Ring: Ebay (buy)


• Bracelets: Elephant from ebay (in white or black), Bangle ??


• Pants: Xhilaration via Target Fit 6 velour pant in Oxblood (buy in stores, similar)


• Shoes: Xhilaration via Target in Pink (buy)


• Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Plume (buy)


• Lipstick: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish (buy)

I've Got Chills, They're Multiplyin'

This is my second Grease related post in as many weeks! I feel very Rydell High in this top. And yes, that's singular. The "blouse" and cardigan are attached. I almost didn't buy it because it felt cheesy, but it's so darn cute, I had to! I've actually gotten a lot of use out of it, usually with jeans and moccasins.

The weather reached almost 80 today, but it was weirdly grey and rainy, too. I knew I had to seize one of the last days that naked legs would be okay, and those (OLD!) red patent shoes are rain proof(ish).

Because of the weather, and the collegiate outfit, I thought it'd be fun to take pictures at school. The rows of lockers would've been an awesome backdrop, but there were still way too many people milling around the halls! So, Mrs. Jill shot me in her classroom in front of her desk.





Oh, P.S. You may notice my hair is darker. I got bored and colored it when I was home sick and couldn't stand to be on the couch anymore.  I'm not ready to give up the blonde just yet, so this is a 28 shampoo washout. It's lighter than I'd like, but: Eh. With my hair and my shampoo frequency, it'll wash out in 2 weeks.

I also painted my nails and toes on my sick day. Sick days for me are usually for sleeping like 10 hours (14 this time!!), snuggling up on the chaise and watching trashy tv, and beauty routines.



The pyramid stud ring and orange nails keeps this from looking TOO MUCH like a costume (although, just barely...)

• Shirt/Cardi Combo: Forever 21 (buy here) (similar cardi here and here) (similar shirt here and here)


• Skirt: old Kenneth Cole Petites (similar here, here, and here)


• Shoes: old Rampage (similar here, here, and here)


• Ring: Forever 21 (buy here) (similar here and here)


• Nail Polish: OPI in He's My Boo (buy here or buy 2012 version here)


• Hair Color: Clairol Brass Free Brunettes in Light Brown (buy here)

I'm also wearing those gold sparkly earrings I wear ALL THE TIME, APPARENTLY. You just can't see them.

All Hail Satin

This outfit is made up of a whole bunch of Oldies But Goodies. I bought this satin skirt about 7 years ago, and I've worn it probably 4 times total.  I've always thought of it as an evening piece, but for some reason on that rainy morning, I decided to give it a whole new life as a work skirt.

The cashmere sweater is about 4 years old - it's a little too small (as items can be when they are ordered online...), but the high waist of the skirt helps disguise that the sweater length is a little off.  The shoes and necklace are maybe 2 years old. Both are meant to be spring items (neither of which I bothered to wear this past spring), but I think they work with the rest of the outfit in heavier fabrics.







The shoes have a tiny bit of a hidden wedge, so they are way more comfortable than regular FLAT flat shoes.

• Sweater: old Halogen cashmere (similar here, here, and here)


• Skirt: old H&M (similar here and here) (splurge here) (ebay here)


• Shoes: old Kelsi Dagger (similar here) (ebay here and here)


• Necklace: old Forever 21(similar here and here) (awesome options here, here, and here)


• Earrings: “borrowed” from Mom (similar here and here)


• Lipstick: NYX in Narcissus (buy here)