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Don't Try Too Hard

Don't Try Too Hard by est1839 featuring kelsi dagger boots

See how these autumnal basics can be worn with just about ANY Kelsi Dagger shoe? I just love her designs - they're feminine and modern with an edge. Plus, they're accessible at places like Marshalls and Ross, not to mention DSW and Zappos. 
How do you stay comfortable and stylish? We're always looking for new ideas, so bring them here (along with a figgy pudding and Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, please!) and a happy new Wednesday!

XOXO,
Jenni

Fashion For Less :: Long & Short of it

There are 4 main things I collect (alongside 200 other things I also collect) - bags, shoes, art supplies, jewelry.  I am thinking about doing posts on collections here & over on Five Sixteenths so I thought I'd start off with the Long & Short of it.

My bag collections is pretty large & by large I mean super large.  In fact, these aren't even all of my bags just my favorites.  Constantly I buy purses.


Here are the P's I look for when shopping for bags:

Professional - is this for work? or is this for the weekend?
Pattern - Is it a solid color? Is the print too loud? Can I pull it off?
Pockets - Is it big enough for my laptop? Will things get lost in it?
Practical - Does it hang where I want it too? Can I successfully navigate through a crowd with out smacking people?

The Long of It

These bags are my go to bags.  I can sling them over my shoulder, wear them cross body, & grab them in a dash.  My everyday purse is one that I can get out of the way by slinging it around to the back.  I love cross body bags because they can get the heck out of the way when I am hunched over a table at the thrift store!  I can store a lot in the big ones & just shove things in it.  The smaller ones are for nights out or small weekend trips.  I like that I can just put all the essentials in & be done.  I choose a small bag for my everyday work bag that way I don't bring everything I own with me everyday.  The only down side to these bags is when you take them off the strap is so long you have no where to put it! It either hangs too long that it touches the floor when hung on the back of the chair or the strap gets caught in you rolling desk chair at work.

Where I got them -
Back row - Target (best $5 bucks I ever spent!) :: Thrifted :: Thrifted
Middle row - Thrifted :: DIY :: Thrifted
Front row - Wal-Mart :: Claire's

The Short of It

These bags are bags I really would like to turn into camera bags.  I want to take some foam, fabric, & velcro and whip up a great little insert to switch between bags.  These bags are also the ones I consider my 'most professional'.  Well at least the two on the left.  These bags add color & look a little bit more professional than having a bag slung across your body.  They all fit my laptop too so they are great to take to coffee shops or work.  These have enough pockets for all the little bitties but sometimes things get lost in the bottom.  I really hate having to dig & dig & DIG to find anything in my purse (sometimes it makes me impatient to see others do it to!).

Where I got them - Claire's :: Charlotte Russe (I think) :: Cato :: Thrifted

What are your favorite kinds of bags? Do you buy a certain color or style over another?

What I've Been Wearing // Welcome, Fall!

It's here!

I put What I Wore posts on my blog from time to time, but I thought I'd give you a little sample here. Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, but one of the biggest ones is the clothes. I love jeans, I love boots, and I love soft, warm tops. The majority of what you see in the above photos came from J.Crew. 

[Check here for outfit details.]

At the risk of sounding incredibly creepy and possibly inappropriate, let me ask: 

What are you wearing right now?

Rain and English Breakfast,

What We Wore - Rack 'em up!

The other day I went shopping by myself to clear my head.  You know how a good retail therapy session is.  I headed to Khol's, Target, & JC Penny.  I love these stores because they always have good clearance sections. I know JCP just got done with a huge clearance event before Labor Day but when I headed in I still found a load of good stuff.

For example, the outfit I wore yesterday:

dress :: Khol's ($18)

Shirt (under dress) :: Khol's ($10)

Cardigan :: JCP ($14)

Clogs :: Thrifted ($4)

Rings :: JCP ($29 originally $80) & gift ($40)

Watch :: Target ($12)

Outfit total :: $87

Now I really couldn't believe I bought that ring.  But it was super reminiscent of one I lost back in school so I felt I had to buy it.  I am also on the hunt for another one that was lost at the same time, that my mother gave me.  This one was given to me by my mother & it was given to her by her mother.  I was completely torn up for days (and still get waves of sadness) over it.

This is the ring that was a gift from the picture above. It was also from my mother.  We found it in a consignment shop in her home town over last Thanksgiving.  Both she & my grandfather have one like it.  I always loved hers & wanted one.  It wasn't until my grandfather passed away that I realized he had one & she always love it.  I am very excited to see that this is something we all share:

I believe it is onyx.  There is a diamond in the middle.

Anyway, the point of this post is that I have found super awesome deals on clothes by just shopping in the clearance rack.  I even think that since I have been on my own I've only bought one or two full price things.  I think I am setting a new little goal to only shop in the clearance section.  I mean when I hit a store I look for those red signs!  

I have also decided to see if I can get away with thrift store or handmade gifts for xmas.  I've already picked up my sisters gift fro a total of $4!  Two absolutely lovely satchels that were 2 bucks a pop!

You can also pop by Five Sixteenths & see that I wore a near similar outfit to work again the next day. 

What are you skimping & saving on?

Where do you draw the savings line?

Are second hand/clearance gifts ok?

DIY: Cobble Time

Did you know that cobblers aren't reserved strictly for peaches or other stone fruits?  Although they are perfectly delicious, human cobblers (not delicious) are people who mend shoes.  With a deep dish biscuit crust.

Anyway, shoes are pretty freakin' important to me and all the other ladies with whom I blog, so I thought it was high time to fix up the sole train.  Here's a small, inexpensive fix for a pesky problem.



Many of my shoes, however beautiful, lack traction in the sole.  I once completely wiped out walking down a newly waxed hallway in the English department, and got some nice new bruises. Deal breaker? No. Dangerous? Yes.  Will you walk like you're on an ice rink, and therefore look less awesome? Double yes.

You will need: Scissors, glue (non-toxic and weatherproof, $6 at Michael's), and small adhesive disks.



The disks are usually used for furniture (think the legs of a chair or the feet of a coffee table). I found them at the Dollar Tree for $1.



Spread the glue in a thin layer over the sticky side of the disk, then adhere to the shoe. Try to place according to where you distribute your weight, like the balls of your feet.



I don't have amazing posture, so I put an extra support on the far right of my shoe, since I tend to wear out that part.  Keep shoes stationary and exposed to air, allowing the glue to dry.  When the glue is dry, it will become clear.



Enjoy your new-found stability by runway walking down a bowling alley, a Slip-'N-Slide, or a giant buttered piece of toast.  It costs less than $2 per pair of shoes, and now you can charge your friends to fix their shoes!  You're welcome ;)

XOXO,
Jenni

What We Wore - Moe's Office Style

I love the office I work it! I get to be creative everyday, I have loads of fun people to be around, I get facials (big plus) & I get to put my degree to work.  Not to mention I get to dress cute.

I am the type of person that looks much better in skirts than in pants.  There has been an ongoing feud of dress pants in my closet.  This has been going on since probably the 2004.  I had one pair that fit me perfectly when I was in high school.  But my butt won't fit in them any more.

The problem is this: My hips are not wide enough for the size of my waist.  So when I shop, I get the effect of ridding pants, the balloon out at the sides.  And let me say it's like this:

source

And not like this:

source

Both of these images come from etsy surprisingly

So dress pants an I do not get along.  It is a rare occasion that I find a great pair that fit me in all the right ways.  Now I could get them tailored or do it myself but I think this gives me another excuse to wear/buy dresses & skirts.  Good enough for me.

So in the office you can most likely catch me wearing a dress or skirt.  Today I wore a dress, my graduation dress in fact.  Yay class of 2011!

Dress :: H&M

Cardigan :: TJ Maxx

Bag :: Spotted Moth

Shoes :: Thrifted

Bracelet :: DIY

I've been wearing these shoes nearly everyday right now.  I love the pop of color.  I based this Rad Red post on them last week!  The bag is also one of my favorites! I got it before the end of the school year last year & love it.  Spotted Moth is like the greatest shop ever.  As creepy as this is, Monica Burnett (the owner) was my total inspiration for crochet designs back when she owned Monica Burnett Hats.  I even emailed her once when I was looking to start up a handmade business.  She is my craft/retail icon!  So I totally suggest checking out the blog & the Spotted Moth Shop! They just opened a retail store too! How exciting, right?

Is there anything in your wardrobe that you are loving right now?

Are you wearing it everyday?

Dreamy Michael Kors // Fall 2011

I'm a fan of Michael Kors. I was doing some cleaning yesterday and started feeling sad about throwing away the Fall 2011 catalog. They make really good coffee table books. I compromised by tearing this page out and keeping it on my desk.

It's just so perfectly fall. I can't wait to wear my first sweater of the season.

Apple cider and scarves,

We Love Today: Mad Men!

source

Few shows made in recent memory are as visually stunning as Mad Men.  I have become completely addicted to it thanks to my boyfriend's roommate and musical co-conspirator Michael.  I love that the clothing portrays so accurately the attributes of each character and that each character seems painstakingly composed into every shot.  Also, it harkens back to a time when getting dressed was more like playing dress up, and I am whole-heartedly dedicated to having this sort of fun all the time.  

Thankfully, Banana Republic seized the opportunity to cash in on this craze.  They have recently released their Mad Men Collection, so you can purchase a piece of postwar style. 

source

If you’re like me, then you might be able to afford one or two pieces from this collection. Luckily, the 60’s actually happened, and you can find vintage clothes at a fraction of the price, at Goodwill or on eBay.  (Make sure you take your bust, waist, and hip measurements and use them to gauge whether or not a piece will fit.  Sizes have changed over the years, so a 1960's size 10 is miles away from a 2011 one. Inches, however, have remained the same.)  Add some winged black eyeliner and some red lipstick and you’ll look good enough to actually drive someone mad.

Ciao ciao, 

The Best for Less

Ahh, fall is on the horizon.  The air is getting a little more crisp, Starbucks has busted out the pumpkin spice flavoring, and the stores are all tempting me with their fresh fall items.  It’s hard resisting the desire I have to blow my last paycheck of August on trendy fall accessories, but thanks to my devoted research I won’t have to.  And neither will you!  In this post I have found some popular summer to fall transitional pieces and have found similar but much less expensive alternatives. 

uo   target

This fancy floppy hat is $90.00 from Urban Outfitters, but Target’s take on it is a cool $16.99.

asos  ae

This awesome Aztec bag from ASOS was originally $64.03, but American Eagle offers a comparable option for only $29.50.

nastygal    target

These badass leopard wedges by Steve Madden via NASTY GAL break the bank at $158.00, but Target once again flatteringly imitates them at a much more manageable price of $29.99.

I hope that this guide has helped fuel your own desire to find fall trends on the cheap!  What other autumn accessories have you been able to find at seriously low prices?

Happy Hunting!

Rad Red

I went clearance shopping with one of my friends from my old job yesterday & came back empty handed.  It was a sad time.  But will we were clearance shopping we did a little window shopping as well.  We went into Express & New York & Co just to see what all the chic ladies were wearing this fall.  We saw a lot of fur & a lot of red.

This made me realize how much I really do love red.  Recently I've been thinking about starting to wear lipstick.  Megan has some pretty rad red lip color in her about photo, I know for sure, but I dunno how the other ladies here at est. 1839 feel about lip color.  I think they'd be on board.

At any rate, I have these awesome red shoes that I got for $2 or so while thrifting ages ago.  I love them! They are perfect for nearly any outfit & they really jazz up jeans.  If I feel like a chic casual day at work, I can throw on my dark jeans & these red shoes and no one knows I needed a break!

I wish I had more red in my closet.  Red is a color that is great to bring some life to wintery outfits.  Red scarves, red shoes, red nail polish.  Red is so classic!

Rad Red by fivesixteenthsblog featuring slim skirts

How do you feel about red?

Do you rock the red lipstick?

We Love Today: Cozy chic

I'm kind-of in love with comfortable clothing, and I see very few reasons why style and comfort can't coexist peacefully in the same outfit without a war with Guilder. (Like it? If you get it and comment, I'll send you a card in the mail <3)



I love this look from Chloe's fall 2011 line - it's full of interest, the muted color palette is so chic, and you can wear a blanket.  Kidding!  Many stores are offering these re-worked ponchos in large knits with striking patterns, so why not pick up the trend? The juxtaposition of shorts and an oversize sweater is comfortable to wear, and the perfect temperature.

However, I must confess that I am positively aching for those boots.



And these. By the way, these are vegan! Find them at stilettoskop.com.  But I can't really afford these...or anything by Chloe, so...




These are from Target, and a much, much happier price.

When you feel comfortable, your confidence will shine through! I'm all about effortless chic, and any over-the-knee boot with a heel is trying way, way too hard for your money.
What fashion choices are the best bang for your back?

XOXO,
Jenni

Labor Day Weekend

I was born on September fourth, so my birthday has always fallen on Labor Day weekend, which I've always appreciated. It's a really great holiday to just do nothing, and that's exactly what I intend to do this weekend with my family and friends.

Lazy Labor Day by est1839

I hope you have a nice time saying so long to summer.

PS:

Fashionably yours,

DIY Update : Scarf Necklace

Yesterday I posted my lust for a scarf necklace DIY.  Right now its not quite fall enough to wear scarves full on but I still wanna get some use out of them.  So, I thought I'd do a little tutorial.

Also, I am in the wig I bought.  I love it.  No judgement, please & thank you.

Start off with a square scarf, folded into a triangle

loosely fold it into a strip.

Grab the middle

& tie a loose knot.  Fix it so it looks nice.

Move up a little

& tie another knot!

repeat!

tie ends together.

Wear it!

So, is my wig weird?

Hope you try this!

Linking to Let Birds Fly