To Mini or Maxi, That is the Question…

Maxi dresses confuse me. It’s summer. It’s hot. And they are long. And cover a lot of leg. Which seems like it would just make you hotter. On the other hand, it’s summer, and we all know how I feel about shaving my legs. I think for the most part, I’m not into long dresses because they hide my legs. And I like my legs, so I prefer to show them off, but as I get older I prefer to show them off and cover them at the same time, like with tights pants, leggings or tights.

So maxi dresses confuse me a bit, but I own…off the top of my head…at least 4.

And this is one of them.


When I bought it, I fully intended to have it altered to just above the knee, and I might still. My husband likes it long, my co-worker voted for short. What do you think? I think it looked lovely long, but I might wear it more often short.



It hides my adorable wedges from Old Navy, which is kind of a sin, if you ask me…


I pulled an old photo of them as I forgot to get a detail shot.



They are made out of the softest tee shirt fabric imaginable. I wore them from 8 AM until 11 PM yesterday and was only uncomfortable at about the 10:30 PM mark, which for heels that high, is impressive. The foot bed is super cushioned and the platform and angle on the heel gives the illusion of much more height to the heel than there actually is.




I made that bullet necklace this weekend. I was getting gum and Red Bull at a gas station on my way to Lara's house for her husband's birthday party (he had a video DJ set up, it was super fun)and they were selling these bullets on key chains for cheap, and I thought it would be awesome on a chain. Now I want to get back up there and buy several more to make for the shop. I just love it! And I could sell them for as little as $15 bucks and still make a little money on them. I love when I can do something really cool for the shop (and me!) for cheap.



Dress, Target
Cardigan, Alternative Apparel
Espadrilles, Old Navy
Necklaces, www.loveerindesigns.etsy.com
Bag, Steven by Steve Madden

Greatness.

I tried to come up with a better title, but I think that really says it all. This outfit was greatness. It was simple, flattering and comfortable. I loved it and will be wearing it again soon.



I didn’t get any detail shots of shoes or the bag or anything, but honestly, the outfit is so simple, I don’t think that matters so much.



I’ve had this top since Christmas, but have not really been able to wear it because if I wear a jacket over those sweet sleeves, they would get all wrinkled and squashed.



Blouse and denim leggings, Target
Bag, http://www.lushfashions.com/
Shoes, http://www.zappos.com/
watch pendant, http://www.finkgifts.etsy.com/

Secret Tee.

Ok, first off, it was windy when I was taking my photos and who doesn’t love a picture of themselves with their hair and skirt gently blowing in the breeze?



Stunning!~ I felt like such a super model.



As my friend Rebel would say “Chest out, chin up”. I love it.



Annnnnnd now we’re back to normal. But it was fun.

This entire outfit was constructed so that I could get away with wearing my new My Bloody Valentine concert tee to work. It is so pretty, I would have loved it even if it wasn’t a souvenir of a really great night. The colors and pattern are just really appealing to me, and I felt like they looked really pretty peaking out of my west all day.



And here is the tee sans vest.



So pretty!~ And a close up…



These sandals are hands down, the most "out there" piece I own. People tend to love or hate them. MEN tend to really like them. I got a compliment from no less than three strangers who said things such as, and I quote “Oh, wow, really cool shoes. Really cool.”





And for those of you wondering, yes, my ankles get reallllllly hot if I wear them in late summer, outdoors. Luckily I don’t spend a lot of time outdoors in late summer.

Pretty earrings that I don’t wear often enough…



And finally, if you get in the shot when I’m lining it up, you go in the blog. Ladies and gents, I present my husband, working it.



Tee, My Bloody Valentine show
Vest, Go International at Target
Skirt, American Apparel
Sandals, Jeffery Campbell
Earrings and necklace, http://www.loveerindesigns.etsy.com/

My Bloody Valentine

Yesterday I wore THE most adorable purple and yellow watercolor patterns dress with yellow leather kitten heels to work. Adorable. But I didn’t get pictures because I dashed home and had 30 minutes to down a bowl of cereal and change clothes so we could go see My Bloody Valentine play at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas.

I did however; manage to snap a few pictures of what I wore to the show.



I tend to go for comfort over fashion when I’m going to a show. I mean, it’s dark, no one can see how cute you look. And you have to stand for upwards of 3-4 hours, and no amount of looking awesome in those heels is worth it (Seriously, girls who wear heels to shows really confuse me).

And I'm just saying, this dress is not quite as "boob tube" looking in real life.



The show was amazing, by the way. It was a full on aural assault. It was an experience. It was so loud it was like being inside a jet engine. It was beautiful and magic and when I closed my eyes it was like an out of body experience. There was nothing but the sound.


Dress, Victoria’s Secret
Sandals, shoes.com (I don't recall the brand and it has worn off)
Bracelet, http://www.shopruche.com/
Bird necklace, http://www.loveerindesigns.etsy.com/
multi chain necklace, self made from recycled materials
watch necklace, http://www.finkgifts.etsy.com/

*P.S. I’ll be telling you all about the new button over there soon, the Frugal Fashion Focus button? It’s pretty cool, actually.

She’s got legs.

So at least 4 levels of leg shaving come to mind. I’ll start with the most extreme and move towards the laziest…

1. The full on top to bottom beach wear shave. Takes forever. Hate it. Love the beach.
2. The shorts/ short skit and flip flips shave, upper thigh all the way down. Some kids even have to shave their toes. It’s not our fault we were born brunettes.
3. The work skirt just above the knee down shave. Upper thighs cannot and should not be seen at work and if you can’t see it, I can’t be bothered to shave it.
4. What I did here. Which is just the area exposed in a work length skit and knee high boots. It was the first time I had to go without tights this year and it was all I could be bothered to do this AM.



Love this dress. It’s a bit big on me and I kind of like the way it hangs as a result. I must say I count myself lucky to have a navy slip the right length to go with it, it just happened to come with a dress I bought at Target last year.



And honestly, I think I might just wear it with these boots even in summer. It’s such an airy dress that I almost feel that I need the boots to ground it and keep me from feeling more naked than I really am!




I know I’ve gone on about these earrings before, but I am going to do it again. So quirky, so fun. And when I wear them I normally don’t feel like I need much else. They are big and bold without being heavy and they make a statement.



Look at how cute it is in the bushes…



The detail on it leads me to believe an actual cicada was used it it’s making. I think actual cicadas are kind of gross. I love to listen to them, it’s so soothing. But I avoid getting near them at all costs. They just... freak me out.

Dress, vintage, http://www.lovesmenot.etsy.com/
Bag, Lucky
Boots, Matisse
Earrings, http://www.chainchainchained.etsy.com/

Record Store Day.

Saturday was Record Store Day, which is also the day that Good Records, in Dallas celebrates their birthday. That means an entire day of free shows, two stages, free food (BBQ and sides, hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones, high class nachos and more!) and friends. We went out at noon, and stayed until about 3:30. We came home had a bite (we are not big red meat eaters, and it was before the nachos showed up, lol) and went back out around 5 until about 7:45. Then I came home and went to get a friend for a charity event.

I admit that when we came home at 3:30, I changed. I was originally in a dress and tights, and I felt OK, but I just wanted to be a bit more casual. So I changed into my favorite denim leggings. From Target, you know the ones!



I took these pictures between the Record Store Day event and the charity event, which explains the how dark it was.



Alannah got my this shirt during one of those famous Threadless $10 sales. I love the design, but I was never crazy about the fit. So I cut it up. I cut the sleeves down to cap sleeves, I cut the color out to make it more of a boat neck and I cut the bottom off so that all of the edges matched (I didn’t seam anything back up, I just left the edges raw) and now I love the way it fits.



I especially find the neckline more flattering. I love a flash of collarbone on a lady!

Because the design on the shirt is so attention grabbing, I went easy on the accessories. Just a bracelet and ring.






Jacket, Alexander McQueen for Target
Tee, Threadless.com, gift, altered by me
Denim leggings, Target
Boots, Matisse
Bracelet, www.shopruche.com/
Ring, ebay

Naked Earlobes

I forgot to put on earrings! I am always so uncomfortable from the moment I realize I forgot to put on earrings. I just feel naked without them.

But look at my sassy outfit!


Check out those heels. I almost never wear them anymore, because they are too high for my old lady feet to deal, but oh my goodness, they are so cute, and such high quality.



I think they are the most perfect grown up Mary Janes I’ve ever seen. I like that they have a substantial heel, and the leather on them is so nice. They even have leather wrapped heels.



Not bad for a bargain store, yeah? And honestly, as far as heels go, they are pretty comfy. I can handle them for one day at a time. I just can’t wear them several days in a row like I used to. I’ve had these for at least 3 years I think, and they still look almost brand new. And I used to wear them non-stop.



I did not have such good luck with the tights though. I went with the cheaper brand (Xhilaration vs Merona) and I noticed a HUGE difference in quality. I’ll not buy them again. They are really no sturdier than plain old panty hose and I’m too clumsy for that. I need a tight with some strength and substance to it!~



I took a lot of pictures today.



My good friend Bernadette also has this dress. I am not one to care though if we have the same things. I am never upset when I turn up at work or a party in the same dress as another girl. I tend to be more amused and then interested in the different styling choices we both made. I know I shop at big stores and chances are someone else I know did too. Bernadette styles this dress completely different than I do, and I enjoy seeing that. Also, she has a better butt, and fills it out a little better than I do. True, true.





That used to be a necklace from Old Navy. I rearranged some of the beads, and shortened it. I never once wore it as a necklace. I just never felt right in it, but as a bracelet, I wear it a lot.

This is my favorite combination of necklaces right this second. (Due to change in 5,4,3,2…)



I’m still very proud of how the multi-chain necklace came out and I am just so in love with the locket watch.

Dress, tights, belt and shoes, Target
Multi-chain necklace, self made
Bracelet, self made
Watch pendant finkgifts.etsy.com

I’m wearing tights until they make me sweat.

(Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I’m still learning, and I hate that sometimes my indoor pics come out so blurry.)



I know there are those who disagree but I am personally on the tights train until it just gets WAY to hot to continue. I love the look of a black tight.And I love the fact that I don’t have to shave every day, ha! My least favorite thing about warm weather is all the shaving it entails.



I didn’t love or hate this outfit. I felt pretty and it was comfortable. I didn’t feel AMAZING though. I have quite a few outfits that make me feel really great, and I guess that sets the standard pretty high. I have recently been reminded that most people just sort of wear clothes. They don’t put anything into it, and they don’t really get any thing out of it. Clothing brings me so much joy, and I have this whole sub-culture (you!) that feels the same way, I often forget that clothes are merely functional for some.



Erin over at Haute Hardware made these, and Nathan dubbed them “Naughty Nauticals”. We all found this deeply amusing. Then, for reasons unknown, they failed to sell at like, 3 different shows. They were so cute!~ And so low priced!~ And “Naughty Nauticals” is so fun to say! What was happening? So Erin gave them to me, and I have enjoyed them very much and take THAT girl who eyed them for 20 minutes but was unable to make the EARTH SHATTERING decision to lay down all of ten bucks for them. (I cannot even tell you how frustrating it is when people hem and haw over a pair of 10 dollar earrings that your friend HAND MADE. It’s a uniquely irritating experience. As evidenced by all the BOLD CAPS I just used. ) People are weird, y’all.

Cardigan Belt and tights, Target
Dress, Old Navy
Boots, Arturo Chang
Bag, Abro
earrings, HauteHardware.Etsy.Com

Solestruck.com

I’ve little doubt that you’ve already read other bloggers rave reviews about www.Solestruck.com , but I’m going to go ahead and give them one more.

Solestruck contacted me a couple months ago and wanted to offer me a free pair of shoes.
Yes, please!~
I went to the site, giddy at the prospect of FREE SHOES and I ended up pouring over it for hours. They skew a lot younger than zappos, and I found the demographic to be more specific to the young and fashion forward, which was nice. I selected these Jeffrey Campbell boots:





They arrived quickly and well packaged. It was such a lovely experience, I know I will be ordering from them again soon. I have my eye on a couple pairs of sandals for the summer! Just have to narrow it down.

Free shoes make me super excited. Check out this face…



And yet again I am wearing my Blair pull ons from Target. I just wish I could get away with wearing them all the time. Lol. I especially love dancing in them, because they are so fitted and I feel so unencumbered. Every little movement counts. (P.S. I LOVE to dance. But I’m a terrible dancer.)





Blouse, pants, cardigan and tank – Target
Boots, Jeffery Campbell via www.solestruck.com
Necklace, self made
Earrings, Target

Bun pics!

Pics of me wearing Kasmira’s "messy bun"

Indoor shots, taken by me, and a little off center…




And an outdoor shot by Nate…



I promise to stop raving but really, this hairstyle has been a lifesaver on days when I wake up late, and on rainy days, when my hair tends to get REALLY big if I leave it down. I'm not great at bobby pin placement yet, but I'm getting better. It’s so easy, and so cute.