Friday, June 4, 2010

Baby I’m Still Free, Take a Chance On Me

So we went secondhand and thrift shopping last weekend, and I was on the lookout for work pants, harem pants and ditzy floral dresses. I didn’t find any of those things. I think that’s pretty standard for me, though, I almost never find what I was actually looking for. I did find these gorgeous Ralph Lauren baby pink and black oxfords though.

June 2

I could only think of a couple things I owned that I could wear them with, and they cost $20.00 of my $40.00 credit. I wore them around the store for quite some time, trying to decide, but in the end, I decided that I loved them, and I would make them work. So I got them. Then I made it my mission to find something to pair them with at the thrift store. I decided it was a great opportunity to shop outside my normal style, since these shoes aren’t really my normal look anyway. And I found this dress…

June 2

Everything about it is “wrong” for me. The print is too conservative. I don’t love the color palette. And that cut is normally a disaster on my body type. But I tried it on anyway and was really surprised at how good it looked on. I’m not saying I didn’t suck my tummy in all day, cause you better believe I did, but that’s good, right? Sucking it in will tone it up!

June 2

The only slip I had to wear with it was a good bit shorter than the dress, but I found it didn’t really matter. It still looked nice. I didn’t wear my pettipants (which I wear with almost every dress and skirt combo I own now*) because I needed to keep as clean a line as possible due to the unforgiving cut, but that’s OK. The slip was long enough to preserve my modesty.

I’m only posting this picture because my hair came out so nice, ha!
June 2

I’m glad I took a chance on the dress, because I felt really classy in it. And I’m super glad I took a chance on the shoes. I love them.

*Oh my gosh. I wore them under that sequined skirt on Saturday. NOT a good idea. They made the skirt slide down my legs as I walked and as I result I had to stand very still and hold my skirt up when I did move. I will not be doing that again.

Dress, Thrifted
Shoes, Ralph Lauren via Buffalo Exchange
Bag, Steve Madden

30 comments:

FutureLint said...

Those shoes are AWESOME and really balance out the dress!

Branka said...

I love this dress on you!
You might want to shorten it up to you knee cap, though?
Love this look!

Rebecca said...

Those shoes are amazing, and the dress is very flattering.

Emily Kennedy said...

I would bravely rock those shoes with many things that you may currently doubt they would look good with. What about denim shorts and a ditsy floral top. You could totally rock that. And they're so neutral, that you would nearly never have to worry about clashing.

Anonymous said...

Glad you took chances on BOTH! They're great scores.

GFS said...

ERIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS FABULOUS!!!!!!!!! Neither are my personal style but that's what makes it work I think! You literally look like you were from teh 60's (which is always a compliment in my book). The dress fits you and those shoes are perfect with it! You look so polished! I promise you that I have seen this look in magazines.

All you are missing is an ice cream cone and a bicycle with a wicker basket on the front and ride into the sunset!

I seriously am feeling this! It's so modernly vintage!

I can't rave enough about this! I'm going to have steal this pic and put it my "bloggers I envy" folder!

GFS said...

This look is very Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 by the way.

Linda said...

That is some ridiculously nice hair...and shoes!

Bethany said...

What are pettipants?

Kayla Rochelle said...

Those shoes are amazing! That is one great find!!

Anna said...

Isn't thrifting great? You can take a chance on things you wouldn't typically wear. I say you did great! Love those shoes and they are perfect paired with the floral print of the dress. Good score!

Anonymous said...

You have beautiful skin!

Unknown said...

This is one of my favorite outfits of yours! Soooo cute!

Anonymous said...

Seriously amazing! If only I could find stuff half as good when I go secondhand shopping.

Rad said...

Beautiful shoes and great dress!
I think that those shoes will go well with your other ensembles too- especially the ones with black and gray pieces. I am looking forward to future combinations.

WendyB said...

I love the dress. It's good to try on things that "won't" work for you. At worst, you'll think it's terrible and take it off. At best, you'll get whole new style ideas!

Breezer said...

FANTASTIC outfit!! You look amazing! I think the dress isn't normally one I would go for either, and I absolutely love it on you. Great risk you took!

And don't even get me started on those shoes. Lovely!

Jules said...

Congrats on going outside your normal comfort zone - you look great!! I'm lusting after those shoes.

grace said...

You were right--it would have been a crime to pass up those shoes. But the dress! Not your usual style at all, but so cute on you, and it does fantastic things for your figure, esp. in the picture from the back!

Kyla said...

Hot dog! LOVE the vintage feel of this. So, SO perfect! Also, I GOT SPIN PINS!

Heidi said...

Love it! Florals but with an edge. Great stuff.

Terri said...

The dress looks fabulous on you! Cute outfit altogether.

BTW, instead of pettipants under silky or clingy items, try the hanes shapers (like spanx but cheaper). They prevent any chafing and also provide some support.

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Isn't thrifting great? You can take a chance on things you wouldn't typically wear. I say you did great! Love those shoes and they are perfect paired with the floral print of the dress. Good score!

The Bagboy said...

Love that outfit. You look beautiful.

Ms. Falcon said...

you look stunning wearing this outfit. the dress, those shoes and the bag are just perfect!

just a few word about your last post: i'm not afraid of teenagers. i'm feeling more frighten about those young people starting to attend university (in germany they're in the age of 19-22).. those are acting like crazy fully trunken maniacs when they're out at night...no sense of decency and no respect for other peopels property. Yes, not all of them are bad - they even might be nice and cute when they're not trunken...

i love the red boots outfit of this post, too.

xoxo
wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

Robin said...

I too am particular about my floral prints. The print reads 'art nouveau' instead of conservative to me, which I think looks great! The shape is really flattering, so I hope you get some additional use out of this dress.

I'd rock those oxfords with cuffed jeans and black t-shirt or short-sleeved button down for a Rockabilly vibe.

C said...

Those shoes are unbe-freaking-lievably cool!

Jessica said...

I love love love the shoes! Your hair does look amazing in that photo!

Ana said...

I love this outfit and these shoes are awesome

Audi said...

Those shoes were well worth stepping outside your normal shopping tendencies for. And the dress is awesome -- perhaps it would be more 'you' if you shortened the hem?