30x30: Why I'm Done

If you're been paying attention, you would know that I've only posted 16 outfits for this summer's 30x30 Remix. You would also realize that this has been going on since June. JUNE. You would also realize it is not really summer anymore. Here's the thing - I hereby solemnly swear that I have worn 30 different outfits and then some. I have literally been participating since the first outfit I posted on June 22nd. You just didn't see all of them. I'm a busy girl sometimes so outfit photos are hard to take on a daily basis. I was going to have a dress up day where I would photograph all the outfits I missed showing you... but time got in the way of that too! I've also come to the point where my outfits are getting boring. This needs to come to a close for the year.



Here are just a few things I learned this time around:

1. Never underestimate the power of a bold shirt. That yellow shirt got a lot of use!

2. If you rarely wore it before the 30x30, you will rarely wear it during. Such is the case with my grey Lee capris. I wore them that one time and never again. Into the donate pile they a-go-go!

3. The perfect floral dress will look good no matter what. Don't have one? Find one now! Mine cost me $2.60. Good style doesn't always have to cost a lot!

4. I love my black dress. Dress it up, dress it down, wear it plain, wear it with lots - you will ALWAYS get lots of wear out of it.

So, you guys forgive me for not sharing the rest with you, right? :)

Zesty (16/30)

It's Monday. I'm sure you got that memo. Sometimes all I can muster on a Monday is a lack luster look. It happens. You don't want to get your clothes together the night before so you end up throwing something on the next morning, right? You can't get to sleep until late and then sleep in a few extra minutes, right? One of these days I am going to wake up early and take my time getting ready on a Monday... maybe next week... :)


Pants: Express Design Studio, Thrifted, OLD
Top: Old Navy, Thrifted, $2.99
Scarf: Given to me by friend
Belt: Target, Bought on clearance, OLD
Cuff Bracelet: Won in giveaway
Sandals: Liz Claiborne FLEX, Thrifted, $2.60
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I'm having one of those days: Hair isn't cooperating (thanks to the overdue cut I am in dire need of), clothes don't feel right, I was freezing at one part of the day and then overheated the next (little worried I am getting sick), work was long and super busy, not enough hours in the day, etc.

On the bright side: Everyone liked my outfit at work today (which is funny because I didn't - I kind of like when that happens though), I got to do some shopping at Old Navy today after work because I had an Old Navy cash coupon ($20 off $40) and then I stopped at my boyfriend's favorite chinese restaurant on my way home to pick us up some dinner. This is rare as I rarely eat chinese food but he worked 7am-7pm today so I figured he needed a little something special after a long day. He loved it. The woman who runs the restaurant is the cutest lady ever. She always calls me beautiful and today was no exception. Kind of just what I needed on a Monday evening. :)

How was your Monday, guys?

Menswear My Way (15/30)

So I've been waiting to wear this hot pink scarf every since I picked it up from the thrift store a few weeks ago. Sometimes I like to let my purchases sit and mingle for a while before I decide how I want to wear them. Do you do that too? Anyway, I finally decided that this would pair perfect with my pink gingham shirt and away we went...


Gingham Top: IZOD, Thrifted, $4.99
Pants: Express Design Studio, Thrifted, OLD
Belt: No tag, Thrifted, $1
Pink Scarf: No tag, Thrifted, $2.80
Sandals: Mossimo Pilar, Target, $29.99 (but FREE for me with gift card!)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I love the menswear trend but find that it often doesn't mix well with me. Don't get me wrong, I think it looks great on everyone else but I never feel like "me" when I try to replicate a similar look that has inspired me. That's when I realized I was going it all wrong - I needed to add in some color. I'm good with black and white and I'm not too shabby with color but neutrals (which I feel a lot of menswear looks are composed of) have never been my thing. So, I added in a jolt of hot pink and I was ready to go!


Do you ever have a hard time getting rid of a certain item of clothing even though it doesn't fit very well? I am so in love with these pants but they're about two sizes big for me... I guess I don't really think about it when I wear them as they just feel flowy and comfortable. The truth became painfully obvious in these photos. I guess they just don't photograph well? I'm making excuses here but I'm really just not ready to give them up. I shall make them work!


I decided that I'm embracing messy hair from here on out. I'm determined to grow my hair out - still on the fence about continuing to grow my bangs out - and I feel like I need to give myself a pep talk about that "inbetween" stage and thereafter. I don't do messy hair well but I'm trying to go with the flow.

And just for fun...


Can you tell I didn't take my own photos? That guy of mine is always making me giggle!

Easy Living - Day Off (14/30)

Last week I had a day off of work and spent the day doing not much more than sleeping in, enjoying a long breakfast, meeting my boyfriend at his place of employment for lunch and a little bit of thrift store shopping. Oops - how did that happen!? I keep telling myself I need to cut the shopping for a while but this never seems to last. My boyfriend's office is dangerously close to my favorite Value World so I couldn't resist a little stop inside.


Tan Shirt: Arizona, Thrifted, $3.75
Pleated Skirt: Peter Popovitch, Thrifted, $1.50
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

Don't worry - I did wear shoes to the thrift store. :) I just spent the majority of my time at home being "lazy" so I wanted to fully represent that with my usual bare feet. Are you a bare footer too? I'd go bare foot EVERYWHERE if I could and it wasn't gross. I'm pretty sure I spent entire summers outside barefoot when I was little. Just feels so good!


This skirt is kind of like the clothing version of being bare foot. It feels so lighty and airy - it is SO ridiculously comfortable and I feel like I can pair it with anything. That's a 30x30 all star right there, folks!

Sometimes it is just nice to take it easy - both in your day and clothing wise - am I right?

The Tiger's Game (13/30)

It came to my attention on Monday night that I do not own a single piece of Detroit Tiger's gear. Not even a tshirt! I am a terrible mitten girl. Regardless, I still had a baseball game to attend so I pulled together some orange and blue and headed off to the game...


Top: H&M, Old
Jeans: Old Navy, "The Dreamer" style, $15 (on sale)
Scarf: Old Navy, $3 (on sale)
Sandals: Liz Claiborne Flex, Thrifted, $2.80
Purse: Coach, Thrifted, $7
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

We enjoyed a great game... Well, our team lost but the weather was fantastic and my whole family got to watch my dad's choir sing the National Anthem before the game began:

The Richmond Community Choir at Detroit Tiger's Game: 08/15/11 from Katie on Vimeo.

We topped the night off with a late dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Pegasus in Greektown. Skordalia, fried zucchini and an amazing greek salad? Yes, my tummy was quite happy.

Pinned Up (12/30)

I meant to post these photos yesterday but we were in a hurry to head downtown to watch a Tiger's (baseball) game. I think this is my most favorite 30x30 look yet in this go around! It is simple but fun, classy yet slightly edgy... and comfortable!


Black Tee: Forever21, Thrifted, Old
Skirt: Chaus, Thrifted, $2.99
Sandals: Mossimo Pilar, Target, FREE ($29.99 but FREE after my gift card)
Necklace: Francesca's Collection, $4.98 (clearance)
Pin (on skirt): Gift from my little brother
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I cannot get enough of this necklace. I honestly don't think I have ever worn another necklace as much as I have worn this one this summer. It's only been photographed one other time on the blog but I promise it has been more of a trusty friend than that. The colors of it seem to match no matter what I pair it with... love that.


So I decided to pin up this skirt after trying it on the night before and not really loving the way it fit. There is quite a bit of fabric to this skirt although it is very thin, silky fabric so it can tend to look a little droopy... Pinning it in front took away the droopy factor and added in a little flair, at least I think. My ladies at work loved it - which is always nice to hear. :)


As an added bonus, the pin is actually a gift my little brother gave me years and years ago for Christmas. He had bought it and a matching pink pin as a set for me at the little Christmas shop his school puts together for the kids. Jewelry from a ten year old little boy? Enough to melt your heart. :)

A Mishmash (12/30)

This is an outfit that I wore a couple weeks ago but apparently forgot to post about and forgot I ever took the photos. That worked out well today as I spent a couple hours after work preparing for tomorrow's Yard Sale Trail festivities and didn't have time to photograph my outfit from today. Look, I take this stuff seriously guys. :)


Blue Tee: H&M, old
Tan Button Up: Arizona, Thrifted, $3.75
Zebra Dress: Mossimo, Thrifted, old
Wedge Sandals: Mossimo Pilar, Target, $29.99 (but FREE w/ gift card)
Blue Belt: Old Navy, $2.99 (clearance in store)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I wasn't exactly gung-ho for this outfit. It's kind of a strange mix of a little bit of everything - hence my mishmash title. It isn't terrible but it's also not something I would have put together in a regular context. Generally, I think that is a good thing. Pushes me a little and don't we all need a little push sometimes?


I found this vibrant belt at Old Navy a few weeks ago and about giggled in delight when I saw one of their bright clearance stickers attached to it. $2.99?! SO SOLD. I have a little obsession with owning a belt in every color imaginable so this was a perfect addition to my collection. I don't wear a lot of blue but I like the punch of color this can add to other outfits.


Finally, let's talk about how great my hair looks in these photos. It reminds me how horrible it looks right now. (Har har.) If that isn't some motivation to trim my bangs, I don't know what is!

An EBEW/30x30 Smackdown... or something. (11/30)

Today's topic? Pattern mixing. It is something I am quite fond of really and I feel like it is a really easy way to maximize your closet by having just a few pieces but creating numerous looks! (Shameless past print mixing promoting herein ends. You are welcome.)

Now, pattern mixing within my 30x30 pieces wasn't a stretch whatsoever. I always make sure to include some patterned pieces because A) they are fun and B) my closet is so full of them, how could I not? I pretty much live for florals and bright colors during the summer. I love these pieces apart but together they're even better...


Dress: Liz Claiborne, Thrifted, $2.60
Gingham Top: IZOD, Thrifted, $4.99
Flats: Mossimo Supply Co Odell Ruffle Flats, Target, $6.48 (on clearance in store)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
Diamond Studs: Gift from my boyfriend
Flower Hair Pin: Handmade by me
TOTAL: $14.07
Oh, mama. Floral and gingham, be still my heart. Ever since I laid my eyes on this gorgeous match up of gingham and floral from 9to5Chic I have been dreaming of ways to recreate the look myself. There was no time better than now as both of these items are part of my 30 for 30 pieces and it is Everybody, Everywhere pattern mixing day.


I kept the look pretty simple other than that... I'm not usually one to add on a lot of jewelry when I'm wearing a "louder" outfit. It's just how I roll. I was actually feeling under the weather this morning so I opted not to blowdry my hair but instead threw it up (aka pin obsessively and spray a lot) in a baby bun and added a felt flower I made a while back. I think it complimented the outfit pretty nicely, don't you?


Looking for more pattern mixing inspiration? Connect with other lovely bloggers today (and anytime!) at Everybody, Everywhere! Did you pattern mix today? Link up at the site!

Case of The Mondays (10/30)

It's Monday and I'm dealing with a serious case of The Mondays.


Yellow Top: Old Navy, Thrifted, $2.99
Zebra Dress: Mossimo, Thrifted, OLD
Belt: Thrifted, $1.00
Necklace: Claire's, OLD
Shoes: Mossimo, Thrifted, $3.40
Despite my Mondays, I still made the effort to photograph my outfit today - which I promised myself I would do all week no matter how non-Fashion-Frugality I felt. :) My camera also apparently had a case of the Mondays because it kept switching settings on me WHILE my timer was set. Aye carumba. Like her job is that hard - take a few outfit photos every once in a while... c'mon, girl, get your stuff together.

Today officially begins my countdown to the... drumroll, please... YARD SALE TRAIL! Yes, indeed! My family has indulged in this delightful shopping excursion every year since, hmmm, I think 2005! Did I ever tell you my parents love yard/garage/whatever-you-call-it-in-your-neck-of-the-woods sales? I didn't just happen upon my frugal ways on my own, folks.

So, that being said, FOUR days till yard sale heaven! Stay tuned for more info such as: my yard sale shopping tips, finds from past yard sales along the trail and this year's list of what I am looking for!

Do you yard sale?

Pink and Blue (9/30)

Just a quickie today... Promised myself I would be in bed by 11pm for the first time this week so I have five minutes. Better make this snappy!


Top: H&M, old
Pink Skirt: No tag (handmade), Thrifted, $1.60
Scarf: Won in giveaway at The Looks For Less, High Gloss Fashion (no longer available for purchase)
Shoes: Mossimo Supply Co Odell Ruffle Flat, Target, $6.48 (clearance in store)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

The truth of it all: It was rainy, muggy and unbearable today. My hair reacted accordingly to the weather by becoming a hot mess. It happens. Also, my busy day and the weather resulted in indoor photos that don't even begin to show how awesomely pink this skirt is and how great it looks with the blue top (also drained by my terrible apartment lighting) and coordinating scarf. Also, it was 10pm when I took these photos so excuse my wrinkles.


But: I loved this outfit, I adore this scarf (so soft and light!) and I felt good despite a terrible hair day. If I can feel good through that, I think this outfit wins.

LOVE THE LOOK? SHOP SIMILAR ITEMS BELOW!

Scarf Swap (8/30)

I have a case of the moody mondays today. Admittedly, the first day of the work week is never a favorite of mine... but it felt like everyone took a crabby patty pill today! Did it feel that way in your neck of the woods? I had to take a breather break after I was chewed out (over the phone, mind you) by someone I work with (indirectly work with - not exactly a co-worker of mine). Nothing sets me off more than when someone talks to me like I am five years old - especially when A) I know I am right and B) I am nice while knowing I am right. Gah. Anyway. Had to get that off my chest.

So, back to some frugal fashion... remember that scarf swap that Concrete Catwalk put together back in June? Yeah, that one! Now, I know what you're thinking... Katie, that was June. This is July. Erm, I know. But, see, here's the thing: There was a huge delay in me sending a scarf to my partner. I originally gave my boyfriend the task of sending it to her, which was fine and great... until he put the package in the back of his car and proceeded to forget about it. So there you go. The good news is that everything was sorted out and I have a very forgiving swap partner! Thank you, Jackie!


Dress: Merona, Thrifted, OLD
Scarf: Swapped with Rodori Style!
Earrings: Won in a giveaway
Flats: Mossimo, Thrifted, $3.40
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
Can I tell you how much I love the scarf she sent to me? It is big, bright, and bold. Love. Love. Love. The colors in it change between a pink and orange - probably my two most favorite colors. Unfortunately, I took my photos late in the day and didn't have the foresight to take a photo of the scarf stretched out so you could get a better look at it. Don't worry, we'll visit with this scarf again soon!




I decided that since the scarf is such a bold piece that I would pair it with this simple dress from my 30x30 items. I love it against the black. It makes it pop that much more. Plus, since I can almost-kind-of-sort-of put my hair up now, I added some massive earrings that are perfect at times like this. I'm pretty sure every single person in my office complimented me on both the scarf and earrings today. (OK, maybe not everyone I encountered was a crabby patty.)


Check out my mini baby bun. This was taken around 8pm so I think it did a pretty good job holding up... even if I did have to use one million pins in the back and shellac it down with gel and hair spray. :)

Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to hunt down some ice cream and hop into bed with a good book. I think I've earned both of those after a long day!

Nifty Thrifty (7/30)

So I was doing my usual blog reading at lunch today and discovered that it is a Nifty Thrifty day over at Every Body, Every Wear. How did I miss this?! Lucky for me (and you, maybe?), I am wearing my most favorite recent thrift find... actually, two of them...


Dress: Liz Claiborne, Thrifted (Value World), $2.60
Belt: J Crew, Thrifted (Value World), $1.60
Bracelet: Gift
Shoes: Mossimo Supply Co Oldell Ruffle flats, Target, $6.48 (clearance in store)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
TOTAL = $10.68

I know you just saw this dress a few days ago but I thought I would show off the back of it now. It was a blazing hot day so I figured it would be perfect to keep my cool while I was at work - where it fluctuates between being freezing and being hot (don't even ask me how that works).


Ignoring my horrible posture in this picture, what do you think? The low back of this dress border lines on being inappropriate for work but I decided to hell with it today. The temperature warranted it.


My other nifty thrifty piece? This amazing yellow skinny belt that I picked up from one of my local Value World stores. Yes, J. Crew for $1.60 can be possible, ladies and gents. You just have to look! This belt looked virtuously unused when I bought it... I was actually even pretty shocked that the thrift store had not priced it higher than this.


I think the two go pretty well together, don't you? It didn't occur to me to pair them up until last night when I was putting my clothes together for the next day. So happy I chose to wear this today so I could participate in Nifty Thrifty Thursday!



Now shake your tail feather on over to Every Body, Every Wear and check out all the other great Nifty Thrifty submissions!

Dress on Dress Action (6/30)

Oh, hello there, my fabulous blog friends... long time no blog, eh? I apologize for my sporadic breaks but sometimes a girl just needs a break, you know what I'm sayin'? Don't fret - I was still staying true to my 30 for 30 pieces, just didn't take the time to photograph them like usual so I'll be going back to do that this week to catch you all up on my daily outfittings. I know you have been in all kinds of suspense. :)

So, shall we start with today?


Black Dress: Merona, Thrifted, OLD
Zebra Dress: Mossimo, Thrifted, OLD
Vintage Necklace: Estate Sale, $5
Sandals: Mossimo "Pilar", Target, $29.99 (but free for me w/ gift card)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
I loved this outfit. Sometimes I wonder if I should just own a closet full of black and white clothing because I always just feel so ME in black and white getups. They've just always been my thing.

I had the idea to layer these two dresses last week but put off wearing it until today because this week is supposed to be an absolutely scorcher. And that it was. I think one of the reports I read said at one point if had gotten to 107 degrees. Oh, mama. And it is supposed to stay this warm all week. (Remind me again why I included any type of sleeved clothing in my 30 pieces... anyone?) Yes, summer has arrived in Michigan. And the humidity? Don't get me started.


So, I don't know if I have mentioned it here before but my boyfriend took me estate sale shopping on my birthday back in June. I, of course, hit up estate sales all the time but it was nice to have him as a shopping buddy for once. My boyfriend is amazing but the one thing he fails at is being a patient shopper. This normally means I never even desire to have him go shopping anywhere with me - even the grocery store. However, that changes once a year on my birthday where he morphs into a stellar shopping buddy and is as patient as can be. I'll take it.

That being said, you should probably know the story behind this necklace. I walked by it on the very first estate sale we hit up. I'm sure you can imagine that the second I saw it, my heart started pounding and my eyes widened. This pretty lady was meant to be mine. But then disappointment came - the necklace had no price tag. Can I just tell you how much I hate when things are not marked at estate sales/garage sales/etc? I can maybe understand if it is an expensive antique and you want to wheel and deal to see what someone will offer you... but on this necklace? C'mon, put a price on it. So, anyway, I ask how much it is and the guy proceeds to tell me $10. Now, $10 may not sound like much, but remember who you're talking to - I was not happpy with this price. Defeated, I put it down and told my boyfriend I was ready to hit the road. Outside, he told me I needed to go back in and bring the guy down on price... but, here is something that may surprise you: I don't haggle. Never have. Never will. I'm just not into having that discussion with people. But my amazing boyfriend? He could care less. He walked back in and got the guy down to $5 and walked back out with my necklace. Did I mention how much I love him - particularly on this day? :)

This necklace, especially when paired with this dress on dress action, makes me wanna do a little dance...



Sorry, couldn't resist. I love the way the zebra print dress swung under the black dress. I didn't think dancing at work would be appropriate (oh, who am I kidding...) so I waited to share it with you guys.

Slightly Casual Thursday (5/30)

Last Thursday was a casual day in my office as it was our "Friday" considering we had a four day weekend. I wasn't in the mood to wear jeans as it was pretty hot out... do jeans feel completely uncomfortable to you in the heat too? Just heavy and constricting, no thanks. I opted, instead, for this perfect floral dress paired with the softest denim top I have ever touched.


Dress: Liz Claiborne, Thrifted, $2.60
Denim Top: Blue Asphalt, Thrifted, $1.40
Sandals: Liz Claiborne Flex, Thrifted, $2.80
Necklace: Francesca's Collections, $4.98 (clearance)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
TOTAL = $11.78
Bright, pretty, summery and yet comfortable. I'm all about that kind of combination - especially on a hot summer day. Plus, I was itching to wear this new necklace I picked up a week ago at Francesca's Collections with my BFF. It was marked down to $6.98, which is awesome, but then I saw a sign that said that everything on that table was then marked down to just $4.98. I was sold.




Back to the topic of denim and the fact that this top is super soft - It brings up another good point: Reason #9387547 thrift stores are amazing - A lot of the things you will find are already perfect worn in. Was this shirt as soft for the person who initially bought it brand new? Probably not. But give it a bunch of wearings and washings and you have yourself something perfectly worn. And now it is mine. Thank you, previous owner(s), thank you.

Camo Dreams (4/30)

Let's talk about camo today, shall we? I have been obsessed with the idea of owning a camo jacket for a while now. The obsession got further out of control when I came across this photo at All The Pretty Birds! Doesn't she look amazing? The camo jacket just totally makes the whole look and the necklace she paired with it? Oh, swoon. Needless to say, I have spent great amounts of time dreaming up my own camo jacket and what I would pair it with.

Then came one fateful trip to Old Navy. And there it was. Hanging alone on a clearance rack amidst tanks and sundresses. My perfect size. A dream come true!


Pleated Skirt: Peter Popovitch, Thrifted, $1.50
Black Tee: Forever21, Thrifted, OLD
Camo Jacket: Old Navy, $20.99 (on clearance)
Braided Belt: Tagless, Thrifted, $1
Wedge Sandals: Mossimo "Pilar", Target, FREE ($29.99 but bought with gift card)
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
Bracelet: Inherited from grandma
Watch: Inherited from grandma
It got a simple styling today - all black and camo. It doesn't get much easier than that yet it still looks good, you know? Classic with a twist. Pleats with an edge. My favorite belt to cinch the jacket in...


And my favorite jewelry ight now...


Both are pieces I inherited from my grandma... The watch doesn't work at this point but I wear it because it reminds me of her. Out of all the jewelry I inherited from her, this is my favorite. It is the one of my favorite memories of her - she was always wearing a watch and it was always a small, dainty watch like this. In fact, this was the one she wore the most and the only one left in her massive jewelry box at her death. Clearly, it was her favorite, which makes it a fast favorite for me as well.

In closing,



1. A favorite jacket
2. A favorite skirt
3. Favorite jewelry

It all makes for a happy Katie.

Lemon and Lime (3/30)

How do you combat the back-to-work Monday blues? I dressed up in a color blocked, bright as can be kind of outfit! Truth be told, I think it really did help my outlook today.


Yellow Henley: Old Navy, Thrifted, $2.99
Vintage Green Skirt: Tagless, Thrifted, $7.50
Nude Flats: Mossimo Supply Co, Target, $6.48 (clearance - in store)
Necklace: Gift from friend, Bought in Italy!
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
The minute I picked out my thirty pieces, I had this outfit in mind. I mean, bright yellow and bright green? It's a match made in heaven or, at the very least, a match made for summer! Plus, I have a lot of great, bright jewelry that can go with it so well - the piece that made the final cut is this amazing beaded necklace a friend of mine brought back with her for me from Italy.

Molto bello!

Now... what shall I ever wear tomorrow?



Chow! :)

Lady Grey (2/30)

Some days just seem nothing but a world of grey. Do you ever have those days?


Gingham Button Up: Merona, Target, $4.98 (clearance)
White Tee: Charlotte Russe, OLD
Grey Capris: LEE, Won in giveaway (FREE!)
Houndtooth Scarf: Old Navy, OLD
Sandals: Liz Claiborne Flex, Thrifted, $2.80
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

You wake up late. Your shower doesn't seem long enough. Nothing fits right, looks right, feels right, anything right. Your hair doesn't lay the way you want it to. It's too hot outside. The humidity makes your hair look worse. It's so cold inside that you suddenly feel like you should be wearing a fur coat. Your nail polish chips. Your job bores you to tears. You talk to five million angry people on the phone. A co-worker annoys you. Dinner has to be made. Laundry needs to be washed. Projects need to be completed. Trash needs to be taken out. And so on and so on.

And then your boyfriend takes your fashion photos for your blog and makes you smile all goofy like and everything is put into balance again.



Here's to the grey days that make you appreciate the non grey days that much more! :)