Channeling Jenna Lyons

I'm beginning to think that Jenna Lyons (president and executive creative director at J. Crew, if you don't know) is my spirit woman. I'd say spirit animal but she's obviously not that. The woman knows how to dress and I've caught on... she seems to always pair her eye catching glasses with the perfect topper. A jacket. A coat. A blazer. A button up. The woman always has the perfect topper - be it simple or be it statement, it always looks perfect and very HER. I love how she looks classic even when she is wearing something very un-classic. I decided to switch that up and paired my very un-classic glasses with a classic topper...

Jeans: Old Navy [exact for $22]
Blazer: Apostrophe, Thrifted [love this tuxedo jacket for $32.90!]
Tunic Button Up: Worthington, JCPenney [polka-dotted J. Crew for $24.99!]
Shoes: Franco Sarto, Thrifted [similar in patent leather for $17.70!]
Eyewear: Zenni Optical #636024 [exact - just $19!]
Monogram Bracelet: c/o 9th & Elm [exact]

There's something so delightfully easy about black and white, a blazer and a button up, denim and oxfords. I'd love to say I'd like to "simplify" my closet and cut myself down to all black and white pieces... but a girl just needs some color in her life. I do, at least. These glasses are one of my favorite colorful pieces. I get a lot of questions when I wear them: Are they real? As in, do I have prescription lenses? Yes, most certainly. My driving is better for it. :) Do they glow in the dark? Har har, no. But I guess that would be pretty cool. Does the color hurt your eyes? Only first thing in the morning when I am half awake. Only slightly kidding. Some people love them, some seem horrified by them. It's cool. I fully realize neon green is not every person's cup of tea. (I dislike tea, for the record.)

My favorite piece of jewelry right now is this perfectly sized monogram bracelet that I picked up thanks to 9th & Elm. I've been admiring monogrammed pieces for a while now but was never sure what type of piece I would want to get monogrammed for myself. When I saw this bracelet I knew it was the piece I had been looking for - silver, small but not too small, and affordable. It works well worn alone and also stacked with other bracelets.

Can we have a keeping it blogger-style real moment, please? First of all, yep, my shirt is hella wrinkly. These photos were taken around 7pm after a full work day, a walk with my new puppy and plenty of playing with my puppy. Wrinkles happen, man. Second of all, my fiancé (engagement/wedding stuff is another planned post, I'm getting there... I swear) told me I was wearing this bracelet wrong and made me fix it before I took photos so that my monogram is facing anyone in front of me instead of facing me. I feel like it is strange to wear that way. Am I wrong? Please school me: how do you/would you wear a monogram bracelet? Am I silly for wearing it facing me?

Lesson in Frugality: Lace Up Boots

All I can think about right now is boots. Boots, boots, boots. I blame it on the SUPER CHILLY weather we have been getting right now. I know it's fall, but this weather has been making me think Michigan was going to skip that season all together and move right on in to winter. That being said, I went on the hunt tonight for the perfect lace up boots. I'm picturing these paired with some nice knit socks and a pretty full skirt. Sassy!


Quite a price difference, no?! Don't get me wrong... the Steve Madden Harllem boot is gorgeous. I like its smooth leather finish. I could see these paired easily with almost any outfit thanks to it's classic finish.

HOWEVER. You're here because you are frugal, like me. We don't regularly spend $99 on shoes. Well, I don't... especially when I know this boot may not be one I want to wear next fall. That's where the Route 66 Justine boot comes in. This lady is quite a deal at $29.99. Her finish is not as smooth as the Harllem boot, but that's ok. I like the more worn-in look this boot has - it adds an edgier look to it, which I think is perfect with a boot like this.

Which do you prefer?

Raven

Some days I am just all about the black.

Black Tank: (underneath) Old Navy, $2
Black Tunic: Saville Sport by Rena Roman / Thrifted last year
Black Pants: New York and Company... and literally probably ten years old. No lie.
Black Patent Wedges: Tahari/Thrifted - $3.40
Bangles: Part of a bigger set from Forever21... bought these last year for a wedding.
Glasses: My beloved SEE Eyewear cateye glasses :)
Hair: VERY MUCH in need of a cut and put up while wet today... I was lazy.

This is one of my favorite all black outfits. I typically do not wear a lot of black pieces together - I'm picky and think that each piece I am wearing isn't the same "shade" of black. A little OCD, yes. Welcome to me! :) This look never lets me down though. It's one of my favorite looks to pull together when I am feeling lazy. My favorite thing about the sheer tunic is that it is the perfect length and has slits down either side... which makes it very flowy. The picture doesn't show this as well as I would like but you can kind of see the way it billows as it was slightly windy outside when I was taking these pictures.


I bought these bangles last year when I had a wedding to attend. They came as part of a larger set. You'll come to find out pretty quickly that I love bangle bracelets. I think one of the first things I ever bought at a thrift store was a vintage black bangle. I haven't stopped since!


I found these shoes the other day on my most recent thrift hunt. $3.40 is quite certainly a deal for Tahari shoes... especially when they appear to have never been worn! Wore them at work all day (which is always the ultimate shoe test!) and couldn't be happier - they are super comfortable!