Black & White: To The Max

Just a little quickie today because my camera and I were not on good terms yesterday. The weather this week has caused me to hole up inside. It's been snowy, dark and dreary... all. week. long. It doesn't make for very good photos, I know.


Black Sweater: Forever21 (old, old, olddddd)
Black/White Gingham Dress: Coldwater Creek, Thrifted
White Top: Forever21
Boots: Franco Fortini, Ebay
White Belt: Thrifted, $1
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
You're probably wondering what part of my outfit is the piece from that dark hole of my closet that I never wear. It's the sweater. Remember when long sweaters were cool and all the rage? Yeah, a long, long time ago. I've had this sweater since then. My boyfriend I have been dating for nearly nine years and I know I bought it right around the time I met him (actually, I think I bought it to wear on one of our first few dates!) so, yeah, it's THAT old. Why do I still own it? Sentimental reasons. OK, I put it out there, I'm one of those people. I couldn't let this sweater for for the pure fact that I bought it around the time he and I started dating so it always brings me back to those days.

Honestly, I have probably not worn this sweater for years. It's been moved from apartment to apartment to apartment in the last four years. It's gone with me to college and back. And yet I haven't worn it for years. Is that silly or what? But, you know what? I like it worn with this dress! I think it looks pretty darn good! Long sweater over long dress? Yes, please!

Do you have pieces in your closet that you haven't worn for years but just can't seem to let go? What is your reasoning?

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways

Winning a giveaway is fantastic for two reasons: 1.) You have a new item to add to your wardrobe for free. What could be more frugal than that!? 2.) You are (most likely) introduced to a new company/store/brand/what-have-you. This is a great way to try something you either might not have bought on your own or try something you may have never heard about prior! I love that. This, my friends, is why every week I write a little post called Winning Wednesday. I hope you like the picks this week!

1. Raven Denim is giving away some of their fall 2010 jeans to three lucky winners. They'll pick the winners once they have reached 1,000 facebook fan and 1,000 twitter followers. Click here for more info!

2. Lah TEA Dah is giving away a gorgeous Sudara ring from Daily Accessory. Click here to enter! Ends: January 11, 2011

3. Little Chief Honeybee is giving away a Diana Mini lomo camera! Imagine the pretty fashion photos you could produce with that! Click here to enter! Ends: The end of this month!

4. Calivintage is giving away a leopard scarf and a vintage red purse from Floria Vintage. Click here to enter! Ends: January 11, 2011

5. Ala Modest is giving away a winter hat and scarf of your choice from Sweet Edge! This should keep you warm but chic for the next few chilly months! Click here to enter! Ends: January 14, 2011

6. Kendi Everyday is giving away a $25 gift certificate to Le Mode Accessories. I'd personally love to buy these black metal earrings. Pretty! Click here to enter! Ends: January 9, 2011

7. Song of Style is giving away an amazing Rebecca Minkoff Python Clutch! (My thanks to Clothed Much for pointing this one out on twitter!) Click here to enter! Ends: January 11, 2011

8. What Annie Wears is giving away three fabulous beauty products worth $120! Dior lip gloss? Yes, please! (My thanks to Free Grechen for letting me know about this one!) Click here to enter! Ends: January 24, 2011

9. The Find Blog is giving away a $200 gift certificate to b-glowing. (My thanks to A Few Goody Gumdrops for letting me know about this one!) Click here to enter! Ends: January 10, 2011

10. Huzzah Vintage is giving away a $30 gift certificate to Blouse. (My thanks again to Free Grechen for letting me know about this giveaway!) Surprise, surprise, I would love to buy this black and white plaid skirt! Click here to enter the giveaway! Ends: January 9, 2011

Good luck, guys! Did you win anything last week?

Made for each other...

I was having a bit of a must-go-thrift-shopping-NOW moment this weekend but didn't want to spend a lot of money (hello, right after Christmas time). I kept it to a few choice pieces AND I paid with a gift card the lovely ladies of Kaboodle sent me for a Christmas gift for being an A-Lister.


Top: Old Navy (this one is similar)
Tank: (underneath) No Boundries, Walmart
Vintage Skirt: Heather Gray, Thrifted, $1.20
Boots: Nine West, Thrifted, $8.99
Belt: Thrifted, $1
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
I was sold the minute I saw the print of this skirt. I love that it combines autumn tones with a hint of aqua. It's a color combination that I never would have thought would look good together, but it totally works.


When I was putting the outfit together last night, I was pulling every possible belt out of my closet to pair with it. The skirt has an elastic waist which needs to be replaced - it's old and doesn't have much of its elasticity left. After digging out about ten different belts, I unearthed the one I'm wearing. I had completely forgotten about it... and, hello, does it not look like it was made to go with this skirt!?


And these boots? One of my favorite thrift store finds. I love Nine West shoes but, let's face it, I can't readily afford new leather boots as much as I would like to. Finding them at the thrift store in decent condition for $8.99? That I can deal with! I've had these for so long I can't even remember when I bought them.



Can't wait to show you the other pieces I bought! Have you bought anything good at a secondhand store recently?

Inspired By: Day2DayWear

Back in November I fell in love with one of Jodi's (of Day2DayWear) 30 for 30 Remix looks. It combined red, zebra print and brown. (See how she rocked it here!) Red and zebra print? That I would do. Mix in brown? I never would have done that. Now... remember, I'm getting over my whole "no mixing black and brown" thing!


Red Coat: Massini, Thrifted
Zebra Dress: Mossimo, Thrifted
Black Tank: Old Navy, $2
Black Footless Tights: ??
Brown Boots: St. John's Bay, Thrifted, $4.60
Necklace: Thrifted
Not only was this outfit inspired by a fellow blogger but it also tied in with my whole wear items I never wear thing. I never wear this red coat. Why? It's frumpy. I seem to forget that fact every time I wear it because it keeps making it back into my closet. No more. This one officially has a spot saved in my donate/swap pile now. (Also, this is where I apologize for my glare. It's been a long day and forced smiles are equally as ugly, right?)


Red and zebra? This is a Katie do. I love the classic mix of red with black and white. OK, is there any color that doesn't look great paired with black and white? Not in my book.


Out of my comfort zone: Brown boots with a non-brown outfit. I did it and I loved it. I would have loved to tie the brown in with a brown belt like Jodi did but this red coat already has a belt attached to it so there was no undoing that.


My version of tying the brown in: A red, black and tan necklace. One of my favorite things about this necklace is that the tan beads sometimes look tan and they sometimes look grey. Multifunctional. They look grey in this picture but I think against the brown you would see how they look tan.

What did you wear recently that was outside your comfort zone?