(Pencil) Skirting The Issues

Over the past couple of weeks I have been really busy getting my Etsy shop reorganized, so I haven't really had a chance to go thrifting or to blog. I don't really have any vintage to post right now either, so I decided to do a post on my new LuLaRoe Cassie skirt. While this isn't vintage, it is a pencil skirt, which is a really classic style. The story below could easily be replicated using an awesome vintage pencil skirt too :)

I have a love / hate relationship with pencil skirts. I love how they look on other people, and I hate how they look on me. I am always drawn in by their sleek shape and classic styling. In my mind I look curvy and Marilyn Monroe-esque wearing a pencil skirt. In reality I look like a busted can of biscuits. The struggle is real!

So lays the groundwork for the events that transpired... A few weeks ago I joined the Facebook page of Lindsay Laugherty, who is a LuLaRoe Consultant. You can find her Facebook group here. she is awesome and has some super cute things. I highly recommend that you join! I was browsing through her page, and lo and behold I came across a snapshot of the most fantastic print. It was sea horses! I knew that whatever this garment was I had to have it. It could have been a potato sack for all I cared. Those sea horses were calling my name. I inquired what exactly this pattern was on,  and I got my answer: a Cassie skirt. Now, for those of you not familiar with LuLaRoe the Cassie is a pencil skirt. I had my doubts for a fraction of a second. I knew there was a really good chance that I would look like the equivalent of the potato in the sack mentioned above wearing that skirt. I didn't care. I had to have it, so when she had her launch party I snapped that skirt up really quick. I was already making hypothetical outfits in my head. In all of those mental pictures I looked svelte and ready to conquer the world.

The pattern that started it all

Fast forward a few days, and my skirt that could have been sewn by the Angels themselves was in my mailbox. There was no way it could look bad on me! I unwrapped my package an laid the skirt out on the bed. I instantly began to question my judgement. It was so... Pencil skirt-y. I broke out into a sweat. The panic was washing over me. Now, I am pretty body confident, and the fact that I don't wear a size 6 doesn't bother me. I'm fuller figured and I am okay with that, but I swear that skirt was laying there just mocking me, striking fear deep into my heart.

What did I get myself into...

I sighed and pulled on my Cassie, and surprise, I pretty much looked like a busted can of biscuits. The curse of the pencil skirt continued. I stood there looking at myself in the mirror, and decided that skirt was way too amazing to return, even if pencil skirts do strike fear deep into my heart. I was gonna be damned if the pencil skirt that shared my name was going to defeat me. I learned a lesson. If you are a plus sized and pear shaped gal like myself you CAN wear a pencil skirt! You just have to be a little more creative in your styling. So I raided my closet and came up with a few options for wearing my fantabulous skirt!

So here is the skirt worn in a not so flattering way. I really felt uncomfortable with the skirt worn this way, because it put an emphasis on the area that I am most self conscious about: My stomach. It never bothered me a whole lot until I had Ava Nugget, and now I have the dreaded post pregnancy mommy pooch. This pencil skirt is no bueno with a shirt tucked into it like this.

Thats a big ol negative

So here is option number one and it is really perfect for fall. I paired my skirt with a flowy longer t shirt from Old Navy. It was a little shapeless so I knotted it from the inside, and it was exactly what it needed. The shirt was loose enough to conceal my stomach, and knotting it really helped to create some shape. I paired it with yellow tights to really bring out the yellow in the flowers, and gray boots were a nice way to tone down the tights a little bit.

Option number one: knotted t shirt and tights

Option number two is dressier than option one. I really like the look of a shirt tucked into a pencil skirt, but with my body type I was going to have to come up with a way to make this look more flattering. I decided to go with a jersey knit drapey cardigan on top. This was pretty much perfect for this look. It really pulled this whole look together. I think this would be a perfect style for the office.

Option 2: tucked in skirt with a cardigan

Option 3 was really fun. I actually am wearing my Cassie skirt as a shirt here! This is really easy to do with a Cassie because the fabric is stretchy and free of zippers or any other element that might make it fit weird. It essentially is a tube of fabric. I paired my Cassie shirt with a Lindsay kimono, skinny jeans, and a pair of gladiator sandals. I think this might have been my favorite look of the three.

Option 3: Cassie as a shirt

The final option for styling this skirt is to wear it as an infinity scarf. This is totally doable because, once again, the Cassie is just a tube of fabric. I love how this looked with the cropped skinny jeans and ankle booties. Its a really casual and fun look. It would work perfectly for a casual weekend.

Option 3: Cassie as a scarf

So there you have it! Here are 4 options for wearing a pencil skirt if you are plus sized. I think after this experience I have really gained a new appreciation for the pencil skirt, and I am not nearly as intimidated by it. In fact, it's safe to say that this is one of my new favorite wardrobe staples. The lesson I learned is that just because a certain style of clothing seems to be off limits doesn't mean it has to be. You just have to be a little more creative in the ways that you wear it.

xoxo,

Cassandra

TREND WATCH // GRANNY CHIC

When I go out looking for vintage clothing I am always drawn towards certain things. I like big cozy coats and cardigans. I like floral prints and plaids (and I am not opposed to mixing the two under the right circumstances). I like ladylike frame bags, and I like feminine silk scarves. It occurred to me that I might have some Granny Chic tendencies. What is Granny Chic you might be asking? Well the simple answer is that it is exactly what it sounds like. It pretty much looks like you might have raided Grandma's closet for your outfit of the day, and it is totally having a moment, and it's a vintage lover's dream. Granny Chic styles pretty much dominated the 2016 Fall Fashion Week Runways, and its no surprise why...it's so darn comfy! If its done right it can be oh so stylish too! Here are a few ways to capture a Granny Chic look of your own.



Find the fab dress I am wearing above here

OVER SIZED COATS:
Oversized coats are pretty much the pillar of Granny Chic Fashion. I love the swing styles from the 60's. Look for coats in warm and cozy fabrics like wool, velvet. or tweed. Faux fur is also a good choice, and will be huge this fall as well.

CARDIGANS:
Cardigans are also an integral part of the Granny Chic look. Pick one that is a little on the loose side and in a chunky knit. The goal is for the cardigan to actually look warm.

BOW NECK BLOUSES:
These are those blouses that have the scarf like tie around the neck. For the purest interpretation of this trend be sure to tie it neatly into a bow. Granny wouldn't leave the house with her scarf all untied and a mess ;)

MID LENGTH SKIRTS:

 Be sure to pick a skirt on the fuller side. Get bonus points if you choose a pleated style. Keep an eye out for a skirt that your grandmother would wear to church. When you find it, you will know you are on the right path.

FLORAL PRINTs:

If I had to pick only one print to embody the Granny Chic movement it would be floral. Wear it on dresses and skirts, and even mix it with other patterns like plaid or stripes. A modestly cut midi dress will look especially smart when it is in a floral print. Be extra on trend by using a floral print in a dark color palette. Dark florals are another big trend for fall.

DON'T FORGET TO ACCESSORIZE!

No Granny Chic look would be complete without accessories. Tie a silk scarf around your head, and wear a pair of oversized sunglasses. Also, be sure to rock those heels with a pair of socks, and put on a classic pearl necklace. For the truly adventurous you could even dye your hair gray.

GRANNY CHIC MUST HAVES

1. Vintage 70s Coat,  2. Vintage Striped Shirt Dress,  3. Vintage Cable Knit Cardigan,
4. Vintage Ruffled Blouse,  5. Vintage Frame Bag,  6. Vintage Plaid Skirt,
7. Vintage 2 Piece Suit, 8. Vintage Lace-up Booties,  9. Vintage Bow Neck Blouse

The biggest thing with trends like this is to just have fun! Dip your toe in or go full on Granny Chic. There really isn't a right or wrong way to do it. For the beginner try wearing a bow neck blouse with a solid skirt and carry a frame bag. If you are more daring try a look similar to the one that I tried on at the beginning of this blog. The point is to enjoy the clothes you are wearing!

Refashion Friday - 9-2-16

Guess what day it is? FlashbackFriday? Close but not quite, because virtually everything on this blog is a flashback ;) IT'S REFASHION FRIDAY!!! It's the day that I take the goodies that I find on Thriftscore Thursday and style them in a way so that they are more wearable in the modern world. I use peices from my own closet, because I want to keep the Refashion Friday experience as real as possible. Lets face it, anyone can create a perfect outfit when they have the entire virtual closet of the internet to pick from. In real life we don't have that option. We only have what is in our own closet at home, and I want to replicate that reality. Also, I will include pricing and store info whenever possible, because I want my readers to know that it is possible to be stylish on a budget!

 As you might recall, I found some pretty sweet stuff while on Vacation in Akron, OH. I found a pink and white polyester shirt dress, a red polka dot skirt / shirt combo, and a red white and blue drop waist mini dress. I couldn't wait to get home and be able to style these pieces.

Before I dive into my Refashions this week I have got to introduce you to my helper! Her name is Eunice, and she is a dressmaker's dummy made to my Great Grandmother's body specifications. This dressmakers dummy is almost at antique status. She will be showing up quite often in my blog <3

Meet Eunice, vintage model expert!

I started with the most challenging piece: the pink and white polyester dress. I had to brainstorm a little to come up with an idea that didn't feel forced or contrived. It was a little tough to style this dress because I really wanted to downplay the "1970's diner waitress" aesthetic. I think I found the answer in a gray LuLaRoe Lindsay Kimono. First, I would just like to say that I love, love, LOVE me some LuLaRoe. It is a new obsession, and I can happily say that I could live in vintage or LuLaRoe, or a combination of the two! I found this particular Lindsay on Poshmark for a steal. The Lindsay is the perfect contrast to the dress because it is flowy and modern; the exact opposite of my Brady Bunch Dress. I cinched the waist with a braided belt to maintain the shape of the dress underneath. For accessories I went for ladylike vintage accessories. I chose a pair of bow adorned d'Orsay pumps and a structured bag from my Easy shop. A studded wood bangle is a nice finishing touch.

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Vintage Dress - Rebel Rose Vintage - $40.00 - PURCHASE HERE
LuLaRoe Lindsay Kimono - Poshmark - $30.00
Black Belt - Walmart - $2.00
Black Vintage Bag - Rebel Rose Vintage - $40.00
Black Vintage Pumps - Rebel Rose Vintage - $30.00 - PURCHASE HERE
Black Studded Bangle: $5.00
OUTFIT TOTAL: $147.00



Refashion number 2 is the bow neck blouse that was part of the blouse / skirt set I found at Goodwill. I chose to separate the two items, because wearing the two together was just too matronly for my taste. Personally I always have found the bow neck blouse as being to cloyingly sweet for my personal taste. I usually choose to leave the neck tie undone. This gives it a more relaxed look, and the bow resembles a scarf draped around the neck. I also leave two top couple of buttons undone. I decided to pair this top with a pair of distressed and studded jeans. Once again, I made a conscious choice to downplay the sweetness of the blouse.  For the accessories I wanted to keep in line with the jeans. I decided to go with a pair of zippered pumps and a silver collar style necklace. I think along with the jeans it really gave this outfit a rock and roll vibe.

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Vintage Blouse - Rebel Rose Vintage - $20.00 - PURCHASE HERE
Distressed SEVEn Jeans - TJ Maxx - $24.99
Black Heels - Maurice's - $20.00
Necklace - I honestly can't remember where I found this! I know it was less than $10.00 though :)
OUTFIT TOTAL: $74.99


Refashion number 3 is the second half of the blouse / skirt combo. I adore this skirt! If it was in my size there is no way that this would be for sale in my Etsy shop! I am sucker for a vintage midi skirt. I decided to keep this refashion fairly simple, because I really wanted to showcase how pretty this skirt is. I decided to pair it with a simple black tank top and feminine open toe color block pumps. A fun belt and necklace added some interest without overwhelming the focus of the outfit, which is the skirt.

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Vintage Skirt - Rebel Rose Vintage - $25.00 - PURCHASE HERE
Black Tank Top - Motherhood - $15.00
Belt - No Boundaries - Walmart - $5.00
Colorblock Heels - Guess - $39.99
Necklace - Charming Charlie - 9.99
OUTFIT TOTAL: $94.99


For the final refashion I have the drop waist Minidress in a red, white, and blue floral print. I'm pretty disappointed that I wasn't able to find this dress before the 4th of July, because it would have been perfect! Oh well, it is still adorable on any other day of the year :) I decided to style this dress pretty casually. I paired it with yet another distressed and studded item from my own closet: a cropped denim vest. If you can't tell, I have a definite preference for anything that is a little edgy and rock and roll. I also paired a vintage gray envelope cross body bag with it. A cool thing about this bag is that the strap can be removed and the bag can be used as a clutch as well. I love pieces with versatility like that.  I don't show a shoe with this, but I think that a classic white pair of Converse All Stars would go perfectly with this!

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Vintage Dress - Rebel Rose Vintage - $30.00 - PURCHASE HERE
Denim Vest (plain -studded by yours truly) - No Boundaries - Walmart - 12.00
Vintage Purse - Rebel Rose Vintage - $10.00 - PURCHASE HERE
White Converse All Stars (not pictured) - $49.95
OUTFIT TOTAL: $101.95


So there you have it! An awesome ( and a little lengthy) Refashion Friday! Remember to check the outfit breakdowns after each refashion, because some of these things are for sale ;)

xoxo,
Cassie