Fall Shopping On A Dime At Walmart

Walmart… I have a love hate, mostly hate, relationship with that place. I only go there when I absolutely need to, and yesterday was one of those days. As I was passing the women’s section I saw it. It being a red and black plaid shirt. Y’all, I have had a red plaid shirt on my mind since the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. There was this one by Rails that I loved but it was $150. Nope! Move along. I’m not spending that much on a plaid shirt. So, as I was saying, there was this red shirt, and it inspired me. How about a fall round up post from the good ole Wally World, because no one is too good to shop at Walmart.

The words trendy and Walmart have never went hand in hand for me personally, but, you guys, they are tying to go there, even though it really only feels like a half hearted attempt. The attempt is most noticeable in the two newest lines, which are called Time And Tru and Terra & Sky, which is the plus sized line. I shopped the Time And Tru line.  I will be honest, this brand seems to have an identity crisis to me. There were some pieces that were of decent quality, and dare I say trendy, but there were other things that felt cheap and dated. The other brand that I tried on was the No Boundaries label. This is a Juniors line, and the quality was definitely lacking in a lot of the peices. I did find the plaid shirt in that brand though, and its quality is ok for the price, and the black skinny jeans I tried were actually surprisingly sturdy feeling. Below you can see what I tried on.

I was honestly a little shook at how much I liked these pants! They were somewhere between a legging and a pant, and had an exposed zipper on the back. They also were in a great Glen Plaid pattern, which is a huge trend this fall. They felt pretty sturdy, not too thin, and fit true to size. Time and Tru Women's Skinny Zip Back Ponte Pant. This shirt left me kind of indifferent. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Also, I wish it had been a little longer with the pants, as I am paranoid about showing my tush in leggings. I think it would be super cute with a pair of distressed jeans. Also, this top was from No Boundaries, which is Walmart's Juniors line, so it definitely ran small. I sized up 1, but you could even go 2 if you would like a looser fit. Grommet Lace Up Scoop Neck Rib Knit T-Shirt

You know I can't resist a good camo print, and I really loved this relaxed thermal top.
 Women's Time and Tru Long Sleeve Thermal Henley.  Fits TTS.
Women's Core Super Skinny Jean in Fly Tint These ran a little small in my opinion. I usually wear a 12, and these were tight. I liked that the ankle opening was small, because I have a hard time finding skinny jeans that are small enough in the ankle. I wish I could have tried on the 14 as well, but sadly they were out of stock. Im curious if the ankle opening will still be as small in the next size up. Hopefully I can try them on during my next Walmart run.

This outfit is from the No Boundaries line. Since this is Juniors I had to size up in both peices. Actually , I take that back, Im wearing a size large top in this picture, which is my true size. I ended up purchasing the XL though because I wanted to actually be able to button it. I loved the button detail on the side as well. Lace Back Yoke Plaid Roll Tab Sleeve Blouse. I sized up 1 in the pants and they fit well. They also have a button fly and high rise that is on trend. Overall, these jeans felt sturdy and well made, but the black dye had a strong smell, so I ultimately put them back. Triple Stack Wide Cuff Jeans

There were a few honorable mentions as well, but I didn't try these on because I already have peices very similar to them, If you are looking for low cost trendy options to add to your Fall wardrobe then these would do great!

1. Time and Tru Women's Hooded Anorak Utility Jacket

2. Time and Tru Ribbed Duster Cardigan

3.Time and Tru Hi Lo Plaid Shirt Dress

Also, if you are looking for Teddy Bear Fleece Walmart has you covered! There were 2 options: one by Time and Tru and one by No Boundaries. Personally, I would go with the Time and Tru option. It was more expensive, but it had a higher quality look and feel.

Time & Tru Women's Snow Tipped Quarter Zip Jacket

No Boundaries Sherpa Half Zip Pullover Hoodie

Next I will move on to the shoes. I will go ahead and say that Walmart's Fall shoe game is pretty strong. There were so many cute booties. I wanted to take at least 2 pairs home but I resisted since I already have so many booties. The best part is all of these were $25 or less.

I have included a few of links here. Time and Tru Western Style Boot, Time and Tru Woven Boot, Time and Tru Fringe Boot, and Time and Tru Wedge Boot

Next can we talk about slip on sneakers? I love sneakers. They are my go to shoe, and these quilted ones are amazing for the price. I have a similar pair in perforated faux leather by Time and Tru and I absolutely love them. I would definitely recommend scooping these up!

Time and Tru Flat Quilted Shoe

Also, can you believe that you can buy some over the knee boots for 20 bucks? Well believe it, because Walmart has them. The quality is average, and the investment is minimal for this trend forward shoe.

Time and Tru Over The Knee Boots

To round out my Trip I hit the handbags. Walmart has never been my go to stop for handbags mainly because they are usually pretty bland. I really like for my accessories to elevate my outfit, and if I am going to splurge on something it is more often than not a handbag. That being said, Walmart does have some cute trend forward bags right now that are great if you are on a budget. My favorite was the leopard print handbag. Leopard is a major fall trend, which thrills me because I have loved any kind of animal print for as long as I can remember. GIVE ME ALL THE LEOPARD PRINT!!! An added bonus is that this bag looks more expensive than it is. Its a classic style bag with a fun pop of leopard. I am confident that this bag will be stylish even beyond this Fall. Another option are the faux fur and velvet shoppers by Time and Tru. These are definitely a more trendy bag, so it makes sense to not invest a lot in a piece that will likely not have a lot of staying power past Fall. For the price these totes are a great way to inject a little fun into an outfit.

Time and Tru Harper Satchel

Time and Tru Black Fur Tote, Burgundy Fur Tote, Mauve Velvet Tote, Emerald Velvet Tote

Finally, no trip to Walmart for me is complete without a stop by the men's department to look at the graphic tees. I have found some of my best band t-shirts at Walmart for less than 10 bucks. On this trip I wasn't disappointed.

Happy Little Trees and Squad Goals brought to you by Bob Ross and The Golden Girls

I was super bummed that they didn't have this Poison T-Shirt in my size!

So there you have it. My not so short list of things to check out for Fall on your next Walmart run!. Im going to leave you with this shot of that red plaid button down and my epic Bob Ross shirt.

XOXO,
Cassie

Living With Purpose

2018 has really been a year of growth for me, both personally and professionally. I want to take a few blog posts to really focus on that growth. This one is an introduction to what I am going to call LIVING WITH PURPOSE. For me, Living With Purpose is about having focus and drive in all aspects of my life. Its about not just drifting from point A to point B without any sense of need or desire. Below I have a list of how I started living with purpose. Use it as inspiration for your own list!

This one really seems too obvious, but its really sad how many women don’t take care of their health. Self care should be number 1, because if we aren’t taking care of ourselves then we can’t take care of anything else. If we are not healthy it spills over into all facets of our lives. I’m not just talking about changing your diet or going to the gym, although diet and exercise are super important. I’m talking about being healthy physically and mentally. Im talking about being able to run through a sprinkler with your kids without getting winded, about not raging out over trivial things. Find that thing that makes your heart beat. For me its my daughter and husband. Whatever it is us it as your motivation. The catalyst for my change was surmounting stress at the end of 2017 that culminated in a nervous breakdown at the beginning of 2018. It started with the death of my grandfather in the late fall. That stress was worsened by a tumultuous environment at work, and a stressful period at home where my husband had to travel a lot for his job. It finally came crashing down when my husband was out of town. I missed a week at work, and I finally talked to a doctor. I discovered that I have General and Social Anxiety Disorder, and I finally felt like I had some answers to why I had been feeling the way that I had been feeling most of my life. I have no shame in admitting that I have a mental illness. I am medicated for that illness, and I am certainly a better wife and mom since getting the help that I needed. So, do whatever you need to do to be healthy. Get help if necessary. Once you get healthy it will be easier to live the rest of your life with purpose.

I know, as a mother this one is tough! Once I became a mom everything else took a back seat…including myself. Take some time and put yourself first. I promise you will be a better wife and mom if you do. This was the point that I focused on some of the more superficial things. I say superficial only because, for me I was working on the outward during this step. Of course, the end result was so much more than how I looked. I gained confidence that was noticeable to everyone around me. People were coming up to me and telling me a looked healthy and happy. They didn’t tell me that I looked like had lost weight, which I had, but they were telling me that I looked HEALTHY AND HAPPY. No one had ever told me that before. The boost to my self esteem was amazing, and I kept the momentum moving forward. I revamped my beauty routine and focused on quality of products instead of quantity of products. I focused on learning to love the things that made me, well, me. I embraced my curly hair. I revamped my wardrobe to compliment my body after becoming a mom and my weight loss. It felt good to figure out who I was again. I’m going to have a few blog posts after this one to discuss how I found purpose in my personal style and beauty routine, and I am so excited to share it with you guys! So, all you Mamas out there who are lost in the day to day, take some time for yourself!

Find you passion and PERSUE IT! For me that was fashion. I have always loved clothes and shopping, but growing up we didn’t have a lot of money. Also, I was from a small city in North Georgia. I didn’t have the money or location to have access to shopping big name brands or trends. Y'all, Dalton didn't even get a T.J Maxx until, like, 2008. I had Walmart and Thrift Stores. My love for bargain hunting and thrifting came from necessity. As a teenager I stocked up on fashion magazines to see what the upcoming trends were, and I found affordable versions that were easily accessible for me. Now that I do have the means I still love shopping for good deals, and I absolutely love thrifting. As a hobby I started listing vintage clothes that I would find that I loved, but weren’t my size, on Etsy. I sold some things here and there, but I never really made any money at it. It was just fun for me to hunt for vintage and share my finds with a few like minded individuals. I started this blog as a way to share my finds, but it was never enough. I wanted something more. I wanted to build a business, a brand if you will. I decided to shift my focus from solely vintage to sharing my personal style with the readers of my blog. I got into Poshmark to sell clothes from my closet that I didn’t wear anymore. Let me tell you, Poshmark was the platform I had been searching for. I started listing my vintage on there as well, and I found that I was selling more and actually making money. I started sourcing and listing what I was finding in my Closet as well. Long story short, I found something that I enjoy and turned it into something profitable for me. It was a fairly organic process that evolved as I did. I no longer talk about by reselling as a hobby. I tell people it is my job. Sure I work a 9-5 job in Graphic Arts, but I also have a style blog and resale business. Finding my passion was the final piece to my personal path to purpose. 

Over the next couple of weeks I want to share with you some of this process. I want to show you how I live with purpose instead of just shuffling around day to day. My hope is that maybe I can serve you up a little inspiration! I hope that you will check back in soon!

Why White Jeans Triggered My Anxiety

Y'all, I'm going to go ahead and say it. I have anxiety. Like, I have to be medicated level anxiety. To other people the things that work me up probably seem stupid, but to me they are totally legit reasons to want to run away screaming. Social situations are my downfall. I either shut down and don't talk to anyone, or I ramble incoherently until the person I am talking to thinks I have lost my mind. There is no middle ground. With that being established, let me tell you about my decision to buy some white jeans...

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing Pinterest like I am apt to do, and I came across some major outfit inspiration. I decided that I needed some white jeans. In my mind I knew what I wanted. I wanted them to be just the right level of distressed, mostly because crisp white jeans just aren't my thing. I decided that I needed a shopping trip, so out I went with Ava the next day to one of my favorite places: Old Navy.

I scoured the tables of Rock Star jeans and jeggings (my go to), and I found a few pairs that were white, while trying to wrangle my wired up 2 year old. They really weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I had my Little One with me (terrible idea) and I was distracted, so I grabbed a pair that I (mostly) liked and headed home. When I tried them on I really wanted to love them, but I just wasn't satisfied. They were too baggy around the ankles, which is not a problem that usually have with the Rock Star style. Also, they only had a tiny bit of distressing at the front pockets. I decided there was no sense in keeping my distracted purchase, so I would go and return them the next day.

After Ava's bedtime I did some online research and found exactly what I was looking for on American Eagle's website. Confession time: I haven't set foot in an American Eagle in approximately 10 years. I didn't want to seem like one of those women who was desperately trying to hang on to my youth by shopping where the teenagers do (cue the ridiculous self consciousness), but these jeans were exactly what I was looking for. Normally I would have just ordered them online, but I had no idea how they would fit, so there was only one choice. I had to go into an actual store and try them on.

The next day I went to the mall after work sans kiddo, because I wasn't going to relive that hot mess again. I walked through the doors of American Eagle, and y'all, I kind of felt like the weird kid walking into high school for the first time. Here I was, a 35 year old with an epic Mom Bod, walking into a store with things like Soft & Sexy tank tops and shortie shorts that were shorter than the pockets that were hanging out of the bottom. I felt weird and self conscious, and I didn't like it. Im pretty sure that the three girls working there were all under 18. They looked at me and smiled, and continued folding shirts. I was convinced that after I walked past they were snickering and wondering what I was doing in there. Of course this was all in my head... thanks anxiety!

With my face hot I walked over to the rack of jeans and selected the white ones I had looked at online and went back towards the dressing rooms. A friendly girl unlocked the door for me, and told me to let her know if I needed a different size or anything. I stood there for a moment looking at the jeans realizing that they looked small. Too small. Enter the self consciousness again... there was no way these jeans were going to fit me, and if they did I was going to look like a busted can of biscuits. I tried them on, filled with self doubt, and holy cow, they fit! They fit really well in fact. They were exactly what I was searching for. They fit in the ankles properly, and had just the right amount of distressing. I was sold.

Filled with the confidence I had left somewhere outside the front door of the store, I took my jeans up to the cashier. I had realized something while I was shopping. Age is really just a number, and I should shop wherever I find what suits my vision. We should wear things that make us feel great about ourselves. Feeling good about ourselves boosts confidence, and I know for me confidence makes me feel stronger and more able. While I may not be wearing shortie shorts any time soon, I did discover that American Eagle has great jeans that suit my body ( I now have 2 more pairs and didn't mind going back into the store at all). Personal style really is about taking what you love and making it your own. The key is owning it. Never feel awkward in your choices. Rock that Mom Bod with confidence. I know that's easier said than done, but I am working on it everyday. And without further delay I will show you the outfit that I put together with my new white jeans!

Shirt: Universal Thread, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: A New Day,
Necklace: Sugarfix by Baublebar, Bracelet: Vintage

This vintage bracelet has extra meaning, because turquiose
 is my daughter's birthstone 

You should run to Target to get these shoes fast! They are perfect. They can be dressy or
casual, and the heel is comfy enough that I can still run after my toddler in them.

What A Strange Trip It's Been

So this is going to be a long one...

I'm going to start off by saying that being 35 years old is weird... I kind of feel like I am stuck in some sort of mid life version of that Britney Spears song "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman". On one hand I still feel like the person who could stay up until 3 a.m and take 4 tequila shots, but on the other hand I know I would, worse case scenario, die or, best case scenario, end up wishing I was dead for 2 days if I tried that now. Being in my 30's has ended up feeling like some sort of crazy transitional period.

I definitely feel like my personal style has evolved since hitting my 30's. I'm positive that motherhood has played a big role in that as well. Becoming a Mommy was almost like starting from scratch; like adulthood's new puberty or something. My body changed, and things I was comfortable in were no longer comfortable anymore. I was in a new mom rut, you guys. I abandoned pants with buttons, and leggings were my new best friend. All my time and energy was spent supporting this tiny new life, and I was a-okay with that for a while. I also gained A LOT of weight during my pregnancy. 75 pounds to be exact. I never lost all of it after Nugget was born. I carried around 30 extra pounds for 2 years after she was born. Mid way through that 2 year period I started feeling like it was time to get my groove back. I had to figure out who I was as a person again after I had devoted every ounce of myself into being "Ava's Mommy". I needed to figure out who Cassandra was again. The thing I learned is that I was never going back to who I was before becoming a 30 something mom. I was the same, but I was different if that makes any sense. If you are a mom though, of course it makes sense.

The first step of my personal style journey was discovering LuLaRoe. I know the response to the brand is a mixed bag. People either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be a lot of in between. For me though, LuLaRoe was a godsend at the time. You mean, I can look cute and be comfortable? Sign me up. I was fully into the cult of LuLaRoe. I was stalking Facebook pages looking for Unicorn patterns. I was hosting my own pop ups so I could earn free stuff. I was snatching up ALL THE THINGS!!! My closet was bursting with clothes. My husband was concerned for our bank account. I needed to rein it in, and I needed to find some balance. I had lost those quirks to my personal style that made me, well, ME! I looked like a walking LuLaRoe advertisement.

I combed through some of my old pieces that I had hung on to. Of course they were too small, but the essence of my style was still there. There was lots of black, animal print, stripes, distressing, and vintage. I compared it to the LuLaRoe that I had been buying with a frenzied pace over the past year, and I found that the new didn't really have a common thread at all. It was a random hodgepodge of things that I thought I liked at the time, but in reality what I loved was the novelty of it. I had loved that slightly rock and roll style with a dash of vintage before my pregnancy, and I found that I was still drawn to it in my 30s. That, my friends, is because it's the core of what I seek in my personal style. I had to weave that back into my new quest for comfort and mom appropriate things.

The first thing I did was I went through all the LuLaRoe with an objective eye. I weeded out anything that didn't feel like me, and well it was a lot of stuff. I found that I was impulse buying, and with LuLaRoe that can be a real problem. Since there is no guarantee of seeing the same pattern twice I was experiencing serious FOMO, and that had to stop. I found that when I was done I had a nice selection of solids, stripes,  and classic patterns like animal prints and florals. Nice florals though, not the ones that look like a bad acid trip (if you shop LuLaRoe you know what I am talking about). I started mixing in the new with the old, and I found that I had a new look that was still the old me, but it was evolved for the person I had became.

For me, I had always equated Mom style with being relaxed to the point of not caring, but since becoming a Mom I have discovered thats not the case. Now, Mom Style is being stylish while still being able to execute my responsibilities as a mother. I found that I could look styled and put together, but still able to tend to Ava. It was my epiphany. I was ready for change. I was also ready to be able to wear my wedding ring after almost 3 years. You see it hadn't fit in that long due to the weight gain . Me and the Hubs decided to get healthy starting January the 1st (You know, a resolution 😏). The thing is, when you are ready for change, and its motivated by something other than vanity, you tap into this hidden well of determination. I wanted to be healthy for my daughter. I wanted to set a good example so that she could see what healthy self care looks like. I wanted to be able to wear the ring that had so many emotional ties to it. The pounds started to come of. Here we are, 5 months later, and I can wear my rings again and I can put on pants with buttons and zippers.

So, here I am, finally catching my stride in this 30's thing. I still love my LuLa, but I also love distressed jeans and a great vintage find. I found ways to make all these things work together, and I think that I am pulling it off! See, one of the most amazing things about being 35, is this new found confidence that I have (well, except for that time 2 weeks ago that I decided to shop at American Eagle, but thats another story for another blog post 😂). I feel strong and capable in my 30's, and that is something that I never had in my 20's. I finally feel that I am ready to pick up this blog again and share my journey with y'all. I can't wait to see what my future brings.

xoxo,
Cassandra

(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