This is what happens when you dare me- Or - My day off...

I celebrated my Veterans Observance Day doing nothing but perusing the lovely 'net and running out to my local Savers/Value Village to secure accessories and costuming supplies for a shocking 50% off.  (More on my loot later.)  

Due to my lack of motivation and today's renewal of friendship with Tumblr and Facebook, I quickly came across this gem of a post from a close friend:

While the picture itself is adorable, I found myself instantly drawn to the girl's clothing.  Being the ever-faithful fashion blogger I am, I vowed to come up with my own version of this outfit.  A few friends commented on the post urging that they'd like to see such a set.  A little bit of imagination stretching and 45 minutes gave me this:

Sweater;  Scarf;  Socks;  Glasses;  Mug;  Shorts

I know I've taken some artistic liberties with this one, but due to the largely monochromatic artwork I had to work with I thought I matched the colors quite well.  It gives off the right "quirky" vibe that mirrors our lovely bookworm.

Challenge completed.

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

5 Election Themed Tees for Less Politically Inclined (but Fashionable) Citizens

Today is all about doing your civic duty...but there's no shame in looking good while doing it!

I bring you five (mostly geeky) t-shirts sure to make you stand above the political fray and put a smile on fellow voters' faces...

1) Hello Kitty For President - $26 @ Sanrio

2) Rogers/Stark 2012 - $27 @ Redbubble

3) Knope 2012 - $26 @ NBC Universal Store

4) The Doctor 2012 - $18 @ Amazon

5) Vote Zombies 2012 - $20 @ Threadless

Happy Election Day, all!  May the best candidate win!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Countdown to Halloween...Costume Idea #2: Elements of the Periodic Table

We're REALLY getting down to the wire now on the Halloween front.  While there's a bit of time left, I wanted to offer another unique costume idea that one could pull out of their closet.

I can never resist a clever costume.  This is why our current installment of "Countdown to Halloween" features a set of outfits sure to be light on the wallet and invoke a laugh out of friends and co-workers.  This time, it's Elements of the Periodic Table.

Mercury Set:  Lipstick; Leggings; Heels; Dress

Oxygen Set:  Dress; Eyeshadow; Necklace; Sandals; Headband

Neon Set:  Bandeau; Bracelets; Top; Skirt; Heels

I've taken inspiration from the properties of each element (or how we think of them) in order to assemble each outfit.  "Mercury" has a wet, metallic look to it.  "Oxygen" is airy, flowy, and feminine.  "Neon" is bright and flashy - calling to mind the properties of attraction its signs possess.  No matter what, these sets are sure to get some heads turning on Halloween!

I hope you've been inspired this Halloween.  More to come in the next 24 hours plus bonus Dia de los Muertos posts!  

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Countdown to Halloween... Costume Idea #1: Glam Rocker

The date is approaching, and I'm already seeing a healthy amount of people scrambling to find last minute Halloween costumes.  Even if you were living in the darkest of holes near the South Pole, you would still be filled with awareness that Halloween is quickly approaching.  As always, I'm here to help!  

At my job, we have the freedom of dressing up on Halloween if it happens to fall on a weekday.  This year (as you know) it does, and this means I must look impressive.  For those of you who also have jobs that allow you (and even encourage you) to dress up but are having trouble making a decision - fear not!  It will be my job to bring you a plethora of easy and exciting ideas to make your Halloween costume sure to stand out.

This doesn't mean I've forgotten those who have to abide by a stricter dress code.  I also put together some inspiration sets for those who are interested for dressing in the "spirit" of the season but can't be so obvious about it.  

Today, I have our first costume idea - Glam Rocker!

Tee;  Leggings; Eyelashes;  Eyeshadow;  Eyeliner;  Microphone

Jacket;  Headband;  Heels;  Bracelet

I'll confess that many of my sets center around a single piece.  When I spot a deal that stands out, I can't ignore it!  With this costume, it was the leggings.  For only $6, this is a great piece to spring for even if you never wear them again.  I often try to buy pieces for costumes that I'm going to use again, especially if they're expensive.  With almost every other piece in this set, you can wear it again.  In case your fellow party goers or co-workers can't tell you're a rocker chick of sorts, I've also thrown in a cheap microphone prop (only $3.99 at Party City).

Half the battle of pulling off this look is the styling.  In my mind, the headband model has it right.  No need to have a complex hairdo for this outfit.  The make up is a bit more tricky, though.  Bold colors are key.  I've chosen gold and purple, but you could probably choose to do a few different combinations.  The bolder and brighter, the better.  If you're not sure how to pull this part of the look off, start here.  Remember, Google and YouTube are your friends.  Take advantage of the tutorials and inspiration pictures you can find there.

I hope this was helpful for those of you out there who might be stalled with their own Halloween creativity.  Let me know if you have a costume you'd like to see featured on the blog for the rest of the week.  I'll be bringing you fresh ideas all the way up until Halloween!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Lunch Break - Using animals as prints

My readers might have noticed this strange trend of using animals as prints.  I, myself, have found it hard to ignore throughout my persistent browsing of my favorite retail websites.  Much like the graphic print sweater trend we're seeing this season, using animals as prints projects a bold statement.  If you're looking for an easy way to stand out, this is it!

From rain boots to elegant one-shoulder dresses, this trend doesn't seem to be limited to one type of garment.  The versatility of the idea of using animals as prints would suggest that this trend will be around well into the Winter.  

Below are just some of my favorite pieces that I've found via my own browsing...

Fox print sweatshirt;  Camel print blouse;  Whale print rain boots;
Panda print blouse; Horse print jeans; Hummingbird print sweater;
Terrier print socks;  Bird print dress

Feel free to drop me a line if you've come across your own!  There are lots of options out there...

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Trend Tip: Get my colored jeans look!

It's been Fall for a few weeks now, and I've been slow to bring you the trends of the season.  I'm here today to start correcting that situation.  Over the next few days we'll be looking at seven different Fall trends you can easily adopt into your wardrobe.  First up, colored jeans.

(Photo courtesy of Austine Kersey on Instagram)

Top - $2.49 (Thrifted)

Cami  -  $3.00 (Forever 21)

Jeans - $14.99 (TJ Maxx)

Shoes - $4.00 (Thrifted)

We've examined the colored jeans trend before.  For the time being, colored jeans seem to be a lasting trend that even the most fashion inept can attempt.  I've created a set for you to capture my look with this trend.

Top;  Jeans;  Cardigan;  Bracelets;  Earrings;  Shoes

I tried to incorporate all the landmarks of my original look for the example set.  We have the basic color scheme of teal, purple, and gold still present.  I also tried to find a top that could replicate the effect of the striped shirt.  I topped the look off with a colorful bracelet set and a pair of simple earrings.

Tomorrow we'll be trying out a new trend!  In the meantime, please drop me a line if you'd like to see a specific Fall trend represented here.  I'd love to help you out!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

*Late* Lunch Break: Five Stylish (and Simple) Sweaters for Guys

This post was inspired by one of my guy friends who owns only a few pullover sweaters and absolutely NO CARDIGANS!  I thought this very hard to believe, so I've put together this set in order to give those who are sweater-challenged options for staying warm this Fall.

1) Striped Cardigan @ Target

2) Button Mockneck @ Brooks Brothers

3) Shawl Collar Cardigan @ H&M

4) Pescadero Cardigan @ Dockers

5) Wool Blend Cardigan @ Old Navy

I tried to keep this mini collection simple with basic colors and minimal pattern.  Pairing each sweater with a tee or long sleeved shirt that "pops" (i.e. a teal shirt with the white sweater, a green shirt with the burgundy cardigan, etc.) will easily boost your wardrobe for the season at hand.  No more excuses!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Unconventional Styling - What to do with those pesky vacation tees?

Now that Summer is in its twilight, re-organization of our lives and our closets are in order. Recently, I've been weeding out all the pesky pieces of rarely worn clothing in my collection. One of the methods I try to employ to keep the size of my wardrobe small and to also maximize its usefulness is to often restyle. What is restyling? It's the habit of taking a piece of clothing in your wardrobe and styling as many outfits as possible around it. This practice is especially helpful for those who have limited space but want a change in their wardrobe from season to season.

In the recent downsizing of my own apparel, I realized the alarming amount of tees that I have accumulated over the years. Among these tees, I found that I had in my possession a few of those dreaded "My friend went to _____, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" tops. I know I'm not the only one who has these lying around the house, and I wanted to give you guys some ideas of what you could do with these all year round.

On the Lakeshore

Tee; Bracelet Set; Charm Bracelet; Shoes; Earrings; Nail Polish; Shorts

The first choice in my set is a testament to city that is very near and dear to me - Chicago. Strange Cargo, the company who designed this tee, is a homegrown company. Their Lake Michigan tee is a fresh take on the classic vacation t-shirt. I put together this set with a last ditch celebration of Summer in mind. It is also styled with a vintage twist in mind - of days long past when we traded friendship bracelets and the worst thing we had to worry about was remembering the sunscreen while laying out.

Fall Transition

Tee; Sweater; Bag; Pants; Shoes; Headband

This is a clear transitional outfit to take you from Summer to Fall. Popping colors make this outfit eye-catching. The fun colors are (not surprisingly) inspired by the New Orleans atmosphere. This set is also extremely functional - a feature that I often appreciate in an outfit.

The Travelin' Man

Tee; Pants; Sweater; Backpack; Shoes

One of the most important aspects of traveling is being comfortable. Whether your preferred method of transportation is car, train, or plane, casual clothing is a must! It's also important to bring functional clothes while you're out wandering. When I travel, I like to remember to bring a jacket or sweater that can be incorporated into all of the outfits I've packed. Shoes that can go the distance and a versatile backpack are also important to the regular traveler. This Cleveland tee was the inspiration for the men's set. The colors are toned down enough to make the transition for Fall. I've also incorporated a pair of pants that are on trend with the current colored jeans fad.

I hope I was able to give you guys some insight on multipurposing otherwise non-functional pieces to keep your wardrobe small while having limitless outfit possibilities. Feel free to share your own examples of outfit re-purposing with me here or on Facebook.

Until next time!

~ they seek her there