Palm Spring Neutrals

Oh look, for once I'm trying something new! I've been eyeing off the shoulder tops since they started becoming trendy recently, but I wasn't sure if I had the body type to pull it off. Being pretty busty, I tend to shy away from things that require me to wear a strapless bra. That said, I was perusing Unique Vintage during their 20% off sale and noticed that this ruffled off the shoulder top actually looked fairly flattering AND was affordable. So I figured why not? As luck would have it, I absolutely love it. I'll definitely get more use out of it in the summer, but I can't wait to bust it out on those sweltering days when the mere thought of putting on clothes makes you sweat. For once, I will be a little prepared. 

I'm leaving for Palm Springs today for a conference, and while I'll be wearing work-appropriate clothes while I'm there, I thought it might be fun to do an outfit based on what I wish I could wear. If I were just going for vacation, you better believe I'd be packing this top and skirt combo. Regardless, I'm still excited. This will be my first big e-commerce conference with my current company, and there will be speakers from some huge companies. Plus, one of my closest friends happens to be attending with her work as well, so I know it'll be fun. 

P.S. Don't forget - today's the last day to enter the Feminist Resistance Giveaway! Don't miss out.

Polka Dot Top + Statement Necklace

Fair warning, this is yet another post that I'm writing late at night after I have already fallen asleep one and am now on the verge of falling asleep again. So this will not long be a long post, but alas, it will be a post. This is a very typical outfit of me and a variation of something I can most likely be found in at least once a week. I've kind of been living in this skirt for months and just tyring to change up the top when I can. The brief moment of fall we had seems to be gone forever, so it's back to sleeveless shirts and sandals, I suppose. I can't complain too much seeing as I'm in love with these sandals. You win some, you lose some.

Never fear; the front bangs are not gone forever. They got a bit too long and I'm afraid to trim them myself, so they're being push to the side again until I can them cut. They will make a comeback in the near future, along with a new pair of glasses that I'm waiting on. You won't even recognize me.

ThredUp Kensie Dress + Old Navy Cardigan

As an avid secondhand shopper, it's no surprise that I wanted to work with ThredUp. I'm adamant about the fact that most of the best pieces in my wardrobe come from thrift and consignment stores, and while I'll always love the hunt of thrifting in stores, I'm constantly looking for new ways that my lazy self can do so from the comfort of home as well. Naturally, this means that I'm in love with browsing through ThredUp, an online consignment store. As I've said countless times on here, not only is shopping secondhand a great form of recycling, it's also a great way to get unique pieces on a budget. 

This time around, I got three piecs for about $30, which goes a long way on ThredUp. In addition to a skirt that I'll feature in Wednesday's post, I picked out this Kensie eyelet dress and Old Navy cardigan. I've been trying to do a better job of shopping smarter and getting clothes that I won't want to give away in three months (as I'm known to do), and I'm proud to say that I feel confident that I succeeded. This cardigan is such a perfect, comfy staple piece, and I've honestly worn in three times since I got it last week. My wildcard pick was this dress though. I was not sure how this dress would be in person, and once it came in a bit brighter than I expected, I wasn't sure I could pull it off. Once I put it on, though, it was love at first sight. It fit like a glove and ended up being such a fun addition to my closet. What I love most is how surprisingly versatile it is. It's fantastic for layering and easy to dress down, but it also would be my go-to piece to pair with heels for a wedding. I really cannot wait to style this dress a million more ways. 

I love when I give rave reviews with all honesty, so I'm excited to let you know that my readers can head to ThredUp and use the code HANDM50 for 50% off first-time orders up to $50 on H&M pieces. My next post will feature a new staple H&M item from ThredUp, and trust me, you'll want to get one for yourself. 

Schoola Purple Dress + Tan Jacket

I should really just stop checking my email. Every day, there's a promotion from a store I love that's better than the last, and every day, I can't help but browse. I am very weak, and I don't have the self control to pass up a good sale. As I do more email marketing at work, you'd think I'd be able to ignore them as I learn more of the tricks and gimmicks. But no, I am still weak. When Schoola sent an email with a 50% code, and this purple Luck Be a Lady Dress donated by Modcloth showed up in my size, my hand clicked the "buy" button before I had a chance to stop it. Jon and I decided to explore our new city a little bit over the weekend, and this dress was perfect against this mural we stumbled upon. Then again, anything would look awesome in front of this. I still can't believe we found this spot.

Yesterday was filled with vintage goodness, as I met up with Erica at Whurl's Gurl's Night. I always have a blast with Erica, and it was made especially fun by getting to browse through the most beautiful collection of vintage clothes, eat cotton candy, and be surrounded by girls who were way, way cooler than me. It was basically the ideal way to spend a Sunday. Or any day for that matter.

Tan Dress + Old Navy Lavender Sandals

I definitely forgot to take photos this weekend, so this outfit is the result of me forcing Jon to get out of bed and walk outside in his pajamas to help me take this set before I left for work this morning. I know, I know. I'm terrible. I would have been okay without any posts this week, but I like my routine. Even as blog readership dies out, it's still my favorite hobby and I feel lost without it. Fortunately, I not only have a very supportive boyfriend, I also have a live-in photographer now. He knew what he was getting himself into when he agreed to live with me. 

I picked up this dress at a thrift store recently, and even though the color possibly washes me out, it's so comfy and lovely that I don't mind. The faux lace collar was hard to resist, but then again, all fit and flare dresses are hard to resist. The Old Navy sandals have become my go-to pair of shoes lately. While I'm bummed that I won't get much of a chance to dress for fall, I'm okay with making these shoes last all year round. I'm also happy to get any chance to throw some pins on a jacket, and this time I pulled out the one I got from the Wilco concert I attended a couple of weeks ago and this donut pin from Honey and the Hive. 

Thrifted Striped Dress + Leather Jacket

If there's one good things about being bored with my closet (and trust me, there's only one), it's that I get encouraged to try new styles. I've been popping in and out of thrift stores to find some inspiration, and last week I stumbled upon both this cotton trapeze dress and leather/utility bomber jacket in perfect condition. I've tried these dresses before, and I'm still conflicted. On one hand, they're extremely comfortable and I feel very chic when I leave the house. On the other, once I look at photos of myself in them, I can't help but think that I look pregnant. Not really the look I'm look I'm going for. I'm still glad I got this dress because it feels like I'm wearing pjs, but I don't know if it's really my shape. That's what having curves does to you. This jacket though? This is one piece out of my comfort zone that I'm more than happy to be trying. A leather bomber jacket with utility style sleeves is not really what I think of when I imagine the perfectly feminine style that I've created for myself. That said, I'm really digging this piece. I can't wait until it gets cooler so I don't feel insane for busting it out every day.

Is this weekend really over already? I got to see two old pals, both of whom I met through blogging. I grabbed breakfast with my dear friend Nataly (who sadly no longer blogs) on Saturday, and I met up with the lovely Erica of Sweets and Hearts and the Melrose flea market in LA yesterday. It had been far too long since I had seen either of them, and it's a great reminder of the bonds I've formed through the internet. It's crazy to think how comfortable I feel with them even though we originally met online. Whenever I consider quitting blogging altogether, it's great to see the relationships that I've gained through it.

Head to Toe Remix: Outerwear

Welcome to this week's installment of the Head to Toe Remix, in which Priya of Perfectly Priya and I attempt to remix neglected items in our closets - started from the head down. Last week we tackled accessories, which brings to the next item down: outerwear. I immediately regretted agreeing to this when I realized how hot it would be. I have plenty of cardigans and jackets that I would love to build an outfit around, but in 90 degree heat? Not so much. Fortunately, I remembered my most neglected item of all in my closet - this Old Navy utility vest. If there's one item that I consistently go back and forth with myself about whether or not I should get rid of it, it's this vest. It doesn't really match the rest of my wardrobe, yet I still love it. Given my collection of white and cream dresses, this challenge made me see that I actually do have quite a bit of items that I can pair it with. I could have easily swapped out any number of dresses, and I still would have been happy with the result. I finally settled on this cream pleated one and pink sandals to give a fairly masculine item the feminine edge I so crave. I'm also glad to learn that it works as a perfect canvas for my ever-growing collection of pins. 

Priya, of course, looks incredible from, well, head to toe. A leather jacket was such a great idea given that you really can never go wrong with remixing it. I never would have thought to pair it with a skirt like this, but I am slightly obsessed with this skirt in particular and the results. Priya, of course, totally knows what she's doing.

Old Navy Gingham Dess + Denim Jacket

Can you tell how sweaty I am in these photos? Changing three times in a park for multiple sets of outfit photos and wearing a denim jacket in the middle of summer were not two of my finest ideas, but I stand by them. I love the classic look of a denim jacket and gingham sundress, and I especially love having a place to put some of my favorite pins. Sure, the heat was unbearable, but sometimes clothes are worth it.

I'm still on a high from my wonderful weekend, but I'm lucky to actually enjoy my job. My work has taken on some new clients that are exciting, so I've been keeping busy. I'm also starting to do a bit of work on the side for my old company. I'm mostly doing it for the little bit of extra money to put toward a new apartment, but I also really missed my old coworkers so I'm excited to have an excuse to chat with them online again. 

Favorites

The ratio of the amount of times I've worn this dress to the amount of times I've posted pictures of it on the blog is a little ridiculous. I think I've only posted it once, yet it gets worn almost weekly. I'd wear it every day if that were socially acceptable. Actually, maybe I should just do that...

I'll be daydreaming about wearing this dress around a park and just a great weekend in general while I'm back at work today. I had a ton of fun getting ice cream and antiquing with my best friend and then bonding with my co-workers at Oktoberfest and brunch. Let's just say the mimosas were truly bottomless this weekend. Jon and I also watched Beasts of No Nation on Netflix, which I...did not enjoy. I was so focused on watching a Netflix originally movie that will most likely be nominated for Oscars, that I didn't really think about the fact that it was going to be about children brutally murdering people. Not really my thing.

Wood Watches and Triangles

At this point, I think it's safe to assume that when you don't see me update for a week, it means that good things are happening. To start, my birthday was last week (the 17th), and last weekend was wonderful. I took the day off of work, got breakfast and coffee with my best friend, and spent the afternoon in Balboa Beach with Jon. That night, my friends and I went to an Italian restaurant/brewery near my apartment. It was a blast, and the rest of the weekend was filled with more delicious food and family. You know, the important part of birthdays. Then, this past weekend was one of my best friend's wedding. I went to high school with Jeremy, but didn't become close with him until I was in college, and in the past four years, he's become like family. It's so strange to reach that age where my friends getting married is completely normal, and it's even stranger to be at a wedding where I remember the groom calling me to tell me about a girl he met and then helping him set up the proposal. I've gotten to know his new wife, Sabrina, as well, and it was amazing to see them both so happy. It was a seriously lovely wedding, and Jeremy was the first one of my group of friends to get married, which means it was our group's first time at a wedding together. Plus, Jon was a groomsman, and my best friend Adam was the Best Man. It was a blast.

Jeremy and Sabrina invited all of their friends out for breakfast the morning after the wedding, and I wore this dress with a cardigan before I slipped this vest on when it got too hot. I found this Lush dress at a thrift store recently, and it's become my go-to comfortable piece to throw on. I was especially happy to have my new wood watch from JORD Watches to throw on with it this time. Jordwatch was kind enough to send it to me, and I love how unique it is. I've always loved watches, but never end up buying them for myself. I really love that this one is unlike any I would normally find in a store, and it's one that can pair well with casual outfits or dressier ones. 

A Light Jacket and Spring Floral

Here's another work outfit that makes me not only grateful for spring, but for the fact that I don't have a dress code in the office. It was raining off and on the day I wore this, so I went with different shoes, but when I took photos in it, some sandals felt necessary. That's right, it actually rained in California, and even though everyone forgets how to drive when it happens, it's pretty wonderful. It was the rain that reminded me that I own this jacket, which is perfect for spring days and my favorite floral skirt. I really need to wear it more.

This weekend was wonderful and much-needed. I've been insanely busy with my full-time job, the one day a week I've kept at the restaurant, and freelancing for a local paper that assigned me two extra stories this month, so good friends and relaxation were appreciated. Most of my friends were in the mountains for my friend Jeremy's bachelor party weekend, so for the first time in a long time, I found myself with just girls to hang out with. My friends Whitney, Casey, and I had a great night getting frozen yogurt on Friday, and Whit and I decided to be productive at a coffee shop on Saturday. Yesterday, I went over to my parents' house after work, and if you've seen my Instagram feed at all, you know that I got to see their new puppy. He's a silver lab, his name is Samuel Adams, and he's adorable. I'm going to steal him. Or maybe I'll just be making the drive to my parents' house a little more often than usual. 

Skeletor

What's this? Indoor photos? I don't love how they look, but the only time I had to take pictures last week was when it was super bright outside, so I had to improvise. I had had this dress that I borrowed from Jessica (AKA my blogging/life soul mate) sitting in my room for far too long, so I decided it was time to take it out for a spin before sending it on to the next Flock Together girl. Well, this was actually the second time that I put it on. The first time, I wore it to hang out at my brother and sister-in-law's house, and I actually took photos in it. Because I'm overly critical of myself, I decided that I hated how I styled it, and wore it one more time before mailing it out. This time, I went simpler, and I like it much better. When in doubt, this trusted jacket and blue wedges never fail.

Despite my weird struggle with it, I can't get over this dress. The fit is to die for, and the skeleton print is the best. Who knew that skeletons and collars would be such a match made in heaven?

White Dress, Green Vest

I'm hoping that by the time you're reading this, I've gotten a full night's sleep. Or better, maybe I'm still in bed with a full cup of coffee waiting for me for whenever I decide to get up. Last week was so busy (and wonderful), but the only thing missing from it was just a little bit of time to do nothing and sleep. This week is slowly filling up, especially with Thanksgiving/friends and family in town visiting, but I should be able to find a chance to catch up on rest. While nothing could really top seeing Jenny Lewis or Nick Offerman, I still had a great last few days with really good friends. I got to see my friend Greg, who was visiting from Utah, on Thursday, my old Chem class lab group (who still gets together often after becoming good friends) got together for food and drinks on Friday, and I hung out with a few of my best friends for more food and drinks on Saturday. I feel like I've spent a lot of time lately really appreciating what great friends I have, especially after talking with a couple of girls at work who have had harder times finding friends who stick around. I don't know, maybe it's the fact that Thanksgiving in a few days, but I can't help but feel truly lucky to have so many people in my life who would do anything for me, and whom I would do anything for. This is too sappy already, so I'll just quit before it gets too embarrassing and my friends start making fun of me for it, which, let's be honest, is what all true friends would do.

I wore this outfit to have dinner with my family yesterday, and I really liked the contrast of this vest with the pretty white dress. This dress is still one of my favorite pieces that I own, and this time, I decided to grab a scarf quickly on my way out the door. It ended up being the perfect way to accessorize, don't you think?

Cry Baby

In an attempt to remix more items in my closet rather than shop, I decided that I should play around more with print mixing and unexpected color combinations. When it comes to print mixing, I figure that nothing really works better than stripes, and I was excited at the prospect of making a striped tank work over this floral dress. I could be wrong, but I'm quite pleased with the result, and the addition of my utility vest made for a perfect summer look for babysitting my adorable 4-year-old nephew last week. Also in this outfit is the blog debut of my new sandals from Threadsence. My other black sandals were falling apart (RIP), so I've been on the hunt for a pair to replace them. Luckily, my girl Leeds from At This Volume hooked me up with a 20% off code for Ruche and Threadsence, so I was able to get these for a steal. They're exactly what I was looking for, only slightly more unique that I was imagining (in the best possible way). I will most likely be wearing these suckers with everything from now on. By the way, the discount code is still active, so if you want to get a great discount at Ruche and/or Threadsence, and if you want to help Leeds win a contest at her awesome place of work, just email me or her. 

For anyone who cares about my non-outfit related life, I had a really good weekend. I went to a comic book shop on Friday evening with my friend Adam and his girlfriend partially to support my friend Whitney (who was throwing an event to promote "Transformers" for her Paramount job) and partially to get some suggested for what comics to read next. Adam has been lending me some graphic novels lately, and I've really been enjoying getting into it so far. Other than work on Saturday, I got to see my lovely friend Nataly, who I met through blogging a couple of years ago (she's since gone on blogging hiatus, but I'm hoping she comes back soon), who I hadn't seen since last summer. Nataly, her sister, and I went thrifting for a little while and came out fairly successful, and then got ice cream after. I spent Saturday night with five of my closest guy friends watching a ridiculous movie and trying not to fall asleep while they all yelled at the screen. It's always very exciting in my world, isn't it?

Casual Friday + Life Snapshots

Here's what I wore for an impromptu lunch/shopping afternoon in downtown Fullerton with my best friend Whitney the other day. Whit and I have barely gotten to see each other lately since she's been beyond busy interning for Paramount and working at Disneyland (basically the two jobs that everyone in the country imagines people in California do), so I was excited when she actually had some free time on Wednesday. I had a bunch of clothes to to take to Buffalo Exchange (although they barely took anything, so please buy my clothes!), and she was on the hunt for a vintage dress, so we headed to one of our favorite areas in Orange County. It was some much needed time with her, and it was another thing to add to the list of reasons why I'm happy to be back in California for the time being. I honestly didn't realize I would miss it so much when I moved, but I'm taking full advantage of it now. 

This top is actually a dress that I got when I worked that designer's boutique opening party last week for my internship. Part of my job was putting together gift bags for some really high end fashion bloggers, and when I left, both my boss and the designer told me to take an item too. I grabbed this dress, which is gorgeous and has a lovely orange skirt to it. I'm not crazy about how the bottom looks on me, partially because it's not an A-line and partially because I struggle with the whole oversize look, but I do this it's beautiful and wanted to make it work somehow. Turns out, the top of it works perfectly for a casual, California-y look. I only ended up getting a couple of pictures, so I figured I'd include some other photos and Instagrams of what I've been doing lately. There are pictures from Balboa, the adorable cafe Whitney and I had lunch at, the coolest new food place the opened up by me, a day spent taking outfit pictures with my friend Alena, and more. 

And don't forget, there's still time to enter my two-year blogging anniversary giveaway for a chance to win a ton of prizes from seven wonderful small businesses!

Midi Me

Despite the fact that I'm still unemployed and it's killing me, being home is actually pretty nice. I hate not knowing what I'm doing next week and feeling like I don't have control over my life at the moment, but it does kind of feel like I'm just on summer break. Southern California is as beautiful as ever, I get to sleep in every morning, and I don't even have to think about upcoming tests or projects. It's been nice getting to spend time with friends and family, and they're all making post-grad life much more bearable. The most exciting thing that has happened, however, is that I got a car yesterday. I've been car-less for the past four years (other than when I've borrowed my dad's while at home), and I've felt awful having to rely on other people to get me places. Everyone I know have has been a saint and driven me where I needed to go with little complaint, but I like having the freedom to do it myself. I got a used Hyundai Accent that looks brand new for a steal, and I'm thrilled to have my own set of wheels again. Oh, hello, adulthood. That is in fact me you see coming. I'll be there shortly, I promise. I think. Probably. I don't know. We'll see. 

Moving on, let's talk about this outfit. I picked up this midi skirt with a half-price tag on it at Goodwill for $2 a little while ago, but had been waiting for the perfect occasion to wear it. It felt out of place on campus in Illinois, but I finally busted it out the other day when I realized this polka dot crop top was made for it. I wore this to look at the car on Monday and then for a much needed night of hanging out with one of my very best friends, Adam. As huge Wes Anderson fans, he and I had both been pretty upset that we missed seeing "Grand Budapest Hotel," but somehow he found it still playing at theater not too far from us that night. I'm happy to report that it completely lived up to my expectations, although I can't imagine ever not enjoying a Wes Anderson film. I had gotten rejected from two jobs that day, so he bought me a beer and dessert after the movie, which is really the perfect cure to the unemployment woes. If I could spend every day watching Wes Anderson movies and eating ice cream, I would be perfectly happy. 

Also: I did a massive update to my store, so please shop my closet! I have a huge pile of clothes sitting in my room, and I need your help to get rid of it. Most things are $15 or less, but I'm willing to negotiate on many of the pieces. Shop away!

As Vest as I Can

Let's just talk about this vest, shall we? This is what I bought while in Quincy over the weekend, and it's one of those pieces that just looks like I should have already owned it. I've been wanting a utility vest like this for a while now, so when Old Navy was having 30 percent off, I couldn't resist. I kind of just want to pair it with everything. There's always something so appealing about a tougher piece paired with feminine clothing. Of course, this is nothing new for me, but I'll continue to talk about how much I love it for as long as I please. I also love the simplicity of this black dress with it. Weirdly enough, I've had multiple people look at my outfits and say, "Aren't you happy that it's finally dress weather?" To which I've replied, "It's always dress weather."

Other than the usual lack of sleep and preparing for graduation, nothing much is new. I'm starting to address grad announcements to send out, so there's that. I'm also starting to go through my room (and closet) and figure out what things to get rid of so there's less to ship. Basically, my life is incredibly exciting. One of these days, I promise I won't write a post late at night after work when I'm delirious, and I'll actually write something interesting and thought-provoking. One of these days.

Spring Has (Kind Of) Sprung

I never thought I'd see the day when I consider 50 degrees spring, but man, this week has been nice. So nice, in fact, that it's impossible to be in a bad mood. In addition to the nicer weather, this week has been pretty easy in terms of school, and work has been going smoothly. Weirdly enough, we're choosing my replacement for editor-in-chief today, which is what I'll be doing this afternoon. It's kind of surreal, actually. It feels like I was just getting a call from my old boss asking me to apply for editor-in-chief way before I ever thought I was ready. That was two years ago (it's a long story, but I had to interview for my job a year before I got to start it), and now I can practically do it in my sleep. Time flies and other cliches, right?

Moving on to fashion-related things, I can't tell you how much I love this outfit. I picked up this dress for super cheap at a Crossroads Trading Co. in L.A. over break, and it was begging to be worn on the first day of spring. Of course, I still had to pair it with tights, but I can live with that. I'm obsessed with the colors and the cut of this dress, and it fits like it was made for me. There's no better feeling than finding something cheap at a thrift or consignment store that feels brand new and fits perfectly. 

Meanwhile, at the antique store...

I mentioned last week that a few of my friends and I took a mini road trip to visit Jenn (whose name, let's face it, you should all know by now) and that we visited an antique store. What I didn't tell you, though, was that this photo shoot came out of it. I honestly hadn't expected to take outfit photos that day, and while I do love this outfit, I'm almost positive I've worn pretty much the exact same look or at least a slight variation of it on here before. However, when Mary decided that we had to take pictures inside the adorable store, how could I say no? Stumbling upon this table, complete with a bouquet of flowers and a teacup, was kismet — like the blog gods planned it. 

I should mention that I've never actually read the book "Texas," but my friend Beth played prop master for the shoot and grabbed a random one in the store. I don't know why I don't have a prop master at all of my outfit shoots. 

Winter is Coming

Well, you asked for it. This is me, in pants, on a 9 degree day last week. I still can't say I really love the look on me, but I figured I owed it to you all to show what I've been wearing while I adjust to the cold. These pants are actually teal corduroys, but it's a little hard to see here. I picked up this sweater on major clearance over winter break and it's slowly becoming my favorite winter sweater. After my polka dot one, of course. Nothing beats polka dots.

My good friend Justine got my California necklace for a belated Christmas present and I freaked out a little when I opened it. I actually posted that I wanted a California necklace way back in July and Justine actually remembered after all this time. Needless to say, I've been wearing it a lot since I got it.

Don't get too used to me looking like this. We'll be back to your regularly scheduled skirts and dresses by tomorrow.