Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/17/11

There was a thread on my knitting forum recently about how LLBean stuff is all dowdy and old ladyish. So that was my cue to prove them wrong.



I love this dress. I've only worn it a few times so far, but do you ever get a piece and just know that you're going to adore it for years and years and years? Yeah, that's me and this dress. I'm in it for the long haul.

Dress: LLBean
Boots: LLBean
Tights: Target
Scarf: Old Navy
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/1/10

This is, to me, the quintessential fall outfit:



I LOVE how versatile that new wrap skirt - I have about a billion other outfits planned for it, too! :-) I also never get tired of this deep purple cowl-neck. I think I've worn it 30 times, if I've worn it once. Together? WIN.

Top: Target
Belt: Ummm...Target
Skirt: Etsy
Tights: Filene's Basement
Boots: Born
Necklace and earrings: mumsie

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/23/10

I sorta love looking cute even when I'm just running errands.



Even better when the only effort is lacing up the boots.

Cardi: Target
Tee: Target
Skirt: Old Navy
Skirt: head shop in Lawrence KS
Boots: Fluevog
Earrings: mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/21/10

There's a lot happening in this picture:



1)dogblur
2)my neck looks fat, for no apparent reason. Weird camera angle?
3)awesome mixing of black and brown. <3!!!
4)comically haughty facial expression
5)a Jeff standing behind the camera going, "Make a face! Do SOMETHING!"


I like this picture better, but it doesn't really do the outfit justice, now does it?



Skirt: GAP, 2008
Shirt: Target (super-clearance!) 2010. It's a size too big but was so cheap I bought it anyway and have resolved to either wear it belted, or get fat. OK, OK, wear it belted.
Tank (1): thrifted, originally Old Navy
Tank (2): Victoria's Secret
Boots: LLBean
Belt: Target, 2009
Jewelry: mumsie

BLACK. BROWN. BLACK. BROWN. BLACK. BROWN. I love that combo.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/20/10

So it's come to this, eh?



That's right, a repeat. An honest-to-gawd, every-element-the-exact-same REPEAT.

I didn't think it would bother me this much. I don't really *like* that it bothers me this much, to be honest.

A girl should be able to replicate an outfit when she wants to, right?

It shouldn't bother me this much.

(Does it bother YOU this much? Do you ever repeat?)

Dress: Target, 2009
Scarf: Target, 2009
Earrings: mum
Flats: Dillards, circa 2006-ish

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/18/10

Saturday is for errands, cleaning, and an outfit made up of "favorites":



This is also the blog - and life! - debut of this awesome scarf, which my mom found at a head shop in Lawrence, KS a couple months back.

What my mom was *doing* in a head shop in Lawrence, KS, I'm not about to ask. But presumably it at least partially consisted of scarf shopping. So it's OK. :-P

Oh! And also! I made you a present!



It's a face.

I hope you enjoy it.

Skirt: Talbots, via Marshall's
Tee: Target, 2008
Scarf: a head shop in Lawrence KS, via Mom
Bracelet: booth at Red Barn in Kirksville; circa 2007ish
Earrings: Mumsie
Shoes: Softspots, via DSW, 2008(?)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/24/10

We had "class pictures" today. By which I mean, "staff pictures." By which I mean GODDAMNIT I GOT STUCK FRONT ROW CENTER.

Just like third grade all over again. Too short for the middle row, too tall (?) for the edges of the front.

Anyway, I wore this:


That's a total repeat of what I wore for my first day and yeah, the picture is recycled too. I'd already had enough picture-taking fun.

Oh but I did wear a necklace. Um. yeah.

(GAWD I am one crotchety little bitch!)

Everything: Target ::sigh::
Shoes: Sofft, via Dillards(?)

The Spoils: miscellaneous

EDITED: Fixed the pictures.

I went shopping on Saturday. It wasn't a "pop into the store and look around" or a "just browse a bit". It was actual SHOPPING.

And nevertheless, I just came away with a few items. Either I'm too stupid to figure it out, too discriminating, or too parsimonious.

Either way, though, I love what I *did* get.

($7.99, clearance, New York & Co.)

This is the most perfect-fitting shirt ever. EVER. It's amazing. It's one of those ones where I came out of the dressing room to show my shopping partner and then there was *mutual* squee-ing.

So you know what I did, right?


Yup. Bought it in two colors. But hey - are they not both patterned (thus filling a wardrobe gap)? Are they not both supercheap? And versatile? YES. So it's OK.

I love this plaid.

It reminds me of fabric from the '30s.

And then...another plaid shirt came along:

This one is a bit different though, eh? Decidedly more casual, in a cotton/linen blend and an awesome color palette that reminds me of my grandma (in a good way). This was only $12 at Marshall's - how could I resist?

These next couple items just rock my world. Back about a month or so ago when I was feeling really uncertain about my job (ie, "would I still have one?" and was griping to my mom about the recent dearth of clothing purchases, she picked up a couple items for me, so I wouldn't have to be new-clothes-less forever and ever. THAT'S WHAT MOMS ARE FOR, YO.



I LOVE this top. The jersey fabric is so incredibly soft and comfy, and I can already think of about 40 bazillion ways to style it.

Check out the super-cute neckline detail:



(Does it remind you of something Jen would wear?)

Actually, I may wear it today :-)

Finally, check out this gorgeousness:

Mom got that at a shop in Lawrence, KS when she was there with friends recently. I love it! The color is *so* "me", don't you think? I can tell already it'll be a frequently-worn wardrobe staple :-)

New clothes = happy Kate.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/2/10

First day at my new job!

This is what I wore:


Jeff helped me choose something that said "age appropriate and fun outfit which shows I'm a responsible person who's not afraid to kick ass but won't be mean just for the sake of it and is respectful of her superiors, and who is also very good at her job and is friendly and nice and you should like her."

It says a lot, I think.

Closed-toed shoes in case sandals are a no-no (though now I've learned - they're OK), respectfully long yet youthfully short skirt, cardigan in case the building was freezing but tee underneath in case it was roasting. And tattoos 'cause I'm not afraid to hide them.

And I even got a compliment on my earrings.

(Have y'all ever noticed that an earring compliment is just about the safest, nicest, lowest-backfiring-rate-est way to pay a compliment? And unless they're just silver studs or something, surely you can come up with something great - and genuine - to say. WIN!)

And now that I'm home for the day, this is me:

Sleepin' on my feet!

(almost) EVERYTHING: Target
Shoes: Not Target
Earrings: Mom

The Spoils: Lots of places

Now that I've got job/financial security for the first time in several months, I've decided to splurge just a bit. Also, it turns out I don't get to go to New York next month as planned (boo!). So last night I made the rounds - Avalon Exchange (resale), Old Navy, and the Gap.

I set out with one goal in mind: BUY INTERESTING STUFF. No more super-basic tanks or solid-colored skirts. I needed a couple new pretty dresses and a cardigan for early fall. Shirts with interesting detailing or prints (like Jen always rocks!). Shoes. BOOTS.

So how did I do?

See for yourself...


This hits right above the knee, and I love the print (it reminds me of silk cocoons). Only $11 at Avalon, but it's from Target originally so is it really branching out *that* much?


$12 at Avalon. I love the cropped length, and the button detailing is SO CUTE!

I think that one warrants a close-up:

Gah. J'adore.

Then, Old Navy:

Simple cotton cardi, but with embellishments! Be proud of me, y'all. I can't wait to wear this with my brown cowboy boots and one of my black pencil skirts. And I'm SOOOOOO glad to see dark colors back in the stores - all those brights were wearing me out!

But that's where my ambitiousness ends. There was a $5 tee sale, and...

Sorry guys, I tried. Grey and white. Crewneck. Fitted. SNORE. (but also needed in my wardrobe)

I went to the mall and poked around in Anthropologie, but nothing on the sale racks were calling me and I'm feeling too poor for even a $40 skirt right now. So I dashed into the Gap before the mall closed, where I tried on lots of stuff that pushed my comfort zone - pleated front jeanskirts, a maxi dress, and an oversized woven shirt. But all I left with was this:

Yes that's a navy-blue zip up. No I don't have one already. No it's not exciting. But it was $13 (cheaper in store than online!) and I really needed it! So there's no guilt associated with this one. :-)

Overall, though...I'm not all that proud of myself. I really like what I got, but I should've pushed my boundaries even further. Maybe I'll stop by my favorite Goodwill soon, but then I'll be saving my money for a trip to Kansas City (and shopping with a girlfriend!) in August. And on that trip I'll do even better. I promise you.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 7/15/10

Use your imaginations, kids.

My favorite patchwork-y skirt.

A red tee.

The quintessential brown cardigan.

Bird necklace.

These sandals.

Together: wonderfulness. And also sweatiness because DUDES it's like 100* in St. Louis today and I'm not even kidding. Gah. I melted!

Maybe you just had to be there.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 7/7/10

OMG I can't believe I'm actually showing you this.



WORST HAIR EVER. WORST POSE EVER. WORST EXPRESSION EVER.

But a cute outfit. Even if I did look vaguely Amish on the webcam tonight (Jeff even said so. The fact that I was shoveling macaroni and cheese in my mouth and singing along to Lady Gaga at the same time must not've factored into his assessment.)

I dunno. Headband? Turtleneck? Plus I guess with the Friendship Bread, I can see it...

Tee: thrifted
Cardigan: Target, spring 2010
Skirt: Apostrophe by Sears, 2008
Shoes: somewhere. Sometime. A long time ago.
Earrings: mom
Bracelet: Fair Ophelia Designs, at Strange Folk last year

Daily Outfit - Kate - 7/2/10

FRIDAY!



In honor of the occasion, today I shall wear pants.


Jeans: Levi's 518s
Tee: superold (I wore it in our first - crappy - round of engagement pics, so spring 2006 at least)
Cardigan: Target, early spring 2010
Sandals: Born, via TJMaxx
Earrings: MOM!
Bracelet: Tiffany's

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/30/10

Today's outfit was decidedly uninspired:



And the picture is even worse.

But that's OK, because today was all about two new accessories. This:

Which I had custom-made at the super-awesome Central West End Art Fair a few weeks back (this is its bloggy debut, but not its life debut!).

And this:


Which is new, as of last night! :-)

...if ya think about it, tattoos are the ultimate accessory, aren't they? Permanent (well, pretty much), gorgeous, and personal. What better way to express yourself?

More info on the new ink is on my other blog, here, if you're interested.

Skirt: LLBean, superold, supercomfy
Cardi: Apostrophe by Sears, even older, even comfier
Tank: Target ($5 on sale this week, dudes! <3.)
Shoes: Michelle D by Dillards, super duper ooper old
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts in the Loop
Necklace: artist at Central West End art fair
Earrings: MOM!
Tattoo: Nate at Allstar Tattoo

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/19/10

Saturday bonus post! This is what I wore for a leisurely afternoon of Starbucks-ing and Loop wandering and book- and movie-buying with my love.



Headscarves and ponytails and comfy knits and floaty skirts = SUPREME COMFORT.



And this is me with no makeup at all - decided to give my pores a rest for the day. Makeup-less Kate shouldn't be much of a surprise since me with makeup isn't even all that drastically different. I usually keep it light anyway :-)



New Byzantine chain earrings from last weekend's shopping adventure! Love the deep blue color :-)

Tee: Target
Skirt: thrifted, originally Delia's
Sandals: Privo, summer 2009
Headscarf: really old; don't remember
Earrings: some shop on the Loop
Bracelets: really old; don't remember

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/18/10

FRIDAY!!!! I'm so glad to see you! I thought you'd never get here!

Let's be in love forever.



I'm realizing only now that the unifying theme of this outfit is "ridiculously old". I've had the overshirt since I was about 13 or 14 (it was one of my first "grown up" shirts!), the tee since 2006ish, and the skirt since 2007. Same for the shoes. OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD.

That makes me happy :-)



Shirt: WalMart, circa 1999ish?
Tee: garage sale, circa 2006
Skirt: Levi's, from Goody's, 2007
Shoes: Dillards, 2007ish
Cuff: Fair Ophelia designs, Strange Folk Festival 2009
Earrings: mumsie

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/5/10

Saturday's plan: Craft show and errands. And happiness.



Saturday's outfit: Comfortable and happy and cool and easy.

Good day. Good outfit.



Skirt, cardigan: Target
Tee: GAP
Sandals: Sofft, summer 2009
Bracelet and earrings: Mumsiewumsie

Yay or Nay

Happy long weekend, everybody! I get to fill my time with errands! and cleaning!

I know you're jealous. You should be.

So here's a question for y'all. I bought this last week at Marshalls:


Supercute, isn't it? I love the prints and the sorta full shape, but it's sort of hard to pull that off when you're 5'2" (I'm wearing it with heels, above).

Maxi skirts are in lately, right?



So if I wore it with a shorter top to balance out my proportions (I just threw it on with the rest of Wednesday's outfit for the above photos), d'you think it would work? DOES it work?

Honest opinions, please. I want to make sure I'm not foregoing good sense in favor of OOH A PRETTY PRINT AND NICE SOFT COTTON!

<3

Daily Outfit - Kate - 4/29/10

OMG, y'all. OMG.

Wednesday night I went to TJMaxx for some black flats, and I left with a skirt, an apron, and three awesome throw pillows.

I'd dragged a bunch of items into the fitting room, and was disappointed in each - too short, too big, to long, too small. You know how it goes. Then, of course, the last thing I tried on was The Skirt. And I was immediately smitten. <3!



I love this thing! It's my first full-length skirt since, like, 9th grade (except for my wedding dress, I guess, which was *definitely* after 9th grade :-P). And I love how drapey the cotton fabric is, and the interesting texture detail, and how it sort of tickles my ankles as I walk. I love the color and the slightly flared shape.

I love - feel free to laugh at me - it's Talbot's.

Yup, I've done it again.



So twirly!



Also, I think it makes me look much leaner in real life than in photos. Just in case you were wondering.



Skirt: Talbot's, via TJMaxx
Tee: GAP
Cardigan: Target
Earrings and Necklace: Mumsie!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 3/29/10

I've no idea *what* I was thinking when I bought this dress-shirt thing.


(I've also no idea why I was making another gooney face there. Such are the mysteries of the world.)

I mean, it's (the dress-shirt) is scandalously short as a dress, but definitely too long to be a shirt or tunic. I'm not a huge fan of the scoopneck, there's no waist shaping, and did I mention it's SHORT? But I liked the color, and it was $3. So it came home with me many months ago, and has been hanging neglected in my closet ever since.

UNTIL! Today. When I wore it. With a modesty skirt underneath (hey will you help me turn 'modesty skirt' into a "thing"? Please?) and my new UO belt and one of my favorite cotton scarves, it's not *horrible.* Right?



Dress: Old Navy, summer 2009
Skirt: thrifted, originally The Limited
Tights: Old Navy, 2008ish maybe?
Shoes: Softspots "Bronte", summer 2009
Belt: Urban Outfitters, winter 2009/2010
Earrings: MUMSIE WUMSIE
Scarf: Target, summer 2009