Daily Outfit - Kate - 11/22/10

I'm still fighting this stupid cold.

So yesterday I wore new Fluevogs to help:



It didn't work. I may still lose a lung at any moment.

Also? It was 70+ degrees yesterday. END OF NOVEMBER FAIL.

Skirt: thrifted; originally Talbot's
Tee: GAP
Cardigan: Sears, approx 58,000 years ago
Shoes: Fluevog, via endless.com
Earrings: mum
Bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/25/10

I really liked the *idea* of this outfit.



I'd even go so far as to say that I like the execution too.

But I think I've gotta get rid of this skirt. It's just too short - I felt exposed all day, and uncomfortable. It would seem I'm a knee-length girl at least.

And also? Sometimes it just feels really good to wear a crisp white button-down.



Can't go wrong with a crisp white button-down.

Skirt: garage sale, originally A&F
Shirt: Calvin Klein, via Macy's
Belt: Target
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Jewelry: Mom

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/30/10

My photographer is on an airplane today and - alas - not photographing me.



Aah, Tripod. My nemesis. We meet again.

This shirt + this skirt is a natural pairing. It is pretty and makes me happy.

Top: Wal-Mart, via Mom
Belt: Target
Skirt: thrifted, originally Target
Shoes: Macy's?
Necklace: Strange Folk 2010
Earrings: Meierotto's jewelers

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(?)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/19/10

YAY MOM!



I'd have never been daring enough to pick it up on my own, but when when it's given to me? HECK YES!

My mom has always had great taste in clothes for me, actually. Even when I was in the ennui-soaked throes of teenagerdom, I'd often defer to her suggestions. I remember one time in particular when I was about 16, Mom went to Chicago and visited Forever 21 and H&M (this was before they had those in KC) and bought me back such wonderment as I'd never seen before - frilly skirts, a little pink tank top that I *still* wear, and the cutest jacket! How many teenagers are so lucky (and moreover, how many teenagers *realize* it?)?

So what I'm getting at is, Mom's taste has come through for me again. This may be my new favorite top.



It's frilly and flowy and comfy and airy and comfy and sexy.



I love how it looks with this thrifted belt. And, probably, with all my other belts :-D



Top: Wal-Mart. $3. Clearance. (I KNOW!!!!)
Belt: thrifted in Sarasota
Jeanskirt: Old Navy
Earrings: mom
Bracelet: booth at Red Barn, circa 2007
Shoes: heckifiknow

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 - Jen - 7/7/10

Top: J. Crew Outlet
Skirt: J. Crew Outlet
Belt: J. Crew Outlet
Sandals: Nordstrom

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 - 6/21/10

If you think I look unusually fresh and lively today, there's a reason.



You see, it was nearly 100* in St. Louis today, and I suspected (rightly so) that two bike rides in these surface-of-the-sun temperatures would place my skin tone somewhere past "healthy glow" and into "disgusting" territory. And let's not even talk about the bicycle grease on the leg, or the sweaty pits or the limp hair. Let's just...NOT.

So anyway. I took my outfit pictures before work today. Craziness, I know!



I'm all the time thinking, "Why don't I wear these shoes?" And then about twice a year I pull them out and put them on and within 5 minutes say "OH. THAT'S WHY."

Skirt: Marshall's, 2005
Tee: GAP outlet, summer 2008(?)
Cardigan: Target, Spring 2009
Wedges: Payless, circa 2004
Ring: booth at Maple Leaf
Earrings: MOM

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/8/10

Jeff told me this afternoon, "You look cute today!"

Granted it was over webcam, so I probably looked like a pixelated rainbow-colored blob, but hey - a compliment's a compliment.



And also - HEY JEN!! HEADBAND!!!

I <3 headbands a bunch, all of a sudden. Methinks I shall seek out more at my earliest opportunity. Maybe ones that aren't all head-hurty next time.



<3
Her Royal Pastiness

Shirt: Macy's, old lady section, summer 2009
Cardigan: Francesca's Collections, summer 2009
Skirt: GAP, summer 2008
Shoes: Privo, summer 2009
Teardrop earrings: Mom
Amethyst earrings: Shop in Eureka Springs, AR, spring 2006 (Jeff bought them for me :-))
Necklace: vintage, from Mom's clouded past

Daily Outfit - Kate - 6/1/10

Well, I went for it:




And Jen, YOU WERE RIGHT. I can - theoretically - totally pull this off :-) Next time it'll be with a black tank, I promise :-)

My favorite part of wearing long skirts is when I get to walk up stairs, and hold the skirt up so I don't trip. Makes me feel like I'm straight out of the 19th century!



Tee: thrifted, originally Target
Cardigan: Sears, circa EONS AGO.
Skirt: Marshalls, summer 2010
Sandals: somewhere, sometime (a long time ago)
Earrings: mumsie
Ring: booth at Maple Leaf, fall 2009

Thank you for daring me to step outside my comfort zone :-)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 5/24/10

I am seriously on the fence about this top:



On the one hand - YAYPRETTYCOLORANDINTERESTINGSHAPE!

On the other hand - ICK.

Ya know what I mean?



So what do you think, dear readers?

Pros: nice color. fun texture (the stripes are actually part of the knit). cute little puffy sleeves. good length.

Cons: looks like a maternity top. gapes and sags most unappealingly. sorta 2003-esque.

Top: Kohls, 2007ish
Tank: thrifted, originally Old Navy
Skirt: GAP
Sandals: Privo, summer 2009
Necklace and earrings: my one and only mother

Daily Outfit - Kate - 5/7/10

Casual Friday = happy Friday!



Oh and also WINDY Friday!

Seriously, St. Louis. Enough with the crazy weather - let's just have a little springtime, ok? (It got down in the 30's over the weekend, and it's only 50* out this morning!)



Loved this outfit - so casual and comfortable!





Jeans: Levi 518's
Cami: Old Navy
Top: Urban Outfitters
Sandals: Payless? Really super old - like 6 years old.
Necklace: MOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
Earrings: Twisted Silver

Daily Outfit - Kate - 4/8/10

I'm not sure what's going on here, and I'd really appreciate your help figuring it out.


Good in theory, right? But something's just not quite right...is it too costume-y, with the voluminous blouse and the long skirt and the intricate sandals? (Do I look like a gypsy?) Is it too old ladyish, with the braided belt and skirt length?

Or is everything A-OK, and I just have an overactive imagination?



Regardless, I think that next time I wear a white top with this skirt it should be a different white top.

You can never go wrong with pearls, though.


Skirt: thrifted, originally Talbot's
Shirt: thrifted, originally Benetton
Sandals: Sofft, summer 2009
Belt: thrifted
Earrings: Meierotto's jewelry
Bracelet: so old I don't remember (just a simple, skinny gold rope)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 3/24/10

I'm feeling ornery today.



Even so, I'm rather proud of this outfit. I've had this skirt since high school and I've always worn it one way - with my old teal button-down and strappy black sandals. This was the first time ever - EVER - that I've worn it with anything else. I'm branching out! And it doesn't totally suck!

Oh, and check out the belt - that's one of my Sarasota finds! I'm madly in love with the color :-)



Also, it's official. I *must* find a fair replacement for this cardigan. It's what I really wanted to wear with today's outfit, but I've gotten to the point where I "save" it more worthy days. So I wore the pictured cardigan instead, which I don't like nearly as well. ::sigh::

What do you think? Is it stupid to "save" my favorite items? Even if they're raggedy 10-year-old white cardigans?

I kinda like the tone-on-tone necklace, by the way. It added a little texture to the outfit, I think, without a whole bunch of color discordance.



Button-down: Sears, summer 2008
Cardigan: Francesca's Collections, summer 2009
Skirt: really freaking old. Originally Kohls, maybe?
Boots: Born, winter 2008/2009
Necklace: Ummm...Kohls?
Ring: MacroSun

PS>What's the verdict on boots-without-tights? Acceptable springtime wear, or kinda trashy? Hopefully the former.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 3/18/10

My love for today's outfit TOTALLY makes up for the mediocrity of the rest of this week.

Because dudes? <3. <3 HARD.



That skirt is one I picked up on my Sarasota thrifting adventure, and I love it so much. It's the longest and fullest skirt I own and all day I had so much fun - I felt so feminine and twirly and happy and WHEE! I wish I could feel like this all day every day :-)

The skirt is right between teal and blue, and I happen to love how that color looks with red so I paired it with a super old red long-sleeved tee (I kept the sleeves folded up all day so it's really 3/4 sleeve but whatever) and my favorite sad old cream-colored cardigan. And textured tights 'cause I can.

I also like how even though I'm only 5'2", the little bit of heel in my maryjanes and the proportions caused by the skirt's length and top's relative shortness combine to make me look tall(er) and thin(ner). Like magic!

So you know what I've gotta do when I'm wearing a twirly skirt, right?



It's practically the law.



Have I mentioned I love this skirt?



Skirt: thrifted, originally Talbot's (no I can't believe it either)
Tee: Sears, circa early 2000's
Cardigan: Apostrophe/Sears, circa early 2000's (umm...I worked at Sears in high school.)
Tights: Old Navy, 2008
Shoes: Softspots "Bronte", summer 2009
Bracelet: Wow this is so old. I have a matching necklace too. I know I got them during high school. I think from a friend? Or from Mom. Wow. Mom do you remember?
Earrings: the one who will help me remember where the bracelet came from

Daily Outfit - Jen - 3/17/10

WOW it's bright out midday. Oops. I'll resume my after work photo appointments, tomorrow.

I love myself for wearing a brooch. A THRIFTED brooch. Who is this person! It's like I'm... fashionable. A little? Please?

Stop looking at my chipped nail polish. Feast your eyes on my bling!

Cardigan: Newport News

Tank: Old Navy (clearance!)

Brooch: Thrifted

Ring: A cupcake via HEB

Jeans: Nordstrom Rack

Flats: Steve Madden DSW

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/17/10

Today's outfit ranked a solid "meh" for me. I like all the components, but I just wasn't feeling it. I think I'm tired of tights and always adjusting various layers.



Oops! Silly Kate! That's not your outfit for today, that's your apron made by Katie Mulder! Take it off so we can see your real outfit.



There we go, much better. I'm also noticing now that this doesn't look nearly as cute in photos as it does in person. Don't you hate that? I'm wearing a pink cami under that low-cut shirt and yes I know in this light it looks nonexistent but I promise you it's there. I am not a whore, Mom.



The shawl is my beloved Damson, and I less-than-three it hard. Again with the bad photos, but I promise you it looks really cute. Even worn over the shoulders in classic Granny fashion. Usually I wear it with the ends tucked under, mock-capelet style, but I didn't want to hide the lace on my top.



Skirt: Old Navy, 2009
Top: Urban Outfitters, 2009
Cami: Old Navy, 2008 (?)
Tights: Target
Boots: LLBean
Shawl: handknitted by YT
Earrings: brand new! from Mom :-)