One-Dollar Dailies: 2/22/12-2/24/12

Life has me very backed up these days! Visiting friends, band practice, work, and finally planning for a honeymoon means little energy for outfit posts - so for my tardiness, I apologize!

Since getting my new job, I've been splurging and getting pieces I really love for the office. This week, I really made an effort to integrate my OLD pieces into the new look - which was coined "Urban Warrior Princess" by a lovely friend over on the youlookfab.com forum. We've come to refer to the office version as "Urban Warrior Professional."

I'm still feeling out my professional preferences, but I definitely feel more genuine now. I will get to the bottom of it someday!

Old skirt paired with new gray trench

Old dress paired with new boots

Old top and bag paired with new jeans and boots

One-Dollar wonders:
B/W Talbots Skirt
Red Ann Taylor Sheath Dress (50 cents!)
Silk/Cashmere Gray Express Top

Honorable Mention:
All Saints Gray Trench - $40 via Ebay
B. Makowsky Bag - $90 via Ebay (my first purchase funded by Ebay sales!)
Gianni Bini Black Boots - via Ebay
Watch Neckalce - gift
Cat Blouse - $20 via Wholesaledress.net
Hematite Necklace (as bracelet) - $2 via swap meet
Twisty Bracelet - gift
Gold Buckle Belt - $2 via Salvation Army
Hudson Pinstripe Jeans - $40 via Ebay
Banana Republic Cardigan - via Credit Card Rewards Points

Other
Frye Julia boots - 1/2 off via Dillard's

One-Dollar Dailies: 2/8/12

Quick post tonight, since we have company through the weekend, but here's my third neutral outfit for the week: a little bit Sky Captain, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing.

One-Dollar Wonders
Donna Karan Cashmere Midi
H&M White Blouse
Faux Fur Collared Jacket

Honorable Mention
Map Bag - $5 via swap meet

Other
Dr. Martens Marcie Boots - via Shoebuy

One-Dollar Dailies: 2/7/12

Day two of the Neutrals Challenge!

I've managed to wear this jacket every week since I bought it through Ann Taylor's extra-60%-off sale - love it! I will have to price-stalk more of their stuff with double-stretch fabric.

 

One-Dollar Wonders

Forever 21 Gray Plaid Pants

Honorable Mention

Ann Taylor Jacket - $40 via AT clearance

Ann Taylor Sweater - $11 via AT clearance

Other

Dolce Vita Jayce Boots - via Amazon

Specialchoice Bag - via Ebay

One-Dollar Dailies: 2/5/12 - 2/6/12

No Superbowl for Hubs and me! Our TV doesn't get that channel anymore (yep, we're two freakish luddites with NO cable television - horrors!), not to mention the fact that neither of us like football.

However, yesterday was very special in that our band, Bemular, had a song appear in a Lucky Strike Bowling commercial -- plot summary: sexy blonde girl falls down. But it was a pretty good commercial, overall, and was co-produced by Hubs' friend Dennis (also a comedian and Youtube spoof star). The song is called "Down in the Oven," and can be downloaded for free by liking the band on Facebook.

To celebrate, we went out for burgers and a nice walk - the weather was nice enough for shorts, but a little breezy near the beach, so I was able to wear this lime sweater, which is usually either too warm or too cool to wear anywhere.

This week, I am taking part in the Neutrals Challenge over on the YLF forum. I was glad to have this outfit waiting in the wings, which I'd put together while trying to decide whether or not to keep the dress. I'm glad I did end up keeping it - it is very, very comfortable - and it was about 1/4 the price of the near-identical styles at Anthropologie.



Bailey 44 Tiered Stripe Dress - $178

 One-Dollar Wonders
NY&Co Lime Cowl Sweater
Lucky Brand Shorts
Brown Leather Belt

Honorable Mention
Flyaway Cardi - $12 via Target
Fergie Major Smog Boots - $35 via Overstock, Overstock CC $20-off promo
Francesco Biasia Burgundy Leather Bag - $40 via Ebay

Other
Fergie Major Black Boots - via Nordies clearance
Cha Cha Vente Tiered Striped Dress - via Macy's
Specialchoice Bag - via Ebay

One-Dollar Dailies: 1/30/12-1/31/12

I never thought it was possible, but it is: I'm officially overwhelmed. By shopping. How did that happen??

I can't seem to find the perfect dress pant or the perfect knee-high summer boot - not through patience and diligent swap meet hunting, and not even by throwing money at the problem. After two solid months of orders and returns, all I seem to find are pants that bunch at the crotch and boots in the wrong color/shape/style/size. I didn't even try on the last pair, because the color shown online was not at all true to life. Sigh. I have two more on the way but, after that, I'm admitting defeat officially.

I did have one small victory, though. On the recommendation of youlookfab.com's Angie, I tried Banana Republic's Sloan pant. They are slightly tight in the rear, but they create the least crotch problems of all pants I've tried so far. Yay, BR!

One-Dollar Wonders
Painted Leather Bag (bought as skirt and sewn into bag form)
Teal Turtleneck
Teal Club Monaco Skirt
Black Tights
Nickel-Free Necklace

Honorable Mention
Python Belt - $2 via Goodwill
BR Shirt - via Ebay
Gray Sweater - $11 via AT Final Sale w/ extra 60% off
Sam Edelman Boots - $40 via swap meet + day

Other
Cougar Skull Necklace
Beaded Long Necklace - gift
June Leather Vest - gift
Dr. Martens Marcie Boots

One-Dollar Dailies 1/22/12-1/25/12

Yikes! Where did the time go? I've got some serious catching up to do!

1/22: No outfit - lounging day.

1/23: 90-Day Review at the new job.

1/24: Work, then dinner with some faaaaaabulous YLF members! To the ladies who I cropped out, its not because I don't love you; it's because I forgot to ask permission to use pics on my blog. <3

1/25: Work, including another reading at a local school.

 

...and a late-night run to the grocery store!

One-Dollar Wonders
Merona Lime Striped Shirt
Black Ann Taylor Pants
Black Patent Liz Claiborne Belt (50 cents!)
Black Tweed Blazer
Orange Feather Print Skirt
Nickel-Free Silver-Tone Chain
Banana Republic Red Wool Sweater
BCX Tweed Pants
Red Leather Belt

Other
Benetton Blazer - via Goodwill
Dr. Martens Marcie Boots
L'incontro Bag - via Goodwill, dyed
Ann Taylor citron blouse - AT sale
Merona Sweater Tights
Fergie Major boots - Nordies clearance
Striped Jacket - via Buffalo Exchange
 London Fog bag - gift
Dolce Vita Jayce Boots - via Amazon
Superdry Jacket - gift
Spuds Sweatshirt - appropriated from parents many moons ago :)
Hudson Jeans - $25 via swap meet
Robot Necklace - gift

One-Dollar Dailies: 1/21/12

Two outfits today!

The first outfit completes the Week of Adjacent Colors with red and red-orange - worn out for Chinese food following a morning hike. The adjacent colors challenge has shown me how few colored bottoms I have - the bulk of my color is all tied up in tops, belts, and bags. My eyes are officially open for colorful skirts and pants (but no cropped pants, please)! This outfit is light on the $1 items, because most of these pieces are ones I'm very picky about: colored tops, coats, jeans, and boots. I still got 'em all for cheap, but sadly not for $1.

One-Dollar Wonders
Orange Cami
Red Leather Belt

Other
Puma Casual Coat - Puma Outlet (on clearance!)
Hudson Signature Bootcut Jeans - $25 at swap meet
Splendid Sweater - via Ebay
Dr. Martens Marcie Boots


The second outfit of the day was worn to my very first band practice! Our practice area was heated only with a space heater, so I wanted to be warm - but still ready to rock. My inner rock star demanded awesome boots, naturally.

In other news: I'm in a band! Yep, I've been playing bass guitar for just about a month now. My husband and I are playing with another couple, and I think we did really well for our first time. The group meshes well, and everyone is picking the songs up quickly - I'm absolutely stoked to have one of my songs on the set list. Living my tweenage dream, y'all!

One-Dollar Wonders
Lucky Brand Shorts
James Perse Tank Top (under shirt)
Cognac Belt (under shirt)

Other
Merona Sweater Tights
Superdry Japan Jacket - gift from Hubs
Batman Tee - appropriated from Hubs
Apepazza Pesaro Boots - Amazon
Yellow Bag - gift from Mom

One-Dollar Dailies: 1/20/12

Really had to reach to fulfill today's blue-and-purple requirement, but it did get me to wear this belt, which I've worn once in about 3 years. It's a double-wrap, meant to be worn at the waist, but my waist is too short for such things. I like it better on the hips, as I've worn it here, so I may do that again!

One-Dollar Wonders
Leather Blazer (50 cents!)
DKNY Cashmere Turtleneck

Other
American Rag Jeans - gift
Blue Belt - $4 via Out of the Closet (thrift)
Doc Martens Marcie Boots

One-Dollar Dailies: 1/18/12

The Week of Adjacent Colors continues! Today's combo is yellow green with blue green - a bit harder for me, since I own both colors as unlayerable tops and neither color as bottoms. My solution was to belt my lime Zara sweater with my teal studded belt (which used to be a hip belt but is now fully convertable thanks to my beloved leather punch). I'd first planned to wear brown tights under this, but 1) this skirt is unlined and 2) I think the midi length just looks better with bare legs. I love this color combination, and I hope to someday aquire skirts or pants in these colors in order to amplify the effect.

It's too early in the morning for me to be this happy - thankfully, I have cats to laugh at. :)

One-Dollar Wonders
Lime Zara Sweater
Michael Stars A-Shirt (layered under sweater)
Donna Karan Signature Cashmere Skirt
Teal Leather Belt

Other
Fergie Major Boots
London Fog Bag
Pewter Wolf Cougar Skull Necklace

One-Dollar Dailies: 1/17/12

No outfit from yesterday, because all I did was go on a hike and lounge at home! Good for the bod, not so good for the fashion.

Today, I'm piggybacking on a fellow YLF forum member Aida's idea to do a week of adjacent-colored outfits. I missed the red-red orange day, but I'm psyched about today's gold-olive pairing. I don't own any pure gold items, so I went with citron instead. I'm in complete denial that this beloved top is finally pilling and trying to get away with letting just a little peek out from under my blazer - prolonging the inevitable saves money, yes?

One-Dollar Wonders
Ebby Citron Top
Black Tweed Jacket
Donna Rae Olive Paisley Skirt
Liz Claiborne Belt (50 cents)

Other
Merona Sweater Tights - gift
Fergie Major Boots
London Fog Bag - gift
Snake Necklace - gift

work outfits: works of art (continued)

Here I am wrapping up my submissions for the YLF Picture Perfect Challenge, which encouraged everyone to base a work-week's worth of outfits on famous paintings.

Wednesday's inspiration was another Picasso: Nude, Green Leaves and Bust. I had a tough time with this one, worried that the bold lines and bright colors called for a type of color blocking that would make me feel uncomfortable. I initially thought of wearing my cobalt blue dress layered over a bright, white top, but that felt too loud. Instead, I settled on a classic base of black and white, and let my accessories carry the color in the outfit. This olive green sweater and air force blue handbag felt much more in keeping with my personality.

Item	Original Price	My Price	Vendor Type	Location
Halogen Button Front	$58	$1	swap meet	Huntington Beach
Bloomingdale's Wool Skirt	$100	$1	swap meet	San Fernando
Benetton Wool Wrap Sweater	$90	$2	swap meet	Huntington Beach
L'Incontro Bowler Bag	$485	$10	Goodwill	Santa Monica
Dolce Vita Jayce Boots	$103	$10 (funded)	Amazon	internet

Thursday's inspiration was Dora Maar with Cat. I am rather proud of this interpretation, as I even had a black cat near my shoulder, just like Dora! I felt drawn to the red/purple combo in the painting, and ran with that theme for the rest of the outfit.

Item	Original Price	My Price	Vendor Type	Location
DKNY Cashmere Shell Sweater	$160	$1	swap meet	San Fernando
Ann Taylor Pencil Skirt	$108	$1	swap meet	Huntington Beach
Ann Taylor Red Fabric Belt	?	$0 (came w/ dress)	thrift store	Ontario
Cettu Handbag	$250	$10	swap meet	Huntington Beach
Vintage Brown Sweater	?	$1	swap meet	San Fernando
Cat Pin	?	$1	swap meet	San Fernando

Friday's work was Van Gogh's Irises. I almost gave up on this one, as I had used up all my purple clothing, and the wrap sweater I wanted to wear was in the laundry pile. I still love how this one turned out - I think the yellow-green skirt recalls the wavy lines of the iris leaves. I topped off the ensemble with some Prada Infusion d'Iris, which I received as a birthday gift last year - one of my favorite scents now!

Item	Original Price	My Price	Vendor Type	Location
Ann Taylor Sleveless Shirt	$58	$1	swap meet	Huntington Beach
Apriori Skirt	$213	$1	swap meet	Huntington Beach
Express Cashmere Sweater	$60	$1	swap meet	San Fernando
Cognac Leather Boots	~$80	$4	Goodwill Outlet	Santa Ana
L'Incontro Bowler Bag	$485	$10	Goodwill	Santa Monica
Hawaiian Heritage Love Pendant	$250	$0	gift	gift

...and that's a work week! Huge thanks to YLF forum member -- and fellow blogger! -- Bella for organizing a fun and challenging week!