Face It

Ah, at long last!  A fashion post!  I've had this one in the archives - or at least had the photos saved on my phone - for a longggg time.  That being said, this is more of an early fall look rather than a summer look. (Yes, it's been that long.)  This outfit, though, could definitely work for something like a breezy summer night on the boardwalk.  Alrighty, without further ado:

Look at that layout!  La-dee-da, gettin' fancy!

Your first thought may be, "Hey!  There's a face on your torso!"  Well, you're darn tootin' there is.  I love to be a little bold with my fashion choices.  I used to be a tad over the top (please see the About Me section), but I think I've found a good balance.  I can use fashion to express who I am and stand-out in a crowd without looking like I'm crying out for attention.  Truthfully, I believe that anyone can wear something bold and a little eccentric as long as they own it and wear it with confidence.

This outfit cracks me up because not one, but TWO items that I'm wearing are from the children's department - the shirt and the shoes!  The shirt caught my eye because... well, I just think it's cool.  I love the structured sleeves, and the sketch of the woman's face is super unique.  The shirt is also a hi-lo, but you can't really tell from this picture.  Originally, the shirt had a piece of lace with a bow at the neckline of the woman in the graphic.  I used a seam ripper to take it off because I thought it made the shirt just a bit too childish.  The shoes are just simple ballet flats, so no harm there.  Hey, I'm tiny and kids' clothes are cheaper... why not?

The pink jeans brighten up an otherwise totally neutral look.  The only other splash of color is in the blush on the shirt's graphic.  I also chose earrings with a purplish-pink hue to further bring out the color in the shirt.  I have since lost these earrings, and I'm quite sad about it.  The silver ballet flats are a simple shoe that go with most any outfit (unless you're wearing gold!).  I felt like I had a lot going on with the graphic shirt and pink pants, so I opted for something easy and non attention-grabbing.

This picture makes it look like the woman on the shirt opened her eyes, and that truly terrifies me.

So, it was a tad chilly the day I wore this (I think it was early September), so I threw on my [p]leather jacket.  When choosing a "leather" jacket, I purposely went for a cognac color because I think it goes with black, brown, white, pink, chartreuse... you get the point.  So pairing this jacket with the bright pants and the black and white top was a no-brainer.  The coolest thing about the jacket?  Bargain find at TJ Maxx!  Frankly, I think this look is pretty bad ass... especially with the jacket and sunglasses.

X's & O's
~VeeLynn

In This Outfit:
Graphic Tee ~ Beautees (Macy's), Spring 2013
Jeans ~ Ann Taylor Loft, Pre-Fall 2012
Jacket ~ Ci Sono by Cavalini (purchased at TJ Maxx), Fall 2012
Earrings ~ Betsey Johnson (Macy's), Fall / Winter 2012-ish? (pretty sure they were a Christmas gift)
Sunglasses ~ Ann Taylor Loft, Summer 2012
Shoes ~ Smart Fit (Payless), Pre-Fall 2013?

Sidenote: I know Ann Taylor Loft is a tad pricey and sort-of goes against my stance on bargain shopping.  I( used to work there... don't hate.

Trail Blazer

THIS is a great example of how to use what you already have in your closet to make something brand new.  Some of the things in this outfit I've had since high school.  It's also a great example of how more expensive doesn't necessarily mean "better."  It's not always WHAT you wear, but HOW you wear it. (Okay, what  you wear matters a little.)

My husband never puts his sneakers away...

I think my favorite thing about this look is the blazer.  It's a little bit longer and less tailored than a more formal blazer, so it looks a little weird with a pencil skirt or dress pants.  It does, however, look awesome with a pair of skinny jeans.  This is the one thing in this outfit that I bought recently, and I am so happy with it.  In my mind, blazers are the new cardigans.  I used to take a cardigan with me wherever I went, but now I take a blazer.  Blazers give a little more structure to an outfit than a cardigan, and blazers can quickly add just the right amount of edge.

So what piece have I had since high school?  The shoes, of course!  Round toes, chunky heels, and Mary Jane straps are back, baby, and I'm taking full advantage.  The shoes also have some cute details: white "stitching" around the arch and a little white flower on the outside where the strap meets the shoe.  I probably wouldn't wear these shoes with a skirt or dress.  They are fairly casual-looking, and I think the shape of them along with the chunkier heel would look a little unflattering.  Plus, I don't really think of them as a summer shoe.  Yes, they have a white flower, but I still think they are a "cool [not cold] weather" shoe.

All in all, I kind-of felt like a rock star that day.  Cute tee featuring the British flag, sick blazer, the perfect pair of skinny jeans, and I found a way to wear some heels that have gone under-appreciated for far too long.  Feeling like a rock star always makes you look one!

Rock on!
~VeeLynn

In This Outfit:
Tee-Shirt ~ Miley Cyrus for Max Azria (Wal-Mart), ca. 2009? (Don't judge me... it's a cute shirt!)
Blazer ~ American Rag (Macy's), Fall / Winter 2012
Skinny Jeans ~ Ann Taylor LOFT, 2012
Shoes ~ Payless?, ca. 2000?