What I Wore: Sheer Vintage Dresses Edition

Oh some days it feels like spring will never come. We'll get one nice day accompanied by three chilly ones. I'm starting to give up hope here. But, it just means that I try to take advantage of the nice days when we have them, like this past weekend. It was the perfect day to test drive this little vintage number. This lilac vintage dress is one of my favorite finds, but it's super sheer so it really only works on warm days. But when it does work, oh it works.

Flower Wreath Tutorial

I'm not Martha Stewart. Not even close. But I'll be damned if I don't try. One craft I've never really ventured into was wreath making, but this fall I thought it would be nice to have a pretty fall colored wreath on the door and Michael's has so many shades. So I took the plunge and made my first wreath! Since it wasn't a complete disaster (like my many previous craft fails), I thought I'd share it with anyone who wanted to give it a shot too.

One note on saving money: I bought my flowers right at the change of seasons. At the end of summer, Michael's still had some fall colored flowers and they were all on sale. So I hoarded them for about a month and then turned them into this! Sometimes, it pays to have a collection of craft supplies.

What I Wore: The Wishful Thinking Edition

If you build it, they will come, right? That's how the world works? Following that logic, if I build my spring wardrobe now, spring will come! Soon. Please, dear holy everything, make it soon. We had one week here in Chicago that felt kind of like spring, close enough anyway. So I tried to take advantage of it and pull out some spring gear. Today, it's back down to the tens. As in, we have a high of 10 degrees today. Woo hoo! I'm going to savor this photo shoot and think of better days. Anyway, this is the kickstart of my spring wardrobe! (I can't promise it won't be back to winter next week)

What I Wore: The Pastels Edition

I got my identity thefted (yes, it's not a word, but I like the way it sounds) a few weeks ago so my obvious solution when I had no money was shop my woes away. Don't even act like you don't know what I'm talking about here. Anyway, I hopped onto one of my favorite sites and picked up a couple things because I hadn't bought anything from them in a quite a while and I thought it meant I was being good. One of those things were these fabulous polka dot pants! Now I had been thinking about making my own DIY polka dot pants for a while, but there were already made AND teal. Could I say no? I mean really?

Thursday Tutorial: The Tiny Flowers Bracelet

I have to be honest with you guys, I have been sitting on this one for a long time. In fact, one of the outtakes from this tutorial is a shot of a severe snowstorm happening outside my window. Yea, that long. So I apologize for being a crafty but lazy blogger. Anyway, since summer is coming I thought it was still a good time to share this tutorial for my tiny flowers bracelet!

What I Wore: The Hi Low Edition

Anyone else watch the new season of Arrested Development? I obviously have based on my title. Anyway, it did feel appropriate here in today's outfit post. I have issues with office wear. Mostly because my office is super casual. Like so casual some people come to work in yoga pants and as I've mentioned on here before, I don't even leave the house in yoga pants unless I'm heading straight to the gym. So I struggle because I often feel over dressed or under dressed but never....dressed?

What I Wore: The Hot Dots Edition

I've been on a buying kick lately. I know. I know. I'm supposed to be re-purposing and reusing and buying less, but with all the spring stuff going on sale I just couldn't help myself. Of course, I picked up the cutest spring jacket at H&M and now it's 90 degrees in Chicago. I'm being punished for my shopping spree, but I did get in a about a week of jacket time. Anyway, I also managed to pick up bright orange polka dot dress which is a total winner and perfect for spring nights.

Photo Friday: Intimate

I love Elle magazine. I don't know if I've mentioned that before, but I feel it's worth mentioning now. Unlike some of the other women's fashion magazine out there, Elle has never struck me as trivial. Even though there are articles about life, beauty, and sex (of course!) they never seem trashy or unwelcome. Mostly what I'm always excited to see first are the fashion editorials (of course!). Elle magazine always seems to have their finger on the pulse of fashion and knows how to artfully display it. The editorials always seem to focus on the photography first and the fashion second. Something a photography loving gal like myself really appreciates.

What I Wore: The Long Skirts Edition

So I have to apologize, mostly to myself but some to anyone who's noticed. I've been in a blogging slump these last few months and I just haven't been able to shake off these blogging blues (cue the acoustic guitar and raspy voice). I've been ignoring my Etsy stores too even though I have been collecting cute vintage clothes and making jewelry again. Still, I somehow could not get myself motivated. But now that warm weather is here and the trees have finally started to bloom, I feel refreshed! 

So here's to getting my lazy butt back in gear and not being a disappointment of a blogger anymore! 

What I Wore: The Prep School Edition

It's freaking spring in Chicago and I'm busting out the florals. You better believe it was an amazing feeling to finally wear this dress that I picked up from Target months ago. What I fool I was then, thinking the warm weather was coming soon. But it's finally here and that means that I am taking a stance against leg coverings!

What to Wear: Spring Inspiration

I'm so ready for spring and yet I'm so stuck in winter! It's not quite warm enough to get rid of the jackets or leg coverings just yet, but it is warm enough to ditch the heavy sweaters and thick boots. So what's a girl to do? Since I was feeling so utterly outfit un-inspired, I thought I would use the internet time to find and share inspiration! That is what the internet is for right?

I actually don't love any of the spring trends this year. I do love that the fashion designers had tried to steer away from the average flowers, nautical, and pastels. However, you still can find plenty of those on the runways. There are a few things circling that I wouldn't mind adding to my closet:

Black and White

Monday Design: Gorgeous Garden Designs

Seriously? Spring is still not here yet? I made the huge mistake of putting all my winter coats into hiding when I was over at my parents' on Easter. And, naturally, the temperature dropped to the 30s the next day. That's what I get for not having the foresight to check the weather. Anyway, enough bitching (although a good bitching is always necessary). Instead, I'll daydream. Thank you.

What I Wore: The Wishing for Spring Edition

Spring, oh spring, where art thou? It's time right? The weather gods are just messing with us? I would love to me able to walk outside in a light jacket again (or no jacket, but I'm asking for baby steps here). It's going to warm up to a sunny 50 degrees this weekend and in an effort to break away from winter, I'm busting out the light sweaters and floral prints!

Photo Friday: It's Spring, Right?

I'm writing this today on the third official day of spring under three blankets. Why? Because it is 30 degrees in Chicago. Happy Spring! I feel like I don't even remember what it's like to be warm anymore.  Although I'm tired of the winter and the snow and the cold, these amazing cinemagraphs capture Lake Michigan beautifully.

What I Wore: The Patterned Tights Edition

I love patterned tights. Always have and probably always will, unfortunately. The problem is that after years of buying leopard print, floral, and geometric print tights, I still have no idea how to wear them. Especially now as an adult.

Tuesday Trendspotting: Fashion-gasm

Fashion-gasm is the only way I can appropriately describe this SS13 collection from Julien Macdonald. It's hard to not think ahead and stay focused on being excited about tweed and pumpkin spice lattes with New York fashion week just behind us. I have so many favorites, but I really hate jumping ahead so much when I've only just started shopping for fall. However, this collection really caught my eye. Something about the severity of the model's hair and make-up against the long flowy dresses instantly made me fall in love. I mean one of these dresses actually looks like it's on fire. How fun would that be on your next night out?

Vintage Love: Take Me Back in Time

I was honestly in a rut trying to come up with something to post today and I kind of hate admitting that. My thoughts on blogging go like this: You should love what you're doing and do it because you enjoy it. Therefore, if I'm in a rut or desperately searching for something to write about, I skip a day. Not that anyone notices anyway, but I'd rather let my blog sit empty for a day than force myself to write something I don't care about. I hope you guys appreciate that too, because, trust me, my writing just gets worst and worst the less I care about a topic.

Well, anyway, sometimes an idea strikes me out of no where and I just have to get it out there. I realized that as an Etsy seller, I don't talk about the store or my love of vintage as much as I maybe should. So what I did was throw together this treasury of some vintage items I found that make me smile! This one is spring themed because it's so nice out today all I can think about doing is going on a picnic with that vintage picnic basket I picked up years ago and have only used once. Geez, I really am a hoarder aren't I? Anyways, treasuries are fun to put together and you can actually shop what's in them! Enjoy!

Stranger Than Vintage on Etsy

Vintage 50's Dress XXS-X... CrushVintage $68.00	Wicker Picnic Basket Large F... TakingShape $28.00	r e s e r v e d Vintage Pin... GallivantingGi... $50.00	Vintage Pumps Lavender Purpl... BlueRoseRetro $29.00
Vintage OCEAN Blue Travel Ba... aniandrose $23.00	vintage 1960s dress / blue s... TheChurchofVin... $26.00	Vintage 50's Hall's ... TheToyBox $120.00	Vintage 50s Sundress / Gingh... ChronologieVin... $28.00
Vintage 80s Sage Green Sprin... enidandedgar $38.00	Vintage/Pink/Crochet/1960s/I... thedesignarchi... $48.00	vintage 1950s dress silk chi... NodtoModvintag... $310.00	50s Style Red Wing Tip Heels StrangerThanVi... $24.00
60s Dress / 1960s White Flor... HolliePoint $58.00	WOW Big Luxury Earrings Vint... kiamichi7 $45.00	Pastel Spring Southwestern F... BadJamesVintag... $48.00	60s Bag / 1960s Floral Tapes... HolliePoint $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

What I Wore Wednesday: The College Days Edition

The GRE's are over!! Woo hoo! For those of you that haven't been following along, I've been kind of an absent blogger lately because I've been studying my butt off to take the GRE's (the standardized test you need to take to apply to most grad school programs) and I took them last Saturday so I'm free!! I actually did as well as I thought I would, which is to say I was hoping I would do better so I may end up re-taking them in a few months, but for now I'm going to try and get back blogging and posting items to the vintage shop.

However, studying like crazy to prepare for a test did make me miss my college days. Everything was just so much simpler back then. Being an adult is rough some times. I know going back to grad school definitely won't make anything simple, but I would be excited to get back to school. I'm the big loser that enjoyed my college classes and the campus in the fall. Anyway, this outfit was what I wore on my big study day right before the test. I took the day off of work and studied all day long. I really felt like I was back in college then.

Anyway, this floral strapless dress is the first dress I ever made on my sewing machine. I know I didn't take an photos showing that it's strapless, but that's because it's got some construction issues. Sewing lesson number 1: don't use elastic from a halloween costume from when you were in high school. As long as I have a sweater or something over it, it looks great! Oh and sewing lesson number 2: make sure you know how you're going to get into your dress before you sew it together. Let me just say that wiggling into a dress is never fun. I decided to not use a pattern when making this, I just used a different strapless dress as a template and then sewed the pieces together. I really need to get over this whole "I don't need to read directions" thing when it comes to crafting. But even with all it's little faults, I still love my handmade floral strapless dress! Mostly because it feel good to say I made something.

 Strapless floral dress: handmade

Chambray shirt: Gap (similar shirt)

Backpack: Urban Outfitters (similar bag)

Western boots: Steve Madden (similar boots)

 Of course I threw this chambray shirt over it, which you can also see here and here. It's one of my favorite pieces in my closet right now.

Do you ever miss school or are you still in school and can't ever imagine missing it?

What I Wore Wednesday: The Seeing Red Edition

Colored denim! Oh my love! What can I say about colored denim? Pages probably, but I'll keep it brief. I love colored denim probably more than anyone you've ever met in your life. Why? Because it's so much better than that stupid black and blue denim you see everywhere that's why! How boring are blue jeans? Everyone has them, everyone wears them. You don't get noticed walking down the street wearing boot cut Levi's. Well, the real reason that I think I'm obsessed with colored denim is that in actuality I hate pants. I really do. They are constricting and uncomfortable. Give me a skirt and a pair of tights any day. But for some reason, I never mind putting on a pair of bright pink jeans. It just cheers me up! I mean even last week I was wearing floral pants. So here you have it, one of my very few outfits wearing something that is considered a "pant." Enjoy!

Side note: I didn't realize that the giant red dot on the door matched my pants perfectly until about half way through this shoot. It was not entirely intentional, but it gives the pictures a nice balance don't you think? No? Just me? Ok.

Red jeans: Urban Outfitters

Similar white blazer

Tie dye tank: Presence from years ago

Buckle heels: Target (worn here earlier)

A note about this ring: I bought this super awesome (and my new favorite) scarab ring from JewelMint. I know, I know, you're probably all minted out just like I was. I mean there's a million of them, do we seriously need a BeachMint? However, I am a big,big fan of jewelry so I signed up since it was free and I have to admit that it's totally worth it. You don't have to pay a monthly fee if you don't want to, and if you do want to that monthly fee just turns into a credit which is usually good from at least one piece of jewelry. In essence, the monthly fee is just them asking you to hold you money until you buy something and, trust me, you will buy something. They actually do a pretty good job (with some help from you) of picking out pieces tailored to fit your style. As with any of my insanity, don't take my word for it, check it out yourself! And no, they are not paying me to say any of this (but if you are reading JewelMint, I will take a bracelet as a thank you). 

Talk to me: Do you love colored denim like I do?

What I Wore Wednesday: The Open Back Edition

Chicago weather is weird. Extremely weird. One week it's 80, the next week it's in the 40s. SO annoying. I'm craving Spring, but I feel like I've gotten everything but. Trying to dress for spring when it still feels like winter is sometimes difficult so I've given up and I'm just dressing for spring no matter what the weather is actually like. Yes, this means that some days I'm really cold, but I refuse to give into you weather!

Today's outfit comes from the above attitude. It was not super warm that day, but I wanted to wear something pretty and spring-y so I popped on these awesome floral pants I picked up a while back. The pants are some sort of rayon/poly mix so they're pretty silky, but something about the shape is still a little structured and refined so I wanted a top that was more playful and fun - like the print. I found this pink open back top in the depths of my closet and tried to make it work. The funniest part about this outfit is that I had forgotten I owned both of these items and I bought them on the same day a while ago. Weird right? So anyway, just like my long floral skirt outfit already showed you guys, spring means pink and flowers to me. The pink floral pants were a perfect fit and they were a little warmer than just wearing a skirt. Not that I'd let the weather stop me from wearing what I wanted! Okay, maybe it wins sometimes. Either way, this outfit was perfect for a not-so-hot spring day. I definitely plan on wearing it again.