7 Easy to Thrift Pieces to Enhance Your Autumn Wardrobe | Advice

Fall edit, update, haul, whatever you want to call it, we all need a refresh when the calendar happily dances into autumn. Each item listed below is a must have for any person of any style variety for the cool, crisp months heralded by bloggers all over the world. These seven articles of clothing are style elevators. They are sophisticated, timeless classics that can be mixed into an existing wardrobe or implemented into a capsule wardrobe for chic, minimalism. They add interest and luxury to any outfit and can be styled in numerous ways to fit different lives. But, the best part is each item can be easily found at thrift stores for exceptionally less than at a typical retailer.

You can thrift pretty much anything. Jeans that mold to your body, moto jackets, and high end dresses are all pieces I have seen others thrift or thrifted myself. But, that takes patience and dedication. All the items listed below are for the casual thrifter. The person who pops in every few months or less and doesn't make scoring spectacular pieces an actual job. If you visit multiple thrift stores in your area, you could probably score every single item in one day. That's how prevalent all of these pieces are in normal thrift stores. Everything you see below was thrifted by me in two shopping trips a week apart.

1. Hats

Knit or felt, fedora, bowler, or beret, thrift stores have all the hats. Adding a hat to your outfit is the marker of a truly thoughtful dresser. They embody style and interest and set you apart from the masses. Most people only wear hats to serve a function like keeping warm in the winter, but hats can marry form and function quite well. The beautiful materials formed into pleasing shapes can guard you from the cold, protect you from the rain, and hide a bad hair day. No brainer!

2. Neutral Sweater

These can be found in black, grey, camel, ivory, navy, etc. You could swim in all the sweater in a Goodwill. Look for details like fine merino wool, eyelet patterns, cable knit, or high necks because these are the finer points that take your outfit from nice to lovely. Wearing a neutral and adding interest through intricate construction or high quality yarn (good yarn has a soft halo that is visibly plush) is instant elegance. That's what sweaters were invented for, obviously. Plus, the neutral colors will allow you pair it with basically everything. Jeans and skirts. Solids and prints. You can even even pop it over a dress for an extra cute and cozy look.

Pro tip: Look in several sections. Sweaters are very stretchy and depending on your fit needs, you can easily go up or down in size. Also, don't forget to check the men's section!

3. Flannel Shirt

This is not a genius, light bulb moment. Flannels are quintessential fall wear and everyone with boots is wearing them. But, there's a reason everyone loves them and it's because they're amazing. Warm, colorful, and graphic - flannels have been a classic for generations. Take your flannel game to the next level by stepping outside of the flannel, boots, and infinity scarf archetype and use it as a layering piece instead. They can be worn tied at the waist on dresses with full skirts, open over tight dresses, or worn under basically everything, letting just the collar peek out.

Now this is a tiny bit of cheating on my part because, unlike everything else featured here, this particular flannel was not thrifted. My mom gave it to my husband for Christmas and since I have regular access to it, I've never felt the need to thrift one of my own. Yet, it is still within the spirit of this tip because, while women's flannels can be sporadic, men's flannels are abundant. Definitely head to the men's section for this one, especially if you are plus-sized, because the options are much better.

4. Embellished Cardigan

Like the pullover sweater, the cardigan is a mainstay of the thrift store landscape. There is a rainbow of options, but since we are enhancing your wardrobe, look for ones with embellishments. Think beading, embroidery, or even fun prints. Basically you are looking for special details that add a hint of distinction. I'm very fond of floral embroidery to add a little "granny chic" to my modern dresses. It's a fun, unique way to transcend the average fashion choices of today, but, there are plenty of options that could satisfy a sleek or modern aesthetic, as well.

Remember knits are stretchy. Don't be afraid to look in several size sections.

5. Blouse with an interesting neckline

This can be a shirt collar, ruffles, trimming, or a pussy bow. All add a bit of something extra to your look and can be worn alone or layered under cardigans, pullovers, or dresses. There is almost nothing that doesn't benefit from a collared shirt and adding just this one extra layer can turn your outfit into a purposeful and intelligent moment.

6. Wool Skirt

Or a similarly weighted skirt. This item is about making the copious amounts of donated business attire work for you. Wool is an expensive looking fabric that doesn't ebb and flow with the trends. It's a wardrobe standard. It's classic, it's cozy, and it often comes in plaid, which is always a bonus.

Pro Tip: Hemming a skirt is an easy sewing skill to acquire even if you don't have a machine. The grey skirt pictured above was a frumpy looking maxi skirt that was loaded with potential. The brand is Ralph Lauren, it's 100% wool, and it has pockets. Hello. All I had to do was zip it through my sewing machine to take it from a dowdy maxi to a cute mini perfect for wearing with thick tights. The green, plaid skirt pictured above was vintage, 100% wool, and made for a much taller person. Zip, zip, zip. Dream skirt! So, shop for any length of skirt and when you get home grab a scissors, needle, and thread and customize!

7. Oxfords

These are not the exact oxfords I thrifted recently as I'm not sure where the new ones are hiding right now. But, these were thrifted and the fact that I have multiple oxfords to choose from illustrates how easy they are to find. 

Oxfords are all generally the same shape and are characterized by the lace-up closure, but you can find oxfords to suit any style. The ones pictured above are of the brogue variety which means they have multiple pieces and decorative perforations. These are my favorite and are great for a modern vintage aesthetic. But, they also range from simple leather all the way to crazy colors and materials and opting for oxfords with a typical jeans and t-shirt look instantly ups your style quotient.

Now, my lovelies, you are armed with a plan. Go forth and score some deals!

Finding a Style Mission Statement | Outfit + Advice

I heard something interesting the other day. Someone told me that her style goal is to, every day, look cute, but also look like she could kill a man. Not only did I immediately fall in love with this person, but I was also struck by the idea of having a style goal in this context. As in when you walk out your door what is the first feeling you want others to have about you based on how you've styled your clothing. I've seen people talk about wanting to wear more hats, be more girly, be more comfortable, etc, but the idea of having a master goal for the overall aesthetic of your style was something I hadn't committed to tangible thought. 

I've discussed the concept of having five words to define your style in this post here, yet that is somewhat different than what I am talking about today. That's more like the bullet points that come after the overall goal, or mission statement of your style.

The moment this concept was brought to my attention I knew immediately what my style goal is. Every day, when I walk into my closet and start puzzling the pieces of my wardrobe into a complete picture what I hope to accomplish is to look like I am going to go read in the coffee shop with a giant mug of black, fragrant coffee in my hand after spending the morning scouring antique shops and thrift stores for oddities. I want to look like books, good coffee, and piles of dusty, discarded treasures. I want to look like warmth, curiosity, and intelligent prose.

No matter the season or my mood, I can find this standard in my style. If I am feeling dark and villainous, sweet and spunky, or wild and free spirited, I can identify the criterion of my style goal in everything I do. It's in the rich colors, the luxurious or delicate fabrics, the humorous t-shirts, and the attention to detail that layers thought and care into each outfit.

So, now I am curious about all of you. If you clear your mind and draw up the first feeling you have about your style, what comes to mind? Is it an action? Is it a place? Is it a feeling? What is at the core of your style and how does that translate into outfits? Are there colors or fabrics or prints that exemplify this gut instinct for you? Identifying this is quite freeing. It helps you understand that you are not trying to create something out of nothing when you are curating a style and everything you need to know is already in you. Trust the core and find your way, loves!

Do you have a style mission statement? Were you inspired to identify yours after reading this or did you already have one that you carried with you in your mind? Please, discuss this with me in comments!

Top: Modcloth | Cami: Maurices (same in plus) | Jeans: Torrid (similar in straight sizes, similar in plus) | Shoes: Torrid (similar) | Hat: Target | Lips: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Aria

Having Fun with Kids and Still Saving Money | Family Life + Advice

As you might know, I recently had some family members lose their entire home to a fire. It was completely devasting to them and those of us around them. Afterwards, we personally kicked up our fire safety a notch in our house but it never quite feels like enough. Because this is such a personal topic to me, I was really excited to hear about the Gurnee Mills Fire Expo.

It's a free event for families that teaches fire prevention and safety, but also wraps it up in a fun little package that kids will love. I mean, hello, a firetruck alone is enough to make my kids' day. I'm always looking for free things to do because it's expensive taking a family of five anywhere. There are so many fun and often educational events to do out in the community that don't cost a thing and I would encourage anyone with kids to ditch the idea that every outing has to be at an expensive play place.

Some great places that host or advertise free activities are nature centers, the library, local businesses, and even community facebook groups. The members there frequently post about free events happening close to home. I learned about Princess Day at the Domes through a local babywearing group!

Enjoying our last free event, an earth day celebration at the nature center

Below you will find the description of the Gurnee Mills fire Expo and the itinary if you are local and would like to check it out for yourself.

GURNEE, Ill. (April 26, 2016) – Back by popular demand, Lake County’s Fire Safety Expo will return to Gurnee Mills on Saturday, May 14. The free interactive event, sponsored by the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association, aims to help prevent house fires and keep families safe. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run through 3:00 p.m. in Gurnee Mills’ Parking Lot E, near Value City Furniture. 

Multiple safety teams will demonstrate the latest fire prevention tips and give families an opportunity to learn through interactive activities while enjoying food, refreshments and prizes. All day events for the Fire Safety Expo include: Kids Combat Challenge, Fire Safety Smoke House, Kids Fire Pole, Lake County Dive Team Exhibit, Grayslake FD Fire Safety Trailer, Free Teddy Bear Clinic, Fire Safety Sprinkler Trailer, Free Blood Pressure Checks, Kids Passport to Safety and Free Fire Truck Rides.   

“Gurnee Mills hosts many community events throughout the year, and the Fire Safety Expo is definitely one of our favorites,” said Elizabeth Striegel, Director of Marketing and Business Development. “Fire safety affects all Lake County residents and we are delighted to team with the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association to help further educate local families on this important issue in such a fun and engaging way.”

A complete schedule of events for the day is listed below.

·         10:00 a.m. – Fire Expo Opens

·         10:30 a.m. – Trench Rescue Demonstration

·         11:00 a.m. – Lake County High Angle Demonstration

·         11:30 a.m. – Waukegan Fire Department Bomb Squad

·         11:45 a.m. – Side by Side Demonstration (of homes with a fire-sprinkler system and without)

·         12:30 p.m. – Auto Extrication Demonstration

·         1:00 p.m. – K-9 Demonstration

·         1:30 p.m. – Wild Land Fire Demonstration

·         2:00 p.m. – Raffle (Main Stage)

How to Get Ready in Minutes and Look like it Took Hours | Advice

In no way is anyone obligated to look a certain way when they leave the house. In fact, people with children have a pretty good excuse to look like they've been through a storm because, well, they have. But, setting aside some time in my day to care for and groom myself centers me and puts me in a mindset of having control over my life.  Looking like I'm well cared for is like putting on armor against the attacks of my day. Pooplosions and 18 smashed eggs can't touch me because I look great today. Ha.

Here comes the real puzzle though. How do you find the time or the energy to give to yourself during the day? That's the exact reason people drp thkse self-care habits because the time just doesn't exist.

Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you build time into your day and look like you spent hours getting ready when all you had was a handful of minutes.

1. The easiest way to dress yourself quickly is to grab the first couple things you see that don't smell and cover all the appropriate bits. I know that's all I want to do at seven in the morning when I have three kids to get ready and out the door. And while that's always an option, it's not one that makes me feel good about myself. But, since I don't have a computerized closet to help me pick out my clothes in the morning like Cher in Clueless (life is so unfair) I had to troubleshoot this problem. My solution is pretty simple and actually makes the whole process more fun and engaging. Like some people meal plan and have everything prepped and ready to go for the week, I prep my outfits.

I find the easiest way to do this is to build outfits while I am putting my laundry away. I try to put together an outfit with each clean item I hang up by combining it with things that are already in the closet. I gather everything I need including camis, tights, or accessories and put it all on one hanger and by the time I'm done putting my laundry away, I have a good selection of pre-packaged outfits just waiting to be plucked off the rod and put into action.

Not, only does this make getting ready easy, it also allows me to be creative and thoughtful with my clothing when I'm wide awake and there's no pressure to be somewhere. I can take the time to add those extra details and layers that create dimension and interest while also being able to come up with fresh combinations of pieces. So, it might look like I spend a lot of time getting dressed but, really it takes no more time than grabbing jeans and a t-shirt. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

2. Your hair can take as little or as much time as you want depending on how complicated you want to get but, you can ease the burden by washing your hair less often.

I know! This freaks some people out but, give it a chance. Hair has a natural cycle of oil and many people have trained their hair to become greasy faster by washing their hair too frequently and interrupting the cycle. In fact, that's not even healthy for your hair. If you commit to washing your hair less you will find that after about six weeks you can go much longer in between washes without looking like an unwashed middle schooler.

I personally go about 5 days in between washes and I wash and style my hair all on the same day. This is usually a pretty long process and is something that I have to schedule into my day. Which sounds bad but because I don't wash my hair again for another five days, with dry shampoo and quick touch ups, I can make my style last a long time. So, instead of doing a blow out or curling my hair every day, I do it once and reap the benefits all week. By the end, when my hair is starting to get limp and lack luster, I have a few easy updos or styles in my back pocket that are a bit more intricate than a standard ponytail or bun.

3. Getting a good "five minute face" makeup routine down pat will do you a lot of good. You don't have to do winged liner, full contour, and perfect red lips everyday. Just enough well placed make up will make you look fresher and more awake. Two steps that you should definitely add to your routine if you aren't already doing them, especially if you're a mom, are peach colored under eye concealer and a good highlighter. Even if the rest of your routine is just foundation and mascara, with under eye concealer and highlighter you will look like you got 8 hours of rock solid sleep and you in no way are fantasizing about a mid afternoon nap.

Implementing these habits into your daily routine will allow you plenty of time to step into the chaos of your life fully armored and ready for battle.

Dressing for Transition Seasons | Advice + Outfit

I know talking about the weather is boring small talk but it seriously impacts our clothing choices. So, it's hard to not talk about the weather! Clothes are our literal armor against the chilly gales that whip around us and, on a less practical level, the weather effects our moods and clothing is the outward display of the chilly gales whipping around inside of us. When we're bouncing around between 70 degree days and freezing rain it can be difficult to make style choices.

Side eye to mother nature...who does she think she is? Sybil? Save it for Sally Field, lady!

When the weather can't decide if it's one season or another, you have the great transition seasons. And while they're not my favorite weather-wise, I actually love dressing for these times of the year. It's a challenge to meld the warm and the cool into something that satisfies weather that's neither winter nor spring and reflects a mood that can only dip it's toes in the exuberance of a new season. One of my favorite ways to accomplish this is to pair typically winter colors with spring colors. Adding the blush colored cardigan and belt tips the scales towards an outfit that is more bloom and blossom than falling leaves and snow covered hills. I'm still protected from the elements but my lighter, happier mood is the sprinkle on top.

If you're unsure how to pair colors from the opposite ends of the spectrum, start with colors in the same color family. Even though wine is dark and saturated it has the same roots as the softer and airier blush so they will always look good together (like you and your cutie sister). You can also use prints as a cheat sheet, as well. The floral on my bag acts as a bridge incorporating both colors into it's palate. If you aren't sure where to start you can grab a print and pull out two colors, one spring and one winter, and build your outfit on that.

Keep in mind that all of this is a mere suggestion based on the desire to dress thematically for the season and you should always where whatever you want, whenever you want, regardless of what fashion magazines tell you is in this season or not. #velvetforeveryseason

Cardigan: thrifted (similar) | Shirt: JCP (similar in straight size, similar in plus) | Skirt: Kohl's (similar in straight size similar in plus) | Tights: We Love Colors | Belt: Target (similar in plus) | Shoes: Modcloth (similar) | Bag: Modcloth (similar) | Sunglasses: Vintage (similar) | Lips: Colourpop's Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Scrooge

How to Use Pintertest to Create a Personal Valentine's Day Look | Advice

 

Let's talk mood boards 'cause I love 'em. They're a collection of images and materials that evoke a certain style concept and putting one together can provide inspiration and direction for many projects. Not everyone is a thematic dresser. That's ok! But, I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that I am. Being a holiday junkie, I could a wear a million different looks to celebrate and using a mood board helps me understand what is most meaningful and enjoyable to me about a holiday. 

Pinterest is a great place to store ideas but, it's also an easy as pie mood board maker. Using my pinterest, I search keywords and pin whatever catches my eye to a fresh, new board. Then I go back and spend time looking at each individual pin and the collection as a whole. Are there any overarching themes and styles? Which elements draw me into each picture? What I saw in my mood board above was soft fabrics, pale colors complemented by deep red, romantic florals, and promises of sweet moments. 

For some Valentine's is hot and sultry. For others it's a big-eyed kitten holding a lace heart that says, "you're purrfect." Mine lands somewhere in between candy hearts and squishy kisses with my kids and stolen romantic moments with my husband. It's sweet, it's cute, and it's romantic in a familiar way and my mood board reflects that. With just a few moments on pinterest, I was able to create a visual tool that is a personal expression of what makes me the happiest on Valentine's day.

Knowing exactly what is in my heart allows me to do my favorite thing; take those feelings and flip them inside out for the rest of the world to see. I'm not getting dressed to impress, I am surrounding myself in a collage of little moments that I hold dear. Little things that effervesce with joy inside of me that I can wear as a badge of honor and share with the world.

Let me know in the comments what you love about Valentine's Day and stay tuned for my second Valentine's day mood board outfit inspiration!

Cardigan: Thrifted, similar in XS-4X | Skirt: Forever 21 similar in XS-4X | Shoes: Target, similar | Bracelet: Vintage similar | Lips: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Aria

How to Find Your Style | Advice

Style is different than fashion. Fashion exists in a world of wicked fast, whiplash inducing trends where the goal is to have your finger on the pulse of the masses. Style is more personal. Style is what speaks to you as an individual and how you use that to then express yourself without saying a word. It's not being the height of fashion but, what you do with fashion that makes a style.

Whether you want to create a brand for yourself in a professional sense, edit and refine the style you already have, or amp up your game and create a more unique and dimensional look, creating a personal style can happen with one simple step. Make a list of words that you feel define you as a person as well as, words that define aesthetics that you are drawn to. Try for five words. 

That's it.

The words that surfaced in your mind are the characteristics that you already love about yourself and the traits that you would like to exand on and project to others. Now, you can relate back to those words to help guide you towards a creative, cohesive, and meaningful style.

My sister and I spent an afternoon talking this out and defining each other's style. The words I landed on were quirky, vintage/retro, sophisticated, sexy, and spunky. Since I am a pretty eclectic person, I can bounce around all over the place without much of a connection. My words help me hone in on that connective thread. The first time I wore this skirt my outfit was quirky, vintage, and sophisticated but, here I am using the same (very distinct) skirt and creating a look that is quirky, sexy, and spunky. Each look is differing but still adjacent.

Shirt: JCPenney, similar in men's XXS-XXL | Skirt: Modcloth, similar in S-4X | Tights: Walmart, similar in S-L, similar in 1X-6X | Boots: Modcloth, similar | Lips: Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Chilly Chili

How to Print Mix with Plaid | Advice

I've been trying to shake things up and get creative with this skirt because I can't seem to see it outside of the grunge inspired look that I did here. I don't enjoy the idea of an article of clothing only playing one role in my closet and this one was starting to fall into that category. I was putting this skirt in a corner like a certain yuppie teenager named Baby. I definitely could have paired it with some of my graphic tees or my big grey sweater, and while those outfits are definitely in my rotation, they all fall into the grunge style that I wanted to move away from. 

My big, brilliant brainstorm was to achieve a quirky style by print mixing. Mixing prints can be a little touch and go as most of it comes from the gut but, there are few guidelines that can help to aid the mixing. And while there are many ways to pair up prints, I did the deed with the following techniques for this look.

1. Using a bold print with a subtle print

The black and white stripes have a high contrast while the plaid incorporates low contrast with dark colors. Putting these together provides visual interest and balance rather than creating an image that is too busy.

2. Go for Stripes.

Stripes are such an easy go-to for print mixing. They can fill the role of a neutral and add interest to pretty much anything. Anything. So, yeah. grab for those stripes and don't let go. 

3. Keep things in the family.

The plaid pattern in the skirt is created with varying shades of gray that build to black and that relates to the black stripe in the shirt. I used all black accessories to strengthen and highlight the common thread.

Do you have any go-to print mixing techniques or any items of clothing you just can seem to get out of their style box? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Shirt: JCPenney in S-L, similar in XL-3X | Skirt: Old Navy similar in S-XL, similar in 12-14 (on sale with code) | Tights: We Love Colors | Boots: Modcloth similar | Hat: Boohoo | Belt: Torrid similar in straight size, similar in plus size | Lips: Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina