New kicks...

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Activity: Family city day (lots of walking, lunching, ice skating...)

Blazer: Waverly Grey, thrifted (similar)
Top: thrifted (similar)
Jeans: J. Crew (similar)
Shoes: Puma via ebay (similar)
Bag: thrifted (similar)
Watch: Citizen - borrowed from Mike (similar)

As a mom of a most crazy and delightful 6 year old boy, I've had to rethink some of my fashion choices.  I'm rarely on a "day out" without him, so my wardrobe choices for those fun days have changed. No more toddling about in cute platform sandals....  (I still wear them, just on other days!)  I need to be ready for action!

Thankfully, sneakers as fashion is appropriate these days, but even if it wasn't I'd be choosing comfortable and cute shoes like these.  I had been scoping red suede Pumas or Adidas Stan Smiths for a while, and I found some good deals online (Pumas in this style are only $65 new anyway, Stan Smiths, not so much....), but when I found these for $17 and free shipping on eBay, I made the plunge.  I'm so glad I did!  This day we walked over 14,000 steps, then brutalized our feet in hard plastic skates for an hour and a half, so I was so grateful for these pillowy soft and comfortable shoes.  

A few tips for finding good deals when you have a specific style/brand in mind:

1. Shop around - check eBay, Amazon, store websites for Footlocker, etc, or the official brand website.  It can take a bit of homework.  

2. Get a good sense of the going price before you click to buy, but be ready to go when you see a great deal.  Sometimes it's the same price at several websites, so see where you could get a coupon code, or where you already have free shipping (like Amazon). You could even check in stores, if you have any near you.  Sometimes prices are lower in stores than online. 

3. Check out alternate sizing, not just women's shoe sizes.  My Pumas are a men's size (just subtract 1.5 sizes from your regular women's size) and were listed under the men's shoes section of eBay.  (Since my feet are wide, men's sizing often fits me better anyway.)  If your feet are smaller, you might even be able to buy children's sizes of the same shoe- almost always cheaper!

Here are some cute options for you:

Chiffon pleats

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Activity: Meeting for worship

Blazer: Theory, via eBay (similar)
Top: thrifted (similar)
Skirt: Uniqlo, on clearance in store this week (exact)
Shoes: BCBGeneration "Parade" via eBay (similar on sale, exact style)
Bag: Ann Taylor, thrifted (similar)
Necklaces: shortest- gift (similar), medium length- eBay(similar), longest- eBay (similar)
Earrings: via eBay (similar)

I think one of my favorite things about this outfit is that I've had all these items for a long time, but the addition of just one clearance skirt made these old (and really pretty basic) items seem new.  I often get distracted in my closet by brights or lots of accessories, but when I look at my favorite outfit photos on my Pinterest board, the best - most enduring and classic - outfits are simple.  

In case you're in the market for a similar skirt, here are several options that include more sizing options (since Uniqlo sizing is relatively small - I'm wearing a large):

Pleated lace

Activity: Meeting for worship

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Blazer: Ann Taylor, this season (exact)
Tank: Old Navy (similar)
Skirt: H&M, thrifted (similar, similar)
Belt: Gap (similar)
Watch: Michael Kors via ebay (similar)
Shoes: BCBGeneration "Parade" via ebay (similar) (This is quite a comfortable, classic heel with a hidden platform, you can still get versions on eBay, I just bought a NWT black pair.  I size up 1/2 size, FYI.)
Bag: GiGi NYC via ebay (similar)
Lip: ColourPop ultra matte "Creeper" (exact, similar)

I mentioned recently that I've been trying some new silhouettes.  This was an experiment that worked better in real life than it photographed, but was still fun.  I almost never tuck shirts in, nor do I wear pleated, fuller skirts often.  It felt a little fancy, especially with the little glittery touch of the belt, but still appropriate for a non-formal occasion.

I've decided to focus more on what clothing and colors interest me, and less on what designers and the fashion industry tell me are in style.  I found this skirt at a thrift store, and loved the pleated style and just-below-knee length (everything pleated out right now is midi-length, which is pretty unflattering on me).  I wouldn't have thought of buying this color (although olive is almost always a great choice), but I've worn a similar combination before (here) of navy, black and olive that I liked, so I restyled it with this skirt and switched the black to brown.  I had fun wearing a "swishy" skirt for the day, anyway....

In case you're in the market...

Topping it off

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Hat: H&M, bought in store in November (exact in available colors, similar in ivory)

Sweater: Banana Republic, thrifted (similar)

Top: J. Crew, thrifted (similar)

Skirt: Charlotte Russe (similar)

Boots: Calvin Klein, thrifted (similar)

Bag: GiGi NY via ebay (similar)

Earrings: Robin Undira boutique (similar)

Radio silence around here for a while.  Nothing too earth-shattering, thankfully, I just wasn't really feeling "blogworthy"....  Then the outfits I did like weren't able to get photographed, or I hated the photos.  I'm sure we've all been there!

I haven't really been reading that many blogs lately either.  My new favorite, and probably only regularly read blog any more, includes mostly thrifted items - Blue Collar Red Lipstick.  Check it out if you also like thrifting.  I've been thinking of including some thrifting find posts - let me know if anyone would like to see that.  I get so excited over some of my thrifted finds, and I don't really have too many friends as into thrifting as I am, so I can't gush sufficiently over some of my discovered treasures.  Big problem, right?

Am I the only one who find the current fashions a bit boring?  I like neutrals as much as the next person, perhaps more, but if I see one more slouchy ivory sweater, mom jean and ankle boot outfit, I'm going to scream.  So, you won't see super trendy items here, which you already know if you've visited before.  (Also, I will never wear mom jeans.  I lived through the 80s, and am only  just now overcoming some of the jean-search trauma from those years.)  I've been thrifting more than ever, and experimenting with some new silhouettes - some which, gasp, are not currently in fashion.  I've been having fun, I just haven't felt like sharing it lately.  In any case, I've decided to focus more on what I love wearing, not what corporate fashion tells me I should be wearing.  

I have, however, discovered a new favorite store (sadly for my budget).  I am in love with Ann Taylor, and am near a store once a week now - without a child.  A bit dangerous.  I haven't really purchased too many new items from anywhere recently, since I find such incredible things thrifting, but there have been a few exceptions at Ann Taylor, since the fit seems to work really well on me. I'll share an outfit or two down the road that include my pieces from there, which were all purchased way on sale.  And this is my current obsession - can't decide whether to pull the trigger.  Such a splurge (even on sale) but a lifetime worthy statement piece (it looks prettier in person, and the gathered back is incredible).

Oh, and after all this whining, I forgot to mention this hat!  It's my new secret weapon to make any outfit feel cuter.  H&M has some of the cutest ones you've ever seen - I could hardly choose between ivory, blush or taupe (which is seriously, and yes, oddly, my favorite color of all time).  Since it doesn't get so cold here in San Francisco, sometimes it's fun to add a wintery accessory and pretend it's winter.  (And my apologies go to all those stuck in real winter who may prefer not to be there.)  In any case, it also hides any rainy-season frizz head issues!