Welcome!

The hallway and its giant chalk board have gotten a make-over. I'm still in the process of putting it all together, but I am dorkily excited for someone to see the chalkboard. We won't have guests for a couple of weeks, so HERE YA GO, INTERNET!

 The lettering and embellishment was done with chalk pens, which wipe off with water but won't smudge under your finger. I have a bag of plain ol' chalk nearby, so visitors can leave their own marks or Jake and I can write each other the lovey messages we are wont to do.

Outfit details--All elements purchased second-hand unless noted otherwise:

Why do I look so crabby!?

Floral Shirt: $1.50

Dress: $2.00

Belt: $.25

Tights & Socks: Purchased from mall stores, $10.00

Boots: A birthday gift from my mom, to replace the pair that was stolen from my car! I paid $40.00 of my own money for these from Zappos.

Approximate Total: $53.75 (13.75 excluding the boots)

Reconstructions

Now that my handsome roommate/best friend has returned to school, I have a lot of time alone at home. In the summer I'd go exploring, but I am holing up for Chicago winter, no matter how mild. 

My new sewing machine has been put to work!

After fixing all of the ripped pants in the house--including one pair split by Jake at a party when trying to do yoga while wearing corduroys--I began working on the pile I set aside to reconstruct. Each top is upcycled from materials I already owned.


Vintage blouse, ruched with added blue lace.

 

Freestyle "quilt" from fabric scraps appliqued to a stained t-shirt I had dyed last summer. This is a new style that I am working to perfect.
 
 

Peculiar short sleeved t-shirt/cardigan/jacket, sewed together in the front, gathered under the bust for a little shape, and give puffy sleeves.


I can't wait to do this to more sweatshirts! Tiny vintage sweatshirt turned into a cardigan with a  lace trim. I'm not loving the lace, so I may replace it with some green or white binding. What do you think I should do?

Made Over

 A new year, a new look.

One box of darkdarkdark brown dye. A good trim and asymmetrical bangs via razor comb. Some white and pink embroidery floss. Earrings from my favorite jewelry artist. This super-easy new make-up trick.

From this to witch in exactly one year!

Outfit: Color Warrior

 With the season's first winter storm (in mid-January? No complaints!), I'm back into wishful dressing.  Just because the whole outdoors is grey does not mean that I need to be.

Top: Discount buy from a big box store, $2.00

Skirt: Vintage and home-sewn, a birthday gift from my handsome roommate

Hat: My favorite of all time, crocheted vintage from a church sale, $.25

Necklace: From the one and only Luxe Debris, who is now hand-etching the most amazing pieces!

Belt: Vintage gold, silver, and copper makes for a perfect match in any jewelry situation, $.25

Tights: Discounted from a big box store, $3.50

Boots: Thrifted in Des Moines on New Year's Day 2010, $4.00

Approximate Total: $10.00

Birthday Outfit

Dress: A very rare mall purchase! Divided by H&M, $20

Sweater: "Vintage Brooke", pushing ten years in my wardrobe! At this point, I'm calling it "free"

Necklace:  Statement necklace bought from 1st Class Finds, $4.00

Stockings: Gifted by Jake's mom, who has never seen me wear pants, free

Shoes: Grey pumps, not shown and bought new for a job interview, $15.00

Handsome Fella: Wearing all vintage (except the tasseled loafers, a gift from my mom) and constantly complaining about needing a hair cut, free but lookin' like a million bucks

Approximate Total: $39.00 (Whew! that's pricey in my book!)

As I've mentioned, I had a birthday last week. Among many really special gifts, I received The Boss's first ever piece of art (a lovely abstract, finger paint on canvas) and a couple of pitch-perfect vintage scarves from my boo. 

After a day at work, I was escorted by the handsome man above to play unlimited free pinball at Logan Hardware, have some whiskey at the dive-y Bob Inn, and indulge in amazing tapas at The Girl and the Goat, run by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard. He sure knows how to treat me well. 

The whole night was sponsored by Templeton Rye, made in Iowa and oh-so delicious.

Outfit 12/6

Wednesday was a busy day of baby snuggling, Whole Foods-ing (a big deal for a Broke gal--we had a Groupon), thrifting, and Ikea-ing. Among plenty of other things, we finally bought a dining room table. We also bought AMAZING vegan wraps from Soul Vegan and I can't endorse them enough.

Top: Church sale find, with the previous owner's name written on the tag, $.50

Vest: Technically sized for a young boy, thrifted for $.50

Skirt: Thrifted, $1.50

Tights: Years old and tattered just right

Boots: Made me subject to a long story about a man who has "broken a few broncos in his day," vintage for $20.00

Approximate Total: $22.50

Trying my best and failing to channel Natsumi Hayashi

Aaand new sunglasses, $2.99


PS- I haven't given up the vegan month! I took a small, 2 day break when my mom visited so that I could enjoy the couple of restaurants we visited, but otherwise have been 100% vegan for 13 days. Other than feeling a little weak and sleepy during my body's detox the first week, I feel wonderful! I eat fruit and nuts during the daytime, and vegetables with grains or beans for dinner. I could definitely make a habit of this.

Believe it or not, that male body form and the plate tectonics print have finally been hung in their appropriate homes. The clutter seen in so many photos has finally been cleared. Sometimes it just takes a little rushed desperation (in the form of family visitors).

Dress: Thrifted while in Iowa, then shortened. I thought the dark corduroy would make the perfect fall dress. $5.00

Shoes: Favorite fall boots with faux shearling on the inside. Vintage, $4.00

Tights: So old I'm calling them free.

Bow: Included in a giant bag of hair accessories, $.10

Approximate Total: $9.10

Happy Day of Feasting with Loved Ones!

Jake and I are headed to Southern Illinois to spend the day with his family, and then hosting our own dinner for the first time as a family on Saturday. We're in the center of my Iowa and Indiana family, so we'll be feeding eight. YIKES. We bought a decent supply of beer from the brewery around the corner to keep everyone happy and entertained. I'm thrilled to have my dad, his sister, and the rest of our family to my home here for the first time.

If I'm not around tomorrow, have a perfect weekend.

Outfit 11/18

Dress: Vintage nightie, bought for its print and precious lace bib and due for an altering, $5.00

Tights: Big box super clearance, $3.00

Shoes: my mom's from the 80's and in perfect condition!

Approximate total: $8.00

Outfit--Andy D and Electric Six

I was able to enjoy a sunny day off with Jake on Friday, so we ran around town before heading to the Electric Six show at the Double Door.

Top: Reconstructed by yours truly, $.50

Shorts: Old Steve & Barry's jeans cut off, $7.00 originally

Tights: ??? So old we'll call them free

Shoes: Beloved Justin's, $4.50

Earring: Unpolished agate studs, made myself

Bow: Included in my giant thrifted bag of 90's hair accessories, about $.05

Approximate Total: $12.05

The highlight of the night was seeing Andy D open. The D stands for "dreams." I can't recommend catching this guy live enough-- you'll laugh while you dance. Support his Kickstarter here, and do some dancing here:

Fake a High Bun

I covet the "high bun" hairstyle, mostly because it is equally cute and lazy. Dirtbag fashionable. For now, my hair is barely long enough to even to put in a high ponytail, let alone make a ferocious bun. So, I've just been waiting.

Last week, the 1990's came to my hair rescue via Village Discount. Behold, the flouncy butterfly clip. It cost me pennies, in a bag of probably 25 hair accessories (read: scrunchies) for 90 cents total. MMM! Cheap fashion.

 

If someone can figure out how to make these, I would gladly buy a few in bright colors.

Thrifted Outfit 10/14

Top: Vintage, gifted to me by a co-worker, FREE

Skirt: Super thrift score! Red vintage leather pencil skirt, $1.50

Belt: Vintage thrifted, $.75

Earring: Made by yours truly, unpolished found agate on silver chain, FREE

Shoes: Not pictured, vintage brown booties, $4.50

Approximate Total: $6.75

A Bon Voyage to Bare Legs

10/8/11, bike riding to Montrose Harbor

Dress: Thrifted, $2.00

Belt: Vintage, $.60

Necklace: Gifted from Carissa! 

Shoes: Not pictured, sandals from photos below, $12.00

Approximate Total: $14.60

Making use of my new tripod in the gangway and looking crabby, 10/10/11.

Top: Thrifted, $.50

Shorts: Thrifted and unflattering, $1.50 

Belt: Thrifted, $.25

Shoes: Shameful big box purchase on a desperately warm day, $12.00

Approximate Total: $14.25

And proof that I am a ridiculous person with no idea what I am doing ever:

Hard vs Soft

Top: Black pocket tee borrowed from Jake's drawers

Shorts: Years old discount jeans, cut-off

Tights: Target clearance, $3.50

Boots: Thrifted Justins, $4.50

Necklace: Church sale scores, tiger's eye pendant and guilded talon, $2.00 total

Approximate Total: $10.00

Fall Dress

Pardon the cat face, there were some lazy eyes back there...

Top: Gifted by Carissa

Skirt: My favorite color! Thirfted, $2.00

Belt: Borrowed from another dress

Tights: Target sale last year, $3.00

Boots: My favorites and signatures, $20.00

Approximate Total: $25.00

  Shirt Dress: Thrifted Banana Republic, $3.00

Belt: Vintage colored leather, $.25

Tights: From HappySocks.com! $4.00

Boots: Ol' trusties again, $20.00

Earrings: Gorgeous Luxe Debris! Sent in a carepackage by Carissa herself!

Approximate Total: $27.35

Patterns

I was inspired by this little sweet pea at lost in the forest to revisit my love of pattern stacking, but try a fall-friendly color pallet. Yes, I love brown, but mostly I am guilty of piling on brighter colors than what is in the autumnal spectrum.

 I wish I had some fun, striped or spotted socks to add, but I generally avoid the things and thus avoid the sock aisle while shopping. Serves me right!

Blouse: Imitation Pucci, thrifted for $1.00

Skirt: Vintage navy blue houndstooth, $2.50

Bolo: Elements bought from the Rock & Gem Show this past spring, and completed with an unpolished agate from my personal collection, $5.00 (revisit the glory of the Rock Show on Carissa's blog!)

Belt: Recent thrift acquisition in Chicago, $.75

Tights: So old I think maybe they just created themselves from a pile of lint in my drawers?

Boots: My loves, my soft brown leather booties, $4.50

Approximate Total: $13.75

Day Off, Two Ways

Good 'ol fashioned (get it!?) outfit post from two different days off of work.

Ode to Buddies

Shirt: Handmade gift from Ramona (now of the Swimsuits!)

Skirt: Vintage, originally calf-length and a-line, reconstructed by myself, $2.38

Belt: Vintage, a gift from Jessica

Necklace: Handmade and gifted by the talented Carissa

Flowers: from my beautiful cousin's summer wedding in Indiana

Approximate Total: $2.38, the cost of the skirt

Top: Vintage men's dress shirt, with rolled sleeves for feminity, 50cents

Jeans: "Teen jeans" on sale from an embarassing big box store, $12.00

Lapel pin: Unseen, a large, gold "B" sent in a care package from Carissa

Cat: My new roommate, Bill

Polka-dotted Legs: My attempt to heal bug bits from this day even though I don't have any clear nail polish--I'm a class act!

Approximate Total: $12.50