WOTS: And What We Wear Is Vintage Clothes (feature)...

I know....I know...I've been MIA. And it's totally uncalled for. Okay, well not totally...my new job is very demanding of my time so posting has been out of the question. I did have a few minutes tonight though...while watching the Season Finale of my favorite show of this year, Born To Dance, I figured that I would take this time to highlight one of my fave blogger chics. I know she thinks that I've forgotten about her but rest assured Meagan, fabulosity can never be forgotten about.  She's the one I look forward to visiting on Thursday's because she's vintage, she rocks killer accessories, and above all else, she's thrifty.

Everyone say hello to Meagan.

Meagan from SpunkyChateau

Tell us a little about yourself and your mission as a blogger.

I started my blog, SpunkyChateau, about a year ago. I had just started reading fashion blogs and as a recent college grad who hadn't found a job yet, I thought starting my own blog would be something interesting to focus on in the absence of a job. Soon, my blog became a way for me advertise pieces I had for sale in my vintage store and eventually it evolved into what it is now. Today, I document my outfits and talk about where each piece came from but I try to focus on thrifting and introducing people to the benefits of buying secondhand. It's not only a way to incorporate unique pieces into your closet, but it recycles and lots of times the proceeds go to local charities. Each Thursday I host a photo link up, Thursdays are for Thrifters, where bloggers can show off their recently thrifted finds and outfits, in hopes that it will give like-minded bloggers a chance to network and will inspire others to give thrifting a try.

Your style is very bohemian vintage. What inspires you to style your outfits this way? Who are your style icons? My style is definitely vintage-inspired and I love to incorporate vintage into my outfits as often as I can. I think that for most people their personal style is their attempt at communicating who they feel they are to the world. I think the fact that I love vintage clothing and vintage-inspired fashion, partly, stems from the fact that I love history. I've always been interested in learning and the past has always fascinated me. A lot of the clothes I wear are inspired by the time periods I find really interesting, specifically the 1960s and 1970s. Further, I'm a bit of a music nerd and fashion has a unique role in culture in that is has been an accessible way for young people to identify themselves with subcultures and movements, especially in regards to music. So, like many people, to a degree, what I wear reflects what I identify with and value. I would not say that I have any real style icons, but I love the styles of Stevie Nicks, Elton John, Prince, and Vivian Westwood among many, many others.



Meagan from SpunkyChateau

You're also a big thrift shopper. How long have you been thrifting and what inspired you to start?

I've been shopping in thrift stores since I was very young. It was just something that my family did on some weekends. I always loved it and enjoyed finding bargains. When I got into high school, I became more serious about thrifting because I wanted to have unique pieces that no one else in school had. Since then, I've become even more interested in thrifting as a way to expand my closet without overspending. As I've thrifted more and more, I've found that it really has a lot of benefits and that you can find pieces that fit your style almost anywhere and in any price range if you put your mind to it.

What goal did you have in mind when you began the 'Thursday is for Thrifters' meme on your blog? I began my 'Thursdays are for Thrifters' link up for two reasons. First, I wanted bloggers who already love to thrift to get to interact and share their finds with each other, because everyone loves to brag about finding a deal and to see what their friends have found. But more importantly, I wanted to show people who don't thrift just what sorts of things you can find thrifting. I've known lots of people who look down on thrifting and I know that thrifting has a negative stigma in some communities. I wanted these people to see that you can find great pieces for such low prices and teach people how to thrift, because lots of people who have never thrifted before don't know where to start.

Vintage Wedges

What are some of your favorite thrifting tips to follow?

I have dedicated a few posts to thrifting tips and I could go on all day about this, but my number one rule is to follow your instincts. I try to walk up and down each aisle and scan the racks. If something jumps out at me, I pick it up and look at it. If you have a good feeling about something, try it on. It may take you a few minutes to figure out how to style an item, but if you're drawn to something, there's usually a reason.

Who are some other 'thrifty' bloggers that you can't get enough of?

There are sooo many girls and guys out there who are putting together amazing outfits based around thrifted pieces that it's really hard to pick, but some of my absolute favorites right now are: MyModernVintage, DressesOnAClothesline, and ThePaperBagMiss.

Where are some other places that we can find you on the web (FB, twitter, online shop)?

I have a vintage boutique on Etsy.

I'm also on Facebook---and on Twitter.

Thanks Meagan for taking over today. Muah!!!

Now everybody...run quickly and follow her! Go on...scoot!

Post Title from: Vintage Clothes by Paul McCartney

She Works Hard All The Time...

Dear Job,

For the past couple of weeks you have singlehandedly managed to take over my life! You have stolen my evenings, my weekends, and slowly but surely what little bit of sanity that I have left. Please release me so that I may get back to the blogosphere that I love ever so much.

Yours Truly,

PS: If anyone feels my pain please comment after the 'jump'.

Post Title from: Hard Working Woman by BB King

Everybody, Everywear: Gonna Be A Late Night, Early Morning...

Don't get it twisted....

Work is kicking my......(you fill in the dots with whichever form of expletive you feel necessary)!!

The last couple of weeks have definitely been full of  late nights and early mornings for me. And I just looked at my agenda for the week and what do ya know.....meetings every single day-except Friday.  That means even fewer opportunities to post. My weekends will be overflowing with the much needed rest that the week has deprived me of so outfit posts are going to be very few and far between. It's a good thing I have a couple of OOTD pics stashed away in my archives because when life presents inevitable time constraints I can just revert to my desktop, point, click, and upload! This 'fit here is a perfect example (and one of my faves):

Blouse/Wedges-Thrifted..Purse-Vintage Dooney & Bourke..Jeans/Vest-Wetseal

This has been in my archives for a lengthy minute now and I thought it would be a perfect addition for this month's EverybodyEverywear 'Colored Jeans' segment.

Black is the new (insert your favorite color here) right?

I'm sure I'll be the only simpleton in the whole roundup with black bottoms on....because most people don't consider black to be colorful. But the last time I checked black was included on the list of colors to know in elementary school!! Soooo I'm gonna wear my black and be confident in the fact that I followed the rules-ok well maybe I bent them-slightly!! But fashion isn't fashion unless a few rules are taken out of context. So kudos to those of you who rock black like it's the brightest color in the Crayola box. I F'IN DIG YOU!!!

I am truly grateful for my blessings....despite the lack of Zzzzz's!

I feel like I should be able to get a pass on the black pants because one-they make me feel totally kick a$$ and two-I paired them with lots of color. It just wouldn't have been fashionably correct for me to pair this shirt with loud bottoms so I kept the lower half a bit neutral and muted so as to not look like Bozo. Here's a closer look at the Aztec-esque pattern:

Before I peace out I'm curious to know if all of you take new OOTD pics each and everyday or if some of your posts consist of pics from your archives? Is it okay to confess that not all of my OOTD posts are taken the same day that they are posted? Or is that a huge blogger no-no... a secret that I should have kept to myself?

Who cares....I'm a fan of keeping it real!!

Can't wait to see what kind of colors EverybodyEverywear else is rocking...

 

Post Title from: Late Nights, Early Mornings by Marsha Ambrosious

WOTS: Whaddaya Think The Teacher's Gonna Look Like This Year...

Since school is now in full swing, I wanted to do some posts centered around just that. I would much rather be networking and meeting some of my favorite fashion bloggers at this weeks IFB Conference but since I have been called upon to do other things with my life, I am stuck here....trying to make it through the first week of school without feeling green.

I have come into contact with my fair share of teacher, professors, instructors, liaisons, and faculty members throughout my life and well....a majority of them have been 'frump dumps' to say the least. Sure teachers have a pretty boring dress code....sure researchers say that teachers should wear muted colors so as to not interrupt the brain waves of the little ones...sure teachers may be up on their feet for the better part of the day; maybe even chasing a few students down the hallway, sitting on a concrete floor, or jumping in to play with the children during recess. But by no means (and I DO mean that literally) does that suggest the fact that teachers should look like they are preparing to partake in a day  of yard sale shopping.  Nor does it suggest that all of today's style rules should be thrown out of the window with the cat litter.

It's very easy to stay within the lines of the 'dress code' and remain stylish:

How's this?

 

**AC-CESS-OR-IZE-without going overboard, you can add colorful broaches, rings, and bracelets up into the mix

**Mixy, matchy-spruce up everyday items such as cardigans, pencil skirts, and LBD's with statement necklaces, scarves, cinched belts, or minute pops of bold color

**Layers on layers on layers-pair high waisted flared trousers with a stylish tank and a cardigan...you can even throw on a boyfriend blazer to really top it off. Then you can peel off layers as needed

**Less is MORE-if you must go for muted colors, at least make sure that the details are worth an honorable mention

Dress-Thrifted

Shoes-Target

I love this simple, yet effective detailing...

What was your perception of your grade school teacher?

 Better yet, if you have children, what is your perception of their teacher?

How about your college professors?

Post Title from: Hot for Teacher by Van Halen

And When You Think You Know Me Right I Switch It Up...

OMG....you guys! I feel like it's been FOR-EH-VER since I've last posted. But hopefully this time, I'm here to stay. I just have to be hella organized and plan my posts a little earlier. Whew....that was a mouthful! Being organized is not so much of a problem buuuutttt trying to get all of my weekly posts done on one day is the issue. After all, it's time for sccchhhhooooolllll. That means lesson plans, all day classes, meetings, moving family members on campus, extremely long lines at the financial aid office, paperwork, late night cramming, more meetings, oh and blog posts.

VCU Suite...

It's officially back to school time and as much as I would loooovvveee to post everyday, it just won't be possible without some serious time management.

Here are some rules that I like to follow:

• Sit on your pocket book! Create an editorial calendar. This is a must! This doesn't have to be fancy nor extravagant! Matter of fact, a pocket notebook will do just fine. While blog surfing, I find tons of challenges and events that I want to take part in. Having a calendar handy makes it easier for me to not only plan posts but outfits too.
• Prioritize your priorities! Set aside specific times for blogging. If you're anything like be-obsessed with social media-then you are surfing the 'net during any free moment that you can spare. This is no bueno and it has to stop! Make sure all of your homework, assignments, notes home, and lesson plans-basically anything with a due date-are complete before you even think about logging into your 'puter.
• Production Reduction! Maybe with your new schedule you only have time to produce a limited number of posts....and that's ok. It's your blog, you do what the hell you wanna do with it, right!? But remain consistent so that your readers won't totally fall off and dismiss you. You can even call on some of your blogger friends to guest post for you if need be.
• Control, Alt, Delete....TAB!!! I am the guru of tabbing. I have had as many as 15 tabs open as once. I find that I develop immediate Attention Deficit Disorder when I am blogging and tabbing is the only remedy that fixes it. It's soothing for me to switch back and forth between different tabs and blogs while I'm creating my own posts. Besides according to Marcia Tate, the average adults attention span is only 20 minutes. Did ya know that?
• Lifesaver Sharing. Connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts to your blog so that they are automatically updated when you publish a new post. It save a helluva lot of time. Retweeting any of your 'favorite friends' blog posts is nice as well. (Hint, Hint)

Like me on Facebook here

Follow me on Twitter here

Are you a student, teacher, or mother with children in school?

Moving my neice in...

If so, what are your tips for keeping your blog successful

during the back to school/work season?



VCU Pins...they had Mom and Dad ones too!

Post Title from: Back To School by Deftones

Here Comes The Story Of The Hurricane...

Dear Irene,

With recent natural disasters going on all over the world-hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes-I'm kind of unsure of what to expect from you. I'm actually a bit afraid. There's been around the clock news coverage in anticipation of your arrival. The traffic is backed up for miles and there's a minimum 10 minute wait just to get to a gas pump (okay, so maybe I exaggerated a little but seriously there's an overflow of drivers at the gas station)!  You've convinced people that they need to dip into their already low stash of emergency funds so that they can clear the shelves of Dasani water and Nature's Own bread at all of the local grocery stores.  Really, Irene!? You've terrified our city officials so bad that they've already called for mandatory evacuations in the area.  Let's get this clear, my area never issues mandatory evacuations! Majority of the schools in the area have opened as emergency shelters and the city garages are free for the weekend so as to avoid any one's ride getting totaled by flood damage. My insurance company has already called with an automated message about how they are here for me throughout this whole 'hurricane' ordeal-giving me detailed instructions of how I can go about filing a claim-yada, yada, yada. Mind you.....this is all before I've even seen the first speckle of rain.  You've made some people rich today 'Reeny. I bet the local grocers have exceeded their yearly numbers; they don't need to sell another loaf of bread for the rest of the year-all because of you. So tell me Irene, what exactly is your plan?

And for those of you who live in the eye of the storm,

are you prepared?

Courtesy of the Dollar Market, here's my 'Thrifty and Shameless' Hurricane Irene Survival kit:

1. Bottled Water-lots of it! For drinking and/or bathing-maybe even flushing the toilet if need be.

2. Salty/Spicy Snacks-Salt & Vinegar Chips and...Hot Fire Pork Skins<---that's the fat country girl talking!

3. Sweet Snacks-Fiddle Faddle...how can you have salty without the sweet? I can eat a whole box of these things in one sitting. And that's exactly what I plan to do if I'm stuck in the house all weekend!

4. Canned Goods-especially Chicken Noodle Soup...doesn't matter if this stuff is hot or cold-it's a MISSILE!!

5. Sanitizer-for clean hands just in case there's not hot water.

6. Styrofoam stuff-to eat cold soup in!

7. CARBS-bread and crackers...to make PB&J sandwiches orrrr PB crackers are always YUM!!

8. Lighting/Communication Devices-what else would I use these for?

What's in your survival kit?

Post Title from: Hurricane by Bob Dylan

Awkward and Awesome: If There Was An Earthquake...

AWKWARD

-Earthquakes...on the East Coast!? Totally unheard of! I was in a meeting when it happened and the guest speaker was all like, "Oh, it's just the HVAC system"! Ummm, definitely not! Whose HVAC system have you been around? Obviously not a proper functioning one because nooooo one's HVAC system should make a whole building shake like that. Crazy lady!

-My undying love for JayZ. The fact that his tour with Kanye West is coming as close to me as DC and I won't be able to attend is blowing my lifetime high right now. Thank goodness for a new job but to hell with the fact it's gonna look irresponsible for me to take days off within the first few months of me being there. This is some bull-ish!!

-I'm on a manic hunt for Cowboys tickets. Anyone know where I can find a super good deal on them?

-Some random female named 'Tamika' who left her number on my man's ride. How dare you, you lame excuse of a woman? You have no class or respect for yourself!! Please hide under a rock somewhere...HE IS MINE!!! Bitch!!

AWESOME

-Started my new job on Monday. And the heaping amount of information that they've given me over the past couple of days have been totally overwhelming. But I'm not complaining. I'm ecstatic!! Woot Woot!!!

-Rising of the Planet of the Apes. MY RATING-10,000. Seriously. THEE. BEST. MOVIE. OF. THE. YEAR. Maybe even the best of the decade. So Oscar worthy. Go see the movie. Enough said.

-My strong urge to see 'The Help' movie. Has anyone seen it? Thoughts? Comments?

-Making homemade Rice Krispie Treats. They're soooo much better than the one's that you find in the store. Add extra butter for even more deliciousness!!

What was Awkward and/or Awesome for you this week?

Post Title from: Earthquake by Lady GaGa

WOTS: I Like Those Stylish Clothes You Wear (feature)...

“"Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.”

-John Fairchild

When I think of style, I think of someone who's obviously fashionable. One who isn't afraid to take risks, experiment with color, and ultimately one who can put one helluva spin on the latest (or maybe even the 'not so latest') trends in order to make them their own. I think of one who does the unexpected yet remains classic and timeless in their effort to do so. I think of someone who's FLY. Someone who always owns the room, no matter what they wear.

Today, I'm thinking of KayCee.

Everyone say hello to her.

Tell us a little more about yourself and your mission as a blogger?

Hello I am Kaycee of TwoStylishKays. My career is corporate training, but my passion is fashion.  So when I take off my trainer hat, I delve into the world of fashion as a personal stylist. I love helping women feel confident about their image and personal style. My personal style blog celebrates my love of fashion, thrift shopping and inspiring women to look stylish all the time. I believe that personal style is a look that is all your own. It’s not about how much money you spend, but how you wear your clothes.

What inspired you to begin thrifting?

It was my mother who nurtured my "thrifty shopping habit". Being a single parent, she worked two jobs just to make ends meet and thrifting was one way she could stretch a dollar. So she introduced me to secondhand stores at an early age. Since there was a social stigma attached to thrifting, I would only run in to buy black pants to wear to my job as a cashier at Popeye's.  But those quick trips turned in weekly visits as I realized the joy of thrifting and learned how to create fashionable wardrobes on a modest budget. Today, thrift shopping has a new meaning in my life:  It’s therapeutic! It’s the thrill of the hunt! It’s doing a good deed!! Oh and I save a lot of money too!!

How often do you thrift and do you set a budget for yourself?

I go thrifting at least once a week. My budget is not the driving force behind my purchases. I go shopping with a list, so I only but things that I truly want. When I make a purchase it’s an item that I need, can wear immediately and will love for years to come.

Your style is very classic and clean. Do you shop for particular labels/brands when thrifting? 

I heart brands like Michael Kors, Zara, Club Monaco, Banana Republic because of their quality and timeless styles. I avoid fast label brands like H&M, F21, Old Navy and any Target brands because the quality usually isn't worth the thrift store price tag.  Plus, I can pay the same price for the item at an end of year or clearance sale. If I don’t recognize a label/brand, I look at the quality based on the material, how the item is sewn and of course the fit. The best racks to shop first are the dress, skirt, blazer and blouse sections.

What are a few of your favorite and most valuable thrifted items?

I have too many to name. But one of my favorite thrifted pieces is a Bill Blass navy silk chiffon dress. I found at Goodwill. There was little hanger appeal, but I loved the color and fabric. So I tried it on and fell in love. When I began inspecting the dress, looking for flaws and such, I noticed the Bill Blass label!  

What are some good pointers that you've learned while thrifting?

These are tips to follow to have a great thrifting experience:  

1. Shop alone or with someone who enjoys thrifting. Thrifting is not for the faint of heart and requires a great deal of patience. 

2. Know that a thrift store is not the mall.  Go in without expectations and don't give up if you do not find specifically what you are looking for.

3. Many stores do not have dressing rooms; therefore, wear leggings and a fitted top to try on clothes in the aisle.

4. Become a frequent shopper.  Associates may become familiar with your style and point you in the direction of great finds. 

5. Remember the accessories.  Thrift stores are a great place to find silk scarves, vintage jewelry, and belts.

Who are some other 'thrifty' bloggers that you enjoy visiting?  

Shana of ColorBlind

Stacey Kay of GoodWill Huntingg 
Inez of Style Chic 360

How do you define style?

Post Title from Ride With Me by Nelly

Little Miss Weird...

I love doing weird things with my clothes...

Like taking things that don't fit and turning them into something highly doable.

These pants, for instance...

Were found in my sisters 'my trash is your treasure' bag. She was throwing these babies away. I loved the light denim wash and the soft texture of them so I fetched them out and decided that I would keep them. Then, I looked at the size....10. Nevermind that I'm easily a size 4, I figured I would take them anyway. So I cuffed them at the bottom....And in an instant, they became:



Tank-Target/Oversized Jeans-Gifted/Belt&Pumps-Thrifted



My favorite pair of boyfriend jeans.

What I love most about them is that the bagginess makes them appear really hippie-esque.

YES!!!

 Just the look I was going for. Now all I need is a turban. Ohhhh....and these lovely thrifted brown pumps

They make me die!

 

Purse-Thrifted/Cardigan-NY&Co



 What types of 'weird' things do you do

 to your clothes to make them fit?

Post Title From: Girls Do Weird Things by Even Stevens

Savin' Maven Monday: How Sweet Does It Get?

Hello my lovelies and Happy Monday to you all. I hope that your weekend was fabulous.  Mine was spent hanging out with family and friends and preparing myself to go back to work after an all too short summer break.   You may notice that my posts may be few and far between over these next couple of months only because I'm starting a completely new position and I don't want to overwhelm myself. I want to make totally certain that I'm focusing all of my thoughts on putting my best foot forward on the job.

I had some rather great shopping trips this past week.  Really good deals at Walgreens. Surprisingly, they had all of their advertised items in stock this week so I was super excited about that.  I also purchased a couple of items from Rite Aid and Farm Fresh but I combined all of the items so that I would only have to take one pic.

Here's my haul:

Savin' Maven

Two separate trips to Walgreens and 6 separate transactions later, I ended up spending $10.79 there. The Revlon polishes were on an even better special this week. They were priced at $3.99 and get this...with the purchase of any Revlon polish they were giving you $3 back to use on a future purchase. I had store coupons for $2 off and combined with the $1 off manufacturer's coupons, I ended up paying $.99 for the polishes plus getting $3 back. How sweet is that!? The Stayfree pads were B1G1 FREE and combined with my B1G1 FREE coupon I spent $2.00 for both packages. The Cottonelle tissues were $3.25 each after store specials and coupons. The deodorants were 2 for $5 with a $3 instant register reward. The Skittles and eyeliner pencils were all 'filler' items. The Gain, which was purchased at Farm Fresh, was $.05 after coupons and the polish removers, purchased from Rite Aid, were B1G1 50% off with a $2 instant register reward.

Before coupons and specials, my total was $67.68

My total out of pocket was $12.39

For a total savings of $55.29 (82% savings)

What do you all think?

Did you find any great deals this past week?

Post Title from: Sweet Amber by Metallica