dear sunny...: July 2015

Wednesday, July 29

Blue Me Away

Two weeks ago, I wrote of my fashion "a-ha" moment when I thrifted a J. Crew maxi skirt from "Second Time Around". I remember it was ugly. It was ill fitting. It was this exact skirt.

I wanted to show you the exact piece that got me hooked on thrifting. Nope, it's not some beautiful Dior silk top I happened across for $1.99. It's not sartorially relevant or unique. It's a simple maxi skirt (before they were even popular)!

Back in 2008, I pulled up this maxi skirt into a one piece dress and paired it with a tan belt at the smallest point of my waist. It made me feel good about myself, and best of all, it fit my lazy college girl routine. Just pull up, belt, and go! 8AM classes? No problem for this chick ;)

I'm surprised it's survived my closet purges these past few years. I guess I'm the sentimental type, plus I seem to always find a new way to wear it every few years. This addition of the chambray top tied around the waist plays into the 90s revival. Yes, I updated this outfit by dating it back an additional 10 years. Haha.

Office appropriate? ✖

After-work drinks fun? ✓
Dinner date good? ✓

What's survived your recent closet purge?

Let's stay in touch!

Linking up Shanna, Lauren, Lindsey, Jen, Zarouhi, & Sarah :)

Tuesday, July 21

Golden Girl

Gorgeous detailing by the ever creative namesake, Charlotte Olympia.

The delicate beading on this vintage bag had me swooning.

A few weeks earlier, I had the pleasure of attending someone's wedding. It was a beautiful afternoon filled with good food, good people, and a ton of love. It also signaled the beginning of wedding season for me! That means recycling/restyling work outfits for weddings and vice versa.

This dress was purchased for a wedding, but is easily made office appropriate, which made it a winner in my book. It's past the knee, not low cut, and has thick dress straps. If your office is conservative or runs the AC, throw a cropped sweater or cardigan on.

And the color of this dress is more than fitting for me. My family name is yellow in Mandarin and it has influenced my fashion choices from the beginning. I love any shade of yellow more than a bright green or navy blue. It's the color of sunflowers, the happiest flower on earth. And I've loved yellow (gold) jewelry more than silver.

Speaking of gold hardware, I am absolutely in love with my new Charlotte Olympia shoes. They are my first "big girl" purchase. They're not practical, but these things never are!

Office appropriate? ✓

After-work drinks fun? ✓
Dinner date good? ✓

The top of these sandals have a metal bow like those you put on gifts and the shoes are called 'Surprise'. I kid you not. I can't help but love the little details that make Charlotte Olympia shoes so quirky and unique.

Are you prepared for wedding season?

Let's stay in touch!

Linking up Shanna, Lauren, Lindsey, Jen, Zarouhi, & Sarah :)

Tuesday, July 14

Dots on Dots

I didn't like prints in college. I thought they made me look wider, shorter, and fatter. Luckily, around the same time, I started thrifting. One day, I came across a maxi skirt from J. Crew on a sales rack in "Second Time Around," a popular thrift store chain in Boston. I didn't like how it looked on me as a skirt, but the waist elastic was loose, and I pulled it up to be a one piece dress. I loved it. It's not sartorially smart or savvy, but I was so proud of myself, and even more important, I started to envision myself in prints!

After many trial and errors at basically all the thrift stores in Boston, I found what prints I liked and what prints didn't work for me.

Since then, I've gone through "phases" in my print loving, from all things striped where I was one step away from being a candy striper to polka dotted everything making my clsoet look like the obliteration room.

These days, I have a more balanced closet. And although I don't own many colors (for some odd reason), I love each piece I own including two of my thrifted treasures: this beautiful grey, high collar button up and pink wool pencil skirt decked out in mini black hearts.

Office appropriate? ✓
After-work drinks fun? ✓
Dinner date good? ✓

Trying so hard not to burst out into laughter that I made a chipmunk face!

A beautiful silver band with a tiny cross that I bought outside the Vatican during my trip to Rome and one of my favorite Marc Jacobs rings. It says "veritas inlustrat" which, in this case, means truth enlightens.

What are some of your favorite pieces?

Let's stay in touch!

Linking up Shanna, Lauren, Lindsey, Jen, Zarouhi, & Sarah :)

Wednesday, July 8

Off-the-Shoulder Sweetheart

and more thredUP favorites!

So you know about that addiction I have? ThredUp? Well, I've gone and fueled it with another purchase, this beautiful thrifted silk Kate Spade skirt. It has a thin leather belt and black and white is so easy to match (like with a pair of shoes coming in the mail :X) 3rd time in less than a month. If I had more money, I alone could probably keep ThredUp in business haha (my 1st & 2nd purchases)

4 years ago I saw Nicole Warne wear this simple off-the-shoulder top from Asos. It was around $30, and right within my college budget aka bought immediately. Every time I wore it, I felt stupidly sophisticated and edgy. Something I never feel with baby fat still on my face and my 5'2" stature.

Since then, I've been obsessed with off-the-shoulder anything. It's my number one go-to item to up an outfit. I have so many version, I can't even count! This white sweetheart neckline version was a perfect fit for this Kate Spade skirt. Party up top, and business below! A fashion "mullet," so to speak (;

Office appropriate? (with a cardigan) ✓
After-work drinks fun? ✓
Dinner date good? ✓

Have you tried thredUP yet?

Let's stay in touch!

Linking up Shanna, Lauren, Lindsey, Jen, Zarouhi, & Sarah :)