The Wardrobe Re-think: The Pursuit of Style

We're still off in Missouri! This is the last of the pre-written posts. :)

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It's time for the first post in the Wardrobe Re-Think series! Today we'll be talking about personal style. Prepare yourself for a long, picture-heavy post!

One thing I don't want to change through the Wardrobe Re-Think is my style. It's taken me ages figure out just what it is, and I am pretty happy with it. What I do want to change is how my style is portrayed through my clothes. While in my head I have very clear pictures about what I like, it seems harder to express my style in actual clothing form. Some of my clothes just don't represent me, and that is one of the main reasons I feel frustrated with clothes a lot.

I think developing personal style has been covered quite a bit by the fashion blogging community. I myself have enjoyed this post by Putting Me Together, this guest post from Cation Designs, and (in a round-about way) this one from Casey's Elegant Musings. Because this topic has been covered quite a bit, I'm not going to be focusing on 'defining' personal style today. Rather, I want to tell you a bit about my personal style, and how I want to translate it into the clothes I wear.

When I was about 10, I was obsessed with I Love Lucy. I think I watched it every day for two years straight. Thus came my first introduction to vintage. I instantly fell in love with the 50's and dreamed of the day I'd be all grown-up and wear 50's style clothes, and not care what anyone else thought. A few years went by, and I still held dearly to my love for vintage-style. I usually vented my vintage-passion by wearing full out hats and gloves to church, and while I delighted in the being different and having my own style, I felt rather silly. It wasn't quite right.

So, I started dressing really random. I still pretty much exclusively wore skirts, as wearing jeans seemed *gasp* to be betraying myself. But I paired my mid-calf denim skirts with striped turtlenecks, hoodies, and fleece vests. Yuck. I hated the clothes that were supposedly for my age group, so I bought clothes from the women's section, and rejoiced that they 'fit'. My 12/13 year old self did not understand the word fit. If you want to know how off-the-mark I was, just realize that a good many of the clothes I'm wearing now were bought a couple of years ago, before my major growth spurt. For those years, I professed to love classy looks, but failed miserably at execution.

Then I discovered blogging about a year ago. I jumped feet-first into the vintage world, falling in love with blogs like Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage. I couldn't believe that there were actually people dressing in the vintage styles I had swooned over for years! They weren't weird! They just had fun with it! I got all excited, and started trying to emulate them. I lived in head scarves and blouses tucked into plaid-wool skirts for several months.

But I still didn't feel right. This was the vintage-fashion I loved, though, so what could be wrong? Didn't I want to live in the 50's? Wasn't this length of skirt period-correct?

Then, slow as molasses in January, it dawned on me: my love of vintage didn't have to translate into a vintage-only style. Vintage clothes didn't feel right because they only showcased a piece of me, not the whole me. And that's why style's for, right?

Now, I've decided my style is classic and vintage inspired. I prefer to stand out by choosing put-together, sophisticated looks over bright colors and daring trends. I like to feel comfortable and chic, and I like my clothes to 'keep up with me'. Being a bit different from the crowd doesn't bother me in the least. But I don't particularly like to be noticed a mile off because of my clothes.

Here some blogs I follow, whose outfits I usually like:

Cation Designs

Casey's Elegant Musings

Bramblewood Fashion

And these are celebrities whose style I most identify with:

Audrey Hepburn

Emma Waston

Zooey Deschanel

Here are some pictures that I believe represent my style:

(via) I love the long sleeves paired with the shorts in this outfit, as well as the polished yet easy-going feel. I love shorts that are 'short' but not 'too short' (that was an odd sentence...my apologies). 

(via) Like I said, I love almost all of her looks. The simple skirt/blouse/cardigan/flats combo may be obvious, but that's part of why I like it. The vintage feel without being all out, the coziness, and the simple feminine feel makes me love it.

(via) The skirt is the perfect fullness, the sweater has a great fit, and the heels are gorgeous!

(via) I love everything about this outfit. It's so laid back, yet professional, and well put-together.

(via) I love that they created this as a traveling outfit! A really good denim pencil skirt has been on my wishlist for a while, and I hardly go a day without wearing a scarf during the winter! I love the cardigan, too.

(via) I love the simple elegant, silhouette. And the heels are to die for. 

(via) I pretty much love high-waisted anything, and the ruffle is cute.

(via) I have a serious obsession with heels. I'll wear anything from kitten to stilleto. I do, however, like my heels to be classy. Major glittery platforms to not necessarily make me think of class. Floral peep toes, however, are pretty perfect in my book. :)

(via) I love Audrey Hepburn for many reasons, her style being one of them. I love the cigarette pants, which are so comfy yet feminine. And the stripe tees are so classic.

Just cute!

(via) I love simple, elegant shapes, and this dress is certainly that!

(via) Now, this may seem like a weird picture to put here. But just look at her hat. And the little stripes. And the layers. The cute jacket with the little lace peeking out. And what about her perfect lipstick??

(via) While I'd skip the shoes, I love the overall feel and color scheme of this outfit. I love the look of cardigans with shorts!

If you'd like, go check out my Pinterest boards, particularly my Spring and Summer Fashion and Fall and Winter Fashion.

Thanks for reading! :)

Never quite made it...

While I'm away visiting family in Missouri, I've arranged some pre-written posts for you to enjoy. Thanks, Dad, for publishing them! :)

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Though you wouldn't think so based on the number of outfits I post, I do take lots of pictures of outfits. For some reason still unknown to me, the good intentions always loose flavor when it's time to actually put the pictures into a post. So there they sit, taking up space on my computer....

But today is there moment! Please enjoy my hodge-podge of never-quite-made-it-on-the-blog outfits! :)

June, 2012. Now I want to wear this to church again! White pencil skirt, Mardens; black blouse, thrifted; peeop-toe heels, Mardens; Boston hat, Fanneuil Hall.

July 2012. Wore this to watch fireworks! Shorts, thrifted and re-fashioned by me; tee, Walmart; sweater, thrifted; belt, came with another pair of shorts; ribbon, Walmart; anklets, gift.

September, 2012. Just wore this again the other day! White blouse, JC Penny's; gingham sundress, made by me; flats, Payless.

September 2012. I love this as a summer/fall transition outfit. Short sleeve sweater top, thrifted; plum tank, hand-me-down; denim cut-offs, thrifted and re-fashioned by me.

November 2012. I wore this outfit again in January for 4-H interviews. Merino wool blazer, thrifted; gray pencil skirt, JC Penny's; peep-toe heels, Mardens.

January 2013. So warm and cozy! I seriously love this outfit. :) Green cardigan, JC Penny's; houdstooth dress, JC Penny's; textured tights, Walmart; peep-toe heels, Mardens; clutch, Payless.

May 2013. Wore this outfit on Easter! Boston hat, Faneuil Hall; sweater, thrifted; blouse, JC Penny's; gray pencil skirt, JC Penny's; gingham wedges, Payless; clutch, Payless.

June 2013. Seriously. I love this outfit to pieces. Floral blouse, thrifted; denim cut-offs, thrifted and re-fashioned by me.

Conclusion: all my good clothes come from thrift stores, outdoor pictures turn out better, I shouldn't attempt selfies, and I should do more outfit posts. :)

Thanks for reading! :)

Last Week {absolutely october}

Did It {last week}

• Skated five times.
• Bought a pattern and some lining for a new sewing project.
• Made an apple crumble. 
• Had interviews for 4-H Spirit Award.
• Helped out in the 4-H booth at a grand opening of Tractor Supply.
• Finished Mississippi Jack by L.A. Meyer on audio.

Do It {this week}

• Stay on track with school. Stop procrastinating.
• Push myself harder during each skating practice.
• Develop a new yoga and off-ice workout routine.
• Make some new, good habits.
• Go to bed early, at least a couple of times.
• Eat healthier.

This past week was so.....October. It was freezing cold outside, we had the woodstove going inside, and warm apple cider to sip. Yum. The leaves are almost all dropped, letting us know that November is truly coming. 

I am so tired today. Towards the end of the week, everything is so much harder. This week, I'm going to try re-adjusting how I work so I hopefully won't end the week burnt out. It would be so nice to not have schoolwork hanging over my head for the weekend, so that I could use Saturdays as a creative, domestic day and Sundays for knitting, reading, and doing absolutely nothing. What can I say? I'm lazy.

"Let's get rich and buy everybody nice sweaters, and teach them how to dance." -via Pinterest

Loving Lately:

• The Steampunk Look. Someday, I will make an awesome costume!
• Cozy sweaters. I want to go thrifting, find an awesome sweater, and then refuse to take it off.
• I've gotten back into knitting! One Sheepish Girl is filling me with inspiration. :)
• These Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are currently chilling before I pop them in the oven...the dough is delish!

I'm considering curling up and never moving. Who's with me?

"Set your alarm for 6am...."

"Set your alarm for 6am. Don’t groan when it goes off and pull the covers over your head, get up and start your day. Put on a baggy top and running shorts. Go downstairs and pour yourself a nice big glass of ice water. Cut up some fruit and mix it in with yogurt. Add some granola. Now go outside. Stretch for 10 minutes. Skip for 5 minutes. Jog for 10 minutes. Run for 10 minutes. Walk back. Lay out a towel on the ground and lie down on it. Do 50 crunches. Yes, they hurt, but they are 100% worth it. When you’re done, get in the shower. Use a nice smelling shampoo and matching conditioner. Shave your legs and wash your body. Exfoliate your face. Get out of the shower and let your hair air dry. Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? If you do, good for you. Do this every day and you will continue to love yourself. If you don’t like what you see, do this every day and pretty soon you will. Being lazy might feel good at the time, but being active feels better in the long run. How badly do you want it?"

Saw this on Pinterest the other day, and feel in love. Get out there, stop complaining, and work hard to become the person you want to be!

{autumn love}

{via}

...fresh flannel sheets...

...an evening around the bonfire with friends...

...licking the fudge pan with Mum...

...a perfectly brisk, quiet, Sunday morning walk...

{via}

...lots of skating time...

...my cube of sticky notes...

...last night's meatball subs...

...F-Troop re-runs...

...a semi-clean bedroom floor...

{via}

....lots of goofiness...

...good country music oldies...

...a gray workout shirt I've been wearing to death...

...picking literally hundreds of tomatoes at a time...

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Many apologies for the current look of the blog! Thanks so much for your patience while I figure out the re-design and many other things. Technical blogginess is not my strong suit!

You know, I really like blogging.

I've been blogging for about a year and a half now. There's been lots of hiccups along the way, but lots of good stuff, too. I feel like I've finally started to understand who I am as a blogger, find my voice, and maybe (just maybe) present writings that will be interesting to you lovely readers.

I've been doing a lot of thinking for the past week, and I've decided I really like blogging. I like it so much, in fact, that I'm going to keep pursuing it. I never fail to be inspired by the lovely bloggers I follow. They've made me laugh, taught me new things, inspired me with their wit, and motivated me with their busy dream-chasing. I'd be quite presumptuous if I thought my blog was as interesting as theirs, but still. I want to do that. I want to present my ideas, thoughts, opinions, and projects. I want to make connections with my followers and perhaps make someone's day a little better for the reading.

So, thanks guys, for being here. You motivate me to write. The fact that anyone wants to be alerted of my new posts is incredible to me. So keep reading, commenting, sharing, and a huge thanks!

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P.S. Technical bloggy things are attempting to happen....unfortunately slower than I would like. Thank you for your patience as I fix my blog design and some other things. Hopefully all this will lead to some pleasant changes. :)

P.P.S. This post from Mich Mash came at the perfect time! Thanks Michelle....you're a constant inspiration!

P.P.P.S. Hear about Martha Stuarts opinion of bloggers? Yeah. Rachel from Grasping For Objectivity really nailed her response.

Thanks for reading! :)

I assume I'm a hard-hearted, uncaring person since I didn't cry during 'The Fault in Our Stars'...

{via}

This post contains mild spoilers for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Strangely enough, it doesn't have any for The Fault In Our Stars. You've been warned.

This past spring, I checked out The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I head heard so much about it, was starving for something new, and wanted to give contemporary fiction a second chance (in case you hadn't noticed, I don't read that genre very often). I enjoyed John Green's confidently nerdy persona, and I'd heard his writing style was practically modern Shakespeare. One of our awesome town librarians, Dave, said 'you must return this book with a five page essay on why it's awesome.'

I was obviously excited.

I read it in under a week. And it was good. Not great, mind, but definitely worthy of the italics. The characters were deep, the plot fantastic, and yes, his writing is very good. I believe John Green to be far superior than a lot of other YA writers at the moment. His books are definitely worth a read.

All that being said, I didn't cry. At all. I didn't even feel sad, really. Which I suppose is really, really terrible of me. Everyone else I know who has read it is in absolute tears by the end, and considers it one of the saddest book moments of their lives. But it really didn't do it for me. I don't know why, but I was not moved to tears. The book wasn't great. It was a solid good, but not much more.

I cry every time Boromir dies. I pitifully blubber when Bilbo is informed of Throin's, Fili's, and Kili's deaths. The Boston Jane series put me through major emotional trauma. I feel painfully sorry for Frankenstein. So don't go thinking I don't get emotionally invested in books.

Sorry Nerd Fighteria, sorry John Green, sorry YA fans and the people who rate the New York Times Bestsellers. It wasn't my book. You probably now think of me as an unemotional, Vulcan stoic. So be it.

When was the last time you cried during a book?

TYG: Battling Boring

I'm going through a stent of being really, really bored with my clothes. The unique pieces in this outfit may not have banished the boredom entirely, but it definitely picked me up. :) I've been aching to go thrift store shopping, so we recently made a trip to Savers. I spent $20, and came out with one pair of heels and on sweater. Excuse me??? I think I'll stick to dollar-day finds, thank you very much. :P

Green Cardigan: JC Penny's (gift)

Black Ruffle Blouse: Thrifted, $1

Toile Pencil Skirt: Thrifted, $3.00

Pirate Boots: Hand-Me Down

Belt: Came with another dress.

Total Outfit Cost: $4.00

All photos taken by my brother, AJ.

View the rest of my Thrifty Yankee Girl posts.

I'll be linking up to Sunday Style at Plane Pretty tomorrow!

Have a Mary Tyler Moore type of day!

How many of you have ever watched the Mary Tyler Moore show? It's an adorable 70's show, and was actually the first television series to ever star an independent, career-driven, single young woman. Usually when I get in a bit of a rut, I start wanting to have a 'Mary Tyler Moore type of day'. Something filled with color and energy, great friends, hard work, and special little details. She's peppy, smart, cute, and has a great sense of humor. Just who every girl wants to be, right?

With that in mind, here's my list for how to infuse some Mary Tyler Moore fun into your day (and maybe kick you out a rut in the process).

1.) Be healthy. 

Make healthy, nutritious choices, start the day with some yoga, or grab a friend for a talkative stroll. Just make the commitment to be healthy today, and I can guarantee you, it will be easier to continue healthy habits tomorrow.

2.) Look fantastic. 

Did Mary ever leave the house NOT dressed to the nines (even if it was in....interesting...70's clothes)? While your style might be worlds apart, take a lesson from her pull on some kitten heels and a classy skirt, and do your makeup.

3.) Take some time with your hair. 

Now, honestly, usually my hair is just thrown up in a braid or a bun. Her gorgeous, bouncy bob, however, is great inspiration to try to make a little more effort.

4.) Connect with friends. 

When ever we talk about Mary Tyler Moore, you can't not mention Rhodda. Take some inspiration from the two of them and connect with your best friend today. The best part of their friendship? It's not always expensive, elaborate plans. Most of the time, they're simply sitting on the couch and chatting. So catch up with your girlfriends today!

5.) Be polite. 

It's safe to say that Mary has to deal with a lot. From obnoxious boyfriends, to meddling Phyllis, to work day stress, Mary's days are far from perfect. Through it all, however, she's always polite. She stands up for herself, but she doesn't lose her temper.

6.) Fresh flowers! 

Take your own spin on Mary's desk rose, and add some color to your room. Whether it's a fresh-cut bouquet or a house plant, flowers liven up the space and adds feminine charm.

7.) Be proud of your room/apartment. 

Mary's apartment has been refereed to as 'TV's most famous bachelorette pad!'. So why not channel her and update your space a little? It doesn't take much, perhaps new sheets, a bowl of fruit, or some organizing is just the trick!

8.) Just smile. 

I don't know about you guys, but Mary's big, genuine grin is one of my favorite things about her. Let's all make the commitment to smile a little more today, and this week. It'll change your outlook and possibly make someone's day. What's there to loose?

TCC: October Meme

Today, I'd like to suggest you go visit Jessica from The Bookworm Chronicles. We seem to have similar taste in books, and she always has something insightful to say. I found her through The Classics Club, and find her list really inspiring. It's filled with everything from children's classics to some pretty daunting reads! So far, I think her TCC review I've found the most helpful is The Great Gatsby. It's a classic I've always heard mixed thoughts about, so reading her post got me interested in trying it.

Recently while clicking through some of her archives, I found a review she had written for her re-read of The Hobbit,. It was an amazing post. It's very hard to express your thoughts on a book that has meant a lot to you. There's always a feeling that you aren't doing the book justice. Jessica, however, does a fantastic job in this post. Definitely pop over and read it, all you wannabe Hobbits, it's a real pick me up!

Linking up to the October Meme: Question 15 at The Classics Club.