Black Friday!

Black Friday is the shopping day of the year. So naturally I wanted to treat myself to an ADORABLE coat from the Levi's Outlet Store for 40% off while getting the last of my shopping done. :)

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items? 

·                     Levi's Outlet Aztec Print Coat
·                     Levi's Blue Pleated Silk Top 
·                     PacSun Light-Grey Infinity Scarf 
·                     Levi's Made & Crafted Empire Jeans 
·                     Black Target Loafers

2. Where are you going today? 
I went Black Friday shopping at the Vacaville Premium Outlets with my mom.

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say? 
As soon as I saw this coat and saw that it happened to match what I was wearing already, it became my inspiration. 

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 
I have been needing a great winter coat for a while and this one was the perfect match for exactly what I had in mind. I can't wait to wear it out on cold nights!

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten? 
The sales associate at the outlet store said that she loved the coat when I bought it (even though they are probably supposed to do that ;)) but still. I know I will get a TON of compliments on it! :)

Red, Black, Grey, White & Blue All Over

Sometimes I find that I can buy an amazing piece of clothing and only manage to wear it once or twice due to the fact that I struggle to style it. This is what I came across with this chevron patterned button-up I purchased at American Eagle about 6 months ago. I LOVED the pattern of this shirt, which is why I bought it, but I found it a little difficult to work with since it is can be a little dizzy and the cut of the shirt is a little boxy. Due to the nature of this blog, I decided to try to restyle this shirt and bring it new life in my wardrobe. This is what I came up with...  

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items? 
·                     American Eagle Outfitters Chevron Button-Up
·                     Levi's Red Cardgian
·                     PacSun Grey Infinity Scarf
·                     Levi's Women's Cropped 501's
·                     Black Target Loafers
I have owned everything in this outfit for over 3 months excluding the 501's which I purchased last week for $25. 

2. Where are you going today?
I went to a movie with some friends!

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?My inspiration or goal in this case was to recreate this top. This whole blog is about recreation and budgeting and I think that I've learned a lot about myself by doing this as well as achieved success in being innovative with my closet. 

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? I always feel good about myself when I am able to be excited about what I am wearing and I was really excited to wear this particular top again in a new way. 

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?I got a lot of compliments on this shirt and a lot of people couldn't believe it when I said it came from American Eagle Outfitters. Not only did I surprise myself with my outfit, but others around me as well. Fashion is all about surprises. :)

Splurge

Sometimes people deserve to spend a little bit of money on themselves. If I have learned one thing about myself throughout the course of making this blog it is that I can in fact, make great outfits from clothing that I have owned and remake them into something new. This was something that I wanted to learn about myself and I did. It was a challenge but I figured that I deserved a reward, and that reward was a $76 Topshop sweater.

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items?

·                     Topshop Sweater

·                     Levi's Brown High Rise Skinny Jeans

·                     PacSun Floral Scarf

·                     Teal Converse

I have owned everything except for my Topshop sweater for over 3 months. The sweater, though it wasn't a huge splurge made me feel good. I love the brand and have always wanted to own a piece from them so I figured that my hard work deserved a little reward. ; )

2. Where are you going today?

I went to Ikea and Target to grab a few things.

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?

Since I am always on the move I wanted to feel comfortable and most of all warm since it has been getting colder lately. What is better than a warm sweater in the fall?

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 

My splurge was totally worth it because I love this sweater. It is just want I needed for this season and the fact that is Topshop makes it so much better!

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?

I didn't get any comments on it today, however when I bought it I definitely got some great compliments. It's such a great sweater for the season and I absolutely love it. It was worth every penny! 

Double Life

When you're working and a student sometimes it feels like you live a double life (especially when you have to go from work to school or vise versa) and sometimes dressing for both can be a little tricky. At school I always want to be comfortable, but when you work in a retail environment, you can't really just show up to work in sweatpants. Keeping this in mind I looked to pick out something that was cute, comfortable and work appropriate for this week's outfit.

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items?

·                     PacSun Nollie Cardigan

·                     Levi's White Flowly Button-Up

·                     Levi's Tribal Print Denim Legging

·                     Forever 21 Collar Necklace

·                     Toms Desert Wedge

I have owned all of these items for at least 9 months (I have owned the cardigan for 3 years!).

2. Where are you going today?

I went to work and then to school. You can definitely say I had a busy day.

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?

Like I previously mentioned, for this outfit I was looking mostly for versatility. When it comes to this pair of tribal leggings I definitely get that. Not only are they comfortable, they are SO cute.

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 

This outfit is so easy and trendy that it really makes me feel like I hardly had to try to look put together. I usually have to run out of the house with my breakfast in hand in order to make it to class or work on time so knowing that making an outfit can be easy and quick feels great.

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?

Whenever I wear these pants I get complimented on them. People can hardly believe it when I tell them they are Levi's either!

Girl On Fire

This Halloween I didn't really have the time or money to buy a costume so I decided to see what I could come up with out of my own closet. After looking around I ended up on finding a great Katniss Everdeen costume that cost me almost nothing!

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items?

· Levi's Blue Peasant Top
· Vintage Army Jacket

· The Hunger Games movie 'Mockingjay Pin'

· Levi's Black Leggings

· Reflection Black Boots

· Target Bow & Arrow Set

The only items that I didn't already own for this costume were the bow and arrow which I purchased at Target for $10. Every other part of my outfit came from my closet and I have owned them all for at least 6 months.

2. Where are you going today?

I went to work!

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?

My inspiration was The Hunger Games' main character 'Katniss Everdeen' who I was portraying in my costume. I wanted to have something fun to wear for Halloween that I could still wear to work and this costume totally worked for both!

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 

It made me feel great to know that I didn't have to spend over $100 to get a great costume for Halloween. I have spent so much money in the past on an outfit I would only wear once and the fact that I pulled 99% of my costume out of my closet from items I wear everyday is just awesome!

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?

I got a few comments on my costume actually so it is clear that it was definitely worth the whole $10 I spent on it! :)

I even learned how to braid my hair the way they braid it in the movie. Talk about authentic! ;)

Make It A Double

This Friday night I went on a double date to Chevy's with a friend of mine from work, her boyfriend and my boyfriend. Since it was a more casual venue and event, I went for what I'd like to call, 'Cozy Comfort'. 

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items?

· Levi's Made & Crafted Denim Top

· Levi's Made & Crafted Empire Skinny Jeans
· PacSun Vurt Cardigan

· PacSun circle scarf

· Minnetonka slippers

I purchased the denim Made & Crafted top on sale at the Levi's Market Street store about 3 months ago and received the jeans from work on a yearly allowance about a month ago. Other than these two items I have owned the other for over a year.

2. Where are you going today?

I went on a double date to Chevy's! :)

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?

It has been getting pretty cold lately so my inspiration was 'Cozy Comfort'. I wanted to look put together but also wanted to keep warm. 

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 

This outfit makes me feel really happy since when I was wearing it I felt comfortable, warm and trendy. It's hard not to feel good about an outfit when it feels so good on.

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?

I didn't get any comments or reactions today, but I definitely didn't need them to validate my choice. I felt great. Nothing is better than a great food, great friends and a great outfit.

Rock Show

This last Friday night I attended the Paramore concert at the SAP Center in San Jose. I have been a Paramore fan ever since I was 16, so to say that I was excited to go to this concert is definitely an understatement. For this event, I decided to have a little fun with my outfit and instead of going out to buy something new, I went to my closet for inspiration.

1. What are you wearing? How long have you owned these items?

·                     Urban Outfitters Vegan Leather Peplum Top

·                     Levi's Made & Crafted Empire Skinny Jeans

·                     Green Spikey Clutch

·                     Target Black Loafers

I just recently purchased the black loafers a few months ago, but other than those the rest of the items I have owned for over 6 months.

2. Where are you going today?

I went to the Paramore concert at the SAP Center in San Jose.

3. What was your outfit inspiration? What were you trying to say?

My inspiration was rocker chic. The leather look of my peplum top along with the spiked clutch added a little edge to the offset the classic silhouette of the overall outfit. I was trying to say I guess that classy can also be edgy and fun.

4. How does this outfit/item make you feel? 

I love wearing this peplum top. I invested in it last December for my birthday and it was totally worth the $89 I spent. It's flattering, sexy and edgy.

5. What comments or reactions if any have you gotten?

A lot of people at the concert asked me where I bought my clutch actually. It was a birthday gift I received from my best friend last year (she bought it from a store in Chico called Trucker which uses Lulu's as a vendor). It's the perfect size for everything that you need when going out to dinner or to a concert like I did! 

And I even scored a balloon at the end of the concert too! ;) Cheesing! :B