Everyday Outfit: A Trip to the Library

I've discovered that dressing for life with a baby isn't so very different from dressing for life before one. Once the pregnancy weight was gone and the round the clock schedule eased, I found myself reaching for the same vintage dresses, jeans and tunics, blouses and shorts that I'd worn before. More than anything, its more simple; more inspired by the 70's than before. Oh and I wear lower heels some of the time.

 The most different thing is my own perspective. I'm not as hard on myself about my style as I was before and I don't need to look or feel *perfect* in the same way that I wanted to before her birth. Part of that is just necessity and part of it is choosing how I want to influence the way my child thinks about self-image.

So this is what I often find myself wearing: funky layers, clothes that are relatively easy to nurse in, and chunky jewelry because she likes to play with it and it keeps her happy and occupied. (I got lucky, she doesn't pull on my jewelry or hair that much so far:)

Hat: H&M
Coat: Savers
Shirt: J Crew sale
Corduroy shorts: Anthropologie Sale
Purse: (Practically Ancient) Anthropologie
Necklace: Anthropologie Sale
Tights: American Apparel
Boots: Miz Mooz Sale

(missing is the giant burgundy MOOP bag that I carry with me everywhere now)


Sorry for the terrible selfie photos here. I seem to have lost a piece of my tripod in our last move. Hopefully it will turn up during spring cleaning.

Simple but Flirty

Just a short outfit post tonight. It was so warm today, and even tonight. I decided to wear this light polyester dress that I thrifted last year. I love the ruffly little collar and keyhole opening in the front. These little details give a very sweet, feminine feeling to a simple dress. Its so nice to finally shed all of the layers from our long winter and as a result, I've been keeping my wardrobe very basic lately: few accessories paired with flirty, but pretty summer dresses like this one. Part and parcel, my silver spoon bracelet has become a fixture. Several years ago, my mom bought my sister and I these bracelets at a kumquat festival in Florida. It's both elegant and sentimental and always sparks conversation.









Dress: Thrifted Vintage
Belt: Linea Pelle (Marshall's)
Spoon Bracelet: Gift
Earrings: Thrifted
Shoes: Clarks

My short hair really does go along with this desire for simplicity lately. Its so funny, I'm not quite used to seeing myself this way and when I walk in front of a mirror its a bit surprising (but in a good way that makes me giggle at myself). I love the change and the thought of pairing my slightly boyish hair with all of the feminine frocks in my wardrobe.

Good night everybody!

Thrift Finds

This morning, Dan and I headed to his hometown to visit his mother and grandmothers. One of my favorite thrift stores is very nearby, so after lunch we headed there and I set to work perusing for almost an hour. Its always hit and miss with thrift shopping, but this place usually yields something every time I visit. Today I got really lucky.

This first dress is definitely vintage from the late 70's, early 80's. Its short and fun and flirty, with a pretty collar and a fitted bodice. I love that the little sleeves have a slight puff to them. The former owner wrote her name on the tag in marker, so I'm debating whether to cut it out or not. I've never seen that before...has anyone else?

The next one is from BCBG Max Azria. I absolutely love the bold giraffe-like print and the short, almost mod shape. It'll be a good transition piece to fall and winter too and I'll probably end up wearing it as a tunic over dark jeans.



And finally a very pretty, classic polka-dot maxi dress. I didn't think too much of it on the rack, but because of my undying love for dots and current search for more long dresses, I decided to give it a whirl in the dressing room. I'm glad I did. It fits so well! It'll be an easy, classic choice for work-days when I don't feel like fretting over what to wear.



Before leaving this store, I always cruise by the jewelry section to check out the pins and earrings. Today, I found a pretty (if ubiquitous) rose pin. My sister bought one of these a few years ago at a vintage store nearby and I've been keeping an eye out since for one that I liked. Today I got lucky. (please ignore the dog hair, that's also ubiquitous:)

And here's what I wore while shopping...

Dress: Thrifted Vintage (altered by me)
Perforated Wedges: Target
Pin: Thrifted today!
Earrings: Forever 21
Rattan Purse: Thrifted
Bangles: Forever 21 & Thrifted

This dress has become my automatic go-to outfit for summer over the past few years. Its pretty and easy to wear and has pockets, which is a definite bonus. Do you have an automatic default outfit?

dreamsbykelley.wordpress.com

Shortie

I took the plunge today, although it didn't really feel like much of a plunge. I've been thinking about cutting my hair short again for months now and this afternoon I walked into my hairdresser's with a few pictures of Jean Seberg from Breathless in hand, ready to commit. I love my stylist. She's enthusiastic and honest and friendly. She was so excited for me. Its wonderful to find someone who you trust implicitly with your hair.

The last time I got it cut, I went to someone else at the same salon with a similar request. The woman was really nice, but she basically tried to convince me not to do it and said she was afraid I might really regret it and cry (for some reason, they always think I'm going to cry:). While I appreciated her candor, I found myself in the odd position of explaining to her that, yes, I had cut my hair that short before and that ultimately it's just hair and will eventually grow back. It was rather humorous.

Today was a completely different story. I can't wait to play around with it and see what I can do.











(Mena wanted in on the photo action today)

Blouse: Thrifted
Shorts: Anthropologie Sale
Sunglasses: Vintage Store
Earrings: Forever 21
Handbag: Thrifted
Shoes: Target
Ring: Gift

And I also bought a new pair of purple wedge platform sandals on sale today! Luckily I just happened to be passing by my favorite shoe store and decided to pop in on a whim. They're made by Born, which is quickly turning into one of my preferred shoe brands, especially for heels. As the salesgirl said, they're just so comfortable.

For years, I wouldn't dare wear platforms or heels over three inches. I'm almost six feet tall anyway, so I thought I'd just stick out even more. And I was convinced that I'm such a clutz that I'd constantly be tripping and falling. But the other day, when I said something about my lack of coordination to a friend, he looked at me for a minute and then told me he thinks I don't give myself enough credit. I've decided that I think he's right. I can handle walking in these shoes.

Its funny how the stories that stick with us from our childhoods sometimes shape who we think we are. I grew really, really fast in elementary school (an entire foot in one year!) and ended up feeling really awkward while adjusting to my new body. Ever since, I've always thought of myself as an inelegant, clumsy person who tends to physically stick out. But maybe I've just been seeing it all wrong and taking lots of things about myself for granted.

Oh, and if you get a chance, I started a new blog for my art called Dreams By Kelley. Stop by if you get a chance!

Comfort Clothes

When I was getting ready to leave the house this morning I thought to myself 'I just want to wear something comfortable today.' The first garment that sprung to mind was this blouse. I actually found it at Target a few years ago, although it reminds me of something Victorian (not sure at all if that would be accurate:). I've never really been sure how to wear it, but love all of the details from the decorative stitching to the lace and bird-shaped buttons.

The little purse was a Florida thrift store find from earlier this summer. My sister Kate and I walked into the establishment, and there it was, just waiting for me on the shelf. I realized recently that one of the most wonderful things about my collection of second hand clothes are the memories that each garment or accessory or bag brings to mind when I pull it out of the closet. Most of those memories involve Kate, so (in a strange way) getting dressed in the morning, choosing from among my brooches, deciding on a scarf or pair of earrings...every time I run my fingers over these objects, they make me feel closer to my sister who is thousands of miles away. It sounds sad to me reading what I've written, but its really not. Its happy and hopeful and makes me look forward to the next time that we can go out on a thrifting adventure together again.

If you're reading this Kate, I love you :)

its all gonna break

I've missed you all.